Agamemnon, saddened by the victory of the Trojans, sent heralds to convene the leaders for a council. The leaders gathered, and Agamemnon began to say with sadness that he now had to flee from Troas to Greece, since this, apparently, pleased Zeus. But Diomedes angrily objected to Agamemnon that he could leave Troas alone, if he so desired, while the other leaders would remain and fight until they took Troy. Nestor also did not advise fleeing. The elder advised Agamemnon to organize a feast and discuss what to do, and to post guards to guard the camp.
Agamemnon carried out Nestor's advice. Seven hundred young men, led by seven leaders, went to guard the Greek camp. The remaining leaders remained in Agamemnon's tent. During the feast, Nestor began to advise Agamemnon to reconcile with Achilles. Agamemnon listened to Nestor. He announced to the leaders that he would give great gifts to Achilles, return Briseis to him, and when everyone returned to their homeland with victory, he would give Achilles one of his daughters as a wife, and many rich cities as a dowry. The leaders approved of Agamemnon's decision and decided to send Ajax, Odysseus and Phoenix to his tent to negotiate with Achilles, with Eurybates and Godius as heralds. Achilles especially loved these heroes. Nestor gave many instructions to these ambassadors.
When Agamemnon's ambassadors came to Achilles, they found him playing the lyre and singing the glory of the heroes. His friend Patroclus was also sitting next to Achilles. Achilles warmly greeted the heroes and prepared a rich feast for them. Having had his fill, Odysseus turned to the son of Peleus and began to persuade him to reconcile with Agamemnon. Odysseus told how the Trojans, led by Hector, were pressing the Greeks, and Odysseus listed the gifts that Agamemnon promised as a sign of reconciliation. Odysseus also reminded Achilles of how he instructed his son Peleus, letting him go on a campaign, and how he advised him to avoid strife. But Achilles refused to reconcile with the king of Mycenae; he could not forget the insult that Agamemnon caused him. Achilles said that even in that case he would have refused to reconcile with Agamemnon if he had promised to give him gifts equal to all the riches of Egyptian Thebes. Achilles was adamant and even threatened to sail back to Phthia. But Phoenix, grieving over the fate of the Greeks, continued to persuade Achilles to reconcile. He begged him not to do what Meleager once did when the Curetes fought with the Aetolians. But Achilles did not answer Phoenix. Telamonides Ajax then turned to Odysseus and called on him to quickly leave Achilles’ tent and go tell the leaders Achilles’ answer. Ajax made a last attempt to convince Achilles, but he still remained adamant and only said that he would then oppose Hector when he, having set fire to the Greek ships, reached his ships and tent.
The heroes left silently, and Phoenix remained with Achilles. Returning to Agamemnon, Ajax and Odysseus told the leaders what Achilles had answered. Their leaders listened in deep silence. Finally, the hero Diomedes advised to leave Achilles alone, since Agamemnon, with the promise of gifts, inspired even greater pride in his heart. Diomedes suggested that, having refreshed himself with wine and food, everyone should go to bed in order to begin the bloody battle again the next day.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru