All round the outermost rim of the shield he set the mighty stream
of the river Oceanus。
Then when he had fashioned the shield so great and strong； he made a
breastplate also that shone brighter than fire。 He made helmet；
close fitting to the brow； and richly worked； with a golden plume
overhanging it； and he made greaves also of beaten tin。
Lastly； when the famed lame god had made all the armour； he took
it and set it before the mother of Achilles； whereon she darted like a
falcon from the snowy summits of Olympus and bore away the gleaming
armour from the house of Vulcan。
BOOK XIX
NOW when Dawn in robe of saffron was hasting from the streams of
Oceanus； to bring light to mortals and immortals； Thetis reached the
ships with the armour that the god had given her。 She found her son
fallen about the body of Patroclus and weeping bitterly。 Many also
of his followers were weeping round him； but when the goddess came
among them she clasped his hand in her own； saying； 〃My son； grieve as
we may we must let this man lie； for it is by heaven's will that he
has fallen； now； therefore； accept from Vulcan this rich and goodly
armour； which no man has ever yet borne upon his shoulders。〃
As she spoke she set the armour before Achilles； and it rang out
bravely as she did so。 The Myrmidons were struck with awe； and none
dared look full at it； for they were afraid； but Achilles was roused
to still greater fury； and his eyes gleamed with a fierce light； for
he was glad when he handled the splendid present which the god had
made him。 Then； as soon as he had satisfied himself with looking at
it； he said to his mother； 〃Mother； the god has given me armour；
meet handiwork for an immortal and such as no living could have
fashioned； I will now arm； but I much fear that flies will settle upon
the son of Menoetius and breed worms about his wounds； so that his
body； now he is dead； will be disfigured and the flesh will rot。〃
Silver…footed Thetis answered； 〃My son； be not disquieted about this
matter。 I will find means to protect him from the swarms of noisome
flies that prey on the bodies of men who have been killed in battle。
He may lie for a whole year； and his flesh shall still be as sound
as ever； or even sounder。 Call； therefore； the Achaean heroes in
assembly； unsay your anger against Agamemnon； arm at once； and fight
with might and main。〃
As she spoke she put strength and courage into his heart； and she
then dropped ambrosia and red nectar into the wounds of Patroclus；
that his body might suffer no change。
Then Achilles went out upon the seashore； and with a loud cry called
on the Achaean heroes。 On this even those who as yet had stayed always
at the ships； the pilots and helmsmen； and even the stewards who
were about the ships and served out rations； all came to the place
of assembly because Achilles had shown himself after having held aloof
so long from fighting。 Two sons of Mars； Ulysses and the son of
Tydeus； came limping； for their wounds still pained them； nevertheless
they came； and took their seats in the front row of the assembly。 Last
of all came Agamemnon； king of men； he too wounded； for Coon son of
Antenor had struck him with a spear in battle。
When the Achaeans were got together Achilles rose and said； 〃Son
of Atreus； surely it would have been better alike for both you and me；
when we two were in such high anger about Briseis； surely it would
have been better； had Diana's arrow slain her at the ships on the
day when I took her after having sacked Lyrnessus。 For so； many an
Achaean the less would have bitten dust before the foe in the days
of my anger。 It has been well for Hector and the Trojans； but the
Achaeans will long indeed remember our quarrel。 Now； however； let it
be； for it is over。 If we have been angry； necessity has schooled
our anger。 I put it from me： I dare not nurse it for ever；
therefore； bid the Achaeans arm forthwith that I may go out against
the Trojans； and learn whether they will be in a mind to sleep by
the ships or no。 Glad； I ween； will he be to rest his knees who may
fly my spear when I wield it。〃
Thus did he speak； and the Achaeans rejoiced in that he had put away
his anger。
Then Agamemnon spoke； rising in his place； and not going into the
middle of the assembly。 〃Danaan heroes；〃 said he； 〃servants of Mars；
it is well to listen when a man stands up to speak； and it is not
seemly to interrupt him； or it will go hard even with a practised
speaker。 Who can either hear or speak in an uproar？ Even the finest
orator will be disconcerted by it。 I will expound to the son of
