k was
perfected. Seven tripods they bore from the tent, which he had promised
him, and twenty splendid goblets, and twelve steeds; and straightway led
forth seven blameless women, skilled in works, but the eighth was
fair-cheeked Briseis. But Ulysses, placing[633] ten whole talents of
gold, led the way, and with him the other youths of the Greeks bore the
presents, and placed them in the midst of the assembly; but Agamemnon
rose up; and Talthybius, like unto a god in his voice, stood beside the
shepherd of the people, holding a boar in his hands. Then the son of
Atreus, drawing the knife with his hands, which always hung by the
great scabbard of his sword, cutting off the forelock of the boar,
prayed, lifting up his hands to Jove; but all the Greeks sat in silence
in the same spot, listening in a becoming manner to the king. But
praying, he spoke, looking towards the wide heaven:

[Footnote 633: _I.e._ in the scale, in order to be weighed.]

"Now first let Jove be witness, the most supreme and best of gods, and
Earth, and Sun, and ye Furies, who beneath the earth chastise men,
whoever may swear a falsehood; never have I laid hands upon the maid
Briseis, needing her for the sake of the couch, or any other purpose;
but inviolate has she remained in my tents. But if any of these things
be false, may the gods inflict on me those very many distresses which
they inflict when men sin in swearing."

He said, and cut the throat of the boar with the ruthless brass; which
Talthybius, whirling round, cast into the mighty water of the hoary sea,
as food for fishes. But Achilles, rising, said among the war-loving
Greeks:

"O father Jove, certainly thou givest great calamities to men; for never
could Atrides have so thoroughly aroused the indignation in my bosom,
nor foolish, led away the girl, I being unwilling, but Jove for some
intent wished death should happen to many Greeks. But now go to the
repast, that we may join battle."

Thus then he spoke, and dissolved the assembly in haste.[634]

[Footnote 634: So Od. viii. 38: [Greek: thoen alegynete daita],
i.e. [Greek: thoos]. Virg. AEn. iv. 226: "Celeres defer mea dicta
per auras," which Servius interprets, "celer, vel celeriter."]

They indeed were separated, each to his own ship; but the magnanimous
Myrmidons were occupied about the gifts, and, bearing them, went to the
ship of godlike Achilles. These they laid up in the tents, and placed
the women in seats; but