missed his bird； for Apollo foiled his aim； but he hit the string with
which the bird was tied； near its foot； the arrow cut the string clean
through so that it hung down towards the ground； while the bird flew
up into the sky； and the Achaeans shouted applause。 Meriones； who
had his arrow ready while Teucer was aiming； snatched the bow out of
his hand； and at once promised that he would sacrifice a hecatomb of
firstling lambs to Apollo lord of the bow； then espying the pigeon
high up under the clouds； he hit her in the middle of the wing as
she was circling upwards； the arrow went clean through the wing and
fixed itself in the ground at Meriones' feet； but the bird perched
on the ship's mast hanging her head and with all her feathers
drooping； the life went out of her； and she fell heavily from the
mast。 Meriones； therefore； took all ten double…edged axes； while
Teucer bore off the single…edged ones to his ships。
Then the son of Peleus brought in a spear and a cauldron that had
never been on the fire； it was worth an ox； and was chased with a
pattern of flowers； and those that throw the javelin stood up… to
wit the son of Atreus； king of men Agamemnon； and Meriones； stalwart
squire of Idomeneus。 But Achilles spoke saying； 〃Son of Atreus； we
know how far you excel all others both in power and in throwing the
javelin； take the cauldron back with you to your ships； but if it so
please you； let us give the spear to Meriones； this at least is what I
should myself wish。〃
King Agamemnon assented。 So he gave the bronze spear to Meriones；
and handed the goodly cauldron to Talthybius his esquire。
BOOK XXIV
THE assembly now broke up and the people went their ways each to his
own ship。 There they made ready their supper； and then bethought
them of the blessed boon of sleep； but Achilles still wept for
thinking of his dear comrade； and sleep； before whom all things bow；
could take no hold upon him。 This way and that did he turn as he
yearned after the might and manfulness of Patroclus； he thought of all
they had done together； and all they had gone through both on the
field of battle and on the waves of the weary sea。 As he dwelt on
these things he wept bitterly and lay now on his side； now on his
back； and now face downwards； till at last he rose and went out as one
distraught to wander upon the seashore。 Then； when he saw dawn
breaking over beach and sea； he yoked his horses to his chariot； and
bound the body of Hector behind it that he might drag it about。 Thrice
did he drag it round the tomb of the son of Menoetius； and then went
back into his tent； leaving the body on the ground full length and
with its face downwards。 But Apollo would not suffer it to be
disfigured； for he pitied the man； dead though he now was； therefore
he shielded him with his golden aegis continually； that he might
take no hurt while Achilles was dragging him。
Thus shamefully did Achilles in his fury dishonour Hector； but the
blessed gods looked down in pity from heaven； and urged Mercury；
slayer of Argus； to steal the body。 All were of this mind save only
Juno； Neptune； and Jove's grey…eyed daughter； who persisted in the
hate which they had ever borne towards Ilius with Priam and his
people； for they forgave not the wrong done them by Alexandrus in
disdaining the goddesses who came to him when he was in his
sheepyards； and preferring her who had offered him a wanton to his
ruin。
When； therefore； the morning of the twelfth day had now come；
Phoebus Apollo spoke among the immortals saying； 〃You gods ought to be
ashamed of yourselves； you are cruel and hard…hearted。 Did not
Hector burn you thigh…bones of heifers and of unblemished goats？ And
now dare you not rescue even his dead body； for his wife to look upon；
with his mother and child； his father Priam； and his people； who would
forthwith commit him to the flames； and give him his due funeral
rites？ So； then； you would all be on the side of mad Achilles； who
knows neither right nor ruth？ He is like some savage lion that in
the pride of his great strength and daring springs upon men's flocks
and gorges on them。 Even so has Achilles flung aside all pity； and all
that conscience which at once so greatly banes yet greatly boons him
that will heed it。 man may lose one far dearer than Achilles has lost…
a son； it may be； or a brother born from his own mother's womb； yet
when he has mourned him and wept over him he will let him bide； for it
takes much sorrow to kill a man； whereas Achilles； now that he has
slain noble Hector； drags him behind his chariot round the tomb of his
