I
The busy day was over, and night sank down on the Grecian camp,
bringing to all, save one tormented spirit, the blessed gift of sleep.
With silence and solitude the pangs of sorrow awakened with new
keenness in the heart of Achilles, and he lay tossing and turning on
his uneasy pillow, seeking rest, and finding none. A thousand memories
of his friendship with Patroclus--gallant adventures, hairbreadth
escapes, moving accidents by flood and field--coursed through his mind,
bringing home to him the immensity of his loss. After some hours of
sleepless misery he sprang to his feet, and throwing on his clothes
went down to the sea, and roamed distracted along the sand. With the
first glimmer of daylight he yoked his horses to the car, and drove
round and round the tomb of Patroclus, dragging after him the body of
Hector. Having made the circuit of the tomb three times, he unyoked
his horses, and retired once more to his tent, leaving his lifeless
victim face downwards in the dust.
Twelve days passed; and every day the same outrage was repeated. All
the gods, except Poseidon, Hera, and Athene, whose hatred of all things
Trojan was inveterate, were indignant at his senseless barbarity, and
they began to urge Hermes to steal Hector's body, and restore it to his
friends. But nothing was done until, on the twelfth day, Apollo rose
up and reproached the gods, who were met in full assembly, for their
cruel indifference. "Is there no pity," he said, "is there no justice,
left in heaven, that ye suffer this inhuman son of Peleus to wreak his
brutal fury on the body of a man of stainless life, constant all his
days in sacrifice and prayer? All your favour is lavished on Achilles,
who has the heart of a ravening lion, nourished in havoc and carnage.
Death lies about the paths of mortals, taking their nearest and their
dearest; yet sorrow must sleep at last, for patience is the best gift
which the gods have given to men. But this man is more cruel in his
love than in his hate, and because he has lost a friend his rancour
burns on like an unquenchable fire."
"Thou forgettest," answered Hera, "that Achilles is the son of a
goddess, and shares the privileges of divine descent. His father also
was a favourite of heaven, and thou thyself, Phœbus, didst lend the
music of thy harp to grace his nuptials; but now, it seemeth, thou
takest delight in baser company."
"Fair consort," said Zeus, "be not thus implacable. Granted that
Achilles stands higher in honour, yet Hector hath also his claim on our
regard, for none was ever more pious than he. Therefore, that we may
end this miserable coil at once, let Iris go and summon hither his
mother Thetis, that we may contrive some way of restoring Hector to his
people."
Iris hastened to obey the command, and, stooping from Olympus to the
surface of the sea, dropped like a leaden plummet into the purple
depths, until she reached the grotto where Thetis dwelt. She found her
sitting among the Nereids, mourning the lot of her matchless son, whose
death was near at hand. "What wants the monarch of heaven from me?"
she asked, when she heard the summons from Zeus. "I am ill prepared to
attend the happy session of the gods, for grief has clouded my mind and
marred my face." Nevertheless she rose to go, and putting on a veil of
funereal blackness followed Iris, who brought her speedily to the
assembly of the gods.
"We thank thee, Thetis," said Zeus, beckoning her to a seat next to his
throne, "that thou hast answered so promptly to our call. We know thy
sorrows, and have respect for thee and thy son; and for this cause have
we sent for thee. For nine days there has been strife among us,
concerning the body of Hector, which Achilles still keeps in his
possession. Some there were who would have had Hermes steal it away,
but this I would not suffer, out of regard to thy son's honour. But go
thou to the camp, and tell him that we are sore displeased with him,
because in his madness he keeps the corpse of his enemy and will not
ransom it. And I will send Iris with a charge to Priam, that he may go
with acceptable gifts to the tent of Achilles, and redeem the body for
burial."