you　keep　Hector　at　the　ships　and　will　not　give　him　up。　Therefore　let
  him　go；　and　accept　a　ransom　for　his　body。〃
  And　Achilles　answered；　〃So　be　it。　If　Olympian　Jove　of　his　own　motion
  thus　commands　me；　let　him　that　brings　the　ransom　bear　the　body　away。〃
  Thus　did　mother　and　son　talk　together　at　the　ships　in　long　discourse
  with　one　another。　Meanwhile　the　son　of　Saturn　sent　Iris　to　the
  strong　city　of　Ilius。　〃Go；〃　said　he；　〃fleet　Iris；　from　the　mansions　of
  Olympus；　and　tell　King　Priam　in　Ilius；　that　he　is　to　go　to　the　ships
  of　the　Achaeans　and　free　the　body　of　his　dear　son。　He　is　to　take
  such　gifts　with　him　as　shall　give　satisfaction　to　Achilles；　and　he
  is　to　go　alone；　with　no　other　Trojan；　save　only　some　honoured
  servant　who　may　drive　his　mules　and　waggon；　and　bring　back　the　body　of
  him　whom　noble　Achilles　has　slain。　Let　him　have　no　thought　nor　fear　of
  death　in　his　heart；　for　we　will　send　the　slayer　of　Argus　to　escort
  him；　and　bring　him　within　the　tent　of　Achilles。　Achilles　will　not　kill
  him　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。〃
  On　this　Iris；　fleet　as　the　wind；　sped　forth　to　deliver　her
  message。　She　went　to　Priam's　house；　and　found　weeping　and
  lamentation　therein。　His　sons　were　seated　round　their　father　in　the
  outer　courtyard；　and　their　raiment　was　wet　with　tears：　the　old　man　sat
  in　the　midst　of　them　with　his　mantle　wrapped　close　about　his　body；　and
  his　head　and　neck　all　covered　with　the　filth　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
  come　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　come　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　of　the　Achaeans
  and　go　to　their　ships。〃
  His　wife　cried　aloud　as　she　heard　him；　and　said；　〃Alas；　what　has
  become　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　Right　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　sacrifice…　I　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　comforting。〃
  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　come　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。　〃Come　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　Troy…　noble　Nestor；　Troilus　the　dauntless　charioteer；　and　Hector
  who　was　a　god　among　men；　so　that　one　would　have　thought　he　was　son
  to　an　immortal…　yet　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　come　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　compassionately　in　the　tents　of　Achilles；　and　send