The Trojans, when they had come out of the fight, unyoked their horses and gathered in assembly before preparing supper. They kept on their feet; none dared sit, for fear had fallen on them because Achilles had shown himself after long absence from the battle.
Polydamas son of Panthoos spoke first — he alone looked both before and after. He urged them to go back now to the city and not wait by the ships till morning, for they were far from the wall. While this man was angry with Agamemnon, fighting was easier; tomorrow he would arm and come out in his strength. Better to hold the walls at night than die in the open by the ships.
Hector looked fiercely at him and rejected the counsel. Had they not driven the Achaeans to the ships? Let them watch through the night in arms on the plain, and at dawn fight by the hollow ships. If Achilles came out, Hector would meet him himself — the war god's work was equal, and the slayer might yet be slain.
So Hector spoke, and the Trojans, fools that they were, shouted in applause, for Athena had robbed them of their understanding. They praised Hector's bad counsel and ignored Polydamas, who had spoken wise words.
Then the Achaeans all night long made lamentation over Patroclus. Achilles led their mourning. Three times they dragged their horses round the body, weeping, and Thetis stirred among them the desire of wailing.
They set a great tripod on the fire that they might wash the clotted gore from him. When the water was hot, they washed him, anointed him with olive oil, filled his wounds with ointment nine years old, laid him on a soft bed, and covered him from head to foot with fine linen and a white mantle.
All night the Myrmidons gathered round Achilles and bewailed Patroclus. Achilles laid his bloody hands on his friend's chest and swore he would not bury him until he had brought Hector's armor and head, and that twelve Trojan sons of high hearts would be slaughtered before the pyre.