How Achilles grieved for Patroklos, and how Thetis asked for him new
armour of Hephaistos; and of the making of the armour.
Thus fought the rest in the likeness of blazing fire, while to Achilles
came Antilochos, a messenger fleet of foot. Him found he in front of
his ships of upright horns, boding in his soul the things which even
now were accomplished. And sore troubled he spake to his great heart:
“Ay me, wherefore again are the flowing-haired Achaians flocking to the
ships and flying in rout over the plain? May the gods not have wrought
against me the grievous fears at my heart, even as my mother revealed
and told me that while I am yet alive the best man of the Myrmidons
must by deed of the men of Troy forsake the light of the sun. Surely
now must Menoitios’ valiant son be dead—foolhardy! surely I bade him
when he should have beaten off the fire of the foe to come back to the
ships nor with Hector fight amain.”
While thus he held debate in his heart and soul, there drew nigh unto
him noble Nestor’s son, shedding hot tears, and spake his grievous
tidings: “Ay me, wise Peleus’ son, very bitter tidings must thou hear,
such as I would had never been. Fallen is Patroklos, and they are
fighting around his body, naked, for his armour is held by Hector of
the glancing helm.”
Thus spake he, and a black cloud of grief enwrapped Achilles, and with
both hands he took dark dust and poured it over his head and defiled
his comely face, and on his fragrant doublet black ashes fell. And
himself in the dust lay mighty and mightily fallen, and with his own
hands tore and marred his hair. And the handmaidens, whom Achilles and
Patroklos took captive, cried aloud in the grief of their hearts, and
ran forth around valiant Achilles, and all beat on their breasts with
their hands, and the knees of each of them were unstrung. And
Antilochos on the other side wailed and shed tears, holding Achilles’
hands while he groaned in his noble heart, for he feared lest he should
cleave his throat with the sword. Then terribly moaned Achilles; and
his lady mother heard him as she sate in the depths of the sea beside
her ancient sire. And thereon she uttered a cry, and the goddesses
flocked around her, all the daughters of Nereus that were in the deep
of the sea. With these the bright cave was filled, and they all beat
together on their breasts, and Thetis led the lament: “Listen, sister
Nereids, that ye all hear and know well what sorrows are in my heart.
Ay me unhappy, ay me that bare to my sorrow the first of men! For after
I had borne a son noble and strong, the chief of heroes, and he shot up
like a young branch, then when I had reared him as a plant in a very
fruitful field I sent him in beaked ships to Ilios to fight against the
men of Troy; but never again shall I welcome him back to his home, to
the house of Peleus. And while he yet liveth in my sight and beholdeth
the light of the sun, he sorroweth, neither can I help him any whit
though I go unto him. But I will go, that I may look upon my dear
child, and learn what sorrow hath come to him though he abide aloof
from the war.”
Thus spake she and left the cave; and the nymphs went with her weeping,
and around them the surge of the sea was sundered. And when they came
to deep-soiled Troy-land they went up upon the shore in order, where
the ships of the Myrmidons were drawn up thickly around fleet Achilles.
And as he groaned heavily his lady mother stood beside him, and with a
shrill cry clasped the bead of her child, and spake unto him winged
words of lamentation: “My child, why weepest thou? what sorrow hath
come to thy heart? Tell it forth, hide it not. One thing at least hath
been accomplished of Zeus according to the prayer thou madest, holding
up to him thy hands, that the sons of the Achaians should all be pent
in at the ships, through lack of thee, and should suffer hateful
things.”
Then groaning heavily spake unto her Achilles fleet of foot: “My
mother, that prayer truly hath the Olympian accomplished for me. But
what delight have I therein, since my dear comrade is dead, Patroklos,
whom I honoured above all my comrades as it were my very self! Him have
I lost, and Hector that slew him hath stripped from him the armour
great and fair, a wonder to behold, that the gods gave to Peleus a
splendid gift, on the day when they laid thee in the bed of a mortal
man. Would thou hadst abode among the deathless daughters of the sea,
and Peleus had wedded a mortal bride! But now, that thou mayest have
sorrow a thousand fold in thy heart for a dead son, never shalt thou
welcome him back home, since my soul biddeth me also live no longer nor
abide among men, if Hector be not first smitten by my spear and yield
his life, and pay for his slaughter of Patroklos, Menoitios’ son.”
