swift-footed Achilles again addressed:

"These things shall be to thee, O aged Priam, as thou desirest; for I
will prevent the fight as long a time as thou desirest."

Thus having spoken, he grasped the right hand of the old man near the
wrist, lest he should fear in his mind. They indeed, the herald and
Priam, slept there in the porch of the house, having prudent counsels in
their mind; while Achilles slept in the interior of the well-built tent;
and beside him lay fair-cheeked Briseis.

The other gods indeed and chariot-fighting men slept all night, subdued
by gentle slumber; but sleep seized not Mercury, the author of good,
revolving in his mind how he should convey away king Priam from the
ships, having escaped the notice of the sacred gate-keeper. Accordingly
he stood over his head, and addressed him:

"O aged man, certainly evil is not at all a care to thee, that thou
sleepest thus amongst hostile men, after Achilles has suffered thee. Now
indeed thou hast ransomed thy beloved son, and hast given much; but the
sons left behind by thee would give three times as many ransoms for thee
alive, if Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, should know of thy being here,
and all the Greeks should know of it."

Thus he spoke; but the old man feared, and awoke the herald. Then for
them Mercury yoked the horses and mules, and quickly drove them himself
through the camp, nor did any one perceive. But when they reached the
course of the fair-flowing river, eddying Xanthus, which immortal Jove
begat, then indeed Mercury went away to lofty Olympus; and saffron-robed
Morn was diffused over the whole earth. They indeed drove the horses
towards the city with wailing and lamentation, and the mules bore the
body; nor did any other of the men and well-girdled women previously
perceive it; but Cassandra, like unto golden Venus, ascending Pergamus,
discovered her dear father standing in the driving-seat, and the
city-summoning herald. She beheld him also upon the mules, lying on the
litter; then indeed she shrieked, and cried aloud throughout the whole
city:

"O Trojans and Trojan women, going forth, behold Hector, if ever ye
rejoiced at his returning alive from battle; for he was a great joy to
the city, and to the whole people."

Thus she spoke; nor was there any man left in the city, nor woman; for
insupportable grief came upon them all, and they met him near the gates
bringing in the body. But his wife and venerable mother first rushing