THE ILIAD OF HOMER, Book I.

Rhapsody.

Invocation with the proposition.

Sing, goddess, the wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus,
The destructive wrath, which brought countless woes upon the Achaeans,
And sent many brave souls of heroes down to Hades,
And made them prey for dogs and all birds;
And the plan of Zeus was being fulfilled,
From the time when they first stood apart, having quarreled,
The son of Atreus, king of men, and godlike Achilles.

Chryses, priest of Apollo, is rejected by Agamemnon while seeking his daughter.

Which of the gods brought them together to fight in strife?
The son of Leto and Zeus; for he, being enraged at the king,
Roused an evil disease through the army; and the people were dying,
Because the son of Atreus dishonored Chryses the priest. The penalty for violating a priest.

For he came to the swift ships of the Achaeans,
Wishing to ransom his daughter, and bringing uncounted ransoms,
Having the garlands in his hands of Apollo who strikes from afar,
Upon a golden staff; and he entreated all the Achaeans,
But especially the sons of Atreus, the two commanders of the people. The speech of Chryses.

Sons of Atreus and other well-greaved Achaeans,
May the gods who have homes on Olympus grant to you,

The years of the siege of Troy are — — — — — — — — — — 10. To sack it.