BOOK 9 - The Embassy to Achilles
The Trojan success arouses consternation in Agamemnon, who consequently suggests, more seriously than in Book 2, that they should all return home. Diomedes forcefully rejects such a course of action, while Nestor, at a meeting of the council, suggests that Agamemnon was wrong to insult Achilles and that it might now be expedient to appease him, in order that he might come to their aid. Agamemnon accepts responsibility for his previous error, and describes in detail a list of all the gifts he is willing to give to Achilles in return for his laying aside his anger, a list which includes Briseis, the girl whose confiscation caused Achilles' initial resentment. An embassy comprised of those most likely to win him over (Odysseus, Ajax and Phoenix, an old man who tutored him in his youth) is selected to convey Agamemnon's offer to Achilles.
They find him singing, to the accompaniment of a lyre, tales of men's glory, while Patroclus sits by him. He is astonished to see them, jumps up and orders Patroclus to prepare wine. He himself roasts some meat and they set themselves to eating and drinking. After they have sated their appetites, Odysseus attempts to persuade Achilles to return to the fighting. He relates the trouble the Trojans find themselves in, reminds Achilles of his father's advice not to let his anger get the better of him, lists the gifts that Agamemnon is offering, asks him to feel pity and loyalty for his fellow fighters, and appeals to his desire for glory.
Achilles scornfully rebuffs Odysseus' attempt. As in Book 1, he calls into question the role of the hero within the Achaean army (but not per se), saying that if he is no longer given the glory that he deserves for his efforts, then there is no point in him fighting on. For the material possessions, by which that glory is conferred, are taken for the most part by Agamemnon, when he himself has not risked his own life. His confiscation of Briseis is the culmination and nadir of this tendency. Achilles expresses his desire to head for home the next morning and says that there is nothing that will make him change his mind, least of all Agamemnon's gifts, even if they were as numerous as the grains of sand or dust. For no amount of gifts can be seen to be equal to the price of his life. He knows the story of his two fates: that if he stays at Troy and fights, he will die young but his glory will live on, or if he heads home, he will grow old but will live in obscurity. However, the fact that Agamemnon is refusing to show him the honour and glory that are the corollary of staying and fighting, his choice is a simple one.
Next, Phoenix tries to persuade him. He calls to mind his own flight from his father's house and the way in which he was accepted by Peleus into his house. He recalls the care that he lavished upon the young Achilles as he grew up and how he came to consider him as his own son. He advises him to respect the daughters of Zeus, the Repents, who see to men's prosperity if they are called upon after the onset of Folly. He points out that although Achilles' anger and withdrawal after Agamemnon's insult were entirely justified at the time, the offer of countless gifts now means that Achilles would be in the wrong, were he to continue to remove himself from the war. Finally, he tells the story of Meleagros, who, like Achilles, was his people's leading warrior and who also withdrew from the fighting when he felt that he had been insulted. He too rejected bounteous gifts, but when he was eventually persuaded by his wife and succeeded in winning the day for his people, they did not give him the gifts, since they had been withdrawn by the time he entered the fray. Saying this, Phoenix begs Achilles to re-enter the fighting while the gifts are still being offered and while the Achaeans will still treat him like a god on his return.
Achilles responds by saying that he feels the need of no further honour from the Achaeans since he has the honour of Zeus. He chastises Phoenix for feeling love for Agamemnon and calls on him to stay with him and share in half his kingdom. He says that they will consider in the morning whether to sail home or stay at Troy.
Ajax is the last to attempt persuade him. He focuses on Achilles' pitilessness in not suppressing his anger and considering the love that his comrades feel for him. For, even a killer is forgiven by his victim's brother or father, if he brings the right payment. Achilles, however, is implacable simply because of the loss of one girl.
Achilles sympathises with Ajax's view, but reiterates the contempt with which he feels he has been treated by Agamemnon. He tells him to return with the message that he will not fight until Hector has fought his way to the huts of the Myrmidons and has set the ships on fire. At that time Hector will be stopped.