Then answered unto him Thetis shedding tears: “Short-lived, I ween,
must thou be then, my child, by what thou sayest, for straightway after
Hector is death appointed unto thee.”
Then mightily moved spake unto her Achilles fleet of foot: “Straightway
may I die, since I might not succour my comrade at his slaying. He hath
fallen afar from his country and lacked my help in his sore need. Now
therefore, since I go not back to my dear native land, neither have at
all been succour to Patroklos nor to all my other comrades that have
been slain by noble Hector, but I sit beside my ships a profitless
burden of the earth, I that in war am such an one as is none else of
the mail-clad Achaians, though in council are others better—may strife
perish utterly among gods and men, and wrath that stirreth even a wise
man to be vexed, wrath that far sweeter than trickling honey waxeth
like smoke in the breasts of men, even as I was wroth even now against
Agamemnon king of men. But bygones will we let be, for all our pain,
curbing the heart in our breasts under necessity. Now go I forth, that
I may light on the destroyer of him I loved, on Hector: then will I
accept my death whensoever Zeus willeth to accomplish it and the other
immortal gods. For not even the mighty Herakles escaped death, albeit
most dear to Kronian Zeus the king, but Fate overcame him and Hera’s
cruel wrath. So also shall I, if my fate hath been fashioned likewise,
lie low when I am dead. But now let me win high renown, let me set some
Trojan woman, some deep-bosomed daughter of Dardanos, staunching with
both hands the tears upon her tender cheeks and wailing bitterly; yea,
let them know that I am come back, though I tarried long from the war.
Hold not me then from the battle in thy love, for thou shalt not
prevail with me.”
Then Thetis the silver-footed goddess answered him, saying: “Yea
verily, my child, no blame is in this, that thou ward sheer destruction
from thy comrades in their distress. But thy fair glittering armour of
bronze is held among the Trojans. Hector of the glancing helm beareth
it on his shoulders in triumph, yet not for long, I ween, shall he
glory therein, for death is hard anigh him. But thou, go not yet down
into the mellay of war until thou see me with thine eyes come hither.
In the morning will I return, at the coming up of the sun, bearing fair
armour from the king Hephaistos.”
Thus spake she and turned to go from her son, and as she turned she
spake among her sisters of the sea: “Ye now go down within the wide
bosom of the deep, to visit the Ancient One of the Sea and our father’s
house, and tell him all. I am going to high Olympus to Hephaistos of
noble skill, if haply he will give unto my son noble armour shining
gloriously.”
Thus spake she, and they forthwith went down beneath the surge of the
sea. And the silver-footed goddess Thetis went on to Olympus that she
might bring noble armour to her son.
So her unto Olympus her feet bore. But the Achaians with terrible cries
were fleeing before man-slaying Hector till they came to the ships and
to the Hellespont. Nor might the well-greaved Achaians drag the corpse
of Patroklos Achilles’ squire out of the darts, for now again overtook
him the host and the horses of Troy, and Hector son of Priam, in might
as it were a flame of fire. Thrice did glorious Hector seize him from
behind by the feet, resolved to drag him away, and mightily called upon
the men of Troy. Thrice did the two Aiantes, clothed on with impetuous
might, beat him off from the dead man, but he nathless, trusting in his
might, anon would charge into the press, anon would stand and cry
aloud, but he gave ground never a whit. As when shepherds in the field
avail nowise to chase a fiery lion in fierce hunger away from a
carcase, so availed not the two warrior Aiantes to scare Hector son of
Priam from the dead. And now would he have won the body and gained
renown unspeakable, had not fleet wind-footed Iris come speeding from
Olympus with a message to the son of Peleus to array him, unknown of
Zeus and the other gods, for Hera sent her. And she stood anigh and
spake to him winged words: “Rouse thee, son of Peleus, of all men most
redoubtable! Succour Patroklos, for whose body is terrible battle afoot
before the ships. There slay they one another, these guarding the dead
corpse, while the men of Troy are fierce to hale him unto windy Ilios,
and chiefliest noble Hector is fain to drag him, and his heart biddeth
him fix the head on the stakes of the wall when he hath sundered it
from the tender neck. But arise, lie thus no longer! let awe enter thy
heart to forbid that Patroklos become the sport of dogs of Troy. Thine
were the shame if he go down mangled amid the dead.”
