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ransomed according to desire； you shall look upon him when you
him away at daybreak； for the present let us prepare our supper。
Even lovely Niobe had to think about eating； though her twelve
childrensix daughters and six lusty sonshad been all slain in
her house。 Apollo killed the sons with arrows from his silver
bow； to punish Niobe； and Diana slew the daughters； because Niobe
had vaunted herself against Leto； she said Leto had borne two
children only； whereas she had herself borne manywhereon the
two killed the many。 Nine days did they lie weltering； and there
was none to bury them； for the son of Saturn turned the people
into stone； but on the tenth day the gods in heaven themselves
buried them； and Niobe then took food； being worn out with
weeping。 They say that somewhere among the rocks on the mountain
pastures of Sipylus； where the nymphs live that haunt the river
Achelous； there； they say； she lives in stone and still nurses
the sorrows sent upon her by the hand of heaven。 Therefore； noble
sir； let us two now take food； you can weep for your dear son
hereafter as you are bearing him back to Iliusand many a tear
will he cost you。〃
With this Achilles sprang from his seat and killed a sheep of
silvery whiteness； which his followers skinned and made ready all
in due order。 They cut the meat carefully up into smaller pieces；
spitted them； and drew them off again when they were well
roasted。 Automedon brought bread in fair baskets and served it
round the table； while Achilles dealt out the meat； and they laid
their hands on the good things that were before them。 As soon as
they had had enough to eat and drink； Priam； descendant of
Dardanus； marvelled at the strength and beauty of Achilles for he
was as a god to see； and Achilles marvelled at Priam as he
listened to him and looked upon his noble presence。 When they had
gazed their fill Priam spoke first。 〃And now； O king；〃 he said；
〃take me to my couch that we may lie down and enjoy the blessed
boon of sleep。 Never once have my eyes been closed from the day
your hands took the life of my son； I have grovelled without
ceasing in the mire of my stable…yard； making moan and brooding
over my countless sorrows。 Now； moreover； I have eaten bread and
drunk wine； hitherto I have tasted nothing。〃
As he spoke Achilles told his men and the women…servants to set
beds in the room that was in the gatehouse； and make them with
good red rugs； and spread coverlets on the top of them with
woollen cloaks for Priam and Idaeus to wear。 So the maids went
out carrying a torch and got the two beds ready in all haste。
Then Achilles said laughingly to Priam； 〃Dear sir； you shall lie
outside； lest some counsellor of those who in due course keep
ing to advise with me should see you here in the darkness of
the flying night； and tell it to Agamemnon。 This might cause
delay in the delivery of the body。 And now tell me and tell me
true； for how many days would you celebrate the funeral rites of
noble Hector？ Tell me； that I may hold aloof from war and
restrain the host。〃
And Priam answered； 〃Since； then； you suffer me to bury my noble
son with all due rites； do thus； Achilles； and I shall be
grateful。 You know how we are pent up within our city； it is far
for us to fetch wood from the mountain； and the people live in
fear。 Nine days； therefore； will we mourn Hector in my house； on
the tenth day we will bury him and there shall be a public feast
in his honour； on the eleventh we will build a mound over his
ashes； and on the twelfth； if there be need； we will fight。〃
And Achilles answered； 〃All； King Priam； shall be as you have
said。 I will stay our fighting for as long a time as you have
named。〃
As he spoke he laid his hand on the old man's right wrist； in
token that he should have no fear； thus then did Priam and his
attendant sleep there in the forecourt； full of thought； while
Achilles lay in an inner room of the house； with fair Briseis by
his side。
And now both gods and mortals were fast asleep through the
livelong night； but upon Mercury alone； the bringer of good luck；
sleep could take no hold for he was thinking all the time how to
get King Priam away from the ships without his being seen by the
strong force of sentinels。 He hovered therefore over Priam's head
and said； 〃Sir； now that Achilles has spared your life； you seem
to have no fear about sleeping in the thick of your foes。 You
have paid a great ransom； and have received the body of your son；
were you still alive and a prisoner the sons whom you have left
at home would have to give three times as much to free you； and
so it would be if Agamemnon and the other Achaeans were to know
of your being here。〃
When he heard this the old man was afraid and roused his servant。
Mercury then yoked their horses and mules； and drove them quickly
through the host so that no man perceived them。 When they came to
the ford of eddying Xanthus； begotten of immortal Jove； Mercury
went back to high Olympus； and dawn in robe of saffron began to
break over all the land。 Priam and Idaeus then drove on toward
the city lamenting and making moan； and the mules drew the body
of Hector。 No one neither man nor woman saw them； till Cassandra；
fair as golden Venus standing on Pergamus； caught sight of her
dear father in his chariot； and his servant that was the city's
herald with him。 Then she saw him that was lying upon the bier；
drawn by the mules； and with a loud cry she went about the city
saying； 〃e hither Trojans； men and women； and look on Hector；
if ever you rejoiced to see him ing from battle when he was
alive； look now on him that was the glory of our city and all our
people。〃
At this there was not man nor woman left in the city； so great a
sorrow had possessed them。 Hard by the gates they met Priam as he
was bringing in the body。 Hector's wife and his mother were the
first to mourn him： they flew towards the waggon and laid their
hands upon his head； while the crowd stood weeping round them。
They would have stayed before the gates； weeping and lamenting
the livelong day to the going down of the sun； had not Priam
spoken to them from the chariot and said； 〃Make way for the mules
to pass you。 Afterwards when I have taken the body home you shall
have your fill of weeping。〃
On this the people stood asunder； and made a way for the waggon。
When they had borne the body within the house they laid it upon a
bed and seated minstrels round it to lead the dirge； whereon the
women joined in the sad music of their lament。 Foremost among
them all Andromache led their wailing as she clasped the head of
mighty Hector in her embrace。 〃Husband；〃 she cried； 〃you have
died young； and leave me in your house a widow； he of whom we are
the ill…starred parents is still a mere child； and I fear he may
not reach manhood。 Ere he can do so our city will be razed and
overthrown； for you who watched over it are no moreyou who were
its saviour； the guardian of our wives and children。 Our women
will be carried away captives to the ships； and I among them；
while you； my child； who will be with me will be put to some
unseemly tasks； working for a cruel master。 Or； may be；