(no subject)

[polutrope]

So I was totally writing an Epic Iliad AU, in which Achilles totally disregards what Athena tells him to do and kills Agamemnon in book I. And I guess I took a fairly long break. But anyway, book IV is

So the battle raged around the body of Patroclus,
But godlike Achilles, seeing the Myrmidons fighting,
Strode through the Argives, slaying many,
But when he saw the body of the son of Menoitius,
He wept, as when a lioness sees her cubs dead,
And, dropping his spear and shield, he embraced
The silent body of his friend, Patroclus.
But when he had had his fill of mourning,
He stood, terrible, his eyes burning, and taking up
His spear and shield, that his mother had given him,
He strove against all the Argives, seeking Menelaus,
But grey-eyed Athena hid him from sight,
And let godlike Achilles strive on alone, against the Argives.
But when he had slain many, ox-eyed Hera
Came unto Helios, in his golden chariot,
And spoke to him persuasive words, speaking kindly,
“O lord of the golden chariot, Helios, sun-driver,
I beg you to whip your horses, to speed the sun,
And end this day, so that the Argives may not die.
I have around me many fair nymphs, and of these
The fairest shall be yours, to make fair children with.
Only do as I ask you, speeding the sun, to end Achilles’ rage.”
Thus she spoke, and the son of Hyperion heard her,
And whipped his golden horses, so that the sun
Sank below the horizon, into the barren sea.
And as the darkness came upon the field, the men retired,
Except godlike Achilles, who strove onward – but Phoenix
Came to him, and calmed him, and brought him home.
But that night sleep came not upon him, that calms
All hearts, no matter their grief; godlike Achilles slept not,
But stayed watching over the body of the son of Menoitius.
As when the rain falls on the standing grain, and destroys it,
Thus did sorrow fall upon the heart of swift-footed Achilles.
But when dawn came, he summoned Phoenix to him,
And spoke, speaking words of sorrow and anger:
“Phoenix, old counselor, I speak to you now in sorrow;
For the dearest to me of all the Achaeans, Patroclus,
Lies dead, slain by the son of Atreus. Never did any good
Come from that line, cursed, black. For Tantalus
Slew his son, sacrificing him to his own greed;
For he was the guest-friend of Zeus himself,
And so when the gods came to his home,
He took up the bronze knife and slew his own son,
Making a terrible feast of human flesh for his guests.
But the gods did not then accept such horror, and ate not
Of that meal, except Demeter, who, sorrowing for Persephone,
Ate of the shoulder of Pelops; but the others, wiser,
Stood back, and reassembled the child, and for his shoulder
They took ivory and fashioned a shoulder-bone.
Yet this child too was destined for sorrow: for when he won
Neat-ankled Hippodameia from her father, in a chariot-race
He replaced the pin of his wheel with wax, so that he died,
And dying cursed the line of Lydian Pelops.
Nor was his curse without effect: for the gods heard him,
And the sons of Pelops, Atreus and Thyestes
Strove with each other, and hated each other, and made great grief.
This is the line from whence those two brothers come,
The one who wanted to steal from me my prize,
And the one who has slain my dearest friend among the Achaeans.
I will not rest until the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Menelaus,
Joins my friend, Patroclus, in the house of Hades,
Sent there by my hand. Yet the Myrmidons cannot fight alone
Against all the Achaeans, though the gods favor me.
I send you to Troy, then, my old counselor, to Priam,
That you may persuade his heart that I will fight for him,
Not for silver or gold or fair-cheeked women,
But for the blood of Patroclus, paid back in the blood of Menelaus.
Speak as you are best able, for you are wise among the Myrmidons.”
Thus he spoke, and Phoenix spoke answering him:
“O Achilles, you whom I nourished on my knee,
I will do as you ask, but my heart in me is heavy for the other Greeks,
Who will call you traitor, and not without cause.
But if your heart bids you to fight for the Trojans, destroying
Your countrymen, I shall not speak against you,
For your sorrow is heart-rending, o swift-footed Achilles.”
Then the counselor Phoenix departed, going to high-gated Troy.
And when he reached the gates, he spoke to the sentinel, saying
“O sentinels and you other citizens of well-walled Troy,
I come from godlike Achilles, bearing an embassy.
I would speak with lordly Priam and his council, for Achilles
Is not wroth with you, but with the sons of the Achaeans.”
Then great wonder came into the hearts of the Trojans,
And they spoke among themselves, in doubtful words.
But the sentinel ran to the rooms of Priam the King,
And speaking swift words, addressed him:
