Footnote 634: (return) So Od. viii. 38: Θοὴν ἀλεγύνετε δαῖτα, i.e.
θοῶς. Virg. Æn. iv. 226: “Celeres defer mea dicta per auras,” which
Servius interprets, “celer, vel celeriter.”
They indeed were separated, each to his own ship; but the magnanimous
Myrmidons were occupied about the gifts, and, bearing them, went to the
ship of godlike Achilles. These they laid up in the tents, and placed
the women in seats; but the illustrious attendants drove the horses to
the stud. But afterwards Briseïs, like unto golden Venus, when she
beheld Patroclus lacerated with the sharp spear, throwing herself about
him, wept aloud, and with her hands tore her breast and tender neck,
and fair countenance. 635 Then the woman, like unto the goddesses,
weeping, said:
“O Patroclus! most dear to my wretched soul, I left thee indeed alive,
departing from my tent, but now returning, I find thee dead, O
chieftain of the people! How in my case evil ever succeeds evil. The
hero indeed to whom my father and venerable mother had given me, 636 I
saw pierced with the sharp brass before the city; and three beloved
brothers whom the same mother had brought forth to me, all drew on the
destructive day. Nevertheless, thou didst not suffer me to weep, when
swift Achilles slew my husband, and laid waste the city of divine
Mynes, but thou saidst thou wouldst render me the wedded wife 637 of
noble Achilles, lead me in the ships to Phthia, and prepare the nuptial
feast amongst the Myrmidons. Therefore do I insatiably lament thee
dead, being ever gentle.”
Footnote 635: (return) On these ancient signs of lamentation cf. Virg.
Æn. iv. 672; xii. 605; Silius, viii. 153; Tusc. Quæst. iii. 26. Æsch.
Choeph. 22: ρέπει παρήϊς φοινίοις ἀμυγμοῖς. Eur. Hel. 1098: αρῇδι τ’
ὄνυχα φόνιον ἐμβαλῶ χροός. Orest. 950: Τιθεῖσα λευκὸν ὄνυχα δίὰ
παρηΐδων, αἱματηρὸν ἄταν. Artemidor. i. Ἐν τοῖς πένθεσι λάβωνται τὰς
παρείας οἱ ἄνθρωποι. See Comm. on Petron. cxi.
Footnote 636: (return) The consent of both parents was necessary to a
contract of marriage. See Feith, Antiq. Hom. ii. 13, 3.
Footnote 637: (return) She appears to have been, at present, only
betrothed.
Thus she spoke, weeping; and the women lamented for Patroclus, as a
pretext, but [really] each for her own ills. And around him (Achilles)
were collected the elders of the Greeks, entreating him to take
refreshment; but he, moaning, refused:
“I entreat [you], if any of my beloved companions would be obedient to
me, bid me not satiate my heart with food or drink, since heavy grief
hath invaded me; but I will wait entirely till the setting sun, and
will endure.”
So saying, he dismissed the other kings: but two sons of Atreus
remained; and noble Ulysses, Nestor, Idomeneus, and the aged knight
Phœnix, constantly endeavouring to delight him sorrowing; nor was he at
all delighted, before he should enter the mouth 638] of bloody war. But
remembering [Patroclus], he frequently heaved [a sigh], and said:
Footnote 638: (return) So Ennius, p. 128. Hessel.: “Belli ferratos
posteis portasque refregit.” Virg. Æn. i. 298: “Claudentur belli
portæ.” Stat. Theb. v. 136: “Movet ostia belli.”
“Surely once, thou too, O unhappy one! dearest of my companions,
wouldst thyself have set before me a plentiful feast, within my tent,
speedily and diligently, when the Greeks hastened to make tearful war
upon the horse-breaking Trojans. But now thou liest mangled; but my
heart is without drink and food, though they are within, from regret
for thee; for I could not suffer anything worse, not even if I were to
hear of my father being dead, who now perhaps sheds the tender tear in
Phthia from the want of such a son; while I, in a foreign people, wage
war against the Trojans, for the sake of detested Helen: or him, my
beloved son, who is nurtured for me at Scyros, if indeed he still
lives, godlike Neoptolemus. For formerly the mind within my bosom hoped
that I alone should perish here in Troy, far from steed-nourishing
Argos, and that thou shouldst return to Phthia, that thou mightst lead
back my son in thy black ship from Scyros, and mightst show him
everything, my property, my servants, and my great, lofty-domed abode.
For now I suppose that Peleus is either totally deceased, or that he,
barely alive, suffers pain from hateful old age, and that he is
continually expecting bad news respecting me, when he shall hear of my
being dead.”
