Sol 5.6

  1. Muse of poetry, sing of Achilles, Peleus’ son—

    sing to us and recount a dire conflict,

  2. that malicious design whose affliction engulfed the brotherhood,

    and whose blaze of souls brought about their setting;

  3. down to Hades they were sent, descending,

    while birds and dogs tore apart the slain.

  4. What Zeus willed was fulfilled, from the day there flared

    a strife that, through discord, heralded its first outbreak,

  5. between Atreides, lord of the host, when it erupted,

    with the chosen Achilles caught in its blaze.

  6. Which god ordained it? None other than Phoe—

    —bus and Zeus, who punished them terribly.

  7. For Latona’s son aimed evil against Atreides,

    after Atreides dealt him a grievous affront.

  8. So he struck his army with a dreadful plague,

    and his troops began to fall in shattered ranks,

  9. because the king dishonored his venerable priest,

    Chryses, when he came to the fleet,

  10. seeking to ransom his daughter with precious gifts,

    humbly imploring all the Greeks,

  11. especially the two rulers, the sons of Atreus.

    And he bore aloft a noble scepter,

  12. golden; the ribbons of Phoe—, lord of arrows,

    —bus appeared upon it, trailing their ends.

  13. He said, “O scions of Atreus and host of Achaea,

    may all of you be rewarded with a fair recompense;

  14. may the gods of Olympus grant you the glory

    of conquering Priam, then a glorious homecoming.

  15. By Phoebus, offspring of Zeus Most High,

    who pours down the arrows of death in torrents,

  16. accept my ransom and return my daughter.”

    All the Greeks cried out their assent:

  17. they chose to honor the old man’s sanctity among them

    and to accept his ransom in exchange.

  18. But those words displeased Aga-mem—

    —non, Atreides, so he sent him away rebuffed.

Sol 5.6