The grief of Achilles over Patroclus—The visit of Thetis to
      Vulcan and the armour that he made for Achilles.

      Thus then did they fight as it were a flaming fire. 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. “Alas,” said he to himself in
      the heaviness of his heart, “why are the Achaeans again scouring
      the plain and flocking towards the ships? Heaven grant the gods
      be not now bringing that sorrow upon me of which my mother Thetis
      spoke, saying that while I was yet alive the bravest of the
      Myrmidons should fall before the Trojans, and see the light of
      the sun no longer. I fear the brave son of Menoetius has fallen
      through his own daring and yet I bade him return to the ships as
      soon as he had driven back those that were bringing fire against
      them, and not join battle with Hector.”

      As he was thus pondering, the son of Nestor came up to him and
      told his sad tale, weeping bitterly the while. “Alas,” he cried,
      “son of noble Peleus, I bring you bad tidings, would indeed that
      they were untrue. Patroclus has fallen, and a fight is raging
      about his naked body—for Hector holds his armour.”

      A dark cloud of grief fell upon Achilles as he listened. He
      filled both hands with dust from off the ground, and poured it
      over his head, disfiguring his comely face, and letting the
      refuse settle over his shirt so fair and new. He flung himself
      down all huge and hugely at full length, and tore his hair with
      his hands. The bondswomen whom Achilles and Patroclus had taken
      captive screamed aloud for grief, beating their breasts, and with
      their limbs failing them for sorrow. Antilochus bent over him the
      while, weeping and holding both his hands as he lay groaning for
      he feared that he might plunge a knife into his own throat. 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.
      There were Glauce, Thalia and Cymodoce, Nesaia, Speo, Thoe and
      dark-eyed Halie, Cymothoe, Actaea and Limnorea, Melite, Iaera,
      Amphithoe and Agave, Doto and Proto, Pherusa and Dynamene,
      Dexamene, Amphinome and Callianeira, Doris, Panope, and the
      famous sea-nymph Galatea, Nemertes, Apseudes and Callianassa.
      There were also Clymene, Ianeira and Ianassa, Maera, Oreithuia
      and Amatheia of the lovely locks, with other Nereids who dwell in
      the depths of the sea. The crystal cave was filled with their
      multitude and they all beat their breasts while Thetis led them
      in their lament.

      “Listen,” she cried, “sisters, daughters of Nereus, that you may
      hear the burden of my sorrows. Alas, woe is me, woe in that I
      have borne the most glorious of offspring. I bore him fair and
      strong, hero among heroes, and he shot up as a sapling; I tended
      him as a plant in a goodly garden, and sent him with his ships to
      Ilius to fight the Trojans, but never shall I welcome him back to
      the house of Peleus. So long as he lives to look upon the light
      of the sun he is in heaviness, and though I go to him I cannot
      help him. Nevertheless I will go, that I may see my dear son and
      learn what sorrow has befallen him though he is still holding
      aloof from battle.”

      She left the cave as she spoke, while the others followed weeping
      after, and the waves opened a path before them. 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. His mother went up to him as he lay groaning; she laid
      her hand upon his head and spoke piteously, saying, “My son, why
      are you thus weeping? What sorrow has now befallen you? Tell me;
      hide it not from me. Surely Jove has granted you the prayer you
      made him, when you lifted up your hands and besought him that the
      Achaeans might all of them be pent up at their ships, and rue it
      bitterly in that you were no longer with them.”

      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. Would
      that you were still dwelling among the immortal sea-nymphs, and
      that Peleus had taken to himself some mortal bride. For now you
      shall have grief infinite by reason of the death of that son whom
      you can never welcome home—nay, I will not live nor go about
      among mankind unless Hector fall by my spear, and thus pay me for
      having slain Patroclus son of Menoetius.”

      Thetis wept and answered, “Then, my son, is your end near at
      hand—for your own death awaits you full soon after that of
      Hector.”

      Then said Achilles in his great grief, “I would die here and now,
      in that I could not save my comrade. He has fallen far from home,
      and in his hour of need my hand was not there to help him. What
      is there for me? Return to my own land I shall not, and I have
      brought no saving neither to Patroclus nor to my other comrades
      of whom so many have been slain by mighty Hector; I stay here by
      my ships a bootless burden upon the earth, I, who in fight have
      no peer among the Achaeans, though in council there are better
      than I. Therefore, perish strife both from among gods and men,
      and anger, wherein even a righteous man will harden his
      heart—which rises up in the soul of a man like smoke, and the
      taste thereof is sweeter than drops of honey. Even so has
      Agamemnon angered me. And yet—so be it, for it is over; I will
      force my soul into subjection as I needs must; I will go; I will
      pursue Hector who has slain him whom I loved so dearly, and will
      then abide my doom when it may please Jove and the other gods to
      send it. Even Hercules, the best beloved of Jove—even he could
      not escape the hand of death, but fate and Juno’s fierce anger
      laid him low, as I too shall lie when I am dead if a like doom
      awaits me. Till then I will win fame, and will bid Trojan and
      Dardanian women wring tears from their tender cheeks with both
      their hands in the grievousness of their great sorrow; thus shall
      they know that he who has held aloof so long will hold aloof no
      longer. Hold me not back, therefore, in the love you bear me, for
      you shall not move me.”

      Then silver-footed Thetis answered, “My son, what you have said
      is true. It is well to save your comrades from destruction, but
      your armour is in the hands of the Trojans; Hector bears it in
      triumph upon his own shoulders. Full well I know that his vaunt
      shall not be lasting, for his end is close at hand; go not,
      however, into the press of battle till you see me return hither;
      to-morrow at break of day I shall be here, and will bring you
      goodly armour from King Vulcan.”

      On this she left her brave son, and as she turned away she said
      to the sea-nymphs her sisters, “Dive into the bosom of the sea
      and go to the house of the old sea-god my father. Tell him
      everything; as for me, I will go to the cunning workman Vulcan on
      high Olympus, and ask him to provide my son with a suit of
      splendid armour.”

      When she had so said, they dived forthwith beneath the waves,
      while silver-footed Thetis went her way that she might bring the
      armour for her son.

      Thus, then, did her feet bear the goddess to Olympus, and
      meanwhile the Achaeans were flying with loud cries before
      murderous Hector till they reached the ships and the Hellespont,
      and they could not draw the body of Mars’s servant Patroclus out
      of reach of the weapons that were showered upon him, for Hector
      son of Priam with his host and horsemen had again caught up to
      him like the flame of a fiery furnace; thrice did brave Hector
      seize him by the feet, striving with might and main to draw him
      away and calling loudly on the Trojans, and thrice did the two
      Ajaxes, clothed in valour as with a garment, beat him from off
      the body; but all undaunted he would now charge into the thick of
      the fight, and now again he would stand still and cry aloud, but
      he would give no ground. As upland shepherds that cannot chase
      some famished lion from a carcase, even so could not the two
      Ajaxes scare Hector son of Priam from the body of Patroclus.

      And now he would even have dragged it off and have won
      imperishable glory, had not Iris fleet as the wind, winged her
      way as messenger from Olympus to the son of Peleus and bidden him
      arm. She came secretly without the knowledge of Jove and of the
      other gods, for Juno sent her, and when she had got close to him
      she said, “Up, son of Peleus, mightiest of all mankind; rescue
      Patroclus about whom this fearful fight is now raging by the
      ships. Men are killing one another, the Danaans in defence of the
      dead body, while the Trojans are trying to hale it away, and take
      it to windy Ilius: Hector is the most furious of them all; he is
      for cutting the head from the body and fixing it on the stakes of
      the wall. Up, then, and bide here no longer; shrink from the
      thought that Patroclus may become meat for the dogs of Troy.
      Shame on you, should his body suffer any kind of outrage.”

      And Achilles said, “Iris, which of the gods was it that sent you
      to me?”

      Iris answered, “It was Juno the royal spouse of Jove, but the son
      of Saturn does not know of my coming, nor yet does any other of
      the immortals who dwell on the snowy summits of Olympus.”

      Then fleet Achilles answered her saying, “How can I go up into
      the battle? They have my armour. My mother forbade me to arm till
      I should see her come, for she promised to bring me goodly armour
      from Vulcan; I know no man whose arms I can put on, save only the
      shield of Ajax son of Telamon, and he surely must be fighting in
      the front rank and wielding his spear about the body of dead
      Patroclus.”

      Iris said, “We know that your armour has been taken, but go as
      you are; go to the deep trench and show yourself before the
      Trojans, that they may fear you and cease fighting. Thus will the
      fainting sons of the Achaeans gain some brief breathing time,
      which in battle may hardly be.”

      Iris left him when she had so spoken. 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. 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
      did not join the Achaeans for he heeded the charge which his
      mother laid upon him.

      There did he stand and shout aloud. Minerva also raised her voice
      from afar, and spread terror unspeakable among the Trojans.
      Ringing as the note of a trumpet that sounds alarm then the foe
      is at the gates of a city, even so brazen was the voice of the
      son of Aeacus, and when the Trojans heard its clarion tones they
      were dismayed; the horses turned back with their chariots for
      they boded mischief, and their drivers were awe-struck by the
      steady flame which the grey-eyed goddess had kindled above the
      head of the great son of Peleus.

      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.
      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. He
      had sent him out with horses and chariots into battle, but his
      return he was not to welcome.

      Then Juno sent the busy sun, loth though he was, into the waters
      of Oceanus; so he set, and the Achaeans had rest from the tug and
      turmoil of war.

      Now the Trojans when they had come out of the fight, unyoked
      their horses and gathered in assembly before preparing their
      supper. 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. Polydamas son of
      Panthous was first to speak, a man of judgement, who alone among
      them could look both before and after. He was comrade to Hector,
      and they had been born upon the same night; with all sincerity
      and goodwill, therefore, he addressed them thus:—

      “Look to it well, my friends; I would urge you to go back now to
      your city and not wait here by the ships till morning, for we are
      far from our walls. So long as this man was at enmity with
      Agamemnon the Achaeans were easier to deal with, and I would have
      gladly camped by the ships in the hope of taking them; but now I
      go in great fear of the fleet son of Peleus; he is so daring that
      he will never bide here on the plain whereon the Trojans and
      Achaeans fight with equal valour, but he will try to storm our
      city and carry off our women. Do then as I say, and let us
      retreat. For this is what will happen. The darkness of night will
      for a time stay the son of Peleus, but if he find us here in the
      morning when he sallies forth in full armour, we shall have
      knowledge of him in good earnest. Glad indeed will he be who can
      escape and get back to Ilius, and many a Trojan will become meat
      for dogs and vultures may I never live to hear it. If we do as I
      say, little though we may like it, we shall have strength in
      counsel during the night, and the great gates with the doors that
      close them will protect the city. At dawn we can arm and take our
      stand on the walls; he will then rue it if he sallies from the
      ships to fight us. He will go back when he has given his horses
      their fill of being driven all whithers under our walls, and will
      be in no mind to try and force his way into the city. Neither
      will he ever sack it, dogs shall devour him ere he do so.”

      Hector looked fiercely at him and answered, “Polydamas, your
      words are not to my liking in that you bid us go back and be pent
      within the city. Have you not had enough of being cooped up
      behind walls? In the old-days the city of Priam was famous the
      whole world over for its wealth of gold and bronze, but our
      treasures are wasted out of our houses, and much goods have been
      sold away to Phrygia and fair Meonia, for the hand of Jove has
      been laid heavily upon us. Now, therefore, that the son of
      scheming Saturn has vouchsafed me to win glory here and to hem
      the Achaeans in at their ships, prate no more in this fool’s wise
      among the people. You will have no man with you; it shall not be;
      do all of you as I now say;—take your suppers in your companies
      throughout the host, and keep your watches and be wakeful every
      man of you. If any Trojan is uneasy about his possessions, let
      him gather them and give them out among the people. Better let
      these, rather than the Achaeans, have them. 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. I shall not shun him, but will fight him, to
      fall or conquer. The god of war deals out like measure to all,
      and the slayer may yet be slain.”

      Thus spoke Hector; and the Trojans, fools that they were, shouted
      in applause, for Pallas Minerva had robbed them of their
      understanding. They gave ear to Hector with his evil counsel, but
      the wise words of Polydamas no man would heed. They took their
      supper throughout the host, and meanwhile through the whole night
      the Achaeans mourned Patroclus, and the son of Peleus led them in
      their lament. 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. The same soil shall be reddened
      here at Troy by the blood of us both, for I too shall never be
      welcomed home by the old knight Peleus, nor by my mother Thetis,
      but even in this place shall the earth cover me. Nevertheless, O
      Patroclus, now that I am left behind you, I will not bury you,
      till I have brought hither the head and armour of mighty Hector
      who has slain you. Twelve noble sons of Trojans will I behead
      before your bier to avenge you; till I have done so you shall lie
      as you are by the ships, and fair women of Troy and Dardanus,
      whom we have taken with spear and strength of arm when we sacked
      men’s goodly cities, shall weep over you both night and day.”

