Homer, Iliad, Samuel Butler (Translator), 24.643

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As he spoke Achilles told his men and the women-servants to set beds in the room that was in the gatehouse, [645] and make them with good red rugs, and spread coverlets on the top of them with woolen cloaks for Priam and Idaios to wear. So the maids went out carrying a torch and got the two beds ready in all haste. Then Achilles of the swift feet said laughingly to Priam, [650] “Dear sir, you shall lie outside, lest some counselor of those who, as is right [ themis], keep coming to advise with me should see you here in the darkness of the fleeing night, and tell it to Agamemnon, shepherd of the people. [655] This might cause delay in the delivery of the body. And now tell me and tell me true, for how many days would you celebrate the funeral rites of noble Hector? Tell me, that I may hold aloof from war and restrain the army.”

And Priam the godlike answered, [660] “Since, then, you suffer me to bury my noble son with all due rites, do thus, Achilles, and I shall be grateful. You know how we are pent up within our city; it is far for us to fetch wood from the mountain, and the people live in fear. Nine days, therefore, will we mourn Hector in my house; [665] on the tenth day we will bury him and there shall be a public feast in his honor; on the eleventh we will build a mound over his ashes, and on the twelfth, if there be need, we will fight.”

And swift-footed radiant Achilles answered, “All, King Priam, shall be as you have said. [670] I will stay our fighting for as long a time as you have named.”

As he spoke he laid his hand on the old man’s right wrist, in token that he should have no fear; thus then did Priam and his attendant sleep there in the forecourt, full of thought, [675] while Achilles lay in an inner room of the house, with fair Brisēis by his side.

Iliad. Homer. Samuel Butler (Translator). London. 1898.

Current edition Experimental

English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Ἰλιάς Perseus (Homer. Homeri Opera, Volumes 1-2. Monro, D. B. (David Binning), editor; Allen, Thomas W. (Thomas William), editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1908-1920.) — 24.643 focus

ἦ ῥʼ, Ἀχιλεὺς δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἰδὲ δμῳῇσι κέλευσε

δέμνιʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ θέμεναι καὶ ῥήγεα καλὰ

πορφύρεʼ ἐμβαλέειν, στορέσαι τʼ ἐφύπερθε τάπητας,

645

χλαίνας τʼ ἐνθέμεναι οὔλας καθύπερθεν ἕσασθαι.

αἳ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι,

αἶψα δʼ ἄρα στόρεσαν δοιὼ λέχεʼ ἐγκονέουσαι.

τὸν δʼ ἐπικερτομέων προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·

ἐκτὸς μὲν δὴ λέξο γέρον φίλε, μή τις Ἀχαιῶν

650

ἐνθάδʼ ἐπέλθῃσιν βουληφόρος, οἵ τέ μοι αἰεὶ

βουλὰς βουλεύουσι παρήμενοι, ἣ θέμις ἐστί·

τῶν εἴ τίς σε ἴδοιτο θοὴν διὰ νύκτα μέλαιναν,

αὐτίκʼ ἂν ἐξείποι Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν,

καί κεν ἀνάβλησις λύσιος νεκροῖο γένηται.

655

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,

ποσσῆμαρ μέμονας κτερεϊζέμεν Ἕκτορα δῖον,

ὄφρα τέως αὐτός τε μένω καὶ λαὸν ἐρύκω.

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα γέρων Πρίαμος θεοειδής·

εἰ μὲν δή μʼ ἐθέλεις τελέσαι τάφον Ἕκτορι δίῳ,

660

ὧδέ κέ μοι ῥέζων Ἀχιλεῦ κεχαρισμένα θείης.

οἶσθα γὰρ ὡς κατὰ ἄστυ ἐέλμεθα, τηλόθι δʼ ὕλη

ἀξέμεν ἐξ ὄρεος, μάλα δὲ Τρῶες δεδίασιν.

ἐννῆμαρ μέν κʼ αὐτὸν ἐνὶ μεγάροις γοάοιμεν,

τῇ δεκάτῃ δέ κε θάπτοιμεν δαινῦτό τε λαός,

665

ἑνδεκάτῃ δέ κε τύμβον ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ποιήσαιμεν,

τῇ δὲ δυωδεκάτῃ πολεμίξομεν εἴ περ ἀνάγκη.

