September 16, 2024 • 34 mins
Book 1: The Rage of Achilles
The epic opens with a quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles over a captive woman, Briseis. Achilles, enraged by Agamemnon’s arrogance, withdraws from the war. His mother, Thetis, asks Zeus to punish the Greeks. Summary by Dream Audiobooks
The epic opens with a quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles over a captive woman, Briseis. Achilles, enraged by Agamemnon’s arrogance, withdraws from the war. His mother, Thetis, asks Zeus to punish the Greeks. Summary by Dream Audiobooks
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dream Audio Books presents the Iliad by Homer, translated by
Samuel Butler. Book one, the quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles.
Achilles withdrawals from the war and sends his mother Thetis
to ask job to help the Trojans. Seen between Jove
and Juno on Olympus sing O Goddess, the anger of Achilles,
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son of Pelius, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans.
Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades,
and many a hero did it yield of praateed dogs
and vultures. For so were the councils of Jove fulfilled
from the day on which the son of Atreus, King
of Men, and Great Achilles first fell out with one another.
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And which are the gods was it that set them
on to quarrel? It was the son of Jove and Lito,
for he was angry with the king and sent a
pestilence upon the host to plague the people. Because the
soul of Atreus had dishonored Cryses, his priest, now crisis,
had come to the ships of the Achaeans to free
his daughter, and had brought with him a great ransom Moreover,
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he bore in his hand the scepter of Apollo, writhed
with a suppliants wreath, and he besought the Achaeans, but
most of all the two sons of Atreus, who were
their chiefs. Sons of Atreus, he cried, and all other Achaeans,
may the gods who dwell in Olympus grant you to
sack the city of Priam and to reach your homes
in safety. But free my daughter, and accept a ransom
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for her in reverence to Apollo, son of Jove. On this,
the rest of the Achaeans, with one voice, were for
respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered.
But not so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him and
sent him roughly away. Old man said, he let me
not find you tarrying about our ships, nor yet coming hereafter.
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Your scepter of the gold God and your wreath shall
profit you nothing. I will not free her. She shall
grow old in my house at Argos, far from her
own home, busying herself with her loom and visiting my couch.
So go and do not provoke me, or it shall
be the worse for you. The old man feared him
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and obeyed. Not a word he spoke, but went by
the shore of the Sounding Sea and prayed apart to
King Apollo, whom lovely Litho had borne. Hear me, He cried, O,
God of the silver Bow, that protectest Crysi and holy Silla,
and rulest Tenidos, with thy might. Hear me, Oh Thou
of SMINTHI, if I have ever decked your temple with garlands,
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or burned your thigh bones in fat of bulls or goats,
grant my prayer and let your arrows avenge these my
tears upon the Danaeans. Thus did he pray, and Apollo
heard his prayer. He came down furious from the summits
of Olympus, with his bow and quiver upon his shoulder,
and the arrows rattled on his back. With the rage
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that trembled within him. He sat himself down away from
the ships, with a face as dark as night, and
his silver bow rang death as he shot his arrow
in the midst of them. First he smote their mules
and their hounds, but presently he aimed his shafts at
the people themselves, And all day long the pyres of
the dead were burning for nine whole days he shot
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his arrows among the people. But upon the tenth day
Achilles called them in assembly, moved thereto by Juno, who
saw the Achaeans in their death throes and had compassion
upon them. Then, when they were got together, he rose
and spoke amongst them, son of Atrius, said he, I
deem that we should now turn roving home if we
would escape destruction, for we are being cut down by
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war and pestilence. At once let us ask some priest
or prophet, or some reader of dreams, for dreams too
are of job, who can tell us why fevers Apollo
who is so angry? And say whether it is for
some vow that we have broken, or hecatime that we
have not offered, and whether he will accept the savor
of lambs and goats without blemish, so as to take
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away the plague from us. With these words, he sat down,
and Colchious, son of Thesstoor, wisest of Augus, who knew
things past present, and to come, rose to speak. He
it was who had guided the Achaeans with their fleet
to Ilius through the prophesyings with which Phoebus Apollo had
inspired him with all sincerity and good will. He addressed
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the mass Achilles, loved of Heaven, you bid me tell
you about the anger of King Apollo. I will therefore
do so. But consider first and swear that you will
stand by me heartily in word and deed. For I
know that I shall offend one who rules the argives
with might, to whom all the Achaeans are in subjection.
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A plain man cannot stand against the anger of a king, who,
if he swallow his to pleasure now, will yet nurse
revenge till he has wreaked it. Consider therefore, whether or
no you will protect me. And Achilles answered, fear not,
but speak as it is borne in upon you from heaven.
For by Apollo Coulchius, to whom you pray, and whose
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oracles you reveal to us, not a Denaean at our
ships shall lay his hand upon you, while I yet
live to look upon the face of the earth. No, not,
though you name Agamemnon himself, who is by father foremost
of the Achaeans. Thereon, the seer spoke boldly. The God,
he said, is angry neither about vow nor hecatom, but
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for his priest's sake whom Agamemnon has dishonored, and that
he would not free his daughter nor take a ransom
for her. Therefore he has sent these evils upon us,
and will yet send others. He will not deliver the
Dnaeans from this pestilence till Agamemnon has restored the girl
without fear or ransom to her father, and has sent
a holy hecatom to Crisi. Thus we may perhaps appease
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him with these words. He sat down, an Agamemnon rose
in anger. His heart was black with rage, and his
eyes flashed fire as he scowled on Calchius and said,
seer of evil, you never yet prophesied smooth things concerning me,
but have ever loved to foretell that which was evil.
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You have brought me neither comfort nor performance. And now
you come seeing among d Naeans, and saying that Apollo
has plagued us. Because I would not take a ransom
for this girl, the daughter of Crises, I have set
my heart on keeping her in my own house, for
I love her better even than my own wife, Clytemnestra,
whose peer she is alike in form and feature, in understanding,
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and accomplishments. Still, I will give her up if I must,
for I would have the people live not die. But
you must find me a prize instead, or I alone
among the Argove shall be without one. This is not well,
for you hold all of you that my prize is
to go Elsewhether, and Achilles answered, most noble son of Atreus,
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covetous beyond all mankind, how shall the Achaeans find you
another prize? We have no common store from which to
take one. Those we took from the cities have been awarded.
We cannot disallow the awards that have been made already.
Give this girl therefore to the God. And if ever
Jove grants us to sack the city of Troy, we
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will requite you three and fourfold. Then, Agamemnon, said Achilles,
Valiant though you be, you shall not thus outwit me.
You shall not overreach, and you shall not persuade me.
Are you to keep your own prize while I sit
tamely under my loss and give up the girl at
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your bidding that the Achaeans find me a prize in
fair exchange to my liking, Or I will come and
take your own or that of ajex or of Ulysses,
and he to whom soever I may come, shall ruin
my coming. But of this we will take thought hereafter.
