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and cut up； many a tusked boar moreover； fat and well…fed； did
they singe and set to roast in the flames of Vulcan； and rivulets
of blood flowed all round the place where the body was lying。
Then the princes of the Achaeans took the son of Peleus to
Agamemnon； but hardly could they persuade him to e with them；
so wroth was he for the death of his rade。 As soon as they
reached Agamemnon's tent they told the serving…men to set a large
tripod over the fire in case they might persuade the son of
Peleus to wash the clotted gore from this body； but he denied
them sternly； and swore it with a solemn oath； saying； 〃Nay； by
King Jove； first and mightiest of all gods； it is not meet that
water should touch my body； till I have laid Patroclus on the
flames； have built him a barrow； and shaved my headfor so long
as I live no such second sorrow shall ever draw nigh me。 Now；
therefore； let us do all that this sad festival demands； but at
break of day； King Agamemnon； bid your men bring wood； and
provide all else that the dead may duly take into the realm of
darkness； the fire shall thus burn him out of our sight the
sooner； and the people shall turn again to their own labours。〃
Thus did he speak； and they did even as he had said。 They made
haste to prepare the meal； they ate； and every man had his full
share so that all were satisfied。 As soon as they had had enough
to eat and drink； the others went to their rest each in his own
tent； but the son of Peleus lay grieving among his Myrmidons by
the shore of the sounding sea； in an open place where the waves
came surging in one after another。 Here a very deep slumber took
hold upon him and eased the burden of his sorrows； for his limbs
were weary with chasing Hector round windy Ilius。 Presently the
sad spirit of Patroclus drew near him； like what he had been in
stature； voice； and the light of his beaming eyes； clad； too； as
he had been clad in life。 The spirit hovered over his head and
said
〃You sleep； Achilles； and have forgotten me； you loved me living；
but now that I am dead you think for me no further。 Bury me with
all speed that I may pass the gates of Hades； the ghosts； vain
shadows of men that can labour no more； drive me away from them；
they will not yet suffer me to join those that are beyond the
river； and I wander all desolate by the wide gates of the house
of Hades。 Give me now your hand I pray you； for when you have
once given me my dues of fire； never shall I again e forth out
of the house of Hades。 Nevermore shall we sit apart and take
sweet counsel among the living； the cruel fate which was my
birth…right has yawned its wide jaws around menay； you too
Achilles； peer of gods； are doomed to die beneath the wall of the
noble Trojans。
〃One prayer more will I make you； if you will grant it； let not
my bones be laid apart from yours； Achilles； but with them； even
as we were brought up together in your own home； what time
Menoetius brought me to you as a child from Opoeis because by a
sad spite I had killed the son of Amphidamasnot of set purpose；
but in childish quarrel over the dice。 The knight Peleus took me
into his house； entreated me kindly； and named me to be your
squire； therefore let our bones lie in but a single urn； the
two…handled golden vase given to you by your mother。〃
And Achilles answered； 〃Why； true heart； are you e hither to
lay these charges upon me？ will of my own self do all as you have
bidden me。 Draw closer to me； let us once more throw our arms
around one another； and find sad fort in the sharing of our
sorrows。〃
He opened his arms towards him as he spoke and would have clasped
him in them； but there was nothing； and the spirit vanished as a
vapour； gibbering and whining into the earth。 Achilles sprang to
his feet； smote his two hands； and made lamentation saying； 〃Of a
truth even in the house of Hades there are ghosts and phantoms
that have no life in them； all night long the sad spirit of
Patroclus has hovered over head making piteous moan； telling me
what I am to do for him； and looking wondrously like himself。〃
Thus did he speak and his words set them all weeping and mourning
about the poor dumb dead； till rosy…fingered morn appeared。 Then
King Agamemnon sent men and mules from all parts of the camp； to
bring wood； and Meriones； squire to Idomeneus； was in charge over
them。 They went out with woodmen's axes and strong ropes in their
hands； and before them went the mules。 Up hill and down dale did
they go； by straight ways and crooked； and when they reached the
heights of many…fountained Ida； they laid their axes to the roots
of many a tall branching oak that came thundering down as they
felled it。 They split the trees and bound them behind the mules；
which then wended their way as they best could through the thick
brushwood on to the plain。 All who had been cutting wood bore
logs； for so Meriones squire to Idomeneus had bidden them； and
they threw them down in a line upon the seashore at the place
where Achilles would make a mighty monument for Patroclus and for
himself。
When they had thrown down their great logs of wood over the whole
ground； they stayed all of them where they were； but Achilles
ordered his brave Myrmidons to gird on their armour； and to yoke
each man his horses； they therefore rose； girded on their armour
and mounted each his chariotthey and their charioteers with
them。 The chariots went before； and they that were on foot
followed as a cloud in their tens of thousands after。 In the
midst of them his rades bore Patroclus and covered him with
the locks of their hair which they cut off and threw upon his
body。 Last came Achilles with his head bowed for sorrow； so noble
a rade was he taking to the house of Hades。
When they came to the place of which Achilles had told them they
laid the body down and built up the wood。 Achilles then bethought
him of another matter。 He went a space away from the pyre； and
cut off the yellow lock which he had let grow for the river
Spercheius。 He looked all sorrowfully out upon the dark sea； and
said； 〃Spercheius； in vain did my father Peleus vow to you that
when I returned home to my loved native land I should cut off
this lock and offer you a holy hecatomb； fifty she…goats was I to
sacrifice to you there at your springs； where is your grove and
your altar fragrant with burnt…offerings。 Thus did my father vow；
but you have not fulfilled his prayer； now； therefore； that I
shall see my home no more； I give this lock as a keepsake to the
hero Patroclus。〃
As he spoke he placed the lock in the hands of his dear rade；
and all who stood by were filled with yearning and lamentation。
The sun would have gone down upon their mourning had not Achilles
presently said to Agamemnon； 〃Son of Atreus； for it is to you
that the people will give ear； there is a time to mourn and a
time to cease from mourning； bid the people now leave the pyre
and set about getting their dinners： we； to whom the dead is
dearest； will see to what is wanted here； and let the other
princes also stay by me。〃
When King Agamemnon heard this he dismissed the people to their
ships； but those who were about the dead heaped