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·

ἔσται τοι καὶ ταῦτα γέρον Πρίαμʼ ὡς σὺ κελεύεις·

σχήσω γὰρ πόλεμον τόσσον χρόνον ὅσσον ἄνωγας.

670

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἐπὶ καρπῷ χεῖρα γέροντος

ἔλλαβε δεξιτερήν, μή πως δείσειʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ.

οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐν προδόμῳ δόμου αὐτόθι κοιμήσαντο

κῆρυξ καὶ Πρίαμος πυκινὰ φρεσὶ μήδεʼ ἔχοντες,

αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς εὗδε μυχῷ κλισίης ἐϋπήκτου·

675

τῷ δὲ Βρισηῒς παρελέξατο καλλιπάρῃος.

Translations (7)

Iliad Perseus (Homer. The Iliad, Volume 1-2. Murray, A. T. (Augustus Taber), translator. London: William Heinmann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1924-1925.) — 24.643 focus

He spake, and Achilles bade his comrades and the handmaids set bedsteads beneath the portico, 645 and to lay on them fair purple blankets, and to spread thereover coverlets, and on these to put fleecy cloaks for clothing. So the maids went forth from the hall with torches in their hands, and straightway spread two beds in busy haste. Then mockingly spake unto Priam Achilles, swift of foot: 650

Without do thou lay thee down, dear old sire, lest there come hither one of the counsellors of the Achaeans, that ever sit by my side and take counsel, as is meet. If one of these were to have sight of thee through the swift black night, forthwith might he haply tell it to Agamemnon, shepherd of the host, 655 and so should there arise delay in the giving back of the body. But come, tell me this, and declare it truly: for how many days' space thou art minded to make funeral for goodly Hector, to the end that for so long I may myself abide, and may keep back the host.

And the old man, godlike Priam, answered him: saying: 660

If thou indeed art willing that I accomplish for goodly Hector his burial, then in doing on this wise, O Achilles, wilt thou do according to my wish. Thou knowest how we are pent within the city, and far is it to fetch wood from the mountain, and the Trojans are sore afraid. 665 For nine days' space will we wail for him in our halls, and on the tenth will we make his funeral, and the folk shall feast, and on the eleventh will we heap a barrow over him, and on the twelfth will we do battle, if so be we must.

Then spake to him in answer swift-footed, goodly Achilles:

Thus shall this also be aged Priam, even as thou wouldest have it; 670 for I will hold back the battle for such time as thou dost bid.

When he had thus spoken he clasped the old man's right hand by the wrist, lest his heart should any wise wax fearful. So they laid them to sleep there in the fore-hall of the house, the herald and Priam, with hearts of wisdom in their breasts; 675 but Achilles slept in the innermost part of the well-builded hut, and by his side lay fair-cheeked Briseis.

Iliad Perseus (Homer. The Iliad of Homer, rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original. Butler, Samuel, 1835-1902, translator. London: Longmans, Green, and Co, 1898.) — 24.689 focus

689 When he heard this the old man was afraid and roused his servant. Hermes then yoked their horses and mules, and drove them quickly through the host so that no man perceived them. When they came to the ford of eddying Xanthos , begotten of immortal Zeus, Hermes went back to high Olympus , and dawn in robe of saffron began to break over all the land. Priam and Idaios then drove on toward the city lamenting and making moan, and the mules drew the body of Hektor. No one neither man nor woman saw them,

699 till Cassandra, fair as golden Aphrodite standing on Pergamos , caught sight of her dear father in his chariot, and his servant that was the city's herald with him. Then she saw him that was lying upon the bier, drawn by the mules, and with a loud cry she went about the city saying, "Come hither Trojans, men and women, and look on Hektor; if ever you rejoiced to see him coming from battle when he was alive, look now on him that was the glory of our city and all our ."

707 At this there was not man nor woman left in the city, so great a sorrow [ penthos] had possessed them. Hard by the gates they met Priam as he was bringing in the body. Hektor's wife and his mother were the first to mourn him: they flew towards the wagon and laid their hands upon his head, while the crowd stood weeping round them. They would have stayed before the gates, weeping and lamenting the livelong day to the going down of the sun, had not Priam spoken to them from the chariot and said, "Make way for the mules to pass you. Afterwards when I have taken the body home you shall have your fill of weeping."