comrade。 It were better of him； and for him； that he should not do so；
for brave though he be we gods may take it ill that he should vent his
fury upon dead clay。〃
Juno spoke up in a rage。 〃This were well；〃 she cried； 〃O lord of the
silver bow； if you would give like honour to Hector and to Achilles；
but Hector was mortal and suckled at a woman's breast； whereas
Achilles is the offspring of a goddess whom I myself reared and
brought up。 I married her to Peleus； who is above measure dear to
the immortals； you gods came all of you to her wedding； you feasted
along with them yourself and brought your lyre… false； and fond of low
company； that you have ever been。〃
Then said Jove； 〃Juno； be not so bitter。 Their honour shall not be
equal； but of all that dwell in Ilius； Hector was dearest to the gods；
as also to myself； for his offerings never failed me。 Never was my
altar stinted of its dues； nor of the drink…offerings and savour of
sacrifice which we claim of right。 I shall therefore permit the body
of mighty Hector to be stolen； and yet this may hardly be without
Achilles coming to know it； for his mother keeps night and day
beside him。 Let some one of you； therefore； send Thetis to me； and I
will impart my counsel to her； namely that Achilles is to accept a
ransom from Priam； and give up the body。〃
On this Iris fleet as the wind went forth to carry his message。 Down
she plunged into the dark sea midway between Samos and rocky Imbrus；
the waters hissed as they closed over her； and she sank into the
bottom as the lead at the end of an ox…horn； that is sped to carry
death to fishes。 She found Thetis sitting in a great cave with the
other sea…goddesses gathered round her； there she sat in the midst
of them weeping for her noble son who was to fall far from his own
land； on the rich plains of Troy。 Iris went up to her and said；
〃Rise Thetis； Jove； whose counsels fail not； bids you come to him。〃
And Thetis answered； 〃Why does the mighty god so bid me？ I am in great
grief； and shrink from going in and out among the immortals。 Still；
I will go； and the word that he may speak shall not be spoken in
vain。〃
The goddess took her dark veil； than which there can be no robe more
sombre； and went forth with fleet Iris leading the way before her。 The
waves of the sea opened them a path； and when they reached the shore
they flew up into the heavens； where they found the all…seeing son
of Saturn with the blessed gods that live for ever assembled near him。
Minerva gave up her seat to her； and she sat down by the side of
father Jove。 Juno then placed a fair golden cup in her hand； and spoke
to her in words of comfort； whereon Thetis drank and gave her back the
cup； and the sire of gods and men was the first to speak。
〃So； goddess；〃 said he； 〃for all your sorrow； and the grief that I
well know reigns ever in your heart； you have come hither to
Olympus； and I will tell you why I have sent for you。 This nine days
past the immortals have been quarrelling about Achilles waster of
cities and the body of Hector。 The gods would have Mercury slayer of
Argus steal the body； but in furtherance of our peace and amity
henceforward； I will concede such honour to your son as I will now
tell you。 Go； then； to the host and lay these commands upon him； say
that the gods are angry with him； and that I am myself more angry than
them all； in that he keeps Hector at the ships and will not give him
up。 He may thus fear me and let the body go。 At the same time I will
send Iris to great Priam to bid him go to the ships of the Achaeans；
and ransom his son； taking with him such gifts for Achilles as may
give him satisfaction。
Silver…footed Thetis did as the god had told her； and forthwith down
she darted from the topmost summits of Olympus。 She went to her
son's tents where she found him grieving bitterly； while his trusty
comrades round him were busy preparing their morning meal； for which
they had killed a great woolly sheep。 His mother sat down beside him
and caressed him with her hand saying； 〃My son； how long will you keep
on thus grieving and making moan？ You are gnawing at your own heart；
and think neither of food nor of woman's embraces； and yet these too
were well； for you have no long time to live； and death with the
strong hand of fate are already close beside you。 Now； therefore； heed
what I say； for I come as a messenger from Jove； he says that the gods
are angry with you； and himself more angry than them all； in that
you keep Hector at the ships and will not give him up。 Therefore let
him go； and accept a