Rendered into English Prose forthe use of those who cannotread the originalby Samuel ButlerBOOK IThe quarrel between Agamemnon and AchillesAchilles withdrawsfrom the war, and sends his mother Thetis to ask Jove to helpthe TrojansScene between Jove and Juno on Olympus.Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, thatbrought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul didit send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield aprey to dogs and vultures, for so were the counsels of Jovefulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men,and great Achilles, first fell out with one another.And which of the gods was it that set them on to quarrel? It wasthe son of Jove and Leto; for he was angry with the king and senta pestilence upon the host to plague the people, because the son...
