victim in his throat
  And, whirling him around, Talthybius, next,
  Cast him into the ocean, fishes’ food.[8]
  Then, in the centre of Achaia’s sons
  Uprose Achilles, and thus spake again. 325
    Jove!  Father! dire calamities, effects
  Of thy appointment, fall on human-kind. 
  Never had Agamemnon in my breast
  Such anger kindled, never had he seized,
  Blinded by wrath, and torn my prize away, 330
  But that the slaughter of our numerous friends
  Which thence ensued, thou hadst, thyself, ordained. 
  Now go, ye Grecians, eat, and then to battle. 
    So saying, Achilles suddenly dissolved
  The hasty council, and all flew dispersed 335
  To their own ships.  Then took the Myrmidons
  Those splendid gifts which in the tent they lodged
  Of swift Achilles, and the damsels led
  Each to a seat, while others of his train
  Drove forth the steeds to pasture with his herd. 340
  But when Briseis, bright as Venus, saw
  Patroclus lying mangled by the spear,
  Enfolding him around, she shriek’d and tore
  Her bosom, her smooth neck and beauteous cheeks. 
  Then thus, divinely fair, with tears she said. 345
    Ah, my Patroclus! dearest friend of all
  To hapless me, departing from this tent
  I left thee living, and now, generous Chief! 
  Restored to it again, here find thee dead. 
  How rapid in succession are my woes! 350
  I saw, myself, the valiant prince to whom
  My parents had betroth’d me, slain before
  Our city walls; and my three brothers, sons
  Of my own mother, whom with long regret
  I mourn, fell also in that dreadful field. 355
  But when the swift Achilles slew the prince
  Design’d my spouse, and the fair city sack’d
  Of noble Mynes, thou by every art
  Of tender friendship didst forbid my tears,
  Promising oft that thou would’st make me bride 360
  Of Peleus’ godlike son, that thy own ship
  Should waft me hence to Phthia, and that thyself
  Would’st furnish forth among the Myrmidons
  Our nuptial feast.  Therefore thy death I mourn
  Ceaseless, for thou wast ever kind to me. 365
    She spake, and all her fellow-captives heaved
  Responsive sighs, deploring each, in show,
  The dead Patroclus, but, in truth, herself.[9]
  Then the Achaian Chiefs gather’d around
  Achilles, wooing him to eat, but he 370
  Groan’d and still resolute, their suit refused—­
    If I have here a friend on whom by prayers
  I may prevail, I pray that ye desist,
  Nor longer press me, mourner as I am,
  To eat or drink, for till the sun go down 375
  I am inflexible, and will abstain. 
    So saying, the other princes