The assembly now broke up and the
people went their ways each to his own ship.
There they made ready their supper, and
then bethought them of the blessed boon of
sleep; but Achilles still wept for
thinking of his dear comrade, and sleep, before whom
all things bow, could take no hold upon
him. This way and that did he turn as he
yearned after the might and manfulness of
Patroclus; he thought of all they had done
together, and all they had gone through
both on the field of battle and on the waves of
the weary sea. As he dwelt on these things
he wept bitterly and lay now on his side,
now on his back, and now face downwards,
till at last he rose and went out as one
distraught to wander upon the seashore.
Then, when he saw dawn breaking over beach
and sea, he yoked his horses to his
chariot, and bound the body of Hector behind it that
he might drag it about. Thrice did he drag
it round the tomb of the son of Menoetius,
and then went back into his tent, leaving
the body on the ground full length and with its
face downwards. But Apollo would not
suffer it to be disfigured, for he pitied the man,
dead though he now was; therefore he
shielded him with his golden aegis continually,
that he might take no hurt while Achilles
was dragging him.
Thus shamefully did Achilles in his fury
dishonour Hector; but the blessed gods looked
down in pity from heaven, and urged
Mercury, slayer of Argus, to steal the body. All
were of this mind save only Juno, Neptune,
and Jove's grey-eyed daughter, who
persisted in the hate which they had ever
borne towards Ilius with Priam and his people;
for they forgave not the wrong done them
by Alexandrus in disdaining the goddesses
who came to him when he was in his
sheepyards, and preferring her who had offered
him a wanton to his ruin.
When, therefore, the morning of the
twelfth day had now come, Phoebus Apollo spoke
among the immortals saying, "You gods
ought to be ashamed of yourselves; you are
cruel and hard-hearted. Did not Hector
burn you thigh-bones of heifers and of
unblemished goats? And now dare you not
rescue even his dead body, for his wife to
look upon, with his mother and child, his
father Priam, and his people, who would
forthwith commit him to the flames, and
give him his due funeral rites? So, then, you
would all be on the side of mad Achilles,
who knows neither right nor ruth? He is like
some savage lion that in the pride of his
great strength and daring springs upon men's
flocks and gorges on them. Even so has
Achilles flung aside all pity, and all that
conscience which at once so greatly banes
yet greatly boons him that will heed it. man
may lose one far dearer than Achilles has
lost- a son, it may be, or a brother born from
his own mother's womb; yet when he has
mourned him and wept over him he will let
him bide, for it takes much sorrow to kill
a man; whereas Achilles, now that he has slain
noble Hector, drags him behind his chariot
round the tomb of his comrade. It were
better of him, and for him, that he should
not do so, for brave though he be we gods
may take it ill that he should vent his
fury upon dead clay."
Juno spoke up in a rage. "This were well,"
she cried, "O lord of the silver bow, if you
would give like honour to Hector and to
Achilles; but Hector was mortal and suckled at
a woman's breast, whereas Achilles is the
offspring of a goddess whom I myself reared
and brought up. I married her to Peleus,
who is above measure dear to the immortals;
you gods came all of you to her wedding;
you feasted along with them yourself and
brought your lyre- false, and fond of low
company, that you have ever been."
Then said Jove, "Juno, be not so bitter.
Their honour shall not be equal, but of all that
dwell in Ilius, Hector was dearest to the
gods, as also to myself, for his offerings never
failed me. Never was my altar stinted of
its dues, nor of the drink-offerings and savour
of sacrifice which we claim of right. I
shall therefore permit the body of mighty Hector
to be stolen; and yet this may hardly be
without Achilles coming to know it, for his
mother keeps night and day beside him. Let
some one of you, therefore, send Thetis to
me, and I will impart my counsel to her,
namely that Achilles is to accept a ransom from
Priam, and give up the body."
On this Iris fleet as the wind went forth
to carry his message. Down she plunged into the
dark sea midway between Samos and rocky
Imbrus; the waters hissed as they closed
over her, and she sank into the bottom as
the lead at the end of an ox-horn, that is sped
to carry death to fishes. She found Thetis
sitting in a great cave with the other
sea-goddesses gathered round her; there
she sat in the midst of them weeping for her
noble son who was to fall far from his own
land, on the rich plains of Troy. Iris went up
to her and said, "Rise Thetis; Jove, whose
counsels fail not, bids you come to him." And
Thetis answered, "Why does the mighty god
so bid me? I am in great grief, and shrink
from going in and out among the immortals.
Still, I will go, and the word that he may
speak shall not be spoken in vain."
