My guide, till to Achilles’ tent I come. 
    Whom answer’d then the messenger of heaven. 
  Sir! thou perceivest me young, and art disposed
  To try my virtue; but it shall not fail. 545
  Thou bidd’st me at thine hand a gift accept,
  Whereof Achilles knows not; but I fear
  Achilles, and on no account should dare
  Defraud him, lest some evil find me next. 
  But thee I would with pleasure hence conduct 550
  Even to glorious Argos, over sea
  Or over land, nor any, through contempt
  Of such a guard, should dare to do thee wrong. 
    So Mercury, and to the chariot seat
  Upspringing, seized at once the lash and reins, 555
  And with fresh vigor mules and steeds inspired. 
  Arriving at the foss and towers, they found
  The guard preparing now their evening cheer,
  All whom the Argicide with sudden sleep
  Oppress’d, then oped the gates, thrust back the bars, 560
  And introduced, with all his litter-load
  Of costly gifts, the venerable King. 
  But when they reached the tent for Peleus’ son
  Raised by the Myrmidons (with trunks of pine
  They built it, lopping smooth the boughs away, 555
  Then spread with shaggy mowings of the mead
  Its lofty roof, and with a spacious court
  Surrounded it, all fenced with driven stakes;
  One bar alone of pine secured the door,
  Which ask’d three Grecians with united force 570
  To thrust it to its place, and three again
  To thrust it back, although Achilles oft
  Would heave it to the door himself alone;)
  Then Hermes, benefactor of mankind,
  That bar displacing for the King of Troy, 575
  Gave entrance to himself and to his gifts
  For Peleus’ son design’d, and from the seat
  Alighting, thus his speech to Priam turn’d. 
    Oh ancient Priam! an immortal God
  Attends thee; I am Hermes, by command 580
  Of Jove my father thy appointed guide. 
  But I return.  I will not, entering here,
  Stand in Achilles’ sight; immortal Powers
  May not so unreservedly indulge
  Creatures of mortal kind.  But enter thou, 585
  Embrace his knees, and by his father both
  And by his Goddess mother sue to him,
  And by his son, that his whole heart may melt. 
    So Hermes spake, and to the skies again
  Ascended.  Then leap’d Priam to the ground, 590
  Leaving Idaeus; he, the mules and steeds
  Watch’d, while the ancient King into the tent
  Proceeded of Achilles dear to Jove. 
  Him there he found, and sitting found apart
  His fellow-warriors, of whom two alone 595
  Served at his side, Alcimus, branch of Mars
  And brave Automedon; he had himself
  Supp’d newly, and the board stood unremoved.