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fearful fight is now raging by the ships。 Men are killing one another；
the Danaans in defence of the dead body； while the Trojans are
trying to hale it away； and take it to wind Ilius： Hector is the
most furious of them all； he is for cutting the head from the body and
fixing it on the stakes of the wall。 Up； then； and bide here no
longer； shrink from the thought that Patroclus may become meat for the
dogs of Troy。 Shame on you； should his body suffer any kind of
outrage。〃
And Achilles said； 〃Iris； which of the gods was it that sent you
to me？〃
Iris answered； 〃It was Juno the royal spouse of Jove； but the son of
Saturn does not know of my coming； nor yet does any other of the
immortals who dwell on the snowy summits of Olympus。〃
Then fleet Achilles answered her saying； 〃How can I go up into the
battle？ They have my armour。 My mother forbade me to arm till I should
see her come； for she promised to bring me goodly armour from
Vulcan； I know no man whose arms I can put on； save only the shield of
Ajax son of Telamon； and he surely must be fighting in the front
rank and wielding his spear about the body of dead Patroclus。〃
Iris said； 'We know that your armour has been taken； but go as you
are； go to the deep trench and show yourelf before the Trojans； that
they may fear you and cease fighting。 Thus will the fainting sons of
the Achaeans gain some brief breathing…time； which in battle may
hardly be。〃
Iris left him when she had so spoken。 But Achilles dear to Jove
arose； and Minerva flung her tasselled aegis round his strong
shoulders； she crowned his head with a halo of golden cloud from which
she kindled a glow of gleaming fire。 As the smoke that goes up into
heaven from some city that is being beleaguered on an island far out
at sea… all day long do men sally from the city and fight their
hardest； and at the going down of the sun the line of beacon…fires
blazes forth； flaring high for those that dwell near them to behold；
if so be that they may come with their ships and succour them… even so
did the light flare from the head of Achilles； as he stood by the
trench； going beyond the wall… but he aid not join the Achaeans for he
heeded the charge which his mother laid upon him。
There did he stand and shout aloud。 Minerva also raised her voice
from afar； and spread terror unspeakable among the Trojans。 Ringing as
the note of a trumpet that sounds alarm then the foe is at the gates
of a city； even so brazen was the voice of the son of Aeacus； and when
the Trojans heard its clarion tones they were dismayed； the horses
turned back with their chariots for they boded mischief； and their
drivers were awe…struck by the steady flame which the grey…eyed
goddess had kindled above the head of the great son of Peleus。
Thrice did Achilles raise his loud cry as he stood by the trench；
and thrice were the Trojans and their brave allies thrown into
confusion； whereon twelve of their noblest champions fell beneath
the wheels of their chariots and perished by their own spears。 The
Achaeans to their great joy then drew Patroclus out of reach of the
weapons； and laid him on a litter： his comrades stood mourning round
him； and among them fleet Achilles who wept bitterly as he saw his
true comrade lying dead upon his bier。 He had sent him out with horses
and chariots into battle； but his return he was not to welcome。
Then Juno sent the busy sun； loth though he was； into the waters
of Oceanus； so he set； and the Achaeans had rest from the tug and
turmoil of war。
Now the Trojans when they had come out of the fight； unyoked their
horses and gathered in assembly before preparing their supper。 They
kept their feet； nor would any dare to sit down； for fear had fallen
upon them all because Achilles had shown himself after having held
aloof so long from battle。 Polydamas son of Panthous was first to
speak； a man of judgement； who alone among them could look both before
and after。 He was comrade to Hector； and they had been born upon the
same night； with all sincerity and goodwill； therefore； he addressed
them thus：…
〃Look to it well； my friends； I would urge you to go back now to
your city and not wait here by the ships till morning； for we are
far from our walls。 So long as this man was at enmity with Agamemnon
the Achaeans were easier to deal with； and I would have gladly
camped by the ships in the hope of taking them； but now I go in
great fear of the fleet son of Peleus； he is so daring that he will
never bide here on the plain whereon the Trojans and Achaeans fight
with equal valour； but he will try to storm our city and carry off our
women。 Do then as I say； and let us retreat。 For this is what will
happen。 The darkness of night will for a time stay the son of
Peleus； but if he find us here in the morning when he sallies forth in
full armour； we shall have knowledge of him in good earnest。 Glad
indeed will he be who can escape and get back to Ilius； and many a
Trojan will become meat for dogs and vultures may I never live to hear
it。 If we do as I say； little though we may like it； we shall have
strength in counsel during the night； and the great gates with the
doors that close them will protect the city。 At dawn we can arm and
take our stand on the walls； he will then rue it if he sallies from
the ships to fight us。 He will go back when he has given his horses
their fill of being driven all whithers under our walls； and will be
in no mind to try and force his way into the city。 Neither will he
ever sack it； dogs shall devour him ere he do so。〃
Hector looked fiercely at him and answered； 〃Polydamas； your words
are not to my liking in that you bid us go back and be pent within the
city。 Have you not had enough of being cooped up behind walls？ In
the old…days the city of Priam was famous the whole world over for its
wealth of gold and bronze； but our treasures are wasted out of our
houses； and much goods have been sold away to Phrygia and fair Meonia；
for the hand of Jove has been laid heavily upon us。 Now； therefore；
that the son of scheming Saturn has vouchsafed me to win glory here
and to hem the Achaeans in at their ships； prate no more in this
fool's wise among the people。 You will have no man with you； it
shall not be； do all of you as I now say；… take your suppers in your
companies throughout the host； and keep your watches and be wakeful
every man of you。 If any Trojan is uneasy about his possessions； let
him gather them and give them out among the people。 Better let
these； rather than the Achaeans； have them。 At daybreak we will arm
and fight about the ships； granted that Achilles has again come
forward to defend them； let it be as he will； but it shall go hard
with him。 I shall not shun him； but will fight him； to fall or
conquer。 The god of war deals out like measure to all； and the
slayer may yet be slain。〃
Thus spoke Hector； and the Trojans； fools that they were； shouted in
applause； for Pallas Minerva had robbed them of their understanding。
They gave ear to Hector with his evil counsel； but the wise words of
Polydamas no man would heed。 They took their supper throughout the
host； and meanwhile through the whole nigh