Meleager was a famous hero, the greatest and proudest of his age, who was married to Cleopatra. After his people (or, in some versions of the story, the king) insulted him, he refused to fight in the army any longer and instead sought comfort from Cleopatra. His people begged him to save them, but he continued to refuse; eventually, Cleopatra asked him to fight for her, and he did so. It was too late, however, and his people despised him forever. Peleus is the first to tell this story to Achilles and Patroclus, though he doesn’t get to the end; later, Phoinix picks up the same thread, attempting to convince Patroclus to beg Achilles to fight. Eventually, Patroclus tries, worried that the Greeks will always hate Achilles if he doesn’t.