Page:Homer - Iliad, translation Pope, 1909.djvu/44

42 At this they ceased; the stern debate expired:

The chiefs in sullen majesty retired.

Achilles with Patroclus took his way,

Where near his tents his hollow vessels lay.

Meantime Atrides launched with numerous oars

A well-rigged ship for Chrysa's sacred shores:

High on the deck was fair Chryseïs placed,

And sage Ulysses with the conduct graced:

Safe in her sides the hecatomb they stowed,

Then, swiftly sailing, cut the liquid road.

The host to expiate next the king prepares

With pure lustrations and with solemn prayers.

Washed by the briny wave, the pious train

Are cleansed, and cast the ablutions in the main.

Along the shores whole hecatombs were laid,

And bulls and goats to Phœbus' altars paid.

The sable fumes in curling spires arise,

And waft their grateful odours to the skies.

The army thus in sacred rites engaged,

Atrides still with deep resentment raged.

To wait his will two sacred heralds stood,

Talthybius and Eurybates the good.

"Haste to the fierce Achilles' tent," he cries,

"Then bear Briseïs as our royal prize:

Submit he must, or, if they will not part,

Ourself in arms shall tear her from his heart."

The unwilling heralds act their lord's commands;

Pensive they walk along the barren sands:

Arrived, the hero in his tent they find,

With gloomy aspect, on his arm reclined.

At awful distance long they silent stand,

Loth to advance, or speak their hard command;

Decent confusion! This the godlike man

Perceived, and thus with accent mild began:

"With leave and honour enter our abodes,

Ye sacred ministers of men and gods!

I know your message; by constraint you came;

Not you, but your imperious lord, I blame.

Patroclus, haste, the fair Briseïs bring;

Conduct my captive to the haughty king.

But witness, heralds, and proclaim my vow,

Witness to gods above, and men below!

But first, and loudest, to your prince declare,

That lawless tyrant whose commands you bear;

Unmoved as death Achilles shall remain,

Though prostrate Greece should bleed at every vein:

The raging chief in frantic passion lost,

Blind to himself, and useless to his host,

Unskilled to judge the future by the past,