The Quarrel

The Greeks took the city of Chryse and divided the spoils among the chiefs; to Agamemnon they gave a girl named Chryseis, who was the daughter of the priest of Apollo, the god who was worshipped in the city. Then the priest came bringing much gold, with which he wished to buy back his daughter.

First of all, he went to Agamemnon and his brother, then to the other chiefs, and begged them to take the gold and give him back the girl. “So,” he said, “may the gods help you take the city of Troy, and bring you back safe to your homes.”

All the other chiefs were willing, but Agamemnon cried,“Away with you, old man. Do not linger here now, and do not come again, or it will be the worse for you, though you are a priest. As for your daughter, I will carry her back with me when I have taken Troy.”

So the old man went out in great fear and trouble, and he prayed to Apollo to help him. And Apollo heard him. The god was very angry that his priest should suffer such things, and he came down from his palace on the top of the mountain Olympus.He came as night comes across the sky, and his arrows shook terribly as he went. Then he began to shoot and his arrows carried death, first to the dogs and the donkeys, and then to the men. For nine days the people died, and on the tenth day Achilles called an assembly .

When the Greeks were gathered together he stood up in the middle and said, “Surely it would be better to go home than to stay here and die. Many are killed in battle, and still more are killed by the plague . Let us ask the prophets why it is that Apollo is angry with us.”

Then Calchas the prophet stood up, “You wish to know why Apollo is angry. I will tell you, but first you must promise to stand by me, for King Agamemnon will be angry when he hears what I shall say.”

“Say on,” cried Achilles, “no man shall harm you while I live, not even Agamemnon himself.”

Then Calchas said, “Apollo is angry because when his priest came to buy back his daughter, Agamemnon would not listen to him. Now you must send back the girl, taking no money for her,and with her a hundred beasts as a sacrifice.”

Then King Agamemnon stood up in a rage and cried, “You always predict evil, poor prophet that you are. The girl I will send back, for I would not have the people die, but I will not go without my share of the spoil.”

“You think too much of gain, King Agamemnon,” said Achilles. “Surely you would not take from any man that which has been given him. Wait until Troy has been conquered , and then we will make up to you what has been lost three times over.”

“Do not try to cheat me in this way,” answered Agamemnon.“I will have my share at once. If the Greeks will give it to me,well and good; but if not, then I will take it from one of the chiefs, from you, Achilles, or from Ajax, or from Odysseus. But now let us see about the sending back of the girl.”

Then Achilles was altogether carried away with rage and said, “Never was there a king so shameless and so greedy of gain. The Trojans never did harm to me or mine. I have been fighting against them for your sake and your brother’s. And you sit in your tent at ease, but when the spoil is divided, then you have the lion’s share . And now you will take the little that was given to me. I will not stay here to be shamed and robbed. I will go home.”

“Go,” said Agamemnon, “and take your people with you.I have other chiefs as good as you, and ready to honour me,as you are not. But remember this: the girl, Briseis, who was given to you as your share of the spoil, I will take, if I have to come and fetch her myself. For you must learn that I am master here.”

Achilles was mad with anger to hear this, and said to himself, “Now I will kill this thief where he sits,” and he half drew his sword from its cover. But at that instant the goddess Athena stood behind him and seized him by his long yellow hair.And when he turned to see who had done this, he perceived the goddess (no one else in the assembly could see her), and said,“Have you come to see this criminal die?”“No,” she answered, “I have come to calm your rage. Queen Hera and I love you both.Do not draw your sword, but say what you will. Some day he will pay you back three times and four times for all the wrong he shall do.”

Chryse 克律塞城，位于特洛伊附近

spoil /spɔɪl/ n. 战利品；掠夺品，赃物；抢劫，掠夺

priest /pri:st/ n. （作为神与人之间中介者的）祭司

worship /ˈwɜ:ʃɪp/ vt. 敬奉；信奉

linger /ˈlɪŋɡə/ vi. 逗留，闲荡

assembly /əˈsemblɪ/ n. 集会

plague /pleɪɡ/ n. 灾祸；瘟疫

prophet /ˈprɒfɪt/ n. 先知，预言者

Calchas 卡尔克斯，希腊联军的阿波罗奉祀祭司和随军占卜师

rage /reɪdʒ/ n. （一阵）狂怒，盛怒

predict /prɪˈdɪkt/ vt. 预知，预言，预报

conquer /ˈkɒŋkə/ vt. 征服，战胜

the lion’s share 最大的份额

perceive /pəˈsi:v/ vt. 察觉，感觉；看出