Iliad

The assembly [ agôn ] now broke up and the people went their ways each to his own ship. There they made ready their supper, and then bethought them of the blessed boon of sleep; but Achilles still wept for thinking of his dear comrade, and sleep, before whom all things bow, could take no hold upon him. This way and that did he turn as he yearned after the might and manfulness of Patroklos; he thought of all they had done together, and all they had gone through both on the field of battle and on the waves of the weary sea. As he dwelt on these things he wept bitterly and lay now on his side, now on his back, and now face downwards, till at last he rose and went out as one distraught to wander upon the seashore. Then, when he saw dawn breaking over beach and sea, he yoked his horses to his chariot, and bound the body of Hektor behind it that he might drag it about. Thrice did he drag it round the tomb [ sêma ] of the son of Menoitios, and then went back into his tent, leaving the body on the ground full length and with its face downwards. But Apollo would not suffer it to be disfigured, for he pitied the man, dead though he now was; therefore he shielded him with his golden aegis continually, that he might take no hurt while Achilles was dragging him.

λῦτο δʼ ἀγών, λαοὶ δὲ θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ἕκαστοι

ἐσκίδναντʼ ἰέναι. τοὶ μὲν δόρποιο μέδοντο

ὕπνου τε γλυκεροῦ ταρπήμεναι· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

κλαῖε φίλου ἑτάρου μεμνημένος, οὐδέ μιν ὕπνος

ᾕρει πανδαμάτωρ, ἀλλʼ ἐστρέφετʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα

Πατρόκλου ποθέων ἀνδροτῆτά τε καὶ μένος ἠΰ,

ἠδʼ ὁπόσα τολύπευσε σὺν αὐτῷ καὶ πάθεν ἄλγεα

ἀνδρῶν τε πτολέμους ἀλεγεινά τε κύματα πείρων·

τῶν μιμνησκόμενος θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυον εἶβεν,

ἄλλοτʼ ἐπὶ πλευρὰς κατακείμενος, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτε

ὕπτιος, ἄλλοτε δὲ πρηνής· τοτὲ δʼ ὀρθὸς ἀναστὰς

δινεύεσκʼ ἀλύων παρὰ θῖνʼ ἁλός· οὐδέ μιν ἠὼς

φαινομένη λήθεσκεν ὑπεὶρ ἅλα τʼ ἠϊόνας τε.

ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπεὶ ζεύξειεν ὑφʼ ἅρμασιν ὠκέας ἵππους,

Ἕκτορα δʼ ἕλκεσθαι δησάσκετο δίφρου ὄπισθεν,

τρὶς δʼ ἐρύσας περὶ σῆμα Μενοιτιάδαο θανόντος

αὖτις ἐνὶ κλισίῃ παυέσκετο, τὸν δέ τʼ ἔασκεν

ἐν κόνι ἐκτανύσας προπρηνέα· τοῖο δʼ Ἀπόλλων

πᾶσαν ἀεικείην ἄπεχε χροῒ φῶτʼ ἐλεαίρων

καὶ τεθνηότα περ· περὶ δʼ αἰγίδι πάντα κάλυπτε

χρυσείῃ, ἵνα μή μιν ἀποδρύφοι ἑλκυστάζων.

Thus shamefully did Achilles in his fury dishonor Hektor; but the blessed gods looked down in pity from heaven, and urged Hermes, slayer of Argos , to steal the body. All were of this mind save only Hera, Poseidon, and Zeus' gray-eyed daughter,

ὣς ὃ μὲν Ἕκτορα δῖον ἀείκιζεν μενεαίνων·

τὸν δʼ ἐλεαίρεσκον μάκαρες θεοὶ εἰσορόωντες,

κλέψαι δʼ ὀτρύνεσκον ἐΰσκοπον ἀργεϊφόντην.

ἔνθʼ ἄλλοις μὲν πᾶσιν ἑήνδανεν, οὐδέ ποθʼ Ἥρῃ

who persisted in the hate which they had ever borne towards Ilion with Priam and his people; for they forgave not the wrong [ atê ] done them by Alexander in disdaining the goddesses who came to him when he was in his sheepyards, and preferring her who had offered him a wanton to his ruin.

οὐδὲ Ποσειδάωνʼ οὐδὲ γλαυκώπιδι κούρῃ,

ἀλλʼ ἔχον ὥς σφιν πρῶτον ἀπήχθετο Ἴλιος ἱρὴ

καὶ Πρίαμος καὶ λαὸς Ἀλεξάνδρου ἕνεκʼ ἄτης,

ὃς νείκεσσε θεὰς ὅτε οἱ μέσσαυλον ἵκοντο,

τὴν δʼ ᾔνησʼ ἥ οἱ πόρε μαχλοσύνην ἀλεγεινήν.

When, therefore, the morning of the twelfth day had now come, Phoebus Apollo spoke among the immortals saying, "You gods ought to be ashamed of yourselves; you are cruel and hard-hearted. Did not Hektor burn you thigh-bones of heifers and of unblemished goats? And now dare you not rescue even his dead body, for his wife to look upon, with his mother and child, his father Priam, and his people, who would forthwith commit him to the flames, and give him his due funeral rites? So, then, you would all be on the side of mad Achilles, who knows neither right nor ruth? He is like some savage lion that in the pride of his great strength [ biê ] and spirit [ thumos ] springs upon men's flocks and gorges on them. Even so has Achilles flung aside all pity, and all that decency [ aidôs ] which at once so greatly banes yet greatly boons him that will heed it. man may lose one far dearer than Achilles has lost- a son, it may be, or a brother born from his own mother's womb; yet when he has mourned him and wept over him he will let him bide, for it takes much sorrow to kill a man; whereas Achilles, now that he has slain noble Hektor, drags him behind his chariot round the tomb [ sêma ] of his comrade. It were better of him, and for him, that he should not do so, for brave though he be we gods may take it ill that he should vent his fury upon dead clay."

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐκ τοῖο δυωδεκάτη γένετʼ ἠώς,

καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ ἀθανάτοισι μετηύδα Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·

σχέτλιοί ἐστε θεοί, δηλήμονες· οὔ νύ ποθʼ ὑμῖν

Ἕκτωρ μηρίʼ ἔκηε βοῶν αἰγῶν τε τελείων;

τὸν νῦν οὐκ ἔτλητε νέκυν περ ἐόντα σαῶσαι

ᾗ τʼ ἀλόχῳ ἰδέειν καὶ μητέρι καὶ τέκεϊ ᾧ

καὶ πατέρι Πριάμῳ λαοῖσί τε, τοί κέ μιν ὦκα

ἐν πυρὶ κήαιεν καὶ ἐπὶ κτέρεα κτερίσαιεν.

ἀλλʼ ὀλοῷ Ἀχιλῆϊ θεοὶ βούλεσθʼ ἐπαρήγειν,

ᾧ οὔτʼ ἂρ φρένες εἰσὶν ἐναίσιμοι οὔτε νόημα

γναμπτὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι, λέων δʼ ὣς ἄγρια οἶδεν,

ὅς τʼ ἐπεὶ ἂρ μεγάλῃ τε βίῃ καὶ ἀγήνορι θυμῷ

εἴξας εἶσʼ ἐπὶ μῆλα βροτῶν ἵνα δαῖτα λάβῃσιν·

ὣς Ἀχιλεὺς ἔλεον μὲν ἀπώλεσεν, οὐδέ οἱ αἰδὼς

γίγνεται, ἥ τʼ ἄνδρας μέγα σίνεται ἠδʼ ὀνίνησι.

μέλλει μέν πού τις καὶ φίλτερον ἄλλον ὀλέσσαι

ἠὲ κασίγνητον ὁμογάστριον ἠὲ καὶ υἱόν·

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι κλαύσας καὶ ὀδυράμενος μεθέηκε·

τλητὸν γὰρ Μοῖραι θυμὸν θέσαν ἀνθρώποισιν.

αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ Ἕκτορα δῖον, ἐπεὶ φίλον ἦτορ ἀπηύρα,

ἵππων ἐξάπτων περὶ σῆμʼ ἑτάροιο φίλοιο

ἕλκει· οὐ μήν οἱ τό γε κάλλιον οὐδέ τʼ ἄμεινον.

μὴ ἀγαθῷ περ ἐόντι νεμεσσηθέωμέν οἱ ἡμεῖς·

κωφὴν γὰρ δὴ γαῖαν ἀεικίζει μενεαίνων.

Hera spoke up in a rage. "This were well," she cried, "O lord of the silver bow, if you would give like honor [ timê ] to Hektor and to Achilles; but Hektor was mortal and suckled at a woman's breast, whereas Achilles is the offspring of a goddess whom I myself reared and brought up. I married her to Peleus, who is above measure dear to the immortals; you gods came all of you to her wedding; you feasted along with them yourself and brought your lyre - false, and fond of low company, that you have ever been."

τὸν δὲ χολωσαμένη προσέφη λευκώλενος Ἥρη·

εἴη κεν καὶ τοῦτο τεὸν ἔπος ἀργυρότοξε

εἰ δὴ ὁμὴν Ἀχιλῆϊ καὶ Ἕκτορι θήσετε τιμήν.

Ἕκτωρ μὲν θνητός τε γυναῖκά τε θήσατο μαζόν·

αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεύς ἐστι θεᾶς γόνος, ἣν ἐγὼ αὐτὴ

θρέψά τε καὶ ἀτίτηλα καὶ ἀνδρὶ πόρον παράκοιτιν

Πηλέϊ, ὃς περὶ κῆρι φίλος γένετʼ ἀθανάτοισι.

πάντες δʼ ἀντιάασθε θεοὶ γάμου· ἐν δὲ σὺ τοῖσι

δαίνυʼ ἔχων φόρμιγγα κακῶν ἕταρʼ, αἰὲν ἄπιστε.

Then said Zeus, "Hera, be not so bitter. Their honor [ timê ] shall not be equal, but of all that dwell in Ilion , Hektor was dearest to the gods, as also to myself, for his offerings never failed me. Never was my altar stinted of its dues, nor of the drink-offerings and savor of sacrifice which we claim of right. I shall therefore permit the body of mighty Hektor to be stolen; and yet this may hardly be without Achilles coming to know it, for his mother keeps night and day beside him. Let some one of you, therefore, send Thetis to me, and I will impart my counsel to her, namely that Achilles is to accept a ransom from Priam, and give up the body."

τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·

Ἥρη μὴ δὴ πάμπαν ἀποσκύδμαινε θεοῖσιν·

οὐ μὲν γὰρ τιμή γε μίʼ ἔσσεται· ἀλλὰ καὶ Ἕκτωρ

φίλτατος ἔσκε θεοῖσι βροτῶν οἳ ἐν Ἰλίῳ εἰσίν·

ὣς γὰρ ἔμοιγʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι φίλων ἡμάρτανε δώρων.

οὐ γάρ μοί ποτε βωμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης

λοιβῆς τε κνίσης τε· τὸ γὰρ λάχομεν γέρας ἡμεῖς.

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι κλέψαι μὲν ἐάσομεν, οὐδέ πῃ ἔστι,

λάθρῃ Ἀχιλλῆος θρασὺν Ἕκτορα· ἦ γάρ οἱ αἰεὶ

μήτηρ παρμέμβλωκεν ὁμῶς νύκτάς τε καὶ ἦμαρ.

ἀλλʼ εἴ τις καλέσειε θεῶν Θέτιν ἆσσον ἐμεῖο,

ὄφρά τί οἱ εἴπω πυκινὸν ἔπος, ὥς κεν Ἀχιλλεὺς

δώρων ἐκ Πριάμοιο λάχῃ ἀπό θʼ Ἕκτορα λύσῃ.