The goddess took her dark veil, than which
there can be no robe more sombre, and
went forth with fleet Iris leading the way
before her. The waves of the sea opened them
a path, and when they reached the shore
they flew up into the heavens, where they
found the all-seeing son of Saturn with
the blessed gods that live for ever assembled
near him. Minerva gave up her seat to her,
and she sat down by the side of father Jove.
Juno then placed a fair golden cup in her
hand, and spoke to her in words of comfort,
whereon Thetis drank and gave her back the
cup; and the sire of gods and men was the
first to speak.
"So, goddess," said he, "for all your
sorrow, and the grief that I well know reigns ever in
your heart, you have come hither to
Olympus, and I will tell you why I have sent for
you. This nine days past the immortals
have been quarrelling about Achilles waster of
cities and the body of Hector. The gods
would have Mercury slayer of Argus steal the
body, but in furtherance of our peace and
amity henceforward, I will concede such
honour to your son as I will now tell you.
Go, then, to the host and lay these commands
upon him; say that the gods are angry with
him, and that I am myself more angry than
them all, in that he keeps Hector at the
ships and will not give him up. He may thus fear
me and let the body go. At the same time I
will send Iris to great Priam to bid him go to
the ships of the Achaeans, and ransom his
son, taking with him such gifts for Achilles as
may give him satisfaction.
Silver-footed Thetis did as the god had
told her, and forthwith down she darted from
the topmost summits of Olympus. She went
to her son's tents where she found him
grieving bitterly, while his trusty
comrades round him were busy preparing their morning
meal, for which they had killed a great
woolly sheep. His mother sat down beside him
and caressed him with her hand saying, "My
son, how long will you keep on thus
grieving and making moan? You are gnawing
at your own heart, and think neither of
food nor of woman's embraces; and yet
these too were well, for you have no long time
to live, and death with the strong hand of
fate are already close beside you. Now,
therefore, heed what I say, for I come as
a messenger from Jove; he says that the gods
are angry with you, and himself more angry
than them all, in that you keep Hector at the
ships and will not give him up. Therefore
let him go, and accept a ransom for his body."
And Achilles answered, "So be it. If
Olympian Jove of his own motion thus commands
me, let him that brings the ransom bear
the body away."
Thus did mother and son talk together at
the ships in long discourse with one another.
Meanwhile the son of Saturn sent Iris to
the strong city of Ilius. "Go," said he, "fleet Iris,
from the mansions of Olympus, and tell
King Priam in Ilius, that he is to go to the ships
of the Achaeans and free the body of his
dear son. He is to take such gifts with him as
shall give satisfaction to Achilles, and
he is to go alone, with no other Trojan, save only
some honoured servant who may drive his
mules and waggon, and bring back the body
of him whom noble Achilles has slain. Let
him have no thought nor fear of death in his
heart, for we will send the slayer of
Argus to escort him, and bring him within the tent of
Achilles. Achilles will not kill him nor
let another do so, for he will take heed to his ways
and sin not, and he will entreat a
suppliant with all honourable courtesy."
On this Iris, fleet as the wind, sped
forth to deliver her message. She went to Priam's
house, and found weeping and lamentation
therein. His sons were seated round their
father in the outer courtyard, and their
raiment was wet with tears: the old man sat in the
midst of them with his mantle wrapped
close about his body, and his head and neck all
covered with the filth which he had
clutched as he lay grovelling in the mire. His
daughters and his sons' wives went wailing
about the house, as they thought of the many
and brave men who lay dead, slain by the
Argives. The messenger of Jove stood by
Priam and spoke softly to him, but fear
fell upon him as she did so. "Take heart," she
said, "Priam offspring of Dardanus, take
heart and fear not. I bring no evil tidings, but
am minded well towards you. I come as a
messenger from Jove, who though he be not
near, takes thought for you and pities
you. The lord of Olympus bids you go and
ransom noble Hector, and take with you
such gifts as shall give satisfaction to Achilles.
You are to go alone, with no Trojan, save
only some honoured servant who may drive
your mules and waggon, and bring back to
the city the body of him whom noble
Achilles has slain. You are to have no
thought, nor fear of death, for Jove will send the
slayer of Argus to escort you. When he has
brought you within Achilles' tent, Achilles
will not kill you nor let another do so,
for he will take heed to his ways and sin not, and
he will entreat a suppliant with all
honourable courtesy."
Iris went her way when she had thus
spoken, and Priam told his sons to get a
mule-waggon ready, and to make the body of
the waggon fast upon the top of its bed.
Then he went down into his fragrant
store-room, high-vaulted, and made of
cedar-wood, where his many treasures were
kept, and he called Hecuba his wife.
"Wife," said he, "a messenger has come to
me from Olympus, and has told me to go to
the ships of the Achaeans to ransom my
dear son, taking with me such gifts as shall give
satisfaction to Achilles. What think you
of this matter? for my own part I am greatly
moved to pass through the of the Achaeans
and go to their ships."
