from　Ida；　most　glorious　and　most　great；　grant　that　I　may　be　received
  kindly　and　compassionately　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。　He　came　to　them　flying
  over　the　city　upon　their　right　hands；　and　when　they　saw　him　they
  were　glad　and　their　hearts　took　comfort　within　them。　The　old　man
  made　haste　to　mount　his　chariot；　and　drove　out　through　the　inner
  gateway　and　under　the　echoing　gatehouse　of　the　outer　court。　Before　him
  went　the　mules　drawing　the　four…wheeled　waggon；　and　driven　by　wise
  Idaeus；　behind　these　were　the　horses；　which　the　old　man　lashed　with
  his　whip　and　drove　swiftly　through　the　city；　while　his　friends
  followed　after；　wailing　and　lamenting　for　him　as　though　he　were　on　his
  road　to　death。　As　soon　as　they　had　come　down　from　the　city　and　had
  reached　the　plain；　his　sons　and　sons…in…law　who　had　followed　him
  went　back　to　Ilius。
  But　Priam　and　Idaeus　as　they　showed　out　upon　the　plain　did　not
  escape　the　ken　of　all…seeing　Jove；　who　looked　down　upon　the　old　man
  and　pitied　him；　then　he　spoke　to　his　son　Mercury　and　said；　〃Mercury；
  for　it　is　you　who　are　the　most　disposed　to　escort　men　on　their　way；
  and　to　hear　those　whom　you　will　hear；　go；　and　so　conduct　Priam　to
  the　ships　of　the　Achaeans　that　no　other　of　the　Danaans　shall　see　him
  nor　take　note　of　him　until　he　reach　the　son　of　Peleus。〃
  Thus　he　spoke　and　Mercury；　guide　and　guardian；　slayer　of　Argus；
  did　as　he　was　told。　Forthwith　he　bound　on　his　glittering　golden
  sandals　with　which　he　could　fly　like　the　wind　over　land　and　sea；　he
  took　the　wand　with　which　he　seals　men's　eyes　in　sleep；　or　wakes　them
  just　as　he　pleases；　and　flew　holding　it　in　his　hand　till　he　came　to
  Troy　and　to　the　Hellespont。　To　look　at；　he　was　like　a　young　man　of
  noble　birth　in　the　hey…day　of　his　youth　and　beauty　with　the　down
  just　coming　upon　his　face。
  Now　when　Priam　and　Idaeus　had　driven　past　the　great　tomb　of　Ilius；
  they　stayed　their　mules　and　horses　that　they　might　drink　in　the　river；
  for　the　shades　of　night　were　falling；　when；　therefore；　Idaeus　saw
  Mercury　standing　near　them　he　said　to　Priam；　〃Take　heed；　descendant　of
  Dardanus；　here　is　matter　which　demands　consideration。　I　see　a　man
  who　I　think　will　presently　fall　upon　us；　let　us　fly　with　our　horses；
  or　at　least　embrace　his　knees　and　implore　him　to　take　compassion
  upon　us？
  When　he　heard　this　the　old　man's　heart　failed　him；　and　he　was　in
  great　fear；　he　stayed　where　he　was　as　one　dazed；　and　the　hair　stood　on
  end　over　his　whole　body；　but　the　bringer　of　good　luck　came　up　to　him
  and　took　him　by　the　hand；　saying；　〃Whither；　father；　are　you　thus
  driving　your　mules　and　horses　in　the　dead　of　night　when　other　men
  are　asleep？　Are　you　not　afraid　of　the　fierce　Achaeans　who　are　hard
  by　you；　so　cruel　and　relentless？　Should　some　one　of　them　see　you
  bearing　so　much　treasure　through　the　darkness　of　the　flying　night；
  what　would　not　your　state　then　be？　You　are　no　longer　young；　and　he　who
  is　with　you　is　too　old　to　protect　you　from　those　who　would　attack　you。
  For　myself；　I　will　do　you　no　harm；　and　I　will　defend　you　from　any
  one　else；　for　you　remind　me　of　my　own　father。〃
  And　Priam　answered；　〃It　is　indeed　as　you　say；　my　dear　son；
  nevertheless　some　god　has　held　his　hand　over　me；　in　that　he　has　sent
  such　a　wayfarer　as　yourself　to　meet　me　so　Opportunely；　you　are　so
  comely　in　mien　and　figure；　and　your　judgement　is　so　excellent　that　you
  must　come　of　blessed　parents。〃
  Then　said　the　slayer　of　Argus；　guide　and　guardian；　〃Sir；　all　that
  you　have　said　is　right；　but　tell　me　and　tell　me　true；　are　you　taking
  this　rich　treasure　to　send　it　to　a　foreign　people　where　it　may　be
  safe；　or　are　you　all　leaving　strong　Ilius　in　dismay　now　that　your
  son　has　fallen　who　was　the　bravest　man　among　you　and　was　never　lacking
  in　battle　with　the　Achaeans？〃
  And　Priam　said；　〃Wo　are　you；　my　friend；　and　who　are　your　parents；
  that　you　speak　so　truly　about　the　fate　of　my　unhappy　son？〃
  The　slayer　of　Argus；　guide　and　guardian；　answered　him；　〃Sir；　you
  would　prove　me；　that　you　question　me　about　noble　Hector。　Many　a　time
  have　I　set　eyes　upon　him　in　battle　when　he　was　driving　the　Argives
  to　their　ships　and　putting　them　to　the　sword。　We　stood　still　and
  marvelled；　for　Achilles　in　his　anger　with　the　son　of　Atreus　suffered
  us　not　to　fight。　I　am　his　squire；　and　came　with　him　in　the　same
  ship。　I　am　a　Myrmidon；　and　my　father's　name　is　Polyctor：　he　is　a