On this Iris fleet as the wind went forth to carry his message. Down she plunged into the dark sea [ pontos ] midway between Samos and rocky Imbros; the waters hissed as they closed over her, and she sank into the bottom as the lead at the end of an ox-horn, that is sped to carry death to fishes. She found Thetis sitting in a great cave with the other sea-goddesses gathered round her; there she sat in the midst of them weeping for her noble son who was to fall far from his own land, on the fertile plains of Troy . Iris went up to her and said, "Rise Thetis; Zeus, whose counsels fail not, bids you come to him." And Thetis answered, "Why does the mighty god so bid me? I am in great grief [ akhos ], and shrink from going in and out among the immortals. Still, I will go, and the word that he may speak shall not be spoken in vain."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δὲ Ἶρις ἀελλόπος ἀγγελέουσα,

μεσσηγὺς δὲ Σάμου τε καὶ Ἴμβρου παιπαλοέσσης

ἔνθορε μείλανι πόντῳ· ἐπεστονάχησε δὲ λίμνη.

ἣ δὲ μολυβδαίνῃ ἰκέλη ἐς βυσσὸν ὄρουσεν,

ἥ τε κατʼ ἀγραύλοιο βοὸς κέρας ἐμβεβαυῖα

ἔρχεται ὠμηστῇσιν ἐπʼ ἰχθύσι κῆρα φέρουσα.

εὗρε δʼ ἐνὶ σπῆϊ γλαφυρῷ Θέτιν, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄλλαι

εἵαθʼ ὁμηγερέες ἅλιαι θεαί· ἣ δʼ ἐνὶ μέσσῃς

κλαῖε μόρον οὗ παιδὸς ἀμύμονος, ὅς οἱ ἔμελλε

φθίσεσθʼ ἐν Τροίῃ ἐριβώλακι τηλόθι πάτρης.

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις·

ὄρσο Θέτι· καλέει Ζεὺς ἄφθιτα μήδεα εἰδώς.

τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζα·

τίπτέ με κεῖνος ἄνωγε μέγας θεός; αἰδέομαι δὲ

μίσγεσθʼ ἀθανάτοισιν, ἔχω δʼ ἄχεʼ ἄκριτα θυμῷ.

εἶμι μέν, οὐδʼ ἅλιον ἔπος ἔσσεται ὅττί κεν εἴπῃ.

The goddess took her dark veil, than which there can be no robe more somber, and went forth with fleet Iris leading the way before her. The waves of the sea opened them a path, and when they reached the shore they flew up into the heavens, where they found the all-seeing son of Kronos with the blessed gods that live for ever assembled near him. Athena gave up her seat to her, and she sat down by the side of father Zeus. Hera then placed a fair golden cup in her hand, and spoke to her in words of comfort, whereon Thetis drank and gave her back the cup; and the sire of gods and men was the first to speak.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα κάλυμμʼ ἕλε δῖα θεάων

κυάνεον, τοῦ δʼ οὔ τι μελάντερον ἔπλετο ἔσθος.

βῆ δʼ ἰέναι, πρόσθεν δὲ ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις

ἡγεῖτʼ· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα σφι λιάζετο κῦμα θαλάσσης.

ἀκτὴν δʼ ἐξαναβᾶσαι ἐς οὐρανὸν ἀϊχθήτην,

εὗρον δʼ εὐρύοπα Κρονίδην, περὶ δʼ ἄλλοι ἅπαντες

εἵαθʼ ὁμηγερέες μάκαρες θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες.

ἣ δʼ ἄρα πὰρ Διὶ πατρὶ καθέζετο, εἶξε δʼ Ἀθήνη.

Ἥρη δὲ χρύσεον καλὸν δέπας ἐν χερὶ θῆκε

καί ῥʼ εὔφρηνʼ ἐπέεσσι· Θέτις δʼ ὤρεξε πιοῦσα.

τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·

"So, goddess Thetis," said he, "for all your sorrow, and the grief [ penthos ] that I well know reigns ever in your heart, you have come hither to Olympus , and I will tell you why I have sent for you. This nine days past the immortals have been quarreling about Achilles waster of cities and the body of Hektor. The gods would have Hermes slayer of Argos steal the body, but in furtherance of our decency [ aidôs ] and sense of being near-and-dear [ philotês ] henceforward, I will concede such honor to your son as I will now tell you. Go, then, to the host and lay these commands upon him; say that the gods are angry with him, and that I am myself more angry than them all, in that he keeps Hektor at the ships and will not give him up. He may thus fear me and let the body go. At the same time I will send Iris to great Priam to bid him go to the ships of the Achaeans, and ransom his son, taking with him such gifts for Achilles as may give him satisfaction.

ἤλυθες Οὔλυμπον δὲ θεὰ Θέτι κηδομένη περ,

πένθος ἄλαστον ἔχουσα μετὰ φρεσίν· οἶδα καὶ αὐτός·

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς ἐρέω τοῦ σʼ εἵνεκα δεῦρο κάλεσσα.

ἐννῆμαρ δὴ νεῖκος ἐν ἀθανάτοισιν ὄρωρεν

Ἕκτορος ἀμφὶ νέκυι καὶ Ἀχιλλῆϊ πτολιπόρθῳ·

κλέψαι δʼ ὀτρύνουσιν ἐΰσκοπον ἀργεϊφόντην·

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τόδε κῦδος Ἀχιλλῆϊ προτιάπτω

αἰδῶ καὶ φιλότητα τεὴν μετόπισθε φυλάσσων.

αἶψα μάλʼ ἐς στρατὸν ἐλθὲ καὶ υἱέϊ σῷ ἐπίτειλον·

σκύζεσθαί οἱ εἰπὲ θεούς, ἐμὲ δʼ ἔξοχα πάντων

ἀθανάτων κεχολῶσθαι, ὅτι φρεσὶ μαινομένῃσιν

Ἕκτορʼ ἔχει παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν οὐδʼ ἀπέλυσεν,

αἴ κέν πως ἐμέ τε δείσῃ ἀπό θʼ Ἕκτορα λύσῃ.

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ Πριάμῳ μεγαλήτορι Ἶριν ἐφήσω

λύσασθαι φίλον υἱὸν ἰόντʼ ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν,

δῶρα δʼ Ἀχιλλῆϊ φερέμεν, τά κε θυμὸν ἰήνῃ.

Silver-footed Thetis did as the god had told her, and forthwith down she darted from the topmost summits of Olympus . She went to her son's tents where she found him grieving bitterly, while his trusty comrades round him were busy preparing their morning meal, for which they had killed a great woolly sheep. His mother sat down beside him and caressed him with her hand saying, "My son, how long will you keep on thus grieving and making moan? You are gnawing at your own heart, and think neither of food nor of woman's embraces; and yet these too were well, for you have no long time to live, and death with the strong hand of fate are already close beside you. Now, therefore, heed what I say, for I come as a messenger from Zeus; he says that the gods are angry with you, and himself more angry than them all, in that you keep Hektor at the ships and will not give him up. Therefore let him go, and accept a ransom for his body."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζα,

βῆ δὲ κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα,

ἷξεν δʼ ἐς κλισίην οὗ υἱέος· ἔνθʼ ἄρα τόν γε

εὗρʼ ἁδινὰ στενάχοντα· φίλοι δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροι

ἐσσυμένως ἐπένοντο καὶ ἐντύνοντο ἄριστον·

τοῖσι δʼ ὄϊς λάσιος μέγας ἐν κλισίῃ ἱέρευτο.

ἣ δὲ μάλʼ ἄγχʼ αὐτοῖο καθέζετο πότνια μήτηρ,

χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·

τέκνον ἐμὸν τέο μέχρις ὀδυρόμενος καὶ ἀχεύων

σὴν ἔδεαι κραδίην μεμνημένος οὔτέ τι σίτου

οὔτʼ εὐνῆς; ἀγαθὸν δὲ γυναικί περ ἐν φιλότητι

μίσγεσθʼ· οὐ γάρ μοι δηρὸν βέῃ, ἀλλά τοι ἤδη

ἄγχι παρέστηκεν θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κραταιή.

ἀλλʼ ἐμέθεν ξύνες ὦκα, Διὸς δέ τοι ἄγγελός εἰμι·

σκύζεσθαι σοί φησι θεούς, ἑὲ δʼ ἔξοχα πάντων

ἀθανάτων κεχολῶσθαι, ὅτι φρεσὶ μαινομένῃσιν

Ἕκτορʼ ἔχεις παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν οὐδʼ ἀπέλυσας.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ λῦσον, νεκροῖο δὲ δέξαι ἄποινα.

And Achilles answered, "So be it. If Olympian Zeus of his own motion thus commands me, let him that brings the ransom bear the body away."

τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·

τῇδʼ εἴη· ὃς ἄποινα φέροι καὶ νεκρὸν ἄγοιτο,

εἰ δὴ πρόφρονι θυμῷ Ὀλύμπιος αὐτὸς ἀνώγει.

Thus did mother and son talk together at the ships in long discourse with one another. Meanwhile the son of Kronos sent Iris to the strong city of Ilion . "Go," said he, "fleet Iris, from the mansions of Olympus , and tell King Priam in Ilion , that he is to go to the ships of the Achaeans and free the body of his dear son. He is to take such gifts with him as shall give satisfaction to Achilles, and he is to go alone, with no other Trojan, save only some honored servant who may drive his mules and wagon, and bring back the body of him whom noble Achilles has slain. Let him have no thought nor fear of death in his heart, for we will send the slayer of Argos to escort him, and bring him within the tent of Achilles. Achilles will not kill him nor let another do so, for he will take heed to his ways and err not, and he will entreat a suppliant with all honorable courtesy."

ὣς οἵ γʼ ἐν νηῶν ἀγύρει μήτηρ τε καὶ υἱὸς

πολλὰ πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευον.

Ἶριν δʼ ὄτρυνε Κρονίδης εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρήν·

βάσκʼ ἴθι Ἶρι ταχεῖα λιποῦσʼ ἕδος Οὐλύμποιο

ἄγγειλον Πριάμῳ μεγαλήτορι Ἴλιον εἴσω

λύσασθαι φίλον υἱὸν ἰόντʼ ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν,

δῶρα δʼ Ἀχιλλῆϊ φερέμεν τά κε θυμὸν ἰήνῃ

οἶον, μὴ δέ τις ἄλλος ἅμα Τρώων ἴτω ἀνήρ.

κῆρύξ τίς οἱ ἕποιτο γεραίτερος, ὅς κʼ ἰθύνοι

ἡμιόνους καὶ ἄμαξαν ἐΰτροχον, ἠδὲ καὶ αὖτις

νεκρὸν ἄγοι προτὶ ἄστυ, τὸν ἔκτανε δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.

μὴ δέ τί οἱ θάνατος μελέτω φρεσὶ μὴ δέ τι τάρβος·

τοῖον γάρ οἱ πομπὸν ὀπάσσομεν ἀργεϊφόντην,

ὃς ἄξει εἷός κεν ἄγων Ἀχιλῆϊ πελάσσῃ.

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἀγάγῃσιν ἔσω κλισίην Ἀχιλῆος,

οὔτʼ αὐτὸς κτενέει ἀπό τʼ ἄλλους πάντας ἐρύξει·

οὔτε γάρ ἐστʼ ἄφρων οὔτʼ ἄσκοπος οὔτʼ ἀλιτήμων,

ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐνδυκέως ἱκέτεω πεφιδήσεται ἀνδρός.

