very often beheld with mine eyes in the glorious fight,
when, routing the Greeks, he slew them at their ships, destroying [them]
with his sharp spear; but we, standing, marvelled; for Achilles, enraged
with the son of Atreus, did not permit us to fight. But I am his
attendant, and the same well-made vessel brought us. I am [one] of the
Myrmidons; Polyetor is my father, who, indeed, is rich, but now old as
thou. To him there are six sons, but I am his seventh; with whom casting
lots, the lot occurred to me to follow [Achilles] hither. And I came to
the plain from the ships, for at dawn the rolling-eyed Greeks will raise
a fight around the city. For they are indignant sitting quiet, nor can
the chiefs of the Greeks restrain them, longing for war."

But him then Priam, the godlike old man, answered:

"If indeed thou art one of the servants of Achilles, the son of Peleus,
come now, tell all the truth to me, whether is my son still at the
ships, or has Achilles, tearing him limb from limb, cast him to the
dogs?"

But him the messenger, the slayer of Argus, again addressed:

"O old man, neither have the dogs yet devoured him, nor the birds, but
he still lies at the ship of Achilles, in the same plight as before, at
his tents; and it is [now] the twelfth morning him lying, yet his body
is not at all putrid, nor do the worms devour him, which consume men
slain in battle. Doubtless he will drag him cruelly around the tomb of
his dear companion when divine morn appears; but he does not defile him.
Approaching, thou indeed thyself wouldst wonder how fresh[790] he lies,
while the blood is washed away from around, nor [is he] polluted in any
part. But all his wounds are closed, whatever were inflicted; for many
thrust a spear into him. Thus do the happy gods regard thy son, though
dead; for he was dear to them in their heart."

Thus he spoke; but the old man rejoiced, and answered in words:

"O son, surely it is good to give due gifts to the immortals, for my
son, while he was yet in being, never neglected the gods who possess
Olympus, in his palace; therefore are they mindful of him, although in
the fate of death. But come now, accept from me this beautiful goblet;
protect myself,[791] and, with the favour of the gods, conduct me until
I come into the tent of the son of Peleus."

[Footnote 790: Literally, "dew-like," See Kennedy.]

[Footnote 791: Heyne prefers, "effect for me the ransom of the
body," quoting Hesych