Homer ILIAD : Rhapsody 1

Page 19

Thus these twain, striving with contrary words, arose, and they broke up the assembly at the ships of the Greeks. The son of Peleus on his part repaired to his tents and well-proportioned[35] ships, with the son of Menoetius,[36] and his companions. But the son of Atreus[37] launched his swift ship into the sea, and selected and put into it twenty rowers, and embarked a hecatomb for the god. And he led the fair daughter of Chryses and placed her on board, and the very wise Ulysses embarked as conductor. They then embarking, sailed over the watery paths. But the son of Atreus ordered the armies to purify themselves;[38] and they were purified, and cast forth the ablutions into the sea. And they sacrificed to Apollo perfect hecatombs of bulls and goats, along the shore of the barren sea; and the savour involved in[39] smoke ascended to heaven. Thus were they employed in these things through the army. Nor did Agamemnon cease from the contention which at first he threatened against Achilles. But he thus addressed Talthybius and Eurybates, who were his heralds and zealous attendants:[40]

[Footnote 35: Equal on both sides, so as to preserve a balance. But Blomfield, Obs. on Matth. Gr. Sec. 124, prefers to render it "ships of due size," as [Greek: dais eise], ver. 468, "an equalized meal."]

[Footnote 36: Patroclus.]

[Footnote 37: So Anthon, comparing ver. 142.]

[Footnote 38: Not a mere medicinal measure, but a symbolical putting away of the guilt, which, through Agamemnon's transgression, was brought upon the army also.—Wolf.]

[Footnote 39: Not about the smoke, but in the smoke; for [Greek: peri] denotes also the staying within the compass of an object.—Naegelsbach.]

[Footnote 40: [Greek: therapon] is a voluntary servant, as opposed to [Greek: doulos].—See Arnold.]

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