On this Iris, fleet as the wind, sped forth to deliver her message. She went to Priam's house, and found weeping and lamentation therein. His sons were seated round their father in the outer courtyard, and their raiment was wet with tears: the old man sat in the midst of them with his mantle wrapped close about his body, and his head and neck all covered with the filth which he had clutched as he lay groveling in the mire. His daughters and his sons' wives went wailing about the house, as they thought of the many and brave men who lost their life-breath [ psukhê ], slain by the Argives. The messenger of Zeus stood by Priam and spoke softly to him, but fear fell upon him as she did so. "Take heart," she said, "Priam offspring of Dardanos , take heart and fear not. I bring no evil tidings, but am minded well towards you. I come as a messenger from Zeus, who though he be not near, takes thought for you and pities you. The lord of Olympus bids you go and ransom noble Hektor, and take with you such gifts as shall give satisfaction to Achilles.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δὲ Ἶρις ἀελλόπος ἀγγελέουσα.

ἷξεν δʼ ἐς Πριάμοιο, κίχεν δʼ ἐνοπήν τε γόον τε.

παῖδες μὲν πατέρʼ ἀμφὶ καθήμενοι ἔνδοθεν αὐλῆς

δάκρυσιν εἵματʼ ἔφυρον, ὃ δʼ ἐν μέσσοισι γεραιὸς

ἐντυπὰς ἐν χλαίνῃ κεκαλυμμένος· ἀμφὶ δὲ πολλὴ

κόπρος ἔην κεφαλῇ τε καὶ αὐχένι τοῖο γέροντος

τήν ῥα κυλινδόμενος καταμήσατο χερσὶν ἑῇσι.

θυγατέρες δʼ ἀνὰ δώματʼ ἰδὲ νυοὶ ὠδύροντο

τῶν μιμνησκόμεναι οἳ δὴ πολέες τε καὶ ἐσθλοὶ

χερσὶν ὑπʼ Ἀργείων κέατο ψυχὰς ὀλέσαντες.

στῆ δὲ παρὰ Πρίαμον Διὸς ἄγγελος, ἠδὲ προσηύδα

τυτθὸν φθεγξαμένη· τὸν δὲ τρόμος ἔλλαβε γυῖα·

θάρσει Δαρδανίδη Πρίαμε φρεσί, μὴ δέ τι τάρβει·

οὐ μὲν γάρ τοι ἐγὼ κακὸν ὀσσομένη τόδʼ ἱκάνω

ἀλλʼ ἀγαθὰ φρονέουσα· Διὸς δέ τοι ἄγγελός εἰμι,

ὅς σευ ἄνευθεν ἐὼν μέγα κήδεται ἠδʼ ἐλεαίρει.

λύσασθαί σʼ ἐκέλευσεν Ὀλύμπιος Ἕκτορα δῖον,

You are to go alone, with no Trojan, save only some honored servant who may drive your mules and wagon, and bring back to the city the body of him whom noble Achilles has slain. You are to have no thought, nor fear of death, for Zeus will send the slayer of Argos to escort you. When he has brought you within Achilles' tent, Achilles will not kill you nor let another do so, for he will take heed to his ways and err not, and he will entreat a suppliant with all honorable courtesy."

δῶρα δʼ Ἀχιλλῆϊ φερέμεν τά κε θυμὸν ἰήνῃ

οἶον, μὴ δέ τις ἄλλος ἅμα Τρώων ἴτω ἀνήρ.

κῆρύξ τίς τοι ἕποιτο γεραίτερος, ὅς κʼ ἰθύνοι

ἡμιόνους καὶ ἄμαξαν ἐΰτροχον, ἠδὲ καὶ αὖτις

νεκρὸν ἄγοι προτὶ ἄστυ, τὸν ἔκτανε δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.

μὴ δέ τί τοι θάνατος μελέτω φρεσὶ μηδέ τι τάρβος·

τοῖος γάρ τοι πομπὸς ἅμʼ ἕψεται ἀργεϊφόντης,

ὅς σʼ ἄξει εἷός κεν ἄγων Ἀχιλῆϊ πελάσσῃ.

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἀγάγῃσιν ἔσω κλισίην Ἀχιλῆος,

οὔτʼ αὐτὸς κτενέει ἀπό τʼ ἄλλους πάντας ἐρύξει·

οὔτε γάρ ἔστʼ ἄφρων οὔτʼ ἄσκοπος οὔτʼ ἀλιτήμων,

ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐνδυκέως ἱκέτεω πεφιδήσεται ἀνδρός.

Iris went her way when she had thus spoken, and Priam told his sons to get a mule-wagon ready, and to make the body of the wagon fast upon the top of its bed. Then he went down into his fragrant store-room, high-vaulted, and made of cedar-wood, where his many treasures were kept, and he called Hecuba his wife. "Wife," said he, "a messenger has come to me from Olympus , and has told me to go to the ships of the Achaeans to ransom my dear son, taking with me such gifts as shall give satisfaction to Achilles. What think you of this matter? for my own part I am greatly moved to pass through the of the Achaeans and go to their ships."

ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις,

αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ υἷας ἄμαξαν ἐΰτροχον ἡμιονείην

ὁπλίσαι ἠνώγει, πείρινθα δὲ δῆσαι ἐπʼ αὐτῆς.

αὐτὸς δʼ ἐς θάλαμον κατεβήσετο κηώεντα

κέδρινον ὑψόροφον, ὃς γλήνεα πολλὰ κεχάνδει·

ἐς δʼ ἄλοχον Ἑκάβην ἐκαλέσσατο φώνησέν τε·

δαιμονίη Διόθεν μοι Ὀλύμπιος ἄγγελος ἦλθε

λύσασθαι φίλον υἱὸν ἰόντʼ ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν,

δῶρα δʼ Ἀχιλλῆϊ φερέμεν τά κε θυμὸν ἰήνῃ.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ τί τοι φρεσὶν εἴδεται εἶναι;

αἰνῶς γάρ μʼ αὐτόν γε μένος καὶ θυμὸς ἄνωγε

κεῖσʼ ἰέναι ἐπὶ νῆας ἔσω στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν.

His wife cried aloud as she heard him, and said, "Alas, what has become of that judgment for which you have been ever famous both among strangers and your own people? How can you venture alone to the ships of the Achaeans, and look into the face of him who has slain so many of your brave sons? You must have iron courage, for if the cruel savage sees you and lays hold on you, he will know neither respect nor pity. Let us then weep Hektor from afar here in our own house, for when I gave him birth the threads of overruling fate were spun for him that dogs should eat his flesh far from his parents, in the house of that terrible man on whose liver I would fain fasten and devour it. Thus would I avenge my son, who showed no cowardice when Achilles slew him, and thought neither of Right nor of avoiding battle as he stood in defense of Trojan men and Trojan women."

ὣς φάτο, κώκυσεν δὲ γυνὴ καὶ ἀμείβετο μύθῳ·

ὤ μοι πῇ δή τοι φρένες οἴχονθʼ, ᾗς τὸ πάρος περ

ἔκλεʼ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους ξείνους ἠδʼ οἷσιν ἀνάσσεις;

πῶς ἐθέλεις ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν ἐλθέμεν οἶος

ἀνδρὸς ἐς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὅς τοι πολέας τε καὶ ἐσθλοὺς

υἱέας ἐξενάριξε· σιδήρειόν νύ τοι ἦτορ.

εἰ γάρ σʼ αἱρήσει καὶ ἐσόψεται ὀφθαλμοῖσιν

ὠμηστὴς καὶ ἄπιστος ἀνὴρ ὅ γε οὔ σʼ ἐλεήσει,

οὐδέ τί σʼ αἰδέσεται. νῦν δὲ κλαίωμεν ἄνευθεν

ἥμενοι ἐν μεγάρῳ· τῷ δʼ ὥς ποθι Μοῖρα κραταιὴ

γιγνομένῳ ἐπένησε λίνῳ, ὅτε μιν τέκον αὐτή,

ἀργίποδας κύνας ἆσαι ἑῶν ἀπάνευθε τοκήων

ἀνδρὶ πάρα κρατερῷ, τοῦ ἐγὼ μέσον ἧπαρ ἔχοιμι

ἐσθέμεναι προσφῦσα· τότʼ ἄντιτα ἔργα γένοιτο

παιδὸς ἐμοῦ, ἐπεὶ οὔ ἑ κακιζόμενόν γε κατέκτα,

ἀλλὰ πρὸ Τρώων καὶ Τρωϊάδων βαθυκόλπων

ἑσταότʼ οὔτε φόβου μεμνημένον οὔτʼ ἀλεωρῆς.

Then Priam said, "I would go, do not therefore stay me nor be as a bird of ill omen in my house, for you will not move me. Had it been some mortal man who had sent me some seer [ mantis ] or priest who divines from sacrifice - I should have deemed him false and have given him no heed; but now I have heard the goddess and seen her face to face, therefore I will go and her saying shall not be in vain. If it be my fate to die at the ships of the Achaeans even so would I have it; let Achilles slay me, if I may but first have taken my son in my arms and mourned him to my heart's comforting."

τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε γέρων Πρίαμος θεοειδής·

μή μʼ ἐθέλοντʼ ἰέναι κατερύκανε, μὴ δέ μοι αὐτὴ

ὄρνις ἐνὶ μεγάροισι κακὸς πέλευ· οὐδέ με πείσεις.

εἰ μὲν γάρ τίς μʼ ἄλλος ἐπιχθονίων ἐκέλευεν,

ἢ οἳ μάντιές εἰσι θυοσκόοι ἢ ἱερῆες,

ψεῦδός κεν φαῖμεν καὶ νοσφιζοίμεθα μᾶλλον·

νῦν δʼ, αὐτὸς γὰρ ἄκουσα θεοῦ καὶ ἐσέδρακον ἄντην,

εἶμι καὶ οὐχ ἅλιον ἔπος ἔσσεται. εἰ δέ μοι αἶσα

τεθνάμεναι παρὰ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων

βούλομαι· αὐτίκα γάρ με κατακτείνειεν Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἀγκὰς ἑλόντʼ ἐμὸν υἱόν, ἐπὴν γόου ἐξ ἔρον εἵην.

So saying he lifted the lids of his chests, and took out twelve goodly vestments. He took also twelve cloaks of single fold, twelve rugs, twelve fair mantles, and an equal number of shirts. He weighed out ten talents of gold, and brought moreover two burnished tripods, four cauldrons, and a very beautiful cup which the Thracians had given him when he had gone to them on an embassy; it was very precious, but he grudged not even this, so eager was he to ransom the body of his son. Then he chased all the Trojans from the court and rebuked them with words of anger. "Out," he cried, "shame and disgrace to me that you are. Have you no grief in your own homes that you are come to plague me here? Is it a small thing, think you, that the son of Kronos has sent this sorrow upon me, to lose the bravest of my sons? Nay, you shall prove it in person, for now he is gone the Achaeans will have easier work in killing you. As for me, let me go down within the house of Hades, ere mine eyes behold the sacking and wasting of the city."

ἦ καὶ φωριαμῶν ἐπιθήματα κάλʼ ἀνέῳγεν·

ἔνθεν δώδεκα μὲν περικαλλέας ἔξελε πέπλους,

δώδεκα δʼ ἁπλοΐδας χλαίνας, τόσσους δὲ τάπητας,

τόσσα δὲ φάρεα λευκά, τόσους δʼ ἐπὶ τοῖσι χιτῶνας.

