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156 Thus he spoke, and delivered an opinion agreeable to them all. Immediately indeed the heralds poured water upon their hands, and the youths crowned the goblets with wine; then they distributed them to all, having poured the first of the wine into the cups. But when they had made libations, and drunk as much as their mind desired, they hastened from the tent of Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. To them the Gerenian knight Nestor gave many charges, looking wistfully upon each, particularly upon Ulysses, that they should endeavor to persuade the blameless son of Peleus.

They twain then went along the shore of the loud-sounding sea, praying earnestly to earth-shaking [Neptune,] who encompasses the earth, that they might easily persuade the great mind of the grandson of Æacus. But they came to the tents and ships of the Myrmidons, and they found him delighting his soul with his clear-toned harp, beautiful, curiously wrought, and upon it was a silver comb. This he had taken from among the spoils, having destroyed the city of Eëtion, and with it he was delighting his soul, and singing the glorious deeds of heroes. Patroclus alone sat opposite to him in silence, waiting upon the descendant of Æacus when he should cease to sing. Then they advanced further, and divine Ulysses preceded; and they stood before him; while Achilles, astonished, leaped up, with his lyre, quitting the seat where he had been sitting. In like manner Patroclus, when he beheld the heroes, arose, and swift-footed Achilles taking them by the hand, addressed them:

"Hail, warriors, ye indeed have come as friends. Surely [there is] some great necessity [when ye come], who are to me, although enraged, dearest of the Greeks."

Thus having spoken, divine Achilles led them forward, and seated them upon couches and purple coverlets; then straightway he addressed Patroclus, who was near: