by Homer
wept still, remembering his beloved companion, nor did sleep,
who masters all, take hold of him, but he turned himself this side and that
yearning for the manly strength and noble spirit of Patroclus,
and remembered with yearning all he been through with him and all the woes he had suffered,
running through dangerous waves and the conflicts of men.
Recalling these things he let the warm tears fall,
as he lay now on his side, now again10
on his back, and now face down; then starting up
he would wander in distraction along the salt-sea shore. He came to know
the dawn as she appeared over the sea and shore;
and when he had yoked his swift horses to his chariot,
he would tie Hector behind the chariot so as to drag him;
and after dragging him three times around the tomb of Menoetius’ dead son
he would rest again in his shelter, and leave Hector
stretched in the dust upon his face. But Apollo warded off from Hector’s flesh
all disfigurement, pitying the mortal man,
dead though he was, and covered him wholly round20
with his golden aegis, so that Achilles would not tear the skin away as he dragged him.
So in his rage Achilles kept outraging glorious Hector;
and as they watched, the blessed gods took pity on the son of Priam,
and kept urging sharp-sighted Hermes, Slayer of Argos, to steal him away.
And this found favor with all other gods, but not with Hera,
nor with Poseidon, nor with the gleaming-eyed maiden Athena,
for their hatred persisted, as at the start, for sacred Ilion,
and the people of Priam, because of the folly of Alexandros
who insulted the goddesses, when they came to his shepherd’s steading,
and gave the nod to her, the goddess whose gift to him was ruinous lust.30
But when at length the twelfth dawn rose since Hector’s death,
then it was that Phoebus Apollo addressed the immortals:
“You gods are relentless, destroyers of men! Did Hector never
burn as offerings to you the thighbones of oxen and of goats without blemish?
And now, dead though he is, you cannot bring yourselves to rescue him,
for his wife to look on, for his mother, for his child,
and for his father and his people, who would with all speed
burn him upon a pyre and honor him with funeral rites;
but you gods choose to abet murderous Achilles,
in whose breast the heart knows no justice,40
nor does his purpose bend, but his skill is in savage things, like a lion,
who giving way to his great strength and bold heart
goes for the flocks of men, to snatch his feast.
So Achilles has destroyed pity, nor has he shame,
which does great harm to men but also profits them.
A man surely is likely to lose someone even dearer—
a brother born of the same womb, or his own son—
but having wept and mourned, he lets it go;
for the Fates placed an enduring heart within mankind;
but Achilles, after he has stripped brilliant Hector of his life,50
fastens him to his chariot and drags him round the tomb of his companion.
This is neither good for Achilles, nor is it worthy;
let him beware lest, noble though he be, we gods be angered with him.
For in his rage he outrages the senseless earth.”
Then in anger white-armed Hera addressed him:
“This speech of yours, you of the silver bow, might be justified
if you gods hold Achilles and Hector in the same honor.
But Hector is mortal and sucked at the breast of a woman,
while Achilles is born of a goddess, one whom I myself
nurtured and reared and gave as wife to her husband,60
to Peleus, who was exceedingly dear to the immortals’ hearts;
and all you gods took part in the wedding. And you among them
partook of the feast, lyre in hand, you companion of evil, faithless forever.”
Then answering her spoke Zeus who gathers the clouds:
“Hera, do not be angered with the gods.
The men will not have the same honor; yet Hector too
was dearest to the gods of all mortal men in Ilion.
For so he was to me, since he never failed to offer pleasing gifts;
my altar was never lacking its fair share of sacrifice,
of libation and the savour of burnt offering; for this honor is our due.70
But as for stealing bold Hector away, let that go, it is in no way possible
without Achilles’ notice, for always
his mother is at his side night and day alike;
but perhaps one of the gods would summon Thetis to my presence,
so that I could speak a close word to her, so that Achilles would
accept gifts from Priam and release Hector for ransom.”
So he spoke; and storm-footed Iris sprang up to take his message.
Between Samothrace and rugged Imbros
she leapt into the dark sea; and the sea groaned about her;
she sped to the depths of the sea like a leaden weight,80
which mounted upon a piece of field-ox horn
goes bearing death to the fish who eat its carrion bait.
She found Thetis in a hollow cave; and gathered round her were
the other goddesses of the sea, and she in the middle
was weeping for the fate of her blameless son, who was destined
to perish in the rich soil of Troy, far from his fatherland.
Standing close, swift-footed Iris addressed her:
“Rise up, Thetis; Zeus whose counsels are unfailing, summons you.”
Then the goddess Thetis of the silver feet answered her:
“What does he, the great god, command of me? I dread90
mingling with the immortals; for I have sorrows without end within my heart.
