Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
in battle. He may lie for a whole year, and his flesh shall still be as
sound as ever, or even sounder. Call, therefore, the Achaean heroes
in assembly; unsay your anger against Agamemnon; arm at once,
and fight with might and main.”
As she spoke she put strength and courage into his heart, and she
then dropped ambrosia and red nectar into the wounds of
Patroclus, that his body might suffer no change.
Then Achilles went out upon the seashore, and with a loud cry
called on the Achaean heroes. On this even those who as yet had
stayed always at the ships, the pilots and helmsmen, and even the
stewards who were about the ships and served out rations, all
came to the place of assembly because Achilles had shown himself
after having held aloof so long from fighting. Two sons of Mars,
Ulysses and the son of Tydeus, came limping, for their wounds still
pained them; nevertheless they came, and took their seats in the
front row of the assembly. Last of all came Agamemnon, king of
men, he too wounded, for Coon son of Antenor had struck him
with a spear in battle.
When the Achaeans were got together Achilles rose and said, “Son
of Atreus, surely it would have been better alike for both you and
me, when we two were in such high anger about Briseis, surely it
would have been better, had Diana’s arrow slain her at the ships on
the day when I took her after having sacked Lyrnessus. For so,
many an Achaean the less would have bitten dust before the foe in
the days of my anger. It has been well for Hector and the Trojans,
but the Achaeans will long indeed remember our quarrel. Now,
however, let it be, for it is over. If we have been angry, necessity has
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