him； and going right up to Achilles he clasped his knees and kissed
the dread murderous hands that had slain so many of his sons。
As when some cruel spite has befallen a man that he should have
killed some one in his own country； and must fly to a great man's
protection in a land of strangers； and all marvel who see him； even so
did Achilles marvel as he beheld Priam。 The others looked one to
another and marvelled also； but Priam besought Achilles saying； 〃Think
of your father； O Achilles like unto the gods； who is such even as I
am； on the sad threshold of old age。 It may be that those who dwell
near him harass him； and there is none to keep war and ruin from
him。 Yet when he hears of you being still alive； he is glad； and his
days are full of hope that he shall see his dear son come home to
him from Troy； but I； wretched man that I am； had the bravest in all
Troy for my sons； and there is not one of them left。 I had fifty
sons when the Achaeans came here； nineteen of them were from a
single womb； and the others were borne to me by the women of my
household。 The greater part of them has fierce Mars laid low； and
Hector； him who was alone left； him who was the guardian of the city
and ourselves； him have you lately slain； therefore I am now come to
the ships of the Achaeans to ransom his body from you with a great
ransom。 Fear； O Achilles； the wrath of heaven； think on your own
father and have compassion upon me； who am the more pitiable； for I
have steeled myself as no man yet has ever steeled himself before
me； and have raised to my lips the hand of him who slew my son。〃
Thus spoke Priam； and the heart of Achilles yearned as he
bethought him of his father。 He took the old man's hand and moved
him gently away。 The two wept bitterly… Priam； as he lay at
Achilles' feet； weeping for Hector； and Achilles now for his father
and now for Patroclous； till the house was filled with their
lamentation。 But when Achilles was now sated with grief and had
unburthened the bitterness of his sorrow； he left his seat and
raised the old man by the hand； in pity for his white hair and
beard； then he said； 〃Unhappy man； you have indeed been greatly
daring； how could you venture to come alone to the ships of the
Achaeans； and enter the presence of him who has slain so many of
your brave sons？ You must have iron courage： sit now upon this seat；
and for all our grief we will hide our sorrows in our hearts； for
weeping will not avail us。 The immortals know no care； yet the lot
they spin for man is full of sorrow； on the floor of Jove's palace
there stand two urns； the one filled with evil gifts； and the other
with good ones。 He for whom Jove the lord of thunder mixes the gifts
he sends； will meet now with good and now with evil fortune； but he to
whom Jove sends none but evil gifts will be pointed at by the finger
of scorn； the hand of famine will pursue him to the ends of the world；
and he will go up and down the face of the earth； respected neither by
gods nor men。 Even so did it befall Peleus； the gods endowed him
with all good things from his birth upwards； for he reigned over the
Myrmidons excelling all men in prosperity and wealth； and mortal
though he was they gave him a goddess for his bride。 But even on him
too did heaven send misfortune； for there is no race of royal children
born to him in his house； save one son who is doomed to die all
untimely； nor may I take care of him now that he is growing old； for I
must stay here at Troy to be the bane of you and your children。 And
you too； O Priam； I have heard that you were aforetime happy。 They say
that in wealth and plenitude of offspring you surpassed all that is in
Lesbos； the realm of Makar to the northward； Phrygia that is more
inland； and those that dwell upon the great Hellespont； but from the
day when the dwellers in heaven sent this evil upon you； war and
slaughter have been about your city continually。 Bear up against it；
and let there be some intervals in your sorrow。 Mourn as you may for
your brave son； you will take nothing by it。 You cannot raise him from
the dead； ere you do so yet another sorrow shall befall you。〃
And Priam answered； 〃O king； bid me not be seated； while Hector is
still lying uncared for in your tents； but accept the great ransom
which I have brought you； and give him to me at once that I may look
upon him。 May you prosper with the ransom and reach your own land in
safety； seeing that you have suffered me to live and to look upon
the light of the sun。〃
Achilles looked at him sternly and said； 〃Vex me； sir； no longer；
