The Iliad
Book XIX
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 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 seashore, 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 wars 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.
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