Homer, Iliad (Orange Street).pdf

Homer’s Iliad
BOOK XXIII
Thus did they make their moan throughout the city, while the
Achaeans when they reached the Hellespont went back every man
to his own ship. But Achilles would not let the Myrmidons go, and
spoke to his brave comrades saying, “Myrmidons, famed
horsemen and my own trusted friends, not yet, forsooth, let us
unyoke, but with horse and chariot draw near to the body and
mourn Patroclus, in due honour to the dead. When we have had
full comfort of lamentation we will unyoke our horses and take
supper all of us here.”
On this they all joined in a cry of wailing and Achilles led them in
their lament. Thrice did they drive their chariots all sorrowing
round the body, and Thetis stirred within them a still deeper
yearning. The sands of the seashore and the men’s armour were
wet with their weeping, so great a minister of fear was he whom
they had lost. Chief in all their mourning was the son of Peleus: he
laid his bloodstained hand on the breast of his friend. “Fare well,”
he cried, “Patroclus, even in the house of Hades. I will now do all
that I erewhile promised you; I will drag Hector hither and let dogs
devour him raw; twelve noble sons of Trojans will I also slay
before your pyre to avenge you.”
As he spoke he treated the body of noble Hector with contumely,
laying it at full length in the dust beside the bier of Patroclus. The
others then put off every man his armour, took the horses from
their chariots, and seated themselves in great multitude by the ship
of the fleet descendant of Aeacus, who thereon feasted them with
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