Speaker 1: Book eighteen. Thus then did they fight as it were
Speaker 1: a flaming fire. Meanwhile, the fleet runner Antilochus, who had
Speaker 1: been sent as messenger, reached Achilles, and found him sitting
Speaker 1: by his tall ships and boding that which was indeed
Speaker 1: too surely true. Alas said he to himself, in the
Speaker 1: heaviness of his heart. Why are the Achaeans again scouring
Speaker 1: the plane and flocking towards the ships? Heaven grant the
Speaker 1: gods be not now bringing that sorrow upon me of
Speaker 1: which my mother Thetis spoke, saying that while I was
Speaker 1: yet alive, the bravest of the Myrmidons should fall before
Speaker 1: the Trojans and see the light of the sun. No
Speaker 1: longer I fear the brave son of Menoetius has fallen
Speaker 1: through his own daring. And yet I bade him return
Speaker 1: to the ships as soon as he had driven back
Speaker 1: those that were bringing fire against them, and not join
Speaker 1: battle with Hector. As he was thus pondering, the son
Speaker 1: of Nestor came up to him and told his sad tale,
Speaker 1: weeping bitterly. The while Alas, he cried, son of noble Pelias,
Speaker 1: I bring you bad tidings. Would indeed that they were untrue.
Speaker 1: Patroclus has fallen, and a fight is raging about his
Speaker 1: naked body, for Hector holds his armor. A dark cloud
Speaker 1: of grief fell upon Achilles as he listened. He filled
Speaker 1: both hands with dust from off the ground and poured
Speaker 1: it over his head, disfiguring his comely face and letting
Speaker 1: the refuse settle over his shirt so fair and new.
Speaker 1: He flung himself down, all huge and hugely at full length,
Speaker 1: and tore his hair with his hands. The bondswomen whom
Speaker 1: Achilles and Patroclus had taken captives, screamed aloud for grief,
Speaker 1: beating their breasts and with their limbs, failing them for sorrow.
Speaker 1: Antilochus bent over him the while weeping and holding both
Speaker 1: his hands as he lay groaning, for he feared that
Speaker 1: he might plunge a knife into his own throat. Then
Speaker 1: Achilles gave a loud cry, and his mother heard him,
Speaker 1: as she was sitting in the depths of the sea
Speaker 1: by the old man, her father. Whereon she screamed, and
Speaker 1: all the goddesses daughters of Nereus, that dwelt at the
Speaker 1: bottom of the sea came gathering round her. There were
Speaker 1: Glauce Thalia and simadoch Nesiah, Speo Thoe and dark Eyed Harley, Simatho,
Speaker 1: Actaea and Limnoria, meliti Iira Amphitho and Agave, Doto and
Speaker 1: Proto Ferusa and Dynamene Dexamine, Amphinome and Callianeera, Doris Panape
Speaker 1: and the famous sceneymph Galatea, Nemertes, Apseudes and Calianassa. There
Speaker 1: were also Clemene Ianeia and Nyanassa, Mayerra Orethuia and Amethea
Speaker 1: of the Lovely Locks, with other Nereids who dwell in
Speaker 1: the depths of the sea. The crystal cave was filled
Speaker 1: with their multitude, and they all beat their breasts while
Speaker 1: Thetis led them in their life. Meant listen, she cried, sisters,
Speaker 1: daughters of Nereus, that you may hear the burden of
Speaker 1: my sorrows. Alas woe is me, woe in that I
Speaker 1: have borne the most glorious of offspring. I bore him
Speaker 1: fair and strong, hero among heroes, and he shot up
Speaker 1: as a sapling. I tendered him as a plant in
Speaker 1: a goodly garden, and sent him with his ships to
Speaker 1: Ilius to fight the Trojans. But never shall I welcome
Speaker 1: him back to the house of Pelias, so long as
Speaker 1: he lives to look upon the light of the sun.
Speaker 1: He is in heaviness, and though I go to him,
Speaker 1: I cannot help him. Nevertheless, I will go that I
Speaker 1: may see my dear son and learn what sorrow has
Speaker 1: befallen him, though he is still holding aloof from battle.
Speaker 1: She left the cave as she spoke, while the others followed,
Speaker 1: weeping after, and the waves opened a path before them.
Speaker 1: When they reached the rich plain of Troy, they came
Speaker 1: up out of the sea in a long line onto
Speaker 1: the sands. At the place where the ships of the
Speaker 1: Mirmidons were drawn up in close order round the tents
Speaker 1: of Achilles. His mother went up to him as he
Speaker 1: lay groaning. She laid her hand upon his head and
Speaker 1: spoke piteously, saying, my son, why are you thus weeping?
