Page 455 - the-iliad

of Patroclus. The others then put off every man his armour,
took the horses from their chariots, and seated themselves
in great multitude by the ship of the fleet descendant of
Aeacus, who thereon feasted them with an abundant fu-
neral banquet. Many a goodly ox, with many a sheep and
bleating goat did they butcher and cut up; many a tusked
boar moreover, fat and well-fed, did they singe and set to
roast in the flames of Vulcan; and rivulets of blood flowed
all round the place where the body was lying.
Then the princes of the Achaeans took the son of Pele-
us to Agamemnon, but hardly could they persuade him to
come with them, so wroth was he for the death of his com-
rade. As soon as they reached Agamemnon’s tent they told
the serving-men to set a large tripod over the fire in case
they might persuade the son of Peleus to wash the clotted
gore from this body, but he denied them sternly, and swore
it with a solemn oath, saying, ‘Nay, by King Jove, first and
mightiest of all gods, it is not meet that water should touch
my body, till I have laid Patroclus on the flames, have built
him a barrow, and shaved my head—for so long as I live no
such second sorrow shall ever draw nigh me. Now, there-
fore, let us do all that this sad festival demands, but at break
of day, King Agamemnon, bid your men bring wood, and
provide all else that the dead may duly take into the realm
of darkness; the fire shall thus burn him out of our sight
the sooner, and the people shall turn again to their own la-
bours.’
Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. They
made haste to prepare the meal, they ate, and every man

The Iliad