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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