Achilles, admonished in a dream by the ghost of his friend, celebrates
the funeral of Patroclus.
Thus they indeed were mourning through the city; but the Greeks, as
soon as they reached the ships and the Hellespont, were separated each
to his own ship. But Achilles did not permit the Myrmidons to be
dispersed, but he spoke amongst his warlike companions [thus]:
“Ye swift-horsed Myrmidons, comrades dear to me, let us not yet loose
the solid-hoofed steeds from under our chariots, but with the very
horses and chariots, going near, let us bewail Patroclus; for this is
the honour of the dead. But when we have indulged 720 sad lamentation,
unyoking our steeds, we will all sup here.”
Thus he spoke; but they mourned in a body; and Achilles led the way.
Thrice they drove their fair-maned steeds around the body, 721
grieving; and among them Thetis kindled a longing for lamentation.
Moistened were the sands, and moistened were the arms of the men with
tears; for so brave a master of the flight they longed. But among them
the son of Peleus led the abundant lamentation, laying his
man-slaughtering hands upon the breast of his companion:
Footnote 720: (return) Excellently paraphrased by Gaza: Ἐπειδὰν δὲ τοῦ
ὄλεθρίου θρήνου ἀπολαύσωμεν. Ernesti well observes that τεταρπώμεσθα
implies “delight mingled with satiety.”
Footnote 721: (return) This was a frequent rite at funerals. Cf.
Apollon. Rh. i. 1059; Virg. Æn. xi. 188, sqq.; Heliodor. Ethiop. iii.
p. 136: Ἐπειδὴ τὸ μνῆμα τοῦ Νεοπτολέμου περιεστοιχήσατο ἡ πομπὴ, καὶ
τρίτον οἱ ἔφηβοι τὴν ἵππον περιήλασαν, λολύξαν μὲν αἱ γυναῖκες,
λάλαξαν δὲ οἱ ἄνδρες. Among the Romans this rite was called _decursio_.
Cf. Liv. xxv. 17: Tacit. Ann. ii. 7; Sueton. Claud. § i. According to
Plutarch, Alexander the Great performed the same honours at the tomb of
Achilles, that Achilles had bestowed upon the manes of his friend
Patroclus. See also Bernart on Stat. Theb. vi. 217.
“Hail! O Patroclus, even in the dwellings of Hades; for now shall I
accomplish all those things which formerly I promised, that having
dragged Hector hither, I would give him to the dogs to be devoured raw;
and that before thy pile I would cut the necks of twelve illustrious
sons of the Trojans, enraged on account of thee slain.”
He spoke, and meditated unworthy deeds against noble Hector, having
stretched him prone in the dust before the bier of Menœtiades; but they
each stripped off his brazen, glittering armour, and unyoked their
high-sounding steeds. They sat also in crowds at the ship of
swift-footed Æacides; but he afforded to them an agreeable funeral
feast. 722 Many white bulls 723 were stretched around by the axe,
having their throats cut, and many sheep and bleating goats. Many
white-tusked swine also, abounding in fat, were extended for roasting
in the flame of Vulcan; and on every side around the dead body flowed
abundant blood. But the chiefs of the Greeks led the king, the
swift-footed son of Peleus, to noble Agamemnon, hardly persuading him
enraged at heart on account of his companion. But when advancing they
reached the tent of Agamemnon, he straightway ordered the clear-voiced
heralds to place a large tripod on the fire, if he could persuade the
son of Peleus to wash away the bloody gore. But he sternly refused, and
besides swore an oath: 724
Footnote 722: (return) Τάφος· τὸ γινόμενον περίδειπνον ἐπὶ τῇ τῶν
κατοιχομένων τιμῇ.—Hesych.
Footnote 723: (return) On these funeral sacrifices, see Comm. on Æn.
xi. l. c.; and Lomeier de Lustrationibus, § xxxi.
Footnote 724: (return) Buttm. Lexil. p. 436, after insisting strongly
on the _personification_ of Ὅρκος, observes on this passage: “I see no
reason why we should not suppose that in the poet’s mind Jupiter was
put in opposition to ὅρκον, exactly in the same sense as ὄρκος is
actually found in opposition to Ζεύς in Pindar, Pyth. iv. 297. Κάρτερος
ὅρκος ἄμμι μάρτυς ἔστω Ζεὺς ὁ γενέθλιος άμφοτέροις. Further, the
expressions μέγας όρκος, κάρτερος ὅρκος suit much better the idea of
the witness or pledge of the oath, than they do the oath itself.”
“No, by Jove, who is both the supreme and the best of gods, it is not
lawful that ablutions should come near my head, before I place
Patroclus on the pile, and have thrown up a mound, and shorn my hair;
for not to such a degree will sorrow a second time invade my heart,
whilst I am among the living. But nevertheless let us now yield to the
loathsome banquet. But on the morrow, Ο king of men, Agamemnon, give
orders to bring wood, and dispose it so as is proper that a dead body
enjoying it, should descend beneath the obscure darkness; so that the
indefatigable fire may consume him very quickly from our eyes, and the
people may return to their occupations.”
Thus he spoke; but they indeed readily listened to him, and obeyed.
