“Would that I were already dead,” answered Achilles gloomily, “as I was not permitted to save my friend. But I will avenge him and pay him such honor as no mortal has ever received before. Then let Jupiter do with me as he will. Death is the lot of all. Even great Hercules died, the best beloved of all Jupiter’s sons. But before Death takes me, many a Trojan woman shall lament that I have slain her son or young spouse. They shall all learn that my long rest is ended.”
“I shall not restrain thee,” answered the silver-footed Thetis, “for thy grief is righteous and thy resolution to honor the dead and save thy friends from destruction is commendable. But thou hast no weapons and I forbid thee to enter the turmoil of Mars until at dawn thou seest me returning with armor from the hand of the artist Vulcan.” She suddenly disappeared and ascended to Olympus to beg the weapons from the god.
THETIS CONSOLING ACHILLES
Meanwhile the noise of the struggle grew louder as the fortunes of war drove the Achaians to flight. With loud cries the Trojans followed the body of Patroclus in the twilight, and although the two bearers hurried as fast as they could to get it to a place of safety, they were often in danger of losing it. Hector pursued them continually with his men and more than once had seized one of the dead man’s feet. The two Ajaxes had no thought of killing Hector, for his gigantic stature appalled them. They only held the corpse tighter, to keep it from being torn from them. Just as they were nearing the moat, they would have lost it, if a swift messenger had not summoned Achilles. “Help! help! Achilles!” he cried. “Hector will soon have taken the body of Patroclus. He threatens to cut off the head and put it on a pike and to throw the trunk to the Trojan dogs. What a disgrace if thy friend’s body be taken and misused!”
Like a maniac, without armor or weapons, Achilles rushed out, and in a voice like thunder rolling in the mountains, he roared out most terrible threats, so that both Trojans and Achaians were overcome by fear and Hector, terrified, let go the corpse and quickly retired with his followers, thinking Achilles was already on his track. Thus the two heroes brought the corpse safely into camp. Achilles gazed long upon his friend, speechless, with bowed head, clenched hands, and tears coursing down his cheeks. The Trojans now held council whether they should spend the night in the city or on the battlefield. Polydamas was anxious to retire, for he feared Achilles; but Hector insisted on remaining, for he held that it would be cowardly to allow the enemy to suspect that they were afraid. “Let Achilles come forth to-morrow,” he concluded; “he will do so at his own risk. I shall surely not fly before him. I long to meet him, and then Jupiter shall decide which one of us shall be covered with glory. Mars is a vacillating god, who oft destroys the destroyer.”
So they encamped on the field for the night. Youths brought forth animals from the city for the sacrifice, together with bread and wine, lit fires, and prepared the evening meal. The Achaians also, after supping, laid down to rest. But Achilles could not sleep. Kneeling beside his dead friend, he laid his hand on his cold breast and sobbed. Overcome with grief he cried: “Before the earth hides me, thou shalt be avenged, my Patroclus. I will lay Hector’s weapons at thy feet and Hector’s bloody head beside them. I will slay twelve Trojan youths in thine honor. Rest thou here in peace, for the morrow shall shed glory upon thee and me.”
Meanwhile Thetis had arrived in Olympus and went straightway to Vulcan’s dwelling. Late as it was, she heard him hammering in his workshop, for he was making twenty bronze tripods for the Olympians’ hall. He had fastened golden wheels to each foot, so that they could roll to the banquet of themselves. They were all finished except for the handles, and these he wished to complete that night. Aphrodite, the beautiful spouse of the lame fire god, was the first to spy the newcomer at the door. She took her hand, saying: “Welcome, dear friend, what bringeth thee so late from thy sea depths? Thou dost not often visit me.” She led her within and called her spouse.
He immediately left his anvil, washed his hands with a sponge, also his sooty face, neck, and powerful chest, threw on his cloak, and leaning on his golden staff, came limping to the door. He took the goddess’ hand and bade her welcome. “I always think of thee with gratitude,” he said; “for thou didst take me in when I was lamed and my mother would not tolerate me in heaven. Then I lived for a time in thy crystal palace under the sea and fashioned many a pretty piece of work—rings and clasps, pins and chains—until Juno took me into favor again and I left thy dwelling. Therefore, Aphrodite, see that thou entertain our guest worthily.”
When Thetis had partaken of the nectar and ambrosia which Aphrodite set before her, she began to recite all her son’s troubles, from Agamemnon’s injustice down to the fall of Patroclus. Then she begged the god to forge new armor for the unlucky Achilles, so that he might be ready to attack Hector in the morning. Aphrodite was displeased, for she feared for the Trojans, but the god paid no attention to her and promised to fulfil Thetis’ desire. He immediately returned to his workshop and began the work.