you keep Hector at the ships and will not give him up。 Therefore let
him go； and accept a ransom for his body。〃
And Achilles answered； 〃So be it。 If Olympian Jove of his own motion
thus commands me； let him that brings the ransom bear the body away。〃
Thus did mother and son talk together at the ships in long discourse
with one another。 Meanwhile the son of Saturn sent Iris to the
strong city of Ilius。 〃Go；〃 said he； 〃fleet Iris； from the mansions of
Olympus； and tell King Priam in Ilius； that he is to go to the ships
of the Achaeans and free the body of his dear son。 He is to take
such gifts with him as shall give satisfaction to Achilles； and he
is to go alone； with no other Trojan； save only some honoured
servant who may drive his mules and waggon； and bring back the body of
him whom noble Achilles has slain。 Let him have no thought nor fear of
death in his heart； for we will send the slayer of Argus to escort
him； and bring him within the tent of Achilles。 Achilles will not kill
him nor let another do so； for he will take heed to his ways and sin
not； and he will entreat a suppliant with all honourable courtesy。〃
On this Iris； fleet as the wind； sped forth to deliver her
message。 She went to Priam's house； and found weeping and
lamentation therein。 His sons were seated round their father in the
outer courtyard； and their raiment was wet with tears： the old man sat
in the midst of them with his mantle wrapped close about his body； and
his head and neck all covered with the filth which he had clutched
as he lay grovelling in the mire。 His daughters and his sons' wives
went wailing about the house； as they thought of the many and brave
men who lay dead； slain by the Argives。 The messenger of Jove stood by
Priam and spoke softly to him； but fear fell upon him as she did so。
〃Take heart；〃 she said； 〃Priam offspring of Dardanus； take heart and
fear not。 I bring no evil tidings； but am minded well towards you。 I
come as a messenger from Jove； who though he be not near； takes
thought for you and pities you。 The lord of Olympus bids you go and
ransom noble Hector； and take with you such gifts as shall give
satisfaction to Achilles。 You are to go alone； with no Trojan； save
only some honoured servant who may drive your mules and waggon； and
bring back to the city the body of him whom noble Achilles has
slain。 You are to have no thought； nor fear of death； for Jove will
send the slayer of Argus to escort you。 When he has brought you within
Achilles' tent； Achilles will not kill you nor let another do so；
for he will take heed to his ways and sin not； and he will entreat a
suppliant with all honourable courtesy。〃
Iris went her way when she had thus spoken； and Priam told his
sons to get a mule…waggon ready； and to make the body of the waggon
fast upon the top of its bed。 Then he went down into his fragrant
store…room； high…vaulted； and made of cedar…wood； where his many
treasures were kept； and he called Hecuba his wife。 〃Wife；〃 said he；
〃a messenger has come to me from Olympus； and has told me to go to the
ships of the Achaeans to ransom my dear son； taking with me such gifts
as shall give satisfaction to Achilles。 What think you of this matter？
for my own part I am greatly moved to pass through the of the Achaeans
and go to their ships。〃
His wife cried aloud as she heard him； and said； 〃Alas； what has
become of that judgement for which you have been ever famous both
among strangers and your own people？ How can you venture alone to
the ships of the Achaeans； and look into the face of him who has slain
so many of your brave sons？ You must have iron courage； for if the
cruel savage sees you and lays hold on you； he will know neither
respect nor pity。 Let us then weep Hector from afar here in our own
house； for when I gave him birth the threads of overruling fate were
spun for him that dogs should eat his flesh far from his parents； in
the house of that terrible man on whose liver I would fain fasten
and devour it。 Thus would I avenge my son； who showed no cowardice
when Achilles slew him； and thought neither of Right nor of avoiding
battle as he stood in defence of Trojan men and Trojan women。〃
Then Priam said； 〃I would go； do not therefore stay me nor be as a
bird of ill omen in my house； for you will not move me。 Had it been
some mortal man who had sent me some prophet or priest who divines
from sacrifice… I should have deemed him false and have given him no
heed； but now I have heard the goddess and seen her face to face；
therefore I will go and her saying shall not be in vain。 If it be my