χρυσοῦ δὲ στήσας ἔφερεν δέκα πάντα τάλαντα,

ἐκ δὲ δύʼ αἴθωνας τρίποδας, πίσυρας δὲ λέβητας,

ἐκ δὲ δέπας περικαλλές, ὅ οἱ Θρῇκες πόρον ἄνδρες

ἐξεσίην ἐλθόντι μέγα κτέρας· οὐδέ νυ τοῦ περ

φείσατʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροις ὃ γέρων, περὶ δʼ ἤθελε θυμῷ

λύσασθαι φίλον υἱόν. ὃ δὲ Τρῶας μὲν ἅπαντας

αἰθούσης ἀπέεργεν ἔπεσσʼ αἰσχροῖσιν ἐνίσσων·

ἔρρετε λωβητῆρες ἐλεγχέες· οὔ νυ καὶ ὑμῖν

οἴκοι ἔνεστι γόος, ὅτι μʼ ἤλθετε κηδήσοντες;

ἦ ὀνόσασθʼ ὅτι μοι Κρονίδης Ζεὺς ἄλγεʼ ἔδωκε

παῖδʼ ὀλέσαι τὸν ἄριστον; ἀτὰρ γνώσεσθε καὶ ὔμμες·

ῥηΐτεροι γὰρ μᾶλλον Ἀχαιοῖσιν δὴ ἔσεσθε

κείνου τεθνηῶτος ἐναιρέμεν. αὐτὰρ ἔγωγε

πρὶν ἀλαπαζομένην τε πόλιν κεραϊζομένην τε

ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδεῖν βαίην δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω.

He drove the men away with his staff, and they went forth as the old man sped them. Then he called to his sons, upbraiding Helenos, Paris , noble Agathon, Pammon, Antiphonos, Polites of the loud battle-cry, Deiphobos, Hippothoos, and Dios. These nine did the old man call near him. "Come to me at once," he cried, "worthless sons who do me shame;

ἦ καὶ σκηπανίῳ δίεπʼ ἀνέρας· οἳ δʼ ἴσαν ἔξω

σπερχομένοιο γέροντος· ὃ δʼ υἱάσιν οἷσιν ὁμόκλα

νεικείων Ἕλενόν τε Πάριν τʼ Ἀγάθωνά τε δῖον

Πάμμονά τʼ Ἀντίφονόν τε βοὴν ἀγαθόν τε Πολίτην

Δηΐφοβόν τε καὶ Ἱππόθοον καὶ δῖον Ἀγαυόν·

ἐννέα τοῖς ὃ γεραιὸς ὁμοκλήσας ἐκέλευε·

σπεύσατέ μοι κακὰ τέκνα κατηφόνες· αἴθʼ ἅμα πάντες

would that you had all been killed at the ships rather than Hektor. Miserable man that I am, I have had the bravest sons in all Troy - noble Nestor, Troilus the dauntless charioteer, and Hektor who was a god among men, so that one would have thought he was son to an immortal - yet there is not one of them left. Ares has slain them and those of whom I am ashamed are alone left me. Liars, and light of foot, heroes of the dance, robbers of lambs and kids from your own people, why do you not get a wagon ready for me at once, and put all these things upon it that I may set out on my way?"

Ἕκτορος ὠφέλετʼ ἀντὶ θοῇς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ πεφάσθαι.

ὤ μοι ἐγὼ πανάποτμος, ἐπεὶ τέκον υἷας ἀρίστους

Τροίῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ, τῶν δʼ οὔ τινά φημι λελεῖφθαι,

Μήστορά τʼ ἀντίθεον καὶ Τρωΐλον ἱππιοχάρμην

Ἕκτορά θʼ, ὃς θεὸς ἔσκε μετʼ ἀνδράσιν, οὐδὲ ἐῴκει

ἀνδρός γε θνητοῦ πάϊς ἔμμεναι ἀλλὰ θεοῖο.

τοὺς μὲν ἀπώλεσʼ Ἄρης, τὰ δʼ ἐλέγχεα πάντα λέλειπται

ψεῦσταί τʼ ὀρχησταί τε χοροιτυπίῃσιν ἄριστοι

ἀρνῶν ἠδʼ ἐρίφων ἐπιδήμιοι ἁρπακτῆρες.

οὐκ ἂν δή μοι ἄμαξαν ἐφοπλίσσαιτε τάχιστα,

ταῦτά τε πάντʼ ἐπιθεῖτε, ἵνα πρήσσωμεν ὁδοῖο;

Thus did he speak, and they feared the rebuke of their father. They brought out a strong mule-wagon, newly made, and set the body of the wagon fast on its bed. They took the mule-yoke from the peg on which it hung, a yoke of boxwood with a knob on the top of it and rings for the reins to go through. Then they brought a yoke-band eleven cubits long, to bind the yoke to the pole; they bound it on at the far end of the pole, and put the ring over the upright pin making it fast with three turns of the band on either side the knob, and bending the thong of the yoke beneath it. This done, they brought from the store-chamber the rich ransom that was to purchase the body of Hektor, and they set it all orderly on the wagon; then they yoked the strong harness-mules which the Mysians had on a time given as a goodly present to Priam; but for Priam himself they yoked horses which the old king had bred, and kept for own use.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πατρὸς ὑποδείσαντες ὁμοκλὴν

ἐκ μὲν ἄμαξαν ἄειραν ἐΰτροχον ἡμιονείην

καλὴν πρωτοπαγέα, πείρινθα δὲ δῆσαν ἐπʼ αὐτῆς,

κὰδ δʼ ἀπὸ πασσαλόφι ζυγὸν ᾕρεον ἡμιόνειον

πύξινον ὀμφαλόεν εὖ οἰήκεσσιν ἀρηρός·

ἐκ δʼ ἔφερον ζυγόδεσμον ἅμα ζυγῷ ἐννεάπηχυ.

καὶ τὸ μὲν εὖ κατέθηκαν ἐϋξέστῳ ἐπὶ ῥυμῷ

πέζῃ ἔπι πρώτῃ, ἐπὶ δὲ κρίκον ἕστορι βάλλον,

τρὶς δʼ ἑκάτερθεν ἔδησαν ἐπʼ ὀμφαλόν, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

ἑξείης κατέδησαν, ὑπὸ γλωχῖνα δʼ ἔκαμψαν.

ἐκ θαλάμου δὲ φέροντες ἐϋξέστης ἐπʼ ἀπήνης

νήεον Ἑκτορέης κεφαλῆς ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα,

ζεῦξαν δʼ ἡμιόνους κρατερώνυχας ἐντεσιεργούς,

τούς ῥά ποτε Πριάμῳ Μυσοὶ δόσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.

ἵππους δὲ Πριάμῳ ὕπαγον ζυγόν, οὓς ὃ γεραιὸς

αὐτὸς ἔχων ἀτίταλλεν ἐϋξέστῃ ἐπὶ φάτνῃ.

Thus heedfully did Priam and his servant see to the yoking of their cars at the palace. Then Hecuba came to them all sorrowful, with a golden goblet of wine in her right hand, that they might make a drink-offering before they set out. She stood in front of the horses and said, "Take this, make a drink-offering to father Zeus, and since you are minded to go to the ships in spite of me, pray that you may come safely back from the hands of your enemies. Pray to the son of Kronos lord of the whirlwind, who sits on Ida and looks down over all Troy ,

τὼ μὲν ζευγνύσθην ἐν δώμασιν ὑψηλοῖσι

κῆρυξ καὶ Πρίαμος πυκινὰ φρεσὶ μήδεʼ ἔχοντες·

ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθʼ Ἑκάβη τετιηότι θυμῷ

οἶνον ἔχουσʼ ἐν χειρὶ μελίφρονα δεξιτερῆφι

χρυσέῳ ἐν δέπαϊ, ὄφρα λείψαντε κιοίτην·

στῆ δʼ ἵππων προπάροιθεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·

τῆ σπεῖσον Διὶ πατρί, καὶ εὔχεο οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι

ἂψ ἐκ δυσμενέων ἀνδρῶν, ἐπεὶ ἂρ σέ γε θυμὸς

ὀτρύνει ἐπὶ νῆας ἐμεῖο μὲν οὐκ ἐθελούσης.

ἀλλʼ εὔχεο σύ γʼ ἔπειτα κελαινεφέϊ Κρονίωνι

Ἰδαίῳ, ὅς τε Τροίην κατὰ πᾶσαν ὁρᾶται,

pray him to send his swift messenger on your right hand, the bird of omen which is strongest and most dear to him of all birds, that you may see it with your own eyes and trust it as you go forth to the ships of the Danaans. If all-seeing Zeus will not send you this messenger, however set upon it you may be, I would not have you go to the ships of the Argives."

αἴτει δʼ οἰωνὸν ταχὺν ἄγγελον, ὅς τέ οἱ αὐτῷ

φίλτατος οἰωνῶν, καί εὑ κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον,

δεξιόν, ὄφρά μιν αὐτὸς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσι νοήσας

τῷ πίσυνος ἐπὶ νῆας ἴῃς Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων.

εἰ δέ τοι οὐ δώσει ἑὸν ἄγγελον εὐρύοπα Ζεύς,

οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγέ σʼ ἔπειτα ἐποτρύνουσα κελοίμην

νῆας ἐπʼ Ἀργείων ἰέναι μάλα περ μεμαῶτα.

And Priam answered, "Wife, I will do as you desire me; it is well to lift hands in prayer to Zeus, if so be he may have mercy upon me." With this the old man bade the serving-woman pour pure water over his hands, and the woman came, bearing the water in a bowl. He washed his hands and took the cup from his wife; then he made the drink-offering and prayed, standing in the middle of the courtyard and turning his eyes to heaven. "Father Zeus," he said, "you who rule from Ida, most glorious and most great, grant that I may be received kindly and compassionately in the tents of Achilles; and send your swift messenger upon my right hand, the bird of omen which is strongest and most dear to you of all birds, that I may see it with my own eyes and trust it as I go forth to the ships of the Danaans."

τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη Πρίαμος θεοειδής·

ὦ γύναι οὐ μέν τοι τόδʼ ἐφιεμένῃ ἀπιθήσω.

ἐσθλὸν γὰρ Διὶ χεῖρας ἀνασχέμεν αἴ κʼ ἐλεήσῃ.

ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφίπολον ταμίην ὄτρυνʼ ὃ γεραιὸς

χερσὶν ὕδωρ ἐπιχεῦαι ἀκήρατον· ἣ δὲ παρέστη

χέρνιβον ἀμφίπολος πρόχοόν θʼ ἅμα χερσὶν ἔχουσα.

νιψάμενος δὲ κύπελλον ἐδέξατο ἧς ἀλόχοιο·

εὔχετʼ ἔπειτα στὰς μέσῳ ἕρκεϊ, λεῖβε δὲ οἶνον

οὐρανὸν εἰσανιδών, καὶ φωνήσας ἔπος ηὔδα·

Ζεῦ πάτερ Ἴδηθεν μεδέων κύδιστε μέγιστε

δός μʼ ἐς Ἀχιλλῆος φίλον ἐλθεῖν ἠδʼ ἐλεεινόν,

πέμψον δʼ οἰωνὸν ταχὺν ἄγγελον, ὅς τε σοὶ αὐτῷ

φίλτατος οἰωνῶν, καί εὑ κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον,

δεξιόν, ὄφρά μιν αὐτὸς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσι νοήσας

τῷ πίσυνος ἐπὶ νῆας ἴω Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων.

So did he pray, and Zeus the lord of counsel heard his prayer. Forthwith he sent an eagle, the most unerring portent of all birds that fly, the dusky hunter that men also call the Black Eagle. His wings were spread abroad on either side as wide as the well-made and well-bolted door of a rich man's chamber. He came to them flying over the city upon their right hands, and when they saw him they were glad and their hearts took comfort within them. The old man made haste to mount his chariot, and drove out through the inner gateway and under the echoing gatehouse of the outer court. Before him went the mules drawing the four-wheeled wagon, and driven by wise Idaios; behind these were the horses, which the old man lashed with his whip and drove swiftly through the city,

ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε μητίετα Ζεὺς

αὐτίκα δʼ αἰετὸν ἧκε τελειότατον πετεηνῶν

μόρφνον θηρητῆρʼ ὃν καὶ περκνὸν καλέουσιν.