For the present, let us draw a ship into the
sea and find a crew for her. Expressly, let us
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put a hecatomb on board, and let us send crisis.
Also further, let some chief man among us be in command,
either Ajax or Idomeneus, or yourself, son of Pelius, mighty
warrior that you are, that we may offer sacrifice and
appease the anger of the god. Okiley scowled at him
and answered, you are steeped in insolence and lust of gain.
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With what heart can any of the Achaeans do your bidding,
either on foray or in open fighting. I came not
warring here for any ill the Trojans had done me.
I have no quarrel with them. They have not raided
my cattle, nor my horses, nor cut down my harvests
on the rich plains of Phythia. For between me and
them there is a great space, both mountain and sounding sea.
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We have followed you, sir, insolence, for your pleasure, not
ours to gain satisfaction from the Trojans, for your shameless
self and for Menelaus, you forget this and threaten to
rob me of the prize for which I have toiled
in which the sons of the Achaeans have given me. Never,
when the Achaeans sack any rich city of the Trojans,
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do I receive so good a prize as you do.
Though it is my hands that do the better part
of the fighting. When the sharing comes, your share is
far the largest, and I forsooth must go back to
my ships, take what I can get, and be thankful
when my labor of fighting is done. Now, therefore I
shall go back to Phythia. It will be much better
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for me to return home with my ships, for I
will not stay here dishonored to gather gold and substance
for you, and Agamemnon answered fly if you will, I
shall make you no prayers to stay you. I have
others here who will do me honor. And above all,
Old Jove, the Lord of Counsel. There is no king
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here so hateful to me as you are, For you
are ever quarrelsome and ill affected. What though you be brave,
was it not Heaven that made you so? Go home? Then,
with your ships and comrades to Lord it over the murmurdans.
I care neither for you nor for your anger, and
thus will I do. Since Phoebus Apollo is taken Chrysius
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from me, I shall send her with my ship and
my followers. But I shall come to your tent and
take your own prize, Brescius, that you may learn how
much stronger I am than you, and that another may
fear to set himself up as equal or comparable with me.
The son of Peleus was furious. It is heart within
his shaggy breast was divided whether to draw his sword,
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push the others aside, and kill the son of Atreus,
or to restrain himself and check his anger. While he
was thus in two minds and was drawing his mighty
sword from its scabbard, came down from heaven, for Juno
had sent her in the love she bore to them both,
and seized the son of Beelias by his yellow hair,
visible to him alone, for of the others no man
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could see her. Achilles turned in a maze, and by
the fire that flashed from her eyes, at once knew
that she was Minerva. Why are you here, said he,
daughter of Aegis bearing jove to see the pride of Agamemnon,
son of Atreus. Let me tell you, and it shall
surely be. He shall pay for this insolence with his life.
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And Minerva said, I come from heaven. If you would
hear me to bid you stay your anger. Juno has
sent me who cares for both of you alike. Cease
then this brawling, and do not draw your sword. Rail
at him if you will, and your railings shall not
be vain, For I tell you, and it shall surely
be that you shall hereafter receive gifts three times as
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splendid by reason of this present insult. Hold therefore and
obey God. Yes, answered the chillies. However angry a man
may be, he must do as you two command him.
This will be best for the gods ever hear the
prayers of him who has obeyed them. He stayed his
hand on the silver hilt of his sword and thrust
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it back into the scabbard, as Maneuver bade him. Then
she went back to Olympus among the other gods, and
to the house of Ajis bearing Jove. But the son
of Pelius again began railing at the son of Atreus,
for he was still in a rage, whine, bebber, he
cried with the face of a dog in the heart
of a hind. You never dare to go out with
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the host in fight, nor yet without chosen men in ambuscade.
You shun this as you do death itself. You had
rather go round and rob his prizes from any man
who contradicts you. You devour your people, for you are
king over a feeble folk. Otherwise, son of Atreus, henceforward
you would insult no man. Therefore I say and swear
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it with a great oath, nay, by this my scepter,
which shall sprout neither leaf, nor shoot, nor bud anew
from the day on which it left its parent stem
upon the mountains, for the axe stripped it of leaf
and bark. And now the sons of the Achaeans bear
it as judges and guardians of the decree of Heaven.
So surely and solemnly do I swear that hereafter they
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shall look fondly for Achilles, and shall not find him.
In the day of your distress, when your men fall
dying by the murderous hand of Hector, you shall not
know how to help them, and shall rend your heart
with rage. For the hour when you offered insult to
the bravest of the Achaeans. With this, the son of
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Peleus dashed his gold bestudded scepter on the ground and
took his seat, while the son of Atreus was beginning
fiercely from his place upon the other side. Then up
rose smooth, tongued nest, the facile speaker of the Pylians,
and the words fell from his lips sweeter than honey.
Two generations of men born and bred in Pylos had
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passed away under his rule, and he was now reigning
over the third with all sincerity and good will. Therefore
he addressed them thus of a truth, he said, a
great sorrow has befallen the Achaian land. Surely Praam with
his sons, would rejoice, and the Trojans be glad at
heart if they could hear this quarrel between you two,
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who are so excellent in fight and counsel. I am
older than neither of you. Therefore be guided by me. Moreover,
I have been the familiar friend of men even greater
than you are, and they did not disregard my counsels.
Never again can I behold such men as beireths and
dryas shepherd of his people, or of Cannaeus Exadius, godlike Polyphemus,
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and Theseus, son of Egeus, peer of the immortals. These
were the mightiest men ever borne upon this earth. Mightiest
were they. And when they fought the fiercest tribes of
mountain savages, they utterly overthrew them. I came from distant
Pylos and went about among them, for they would have
me come, and I fought, as it was in me
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to do. Not a man now living could withstand them.
But they heard my words and were persuaded by them.
So be it also with yourselves, for this is the
more excellent way. Therefore, Agamemnon, though you be strong, take
not this girl away, for the sons of the Achaeans
have already given her to Achilles. And you, Achilles, strive
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not further with the king. For no man who, by
the grace of Jove wields a scepter, has like honor
with Agamemnon. You are strong and have a goddess for
your mother. But Agamemnon is stronger than you, for he
has more people under him. Son of Atreus, check your anger.
I implore you end this quarrel with Achilles, who in
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the day of battle is a tower of strength to
the Achaeans. And Agamemnon answered, sir, all that you have
said is true. But this fellow must needs become our
lord master. He must be lord of all, king of all,
and captain of all. And this shall hardly be rounded.
