missed　his　bird；　for　Apollo　foiled　his　aim；　but　he　hit　the　string　with
  which　the　bird　was　tied；　near　its　foot；　the　arrow　cut　the　string　clean
  through　so　that　it　hung　down　towards　the　ground；　while　the　bird　flew
  up　into　the　sky；　and　the　Achaeans　shouted　applause。　Meriones；　who
  had　his　arrow　ready　while　Teucer　was　aiming；　snatched　the　bow　out　of
  his　hand；　and　at　once　promised　that　he　would　sacrifice　a　hecatomb　of
  firstling　lambs　to　Apollo　lord　of　the　bow；　then　espying　the　pigeon
  high　up　under　the　clouds；　he　hit　her　in　the　middle　of　the　wing　as
  she　was　circling　upwards；　the　arrow　went　clean　through　the　wing　and
  fixed　itself　in　the　ground　at　Meriones'　feet；　but　the　bird　perched
  on　the　ship's　mast　hanging　her　head　and　with　all　her　feathers
  drooping；　the　life　went　out　of　her；　and　she　fell　heavily　from　the
  mast。　Meriones；　therefore；　took　all　ten　double…edged　axes；　while
  Teucer　bore　off　the　single…edged　ones　to　his　ships。
  Then　the　son　of　Peleus　brought　in　a　spear　and　a　cauldron　that　had
  never　been　on　the　fire；　it　was　worth　an　ox；　and　was　chased　with　a
  pattern　of　flowers；　and　those　that　throw　the　javelin　stood　up…　to
  wit　the　son　of　Atreus；　king　of　men　Agamemnon；　and　Meriones；　stalwart
  squire　of　Idomeneus。　But　Achilles　spoke　saying；　〃Son　of　Atreus；　we
  know　how　far　you　excel　all　others　both　in　power　and　in　throwing　the
  javelin；　take　the　cauldron　back　with　you　to　your　ships；　but　if　it　so
  please　you；　let　us　give　the　spear　to　Meriones；　this　at　least　is　what　I
  should　myself　wish。〃
  King　Agamemnon　assented。　So　he　gave　the　bronze　spear　to　Meriones；
  and　handed　the　goodly　cauldron　to　Talthybius　his　esquire。
  BOOK　XXIV
  THE　assembly　now　broke　up　and　the　people　went　their　ways　each　to　his
  own　ship。　There　they　made　ready　their　supper；　and　then　bethought
  them　of　the　blessed　boon　of　sleep；　but　Achilles　still　wept　for
  thinking　of　his　dear　comrade；　and　sleep；　before　whom　all　things　bow；
  could　take　no　hold　upon　him。　This　way　and　that　did　he　turn　as　he
  yearned　after　the　might　and　manfulness　of　Patroclus；　he　thought　of　all
  they　had　done　together；　and　all　they　had　gone　through　both　on　the
  field　of　battle　and　on　the　waves　of　the　weary　sea。　As　he　dwelt　on
  these　things　he　wept　bitterly　and　lay　now　on　his　side；　now　on　his
  back；　and　now　face　downwards；　till　at　last　he　rose　and　went　out　as　one
  distraught　to　wander　upon　the　seashore。　Then；　when　he　saw　dawn
  breaking　over　beach　and　sea；　he　yoked　his　horses　to　his　chariot；　and
  bound　the　body　of　Hector　behind　it　that　he　might　drag　it　about。　Thrice
  did　he　drag　it　round　the　tomb　of　the　son　of　Menoetius；　and　then　went
  back　into　his　tent；　leaving　the　body　on　the　ground　full　length　and
  with　its　face　downwards。　But　Apollo　would　not　suffer　it　to　be
  disfigured；　for　he　pitied　the　man；　dead　though　he　now　was；　therefore
  he　shielded　him　with　his　golden　aegis　continually；　that　he　might
  take　no　hurt　while　Achilles　was　dragging　him。
  Thus　shamefully　did　Achilles　in　his　fury　dishonour　Hector；　but　the
  blessed　gods　looked　down　in　pity　from　heaven；　and　urged　Mercury；
  slayer　of　Argus；　to　steal　the　body。　All　were　of　this　mind　save　only
  Juno；　Neptune；　and　Jove's　grey…eyed　daughter；　who　persisted　in　the
  hate　which　they　had　ever　borne　towards　Ilius　with　Priam　and　his
  people；　for　they　forgave　not　the　wrong　done　them　by　Alexandrus　in
  disdaining　the　goddesses　who　came　to　him　when　he　was　in　his
