()īut let us call on the gods to witness an agreement: no compact could have better guarantors. Achilles was sobbing out his noble heart, and Antilochus was afraid he might take a knife and cut his throat. On the other side Antilochus, shedding tears of misery, gripped Achilles' hands. They beat their breasts with their hands and sank to the ground. The female slaves he and Patroclus had captured shrieked aloud and in their grief ran out of doors to surround warlike Achilles. Great Achilles lay spread out in the dust, a giant of a man, clawing at his hair with his hands and mangling it. Then, after washing and covering themselves liberally with olive-oil, they sat down to eat, and from a full mixingbowl drew off sweet wine and poured libations to Athene.

When the waves had removed the sweat from their bodies and they felt refreshed, they went and bathed themselves in polished baths. They waded into the sea to wash the sweat from their shins, neck and thighs. When he was as far ahead as the width of a day's ploughing by mules (and they are better than oxen at dragging a jointed plough through the deep soil) () But first let us both exchange prestigious gifts, so that Trojans and Greeks alike can say:'These two fought each other in souldestroying combat, but were reconciled and parted friends.” () It is sensible to take that into account.'Then you will bring joy to the Greeks back at the ships, your friends and relatives above all while I too shall get a warm welcome in lord Priam's town from the Trojans and the Trojan ladies in their trailing gowns, who will enter the sacred assembly to offer up prayers in my name. We can fight some other time, till the powers above decide between us, and one of us wins. Great Hector of the flashing helmet said:'Ajax, the god has given you size, strength and ability, and you are the best spearman on your side.

The iliad by homer