That the gods have made him a great warrior, have
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they also given him the right to speak? With railing
Achilles interrupted him, I should be a mean coward, he cried,
Were I to give in to you in all things
order other people about not me, for I shall obey
no longer. Furthermore, I say and lay my saying to
your heart. I shall fight neither you nor any man
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about this girl, for those that take were also those
that gave. But of all else that is at my ship,
you shall carry away nothing by force, try that others
may see. If you do, my spears shall be reddened
with your blood. When they had quarreled thus angrily, they
rose and broke up the assembly at the ships of
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the Achaeans. The son of Pelius went back to his
tents and ships with the son of Menoetius and his company,
while Agamemnon drew a vessel into the water and chose
a crew of twenty oarsmen. He escorted Creseus on board,
and sent moreover a hecatomb for the god, and Ulysses
went as captain. These then went on board and sailed
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their ways over the sea. But the son of Atreus
bade the people purify themselves. So they purified themselves and
cast their filth into the sea. Then they offered hecatomes
of bulls and goats without blemish on the sea shore,
and the smoke, with the savor of their sacrifice, rose
curling up towards heaven. Thus did they busy themselves throughout
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the host. But Agamemnon did not forget the threat that
he had made Achilles, and called his trusty messengers and
squired Alphebius and eurybats go. Said he to the tent
of Achilles, son of Peleus, take Precius by the hand,
and bring her heather. If he will not give her,
I shall come with others and take her, which will
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press him harta. He charged them straight further and dismissed them.
Whereon they went their way sorrowfully by the sea side,
till they came to the tents and ships of the Mrmidons.
They found Achilles sitting by his tent and his ships,
and ill pleased he was when he behold them. They
stood fearfully and reverently before him, and never a word
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did they speak. But he knew them and said, welcome, heralds,
messengers of gods and men, draw near. My quarrel is
not with you, but with Agamemnon, who has sent you
for the girl Brecius. Therefore, Patrocles spring her and give
her to them. But let them be witnesses by the
blessed gods, by mortal men, and by the fierceness of
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Agamemnon's anger, that if ever again there be need of
me to save the people from ruin, they shall seek,
and they shall not find. Agamemnon is mad with rage
and knows not how to look. Before and after that
the Achaeans may fight by their ships in safety. Patruclus
did as his dear command had bidden him. He brought
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Brisseus from the tent and gave her over to the heralds,
who took her with them to the ships of the Achaeans.
And the woman was loth to go. Then Achilles went
all alone by the side of the hoar sea, weeping,
and looking out upon the boundless waste of waters. He
raised his hands in prayer to his immortal mother Mother.
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He cried, you bore me, doomed to live but for
a little season. Surely Jove, who thunders from Olympus, might
have made that little glorious? Is it not so? Agamemnon,
son of Atreus, has done me dishonor, and has robbed
me of my prize by force. As he spoke, he
wept aloud, and his mother heard him, where she was
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sitting in the depths of the sea, hard by the
old man her father. Forthwith she rose, as it were,
a gray mist out of the waves, and sat down
before him as he stood weeping, caressed with her hand,
and said, my son, why are you weeping? What is
it that grieves you? Keep it not from me, but
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tell me that we may know it together. Achilles drew
a deep sigh and said, you know it might tell
you what you know well. Already we went to theb
The strong city of Ethion sacked it and brought hither
the spoil. The sons of the Achaeans shed it duly
amongst themselves, and chose lovely Chryseus as the mead of Agamemnon.
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But Cryses, priest of Apollo, came to the ships of
the Achaeans to free his daughter, and brought with him
a great ransom. Moreover, he bore in his hand the
scepter of Apollo, wreathed with a suppliant's wreath, and he
besought the Achaeans, but most of all the two sons
of Atreus, who were their chiefs on this The rest
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of the Achaeans, with one voice, were for respecting the
priest and taking the ransom that he offered. But not
so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him and said sent
him roughly away. So he went back in anger, and Apollo,
who loved him, dearly heard his prayer. Then the god
sent a deadly dart upon the archives, and the people
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died thick on one another, for the arrows went every
weather amongst the wide host of the Achaeans. At last,
a sea, in the fullness of his knowledge, declared to
us the oracles of Apollo. And I was myself first
to say that we should appease him. Whereon the son
of Atreus rose in anger and threatened that which he
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has since done. The Achaeans are now taking the girl
in a ship to Crisi, and sending gifts of sacrifice
to the god. But the heralds have just taken from
my tent the daughter of Briseius, whom the Achaeans had
awarded to myself. Help your brave son. Therefore, if you
are able, go to Olympus, and if you have ever
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done him service in word or deed, implore the aid
of Jove. Oft times in my father's house, I heard you, glory,
and that you alone of the immortal save the son
of Saturn from ruin. When the others, with Juno Neptune
and Pallas Minerva, would have put him in bonds, it
was you, Goddess, who delivered him by calling to Olympus,
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the hundred handed monster, whom the gods called Bairaeus, but
men aegeon, for he is stronger even than his father.
When therefore he took his seat or glorious beside the
son of Saturn, the other gods were afraid and did
not bind him. Go then to him, remind him of
all this, clasp his knees, and bid him give succor
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to the Trojans. Let the Achaeans be hemmed in at
the sterns of their ships and perish on the sea shore,
that they may reap what joy they may of their king,
and that Agamemnon may rue his blindness in offering insult
to the foremost of the Achaeans. Thetars wept and answered,
my son, woe is me that I should have borne
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or suckled you would indeed you had lived your span
free from all sorrow at your ships. For it is
all too brief alas that you should be at once
short of life and long of sorrow above your peers.
Woe therefore was the hour in which I bore you. Nevertheless,
I will go to the snowy heights of Olympus and
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tell this tale to Jove, if he will hear our prayer. Meanwhile,
stay where you are with your ships, nurse your anger
against the Achaeans, and hold aloof from fight. For Jove
went yesterday to Oceanus to a feast among the Ethiopians,
when the other gods went with him. He will return
to Olympus twelve days. Hence, I will then go to
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his mansion paved with bronze, and will beseech him, nor
do I doubt that I should be able to persuade
him on this. She left him, still furious at the
loss of her that had been taken from him. Meanwhile,
Ulysses reached Crisi with the Hecatomb. When they had come
inside the harbor, they felled the sails and laid them
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in the ship's hold. They slackened the forestays, lowered the
mast into its place, and rowed the ship to the
place where they would have her lie. There they cast
out their mooring stones and made fast the horses. Then
they got out upon the sea shore and landed the
Hecatomb for Apollo. Grysius also left the ship, and Ulysses
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led it to the altar to deliver her into the
hands of her father. Gryses said, he, King Agamemnon, has
sent me to bring you back your child and to
offer sacrifice to Apollo on behalf of the Danaeans, that
we may propitiate the god who has now brought sorrow
upon the Argives. So saying, he gave the girl over
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to her father, who received her gladly, and they ranged
the holy Hecatomb all orderly round the altar of the God.