      Then Achilles told his men to set a large tripod upon the fire
      that they might wash the clotted gore from off Patroclus. Thereon
      they set a tripod full of bath water on to a clear fire: they
      threw sticks on to it to make it blaze, and the water became hot
      as the flame played about the belly of the tripod. When the water
      in the cauldron was boiling they washed the body, anointed it
      with oil, and closed its wounds with ointment that had been kept
      nine years. Then they laid it on a bier and covered it with a
      linen cloth from head to foot, and over this they laid a fair
      white robe. Thus all night long did the Myrmidons gather round
      Achilles to mourn Patroclus.

      Then Jove said to Juno his sister-wife, “So, Queen Juno, you have
      gained your end, and have roused fleet Achilles. One would think
      that the Achaeans were of your own flesh and blood.”

      And Juno answered, “Dread son of Saturn, why should you say this
      thing? May not a man though he be only mortal and knows less than
      we do, do what he can for another person? And shall not
      I—foremost of all goddesses both by descent and as wife to you
      who reign in heaven—devise evil for the Trojans if I am angry
      with them?”

      Thus did they converse. Meanwhile Thetis came to the house of
      Vulcan, imperishable, star-bespangled, fairest of the abodes in
      heaven, a house of bronze wrought by the lame god’s own hands.
      She found him busy with his bellows, sweating and hard at work,
      for he was making twenty tripods that were to stand by the wall
      of his house, and he set wheels of gold under them all that they
      might go of their own selves to the assemblies of the gods, and
      come back again—marvels indeed to see. They were finished all but
      the ears of cunning workmanship which yet remained to be fixed to
      them: these he was now fixing, and he was hammering at the
      rivets. While he was thus at work silver-footed Thetis came to
      the house. Charis, of graceful head-dress, wife to the far-famed
      lame god, came towards her as soon as she saw her, and took her
      hand in her own, saying, “Why have you come to our house, Thetis,
      honoured and ever welcome—for you do not visit us often? Come
      inside and let me set refreshment before you.”

      The goddess led the way as she spoke, and bade Thetis sit on a
      richly decorated seat inlaid with silver; there was a footstool
      also under her feet. Then she called Vulcan and said, “Vulcan,
      come here, Thetis wants you”; and the far-famed lame god
      answered, “Then it is indeed an august and honoured goddess who
      has come here; she it was that took care of me when I was
      suffering from the heavy fall which I had through my cruel
      mother’s anger—for she would have got rid of me because I was
      lame. It would have gone hardly with me had not Eurynome,
      daughter of the ever-encircling waters of Oceanus, and Thetis,
      taken me to their bosom. Nine years did I stay with them, and
      many beautiful works in bronze, brooches, spiral armlets, cups,
      and chains, did I make for them in their cave, with the roaring
      waters of Oceanus foaming as they rushed ever past it; and no one
      knew, neither of gods nor men, save only Thetis and Eurynome who
      took care of me. If, then, Thetis has come to my house I must
      make her due requital for having saved me; entertain her,
      therefore, with all hospitality, while I put by my bellows and
      all my tools.”

      On this the mighty monster hobbled off from his anvil, his thin
      legs plying lustily under him. He set the bellows away from the
      fire, and gathered his tools into a silver chest. Then he took a
      sponge and washed his face and hands, his shaggy chest and brawny
      neck; he donned his shirt, grasped his strong staff, and limped
      towards the door. There were golden handmaids also who worked for
      him, and were like real young women, with sense and reason, voice
      also and strength, and all the learning of the immortals; these
      busied themselves as the king bade them, while he drew near to
      Thetis, seated her upon a goodly seat, and took her hand in his
      own, saying, “Why have you come to our house, Thetis honoured and
      ever welcome—for you do not visit us often? Say what you want,
      and I will do it for you at once if I can, and if it can be done
      at all.”

      Thetis wept and answered, “Vulcan, is there another goddess in
      Olympus whom the son of Saturn has been pleased to try with so
      much affliction as he has me? Me alone of the marine goddesses
      did he make subject to a mortal husband, Peleus son of Aeacus,
      and sorely against my will did I submit to the embraces of one
      who was but mortal, and who now stays at home worn out with age.
      Neither is this all. Heaven vouchsafed me a son, hero among
      heroes, and he shot up as a sapling. I tended him as a plant in a
      goodly garden and sent him with his ships to Ilius to fight the
      Trojans, but never shall I welcome him back to the house of
      Peleus. So long as he lives to look upon the light of the sun, he
      is in heaviness, and though I go to him I cannot help him; King
      Agamemnon has made him give up the maiden whom the sons of the
      Achaeans had awarded him, and he wastes with sorrow for her sake.
      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. All day long they fought by the Scaean gates and would
      have taken the city there and then, had not Apollo vouchsafed
      glory to Hector and slain the valiant son of Menoetius after he
      had done the Trojans much evil. Therefore I am suppliant at your
      knees if haply you may be pleased to provide my son, whose end is
      near at hand, with helmet and shield, with goodly greaves fitted
      with ancle-clasps, and with a breastplate, for he lost his own
      when his true comrade fell at the hands of the Trojans, and he
      now lies stretched on earth in the bitterness of his soul.”

      And Vulcan answered, “Take heart, and be no more disquieted about
      this matter; would that I could hide him from death’s sight when
      his hour is come, so surely as I can find him armour that shall
      amaze the eyes of all who behold it.”

      When he had so said he left her and went to his bellows, turning
      them towards the fire and bidding them do their office. Twenty
      bellows blew upon the melting-pots, and they blew blasts of every
      kind, some fierce to help him when he had need of them, and
      others less strong as Vulcan willed it in the course of his work.
      He threw tough copper into the fire, and tin, with silver and
      gold; he set his great anvil on its block, and with one hand
      grasped his mighty hammer while he took the tongs in the other.

      First he shaped the shield so great and strong, adorning it all
      over and binding it round with a gleaming circuit in three
      layers; and the baldric was made of silver. He made the shield in
      five thicknesses, and with many a wonder did his cunning hand
      enrich it.

      He wrought the earth, the heavens, and the sea; the moon also at
      her full and the untiring sun, with all the signs that glorify
      the face of heaven—the Pleiads, the Hyads, huge Orion, and the
      Bear, which men also call the Wain and which turns round ever in
      one place, facing Orion, and alone never dips into the stream of
      Oceanus.

      He wrought also two cities, fair to see and busy with the hum of
      men. In the one were weddings and wedding-feasts, and they were
      going about the city with brides whom they were escorting by
      torchlight from their chambers. Loud rose the cry of Hymen, and
      the youths danced to the music of flute and lyre, while the women
      stood each at her house door to see them.

      Meanwhile the people were gathered in assembly, for there was a
      quarrel, and two men were wrangling about the blood-money for a
      man who had been killed, the one saying before the people that he
      had paid damages in full, and the other that he had not been
      paid. Each was trying to make his own case good, and the people
      took sides, each man backing the side that he had taken; but the
      heralds kept them back, and the elders sate on their seats of
      stone in a solemn circle, holding the staves which the heralds
      had put into their hands. Then they rose and each in his turn
      gave judgement, and there were two talents laid down, to be given
      to him whose judgement should be deemed the fairest.

      About the other city there lay encamped two hosts in gleaming
      armour, and they were divided whether to sack it, or to spare it
      and accept the half of what it contained. But the men of the city
      would not yet consent, and armed themselves for a surprise; their
      wives and little children kept guard upon the walls, and with
      them were the men who were past fighting through age; but the
      others sallied forth with Mars and Pallas Minerva at their
      head—both of them wrought in gold and clad in golden raiment,
      great and fair with their armour as befitting gods, while they
      that followed were smaller. When they reached the place where
      they would lay their ambush, it was on a riverbed to which live
      stock of all kinds would come from far and near to water; here,
      then, they lay concealed, clad in full armour. Some way off them
      there were two scouts who were on the look-out for the coming of
      sheep or cattle, which presently came, followed by two shepherds
      who were playing on their pipes, and had not so much as a thought
      of danger. When those who were in ambush saw this, they cut off
      the flocks and herds and killed the shepherds. Meanwhile the
      besiegers, when they heard much noise among the cattle as they
      sat in council, sprang to their horses, and made with all speed
      towards them; when they reached them they set battle in array by
      the banks of the river, and the hosts aimed their bronze-shod
      spears at one another. With them were Strife and Riot, and fell
      Fate who was dragging three men after her, one with a fresh
      wound, and the other unwounded, while the third was dead, and she
      was dragging him along by his heel: and her robe was bedrabbled
      in men’s blood. They went in and out with one another and fought
      as though they were living people haling away one another’s dead.

      He wrought also a fair fallow field, large and thrice ploughed
      already. Many men were working at the plough within it, turning
      their oxen to and fro, furrow after furrow. Each time that they
      turned on reaching the headland a man would come up to them and
      give them a cup of wine, and they would go back to their furrows
      looking forward to the time when they should again reach the
      headland. The part that they had ploughed was dark behind them,
      so that the field, though it was of gold, still looked as if it
      were being ploughed—very curious to behold.

      He wrought also a field of harvest corn, and the reapers were
      reaping with sharp sickles in their hands. Swathe after swathe
      fell to the ground in a straight line behind them, and the
      binders bound them in bands of twisted straw. There were three
      binders, and behind them there were boys who gathered the cut
      corn in armfuls and kept on bringing them to be bound: among them
      all the owner of the land stood by in silence and was glad. The
      servants were getting a meal ready under an oak, for they had
      sacrificed a great ox, and were busy cutting him up, while the
      women were making a porridge of much white barley for the
      labourers’ dinner.

      He wrought also a vineyard, golden and fair to see, and the vines
      were loaded with grapes. The bunches overhead were black, but the
      vines were trained on poles of silver. He ran a ditch of dark
      metal all round it, and fenced it with a fence of tin; there was
      only one path to it, and by this the vintagers went when they
      would gather the vintage. Youths and maidens all blithe and full
      of glee, carried the luscious fruit in plaited baskets; and with
      them there went a boy who made sweet music with his lyre, and
      sang the Linos-song with his clear boyish voice.

      He wrought also a herd of horned cattle. He made the cows of gold
      and tin, and they lowed as they came full speed out of the yards
      to go and feed among the waving reeds that grow by the banks of
      the river. Along with the cattle there went four shepherds, all
      of them in gold, and their nine fleet dogs went with them. Two
      terrible lions had fastened on a bellowing bull that was with the
      foremost cows, and bellow as he might they haled him, while the
      dogs and men gave chase: the lions tore through the bull’s thick
      hide and were gorging on his blood and bowels, but the herdsmen
      were afraid to do anything, and only hounded on their dogs; the
      dogs dared not fasten on the lions but stood by barking and
      keeping out of harm’s way.

      The god wrought also a pasture in a fair mountain dell, and a
      large flock of sheep, with a homestead and huts, and sheltered
      sheepfolds.

      Furthermore he wrought a green, like that which Daedalus once
      made in Cnossus for lovely Ariadne. Hereon there danced youths
      and maidens whom all would woo, with their hands on one another’s
      wrists. The maidens wore robes of light linen, and the youths
      well woven shirts that were slightly oiled. The girls were
      crowned with garlands, while the young men had daggers of gold
      that hung by silver baldrics; sometimes they would dance deftly
      in a ring with merry twinkling feet, as it were a potter sitting
      at his work and making trial of his wheel to see whether it will
      run, and sometimes they would go all in line with one another,
      and much people was gathered joyously about the green. There was
      a bard also to sing to them and play his lyre, while two tumblers
      went about performing in the midst of them when the man struck up
      with his tune.

      All round the outermost rim of the shield he set the mighty
      stream of the river Oceanus.

      Then when he had fashioned the shield so great and strong, he
      made a breastplate also that shone brighter than fire. He made a
      helmet, close fitting to the brow, and richly worked, with a
      golden plume overhanging it; and he made greaves also of beaten
      tin.

      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.


