The grief or distress of the people is a theme raised numerous times in the Iliad (and frequently by Achilles himself).
ðə ɡɹˈiːf ɔːɹ dɪstɹˈɛs ʌvðə pˈiːpəl ɪz ɐ θˈiːm ɹˈeɪzd nˈuːmɚɹəs tˈaɪmz ɪnðɪ ˈɪlɪˌæd ænd fɹˈiːkwəntli baɪ ɐkˈɪliːz hɪmsˈɛlf.