Then answered her fleet-footed noble Achilles: “Goddess Iris, what god
sent thee a messenger unto me?”
And to him again spake wind-footed fleet Iris: “It was Hera that sent
me, the wise wife of Zeus, nor knoweth the high-throned son of Kronos
nor any other of the Immortals that on snowy Olympus have their
dwelling-place.”
And Achilles fleet of foot made answer to her and said: “And how may I
go into the fray? The Trojans hold my arms; and my dear mother bade me
forbear to array me until I behold her with my eyes returned, for she
promised to bring fair armour from Hephaistos. Other man know I none
whose noble armour I might put on, save it were the shield of Aias
Telamon’s son. But himself, I ween, is in the forefront of the press,
dealing death with his spear around Patroklos dead.”
Then again spake unto him wind-footed fleet Iris: “Well are we also
aware that thy noble armour is held from thee. But go forth unto the
trench as thou art and show thyself to the men of Troy, if haply they
will shrink back and refrain them from battle, and the warlike sons of
the Achaians take breath.”
Thus spake fleet-footed Iris and went her way. But Achilles dear to
Zeus arose, and around his strong shoulders Athene cast her tasselled
aegis, and around his head the bright goddess set a crown of a golden
cloud, and kindled therefrom a blazing flame. And as when a smoke
issueth from a city and riseth up into the upper air, from an island
afar off that foes beleaguer, while the others from their city fight
all day in hateful war,—but with the going down of the sun blaze out
the beacon-fires in line, and high aloft rusheth up the glare for
dwellers round about to behold, if haply they may come with ships to
help in need—thus from the head of Achilles soared that blaze toward
the heavens. And he went and stood beyond the wall beside the trench,
yet mingled not among the Achaians, for he minded the wise bidding of
his mother. There stood he and shouted aloud, and afar off Pallas
Athene uttered her voice, and spread terror unspeakable among the men
of Troy. Clear as the voice of a clarion when it soundeth by reason of
slaughterous foemen that beleaguer a city, so clear rang forth the
voice of Aiakides. And when they heard the brazen voice of Aiakides,
the souls of all of them were dismayed, and the horses of goodly manes
were fain to turn the chariots backward, for they boded anguish in
their hearts, And the charioteers were amazed when they saw the
unwearying fire blaze fierce on the head of the great-hearted son of
Peleus, for the bright-eyed goddess Athene made it blaze. Thrice from
over the trench shouted mightily noble Achilles, and thrice were the
men of Troy confounded and their proud allies. Yea there and then
perished twelve men of their best by their own chariot wheels and
spears. But the Achaians with joy drew Patroklos forth of the darts and
laid him on a litter, and his dear comrades stood around lamenting him;
and among them followed fleet-footed Achilles, shedding hot tears, for
his true comrade he saw lying on the bier, mangled by the keen bronze.
Him sent he forth with chariot and horses unto the battle, but home
again welcomed never more.
Then Hera the ox-eyed queen sent down the unwearying Sun to be gone
unwillingly unto the streams of Ocean. So the Sun set, and the noble
Achaians made pause from the stress of battle and the hazardous war.
But the Achaians all night made moan in lamentation for Patroklos. And
first of them in the loud lamentation was the son of Peleus, laying
upon the breast of his comrade his man-slaying hands and moaning very
sore, even as a deep-bearded lion whose whelps some stag-hunter hath
snatched away out of a deep wood; and the lion coming afterward
grieveth and through many glens he rangeth on the track of the
footsteps of the man, if anywhere he might find him, for most bitter
anger seizeth him;—thus Achilles moaning heavily spake among the
Myrmidons: “Ay me, vain verily was the word I uttered on that day when
I cheered the hero Menoitios in his halls and said that I would bring
back to Opoeis his son in glory from the sack of Ilios with the share
of spoil that should fall unto him. Not all the purposes of men doth
Zeus accomplish for them. It is appointed that both of us redden the
same earth with our blood here in Troy-land, for neither shall the old
knight Peleus welcome me back home within his halls, nor my mother
Thetis, but even here shall earth keep hold on me. Yet now, O
Patroklos, since I follow thee under earth, I will not hold thy funeral
till I have brought hither the armour and the head of Hector, thy
high-hearted slayer, and before thy pyre I will cut the throats of
twelve noble sons of the men of Troy, for mine anger thou art slain.