Speaker 1: What sorrow has now befallen you? Tell me, hide it
Speaker 1: not from me. Surely Jove has granted you the prayer
Speaker 1: you made him when you lifted up your hands and
Speaker 1: besought him that the Achaeans might all of them be
Speaker 1: pent up at their ships, and threw it bitterly in
Speaker 1: that you were no longer with them, Achilles groaned and answered, Mother,
Speaker 1: Olympian Jove has indeed vouchsafed me the fulfillment of my prayer.
Speaker 1: But what boots it to me? Seeing that my dear
Speaker 1: comrade Petroclus has fallen, he whom I valued more than
Speaker 1: all others and loved as dearly as my own life.
Speaker 1: I have lost him. I and Hector, when he had
Speaker 1: killed him, stripped the wondrous armor, so glorious to behold,
Speaker 1: which the gods gave to Pelias when they laid you
Speaker 1: in the couch of a mortal man. Would that you
Speaker 1: were still dwelling among the immortal sea nymphs, and that
Speaker 1: Pelias had taken to himself some mortal bride. For now
Speaker 1: you shall have grief infinite by reason of the death
Speaker 1: of that son, whom you can never welcome home. Nay,
Speaker 1: I will not live nor go about among mankind unless
Speaker 1: Hector fall by my spear and thus pay me for
Speaker 1: having slain Patroclus, son of Menoetius. Thetis wept and answered, then,
Speaker 1: my son, is your end near at hand? For your
Speaker 1: own death awaits you full soon after that of Hector.
Speaker 1: Then said Achilles, in his great grief, I would die
Speaker 1: here and now in that I could not save my comrade.
Speaker 1: He has fallen far from home, and in his hour
Speaker 1: of need, my hand was not there to help him.
Speaker 1: What is there for me? Return to my own land?
Speaker 1: I shall not, and I have brought no saving, neither
Speaker 1: to Patroclus nor to my other comrades, of whom so
Speaker 1: many have been slain by mighty Hector. I stay here
Speaker 1: by my ships, a bootless burden upon the earth, I
Speaker 1: who in fight have no peer among the Achaeans, though
Speaker 1: in council there are better than I. Therefore perish strife,
Speaker 1: both from among gods and men, and anger, wherein even
Speaker 1: a righteous man will harden his heart, which rises up
Speaker 1: in the soul of a man like smoke, and the
Speaker 1: taste thereof is sweeter than drops of honey. Even so
Speaker 1: has Agamemnon angered me, And yet so be it, For
Speaker 1: it is over, I will force my soul into subjection.
Speaker 1: As I needs must, I will go. I will pursue Hector,
Speaker 1: who has slain him whom I loved so dearly, and
Speaker 1: will then abide my doom when it may please Jove
Speaker 1: and the other gods to send it, even Hercules, the
Speaker 1: best beloved of Jove. Even he could not escape the
Speaker 1: hand of death, But fate and Juno's fierce anger laid
Speaker 1: him low, as I too shall lie when I am dead,
Speaker 1: if a like doom awaits me till then I will
Speaker 1: win fame and will bid Trojan and Dardanian women wring
Speaker 1: tears from their tender cheeks with both their hands in
Speaker 1: the grievousness of their great sorrow. Thus shall they know
Speaker 1: that he who has held aloof so long will hold
Speaker 1: aloof no longer. Hold me not back. Therefore, in the
Speaker 1: love you bear me, for you shall not move me. Then,
Speaker 1: silver footed Thetis answered, my son, what you have said
Speaker 1: is true. It is well to save your comrades from destruction.
Speaker 1: But your armor is in the hands of the Trojans.
Speaker 1: Hector bears it in triumph upon his own shops. Full well,
Speaker 1: I know that his vaunts shall not be lasting, for
Speaker 1: his end is close at hand. Go not, however, into
Speaker 1: the press of battle, till you see me return hither tomorrow,
Speaker 1: at break of day, I shall be here and will
Speaker 1: bring you goodly armour from King Vulcan. On this she
Speaker 1: left her brave son, and as she turned away, she
Speaker 1: said to the sea nymphs. Her sisters dive into the
Speaker 1: bosom of the sea and go to the house of
Speaker 1: the old sea god my father tell him everything. As
Speaker 1: for me, I will go to the cunning workman Vulcan
Speaker 1: on high Olympus and ask him to provide my son
Speaker 1: with a suit of splendid armor. When she had so said,
Speaker 1: they dived forthwith beneath the waves, while silver footed Thetis
Speaker 1: went her way, that she might bring the armor for
Speaker 1: her son. Thus then did her feet bear the goddess
Speaker 1: to Olympus. And meanwhile the Achaeans were flying with loud
Speaker 1: cries before murderous Hector, till they reached the ships and
Speaker 1: the hellespont, And they could not draw the body of
Speaker 1: Mars's servant Petroclus out of reach of the weapons that
Speaker 1: were showered upon him, for Hector, son of Priam, with
Speaker 1: his host and horsemen, had again caught up to him
Speaker 1: like the flame of a fiery furnace. Thrice did brave
Speaker 1: Hector seize him by the feet, striving with might and
Speaker 1: main to draw him away, and calling loudly on the Trojans.
