Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
are with you as messengers from the host of the Danaans, and
would fain he held nearest and dearest to yourself of all the
Achaeans.”
“Ajax,” replied Achilles, “noble son of Telamon, you have spoken
much to my liking, but my blood boils when I think it all over, and
remember how the son of Atreus treated me with contumely as
though I were some vile tramp, and that too in the presence of the
Argives. Go, then, and deliver your message; say that I will have
no concern with fighting till Hector, son of noble Priam, reaches the
tents of the Myrmidons in his murderous course, and flings fire
upon their ships. For all his lust of battle, I take it he will be held in
check when he is at my own tent and ship.”
On this they took every man his double cup, made their drinkofferings,
and went back to the ships, Ulysses leading the way. But
Patroclus told his men and the maid-servants to make ready a
comfortable bed for Phoenix; they therefore did so with
sheepskins, a rug, and a sheet of fine linen. The old man then laid
himself down and waited till morning came. But Achilles slept in
an inner room, and beside him the daughter of Phorbas lovely
Diomede, whom he had carried off from Lesbos. Patroclus lay on
the other side of the room, and with him fair Iphis whom Achilles
had given him when he took Scyros the city of Enyeus.
When the envoys reached the tents of the son of Atreus, the
Achaeans rose, pledged them in cups of gold, and began to
question them. King Agamemnon was the first to do so. Tell me,
Ulysses,” said he, “will he save the ships from burning, or did be
refuse, and is he still furious?”
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