Till then beside the beaked ships shalt thou lie as thou art, and
around thee deep-bosomed women, Trojan and Dardanian, shall mourn thee
weeping night and day, even they whom we toiled to win by our strength
and, our long spears when we sacked rich cities of mortal men.”
Thus spake noble Achilles, and bade his comrades set a great tripod on
the fire, that with all speed they might wash from Patroklos the bloody
gore. So they set a tripod of ablution on the burning fire, and poured
therein water and took wood and kindled it beneath; and the fire
wrapped the belly of the tripod, and the water grew hot. And when the
water boiled in the bright bronze, then washed they him and anointed
with olive oil, and filled his wounds with fresh ointment, and laid him
on a bier and covered him with soft cloth from head to foot, and
thereover a white robe. Then all night around Achilles fleet of foot
the Myrmidons made lament and moan for Patroklos.
Meanwhile Zeus spake unto Hera his sister and wife: “Thou hast
accomplished this, O Hera, ox-eyed queen, thou hast aroused Achilles
fleet of foot. Verily of thine own children must the flowing-haired
Achaians be.”
Then answered unto him Hera the ox-eyed queen: “Most dread son of
Kronos, what is this word thou hast said? Truly even a man, I ween, is
to accomplish what he may for another man, albeit he is mortal and hath
not wisdom as we. How then was I who avow me the first of goddesses
both by birth and for that I am called thy wife, and thou art king
among all Immortals—how was I not in mine anger to devise evil against
the men of Troy?”
So debated they on this wise with one another. But Thetis of the silver
feet came unto the house of Hephaistos, imperishable, starlike, far
seen among the dwellings of Immortals, a house of bronze, wrought by
the crook-footed god himself. Him found she sweating in toil and busy
about his bellows, for he was forging tripods twenty in all to stand
around the wall of his stablished hall, and beneath the base of each he
had set golden wheels, that of their own motion they might enter the
assembly of the gods and again return unto his house, a marvel to look
upon. Thus much were they finished that not yet were away from the
fire, and gathered all his gear wherewith he worked into a silver
chest; and with a sponge he wiped his face and hands and sturdy neck
and shaggy breast, and did on his doublet, and took a stout staff and
went forth limping; but there were handmaidens of gold that moved to
help their lord, the semblances of living maids. In them is
understanding at their hearts, in them are voice and strength, and they
have skill of the immortal gods. These moved beneath their lord, and he
gat him haltingly near to where Thetis was, and set him on a bright
seat, and clasped her hand in his and spake and called her by her name:
“Wherefore, long-robed Thetis, comest thou to our house, honoured that
thou art and dear? No frequent comer art thou hitherto. Speak what thou
hast at heart; my soul is fain to accomplish it; if accomplish it I
can, and if it be appointed for accomplishment.”
Then answered unto him Thetis shedding tears: “Hephaistos, hath there
verily been any of all goddesses in Olympus that hath endured so many
grievous sorrows at heart as are the woes that Kronian Zeus hath laid
upon me above all others? He chose me from among the sisters of the sea
to enthrall me to a man, even Peleus Aiakos’ son, and with a man I
endured wedlock sore against my will. Now lieth he in his halls
forspent with grievous age, but other griefs are mine. A son he gave me
to bear and nourish, the chief of heroes, and he shot up like a young
branch. Like a plant in a very fruitful field I reared him and sent him
forth on beaked ships to Ilios to fight against the men of Troy, but
never again shall I welcome him back to his home within the house of
Peleus. And while he yet liveth in my sight and beholdeth the light of
the sun, he sorroweth, neither can I help him any whit though I go unto
him. The maiden whom the sons of the Achaians chose out to be his
prize, her hath the lord Agamemnon taken back out of his hands. In
grief for her wasted he his heart, while the men of Troy were driving
the Achaians on their ships, nor suffered them to come forth. And the
elders of the Argives entreated him, and told over many noble gifts.
