Achilles

Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 21 Sep 2011 12:05 and updated at 21 Sep 2011 12:05

ILIAD NOUN

ild.01 Sing, O Goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans.
ild.01 Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a prey to Dogs and Vultures, for so were the counsels of Jove fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles, first fell out with one another.
ild.01 For Nine whole days he shot his arrows among the people, but upon the tenth day Achilles called them in assembly moved thereto by Juno, who saw the Achaeans in their death throes and had compassion upon them.
ild.01 Achilles", loved of heaven, you bid me tell you about the anger of King Apollo, I will therefore do so; but consider first and swear that you will stand by me heartily in word and deed, for I know that I shall offend one who rules the Argives with might, to whom all the Achaeans are in subjection.
ild.01 And Achilles answered, "Fear not, but speak as it is borne in upon you from heaven, for by Apollo, Calchas, to whom you pray, and whose oracles you reveal to us, not a Danaan at our ships shall lay his hand upon you, while I yet live to look upon the face of the earth no, not though you name Agamemnon himself, who is by far the foremost of the Achaeans.
ild.01 And Achilles answered, "Most noble son of Atreus, covetous beyond all mankind, how shall the Achaeans find you another prize? We have no common store from which to take one.
ild.01 Then Agamemnon said, Achilles", valiant though you be, you shall not thus outwit me.
ild.01 Achilles scowled at him and answered, "You are steeped in insolence and lust of gain.
ild.01 Achilles turned in amaze, and by the fire that flashed from her eyes at once knew that she was Minerva.
ild.01 Goddess"," answered Achilles, "however angry a man may be, he must do as you two command him.
ild.01 Therefore I say, and swear it with a great oath nay, by this my sceptre which shalt sprout neither leaf nor shoot, nor bud anew from the day on which it left its parent stem upon the mountains for the axe stripped it of leaf and bark, and now the sons of the Achaeans bear it as judges and guardians of the decrees of heaven so surely and solemnly do I swear that hereafter they shall look fondly for Achilles and shall not find him.
ild.01 Therefore, Agamemnon, though you be strong, take not this girl away, for the sons of the Achaeans have already given her to Achilles; and you, Achilles, strive not further with the king, for no man who by the grace of Jove wields a sceptre has like honour with Agamemnon.
ild.01 Son of Atreus, check your anger, I implore you; end this quarrel with Achilles, who in the day of battle is a tower of strength to the Achaeans.
ild.01 Achilles interrupted him.
ild.01 But Agamemnon did not forget the threat that he had made Achilles, and called his trusty messengers and squires Talthybius and Eurybates.
ild.01 "Go," said he, "to the tent of Achilles, son of Peleus; take Briseis by the hand and bring her hither; if he will not give her I shall come with others and take her which will press him harder.
ild.01 They found Achilles sitting by his tent and his ships, and ill pleased he was when he beheld them.
ild.01 Then Achilles went all alone by the side of the hoar sea, weeping and looking out upon the boundless waste of waters.
ild.01 Achilles drew a deep sigh and said, "You know it; why tell you what you know well already? We went to Thebe the strong city of Eetion, sacked it, and brought hither the spoil.
ild.01 But Achilles abode at his ships and nursed his anger.
ild.01 I believe, therefore, that you have been promising her to give glory to Achilles, and to kill much people at the ships of the Achaeans.
ild.02 Now the other Gods and the armed warriors on the plain slept soundly, but Jove was wakeful, for he was thinking how to do honour to Achilles, and destroyed much people at the ships of the Achaeans.
ild.02 Achilles and Ulysses hated him worst of all, for it was with them that he was most wont to wrangle; now, however, with a shrill squeaky voice he began heaping his abuse on Agamemnon.
ild.02 Achilles is a much better man than he is, and see how he has treated him robbing him of his prize and keeping it himself.
ild.02 Achilles takes it meekly and shows no fight; if he did, son of Atreus, you would never again insult him.
ild.02 Achilles and I are quarrelling about this girl, in which matter I was the first to offend; if we can be of one mind again, the Trojans will not stave off destruction for a day.
ild.02 Those again who held Pelasgic Argos, Alos, Alope, and Trachis; and those of Phthia and Hellas the land of fair Women, who were called Myrmidons, Hellenes, and Achaeans; these had Fifty ships, over which Achilles was in command.
ild.02 But they now took no part in the war, inasmuch as there was no one to marshal them; for Achilles stayed by his ships, furious about the loss of the girl Briseis, whom he had taken from Lyrnessus at his own great peril, when he had sacked Lyrnessus and Thebe, and had overthrown Mynes and Epistrophus, sons of king Evenor, son of Selepus.
ild.02 For her sake Achilles was still grieving, but ere long he was again to join them.
ild.02 Of the men, Ajax, son of Telamon, was much the foremost so long as Achilles anger lasted, for Achilles excelled him greatly and he had also better Horses; but Achilles was now holding aloof at his ships by reason of his quarrel with Agamemnon, and his people passed their time upon the sea shore, throwing discs or aiming with spears at a mark, and in archery.
ild.02 He came into the fight with Gold about him, like a girl; fool that he was, his Gold was of no avail to save him, for he fell in the river by the hand of the fleet descendant of Aeacus, and Achilles bore away his Gold.
ild.04 Moreover, Achilles, the son of lovely Thetis, is not fighting, but is nursing his anger at the ships.
ild.05 Argives"," she cried; "shame on cowardly creatures, brave in semblance only; as long as Achilles was fighting, fi his spear was so deadly that the Trojans dared not show themselves outside the Dardanian gates, but now they sally far from the city and fight even at your ships.
ild.06 I hold him mightiest of them all; we did not fear even their great champion Achilles, son of a Goddess though he be, as we do this man: his rage is beyond all bounds, and there is none can vie with him in prowess"
ild.06 Achilles slew my father when he sacked Thebe the goodly city of the Cilicians.
ild.06 Achilles killed them as they were with their Sheep and Cattle.
ild.07 Even Achilles, who is far more doughty than you are, shrank from meeting him in battle.
ild.07 Holding this shield before him, Ajax son of Telamon came close up to Hector, and menaced him saying, Hector", you shall now learn, man to man, what kind of champions the Danaans have among them even besides lion hearted Achilles cleaver of the ranks of men.
ild.08 To this end he went round the ships and tents carrying a great purple cloak, and took his stand by the huge black hull of Ulysses ship, which was middlemost of all; it was from this place that his voice would carry farthest, on the one hand towards the tents of Ajax son of Telamon, and on the other towards those of Achilles for these two heroes, well assured of their own strength, had valorously drawn up their ships at the two ends of the line.
ild.08 And now Jove hates me, while he lets Thetis have her way because she kissed his knees and took hold of his beard, when she was begging him to do honour to Achilles.
ild.09 No man will be of a truer mind than that which has been mine from the hour when you, sir, angered Achilles by taking the girl Briseis from his tent against my judgment.
ild.09 The gifts you offer are no small ones, let us then send chosen messengers, who may go to the tent of Achilles son of Peleus without delay.
ild.09 When they reached the ships and tents of the Myrmidons, they found Achilles playing on a lyre, fair, of cunning workmanship, and its cross bar was of Silver.
ild.09 Achilles sprang from his seat with the lyre still in his hand, and Patroclus, when he saw the strangers, rose also.
ild.09 Achilles then greeted them saying, "All hail and welcome you must come upon some great matter, you, who for all my anger are still dearest to me of the Achaeans.
ild.09 Automedon held the meat while Achilles chopped it; he then sliced the pieces and put them on spits while the son of Menoetius made the fire burn high.
ild.09 When the meat was roasted, he set it on platters, and handed bread round the table in fair baskets, while Achilles dealt them their portions.
ild.09 Then Achilles took his seat facing Ulysses against the opposite wall, and bade his comrade Patroclus offer sacrifice to the Gods; so he cast the offerings into the fire, and they laid their hands upon the good things that were before them.
ild.09 As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Ajax made a sign to Phoenix, and when he saw this, Ulysses filled his cup with wine and pledged Achilles.
ild.09 "Hail," said he, Achilles", we have had no scant of good cheer, neither in the tent of Agamemnon, nor yet here; there has been plenty to eat and drink, but our thought turns upon no such matter.
ild.09 Achilles answered, Ulysses", noble son of Laertes, I should give you formal notice plainly and in all fixity of purpose that there be no more of this cajoling, from whatsoever quarter it may come.
ild.09 They all held their peace, dismayed at the sternness with which he had denied them, till presently the old knight Phoenix in his great fear for the ships of the Achaeans, burst into tears and said, "Noble Achilles, if you are now minded to return, and in the fierceness of your anger will do nothing to save the ships from burning, how, my son, can I remain here without you? Your father Peleus bade me go with you when he sent you as a mere lad from Phthia to Agamemnon.
