Book XVIII

BOOK XVIII

THUS then did they fight as it were a flaming fire. Meanwhile the

fleet runner Antilochus, who had been sent as messenger, reached

Achilles, and found him sitting by his tall ships and boding that

which was indeed too surely true. "Alas," said he to himself in

the heaviness of his heart, "why are the Achaeans again scouring

the plain and flocking towards the ships? Heaven grant the gods

be not now bringing that sorrow upon me of which my mother Thetis

spoke, saying that while I was yet alive the bravest of the

Myrmidons should fall before the Trojans, and see the light of

the sun no longer. I fear the brave son of Menoetius has fallen

through his own daring and yet I bade him return to the ships as

soon as he had driven back those that were bringing fire against

them, and not join battle with Hector."

As he was thus pondering, the son of Nestor came up to him and

told his sad tale, weeping bitterly the while. "Alas," he cried,

"son of noble Peleus, I bring you bad tidings, would indeed that

they were untrue. Patroclus has fallen, and a fight is raging

about his naked body--for Hector holds his armour."

A dark cloud of grief fell upon Achilles as he listened. He

filled both hands with dust from off the ground, and poured it

over his head, disfiguring his comely face, and letting the

refuse settle over his shirt so fair and new. He flung himself

down all huge and hugely at full length, and tore his hair with

his hands. The bondswomen whom Achilles and Patroclus had taken

captive screamed aloud for grief, beating their breasts, and with

their limbs failing them for sorrow. Antilochus bent over him the

while, weeping and holding both his hands as he lay groaning for

he feared that he might plunge a knife into his own throat. Then

Achilles gave a loud cry and his mother heard him as she was

sitting in the depths of the sea by the old man her father,

whereon she screamed, and all the goddesses daughters of Nereus

that dwelt at the bottom of the sea, came gathering round her.

There were Glauce, Thalia and Cymodoce, Nesaia, Speo, Thoe and

dark-eyed Halie, Cymothoe, Actaea and Limnorea, Melite, Iaera,

Amphithoe and Agave, Doto and Proto, Pherusa and Dynamene,

Dexamene, Amphinome and Callianeira, Doris, Panope, and the

famous sea-nymph Galatea, Nemertes, Apseudes and Callianassa.

There were also Clymene, Ianeira and Ianassa, Maera, Oreithuia

and Amatheia of the lovely locks, with other Nereids who dwell in

the depths of the sea. The crystal cave was filled with their

multitude and they all beat their