The story of Old Phoenix
After a while, old Phoenix stood up and spoke, and as he spoke he shed many tears, for he was much afraid lest the ships of the
Greeks should be burnt. “O Achilles,” he said, “I pray you, listen to me. Put away the anger in your heart. It is not fit that a man should harden his heart in this way.
“If, indeed, King Agamemnon had stood apart and given you no gifts, nor restored to you that which he took from you, then I would not have bidden you to cease from your anger, no, not to save the Greeks from their great trouble. But now he gives you many gifts, and promises you yet more, and has sent an embassy to you, the wisest and noblest that there are in the whole army, and also dear friends of yours. Refuse not, therefore, to listen to their words. Listen now to this tale that I will tell you, that you may see how foolish a thing it is for a man to shut his ears when prayers are made to him.
“Once upon a time there was a great strife between the Aetolians and the men who dwelt near to Mount Curium. The cause of the strife was this. There was a great wild boar that laid waste all the land of Calydon where the Aetolians dwelt. And Meleager, the king of the land, sent for hunters from all Greece to kill the beast. Among those who came was Atalanta, the fair maid of Arcadia. When the beast was killed, then there was a quarrel as to who should have the spoils, that is to say the head and the hide. Meleager gave them to the fair Atalanta, and when the brethren of his mother took them from her, then he slew them. But when his mother, Althea, heard that her brethren were dead, then she cursed him, yea, even her own son. So it came to pass that there was war between the Aetolians and the men of Mount Curium, for Althea and her brethren were of that land. In time past, Meleager had fought among the Aetolians, but now, being angry with his mother, he stood aside from the war, and would not help.
“The men of Mount Curium prevailed, and the Aetolians were driven into the city of Calydon. The elders of the city sent an embassy to Meleager, to ask that he would come and defend them. He would not listen to them. After them came his mother and sisters, but he refused them. Nor would he hear the voices of his friends. Then his wife, Cleopatra, arose and besought him with many prayers and tears.
” ‘Think now,’ she said, ‘what woes will come upon your people if the enemy prevails against them.’ Meleager arose and went down into the street and drove the men of Mount Curium before him. So did he save the Aetolians, but the gifts that they promised, these he never had. This, Achilles, is the story of Meleager. Let not your thoughts be like his. It would be a foolish thing to put off saving of the ships till they are already on fire. Come, therefore, take the gifts that King Agamemnon gives you; so shall all the Greeks honor you. But if you delay, then may you lose both honor and gifts, even though you save us from the Trojans.”
Achilles answered: “I have no need of this honor and these gifts. Riches I have, and Zeus gives me honor. Trouble me no more with prayers and tears while you seek to help King Agamemnon. Take not his side, lest I, who love you now, come to hate you. Return with me to the land of Phthia, and I will give you the half of my kingdom. And stay this night in my tent; tomorrow we will consult together whether we will depart or no.”
When Ajax heard this he said to Ulysses: “Let us go, Ulysses. Let us depart at once, and carry back this message to them who sent us. As for Achilles, he cherishes his anger and cares not for his comrades or his people. He seems to lack reason.”
Achilles answered: “You speak well, great Ajax. Nevertheless the anger is yet hot in my heart, because Agamemnon put me to shame before all people. But go, and take my message. I will not arise to do battle with the Trojans till Hector shall come to these tents and shall seek to set fire to my ships. But when he shall do this, then I will arise, and verily I will stop him, however eager he may be for the battle.”
So Ajax and Ulysses departed, and gave the message of Achilles to King Agamemnon.
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