His wife cried aloud as she heard him, and
said, "Alas, what has become of that
judgement for which you have been ever
famous both among strangers and your own
people? How can you venture alone to the
ships of the Achaeans, and look into the
face of him who has slain so many of your
brave sons? You must have iron courage, for
if the cruel savage sees you and lays hold
on you, he will know neither respect nor pity.
Let us then weep Hector from afar here in
our own house, for when I gave him birth the
threads of overruling fate were spun for
him that dogs should eat his flesh far from his
parents, in the house of that terrible man
on whose liver I would fain fasten and devour
it. Thus would I avenge my son, who showed
no cowardice when Achilles slew him,
and thought neither of Right nor of
avoiding battle as he stood in defence of Trojan men
and Trojan women."
Then Priam said, "I would go, do not
therefore stay me nor be as a bird of ill omen in
my house, for you will not move me. Had it
been some mortal man who had sent me
some prophet or priest who divines from
sacrifice- I should have deemed him false and
have given him no heed; but now I have
heard the goddess and seen her face to face,
therefore I will go and her saying shall
not be in vain. If it be my fate to die at the ships
of the Achaeans even so would I have it;
let Achilles slay me, if I may but first have
taken my son in my arms and mourned him to
my heart's comforting."
So saying he lifted the lids of his
chests, and took out twelve goodly vestments. He took
also twelve cloaks of single fold, twelve
rugs, twelve fair mantles, and an equal number
of shirts. He weighed out ten talents of
gold, and brought moreover two burnished
tripods, four cauldrons, and a very
beautiful cup which the Thracians had given him
when he had gone to them on an embassy; it
was very precious, but he grudged not
even this, so eager was he to ransom the
body of his son. Then he chased all the
Trojans from the court and rebuked them
with words of anger. "Out," he cried, "shame
and disgrace to me that you are. Have you
no grief in your own homes that you are
come to plague me here? Is it a small
thing, think you, that the son of Saturn has sent
this sorrow upon me, to lose the bravest
of my sons? Nay, you shall prove it in person,
for now he is gone the Achaeans will have
easier work in killing you. As for me, let me
go down within the house of Hades, ere
mine eyes behold the sacking and wasting of
the city."
He drove the men away with his staff, and
they went forth as the old man sped them.
Then he called to his sons, upbraiding
Helenus, Paris, noble Agathon, Pammon,
Antiphonus, Polites of the loud
battle-cry, Deiphobus, Hippothous, and Dius. These
nine did the old man call near him. "Come
to me at once," he cried, "worthless sons
who do me shame; would that you had all
been killed at the ships rather than Hector.
Miserable man that I am, I have had the
bravest sons in all Troy- noble Nestor, Troilus
the dauntless charioteer, and Hector who
was a god among men, so that one would
have thought he was son to an immortal-
yet there is not one of them left. Mars has slain
them and those of whom I am ashamed are
alone left me. Liars, and light of foot, heroes
of the dance, robbers of lambs and kids
from your own people, why do you not get a
waggon ready for me at once, and put all
these things upon it that I may set out on my
way?"
Thus did he speak, and they feared the
rebuke of their father. They brought out a strong
mule-waggon, newly made, and set the body
of the waggon fast on its bed. They took
the mule-yoke from the peg on which it
hung, a yoke of boxwood with a knob on the
top of it and rings for the reins to go
through. Then they brought a yoke-band eleven
cubits long, to bind the yoke to the pole;
they bound it on at the far end of the pole, and
put the ring over the upright pin making
it fast with three turns of the band on either side
the knob, and bending the thong of the
yoke beneath it. This done, they brought from
the store-chamber the rich ransom that was
to purchase the body of Hector, and they
set it all orderly on the waggon; then
they yoked the strong harness-mules which the
Mysians had on a time given as a goodly
present to Priam; but for Priam himself they
yoked horses which the old king had bred,
and kept for own use.
Thus heedfully did Priam and his servant
see to the yolking of their cars at the palace.
Then Hecuba came to them all sorrowful,
with a golden goblet of wine in her right hand,
that they might make a drink-offering
before they set out. She stood in front of the
horses and said, "Take this, make a
drink-offering to father Jove, and since you are
minded to go to the ships in spite of me,
pray that you may come safely back from the
hands of your enemies. Pray to the son of
Saturn lord of the whirlwind, who sits on Ida
and looks down over all Troy, pray him to
send his swift messenger on your right hand,
the bird of omen which is strongest and
most dear to him of all birds, that you may see it
with your own eyes and trust it as you go
forth to the ships of the Danaans. If all-seeing
Jove will not send you this messenger,
however set upon it you may be, I would not
have you go to the ships of the
Argives."
