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shoulders； she crowned his head with a halo of golden cloud from
which she kindled a glow of gleaming fire。 As the smoke that goes
up into heaven from some city that is being beleaguered on an
island far out at seaall day long do men sally from the city
and fight their hardest； and at the going down of the sun the
line of beacon…fires blazes forth； flaring high for those that
dwell near them to behold； if so be that they may e with their
ships and succour themeven so did the light flare from the head
of Achilles； as he stood by the trench； going beyond the wall
but he aid not join the Achaeans for he heeded the charge which
his mother laid upon him。
There did he stand and shout aloud。 Minerva also raised her voice
from afar； and spread terror unspeakable among the Trojans。
Ringing as the note of a trumpet that sounds alarm then the foe
is at the gates of a city； even so brazen was the voice of the
son of Aeacus； and when the Trojans heard its clarion tones they
were dismayed； the horses turned back with their chariots for
they boded mischief； and their drivers were awe…struck by the
steady flame which the grey…eyed goddess had kindled above the
head of the great son of Peleus。
Thrice did Achilles raise his loud cry as he stood by the trench；
and thrice were the Trojans and their brave allies thrown into
confusion； whereon twelve of their noblest champions fell beneath
the wheels of their chariots and perished by their own spears。
The Achaeans to their great joy then drew Patroclus out of reach
of the weapons； and laid him on a litter： his rades stood
mourning round him； and among them fleet Achilles who wept
bitterly as he saw his true rade lying dead upon his bier。 He
had sent him out with horses and chariots into battle； but his
return he was not to wele。
Then Juno sent the busy sun； loth though he was； into the waters
of Oceanus； so he set； and the Achaeans had rest from the tug and
turmoil of war。
Now the Trojans when they had e out of the fight； unyoked
their horses and gathered in assembly before preparing their
supper。 They kept their feet； nor would any dare to sit down； for
fear had fallen upon them all because Achilles had shown himself
after having held aloof so long from battle。 Polydamas son of
Panthous was first to speak； a man of judgement； who alone among
them could look both before and after。 He was rade to Hector；
and they had been born upon the same night； with all sincerity
and goodwill； therefore； he addressed them thus：
〃Look to it well； my friends； I would urge you to go back now to
your city and not wait here by the ships till morning； for we are
far from our walls。 So long as this man was at enmity with
Agamemnon the Achaeans were easier to deal with； and I would have
gladly camped by the ships in the hope of taking them； but now I
go in great fear of the fleet son of Peleus； he is so daring that
he will never bide here on the plain whereon the Trojans and
Achaeans fight with equal valour； but he will try to storm our
city and carry off our women。 Do then as I say； and let us
retreat。 For this is what will happen。 The darkness of night will
for a time stay the son of Peleus； but if he find us here in the
morning when he sallies forth in full armour； we shall have
knowledge of him in good earnest。 Glad indeed will he be who can
escape and get back to Ilius； and many a Trojan will bee meat
for dogs and vultures may I never live to hear it。 If we do as I
say； little though we may like it； we shall have strength in
counsel during the night； and the great gates with the doors that
close them will protect the city。 At dawn we can arm and take our
stand on the walls； he will then rue it if he sallies from the
ships to fight us。 He will go back when he has given his horses
their fill of being driven all whithers under our walls； and will
be in no mind to try and force his way into the city。 Neither
will he ever sack it； dogs shall devour him ere he do so。〃
Hector looked fiercely at him and answered； 〃Polydamas； your
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。