He said; and Agamemnon, King of men, Assenting, gave to brave Meriones The brazen spear; while in Talthybius’ care, His herald, plac’d the King his noble prize. ARGUMENT. THE REDEMPTION OF THE BODY OF HECTOR. The gods deliberate about the redemption of Hector’s body. Jupiter sends Thetis to Achilles to dispose him for the restoring it, and Iris to Priam, to encourage him to go in person, and treat for it. The old king, notwithstanding the remonstrances of his queen, makes ready for the journey, to which he is encouraged by an omen from Jupiter. He sets forth in his chariot, with a waggon loaded with presents, under the charge of Idaeus the herald. Mercury descends in the shape of a young man, and conducts him to the pavilion of Achilles. Their conversation on the way. Priam finds Achilles at his table, casts himself at his feet, and begs for the body of his son; Achilles, moved with compassion, grants his request, detains him one night in his tent, and the next morning sends him home with the body; the Trojans run out to meet him. The lamentation of Andromache, Hecuba, and Helen, with the solemnities of the funeral. The time of twelve days is employed in this book, while the body of Hector lies in the tent of Achilles. And as many more are spent in the truce allowed for his interment. The scene is partly in Achilles’ camp, and partly in Troy. BOOK XXIV. The games were ended, and the multitude Amid the ships their sev’ral ways dispers’d: Some to their supper, some to gentle sleep Yielding, delighted; but Achilles still Mourn’d o’er his lov’d companion; not on him Lighted all-conqu’ring sleep, but to and fro Restless he toss’d, and on Patroclus thought, His vigour and his courage; all the deeds They two together had achiev’d; the toils, The perils they had undergone, amid The strife of warriors, and the angry waves. Stirr’d by such mem’ries, bitter tears he shed; Now turning on his side, and now again Upon his back; then prone upon his face; Then starting to his feet, along the shore All objectless, despairing, would he roam; Nor did the morn, above the sea appearing, Unmark’d of him arise; his flying steeds He then would harness, and, behind the car The corpse of Hector trailing in the dust, Thrice make the circuit of Patroclus’ tomb; Then would he turn within his tent to rest, Leaving the prostrate corpse with dust defil’d; But from unseemly marks the valiant dead Apollo guarded, who with pity view’d The hero, though in death; and round him threw His golden aegis; nor, though dragg’d along, Allow’d his body to receive a wound.