“O Priam, the friend of godlike Achilles is here,
Bearing an embassy. For Achilles is not wroth with Troy,
And he would speak with you, speaking kind words.”
Then the son of Laomedon ordered that the gates be opened,
And that Pheonix son of Amyntor should be brought before him.
And when he had come before Priam and his council,
He spoke, speaking kindly words to them:
“O lords of Troy, hear me now speaking. I have come,
Sent by godlike Achilles to bring his words to you.
He is willing, O Priam, to fight in the battle where men win glory,
Not for silver or gold or fair-cheeked women,
But for the blood of Patroclus, paid back in the blood of Menelaus.
For if you are still ignorant of those things that have happened
On the plains outside your walls, these past days,
Hear me now: godlike Achilles, being angered,
Slew wide-ruling Agamemnon, son of Atreus,
And in the battle afterwards his brother Menelaus
Slew the dear one of Achilles, the son of Menoitus.
Therefore has the son of Peleus sworn vengeance
On fair-haired Menelaus, son of Atreus.
Therefore is Achilles willing to join his strength to yours,
For no pay, no, nor gifts, but out of his own heart-rending grief.”
Thus he spoke, and the lords of Troy applauded him.
But Hector, tamer of horses, spoke forth, doubting:
“Long has godlike Achilles been our enemy, the worst
Of all the Achaeans around our well-built walls. You say
That his friend is slain and he will fight for us; but why
Once Menelaus is dead and joins Patrclus in the house of Hades
Will he still fight for us? Will he not go back to the Achaeans,
And once their king is dead, become king in turn?
O Trojans, I fear Achilles, though he speaks of peace.”
But Phoenix, the aged counselor, spoke forth:
“What return can there be for us? For unless we destroy
All the sons of the Achaeans, they will hate us
Till we are all dead, all the Myrmidons, and we two most of all.
But if we destroy the sons of the Achaeans, we shall return
To Phthia, and win glory among our fathers.
Yet I do not think that Achilles will return home,
For his goddess mother told him of his twofold fate:
For either his life shall be short, and he win eternal glory,
Or he shall live long in Phthia, but live without glory.
Therefore will he join his fate to yours, and die here in Troy.”
And the heart of godlike Hector was calmed, and he nodded.
But then came Argive Helen, and with her Andromache,
And neat-ankled Andromache cried out with sorrow:
“O lords of Troy, do not hear this man! For godlike Achilles
Is a man without pity, a man of wrath. All my family
Did he slay, in well-settled Thebes, my father Eetion,
And all my seven brothers, one by one, nor is there love
In his shaggy breast. He will bring destruction upon you.”
Thus she spoke. But Argive Helen spoke forward, calm words:
“It is true, Andromache, that he slew your family.
But this proves his bravery, that he should alone destroy
So many brave soldiers. For myself, I would rather
Give myself into the hands of Achilles a thousand times
Than return home to Sparta, where all men revile me.
Godlike Achilles will fight, either for you or against you;
If you are wise, you will choose that he fight for you.
But if you disregard what I say, remember that you
Disdain the help of the best of the Achaeans.”
Then spoke forth Paris, the son of Priam:
“Hector, you speak out of jealousy: for if he joins us,
You will no longer be the best warrior,
But you will take second place to godlike Achilles.
It is my council that we accept his aid, and send
As well many gifts, gold and silver and tripods, such as we may,
For we are not as rich as before the Achaeans came.
I desire peace for the Trojans, that we may live long,
And that our children may grow strong, and men say
That they are better than their fathers.”
Thus spoke Paris. But Hector answering him spoke, angry,
“Coward, woman-stealer, how can you speak of peace?
For it is for you that the Achaeans have come, destructive,
Because you stole fair-haired Helen from her lord.
Now you would speak kindly to the enemy of our people,
That you might sleep in peace beside Argive Helen.”
Thus he spoke. But the council did not applaud him;
And they sat in their chairs and were long silent.
But then spoke forth Priam, king of the city:
“Lords of Troy, I have decided: we shall accept the message,
And welcome godlike Achilles into Troy. For I am old,
And I do not now think that we shall destroy
The well-greaved Achaeans without his aid.
Go then, son of Amyntor, to swift-footed Achilles,
And tell him that we shall accept his offer,
And give him gold and silver as well, though we are poor.”
Then the heart of Phoenix was glad in him, and he went,
Through the Scaean Gates over the plain of Troy
To the ships and tents of the Myrmidons.