Agamemnon makes an attempt to reconcile with Achilles
Agamemnon, saddened by the victory of the Trojans, sent out heralds to convene a council of leaders. The leaders gathered, and Agamemnon began to talk with sadness about the fact that he now had to flee from Troas to Greece, since it seemed to please Zeus. But Diomedangrily objected to Agamemnon that he could leave Troas alone if he wanted to, while the other leaders would stay and fight until they took Troy. Nor did I advise Nestor to run. The elder advised Agamemnon to arrange a feast and discuss what to do at it, and to put guards to guard the camp.
Agamemnon fulfilled Nestor's advice. Seven hundred young men under the leadership of seven leaders went to guard the camp of the Greeks. The other chiefs remained in Agamemnon's tent. During the feast, Nestor began to advise Agamemnon to reconcile with Achilles. Agamemnon heeded Nestor. He announced to the leaders that he would give great gifts to Achilles, return to him Briseida, and when everyone returned to their homeland with victory, he would give Achilles one of his daughters as a wife, and many rich gifts as a dowry. The leaders approved Agamemnon's decision and decided to send Telamonides to his tent for negotiations with Achilles Ajax, Odyssey and Phoenix, and with them heralds Eurybate and Year. Achilles was especially fond of these heroes. Nestor gave many instructions to these ambassadors.
When the ambassadors of Agamemnon came to Achilles, they found him playing the lyre and singing the glory of the heroes. His friend was also sitting near Achilles Patroclus. Achilles greeted the heroes affably and prepared a rich feast for them. Having had enough, Odysseus turned to his son Peleus and began to persuade him to reconcile with Agamemnon. Odysseus told how the Trojans, led by Hector, were crowding the Greeks, and Odysseus listed the gifts that Agamemnon promises as a sign of reconciliation. Odysseus also reminded Achilles of how he instructed his son Peleus, letting him go on a campaign, 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 had caused him. Achilles said that even in that case he would refuse to reconcile with Agamemnon if he promised to give him gifts equal to all the riches of the Egyptian Thebes. Achilles was adamant and even threatened to sail back to Phthia. But Phoenix, grieving for the fate of the Greeks, continued to persuade Achilles to reconcile. He implored him not to do as he had once done meleagr when the Kuretes fought with the Aetolians. But Achilles did not answer Phoenix. Telamonides Ajax then turned to Odysseus and called him to leave the tent of Achilles as soon as possible and go to announce Achilles' answer to the leaders. Ajax made a last attempt to convince Achilles, but he remained adamant and only said that then he would oppose Hector when he, having lit the ships of the Greeks, would reach his ships and tent.The heroes silently left, and the Phoenix remained with Achilles. Returning to Agamemnon, Ajax and Odysseus told the leaders that Achilles had answered. The leaders listened to them in deep silence. Finally, the hero Diomedes advised to leave Achilles alone, as Agamemnon breathed even greater pride into his heart with the promise of gifts. Diomedes suggested that, fortified with wines and food, everyone go to bed in order to start a bloody battle again the next day.