But Achilles said: "Now the dead whom Hector slew lieth low, and ye bid me think of food. Let the Greeks enter fasting into battle, and make them a great supper when the sun goes down. As for me, neither food nor drink shall pass my lips." To him Ulysses made reply: "Thou art the stronger, son of Peleus, yet I may be the wiser, for I am older than thou, and of more experience. Ask not the Greeks to fast because of the dead. Verily they fall every day. Rather let us bury him that dieth, and bewail him for a day, and harden our hearts to forget: and then let us who are left eat and drink, that we may fight with better heart." Then did Ulysses go to the tent of the King; and they brought thence the gifts, the treasure, and twelve horses, and seven women, skilled workers with the needle, and the fair Briseis the eighth. These the Myrmidons took to the tent of Achilles. But when Briseis saw Patroclus, she beat her breast and her fair face and neck, and wailed aloud, for he had been gentle and good, she said. And all the women wailed with her, thinking each of her own sorrows. Then the chiefs would have Achilles feast with them; but he hearkened not, for he would neither eat nor drink till he had had vengeance for the dead. And he spake, saying: "Often, Patroclus, hast thou ordered the feast when we were hastening to the war. And now thou liest slain, and for grief for thee I cannot eat nor drink. For greater sorrow could not have come to me. Often did I think that I only should perish here, but that thou shouldst return and show my son all that was mine, goods and servants and palace." And as he wept, the old men wept with him, thinking each of what he had left at home. But Zeus said to Athene: "Carest thou not for Achilles that is so dear to thee? See, the other Greeks are gone to their meal, but he sits fasting." Then Athene leapt down from heaven, and shed into the breast of Achilles nectar and ambrosia, that his knees should not fail from hunger. Meanwhile the Greeks poured out to battle, and in the midst Achilles armed himself. He put the lordly greaves about his legs, and fitted the corselet on his breast. From his shoulders he hung the sword, and he took the great shield that Hephæstus had made, and it blazed as it were the heaven. Also he put the helmet on his head, and the plumes waved all around. Then he made trial of the arms, and they fitted him well, and bare him up like wings. Last he drew from its case his father's spear, which none might wield but Achilles' self. Then he spake to his horses: "Take heed, Bayard and Piebald, that ye save your driver to-day, nor leave him dead on the field, as ye left Patroclus."