Then they, each sedulously preparing supper, feasted; nor did their
mind lack aught of an equal feast. But when they had dismissed the
desire of food and drink, some departed in order to lie down, each to
his tent. But the son of Peleus, on the contrary, amid his many
Myrmidons, lay near the shore of the far-sounding sea, heavily moaning,
in a clear spot, where the waves plashed against the shore; when sweet
725 sleep, diffused around, took possession of him, relaxing the cares
of his mind; for he was very much fatigued as to his fair knees,
chasing Hector at wind-swept Ilium. But to him came the spirit of
wretched Patroclus, like unto him in all things, as to bulk, and
beautiful eyes, and his voice; and like garments also were around his
body; and he stood over his head, and addressed him:
“Sleepest thou, O Achilles, and art thou forgetful of me? Thou didst
not indeed neglect me when alive, but [now that I am] dead. Bury me,
that I may as soon as possible pass the gates of Hades. The spirits,
the images of the deceased, 726 drive me far away, nor by any means
permit me to be mingled with them beyond the river; but thus I do
wander round the ample-gated dwelling of Hades. But give me thy hand,
727 I beseech thee, for I shall not again return from Hades after thou
hast made me a partaker of the fire. For by no means shall we, being
alive, sitting apart from our dear companions, deliberate counsels; but
the hateful fate which befel me when born, has snatched me away. And to
thyself also, O godlike Achilles, thy fate is to perish beneath the
wall of the noble Trojans. But another thing I bid, and will command, O
Achilles, if thou wilt obey, not to lay my bones apart from thine; but
as we were nurtured together in thy palaces, when Menœtius led me from
Opus, a little boy, to thy home, on account of a melancholy homicide,
on that day when, imprudent, I slew the son of Amphidamas, not wishing
it, enraged about the dice: 728 then Peleus received me in his abode,
carefully reared me, and named me thy attendant. So may the same tomb
contain our bones, the golden vase which thy venerable mother gave
thee.”
Footnote 725: (return) On the epithet νήδνμος, cf. Buttm. p. 414, sqq.
Footnote 726: (return) Buttm. Lexil. p. 372, in a very interesting
discussion, regards καμόντες as an euphemism, “by which the dead, whom
we consider as still acting and feeling, and consequently as the
objects of our kind offices, of which they are conscious, are
represented as still living in another state, but deprived of their
earthly powers.”
Footnote 727: (return) Virg. Æn. vi. 370: “Da dextram misero.”
Footnote 728: (return) See the Quaint remarks of Jeremy Taylor, Holy
Living, p. 224, ed. Bohn.
But him swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed:
“Why, O venerable friend, hast thou come to me, and commandest each of
these things to me? Yet will I readily accomplish all these things for
thee, and obey as thou commandest. But stand nearer to me, that
embracing each other even for a little while, we may indulge in sad
lamentation.”
Thus then having spoken, he stretched out with his friendly arms, nor
caught him; 729 for the spirit went gibbering 730 beneath the earth,
like smoke. Then Achilles sprang up astonished, and clapped together
his hands, and spoke this doleful speech:
“Alas! there is indeed then, even in the dwellings of Hades, a certain
spirit and image, but there is no body 731 in it at all; for all night
the spirit of miserable Patroclus stood by me, groaning and lamenting,
and enjoined to me each particular, and was wonderfully like unto
himself.”
Footnote 729: (return) Cf. Georg. iv. 499; Æn. ii. 790, iv. 276;
Lucan, iii. 34.
Footnote 730: (return) See Odyss. xxiv. sub init, where the same word
is applied to the shades of the suitors of Penelope.
Footnote 731: (return) By φρένες we may understand the power of using
reason and judgment, with Duport, Gnom. p. 128, and Jeremy Taylor, Holy
Dying, p. 524, ed. Bohn. But ver. 100 seems to require the
interpretation which I have followed; Clarke rendering it “præcordia.”
Thus he spoke; and excited among them all a longing for lamentation;
and rosy-fingered Morn appeared to them while weeping around the
miserable corpse. But king Agamemnon incited everywhere from the tents
both mules and men to bring wood; and for this a brave man was roused,
Meriones, the servant of valour-loving Idomeneus. And they went,
holding in their hands wood-lopping axes and well-twisted ropes; and
before them went the mules. They passed over many ascents, 732
descents, and straight ways and crossways. But when they reached the
forests of many-rilled Ida, hastening, they cut down the towering oaks
with the keen-edged brass. These greatly resounding, fell; and the
Greeks then splitting them, tied [them] upon the mules, but they pained
the ground with their hoofs, eager to reach the plain through the close
thickets. But all the wood-cutters carried trunks of trees, for so
Meriones, the servant of valour-loving Idomeneus, ordered; and
afterwards threw them in order upon the shore, where Achilles designed
a mighty tomb for Patroclus, and for himself.
But when they had thrown on all sides immense quantities of wood,
remaining there in a body, they sat down; but Achilles immediately
ordered the warlike Myrmidons to gird on the brass, and to yoke each
his horses to his chariot; but they arose, and were arrayed in their
armour. And both the combatants and the charioteers ascended their
chariots; the cavalry indeed first, but a cloud of infantry followed
after in myriads; and in the midst his companions bore Patroclus. They
covered all the dead body over with hair, which, cutting off, 733 they
threw upon it; but noble Achilles held his head behind, grieving, for
he was sending a blameless companion to Hades.
Footnote 732: (return) A most remarkable and beautiful example of the
appropriation of sound to sense. Pope has admirably imitated the
original by the following translation:—
“O’er hills, o’er dales, o’er crags, o’er rocks, they go.”