Page 386 - the-iliad

BOOK XIX

OW when Dawn in robe of saffron was hasting from
Nthe streams of Oceanus, to bring light to mortals and
immortals, Thetis reached the ships with the armour that
the god had given her. She found her son fallen about the
body of Patroclus and weeping bitterly. Many also of his
followers were weeping round him, but when the goddess
came among them she clasped his hand in her own, saying,
‘My son, grieve as we may we must let this man lie, for it is by
heaven’s will that he has fallen; now, therefore, accept from
Vulcan this rich and goodly armour, which no man has ever
yet borne upon his shoulders.’
As she spoke she set the armour before Achilles, and it
rang out bravely as she did so. The Myrmidons were struck
with awe, and none dared look full at it, for they were afraid;
but Achilles was roused to still greater fury, and his eyes
gleamed with a fierce light, for he was glad when he handled
the splendid present which the god had made him. Then,
as soon as he had satisfied himself with looking at it, he
said to his mother, ‘Mother, the god has given me armour,
meet handiwork for an immortal and such as no-one living
could have fashioned; I will now arm, but I much fear that
flies will settle upon the son of Menoetius and breed worms
about his wounds, so that his body, now he is dead, will be
disfigured and the flesh will rot.’