ild.09 "It was I, Achilles, who had the making of you; I loved you with all my heart: for you would eat neither at home nor when you had gone out elsewhere, till I had first set you upon my knees, cut up the dainty morsel that you were to eat, and held the wine cup to your lips.
ild.09 Many a time have you slobbered your wine in baby helplessness over my shirt; I had infinite trouble with you, but I knew that heaven had vouchsafed me no offspring of my own, and I made a son of you, Achilles, that in my hour of need you might protect me.
ild.09 Therefore, Achilles, give these daughters of Jove due reverence, and bow before them as all good men will bow.
ild.09 And Achilles answered, Phoenix", old friend and father, I have no need of such honour.
ild.09 Achilles is savage and remorseless; he is cruel, and cares nothing for the love his comrades lavished upon him more than on all the others.
ild.09 He is implacable and yet if a man s brother or son has been slain he will accept a fine by way of amends from him that killed him, and the wrong doer having paid in full remains in peace among his own people; but as for you, Achilles, the Gods have put a wicked unforgiving spirit in your heart, and this, all about one single girl, whereas we now offer you the Seven best we have, and much else into the bargain.
ild.09 Ajax"," replied Achilles, "noble son of Telamon, you have spoken much to my liking, but my blood boils when I think it all over, and remember how the son of Atreus treated me with contumely as though I were some vile tramp, and that too in the presence of the Argives.
ild.09 But Achilles slept in an inner room, and beside him the daughter of Phorbas lovely Diomede, whom he had carried off from Lesbos.
ild.09 Patroclus lay on the other side of the room, and with him fair Iphis whom Achilles had given him when he took Scyros the city of Enyeus.
ild.09 Ulysses answered, "Most noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, Achilles will not be calmed, but is more fiercely angry than ever, and spurns both you and your gifts.
ild.09 The old man Phoenix stayed where he was to sleep, for so Achilles would have it, that he might go home with him in the morning if he so would; but he will not take him by force.
ild.09 They all held their peace, sitting for a long time silent and dejected, by reason of the sternness with which Achilles had refused them, till presently Diomed said, "Most noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, you ought not to have sued the son of Peleus nor offered him gifts.
ild.10 Nestor replied, "Most noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, Jove will not do all for Hector that Hector thinks he will; he will have troubles yet in plenty if Achilles will lay aside his anger.
ild.10 Ulysses smiled at him and answered, "You had indeed set your heart upon a great reward, but the Horses of the descendant of Aeacus are hardly to be kept in hand or driven by any other mortal man than Achilles himself, whose mother was an immortal.
ild.11 She took her stand by the huge black hull of Ulysses ship which was middlemost of all, so that her voice might carry farthest on either side, on the one hand towards the tents of Ajax son of Telamon, and on the other towards those of Achilles for these two heroes, well assured of their own strength, had valorously drawn up their ships at the two ends of the line.
ild.11 Achilles had once taken both of them prisoners in the glades of Ida, and had bound them with fresh withes as they were shepherding, but he had taken a ransom for them; now, however, Agamemnon son of Atreus smote Isus in the chest above the nipple with his spear, while he struck Antiphus hard by the ear and threw him from his Chariot.
ild.11 Forthwith he stripped their goodly armour from off them and recognized them, for he had already seen them at ships when Achilles brought them in from Ida.
ild.11 Achilles saw and took note, for he was standing on the stern of his ship watching the hard stress and struggle of the fight.
ild.11 "Why," said he, Achilles" do you call me? what do you what do you want with me?" And Achilles answered, "Noble son of Menoetius, man after my own heart, I take it that I shall now have the Achaeans praying at my knees, for they are in great straits; go, Patroclus, and ask Nestor who is that he is bearing away wounded from the field; from his back I should say it was Machaon son of Aesculapius, but I could not see his face for the Horses went by me at full speed.
ild.11 Fair Hecamede, whom Nestor had had awarded to him from Tenedos when Achilles took it, mixed them a mess; she was daughter of wise Arsinous, and the Achaeans had given her to Nestor because he excelled all of them in counsel.
ild.11 I must go back and tell Achilles.
ild.11 And Nestor answered, "Why should Achilles care to know how many of the Achaeans may be wounded? He recks not of the dismay that reigns in our host; our most valiant chieftains lie disabled, brave Diomed son of Tydeus is wounded; so are Ulysses and Agamemnon; Eurypylus has been hit with an arrow in the thigh, and I have just been bringing this man from the field he too wounded with an arrow; nevertheless Achilles, so valiant though he be, cares not and knows no ruth.
ild.11 "Such was I among my peers, as surely as ever was, but Achilles is for keeping all his valour for himself; bitterly will he rue it hereafter when the host is being cut to pieces.
ild.11 My good friend, did not Menoetius charge you thus, on the day when he sent you from Phthia to Agamemnon? Ulysses and I were in the house, inside, and heard all that he said to you; for we came to the fair house of Peleus while beating up recruits throughout all Achaea, and when we got there we found Menoetius and yourself, and Achilles with you.
ild.11 You two were busy cutting up the heifer, and at that moment we stood at the gates, whereon Achilles sprang to his feet, led us by the hand into the house, placed us at table, and set before us such hospitable entertainment as guests expect.
ild.11 Old Peleus bade his son Achilles fight ever among the foremost and outvie his peers, while Menoetius the son of Actor spoke thus to you: My son, said he, Achilles is of nobler birth than you are, but you are older than he, though he is far the better man of the two.
ild.11 Thus did your father charge you, but you have forgotten; nevertheless, even now, say all this to Achilles if he will listen to you.
ild.11 With these words he moved the heart of Patroclus, who set off running by the line of the ships to Achilles, descendant of Aeacus.
ild.11 But save me and take me to your ship; cut out the arrow from my thigh; wash the black blood from off it with warm water, and lay upon it those gracious herbs which, so they say, have been shown you by Achilles, who was himself shown them by Chiron, most righteous of all the centaurs.
ild.11 Hero" Eurypylus," replied the brave son of Menoetius, "how may these things be? What can I do? I am on my way to bear a message to noble Achilles from Nestor of Gerene, bulwark of the Achaeans, but even so I will not be unmindful your distress.
ild.12 So long as Hector lived and Achilles nursed his anger, and so long as the city of Priam remained untaken, the great wall of the Achaeans stood firm; but when the bravest of the Trojans were no more, and many also of the Argives, though some were yet left alive when, moreover, the city was sacked in the tenth year, and the Argives had gone back with their ships to their own country then Neptune and Apollo took counsel to destroy the wall, and they turned on to it the streams of all the rivers from Mount Ida into the sea, Rhesus, Heptaporus, Caresus, Rhodius, Grenicus, Aesopus, and goodly Scamander, with Simois, where many a shield and helm had fallen, and many a hero of the race of demigods had bitten the dust.
ild.13 He would not yield even to Achilles in hand to hand fight, and in fleetness of foot there is none to beat him; let us turn therefore towards the left wing, that we may know forthwith whether we are to give glory to some other, or he to us.
ild.13 Jove was minded to give victory to the Trojans and to Hector, so as to do honour to fleet Achilles, nevertheless he did not mean to utterly overthrow the Achaean host before Ilius, and only wanted to glorify Thetis and her valiant son.
ild.14 Alas! others of the Achaeans, like Achilles, are in anger with me that they refuse to fight by the sterns of our ships.
ild.14 He took Agamemnon s right hand in his own and said, Son" of Atreus, I take it Achilles is glad now that he sees the Achaeans routed and slain, for he is utterly without remorse may he come to a bad end and heaven confound him.
ild.14 He darted forward among the first ranks and shouted saying, Argives", shall we let Hector son of Priam have the triumph of taking our ships and covering himself with glory? This is what he says that he shall now do, seeing that Achilles is still in dudgeon at his ship; We shall get on very well without him if we keep each other in heart and stand by one another.
ild.15 If, then, you are speaking the truth and mean what you say, go among the rank and file of the Gods, and tell Iris and Apollo lord of the bow, that I want them Iris, that she may go to the Achaean host and tell Neptune to leave off fighting and go home, and Apollo, that he may send Hector again into battle and give him fresh strength; he will thus forget his present sufferings, and drive the Achaeans back in confusion till they fall among the ships of Achilles son of Peleus.
ild.15 Achilles will then send his comrade Patroclus into battle, and Hector will kill him in front of Ilius after he has slain many warriors, and among them my own noble son Sarpedon.
