Iliad 9.585-601. ish.
ὣς ὃ μὲν Αἰτωλοῖσιν ἀπήμυνεν κακὸν ἦμαρ
εἴξας ᾧ θυμῷ: τῷ δ᾽ οὐκέτι δῶρα τέλεσσαν
πολλά τε καὶ χαρίεντα, κακὸν δ᾽ ἤμυνε καὶ αὔτως.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μή μοι ταῦτα νόει φρεσί, μὴ δέ σε δαίμων
ἐνταῦθα τρέψειε φίλος: κάκιον δέ κεν εἴη
νηυσὶν καιομένῃσιν ἀμυνέμεν: ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ δώρων
ἔρχεο: ἶσον γάρ σε θεῷ τίσουσιν Ἀχαιοί.
εἰ δέ κ᾽ ἄτερ δώρων πόλεμον φθισήνορα δύῃς
οὐκέθ᾽ ὁμῶς τιμῆς ἔσεαι πόλεμόν περ ἀλαλκών.
’
τὸν δ᾽ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς:
‘Φοῖνιξ ἄττα γεραιὲ διοτρεφὲς οὔ τί με ταύτης
χρεὼ τιμῆς: φρονέω δὲ τετιμῆσθαι Διὸς αἴσῃ,
ἥ μ᾽ ἕξει παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν εἰς ὅ κ᾽ ἀϋτμὴ
ἐν στήθεσσι μένῃ καί μοι φίλα γούνατ᾽ ὀρώρῃ.“So he [Meleager] warded off from the Aitolians the evil day [of defeat]
yielding in his spirit. But no longer did they complete for him those gifts
many and pleasing – but even so he warded off that evil.
But you must not think thus in your heart – do not let your own god
turn you this way. Much worse would it be
when the ships are already burning to defend them. But with a view to the gifts
come now. For like a god do the Achaeans honor you.
But if without the gifts you should enter man-destroying war
no longer will you be of like honor, even though you ward off the war.In response to him spoke forth swift-footed Achilles.
“Phoinix, my father, venerable old man, cherished by Zeus – in no way
have I need of such honor. But I think I am honored by Zeus’ apportioning,
which will be mine among these prowed ships as long as breath
remains in my chest and my own knees have strength.”
Extracts 