Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
cherish not your anger for ever; the might and majesty of heaven
are more than ours, but even heaven may be appeased; and if a
man has sinned he prays the gods, and reconciles them to himself
by his piteous cries and by frankincense, with drink-offerings and
the savour of burnt sacrifice. For prayers are as daughters to great
Jove; halt, wrinkled, with eyes askance, they follow in the footsteps
of sin, who, being fierce and fleet of foot, leaves them far behind
him, and ever baneful to mankind outstrips them even to the ends
of the world; but nevertheless the prayers come hobbling and
healing after. If a man has pity upon these daughters of Jove when
they draw near him, they will bless him and hear him too when he
is praying; but if he deny them and will not listen to them, they go
to Jove the son of Saturn and pray that he may presently fall into
sin- to his ruing bitterly hereafter. Therefore, Achilles, give these
daughters of Jove due reverence, and bow before them as all good
men will bow. Were not the son of Atreus offering you gifts and
promising others later- if he were still furious and implacable- I am
not he that would bid you throw off your anger and help the
Achaeans, no matter how great their need; but he is giving much
now, and more hereafter; he has sent his captains to urge his suit,
and has chosen those who of all the Argives are most acceptable to
you; make not then their words and their coming to be of none
effect. Your anger has been righteous so far. We have heard in song
how heroes of old time quarrelled when they were roused to fury,
but still they could be won by gifts, and fair words could soothe
them.
“I have an old story in my mind- a very old one- but you are all
friends and I will tell it. The Curetes and the Aetolians were
fighting and killing one another round Calydon- the Aetolians
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