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drink…offerings and savour of sacrifice which we claim of right。
I shall therefore permit the body of mighty Hector to be stolen；
and yet this may hardly be without Achilles ing to know it；
for his mother keeps night and day beside him。 Let some one of
you； therefore； send Thetis to me； and I will impart my counsel
to her； namely that Achilles is to accept a ransom from Priam；
and give up the body。〃
On this Iris fleet as the wind went forth to carry his message。
Down she plunged into the dark sea midway between Samos and rocky
Imbrus； the waters hissed as they closed over her； and she sank
into the bottom as the lead at the end of an ox…horn； that is
sped to carry death to fishes。 She found Thetis sitting in a
great cave with the other sea…goddesses gathered round her； there
she sat in the midst of them weeping for her noble son who was to
fall far from his own land； on the rich plains of Troy。 Iris went
up to her and said； 〃Rise Thetis； Jove； whose counsels fail not；
bids you e to him。〃 And Thetis answered； 〃Why does the mighty
god so bid me？ I am in great grief； and shrink from going in and
out among the immortals。 Still； I will go； and the word that he
may speak shall not be spoken in vain。〃
The goddess took her dark veil； than which there can be no robe
more sombre； and went forth with fleet Iris leading the way
before her。 The waves of the sea opened them a path； and when
they reached the shore they flew up into the heavens； where they
found the all…seeing son of Saturn with the blessed gods that
live for ever assembled near him。 Minerva gave up her seat to
her； and she sat down by the side of father Jove。 Juno then
placed a fair golden cup in her hand； and spoke to her in words
of fort； whereon Thetis drank and gave her back the cup； and
the sire of gods and men was the first to speak。
〃So； goddess；〃 said he； 〃for all your sorrow； and the grief that
I well know reigns ever in your heart； you have e hither to
Olympus； and I will tell you why I have sent for you。 This nine
days past the immortals have been quarrelling about Achilles
waster of cities and the body of Hector。 The gods would have
Mercury slayer of Argus steal the body； but in furtherance of our
peace and amity henceforward； I will concede such honour to your
son as I will now tell you。 Go； then； to the host and lay these
mands upon him； say that the gods are angry with him； and that
I am myself more angry than them all； in that he keeps Hector at
the ships and will not give him up。 He may thus fear me and let
the body go。 At the same time I will send Iris to great Priam to
bid him go to the ships of the Achaeans； and ransom his son；
taking with him such gifts for Achilles as may give him
satisfaction。〃
Silver…footed Thetis did as the god had told her； and forthwith
down she darted from the topmost summits of Olympus。 She went to
her son's tents where she found him grieving bitterly； while his
trusty rades round him were busy preparing their morning meal；
for which they had killed a great woolly sheep。 His mother sat
down beside him and caressed him with her hand saying； 〃My son；
how long will you keep on thus grieving and making moan？ You are
gnawing at your own heart； and think neither of food nor of
woman's embraces； and yet these too were well； for you have no
long time to live； and death with the strong hand of fate are
already close beside you。 Now； therefore； heed what I say； for I
e as a messenger from Jove； he says that the gods are angry
with you； and himself more angry than them all； in that you keep
Hector at the ships and will not give him up。 Therefore let him
go； and accept a ransom for his body。〃
And Achilles answered； 〃So be it。 If Olympian Jove of his own
motion thus mands me； let him that brings the ransom bear the
body away。〃
Thus did mother and son talk together at the ships in long
discourse with one another。 Meanwhile the son of Saturn sent Iris
to the strong city of Ilius。 〃Go；〃 said he； 〃fleet Iris； from the
mansions of Olympus； and tell King Priam in Ilius； that he is to
go to the ships of the Achaeans and free the body of his dear
son。 He is to take such gifts with him as shall give satisfaction
to Achilles； and he is to go alone； with no other Trojan； save
only some honoured servant who may drive his mules and waggon；
and bring back the body of him whom noble Achilles has slain。 Let
him have no thought nor fear of death in his heart； for we will
send the slayer of Argus to escort him； and bring him within the
tent of Achilles。 Achilles will not kill him nor let another do
so； for he will take heed to his ways and sin not； and he will
entreat a suppliant with all honourable courtesy。〃
On this Iris； fleet as the wind； sped forth to deliver her
message。 She went to Priam's house； and found weeping and
lamentation therein。 His sons were seated round their father in
the outer courtyard； and their raiment was wet with tears： the
old man sat in the midst of them with his mantle wrapped close
about his body； and his head and neck all covered with the filth
which he had clutched as he lay grovelling in the mire。 His
daughters and his sons' wives went wailing about the house； as
they thought of the many and brave men who lay dead； slain by the
Argives。 The messenger of Jove stood by Priam and spoke softly to
him； but fear fell upon him as she did so。 〃Take heart；〃 she
said； 〃Priam offspring of Dardanus； take heart and fear not。 I
bring no evil tidings； but am minded well towards you。 I e as
a messenger from Jove； who though he be not near； takes thought
for you and pities you。 The lord of Olympus bids you go and
ransom noble Hector； and take with you such gifts as shall give
satisfaction to Achilles。 You are to go alone； with no Trojan；
save only some honoured servant who may drive your mules and
waggon； and bring back to the city the body of him whom noble
Achilles has slain。 You are to have no thought； nor fear of
death； for Jove will send the slayer of Argus to escort you。 When
he has brought you within Achilles' tent； Achilles will not kill
you nor let another do so； for he will take heed to his ways and
sin not； and he will entreat a suppliant with all honourable
courtesy。〃
Iris went her way when she had thus spoken； and Priam told his
sons to get a mule…waggon ready； and to make the body of the
waggon fast upon the top of its bed。 Then he went down into his
fragrant store…room； high…vaulted； and made of cedar…wood； where
his many treasures were kept； and he called Hecuba his wife。
〃Wife；〃 said he； 〃a messenger has e to me from Olympus； and
has told me to go to the ships of the Achaeans to ransom my dear
son； taking with me such gifts as shall give satisfaction to
Achilles。 What think you of this matter？ for my own part I am
greatly moved to pass through the camps of the Achaeans and go to
their ships。〃
His wife cried aloud as she heard him； and said； 〃Alas； what has
bee of that judgement for which you have been ever famous both
among strangers and your own people？ How can you venture alone to
the ships of the Achaeans； and look into the face of him who has
slain so many of your brave sons？ You must have iron