Page 457 - the-iliad

home, what time Menoetius brought me to you as a child
from Opoeis because by a sad spite I had killed the son of
Amphidamas—not of set purpose, but in childish quarrel
over the dice. The knight Peleus took me into his house,
entreated me kindly, and named me to be your squire;
therefore let our bones lie in but a single urn, the two-han-
dled golden vase given to you by your mother.’
And Achilles answered, ‘Why, true heart, are you come
hither to lay these charges upon me? will of my own self do
all as you have bidden me. Draw closer to me, let us once
more throw our arms around one another, and find sad
comfort in the sharing of our sorrows.’
He opened his arms towards him as he spoke and would
have clasped him in them, but there was nothing, and the
spirit vanished as a vapour, gibbering and whining into the
earth. Achilles sprang to his feet, smote his two hands, and
made lamentation saying, ‘Of a truth even in the house of
Hades there are ghosts and phantoms that have no life in
them; all night long the sad spirit of Patroclus has hovered
over head making piteous moan, telling me what I am to do
for him, and looking wondrously like himself.’
Thus did he speak and his words set them all weeping
and mourning about the poor dumb dead, till rosy-fingered
morn appeared. Then King Agamemnon sent men and
mules from all parts of the camp, to bring wood, and Mer-
iones, squire to Idomeneus, was in charge over them. They
went out with woodmen’s axes and strong ropes in their
hands, and before them went the mules. Up hill and down
dale did they go, by straight ways and crooked, and when

The Iliad