718 On this the people stood asunder, and made a way for the wagon. When they had borne the body within the house they laid it upon a bed and seated minstrels round it to lead the dirge, whereon the women joined in the sad music of their lament. Foremost among them all Andromache led their wailing as she clasped the head of mighty Hektor in her embrace. "Husband," she cried, "you have died young, and leave me in your house a widow; he of whom we are the ill-starred parents is still a mere child, and I fear he may not reach manhood. Ere he can do so our city will be razed and overthrown, for you who watched over it are no more - you who were its savior, the guardian of our wives and children. Our women will be carried away captives to the ships, and I among them; while you, my child, who will be with me will be put to some unseemly tasks, working for a cruel master. Or, may be,

736 some Achaean will hurl you (O miserable death) from our walls, to avenge some brother, son, or father whom Hektor slew; many of them have indeed bitten the dust at his hands, for your father's hand in battle was no light one. Therefore do the people mourn him. You have left, O Hektor, sorrow unutterable to your parents, and my own grief [penthos] is greatest of all, for you did not stretch forth your arms and embrace me as you lay dying, nor say to me any words that might have lived with me in my tears night and day for evermore."

746 Bitterly did she weep the while, and the women joined in her lament. Hecuba in her turn took up the strains of woe. "Hektor," she cried, "dearest to me of all my children. So long as you were alive the gods loved you well, and even in death they have not been utterly unmindful of you; for when Achilles took any other of my sons, he would sell him beyond the seas, to Samos Imbros or rugged Lemnos ; and when he had taken away with his sword your life-breath [ psukhê] as well, many a time did he drag you round the sepulcher [ sêma] of his comrade - though this could not give him life - yet here you lie all fresh as dew, and comely as one whom Apollo has slain with his painless shafts."

760 Thus did she too speak through her tears with bitter moan, and then Helen for a third time took up the strain of lamentation. "Hektor," said she, "dearest of all my brothers-in-law-for I am wife to Alexander who brought me hither to Troy - would that I had died ere he did so - twenty years are come and gone since I left my home and came from over the sea, but I have never heard one word of insult or unkindness from you. When another would chide with me, as it might be one of your brothers or sisters or of your brothers' wives, or my mother-in-law - for Priam was as kind to me as though he were my own father - you would rebuke and check them with words of gentleness and goodwill. Therefore my tears flow both for you and for my unhappy self, for there is no one else in Troy who is kind to me, but all shrink and shudder as they go by me."

776 She wept as she spoke and the vast population [ dêmos] that was gathered round her joined in her lament. Then King Priam spoke to them saying, "Bring wood, O Trojans, to the city, and fear no cunning ambush of the Argives, for Achilles when he dismissed me from the ships gave me his word that they should not attack us until the morning of the twelfth day."

English (William Cullen Bryant, 1870) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cullen Bryant, 1870)) — 24.643 focus

Achilles bade the attending men and maids

Place couches in the porch, and over them

Draw sumptuous purple mats on which to lay

Embroidered tapestries, and on each of these

820

Spread a broad, fleecy mantle, covering all.

Forth went the train with torches in their hands,

And quickly spread two couches. Then the swift

Achilles pleasantly to Priam said: -

"Sleep, excellent old man, without the tent,

825

Lest some one of our counsellors arrive,

Such as oft come within my tent to sit

And talk of warlike matters. Seeing thee

In the dark hours of night, he might relate

The tale to Agamemnon, king of men,

830

And hinder thus the ransom of thy son.

But say, and truly say, how many days

Requirest thou to pay the funeral rites

To noble Hector, so that I may rest

As many, and restrain the troops from war."

835

Then answered godlike Priam, aged king:

"Since, then, thou wilt, Achilles, that we pay

The rites of burial to my noble son,

I own the favor. Well thou knowest how

We Trojans are constrained to keep within

840

The city walls, for it is far to bring

Wood from the mountains, and we fear to dare

The journey. Nine days would we mourn the dead

Within our dwellings, and upon the tenth

Would bury him, and make a solemn feast,

845

And the next day would rear his monument,

And on the twelfth, if needful, fight again."

