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heeding； nor has my mother told me anything from the mouth of Jove；
but I am cut to the very heart that one of my own rank should dare
to rob me because he is more powerful than I am。 This； after all
that I have gone through； is more than I can endure。 The girl whom the
sons of the Achaeans chose for me； whom I won as the fruit of my spear
on having sacked a city… her has King Agamemnon taken from me as
though I were some common vagrant。 Still； let bygones be bygones： no
man may keep his anger for ever； I said I would not relent till battle
and the cry of war had reached my own ships； nevertheless； now gird my
armour about your shoulders； and lead the Myrmidons to battle； for the
dark cloud of Trojans has burst furiously over our fleet； the
Argives are driven back on to the beach； cooped within a narrow space；
and the whole people of Troy has taken heart to sally out against
them； because they see not the visor of my helmet gleaming near
them。 Had they seen this； there would not have been a creek nor grip
that had not been filled with their dead as they fled back again。
And so it would have been； if only King Agamemnon had dealt fairly
by me。 As it is the Trojans have beset our host。 Diomed son of
Tydeus no longer wields his spear to defend the Danaans； neither
have I heard the voice of the son of Atreus coming from his hated
head； whereas that of murderous Hector rings in my cars as he gives
orders to the Trojans； who triumph over the Achaeans and fill the
whole plain with their cry of battle。 But even so； Patroclus； fall
upon them and save the fleet； lest the Trojans fire it and prevent
us from being able to return。 Do； however； as I now bid you； that
you may win me great honour from all the Danaans； and that they may
restore the girl to me again and give me rich gifts into the
bargain。 When you have driven the Trojans from the ships； come back
again。 Though Juno's thundering husband should put triumph within your
reach； do not fight the Trojans further in my absence； or you will rob
me of glory that should be mine。 And do not for lust of battle go on
killing the Trojans nor lead the Achaeans on to Ilius； lest one of the
ever…living gods from Olympus attack you… for Phoebus Apollo loves
them well： return when you have freed the ships from peril； and let
others wage war upon the plain。 Would； by father Jove； Minerva； and
Apollo； that not a single man of all the Trojans might be left
alive； nor yet of the Argives； but that we two might be alone left
to tear aside the mantle that veils the brow of Troy。〃
Thus did they converse。 But Ajax could no longer hold his ground for
the shower of darts that rained upon him； the will of Jove and the
javelins of the Trojans were too much for him； the helmet that gleamed
about his temples rang with the continuous clatter of the missiles
that kept pouring on to it and on to the cheek…pieces that protected
his face。 Moreover his left shoulder was tired with having held his
shield so long； yet for all this； let fly at him as they would； they
could not make him give ground。 He could hardly draw his breath； the
sweat rained from every pore of his body； he had not a moment's
respite； and on all sides he was beset by danger upon danger。
And now； tell me； O Muses that hold your mansions on Olympus； how
fire was thrown upon the ships of the Achaeans。 Hector came close up
and let drive with his great sword at the ashen spear of Ajax。 He
cut it clean in two just behind where the point was fastened on to the
shaft of the spear。 Ajax； therefore； had now nothing but a headless
spear； while the bronze point flew some way off and came ringing
down on to the ground。 Ajax knew the hand of heaven in this； and was
dismayed at seeing that Jove had now left him utterly defenceless
and was willing victory for the Trojans。 Therefore he drew back； and
the Trojans flung fire upon the ship which was at once wrapped in
flame。
The fire was now flaring about the ship's stern； whereon Achilles
smote his two thighs and said to Patroclus； 〃Up； noble knight； for I
see the glare of hostile fire at our fleet； up； lest they destroy
our ships； and there be no way by which we may retreat。 Gird on your
armour at once while I call our people together。〃
As he spoke Patroclus put on his armour。 First he greaved his legs
with greaves of good make； and fitted with ancle…clasps of silver；
after this he donned the cuirass of the son of Aeacus； richly inlaid
and studded。 He hung his silver…studded sword of bronze about his
shoulders； and then his mighty shield。 On his comely head he set his
helmet； well wrought； with a crest of horse…hair that nodded
menacingly above it。 He grasped two redoubtable spears that suited his
hands； but he did not take the spear of noble Achilles； so stout and
strong； for none other of the Achaeans could wield it； though Achilles
could do so easily。 This was the ashen spear from Mount Pelion；
which Chiron had cut upon a mountain top and had given to Peleus；
wherewith to deal out death among heroes。 He bade Automedon yoke his
horses with all speed； for he was the man whom he held in honour
next after Achilles； and on whose support in battle he could rely most
firmly。 Automedon therefore yoked the fleet horses Xanthus and Balius；
steeds that could fly like the wind： these were they whom the harpy
Podarge bore to the west wind； as she was grazing in a meadow by the
waters of the river Oceanus。 In the side traces he set the noble horse
Pedasus； whom Achilles had brought away with him when he sacked the
city of Eetion； and who； mortal steed though he was； could take his
place along with those that were immortal。
Meanwhile Achilles went about everywhere among the tents； and bade
his Myrmidons put on their armour。 Even as fierce ravening wolves that
are feasting upon a homed stag which they have killed upon the
mountains； and their jaws are red with blood… they go in a pack to lap
water from the clear spring with their long thin tongues； and they
reek of blood and slaughter； they know not what fear is； for it is
hunger drives them… even so did the leaders and counsellors of the
Myrmidons gather round the good squire of the fleet descendant of
Aeacus； and among them stood Achilles himself cheering on both men and
horses。
Fifty ships had noble Achilles brought to Troy； and in each there
was a crew of fifty oarsmen。 Over these he set five captains whom he
could trust； while he was himself commander over them all。
Menesthius of the gleaming corslet； son to the river Spercheius that
streams from heaven； was captain of the first company。 Fair Polydora
daughter of Peleus bore him to ever…flowing Spercheius… a woman
mated with a god… but he was called son of Borus son of Perieres； with
whom his mother was living as his wedded wife； and who gave great
wealth to gain her。 The second company was led by noble Eudorus； son
to an unwedded woman。 Polymele； daughter of Phylas the graceful
dancer； bore him； the mighty slayer of Argos was enamoured of her as
he saw her among the singing women at a dance held in honour of
Diana the rushing huntress of the golden arrows； he therefore…
Mercury； giver of all good… went with h