  sheepyards；　and　preferring　her　who　had　offered　him　a　wanton　to　his
  ruin。
  When；　therefore；　the　morning　of　the　twelfth　day　had　now　come；
  Phoebus　Apollo　spoke　among　the　immortals　saying；　〃You　gods　ought　to　be
  ashamed　of　yourselves；　you　are　cruel　and　hard…hearted。　Did　not
  Hector　burn　you　thigh…bones　of　heifers　and　of　unblemished　goats？　And
  now　dare　you　not　rescue　even　his　dead　body；　for　his　wife　to　look　upon；
  with　his　mother　and　child；　his　father　Priam；　and　his　people；　who　would
  forthwith　commit　him　to　the　flames；　and　give　him　his　due　funeral
  rites？　So；　then；　you　would　all　be　on　the　side　of　mad　Achilles；　who
  knows　neither　right　nor　ruth？　He　is　like　some　savage　lion　that　in
  the　pride　of　his　great　strength　and　daring　springs　upon　men's　flocks
  and　gorges　on　them。　Even　so　has　Achilles　flung　aside　all　pity；　and　all
  that　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。〃
  The　goddess　took　her　dark　veil；　than　which　there　can　be　no　robe　more
  sombre；　and　went　forth　with　fleet　Iris　leading　the　way　before　her。　The
  waves　of　the　sea　opened　them　a　path；　and　when　they　reached　the　shore
  they　flew　up　into　the　heavens；　where　they　found　the　all…seeing　son
  of　Saturn　with　the　blessed　gods　that　live　for　ever　assembled　near　him。
  Minerva　gave　up　her　seat　to　her；　and　she　sat　down　by　the　side　of
  father　Jove。　Juno　then　placed　a　fair　golden　cup　in　her　hand；　and　spoke
  to　her　in　words　of　comfort；　whereon　Thetis　drank　and　gave　her　back　the
  cup；　and　the　sire　of　gods　and　men　was　the　first　to　speak。
  〃So；　goddess；〃　said　he；　〃for　all　your　sorrow；　and　the　grief　that　I
  well　know　reigns　ever　in　your　heart；　you　have　come　hither　to
  Olympus；　and　I　will　tell　you　why　I　have　sent　for　you。　This　nine　days
  past　the　immortals　have　been　quarrelling　about　Achilles　waster　of
  cities　and　the　body　of　Hector。　The　gods　would　have　Mercury　slayer　of
  Argus　steal　the　body；　but　in　furtherance　of　our　peace　and　amity
  henceforward；　I　will　concede　such　honour　to　your　son　as　I　will　now
  tell　you。　Go；　then；　to　the　host　and　lay　these　commands　upon　him；　say
  that　the　gods　are　angry　with　him；　and　that　I　am　myself　more　angry　than
  them　all；　in　that　he　keeps　Hector　at　the　ships　and　will　not　give　him
  up。　He　may　thus　fear　me　and　let　the　body　go。　At　the　same　time　I　will
  send　Iris　to　great　Priam　to　bid　him　go　to　the　ships　of　the　Achaeans；
  and　ransom　his　son；　taking　with　him　such　gifts　for　Achilles　as　may
  give　him　satisfaction。
  Silver…footed　Thetis　did　as　the　god　had　told　her；　and　forthwith　down
  she　darted　from　the　topmost　summits　of　Olympus。　She　went　to　her
  son's　tents　where　she　found　him　grieving　bitterly；　while　his　trusty
  comrades　round　him　were　busy　preparing　their　morning　meal；　for　which
  they　had　killed　a　great　woolly　sheep。　His　mother　sat　down　beside　him
  and　caressed　him　with　her　hand　saying；　〃My　son；　how　long　will　you　keep
  on　thus　grieving　and　making　moan？　You　are　gnawing　at　your　own　heart；
  and　think　neither　of　food　nor　of　woman's　embraces；　and　yet　these　too
  were　well；　for　you　have　no　long　time　to　live；　and　death　with　the
  strong　hand　of　fate　are　already　close　beside　you。　Now；　therefore；　heed
  what　I　say；　for　I　come　as　a　messenger　from　Jove；　he　says　that　the　gods
  are　angry　with　you；　and　himself　more　angry　than　them　all；　in　that
  you　keep　Hector　at　the　ships　and　will　not　give　him　up。　Therefore　let
  him　go；　and　accept　a