ὅσση δʼ ὑψορόφοιο θύρη θαλάμοιο τέτυκται

ἀνέρος ἀφνειοῖο ἐῢ κληῗσʼ ἀραρυῖα,

τόσσʼ ἄρα τοῦ ἑκάτερθεν ἔσαν πτερά· εἴσατο δέ σφι

δεξιὸς ἀΐξας διὰ ἄστεος· οἳ δὲ ἰδόντες

γήθησαν, καὶ πᾶσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἰάνθη.

σπερχόμενος δʼ ὃ γεραιὸς ἑοῦ ἐπεβήσετο δίφρου,

ἐκ δʼ ἔλασε προθύροιο καὶ αἰθούσης ἐριδούπου.

πρόσθε μὲν ἡμίονοι ἕλκον τετράκυκλον ἀπήνην,

τὰς Ἰδαῖος ἔλαυνε δαΐφρων· αὐτὰρ ὄπισθεν

ἵπποι, τοὺς ὃ γέρων ἐφέπων μάστιγι κέλευε

while his friends followed after, wailing and lamenting for him as though he were on his road to death. As soon as they had come down from the city and had reached the plain, his sons and sons-in-law who had followed him went back to Ilion .

καρπαλίμως κατὰ ἄστυ· φίλοι δʼ ἅμα πάντες ἕποντο

πόλλʼ ὀλοφυρόμενοι ὡς εἰ θάνατον δὲ κιόντα.

οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν πόλιος κατέβαν, πεδίον δʼ ἀφίκοντο,

οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἄψορροι προτὶ Ἴλιον ἀπονέοντο

But Priam and Idaios as they showed out upon the plain did not escape the ken of all-seeing Zeus, who looked down upon the old man and pitied him; then he spoke to his son Hermes and said, "Hermes, for it is you who are the most disposed to escort men on their way, and to hear those whom you will hear, go, and so conduct Priam to the ships of the Achaeans that no other of the Danaans shall see him nor take note of him until he reach the son of Peleus."

παῖδες καὶ γαμβροί, τὼ δʼ οὐ λάθον εὐρύοπα Ζῆν

ἐς πεδίον προφανέντε· ἰδὼν δʼ ἐλέησε γέροντα,

αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ Ἑρμείαν υἱὸν φίλον ἀντίον ηὔδα·

Ἑρμεία, σοὶ γάρ τε μάλιστά γε φίλτατόν ἐστιν

ἀνδρὶ ἑταιρίσσαι, καί τʼ ἔκλυες ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα,

βάσκʼ ἴθι καὶ Πρίαμον κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν

ὣς ἄγαγʼ, ὡς μήτʼ ἄρ τις ἴδῃ μήτʼ ἄρ τε νοήσῃ

τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν, πρὶν Πηλεΐωνα δʼ ἱκέσθαι.

Thus he spoke and Hermes, guide and guardian, slayer of Argos , did as he was told. Forthwith he bound on his glittering golden sandals with which he could fly like the wind over land and sea; he took the wand with which he seals men's eyes in sleep, or wakes them just as he pleases, and flew holding it in his hand till he came to Troy and to the Hellespont . To look at, he was like a young man of noble birth in the hey-day of his youth and beauty with the down just coming upon his face.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης.

αὐτίκʼ ἔπειθʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα

ἀμβρόσια χρύσεια, τά μιν φέρον ἠμὲν ἐφʼ ὑγρὴν

ἠδʼ ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν ἅμα πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο·

εἵλετο δὲ ῥάβδον, τῇ τʼ ἀνδρῶν ὄμματα θέλγει

ὧν ἐθέλει, τοὺς δʼ αὖτε καὶ ὑπνώοντας ἐγείρει·

τὴν μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων πέτετο κρατὺς ἀργεϊφόντης.

αἶψα δʼ ἄρα Τροίην τε καὶ Ἑλλήσποντον ἵκανε,

βῆ δʼ ἰέναι κούρῳ αἰσυμνητῆρι ἐοικὼς

πρῶτον ὑπηνήτῃ, τοῦ περ χαριεστάτη ἥβη.

Now when Priam and Idaios had driven past the great tomb [ sêma ] of Ilion , they stayed their mules and horses that they might drink in the river, for the shades of night were falling, when, therefore, Idaios saw Hermes standing near them he said to Priam, "Take heed, descendant of Dardanos ; here is matter which demands consideration [ noos ]. I see a man who I think will presently fall upon us; let us flee with our horses, or at least embrace his knees and implore him to take compassion upon us?

οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν μέγα σῆμα παρὲξ Ἴλοιο ἔλασσαν,

στῆσαν ἄρʼ ἡμιόνους τε καὶ ἵππους ὄφρα πίοιεν

ἐν ποταμῷ· δὴ γὰρ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἤλυθε γαῖαν.

τὸν δʼ ἐξ ἀγχιμόλοιο ἰδὼν ἐφράσσατο κῆρυξ

Ἑρμείαν, ποτὶ δὲ Πρίαμον φάτο φώνησέν τε·

φράζεο Δαρδανίδη· φραδέος νόου ἔργα τέτυκται.

ἄνδρʼ ὁρόω, τάχα δʼ ἄμμε διαρραίσεσθαι ὀΐω.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ φεύγωμεν ἐφʼ ἵππων, ἤ μιν ἔπειτα

When he heard this the old man's heart [ noos ] failed him, and he was in great fear; he stayed where he was as one dazed, and the hair stood on end over his whole body; but the bringer of good luck came up to him and took him by the hand, saying, "Whither, father, are you thus driving your mules and horses in the dead of night when other men are asleep?

γούνων ἁψάμενοι λιτανεύσομεν αἴ κʼ ἐλεήσῃ.

ὣς φάτο, σὺν δὲ γέροντι νόος χύτο, δείδιε δʼ αἰνῶς,

ὀρθαὶ δὲ τρίχες ἔσταν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσι,

στῆ δὲ ταφών· αὐτὸς δʼ ἐριούνιος ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν

χεῖρα γέροντος ἑλὼν ἐξείρετο καὶ προσέειπε·

πῇ πάτερ ὧδʼ ἵππους τε καὶ ἡμιόνους ἰθύνεις

νύκτα διʼ ἀμβροσίην, ὅτε θʼ εὕδουσι βροτοὶ ἄλλοι;

Are you not afraid of the fierce Achaeans who are hard by you, so cruel and relentless? Should some one of them see you bearing so much treasure through the darkness of the fleeing night, what would not your state of mind [ noos ] then be? You are no longer young, and he who is with you is too old to protect you from those who would attack you. For myself, I will do you no harm, and I will defend you from any one else, for you remind me of my own father."

οὐδὲ σύ γʼ ἔδεισας μένεα πνείοντας Ἀχαιούς,

οἵ τοι δυσμενέες καὶ ἀνάρσιοι ἐγγὺς ἔασι;

τῶν εἴ τίς σε ἴδοιτο θοὴν διὰ νύκτα μέλαιναν

τοσσάδʼ ὀνείατʼ ἄγοντα, τίς ἂν δή τοι νόος εἴη;

οὔτʼ αὐτὸς νέος ἐσσί, γέρων δέ τοι οὗτος ὀπηδεῖ,

ἄνδρʼ ἀπαμύνασθαι, ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ.

ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οὐδέν σε ῥέξω κακά, καὶ δέ κεν ἄλλον

σεῦ ἀπαλεξήσαιμι· φίλῳ δέ σε πατρὶ ἐΐσκω.

And Priam answered, "It is indeed as you say, my dear son; nevertheless some god has held his hand over me, in that he has sent such a wayfarer as yourself to meet me so Opportunely; you are so comely in mien and figure, and your judgment [ noos ] is so excellent that you must come of blessed parents."

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα γέρων Πρίαμος θεοειδής·

οὕτω πῃ τάδε γʼ ἐστὶ φίλον τέκος ὡς ἀγορεύεις.

ἀλλʼ ἔτι τις καὶ ἐμεῖο θεῶν ὑπερέσχεθε χεῖρα,

ὅς μοι τοιόνδʼ ἧκεν ὁδοιπόρον ἀντιβολῆσαι

αἴσιον, οἷος δὴ σὺ δέμας καὶ εἶδος ἀγητός,

πέπνυσαί τε νόῳ, μακάρων δʼ ἔξεσσι τοκήων.

Then said the slayer of Argos , guide and guardian, "Sir, all that you have said is right; but tell me and tell me true, are you taking this rich treasure to send it to a foreign people where it may be safe, or are you all leaving strong Ilion in dismay now that your son has fallen who was the bravest man among you and was never lacking in battle with the Achaeans?"

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης·

ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα γέρον κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,

ἠέ πῃ ἐκπέμπεις κειμήλια πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλὰ

ἄνδρας ἐς ἀλλοδαποὺς ἵνα περ τάδε τοι σόα μίμνῃ,

ἦ ἤδη πάντες καταλείπετε Ἴλιον ἱρὴν

δειδιότες· τοῖος γὰρ ἀνὴρ ὤριστος ὄλωλε

σὸς πάϊς· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι μάχης ἐπιδεύετʼ Ἀχαιῶν.

And Priam said, "Who are you, my friend, and who are your parents, that you speak so truly about the fate of my unhappy son?"

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα γέρων Πρίαμος θεοειδής·

τίς δὲ σύ ἐσσι φέριστε τέων δʼ ἔξεσσι τοκήων;

ὥς μοι καλὰ τὸν οἶτον ἀπότμου παιδὸς ἔνισπες.

The slayer of Argos , guide and guardian, answered him, "Sir, you would prove me, that you question me about noble Hektor. Many a time have I set eyes upon him in battle when he was driving the Argives to their ships and putting them to the sword. We stood still and marveled, for Achilles in his anger with the son of Atreus suffered us not to fight. I am his squire [ therapôn ], and came with him in the same ship. I am a Myrmidon, and my father's name is Polyktor: he is a rich man and about as old as you are; he has six sons besides myself, and I am the seventh. We cast lots, and it fell upon me to sail hither with Achilles. I am now come from the ships on to the plain, for with daybreak the Achaeans will set battle in array about the city. They chafe at doing nothing, and are so eager that their princes cannot hold them back."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης·

πειρᾷ ἐμεῖο γεραιὲ καὶ εἴρεαι Ἕκτορα δῖον.

τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ μάλα πολλὰ μάχῃ ἔνι κυδιανείρῃ

ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὄπωπα, καὶ εὖτʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν ἐλάσσας

Ἀργείους κτείνεσκε δαΐζων ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ·

ἡμεῖς δʼ ἑσταότες θαυμάζομεν· οὐ γὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

εἴα μάρνασθαι κεχολωμένος Ἀτρεΐωνι.

τοῦ γὰρ ἐγὼ θεράπων, μία δʼ ἤγαγε νηῦς εὐεργής·

Μυρμιδόνων δʼ ἔξειμι, πατὴρ δέ μοί ἐστι Πολύκτωρ.

ἀφνειὸς μὲν ὅ γʼ ἐστί, γέρων δὲ δὴ ὡς σύ περ ὧδε,

ἓξ δέ οἱ υἷες ἔασιν, ἐγὼ δέ οἱ ἕβδομός εἰμι·

τῶν μέτα παλλόμενος κλήρῳ λάχον ἐνθάδʼ ἕπεσθαι.

νῦν δʼ ἦλθον πεδίον δʼ ἀπὸ νηῶν· ἠῶθεν γὰρ

θήσονται περὶ ἄστυ μάχην ἑλίκωπες Ἀχαιοί.

