Translator: A.T. Murray, Ph.D.
Text Source: Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. – www.perseus.tufts.edu
This passage is the critical meeting between Priam, the great king of Troy, and Achilles, the mightiest warrior of the Greeks. Priam’s son, Hector, has been slain by Achilles, and for several days afterward Achilles has defiled Hector’s corpse in a mad frenzy of wanton personal celebration. Disappointed by Achilles’ actions, the gods of Mount Olympus have agreed that Priam should approach Achilles with an incredibly generous ransom, and that Achilles should accept the offer and give up Hector’s body to be properly mourned for and buried by the Trojans.
One of the major themes of The Illiad is the becoming of Achilles’ self-centered rage and the results of his destructive behavior, and this scene exemplifies a few of those consequences. Greeks and Trojans alike view Achilles as a godlike figure, and those who are not on his good side often tremble in fear of his presence; here, Priam is not only shown to be in total awe of Achilles, but to be rendered so hopeless at the hands of this demi-god that he must kneel down and beg for his son’s desecrated body. Towards the end of the scene, Priam and Achilles both mourn together for the loss of Hector and Patroclus, respectively, both deaths which were greatly affected by the actions of Achilles. The underlying theme of this intensely emotional scene is found within each man’s sorrow: Achilles’ rage has wrought pain and anguish among almost every participant of the great Trojan War.
'Unseen of these great Priam entered in, and coming close to Achilles, clasped in his hands his knees, and kissed his hands, the terrible, man-slaying hands that had slain his many sons. [480] And as when sore blindness of heart cometh upon a man, that in his own country slayeth another and escapeth to a land of strangers, to the house of some man of substance, and wonder holdeth them that look upon him; even so was Achilles seized with wonder at sight of godlike Priam, and seized with wonder were the others likewise, and they glanced one at the other. [485] But Priam made entreaty, and spake to him, saying: “Remember thy father, O Achilles like to the gods, whose years are even as mine, on the grievous threshold of old age. Him full likely the dwellers that be round about are entreating evilly, neither is there any to ward from him ruin and bane. [490] Howbeit, while he heareth of thee as yet alive he hath joy at heart, and therewithal hopeth day by day that he shall see his dear son returning from Troy-land. But I—I am utterly unblest, seeing I begat sons the best in the broad land of Troy, yet of them I avow that not one is left. [495] Fifty I had, when the sons of the Achaeans came; nineteen were born to me of the self-same womb, and the others women of the palace bare. Of these, many as they were, furious Ares hath loosed the knees, and he that alone was left me, that by himself guarded the city and the men, [500] him thou slewest but now as he fought for his country, even Hector. For his sake am I now come to the ships of the Achaeans to win him back from thee, and I bear with me ransom past counting. Nay, have thou awe of the gods, Achilles, and take pity on me, remembering thine own father. Lo, I am more piteous far than he, [505] and have endured what no other mortal on the face of earth hath yet endured, to reach forth my hand to the face of him that hath slain my sons.”
So spake he, and in Achilles he roused desire to weep for his father; and he took the old man by the hand, and gently put him from him. So the twain bethought them of their dead, and wept; the one for man-slaying Hector wept sore, [510] the while he grovelled at Achilles' feet, but Achilles wept for his own father, and now again for Patroclus; and the sound of their moaning went up through the house.'
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