Part 68 (1/2)
FUNERAL GAMES IN HONOUR OF PATROCLUS(280)
Achilles and the Myrmidons do honours to the body of Patroclus After the funeral feast he retires to the sea-shore, where, falling asleep, the ghost of his friend appears to hi the soldiers are sent with ons to fetch wood for the pyre The funeral procession, and the offering their hair to the dead Achilles sacrifices several animals, and lastly twelve Trojan captives, at the pile; then sets fire to it He pays libations to the Winds, which (at the instance of Iris) rise, and raise the flaather the bones, place theold, and raise the toa, the foot-race, the single co the javelin: the various descriptions of which, and the various success of the several antagonists, reatest part of the book
In this book ends the thirtieth day The night following, the ghost of Patroclus appears to Achilles: the one-and-thirtieth day is e the ti it; and the three-and-thirtieth in the gaenerally on the sea-shore
Thus huh the sad city mourn'd her hero slain
The body soil'd with dust, and black with gore, Lies on broad hellespont's resounding shore
The Grecians seek their shi+ps, and clear the strand, All, but the reat Achilles holds, And the stern purpose of his mind unfolds:
”Not yet,coursers from the car; But, with his chariot each in order led, Perform due honours to Patroclus dead
Ere yet frolut our rage of grief”
The troops obey'd; and thrice in order led(281) (Achilles first) their coursers round the dead; And thrice their sorrows and laments renew; Tears bathe their arms, and tears the sands bedew
For such a warrior Thetis aids their woe, Melts their strong hearts, and bids their eyes to flow
But chief, Pelides: thick-succeeding sighs Burst fro hands, yet red with blood, he laid On his dead friend's cold breast, and thus he said:
”All hail, Patroclus! let thy honour'd ghost Hear, and rejoice on Pluto's dreary coast; Behold! Achilles' promise is complete; The bloody Hector stretch'd before thy feet
Lo! to the dogs his carcase I resign; And twelve sad victieance, instant shall expire; Their lives effused around thy funeral pyre”
Gloomy he said, and (horrible to view) Before the bier the bleeding Hector threw, prone on the dust The Myrmidons around Unbraced their armour, and the steeds unbound
All to Achilles' sable shi+p repair, Frequent and full, the genial feast to share
Now from the well-fed swine black s o'er the fire: The huge ox bellowing falls; with feebler cries Expires the goat; the sheep in silence dies
Around the hero's prostrate body flow'd, In one pro blood
And now a band of Argive s
From his dead friend the pensive warrior went, With steps unwilling, to the regal tent
The attending heralds, as by office bound, With kindled fla hands froed in vain; the chief refused, and swore:(282)
”No drop shall touch reatest of the Gods above!
Till on the pyre I place thee; till I rear The grassy mound, and clip thy sacred hair
Soive, And soothe my sorrohile I bear to live
Howe'er, reluctant as I am, I stay And share your feast; but with the dawn of day, (O king of men!) it claims thy royal care, That Greece the warrior's funeral pile prepare, And bid the forests fall: (such rites are paid To heroes slu in eternal shade:) Then, when his earthly part shall ued squadrons to their posts retire”
He spoke: they hear hier and of thirst allay, Then ease in sleep the labours of the day
But great Pelides, stretch'd along the shore, Where, dash'd on rocks, the broken billows roar, Lies inly groaning; while on either hand The rass his languid members fall, Tired with his chase around the Trojan wall; Hush'd by the th he sinks in the soft ar eyes, Of sad Patroclus rose, or see wore, he ca look, the same
The form familiar hover'd o'er his head, ”And sleeps Achilles? (thus the phanto, I seeot, I wander in the air
Let ive me entrance in the real-place, But here and there the unbodied spectres chase The vagrant dead around the dark abode, Forbid to cross the irreive thy hand; for to the farther shore When once we pass, the soul returns no more: When once the last funereal flames ascend, No hts to those we loved make known; Or quit the dearest, to converse alone
Me fate has sever'd from the sons of earth, The fate fore-doom'd that waited froreat and Godlike thou art doom'd to fall
Hear then; and as in fate and love we join, Ah suffer that ether have we lived; together bred, One house received us, and one table fed; That golden urn, thy Goddess-rave”
”And is it thou? (he answers) To ht?
O more than brother! Think each office paid, Whate'er can rest a discontented shade; But grant one last embrace, unhappy boy!
Afford at least thatarrasp the visionary shade!
Like a thin smoke he sees the spirit fly,(284) And hears a feeble, lamentable cry