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〃Mercury； for it is you who are the most disposed to escort men
on their way； and to hear those whom you will hear； go； and so
conduct Priam to the ships of the Achaeans that no other of the
Danaans shall see him nor take note of him until he reach the son
of Peleus。〃
Thus he spoke and Mercury； guide and guardian； slayer of Argus；
did as he was told。 Forthwith he bound on his glittering golden
sandals with which he could fly like the wind over land and sea；
he took the wand with which he seals men's eyes in sleep； or
wakes them just as he pleases； and flew holding it in his hand
till he came to Troy and to the Hellespont。 To look at； he was
like a young man of noble birth in the hey…day of his youth and
beauty with the down just ing upon his face。
Now when Priam and Idaeus had driven past the great tomb of
Ilius； they stayed their mules and horses that they might drink
in the river； for the shades of night were falling； when；
therefore； Idaeus saw Mercury standing near them he said to
Priam； 〃Take heed； descendant of Dardanus； here is matter which
demands consideration。 I see a man who I think will presently
fall upon us； let us fly with our horses； or at least embrace his
knees and implore him to take passion upon us？〃
When he heard this the old man's heart failed him； and he was in
great fear； he stayed where he was as one dazed； and the hair
stood on end over his whole body； but the bringer of good luck
came up to him and took him by the hand； saying； 〃Whither；
father； are you thus driving your mules and horses in the dead of
night when other men are asleep？ Are you not afraid of the fierce
Achaeans who are hard by you； so cruel and relentless？ Should
some one of them see you bearing so much treasure through the
darkness of the flying night； what would not your state then be？
You are no longer young； and he who is with you is too old to
protect you from those who would attack you。 For myself； I will
do you no harm； and I will defend you from any one else； for you
remind me of my own father。〃
And Priam answered； 〃It is indeed as you say； my dear son；
nevertheless some god has held his hand over me； in that he has
sent such a wayfarer as yourself to meet me so opportunely； you
are so ely in mien and figure； and your judgement is so
excellent that you must e of blessed parents。〃
Then said the slayer of Argus； guide and guardian； 〃Sir； all that
you have said is right； but tell me and tell me true； are you
taking this rich treasure to send it to a foreign people where it
may be safe； or are you all leaving strong Ilius in dismay now
that your son has fallen who was the bravest man among you and
was never lacking in battle with the Achaeans？〃
And Priam said； 〃Who are you； my friend； and who are your
parents； that you speak so truly about the fate of my unhappy
son？〃
The slayer of Argus； guide and guardian； answered him； 〃Sir； you
would prove me； that you question me about noble Hector。 Many a
time have I set eyes upon him in battle when he was driving the
Argives to their ships and putting them to the sword。 We stood
still and marvelled； for Achilles in his anger with the son of
Atreus suffered us not to fight。 I am his squire； and came with
him in the same ship。 I am a Myrmidon； and my father's name is
Polyctor： he is a rich man and about as old as you are； he has
six sons besides myself； and I am the seventh。 We cast lots； and
it fell upon me to sail hither with Achilles。 I am now e from
the ships on to the plain； for with daybreak the Achaeans will
set battle in array about the city。 They chafe at doing nothing；
and are so eager that their princes cannot hold them back。〃
Then answered Priam； 〃If you are indeed the squire of Achilles
son of Peleus； tell me now the whole truth。 Is my son still at
the ships； or has Achilles hewn him limb from limb； and given him
to his hounds？〃
〃Sir；〃 replied the slayer of Argus； guide and guardian； 〃neither
hounds nor vultures have yet devoured him； he is still just lying
at the tents by the ship of Achilles； and though it is now twelve
days that he has lain there； his flesh is not wasted nor have the
worms eaten him although they feed on warriors。 At daybreak
Achilles drags him cruelly round the sepulchre of his dear
rade； but it does him no hurt。 You should e yourself and
see how he lies fresh as dew； with the blood all washed away； and
his wounds every one of them closed though many pierced him with
their spears。 Such care have the blessed gods taken of your brave
son； for he was dear to them beyond all measure。〃
The old man was forted as he heard him and said； 〃My son； see
what a good thing it is to have made due offerings to the
immortals； for as sure as that he was born my son never forgot
the gods that hold Olympus； and now they requite it to him even
in death。 Accept therefore at my hands this goodly chalice； guard
me and with heaven's help guide me till I e to the tent of the
son of Peleus。〃
Then answered the slayer of Argus； guide and guardian； 〃Sir； you
are tempting me and playing upon my youth； but you shall not move
me； for you are offering me presents without the knowledge of
Achilles whom I fear and hold it great guilt to defraud； lest
some evil presently befall me； but as your guide I would go with
you even to Argos itself； and would guard you so carefully
whether by sea or land； that no one should attack you through
making light of him who was with you。〃
The bringer of good luck then sprang on to the chariot； and
seizing the whip and reins he breathed fresh spirit into the
mules and horses。 When they reached the trench and the wall that
was before the ships； those who were on guard had just been
getting their suppers； and the slayer of Argus threw them all
into a deep sleep。 Then he drew back the bolts to open the gates；
and took Priam inside with the treasure he had upon his waggon。
Ere long they came to the lofty dwelling of the son of Peleus for
which the Myrmidons had cut pine and which they had built for
their king； when they had built it they thatched it with coarse
tussock…grass which they had mown out on the plain； and all round
it they made a large courtyard； which was fenced with stakes set
close together。 The gate was barred with a single bolt of pine
which it took three men to force into its place； and three to
draw back so as to open the gate； but Achilles could draw it by
himself。 Mercury opened the gate for the old man； and brought in
the treasure that he was taking with him for the son of Peleus。
Then he sprang from the chariot on to the ground and said； 〃Sir；
it is I； immortal Mercury； that am e with you； for my father
sent me to escort you。 I will now leave you； and will not enter
into the presence of Achilles； for it might anger him that a god
should befriend mortal men thus openly。 Go you within； and
embrace the knees of the son of Peleus： beseech him by his
father； his lovely mother； and his son； thus you may move him。〃
With these words Mercury went back to high Olympus。 Priam sprang
from his chariot to the ground； leaving Idaeus where he was； in
charge of the mules and horses。 The old man went straight into
the house wh