1  ὣς οἳ μὲν μάρναντο δέμας πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο,
2  Ἀντίλοχος δʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ πόδας ταχὺς ἄγγελος ἦλθε.
3  τὸν δʼ εὗρε προπάροιθε νεῶν ὀρθοκραιράων
4  τὰ φρονέοντʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ἃ δὴ τετελεσμένα ἦεν·
5  ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·
6  ὤ μοι ἐγώ, τί τʼ ἄρʼ αὖτε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ
7  νηυσὶν ἔπι κλονέονται ἀτυζόμενοι πεδίοιο;
8  μὴ δή μοι τελέσωσι θεοὶ κακὰ κήδεα θυμῷ,
9  ὥς ποτέ μοι μήτηρ διεπέφραδε καί μοι ἔειπε
10  Μυρμιδόνων τὸν ἄριστον ἔτι ζώοντος ἐμεῖο
11  χερσὶν ὕπο Τρώων λείψειν φάος ἠελίοιο.
12  ἦ μάλα δὴ τέθνηκε Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱὸς
13  σχέτλιος· ἦ τʼ ἐκέλευον ἀπωσάμενον δήϊον πῦρ
14  ἂψ ἐπὶ νῆας ἴμεν, μηδʼ Ἕκτορι ἶφι μάχεσθαι.
15  εἷος ὃ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,
16  τόφρά οἱ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθεν ἀγαυοῦ Νέστορος υἱὸς
17  δάκρυα θερμὰ χέων, φάτο δʼ ἀγγελίην ἀλεγεινήν·
18  ὤ μοι Πηλέος υἱὲ δαΐφρονος ἦ μάλα λυγρῆς
19  πεύσεαι ἀγγελίης, ἣ μὴ ὤφελλε γενέσθαι.
20  κεῖται Πάτροκλος, νέκυος δὲ δὴ ἀμφιμάχονται
21  γυμνοῦ· ἀτὰρ τά γε τεύχεʼ ἔχει κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.
22  ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ ἄχεος νεφέλη ἐκάλυψε μέλαινα·
23  ἀμφοτέρῃσι δὲ χερσὶν ἑλὼν κόνιν αἰθαλόεσσαν
24  χεύατο κὰκ κεφαλῆς, χαρίεν δʼ ᾔσχυνε πρόσωπον·
25  νεκταρέῳ δὲ χιτῶνι μέλαινʼ ἀμφίζανε τέφρη.
26  αὐτὸς δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι μέγας μεγαλωστὶ τανυσθεὶς
27  κεῖτο, φίλῃσι δὲ χερσὶ κόμην ᾔσχυνε δαΐζων.
28  δμῳαὶ δʼ ἃς Ἀχιλεὺς ληΐσσατο Πάτροκλός τε
29  θυμὸν ἀκηχέμεναι μεγάλʼ ἴαχον, ἐκ δὲ θύραζε
30  ἔδραμον ἀμφʼ Ἀχιλῆα δαΐφρονα, χερσὶ δὲ πᾶσαι
31  στήθεα πεπλήγοντο, λύθεν δʼ ὑπὸ γυῖα ἑκάστης.
32  Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ὀδύρετο δάκρυα λείβων
33  χεῖρας ἔχων Ἀχιλῆος· ὃ δʼ ἔστενε κυδάλιμον κῆρ·
34  δείδιε γὰρ μὴ λαιμὸν ἀπαμήσειε σιδήρῳ.
35  σμερδαλέον δʼ ᾤμωξεν· ἄκουσε δὲ πότνια μήτηρ
36  ἡμένη ἐν βένθεσσιν ἁλὸς παρὰ πατρὶ γέροντι,
37  κώκυσέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα· θεαὶ δέ μιν ἀμφαγέροντο
38  πᾶσαι ὅσαι κατὰ βένθος ἁλὸς Νηρηΐδες ἦσαν.
39  ἔνθʼ ἄρʼ ἔην Γλαύκη τε Θάλειά τε Κυμοδόκη τε
40  Νησαίη Σπειώ τε Θόη θʼ Ἁλίη τε βοῶπις
41  Κυμοθόη τε καὶ Ἀκταίη καὶ Λιμνώρεια
42  καὶ Μελίτη καὶ Ἴαιρα καὶ Ἀμφιθόη καὶ Ἀγαυὴ
43  Δωτώ τε Πρωτώ τε Φέρουσά τε Δυναμένη τε
44  Δεξαμένη τε καὶ Ἀμφινόμη καὶ Καλλιάνειρα
45  Δωρὶς καὶ Πανόπη καὶ ἀγακλειτὴ Γαλάτεια
46  Νημερτής τε καὶ Ἀψευδὴς καὶ Καλλιάνασσα·
47  ἔνθα δʼ ἔην Κλυμένη Ἰάνειρά τε καὶ Ἰάνασσα
48  Μαῖρα καὶ Ὠρείθυια ἐϋπλόκαμός τʼ Ἀμάθεια
49  ἄλλαι θʼ αἳ κατὰ βένθος ἁλὸς Νηρηΐδες ἦσαν.
50  τῶν δὲ καὶ ἀργύφεον πλῆτο σπέος· αἳ δʼ ἅμα πᾶσαι
51  στήθεα πεπλήγοντο, Θέτις δʼ ἐξῆρχε γόοιο·
52  κλῦτε κασίγνηται Νηρηΐδες, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ πᾶσαι
53  εἴδετʼ ἀκούουσαι ὅσʼ ἐμῷ ἔνι κήδεα θυμῷ.
54  ὤ μοι ἐγὼ δειλή, ὤ μοι δυσαριστοτόκεια,
55  ἥ τʼ ἐπεὶ ἂρ τέκον υἱὸν ἀμύμονά τε κρατερόν τε
56  ἔξοχον ἡρώων· ὃ δʼ ἀνέδραμεν ἔρνεϊ ἶσος·
57  τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ θρέψασα φυτὸν ὣς γουνῷ ἀλωῆς
58  νηυσὶν ἐπιπροέηκα κορωνίσιν Ἴλιον εἴσω
59  Τρωσὶ μαχησόμενον· τὸν δʼ οὐχ ὑποδέξομαι αὖτις
60  οἴκαδε νοστήσαντα δόμον Πηλήϊον εἴσω.
61  ὄφρα δέ μοι ζώει καὶ ὁρᾷ φάος ἠελίοιο
62  ἄχνυται, οὐδέ τί οἱ δύναμαι χραισμῆσαι ἰοῦσα.
63  ἀλλʼ εἶμʼ, ὄφρα ἴδωμι φίλον τέκος, ἠδʼ ἐπακούσω
64  ὅττί μιν ἵκετο πένθος ἀπὸ πτολέμοιο μένοντα.
65  ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα λίπε σπέος· αἳ δὲ σὺν αὐτῇ
66  δακρυόεσσαι ἴσαν, περὶ δέ σφισι κῦμα θαλάσσης
67  ῥήγνυτο· ταὶ δʼ ὅτε δὴ Τροίην ἐρίβωλον ἵκοντο
68  ἀκτὴν εἰσανέβαινον ἐπισχερώ, ἔνθα θαμειαὶ
69  Μυρμιδόνων εἴρυντο νέες ταχὺν ἀμφʼ Ἀχιλῆα.
70  τῷ δὲ βαρὺ στενάχοντι παρίστατο πότνια μήτηρ,
71  ὀξὺ δὲ κωκύσασα κάρη λάβε παιδὸς ἑοῖο,
72  καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
73  τέκνον τί κλαίεις; τί δέ σε φρένας ἵκετο πένθος;
74  ἐξαύδα, μὴ κεῦθε· τὰ μὲν δή τοι τετέλεσται
75  ἐκ Διός, ὡς ἄρα δὴ πρίν γʼ εὔχεο χεῖρας ἀνασχὼν
76  πάντας ἐπὶ πρύμνῃσιν ἀλήμεναι υἷας Ἀχαιῶν
77  σεῦ ἐπιδευομένους, παθέειν τʼ ἀεκήλια ἔργα.
78  τὴν δὲ βαρὺ στενάχων προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
79  μῆτερ ἐμή, τὰ μὲν ἄρ μοι Ὀλύμπιος ἐξετέλεσσεν·
80  ἀλλὰ τί μοι τῶν ἦδος ἐπεὶ φίλος ὤλεθʼ ἑταῖρος
81  Πάτροκλος, τὸν ἐγὼ περὶ πάντων τῖον ἑταίρων
82  ἶσον ἐμῇ κεφαλῇ; τὸν ἀπώλεσα, τεύχεα δʼ Ἕκτωρ
83  δῃώσας ἀπέδυσε πελώρια θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι
84  καλά· τὰ μὲν Πηλῆϊ θεοὶ δόσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα
85  ἤματι τῷ ὅτε σε βροτοῦ ἀνέρος ἔμβαλον εὐνῇ.
86  αἴθʼ ὄφελες σὺ μὲν αὖθι μετʼ ἀθανάτῃς ἁλίῃσι
87  ναίειν, Πηλεὺς δὲ θνητὴν ἀγαγέσθαι ἄκοιτιν.
88  νῦν δʼ ἵνα καὶ σοὶ πένθος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μυρίον εἴη
89  παιδὸς ἀποφθιμένοιο, τὸν οὐχ ὑποδέξεαι αὖτις
90  οἴκαδε νοστήσαντʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐδʼ ἐμὲ θυμὸς ἄνωγε
91  ζώειν οὐδʼ ἄνδρεσσι μετέμμεναι, αἴ κε μὴ Ἕκτωρ
92  πρῶτος ἐμῷ ὑπὸ δουρὶ τυπεὶς ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὀλέσσῃ,
93  Πατρόκλοιο δʼ ἕλωρα Μενοιτιάδεω ἀποτίσῃ.
94  τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Θέτις κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσα·
95  ὠκύμορος δή μοι τέκος ἔσσεαι, οἷʼ ἀγορεύεις·
96  αὐτίκα γάρ τοι ἔπειτα μεθʼ Ἕκτορα πότμος ἑτοῖμος.
97  τὴν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
98  αὐτίκα τεθναίην, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἄρʼ ἔμελλον ἑταίρῳ
99  κτεινομένῳ ἐπαμῦναι· ὃ μὲν μάλα τηλόθι πάτρης
100  ἔφθιτʼ, ἐμεῖο δὲ δῆσεν ἀρῆς ἀλκτῆρα γενέσθαι.
101  νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ οὐ νέομαί γε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
102  οὐδέ τι Πατρόκλῳ γενόμην φάος οὐδʼ ἑτάροισι
103  τοῖς ἄλλοις, οἳ δὴ πολέες δάμεν Ἕκτορι δίῳ,
104  ἀλλʼ ἧμαι παρὰ νηυσὶν ἐτώσιον ἄχθος ἀρούρης,
105  τοῖος ἐὼν οἷος οὔ τις Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων
106  ἐν πολέμῳ· ἀγορῇ δέ τʼ ἀμείνονές εἰσι καὶ ἄλλοι.
107  ὡς ἔρις ἔκ τε θεῶν ἔκ τʼ ἀνθρώπων ἀπόλοιτο
108  καὶ χόλος, ὅς τʼ ἐφέηκε πολύφρονά περ χαλεπῆναι,
109  ὅς τε πολὺ γλυκίων μέλιτος καταλειβομένοιο
110  ἀνδρῶν ἐν στήθεσσιν ἀέξεται ἠΰτε καπνός·
111  ὡς ἐμὲ νῦν ἐχόλωσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων.
112  ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν προτετύχθαι ἐάσομεν ἀχνύμενοί περ,
113  θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλον δαμάσαντες ἀνάγκῃ·
114  νῦν δʼ εἶμʼ ὄφρα φίλης κεφαλῆς ὀλετῆρα κιχείω
115  Ἕκτορα· κῆρα δʼ ἐγὼ τότε δέξομαι ὁππότε κεν δὴ
116  Ζεὺς ἐθέλῃ τελέσαι ἠδʼ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι.
117  οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδὲ βίη Ἡρακλῆος φύγε κῆρα,
118  ὅς περ φίλτατος ἔσκε Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι·
119  ἀλλά ἑ μοῖρα δάμασσε καὶ ἀργαλέος χόλος Ἥρης.
120  ὣς καὶ ἐγών, εἰ δή μοι ὁμοίη μοῖρα τέτυκται,
121  κείσομʼ ἐπεί κε θάνω· νῦν δὲ κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἀροίμην,
122  καί τινα Τρωϊάδων καὶ Δαρδανίδων βαθυκόλπων
123  ἀμφοτέρῃσιν χερσὶ παρειάων ἁπαλάων
124  δάκρυʼ ὀμορξαμένην ἁδινὸν στοναχῆσαι ἐφείην,
125  γνοῖεν δʼ ὡς δὴ δηρὸν ἐγὼ πολέμοιο πέπαυμαι·
126  μὴ δέ μʼ ἔρυκε μάχης φιλέουσά περ· οὐδέ με πείσεις.
127  τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζα·
128  ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε τέκνον ἐτήτυμον οὐ κακόν ἐστι
129  τειρομένοις ἑτάροισιν ἀμυνέμεν αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.
130  ἀλλά τοι ἔντεα καλὰ μετὰ Τρώεσσιν ἔχονται
131  χάλκεα μαρμαίροντα· τὰ μὲν κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ
132  αὐτὸς ἔχων ὤμοισιν ἀγάλλεται· οὐδέ ἕ φημι
133  δηρὸν ἐπαγλαϊεῖσθαι, ἐπεὶ φόνος ἐγγύθεν αὐτῷ.
134  ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν μή πω καταδύσεο μῶλον Ἄρηος
135  πρίν γʼ ἐμὲ δεῦρʼ ἐλθοῦσαν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδηαι·
136  ἠῶθεν γὰρ νεῦμαι ἅμʼ ἠελίῳ ἀνιόντι
137  τεύχεα καλὰ φέρουσα παρʼ Ἡφαίστοιο ἄνακτος.
138  ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα πάλιν τράπεθʼ υἷος ἑοῖο,
139  καὶ στρεφθεῖσʼ ἁλίῃσι κασιγνήτῃσι μετηύδα·
140  ὑμεῖς μὲν νῦν δῦτε θαλάσσης εὐρέα κόλπον
141  ὀψόμεναί τε γέρονθʼ ἅλιον καὶ δώματα πατρός,
142  καί οἱ πάντʼ ἀγορεύσατʼ· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον
143  εἶμι παρʼ Ἥφαιστον κλυτοτέχνην, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν
144  υἱεῖ ἐμῷ δόμεναι κλυτὰ τεύχεα παμφανόωντα.
145  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἳ δʼ ὑπὸ κῦμα θαλάσσης αὐτίκʼ ἔδυσαν·
146  ἣ δʼ αὖτʼ Οὔλυμπον δὲ θεὰ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζα
147  ἤϊεν ὄφρα φίλῳ παιδὶ κλυτὰ τεύχεʼ ἐνείκαι.
148  τὴν μὲν ἄρʼ Οὔλυμπον δὲ πόδες φέρον· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ
149  θεσπεσίῳ ἀλαλητῷ ὑφʼ Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο
150  φεύγοντες νῆάς τε καὶ Ἑλλήσποντον ἵκοντο.
151  οὐδέ κε Πάτροκλόν περ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