Then albeit himself he refused to ward destruction from them, he put
his armour on Patroklos and sent him to the war, and much people with
him. All day they fought around the Skaian gates and that same day had
sacked the town, but that when now Menoitios’ valiant son had wrought
much harm, Apollo slew him in the forefront of the battle, and gave
glory unto Hector. Therefore now come I a suppliant unto thy knees, if
haply thou be willing to give my short-lived son shield and helmet, and
goodly greaves fitted with ankle-pieces, and cuirass. For the armour
that he had erst, his trusty comrade lost when he fell beneath the men
of Troy; and my son lieth on the earth with anguish in his soul.”
Then made answer unto her the lame god of great renown: “Be of good
courage, let not these things trouble thy heart. Would that so might I
avail to hide him far from dolorous death, when dread fate cometh upon
him, as surely shall goodly armour be at his need, such as all men
afterward shall marvel at, whatsoever may behold.”
Thus saying he left her there and went unto his bellows and turned them
upon the fire and bade them work. And the bellows, twenty in all, blew
on the crucibles, sending deft blasts on every side, now to aid his
labour and now anon howsoever Hephaistos willed and the work went on.
And he threw bronze that weareth not into the fire, and tin and
precious gold and silver, and next he set on an anvil-stand a great
anvil, and took in his hand a sturdy hammer, and in the other he took
the tongs.
First fashioned he a shield great and strong, adorning it all over, and
set thereto a shining rim, triple, bright-glancing, and therefrom a
silver baldric. Five were the folds of the shield itself; and therein
fashioned he much cunning work from his wise heart.
There wrought he the earth, and the heavens, and the sea, and the
unwearying sun, and the moon waxing to the full, and the signs every
one wherewith the heavens are crowned, Pleiads and Hyads and Orion’s
might, and the Bear that men call also the Wain, her that turneth in
her place and watcheth Orion, and alone hath no part in the baths of
Ocean.
Also he fashioned therein two fair cities of mortal men. In the one
were espousals and marriage feasts, and beneath the blaze of torches
they were leading the brides from their chambers through the city, and
loud arose the bridal song. And young men were whirling in the dance,
and among them flutes and viols sounded high; and women standing each
at her door were marvelling. But the folk were gathered in the assembly
place; for there a strife was arisen, two men striving about the
blood-price of a man slain; the one claimed to pay full atonement,
expounding to the people, but the other denied him and would take
naught. And the folk were cheering both, as they took part on either
side. And heralds kept order among the folk, while the elders on
polished stones were sitting in the sacred circle, and holding in their
hands staves from the loud-voiced heralds. Then before the people they
rose up and gave judgment each in turn. And in the midst lay two
talents of gold, to be given unto him who should plead among them most
righteously.
But around the other city were two armies in siege with glittering
arms. And two counsels found favour among them, either to sack the town
or to share all with the townsfolk even whatsoever substance the fair
city held within. But the besieged were not yet yielding, but arming
for an ambushment. On the wall there stood to guard it their dear wives
and infant children, and with these the old men; but the rest went
forth, and their leaders were Ares and Pallas Athene, both wrought in
gold, and golden was the vesture they had on. Goodly and great were
they in their armour, even as gods, far seen around, and the folk at
their feet were smaller. And when they came where it seemed good to
them to lay ambush, in a river bed where there was a common
watering-place of herds, there they set them, clad in glittering
bronze. And two scouts were posted by them afar off to spy the coming
of flocks and of oxen with crooked horns. And presently came the
cattle, and with them two herdsmen playing on pipes, that took no
thought of the guile. Then the others when they beheld these ran upon
them and quickly cut off the herds of oxen and fair flocks of white
sheep, and slew the shepherds withal. But the besiegers, as they sat
before the speech-places [from which the orators spoke] and heard much
din among the oxen, mounted forthwith behind their high-stepping
horses, and came up with speed. Then they arrayed their battle and
fought beside the river banks, and smote one another with bronze-shod
spears. And among them mingled Strife and Tumult, and fell Death,
grasping one man alive fresh-wounded, another without wound, and
dragging another dead through the mellay by the feet; and the raiment
on her shoulders was red with the blood of men. Like living mortals
they hurled together and fought, and haled the corpses each of the
other’s slain.