They washed their hands and took up the barley meal
to sprinkle over the victims, while Chryses lifted up his
hands and prayed aloud on their behalf. Here me, he cried, O,
God of the silver bow, that protectest Crysi and holy Scilla,
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and ruless Tenidos with thy might. Even as thou didst
hear me aforetime when I prayed and did pressed hardly
upon the Achaeans, so hear me yet again, and stay
this fearful pestilence from the Danaeans. Thus did he pray,
and Apollo heard his prayer. When they had done praying
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and sprinkling the barley meal, they drew back the heads
of the victims and killed and flayed them. They cut
out the thigh bones, wrapped them round in two layers
of fat, set some pieces of raw meat on the
top of them, and then Cryses laid them on the
wood fire and poured wine over them, while the young
men stood near him with five pronged spits in their hands.
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When the thigh bones were burned and they had tasted
the inward meats, they cut the rest up small, put
the pieces upon the spits, roasted them till they were done,
and drew them off. Then, when they had finished their
work and the feast was ready, they ate it, and
every man had his full share, so that all were satisfied.
As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink,
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pages filled the mixing bowl with wine and water, and
handed it round, after giving every man his drink offering. Thus,
or day long, the young men worshiped the God with song,
hymning him and chaunting the joyous pan, and the God
took pleasure in their voices. But when the sun went
down and it came on dark, they laid themselves down
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to sleep by the stern cables of the ship. And
when the child of morning, rosy fingered dawn appeared, they
again set sail for the host of the Achaeans. Apollo
sent them a fair wind, so they raised their mast
and hoisted their white sails aloft. As the sail bellied
with the wind, the ship flew through the deep blue water,
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and the foam hissed against her boughs as she sped onward.
When they reached the wide, stretching host of the Achaeans,
they drew the vesselation shore high and dry upon the
sands set her strong props beneath her, and went their
ways to their own tents and ships. But Acelles aboded
his ships and nursed his anger. He went not to
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the honorable assembly and sallied not forth to fight, But
gnaw did his own heart, pining for battle than the
war cry. Now, after twelve days, the immortal gods came
back in a body to Olympus, and Jove led the way.
Thetus was not unmindful of the charge her son had
laid upon her, so she rose from under the sea
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and went through great Heaven with early morning to Olympus,
where she found the mighty son of Saturn, sitting all
alone upon its topmost ridges. She set herself down before him,
and with her left hand seized his knees, while with
her right she caught him under the chin and besought him, saying, Father, Jove,
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if I ever did you service in word or deed
among the immortals, hear my prayer, and do honor to
my son, whose life is to be cut short so
early King Agamemnon has dishonored him by taking his prize
and keeping her honor him. Then yourself, Olympian, lord of
counsel and grant victory to the Trojans, till the Achaeans
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give my son his due and load him with riches.
In requital, Jove sat for a while, silent and without
a word. But Thetis still kept firm hold of his
knees and besought him a second time. Incline your head,
said he, and promise me surely or else to ny me,
for you have nothing to fear that I may learn
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how greatly you disdain me. At this Jove was much troubled,
and answered, I shall have trouble if you set me
quarreling with Juno, for she will provoke me with her
taunting speeches. Even now she is always railing at me
before the other gods and accusing me of giving aid
to the Trojans. Go back now lest she should find out.
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I will cond of the matter and will bring it
about as you wish. See I incline my head that
you may believe me. This is the most solemn promise
that I can give to any god. I never recall
my word, or deceive, or failed to do what I say.
When I have nodded my head as he spoke, the
son of Saturn bowed his dark brows, and the ambrosial
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locks swayed on his immortal head till vast Olympus reeled.
When the pair had thus laid their plans, they parted,
Jove to his house, while the goddess quitted the splendor
of Olympus and plunged into the depths of the sea.
The gods rose from their seats before the coming of
their sire, not one of them dead to remain sitting,
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but all stood up as he came among them. There
then he took his seat. But Juno, when she saw him,
knew that he and the old Mermand's daughter, silver Footed Thesis,
had been hatching mischief, so she at once began to
upbraid him. Trickster, She cried, which of the gods have
you been taking into your counsels? Now? You are always
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settling matters in secret behind my back, and have never
yet told me, if you could help it, one word
of your intentions, Juno replied, the sire of gods and men,
you must not expect to be informed of all my counsels.
You are my wife, but you ad find it hard
to understand them when it is proper for you to hear.
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There is no one god or man, who will be
told sooner. But when I mean to keep a matter
to myself, you must not pry nor ask questions. Dread
son of Satin, answered Juna, what are you talking about? Ay?
Pry and ask questions. Never I let you have your
own way in everything. Still, I have a strong misgiving
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that the old merman's daughter Theseus has been talking you over,
for she was with you and had hold of your
knees this self same morning. I believe, therefore, that you
have been promising her to give glory to Achilles and
to kill much people at the ships of the Achaeans.
Wife said Jove, I can do nothing, but you suspect
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me and find it out. You will take nothing by it,
for I shall only dislike you the more, and it
will go harder with you. Granted that it is as
you say, I mean to have it, So sit down
and hold your tongue as I bid you, For if
I once begin to lay my hands about you, though
all heaven were on your side, it would profit you nothing.
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On this Juno was frightened, so she curbed her stubborn
will and sat down in silence. But the heavenly beings
were disquieted throughout the house of Jove, till the cunning
workman Vulcan began to try and pacify his mother. Juno,
it will be intolerable said he, if you two fall
to wrangling and settling heaven in an uproar about a
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pack of mortals. If such ill counsels are to prevail,
we shall have no pleasure at our banquet. Let me
then advise my mother, and she must herself know that
it will be better to make friends with my dear
father Jove, Lest he again scold her and disturb our feast.
If the Olympian thunderer wants to hurl us all from
our seats, he can do so, for he is far
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the strongest. So give him fair words, and he will
then soon be in a good humor with us. As
he spoke, he took a double cup of nectar and
placed it in his mother's hand. Cheer up, my dear mother,
said he, and make the best of it. I love
you dearly, and should be very sorry to see you
get a thrashing. However grieved I might be, I could
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not help, for there is no standing against Jove. Once before,
when I was trying to help you, he caught me
by the foot and flung me from the heavenly threshold.
All day long, from morn to leave, I was falling
till at sunset I came to ground in the island
of Lemnos, and there I lay, with very little life
left in me, till the Scinthians came and tendered me.
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Juno smiled at this, and as she smiled, she took
the cup from her son's hands. Then Vulcan drew sweet
nectar from the mixing bowl and served it round among
the gods, going from left to right, And the blessed
gods laughed at a loud applause as they saw him
bustling about the heavenly mansion. Thus, through the live long
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day to the going down of the sun, they feasted,
and every one had his full share, so that all
was satisfied. Apollo struck his lyre, and the muses lifted
up their sweet voices, calling and answering one another. But
when the sun's glorious light had faded, they went home
to bed, each in his own abode, which Lame Vulcan,
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with his consummate skill, had fashioned for them. So Jove,
the Olympian, lord of Thunder, hied him to the bed
in which he always slept, and when he had got
on to it, he went to sleep, with Juno of
the Golden Throne by his side. End of Section one.
