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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 Dardanus； marvelled at the strength
and beauty of Achilles for he was as a god to see； and Achilles
marvelled 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 grovelled
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。〃
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 woollen cloaks
for Priam and Idaeus 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 counsellor of
those who in due course keep coming to advise with me should see you
here in the darkness of the flying 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 Hector？ Tell me； that I may hold aloof from war and
restrain the host。〃
And Priam answered； 〃Since； then； you suffer me to bury my noble son
with all due rites； do thus； Achilles； and I shall be grateful。 You
know how we are pent up within our city； it is far for us to fetch
wood from the mountain； and the people live in fear。 Nine days；
therefore； will we mourn Hector in my house； on the tenth day we
will bury him and there shall be a public feast in his honour； on
the eleventh we will build a mound over his ashes； and on the twelfth；
if there be need； we will fight。〃
And Achilles answered； 〃All； King Priam； shall be as you have
said。 I will stay our fighting for as long a time as you have named。〃
As he spoke he laid his hand on the old man's right wrist； in
token that he should have no fear； thus then did Priam and his
attendant sleep there in the forecourt； full of thought； while
Achilles lay in an inner room of the house； with fair Briseis by his
side。
And now both gods and mortals were fast asleep through the
livelong night； but upon Mercury alone； the bringer of good luck；
sleep could take no hold for he was thinking all the time how to get
King Priam away from the ships without his being seen by the strong
force of sentinels。 He hovered therefore over Priam's head and said；
〃Sir； now that Achilles has spared your life； you seem to have no fear
about sleeping in the thick of your foes。 You have paid a great
ransom； and have received the body of your son； were you still alive
and a prisoner the sons whom you have left at home would have to
give three times as much to free you； and so it would be if
Agamemnon and the other Achaeans were to know of your being here。〃
When he heard this the old man was afraid and roused his servant。
Mercury then yoked their horses and mules； and drove them quickly
through the host so that no man perceived them。 When they came to
the ford of eddying Xanthus； begotten of immortal Jove； Mercury went
back to high Olympus； and dawn in robe of saffron began to break
over all the land。 Priam and Idaeus then drove on toward the city
lamenting and making moan； and the mules drew the body of Hector。 No
one neither man nor woman saw them； till Cassandra； fair as golden
Venus standing on Pergamus； caught sight of her dear father in his
chariot； and his servant that was the city's herald with him。 Then she
saw him that was lying upon the bier； drawn by the mules； and with a
loud cry she went about the city saying； 〃Come hither Trojans； men and
women； and look on Hector； if ever you rejoiced to see him coming from
battle when he was alive； look now on him that was the glory of our
city and all our people。〃
At this there was not man nor woman left in the city； so great a
sorrow had possessed them。 Hard by the gates they met Priam as he
was bringing in the body。 Hector's wife and his mother were the
first to mourn him： they flew towards the waggon and laid their
hands upon his head； while the crowd stood weeping round them。 They
would have stayed before the gates； weeping and lamenting the livelong
day to the going down of the sun； had not Priam spoken to them from
the chariot and said； 〃Make way for the mules to pass you。
Afterwards when I have taken the body home you shall have your fill of
weeping。〃
On this the people stood asunder； and made a way for the waggon。
When they had borne the body within the house they laid it upon a
bed and seated minstrels round it to lead the dirge； whereon the women
joined in the sad music of their lament。 Foremost among them all
Andromache led their wailing as she clasped the head of mighty
Hector in her embrace。 〃Husband；〃 she cried； 〃you have died young； and
leave me in your house a widow； he of whom we are the ill…starred
parents is still a mere child； and I fear he may not reach manhood。
Ere he can do so our city will be razed and overthrown； for you who
watched over it are no more… you who were its saviour； the guardian of
our wives and children。 Our women will be carried away captives to the
ships； and I among them； while you； my child； who will be with me will
be put to some unseemly tasks； working for a cruel master。 Or； may be；
some Achaean will hurl you （O miserable death） from our walls； to
avenge some brother； son； or father whom Hector slew； many of them
have indeed bitten the dust at his hands； for your father's hand in
battle was no light one。 Therefore do the people mourn him。 You have
left； O Hector； sorrow unutterable to your parents； and my own grief
is greatest of all； for you did not stretch forth your arms and
embrace me as you lay dying； nor say to me any words that might have
lived with me in my tears night and day for evermore。〃
Bitterly did she weep the while； and the women joined in her lament。
Hecuba in her turn took up the strains of woe。 〃Hector；〃 she cried；
〃dearest to me of all my children。 So long as you were alive the
gods loved you well； and even in death they have not been utterly
unmindful of you； for when Achilles took any other of my sons； he
would sell him beyond the seas； to Samos Imbrus or rugged Lemnos；
and when he had slain you too with his sword； many a time did he
drag you round the sepulchre of his comrade… though this could not
give him life… yet here you lie all fresh as dew； and comely as one
whom Apollo has slain with his painless shafts。〃
Thus did she too speak through her tears with bitter moan； and
then Helen for a third time took up the strain of lamentation。
〃Hector；〃 said she； 〃dearest of all my brothers…i