Hector's wife and his mother were the first to mourn him: they flew towards the waggon and laid their hands upon his head, while the crowd stood weeping round them.

They would have stayed before the gates, weeping and lamenting the livelong day to the going down of the sun, had not Priam spoken to them from the chariot and said, "Make way for the mules to pass you.

Afterwards when I have taken the body home you shall have your fill of weeping." On this the people stood asunder, and made a way for the waggon.

When they had borne the body within the house they laid it upon a bed and seated minstrels round it to lead the dirge, whereon the women joined in the sad music of their lament.

Foremost among them all Andromache led their wailing as she clasped the head of mighty Hector in her embrace.