ἀσχαλόωσι γὰρ οἵδε καθήμενοι, οὐδὲ δύνανται

ἴσχειν ἐσσυμένους πολέμου βασιλῆες Ἀχαιῶν.

Then answered Priam, "If you are indeed the squire [ therapôn ] of Achilles son of Peleus, tell me now the Whole truth. Is my son still at the ships, or has Achilles hewn him limb from limb, and given him to his hounds?"

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα γέρων Πρίαμος θεοειδής·

εἰ μὲν δὴ θεράπων Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος

εἴς, ἄγε δή μοι πᾶσαν ἀληθείην κατάλεξον,

ἢ ἔτι πὰρ νήεσσιν ἐμὸς πάϊς, ἦέ μιν ἤδη

ᾗσι κυσὶν μελεϊστὶ ταμὼν προύθηκεν Ἀχιλλεύς.

"Sir," replied the slayer of Argos , guide and guardian, "neither hounds nor vultures have yet devoured him; he is still just lying at the tents by the ship of Achilles, and though it is now twelve days that he has lain there, his flesh is not wasted nor have the worms eaten him although they feed on warriors. At daybreak Achilles drags him cruelly round the sepulcher [ sêma ] of his dear comrade, but it does him no hurt. You should come yourself and see how he lies fresh as dew, with the blood all washed away, and his wounds every one of them closed though many pierced him with their spears. Such care have the blessed gods taken of your brave son, for he was dear to them beyond all measure."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης·

ὦ γέρον οὔ πω τόν γε κύνες φάγον οὐδʼ οἰωνοί,

ἀλλʼ ἔτι κεῖνος κεῖται Ἀχιλλῆος παρὰ νηῒ

αὔτως ἐν κλισίῃσι· δυωδεκάτη δέ οἱ ἠὼς

κειμένῳ, οὐδέ τί οἱ χρὼς σήπεται, οὐδέ μιν εὐλαὶ

ἔσθουσʼ, αἵ ῥά τε φῶτας ἀρηϊφάτους κατέδουσιν.

ἦ μέν μιν περὶ σῆμα ἑοῦ ἑτάροιο φίλοιο

ἕλκει ἀκηδέστως ἠὼς ὅτε δῖα φανήῃ,

οὐδέ μιν αἰσχύνει· θηοῖό κεν αὐτὸς ἐπελθὼν

οἷον ἐερσήεις κεῖται, περὶ δʼ αἷμα νένιπται,

οὐδέ ποθι μιαρός· σὺν δʼ ἕλκεα πάντα μέμυκεν

ὅσσʼ ἐτύπη· πολέες γὰρ ἐν αὐτῷ χαλκὸν ἔλασσαν.

ὥς τοι κήδονται μάκαρες θεοὶ υἷος ἑῆος

καὶ νέκυός περ ἐόντος, ἐπεί σφι φίλος περὶ κῆρι.

The old man was comforted as he heard him and said, "My son, see what a good thing it is to have made due offerings to the immortals; for as sure as that he was born my son never forgot the gods that hold Olympus , and now they requite it to him even in death. Accept therefore at my hands this goodly chalice; guard me and with heaven's help guide me till I come to the tent of the son of Peleus."

ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δʼ ὃ γέρων, καὶ ἀμείβετο μύθῳ·

ὦ τέκος, ἦ ῥʼ ἀγαθὸν καὶ ἐναίσιμα δῶρα διδοῦναι

ἀθανάτοις, ἐπεὶ οὔ ποτʼ ἐμὸς πάϊς, εἴ ποτʼ ἔην γε,

λήθετʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι θεῶν οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσι·

τώ οἱ ἀπεμνήσαντο καὶ ἐν θανάτοιό περ αἴσῃ.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ τόδε δέξαι ἐμεῦ πάρα καλὸν ἄλεισον,

αὐτόν τε ῥῦσαι, πέμψον δέ με σύν γε θεοῖσιν,

ὄφρά κεν ἐς κλισίην Πηληϊάδεω ἀφίκωμαι.

Then answered the slayer of Argos , guide and guardian, "Sir, you are tempting me and playing upon my youth, but you shall not move me, for you are offering me presents without the knowledge of Achilles whom I fear and hold it great guiltless to defraud, lest some evil presently befall me; but as your guide I would go with you even to Argos itself, and would guard you so carefully whether by sea or land, that no one should attack you through making light of him who was with you."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης·

πειρᾷ ἐμεῖο γεραιὲ νεωτέρου, οὐδέ με πείσεις,

ὅς με κέλῃ σέο δῶρα παρὲξ Ἀχιλῆα δέχεσθαι.

τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ δείδοικα καὶ αἰδέομαι περὶ κῆρι

συλεύειν, μή μοί τι κακὸν μετόπισθε γένηται.

σοὶ δʼ ἂν ἐγὼ πομπὸς καί κε κλυτὸν Ἄργος ἱκοίμην,

ἐνδυκέως ἐν νηῒ θοῇ ἢ πεζὸς ὁμαρτέων·

οὐκ ἄν τίς τοι πομπὸν ὀνοσσάμενος μαχέσαιτο.

The bringer of good luck then sprang on to the chariot, and seizing the whip and reins he breathed fresh spirit into the mules and horses. When they reached the trench and the wall that was before the ships, those who were on guard had just been getting their suppers, and the slayer of Argos threw them all into a deep sleep. Then he drew back the bolts to open the gates, and took Priam inside with the treasure he had upon his wagon. Ere long they came to the lofty dwelling of the son of Peleus for which the Myrmidons had cut pine and which they had built for their king; when they had built it they thatched it with coarse tussock-grass which they had mown out on the plain, and all round it they made a large courtyard, which was fenced with stakes set close together. The gate was barred with a single bolt of pine which it took three men to force into its place, and three to draw back so as to open the gate, but Achilles could draw it by himself. Hermes opened the gate for the old man, and brought in the treasure that he was taking with him for the son of Peleus. Then he sprang from the chariot on to the ground and said, "Sir, it is I, immortal Hermes, that am come with you, for my father sent me to escort you. I will now leave you, and will not enter into the presence of Achilles, for it might anger him that a god should befriend mortal men thus openly. Go you within, and embrace the knees of the son of Peleus: beseech him by his father, his lovely mother, and his son; thus you may move him."

ἦ καὶ ἀναΐξας ἐριούνιος ἅρμα καὶ ἵππους

καρπαλίμως μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία λάζετο χερσίν,

ἐν δʼ ἔπνευσʼ ἵπποισι καὶ ἡμιόνοις μένος ἠΰ.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πύργους τε νεῶν καὶ τάφρον ἵκοντο,

οἳ δὲ νέον περὶ δόρπα φυλακτῆρες πονέοντο,

τοῖσι δʼ ἐφʼ ὕπνον ἔχευε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης

πᾶσιν, ἄφαρ δʼ ὤϊξε πύλας καὶ ἀπῶσεν ὀχῆας,

ἐς δʼ ἄγαγε Πρίαμόν τε καὶ ἀγλαὰ δῶρʼ ἐπʼ ἀπήνης.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ κλισίην Πηληϊάδεω ἀφίκοντο

ὑψηλήν, τὴν Μυρμιδόνες ποίησαν ἄνακτι

δοῦρʼ ἐλάτης κέρσαντες· ἀτὰρ καθύπερθεν ἔρεψαν

λαχνήεντʼ ὄροφον λειμωνόθεν ἀμήσαντες·

ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ μεγάλην αὐλὴν ποίησαν ἄνακτι

σταυροῖσιν πυκινοῖσι· θύρην δʼ ἔχε μοῦνος ἐπιβλὴς

εἰλάτινος, τὸν τρεῖς μὲν ἐπιρρήσσεσκον Ἀχαιοί,

τρεῖς δʼ ἀναοίγεσκον μεγάλην κληῗδα θυράων

τῶν ἄλλων· Ἀχιλεὺς δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπιρρήσσεσκε καὶ οἶος·

δή ῥα τόθʼ Ἑρμείας ἐριούνιος ᾦξε γέροντι,

ἐς δʼ ἄγαγε κλυτὰ δῶρα ποδώκεϊ Πηλεΐωνι,

ἐξ ἵππων δʼ ἀπέβαινεν ἐπὶ χθόνα φώνησέν τε·

ὦ γέρον ἤτοι ἐγὼ θεὸς ἄμβροτος εἰλήλουθα

Ἑρμείας· σοὶ γάρ με πατὴρ ἅμα πομπὸν ὄπασσεν.

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ πάλιν εἴσομαι, οὐδʼ Ἀχιλῆος

ὀφθαλμοὺς εἴσειμι· νεμεσσητὸν δέ κεν εἴη

ἀθάνατον θεὸν ὧδε βροτοὺς ἀγαπαζέμεν ἄντην·

τύνη δʼ εἰσελθὼν λαβὲ γούνατα Πηλεΐωνος,

καί μιν ὑπὲρ πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος ἠϋκόμοιο

λίσσεο καὶ τέκεος, ἵνα οἱ σὺν θυμὸν ὀρίνῃς.

With these words Hermes went back to high Olympus . Priam sprang from his chariot to the ground, leaving Idaios where he was, in charge of the mules and horses. The old man went straight into the house where Achilles, loved of the gods, was sitting. There he found him with his men seated at a distance from him: only two, the hero Automedon, and Alkimos of the race of Ares, were busy in attendance about his person, for he had but just done eating and drinking,

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη πρὸς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον

Ἑρμείας· Πρίαμος δʼ ἐξ ἵππων ἆλτο χαμᾶζε,

Ἰδαῖον δὲ κατʼ αὖθι λίπεν· ὃ δὲ μίμνεν ἐρύκων

ἵππους ἡμιόνους τε· γέρων δʼ ἰθὺς κίεν οἴκου,

τῇ ῥʼ Ἀχιλεὺς ἵζεσκε Διῒ φίλος· ἐν δέ μιν αὐτὸν

εὗρʼ, ἕταροι δʼ ἀπάνευθε καθήατο· τὼ δὲ δύʼ οἴω

ἥρως Αὐτομέδων τε καὶ Ἄλκιμος ὄζος Ἄρηος

and the table was still there. King Priam entered without their seeing him, and going right up to Achilles he clasped his knees and kissed the dread murderous hands that had slain so many of his sons.

ποίπνυον παρεόντε· νέον δʼ ἀπέληγεν ἐδωδῆς

ἔσθων καὶ πίνων· ἔτι καὶ παρέκειτο τράπεζα.

τοὺς δʼ ἔλαθʼ εἰσελθὼν Πρίαμος μέγας, ἄγχι δʼ ἄρα στὰς

χερσὶν Ἀχιλλῆος λάβε γούνατα καὶ κύσε χεῖρας

δεινὰς ἀνδροφόνους, αἵ οἱ πολέας κτάνον υἷας.

As when some cruel spite [ atê ] has befallen a man that he should have killed some one in his own country, and must flee to a great man's protection in a land [ dêmos ] of strangers, and all marvel who see him, even so did Achilles marvel as he beheld Priam. The others looked one to another and marveled also, but Priam besought Achilles saying, "Think of your father, O Achilles like unto the gods, who is such even as I am, on the sad threshold of old age. It may be that those who dwell near him harass him, and there is none to keep war and ruin from him. Yet when he hears of you being still alive, he is glad, and his days are full of hope that he shall see his dear son come home to him from Troy ; but I, wretched man that I am, had the bravest in all Troy for my sons, and there is not one of them left. I had fifty sons when the Achaeans came here; nineteen of them were from a single womb, and the others were borne to me by the women of my household. The greater part of them has fierce Ares laid low, and Hektor, him who was alone left, him who was the guardian of the city and ourselves, him have you lately slain; therefore I am now come to the ships of the Achaeans to ransom his body from you with a great ransom. Fear, O Achilles, the wrath of heaven; think on your own father and have compassion upon me, who am the more pitiable, for I have steeled myself as no man yet has ever steeled himself before me, and have raised to my lips the hand of him who slew my son."