Speaker 1: And thrice did the two Ajaxes, clothed in valor as
Speaker 1: with a garment beat him from off the body, but
Speaker 1: all undaunted, he would now charge into the thick of
Speaker 1: the fight. And now again he would stand still and
Speaker 1: cry aloud, but he would give no ground as upland shepherds.
Speaker 1: That cannot chase some famished lion from a carcass. Even so,
Speaker 1: could not the two Ajaxes scare Hector, son of Priam,
Speaker 1: from the body of Patroclus. And now he would even
Speaker 1: have dragged it off and have won imperishable glory, had
Speaker 1: not Iris fleet as the wind winged her way a
Speaker 1: messenger from Olympus to the son of Pelias, and bidden
Speaker 1: him arm. She came secretly, without the knowledge of Jove
Speaker 1: and of the other gods, for Juno sent her. And
Speaker 1: when she had got close to him, she said, up,
Speaker 1: son of Pelias, mightiest of all mankind, rescue Patroclus, about
Speaker 1: whom this fearful fight is now raging by the ships.
Speaker 1: Men are killing one another, the Danaans in defense of
Speaker 1: the dead body, while the Trojans are trying to hale
Speaker 1: it away and take it to wind Ilius. Hector is
Speaker 1: the most furious of them all. He is for cutting
Speaker 1: the head from the body and fixing it on the
Speaker 1: stakes of the wall up then, and bide here no
Speaker 1: longer shrink from the thought that Petroclus may become meat
Speaker 1: for the dogs of Troy. Shame on you should his
Speaker 1: body suffer any kind of outrage. And Achilles said, Iris,
Speaker 1: which of the gods was it that sent you to
Speaker 1: me me? Iris answered it was Juno, the royal spouse
Speaker 1: of Jove. But the son of Saturn does not know
Speaker 1: of my coming, nor yet does any other of the
Speaker 1: immortals who dwell on the snowy summits of Olympus. Then
Speaker 1: fleet Achilles answered her, saying, how can I go up
Speaker 1: into the battle? They have my armor? My mother forbade
Speaker 1: me to arm till I should see her come, for
Speaker 1: she promised to bring me goodly armour from Vulcan. I
Speaker 1: know no man whose arms I can put on, save
Speaker 1: only the shield of Ajax, son of Telemann, and he
Speaker 1: surely must be fighting in the front rank and wielding
Speaker 1: his spear about the body of dead Patroclus, Iris said,
Speaker 1: we know that your armor has been taken, But go
Speaker 1: as you are, Go to the deep trench and show
Speaker 1: yourself before the Trojans that they may fear you and
Speaker 1: cease fighting. Thus will the fainting sons of the Achaeans
Speaker 1: gain some brief breathing time, which in battle may hardly
Speaker 1: be Iris left him when she had so spoken, But Achilles,
Speaker 1: dear to jove, arose, and Minerva flung her tasseled aegis
Speaker 1: round his strong shoulders. She crowned his head with a
Speaker 1: halo of golden cloud, from which she kindled a glow
Speaker 1: of gleaming fire, as the smoke that goes up into
Speaker 1: heaven from some city that is being beleaguered on an
Speaker 1: island far out at sea. All day long do men
Speaker 1: sally from the city and fight their hardest, And at
Speaker 1: the going down of the sun, the line of beacon
Speaker 1: fires blazes forth, flaring high, for those that dwell near
Speaker 1: them to behold, if so be, that they may come
Speaker 1: with their ships and sucker them. Even so did the
Speaker 1: light flare from the head of Achilles as he stood
Speaker 1: by the trench going beyond the wall. But he did
Speaker 1: not join the Achaeans, for he heeded the charge which
Speaker 1: his mother laid upon him. There did he stand and
Speaker 1: shout aloud. Minerva also raised her voice from Afar and
Speaker 1: spread terror unspeakable among the Trojans, ringing as the note
Speaker 1: of a trumpet that sounds alarm, Then the foe is
Speaker 1: at the gates of a city. Even so brazen was
Speaker 1: the voice of the son of Iachus, And when the
Speaker 1: Trojans heard its clarion tones, they were dismayed. The horses
Speaker 1: turned back with their chariots, for they boded mischief, and
Speaker 1: their drivers were awe struck by the steady flame which
Speaker 1: the gray eyed goddess had kindled above the head of
Speaker 1: the great son of Pelias. Thrice did Achilles raise his
Speaker 1: loud cry as he stood by the trench. And thrice
Speaker 1: were the Trojans and their brave allies thrown into confusion,
Speaker 1: whereon twelve of their noblest champions fell beneath the wheels
