They indeed were separated, each to his own ship; but the magnanimous Myrmidons were occupied about the gifts, and, bearing them, went to the ship of godlike Achilles. These they laid up in the tents, and placed the women in seats; but the illustrious attendants drove the horses to the stud. But afterward Briseïs, like unto golden Venus, when she beheld Patroclus lacerated with the sharp spear, throwing herself about him, wept aloud, and with her hands tore her breast and tender neck, and fair countenance.[1] Then the woman, like unto the goddesses, weeping, said:
"O Patroclus! most dear to my wretched soul, I left thee indeed alive, departing from my tent, but now returning, I find thee dead, O chieftain of the people! How in my case evil ever succeeds evil. The hero indeed to whom my father and venerable mother had given me,[2] I saw pierced with the sharp brass before the city; and three beloved brothers whom the same mother had brought forth to me, all drew on the destructive day. Nevertheless, thou didst not suffer me to weep, when swift Achilles slew my husband, and laid waste the city of divine Mynes, but thou saidst thou wouldst render me the wedded wife[3] of noble Achilles, lead me in the ships to Phthia, and prepare the nuptial feast among the Myrmidons. Therefore do I insatiably lament thee dead, being ever gentle."
Thus she spoke, weeping; and the women lamented for Patroclus, as a pretext, but [really] each for her own ills. And around him (Achilles) were collected the elders of the Greeks, entreating him to take refreshment; but he, moaning, refused:
"I entreat [you], if any of my beloved companions would be obedient to me, bid me not satiate my heart with food or
- ↑ On these ancient signs of lamentation cf. Virg. Æn. iv. 672; xii. 605; Silius, viii. 153; Tusc. Quæst. iii. 26. Æsch. Choeph. 22: Πρέπει παρήϊς φοινίοις ἀμυγμοῖς. Eur. Hel. 1098: Παρῇδι τ' ὄνυχα φόνιον ἐμβαλῶ χροός. Orest. 950: Τιθεῖσα λευκὸν ὄνυχα διὰ παρηΐδων, αἱματηρὸν ἄταν. Artemidor. i.: Ἐν τοῖς πένθεσι λάβονται τὰς παρείας οἱ ἄνθρωποι. See Comm. on Petron. cxi.
- ↑ The consent of both parents was necessary to a contract of marriage. See Feith, Antiq. Hom. ii. 13, 3.
- ↑ She appears to have been, at present, only betrothed.
226: "Celeres defer mea dicta per auras," which Servius interprets, "celer, vel celeriter."