And swift Achilles, godlike chief, rejoined:

"Be it, O reverend Priam, as thou wilt,

And for that space will I delay the war."

850

He spake, and that the aged king might feel

No fear, he grasped his right hand at the wrist;

And then King Priam and the herald went

To sleep within the porch, but wary still.

Achilles slumbered in his stately tent,

855

The rosy-cheeked Briseis at his side,

English (Alexander Pope, 1720, ed. Watson, 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Alexander Pope, 1720, ed. Watson, 1857)) — 24.643 focus

With that, Achilles bade prepare the bed,

With purple soft, and shaggy carpets spread;

Forth, by the flaming lights, they bend their way,

And place the couches, and the coverings lay.

815

Then he: ‘Now, father, sleep, but sleep not here;

‘Consult thy safety, and forgive my fear,

‘Lest any Argive, (at this hour awake,

‘To ask our counsel, or our orders take,)

‘Approaching sudden to our open tent,

820

‘Perchance behold thee, and our grace prevent.

‘Should such report thy honour'd person here,

‘The king of men the ransom might defer.

‘But say with speed, if aught of thy desire

‘Remains unask'd, what time the rites require

825

‘T' inter thy Hector? For, so long we stay

‘Our slaughtering arm, and bid the hosts obey.’

‘If then thy will permit,’ (the monarch said,)

‘To finish all due honours to the dead,

‘This, of thy grace, accord: to thee are known

830

‘The fears of Ilion, clos'd within her town;

‘And at what distance from our walls aspire

‘The hills of Ide, and forests for the fire.

‘Nine days to vent our sorrows I request,

‘The tenth shall see the funeral and the feast;

835

‘The next, to raise his monument be given;

‘The twelfth we war, if war be doom'd by heaven!’

‘This thy request,’ (replied the chief,) ‘enjoy:

‘Till then, our arms suspend the fall of Troy.’

Then gave his hand at parting, to prevent

840

The old man's fears, and turn'd within the tent;

Where fair Briseïs, bright in blooming charms,

Expects her hero with desiring arms.

But in the porch the king and herald rest,

Sad dreams of care yet wandering in their breast.

845

English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843)) — 24.643 focus

Achilles then to th' women gave command

r th' porch without to set him up a bed,

With handsome coverlets of purple, and

615

With fine soft blankets see it covered.

The women quickly his command obey'd,

And two beds ready made i' th' porch without.

Achilles smiling then to Priam said,

Old man, I from my tent must turn you out;

620

Lest some man should, from Agamemnon sent

With counsel, come and chance to see you here,

And let him know that you are at my tent,

And the redemption of your son defer.

But ere you go, old man, pray tell me right,

625

What time is needful for his obsequies ?

That I so long may keep the Greeks from fight.

Then Priam to Achilles thus replies :

You know, Achilles, very well how far

The hills and woods are distant from the town,

630

And how afraid to go the Trojans are.

We need nine days to fetch the fuel down.

The tenth he shall be burnt and buried;

Th' eleventh a mount upon him shall be laid ;

The twelfth we'll fight again if there be need.

635

To this Achilles answered, and said,

Old man, the time you asked granted is;

So long th' Achaeans shall from fight forbear.

This said, in Priam's hand he layed his,

That of his faith he might not stand in fear.

640

There in the porch slept Priam and Idaeus;

And then unto his bed Achilles went,

And there he slept, and with him fair Brisëis,

Within an inner chamber of his tent.

