illes addressed:

"O son of Atreus, for we know how much thou dost surpass all, as well as
how much thou excellest in strength and in the javelin, wherefore thou
indeed mayest repair to the hollow barks, possessing this reward; but
let us give the spear to the hero Meriones, if, truly, thou dost thus
wish it in thy mind; for I on my part advise it."

Thus he spoke; nor did the king of men, Agamemnon, disobey; but he gave
the brazen spear to Meriones; and the hero himself gave the very
splendid prize to the herald Talthybius.

BOOK THE TWENTY-FOURTH.

ARGUMENT.

Jove orders Thetis to go to Achilles, and demand the restoration of
Hector's body. Mercury is also sent to Priam, whom he guides in safety
through the Grecian camp, to the tent of Achilles. A pathetic interview
follows, and Priam ransoms the body of his son, and obtains a twelve
days' truce, during which he performs his funeral obsequies.

The assembly was dissolved, and the people were dispersed, to go each to
their hollow barks. They indeed took care to indulge in the banquet and
sweet slumber; but Achilles wept, remembering his dear companion, nor
did all-subduing sleep possess him, but he was rolled here and there,
longing for the vigour and valiant might of Patroclus. And whatever
things he had accomplished with him, and hardships he had suffered, both
[encountering] the battles of heroes, and measuring the grievous waves,
remembering these things, he shed the warm tear, lying at one time upon
his sides,[773] at others again on his back, and at other times on his
face; but again starting up, he wandered about in sadness along the
shore of the sea; nor did Morn, appearing over the sea and the shores,
escape his notice. But he, when he had harnessed his fleet steeds to his
chariot, bound Hector to be dragged after his chariot; and having drawn
him thrice around the tomb of the dead son of Menoetius, again rested in
his tent; and left him there, having stretched him on his face in the
dust. But Apollo kept off all pollution from his body, pitying the hero,
although dead; and encircled him with the golden aegis, lest that,
dragging, he might lacerate him.

[Footnote 773: Cf. Heliodor. Ethiop. vii. p. 325: [Greek:
Pannychios goun ekeito, mukna men pros ekateran pleyran to soma
diastrephousa]. Chariton quotes the line of Homer, when
describing the uneasy rest of a love-stricken bei