ild.15 Achilles will kill Hector to avenge Patroclus, and from that time I will bring it about that the Achaeans shall persistently drive the Trojans back till they fulfil the counsels of Minerva and take Ilius.
ild.15 Eurypylus"," said he in his dismay, "I know you want me badly, but I cannot stay with you any longer, for there is hard fighting going on; a servant shall take care of you now, for I must make all speed to Achilles, and induce him to fight if I can; who knows but with heaven s help I may persuade him.
ild.16 Then Patroclus drew near to Achilles with tears welling from his eyes, as from some spring whose crystal stream falls over the ledges of a high precipice.
ild.16 When Achilles saw him thus weeping he was sorry for him and said, "Why, Patroclus, do you stand there weeping like some silly child that comes running to her mother, and begs to be taken up and carried she catches hold of her mother s dress to stay her though she is in a hurry, and looks tearfully up until her mother carries her even such tears, Patroclus, are you now shedding.
ild.16 Then, O knight Patroclus, with a deep sigh you answered, Achilles", son of Peleus, foremost champion of the Achaeans, do not be angry, but I weep for the disaster that has now befallen the Argives.
ild.16 Brave Diomed son of Tydeus has been hit with a spear, while famed Ulysses and Agamemnon have received sword wounds; Eurypylus again has been struck with an arrow in the thigh; skilled apothecaries are attending to these heroes, and healing them of their wounds; are you still, O Achilles, so inexorable? May it never be my lot to nurse such a passion as you have done, to the baning of your own good name.
ild.16 Achilles was deeply moved and answered, "What, noble Patroclus, are you saying? I know no prophesyings which I am heeding, nor has my mother told me anything from the mouth of Jove, but I am cut to the very heart that one of my own rank should dare to rob me because he is more powerful than I am.
ild.16 The fire was now flaring about the ship s stern, whereon Achilles smote his two thighs and said to Patroclus, "Up, noble knight, for I see the glare of hostile fire at our fleet; up, lest they destroy our ships, and there be no way by which we may retreat.
ild.16 He grasped two redoubtable spears that suited his hands, but he did not take the spear of noble Achilles, so stout and strong, for none other of the Achaeans could wield it, though Achilles could do so easily.
ild.16 He bade Automedon yoke his Horses with all speed, for he was the man whom he held in honour next after Achilles, and on whose support in battle he could rely most firmly.
ild.16 In the side traces he set the noble Horse Pedasus, whom Achilles had brought away with him when he sacked the city of Eetion, and who, mortal steed though he was, could take his place along with those that were immortal.
ild.16 Meanwhile Achilles went about everywhere among the tents, and bade his Myrmidons put on their armour.
ild.16 Even as fierce ravening Wolves that are feasting upon a homed stag which they have killed upon the mountains, and their jaws are red with blood they go in a pack to lap water from the clear spring with their long thin tongues; and they reek of blood and slaughter; they know not what fear is, for it is hunger drives them even so did the leaders and counsellors of the Myrmidons gather round the good squire of the fleet descendant of Aeacus, and among them stood Achilles himself cheering on both men and Horses.
ild.16 Fifty ships had noble Achilles brought to Troy, and in each there was a crew of Fifty oarsmen.
ild.16 The third company was led by Pisander son of Maemalus, the finest spearman among all the Myrmidons next to Achilles own comrade Patroclus.
ild.16 When Achilles had chosen his men and had stationed them all with their captains, he charged them straitly saying, Myrmidons", remember your threats against the Trojans while you were at the ships in the time of my anger, and you were all complaining of me.
ild.16 Then Achilles went inside his tent and opened the lid of the strong chest which Silver footed Thetis had given him to take on board ship, and which she had filled with shirts, cloaks to keep out the cold, and good thick rugs.
ild.16 When he had made his drink offering and had thus prayed, Achilles went inside his tent and put back the cup into his chest.
ild.16 Patroclus called out to his men at the top of his voice, Myrmidons", followers of Achilles son of Peleus, be men my friends, fight with might and with main, that we may win glory for the son of Peleus, who is far the foremost man at the ships of the Argives he, and his close fighting followers.
ild.16 At first the Trojans made some headway against the Achaeans, for one of the best men among the Myrmidons was killed, Epeigeus, son of noble Agacles who had erewhile been king in the good city of Budeum; but presently, having killed a valiant kinsman of his own, he took refuge with Peleus and Thetis, who sent him to Ilius the land of noble steeds to fight the Trojans under Achilles.
ild.16 In the end, he deemed it best that the brave squire of Achilles son of Peleus should drive Hector and the Trojans back towards the city and take the lives of many.
ild.16 When Patroclus was coming on like a God for yet a fourth time, Apollo shouted to him with an awful voice and said, "Draw back, noble Patroclus, it is not your lot to sack the city of the Trojan chieftains, nor yet will it be that of Achilles who is a far better man than you are.
ild.16 Never indeed had that helmet fared so before, for it had served to protect the head and comely forehead of the Godlike hero Achilles.
ild.16 Poor wretch, Achilles with all his bravery availed you nothing; and yet I ween when you left him he charged you straitly saying, Come not back to the ships, knight Patroclus, till you have rent the bloodstained shirt of murderous Hector about his body.
ild.16 I say further, and lay my saying to your heart, you too shall live but for a little season; death and the day of your doom are close upon you, and they will lay you low by the hand of Achilles son of Aeacus.
ild.16 Dead though he was, Hector still spoke to him saying, Patroclus", why should you thus foretell my doom? Who knows but Achilles, son of lovely Thetis, may be smitten by my spear and die before me?"
ild.17 Hector"," said he, "you are now going after the Horses of the noble son of Aeacus, but you will not take them; they cannot be kept in hand and driven by mortal man, save only by Achilles, who is son to an immortal mother.
ild.17 Yet, if I could find Ajax, the two of us would fight Hector and heaven too, if we might only save the body of Patroclus for Achilles son of Peleus.
ild.17 He ran up to him and said, Ajax", my good friend, come with me at once to dead Patroclus, if so be that we may take the body to Achilles as for his armour, Hector already has it.
ild.17 As he spoke he called loudly on the Trojans saying, Trojans", Lycians, and Dardanians, fighters in close combat, be men, my friends, and fight might and main, while I put on the goodly armour of Achilles, which I took when I killed Patroclus.
ild.17 With this Hector left the fight, and ran full speed after his men who were taking the armour of Achilles to Troy, but had not yet got far.
ild.17 Meanwhile Achilles did not know that he had fallen, for the fight was under the wall of Troy a long way off the ships.
ild.17 Menelaus"," said she, "it will be shame and dishonour to you, if Dogs tear the noble comrade of Achilles under the walls of Troy.
ild.17 Ajax then said to Menelaus, "Look, Menelaus, and if Antilochus son of Nestor be still living, send him at once to tell Achilles that by far the dearest to him of all his comrades has fallen.
ild.17 Run instantly to the ships and tell Achilles, that he may come to rescue the body and bear it to the ships.
ild.17 Thus, then, did he run weeping from the field, to carry the bad news to Achilles son of Peleus.
ild.17 He came running up to the two Ajaxes and said, "I have sent Antilochus to the ships to tell Achilles, but rage against Hector as he may, he cannot come, for he cannot fight without armour.
ild.18 Meanwhile the fleet runner Antilochus, who had been sent as messenger, reached Achilles, and found him sitting by his tall ships and boding that which was indeed too surely true.
ild.18 A dark cloud of grief fell upon Achilles as he listened.
ild.18 The bondsWomen whom Achilles and Patroclus had taken captive screamed aloud for grief, beating their breasts, and with their limbs failing them for sorrow.
ild.18 Then Achilles gave a loud cry and his mother heard him as she was sitting in the depths of the sea by the old man her father, whereon she screamed, and all the Goddesses daughters of Nereus that dwelt at the bottom of the sea, came gathering round her.
ild.18 When they reached the rich plain of Troy, they came up out of the sea in a long line on to the sands, at the place where the ships of the Myrmidons were drawn up in close order round the tents of Achilles.
ild.18 Achilles groaned and answered, Mother", Olympian Jove has indeed vouchsafed me the fulfilment of my prayer, but what boots it to me, seeing that my dear comrade Patroclus has fallen he whom I valued more than all others, and loved as dearly as my own life? I have lost him; aye, and Hector when he had killed him stripped the wondrous armour, so glorious to behold, which the Gods gave to Peleus when they laid you in the couch of a mortal man.
ild.18 Then said Achilles in his great grief, "I would die here and now, in that I could not save my comrade.
ild.18 And Achilles said, Iris", which of the Gods was it that sent you to me?"
ild.18 Then fleet Achilles answered her saying, "How can I go up into the battle? They have my armour.