152  ἐκ βελέων ἐρύσαντο νέκυν θεράποντʼ Ἀχιλῆος·
153  αὖτις γὰρ δὴ τόν γε κίχον λαός τε καὶ ἵπποι
154  Ἕκτωρ τε Πριάμοιο πάϊς φλογὶ εἴκελος ἀλκήν.
155  τρὶς μέν μιν μετόπισθε ποδῶν λάβε φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ
156  ἑλκέμεναι μεμαώς, μέγα δὲ Τρώεσσιν ὁμόκλα·
157  τρὶς δὲ δύʼ Αἴαντες θοῦριν ἐπιειμένοι ἀλκὴν
158  νεκροῦ ἀπεστυφέλιξαν· ὃ δʼ ἔμπεδον ἀλκὶ πεποιθὼς
159  ἄλλοτʼ ἐπαΐξασκε κατὰ μόθον, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτε
160  στάσκε μέγα ἰάχων· ὀπίσω δʼ οὐ χάζετο πάμπαν.
161  ὡς δʼ ἀπὸ σώματος οὔ τι λέοντʼ αἴθωνα δύνανται
162  ποιμένες ἄγραυλοι μέγα πεινάοντα δίεσθαι,
163  ὥς ῥα τὸν οὐκ ἐδύναντο δύω Αἴαντε κορυστὰ
164  Ἕκτορα Πριαμίδην ἀπὸ νεκροῦ δειδίξασθαι.
165  καί νύ κεν εἴρυσσέν τε καὶ ἄσπετον ἤρατο κῦδος,
166  εἰ μὴ Πηλεΐωνι ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις
167  ἄγγελος ἦλθε θέουσʼ ἀπʼ Ὀλύμπου θωρήσσεσθαι
168  κρύβδα Διὸς ἄλλων τε θεῶν· πρὸ γὰρ ἧκέ μιν Ἥρη.
169  ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
170  ὄρσεο Πηλεΐδη, πάντων ἐκπαγλότατʼ ἀνδρῶν·
171  Πατρόκλῳ ἐπάμυνον, οὗ εἵνεκα φύλοπις αἰνὴ
172  ἕστηκε πρὸ νεῶν· οἳ δʼ ἀλλήλους ὀλέκουσιν
173  οἳ μὲν ἀμυνόμενοι νέκυος πέρι τεθνηῶτος,
174  οἳ δὲ ἐρύσσασθαι ποτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν
175  Τρῶες ἐπιθύουσι· μάλιστα δὲ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ
176  ἑλκέμεναι μέμονεν· κεφαλὴν δέ ἑ θυμὸς ἄνωγε
177  πῆξαι ἀνὰ σκολόπεσσι ταμόνθʼ ἁπαλῆς ἀπὸ δειρῆς.
178  ἀλλʼ ἄνα μηδʼ ἔτι κεῖσο· σέβας δέ σε θυμὸν ἱκέσθω
179  Πάτροκλον Τρῳῇσι κυσὶν μέλπηθρα γενέσθαι·
180  σοὶ λώβη, αἴ κέν τι νέκυς ᾐσχυμμένος ἔλθῃ.
181  τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
182  Ἶρι θεὰ τίς γάρ σε θεῶν ἐμοὶ ἄγγελον ἧκε;
183  τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις·
184  Ἥρη με προέηκε Διὸς κυδρὴ παράκοιτις·
185  οὐδʼ οἶδε Κρονίδης ὑψίζυγος οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
186  ἀθανάτων, οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἀγάννιφον ἀμφινέμονται.
187  τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
188  πῶς τὰρ ἴω μετὰ μῶλον; ἔχουσι δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐκεῖνοι·
189  μήτηρ δʼ οὔ με φίλη πρίν γʼ εἴα θωρήσσεσθαι
190  πρίν γʼ αὐτὴν ἐλθοῦσαν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδωμαι·
191  στεῦτο γὰρ Ἡφαίστοιο πάρʼ οἰσέμεν ἔντεα καλά.
192  ἄλλου δʼ οὔ τευ οἶδα τεῦ ἂν κλυτὰ τεύχεα δύω,
193  εἰ μὴ Αἴαντός γε σάκος Τελαμωνιάδαο.
194  ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς ὅ γʼ ἔλπομʼ ἐνὶ πρώτοισιν ὁμιλεῖ
195  ἔγχεϊ δηϊόων περὶ Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος.
196  τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις·
197  εὖ νυ καὶ ἡμεῖς ἴδμεν ὅ τοι κλυτὰ τεύχεʼ ἔχονται·
198  ἀλλʼ αὔτως ἐπὶ τάφρον ἰὼν Τρώεσσι φάνηθι,
199  αἴ κέ σʼ ὑποδείσαντες ἀπόσχωνται πολέμοιο
200  Τρῶες, ἀναπνεύσωσι δʼ ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
201  τειρόμενοι· ὀλίγη δέ τʼ ἀνάπνευσις πολέμοιο.
202  ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις,
203  αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς ὦρτο Διῒ φίλος· ἀμφὶ δʼ Ἀθήνη
204  ὤμοις ἰφθίμοισι βάλʼ αἰγίδα θυσσανόεσσαν,
205  ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ κεφαλῇ νέφος ἔστεφε δῖα θεάων
206  χρύσεον, ἐκ δʼ αὐτοῦ δαῖε φλόγα παμφανόωσαν.
207  ὡς δʼ ὅτε καπνὸς ἰὼν ἐξ ἄστεος αἰθέρʼ ἵκηται
208  τηλόθεν ἐκ νήσου, τὴν δήϊοι ἀμφιμάχωνται,
209  οἵ τε πανημέριοι στυγερῷ κρίνονται Ἄρηϊ
210  ἄστεος ἐκ σφετέρου· ἅμα δʼ ἠελίῳ καταδύντι
211  πυρσοί τε φλεγέθουσιν ἐπήτριμοι, ὑψόσε δʼ αὐγὴ
212  γίγνεται ἀΐσσουσα περικτιόνεσσιν ἰδέσθαι,
213  αἴ κέν πως σὺν νηυσὶν ἄρεω ἀλκτῆρες ἵκωνται·
214  ὣς ἀπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος κεφαλῆς σέλας αἰθέρʼ ἵκανε·
215  στῆ δʼ ἐπὶ τάφρον ἰὼν ἀπὸ τείχεος, οὐδʼ ἐς Ἀχαιοὺς
216  μίσγετο· μητρὸς γὰρ πυκινὴν ὠπίζετʼ ἐφετμήν.
217  ἔνθα στὰς ἤϋσʼ, ἀπάτερθε δὲ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
218  φθέγξατʼ· ἀτὰρ Τρώεσσιν ἐν ἄσπετον ὦρσε κυδοιμόν.
219  ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀριζήλη φωνή, ὅτε τʼ ἴαχε σάλπιγξ
220  ἄστυ περιπλομένων δηΐων ὕπο θυμοραϊστέων,
221  ὣς τότʼ ἀριζήλη φωνὴ γένετʼ Αἰακίδαο.
222  οἳ δʼ ὡς οὖν ἄϊον ὄπα χάλκεον Αἰακίδαο,
223  πᾶσιν ὀρίνθη θυμός· ἀτὰρ καλλίτριχες ἵπποι
224  ἂψ ὄχεα τρόπεον· ὄσσοντο γὰρ ἄλγεα θυμῷ.
225  ἡνίοχοι δʼ ἔκπληγεν, ἐπεὶ ἴδον ἀκάματον πῦρ
226  δεινὸν ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς μεγαθύμου Πηλεΐωνος
227  δαιόμενον· τὸ δὲ δαῖε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
228  τρὶς μὲν ὑπὲρ τάφρου μεγάλʼ ἴαχε δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,
229  τρὶς δὲ κυκήθησαν Τρῶες κλειτοί τʼ ἐπίκουροι.
230  ἔνθα δὲ καὶ τότʼ ὄλοντο δυώδεκα φῶτες ἄριστοι
231  ἀμφὶ σφοῖς ὀχέεσσι καὶ ἔγχεσιν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ
232  ἀσπασίως Πάτροκλον ὑπʼ ἐκ βελέων ἐρύσαντες
233  κάτθεσαν ἐν λεχέεσσι· φίλοι δʼ ἀμφέσταν ἑταῖροι
234  μυρόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφι ποδώκης εἵπετʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς
235  δάκρυα θερμὰ χέων, ἐπεὶ εἴσιδε πιστὸν ἑταῖρον
236  κείμενον ἐν φέρτρῳ δεδαϊγμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
237  τόν ῥʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἔπεμπε σὺν ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφιν
238  ἐς πόλεμον, οὐδʼ αὖτις ἐδέξατο νοστήσαντα.
239  Ἠέλιον δʼ ἀκάμαντα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη
240  πέμψεν ἐπʼ Ὠκεανοῖο ῥοὰς ἀέκοντα νέεσθαι·
241  ἠέλιος μὲν ἔδυ, παύσαντο δὲ δῖοι Ἀχαιοὶ
242  φυλόπιδος κρατερῆς καὶ ὁμοιΐου πολέμοιο.
243  Τρῶες δʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἀπὸ κρατερῆς ὑσμίνης
244  χωρήσαντες ἔλυσαν ὑφʼ ἅρμασιν ὠκέας ἵππους,
245  ἐς δʼ ἀγορὴν ἀγέροντο πάρος δόρποιο μέδεσθαι.
246  ὀρθῶν δʼ ἑσταότων ἀγορὴ γένετʼ, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
247  ἕζεσθαι· πάντας γὰρ ἔχε τρόμος, οὕνεκʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς
248  ἐξεφάνη, δηρὸν δὲ μάχης ἐπέπαυτʼ ἀλεγεινῆς.
249  τοῖσι δὲ Πουλυδάμας πεπνυμένος ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν
250  Πανθοΐδης· ὃ γὰρ οἶος ὅρα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω·
251  Ἕκτορι δʼ ἦεν ἑταῖρος, ἰῇ δʼ ἐν νυκτὶ γένοντο,
252  ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἂρ μύθοισιν, ὃ δʼ ἔγχεϊ πολλὸν ἐνίκα·
253  ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
254  ἀμφὶ μάλα φράζεσθε φίλοι· κέλομαι γὰρ ἔγωγε
255  ἄστυδε νῦν ἰέναι, μὴ μίμνειν ἠῶ δῖαν
256  ἐν πεδίῳ παρὰ νηυσίν· ἑκὰς δʼ ἀπὸ τείχεός εἰμεν.
257  ὄφρα μὲν οὗτος ἀνὴρ Ἀγαμέμνονι μήνιε δίῳ
258  τόφρα δὲ ῥηΐτεροι πολεμίζειν ἦσαν Ἀχαιοί·
259  χαίρεσκον γὰρ ἔγωγε θοῇς ἐπὶ νηυσὶν ἰαύων
260  ἐλπόμενος νῆας αἱρησέμεν ἀμφιελίσσας.
261  νῦν δʼ αἰνῶς δείδοικα ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα·
262  οἷος κείνου θυμὸς ὑπέρβιος, οὐκ ἐθελήσει
263  μίμνειν ἐν πεδίῳ, ὅθι περ Τρῶες καὶ Ἀχαιοὶ
264  ἐν μέσῳ ἀμφότεροι μένος Ἄρηος δατέονται,
265  ἀλλὰ περὶ πτόλιός τε μαχήσεται ἠδὲ γυναικῶν.
266  ἀλλʼ ἴομεν προτὶ ἄστυ, πίθεσθέ μοι· ὧδε γὰρ ἔσται·
267  νῦν μὲν νὺξ ἀπέπαυσε ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα
268  ἀμβροσίη· εἰ δʼ ἄμμε κιχήσεται ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντας
269  αὔριον ὁρμηθεὶς σὺν τεύχεσιν, εὖ νύ τις αὐτὸν
270  γνώσεται· ἀσπασίως γὰρ ἀφίξεται Ἴλιον ἱρὴν
271  ὅς κε φύγῃ, πολλοὺς δὲ κύνες καὶ γῦπες ἔδονται
272  Τρώων· αἲ γὰρ δή μοι ἀπʼ οὔατος ὧδε γένοιτο.
273  εἰ δʼ ἂν ἐμοῖς ἐπέεσσι πιθώμεθα κηδόμενοί περ,
274  νύκτα μὲν εἰν ἀγορῇ σθένος ἕξομεν, ἄστυ δὲ πύργοι
275  ὑψηλαί τε πύλαι σανίδες τʼ ἐπὶ τῇς ἀραρυῖαι
276  μακραὶ ἐΰξεστοι ἐζευγμέναι εἰρύσσονται·
277  πρῶϊ δʼ ὑπηοῖοι σὺν τεύχεσι θωρηχθέντες
278  στησόμεθʼ ἂμ πύργους· τῷ δʼ ἄλγιον, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν
279  ἐλθὼν ἐκ νηῶν περὶ τείχεος ἄμμι μάχεσθαι.
280  ἂψ πάλιν εἶσʼ ἐπὶ νῆας, ἐπεί κʼ ἐριαύχενας ἵππους
281  παντοίου δρόμου ἄσῃ ὑπὸ πτόλιν ἠλασκάζων·
282  εἴσω δʼ οὔ μιν θυμὸς ἐφορμηθῆναι ἐάσει,
283  οὐδέ ποτʼ ἐκπέρσει· πρίν μιν κύνες ἀργοὶ ἔδονται.
284  τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
285  Πουλυδάμα σὺ μὲν οὐκέτʼ ἐμοὶ φίλα ταῦτʼ ἀγορεύεις,
286  ὃς κέλεαι κατὰ ἄστυ ἀλήμεναι αὖτις ἰόντας.
287  ἦ οὔ πω κεκόρησθε ἐελμένοι ἔνδοθι πύργων;
288  πρὶν μὲν γὰρ Πριάμοιο πόλιν μέροπες ἄνθρωποι
289  πάντες μυθέσκοντο πολύχρυσον πολύχαλκον·
290  νῦν δὲ δὴ ἐξαπόλωλε δόμων κειμήλια καλά,
291  πολλὰ δὲ δὴ Φρυγίην καὶ Μῃονίην ἐρατεινὴν
292  κτήματα περνάμενʼ ἵκει, ἐπεὶ μέγας ὠδύσατο Ζεύς.
293  νῦν δʼ ὅτε πέρ μοι ἔδωκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω
294  κῦδος ἀρέσθʼ ἐπὶ νηυσί, θαλάσσῃ τʼ ἔλσαι Ἀχαιούς,
295  νήπιε μηκέτι ταῦτα νοήματα φαῖνʼ ἐνὶ δήμῳ·
296  οὐ γάρ τις Τρώων ἐπιπείσεται· οὐ γὰρ ἐάσω.
297  ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω, πειθώμεθα πάντες.
298  νῦν μὲν δόρπον ἕλεσθε κατὰ στρατὸν ἐν τελέεσσι,
299  καὶ φυλακῆς μνήσασθε, καὶ ἐγρήγορθε ἕκαστος·
300  Τρώων δʼ ὃς κτεάτεσσιν ὑπερφιάλως ἀνιάζει,
301  συλλέξας λαοῖσι δότω καταδημοβορῆσαι·
302  τῶν τινὰ βέλτερόν ἐστιν ἐπαυρέμεν ἤ περ Ἀχαιούς.
303  πρῶϊ δʼ ὑπηοῖοι σὺν τεύχεσι θωρηχθέντες
