The embassy to Achilles

That night, in the Greek camp behind the wall, Agamemnon collapses. He proposes, in tears, that the army sail home — without Achilles they cannot win. Diomedes scornfully refuses. Nestor proposes instead an embassy to Achilles. They vote: an embassy will go, with the most generous offer the Greek world can imagine. Briseis returned untouched. Twenty more captive women. Vast bronze and gold. Seven cities of Pylos given as gifts. Agamemnon's own daughter in marriage, with no bride-price. All Achilles has to do is come back to the field.

Three men are chosen: Odysseus, the strategist; Phoenix, the old tutor who raised Achilles; and Ajax, the bulwark, the warrior who shares no bond with Achilles except the war they have fought together. They walk the long beach to Achilles's tent. Achilles welcomes them in, has Patroclus serve them food and wine. Then each speaks in turn. Odysseus lays out the offer in policy terms. Phoenix tells the long story of his own life as Achilles's tutor and begs him as a father might. Ajax says the simplest thing — your friends are dying; come back.

Achilles refuses all three. He is not moved by Agamemnon's gold, which he calls dishonest restitution; not by Phoenix's love, though he weeps; not even by Ajax, whom he clearly respects most. He says he will go home tomorrow. He has the option of long quiet life and he is going to take it. The embassy returns to camp empty-handed. Diomedes, hearing, says only: we will fight without him. The doors that were still open at dawn are now closed.