Yet I will go, his word will not be in vain, whatever he might say.”
So speaking the shining among goddesses took her blue-black
veil; and than this there is no darker garment;
and she set out, and swift Iris with feet like the wind led the way
before her; and on either side the waves of the sea parted for them.
Going up onto the shore, they darted to heaven;
and they found the far-thundering son of Cronus, and gathered round him
were sitting all the other blessed gods who live forever.
Then beside Zeus the father Thetis took her seat, which Athena yielded to her.100
Hera placed a beautiful cup of gold into her hands
and spoke kindly words; and Thetis gave it back after drinking.
Then to them the father of gods and men began his speech:
“You have come to Olympus, divine Thetis, despite your cares,
bearing grief that cannot be forgotten in your heart; I know this.
But even so I will tell you the reason for which I have called you here.
For nine days a quarrel has arisen among the immortals
concerning Hector’s body and Achilles, sacker of cities.
They urge sharp-sighted Hermes, Slayer of Argos, to steal the body away.
I however grant this honor to Achilles,110
safeguarding your respect and loving friendship for time after:
go quickly to the army and lay a charge upon your son;
tell him the gods are angry, and that I beyond all
immortals am provoked to rage, because in his madman’s heart
he holds Hector beside his curved ships, nor has surrendered him—
and that perhaps in fear of me he would give Hector back.
And I will dis
patch Iris to great-hearted Priam, to tell him
to obtain the release of his dear son by going to the ships of the Achaeans,
and to bear gifts for Achilles, which would soften his heart.”
So he spoke; nor did the goddess Thetis of the silver feet disobey,120
and she left, darting down from the heights of Olympus,
and made her way to her son’s shelter; inside she found him
groaning without cessation; around him his close companions
busily attended to him and readied the morning meal;
a great fleecy sheep had been slain by them in the shelter.
His lady mother sat down close beside him,
and stroked his hand, and spoke to him and said his name:
“My child, how long will you devour your heart
in weeping and grieving, mindful neither of food
nor bed? Indeed, it is good to lie with a woman130
in lovemaking; you will not be living long with me, but already
death stands close beside you and powerful destiny.
Now, mark me at once; I bring a message for you from Zeus;
he says the gods are angry with you, and that he beyond all
immortals is provoked to rage, because in your madman’s heart
you hold Hector beside your curved ships nor have surrendered him.
But come, give him up, and accept ransom for his body.”
Then answering her spoke swift-footed Achilles:
“Let the man appear who would bring the ransom and bear the body,
if the Olympian himself in earnest bids.”140
So they, amid the gathering of ships, mother and son,
were speaking many things, winged words, to one another;
and the son of Cronus dispatched Iris into holy Ilion:
“Come, swift Iris, leave this Olympian seat
and bear a message to great-hearted Priam inside Ilion,
that he ransom his beloved son, going to the ships of the Achaeans,
and that he bear gifts for Achilles, which would soften his heart,
he alone, and let no other man of Troy go with him.
A herald may accompany him, some older man, who can drive
the mules and the strong-wheeled wagon, to bring back150
to the city the dead man, whom godlike Achilles killed.
And let no thought of death trouble his heart, nor any fear;
for we will have Hermes, Slayer of Argos, accompany him as escort,
who will lead him, conducting him until he comes to Achilles.
And when he has led him inside Achilles’ shelter,
Achilles himself will not kill him and he will restrain all others;
for he is not witless, nor thoughtless, nor without morals,
but with great kindness he will have mercy on the suppliant.”
So he spoke; and storm-footed Iris sprang up to take his message.
And she came to the house of Priam, and there was met with crying and lamentation;160
the sons sitting about their father inside the courtyard
stained their garments with their tears, and among them, the old man,
was wrapped in his mantle, molded to it; much dung
was round about the neck and head of the old man,
which wallowing in he had scraped up with his own hands.
All through his house his daughters and the wives of his sons wailed in grief,
remembering those men who in such numbers and nobility
lay dead, having lost their lives at Argive hands.
And Iris, messenger of Zeus, stood by Priam and addressed him,
speaking softly; and trembling seized his limbs:170
“Have courage in your heart, Priam son of Dardanos, nor fear at all.
For I do not come to you here bearing evil,
but with good intentions; for I am a messenger to you from Zeus,
who though far away takes great thought for and pities you.
The Olympian bids you redeem brilliant Hector by ransom,
and bring gifts to Achilles, which would soften his heart,
you alone, and let no other man of Troy go with you.
A herald may accompany you, some older man, who can drive
the mules and the strong-wheeled wagon, to bring back
to the city the dead man, whom godlike Achilles killed.180
And do not let any thought of death trouble your heart, nor any fear;
for Hermes, Slayer of Argos, will follow with you as escort,
and will lead you, conducting you until he comes to Achilles.