And Priam answered, "Wife, I will do as
you desire me; it is well to lift hands in prayer
to Jove, if so be he may have mercy upon
me."
With this the old man bade the
serving-woman pour pure water over his hands, and the
woman came, bearing the water in a bowl.
He washed his hands and took the cup from
his wife; then he made the drink-offering
and prayed, standing in the middle of the
courtyard and turning his eyes to heaven.
"Father Jove," he said, "that rulest from Ida,
most glorious and most great, grant that I
may be received kindly and compassionately
in the tents of Achilles; and send your
swift messenger upon my right hand, the bird of
omen which is strongest and most dear to
you of all birds, that I may see it with my own
eyes and trust it as I go forth to the
ships of the Danaans."
So did he pray, and Jove the lord of
counsel heard his prayer. Forthwith he sent an
eagle, the most unerring portent of all
birds that fly, the dusky hunter that men also call
the Black Eagle. His wings were spread
abroad on either side as wide as the well-made
and well-bolted door of a rich man's
chamber. He came to them flying over the city
upon their right hands, and when they saw
him they were glad and their hearts took
comfort within them. The old man made
haste to mount his chariot, and drove out
through the inner gateway and under the
echoing gatehouse of the outer court. Before
him went the mules drawing the
four-wheeled waggon, and driven by wise Idaeus;
behind these were the horses, which the
old man lashed with his whip and drove swiftly
through the city, while his friends
followed after, wailing and lamenting for him as though
he were on his road to death. As soon as
they had come down from the city and had
reached the plain, his sons and
sons-in-law who had followed him went back to Ilius.
But Priam and Idaeus as they showed out
upon the plain did not escape the ken of
all-seeing Jove, who looked down upon the
old man and pitied him; then he spoke to
his son Mercury and said, "Mercury, for it
is you who are the most disposed to escort
men on their way, and to hear those whom
you will hear, go, and so conduct Priam to
the ships of the Achaeans that no other of
the Danaans shall see him nor take note of
him until he reach the son of Peleus."
Thus he spoke and Mercury, guide and
guardian, slayer of Argus, did as he was told.
Forthwith he bound on his glittering
golden sandals with which he could fly like the wind
over land and sea; he took the wand with
which he seals men's eyes in sleep, or wakes
them just as he pleases, and flew holding
it in his hand till he came to Troy and to the
Hellespont. To look at, he was like a
young man of noble birth in the hey-day of his
youth and beauty with the down just coming
upon his face.
Now when Priam and Idaeus had driven past
the great tomb of Ilius, they stayed their
mules and horses that they might drink in
the river, for the shades of night were falling,
when, therefore, Idaeus saw Mercury
standing near them he said to Priam, "Take heed,
descendant of Dardanus; here is matter
which demands consideration. I see a man who
I think will presently fall upon us; let
us fly with our horses, or at least embrace his knees
and implore him to take compassion upon
us?
When he heard this the old man's heart
failed him, and he was in great fear; he stayed
where he was as one dazed, and the hair
stood on end over his whole body; but the
bringer of good luck came up to him and
took him by the hand, saying, "Whither, father,
are you thus driving your mules and horses
in the dead of night when other men are
asleep? Are you not afraid of the fierce
Achaeans who are hard by you, so cruel and
relentless? Should some one of them see
you bearing so much treasure through the
darkness of the flying night, what would
not your state then be? You are no longer
young, and he who is with you is too old
to protect you from those who would attack
you. For myself, I will do you no harm,
and I will defend you from any one else, for you
remind me of my own father."
And Priam answered, "It is indeed as you
say, my dear son; nevertheless some god has
held his hand over me, in that he has sent
such a wayfarer as yourself to meet me so
Opportunely; you are so comely in mien and
figure, and your judgement is so excellent
that you must come of blessed
parents."
Then said the slayer of Argus, guide and
guardian, "Sir, all that you have said is right;
but tell me and tell me true, are you
taking this rich treasure to send it to a foreign
people where it may be safe, or are you
all leaving strong Ilius in dismay now that your
son has fallen who was the bravest man
among you and was never lacking in battle with
the Achaeans?"
And Priam said, "Wo are you, my friend,
and who are your parents, that you speak so
truly about the fate of my unhappy
son?"
The slayer of Argus, guide and guardian,
answered him, "Sir, you would prove me, that
you question me about noble Hector. Many a
time have I set eyes upon him in battle
when he was driving the Argives to their
ships and putting them to the sword. We stood
still and marvelled, for Achilles in his
anger with the son of Atreus suffered us not to
fight. I am his squire, and came with him
in the same ship. I am a Myrmidon, and my
father's name is Polyctor: he is a rich
man and about as old as you are; he has six sons
besides myself, and I am the seventh. We
cast lots, and it fell upon me to sail hither with
Achilles. I am now come from the ships on
to the plain, for with daybreak the Achaeans
will set battle in array about the city.