  rich　man　and　about　as　old　as　you　are；　he　has　six　sons　besides
  myself；　and　I　am　the　seventh。　We　cast　lots；　and　it　fell　upon　me　to
  sail　hither　with　Achilles。　I　am　now　come　from　the　ships　on　to　the
  plain；　for　with　daybreak　the　Achaeans　will　set　battle　in　array　about
  the　city。　They　chafe　at　doing　nothing；　and　are　so　eager　that　their
  princes　cannot　hold　them　back。〃
  Then　answered　Priam；　〃If　you　are　indeed　the　squire　of　Achilles　son
  of　Peleus；　tell　me　now　the　Whole　truth。　Is　my　son　still　at　the
  ships；　or　has　Achilles　hewn　him　limb　from　limb；　and　given　him　to　his
  hounds？〃
  〃Sir；〃　replied　the　slayer　of　Argus；　guide　and　guardian；　〃neither
  hounds　nor　vultures　have　yet　devoured　him；　he　is　still　just　lying　at
  the　tents　by　the　ship　of　Achilles；　and　though　it　is　now　twelve　days
  that　he　has　lain　there；　his　flesh　is　not　wasted　nor　have　the　worms
  eaten　him　although　they　feed　on　warriors。　At　daybreak　Achilles　drags
  him　cruelly　round　the　sepulchre　of　his　dear　comrade；　but　it　does　him
  no　hurt。　You　should　come　yourself　and　see　how　he　lies　fresh　as　dew；
  with　the　blood　all　washed　away；　and　his　wounds　every　one　of　them
  closed　though　many　pierced　him　with　their　spears。　Such　care　have　the
  blessed　gods　taken　of　your　brave　son；　for　he　was　dear　to　them　beyond
  all　measure。〃
  The　old　man　was　comforted　as　he　heard　him　and　said；　〃My　son；　see
  what　a　good　thing　it　is　to　have　made　due　offerings　to　the　immortals；
  for　as　sure　as　that　he　was　born　my　son　never　forgot　the　gods　that　hold
  Olympus；　and　now　they　requite　it　to　him　even　in　death。　Accept
  therefore　at　my　hands　this　goodly　chalice；　guard　me　and　with
  heaven's　help　guide　me　till　I　come　to　the　tent　of　the　son　of　Peleus。〃
  Then　answered　the　slayer　of　Argus；　guide　and　guardian；　〃Sir；　you　are
  tempting　me　and　playing　upon　my　youth；　but　you　shall　not　move　me；
  for　you　are　offering　me　presents　without　the　knowledge　of　Achilles
  whom　I　fear　and　hold　it　great　guiltless　to　defraud；　lest　some　evil
  presently　befall　me；　but　as　your　guide　I　would　go　with　you　even　to
  Argos　itself；　and　would　guard　you　so　carefully　whether　by　sea　or　land；
  that　no　one　should　attack　you　through　making　light　of　him　who　was　with
  you。〃
  The　bringer　of　good　luck　then　sprang　on　to　the　chariot；　and
  seizing　the　whip　and　reins　he　breathed　fresh　spirit　into　the　mules　and
  horses。　When　they　reached　the　trench　and　the　wall　that　was　before
  the　ships；　those　who　were　on　guard　had　just　been　getting　their
  suppers；　and　the　slayer　of　Argus　threw　them　all　into　a　deep　sleep。
  Then　he　drew　back　the　bolts　to　open　the　gates；　and　took　Priam　inside
  with　the　treasure　he　had　upon　his　waggon。　Ere　long　they　came　to　the
  lofty　dwelling　of　the　son　of　Peleus　for　which　the　Myrmidons　had　cut
  pine　and　which　they　had　built　for　their　king；　when　they　had　built　it
  they　thatched　it　with　coarse　tussock…grass　which　they　had　mown　out
  on　the　plain；　and　all　round　it　they　made　a　large　courtyard；　which
  was　fenced　with　stakes　set　close　together。　The　gate　was　barred　with
  a　single　bolt　of　pine　which　it　took　three　men　to　force　into　its　place；
  and　three　to　draw　back　so　as　to　open　the　gate；　but　Achilles　could　draw
  it　by　himself。　Mercury　opened　the　gate　for　the　old　man；　and　brought　in
  the　treasure　that　he　was　taking　with　him　for　the　son　of　Peleus。　Then
  he　sprang　from　the　chariot　on　to　the　ground　and　said；　〃Sir；　it　is　I；
  immortal　Mercury；　that　am　come　with　you；　for　my　father　sent　me　to
  escort　you。　I　will　now　leave　you；　and　will　not　enter　into　the　presence
  of　Achilles；　for　it　might　anger　him　that　a　god　should　befriend
  mortal　men　thus　openly。　Go　you　within；　and　embrace　the　knees　of　the
  son　of　Peleus：　beseech　him　by　his　father；　his　lovely　mother；　and　his
  son；　thus　you　may　move　him。〃
  With　these　words　Mercury　went　back　to　high　Olympus。　Priam　sprang
  from　his　chariot　to　the　ground；　leaving　Idaeus　where　he　was；　in　charge
  of　the　mules　and　horses。　The　old　man　went　straight　into　the　house
  where　Achilles；　loved　of　the　gods；　was　sitting。　There　he　found　him
  with　his　men　seated　at　a　distance　from　him：　only　two；　the　hero
  Automedon；　and　Alcimus　of　the　race　of　Mars；　were　busy　in　attendance
  about　his　person；　for　he　had　but　just　done　eating　and　drinking；　and
  the　table　was　still　there。　King　Priam　entered　without　their　seeing
  him；　and　going　right　up　to　Achilles　he　clasped　his　knees　and　kissed
  the　dread　murderous　hands　that　had　slain　so　m