The Trojans have pushed the Greeks all the way back to their ship.  Night falls, and a panicked Agamemnon and Menelaus need a plan.  They decide to send an embassy to Achilles, to beg him to rejoin the fighting.  And (spoiler alert) the embassy fails -- but interestingly.  It looks like Achilles' position softens; but if so, why doesn't Odysseus report this to the rest of the Greeks?  Does Achilles have a moment of philosophic insight about the superiority of the contemplative life?  Or is he just a prisoner on the beach, like Odysseus and the rest of the heroes?  How does Achilles want to be remembered?

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