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leaped into the chariot where Automedon； the squire； had harnessed
Xanthus and Balius； two horses that were the children； men said； of
the West Wind； and a led horse was harnessed beside them in the
side traces。 Meanwhile the two thousand men of Achilles； who were
called Myrmidons； had met in armour； five companies of four hundred
apiece； under five chiefs of noble names。 Forth they came； as
eager as a pack of wolves that have eaten a great red deer and run
to slake their thirst with the dark water of a well in the hills。
So all in close array； helmet touching helmet and shield touching
shield； like a moving wall of shining bronze； the men of Achilles
charged； and Patroclus； in the chariot led the way。 Down they came
at full speed on the flank of the Trojans； who saw the leader； and
knew the bright armour and the horses of the terrible Achilles； and
thought that he had returned to the war。 Then each Trojan looked
round to see by what way he could escape； and when men do that in
battle they soon run by the way they have chosen。 Patroclus rushed
to the ship of Protesilaus； and slew the leader of the Trojans
there； and drove them out； and quenched the fire； while they of
Troy drew back from the ships； and Aias and the other unwounded
Greek princes leaped among them； smiting with sword and spear。
Well did Hector know that the break in the battle had come again；
but even so he stood； and did what he might； while the Trojans were
driven back in disorder across the ditch； where the poles of many
chariots were broken and the horses fled loose across the plain。
The horses of Achilles cleared the ditch； and Patroclus drove them
between the Trojans and the wall of their own town； slaying many
men； and； chief of all； Sarpedon； king of the Lycians； and round
the body of Sarpedon the Trojans rallied under Hector； and the
fight swayed this way and that； and there was such a noise of
spears and swords smiting shields and helmets as when many
woodcutters fell trees in a glen of the hills。 At last the Trojans
gave way； and the Greeks stripped the armour from the body of brave
Sarpedon； but men say that Sleep and Death； like two winged angels；
bore his body away to his own country。 Now Patroclus forgot how
Achilles had told him not to pursue the Trojans across the plain；
but to return when he had driven them from the ships。 On he raced；
slaying as he went； even till he reached the foot of the wall of
Troy。 Thrice he tried to climb it； but thrice he fell back。
Hector was in his chariot in the gateway； and he bade his squire
lash his horses into the war； and struck at no other man； great or
small； but drove straight against Patroclus； who stood and threw a
heavy stone at Hector； which missed him； but killed his charioteer。
Then Patroclus leaped on the charioteer to strip his armour； but
Hector stood over the body； grasping it by the head； while
Patroclus dragged at the feet； and spears and arrows flew in clouds
around the fallen man。 At last； towards sunset； the Greeks drew
him out of the war； and Patroclus thrice charged into the thick of
the Trojans。 But the helmet of Achilles was loosened in the fight；
and fell from the head of Patroclus； and he was wounded from
behind； and Hector； in front； drove his spear clean through his
body。 With his last breath Patroclus prophesied： 〃Death stands
near thee； Hector； at the hands of noble Achilles。〃 But Automedon
was driving back the swift horses； carrying to Achilles the news
that his dearest friend was slain。
After Ulysses was wounded； early in this great battle； he was not
able to fight for several days； and； as the story is about Ulysses；
we must tell quite shortly how Achilles returned to the war to take
vengeance for Patroclus； and how he slew Hector。 When Patroclus
fell； Hector seized the armour which the Gods had given to Peleus；
and Peleus to his son Achilles； while Achilles had lent it to
Patroclus that he might terrify the Trojans。 Retiring out of reach
of spears； Hector took off his own armour and put on that of
Achilles； and Greeks and Trojans fought for the dead body of
Patroclus。 Then Zeus； the chief of the Gods； looked down and said
that Hector should never come home out of the battle to his wife；
Andromache。 But Hector returned into the fight around the dead
Patroclus； and here all the best men fought； and even Automedon；
who had been driving the chariot of Patroclus。 Now when the
Trojans seemed to have the better of the fight； the Greeks sent
Antilochus； a son of old Nestor； to tell Achilles that his friend
was slain； and Antilochus ran； and Aias and his brother protected
the Greeks who were trying to carry the body of Patroclus back to
the ships。
Swiftly Antilochus came running to Achilles； saying： 〃Fallen is
Patroclus； and they are fighting round his naked body； for Hector
has his armour。〃 Then Achilles said never a word； but fell on the
floor of his hut； and threw black ashes on his yellow hair； till
Antilochus seized his hands； fearing that he would cut his own
throat with his dagger； for very sorrow。 His mother； Thetis； arose
from the sea to comfort him； but he said that he desired to die if
he could not slay Hector； who had slain his friend。 Then Thetis
told him that he could not fight without armour； and now he had
none； but she would go to the God of armour…making and bring from
him such a shield and helmet and breastplate as had never been seen
by men。
Meanwhile the fight raged round the dead body of Patroclus； which
was defiled with blood and dust； near the ships； and was being
dragged this way and that； and torn and wounded。 Achilles could
not bear this sight； yet his mother had warned him not to enter
without armour the battle where stones and arrows and spears were
flying like hail； and he was so tall and broad that he could put on
the arms of no other man。 So he went down to the ditch as he was；
unarmed； and as he stood high above it； against the red sunset；
fire seemed to flow from his golden hair like the beacon blaze that
soars into the dark sky when an island town is attacked at night；
and men light beacons that their neighbours may see them and come
to their help from other isles。 There Achilles stood in a
splendour of fire； and he shouted aloud； as clear as a clarion
rings when men fall on to attack a besieged city wall。 Thrice
Achilles shouted mightily； and thrice the horses of the Trojans
shuddered for fear and turned back from the onslaught；and thrice
the men of Troy were confounded and shaken with terror。 Then the
Greeks drew the body of Patroclus out of the dust and the arrows；
and laid him on a bier； and Achilles followed； weeping； for he had
sent his friend with chariot and horses to the war； but home again
he welcomed him never more。 Then the sun set and it was night。
Now one of the Trojans wished Hector to retire within the walls of
Troy； for certainly Achilles would to…morrow be foremost in the
war。 But Hector said； 〃Have ye not had your fill of being shut up
behind walls？ Let Achilles fight； I will meet him in the open
field。〃 The Trojans cheered； and they camped in the plain； while
in the hut of Achilles wo