woman’s love. Thy life will not be spared Long time to me, for death and cruel fate Stand near thee. Listen to me; I am come A messenger from Jove, who bids me say The immortals are offended, and himself The most, that thou shouldst in thy spite detain The corse of Hector at the beaked ships, Refusing its release. Comply thou then, And take the ransom and restore the dead.”
And thus Achilles, swift of foot, replied: “Let him who brings the ransom come and take The body, if it be the will of Jove.”
Thus did the mother and the son confer Among the galleys, and between them passed Full many a wingèd word, while Saturn’s son Bade Iris go with speed to sacred Troy:—
“Fleet Iris, haste thee. Leave the Olympian seats, And send magnanimous Priam to the fleet, To ransom his dear son, and bear him back To Ilium. Let him carry gifts to calm The anger of Achilles. He should go Alone, no Trojan with him, save a man In years, a herald, who may guide the mules And strong-wheeled chariot, harnessed to bear back Him whom the