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἄνδρʼ ἄτη πυκινὴ λάβῃ, ὅς τʼ ἐνὶ πάτρῃ

φῶτα κατακτείνας ἄλλων ἐξίκετο δῆμον

ἀνδρὸς ἐς ἀφνειοῦ, θάμβος δʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωντας,

ὣς Ἀχιλεὺς θάμβησεν ἰδὼν Πρίαμον θεοειδέα·

θάμβησαν δὲ καὶ ἄλλοι, ἐς ἀλλήλους δὲ ἴδοντο.

τὸν καὶ λισσόμενος Πρίαμος πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·

μνῆσαι πατρὸς σοῖο θεοῖς ἐπιείκελʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ,

τηλίκου ὥς περ ἐγών, ὀλοῷ ἐπὶ γήραος οὐδῷ·

καὶ μέν που κεῖνον περιναιέται ἀμφὶς ἐόντες

τείρουσʼ, οὐδέ τίς ἐστιν ἀρὴν καὶ λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι.

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι κεῖνός γε σέθεν ζώοντος ἀκούων

χαίρει τʼ ἐν θυμῷ, ἐπί τʼ ἔλπεται ἤματα πάντα

ὄψεσθαι φίλον υἱὸν ἀπὸ Τροίηθεν ἰόντα·

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ πανάποτμος, ἐπεὶ τέκον υἷας ἀρίστους

Τροίῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ, τῶν δʼ οὔ τινά φημι λελεῖφθαι.

πεντήκοντά μοι ἦσαν ὅτʼ ἤλυθον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν·

ἐννεακαίδεκα μέν μοι ἰῆς ἐκ νηδύος ἦσαν,

τοὺς δʼ ἄλλους μοι ἔτικτον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκες.

τῶν μὲν πολλῶν θοῦρος Ἄρης ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσεν·

ὃς δέ μοι οἶος ἔην, εἴρυτο δὲ ἄστυ καὶ αὐτούς,

τὸν σὺ πρῴην κτεῖνας ἀμυνόμενον περὶ πάτρης

Ἕκτορα· τοῦ νῦν εἵνεχʼ ἱκάνω νῆας Ἀχαιῶν

λυσόμενος παρὰ σεῖο, φέρω δʼ ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα.

ἀλλʼ αἰδεῖο θεοὺς Ἀχιλεῦ, αὐτόν τʼ ἐλέησον

μνησάμενος σοῦ πατρός· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐλεεινότερός περ,

ἔτλην δʼ οἷʼ οὔ πώ τις ἐπιχθόνιος βροτὸς ἄλλος,

ἀνδρὸς παιδοφόνοιο ποτὶ στόμα χεῖρʼ ὀρέγεσθαι.

Thus spoke Priam, and the heart of Achilles yearned as he bethought him of his father. He took the old man's hand and moved him gently away. The two wept bitterly - Priam, as he lay at Achilles' feet, weeping for Hektor, and Achilles now for his father and now for Patroklos, till the house was filled with their lamentation. But when Achilles was now sated with grief

ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἄρα πατρὸς ὑφʼ ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο·

ἁψάμενος δʼ ἄρα χειρὸς ἀπώσατο ἦκα γέροντα.

τὼ δὲ μνησαμένω ὃ μὲν Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο

κλαῖʼ ἁδινὰ προπάροιθε ποδῶν Ἀχιλῆος ἐλυσθείς,

αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς κλαῖεν ἑὸν πατέρʼ, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτε

Πάτροκλον· τῶν δὲ στοναχὴ κατὰ δώματʼ ὀρώρει.

and had unburdened the bitterness of his sorrow, he left his seat and raised the old man by the hand, in pity for his white hair and beard; then he said, "Unhappy man, you have indeed been greatly daring; how could you venture to come alone to the ships of the Achaeans, and enter the presence of him who has slain so many of your brave sons? You must have iron courage: sit now upon this seat, and for all our grief we will hide our sorrows in our hearts, for weeping will not avail us. The immortals know no care, yet the lot they spin for man is full of sorrow; on the floor of Zeus' palace there stand two urns, the one filled with evil gifts, and the other with good ones. He for whom Zeus the lord of thunder mixes the gifts he sends, will meet now with good and now with evil fortune; but he to whom Zeus sends none but evil gifts will be pointed at by the finger of scorn, the hand of famine will pursue him to the ends of the world, and he will go up and down the face of the earth, respected neither by gods nor men. Even so did it befall Peleus; the gods endowed him with all good things from his birth upwards, for he reigned over the Myrmidons excelling all men in prosperity [olbos] and wealth, and mortal though he was they gave him a goddess for his bride. But even on him too did heaven send misfortune, for there is no race of royal children born to him in his house, save one son who is doomed to die all untimely; nor may I take care of him now that he is growing old, for I must stay here at Troy to be the bane of you and your children. And you too, O Priam, I have heard that you were aforetime happy [ olbios ]. They say that in wealth and plenitude of offspring you surpassed all that is in Lesbos , the realm of Makar to the northward, Phrygia that is more inland, and those that dwell upon the great Hellespont ; but from the day when the dwellers in heaven sent this evil upon you, war and slaughter have been about your city continually.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥα γόοιο τετάρπετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,

καί οἱ ἀπὸ πραπίδων ἦλθʼ ἵμερος ἠδʼ ἀπὸ γυίων,

αὐτίκʼ ἀπὸ θρόνου ὦρτο, γέροντα δὲ χειρὸς ἀνίστη

οἰκτίρων πολιόν τε κάρη πολιόν τε γένειον,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ἆ δείλʼ, ἦ δὴ πολλὰ κάκʼ ἄνσχεο σὸν κατὰ θυμόν.

πῶς ἔτλης ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν ἐλθέμεν οἶος

ἀνδρὸς ἐς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὅς τοι πολέας τε καὶ ἐσθλοὺς

υἱέας ἐξενάριξα; σιδήρειόν νύ τοι ἦτορ.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζευ ἐπὶ θρόνου, ἄλγεα δʼ ἔμπης

ἐν θυμῷ κατακεῖσθαι ἐάσομεν ἀχνύμενοί περ·

οὐ γάρ τις πρῆξις πέλεται κρυεροῖο γόοιο·

ὡς γὰρ ἐπεκλώσαντο θεοὶ δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσι

ζώειν ἀχνυμένοις· αὐτοὶ δέ τʼ ἀκηδέες εἰσί.

δοιοὶ γάρ τε πίθοι κατακείαται ἐν Διὸς οὔδει

δώρων οἷα δίδωσι κακῶν, ἕτερος δὲ ἑάων·

ᾧ μέν κʼ ἀμμίξας δώῃ Ζεὺς τερπικέραυνος,

ἄλλοτε μέν τε κακῷ ὅ γε κύρεται, ἄλλοτε δʼ ἐσθλῷ·

ᾧ δέ κε τῶν λυγρῶν δώῃ, λωβητὸν ἔθηκε,

καί ἑ κακὴ βούβρωστις ἐπὶ χθόνα δῖαν ἐλαύνει,

φοιτᾷ δʼ οὔτε θεοῖσι τετιμένος οὔτε βροτοῖσιν.

ὣς μὲν καὶ Πηλῆϊ θεοὶ δόσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα

ἐκ γενετῆς· πάντας γὰρ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους ἐκέκαστο

ὄλβῳ τε πλούτῳ τε, ἄνασσε δὲ Μυρμιδόνεσσι,

καί οἱ θνητῷ ἐόντι θεὰν ποίησαν ἄκοιτιν.

ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ καὶ τῷ θῆκε θεὸς κακόν, ὅττί οἱ οὔ τι

παίδων ἐν μεγάροισι γονὴ γένετο κρειόντων,

ἀλλʼ ἕνα παῖδα τέκεν παναώριον· οὐδέ νυ τόν γε

γηράσκοντα κομίζω, ἐπεὶ μάλα τηλόθι πάτρης

ἧμαι ἐνὶ Τροίῃ, σέ τε κήδων ἠδὲ σὰ τέκνα.

καὶ σὲ γέρον τὸ πρὶν μὲν ἀκούομεν ὄλβιον εἶναι·

ὅσσον Λέσβος ἄνω Μάκαρος ἕδος ἐντὸς ἐέργει

καὶ Φρυγίη καθύπερθε καὶ Ἑλλήσποντος ἀπείρων,

τῶν σε γέρον πλούτῳ τε καὶ υἱάσι φασὶ κεκάσθαι.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί τοι πῆμα τόδʼ ἤγαγον Οὐρανίωνες

αἰεί τοι περὶ ἄστυ μάχαι τʼ ἀνδροκτασίαι τε.

Bear up against it, and let there be some intervals in your sorrow. Mourn as you may for your brave son, you will take nothing by it. You cannot raise him from the dead, ere you do so yet another sorrow shall befall you."

ἄνσχεο, μὴ δʼ ἀλίαστον ὀδύρεο σὸν κατὰ θυμόν·

οὐ γάρ τι πρήξεις ἀκαχήμενος υἷος ἑῆος,

οὐδέ μιν ἀνστήσεις, πρὶν καὶ κακὸν ἄλλο πάθῃσθα.

And Priam answered, "O king, bid me not be seated, while Hektor is still lying uncared for in your tents, but accept the great ransom which I have brought you, and give him to me at once that I may look upon him. May you prosper with the ransom and reach your own land in safety, seeing that you have suffered me to live and to look upon the light of the sun."

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα γέρων Πρίαμος θεοειδής·

μή πω μʼ ἐς θρόνον ἵζε διοτρεφὲς ὄφρά κεν Ἕκτωρ

κεῖται ἐνὶ κλισίῃσιν ἀκηδής, ἀλλὰ τάχιστα

λῦσον ἵνʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδω· σὺ δὲ δέξαι ἄποινα

πολλά, τά τοι φέρομεν· σὺ δὲ τῶνδʼ ἀπόναιο, καὶ ἔλθοις

σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν, ἐπεί με πρῶτον ἔασας

αὐτόν τε ζώειν καὶ ὁρᾶν φάος ἠελίοιο.

Achilles looked at him sternly and said, "Vex me, sir, no longer; I am of myself minded to give up the body of Hektor. My mother, daughter of the old man of the sea, came to me from Zeus to bid me deliver it to you. Moreover I know well, O Priam, and you cannot hide it, that some god has brought you to the ships of the Achaeans, for else, no man however strong and in his prime would dare to come to our host; he could neither pass our guard unseen, nor draw the bolt of my gates thus easily; therefore, provoke me no further, lest I err against the word of Zeus, and suffer you not, suppliant though you are, within my tents."

τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·

μηκέτι νῦν μʼ ἐρέθιζε γέρον· νοέω δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς

Ἕκτορά τοι λῦσαι, Διόθεν δέ μοι ἄγγελος ἦλθε

μήτηρ, ἥ μʼ ἔτεκεν, θυγάτηρ ἁλίοιο γέροντος.

καὶ δέ σε γιγνώσκω Πρίαμε φρεσίν, οὐδέ με λήθεις,

ὅττι θεῶν τίς σʼ ἦγε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν.

οὐ γάρ κε τλαίη βροτὸς ἐλθέμεν, οὐδὲ μάλʼ ἡβῶν,

ἐς στρατόν· οὐδὲ γὰρ ἂν φυλάκους λάθοι, οὐδέ κʼ ὀχῆα

ῥεῖα μετοχλίσσειε θυράων ἡμετεράων.

