f, having raised him up, placed him
upon a litter, and his companions, together with [him], lifted him upon
the well-polished chariot. But he moaned, and called upon his dear
companion by name:

"O Patroclus, be not wrathful with me, if thou shouldst hear, although
being in Hades, that I have ransomed noble Hector to his beloved father,
since he has not given me unworthy ransoms. Besides even of these will I
give thee a share, whatever is just."

Noble Achilles spoke, and returned into the tent, and sat down upon a
well-made couch, whence he had risen, at the opposite wall, and
addressed Priam:

"Thy son is indeed redeemed to thee, as thou didst desire, and lies upon
a bier; and with the early dawn thou shalt behold him, conveying [him
away]: but now let us be mindful of the feast; for even fair-haired
Niobe was mindful of food, although twelve children perished in her
palaces, six daughters and six youthful sons; these indeed Apollo slew
with his silver bow, enraged with Niobe; but those, arrow-rejoicing
Diana, because, forsooth, she had compared herself with fair-cheeked
Latona. She said that [Latona] had borne [only] two, whereas she had
borne many; yet those, though being only two, destroyed all [her own].
Nine days indeed they lay in blood, nor was there any one to bury them,
for the son of Saturn had made the people stones; but upon the tenth day
the heavenly gods interred them. Still was she mindful of food, when she
was fatigued with weeping. Now, indeed, ever amidst the rocks, in the
desert mountains, in Sipylus, where, they say, the beds of the goddess
Nymphs are, who lead the dance around Acheloues, there, although being a
stone, she broods over the sorrows [sent] from the gods. But come now, O
noble old man, let us likewise attend to food, but afterwards thou
mayest lament thy beloved son, conveying him into Troy; and he will be
bewailed by thee with many tears."

Swift Achilles spoke, and leaping up, slew a white sheep, and his
companions flayed it well, and fitly dressed it; then they skilfully cut
it in pieces, pierced them with spits, roasted them diligently, and drew
them all off. Then Automedon, taking bread, distributed it over the
table in beautiful baskets; whilst Achilles helped the meat, and they
stretched out their hands to the prepared victuals lying before them.
But when they had dismissed the desire of food and drink, Dardanian
Priam indeed marvelled at Achilles, such and so great; for he