ild.18 But Achilles dear to Jove arose, and Minerva flung her tasselled aegis round his strong shoulders; she crowned his head with a halo of Golden cloud from which she kindled a glow of gleaming fire.
ild.18 As the smoke that goes up into heaven from some city that is being beleaguered on an island far out at sea all day long do men sally from the city and fight their hardest, and at the going down of the sun the line of beacon fires blazes forth, flaring high for those that dwell near them to behold, if so be that they may come with their ships and succour them even so did the light flare from the head of Achilles, as he stood by the trench, going beyond the wall but he aid not join the Achaeans for he heeded the charge which his mother laid upon him.
ild.18 Thrice did Achilles raise his loud cry as he stood by the trench, and thrice were the Trojans and their brave allies thrown into confusion; whereon Twelve of their noblest champions fell beneath the wheels of their Chariots and perished by their own spears.
ild.18 The Achaeans to their great joy then drew Patroclus out of reach of the weapons, and laid him on a litter: his comrades stood mourning round him, and among them fleet Achilles who wept bitterly as he saw his true comrade lying dead upon his bier.
ild.18 They kept their feet, nor would any dare to sit down, for fear had fallen upon them all because Achilles had shown himself after having held aloof so long from battle.
ild.18 At daybreak we will arm and fight about the ships; granted that Achilles has again come forward to defend them, let it be as he will, but it shall go hard with him.
ild.18 He laid his murderous hands upon the breast of his comrade, groaning again and again as a bearded Lion when a man who was chasing Deer has robbed him of his young in some dense forest; when the Lion comes back he is furious, and searches dingle and dell to track the hunter if he can find him, for he is mad with rage even so with many a sigh did Achilles speak among the Myrmidons saying, "Alas! vain were the words with which I cheered the hero Menoetius in his own house; I said that I would bring his brave son back again to Opoeis after he had sacked Ilius and taken his share of the spoils but Jove does not give all men their heart s desire.
ild.18 Then Achilles told his men to set a large tripod upon the fire that they might wash the clotted gore from off Patroclus.
ild.18 Thus all night long did the Myrmidons gather round Achilles to mourn Patroclus.
ild.18 Then Jove said to Juno his sister wife, "So, Queen Juno, you have gained your end, and have roused fleet Achilles.
ild.18 Then the Trojans hemmed the Achaeans in at their ships sterns and would not let them come forth; the elders, therefore, of the Argives besought Achilles and offered him great treasure, whereon he refused to bring deliverance to them himself, but put his own armour on Patroclus and sent him into the fight with much people after him.
ild.18 Lastly, when the famed lame God had made all the armour, he took it and set it before the mother of Achilles; whereon she darted like a falcon from the snowy summits of Olympus and bore away the gleaming armour from the house of Vulcan.
ild.19 As she spoke she set the armour before Achilles, and it rang out bravely as she did so.
ild.19 The Myrmidons were struck with awe, and none dared look full at it, for they were afraid; but Achilles was roused to still greater fury, and his eyes gleamed with a fierce light, for he was glad when he handled the splendid present which the God had made him.
ild.19 Then Achilles went out upon the seashore, and with a loud cry called on the Achaean heroes.
ild.19 On this even those who as yet had stayed always at the ships, the pilots and helmsmen, and even the stewards who were about the ships and served out rations, all came to the place of assembly because Achilles had shown himself after having held aloof so long from fighting.
ild.19 When the Achaeans were got together Achilles rose and said, Son" of Atreus, surely it would have been better alike for both you and me, when we two were in such high anger about Briseis, surely it would have been better, had Diana s arrow slain her at the ships on the day when I took her after having sacked Lyrnessus.
ild.19 Often have the Achaeans spoken to me of this matter and upbraided me, but it was not I that did it: Jove, and Fate, and Erinys that walks in darkness struck me mad when we were assembled on the day that I took from Achilles the meed that had been awarded to him.
ild.19 And Achilles answered, Son" of Atreus, king of men Agamemnon, you can give such gifts as you think proper, or you can withhold them: it is in your own hands.
ild.19 Achilles shall again be seen fighting among the foremost, and laying low the ranks of the Trojans: bear this in mind each one of you when he is fighting.
ild.19 Then Ulysses said, Achilles", Godlike and brave, send not the Achaeans thus against Ilius to fight the Trojans fasting, for the battle will be no brief one, when it is once begun, and heaven has filled both sides with fury; bid them first take food both bread and wine by the ships, for in this there is strength and stay.
ild.19 Let, then, Achilles wait, though he would fain fight at once, and do you others wait also, till the gifts come from my tent and we ratify the oath with sacrifice.
ild.19 Thus, then, do I charge you: take some noble young Achaeans with you, and bring from my tents the gifts that I promised yesterday to Achilles, and bring the Women also; furthermore let Talthybius find me a boar from those that are with the host, and make it ready for sacrifice to Jove and to the sun.
ild.19 Then said Achilles, Son" of Atreus, king of men Agamemnon, see to these matters at some other season, when there is breathing time and when I am calmer.
ild.19 Ulysses answered, Achilles", son of Peleus, mightiest of all the Achaeans, in battle you are better than I, and that more than a little, but in counsel I am much before you, for I am older and of greater knowledge.
ild.19 Then Achilles also rose and said to the Argives, Father" Jove, of a truth you blind men s eyes and bane them.
ild.19 The Myrmidons attended to the presents and took them away to the ship of Achilles.
ild.19 I saw him to whom my father and mother married me, cut down before our city, and my three own dear brothers perished with him on the self same day; but you, Patroclus, even when Achilles slew my husband and sacked the city of noble Mynes, told me that I was not to weep, for you said you would make Achilles marry me, and take me back with him to Phthia, we should have a wedding feast among the Myrmidons.
ild.19 The elders of the Achaeans gathered round Achilles and prayed him to take food, but he groaned and would not do so.
ild.19 Meanwhile the Achaeans were arming throughout the host, and when Minerva had dropped nectar and ambrosia into Achilles so that no cruel hunger should cause his limbs to fail him, she went back to the house of her mighty father.
ild.19 In the midst of them all Achilles put on his armour; he gnashed his teeth, his eyes gleamed like fire, for his grief was greater than he could bear.
ild.19 As the light seen by sailors from out at sea, when men have lit a fire in their homestead high up among the mountains, but the sailors are carried out to sea by wind and storm far from the haven where they would be even so did the gleam of Achilles wondrous shield strike up into the heavens.
ild.19 Then Achilles made trial of himself in his armour to see whether it fitted him, so that his limbs could play freely under it, and it seemed to buoy him up as though it had been wings.
ild.19 He also drew his father s spear out of the spear stand, a spear so great and heavy and strong that none of the Achaeans save only Achilles had strength to wield it; this was the spear of Pelian ash from the topmost ridges of Mt.
ild.19 Automedon, whip in hand, sprang up behind the Horses, and after him Achilles mounted in full armour, resplendent as the sun god Hyperion.
ild.19 Dread" Achilles," said he, "we will indeed save you now, but the day of your death is near, and the blame will not be ours, for it will be heaven and stern fate that will destroy you.
ild.19 When he had thus said the Erinyes stayed his speech, and Achilles answered him in great sadness, saying, "Why, O Xanthus, do you thus foretell my death? You need not do so, for I well know that I am to fall here, far from my dear father and mother; none the more, however, shall I stay my hand till I have given the Trojans their fill of fighting.
ild.20 If Achilles fights the Trojans without hindrance they will make no stand against him; they have ever trembled at the sight of him, and now that he is roused to such fury about his comrade, he will override fate itself and storm their city.
ild.20 So long as the Gods held themselves aloof from mortal warriors the Achaeans were triumphant, for Achilles who had long refused to fight was now with them.
ild.20 But the heart of Achilles was set on meeting Hector son of Priam, for it was with his blood that he longed above all things else to glut the stubborn lord of battle.
ild.20 In his likeness therefore, he said to Aeneas, Aeneas", counsellor of the Trojans, where are now the brave words with which you vaunted over your wine before the Trojan princes, saying that you would fight Achilles son of Peleus in single combat?"
ild.20 His spear has already put me to Right from Ida, when he attacked our Cattle and sacked Lyrnessus and Pedasus; Jove indeed saved me in that he vouchsafed me strength to fly, else had the fallen by the hands of Achilles and Minerva, who went before him to protect him and urged him to fall upon the Lelegae and Trojans.
ild.20 No man may fight Achilles, for one of the Gods is always with him as his guardian angel, and even were it not so, his weapon flies ever straight, and fails not to pierce the flesh of him who is against him; if heaven would let me fight him on even terms he should not soon overcome me, though he boasts that he is made of Bronze.