But when he has led you inside Achilles’ shelter,
Achilles himself will not kill you and will restrain all others;
for he is not witless, nor thoughtless, nor without morals,
but with great kindness he will have mercy on a suppliant.”
Then so speaking, Iris of the swift feet departed;
and Priam ordered his sons to prepare the strong-wheeled mule-drawn wagon
and to fasten upon it a wicker carrier.190
And he went down into his storeroom, high-roofed
and fragrant with cedar, which held his many precious things.
And he called to his wife Hecuba and spoke to her:
“My poor wife, from Zeus an Olympian messenger came to me,
and bids me ransom our beloved son, going to the ships of the Achaeans,
to bring gifts to Achilles, which would soften his heart.
Come and tell me this—how to your mind does this seem to be?
For terribly does my spirit urge me, and my heart,
to go there to the ships, inside the broad army of the Achaeans.”
So he spoke; and his wife cried out and answered him in a word:200
“Alas for me, where have your wits departed, for which you were
famed before, among even those from other lands, as well as those you ruled?
How can you wish to go to the Achaean ships alone,
into the sight of a man who killed your many and your noble
sons? Your heart is iron.
For if he sets eyes upon you, and seizes you,
ravening and faithless man as he is, he will not have pity on you,
nor will he in any way respect your standing. No, let us weep now
as we sit far from Hector in our halls; thus it seems powerful Destiny
spun her fated thread for him at his very birth, when I myself brought him to life,210
to glut swift-footed dogs far from his parents
beside a violent man, whose liver I wish I could take hold of,
burying my teeth into its middle to eat; then would there be revenge
for my son, since he was not killed as he played the coward,
but as he took his stand in defense of the Trojans and the deep-breasted
Trojan women, taking thought of neither flight nor shelter.”
And old Priam, godlike, spoke to her again:
“Do not delay me in my wish to go, nor yourself,
in my own halls, be a bird of ill omen; you will not persuade me.
For if any other person on earth had commanded me,220
the smoke-watching seers, or priests,
we would have said it was a lie and we would turn our backs on it;
but as it is, since I myself heard the god and looked her in the face,
I am going, and her word will not be in vain. And if it is my fate
to die beside the ships of the bronze-clad Achaeans,
then so I wish it; let Achilles slay me at once
after I have clasped in my arms my son, when I have put away all desire for weeping.”
He spoke, and opened up the fine covers of his chests.
There he drew out twelve splendid robes,
and twelve single-folded woolen cloaks, and as many blankets,230
as many mantles of white linen, and as many tunics too,
> and he weighed and brought out ten full talents of gold,
and brought out two gleaming tripods, and four cauldrons,
and he brought out a splendid cup, which Thracian men gave to him
when he went to them on a mission, a magnificent possession; not
even this did the old man withhold, as he desired with all his heart
to ransom back his beloved son. And the Trojans, all,
he kept away from his covered halls, reviling them with shaming words:
“Be gone, outrages, disgraces; is there no weeping
in your own homes, that you have come to trouble me?240
Or do you think it too little, that Zeus the son of Cronus has given me suffering,
destroying my best of sons? But you will come to know what this means too;
for you will be all the easier for the Achaeans
to kill now my son has died. But
before I behold with my own eyes my city sacked and ravaged,
may I enter in the house of Hades.”
He spoke, and drove the men off with his staff; and they went out
before the old man’s urgency. And to his own sons he shouted rebuke,
railing at Helenos and Paris and brilliant Agathon
and Pammon and Antiphonos and Polites of the war cry250
and Deïphobos and Hippothoös, too, and noble Dios.
To these nine, the old man, shouting his threats, gave orders:
“Make haste, worthless children, my disgraces. I would the pack of you
together had been slain by the swift ship instead of Hector.
Woe is me, fated utterly, since I sired the best sons
in broad Troy, but I say not one of them is left,
Mestor the godlike and Troilos the chariot fighter
and Hector, who was a god among men, nor did he seem to be
the son of mortal man, but of a god.
War destroyed these men, and all these things of shame are left,260
the liars and dancers, and heroes of the dance floor,
snatchers of lambs and kids in their own land.
Will you all not prepare a wagon for me at once,
and place all these things in it, so that we can go upon our way?”
So he spoke; and they trembling before the old man’s threats
lifted out the strong-wheeled wagon for the mule,
a beautiful thing, newly made, and fastened the wicker carrier on it,
and took down from its peg the mule yoke
made of boxwood and with a nob upon it, well-fitted with rings to guide the reins;
and they brought out the yoke strap of nine cubits length together with
the yoke.270