Dream Audio Books hopes you have enjoyed this program.
Dream Audio Books presents the Iliad by Homer, translated by
Samuel Butler. Book one, the quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles.
Achilles withdrawals from the war and sends his mother Thetis
to ask job to help the Trojans. Seen between Jove
and Juno on Olympus sing O Goddess, the anger of Achilles,
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son of Pelius, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans.
Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades,
and many a hero did it yield of praateed dogs
and vultures. For so were the councils of Jove fulfilled
from the day on which the son of Atreus, King
of Men, and Great Achilles first fell out with one another.
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And which are the gods was it that set them
on to quarrel? It was the son of Jove and Lito,
for he was angry with the king and sent a
pestilence upon the host to plague the people. Because the
soul of Atreus had dishonored Cryses, his priest, now crisis,
had come to the ships of the Achaeans to free
his daughter, and had brought with him a great ransom Moreover,
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he bore in his hand the scepter of Apollo, writhed
with a suppliants wreath, and he besought the Achaeans, but
most of all the two sons of Atreus, who were
their chiefs. Sons of Atreus, he cried, and all other Achaeans,
may the gods who dwell in Olympus grant you to
sack the city of Priam and to reach your homes
in safety. But free my daughter, and accept a ransom
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for her in reverence to Apollo, son of Jove. On this,
the rest of the Achaeans, with one voice, were for
respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered.
But not so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him and
sent him roughly away. Old man said, he let me
not find you tarrying about our ships, nor yet coming hereafter.
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Your scepter of the gold God and your wreath shall
profit you nothing. I will not free her. She shall
grow old in my house at Argos, far from her
own home, busying herself with her loom and visiting my couch.
So go and do not provoke me, or it shall
be the worse for you. The old man feared him
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and obeyed. Not a word he spoke, but went by
the shore of the Sounding Sea and prayed apart to
King Apollo, whom lovely Litho had borne. Hear me, He cried, O,
God of the silver Bow, that protectest Crysi and holy Silla,
and rulest Tenidos, with thy might. Hear me, Oh Thou
of SMINTHI, if I have ever decked your temple with garlands,
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or burned your thigh bones in fat of bulls or goats,
grant my prayer and let your arrows avenge these my
tears upon the Danaeans. Thus did he pray, and Apollo
heard his prayer. He came down furious from the summits
of Olympus, with his bow and quiver upon his shoulder,
and the arrows rattled on his back. With the rage
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that trembled within him. He sat himself down away from
the ships, with a face as dark as night, and
his silver bow rang death as he shot his arrow
in the midst of them. First he smote their mules
and their hounds, but presently he aimed his shafts at
the people themselves, And all day long the pyres of
the dead were burning for nine whole days he shot
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his arrows among the people. But upon the tenth day
Achilles called them in assembly, moved thereto by Juno, who
saw the Achaeans in their death throes and had compassion
upon them. Then, when they were got together, he rose
and spoke amongst them, son of Atrius, said he, I
deem that we should now turn roving home if we
would escape destruction, for we are being cut down by
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war and pestilence. At once let us ask some priest
or prophet, or some reader of dreams, for dreams too
are of job, who can tell us why fevers Apollo
who is so angry? And say whether it is for
some vow that we have broken, or hecatime that we
have not offered, and whether he will accept the savor
of lambs and goats without blemish, so as to take
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away the plague from us. With these words, he sat down,
and Colchious, son of Thesstoor, wisest of Augus, who knew
things past present, and to come, rose to speak. He
it was who had guided the Achaeans with their fleet
to Ilius through the prophesyings with which Phoebus Apollo had
inspired him with all sincerity and good will. He addressed
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the mass Achilles, loved of Heaven, you bid me tell
you about the anger of King Apollo. I will therefore
do so. But consider first and swear that you will
stand by me heartily in word and deed. For I
know that I shall offend one who rules the argives
with might, to whom all the Achaeans are in subjection.
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A plain man cannot stand against the anger of a king, who,
if he swallow his to pleasure now, will yet nurse
revenge till he has wreaked it. Consider therefore, whether or
no you will protect me. And Achilles answered, fear not,
but speak as it is borne in upon you from heaven.
For by Apollo Coulchius, to whom you pray, and whose
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oracles you reveal to us, not a Denaean at our
ships shall lay his hand upon you, while I yet
live to look upon the face of the earth. No, not,
though you name Agamemnon himself, who is by father foremost
of the Achaeans. Thereon, the seer spoke boldly. The God,
he said, is angry neither about vow nor hecatom, but
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for his priest's sake whom Agamemnon has dishonored, and that
he would not free his daughter nor take a ransom
for her. Therefore he has sent these evils upon us,
and will yet send others. He will not deliver the
Dnaeans from this pestilence till Agamemnon has restored the girl
without fear or ransom to her father, and has sent
a holy hecatom to Crisi. Thus we may perhaps appease
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him with these words. He sat down, an Agamemnon rose
in anger. His heart was black with rage, and his
eyes flashed fire as he scowled on Calchius and said,
seer of evil, you never yet prophesied smooth things concerning me,
but have ever loved to foretell that which was evil.
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You have brought me neither comfort nor performance. And now
you come seeing among d Naeans, and saying that Apollo
has plagued us. Because I would not take a ransom
for this girl, the daughter of Crises, I have set
my heart on keeping her in my own house, for
I love her better even than my own wife, Clytemnestra,
whose peer she is alike in form and feature, in understanding,
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and accomplishments. Still, I will give her up if I must,
for I would have the people live not die. But
you must find me a prize instead, or I alone
among the Argove shall be without one. This is not well,
for you hold all of you that my prize is
to go Elsewhether, and Achilles answered, most noble son of Atreus,
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covetous beyond all mankind, how shall the Achaeans find you
another prize? We have no common store from which to
take one. Those we took from the cities have been awarded.
We cannot disallow the awards that have been made already.
Give this girl therefore to the God. And if ever
Jove grants us to sack the city of Troy, we
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will requite you three and fourfold. Then, Agamemnon, said Achilles,
Valiant though you be, you shall not thus outwit me.
You shall not overreach, and you shall not persuade me.
Are you to keep your own prize while I sit
tamely under my loss and give up the girl at
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your bidding that the Achaeans find me a prize in
fair exchange to my liking, Or I will come and
take your own or that of ajex or of Ulysses,
and he to whom soever I may come, shall ruin
my coming. But of this we will take thought hereafter.
For the present, let us draw a ship into the
sea and find a crew for her. Expressly, let us
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put a hecatomb on board, and let us send crisis.
Also further, let some chief man among us be in command,
either Ajax or Idomeneus, or yourself, son of Pelius, mighty
warrior that you are, that we may offer sacrifice and
appease the anger of the god. Okiley scowled at him
and answered, you are steeped in insolence and lust of gain.
