n all along the shore rolled
the black smoke from the piles of wood on which they burnt the bodies of
the dead.

For nine days the shafts of the god went throughout the host; but on the
tenth day Achilles called the people to an assembly. So Juno bade him, for
she loved the Greeks, and grieved to see them die. When they were gathered
together he stood up among them, and spake to Agamemnon:--

"Surely it were better to return home, than that we should all perish here
by war or plague. But come, let us ask some prophet or priest or dreamer
of dreams why it is that Apollo is so wroth with us."

Then stood up Calchas, best of seers, who knew what had been, and what
was, and what was to come, and spake:--

"Achilles, thou biddest me tell the people why Apollo is wroth with them.
Lo! I will tell thee, but thou must first swear to stand by me, for I know
that what I shall say will anger King Agamemnon, and it goes ill with
common men when kings are angry."

"Speak out, thou wise man!" cried Achilles; "for I swear by Apollo that
while I live no one shall lay hands on thee, no, not Agamemnon's self,
though he be sovereign lord of the Greeks."

Then the blameless seer took heart, and spake: "It is not for vow or
offering that Apollo is wroth; it is for his servant the priest, for he
came to ransom his daughter, but Agamemnon scorned him, and would not let
the maiden go. Now, then, ye must send her back to Chryse without ransom,
and with her a hundred beasts for sacrifice, so that the plague may be
stayed."

Then Agamemnon stood up in a fury, his eyes blazing like fire.

"Never," he cried, "hast thou spoken good concerning me, ill prophet that
thou art, and now thou tellest me to give up this maiden! I will do it,
for I would not that the people should perish. Only take care, ye Greeks,
that there be a share of the spoil for me, for it would ill beseem the
lord of all the host that he alone should be without his share."

"Nay, my lord Agamemnon," cried Achilles, "thou art too eager for gain. We
have no treasures out of which we may make up thy loss, for what we got
out of the towns we have either sold or divided; nor would it be fitting
that the people should give back what has been given to them. Give up the
maiden, then, without conditions, and when we shall have taken this city
of Troy, we will repay thee three and four fold."

"Nay, great Achilles," said Agamemnon, "thou shalt not cheat me thus. If
the Greeks will g