Peleus； and do you other Achaeans heed me and mark me well。 Often have
the Achaeans spoken to me of this matter and upbraided me； but it
was not I that did it： Jove； and Fate； and Erinys that walks in
darkness struck me mad when we were assembled on the day that I took
from Achilles the meed that had been awarded to him。 What could I
do？ All things are in the hand of heaven； and Folly； eldest of
Jove's daughters； shuts men's eyes to their destruction。 She walks
delicately； not on the solid earth； but hovers over the heads of men
to make them stumble or to ensnare them。
〃Time was when she fooled Jove himself； who they say is greatest
whether of gods or men； for Juno； woman though she was； beguiled him
on the day when Alcmena was to bring forth mighty Hercules in the fair
city of Thebes。 He told it out among the gods saying； 'Hear me all
gods and goddesses； that I may speak even as I am minded； this day
shall an Ilithuia； helper of women who are in labour； bring a man
child into the world who shall be lord over all that dwell about him
who are of my blood and lineage。' Then said Juno all crafty and full
of guile； 'You will play false； and will not hold to your word。
Swear me； O Olympian； swear me a great oath； that he who shall this
day fall between the feet of a woman； shall be lord over all that
dwell about him who are of your blood and lineage。'
〃Thus she spoke； and Jove suspected her not； but swore the great
oath； to his much ruing thereafter。 For Juno darted down from the high
summit of Olympus； and went in haste to Achaean Argos where she knew
that the noble wife of Sthenelus son of Perseus then was。 She being
with child and in her seventh month； Juno brought the child to birth
though there was a month still wanting； but she stayed the offspring
of Alcmena； and kept back the Ilithuiae。 Then she went to tell Jove
the son of Saturn； and said； 'Father Jove； lord of the lightning… I
have a word for your ear。 There is a fine child born this day；
Eurystheus； son to Sthenelus the son of Perseus； he is of your
lineage； it is well； therefore； that he should reign over the
Argives。'
〃On this Jove was stung to the very quick； and in his rage he caught
Folly by the hair； and swore a great oath that never should she
again invade starry heaven and Olympus； for she was the bane of all。
Then he whirled her round with a twist of his hand； and flung her down
from heaven so that she fell on to the fields of mortal men； and he
was ever angry with her when he saw his son groaning under the cruel
labours that Eurystheus laid upon him。 Even so did I grieve when
mighty Hector was killing the Argives at their ships； and all the time
I kept thinking of Folly who had so baned me。 I was blind； and Jove
robbed me of my reason； I will now make atonement； and will add much
treasure by way of amends。 Go； therefore； into battle； you and your
people with you。 I will give you all that Ulysses offered you
yesterday in your tents： or if it so please you； wait； though you
would fain fight at once； and my squires shall bring the gifts from my
ship； that you may see whether what I give you is enough。〃
And Achilles answered； 〃Son of Atreus； king of men Agamemnon； you
can give such gifts as you think proper； or you can withhold them：
it is in your own hands。 Let us now set battle in array； it is not
well to tarry talking about trifles； for there is a deed which is as
yet to do。 Achilles shall again be seen fighting among the foremost；
and laying low the ranks of the Trojans： bear this in mind each one of
you when he is fighting。〃
Then Ulysses said； 〃Achilles； godlike and brave； send not the
Achaeans thus against Ilius to fight the Trojans fasting； for the
battle will be no brief one； when it is once begun； and heaven has
filled both sides with fury； bid them first take food both bread and
wine by the ships； for in this there is strength and stay。 No man
can do battle the livelong day to the going down of the sun if he is
without food； however much he may want to fight his strength will fail
him before he knows it； hunger and thirst will find him out； and his
limbs will grow weary under him。 But a man can fight all day if he
is full fed with meat and wine； his heart beats high； and his strength
will stay till he has routed all his foes； therefore； send the
people away and bid them prepare their meal； King Agamemnon will bring
out the gifts in presence of the assembly； that all may see them and
you may be satisfied。 Moreover let him swear an oath before the
Argives that he has never gone up in