Readingliterature Sixth Reader Author:Harriette Taylor Treadwell Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: The Iliad The Strife between Achilles and Agamemnon For nine long years King Ag-a-mem'non and A-chill'es and many other chieftains of the Grecian hosts had l... more »ed their warriors in vain against the city of Troy. And now, in the tenth year, a dreadful plague broke forth, and the pyres of the dead glared without ceasing. The deadly plague had raged through the host for nine days, and now, upon the tenth day, Achilles called all the people into council. When the assembly was gathered in mighty host, Achilles stood up and said, "O Agamemnon, king of men, let us consult some seer and ask why Apollo is striking us down with his deadly arrows. Perchance a fitting sacrifice may move the god to stay the plague." He spake and took his seat. Next rose Cal'chas, the chief of seers, to whom things past and things to come were known. By his art of divination, given by Apollo, he had guided the Greek ships to Troy. With well-ordered words Calchas spoke, "Achilles, beloved of Jove, thou biddest me explain the wrath of Phoebus Apollo. I will make known the cause willingly, but swear thou to aid me. I know Agamemnon will be wroth; wilt thou promise me safety?" Achilles answered thus, "Fear nothing, but speak out boldly whatever thou knowest. I swear by Apollo that no man shall lay a violent hand on thee, not even Agamemnon, who stands in power and rank above us all.'' Encouraged thus, the blameless seer went on, "Apollo is not angered by neglected vows, but Agamemnon has for his prize the dark-eyed daughter of Chry'ses, the priest of Apollo. The father came to Agamemnon and offered a costly ransom for his daughter. Agamemnon insulted Apollo when he spurned Chryses and refused to set free the daughter and receive her ransom. Therefore Apollo sends the plague, nor will he withdraw ...« less