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which he had clutched as he lay grovelling in the mire。 His
daughters and his sons' wives went wailing about the house； as
they thought of the many and brave men who lay dead； slain by the
Argives。 The messenger of Jove stood by Priam and spoke softly to
him； but fear fell upon him as she did so。 〃Take heart；〃 she
said； 〃Priam offspring of Dardanus； take heart and fear not。 I
bring no evil tidings； but am minded well towards you。 I e as
a messenger from Jove； who though he be not near； takes thought
for you and pities you。 The lord of Olympus bids you go and
ransom noble Hector； and take with you such gifts as shall give
satisfaction to Achilles。 You are to go alone； with no Trojan；
save only some honoured servant who may drive your mules and
waggon； and bring back to the city the body of him whom noble
Achilles has slain。 You are to have no thought； nor fear of
death； for Jove will send the slayer of Argus to escort you。 When
he has brought you within Achilles' tent； Achilles will not kill
you nor let another do so； for he will take heed to his ways and
sin not； and he will entreat a suppliant with all honourable
courtesy。〃
Iris went her way when she had thus spoken； and Priam told his
sons to get a mule…waggon ready； and to make the body of the
waggon fast upon the top of its bed。 Then he went down into his
fragrant store…room； high…vaulted； and made of cedar…wood； where
his many treasures were kept； and he called Hecuba his wife。
〃Wife；〃 said he； 〃a messenger has e to me from Olympus； and
has told me to go to the ships of the Achaeans to ransom my dear
son； taking with me such gifts as shall give satisfaction to
Achilles。 What think you of this matter？ for my own part I am
greatly moved to pass through the camps of the Achaeans and go to
their ships。〃
His wife cried aloud as she heard him； and said； 〃Alas； what has
bee of that judgement for which you have been ever famous both
among strangers and your own people？ How can you venture alone to
the ships of the Achaeans； and look into the face of him who has
slain so many of your brave sons？ You must have iron courage； for
if the cruel savage sees you and lays hold on you； he will know
neither respect nor pity。 Let us then weep Hector from afar here
in our own house； for when I gave him birth the threads of
overruling fate were spun for him that dogs should eat his flesh
far from his parents； in the house of that terrible man on whose
liver I would fain fasten and devour it。 Thus would I avenge my
son； who showed no cowardice when Achilles slew him； and thought
neither of flight nor of avoiding battle as he stood in defence
of Trojan men and Trojan women。〃
Then Priam said； 〃I would go； do not therefore stay me nor be as
a bird of ill omen in my house； for you will not move me。 Had it
been some mortal man who had sent me some prophet or priest who
divines from sacrificeI should have deemed him false and have
given him no heed； but now I have heard the goddess and seen her
face to face； therefore I will go and her saying shall not be in
vain。 If it be my fate to die at the ships of the Achaeans even
so would I have it； let Achilles slay me； if I may but first have
taken my son in my arms and mourned him to my heart's
forting。〃
So saying he lifted the lids of his chests； and took out twelve
goodly vestments。 He took also twelve cloaks of single fold；
twelve rugs； twelve fair mantles； and an equal number of shirts。
He weighed out ten talents of gold； and brought moreover two
burnished tripods； four cauldrons； and a very beautiful cup which
the Thracians had given him when he had gone to them on an
embassy； it was very precious； but he grudged not even this； so
eager was he to ransom the body of his son。 Then he chased all
the Trojans from the court and rebuked them with words of anger。
〃Out；〃 he cried； 〃shame and disgrace to me that you are。 Have you
no grief in your own homes that you are e to plague me here？
Is it a small thing； think you； that the son of Saturn has sent
this sorrow upon me； to lose the bravest of my sons？ Nay； you
shall prove it in person； for now he is gone the Achaeans will
have easier work in killing you。 As for me； let me go down within
the house of Hades； ere mine eyes behold the sacking and wasting
of the city。〃
He drove the men away with his staff； and they went forth as the
old man sped them。 Then he called to his sons； upbraiding
Helenus； Paris； noble Agathon； Pammon； Antiphonus； Polites of the
loud battle…cry； Deiphobus； Hippothous； and Dius。 These nine did
the old man call near him。 〃e to me at once；〃 he cried；
〃worthless sons who do me shame； would that you had all been
killed at the ships rather than Hector。 Miserable man that I am；
I have had the bravest sons in all Troynoble Nestor； Troilus
the dauntless charioteer； and Hector who was a god among men； so
that one would have thought he was son to an immortalyet there
is not one of them left。 Mars has slain them and those of whom I
am ashamed are alone left me。 Liars； and light of foot； heroes of
the dance； robbers of lambs and kids from your own people； why do
you not get a waggon ready for me at once； and put all these
things upon it that I may set out on my way？〃
Thus did he speak； and they feared the rebuke of their father。
They brought out a strong mule…waggon； newly made； and set the
body of the waggon fast on its bed。 They took the mule…yoke from
the peg on which it hung； a yoke of boxwood with a knob on the
top of it and rings for the reins to go through。 Then they
brought a yoke…band eleven cubits long； to bind the yoke to the
pole； they bound it on at the far end of the pole； and put the
ring over the upright pin making it fast with three turns of the
band on either side the knob； and bending the thong of the yoke
beneath it。 This done； they brought from the store…chamber the
rich ransom that was to purchase the body of Hector； and they set
it all orderly on the waggon； then they yoked the strong
harness…mules which the Mysians had on a time given as a goodly
present to Priam； but for Priam himself they yoked horses which
the old king had bred； and kept for own use。
Thus heedfully did Priam and his servant see to the yolking of
their cars at the palace。 Then Hecuba came to them all sorrowful；
with a golden goblet of wine in her right hand； that they might
make a drink…offering before they set out。 She stood in front of
the horses and said； 〃Take this； make a drink…offering to father
Jove； and since you are minded to go to the ships in spite of me；
pray that you may e safely back from the hands of your
enemies。 Pray to the son of Saturn lord of the whirlwind； who
sits on Ida and looks down over all Troy； pray him to send his
swift messenger on your right hand； the bird of omen which is
strongest and most dear to him of all birds； that you may see it
with your own eyes and trust it as you go forth to the ships of
the Danaans。 If all…seeing Jove will not send you this messenger；
however set upon it you may be； I would not have you go to the
ships of the Argives。〃
And Priam answered； 〃Wife； I will do as you desire me； it is well
to lift hands in prayer to Jove； if so be he may have mercy upon
me。〃
With this the old man bade the serving…woman pour pure water over
his hands； and the woman came； bearing the water in a bowl。 He
washed his hands and took the cup from his wife； then he made the
drink…offering and prayed； standing in the middle of the
courtyard and turning his eyes to heaven。 〃Father Jove；〃 he said；
〃that rulest from Ida； most glorious and most great； grant that I
may be received kindly and passionately in the tents of
Achilles； and send your swift messenger upon my right hand； the
bird of omen which is strongest and most dear to you of all
birds； that I may see it with my own eyes and trust it as I go
forth to the ships of the Danaans。〃
So did he pray； and Jove the lord of counsel heard his prayer。
Forthwith he sent an eagle； the most unerring portent of all
birds that fly； the dusky hunter that men also call the Black
Eagle。 His wings were spread abroad on either side as wide as the
well…made and well…bolted door of a rich man's chamber。