Many also of
his followers were weeping round him, but when the goddess came among
them she clasped his hand in her own, saying, "My son, grieve as we may
we must let this man lie, for it is by heaven's will that he has
fallen; now, therefore, accept from Vulcan this rich and goodly armour,
which no man has ever yet borne upon his shoulders."

As she spoke she set the armour before Achilles, and it rang out
bravely as she did so. The Myrmidons were struck with awe, and none
dared look full at it, for they were afraid; but Achilles was roused to
still greater fury, and his eyes gleamed with a fierce light, for he
was glad when he handled the splendid present which the god had made
him. Then, as soon as he had satisfied himself with looking at it, he
said to his mother, "Mother, the god has given me armour, meet
handiwork for an immortal and such as no-one living could have
fashioned; I will now arm, but I much fear that flies will settle upon
the son of Menoetius and breed worms about his wounds, so that his
body, now he is dead, will be disfigured and the flesh will rot."

Silver-footed Thetis answered, "My son, be not disquieted about this
matter. I will find means to protect him from the swarms of noisome
flies that prey on the bodies of men who have been killed in battle. He
may lie for a whole year, and his flesh shall still be as sound as
ever, or even sounder. Call, therefore, the Achaean heroes in assembly;
unsay your anger against Agamemnon; arm at once, and fight with might
and main."

As she spoke she put strength and courage into his heart, and she then
dropped ambrosia and red nectar into the wounds of Patroclus, that his
body might suffer no change.

Then Achilles went out upon the seashore, and with a loud cry called on
the Achaean heroes. On this even those who as yet had stayed always at
the ships, the pilots and helmsmen, and even the stewards who were
about the ships and served out rations, all came to the place of
assembly because Achilles had shown himself after having held aloof so
long from fighting. Two sons of Mars, Ulysses and the son of Tydeus,
came limping, for their wounds still pained them; nevertheless they
came, and took their seats in the front row of the assembly. Last of
all came Agamemnon, king of men, he too wounded, for Coon son of
Antenor had struck him with a spear in battle.

When the Achaeans were got together Achilles rose and said, "Son of
Atreus, surely it would have be