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With what heart can any of the Achaeans do your bidding,
either on foray or in open fighting. I came not
warring here for any ill the Trojans had done me.
I have no quarrel with them. They have not raided
my cattle, nor my horses, nor cut down my harvests
on the rich plains of Phythia. For between me and
them there is a great space, both mountain and sounding sea.
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We have followed you, sir, insolence, for your pleasure, not
ours to gain satisfaction from the Trojans, for your shameless
self and for Menelaus, you forget this and threaten to
rob me of the prize for which I have toiled
in which the sons of the Achaeans have given me. Never,
when the Achaeans sack any rich city of the Trojans,
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do I receive so good a prize as you do.
Though it is my hands that do the better part
of the fighting. When the sharing comes, your share is
far the largest, and I forsooth must go back to
my ships, take what I can get, and be thankful
when my labor of fighting is done. Now, therefore I
shall go back to Phythia. It will be much better
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for me to return home with my ships, for I
will not stay here dishonored to gather gold and substance
for you, and Agamemnon answered fly if you will, I
shall make you no prayers to stay you. I have
others here who will do me honor. And above all,
Old Jove, the Lord of Counsel. There is no king
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here so hateful to me as you are, For you
are ever quarrelsome and ill affected. What though you be brave,
was it not Heaven that made you so? Go home? Then,
with your ships and comrades to Lord it over the murmurdans.
I care neither for you nor for your anger, and
thus will I do. Since Phoebus Apollo is taken Chrysius
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from me, I shall send her with my ship and
my followers. But I shall come to your tent and
take your own prize, Brescius, that you may learn how
much stronger I am than you, and that another may
fear to set himself up as equal or comparable with me.
The son of Peleus was furious. It is heart within
his shaggy breast was divided whether to draw his sword,
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push the others aside, and kill the son of Atreus,
or to restrain himself and check his anger. While he
was thus in two minds and was drawing his mighty
sword from its scabbard, came down from heaven, for Juno
had sent her in the love she bore to them both,
and seized the son of Beelias by his yellow hair,
visible to him alone, for of the others no man
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could see her. Achilles turned in a maze, and by
the fire that flashed from her eyes, at once knew
that she was Minerva. Why are you here, said he,
daughter of Aegis bearing jove to see the pride of Agamemnon,
son of Atreus. Let me tell you, and it shall
surely be. He shall pay for this insolence with his life.
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And Minerva said, I come from heaven. If you would
hear me to bid you stay your anger. Juno has
sent me who cares for both of you alike. Cease
then this brawling, and do not draw your sword. Rail
at him if you will, and your railings shall not
be vain, For I tell you, and it shall surely
be that you shall hereafter receive gifts three times as
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splendid by reason of this present insult. Hold therefore and
obey God. Yes, answered the chillies. However angry a man
may be, he must do as you two command him.
This will be best for the gods ever hear the
prayers of him who has obeyed them. He stayed his
hand on the silver hilt of his sword and thrust
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it back into the scabbard, as Maneuver bade him. Then
she went back to Olympus among the other gods, and
to the house of Ajis bearing Jove. But the son
of Pelius again began railing at the son of Atreus,
for he was still in a rage, whine, bebber, he
cried with the face of a dog in the heart
of a hind. You never dare to go out with
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the host in fight, nor yet without chosen men in ambuscade.
You shun this as you do death itself. You had
rather go round and rob his prizes from any man
who contradicts you. You devour your people, for you are
king over a feeble folk. Otherwise, son of Atreus, henceforward
you would insult no man. Therefore I say and swear
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it with a great oath, nay, by this my scepter,
which shall sprout neither leaf, nor shoot, nor bud anew
from the day on which it left its parent stem
upon the mountains, for the axe stripped it of leaf
and bark. And now the sons of the Achaeans bear
it as judges and guardians of the decree of Heaven.
So surely and solemnly do I swear that hereafter they
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shall look fondly for Achilles, and shall not find him.
In the day of your distress, when your men fall
dying by the murderous hand of Hector, you shall not
know how to help them, and shall rend your heart
with rage. For the hour when you offered insult to
the bravest of the Achaeans. With this, the son of
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Peleus dashed his gold bestudded scepter on the ground and
took his seat, while the son of Atreus was beginning
fiercely from his place upon the other side. Then up
rose smooth, tongued nest, the facile speaker of the Pylians,
and the words fell from his lips sweeter than honey.
Two generations of men born and bred in Pylos had
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passed away under his rule, and he was now reigning
over the third with all sincerity and good will. Therefore
he addressed them thus of a truth, he said, a
great sorrow has befallen the Achaian land. Surely Praam with
his sons, would rejoice, and the Trojans be glad at
heart if they could hear this quarrel between you two,
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who are so excellent in fight and counsel. I am
older than neither of you. Therefore be guided by me. Moreover,
I have been the familiar friend of men even greater
than you are, and they did not disregard my counsels.
Never again can I behold such men as beireths and
dryas shepherd of his people, or of Cannaeus Exadius, godlike Polyphemus,
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and Theseus, son of Egeus, peer of the immortals. These
were the mightiest men ever borne upon this earth. Mightiest
were they. And when they fought the fiercest tribes of
mountain savages, they utterly overthrew them. I came from distant
Pylos and went about among them, for they would have
me come, and I fought, as it was in me
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to do. Not a man now living could withstand them.
But they heard my words and were persuaded by them.
So be it also with yourselves, for this is the
more excellent way. Therefore, Agamemnon, though you be strong, take
not this girl away, for the sons of the Achaeans
have already given her to Achilles. And you, Achilles, strive
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not further with the king. For no man who, by
the grace of Jove wields a scepter, has like honor
with Agamemnon. You are strong and have a goddess for
your mother. But Agamemnon is stronger than you, for he
has more people under him. Son of Atreus, check your anger.
I implore you end this quarrel with Achilles, who in
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the day of battle is a tower of strength to
the Achaeans. And Agamemnon answered, sir, all that you have
said is true. But this fellow must needs become our
lord master. He must be lord of all, king of all,
and captain of all. And this shall hardly be rounded.
That the gods have made him a great warrior, have
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they also given him the right to speak? With railing
Achilles interrupted him, I should be a mean coward, he cried,
Were I to give in to you in all things
order other people about not me, for I shall obey
no longer. Furthermore, I say and lay my saying to
your heart. I shall fight neither you nor any man
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about this girl, for those that take were also those
that gave. But of all else that is at my ship,
you shall carry away nothing by force, try that others
may see. If you do, my spears shall be reddened
with your blood. When they had quarreled thus angrily, they
rose and broke up the assembly at the ships of
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the Achaeans. The son of Pelius went back to his
tents and ships with the son of Menoetius and his company,
while Agamemnon drew a vessel into the water and chose
a crew of twenty oarsmen. He escorted Creseus on board,
and sent moreover a hecatomb for the god, and Ulysses
went as captain. These then went on board and sailed
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their ways over the sea. But the son of Atreus
bade the people purify themselves. So they purified themselves and
cast their filth into the sea. Then they offered hecatomes
of bulls and goats without blemish on the sea shore,
and the smoke, with the savor of their sacrifice, rose
curling up towards heaven. Thus did they busy themselves throughout
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the host. But Agamemnon did not forget the threat that
he had made Achilles, and called his trusty messengers and
squired Alphebius and eurybats go. Said he to the tent
of Achilles, son of Peleus, take Precius by the hand,
and bring her heather. If he will not give her,
I shall come with others and take her, which will
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press him harta. He charged them straight further and dismissed them.
