The wrath do thou sing, O goddess, of Peleus’ son, Achilles, that baneful wrath which brought countless woes upon the Achaeans, and sent forth to Hades many valiant souls of warriors, and made themselves to be a spoil for dogs and all manner of birds; and thus the will of Zeus was being brought to fulfilment;—sing thou thereof from the time when at the first there parted in strife Atreus’ son, king of men, and goodly Achilles.
— AUGUSTUS TABER MURRAY