I
"Why tarries Patroclus so long?" asked Achilles of himself, as he sat
waiting by his tent. "Alas! I fear that he hath disobeyed me, and
lost his life by his rashness. Did not my mother tell me that the
noblest of the Greeks should fall in battle with the Trojans while I
lived?" His alarm increased when he saw straggling parties of the
Greeks entering the camp, with every sign of panic and defeat.
Presently the roar of the struggle drew nearer and nearer, and he had
just determined to rush to the ramparts, and learn the worst, when
Antilochus came running up, and in broken accents panted out his
dreadful message.
As when a thunderbolt descends, laying low some giant of the forest, so
fell the mighty Pelides, laid prostrate beneath that stunning blow.
Then that proud head, which had never bowed to mortal man, was defiled
with dust, and those heroic limbs, the very mould of manly strength and
beauty, grovelled and writhed on the ground. He tore his hair, cast
ashes on his head, and moaned like a wounded beast in his agony. And
all the handmaids whom he had taken in war gathered round him, wailing
and beating their breasts; for sorrow was their portion, and their
tears were ever ready to flow. By his side knelt Antilochus, holding
his hands, in fear lest he should do violence to his life.
Then Achilles shook off the grasp of Antilochus, and started to his
feet with a fearful cry, glaring wildly, like one about to do some
desperate act. But just at this moment a sound of female voices came
floating over the placid sea, and Thetis glided into his presence, with
all her band of Ocean nymphs attending. Achilles flung himself down
again when he saw her, with a fresh burst of grief; and kneeling by him
she embraced him tenderly, and weeping cried: "O child of my sorrow,
what new cause of mourning hath reached thee now? Hath not Zeus
fulfilled his promise, and avenged thine honour?"
"What avails his promise, or the fulfilment thereof?" answered
Achilles, groaning bitterly. "What care I for honour, if I must pay
for it with the life of my best beloved? He lies in his blood, and
Hector, his slayer, has taken the glorious armour which the gods gave
to Peleus when they made thee his unwilling bride. 'Twas a woeful
match, for thee and for me, and soon thou shall reap the bitter fruit,
for Hector must die by my hand, to appease the ghost of Patroclus, and
thou hast told me that, when Hector falls, my own end is not far off."
A mournful silence followed, broken only by the sobs of Thetis, who
knew her son had pronounced his own doom. Then Achilles burst out
again, in louder and angrier tones: "But let me die, when that task is
done! What has life been to me?--a burden to myself, and a curse to
others! Here have I lain, like a useless trunk, encumbering the sod,
and left my comrades to perish, and given him, the very light of mine
eyes, to be a prey to the spoiler. Accursed, and thrice accursed, be
the spirit of strife, which trickles, sweeter than honey, into the
hearts of men, and rises up again, in words more bitter than
gall!--even as Agamemnon provoked me to fierce anger, which now comes
back upon me, with thrice envenomed sting. But past is past--we will
speak no more of that. My fate calls me to vengeance--and after that
the grave. Then away, soft visitings of love and gentle sorrow! And
thou, fond heart, become a stone! I will strew with havoc the path
which leads me to mine enemy, and the streets of Troy shall be filled
with lamentation, and women wailing for their dead."
"I know that I cannot shake thy purpose," answered Thetis sadly, "and
it shall be as thou hast said. But unarmed thou canst not go into
battle. Remain here therefore until my return, and by to-morrow's dawn
I will bring thee such armour as never mortal wore."