h,
and keep guard each [of you]; but whosoever of the Trojans is
particularly anxious about his possessions, collecting them together,
let him give them to the people to be publicly consumed; it is better
that any of them should enjoy them than the Greeks. But to-morrow, with
the dawn, arrayed in armour, let us excite sharp conflict at the hollow
ships, and if truly noble Achilles has arisen at the ships, it will be
the worse for him, if he wishes [to fight]: I indeed will not fly him
from the horrid-sounding battle, but will stand very obstinately against
him, whether he bear away great glory, or I bear it away. Mars [is]
common,[588] and even slays the slayer."

[Footnote 588: See Duport, p. 104, and Clarke's note. Livy
translates it, "communis Mars belli;" observing, "communis Mars,
et incertus belli eventus."]

Thus Hector harangued, and the Trojans shouted in applause: foolish men,
for Pallas Minerva had taken their senses away from them. For they
assented to Hector, advising destructive things, whilst no one
[assented to] Polydamas, who advised prudent counsel. Then they took
supper through the army. But the Greeks, lamenting all night, wept over
Patroclus, but among them Pelides led the ceaseless lamentation, placing
his man-slaying hands upon the breast of his companion, very frequently
sighing; as the well-bearded lion, from whom the stag-hunter has stolen
the cubs out of the thick forest; and he is grieved, coming afterwards.
And through many valleys he goes, tracking the footsteps of the man, if
anywhere he may find him; for very keen rage possesses him. So, deeply
sighing, he addressed the Myrmidons:

"Alas! vain indeed was the promise I uttered on that day, encouraging
the hero Menoetius in our halls; for I said that I would bring back his
illustrious son to Opus, having wasted Troy, and obtained a share of the
spoil. But Jove fulfils not for men all their intentions; for it is
fated that we shall both stain with blood the same earth here in Troy;
but neither shall aged horse-driving Peleus receive me in his palaces,
returning, nor my mother Thetis, but the earth shall here hold me. Now,
however, O Patroclus! since after thee I go beneath the earth, I shall
not perform thy funeral rites, before that I bring hither the arms and
head of magnanimous Hector, thy murderer, and behead twelve illustrious
sons of the Trojans, before thy pile, enraged on account of thee slain.
Meanwhile thou shall lie th