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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 up wood and built
a pyre a hundred feet this way and that； then they laid the dead
all sorrowfully upon the top of it。 They flayed and dressed many
fat sheep and oxen before the pyre； and Achilles took fat from
all of them and wrapped the body therein from head to foot；
heaping the flayed carcases all round it。 Against the bier he
leaned two…handled jars of honey and unguents； four proud horses
did he then cast upon the pyre； groaning the while he did so。 The
dead hero had had house…dogs； two of them did Achilles slay and
threw upon the pyre； he also put twelve brave sons of noble
Trojans to the sword and laid them with the rest； for he was full
of bitterness and fury。 Then he mitted all to the resistless
and devouring might of the fire； he groaned aloud and called on
his dead rade by name。 〃Fare well；〃 he cried； 〃Patroclus； even
in the house of Hades； I am now doing all that I have promised
you。 Twelve brave sons of noble Trojans shall the flames consume
along with yourself； but dogs； not fire； shall devour the flesh
of Hector son of Priam。〃
Thus did he vaunt； but the dogs came not about the body of
Hector； for Jove's daughter Venus kept them off him night and
day； and anointed him with ambrosial oil of roses that his flesh
might not be torn when Achilles was dragging him about。 Phoebus
Apollo moreover sent a dark cloud from heaven to earth； which
gave shade to the whole place where Hector lay； that the heat of
the sun might not parch his body。
Now the pyre about dead Patroclus would not kindle。 Achilles
therefore bethought him of another matter； he went apart and
prayed to the two winds Boreas and Zephyrus vowing them goodly
offerings。 He made them many drink…offerings from the golden cup
and besought them to e and help him that the wood might make
haste to kindle and the dead bodies be consumed。 Fleet Iris heard
him praying and started off to fetch the winds。 They were holding
high feast in the house of boisterous Zephyrus when Iris came
running up to the stone threshold of the house and stood there；
but as soon as they set eyes on her they all came towards her and
each of them called her to him； but Iris would not sit down。 〃I
cannot stay；〃 she said； 〃I must go back to the streams of Oceanus
and the land of the Ethiopians who are offering hecatombs to the
immortals； and I would have my share； but Achilles prays that
Boreas and shrill Zephyrus will e to him； and he vows them
goodly offerings； he would have you blow upon the pyre of
Patroclus for whom all the Achaeans are lamenting。〃
With this she left them； and the two winds rose with a cry that
rent the air and swept the clouds before them。 They blew on and
on until they came to the sea； and the waves rose high beneath
them； but when they reached Troy they fell upon the pyre till the
mighty flames roared under the blast that they blew。 All night
long did they blow hard and beat upon the fire； and all night
long did Achilles grasp his double cup； drawing wine from a
mixing…bowl of gold； and calling upon the spirit of dead
Patroclus as he poured it upon the ground until the earth was
drenched。 As a father mourns when he is burning the bones of his
bridegroom son whose death has wrung the hearts of his parents；
even so did Achilles mourn while burning the body of his rade；
pacing round the bier with piteous groaning and lamentation。
At length as the Morning Star was beginning to herald the light
which saffron…mantled Dawn was soon to suffuse over the sea； the
flames fell and the fire began to die。 The winds then went home
beyond the Thracian sea； which roared and boiled as they swept
over it。 The son of Peleus now turned away from the pyre and lay
down； overe with toil； till he fell into a sweet slumber。
Presently they who were about the son of Atreus drew near in a
body； and roused him with the noise and tramp of their ing。 He
sat upright and said； 〃Son of Atreus； and all other princes of
the Achaeans； first pour red wine everywhere upon the fire and
quench it； let us then gather the bones of Patroclus son of
Menoetius； singling them out with care； they are easily found；
for they lie in the middle of the pyre； while all else； both men
and horses； has been thrown in a heap and burned at the outer
edge。 We will lay the bones in a golden urn； in two layers of
fat； against the time when I shall myself go down into the house
of Hades。 As for the barrow； labour not to raise a great one now；
but such as is reasonable。 Afterwards； let those Achaeans who may
be left at the ships when I am gone； build it both broad and
high。〃
Thus he spoke and they obeyed the word of the son of Peleus。
First they poured red wine upon the thick layer of ashes and
quenched the fire。 With many tears they singled out the whitened
bones of their loved rade and laid them within a golden urn in
two layers of fat： they then covered the urn with a linen cloth
and took it inside the tent。 They marked off the circle where the
barrow should be； made a foundation for it about the pyre； and
forthwith heaped up the earth。 When they had thus raised a mound
they were going away； but Achilles stayed the people and made
them sit in assembly。 He brought prizes from the shipscauldrons；
tripods； horses and mules； noble oxen； women with fair girdles；
and swart iron。
The first prize he offered was for the chariot racesa woman
skilled in all useful arts； and a three…legged cauldron that had
ears for handles； and would hold twenty…two measures。 This was
for the man who came in first。 For the second there was a
six…year old mare； unbroken； and in foal to a he…ass； the third
was to have a goodly cauldron that had never yet been on the
fire； it was still bright as when it left the maker； and would
hold four measures。 The fourth prize was two talents of gold； and
the fifth a two…handled urn as yet unsoiled by smoke。 Then he
stood up and spoke among the Argives saying
〃Son of Atreus； and all other Achaeans； these are the prizes that
lie waiting the winners of the chariot races。 At any other time I
should carry off the first prize and take it to my own tent； you
know how far my steeds excel all othersfor they are immortal；
Neptune gave them to my father Peleus； who in his turn gave them
to myself； but I shall hold aloof； I and my steeds that have lost
their brave and kind driver； who many a time has washed them in
clear water and anointed their manes with oil。 See how they stand
weeping here； with their manes trailing on the ground in the
extremity of their sorrow。 But do you others set yourselves in
order throughout the host； whosoever has confidence in his horses
and in the strength of his chariot。〃
Thus spoke the son of Peleus and the drivers of chariots
bestirred themselves。 First among them all uprose Eumelus； king
of men； son of Admetus； a man excellent in horsemanship。 Next to
him rose mighty Diomed son of Tydeus； he yoked the Trojan horses
which he had taken from Aeneas； when Apollo bore him out of the
fight。 Next to him； yellow…haired Menelaus son of Atreus ros