They chafe at doing nothing, and are so eager that
their princes cannot hold them back."
Then answered Priam, "If you are indeed
the squire of Achilles son of Peleus, tell me
now the Whole truth. Is my son still at
the ships, or has Achilles hewn him limb from
limb, and given him to his hounds?"
"Sir," replied the slayer of Argus, guide
and guardian, "neither hounds nor vultures have
yet devoured him; he is still just lying
at the tents by the ship of Achilles, and though it is
now twelve days that he has lain there,
his flesh is not wasted nor have the worms eaten
him although they feed on warriors. At
daybreak Achilles drags him cruelly round the
sepulchre of his dear comrade, but it does
him no hurt. You should come yourself and
see how he lies fresh as dew, with the
blood all washed away, and his wounds every
one of them closed though many pierced him
with their spears. Such care have the
blessed gods taken of your brave son, for
he was dear to them beyond all measure."
The old man was comforted as he heard him
and said, "My son, see what a good thing
it is to have made due offerings to the
immortals; for as sure as that he was born my son
never forgot the gods that hold Olympus,
and now they requite it to him even in death.
Accept therefore at my hands this goodly
chalice; guard me and with heaven's help
guide me till I come to the tent of the
son of Peleus."
Then answered the slayer of Argus, guide
and guardian, "Sir, you are tempting me and
playing upon my youth, but you shall not
move me, for you are offering me presents
without the knowledge of Achilles whom I
fear and hold it great guiltless to defraud, lest
some evil presently befall me; but as your
guide I would go with you even to Argos
itself, and would guard you so carefully
whether by sea or land, that no one should
attack you through making light of him who
was with you."
The bringer of good luck then sprang on to
the chariot, and seizing the whip and reins
he breathed fresh spirit into the mules
and horses. When they reached the trench and
the wall that was before the ships, those
who were on guard had just been getting their
suppers, and the slayer of Argus threw
them all into a deep sleep. Then he drew back
the bolts to open the gates, and took
Priam inside with the treasure he had upon his
waggon. Ere long they came to the lofty
dwelling of the son of Peleus for which the
Myrmidons had cut pine and which they had
built for their king; when they had built it
they thatched it with coarse tussock-grass
which they had mown out on the plain, and
all round it they made a large courtyard,
which was fenced with stakes set close
together. The gate was barred with a
single bolt of pine which it took three men to force
into its place, and three to draw back so
as to open the gate, but Achilles could draw it
by himself. Mercury opened the gate for
the old man, and brought in the treasure that he
was taking with him for the son of Peleus.
Then he sprang from the chariot on to the
ground and said, "Sir, it is I, immortal
Mercury, that am come with you, for my father
sent me to escort you. I will now leave
you, and will not enter into the presence of
Achilles, for it might anger him that a
god should befriend mortal men thus openly. Go
you within, and embrace the knees of the
son of Peleus: beseech him by his father, his
lovely mother, and his son; thus you may
move him."
With these words Mercury went back to high
Olympus. Priam sprang from his chariot
to the ground, leaving Idaeus where he
was, in charge of the mules and horses. The old
man went straight into the house where
Achilles, loved of the gods, was sitting. There he
found him with his men seated at a
distance from him: only two, the hero Automedon,
and Alcimus of the race of Mars, were busy
in attendance about his person, for he had
but just done eating and drinking, and the
table was still there. King Priam entered
without their seeing him, and going right
up to Achilles he clasped his knees and kissed
the dread murderous hands that had slain
so many of his sons.
As when some cruel spite has befallen a
man that he should have killed some one in his
own country, and must fly to a great man's
protection in a land of strangers, and all
marvel who see him, even so did Achilles
marvel as he beheld Priam. The others looked
one to another and marvelled also, but
Priam besought Achilles saying, "Think of your
father, O Achilles like unto the gods, who
is such even as I am, on the sad threshold of
old age. It may be that those who dwell
near him harass him, and there is none to keep
war and ruin from him. Yet when he hears
of you being still alive, he is glad, and his
days are full of hope that he shall see
his dear son come home to him from Troy; but I,
wretched man that I am, had the bravest in
all Troy for my sons, and there is not one of
them left. I had fifty sons when the
Achaeans came here; nineteen of them were from a
single womb, and the others were borne to
me by the women of my household. The
greater part of them has fierce Mars laid
low, and Hector, him who was alone left, him
who was the guardian of the city and
ourselves, him have you lately slain; therefore I am
now come to the ships of the Achaeans to
ransom his body from you with a great
ransom. Fear, O Achilles, the wrath of
heaven; think on your own father and have
compassion upon me, who am the more
pitiable, for I have steeled myself as no man
yet has ever steeled himself before me,
and have raised to my lips the hand of him who
slew my son."