Speaker 1: of their chariots and perished by their own spears. The Achaeans,
Speaker 1: to their great joy, then drew Petroclus out of reach
Speaker 1: of the weapons and laid him on a litter. His
Speaker 1: comrades stood mourning round him, and among them fleet Achilles,
Speaker 1: who wept bitterly as he saw his true comrade lying
Speaker 1: dead upon his bier. He had sent him out with
Speaker 1: horses and chariots into battle, but his return he was
Speaker 1: not to welcome. Then Juno sent the busy sun loth
Speaker 1: though he was into the waters of Oceanus. So he
Speaker 1: set and the Achaeans had rest from the tug and
Speaker 1: turmoil of war. Now the Trojans, when they had come
Speaker 1: out of the fight, unyoked their horses and gathered in
Speaker 1: assembly before preparing their supper. They kept their feet, nor
Speaker 1: would any dare to sit down, for fear had fallen
Speaker 1: upon them all. Because Achilles had shown himself, after having
Speaker 1: held aloof so long from battle. Polydamas, son of Panthous,
Speaker 1: was first to speak, a man of judgment, who alone
Speaker 1: among them could look both before and after. He was
Speaker 1: comrade to Hector, and they had been born upon the
Speaker 1: same night with all sincerity and goodwill theref for he
Speaker 1: addressed them, Thus, look to it well, my friends, I
Speaker 1: would urge you to go back now to your city,
Speaker 1: and not wait here by the ships till morning, for
Speaker 1: we are far from our walls. So long as this
Speaker 1: man was at enmity with Agamemnon, the Achaeans were easier
Speaker 1: to deal with, and I would have gladly camped by
Speaker 1: the ships in the hope of taking them. But now
Speaker 1: I go in great fear of the fleet, son of Pelias.
Speaker 1: He is so daring that he will never bide here
Speaker 1: on the plain where on the Trojans and Achaeans fight
Speaker 1: with equal valor. But he will try to storm our
Speaker 1: city and carry off our women. Do then as I say,
Speaker 1: and let us retreat, For this is what will happen.
Speaker 1: The darkness of night will for a time stay the
Speaker 1: sun of Pelias. But if he find us here in
Speaker 1: the morning, when he sallies forth in full armor, we
Speaker 1: shall have knowledge of him in good, earnest glad. Indeed
Speaker 1: will he be who can escape and get back to Ilius.
Speaker 1: And many a Trojan will become meat for dogs and vultures.
Speaker 1: May I never live to hear it. If we do
Speaker 1: as I say, little though we may like it, we
Speaker 1: shall have strength in council during the night, and the
Speaker 1: great gates with the doors that close them, will protect
Speaker 1: the city. At dawn we can arm and take our
Speaker 1: stand on the walls. He will then ruin it. If
Speaker 1: he sallies from the ships to fight us. He will
Speaker 1: go back when he has given his horses their fill
Speaker 1: of being driven all withers under our walls, and will
Speaker 1: be in no mind to try and force his way
Speaker 1: into the city. Neither will he ever sack it, dogs
Speaker 1: shall devour him ere he do so. Hector looked fiercely
Speaker 1: at him and answered, Polydamus, your words are not to
Speaker 1: my liking in that you bid us go back and
Speaker 1: be pent within the city. Have you not had enough
Speaker 1: of being cooped up behind walls? In the old days?
Speaker 1: The city of Priam was famous the whole world over
Speaker 1: for its wealth of gold and bronze. But our treasures
Speaker 1: are wasted out of our houses, and much goods have
Speaker 1: been sold away to Phrygia and Meonia. For the hand
Speaker 1: of Jove has been laid heavily upon us. Now therefore,
Speaker 1: that the son of scheming Saturn has vouchsafed me to
Speaker 1: win glory here and to hem. The Achaeans in at
Speaker 1: their ships, prate no more in this fool's wise. Among
Speaker 1: the people, you will have no man with you. It
Speaker 1: shall not be. Do all of you as I now say.
Speaker 1: Take your suppers in your companies throughout the host, and
Speaker 1: keep your watches, and be wakeful, every man of you.
Speaker 1: If any trojan is uneasy about his possessions, let him
Speaker 1: gather them and give them out among the people. Better,
Speaker 1: let these rather than the Achaeans have them. At daybreak,
Speaker 1: we will arm and fight about the ships. Granted that
Speaker 1: Achilles has again come forward to defend them, let it
Speaker 1: be as he will, but it shall go hard with him.