Thus he spoke, weeping; and the elders also groaned, remembering, each
of them, the things which they had left in their dwellings. But the son
of Saturn felt compassion, seeing them weeping, and immediately to
Minerva addressed winged words:
“O daughter mine, thou entirely now desertest thy valiant hero. Is
Achilles then no longer at all a care to thee in thy mind? He himself
is sitting before his lofty-beaked ships, bewailing his dear companion;
while the others have gone to a banquet; but he is unrefreshed and
unfed. Go, therefore, instil into his breast nectar and delightful
ambrosia, that hunger may come not upon him.”
So saying, he urged on Minerva, who was before eager. But she, like
unto a broad-winged, shrill-voiced harpy, leaped down from the heavens
through the air. The Greeks, however, were then arming themselves
throughout the camp, when she instilled into the bosom of Achilles
nectar and delightful ambrosia, that unpleasant hunger might not come
upon his limbs. Then she went to the solid mansion of her powerful
sire, and they, apart, poured forth from the swift ships.
And as when thick snow-flakes fly down from Jove, beneath the force of
the cold, air-clearing Boreas; so from the ships were borne out crowded
helmets, shining brightly, and bossed shields, strong-cavitied
corslets, and ashen spears. But the sheen reached to heaven, and all
the earth around smiled beneath the splendour of the brass; and a
trampling of the feet of men arose beneath. In the midst noble Achilles
was armed, and there was a gnashing of his teeth, and his eyes shone
like a blaze of fire; but intolerable grief entered his heart within
him, and, enraged against the Trojans, he put on the gifts of the god,
which Vulcan, toiling, had fabricated for him. First around his legs he
placed the beautiful greaves, joined with silver clasps, next he put on
the corslet round his breast, and suspended from his shoulders the
brazen, silver-studded sword; then he seized the shield, large and
solid, the sheen of which went to a great distance, as of the moon. 639
And as when from the sea the blaze of a burning fire shines to
mariners, which is lit aloft amongst the mountains in a solitary place;
but the storm bears them against their inclination away from their
friends over the fishy deep; so from the shield of Achilles, beautiful
and skilfully made, the brightness reached the sky. But raising it, he
placed the strong helmet upon his head; and the helmet, crested with
horse-hair, shone like a star; and the golden tufts which Vulcan had
diffused thick around the cone were shaken. Then noble Achilles tried
himself in his arms if they would fit him, and if his fair limbs would
move freely in them; but they were like wings to him, and lifted up the
shepherd of the people. And from its sheath he drew forth his paternal
spear, heavy, great, and stout, which no other of the Greeks was able
to brandish, but Achilles alone knew how to hurl it—a Pelian ash, which
Chiron had cut for his father from the top of Pelion, to be a
destruction to heroes. But Automedon and Alcimus, harnessing the
steeds, yoked them; and beautiful collars were upon them. They put the
bridles into their jaws, and drew back the reins towards the well-glued
car, when Automedon, seizing the shining lash, fitted to his hand,
leaped into the car; Achilles, armed for battle, mounted behind him,
glittering in his armour like the shining sun; and terribly he gave
command to the horses of his sire:
Footnote 639: (return) Milton, P. L. i. 284:
“........ his pond’rous shield
Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round,
Behind him cast; the broad circumference
Hung on his shoulders like the moon.”
“Xanthus, and Balius, illustrious offspring of Podarges, resolve now in
a different manner to bring back your charioteer in safety to the body
of the Greeks, after we are satiated with battle, nor leave him there
dead, like Patroclus.”
But from beneath the yoke, Xanthus, his swift-footed steed, addressed
him, and immediately hung down his head, and his whole mane, drooping
from the ring which was near the yoke, reached the ground. But the
white-armed goddess Juno gave him the power of speech:
“Now, at least, we will bear thee safe, O impetuous Achilles: but the
fatal day draws nigh to thee; nor are we to blame, but a mighty deity
and violent destiny. For not by our laziness, or sloth, have the
Trojans stripped the armour from the shoulders of Patroclus; but the
bravest of the gods, whom fair-haired Latona brought forth, slew him
among the front ranks, and gave glory to Hector. And [though] we can
run even with the blast of Zephyrus, which they say is the most fleet,
yet to thyself it is fated that thou shouldst be violently subdued by a
god and a man.”
Of him, having thus spoken, the Furies restrained the voice: but him
swift-footed Achilles, greatly indignant, addressed:
“O Xanthus, why dost thou predict my death to me? For it is not at all
necessary for thee. Well do I myself know that it is my fate to perish
here, far away from my dear father and mother. Nevertheless I will not
cease before the Trojans are abundantly satiated with war.”
He spoke, and shouting amongst the front ranks, directed on his
solid-hoofed steeds.