Agamemnon's first task, when he returned to his tent, was to send back
Chryseis, under the charge of Odysseus, to her father. This done, he
at once took steps to secure possession of Briseis, the captive maiden
who had been bestowed on Achilles as his prize of honour. Talthybius
and Eurybates, the royal heralds, were sent to the quarters of Achilles
to demand the surrender of Briseis. "And if he will not give her up to
you," added the King, "I will come myself and take her by force." So
they went with slow and reluctant steps on their thankless errand; and
they found Achilles sitting alone by his ship, where it was drawn up on
the beach. Awestruck and silent they stood in the presence of that
great chief, unable to utter a sound; but he knew full well why they
had come, and greeted them with courtesy and kindness. "Draw near," he
said, "and fear nothing from me. I respect your office, and impute not
to you your master's guilt. Patroclus my comrade shall deliver unto
you the maiden, and be ye my witnesses in this matter, when it is asked
why I threw down my sword and refused to fight any longer in
Agamemnon's cause."
So saying he summoned Patroclus, and bade him bring forth Briseis from
the tent; and Patroclus went, and presently returned, leading the
weeping maiden by the hand, and gave her in charge of the heralds.
When they were gone, Achilles wandered away by the margin of the sea,
nursing his wounded spirit, and full of angry and bitter thoughts.
Presently he came to a stand, and, stretching out his hands towards the
sea, cried like a child in pain to Thetis, his mother: "Short is the
term of years which Fate has vouchsafed to me, and therefore thou hast
promised me honour from the hands of Zeus. But now is mine honour
turned to infamy, and I am become a very scorn of men, and an outcast
among the people." His words were broken by sobs and tears, for he was
but a boy in years, and was smarting with an agony of wounded pride.
And his mother heard him where she sat in her crystal cave in the
depths of the sea; for she was a goddess, and daughter of the sea-god,
Nereus. Swiftly she rose, "like an exhalation," to the surface of the
sea, and came and stood by her young hero's side. "Why weepest thou,
my child?" she asked, with a tender caress. "Tell thy mother all thy
pain, that she may bear the burden with thee."
"Thou knowest full well," replied Achilles, with a groan; "what boots
it to repeat to thee the story of my shame?" Nevertheless he went on
to pour out all the tale of injury and outrage; for sorrow grows
lighter in the telling. "Thou alone," he added, when he had finished
the recital, "canst heal this deadly hurt to mine honour. I have often
heard thee boast of an old service rendered to Zeus, when the other
Olympians rose up in revolt against him, and he was in sore straits.
Go, therefore, to Olympus, and remind him of the debt which he owes
unto thee, and ask him in requital to lend aid to the Trojans, that the
Greeks may be hurled back in rout upon their ships, and Agamemnon may
learn what it means to deal despitefully with the best warrior in his
camp."
"It shall be done as thou sayest," answered Thetis; "Leave everything
in my hands, and thou shalt have atonement in full measure. Until
twelve days are passed I can do nothing, for Zeus has gone on a far
journey, to partake of a banquet in the land of the Ethiopians. When
he returns I will lay thy case before him; and meanwhile sit thou idle
here, and go not into battle, but leave me to champion thy cause."
With this promise she left him, and he sat down to digest his anger,
and wait for the day of redress.