Speaker 1: I shall not shun him, but will fight him to
Speaker 1: fall or conquer. The god of war deals out like
Speaker 1: measure to all, and the slayer may yet be slain.
Speaker 1: Thus spoke Hector, and the Trojans, fools that they were
Speaker 1: shouted in applause, for Pallas Minerva had robbed them of
Speaker 1: their understanding. They gave ear to Hector with his evil counsel,
Speaker 1: but the wise words of Polydamus no man would heed.
Speaker 1: They took their supper throughout the host, and meanwhile through
Speaker 1: the whole night the Achaeans mourned. Patroclus, and the son
Speaker 1: of Pelias led them in their lament. He laid his
Speaker 1: murderous hands upon the breast of his comrade, groaning again
Speaker 1: and again. As a bearded lion when a man who
Speaker 1: was chasing deer has robbed him of his young in
Speaker 1: some dense forest. When the lion comes back, he is
Speaker 1: furious and searches Dingle and Dell to track the hunter.
Speaker 1: If he can find him, for he is mad with rage.
Speaker 1: Even so with many a side did Achilles speak among
Speaker 1: the mrmuduns, saying, alas vain were the words with which
Speaker 1: I cheered the hero Menoetius in his own house. I
Speaker 1: said that I would bring him, his brave son back
Speaker 1: again to a pois, after he had sacked Ilius and
Speaker 1: taken his share of the spoils. But Jove does not
Speaker 1: give all men their heart's desire the same. Soil shall
Speaker 1: be reddened here at Troy by the blood of us both,
Speaker 1: for I too shall never be welcomed home by the
Speaker 1: old knight Pelias, nor by my mother Thetis. But even
Speaker 1: in this place shall the earth cover me nevertheless, O Patroclus,
Speaker 1: Now that I am left behind you, I will not
Speaker 1: bury you till I have brought hither the head and
Speaker 1: armor of mighty Hector, who has slain you, twelve noble
Speaker 1: sons of Trojans. Will I behead before your bier to
Speaker 1: avenge you till I have done so. You shall lie
Speaker 1: as you are by the ships and fair women of
Speaker 1: Troy and Dardaness, whom we have taken with spear and
Speaker 1: strength of arm when we sacked men's goodly cities shall
Speaker 1: weep over you both night and day. Then Achilles told
Speaker 1: his men to set a large tripod upon the fire,
Speaker 1: that they might wash the clotted gore from off Patroclus.
Speaker 1: Thereon they set a tripod full of bus water onto
Speaker 1: a clear fire. They threw sticks onto it to make
Speaker 1: it blaze, and the water became hot as the flame
Speaker 1: played about the belly of the tripod. When the water
Speaker 1: in the cauldron was boiling, they washed the body, anointed
Speaker 1: it with oil, and closed its wounds with ointment that
Speaker 1: had been kept nine years. Then they laid it on
Speaker 1: a bier and covered it with a linen cloth from
Speaker 1: head to foot, and over this they laid a fair
Speaker 1: white robe. Thus, all night long did the Mermanduns gather
Speaker 1: round Achilles to mourn Patroclus. Then Jove said to Juno,
Speaker 1: his sister wife, So, Queen Juno, you have gained your
Speaker 1: end and have roused fleet Achilles. One would think that
Speaker 1: the Achaeans were of your own flesh and blood. And
Speaker 1: Juno answered, dread son of Saturn, why should you say
Speaker 1: this thing may not a man, though he be only
Speaker 1: mortal and knows less than we do, do what he
Speaker 1: can for another person, and shall not I foremost of
Speaker 1: all goddesses, both by descent and as wife to you,
Speaker 1: who reign in Heaven, devise evil for the Trojans if
Speaker 1: I am angry with them. Thus did they converse. Meanwhile,
Speaker 1: Thetis came to the house of Vulcan, imperishable star, bespangled,
Speaker 1: fairest of the abodes in Heaven, a house of bronze,
Speaker 1: wrought by the Lame God's own hands. She found him
Speaker 1: busy with his bellows, sweating and hard at work, for
Speaker 1: he was making twenty tripods that were to stand by
Speaker 1: the wall of his house, and he set wheels of
Speaker 1: gold under them, all that they might go of their
Speaker 1: own selves to the assemblies of the gods and come
Speaker 1: back again marvels indeed, to see they were finished, all
Speaker 1: but the ears of cunning workmanship, which yet remained to
Speaker 1: be fixed to them. These he was now fixing, and
Speaker 1: he was hammering at the rivet. While he was thus
Speaker 1: at work, silver footed, Thetis came to the house Carris
Speaker 1: of graceful headdress, wife to the far famed Lame God.