304  νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα.
305  εἰ δʼ ἐτεὸν παρὰ ναῦφιν ἀνέστη δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,
306  ἄλγιον αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσι τῷ ἔσσεται· οὔ μιν ἔγωγε
307  φεύξομαι ἐκ πολέμοιο δυσηχέος, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἄντην
308  στήσομαι, ἤ κε φέρῃσι μέγα κράτος, ἦ κε φεροίμην.
309  ξυνὸς Ἐνυάλιος, καί τε κτανέοντα κατέκτα.
310  ὣς Ἕκτωρ ἀγόρευʼ, ἐπὶ δὲ Τρῶες κελάδησαν
311  νήπιοι· ἐκ γάρ σφεων φρένας εἵλετο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
312  Ἕκτορι μὲν γὰρ ἐπῄνησαν κακὰ μητιόωντι,
313  Πουλυδάμαντι δʼ ἄρʼ οὔ τις ὃς ἐσθλὴν φράζετο βουλήν.
314  δόρπον ἔπειθʼ εἵλοντο κατὰ στρατόν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ
315  παννύχιοι Πάτροκλον ἀνεστενάχοντο γοῶντες.
316  τοῖσι δὲ Πηλεΐδης ἁδινοῦ ἐξῆρχε γόοιο
317  χεῖρας ἐπʼ ἀνδροφόνους θέμενος στήθεσσιν ἑταίρου
318  πυκνὰ μάλα στενάχων ὥς τε λὶς ἠϋγένειος,
319  ᾧ ῥά θʼ ὑπὸ σκύμνους ἐλαφηβόλος ἁρπάσῃ ἀνὴρ
320  ὕλης ἐκ πυκινῆς· ὃ δέ τʼ ἄχνυται ὕστερος ἐλθών,
321  πολλὰ δέ τʼ ἄγκεʼ ἐπῆλθε μετʼ ἀνέρος ἴχνιʼ ἐρευνῶν
322  εἴ ποθεν ἐξεύροι· μάλα γὰρ δριμὺς χόλος αἱρεῖ·
323  ὣς ὃ βαρὺ στενάχων μετεφώνεε Μυρμιδόνεσσιν·
324  ὢ πόποι ἦ ῥʼ ἅλιον ἔπος ἔκβαλον ἤματι κείνῳ
325  θαρσύνων ἥρωα Μενοίτιον ἐν μεγάροισι·
326  φῆν δέ οἱ εἰς Ὀπόεντα περικλυτὸν υἱὸν ἀπάξειν
327  Ἴλιον ἐκπέρσαντα, λαχόντα τε ληΐδος αἶσαν.
328  ἀλλʼ οὐ Ζεὺς ἄνδρεσσι νοήματα πάντα τελευτᾷ·
329  ἄμφω γὰρ πέπρωται ὁμοίην γαῖαν ἐρεῦσαι
330  αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐδʼ ἐμὲ νοστήσαντα
331  δέξεται ἐν μεγάροισι γέρων ἱππηλάτα Πηλεὺς
332  οὐδὲ Θέτις μήτηρ, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ γαῖα καθέξει.
333  νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν Πάτροκλε σεῦ ὕστερος εἶμʼ ὑπὸ γαῖαν,
334  οὔ σε πρὶν κτεριῶ πρίν γʼ Ἕκτορος ἐνθάδʼ ἐνεῖκαι
335  τεύχεα καὶ κεφαλὴν μεγαθύμου σοῖο φονῆος·
336  δώδεκα δὲ προπάροιθε πυρῆς ἀποδειροτομήσω
337  Τρώων ἀγλαὰ τέκνα σέθεν κταμένοιο χολωθείς.
338  τόφρα δέ μοι παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσι κείσεαι αὔτως,
339  ἀμφὶ δὲ σὲ Τρῳαὶ καὶ Δαρδανίδες βαθύκολποι
340  κλαύσονται νύκτάς τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χέουσαι,
341  τὰς αὐτοὶ καμόμεσθα βίηφί τε δουρί τε μακρῷ
342  πιείρας πέρθοντε πόλεις μερόπων ἀνθρώπων.
343  ὣς εἰπὼν ἑτάροισιν ἐκέκλετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς
344  ἀμφὶ πυρὶ στῆσαι τρίποδα μέγαν, ὄφρα τάχιστα
345  Πάτροκλον λούσειαν ἄπο βρότον αἱματόεντα.
346  οἳ δὲ λοετροχόον τρίποδʼ ἵστασαν ἐν πυρὶ κηλέῳ,
347  ἐν δʼ ἄρʼ ὕδωρ ἔχεαν, ὑπὸ δὲ ξύλα δαῖον ἑλόντες.
348  γάστρην μὲν τρίποδος πῦρ ἄμφεπε, θέρμετο δʼ ὕδωρ·
349  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ ζέσσεν ὕδωρ ἐνὶ ἤνοπι χαλκῷ,
350  καὶ τότε δὴ λοῦσάν τε καὶ ἤλειψαν λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ,
351  ἐν δʼ ὠτειλὰς πλῆσαν ἀλείφατος ἐννεώροιο·
352  ἐν λεχέεσσι δὲ θέντες ἑανῷ λιτὶ κάλυψαν
353  ἐς πόδας ἐκ κεφαλῆς, καθύπερθε δὲ φάρεϊ λευκῷ.
354  παννύχιοι μὲν ἔπειτα πόδας ταχὺν ἀμφʼ Ἀχιλῆα
355  Μυρμιδόνες Πάτροκλον ἀνεστενάχοντο γοῶντες·
356  Ζεὺς δʼ Ἥρην προσέειπε κασιγνήτην ἄλοχόν τε·
357  ἔπρηξας καὶ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη
358  ἀνστήσασʼ Ἀχιλῆα πόδας ταχύν· ἦ ῥά νυ σεῖο
359  ἐξ αὐτῆς ἐγένοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί.
360  τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη·
361  αἰνότατε Κρονίδη ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες.
362  καὶ μὲν δή πού τις μέλλει βροτὸς ἀνδρὶ τελέσσαι,
363  ὅς περ θνητός τʼ ἐστὶ καὶ οὐ τόσα μήδεα οἶδε·
364  πῶς δὴ ἔγωγʼ, ἥ φημι θεάων ἔμμεν ἀρίστη,
365  ἀμφότερον γενεῇ τε καὶ οὕνεκα σὴ παράκοιτις
366  κέκλημαι, σὺ δὲ πᾶσι μετʼ ἀθανάτοισιν ἀνάσσεις,
367  οὐκ ὄφελον Τρώεσσι κοτεσσαμένη κακὰ ῥάψαι;
368  ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·
369  Ἡφαίστου δʼ ἵκανε δόμον Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζα
370  ἄφθιτον ἀστερόεντα μεταπρεπέʼ ἀθανάτοισι
371  χάλκεον, ὅν ῥʼ αὐτὸς ποιήσατο κυλλοποδίων.
372  τὸν δʼ εὗρʼ ἱδρώοντα ἑλισσόμενον περὶ φύσας
373  σπεύδοντα· τρίποδας γὰρ ἐείκοσι πάντας ἔτευχεν
374  ἑστάμεναι περὶ τοῖχον ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο,
375  χρύσεα δέ σφʼ ὑπὸ κύκλα ἑκάστῳ πυθμένι θῆκεν,
376  ὄφρά οἱ αὐτόματοι θεῖον δυσαίατʼ ἀγῶνα
377  ἠδʼ αὖτις πρὸς δῶμα νεοίατο θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι.
378  οἳ δʼ ἤτοι τόσσον μὲν ἔχον τέλος, οὔατα δʼ οὔ πω
379  δαιδάλεα προσέκειτο· τά ῥʼ ἤρτυε, κόπτε δὲ δεσμούς.
380  ὄφρʼ ὅ γε ταῦτʼ ἐπονεῖτο ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσι,
381  τόφρά οἱ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε θεὰ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζα.
382  τὴν δὲ ἴδε προμολοῦσα Χάρις λιπαροκρήδεμνος
383  καλή, τὴν ὤπυιε περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις·
384  ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
385  τίπτε Θέτι τανύπεπλε ἱκάνεις ἡμέτερον δῶ
386  αἰδοίη τε φίλη τε; πάρος γε μὲν οὔ τι θαμίζεις.
387  ἀλλʼ ἕπεο προτέρω, ἵνα τοι πὰρ ξείνια θείω.
388  ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα πρόσω ἄγε δῖα θεάων.
389  τὴν μὲν ἔπειτα καθεῖσεν ἐπὶ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου
390  καλοῦ δαιδαλέου· ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυς ποσὶν ἦεν·
391  κέκλετο δʼ Ἥφαιστον κλυτοτέχνην εἶπέ τε μῦθον·
392  Ἥφαιστε πρόμολʼ ὧδε· Θέτις νύ τι σεῖο χατίζει.
393  τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις·
394  ἦ ῥά νύ μοι δεινή τε καὶ αἰδοίη θεὸς ἔνδον,
395  ἥ μʼ ἐσάωσʼ ὅτε μʼ ἄλγος ἀφίκετο τῆλε πεσόντα
396  μητρὸς ἐμῆς ἰότητι κυνώπιδος, ἥ μʼ ἐθέλησε
397  κρύψαι χωλὸν ἐόντα· τότʼ ἂν πάθον ἄλγεα θυμῷ,
398  εἰ μή μʼ Εὐρυνόμη τε Θέτις θʼ ὑπεδέξατο κόλπῳ
399  Εὐρυνόμη θυγάτηρ ἀψορρόου Ὠκεανοῖο.
400  τῇσι παρʼ εἰνάετες χάλκευον δαίδαλα πολλά,
401  πόρπας τε γναμπτάς θʼ ἕλικας κάλυκάς τε καὶ ὅρμους
402  ἐν σπῆϊ γλαφυρῷ· περὶ δὲ ῥόος Ὠκεανοῖο
403  ἀφρῷ μορμύρων ῥέεν ἄσπετος· οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
404  ᾔδεεν οὔτε θεῶν οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων,
405  ἀλλὰ Θέτις τε καὶ Εὐρυνόμη ἴσαν, αἵ μʼ ἐσάωσαν.
406  ἣ νῦν ἡμέτερον δόμον ἵκει· τώ με μάλα χρεὼ
407  πάντα Θέτι καλλιπλοκάμῳ ζῳάγρια τίνειν.
408  ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν οἱ παράθες ξεινήϊα καλά,
409  ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼ φύσας ἀποθείομαι ὅπλά τε πάντα.
410  ἦ, καὶ ἀπʼ ἀκμοθέτοιο πέλωρ αἴητον ἀνέστη
411  χωλεύων· ὑπὸ δὲ κνῆμαι ῥώοντο ἀραιαί.
412  φύσας μέν ῥʼ ἀπάνευθε τίθει πυρός, ὅπλά τε πάντα
413  λάρνακʼ ἐς ἀργυρέην συλλέξατο, τοῖς ἐπονεῖτο·
414  σπόγγῳ δʼ ἀμφὶ πρόσωπα καὶ ἄμφω χεῖρʼ ἀπομόργνυ
415  αὐχένα τε στιβαρὸν καὶ στήθεα λαχνήεντα,
416  δῦ δὲ χιτῶνʼ, ἕλε δὲ σκῆπτρον παχύ, βῆ δὲ θύραζε
417  χωλεύων· ὑπὸ δʼ ἀμφίπολοι ῥώοντο ἄνακτι
418  χρύσειαι ζωῇσι νεήνισιν εἰοικυῖαι.
419  τῇς ἐν μὲν νόος ἐστὶ μετὰ φρεσίν, ἐν δὲ καὶ αὐδὴ
420  καὶ σθένος, ἀθανάτων δὲ θεῶν ἄπο ἔργα ἴσασιν.
421  αἳ μὲν ὕπαιθα ἄνακτος ἐποίπνυον· αὐτὰρ ὃ ἔρρων
422  πλησίον, ἔνθα Θέτις περ, ἐπὶ θρόνου ἷζε φαεινοῦ,
423  ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
424  τίπτε Θέτι τανύπεπλε ἱκάνεις ἡμέτερον δῶ
425  αἰδοίη τε φίλη τε; πάρος γε μὲν οὔ τι θαμίζεις.
426  αὔδα ὅ τι φρονέεις· τελέσαι δέ με θυμὸς ἄνωγεν,
427  εἰ δύναμαι τελέσαι γε καὶ εἰ τετελεσμένον ἐστίν.
428  τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Θέτις κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσα·
429  Ἥφαιστʼ, ἦ ἄρα δή τις, ὅσαι θεαί εἰσʼ ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ,
430  τοσσάδʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἀνέσχετο κήδεα λυγρὰ
431  ὅσσʼ ἐμοὶ ἐκ πασέων Κρονίδης Ζεὺς ἄλγεʼ ἔδωκεν;
432  ἐκ μέν μʼ ἀλλάων ἁλιάων ἀνδρὶ δάμασσεν
433  Αἰακίδῃ Πηλῆϊ, καὶ ἔτλην ἀνέρος εὐνὴν
434  πολλὰ μάλʼ οὐκ ἐθέλουσα. ὃ μὲν δὴ γήραϊ λυγρῷ
435  κεῖται ἐνὶ μεγάροις ἀρημένος, ἄλλα δέ μοι νῦν·
436  υἱὸν ἐπεί μοι δῶκε γενέσθαί τε τραφέμεν τε
437  ἔξοχον ἡρώων· ὃ δʼ ἀνέδραμεν ἔρνεϊ ἶσος·
438  τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ θρέψασα φυτὸν ὣς γουνῷ ἀλωῆς
439  νηυσὶν ἐπιπροέηκα κορωνίσιν Ἴλιον εἴσω
440  Τρωσὶ μαχησόμενον· τὸν δʼ οὐχ ὑποδέξομαι αὖτις
441  οἴκαδε νοστήσαντα δόμον Πηλήϊον εἴσω.
442  ὄφρα δέ μοι ζώει καὶ ὁρᾷ φάος ἠελίοιο
443  ἄχνυται, οὐδέ τί οἱ δύναμαι χραισμῆσαι ἰοῦσα.
444  κούρην ἣν ἄρα οἱ γέρας ἔξελον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,
445  τὴν ἂψ ἐκ χειρῶν ἕλετο κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων.
446  ἤτοι ὃ τῆς ἀχέων φρένας ἔφθιεν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὺς
447  Τρῶες ἐπὶ πρύμνῃσιν ἐείλεον, οὐδὲ θύραζε
448  εἴων ἐξιέναι· τὸν δὲ λίσσοντο γέροντες
449  Ἀργείων, καὶ πολλὰ περικλυτὰ δῶρʼ ὀνόμαζον.
450  ἔνθʼ αὐτὸς μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἠναίνετο λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι,
451  αὐτὰρ ὃ Πάτροκλον περὶ μὲν τὰ ἃ τεύχεα ἕσσε,
452  πέμπε δέ μιν πόλεμον δέ, πολὺν δʼ ἅμα λαὸν ὄπασσε.
453  πᾶν δʼ ἦμαρ μάρναντο περὶ Σκαιῇσι πύλῃσι·
454  καί νύ κεν αὐτῆμαρ πόλιν ἔπραθον, εἰ μὴ Ἀπόλλων