ild.20 Then said King Apollo, son to Jove, "Nay, hero, pray to the ever living Gods, for men say that you were born of Jove s daughter Venus, whereas Achilles is son to a Goddess of inferior rank.
ild.20 Nor did the son of Anchises escape the notice of white armed Juno, as he went forth into the throng to meet Achilles.
ild.20 She called the Gods about her, and said, "Look to it, you two, Neptune and Minerva, and consider how this shall be; Phoebus Apollo has been sending Aeneas clad in full armour to fight Achilles.
ild.20 Shall we turn him back at once, or shall one of us stand by Achilles and endow him with strength so that his heart fail not, and he may learn that the chiefs of the immortals are on his side, while the others who have all along been defending the Trojans are but vain helpers? Let us all come down from Olympus and join in the fight, that this day he may take no hurt at the hands of the Trojans.
ild.20 If Achilles be not thus assured by the voice of a God, he may come to fear presently when one of us meets him in battle, for the Gods are terrible if they are seen face to face.
ild.20 If Mars or Phoebus Apollo begin fighting, or keep Achilles in check so that he cannot fight, we too, will at once raise the cry of battle, and in that case they will soon leave the field and go back vanquished to Olympus among the other Gods.
ild.20 The earth rang again under the tramp of their feet as they rushed towards each other, and two champions, by far the foremost of them all, met between the hosts to fight to wit, Aeneas son of Anchises, and noble Achilles.
ild.20 The son of Peleus from the other side sprang forth to meet him, fike some fierce Lion that the whole country side has met to hunt and kill at first he bodes no ill, but when some daring youth has struck him with a spear, he crouches openmouthed, his jaws foam, he roars with fury, he lashes his tail from side to side about his ribs and loins, and glares as he springs straight before him, to find out whether he is to slay, or be slain among the foremost of his foes even with such fury did Achilles burn to spring upon Aeneas.
ild.20 When they were now close up with one another Achilles was first to speak.
ild.20 As he spoke he drove his spear at the great and terrible shield of Achilles, which rang out as the point struck it.
ild.20 Achilles in his turn threw, and struck the round shield of Aeneas at the very edge, where the Bronze was thinnest; the spear of Pelian ash went clean through, and the shield rang under the blow; Aeneas was afraid, and crouched backwards, holding the shield away from him; the spear, however, flew over his back, and stuck quivering in the ground, after having gone through both circles of the sheltering shield.
ild.20 Aeneas though he had avoided the spear, stood still, blinded with fear and grief because the weapon had gone so near him; then Achilles sprang furiously upon him, with a cry as of death and with his keen blade drawn, and Aeneas seized a great stone, so huge that two men, as men now are, would be unable to lift it, but Aeneas wielded it quite easily.
ild.20 Aeneas would then have struck Achilles as he was springing towards him, either on the helmet, or on the shield that covered him, and Achilles would have closed with him and despatched him with his sword, had not Neptune lord of the earthquake been quick to mark, and said forthwith to the immortals, "Alas, I am sorry for great Aeneas, who will now go down to the house of Hades, vanquished by the son of Peleus.
ild.20 Why should this man suffer when he is guiltless, to no purpose, and in another s quarrel? Has he not at all times offered acceptable sacrifice to the Gods that dwell in heaven? Let us then snatch him from death s jaws, lest the son of Saturn be angry should Achilles slay him.
ild.20 Then answered Juno, Earth" shaker, look to this matter yourself, and consider concerning Aeneas, whether you will save him, or suffer him, brave though he be, to fall by the hand of Achilles son of Peleus.
ild.20 When earth encircling Neptune heard this he went into the battle amid the clash of spears, and came to the place where Achilles and Aeneas were.
ild.20 Forthwith he shed a darkness before the eyes of the son of Peleus, drew the Bronze headed ashen spear from the shield of Aeneas, and laid it at the feet of Achilles.
ild.20 When Achilles is dead you may then fight among the foremost undaunted, for none other of the Achaeans shall slay you.
ild.20 The God left him when he had given him these instructions, and at once removed the darkness from before the eyes of Achilles, who opened them wide indeed and said in great anger, "Alas! what marvel am I now beholding? Here is my spear upon the ground, but I see not him whom I meant to kill when I hurled it.
ild.20 Meanwhile Hector called upon the Trojans and declared that he would fight Achilles.
ild.20 Even so the deed of Achilles will fall somewhat short of his word; he will do in part, and the other part he will clip short.
ild.20 But Phoebus Apollo came up to Hector and said, Hector", on no account must you challenge Achilles to single combat; keep a lookout for him while you are under cover of the others and away from the thick of the fight, otherwise he will either hit you with a spear or cut you down at close quarters.
ild.20 Achilles then sprang upon the Trojans with a terrible cry, clothed in valour as with a garment.
ild.20 Achilles struck him full on the head as he was coming on towards him, and split it clean in two; whereon he fell heavily to the ground and Achilles vaunted over him saying, "You he low, son of Otrynteus, mighty hero; your death is here, but your lineage is on the Gygaean lake where your father s estate lies, by Hyllus, rich in fish, and the eddying waters of Hermus.
ild.20 The Chariots of the Achaeans cut him up as their wheels passed over him in the front of the battle, and after him Achilles killed Demoleon, a valiant man of war and son to Antenor.
ild.20 Achilles then went in pursuit of Polydorus son of Priam, whom his father had always forbidden to fight because he was the youngest of his sons, the one he loved best, and the fastest runner.
ild.20 He, in his folly and showing off the fleetness of his feet, was rushing about among front ranks until he lost his life, for Achilles struck him in the middle of the back as he was darting past him: he struck him just at the Golden fastenings of his belt and where the two pieces of the double breastplate overlapped.
ild.20 When Hector saw his brother Polydorus with his entrails in his hands and sinking down upon the ground, a mist came over his eyes, and he could not bear to keep longer at a distance; he therefore poised his spear and darted towards Achilles like a flame of fire.
ild.20 When Achilles saw him he bounded forward and vaunted saying, "This is he that has wounded my heart most deeply and has slain my beloved comrade.
ild.20 He hurled his spear as he spoke, but Minerva breathed upon it, and though she breathed but very lightly she turned it back from going towards Achilles, so that it returned to Hector and lay at his feet in front of him.
ild.20 Achilles then sprang furiously on him with a loud cry, bent on killing him, but Apollo caught him up easily as a God can, and hid him in a thick darkness.
ild.20 Thrice did Achilles spring towards him spear in hand, and thrice did he waste his blow upon the air.
ild.20 There was also Tros the son of Alastor he came up to Achilles and clasped his knees in the hope that he would spare him and not kill him but let him go, because they were both of the same age.
ild.20 Therefore when Tros laid hold of his knees and sought a hearing for his prayers, Achilles drove his sword into his liver, and the liver came rolling out, while his bosom was all covered with the black blood that welled from the wound.
ild.20 Achilles then went up to Mulius and struck him on the ear with a spear, and the Bronze spear head came right out at the other ear.
ild.20 Next in order the Bronze point of his spear wounded Deucalion in the fore arm where the sinews of the elbow are united, whereon he waited Achilles onset with his arm hanging down and death staring him in the face.
ild.20 Achilles cut his head off with a blow from his sword and flung it helmet and all away from him, and the marrow came oozing out of his backbone as he lay.
ild.20 As a fire raging in some mountain glen after long drought and the dense forest is in a blaze, while the wind carries great tongues of fire in every direction even so furiously did Achilles rage, wielding his spear as though he were a God, and giving chase to those whom he would slay, till the dark earth ran with blood.
ild.20 Or as one who yokes broad browed Oxen that they may tread barley in a threshing floor and it is soon bruised small under the feet of the lowing Cattle even so did the Horses of Achilles trample on the shields and bodies of the slain.
ild.21 NOW when they came to the ford of the full flowing river Xanthus, begotten of immortal Jove, Achilles cut their forces in two: one half he chased over the plain towards the city by the same way that the Achaeans had taken when flying panic stricken on the preceding day with Hector in full triumph; this way did they fly pell mell, and Juno sent down a thick mist in front of them to stay them.
ild.21 As locusts flying to a river before the blast of a grass fire the flame comes on and on till at last it overtakes them and they huddle into the water even so was the eddying stream of Xanthus filled with the uproar of men and Horses, all struggling in confusion before Achilles.
ild.21 As when fish fly scared before a huge dolphin, and fill every nook and corner of some fair haven for he is sure to eat all he can catch even so did the Trojans cower under the banks of the mighty river, and when Achilles arms grew weary with killing them, he drew Twelve youths alive out of the water, to sacrifice in revenge for Patroclus son of Menoetius.