Thus spoke Priam, and the heart of
Achilles yearned as he bethought him of his father.
He took the old man's hand and moved him
gently away. The two wept bitterly- Priam,
as he lay at Achilles' feet, weeping for
Hector, and Achilles now for his father and now
for Patroclous, till the house was filled
with their lamentation. But when Achilles was
now sated with grief and had unburthened
the bitterness of his sorrow, he left his seat
and raised the old man by the hand, in
pity for his white hair and beard; then he said,
"Unhappy man, you have indeed been greatly
daring; how could you venture to come
alone to the ships of the Achaeans, and
enter the presence of him who has slain so
many of your brave sons? You must have
iron courage: sit now upon this seat, and for
all our grief we will hide our sorrows in
our hearts, for weeping will not avail us. The
immortals know no care, yet the lot they
spin for man is full of sorrow; on the floor of
Jove's palace there stand two urns, the
one filled with evil gifts, and the other with good
ones. He for whom Jove the lord of thunder
mixes the gifts he sends, will meet now with
good and now with evil fortune; but he to
whom Jove sends none but evil gifts will be
pointed at by the finger of scorn, the
hand of famine will pursue him to the ends of the
world, and he will go up and down the face
of the earth, respected neither by gods nor
men. Even so did it befall Peleus; the
gods endowed him with all good things from his
birth upwards, for he reigned over the
Myrmidons excelling all men in prosperity and
wealth, and mortal though he was they gave
him a goddess for his bride. But even on
him too did heaven send misfortune, for
there is no race of royal children born to him in
his house, save one son who is doomed to
die all untimely; nor may I take care of him
now that he is growing old, for I must
stay here at Troy to be the bane of you and your
children. And you too, O Priam, I have
heard that you were aforetime happy. They say
that in wealth and plenitude of offspring
you surpassed all that is in Lesbos, the realm of
Makar to the northward, Phrygia that is
more inland, and those that dwell upon the
great Hellespont; but from the day when
the dwellers in heaven sent this evil upon you,
war and slaughter have been about your
city continually. Bear up against it, and let there
be some intervals in your sorrow. Mourn as
you may for your brave son, you will take
nothing by it. You cannot raise him from
the dead, ere you do so yet another sorrow
shall befall you."
And Priam answered, "O king, bid me not be
seated, while Hector is still lying uncared
for in your tents, but accept the great
ransom which I have brought you, and give him to
me at once that I may look upon him. May
you prosper with the ransom and reach your
own land in safety, seeing that you have
suffered me to live and to look upon the light of
the sun."
Achilles looked at him sternly and said,
"Vex me, sir, no longer; I am of myself minded
to give up the body of Hector. My mother,
daughter of the old man of the sea, came to
me from Jove to bid me deliver it to you.
Moreover I know well, O Priam, and you
cannot hide it, that some god has brought
you to the ships of the Achaeans, for else, no
man however strong and in his prime would
dare to come to our host; he could neither
pass our guard unseen, nor draw the bolt
of my gates thus easily; therefore, provoke me
no further, lest I sin against the word of
Jove, and suffer you not, suppliant though you
are, within my tents."
The old man feared him and obeyed. Then
the son of Peleus sprang like a lion through
the door of his house, not alone, but with
him went his two squires Automedon and
Alcimus who were closer to him than any
others of his comrades now that Patroclus
was no more. These unyoked the horses and
mules, and bade Priam's herald and
attendant be seated within the house. They
lifted the ransom for Hector's body from the
waggon. but they left two mantles and a
goodly shirt, that Achilles might wrap the body
in them when he gave it to be taken home.
Then he called to his servants and ordered
them to wash the body and anoint it, but
he first took it to a place where Priam should
not see it, lest if he did so, he should
break out in the bitterness of his grief, and enrage
Achilles, who might then kill him and sin
against the word of Jove. When the servants
had washed the body and anointed it, and
had wrapped it in a fair shirt and mantle,
Achilles himself lifted it on to a bier,
and he and his men then laid it on the waggon. He
cried aloud as he did so and called on the
name of his dear comrade, "Be not angry
with me, Patroclus," he said, "if you hear
even in the house of Hades that I have given
Hector to his father for a ransom. It has
been no unworthy one, and I will share it
equitably with you."