Speaker 1: Came towards her as soon as she saw her, and
Speaker 1: took her hand in her own, saying, why have you
Speaker 1: come to our house, thetis honored and ever welcome, for
Speaker 1: you do not visit as often. Come inside, and let
Speaker 1: me set refreshment before you. The goddess led the way
Speaker 1: as she spoke, and bade Thetis sit on a richly
Speaker 1: decorated seat inlaid with silver. There was a footstool also
Speaker 1: under her feet. Then she called Vulcan and said, Vulcan,
Speaker 1: come here. Thetis wants you. And the far famed lame
Speaker 1: god answered, then it is indeed an august and honored
Speaker 1: goddess who has come here. She it was that took
Speaker 1: care of me when I was suffering from the heavy fall,
Speaker 1: which I had through my cruel mother's anger. For she
Speaker 1: would have got rid of me because I was lame.
Speaker 1: It would have gone high hardly with me had not Uryinomy,
Speaker 1: daughter of the ever encircling waters of Oceanus, and Thetis
Speaker 1: taken me to their bosom. Nine years did I stay
Speaker 1: with them. And many beautiful works in bronze brooches, spiral armlets,
Speaker 1: cups and chains did I make for them in their cave,
Speaker 1: with the roaring waters of Oceanus foaming as they rushed
Speaker 1: ever past it, and no one knew neither of gods
Speaker 1: nor men, save only Thetis and Uryinomy, who took care
Speaker 1: of me. If then Thetis has come to my house,
Speaker 1: I must make her due requital for having saved me.
Speaker 1: Entertain her therefore with all hospitality, while I put by
Speaker 1: my bellows and all my tools on this The mighty
Speaker 1: monster hobbled off from his anvil, his thin legs plying
Speaker 1: lustily under him. He set the bellows away from the
Speaker 1: fire and gathered his tools into a silver chest. Then
Speaker 1: he took a sponge and washed his face and hands,
Speaker 1: his shaggy chest and brawny neck. He donned his shirt,
Speaker 1: grasped his strong staff, and limped towards the door. There
Speaker 1: were golden handmaids also who worked for him, and were
Speaker 1: like real young women, with sense and reason, voice also
Speaker 1: and strength, and all the learning of the immortals. These
Speaker 1: busied themselves as the king bade them. While he drew
Speaker 1: near to Thetis, seated her upon a goodly seat, and
Speaker 1: took her hand in his own, saying, why have you
Speaker 1: come to our house? Thetis honored and ever welcome, For
Speaker 1: you do not visit us often. Say what you want,
Speaker 1: and I will do it for you at once if
Speaker 1: I can and if it can be done at all,
Speaker 1: Thetis wept and answered, Vulcan, is there another goddess in
Speaker 1: Olympus whom the son of Saturn has been pleased to
Speaker 1: try with so much affliction as he has me? Me alone?
Speaker 1: Of the marine goddesses? Did he make subject to a
Speaker 1: mortal husband, Pelias, son of Iacus. And sorely against my
Speaker 1: will did I submit to the embraces of one who
Speaker 1: was but mortal, and who now stays at home, worn
Speaker 1: out with age. Neither is this all Heaven vouchsafed me
Speaker 1: a son hero among heroes, and he shot up as
Speaker 1: a sapling. I tended him as a plant in a
Speaker 1: goodly garden, and sent him with his ships to Ilius
Speaker 1: to fight the Trojans. But never shall I welcome him
Speaker 1: back to the house of Pelias, so long as he
Speaker 1: lives to look upon the light of the sun. He
Speaker 1: is in heaviness, and though I go to him, I
Speaker 1: cannot help him. King Agamemnon has made him give up
Speaker 1: the maiden whom the sons of the Achaeans had awarded him,
Speaker 1: and he wastes with sorrow for her sake. Then the
Speaker 1: Trojans hemmed the Achaeans in at their ship's sterns, and
Speaker 1: would not let them come forth. The elders, therefore of
Speaker 1: the Argives besought Achilles and offered him great treasure, whereon
Speaker 1: he refused to bring deliverance to them himself, but put
Speaker 1: his own armor on Patroclus, and sent him into the fight,
Speaker 1: with much people after him. All day long they fought
Speaker 1: by the scay and gates, and would have taken the
Speaker 1: city there and then had not Apollo vouchsafed glory to
Speaker 1: Hector and slain the valiant son of Menoetius, after he
Speaker 1: had done the Trojans much evil. Therefore, I am suppliant
Speaker 1: at your knees, if haply you may be pleased to
Speaker 1: provide my son, whose end is near at hand, with
Speaker 1: helmet and shield, with goodly grieves, fitted with ankle clasps,
Speaker 1: and with a breastplate. For he lost his own when
Speaker 1: his true comrade fell at the hands of the Trojans,
Speaker 1: and he now lies stretched on earth in the bitterness
Speaker 1: of his soul. And Vulcan answered, take heart, and be
Speaker 1: no more disquieted about this matter, would that I could
Speaker 1: hide him from death's sight when his hour is come.