Furthermore he set in the shield a soft fresh-ploughed field, rich
tilth and wide, the third time ploughed; and many ploughers therein
drave their yokes to and fro as they wheeled about. Whensoever they
came to the boundary of the field and turned, then would a man come to
each and give into his hands a goblet of sweet wine, while others would
be turning back along the furrows, fain to reach the boundary of the
deep tilth. And the field grew black behind and seemed as it were
a-ploughing, albeit of gold, for this was the great marvel of the work.
Furthermore he set therein the demesne-land of a king, where hinds were
reaping with sharp sickles in their hands. Some armfuls along the
swathe were falling in rows to the earth, whilst others the
sheaf-binders were binding in twisted bands of straw. Three
sheaf-binders stood over them, while behind boys gathering corn and
bearing it in their arms gave it constantly to the binders; and among
them the king in silence was standing at the swathe with his staff,
rejoicing in his heart. And henchmen apart beneath an oak were making
ready a feast, and preparing a great ox they had sacrificed; while the
women were strewing much white barley to be a supper for the hinds.
Also he set therein a vineyard teeming plenteously with clusters,
wrought fair in gold; black were the grapes, but the vines hung
throughout on silver poles. And around it he ran a ditch of cyanus, and
round that a fence of tin; and one single pathway led to it, whereby
the vintagers might go when they should gather the vintage. And maidens
and striplings in childish glee bare the sweet fruit in plaited
baskets. And in the midst of them a boy made pleasant music on a
clear-toned viol, and sang thereto a sweet Linos-song [probably a
lament for departing summer] with delicate voice; while the rest with
feet falling together kept time with the music and song.
Also he wrought therein a herd of kine with upright horns, and the kine
were fashioned of gold and tin, and with lowing they hurried from the
byre to pasture beside a murmuring river, beside the waving reed. And
herdsmen of gold were following with the kine, four of them, and nine
dogs fleet of foot came after them. But two terrible lions among the
foremost kine had seized a loud-roaring bull that bellowed mightily as
they haled him, and the dogs and the young men sped after him. The
lions rending the great bull’s hide were devouring his vitals and his
black blood; while the herdsmen in vain tarred on their fleet dogs to
set on, for they shrank from biting the lions but stood hard by and
barked and swerved away.
Also the glorious lame god wrought therein a pasture in a fair glen, a
great pasture of white sheep, and a steading, and roofed huts, and
folds.
Also did the glorious lame god devise a dancing-place like unto that
which once in wide Knosos Daidalos wrought for Ariadne of the lovely
tresses. There were youths dancing and maidens of costly wooing, their
hands upon one another’s wrists. Fine linen the maidens had on, and the
youths well-woven doublets faintly glistening with oil. Fair wreaths
had the maidens, and the youths daggers of gold hanging from silver
baldrics. And now would they run round with deft feet exceeding
lightly, as when a potter sitting by his wheel that fitteth between his
hands maketh trial of it whether it run: and now anon they would run in
lines to meet each other. And a great company stood round the lovely
dance in joy; and through the midst of them, leading the measure, two
tumblers whirled.
Also he set therein the great might of the River of Ocean around the
uttermost rim of the cunningly-fashioned shield.
Now when he had wrought the shield great and strong, then wrought he
him a corslet brighter than a flame of fire, and he wrought him a
massive helmet to fit his brows, goodly and graven, and set thereon a
crest of gold, and he wrought him greaves of pliant tin.
So when the renowned lame god had finished all the armour, he took and
laid it before the mother of Achilles. Then she like a falcon sprang
down from snowy Olympus, bearing from Hephaistos the glittering arms.