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words are not to my liking in that you bid us go back and be pent
within the city。 Have you not had enough of being cooped up
behind walls？ In the old…days the city of Priam was famous the
whole world over for its wealth of gold and bronze； but our
treasures are wasted out of our houses； and much goods have been
sold away to Phrygia and fair Meonia； for the hand of Jove has
been laid heavily upon us。 Now； therefore； that the son of
scheming Saturn has vouchsafed me to win glory here and to hem
the Achaeans in at their ships； prate no more in this fool's wise
among the people。 You will have no man with you； it shall not be；
do all of you as I now say；take your suppers in your panies
throughout the host； and keep your watches and be wakeful every
man of you。 If any Trojan is uneasy about his possessions； let
him gather them and give them out among the people。 Better let
these； rather than the Achaeans； have them。 At daybreak we will
arm and fight about the ships； granted that Achilles has again
e forward to defend them； let it be as he will； but it shall
go hard with him。 I shall not shun him； but will fight him； to
fall or conquer。 The god of war deals out like measure to all；
and the slayer may yet be slain。〃
Thus spoke Hector； and the Trojans； fools that they were； shouted
in applause； for Pallas Minerva had robbed them of their
understanding。 They gave ear to Hector with his evil counsel； but
the wise words of Polydamas no man would heed。 They took their
supper throughout the host； and meanwhile through the whole night
the Achaeans mourned Patroclus； and the son of Peleus led them in
their lament。 He laid his murderous hands upon the breast of his
rade； groaning again and again as a bearded lion when a man
who was chasing deer has robbed him of his young in some dense
forest； when the lion es back he is furious； and searches
dingle and dell to track the hunter if he can find him； for he is
mad with rageeven so with many a sigh did Achilles speak among
the Myrmidons saying； 〃Alas！ vain were the words with which I
cheered the hero Menoetius in his own house； I said that I would
bring his brave son back again to Opoeis after he had sacked
Ilius and taken his share of the spoilsbut Jove does not give
all men their heart's desire。 The same soil shall be reddened
here at Troy by the blood of us both； for I too shall never be
weled home by the old knight Peleus； nor by my mother Thetis；
but even in this place shall the earth cover me。 Nevertheless； O
Patroclus； now that I am left behind you； I will not bury you；
till I have brought hither the head and armour of mighty Hector
who has slain you。 Twelve noble sons of Trojans will I behead
before your bier to avenge you； till I have done so you shall lie
as you are by the ships； and fair women of Troy and Dardanus；
whom we have taken with spear and strength of arm when we sacked
men's goodly cities； shall weep over you both night and day。〃
Then Achilles told his men to set a large tripod upon the fire
that they might wash the clotted gore from off Patroclus。 Thereon
they set a tripod full of bath water on to a clear fire： they
threw sticks on to it to make it blaze； and the water became hot
as the flame played about the belly of the tripod。 When the water
in the cauldron was boiling they washed the body； anointed it
with oil； and closed its wounds with ointment that had been kept
nine years。 Then they laid it on a bier and covered it with a
linen cloth from head to foot； and over this they laid a fair
white robe。 Thus all night long did the Myrmidons gather round
Achilles to mourn Patroclus。
Then Jove said to Juno his sister…wife； 〃So； Queen Juno； you have
gained your end； and have roused fleet Achilles。 One would think
that the Achaeans were of your own flesh and blood。〃
And Juno answered； 〃Dread son of Saturn； why should you say this
thing？ May not a man though he be only mortal and knows less than
we do； do what he can for another person？ And shall not I
foremost of all goddesses both by descent and as wife to you who
reign in heavendevise evil for the Trojans if I am angry with
them？〃
Thus did they converse。 Meanwhile Thetis came to the house of
Vulcan； imperishable； star…bespangled； fairest of the abodes in
heaven； a house of bronze wrought by the lame god's own hands。
She found him busy with his bellows； sweating and hard at work；
for he was making twenty tripods that were to stand by the wall
of his house； and he set wheels of gold under them all that they
might go of their own selves to the assemblies of the gods； and
e back againmarvels indeed to see。 They were finished all
but the ears of cunning workmanship which yet remained to be
fixed to them： these he was now fixing； and he was hammering at
the rivets。 While he was thus at work silver…footed Thetis came
to the house。 Charis； of graceful head…dress； wife to the
far…famed lame god； came towards her as soon as she saw her； and
took her hand in her own； saying； 〃Why have you e to our
house； Thetis； honoured and ever welefor you do not visit us
often？ e inside and let me set refreshment before you。〃
The goddess led the way as she spoke； and bade Thetis sit on a
richly decorated seat inlaid with silver； there was a footstool
also under her feet。 Then she called Vulcan and said； 〃Vulcan；
e here； Thetis wants you〃； and the far…famed lame god
answered； 〃Then it is indeed an august and honoured goddess who
has e here； she it was that took care of me when I was
suffering from the heavy fall which I had through my cruel
mother's angerfor she would have got rid of me because I was
lame。 It would have gone hardly with me had not Eurynome；
daughter of the ever…encircling waters of Oceanus； and Thetis；
taken me to their bosom。 Nine years did I stay with them； and
many beautiful works in bronze； brooches； spiral armlets； cups；
and chains； did I make for them in their cave； with the roaring
waters of Oceanus foaming as they rushed ever past it； and no one
knew； neither of gods nor men； save only Thetis and Eurynome who
took care of me。 If； then； Thetis has e to my house I must
make her due requital for having saved me； entertain her；
therefore； with all hospitality； while I put by my bellows and
all my tools。〃
On this the mighty monster hobbled off from his anvil； his thin
legs plying lustily under him。 He set the bellows away from the
fire； and gathered his tools into a silver chest。 Then he took a
sponge and washed his face and hands； his shaggy chest and brawny
neck； he donned his shirt； grasped his strong staff； and limped
towards the door。 There were golden handmaids also who worked for
him； and were like real young women； with sense and reason； voice
also and strength； and all the learning of the immortals； these
busied themselves as the king bade them； while he drew near to
Thetis； seated her upon a goodly seat； and took her hand in his
own； saying； 〃Why have you e to our house； Thetis honoured and
ever welefor you do not visit us often？ Say what you want；
and I will do it for you at once if I can； and if it can be done
at all。〃
Thetis wept and answered； 〃Vulcan； is there another goddess in
Olympus whom t