462
POEMS OF ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH.
Then the Achæans all with acclamation assented,
Honour to show to the priest, and take the costly redemption
Only to Atrides Agamemnon it was unpleasing,
Sternly who dismissed him with contumelious answer:
'Old man, let me not, by the hollow ships of Achaia
Lingering find you now, or henceforth ever appearing,
Lest to defend you fail the staff and wreaths of Apollo.
Her do I not release until old age come upon her,
In my house in the land of Argos, far from her country,
Stepping at the loom and in the chamber attending.
Go, and trouble me not, that your return be the safer.'
Honour to show to the priest, and take the costly redemption
Only to Atrides Agamemnon it was unpleasing,
Sternly who dismissed him with contumelious answer:
'Old man, let me not, by the hollow ships of Achaia
Lingering find you now, or henceforth ever appearing,
Lest to defend you fail the staff and wreaths of Apollo.
Her do I not release until old age come upon her,
In my house in the land of Argos, far from her country,
Stepping at the loom and in the chamber attending.
Go, and trouble me not, that your return be the safer.'
(I. 121-218.)
And replying, said godlike, swift-footed Achilles:
'Atrides, our chief, as in rank, so in love of possessions,
Say, in what way shall the noble Achaeans find you a present?
Little we yet have gained the general stock to replenish,
Distributed were all the spoils we took from the cities,
And to recal our gifts and reapportion befits not—
Yield you the maiden to-day to the god, and we, the Achaeans,
Three or four times over will compensate it, if ever
Zeus the capture accord of the well-walled Ilian city.'
And with words of reply the King Agamemnon addressed him:
'Think not, great as you are, O god-resembling Achilles,
Thus to dissimulate and evade me with a profession;
Is it that you desire to enjoy your prize, and to let me
Sit empty-handed here, and mine you bid me surrender—
Doubtless, if the noble Achaeans find me another
Suitable to my wants and answerable in value;
But, if they do not give, myself will make my election—
'Atrides, our chief, as in rank, so in love of possessions,
Say, in what way shall the noble Achaeans find you a present?
Little we yet have gained the general stock to replenish,
Distributed were all the spoils we took from the cities,
And to recal our gifts and reapportion befits not—
Yield you the maiden to-day to the god, and we, the Achaeans,
Three or four times over will compensate it, if ever
Zeus the capture accord of the well-walled Ilian city.'
And with words of reply the King Agamemnon addressed him:
'Think not, great as you are, O god-resembling Achilles,
Thus to dissimulate and evade me with a profession;
Is it that you desire to enjoy your prize, and to let me
Sit empty-handed here, and mine you bid me surrender—
Doubtless, if the noble Achaeans find me another
Suitable to my wants and answerable in value;
But, if they do not give, myself will make my election—