Achilles then went back into the tent and
took his place on the richly inlaid seat from
which he had risen, by the wall that was
at right angles to the one against which Priam
was sitting. "Sir," he said, "your son is
now laid upon his bier and is ransomed according
to desire; you shall look upon him when
you him away at daybreak; for the present let
us prepare our supper. Even lovely Niobe
had to think about eating, though her twelve
children- six daughters and six lusty
sons- had been all slain in her house. Apollo killed
the sons with arrows from his silver bow,
to punish Niobe, and Diana slew the
daughters, because Niobe had vaunted
herself against Leto; she said Leto had borne
two children only, whereas she had herself
borne many- whereon the two killed the
many. Nine days did they lie weltering,
and there was none to bury them, for the son of
Saturn turned the people into stone; but
on the tenth day the gods in heaven themselves
buried them, and Niobe then took food,
being worn out with weeping. They say that
somewhere among the rocks on the mountain
pastures of Sipylus, where the nymphs
live that haunt the river Achelous, there,
they say, she lives in stone and still nurses the
sorrows sent upon her by the hand of
heaven. Therefore, noble sir, let us two now take
food; you can weep for your dear son
hereafter as you are bearing him back to Ilius-
and many a tear will he cost you."
With this Achilles sprang from his seat
and killed a sheep of silvery whiteness, which his
followers skinned and made ready all in
due order. They cut the meat carefully up into
smaller pieces, spitted them, and drew
them off again when they were well roasted.
Automedon brought bread in fair baskets
and served it round the table, while Achilles
dealt out the meat, and they laid their
hands on the good things that were before them.
As soon as they had had enough to eat and
drink, Priam, descendant of Dardanus,
marvelled at the strength and beauty of
Achilles for he was as a god to see, and Achilles
marvelled at Priam as he listened to him
and looked upon his noble presence. When
they had gazed their fill Priam spoke
first. "And now, O king," he said, "take me to my
couch that we may lie down and enjoy the
blessed boon of sleep. Never once have my
eyes been closed from the day your hands
took the life of my son; I have grovelled
without ceasing in the mire of my
stable-yard, making moan and brooding over my
countless sorrows. Now, moreover, I have
eaten bread and drunk wine; hitherto I have
tasted nothing."
As he spoke Achilles told his men and the
women-servants to set beds in the room that
was in the gatehouse, and make them with
good red rugs, and spread coverlets on the
top of them with woollen cloaks for Priam
and Idaeus to wear. So the maids went out
carrying a torch and got the two beds
ready in all haste. Then Achilles said laughingly to
Priam, "Dear sir, you shall lie outside,
lest some counsellor of those who in due course
keep coming to advise with me should see
you here in the darkness of the flying night,
and tell it to Agamemnon. This might cause
delay in the delivery of the body. And now
tell me and tell me true, for how many
days would you celebrate the funeral rites of
noble Hector? Tell me, that I may hold
aloof from war and restrain the host."
And Priam answered, "Since, then, you
suffer me to bury my noble son with all due
rites, do thus, Achilles, and I shall be
grateful. You know how we are pent up within our
city; it is far for us to fetch wood from
the mountain, and the people live in fear. Nine
days, therefore, will we mourn Hector in
my house; on the tenth day we will bury him
and there shall be a public feast in his
honour; on the eleventh we will build a mound
over his ashes, and on the twelfth, if
there be need, we will fight."
And Achilles answered, "All, King Priam,
shall be as you have said. I will stay our
fighting for as long a time as you have
named."
As he spoke he laid his hand on the old
man's right wrist, in token that he should have
no fear; thus then did Priam and his
attendant sleep there in the forecourt, full of thought,
while Achilles lay in an inner room of the
house, with fair Briseis by his side.
And now both gods and mortals were fast
asleep through the livelong night, but upon
Mercury alone, the bringer of good luck,
sleep could take no hold for he was thinking
all the time how to get King Priam away
from the ships without his being seen by the
strong force of sentinels. He hovered
therefore over Priam's head and said, "Sir, now
that Achilles has spared your life, you
seem to have no fear about sleeping in the thick
of your foes. You have paid a great
ransom, and have received the body of your son;
were you still alive and a prisoner the
sons whom you have left at home would have to
give three times as much to free you; and
so it would be if Agamemnon and the other
Achaeans were to know of your being
here."
When he heard this the old man was afraid
and roused his servant. Mercury then yoked
their horses and mules, and drove them
quickly through the host so that no man
perceived them. When they came to the ford
of eddying Xanthus, begotten of immortal
Jove, Mercury went back to high Olympus,
and dawn in robe of saffron began to break
over all the land. Priam and Idaeus then
drove on toward the city lamenting and making
moan, and the mules drew the body of
Hector. No one neither man nor woman saw
them, till Cassandra, fair as golden Venus
standing on Pergamus, caught sight of her
dear father in his chariot, and his
servant that was the city's herald with him. Then she
saw him that was lying upon the bier,
drawn by the mules, and with a loud cry she went
about the city saying, "Come hither
Trojans, men and women, and look on Hector; if
ever you rejoiced to see him coming from
battle when he was alive, look now on him
that was the glory of our city and all our
people."