Speaker 1: So surely as I can find him armor that shall
Speaker 1: amaze the eyes of all who behold it. When he
Speaker 1: had so said, he left her and went to his bellows,
Speaker 1: turning them towards the fire, and bidding them do their office.
Speaker 1: Twenty bellows blew upon the melting pots, and they blew
Speaker 1: blasts of every kind, some fierce to help him when
Speaker 1: he had need of them, and others less strong. As
Speaker 1: Vulcan willed it. In the course of his work, he
Speaker 1: threw tough copper into the fire, and tin with silver
Speaker 1: and gold. He set his great anvil on its block,
Speaker 1: and with one hand grasped his mighty hammer, while he
Speaker 1: took the tongs in the other. First he shaped the
Speaker 1: shield so great and strong, adorning it all over and
Speaker 1: binding it round with a gleaming circuit in three layers,
Speaker 1: and the baldric was made of silver. He made the
Speaker 1: shield in five thicknesses, and with many a wonder did
Speaker 1: his cunning hand in richet. He wrought the earth, the heavens,
Speaker 1: and the sea, the moon also at her full, and
Speaker 1: the untiring sun, with all the signs that glorify the
Speaker 1: face of heaven, the pleids, the hyrds, huge orion, and
Speaker 1: the bear which men also call the wane, and which
Speaker 1: turn round ever in one place, facing Orion, and alone
Speaker 1: never dips into the stream of Oceanus. He wrought also
Speaker 1: two cities, fair to see and busy with the hum
Speaker 1: of men. In the one were weddings and wedding feasts,
Speaker 1: and they were going about the city with brides, whom
Speaker 1: they were escorting by torchlight from their chambers. Loud rose
Speaker 1: the cry of hymen, and the youths danced to the
Speaker 1: music of flute and lyre, while the women stood each
Speaker 1: at her house door to see them. Meanwhile, the people
Speaker 1: were gathered in assembly, for there was a quarrel, and
Speaker 1: two men were wrangling about the blood money for a
Speaker 1: man who had been killed, the one saying before the
Speaker 1: people that he had paid damages in full, and the
Speaker 1: other that he had not been paid. Each was trying
Speaker 1: to make his own case good, and the people took sides,
Speaker 1: each man backing the side that he had taken, But
Speaker 1: the heralds kept them back, and the elders sate on
Speaker 1: their seats of stone in a solemn circle, holding the
Speaker 1: staves which the heralds had put into their hands. Then
Speaker 1: they rose, and each in his turn gave judgment, and
Speaker 1: there were two talents laid down to be given to
Speaker 1: him whose judgment should be deemed the fairest. About the
Speaker 1: other city they lay encamped two hosts in gleaming armor,
Speaker 1: and they were divided whether to sack it or to
Speaker 1: spare it and accept the half of what it contained.
Speaker 1: But the men of the city would not yet consent,
Speaker 1: and armed themselves for a surprise. Their wives and little
Speaker 1: children kept guard upon the walls, and with them were
Speaker 1: the men who were passed fighting through age. But the
Speaker 1: others sallied forth, with Mars and Pallace Minerva at their head,
Speaker 1: both of them wrought in gold and clad in golden raiment,
Speaker 1: great and fair, with their armor as befitting gods, while
Speaker 1: they that followed were smaller. When they reached the place
Speaker 1: where they they would lay their ambush, it was on
Speaker 1: a river bed to which live stock of all kinds
Speaker 1: would come from far and near to water. Here then
Speaker 1: they lay concealed, clad in full armor. Some way off them,
Speaker 1: there were two scouts who were on the lookout for
Speaker 1: the coming of sheep or cattle, which presently came, followed
Speaker 1: by two shepherds who were playing on their pipes and
Speaker 1: had not so much as a thought of danger. When
Speaker 1: those who were in ambush saw this, they cut off
Speaker 1: the flocks and herds and killed the shepherds. Meanwhile, the besiegers,
Speaker 1: when they heard much noise among the cattle as they
Speaker 1: sat in council, sprang to their horses and made with
Speaker 1: all speed towards them. When they reached them, they set
Speaker 1: battle in array by the banks of the river, and
Speaker 1: the hosts aimed their bronze shod spears at one another.
Speaker 1: With them were strife and riot, and fell Fate, who
Speaker 1: was dragging three men after her, one with a fresh
Speaker 1: wound and the other unwounded, while the third was dead,
Speaker 1: and she was dragging him along by his heel, and
Speaker 1: her robe was bedrabbled in men's blood. They went in
Speaker 1: and out with one another, and fought as though they
Speaker 1: were living people, haling away one another's dead. He wrought
Speaker 1: also a fair fallow field, large and thrice plowed. Already
Speaker 1: many men were working at the plow within it, turning
Speaker 1: their oxen to and fro furrow after furrow. Each time
Speaker 1: that they turned on reaching the headland, a man would
Speaker 1: come up to them and give them a cup of wine,
Speaker 1: and they would go back to their furrows, looking forward
Speaker 1: to the time when they should again reach the headland.