fate to die at the ships of the Achaeans even so would I have it；
let Achilles slay me； if I may but first have taken my son in my
arms and mourned him to my heart's comforting。〃
So saying he lifted the lids of his chests； and took out twelve
goodly vestments。 He took also twelve cloaks of single fold； twelve
rugs； twelve fair mantles； and an equal number of shirts。 He weighed
out ten talents of gold； and brought moreover two burnished tripods；
four cauldrons； and a very beautiful cup which the Thracians had given
him when he had gone to them on an embassy； it was very precious；
but he grudged not even this； so eager was he to ransom the body of
his son。 Then he chased all the Trojans from the court and rebuked
them with words of anger。 〃Out；〃 he cried； 〃shame and disgrace to me
that you are。 Have you no grief in your own homes that you are come to
plague me here？ Is it a small thing； think you； that the son of Saturn
has sent this sorrow upon me； to lose the bravest of my sons？ Nay； you
shall prove it in person； for now he is gone the Achaeans will have
easier work in killing you。 As for me； let me go down within the house
of Hades； ere mine eyes behold the sacking and wasting of the city。〃
He drove the men away with his staff； and they went forth as the old
man sped them。 Then he called to his sons； upbraiding Helenus；
Paris； noble Agathon； Pammon； Antiphonus； Polites of the loud
battle…cry； Deiphobus； Hippothous； and Dius。 These nine did the old
man call near him。 〃Come to me at once；〃 he cried； 〃worthless sons who
do me shame； would that you had all been killed at the ships rather
than Hector。 Miserable man that I am； I have had the bravest sons in
all Troy… noble Nestor； Troilus the dauntless charioteer； and Hector
who was a god among men； so that one would have thought he was son
to an immortal… yet there is not one of them left。 Mars has slain them
and those of whom I am ashamed are alone left me。 Liars； and light
of foot； heroes of the dance； robbers of lambs and kids from your
own people； why do you not get a waggon ready for me at once； and
put all these things upon it that I may set out on my way？〃
Thus did he speak； and they feared the rebuke of their father。
They brought out a strong mule…waggon； newly made； and set the body of
the waggon fast on its bed。 They took the mule…yoke from the peg on
which it hung； a yoke of boxwood with a knob on the top of it and
rings for the reins to go through。 Then they brought a yoke…band
eleven cubits long； to bind the yoke to the pole； they bound it on
at the far end of the pole； and put the ring over the upright pin
making it fast with three turns of the band on either side the knob；
and bending the thong of the yoke beneath it。 This done； they
brought from the store…chamber the rich ransom that was to purchase
the body of Hector； and they set it all orderly on the waggon； then
they yoked the strong harness…mules which the Mysians had on a time
given as a goodly present to Priam； but for Priam himself they yoked
horses which the old king had bred； and kept for own use。
Thus heedfully did Priam and his servant see to the yolking of their
cars at the palace。 Then Hecuba came to them all sorrowful； with a
golden goblet of wine in her right hand； that they might make a
drink…offering before they set out。 She stood in front of the horses
and said； 〃Take this； make a drink…offering to father Jove； and
since you are minded to go to the ships in spite of me； pray that
you may come safely back from the hands of your enemies。 Pray to the
son of Saturn lord of the whirlwind； who sits on Ida and looks down
over all Troy； pray him to send his swift messenger on your right
hand； the bird of omen which is strongest and most dear to him of
all birds； that you may see it with your own eyes and trust it as
you go forth to the ships of the Danaans。 If all…seeing Jove will
not send you this messenger； however set upon it you may be； I would
not have you go to the ships of the Argives。〃
And Priam answered； 〃Wife； I will do as you desire me； it is well to
lift hands in prayer to Jove； if so be he may have mercy upon me。〃
With this the old man bade the serving…woman pour pure water over
his hands； and the woman came； bearing the water in a bowl。 He
washed his hands and took the cup from his wife； then he made the
drink…offering and prayed； standing in the middle of the courtyard and
turning his eyes to heaven。 〃Father Jove；〃 he said； 〃that rulest
from Ida； most glorious and most great； grant that I may be received
kindly and compassionately in the tents of Achilles； and send