455  πολλὰ κακὰ ῥέξαντα Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμον υἱὸν
456  ἔκτανʼ ἐνὶ προμάχοισι καὶ Ἕκτορι κῦδος ἔδωκε.
457  τοὔνεκα νῦν τὰ σὰ γούναθʼ ἱκάνομαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα
458  υἱεῖ ἐμῷ ὠκυμόρῳ δόμεν ἀσπίδα καὶ τρυφάλειαν
459  καὶ καλὰς κνημῖδας ἐπισφυρίοις ἀραρυίας
460  καὶ θώρηχʼ· ὃ γὰρ ἦν οἱ ἀπώλεσε πιστὸς ἑταῖρος
461  Τρωσὶ δαμείς· ὃ δὲ κεῖται ἐπὶ χθονὶ θυμὸν ἀχεύων.
462  τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις·
463  θάρσει· μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων.
464  αἲ γάρ μιν θανάτοιο δυσηχέος ὧδε δυναίμην
465  νόσφιν ἀποκρύψαι, ὅτε μιν μόρος αἰνὸς ἱκάνοι,
466  ὥς οἱ τεύχεα καλὰ παρέσσεται, οἷά τις αὖτε
467  ἀνθρώπων πολέων θαυμάσσεται, ὅς κεν ἴδηται.
468  ὣς εἰπὼν τὴν μὲν λίπεν αὐτοῦ, βῆ δʼ ἐπὶ φύσας·
469  τὰς δʼ ἐς πῦρ ἔτρεψε κέλευσέ τε ἐργάζεσθαι.
470  φῦσαι δʼ ἐν χοάνοισιν ἐείκοσι πᾶσαι ἐφύσων
471  παντοίην εὔπρηστον ἀϋτμὴν ἐξανιεῖσαι,
472  ἄλλοτε μὲν σπεύδοντι παρέμμεναι, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτε,
473  ὅππως Ἥφαιστός τʼ ἐθέλοι καὶ ἔργον ἄνοιτο.
474  χαλκὸν δʼ ἐν πυρὶ βάλλεν ἀτειρέα κασσίτερόν τε
475  καὶ χρυσὸν τιμῆντα καὶ ἄργυρον· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
476  θῆκεν ἐν ἀκμοθέτῳ μέγαν ἄκμονα, γέντο δὲ χειρὶ
477  ῥαιστῆρα κρατερήν, ἑτέρηφι δὲ γέντο πυράγρην.
478  ποίει δὲ πρώτιστα σάκος μέγα τε στιβαρόν τε
479  πάντοσε δαιδάλλων, περὶ δʼ ἄντυγα βάλλε φαεινὴν
480  τρίπλακα μαρμαρέην, ἐκ δʼ ἀργύρεον τελαμῶνα.
481  πέντε δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτοῦ ἔσαν σάκεος πτύχες· αὐτὰρ ἐν αὐτῷ
482  ποίει δαίδαλα πολλὰ ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσιν.
483  ἐν μὲν γαῖαν ἔτευξʼ, ἐν δʼ οὐρανόν, ἐν δὲ θάλασσαν,
484  ἠέλιόν τʼ ἀκάμαντα σελήνην τε πλήθουσαν,
485  ἐν δὲ τὰ τείρεα πάντα, τά τʼ οὐρανὸς ἐστεφάνωται,
486  Πληϊάδας θʼ Ὑάδας τε τό τε σθένος Ὠρίωνος
487  Ἄρκτόν θʼ, ἣν καὶ Ἄμαξαν ἐπίκλησιν καλέουσιν,
488  ἥ τʼ αὐτοῦ στρέφεται καί τʼ Ὠρίωνα δοκεύει,
489  οἴη δʼ ἄμμορός ἐστι λοετρῶν Ὠκεανοῖο.
490  ἐν δὲ δύω ποίησε πόλεις μερόπων ἀνθρώπων
491  καλάς. ἐν τῇ μέν ῥα γάμοι τʼ ἔσαν εἰλαπίναι τε,
492  νύμφας δʼ ἐκ θαλάμων δαΐδων ὕπο λαμπομενάων
493  ἠγίνεον ἀνὰ ἄστυ, πολὺς δʼ ὑμέναιος ὀρώρει·
494  κοῦροι δʼ ὀρχηστῆρες ἐδίνεον, ἐν δʼ ἄρα τοῖσιν
495  αὐλοὶ φόρμιγγές τε βοὴν ἔχον· αἳ δὲ γυναῖκες
496  ἱστάμεναι θαύμαζον ἐπὶ προθύροισιν ἑκάστη.
497  λαοὶ δʼ εἰν ἀγορῇ ἔσαν ἀθρόοι· ἔνθα δὲ νεῖκος
498  ὠρώρει, δύο δʼ ἄνδρες ἐνείκεον εἵνεκα ποινῆς
499  ἀνδρὸς ἀποφθιμένου· ὃ μὲν εὔχετο πάντʼ ἀποδοῦναι
500  δήμῳ πιφαύσκων, ὃ δʼ ἀναίνετο μηδὲν ἑλέσθαι·
501  ἄμφω δʼ ἱέσθην ἐπὶ ἴστορι πεῖραρ ἑλέσθαι.
502  λαοὶ δʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἐπήπυον ἀμφὶς ἀρωγοί·
503  κήρυκες δʼ ἄρα λαὸν ἐρήτυον· οἳ δὲ γέροντες
504  εἵατʼ ἐπὶ ξεστοῖσι λίθοις ἱερῷ ἐνὶ κύκλῳ,
505  σκῆπτρα δὲ κηρύκων ἐν χέρσʼ ἔχον ἠεροφώνων·
506  τοῖσιν ἔπειτʼ ἤϊσσον, ἀμοιβηδὶς δὲ δίκαζον.
507  κεῖτο δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν μέσσοισι δύω χρυσοῖο τάλαντα,
508  τῷ δόμεν ὃς μετὰ τοῖσι δίκην ἰθύντατα εἴποι.
509  τὴν δʼ ἑτέρην πόλιν ἀμφὶ δύω στρατοὶ ἥατο λαῶν
510  τεύχεσι λαμπόμενοι· δίχα δέ σφισιν ἥνδανε βουλή,
511  ἠὲ διαπραθέειν ἢ ἄνδιχα πάντα δάσασθαι
512  κτῆσιν ὅσην πτολίεθρον ἐπήρατον ἐντὸς ἔεργεν·
513  οἳ δʼ οὔ πω πείθοντο, λόχῳ δʼ ὑπεθωρήσσοντο.
514  τεῖχος μέν ῥʼ ἄλοχοί τε φίλαι καὶ νήπια τέκνα
515  ῥύατʼ ἐφεσταότες, μετὰ δʼ ἀνέρες οὓς ἔχε γῆρας·
516  οἳ δʼ ἴσαν· ἦρχε δʼ ἄρά σφιν Ἄρης καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
517  ἄμφω χρυσείω, χρύσεια δὲ εἵματα ἕσθην,
518  καλὼ καὶ μεγάλω σὺν τεύχεσιν, ὥς τε θεώ περ
519  ἀμφὶς ἀριζήλω· λαοὶ δʼ ὑπολίζονες ἦσαν.
520  οἳ δʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκανον ὅθι σφίσιν εἶκε λοχῆσαι
521  ἐν ποταμῷ, ὅθι τʼ ἀρδμὸς ἔην πάντεσσι βοτοῖσιν,
522  ἔνθʼ ἄρα τοί γʼ ἵζοντʼ εἰλυμένοι αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.
523  τοῖσι δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπάνευθε δύω σκοποὶ εἵατο λαῶν
524  δέγμενοι ὁππότε μῆλα ἰδοίατο καὶ ἕλικας βοῦς.
525  οἳ δὲ τάχα προγένοντο, δύω δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο νομῆες
526  τερπόμενοι σύριγξι· δόλον δʼ οὔ τι προνόησαν.
527  οἳ μὲν τὰ προϊδόντες ἐπέδραμον, ὦκα δʼ ἔπειτα
528  τάμνοντʼ ἀμφὶ βοῶν ἀγέλας καὶ πώεα καλὰ
529  ἀργεννέων οἰῶν, κτεῖνον δʼ ἐπὶ μηλοβοτῆρας.
530  οἳ δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐπύθοντο πολὺν κέλαδον παρὰ βουσὶν
531  εἰράων προπάροιθε καθήμενοι, αὐτίκʼ ἐφʼ ἵππων
532  βάντες ἀερσιπόδων μετεκίαθον, αἶψα δʼ ἵκοντο.
533  στησάμενοι δʼ ἐμάχοντο μάχην ποταμοῖο παρʼ ὄχθας,
534  βάλλον δʼ ἀλλήλους χαλκήρεσιν ἐγχείῃσιν.
535  ἐν δʼ Ἔρις ἐν δὲ Κυδοιμὸς ὁμίλεον, ἐν δʼ ὀλοὴ Κήρ,
536  ἄλλον ζωὸν ἔχουσα νεούτατον, ἄλλον ἄουτον,
537  ἄλλον τεθνηῶτα κατὰ μόθον ἕλκε ποδοῖιν·
538  εἷμα δʼ ἔχʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι δαφοινεὸν αἵματι φωτῶν.
539  ὡμίλευν δʼ ὥς τε ζωοὶ βροτοὶ ἠδʼ ἐμάχοντο,
540  νεκρούς τʼ ἀλλήλων ἔρυον κατατεθνηῶτας.
541  ἐν δʼ ἐτίθει νειὸν μαλακὴν πίειραν ἄρουραν
542  εὐρεῖαν τρίπολον· πολλοὶ δʼ ἀροτῆρες ἐν αὐτῇ
543  ζεύγεα δινεύοντες ἐλάστρεον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.
544  οἳ δʼ ὁπότε στρέψαντες ἱκοίατο τέλσον ἀρούρης,
545  τοῖσι δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐν χερσὶ δέπας μελιηδέος οἴνου
546  δόσκεν ἀνὴρ ἐπιών· τοὶ δὲ στρέψασκον ἀνʼ ὄγμους,
547  ἱέμενοι νειοῖο βαθείης τέλσον ἱκέσθαι.
548  ἣ δὲ μελαίνετʼ ὄπισθεν, ἀρηρομένῃ δὲ ἐῴκει,
549  χρυσείη περ ἐοῦσα· τὸ δὴ περὶ θαῦμα τέτυκτο.
550  ἐν δʼ ἐτίθει τέμενος βασιλήϊον· ἔνθα δʼ ἔριθοι
551  ἤμων ὀξείας δρεπάνας ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντες.
552  δράγματα δʼ ἄλλα μετʼ ὄγμον ἐπήτριμα πῖπτον ἔραζε,
553  ἄλλα δʼ ἀμαλλοδετῆρες ἐν ἐλλεδανοῖσι δέοντο.
554  τρεῖς δʼ ἄρʼ ἀμαλλοδετῆρες ἐφέστασαν· αὐτὰρ ὄπισθε
555  παῖδες δραγμεύοντες ἐν ἀγκαλίδεσσι φέροντες
556  ἀσπερχὲς πάρεχον· βασιλεὺς δʼ ἐν τοῖσι σιωπῇ
557  σκῆπτρον ἔχων ἑστήκει ἐπʼ ὄγμου γηθόσυνος κῆρ.
558  κήρυκες δʼ ἀπάνευθεν ὑπὸ δρυῒ δαῖτα πένοντο,
559  βοῦν δʼ ἱερεύσαντες μέγαν ἄμφεπον· αἳ δὲ γυναῖκες
560  δεῖπνον ἐρίθοισιν λεύκʼ ἄλφιτα πολλὰ πάλυνον.
561  ἐν δʼ ἐτίθει σταφυλῇσι μέγα βρίθουσαν ἀλωὴν
562  καλὴν χρυσείην· μέλανες δʼ ἀνὰ βότρυες ἦσαν,
563  ἑστήκει δὲ κάμαξι διαμπερὲς ἀργυρέῃσιν.
564  ἀμφὶ δὲ κυανέην κάπετον, περὶ δʼ ἕρκος ἔλασσε
565  κασσιτέρου· μία δʼ οἴη ἀταρπιτὸς ἦεν ἐπʼ αὐτήν,
566  τῇ νίσοντο φορῆες ὅτε τρυγόῳεν ἀλωήν.
567  παρθενικαὶ δὲ καὶ ἠΐθεοι ἀταλὰ φρονέοντες
568  πλεκτοῖς ἐν ταλάροισι φέρον μελιηδέα καρπόν.
569  τοῖσιν δʼ ἐν μέσσοισι πάϊς φόρμιγγι λιγείῃ
570  ἱμερόεν κιθάριζε, λίνον δʼ ὑπὸ καλὸν ἄειδε
571  λεπταλέῃ φωνῇ· τοὶ δὲ ῥήσσοντες ἁμαρτῇ
572  μολπῇ τʼ ἰυγμῷ τε ποσὶ σκαίροντες ἕποντο.
573  ἐν δʼ ἀγέλην ποίησε βοῶν ὀρθοκραιράων·
574  αἳ δὲ βόες χρυσοῖο τετεύχατο κασσιτέρου τε,
575  μυκηθμῷ δʼ ἀπὸ κόπρου ἐπεσσεύοντο νομὸν δὲ
576  πὰρ ποταμὸν κελάδοντα, παρὰ ῥοδανὸν δονακῆα.
577  χρύσειοι δὲ νομῆες ἅμʼ ἐστιχόωντο βόεσσι
578  τέσσαρες, ἐννέα δέ σφι κύνες πόδας ἀργοὶ ἕποντο.
579  σμερδαλέω δὲ λέοντε δύʼ ἐν πρώτῃσι βόεσσι
580  ταῦρον ἐρύγμηλον ἐχέτην· ὃ δὲ μακρὰ μεμυκὼς
581  ἕλκετο· τὸν δὲ κύνες μετεκίαθον ἠδʼ αἰζηοί.
582  τὼ μὲν ἀναρρήξαντε βοὸς μεγάλοιο βοείην
583  ἔγκατα καὶ μέλαν αἷμα λαφύσσετον· οἳ δὲ νομῆες
584  αὔτως ἐνδίεσαν ταχέας κύνας ὀτρύνοντες.
585  οἳ δʼ ἤτοι δακέειν μὲν ἀπετρωπῶντο λεόντων,
586  ἱστάμενοι δὲ μάλʼ ἐγγὺς ὑλάκτεον ἔκ τʼ ἀλέοντο.
587  ἐν δὲ νομὸν ποίησε περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις
588  ἐν καλῇ βήσσῃ μέγαν οἰῶν ἀργεννάων,
589  σταθμούς τε κλισίας τε κατηρεφέας ἰδὲ σηκούς.
590  ἐν δὲ χορὸν ποίκιλλε περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις,
591  τῷ ἴκελον οἷόν ποτʼ ἐνὶ Κνωσῷ εὐρείῃ
592  Δαίδαλος ἤσκησεν καλλιπλοκάμῳ Ἀριάδνῃ.
593  ἔνθα μὲν ἠΐθεοι καὶ παρθένοι ἀλφεσίβοιαι
594  ὀρχεῦντʼ ἀλλήλων ἐπὶ καρπῷ χεῖρας ἔχοντες.
595  τῶν δʼ αἳ μὲν λεπτὰς ὀθόνας ἔχον, οἳ δὲ χιτῶνας
596  εἵατʼ ἐϋννήτους, ἦκα στίλβοντας ἐλαίῳ·
597  καί ῥʼ αἳ μὲν καλὰς στεφάνας ἔχον, οἳ δὲ μαχαίρας
598  εἶχον χρυσείας ἐξ ἀργυρέων τελαμώνων.
599  οἳ δʼ ὁτὲ μὲν θρέξασκον ἐπισταμένοισι πόδεσσι
600  ῥεῖα μάλʼ, ὡς ὅτε τις τροχὸν ἄρμενον ἐν παλάμῃσιν
601  ἑζόμενος κεραμεὺς πειρήσεται, αἴ κε θέῃσιν·
602  ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖ θρέξασκον ἐπὶ στίχας ἀλλήλοισι.
603  πολλὸς δʼ ἱμερόεντα χορὸν περιίσταθʼ ὅμιλος
604  τερπόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφιν ἐμέλπετο θεῖος ἀοιδὸς
605  φορμίζων· δοιὼ δὲ κυβιστητῆρε κατ' αὐτοὺς
606  μολπῆς ἐξάρχοντες ἐδίνευον κατὰ μέσσους.
607  ἐν δʼ ἐτίθει ποταμοῖο μέγα σθένος Ὠκεανοῖο
608  ἄντυγα πὰρ πυμάτην σάκεος πύκα ποιητοῖο.
609  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τεῦξε σάκος μέγα τε στιβαρόν τε,
610  τεῦξʼ ἄρα οἱ θώρηκα φαεινότερον πυρὸς αὐγῆς,
611  τεῦξε δέ οἱ κόρυθα βριαρὴν κροτάφοις ἀραρυῖαν
612  καλὴν δαιδαλέην, ἐπὶ δὲ χρύσεον λόφον ἧκε,
613  τεῦξε δέ οἱ κνημῖδας ἑανοῦ κασσιτέροιο.
614  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πάνθʼ ὅπλα κάμε κλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις,
615  μητρὸς Ἀχιλλῆος θῆκε προπάροιθεν ἀείρας.
616  ἣ δʼ ἴρηξ ὣς ἆλτο κατʼ Οὐλύμπου νιφόεντος
617  τεύχεα μαρμαίροντα παρʼ Ἡφαίστοιο φέρουσα.


