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mourn our dead for a day and bury them out of sight and mind； but
let those of us who are left eat and drink that we may arm and
fight our foes more fiercely。 In that hour let no man hold back；
waiting for a second summons； such summons shall bode ill for him
who is found lagging behind at our ships； let us rather sally as
one man and loose the fury of war upon the Trojans。〃
When he had thus spoken he took with him the sons of Nestor； with
Meges son of Phyleus； Thoas； Meriones； Lyedes son of Creontes；
and Melanippus； and went to the tent of Agamemnon son of Atreus。
The word was not sooner said than the deed was done： they
brought out the seven tripods which Agamemnon had promised； with
the twenty metal cauldrons and the twelve horses； they also
brought the women skilled in useful arts； seven in number； with
Briseis； which made eight。 Ulysses weighed out the ten talents of
gold and then led the way back； while the young Achaeans brought
the rest of the gifts； and laid them in the middle of the
assembly。
Agamemnon then rose； and Talthybius whose voice was like that of
a god came to him with the boar。 The son of Atreus drew the knife
which he wore by the scabbard of his mighty sword； and began by
cutting off some bristles from the boar； lifting up his hands in
prayer as he did so。 The other Achaeans sat where they were all
silent and orderly to hear the king； and Agamemnon looked into
the vault of heaven and prayed saying； 〃I call Jove the first and
mightiest of all gods to witness； I call also Earth and Sun and
the Erinyes who dwell below and take vengeance on him who shall
swear falsely； that I have laid no hand upon the girl Briseis；
neither to take her to my bed nor otherwise； but that she has
remained in my tents inviolate。 If I swear falsely may heaven
visit me with all the penalties which it metes out to those who
perjure themselves。〃
He cut the boar's throat as he spoke； whereon Talthybius whirled
it round his head； and flung it into the wide sea to feed the
fishes。 Then Achilles also rose and said to the Argives； 〃Father
Jove； of a truth you blind men's eyes and bane them。 The son of
Atreus had not else stirred me to so fierce an anger； nor so
stubbornly taken Briseis from me against my will。 Surely Jove
must have counselled the destruction of many an Argive。 Go； now；
and take your food that we may begin fighting。〃
On this he broke up the assembly； and every man went back to his
own ship。 The Myrmidons attended to the presents and took them
away to the ship of Achilles。 They placed them in his tents；
while the stable…men drove the horses in among the others。
Briseis； fair as Venus； when she saw the mangled body of
Patroclus； flung herself upon it and cried aloud； tearing her
breast； her neck； and her lovely face with both her hands。
Beautiful as a goddess she wept and said； 〃Patroclus； dearest
friend； when I went hence I left you living； I return； O prince；
to find you dead； thus do fresh sorrows multiply upon me one
after the other。 I saw him to whom my father and mother married
me； cut down before our city； and my three own dear brothers
perished with him on the self…same day； but you； Patroclus； even
when Achilles slew my husband and sacked the city of noble Mynes；
told me that I was not to weep； for you said you would make
Achilles marry me； and take me back with him to Phthia； we should
have a wedding feast among the Myrmidons。 You were always kind to
me and I shall never cease to grieve for you。〃
She wept as she spoke； and the women joined in her lament…making
as though their tears were for Patroclus； but in truth each was
weeping for her own sorrows。 The elders of the Achaeans gathered
round Achilles and prayed him to take food； but he groaned and
would not do so。 〃I pray you；〃 said he； 〃if any rade will hear
me； bid me neither eat nor drink； for I am in great heaviness；
and will stay fasting even to the going down of the sun。〃
On this he sent the other princes away； save only the two sons of
Atreus and Ulysses； Nestor； Idomeneus； and the knight Phoenix；
who stayed behind and tried to fort him in the bitterness of
his sorrow： but he would not be forted till he should have
flung himself into the jaws of battle； and he fetched sigh on
sigh； thinking ever of Patroclus。 Then he said
〃Hapless and dearest rade； you it was who would get a good
dinner ready for me at once and without delay when the Achaeans
were hasting to fight the Trojans； now； therefore； though I have
meat and drink in my tents； yet will I fast for sorrow。 Grief
greater than this I could not know； not even though I were to
hear of the death of my father； who is now in Phthia weeping for
the loss of me his son； who am here fighting the Trojans in a
strange land for the accursed sake of Helen； nor yet though I
should hear that my son is no morehe who is being brought up in
Scyrosif indeed Neoptolemus is still living。 Till now I made
sure that I alone was to fall here at Troy away from Argos； while
you were to return to Phthia； bring back my son with you in your
own ship； and show him all my property； my bondsmen； and the
greatness of my housefor Peleus must surely be either dead； or
what little life remains to him is oppressed alike with the
infirmities of age and ever present fear lest he should hear the
sad tidings of my death。〃
He wept as he spoke； and the elders sighed in concert as each
thought on what he had left at home behind him。 The son of Saturn
looked down with pity upon them； and said presently to Minerva；
〃My child； you have quite deserted your hero； is he then gone so
clean out of your recollection？ There he sits by the ships all
desolate for the loss of his dear rade； and though the others
are gone to their dinner he will neither eat nor drink。 Go then
and drop nectar and ambrosia into his breast； that he may know no
hunger。〃
With these words he urged Minerva； who was already of the same
mind。 She darted down from heaven into the air like some falcon
sailing on his broad wings and screaming。 Meanwhile the Achaeans
were arming throughout the host； and when Minerva had dropped
nectar and ambrosia into Achilles so that no cruel hunger should
cause his limbs to fail him； she went back to the house of her
mighty father。 Thick as the chill snow…flakes shed from the hand
of Jove and borne on the keen blasts of the north wind； even so
thick did the gleaming helmets； the bossed shields； the strongly
plated breastplates； and the ashen spears stream from the ships。
The sheen pierced the sky； the whole land was radiant with their
flashing armour； and the sound of the tramp of their treading
rose from under their feet。 In the midst of them all Achilles put
on his armour； he gnashed his teeth； his eyes gleamed like fire；
for his grief was greater than he could bear。 Thus； then； full of
fury against the Trojans； did he don the gift of the god； the
armour that Vulcan had made him。
First he put on the goodly greaves fitted with ancle…clasps； and
next he did on the breastplate about his chest。 He slung the
silver…studded sword of bronze about his shoulders； and then took
up the shield so great and strong that shone afar with