Whereon they went their way sorrowfully by the sea side,
till they came to the tents and ships of the Mrmidons.
They found Achilles sitting by his tent and his ships,
and ill pleased he was when he behold them. They
stood fearfully and reverently before him, and never a word
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did they speak. But he knew them and said, welcome, heralds,
messengers of gods and men, draw near. My quarrel is
not with you, but with Agamemnon, who has sent you
for the girl Brecius. Therefore, Patrocles spring her and give
her to them. But let them be witnesses by the
blessed gods, by mortal men, and by the fierceness of
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Agamemnon's anger, that if ever again there be need of
me to save the people from ruin, they shall seek,
and they shall not find. Agamemnon is mad with rage
and knows not how to look. Before and after that
the Achaeans may fight by their ships in safety. Patruclus
did as his dear command had bidden him. He brought
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Brisseus from the tent and gave her over to the heralds,
who took her with them to the ships of the Achaeans.
And the woman was loth to go. Then Achilles went
all alone by the side of the hoar sea, weeping,
and looking out upon the boundless waste of waters. He
raised his hands in prayer to his immortal mother Mother.
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He cried, you bore me, doomed to live but for
a little season. Surely Jove, who thunders from Olympus, might
have made that little glorious? Is it not so? Agamemnon,
son of Atreus, has done me dishonor, and has robbed
me of my prize by force. As he spoke, he
wept aloud, and his mother heard him, where she was
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sitting in the depths of the sea, hard by the
old man her father. Forthwith she rose, as it were,
a gray mist out of the waves, and sat down
before him as he stood weeping, caressed with her hand,
and said, my son, why are you weeping? What is
it that grieves you? Keep it not from me, but
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tell me that we may know it together. Achilles drew
a deep sigh and said, you know it might tell
you what you know well. Already we went to theb
The strong city of Ethion sacked it and brought hither
the spoil. The sons of the Achaeans shed it duly
amongst themselves, and chose lovely Chryseus as the mead of Agamemnon.
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But Cryses, priest of Apollo, came to the ships of
the Achaeans to free his daughter, and brought with him
a great ransom. Moreover, he bore in his hand the
scepter of Apollo, wreathed with a suppliant's wreath, and he
besought the Achaeans, but most of all the two sons
of Atreus, who were their chiefs on this The rest
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of the Achaeans, with one voice, were for respecting the
priest and taking the ransom that he offered. But not
so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him and said sent
him roughly away. So he went back in anger, and Apollo,
who loved him, dearly heard his prayer. Then the god
sent a deadly dart upon the archives, and the people
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died thick on one another, for the arrows went every
weather amongst the wide host of the Achaeans. At last,
a sea, in the fullness of his knowledge, declared to
us the oracles of Apollo. And I was myself first
to say that we should appease him. Whereon the son
of Atreus rose in anger and threatened that which he
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has since done. The Achaeans are now taking the girl
in a ship to Crisi, and sending gifts of sacrifice
to the god. But the heralds have just taken from
my tent the daughter of Briseius, whom the Achaeans had
awarded to myself. Help your brave son. Therefore, if you
are able, go to Olympus, and if you have ever
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done him service in word or deed, implore the aid
of Jove. Oft times in my father's house, I heard you, glory,
and that you alone of the immortal save the son
of Saturn from ruin. When the others, with Juno Neptune
and Pallas Minerva, would have put him in bonds, it
was you, Goddess, who delivered him by calling to Olympus,
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the hundred handed monster, whom the gods called Bairaeus, but
men aegeon, for he is stronger even than his father.
When therefore he took his seat or glorious beside the
son of Saturn, the other gods were afraid and did
not bind him. Go then to him, remind him of
all this, clasp his knees, and bid him give succor
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to the Trojans. Let the Achaeans be hemmed in at
the sterns of their ships and perish on the sea shore,
that they may reap what joy they may of their king,
and that Agamemnon may rue his blindness in offering insult
to the foremost of the Achaeans. Thetars wept and answered,
my son, woe is me that I should have borne
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or suckled you would indeed you had lived your span
free from all sorrow at your ships. For it is
all too brief alas that you should be at once
short of life and long of sorrow above your peers.
Woe therefore was the hour in which I bore you. Nevertheless,
I will go to the snowy heights of Olympus and
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tell this tale to Jove, if he will hear our prayer. Meanwhile,
stay where you are with your ships, nurse your anger
against the Achaeans, and hold aloof from fight. For Jove
went yesterday to Oceanus to a feast among the Ethiopians,
when the other gods went with him. He will return
to Olympus twelve days. Hence, I will then go to
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his mansion paved with bronze, and will beseech him, nor
do I doubt that I should be able to persuade
him on this. She left him, still furious at the
loss of her that had been taken from him. Meanwhile,
Ulysses reached Crisi with the Hecatomb. When they had come
inside the harbor, they felled the sails and laid them
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in the ship's hold. They slackened the forestays, lowered the
mast into its place, and rowed the ship to the
place where they would have her lie. There they cast
out their mooring stones and made fast the horses. Then
they got out upon the sea shore and landed the
Hecatomb for Apollo. Grysius also left the ship, and Ulysses
(24:22):
led it to the altar to deliver her into the
hands of her father. Gryses said, he, King Agamemnon, has
sent me to bring you back your child and to
offer sacrifice to Apollo on behalf of the Danaeans, that
we may propitiate the god who has now brought sorrow
upon the Argives. So saying, he gave the girl over
(24:43):
to her father, who received her gladly, and they ranged
the holy Hecatomb all orderly round the altar of the God.
They washed their hands and took up the barley meal
to sprinkle over the victims, while Chryses lifted up his
hands and prayed aloud on their behalf. Here me, he cried, O,
God of the silver bow, that protectest Crysi and holy Scilla,
(25:05):
and ruless Tenidos with thy might. Even as thou didst
hear me aforetime when I prayed and did pressed hardly
upon the Achaeans, so hear me yet again, and stay
this fearful pestilence from the Danaeans. Thus did he pray,
and Apollo heard his prayer. When they had done praying
(25:26):
and sprinkling the barley meal, they drew back the heads
of the victims and killed and flayed them. They cut
out the thigh bones, wrapped them round in two layers
of fat, set some pieces of raw meat on the
top of them, and then Cryses laid them on the
wood fire and poured wine over them, while the young
men stood near him with five pronged spits in their hands.
