Book XXIV - Page 2

conscience which at

once so greatly banes yet greatly boons him that will heed it.

man may lose one far dearer than Achilles has lost--a son, it may

be, or a brother born from his own mother's womb; yet when he has

mourned him and wept over him he will let him bide, for it takes

much sorrow to kill a man; whereas Achilles, now that he has

slain noble Hector, drags him behind his chariot round the tomb

of his comrade. It were better of him, and for him, that he

should not do so, for brave though he be we gods may take it ill

that he should vent his fury upon dead clay."

Juno spoke up in a rage. "This were well," she cried, "O lord of

the silver bow, if you would give like honour to Hector and to

Achilles; but Hector was mortal and suckled at a woman's breast,

whereas Achilles is the offspring of a goddess whom I myself

reared and brought up. I married her to Peleus, who is above

measure dear to the immortals; you gods came all of you to her

wedding; you feasted along with them yourself and brought your

lyre--false, and fond of low company, that you have ever been."

Then said Jove, "Juno, be not so bitter. Their honour shall not

be equal, but of all that dwell in Ilius, Hector was dearest to

the gods, as also to myself, for his offerings never failed me.

Never was my altar stinted of its dues, nor of the

drink-offerings and savour of sacrifice which we claim of right.

I shall therefore permit the body of mighty Hector to be stolen;

and yet this may hardly be without Achilles coming to know it,

for his mother keeps night and day beside him. Let some one of

you, therefore, send Thetis to me, and I will impart my counsel

to her, namely that Achilles is to accept a ransom from Priam,

and give up the body."

On this Iris fleet as the wind went forth to carry his message.

Down she plunged into the dark sea midway between Samos and rocky

Imbrus; the waters hissed as they closed over her, and she sank

into the bottom as the lead at the end of an ox-horn, that is

sped to carry death to fishes. She found Thetis sitting in a

great cave with the other sea-goddesses gathered round her; there

she sat in the midst of them weeping for her noble son who was to

fall far from his own land, on the rich plains of Troy. Iris went

up to her and said, "Rise Thetis; Jove, whose counsels fail not,

bids you come to him." And Thetis answered, "Why does the mighty

god so bid me? I am in great grief, and shrink from going in and

out among the immortals. Still, I will go, and the word that he

may speak shall not be spoken in vain."