Encouraged thus, the blameless seer went on:— “ ’Tis not neglected vows or hecatombs That move him, but the insult shown his priest, Whom Agamemnon spurned, when he refused To set his daughter free, and to receive Her ransom. Therefore sends the archer-god These woes, and still will send them on the Greeks, Nor ever will withdraw his heavy hand From our destruction, till the dark-eyed maid Freely, and without ransom, be restored To her beloved father, and with her A sacred hecatomb to Chrysa sent. So may we haply pacify the god.”
Thus having said, the augur took his seat. And then the hero-son of Atreus rose, Wide-ruling Agamemnon, greatly chafed. His gloomy heart was full of wrath, his eyes Sparkled like fire; he fixed a menacing look Full on the augur Calchas, and began:—
“Prophet of evil! Never hadst thou yet A cheerful word for me. To mark the signs Of coming mischief is thy great delight. Good dost thou ne’er foretell nor bring to pass. And now thou pratest, in thine auguries, Before the Greeks, how that the archer-god Afflicts us thus, because I would not take The costly ransom offered to redeem The virgin child of Chryses. ’Twas my choice To keep her with me, for I prize her more Than Clytemnestra, bride of my young years, And deem her not less nobly graced than she, In form and feature, mind and pleasing arts. Yet will I give her back, if that be best; For gladly would I see my people saved From this destruction. Let meet recompense, Meantime, be ready, that I be not left, Alone of all the Greeks, without my prize. That were not seemly. All of you perceive That now my share of spoil has passed from me.”
To him the great Achilles, swift of foot, Replied: “Renowned Atrides, greediest Of men, where wilt thou that our noble Greeks Find other spoil for thee, since none is set Apart, a common store? The trophies brought From towns which we have sacked have all been shared Among us, and we could not without shame Bid every warrior bring his portion