Agamemnon admitted his blindness. He had been mad, and not in his right mind; Zeus had made him heavy with ruin. Since he had sinned first, he would make amends with gifts beyond counting, and he ordered the elders to hear them all.
He would give seven tripods untouched by fire, ten talents of gold, twenty shining cauldrons, and twelve strong horses that had won prizes with their speed.
Any man who owned such horses would not lack gold. He would give seven women skilled in beautiful work, Lesbian women he had chosen when Achilles took Lesbos, and with them Briseis herself, whom he swore he had never touched or gone to bed with.
If the gods granted them Priam's great city, Achilles could load his ship with bronze and gold when the spoil was divided, and choose twenty Trojan women, the loveliest after Helen. If they reached Argos, Achilles could become his son-in-law; Agamemnon would honor him like Orestes, his own son reared in plenty.
He named three daughters in his well-built hall, Chrysothemis, Laodike, and Iphianassa. Achilles could take whichever he wished without bride-price, and Agamemnon would add gifts such as no man had ever given with a daughter. He would also give seven rich cities near sandy Pylos, full of sheep and cattle, whose people would honor Achilles like a god and pay him rich tribute.
All this he would do if Achilles would give up his anger. Let him be broken, Agamemnon said; Hades is hated because he is unyielding, and that is why mortals loathe him. Let Achilles submit, since Agamemnon was more kingly and older.
Nestor approved the gifts and told Agamemnon to send the best men quickly. Phoenix, dear to Zeus, should lead; after him great Aias and brilliant Odysseus should go, with the heralds Odios and Eurybates. They should wash their hands, pray to Zeus, and go to Achilles' shelter by the shore.