ild.21 Achilles then caught him to his sorrow unawares, and sent him by sea to Lemnos, where the son of Jason bought him.
ild.21 He had spent Eleven days happily with his friends after he had come from Lemnos, but on the twelfth heaven again delivered him into the hands of Achilles, who was to send him to the house of Hades sorely against his will.
ild.21 He was unarmed when Achilles caught sight of him, and had neither helmet nor shield; nor yet had he any spear, for he had thrown all his armour from him on to the bank, and was sweating with his struggles to get out of the river, so that his strength was now failing him.
ild.21 Then Achilles said to himself in his surprise, "What marvel do I see here? If this man can come back alive after having been sold over into Lemnos, I shall have the Trojans also whom I have slain rising from the world below.
ild.21 Achilles thrust at him with his spear, meaning to kill him, but Lycaon ran crouching up to him and caught his knees, whereby the spear passed over his back, and stuck in the ground, hungering though it was for blood.
ild.21 With one hand he caught Achilles knees as he besought him, and with the other he clutched the spear and would not let it go.
ild.21 Then he said, Achilles", have mercy upon me and spare me, for I am your suppliant.
ild.21 With such words did the princely son of Priam beseech Achilles; but Achilles answered him sternly.
ild.21 He loosed his hold of the spear, and held out both hands before him; but Achilles drew his keen blade, and struck him by the collar bone on his neck; he plunged his two edged sword into him to the very hilt, whereon he lay at full length on the ground, with the dark blood welling from him till the earth was soaked.
ild.21 Then Achilles caught him by the foot and flung him into the river to go down stream, vaunting over him the while, and saying, "Lie there among the fishes, who will lick the blood from your wound and gloat over it; your mother shall not lay you on any bier to mourn you, but the eddies of Scamander shall bear you into the broad bosom of the sea.
ild.21 So spoke Achilles, but the river grew more and more angry, and pondered within himself how he should stay the hand of Achilles and save the Trojans from disaster.
ild.21 Asteropaeus stood up out of the water to face him with a spear in either hand, and Xanthus filled him with courage, being angry for the death of the youths whom Achilles was slaying ruthlessly within his waters.
ild.21 When they were close up with one another Achilles was first to speak.
ild.21 Let us now fight, Achilles.
ild.21 Thus did he defy him, and Achilles raised his spear of Pelian ash.
ild.21 Asteropaeus failed with both his spears, for he could use both hands alike; with the one spear he struck Achilles shield, but did not pierce it, for the layer of Gold, gift of the God, stayed the point; with the other spear he grazed the elbow of Achilles! right arm drawing dark blood, but the spear itself went by him and fixed itself in the ground, foiled of its bloody banquet.
ild.21 Then Achilles, fain to kill him, hurled his spear at Asteropaeus, but failed to hit him and struck the steep bank of the river, driving the spear half its length into the earth.
ild.21 Asteropaeus vainly tried to draw Achilles spear out of the bank by main force; thrice did he tug at it, trying with all his might to draw it out, and thrice he had to leave off trying; the fourth time he tried to bend and break it, but ere he could do so Achilles smote him with his sword and killed him.
ild.21 Then Achilles set his foot on his chest and spoiled him of his armour, vaunting over him and saying, "Lie there begotten of a river though you be, it is hard for you to strive with the offspring of Saturn s son.
ild.21 Therein he slew Thersilochus, Mydon, Astypylus, Mnesus, Thrasius, Oeneus, and Ophelestes, and he would have slain yet others, had not the river in anger taken human form, and spoken to him from out the deep waters saying, Achilles", if you excel all in strength, so do you also in wickedness, for the Gods are ever with you to protect you: if, then, the son of Saturn has vouchsafed it to you to destroy all the Trojans, at any rate drive them out of my stream, and do your grim work on land.
ild.21 Achilles answered, "So be it, Scamander, Jove descended; but I will never cease dealing out death among the Trojans, till I have pent them up in their city, and made trial of Hector face to face, that I may learn whether he is to vanquish me, or I him.
ild.21 Meanwhile Achilles sprang from the bank into mid stream, whereon the river raised a high wave and attacked him.
ild.21 He swelled his stream into a torrent, and swept away the many dead whom Achilles had slain and left within his waters.
ild.21 The great and terrible wave gathered about Achilles, falling upon him and beating on his shield, so that he could not keep his feet; he caught hold of a great elm tree, but it came up by the roots, and tore away the bank, damming the stream with its thick branches and bridging it all across; whereby Achilles struggled out of the stream, and fled full speed over the plain, for he was afraid.
ild.21 As one who would water his garden leads a stream from some fountain over his plants, and all his ground spade in hand he clears away the dams to free the channels, and the little stones run rolling round and round with the water as it goes merrily down the bank faster than the man can follow even so did the river keep catching up with Achilles albeit he was a fleet runner, for the Gods are stronger than men.
ild.21 When they had so said they went back to the other immortals, but Achilles strove onward over the plain, encouraged by the charge the Gods had laid upon him.
ild.21 On this he upraised his tumultuous flood high against Achilles, seething as it was with foam and blood and the bo&ies of the dead.
ild.21 The dark waters of the river stood upright and would have overwhelmed the son of Peleus, but Juno, trembling lest Achilles should be swept away in the mighty torrent, lifted her voice on high and called out to Vulcan her son.
ild.21 On this Vulcan kindled a fierce fire, which broke out first upon the plain and burned the many dead whom Achilles had killed and whose bodies were lying about in great numbers; by this means the plain was dried and the flood stayed.
ild.21 Let Achilles drive the Trojans out of city immediately.
ild.21 Thus did they converse, and meanwhile Phoebus Apollo entered the strong city of Ilius, for he was uneasy lest the wall should not hold out and the Danaans should take the city then and there, before its hour had come; but the rest of the ever living Gods went back, some angry and some triumphant to Olympus, where they took their seats beside Jove lord of the storm cloud, while Achilles still kept on dealing out death alike on the Trojans and on their As when the smoke from some burning city ascends to heaven when the anger of the Gods has kindled it there is then toil for all, and sorrow for not a few even so did Achilles bring toil and sorrow on the Trojans.
ild.21 Old King Priam stood on a high tower of the wall looking down on huge Achilles as the Trojans fled panic stricken before him, and there was none to help them.
ild.21 "Keep the gates," said he, "wide open till the people come flying into the city, for Achilles is hard by and is driving them in rout before him.
ild.21 Right for the city and the high wall, parched with thirst and grimy with dust, still they fied on, with Achilles wielding his spear furiously behind them.
ild.21 When Agenor saw Achilles he stood still and his heart was clouded with care.
ild.21 "Alas," said he to himself in his dismay, "if I fly before mighty Achilles, and go where all the others are being driven in rout, he will none the less catch me and kill me for a coward.
ild.21 How would it be were I to let Achilles drive the others before him, and then fly from the wall to the plain that is behind Ilius till I reach the spurs of Ida and can hide in the underwood that is thereon? I could then wash the sweat from off me in the river and in the evening return to Ilius.
ild.21 So saying he stood on his guard and awaited Achilles, for he was now fain to fight him.
ild.21 As a leopardess that bounds from out a thick covert to attack a hunter she knows no fear and is not dismayed by the baying of the hounds; even though the man be too quick for her and wound her either with thrust or spear, still, though the spear has pierced her she will not give in till she has either caught him in her grip or been killed outright even so did noble Agenor son of Antenor refuse to fly till he had made trial of Achilles, and took aim at him with his spear, holding his round shield before him and crying with a loud voice.
ild.21 "Of a truth," said he, "noble Achilles, you deem that you shall this day sack the city of the proud Trojans.
ild.21 As he spoke his strong hand hurled his javelin from him, and the spear struck Achilles on the leg beneath the knee; the greave of newly wrought tin rang loudly, but the spear recoiled from the body of him whom it had struck, and did not pierce it, for the Gods gift stayed it.
ild.21 Achilles in his turn attacked noble Agenor, but Apollo would not vouchsafe him glory, for he snatched Agenor away and hid him in a thick mist, sending him out of the battle unmolested Then he craftily drew the son of Peleus away from going after the host, for he put on the semblance of Agenor and stood in front of Achilles, who ran towards him to give him chase and pursued him over the corn lands of the plain, turning him towards the deep waters of the river Scamander.
ild.21 Apollo ran but a little way before him and beguiled Achilles by making him think all the time that he was on the point of overtaking him.
ild.22 Achilles was greatly angered and said, "You have baulked me, Far Darter, most malicious of all Gods, and have drawn me away from the wall, where many another man would have bitten the dust ere he got within Ilius; you have robbed me of great glory and have saved the Trojans at no risk to yourself, for you have nothing to fear, but I would indeed have my revenge if it were in my power to do so.
