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of Saturn with the blessed gods that live for ever assembled near him。
Minerva gave up her seat to her； and she sat down by the side of
father Jove。 Juno 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。
〃So； goddess；〃 said he； 〃for all your sorrow； and the grief 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 quarrelling about Achilles waster of
cities and the body of Hector。 The gods would have Mercury slayer of
Argus steal the body； but in furtherance of our peace and amity
henceforward； I will concede such honour 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 Hector 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。
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 Jove； he says that the gods
are angry with you； and himself more angry than them all； in that
you keep Hector at the ships and will not give him up。 Therefore let
him go； and accept a ransom for his body。〃
And Achilles answered； 〃So be it。 If Olympian Jove of his own motion
thus commands me； let him that brings the ransom bear the body away。〃
Thus did mother and son talk together at the ships in long discourse
with one another。 Meanwhile the son of Saturn sent Iris to the
strong city of Ilius。 〃Go；〃 said he； 〃fleet Iris； from the mansions of
Olympus； and tell King Priam in Ilius； 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 honoured
servant who may drive his mules and waggon； 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 Argus 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 sin
not； and he will entreat a suppliant with all honourable courtesy。〃
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 grovelling in the mire。 His daughters and his sons' wives
went wailing about the house； as they thought of the many and brave
men who lay dead； slain by the Argives。 The messenger of Jove stood by
Priam and spoke softly to him； but fear fell upon him as she did so。
〃Take heart；〃 she said； 〃Priam offspring of Dardanus； take heart and
fear not。 I bring no evil tidings； but am minded well towards you。 I
come as a messenger from Jove； who though he be not near； takes
thought for you and pities you。 The lord of Olympus bids you go and
ransom noble Hector； and take with you such gifts as shall give
satisfaction to Achilles。 You are to go alone； with no Trojan； save
only some honoured servant who may drive your mules and waggon； 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 Jove will
send the slayer of Argus 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 sin not； and he will entreat a
suppliant with all honourable courtesy。〃
Iris went her way when she had thus spoken； and Priam told his
sons to get a mule…waggon ready； and to make the body of the waggon
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。〃
His wife cried aloud as she heard him； and said； 〃Alas； what has
become of that judgement 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 Hector 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 defence of Trojan men and Trojan women。〃
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 prophet 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。〃
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 give