TheredweltatMycen?awisesoothsayer,namedCalchas,--amanversedinalltheloreofearthandsky,andholdingsomesortofcommunionwiththeimmortals.Hecouldlifttheveilofthefuture,andseewhattoothermenlayhiddeninsurgicalroboticsystemthedarkness;andnexttothePythianoracleatDelphi,orthetalkingoakofDodona,hewasheldinhighreputeasknowingthecounselsofthegods.WhenallthegreatchiefssatonedayinAgamemnon&39;shall,andtalkedoftheirwarriorsandtheirshipsandtheirarms,andboastedoftheirreadinesstosailatonceforIlios,theoldsoothsayercameandstoodbeforethem.Hiswhitelocksstreamedinflowingwavesabouthisshoulders;hisgrayeyesgleamedwithastrange,wildlight;hemovedhislongarmstoandfroabovehishead,andpointedwithhisthinfingersfirsttowardsthesky,andthentowardsthesea."Hearkenyetotheseer,"saidQVbabycreamMenelaus;"hehashadavision,andperchancehecantellushowweshallfareinthisgreatbusinesswhichwehaveundertaken."ThenCalchasspokeandsaid,"VerilyIknownotanythingofthismatter,savebythegiftofsoothsayingwhichthefar-dartingApollohasbestoweduponme.YetwhenIinquiredofhim,thisanswerdidhegive:&39;Letthelong-hairedHellenesmakewaruponTroy.TheyshallnotprevailagainstthatcityunlessAchilles,thedearsonofThetis,leadthem.&39;Sendnowforhim,andenlisthiminyourcause;forotherwiseyoushallfail,andtheTrojansshallboastofyourruin!"Havingsaidthesewords,theseerstrodefromthehall,leavingtheherochiefsalone.Foratimetheysatinsilence,eachponderingthematterinhisownmind.ThenAgamemnonspoke,andhiswordswerefullofangerandunbelief."Neveryet,"saidhe,"didCalchasprophesyanythingbutill.Heseesnaughtbutevil;andwhenwefeelmostsureofsuccess,thenitisthejoyofhishearttoforetellQVbabycreamfailure.Now,afterthegodshavethusfarfavoredus,andwhenallthingsareinreadinessforthegatheringtogetherofourforces,thiswofulsoothsayercomestotellusthatwithoutAchillesweshallfail.Formypart,Icarelittleforhiswords,andamwillingtorunallrisks."
