the illustrious attendants drove the horses to
the stud. But afterwards Briseis, 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.[635] 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,[636] 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[637] of noble Achilles,
lead me in the ships to Phthia, and prepare the nuptial feast amongst
the Myrmidons. Therefore do I insatiably lament thee dead, being ever
gentle."

[Footnote 635: On these ancient signs of lamentation cf. Virg.
AEn. iv. 672; xii. 605; Silius, viii. 153; Tusc. Quaest. iii. 26.
AEsch. Choeph. 22: [Greek: Prepei pareis phoiniois amygmois]. Eur.
Hel. 1098: [Greek: Paredi t' onycha phonion embalo chroos.].
Orest. 950: [Greek: Titheisa leykon onycha dia pareidon,
aimateron atan]. Artemidor. i. [Greek: En tois penthesi labontai
tas pareias oi anthropoi]. See Comm. on Petron. cxi.]

[Footnote 636: The consent of both parents was necessary to a
contract of marriage. See Feith, Antiq. Hom. ii. 13, 3.]

[Footnote 637: She appears to have been, at present, only
betrothed.]

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 drink, since heavy grief
hath invaded me; but I will wait entirely till the setting sun, and will
endure."

So saying, he dismissed the other kings: but two sons of Atreus
remained; and noble Ulysses, Nestor, Idomeneus, and the aged knight
Phoenix, constantly endeavouring to delight him sorrowing; nor was he a