After making libations, the embassy makes it way to the huts of Agamemnon, except for Phoenix who stays with Achilles. When they arrive, Odysseus relates the bad news and they are all silent for a moment. Then Diomedes says to Agamemnon that it was not a good idea to offer Achilles gifts since it has offended his pride even more. He advises that they leave Achilles alone and wait until either his own heart or one of the gods persuades him to rejoin the fighting. In the meantime, Agamemnon should take his place on the battlefield among the leading Achaeans. This is generally approved and, having poured libations, they all go back to their huts and sleep.
BOOK 10 - Night Manoeuvres
The high intensity of Book 9 is alleviated by the events of Book 10, which occur entirely at night and are somewhat removed from the action of the rest of the poem. Agamemnon, worried by the embassy's inability to persuade Achilles to rejoin the fighting, organises a meeting of the leading Achaeans. They congregate in a spot beyond their defensive ditch on site free of corpses. Nestor is the first to speak and suggests that one of them attempt to make their way secretly into the Trojan camp on the plain, to ascertain what their plans are. Diomedes volunteers to do this and selects Odysseus as his co-spy.
Meanwhile, the Trojans themselves have had a similar idea and the un-heroic Dolon is chosen to garner information from the Achaean ships. However, before he is able to do this, he is captured by Diomedes and Odysseus, who extract information from him about the Trojan position and those of their allies, in particular the Thracians and King Rhesus, who has only recently arrived and who is notably well-equipped. Having ascertained all they need from him, Dolon is killed by Diomedes. Using his information, the two Achaean heroes attack the Thracians and kill Rhesus, on whose white horses they ride back to the Achaean camp, in triumph.
BOOK 11 - Further Trojan Success
The day that begins at the start of Book 11 lasts until the end of Book 18, and can be seen to be the pivotal one of the poem and, by extension, the whole war, since it sees the highpoint of Trojan success, the firing of the Achaean ships, and the event that finally brings Achilles back to the fighting, the death of Patroclus.
The start of the book sees Zeus send the cruel goddess Strife down to the Achaean ships. This is followed by a description of Agamemnon preparing himself for war, which focuses particularly on the fine corselet that he puts on. Now is his finest hour and we see him proving his worth as a fighter on the battlefield. Zeus prevents Hector from fighting until Agamemnon is injured and, as a result, the Trojans are driven back. However, when Agamemnon is hit, followed in quick succession by Diomedes and Odysseus, Hector is granted glory until the end of the day by Zeus. The Achaeans have been shorn of all their great warriors, save Ajax, who fights on effectively but cannot halt the flow of Trojan success.
Meanwhile, Achilles has been watching events and sees a wounded Achaean being led from the battlefield by Nestor. Curious, he sends Patroclus to discover who it is. Arriving at Nestor's hut, Patroclus is treated to a lengthy reminiscence by the old man and criticism of Achilles for his intransigence. In conclusion, he suggests to Patroclus that he ask Achilles if he can borrow his armour and re-enter the fray. While returning to Achilles, Patroclus comes across Eurypylus, who is wounded. He helps him to his hut and tends his wound.
BOOK 12 - The Achaean Wall Penetrated
Throughout Book 12, we see ceaseless fighting and the full glory of Hector as a warrior. Inspired by him, the Trojans drive back the Achaeans and keep them shut in behind the protective wall that they built. The fighting is fierce and the Trojans mount a concerted assault on the wall. The Lycians under Glaucus and Sarpedon are successful on one stretch, Sarpedon making the first breach by removing a parapet. Ajax and his brother Teucer prevent the Achaeans from being routed and even manage to remove Glaucus from the fray. Neither side manages to make a telling breakthrough.
Hector, however, manages to break the gate of the Achaean wall with an enormous stone and rushes inside. Following his lead, the Trojans stream through the gate and over the wall and panic ensues among the Achaeans inside.