Age of Fable or Beauties of Mythology

by Thomas Bulfinch

  Patroclus his request to lead the Myrmidons (for so were Achilles' soldiers called) to the

  field, and to lend him his armor that he might thereby strike more terror into the minds of

  the Trojans. Without delay the soldiers were marshalled, Patroclus put on the radiant

  armor and mounted the chariot of Achilles, and led forth the men ardent for battle. But

  before he went, Achilles strictly charged him that he should be content with repelling the

  foe. "Seek not," said he, "to press the Trojans without me, lest thou add still more to the

  disgrace already mine.' Then exhorting the troops to do their best he dismissed them full

  of ardor to the fight.

  Patroclus and his Myrmidons at once plunged into the contest where it raged

  hottest; at the sight of which the joyful Grecians shouted and the ships reechoed the

  acclaim. The Trojans, at the sight of the well-known armor, struck with terror, looked

  every where for refuge. First those who had got possession of the ship and set it on fire

  left and allowed the Grecians to retake it and extinguish the flames. Then the rest of the

  Trojans fled in dismay. Ajax, Menelaus, and the two sons of Nestor performed prodigies

  of valor. Hector was forced to turn his horses' heads and retire from the enclosure,

  leaving his men entangled in the fosse to escape as they could. Patroclus drove them

  before him, slaying many, none daring to make a stand against him.

  At last Sarpedon, son of Jove, ventured to oppose himself in fight to Patroclus.

  Jupiter looked down upon him and would have snatched him from the fate which awaited

  him, but Juno hinted that if he did so it would induce all others of the inhabitants of

  heaven to interpose in like manner whenever any of their offspring were endangered; to

  which reason Jove yielded. Sarpedon threw his spear but missed Patroclus, but

  Patroclus threw his with better success. It pierced Sarpedon's breast and he fell, and,

  calling to his friends to save his body from the foe, expired. Then a furious contest arose

  for the possession of the corpse. The Greeks succeeded and stripped Sarpedon of his

  armor; but Jove would not allow the remains of his son to be dishonored, and by his

  command Apollo snatched from the midst of the combatants the body of Sarpedon and

  committed it to the care of the twin brothers Death and Sleep, by whom it was

  transported to Lycia, the native land of Sarpedon, where it received due funeral rites.

  Thus far Patroclus had succeeded to his utmost wish in repelling the Trojans and

  relieving his countrymen, but now came a change of fortune. Hector, borne in his chariot,

  confronted him. Patroclus threw a vast stone at Hector, which missed its aim, but smote

  Cebriones, the charioteer, and knocked him from the car. Hector leaped from the chariot

  to rescue his friend, and Patroclus also descended to complete his victory. Thus the two

  heroes met face to face. At this decisive moment the poet, as if reluctant to give Hector

  the glory, records that Phoebus took part against Patroclus. He struck the helmet from

  his head and the lance from his hand. At the same moment an obscure Trojan wounded

  him in the back, and Hector pressing forward pierced him with his spear. He fell mortally

  wounded.

  Then arose a tremendous conflict for the body of Patroclus, but his armor was at

  once taken possession of by Hector, who retiring a short distance divested himself of his

  own armor and put on that of Achilles, then returned to the fight. Ajax and Menelaus

  defended the body, and Hector and his bravest warriors struggled to capture it. The

  battle raged with equal fortunes, when Jove enveloped the whole face of heaven with a

  dark cloud. The lightning flashed, the thunder roared, and Ajax, looking round for some

  one whom he might despatch to Achilles to tell him of the death of his friend and of the

  imminent danger that his remains would fall into the hands of the enemy, could see no

  suitable messenger. It was then that he exclaimed in those famous lines so often

  quoted, -

  "Father of heaven and earth! deliver thou

  Achaia's host from darkness; clear the skies;

  Give day; and, since thy sovereign will is such,

  Destruction with it; but, O, give us day."

  Cowper.

  Or, as rendered by Pope, -

  ". . . Lord of earth and air!

  O king! O father! hear my humble prayer!

  Dispel this cloud, the light of heaven restore;

  Give me to see and Ajax asks no more;

  If Greece must perish we thy will obey,

  But let us perish in the face of day."

  Jupiter heard the prayer and dispersed the clouds. Then Ajax sent Antilochus to

  Achilles with the intelligence of Patroclus's death, and of the conflict raging for his

  remains. The Greeks at last succeeded in bearing off the body to the ships, closely

  pursued by Hector and Aeneas and the rest of the Trojans.

  Achilles heard the fate of his friend with such distress that Antilochus feared for a

  while that he would destroy himself. His groans reached the ears of his mother Thetis,

  far down in the deeps of ocean where she abode, and she hastened to him to inquire the

  cause. She found him overwhelmed with self-reproach that he had indulged his

  resentment so far, and suffered his friend to fall a victim to it. But his only consolation

  was the hope of revenge. He would fly instantly in search of Hector. But his mother

  reminded him that he was now without armor, and promised him, if he would but wait till

  the morrow, she would procure for him a suit of armor from Vulcan more than equal to

  that he had lost. He consented, and Thetis immediately repaired to Vulcan's palace.