I am of myself minded to give up the body of Hector。 My mother；
daughter of the old man of the sea； came to me from Jove to bid me
deliver it to you。 Moreover I know well； O Priam； and you cannot
hide it； that some god has brought you to the ships of the Achaeans；
for else； no man however strong and in his prime would dare to come to
our host； he could neither pass our guard unseen； nor draw the bolt of
my gates thus easily； therefore； provoke me no further； lest I sin
against the word of Jove； and suffer you not； suppliant though you
are； within my tents。〃
The old man feared him and obeyed。 Then the son of Peleus sprang
like a lion through the door of his house； not alone； but with him
went his two squires Automedon and Alcimus who were closer to him than
any others of his comrades now that Patroclus was no more。 These
unyoked the horses and mules； and bade Priam's herald and attendant be
seated within the house。 They lifted the ransom for Hector's body from
the waggon。 but they left two mantles and a goodly shirt； that
Achilles might wrap the body in them when he gave it to be taken home。
Then he called to his servants and ordered them to wash the body and
anoint it； but he first took it to a place where Priam should not
see it； lest if he did so； he should break out in the bitterness of
his grief； and enrage Achilles； who might then kill him and sin
against the word of Jove。 When the servants had washed the body and
anointed it； and had wrapped it in a fair shirt and mantle； Achilles
himself lifted it on to a bier； and he and his men then laid it on the
waggon。 He cried aloud as he did so and called on the name of his dear
comrade； 〃Be not angry with me； Patroclus；〃 he said； 〃if you hear even
in the house of Hades that I have given Hector to his father for a
ransom。 It has been no unworthy one； and I will share it equitably
with you。〃
Achilles then went back into the tent and took his place on the
richly inlaid seat from which he had risen； by the wall that was at
right angles to the one against which Priam was sitting。 〃Sir；〃 he
said； 〃your son is now laid upon his bier and is ransomed according to
desire； you shall look upon him when you him away at daybreak； for the
present let us prepare our supper。 Even lovely Niobe had to think
about eating； though her twelve children… six daughters and six
lusty sons… had been all slain in her house。 Apollo killed the sons
with arrows from his silver bow； to punish Niobe； and Diana slew the
daughters； because Niobe had vaunted herself against Leto； she said
Leto had borne two children only； whereas she had herself borne
many… whereon the two killed the many。 Nine days did they lie
weltering； and there was none to bury them； for the son of Saturn
turned the people into stone； but on the tenth day the gods in
heaven themselves buried them； and Niobe then took food； being worn
out with weeping。 They say that somewhere among the rocks on the
mountain pastures of Sipylus； where the nymphs live that haunt the
river Achelous； there； they say； she lives in stone and still nurses
the sorrows sent upon her by the hand of heaven。 Therefore； noble sir；
let us two now take food； you can weep for your dear son hereafter
as you are bearing him back to Ilius… and many a tear will he cost
you。〃
With this Achilles sprang from his seat and killed a sheep of
silvery whiteness； which his followers skinned and made ready all in
due order。 They cut the meat carefully up into smaller pieces； spitted
them； and drew them off again when they were well roasted。 Automedon
brought bread in fair baskets and served it round the table； while
Achilles dealt out the meat； and they laid their hands on the good
things that were before them。 As soon as they had had enough to eat
and drink； Priam； descendant of Dardanus； marvelled at the strength
and beauty of Achilles for he was as a god to see； and Achilles
marvelled at Priam as he listened to him and looked upon his noble
presence。 When they had gazed their fill Priam spoke first。 〃And
now； O king；〃 he said； 〃take me to my couch that we may lie down and
enjoy the blessed boon of sleep。 Never once have my eyes been closed
from the day your hands took the life of my son； I have grovelled
without ceasing in the mire of my stable…yard； making moan and
brooding over my countless sorrows。 Now； moreover； I have eaten
bread and drunk wine； hitherto I have tasted nothing。〃
As he spoke Achilles told his men and the women…servants to set beds
in the room that was in the gatehouse； and make them with good red
rugs； and spread coverlets on the top of them with wool