the magnanimous chief Hector, who slew thee. By thy funeral pile I will strike off in vengeance for thy death The heads of twelve illustrious Trojan youths. Thou meanwhile, lying at the beaked ships, Shalt be lamented night and day, with tears, By many a Trojan and Dardanian maid, Deep-bosomed, won by our victorious spears After hard wars and opulent cities sacked.”
Thus having said, the great Achilles bade Place a huge tripod on the fire in haste, To cleanse Patroclus from the clotted blood. They brought and set upon the glowing hearth A tripod for the bath, and in it poured Water, and piled the wood beneath. The flame Crept up the vessel’s rounded sides and warmed The water. When within the murmuring brass It boiled, they washed the dead, and with rich oil Anointed him, and filled the open wounds With ointment nine years old; and laying him Upon a couch, they spread from head to foot Fine linen over him, and covered all With a white mantle. Through the hours of night The Myrmidons, lamenting their dead chief, Wept round the swift Achilles. Then did Jove Thus to his wife and sister Juno speak:—
“Large-eyed, imperial Juno, thou hast now Accomplished thy desire, for thou hast roused The swift Achilles. There is not a doubt The long-haired Argives owe their birth to thee.”
And large-eyed Juno answered: “What strange words, Austere Saturnius, hast thou said? A man, A mortal far less skilled in shaping means To compass ends, might do what I have done Against his fellow-man. Then should not I— Who boast to be the chief of goddesses By birthright, and because I bear the name Of wife to thee who rulest o’er the gods— Plan evil to the Trojans, whom I hate?”
So talked they. Silver-footed Thetis came Meanwhile to Vulcan’s halls, eternal, gemmed With stars, a wonder to the immortals, wrought Of brass by the lame god. She found him there Sweating and toiling, and