English (George Chapman, 1611, ed. Hooper 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (George Chapman, 1611, ed. Hooper 1857)) — 24.643 focus

Then did Achilles bid

¹²

His men and women see his bed laid down, and covered

With purple blankets, and on them an arras coverlid,

575

Waistcoats of silk plush laying by. The women straight took lights,

And two beds made with utmost speed, and all the other rites

Their lord nam'd us'd, who pleasantly the king in hand thus bore:

"Good father, you must sleep without, lest any counsellor

Make his access in depth of night, as oft their industry

580

Brings them t' impart our war-affairs, of whom should any eye

Discern your presence, his next steps to Agamemnon fly,

And then shall I lose all these gifts. But go to, signify,

And that with truth, how many days you mean to keep the state

Of Hector's funerals; because so long would I rebate

585

Mine own edge set to sack your town, and all our host contain

From interruption of your rites." He answer'd: "If you mean

To suffer such rites to my son, you shall perform a part

Of most grace to me. But you know with how dismay'd a heart

Our host took Troy, and how much fear will therefore apprehend

590

Their spirits to make out again, so far as we must send

For wood to raise our heap of death; unless I may assure

That this your high grace will stand good, and make their pass secure ;

Which if you seriously confirm, nine days I mean to mourn,

The tenth keep funeral and feast, th' eleventh raise and adorn

595

My son's fit sepulchre, the twelfth, if we must needs, we'll fight."

" Be it," replied Aeacides, " do Hector all this right;

I'll hold war back those whole twelve days; of which, to free all fear,

Take this my right hand." This confirm'd, the old king rested there;

His herald lodg'd by him; and both in forepart of the tent;

600

Achilles in an inmost room of wondrous ornament,

Whose side bright-cheek'd Briseis warm'd.

English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey)) — 24.643 focus

So he, and at his word Achilles bade

His train beneath his portico prepare

805

With all dispatch two couches, purple rugs,

And Arras, and warm mantles over all.

Forth went the women bearing lights, and spread

A couch for each, when feigning needful fear,

Achilles thus his speech to Priam turn'd.

810

My aged guest beloved! sleep thou without;

Lest some Achaian Chief (for such are wont

Oftimes, here sitting, to consult with me)

Hither repair; of whom should any chance

To spie thee through the gloom, he would at once

815

Convey the tale to Agamemnon's ear,

Whence hindrance might arise, and the release

Haply of Hector's body be delay'd.

But answer me with truth. How many days

Would'st thou assign to the funereal rites

820

Of noble Hector, for so long I mean

Myself to rest, and keep the host at home?

Then thus the ancient King godlike replied.

If thou indeed be willing that we give

Burial to noble Hector, by an act

825

So generous, O Achilles! me thou shalt

Much gratify; for we are shut, thou know'st,

In Ilium close, and fuel must procure

From Ida's side remote; fear, too, hath seized

On all our people. Therefore thus I say.

830

Nine days we wish to mourn him in the house;

To his interment we would give the tenth,

And to the public banquet; the eleventh

Shall see us build his tomb; and on the twelfth

(If war we must) we will to war again.

835

To whom Achilles, matchless in the race.

So be it, ancient Priam! I will curb

Twelve days the rage of war, at thy desire.

He spake, and at his wrist the right hand grasp'd

Of the old Sovereign, to dispel his fear.

840

Then in the vestibule the herald slept

And Priam, prudent both, but Peleus' son

In the interior tent, and at his side

Brisëis, with transcendent beauty adorn'd.

New Alexandria Commentaries

Gregory Nagy

The Iliad ends with the funeral of Hector, not of Achilles. And it is Hector, not Achilles, who is lamented at the end. But it is Achilles who makes it all happen, since he has transcended his rage and has shown mercy to an old father. The tears of Priam had made Achilles think of his own old father, of his own ancestors—and of Patroklos, who embodied the glories of the ancestors. Achilles was looking bad at the beginning of Iliad 23 and even at the beginning of Iliad 24, but he looks very good by the time Iliad 24 comes to a close.

draft js image error Mourners lament as Hector’s corpse is laid out in preparation for the funeral that closes Iliad Rhapsody 24. Copperplate etching (1795) by Tommaso Piroli, after a drawing (1793) by John Flaxman. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

source

The gods pity Hector and are on the verge of sending Hermes to hide the corpse of Hector, but this plan is vetoed by Hērā and Poseidon, in that order. They bear a grudge against Troy and Priam because of an atē ‘aberration’ of Paris=Alexandros. But the narrative concentrates only on Hērā, since the atē ‘aberration’ that the Master Narrator has in mind involves a direct insult to that goddess. On the story of that insult, see the comment on the verses that immediately follow.

source

Homer Iliad 24.643

Samuel Butler (Translator)

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