iling and
lamentation. His sons, sitting around their father within the hall, were
drenching their robes with tears; whilst the old man sat in the midst,
covered entirely[780] with a cloak; but much filth was around upon the
head and neck of the aged man, which, while rolling [on the ground], he
had abundantly collected[781] with his own hands. But his daughters and
daughters-in-law throughout the dwelling lamented, remembering those
who, many and brave, lay, having lost their lives by the hands of the
Greeks. Then the ambassadress of Jove stood beside Priam, and addressed
him in an under-tone; and tremor seized him as to his limbs:

"Take courage, O Dardanian Priam, in thy mind, nor fear at all; for
indeed I come not hither boding[782] evil to thee, but meditating good;
for I am an ambassadress from Jove to thee, who, though being far off,
greatly cares for and pities thee. The Olympian bids thee ransom noble
Hector, and bear presents to Achilles, which may melt his soul; thee
alone, nor let another man of the Trojans go with thee. But let some
aged herald accompany thee, who may guide thy mules and well-wheeled
chariot, and bring back to the city the dead which noble Achilles has
slain. Nor let death be a cause of anxiety to thy mind, nor fear at all
such a conductor; the slayer of Argus shall attend thee, who shall lead
thee, until, guiding, he shall bring thee near Achilles. But when he
shall have led thee into the tent of Achilles, he will not slay thee
himself, and he will ward off all others; for he is neither imprudent,
nor rash, nor profane; but will very humanely spare a suppliant man."

[Footnote 780: I take [Greek: entypas] adverbially, with
Eustathius, p. 1474, and understand that he was "so completely
enfolded, as to exhibit the entire contour of his person"
(Kennedy), with the Schol. Hesych. t.i.p. 1264. Phavorinus,
Suidas, and the Schol. on Appoll. Rh. 264. Ernesti well expresses
the idea: "[Greek: Entypas kekalymmenos] est, qui ita adstrinxit
vestem, eique se involvit, ut tota corporis figura appareat, quod
secus est in toga et pallio aut stola."]

[Footnote 781: Literally, "reaped, cropped."]

[Footnote 782: See Buttmann, Lexii. p. 445]

Thus having spoken, swift-footed Iris departed. But he ordered his sons
to prepare his well-wheeled mule-drawn chariot, and to tie a chest upon
it; but he descended into an odoriferous chamber of cedar, lofty-roofed,
which contained m