The son of Peleus now turned away from the pyre and lay down, overcome with toil, till he fell into a sweet slumber.

Presently they who were about the son of Atreus drew near in a body, and roused him with the noise and tramp of their coming.

He sat upright and said, "Son of Atreus, and all other princes of the Achaeans, first pour red wine everywhere upon the fire and quench it; let us then gather the bones of Patroclus son of Menoetius, singling them out with care; they are easily found, for they lie in the middle of the pyre, while all else, both men and horses, has been thrown in a heap and burned at the outer edge.

We will lay the bones in a golden urn, in two layers of fat, against the time when I shall myself go down into the house of Hades.

As for the barrow, labour not to raise a great one now, but such as is reasonable.