Then the blameless seer took courage and spoke: “It is not for a vow he faults us, or a hecatomb, but because of the priest whom Agamemnon dishonored — he would not free his daughter and would not take the ransom. That is why the far-shooter has given us pain, and will keep giving it. He will not drive the ugly plague from the Danaans until we give the bright-eyed girl back to her father without price, without ransom, and lead a sacred hecatomb to Chryse. Then we might persuade him and soften him.”
He sat down when he had spoken. Among them rose the hero son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, furious. His heart’s black fill was packed with rage on both sides, and his eyes were like blazing fire. First he turned on Calchas with a look of pure hate:
“Prophet of evils: you have never once told me anything good. It is always dear to your heart to prophesy disaster. You have never spoken or brought to pass a useful word. And now you hold forth to the Danaans, declaring the far-shooter gives them pain because of this — because I would not take the splendid ransom for the girl Chryseis. I want her badly for my house. I prefer her even to Clytemnestra, my wedded wife: she is no worse in form or stature, or in mind, or in handiwork. Even so, I am willing to give her back, if that is better. I would rather have the people safe than destroyed. But make ready a prize for me at once, so I am not the only one of the Argives without a gift — that would be unseemly. You all see it: my prize is going elsewhere.”
Then godlike Achilles, swift of foot, answered him: “Son of Atreus, most glorious, most greedy for gain: how will the great-hearted Achaeans give you a prize? We do not know of any great common store laid up. What we took from the cities has been divided; it is not right for the men to gather that back again and pool it. No — send the girl to the god now, and we Achaeans will repay you three and four times over if Zeus ever grants us to sack the well-walled city of Troy.”
Powerful Agamemnon answered him: “Do not try to out-think me that way, godlike Achilles, brave as you are. You will not get around me or persuade me. Do you mean to keep a prize yourself, while I sit idle without one? Are you telling me to give her back? If the great-hearted Achaeans will give me a prize to match my heart’s wish, so that it is equal — fine. If not, I will take one myself: your prize, or Aias’s, or Odysseus’s — I will go and seize it, and the man I come to will be angry. But we can talk of that later. For now, let us launch a black ship on the bright sea, gather a crew for rowing, put a hecatomb on board, and embark Chryseis of the lovely cheeks. Let one shrewd man be captain — Aias, or Idomeneus, or godlike Odysseus — or you yourself, son of Peleus, most terrifying of men: you can offer sacrifice and appease the far-shooter for us.”