Book XIX

BOOK XIX

NOW when Dawn in robe of saffron was hasting from the streams of

Oceanus, to bring light to mortals and immortals, Thetis reached

the ships with the armour that the god had given her. She found

her son fallen about the body of Patroclus and weeping bitterly.

Many also of his followers were weeping round him, but when the

goddess came among them she clasped his hand in her own, saying,

"My son, grieve as we may we must let this man lie, for it is by

heaven's will that he has fallen; now, therefore, accept from

Vulcan this rich and goodly armour, which no man has ever yet

borne upon his shoulders."

As she spoke she set the armour before Achilles, and it rang out

bravely as she did so. The Myrmidons were struck with awe, and

none dared look full at it, for they were afraid; but Achilles

was roused to still greater fury, and his eyes gleamed with a

fierce light, for he was glad when he handled the splendid

present which the god had made him. Then, as soon as he had

satisfied himself with looking at it, he said to his mother,

"Mother, the god has given me armour, meet handiwork for an

immortal and such as no-one living could have fashioned; I will

now arm, but I much fear that flies will settle upon the son of

Menoetius and breed worms about his wounds, so that his body, now

he is dead, will be disfigured and the flesh will rot."

Silver-footed Thetis answered, "My son, be not disquieted about

this matter. I will find means to protect him from the swarms of

noisome flies that prey on the bodies of men who have been killed

in battle. He may lie for a whole year, and his flesh shall still

be as sound as ever, or even sounder. Call, therefore, the

Achaean heroes in assembly; unsay your anger against Agamemnon;

arm at once, and fight with might and main."

As she spoke she put strength and courage into his heart, and she

then dropped ambrosia and red nectar into the wounds of

Patroclus, that his body might suffer no change.

Then Achilles went out upon the seashore, and with a loud cry

called on the Achaean heroes. On this even those who as yet had

stayed always at the ships, the pilots and helmsmen, and even the

stewards who were about the ships and served out rations, all

came to the place of assembly because Achilles had shown himself

after having held aloof so long from fighting. Two sons of Mars,

Ulysses and the son of Tydeus, came limping, for their wounds

still pained them; nevertheless they came, and took their seats

in the front row of the assembly. Last of all came Agamemnon,

king of