  She found him busy at his forge making tripods for his own use, so artfully constructed

  that they moved forward of their own accord when wanted, and retired again when

  dismissed. On hearing the request of Thetis, Vulcan immediately laid aside his work and

  hastened to comply with her wishes. He fabricated a splendid suit of armor for Achilles,

  first a shield adorned with elaborate devices, then a helmet crested with gold, then a

  corselet and greaves of impenetrable temper, all perfectly adapted to his form and of

  consummate workmanship. It was all done in one night, and Thetis, receiving it,

  descended with it to earth and laid it down at Achilles' feet at the dawn of day.

  The first glow of pleasure that Achilles had felt since the death of Patroclus was

  at the sight of this splendid armor. And now arrayed in it, he went forth into the camp

  calling all the chiefs to council. When they were all assembled he addressed them.

  Renouncing his displeasure against Agamemnon and bitterly lamenting the miseries that

  had resulted from it, he called on them to proceed at once to the field. Agamemnon

  made a suitable reply, laying all the blame on Ate, the goddess of discord and thereupon

  complete reconcilement took place between the heroes.

  Then Achilles went forth to battle inspired with a rage and thirst for vengeance

  that made him irresistible. The bravest warriors fled before him or fell by his lance.

  Hector, cautioned by Apollo, kept aloof; but the god, assuming the form of one of Priam's

  sons, Lycaon, urged Aeneas to encounter the terrible warrior. Aeneas, though he felt

  himself unequal, did not decline the combat. He hurled his spear with all his force


  against the shield the work of Vulcan. It was formed of five metal plates; two were of

  brass, two of tin, and one of gold. The spear pierced two thicknesses, but was stopped

  in the third. Achilles threw his with better success. It pierced through the shield of

  Aeneas, but glanced near his shoulder and made no wound. Then Aeneas seized a

  stone, such as two men of modern times could hardly lift,and was about to throw it, and

  Achilles, with sword drawn, was about to rush upon him, when Neptune, who looked out

  upon the contest, moved with pity for Aeneas, who he saw would surely fall a victim if

  not speedily rescued, spread a cloud between the combatants, and lifting Aeneas from

  the ground, bore him over the heads of warriors and steeds to the rear of the battle.

  Achilles, when the mist cleared away, looked round in vain for his adversary, and

  acknowledging the prodigy, turned his arms against other champions. But none dared

  stand before him, and Priam looking down from his city walls beheld his whole army in

  full flight towards the city. He gave command to open wide the gates to receive the

  fugitives, and to shut them as soon as the Trojans should have passed, lest the enemy

  should enter likewise. But Achilles was so close in pursuit that that would have been im-

  possible if Apollo had not, in the form of Agenor, Priam's son, encountered Achilles for a

  while, then turned to fly, and taken the way apart from the city. Achilles pursued and

  had chased his supposed victim far from the walls, when Apollo disclosed himself, and

  Achilles, perceiving how he had been deluded, gave up the chase.

  But when the rest had escaped into the town Hector stood without determined to

  await the combat. His old father called to him from the walls and begged him to retire

  nor tempt the encounter. His mother, Hecuba, also besought him to the same effect, but

  all in vain. "How can I," said he to himself, "by whose command the people went to this

  day's contest, where so many have fallen, seek safety for myself against a single foe?

  But what if I offer him to yield up Helen and all her treasures and ample of our own

  beside? Ah no! it is too late. He would not even hear me through, but slay me while I

  spoke." While he thus ruminated, Achilles approached, terrible as Mars, his armor

  flashing lightning as he moved. At that sight Hector's heart failed him and he fled.

  Achilles swiftly pursued. They ran, still keeping near the walls, till they had thrice

  encircled the city. As often as Hector approached the walls Achilles intercepted him and

  forced him to keep out in a wider circle. But Apollo sustained Hector's strength and

  would not let him sink in weariness. Then Pallas assuming the form of Deiphobus,

  Hector's bravest brother, appeared suddenly at his side. Hector saw him with delight,

  and thus strengthened stopped his flight and turned to meet Achilles. Hector threw his

  spear, which struck the shield of Achilles and bounded back. He turned to receive

  another from the hand of Deiphobus, but Deiphobus was gone. Then Hector understood

  his doom and said, "Alas! it is plain this is my hour to die! I thought Deiphobus at hand,

  but Pallas deceived me, and he is still in Troy. But I will not fall inglorious." So saying he

  drew his falchion from his side and rushed at once to combat. Achilles secured behind

  his shield waited the approach of Hector. When he came within reach of his spear,

  Achilles choosing with his eye a vulnerable part where the armor leaves the neck

  uncovered, aimed his spear at that part, and Hector fell, death-wounded, and feebly

  said, "Spare my body! Let my parents ransom it, and let me receive funeral rites from

  the sons and daughters of Troy." To which Achilles replied. "Dog, name not ransom nor

  pity to me, on whom you have brought such dire distress. No! trust me, nought shall

  save thy carcass from the dogs. Though twenty ransoms and thy weight in gold were

  offered, I would refuse it all."

