The sorrow of Achilles

Achilles wept much for his friend. And when the first sorrow came over him, he swore to avenge himself. His anger with Agamemnon he had forgotten. He went to the shore and called his mother.

The new weapons of Achilles

Thetis came out of the waves and then he begged her to go to the god Hephaestus to make him a new armor. The goddess flew to Olympus and before it was well after dark, she brought him a suit of armor, the like of which did not exist. On his shield the divine craftsman had drawn everything on earth and in the sky.

Achilles in battle

The next day, Achilles gathered his father's immortal horses in the chariot and poured into battle. He looked like a lion falling into a herd of deer. This battle was the most terrible. Soon, the plain was filled with bodies. Achilles and his Myrmidons reaped the Trojans like wheat. And they, terrified, ran and hid within the walls of Troy.

Hector retreats

Only Hector, like the lad he was, was ashamed to shut himself in and waited for Achilles to fight. When Achilles saw his friend's murderer, he poured upon him like lightning to take revenge. Hector lost it and began to run. Three times he turned the walls of Troy and Achilles chased him.

Duel Achilles - Hector

From the walls the Trojans could see. Finally, philanthropy and shame got the better of him and he stopped fighting Achilles. The duel was fierce and Hector struck like a lad. But Achilles, with a solid counter, pierced his throat and the brave lad of Troy fell dead.

Lament

High on the walls, Hecuba and Priam were mourning, and most of all his wife, the modest Andromache. And the people of Troy wept. What would become of Troy without Hector, they said.

Burial of Patroclus

The next day the Greeks lit a great fire and burned the dead Patroclus. And to honor the good-hearted lad, they held games and gave prizes to the winners.

The supplication of Priam

One of the following days old Priam came to Achilles' tent with rich gifts. He fell at the hero's feet and begged him to give him his son's body to bury.

- Remember, Achilles, that you too have an old father, waiting for you to come back, and respect my pain, he said, weeping and kissing the hands that killed Hector.

The emotion of Achilles

Achilles was touched by the words and tears of old Priam, picked him up and made him sit down. He too remembered his own father, he remembered his beloved Patroclus, and his eyes were filled with tears.

Truce

And when he had had enough of crying, he ordered Hector's body to be washed and stoned to death, and he took it up in his hands and laid it on the deathbed. And so he gave it to the unhappy father, saying:

- King Priam, how many days do you want to mourn your son?

- Eleven days, answered Priam.