ild.22 On this, with fell intent he made towards the city, and as the winning Horse in a Chariot race strains every nerve when he is flying over the plain, even so fast and furiously did the limbs of Achilles bear him onwards.
ild.22 King Priam was first to note him as he scoured the plain, all radiant as the star which men call Orion s Hound, and whose beams blaze forth in time of harvest more brilliantly than those of any other that shines by night; brightest of them all though he be, he yet bodes ill for mortals, for he brings fire and fever in his train even so did Achilles armour gleam on his breast as he sped onwards.
ild.22 Priam raised a cry and beat his head with his hands as he lifted them up and shouted out to his dear son, imploring him to return; but Hector still stayed before the gates, for his heart was set upon doing battle with Achilles.
ild.22 Should they be still alive and in the hands of the Achaeans, we will ransom them with Gold and Bronze, of which we have store, for the old man Altes endowed his daughter richly; but if they are already dead and in the house of Hades, sorrow will it be to us two who were their parents; albeit the grief of others will be more short lived unless you too perish at the hands of Achilles.
ild.22 Thus did the two with many tears implore their son, but they moved not the heart of Hector, and he stood his ground awaiting huge Achilles as he drew nearer towards him.
ild.22 "Alas," said he to himself in the heaviness of his heart, "if I go within the gates, Polydamas will be the first to heap reproach upon me, for it was he that urged me to lead the Trojans back to the city on that awful night when Achilles again came forth against us.
ild.22 Surely it would be better for me to return after having fought Achilles and slain him, or to die gloriously here before the city.
ild.22 What, again, if were to lay down my shield and helmet, lean my spear against the wall and go straight up to noble Achilles? What if I were to promise to give up Helen, who was the fountainhead of all this war, and all the treasure that Alexandrus brought with him in his ships to Troy, aye, and to let the Achaeans divide the half of everything that the city contains among themselves? I might make the Trojans, by the mouths of their princes, take a solemn oath that they would hide nothing, but would divide into two shares all that is within the city but why argue with myself in this way? Were I to go up to him he would show me no kind of mercy; he would kill me then and there as easily as though I were a Woman, when I had off my armour.
ild.22 Thus did he stand and ponder, but Achilles came up to him as it were Mars himself, plumed lord of battle.
ild.22 Fear fell upon Hector as he beheld him, and he dared not stay longer where he was but fled in dismay from before the gates, while Achilles darted after him at his utmost speed.
ild.22 As a mountain falcon, swiftest of all birds, swoops down upon some cowering dove the dove flies before him but the falcon with a shrill scream follows close after, resolved to have her even so did Achilles make straight for Hector with all his might, while Hector fled under the Trojan wall as fast as his limbs could take him.
ild.22 "Alas," said he, "my eyes behold a man who is dear to me being pursued round the walls of Troy; my heart is full of pity for Hector, who has burned the thigh bones of many a heifer in my honour, at one while on the of many valleyed Ida, and again on the citadel of Troy; and now I see noble Achilles in full pursuit of him round the city of Priam.
ild.22 What say you? Consider among yourselves and decide whether we shall now save him or let him fall, valiant though he be, before Achilles, son of Peleus.
ild.22 Achilles was still in full pursuit of Hector, as a hound chasing a fawn which he has started from its covert on the mountains, and hunts through glade and thicket.
ild.22 Whenever he made a set to get near the Dardanian gates and under the walls, that his people might help him by showering down weapons from above, Achilles would gain on him and head him back towards the plain, keeping himself always on the city side.
ild.22 As a man in a dream who fails to lay hands upon another whom he is pursuing the one cannot escape nor the other overtake even so neither could Achilles come up with Hector, nor Hector break away from Achilles; nevertheless he might even yet have escaped death had not the time come when Apollo, who thus far had sustained his strength and nerved his running, was now no longer to stay by him.
ild.22 Achilles made signs to the Achaean host, and shook his head to show that no man was to aim a dart at Hector, lest another might win the glory of having hit him and he might himself come in second.
ild.22 Then, at last, as they were nearing the fountains for the fourth time, the father of all balanced his golden scales and placed a doom in each of them, one for Achilles and the other for Hector.
ild.22 Thereon Minerva went close up to the son of Peleus and said, "Noble Achilles, favoured of heaven, we two shall surely take back to the ships a triumph for the Achaeans by slaying Hector, for all his lust of battle.
ild.22 Achilles obeyed her gladly, and stood still, leaning on his Bronze pointed ashen spear, while Minerva left him and went after Hector in the form and with the voice of Deiphobus.
ild.22 She came close up to him and said, "Dear brother, I see you are hard pressed by Achilles who is chasing you at full speed round the city of Priam, let us await his onset and stand on our defence.
ild.22 Then Minerva said, "Dear brother, my father and mother went down on their knees and implored me, as did all my comrades, to remain inside, so great a fear has fallen upon them all; but I was in an agony of grief when I beheld you; now, therefore, let us two make a stand and fight, and let there be no keeping our spears in reserve, that we may learn whether Achilles shall kill us and bear off our spoils to the ships, or whether he shall fall before you.
ild.22 Achilles glared at him and answered, Fool", prate not to me about covenants.
ild.22 Hector saw it coming and avoided it; he watched it and crouched down so that it flew over his head and stuck in the ground beyond; Minerva then snatched it up and gave it back to Achilles without Hector s seeing her; Hector thereon said to the son of Peleus, "You have missed your aim, Achilles, peer of the Gods, and Jove has not yet revealed to you the hour of my doom, though you made sure that he had done so.
ild.22 His aim was true for he hit the middle of Achilles shield, but the spear rebounded from it, and did not pierce it.
ild.22 As he spoke he drew the keen blade that hung so great and strong by his side, and gathering himself together be sprang on Achilles like a soaring Eagle which swoops down from the clouds on to some lamb or timid hare even so did Hector brandish his sword and spring upon Achilles.
ild.22 Achilles mad with rage darted towards him, with his wondrous shield before his breast, and his gleaming helmet, made with four layers of metal, nodding fiercely forward.
ild.22 The thick tresses of Gold wi which Vulcan had crested the helmet floated round it, and as the evening star that shines brighter than all others through the stillness of night, even such was the gleam of the spear which Achilles poised in his right hand, fraught with the death of noble Hector.
ild.22 He eyed his fair flesh over and over to see where he could best wound it, but all was protected by the goodly armour of which Hector had spoiled Patroclus after he had slain him, save only the throat where the collar bones divide the neck from the shoulders, and this is a most deadly place: here then did Achilles strike him as he was coming on towards him, and the point of his spear went right through the fleshy part of the neck, but it did not sever his windpipe so that he could still speak.
ild.22 Hector fell headlong, and Achilles vaunted over him saying, Hector", you deemed that you should come off scatheless when you were spoiling Patroclus, and recked not of myself who was not with him.
ild.22 Achilles glared at him and answered, Dog", talk not to me neither of knees nor parents; would that I could be as sure of being able to cut your flesh into pieces and eat it raw, for the ill have done me, as I am that nothing shall save you from the Dogs it shall not be, though they bring Ten or Twenty fold ransom and weigh it out for me on the spot, with promise of yet more hereafter.
ild.22 But Achilles said, speaking to the dead body, "Die; for my part I will accept my fate whensoever Jove and the other Gods see fit to send it.
ild.22 When Achilles had done spoiling Hector of his armour, he stood among the Argives and said, "My friends, princes and counsellors of the Argives, now that heaven has vouchsafed us to overcome this man, who has done us more hurt than all the others together, consider whether we should not attack the city in force, and discover in what mind the Trojans may be.
ild.22 She told her maids to set a large tripod on the fire, so as to have a warm bath ready for Hector when he came out of battle; poor Woman, she knew not that he was now beyond the reach of baths, and that Minerva had laid him low by the hands of Achilles.
ild.22 May I never live to hear it, but I greatly fear that Achilles has cut off the retreat of brave Hector and has chased him on to the plain where he was singlehanded; I fear he may have put an end to the reckless daring which possessed my husband, who would never remain with the body of his men, but would dash on far in front, foremost of them all in valour.
ild.23 But Achilles would not let the Myrmidons go, and spoke to his brave comrades saying, Myrmidons", famed Horsemen and my own trusted friends, not yet, forsooth, let us unyoke, but with Horse and Chariot draw near to the body and mourn Patroclus, in due honour to the dead.
ild.23 On this they all joined in a cry of wailing and Achilles led them in their lament.
ild.23 "You sleep, Achilles, and have forgotten me; you loved me living, but now that I am dead you think for me no further.