Speaker 1: The part that they had plowed was dark behind them,
Speaker 1: so that the field, though it was of gold, still
Speaker 1: looked as if it were being plowed. Very curious to behold,
Speaker 1: he wrought also a field of harvest corn, and the
Speaker 1: reapers were reaping with sharp sickles in their hands. Swathe
Speaker 1: after swathe fell to the ground in a straight line
Speaker 1: behind them, and the binders bound them in bands of
Speaker 1: twisted straw. There were three binders, and behind them there
Speaker 1: were boys who gathered the cut corn in armfuls, and
Speaker 1: kept on bringing them to be bound. Among them all.
Speaker 1: The owner of the land stood by in silence, and
Speaker 1: was glad. The servants were getting a meal ready under
Speaker 1: an oak, for they had sacrificed a great ox, and
Speaker 1: were busy cutting him up, while the women were making
Speaker 1: a porridge of much white barley for the labourer's dinner.
Speaker 1: He wrought also a vineyard, golden and fair to see,
Speaker 1: and the vines were loaded with grapes. The bunches overhead
Speaker 1: were black, but the vines were trained on poles of silver.
Speaker 1: He ran a ditch of dark metal all round it
Speaker 1: and fenced it with a fence of tin. There was
Speaker 1: only one path to it, and by this the vintagers went.
Speaker 1: When they would gather the vintage. Youths and maidens, all
Speaker 1: blithe and full of glee, carried the luscious fruit in
Speaker 1: places baskets. And with them there went a boy who
Speaker 1: made sweet music with his lyre, and sang the Linus
Speaker 1: song with his clear, boyish voice. He wrought also a
Speaker 1: herd of homed cattle. He made the cows of gold
Speaker 1: and tin, and they lowed as they came full speed
Speaker 1: out of the yards to go and feed among the
Speaker 1: waving reeds that grow by the banks of the river.
Speaker 1: Along with the cattle, there went four shepherds, all of
Speaker 1: them in gold, and their nine fleet dogs went with them.
Speaker 1: Two terrible lions had fastened on a bellowing bull that
Speaker 1: was with the foremost cows, and bellow as he might.
Speaker 1: They hailed him while the dogs and men gave chase.
Speaker 1: The lions tore through the bull's thick hide and were
Speaker 1: gorging on his blood and bowels. But the herdsmen were
Speaker 1: afraid to do anything, and only hounded on their dogs.
Speaker 1: The dogs dared not fasten on the lions, but stood
Speaker 1: by barking and keeping out of harm's way. The god
Speaker 1: wrought also a pasture in a fair mountain dell, and
Speaker 1: large flock of sheep, with a homestead and huts and
Speaker 1: sheltered sheepfolds. Furthermore, he wrought a green like that which
Speaker 1: deedless once made in Canossus for lovely Ariadne. Here on
Speaker 1: their danced youths and maidens, whom all would woo with
Speaker 1: their hands on one another's wrists. The maidens wore robes
Speaker 1: of light linen, and the youth's well woven shirts that
Speaker 1: were slightly oiled. The girls were crowned with garlands, while
Speaker 1: the young men had daggers of gold that hung by
Speaker 1: silver baldrics. Sometimes they would dance deftly in a ring
Speaker 1: with merry twinkling feet, as it were a potter sitting
Speaker 1: at his work and making trial of his wheel to
Speaker 1: see whether it will run. And sometimes they would go
Speaker 1: all in line with one another, and much people was
Speaker 1: gathered joyously about the green. There was a barred also
Speaker 1: to sing to them and play his lyre, while two
Speaker 1: tumblers went about performing in the midst of them. When
Speaker 1: the man struck up with his tune all round the
Speaker 1: outer mo rim of the shield. He set the mighty
Speaker 1: stream of the river Oceanus. Then, when he had fashioned
Speaker 1: the shield so great and strong, he made a breastplate
Speaker 1: also that shone brighter than fire. He made helmet close
Speaker 1: fitting to the brow, and richly worked with a golden
Speaker 1: plume overhanging it. And he made grieves also of beaten tin. Lastly,
Speaker 1: when the famed lame god had made all the armor,
Speaker 1: he took it and set it before the mother of Achilles,
Speaker 1: whereon she darted like a falcon from the snowy summits
Speaker 1: of Olympus and bore away the gleaming armor from the
Speaker 1: house of Vulcan