At this there was not man nor woman left
in the city, so great a sorrow had possessed
them. Hard by the gates they met Priam as
he was bringing in the body. Hector's wife
and his mother were the first to mourn
him: they flew towards the waggon and laid their
hands upon his head, while the crowd stood
weeping round them. They would have
stayed before the gates, weeping and
lamenting the livelong day to the going down of
the sun, had not Priam spoken to them from
the chariot and said, "Make way for the
mules to pass you. Afterwards when I have
taken the body home you shall have your fill
of weeping."
On this the people stood asunder, and made
a way for the waggon. When they had
borne the body within the house they laid
it upon a bed and seated minstrels round it to
lead the dirge, whereon the women joined
in the sad music of their lament. Foremost
among them all Andromache led their
wailing as she clasped the head of mighty Hector
in her embrace. "Husband," she cried, "you
have died young, and leave me in your
house a widow; he of whom we are the
ill-starred parents is still a mere child, and I fear
he may not reach manhood. Ere he can do so
our city will be razed and overthrown, for
you who watched over it are no more- you
who were its saviour, the guardian of our
wives and children. Our women will be
carried away captives to the ships, and I among
them; while you, my child, who will be
with me will be put to some unseemly tasks,
working for a cruel master. Or, may be,
some Achaean will hurl you (O miserable
death) from our walls, to avenge some
brother, son, or father whom Hector slew; many
of them have indeed bitten the dust at his
hands, for your father's hand in battle was no
light one. Therefore do the people mourn
him. You have left, O Hector, sorrow
unutterable to your parents, and my own
grief is greatest of all, for you did not stretch
forth your arms and embrace me as you lay
dying, nor say to me any words that might
have lived with me in my tears night and
day for evermore."
Bitterly did she weep the while, and the
women joined in her lament. Hecuba in her turn
took up the strains of woe. "Hector," she
cried, "dearest to me of all my children. So
long as you were alive the gods loved you
well, and even in death they have not been
utterly unmindful of you; for when
Achilles took any other of my sons, he would sell him
beyond the seas, to Samos Imbrus or rugged
Lemnos; and when he had slain you too
with his sword, many a time did he drag
you round the sepulchre of his comrade-
though this could not give him life- yet
here you lie all fresh as dew, and comely as one
whom Apollo has slain with his painless
shafts."
Thus did she too speak through her tears
with bitter moan, and then Helen for a third
time took up the strain of lamentation.
"Hector," said she, "dearest of all my
brothers-in-law-for I am wife to
Alexandrus who brought me hither to Troy- would that
I had died ere he did so- twenty years are
come and gone since I left my home and
came from over the sea, but I have never
heard one word of insult or unkindness from
you. When another would chide with me, as
it might be one of your brothers or sisters
or of your brothers' wives, or my
mother-in-law- for Priam was as kind to me as though
he were my own father- you would rebuke
and check them with words of gentleness
and goodwill. Therefore my tears flow both
for you and for my unhappy self, for there is
no one else in Troy who is kind to me, but
all shrink and shudder as they go by me."
She wept as she spoke and the vast crowd
that was gathered round her joined in her
lament. Then King Priam spoke to them
saying, "Bring wood, O Trojans, to the city,
and fear no cunning ambush of the Argives,
for Achilles when he dismissed me from the
ships gave me his word that they should
not attack us until the morning of the twelfth
day."
Forthwith they yoked their oxen and mules
and gathered together before the city. Nine
days long did they bring in great heaps
wood, and on the morning of the tenth day with
many tears they took trave Hector forth,
laid his dead body upon the summit of the pile,
and set the fire thereto. Then when the
child of morning rosy-fingered dawn appeared
on the eleventh day, the people again
assembled, round the pyre of mighty Hector.
When they were got together, they first
quenched the fire with wine wherever it was
burning, and then his brothers and
comrades with many a bitter tear gathered his white
bones, wrapped them in soft robes of
purple, and laid them in a golden urn, which they
placed in a grave and covered over with
large stones set close together. Then they built
a barrow hurriedly over it keeping guard
on every side lest the Achaeans should attack
them before they had finished. When they
had heaped up the barrow they went back
again into the city, and being well
assembled they held high feast in the house of Priam
their king.
Thus, then, did they celebrate the funeral
of Hector tamer of horses.
THE END