Achilles is reconciled with Agamemnon, puts on the armour which
      Vulcan had made him, and goes out to fight.

      Now when Dawn in robe of saffron was hasting from the streams of
      Oceanus, to bring light to mortals and immortals, Thetis reached
      the ships with the armour that the god had given her. She found
      her son fallen about the body of Patroclus and weeping bitterly.
      Many also of his followers were weeping round him, but when the
      goddess came among them she clasped his hand in her own, saying,
      “My son, grieve as we may we must let this man lie, for it is by
      heaven’s will that he has fallen; now, therefore, accept from
      Vulcan this rich and goodly armour, which no man has ever yet
      borne upon his shoulders.”

      As she spoke she set the armour before Achilles, and it rang out
      bravely as she did so. 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. Then, as soon as he had
      satisfied himself with looking at it, he said to his mother,
      “Mother, the god has given me armour, meet handiwork for an
      immortal and such as no-one living could have fashioned; I will
      now arm, but I much fear that flies will settle upon the son of
      Menoetius and breed worms about his wounds, so that his body, now
      he is dead, will be disfigured and the flesh will rot.”

      Silver-footed Thetis answered, “My son, be not disquieted about
      this matter. I will find means to protect him from the swarms of
      noisome flies that prey on the bodies of men who have been killed
      in battle. He may lie for a whole year, and his flesh shall still
      be as sound as ever, or even sounder. Call, therefore, the
      Achaean heroes in assembly; unsay your anger against Agamemnon;
      arm at once, and fight with might and main.”

      As she spoke she put strength and courage into his heart, and she
      then dropped ambrosia and red nectar into the wounds of
      Patroclus, that his body might suffer no change.

      Then Achilles went out upon the sea-shore, and with a loud cry
      called on the Achaean heroes. 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. Two sons of Mars,
      Ulysses and the son of Tydeus, came limping, for their wounds
      still pained them; nevertheless they came, and took their seats
      in the front row of the assembly. Last of all came Agamemnon,
      king of men, he too wounded, for Coon son of Antenor had struck
      him with a spear in battle.