(25:48):
When the thigh bones were burned and they had tasted
the inward meats, they cut the rest up small, put
the pieces upon the spits, roasted them till they were done,
and drew them off. Then, when they had finished their
work and the feast was ready, they ate it, and
every man had his full share, so that all were satisfied.
As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink,
(26:10):
pages filled the mixing bowl with wine and water, and
handed it round, after giving every man his drink offering. Thus,
or day long, the young men worshiped the God with song,
hymning him and chaunting the joyous pan, and the God
took pleasure in their voices. But when the sun went
down and it came on dark, they laid themselves down
(26:31):
to sleep by the stern cables of the ship. And
when the child of morning, rosy fingered dawn appeared, they
again set sail for the host of the Achaeans. Apollo
sent them a fair wind, so they raised their mast
and hoisted their white sails aloft. As the sail bellied
with the wind, the ship flew through the deep blue water,
(26:51):
and the foam hissed against her boughs as she sped onward.
When they reached the wide, stretching host of the Achaeans,
they drew the vesselation shore high and dry upon the
sands set her strong props beneath her, and went their
ways to their own tents and ships. But Acelles aboded
his ships and nursed his anger. He went not to
(27:13):
the honorable assembly and sallied not forth to fight, But
gnaw did his own heart, pining for battle than the
war cry. Now, after twelve days, the immortal gods came
back in a body to Olympus, and Jove led the way.
Thetus was not unmindful of the charge her son had
laid upon her, so she rose from under the sea
(27:34):
and went through great Heaven with early morning to Olympus,
where she found the mighty son of Saturn, sitting all
alone upon its topmost ridges. She set herself down before him,
and with her left hand seized his knees, while with
her right she caught him under the chin and besought him, saying, Father, Jove,
(27:54):
if I ever did you service in word or deed
among the immortals, hear my prayer, and do honor to
my son, whose life is to be cut short so
early King Agamemnon has dishonored him by taking his prize
and keeping her honor him. Then yourself, Olympian, lord of
counsel and grant victory to the Trojans, till the Achaeans
(28:15):
give my son his due and load him with riches.
In requital, Jove sat for a while, silent and without
a word. But Thetis still kept firm hold of his
knees and besought him a second time. Incline your head,
said he, and promise me surely or else to ny me,
for you have nothing to fear that I may learn
(28:36):
how greatly you disdain me. At this Jove was much troubled,
and answered, I shall have trouble if you set me
quarreling with Juno, for she will provoke me with her
taunting speeches. Even now she is always railing at me
before the other gods and accusing me of giving aid
to the Trojans. Go back now lest she should find out.
(28:59):
I will cond of the matter and will bring it
about as you wish. See I incline my head that
you may believe me. This is the most solemn promise
that I can give to any god. I never recall
my word, or deceive, or failed to do what I say.
When I have nodded my head as he spoke, the
son of Saturn bowed his dark brows, and the ambrosial
(29:23):
locks swayed on his immortal head till vast Olympus reeled.
When the pair had thus laid their plans, they parted,
Jove to his house, while the goddess quitted the splendor
of Olympus and plunged into the depths of the sea.
The gods rose from their seats before the coming of
their sire, not one of them dead to remain sitting,
(29:45):
but all stood up as he came among them. There
then he took his seat. But Juno, when she saw him,
knew that he and the old Mermand's daughter, silver Footed Thesis,
had been hatching mischief, so she at once began to
upbraid him. Trickster, She cried, which of the gods have
you been taking into your counsels? Now? You are always
(30:05):
settling matters in secret behind my back, and have never
yet told me, if you could help it, one word
of your intentions, Juno replied, the sire of gods and men,
you must not expect to be informed of all my counsels.
You are my wife, but you ad find it hard
to understand them when it is proper for you to hear.
(30:26):
There is no one god or man, who will be
told sooner. But when I mean to keep a matter
to myself, you must not pry nor ask questions. Dread
son of Satin, answered Juna, what are you talking about? Ay?
Pry and ask questions. Never I let you have your
own way in everything. Still, I have a strong misgiving
(30:49):
that the old merman's daughter Theseus has been talking you over,
for she was with you and had hold of your
knees this self same morning. I believe, therefore, that you
have been promising her to give glory to Achilles and
to kill much people at the ships of the Achaeans.
Wife said Jove, I can do nothing, but you suspect
(31:09):
me and find it out. You will take nothing by it,
for I shall only dislike you the more, and it
will go harder with you. Granted that it is as
you say, I mean to have it, So sit down
and hold your tongue as I bid you, For if
I once begin to lay my hands about you, though
all heaven were on your side, it would profit you nothing.
(31:31):
On this Juno was frightened, so she curbed her stubborn
will and sat down in silence. But the heavenly beings
were disquieted throughout the house of Jove, till the cunning
workman Vulcan began to try and pacify his mother. Juno,
it will be intolerable said he, if you two fall
to wrangling and settling heaven in an uproar about a
(31:52):
pack of mortals. If such ill counsels are to prevail,
we shall have no pleasure at our banquet. Let me
then advise my mother, and she must herself know that
it will be better to make friends with my dear
father Jove, Lest he again scold her and disturb our feast.
If the Olympian thunderer wants to hurl us all from
our seats, he can do so, for he is far
(32:13):
the strongest. So give him fair words, and he will
then soon be in a good humor with us. As
he spoke, he took a double cup of nectar and
placed it in his mother's hand. Cheer up, my dear mother,
said he, and make the best of it. I love
you dearly, and should be very sorry to see you
get a thrashing. However grieved I might be, I could
(32:35):
not help, for there is no standing against Jove. Once before,
when I was trying to help you, he caught me
by the foot and flung me from the heavenly threshold.
All day long, from morn to leave, I was falling
till at sunset I came to ground in the island
of Lemnos, and there I lay, with very little life
left in me, till the Scinthians came and tendered me.
(32:57):
Juno smiled at this, and as she smiled, she took
the cup from her son's hands. Then Vulcan drew sweet
nectar from the mixing bowl and served it round among
the gods, going from left to right, And the blessed
gods laughed at a loud applause as they saw him
bustling about the heavenly mansion. Thus, through the live long
(33:17):
day to the going down of the sun, they feasted,
and every one had his full share, so that all
was satisfied. Apollo struck his lyre, and the muses lifted
up their sweet voices, calling and answering one another. But
when the sun's glorious light had faded, they went home
to bed, each in his own abode, which Lame Vulcan,
(33:38):
with his consummate skill, had fashioned for them. So Jove,
the Olympian, lord of Thunder, hied him to the bed
in which he always slept, and when he had got
on to it, he went to sleep, with Juno of
the Golden Throne by his side. End of Section one.
Dream Audio Books hopes you have enjoyed this program.
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