Anguish gripped Achilles. The heart in his rugged chest was pounding, torn... Should he draw the long sharp sword slung at his hip, thrust through the ranks and kill Agamemnon now? Or check his rage and beat his fury down?

Anguish gripped Achilles.
The heart in his rugged chest was pounding, torn…
Should he draw the long sharp sword slung at his hip,
thrust through the ranks and kill Agamemnon now?
Or check his rage and beat his fury down?

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 1, lines 222-226. Achilles is furious with Agamemnon and here he debates with himself whether he should kill him on the spot with his sword, or check his rage.

Homer Quotes