      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.
      For so, many an Achaean the less would have bitten dust before
      the foe in the days of my anger. It has been well for Hector and
      the Trojans, but the Achaeans will long indeed remember our
      quarrel. Now, however, let it be, for it is over. If we have been
      angry, necessity has schooled our anger. I put it from me: I dare
      not nurse it for ever; therefore, bid the Achaeans arm forthwith
      that I may go out against the Trojans, and learn whether they
      will be in a mind to sleep by the ships or no. Glad, I ween, will
      he be to rest his knees who may fly my spear when I wield it.”

      Thus did he speak, and the Achaeans rejoiced in that he had put
      away his anger.

      Then Agamemnon spoke, rising in his place, and not going into the
      middle of the assembly. “Danaan heroes,” said he, “servants of
      Mars, it is well to listen when a man stands up to speak, and it
      is not seemly to interrupt him, or it will go hard even with a
      practised speaker. Who can either hear or speak in an uproar?
      Even the finest orator will be disconcerted by it. I will expound
      to the son of Peleus, and do you other Achaeans heed me and mark
      me well. 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. What could I do? All things are in the hand
      of heaven, and Folly, eldest of Jove’s daughters, shuts men’s
      eyes to their destruction. She walks delicately, not on the solid
      earth, but hovers over the heads of men to make them stumble or
      to ensnare them.

      “Time was when she fooled Jove himself, who they say is greatest
      whether of gods or men; for Juno, woman though she was, beguiled
      him on the day when Alcmena was to bring forth mighty Hercules in
      the fair city of Thebes. He told it out among the gods saying,
      ‘Hear me, all gods and goddesses, that I may speak even as I am
      minded; this day shall an Ilithuia, helper of women who are in
      labour, bring a man child into the world who shall be lord over
      all that dwell about him who are of my blood and lineage.’ Then
      said Juno all crafty and full of guile, ‘You will play false, and
      will not hold to your word. Swear me, O Olympian, swear me a
      great oath, that he who shall this day fall between the feet of a
      woman, shall be lord over all that dwell about him who are of
      your blood and lineage.’

      “Thus she spoke, and Jove suspected her not, but swore the great
      oath, to his much ruing thereafter. For Juno darted down from the
      high summit of Olympus, and went in haste to Achaean Argos where
      she knew that the noble wife of Sthenelus son of Perseus then
      was. She being with child and in her seventh month, Juno brought
      the child to birth though there was a month still wanting, but
      she stayed the offspring of Alcmena, and kept back the Ilithuiae.
      Then she went to tell Jove the son of Saturn, and said, ‘Father
      Jove, lord of the lightning—I have a word for your ear. There is
      a fine child born this day, Eurystheus, son to Sthenelus the son
      of Perseus; he is of your lineage; it is well, therefore, that he
      should reign over the Argives.’

      “On this Jove was stung to the very quick, and in his rage he
      caught Folly by the hair, and swore a great oath that never
      should she again invade starry heaven and Olympus, for she was
      the bane of all. Then he whirled her round with a twist of his
      hand, and flung her down from heaven so that she fell on to the
      fields of mortal men; and he was ever angry with her when he saw
      his son groaning under the cruel labours that Eurystheus laid
      upon him. Even so did I grieve when mighty Hector was killing the
      Argives at their ships, and all the time I kept thinking of Folly
      who had so baned me. I was blind, and Jove robbed me of my
      reason; I will now make atonement, and will add much treasure by
      way of amends. Go, therefore, into battle, you and your people
      with you. I will give you all that Ulysses offered you yesterday
      in your tents: or if it so please you, wait, though you would
      fain fight at once, and my squires shall bring the gifts from my
      ship, that you may see whether what I give you is enough.”

      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. Let us now set battle in array; it
      is not well to tarry talking about trifles, for there is a deed
      which is as yet to do. 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.”

      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. No man can do battle the livelong day to the going down of
      the sun if he is without food; however much he may want to fight
      his strength will fail him before he knows it; hunger and thirst
      will find him out, and his limbs will grow weary under him. But a
      man can fight all day if he is full fed with meat and wine; his
      heart beats high, and his strength will stay till he has routed
      all his foes; therefore, send the people away and bid them
      prepare their meal; King Agamemnon will bring out the gifts in
      presence of the assembly, that all may see them and you may be
      satisfied. Moreover let him swear an oath before the Argives that
      he has never gone up into the couch of Briseis, nor been with her
      after the manner of men and women; and do you, too, show yourself
      of a gracious mind; let Agamemnon entertain you in his tents with
      a feast of reconciliation, that so you may have had your dues in
      full. As for you, son of Atreus, treat people more righteously in
      future; it is no disgrace even to a king that he should make
      amends if he was wrong in the first instance.”

      And King Agamemnon answered, “Son of Laertes, your words please
      me well, for throughout you have spoken wisely. I will swear as
      you would have me do; I do so of my own free will, neither shall
      I take the name of heaven in vain. 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. 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.”

      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. Would you have men eat while the bodies of
      those whom Hector son of Priam slew are still lying mangled upon
      the plain? Let the sons of the Achaeans, say I, fight fasting and
      without food, till we have avenged them; afterwards at the going
      down of the sun let them eat their fill. As for me, Patroclus is
      lying dead in my tent, all hacked and hewn, with his feet to the
      door, and his comrades are mourning round him. Therefore I can
      take thought of nothing save only slaughter and blood and the
      rattle in the throat of the dying.”

      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. Therefore be patient under my words.
      Fighting is a thing of which men soon surfeit, and when Jove, who
      is war’s steward, weighs the upshot, it may well prove that the
      straw which our sickles have reaped is far heavier than the
      grain. It may not be that the Achaeans should mourn the dead with
      their bellies; day by day men fall thick and threefold
      continually; when should we have respite from our sorrow? Let us
      mourn our dead for a day and bury them out of sight and mind, but
      let those of us who are left eat and drink that we may arm and
      fight our foes more fiercely. In that hour let no man hold back,
      waiting for a second summons; such summons shall bode ill for him
      who is found lagging behind at our ships; let us rather sally as
      one man and loose the fury of war upon the Trojans.”

      When he had thus spoken he took with him the sons of Nestor, with
      Meges son of Phyleus, Thoas, Meriones, Lycomedes son of Creontes,
      and Melanippus, and went to the tent of Agamemnon son of Atreus.
      The word was not sooner said than the deed was done: they brought
      out the seven tripods which Agamemnon had promised, with the
      twenty metal cauldrons and the twelve horses; they also brought
      the women skilled in useful arts, seven in number, with Briseis,
      which made eight. Ulysses weighed out the ten talents of gold and
      then led the way back, while the young Achaeans brought the rest
      of the gifts, and laid them in the middle of the assembly.

      Agamemnon then rose, and Talthybius whose voice was like that of
      a god came to him with the boar. The son of Atreus drew the knife
      which he wore by the scabbard of his mighty sword, and began by
      cutting off some bristles from the boar, lifting up his hands in
      prayer as he did so. The other Achaeans sat where they were all
      silent and orderly to hear the king, and Agamemnon looked into
      the vault of heaven and prayed saying, “I call Jove the first and
      mightiest of all gods to witness, I call also Earth and Sun and
      the Erinyes who dwell below and take vengeance on him who shall
      swear falsely, that I have laid no hand upon the girl Briseis,
      neither to take her to my bed nor otherwise, but that she has
      remained in my tents inviolate. If I swear falsely may heaven
      visit me with all the penalties which it metes out to those who
      perjure themselves.”

      He cut the boar’s throat as he spoke, whereon Talthybius whirled
      it round his head, and flung it into the wide sea to feed the
      fishes. Then Achilles also rose and said to the Argives, “Father
      Jove, of a truth you blind men’s eyes and bane them. The son of
      Atreus had not else stirred me to so fierce an anger, nor so
      stubbornly taken Briseis from me against my will. Surely Jove
      must have counselled the destruction of many an Argive. Go, now,
      and take your food that we may begin fighting.”

      On this he broke up the assembly, and every man went back to his
      own ship. The Myrmidons attended to the presents and took them
      away to the ship of Achilles. They placed them in his tents,
      while the stable-men drove the horses in among the others.

      Briseis, fair as Venus, when she saw the mangled body of
      Patroclus, flung herself upon it and cried aloud, tearing her
      breast, her neck, and her lovely face with both her hands.
      Beautiful as a goddess she wept and said, “Patroclus, dearest
      friend, when I went hence I left you living; I return, O prince,
      to find you dead; thus do fresh sorrows multiply upon me one
      after the other. 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. You were always kind to
      me and I shall never cease to grieve for you.”

      She wept as she spoke, and the women joined in her lament-making
      as though their tears were for Patroclus, but in truth each was
      weeping for her own sorrows. The elders of the Achaeans gathered
      round Achilles and prayed him to take food, but he groaned and
      would not do so. “I pray you,” said he, “if any comrade will hear
      me, bid me neither eat nor drink, for I am in great heaviness,
      and will stay fasting even to the going down of the sun.”

      On this he sent the other princes away, save only the two sons of
      Atreus and Ulysses, Nestor, Idomeneus, and the knight Phoenix,
      who stayed behind and tried to comfort him in the bitterness of
      his sorrow: but he would not be comforted till he should have
      flung himself into the jaws of battle, and he fetched sigh on
      sigh, thinking ever of Patroclus. Then he said—

      “Hapless and dearest comrade, you it was who would get a good
      dinner ready for me at once and without delay when the Achaeans
      were hasting to fight the Trojans; now, therefore, though I have
      meat and drink in my tents, yet will I fast for sorrow. Grief
      greater than this I could not know, not even though I were to
      hear of the death of my father, who is now in Phthia weeping for
      the loss of me his son, who am here fighting the Trojans in a
      strange land for the accursed sake of Helen, nor yet though I
      should hear that my son is no more—he who is being brought up in
      Scyros—if indeed Neoptolemus is still living. Till now I made
      sure that I alone was to fall here at Troy away from Argos, while
      you were to return to Phthia, bring back my son with you in your
      own ship, and show him all my property, my bondsmen, and the
      greatness of my house—for Peleus must surely be either dead, or
      what little life remains to him is oppressed alike with the
      infirmities of age and ever present fear lest he should hear the
      sad tidings of my death.”

      He wept as he spoke, and the elders sighed in concert as each
      thought on what he had left at home behind him. The son of Saturn
      looked down with pity upon them, and said presently to Minerva,
      “My child, you have quite deserted your hero; is he then gone so
      clean out of your recollection? There he sits by the ships all
      desolate for the loss of his dear comrade, and though the others
      are gone to their dinner he will neither eat nor drink. Go then
      and drop nectar and ambrosia into his breast, that he may know no
      hunger.”

      With these words he urged Minerva, who was already of the same
      mind. She darted down from heaven into the air like some falcon
      sailing on his broad wings and screaming. 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. Thick as the chill snow-flakes shed from the hand
      of Jove and borne on the keen blasts of the north wind, even so
      thick did the gleaming helmets, the bossed shields, the strongly
      plated breastplates, and the ashen spears stream from the ships.
      The sheen pierced the sky, the whole land was radiant with their
      flashing armour, and the sound of the tramp of their treading
      rose from under their feet. 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. Thus, then, full of
      fury against the Trojans, did he don the gift of the god, the
      armour that Vulcan had made him.

      First he put on the goodly greaves fitted with ancle-clasps, and
      next he did on the breastplate about his chest. He slung the
      silver-studded sword of bronze about his shoulders, and then took
      up the shield so great and strong that shone afar with a
      splendour as of the moon. 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. He
      lifted the redoubtable helmet, and set it upon his head, from
      whence it shone like a star, and the golden plumes which Vulcan
      had set thick about the ridge of the helmet, waved all around it.
      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.

      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. Pelion, which Chiron had once
      given to Peleus, fraught with the death of heroes. Automedon and
      Alcimus busied themselves with the harnessing of his horses; they
      made the bands fast about them, and put the bit in their mouths,
      drawing the reins back towards the chariot. Automedon, whip in
      hand, sprang up behind the horses, and after him Achilles mounted
      in full armour, resplendent as the sun-god Hyperion. Then with a
      loud voice he chided with his father’s horses saying, “Xanthus
      and Balius, famed offspring of Podarge—this time when we have
      done fighting be sure and bring your driver safely back to the
      host of the Achaeans, and do not leave him dead on the plain as
      you did Patroclus.”

      Then fleet Xanthus answered under the yoke—for white-armed Juno
      had endowed him with human speech—and he bowed his head till his
      mane touched the ground as it hung down from under the yoke-band.
      “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. Neither was
      it through any sloth or slackness on our part that the Trojans
      stripped Patroclus of his armour; it was the mighty god whom
      lovely Leto bore that slew him as he fought among the foremost,
      and vouchsafed a triumph to Hector. We two can fly as swiftly as
      Zephyrus who they say is fleetest of all winds; nevertheless it
      is your doom to fall by the hand of a man and of a god.”

      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.”

      So saying, with a loud cry he drove his horses to the front.