was like
unto the gods; but Achilles marvelled at Dardanian Priam, seeing his
amiable countenance, and hearing his conversation. When, however, they
were satisfied with gazing at each other, him Priam, the godlike old
man, first addressed:

"Send me now to rest as soon as possible, O Jove-nurtured, that we,
reclining, may take our fill of sweet sleep; for never have these eyes
been closed beneath my eyelids from the time when my son lost his life
by thy hands; but I ever lament and cherish many woes, rolling in the
dust within the enclosures of my palaces. But now I have tasted food,
and poured sweet wine down my throat; for before indeed I had not tasted
it."

He spoke; but Achilles ordered his companions, servants, and maids, to
place couches beneath the porch, and to spread beautiful purple mats on
them, and to strew embroidered carpets over them, and to lay on them
well-napped cloaks, to be drawn over all. But they went out of the hall,
having a torch in their hands, and hastening, they quickly spread two
couches. But the swift-footed Achilles, jocularly addressing him,[798]
said:

[Footnote 798: "Achilles, in a mood partly jocular and partly
serious, reminds Priam of the real circumstances of his
situation, not for the sake of alarming him, but of accounting
for his choosing the place he did for the couch of the aged
king."--Kennedy.]

"Do you lie without, O revered old man, lest some counsellor of the
Greeks come hither, who, sitting with me, constantly meditate plans, as
is just. If any of these should see thee in the dark and dangerous
night, he would forthwith tell Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people,
and perchance there would be a delay of the redemption of the body. But
come, tell me this, and tell it accurately: How many days dost thou
desire to perform the funeral rites of noble Hector, that I may myself
remain quiet so long, and restrain the people?"

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

"If indeed thou desirest me to celebrate the funeral of noble Hector,
thus doing, O Achilles, thou dost surely gratify me. For thou knowest
how we are hemmed in within the city, and it is far to carry wood from
the mountain; and the Trojans greatly dread [to do so]. Nine days indeed
we would lament him in our halls, but on the tenth would bury him, and
the people should feast; but upon the eleventh we would make a tomb to
him, and on the twelfth we will fight, if necessary." But him