τὼ νῦν μή μοι μᾶλλον ἐν ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ὀρίνῃς,

μή σε γέρον οὐδʼ αὐτὸν ἐνὶ κλισίῃσιν ἐάσω

καὶ ἱκέτην περ ἐόντα, Διὸς δʼ ἀλίτωμαι ἐφετμάς.

The old man feared him and obeyed. Then the son of Peleus sprang like a lion through the door of his house, not alone, but with him went his two squires [ therapontes ] Automedon and Alkimos who were closer to him than any others of his comrades now that Patroklos was no more. These unyoked the horses and mules, and bade Priam's herald and attendant be seated within the house. They lifted the ransom for Hektor's body from the wagon. but they left two mantles and a goodly shirt, that Achilles might wrap the body in them when he gave it to be taken home. Then he called to his servants and ordered them to wash the body and anoint it, but he first took it to a place where Priam should not see it, lest if he did so, he should break out in the bitterness of his grief, and enrage Achilles, who might then kill him and err against the word of Zeus. When the servants had washed the body and anointed it, and had wrapped it in a fair shirt and mantle, Achilles himself lifted it on to a bier, and he and his men then laid it on the wagon. He cried aloud as he did so and called on the name of his dear comrade, "Be not angry with me, Patroklos," he said, "if you hear even in the house of Hades that I have given Hektor to his father for a ransom. It has been no unworthy one, and I will share it equitably with you."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἔδεισεν δʼ ὃ γέρων καὶ ἐπείθετο μύθῳ.

Πηλεΐδης δʼ οἴκοιο λέων ὣς ἆλτο θύραζε

οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω θεράποντες ἕποντο

ἥρως Αὐτομέδων ἠδʼ Ἄλκιμος, οὕς ῥα μάλιστα

τῖʼ Ἀχιλεὺς ἑτάρων μετὰ Πάτροκλόν γε θανόντα,

οἳ τόθʼ ὑπὸ ζυγόφιν λύον ἵππους ἡμιόνους τε,

ἐς δʼ ἄγαγον κήρυκα καλήτορα τοῖο γέροντος,

κὰδ δʼ ἐπὶ δίφρου εἷσαν· ἐϋξέστου δʼ ἀπʼ ἀπήνης

ᾕρεον Ἑκτορέης κεφαλῆς ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα.

κὰδ δʼ ἔλιπον δύο φάρεʼ ἐΰννητόν τε χιτῶνα,

ὄφρα νέκυν πυκάσας δοίη οἶκον δὲ φέρεσθαι.

δμῳὰς δʼ ἐκκαλέσας λοῦσαι κέλετʼ ἀμφί τʼ ἀλεῖψαι

νόσφιν ἀειράσας, ὡς μὴ Πρίαμος ἴδοι υἱόν,

μὴ ὃ μὲν ἀχνυμένῃ κραδίῃ χόλον οὐκ ἐρύσαιτο

παῖδα ἰδών, Ἀχιλῆϊ δʼ ὀρινθείη φίλον ἦτορ,

καί ἑ κατακτείνειε, Διὸς δʼ ἀλίτηται ἐφετμάς.

τὸν δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δμῳαὶ λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ,

ἀμφὶ δέ μιν φᾶρος καλὸν βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,

αὐτὸς τόν γʼ Ἀχιλεὺς λεχέων ἐπέθηκεν ἀείρας,

σὺν δʼ ἕταροι ἤειραν ἐϋξέστην ἐπʼ ἀπήνην.

ᾤμωξέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα, φίλον δʼ ὀνόμηνεν ἑταῖρον·

μή μοι Πάτροκλε σκυδμαινέμεν, αἴ κε πύθηαι

εἰν Ἄϊδός περ ἐὼν ὅτι Ἕκτορα δῖον ἔλυσα

πατρὶ φίλῳ, ἐπεὶ οὔ μοι ἀεικέα δῶκεν ἄποινα.

σοὶ δʼ αὖ ἐγὼ καὶ τῶνδʼ ἀποδάσσομαι ὅσσʼ ἐπέοικεν.

Achilles then went back into the tent and took his place on the richly inlaid seat from which he had risen, by the wall that was at right angles to the one against which Priam was sitting. "Sir," he said, "your son is now laid upon his bier and is ransomed according to desire; you shall look upon him when you him away at daybreak; for the present let us prepare our supper. Even lovely Niobe had to think about eating, though her twelve children - six daughters and six lusty sons - had been all slain in her house. Apollo killed the sons with arrows from his silver bow, to punish Niobe, and Artemis slew the daughters, because Niobe had vaunted herself against Leto; she said Leto had borne two children only, whereas she had herself borne many - whereon the two killed the many. Nine days did they lie weltering, and there was none to bury them, for the son of Kronos turned the people into stone; but on the tenth day the gods in heaven themselves buried them, and Niobe then took food, being worn out with weeping. They say that somewhere among the rocks on the mountain pastures of Sipylos, where the nymphs live that haunt the river Akheloos, there, they say, she lives in stone and still nurses the sorrows sent upon her by the hand of heaven. Therefore, noble sir, let us two now take food; you can weep for your dear son hereafter as you are bearing him back to Ilion - and many a tear will he cost you."

ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἐς κλισίην πάλιν ἤϊε δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,

ἕζετο δʼ ἐν κλισμῷ πολυδαιδάλῳ ἔνθεν ἀνέστη

τοίχου τοῦ ἑτέρου, ποτὶ δὲ Πρίαμον φάτο μῦθον·

υἱὸς μὲν δή τοι λέλυται γέρον ὡς ἐκέλευες,

κεῖται δʼ ἐν λεχέεσσʼ· ἅμα δʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν

ὄψεαι αὐτὸς ἄγων· νῦν δὲ μνησώμεθα δόρπου.

καὶ γάρ τʼ ἠΰκομος Νιόβη ἐμνήσατο σίτου,

τῇ περ δώδεκα παῖδες ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὄλοντο

ἓξ μὲν θυγατέρες, ἓξ δʼ υἱέες ἡβώοντες.

τοὺς μὲν Ἀπόλλων πέφνεν ἀπʼ ἀργυρέοιο βιοῖο

χωόμενος Νιόβῃ, τὰς δʼ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα,

οὕνεκʼ ἄρα Λητοῖ ἰσάσκετο καλλιπαρῄῳ·

φῆ δοιὼ τεκέειν, ἣ δʼ αὐτὴ γείνατο πολλούς·

τὼ δʼ ἄρα καὶ δοιώ περ ἐόντʼ ἀπὸ πάντας ὄλεσσαν.

οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐννῆμαρ κέατʼ ἐν φόνῳ, οὐδέ τις ἦεν

κατθάψαι, λαοὺς δὲ λίθους ποίησε Κρονίων·

τοὺς δʼ ἄρα τῇ δεκάτῃ θάψαν θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες.

ἣ δʼ ἄρα σίτου μνήσατʼ, ἐπεὶ κάμε δάκρυ χέουσα.

νῦν δέ που ἐν πέτρῃσιν ἐν οὔρεσιν οἰοπόλοισιν

ἐν Σιπύλῳ, ὅθι φασὶ θεάων ἔμμεναι εὐνὰς

νυμφάων, αἵ τʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀχελώϊον ἐρρώσαντο,

ἔνθα λίθος περ ἐοῦσα θεῶν ἐκ κήδεα πέσσει.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ καὶ νῶϊ μεδώμεθα δῖε γεραιὲ

σίτου· ἔπειτά κεν αὖτε φίλον παῖδα κλαίοισθα

Ἴλιον εἰσαγαγών· πολυδάκρυτος δέ τοι ἔσται.

With this Achilles sprang from his seat and killed a sheep of silvery whiteness, which his followers skinned and made ready all in due order [ kosmos ]. They cut the meat carefully up into smaller pieces, spitted them, and drew them off again when they were well roasted. Automedon brought bread in fair baskets and served it round the table, while Achilles dealt out the meat, and they laid their hands on the good things that were before them. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Priam, descendant of Dardanos , marveled at the strength and beauty of Achilles for he was as a god to see, and Achilles marveled at Priam as he listened to him and looked upon his noble presence. When they had gazed their fill Priam spoke first. "And now, O king," he said, "take me to my couch that we may lie down and enjoy the blessed boon of sleep. Never once have my eyes been closed from the day your hands took the life of my son; I have groveled without ceasing in the mire of my stable-yard, making moan and brooding over my countless sorrows. Now, moreover, I have eaten bread and drunk wine; hitherto I have tasted nothing."

ἦ καὶ ἀναΐξας ὄϊν ἄργυφον ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεὺς

σφάξʼ· ἕταροι δʼ ἔδερόν τε καὶ ἄμφεπον εὖ κατὰ κόσμον,

μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρʼ ἐπισταμένως πεῖράν τʼ ὀβελοῖσιν,

ὄπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα.

Αὐτομέδων δʼ ἄρα σῖτον ἑλὼν ἐπένειμε τραπέζῃ

καλοῖς ἐν κανέοισιν· ἀτὰρ κρέα νεῖμεν Ἀχιλλεύς.

οἳ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

ἤτοι Δαρδανίδης Πρίαμος θαύμαζʼ Ἀχιλῆα

ὅσσος ἔην οἷός τε· θεοῖσι γὰρ ἄντα ἐῴκει·

αὐτὰρ ὃ Δαρδανίδην Πρίαμον θαύμαζεν Ἀχιλλεὺς

εἰσορόων ὄψίν τʼ ἀγαθὴν καὶ μῦθον ἀκούων.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ἐς ἀλλήλους ὁρόωντες,

τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε γέρων Πρίαμος θεοειδής·

λέξον νῦν με τάχιστα διοτρεφές, ὄφρα καὶ ἤδη

ὕπνῳ ὕπο γλυκερῷ ταρπώμεθα κοιμηθέντες·

οὐ γάρ πω μύσαν ὄσσε ὑπὸ βλεφάροισιν ἐμοῖσιν

ἐξ οὗ σῇς ὑπὸ χερσὶν ἐμὸς πάϊς ὤλεσε θυμόν,

ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ στενάχω καὶ κήδεα μυρία πέσσω

αὐλῆς ἐν χόρτοισι κυλινδόμενος κατὰ κόπρον.

νῦν δὴ καὶ σίτου πασάμην καὶ αἴθοπα οἶνον

As he spoke Achilles told his men and the women-servants to set beds in the room that was in the gatehouse, and make them with good red rugs, and spread coverlets on the top of them with woolen cloaks for Priam and Idaios to wear. So the maids went out carrying a torch and got the two beds ready in all haste. Then Achilles said laughingly to Priam, "Dear sir, you shall lie outside, lest some counselor of those who, as is right [ themis ], keep coming to advise with me should see you here in the darkness of the fleeing night, and tell it to Agamemnon. This might cause delay in the delivery of the body. And now tell me and tell me true, for how many days would you celebrate the funeral rites of noble Hektor? Tell me, that I may hold aloof from war and restrain the host."

λαυκανίης καθέηκα· πάρος γε μὲν οὔ τι πεπάσμην.

ἦ ῥʼ, Ἀχιλεὺς δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἰδὲ δμῳῇσι κέλευσε

δέμνιʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ θέμεναι καὶ ῥήγεα καλὰ

πορφύρεʼ ἐμβαλέειν, στορέσαι τʼ ἐφύπερθε τάπητας,

χλαίνας τʼ ἐνθέμεναι οὔλας καθύπερθεν ἕσασθαι.

αἳ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι,

αἶψα δʼ ἄρα στόρεσαν δοιὼ λέχεʼ ἐγκονέουσαι.