  So saying he stripped the body of its armor, and fastening cords to the feet tied

  them behind his chariot, leaving the body to trail along the ground. Then mounting the

  chariot he lashed the steeds and so dragged the body to and fro before the city. What

  words can tell the grief of King Priam and Queen Hecuba at this sight! His people could

  scarce restrain the old king from rushing forth He threw himself in the dust and besought

  them each by name to give him way. Hecuba's distress was not less violent. The

  citizens stood round them weeping. The sound of the mourning reached the ears of

  Andromache, the wife of Hector, as she sat among her maidens at work, and

  anticipating evil she went forth to the wall. When she saw the sight there presented, she

  would have thrown herself headlong from the wall, but fainted and fell into the arms of

  her maidens. Recovering she bewailed her fate, picturing to herself her country ruined,

  herself a captive, and her son dependent for his bread on the charity of strangers.

  When Achilles and the Greeks had taken their revenge on the killer of Patroclus

  they busied themselves in paying due funeral rites to their friend. A pile was erected, and

  the body burned with due solemnity; and then ensued games of strength and skill,

  chariot races, wrestling, boxing, and archery. Then the chiefs sat down to the funeral

  banquet and after that retired to rest. But Achilles neither partook of the feast nor of

  sleep. The recollection of his lost friend kept him awake, remembering their

  companionship in toil and dangers, in battle or on the perilous deep. Before the earliest

  dawn he left his tent, and joining to his chariot his swift steeds, he fastened Hector's

  body to be dragged behind. Twice he dragged him round the tomb of Patroclus, leaving

  him at length stretched in the dust. But Apollo would not permit the body to be torn or

  disfigured with all this abuse, but preserved it free from all taint or defilement.

  While Achilles indulged his wrath in thus disgracing brave Hector, Jupiter in pity

  summoned Thetis to his presence. He told her to go to her son and prevail on him to

  restore the body of Hector to his friends. Then Jupiter sent Iris to King Priam to

  encourage him to go to Achilles and beg the body of his son. Iris delivered her

  message, and Priam immediately prepared to obey. He opened his treasuries and took

  out rich garments and cloths, with ten talents in gold and two splendid tripods and a

  golden cup of matchless workmanship. Then he called to his sons and bade them draw

  forth his litter and place in it the various articles designed for a ransom to Achilles.

  When all was ready, the old king with a single companion as aged as himself, the herald

  Idaeus, drove forth from the gates, parting there with Hecuba his queen and all his

  friends, who lamented him as going to certain death.

  But Jupiter, beholding with compassion the venerable king, sent Mercury to be

  his guide and protector. Mercury, assuming the form of a young warrior, presented

  himself to the aged couple, and while at the sight of him they hesitated whether to fly or

  yield, the god approached, and grasping Priam's hand, offered to be their guide to

  Achilles' tent. Priam gladly accepted his offered service, and he mounting the carriage

  assumed the reins and soon conveyed them to the tent of Achilles. Mercury's wand put

  to sleep all the guards, and wit
hout hinderance he introduced Priam into the tent where

  Achilles sat, attended by two of his warriors. The old king threw himself at the feet of

  Achilles and kissed those terrible hands which had destroyed so many of his sons.

  "Think, O Achilles," he said, "of thy own father, full of days like me, and trembling on the

  gloomy verge of life. Perhaps even now some neighbor chief oppresses him and there is

  none at hand to succor him in his distress. Yet doubtless knowing that Achilles lives he

  still rejoices, hoping that one day he shall see thy face again. But no comfort cheers me,

  whose bravest sons, so late the flower of Ilium, all have fallen. Yet one I had, one more

  than all the rest the strength of my age whom fighting for his country thou hast slain. I

  come to redeem his body, bringing inestimable ransom with me. Achilles! reverence the

  gods! recollect thy father! for his sake show compassion to me!" These words moved

  Achilles and he wept; remembering by turns his absent father and his lost friend. Moved

  with pity of Priam's silver locks and beard, he raised him from the earth and thus spake:

  "Priam, I know that thou hast reached this place conducted by some god, for without aid

  divine no mortal even in his prime of youth had dared the attempt. I grant thy request;

  moved thereto by the evident will of Jove." So saying he arose, and went forth with his

  two friends, and unloaded of its charge the litter, leaving two mantles and a robe for the

  covering of the body, which they placed on the litter, and spread the garments over it,

  that not unveiled it should be borne back to Troy. Then Achilles dismissed the old king

  with his attendants, having first pledged himself to allow a truce of twelve days for the

  funeral solemnities.

  As the litter approached the city and was descried from the walls, the people

  poured forth to gaze once more on the face of their hero. Foremost of all, the mother

  and the wife of Hector came, and at the sight of the lifeless body renewed their

  lamentations. The people all wept with them, and to the going down of the sun there