ild.23 Nevermore shall we sit apart and take sweet counsel among the living; the cruel fate which was my birth right has yawned its wide jaws around me nay, you too Achilles, peer of Gods, are doomed to die beneath the wall of the noble Trojans.
ild.23 One" prayer more will I make you, if you will grant it; let not my bones be laid apart from yours, Achilles, but with them; even as we were brought up together in your own home, what time Menoetius brought me to you as a child from Opoeis because by a sad spite I had killed the son of Amphidamas not of set purpose, but in childish quarrel over the dice.
ild.23 And Achilles answered, "Why, true heart, are you come hither to lay these charges upon me? will of my own self do all as you have bidden me.
ild.23 Achilles sprang to his feet, smote his two hands, and made lamentation saying, "Of a truth even in the house of Hades there are ghosts and phantoms that have no life in them; all night long the sad spirit of Patroclus has hovered over head making piteous moan, telling me what I am to do for him, and looking wondrously like himself.
ild.23 All who had been cutting Wood bore logs, for so Meriones squire to Idomeneus had bidden them, and they threw them down in a line upon the seashore at the place where Achilles would make a mighty monument for Patroclus and for himself.
ild.23 When they had thrown down their great logs of Wood over the whole ground, they stayed all of them where they were, but Achilles ordered his brave Myrmidons to gird on their armour, and to yoke each man his Horses; they therefore rose, girded on their armour and mounted each his Chariot they and their Charioteers with them.
ild.23 Last came Achilles with his head bowed for sorrow, so noble a comrade was he taking to the house of Hades.
ild.23 When they came to the place of which Achilles had told them they laid the body down and built up the wood.
ild.23 Achilles then bethought him of another matter.
ild.23 The sun would have gone down upon their mourning had not Achilles presently said to Agamemnon, Son" of Atreus, for it is to you that the people will give ear, there is a time to mourn and a time to cease from mourning; bid the people now leave the pyre and set about getting their dinners: we, to whom the dead is dearest, will see to what is wanted here, and let the other princes also stay by me.
ild.23 They flayed and dressed many fat Sheep and Oxen before the pyre, and Achilles took fat from all of them and wrapped the body therein from head to foot, heaping the flayed carcases all round it.
ild.23 The dead hero had had house Dogs; two of them did Achilles slay and threw upon the pyre; he also put Twelve brave sons of noble Trojans to the sword and laid them with the rest, for he was full of bitterness and fury.
ild.23 Thus did he vaunt, but the Dogs came not about the body of Hector, for Jove s daughter Venus kept them off him night and day, and anointed him with ambrosial oil of roses that his flesh might not be torn when Achilles was dragging him about.
ild.23 Achilles therefore bethought him of another matter; he went apart and prayed to the two winds Boreas and Zephyrus vowing them goodly offerings.
ild.23 "I cannot stay," she said, "I must go back to the streams of Oceanus and the land of the Ethiopians who are offering Hecatombs to the immortals, and I would have my share; but Achilles prays that Boreas and shrill Zephyrus will come to him, and he vows them goodly offerings; he would have you blow upon the pyre of Patroclus for whom all the Achaeans are lamenting.
ild.23 All night long did they blow hard and beat upon the fire, and all night long did Achilles grasp his double cup, drawing wine from a mixing bowl of Gold, and calling upon the spirit of dead Patroclus as he poured it upon the ground until the earth was drenched.
ild.23 As a father mourns when he is burning the bones of his bridegroom son whose death has wrung the hearts of his parents, even so did Achilles mourn while burning the body of his comrade, pacing round the bier with piteous groaning and lamentation.
ild.23 When they had thus raised a mound they were going away, but Achilles stayed the people and made them sit in assembly.
ild.23 It may have been a monument to some one long since dead, or it may have been used as a doubling post in days gone by; now, however, it has been fixed on by Achilles as the mark round which the Chariots shall turn; hug it as close as you can, but as you stand in your Chariot lean over a little to the left; urge on your right hand Horse with voice and lash, and give him a loose rein, but let the left hand Horse keep so close in, that the nave of your wheel shall almost graze the post; but mind the stone, or you will wound your Horses and break your Chariot in pieces, which would be sport for others but confusion for yourself.
ild.23 Achilles shook the helmet, and the lot of Antilochus son of Nestor fell out first; next came that of King Eumelus, and after his, those of Menelaus son of Atreus and of Meriones.
ild.23 They took their places in line; Achilles showed them the doubling post round which they were to turn, some way off upon the plain; here he stationed his father s follower Phoenix as umpire, to note the running, and report truly.
ild.23 Ajax son of Oileus was for making him an angry answer, and there would have been yet further brawling between them, had not Achilles risen in his place and said, Cease" your railing Ajax and Idomeneus; it is not you would be scandalised if you saw any one else do the like: sit down and keep your eyes on the Horses; they are speeding towards the winning post and will be bere directly.
ild.23 When Achilles saw him he was sorry, and stood up among the Argives saying, "The best man is coming in last.
ild.23 Achilles"," said he, "I shall take it much amiss if you do this thing; you would rob me of my prize, because you think Eumelus s Chariot and Horses were thrown out, and himself too, good man that he is.
ild.23 Achilles smiled as he heard this, and was pleased with Antilochus, who was one of his dearest comrades.
ild.23 Achilles then gave it over to Eumelus, who received it gladly.
ild.23 Meriones, who had come in fourth, carried off the two talents of Gold, and the fifth prize, the two handled urn, being unawarded, Achilles gave it to Nestor, going up to him among the assembled Argives and saying, "Take this, my good old friend, as an heirloom and memorial of the funeral of Patroclus for you shall see him no more among the Argives.
ild.23 They now sprang towards one another and were for wrestling yet a third time, but Achilles rose and stayed them.
ild.23 Eueneus son of jason had given it to Patroclus in ransom of Priam s son Lycaon, and Achilles now offered it as a prize in honour of his comrade to him who should be the swiftest runner.
ild.23 They stood side by side and Achilles showed them the goal.
ild.23 Thus did he pray, and Pallas Minerva heard his prayer; she made his hands and his feet feel light, and when the runners were at the point of pouncing upon the prize, Ajax, through Minerva s spite slipped upon some offal that was lying there from the Cattle which Achilles had slaughtered in honour of Patroclus, and his mouth and nostrils were all filled with Cow dung.
ild.23 Ajax is somewhat older than I am, and as for Ulysses, he belongs to an earlier generation, but he is hale in spite of his years, and no man of the Achaeans can run against him save only Achilles.
ild.23 He said this to pay a compliment to the son of Peleus, and Achilles answered, Antilochus", you shall not have praised me to no purpose; I shall give you an additional half talent of Gold.
ild.23 Achilles then gave the great sword to the son of Tydeus, with its scabbard, and the leathern belt with which to hang it.
ild.23 Achilles next offered the massive Iron quoit which mighty Eetion had erewhile been used to hurl, until Achilles had slain him and carried it off in his ships along with other spoils.
ild.23 Achilles next offered a prize of Iron for archery Ten double edged axes and Ten with single eddies: he set up a ship s mast, some way off upon the sands, and with a fine string tied a Pigeon to it by the foot; this was what they were to aim at.
ild.23 But Achilles spoke saying, Son" of Atreus, we know how far you excel all others both in power and in throwing the javelin; take the cauldron back with you to your ships, but if it so please you, let us give the spear to Meriones; this at least is what I should myself wish.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 "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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 This Nine days past the immortals have been quarrelling about Achilles waster of cities and the body of Hector.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 And Achilles answered, "So be it.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 The lord of Olympus bids you go and ransom noble Hector, and take with you such gifts as shall give satisfaction to Achilles.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 We stood still and marvelled, for Achilles in his anger with the son of Atreus suffered us not to fight.
ild.24 We cast lots, and it fell upon me to sail hither with Achilles.
ild.24 Then answered Priam, "If you are indeed the squire of Achilles son of Peleus, tell me now the Whole truth.
ild.24 Is my son still at the ships, or has Achilles hewn him limb from limb, and given him to his hounds?"
ild.24 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.
ild.24 At daybreak Achilles drags him cruelly round the sepulchre of his dear comrade, but it does him no hurt.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 The old man went straight into the house where Achilles, loved of the Gods, was sitting.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 Thus spoke Priam, and the heart of Achilles yearned as he bethought him of his father.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 Achilles looked at him sternly and said, "Vex me, sir, no longer; I am of myself minded to give up the body of Hector.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 And Achilles answered, "All, King Priam, shall be as you have said.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.
ild.24 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.

Arise Greece! from thy silent sleep, 2000 years long it is! Forget not, thy ancient culture, beautiful and marvelous it is!

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