Priam mounted and drove out through the gateway. Wise Idaios drove the mule-wagon before him; behind, the old man urged his horses. Kin poured tears as if he went to his death. When they reached the plain, sons and sons-in-law turned back to Ilios.
Zeus pitied the old man and told Hermes to guide Priam to the hollow ships so that no Danaan saw or noticed him until he reached Achilles. The Argos-slayer bound on his golden sandals, took the sleep-wand, and came in the likeness of a young prince with the first beard on his lip.
Past the mound of Ilos, as darkness fell, Idaios saw the stranger and warned Priam. The old man's hair stood up in fear. But Hermes took his hand, asked where he drove through the deathless night among enemies, and said he himself would do no harm — for Priam was like his own dear father.
Hermes said he was an attendant of Achilles, a Myrmidon, come because at dawn the Achaeans hungered for war. Priam asked whether Hector still lay by the ships or had been thrown to the hounds. Hermes answered that neither dogs nor birds had eaten him; twelve days he had lain there, and still Achilles dragged him, yet could not mar him — so the gods cared for Hector even in death.
The old man was comforted. Hermes refused gifts behind Achilles' back but sprang on the chariot, took the reins, and breathed spirit into the teams. At the ditch and wall he shed sleep over the gate-keepers, shot back the bars, and brought Priam inside with the splendid gifts.
They came to Achilles' lofty pine-built shelter with its courtyard of close-set stakes. Hermes opened the bar Achilles alone could drive home, then revealed himself as a god sent by Zeus. He would not come before Achilles' eyes. Priam should go in, clasp his knees, and beseech him by father, mother, and child.