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have to make a journey to buy iron； for he will have a stock of
it on his own premises。〃
Then uprose the two mighty men Polypoetes and Leonteus； with Ajax
son of Telamon and noble Epeus。 They stood up one after the other
and Epeus took the quoit； whirled it； and flung it from him；
which set all the Achaeans laughing。 After him threw Leonteus of
the race of Mars。 Ajax son of Telamon threw third； and sent the
quoit beyond any mark that had been made yet； but when mighty
Polypoetes took the quoit he hurled it as though it had been a
stockman's stick which he sends flying about among his cattle
when he is driving them； so far did his throw out…distance those
of the others。 All who saw it roared applause； and his rades
carried the prize for him and set it on board his ship。
Achilles next offered a prize of iron for archeryten
double…edged axes and ten with single edges： he set up a ship's
mast； some way off upon the sands； and with a fine string tied a
pigeon to it by the foot； this was what they were to aim at。
〃Whoever；〃 he said； 〃can hit the pigeon shall have all the axes
and take them away with him； he who hits the string without
hitting the bird will have taken a worse aim and shall have the
single…edged axes。〃
Then uprose King Teucer； and Meriones the stalwart squire of
Idomeneus rose also； They cast lots in a bronze helmet and the
lot of Teucer fell first。 He let fly with his arrow forthwith；
but he did not promise hecatombs of firstling lambs to King
Apollo； and missed his bird； for Apollo foiled his aim； but he
hit the string with which the bird was tied； near its foot； the
arrow cut the string clean through so that it hung down towards
the ground； while the bird flew up into the sky； and the Achaeans
shouted applause。 Meriones； who had his arrow ready while Teucer
was aiming； snatched the bow out of his hand； and at once
promised that he would sacrifice a hecatomb of firstling lambs to
Apollo lord of the bow； then espying the pigeon high up under the
clouds； he hit her in the middle of the wing as she was circling
upwards； the arrow went clean through the wing and fixed itself
in the ground at Meriones' feet； but the bird perched on the
ship's mast hanging her head and with all her feathers drooping；
the life went out of her； and she fell heavily from the mast。
Meriones； therefore； took all ten double…edged axes； while Teucer
bore off the single…edged ones to his ships。
Then the son of Peleus brought in a spear and a cauldron that had
never been on the fire； it was worth an ox； and was chased with a
pattern of flowers； and those that throw the javelin stood upto
wit the son of Atreus； king of men Agamemnon； and Meriones；
stalwart squire of Idomeneus。 But Achilles spoke saying； 〃Son of
Atreus； we know how far you excel all others both in power and in
throwing the javelin； take the cauldron back with you to your
ships； but if it so please you； let us give the spear to
Meriones； this at least is what I should myself wish。〃
King Agamemnon assented。 So he gave the bronze spear to Meriones；
and handed the goodly cauldron to Talthybius his esquire。
BOOK XXIV
Priam ransoms the body of HectorHector's funeral。
THE assembly now broke up and the people went their ways each to
his own ship。 There they made ready their supper； and then
bethought them of the blessed boon of sleep； but Achilles still
wept for thinking of his dear rade； and sleep； before whom all
things bow； could take no hold upon him。 This way and that did he
turn as he yearned after the might and manfulness of Patroclus；
he thought of all they had done together； and all they had gone
through both on the field of battle and on the waves of the weary
sea。 As he dwelt on these things he wept bitterly and lay now on
his side； now on his back； and now face downwards； till at last
he rose and went out as one distraught to wander upon the
seashore。 Then； when he saw dawn breaking over beach and sea； he
yoked his horses to his chariot； and bound the body of Hector
behind it that he might drag it about。 Thrice did he drag it
round the tomb of the son of Menoetius； and then went back into
his tent； leaving the body on the ground full length and with its
face downwards。 But Apollo would not suffer it to be disfigured；
for he pitied the man； dead though he now was； therefore he
shielded him with his golden aegis continually； that he might
take no hurt while Achilles was dragging him。
Thus shamefully did Achilles in his fury dishonour Hector； but
the blessed gods looked down in pity from heaven； and urged
Mercury； slayer of Argus； to steal the body。 All were of this
mind save only Juno； Neptune； and Jove's grey…eyed daughter； who
persisted in the hate which they had ever borne towards Ilius
with Priam and his people； for they forgave not the wrong done
them by Alexandrus in disdaining the goddesses who came to him
when he was in his sheepyards； and preferring her who had offered
him a wanton to his ruin。
When； therefore； the morning of the twelfth day had now e；
Phoebus Apollo spoke among the immortals saying； 〃You gods ought
to be ashamed of yourselves； you are cruel and hard…hearted。 Did
not Hector burn you thigh…bones of heifers and of unblemished
goats？ And now dare you not rescue even his dead body； for his
wife to look upon； with his mother and child； his father Priam；
and his people； who would forthwith mit him to the flames； and
give him his due funeral rites？ So； then； you would all be on the
side of mad Achilles； who knows neither right nor ruth？ He is
like some savage lion that in the pride of his great strength and
daring springs upon men's flocks and gorges on them。 Even so has
Achilles flung aside all pity； and all that conscience which at
once so greatly banes yet greatly boons him that will heed it。
man may lose one far dearer than Achilles has losta son； it may
be； or a brother born from his own mother's womb； yet when he has
mourned him and wept over him he will let him bide； for it takes
much sorrow to kill a man； whereas Achilles； now that he has
slain noble Hector； drags him behind his chariot round the tomb
of his rade。 It were better of him； and for him； that he
should not do so； for brave though he be we gods may take it ill
that he should vent his fury upon dead clay。〃
Juno spoke up in a rage。 〃This were well；〃 she cried； 〃O lord of
the silver bow； if you would give like honour to Hector and to
Achilles； but Hector was mortal and suckled at a woman's breast；
whereas Achilles is the offspring of a goddess whom I myself
reared and brought up。 I married her to Peleus； who is above
measure dear to the immortals； you gods came all of you to her
wedding； you feasted along with them yourself and brought your
lyrefalse； and fond of low pany； that you have ever been。〃
Then said Jove； 〃Juno； be not so bitter。 Their honour shall not
be equal； but of all that dwell in Ilius； Hector was dearest to
the gods； as also to myself； for his offerings never failed me。
Never was my altar stinted of its dues； nor of the
drink…offerings and savour of sacrifice which we claim of right。
I shall therefore permit the body of mighty Hector to be