Book IX

in his tent Hath promised thee:⁠—Seven tripods which the fire Hath never touched; six talents of pure gold; And twenty shining cauldrons; and twelve steeds Of hardy frame, victorious in the race, Whose feet have won him prizes in the games. No beggar would he be, nor yet with store Of gold unfurnished, in whose coffers lay The prizes those swift-footed steeds have won. Seven faultless women, skilled in household arts, He offers⁠—Lesbians, whom he chose when thou Didst overrun the populous Lesbian isle⁠— In beauty eminent among their sex. These he bestows, and with them he will send Her whom he took away⁠—Briseis, pure He swears it with a mighty oath⁠—as pure As when she left thy tent. All these he gives At once; and if, by favor of the gods, We lay the mighty city of Priam waste, Thou shalt load down thy galley with large store Of gold and silver, entering first when we, The Greeks, divide the spoil. Then mayst thou choose Twice ten young Trojan women, beautiful Beyond their sex save Helen. If we come Safe to Achaian Argos, richly stocked With milky kine, thou mayst become to him A son-in-law, and cherished equally With his sole son Orestes, who is reared Right royally. Three daughters there, within The monarch’s stately halls⁠—Chrysothemis, Laodice, and Iphianassa⁠—dwell, And thou mayst choose among them, and mayst lead Home to the house of Peleus her who best Deserves thy love. Nor needest thou endow The bride, for he will give an ampler dower Than ever father to his daughter gave⁠— Seven cities with thronged streets⁠—Cardamyle, Enope, grassy Hira, Pherae famed Afar, Antheia with rich pasture-grounds, Aepeia beautiful, and Pedasus With all its vineyards; all are near the sea, And stand the last before you reach the coast Of sandy Pylos. Rich in flocks and herds Their dwellers are, and they will honor thee As if thou wert a god, and, ruled by thee, Will pay large tribute. These will he bestow, Let but thine anger cease. But if the son Of Atreus and his gifts still move thy hate, At least have pity on the afflicted Greeks, Pent in their camp, who now would honor thee As if thou wert a god; and thou shalt gain Great glory as their champion, and shalt slay This Hector, who even now is close at hand,