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 her into an upper chamber； and
lay with her in secret； whereon she bore him a noble son Eudorus；
singularly fleet of foot and in fight valiant。 When Ilithuia goddess
of the pains of child…birth brought him to the light of day； and he
saw the face of the sun； mighty Echecles son of Actor took the
mother to wife； and gave great wealth to gain her； but her father
Phylas brought the child up； and took care of him； doting as fondly
upon him as though he were his own son。 The third company was led by
Pisander son of Maemalus； the finest spearman among all the
Myrmidons next to Achilles' own comrade Patroclus。 The old knight
Phoenix was captain of the fourth company； and Alcimedon； noble son of
Laerceus of the fifth。
When Achilles had chosen his men and had stationed them all with
their captains； he charged them straitly saying； 〃Myrmidons；
remember your threats against the Trojans while you were at the
ships in the time of my anger； and you were all complaining of me。
'Cruel son of Peleus；' you would say； 'your mother must have suckled
you on gall； so ruthless are you。 You keep us here at the ships
against our will； if you are so relentless it were better we went home
over the sea。' Often have you gathered and thus chided with me。 The
hour is now come for those high feats of arms that you have so long
been pining for； therefore keep high hearts each one of you to do
battle with the Trojans。〃
With these words he put heart and soul into them all； and they
serried their companies yet more closely when they heard the of
their king。 As the stones which a builder sets in the wall of some
high house which is to give shelter from the winds… even so closely
were the helmets and bossed shields set against one another。 Shield
pressed on shield； helm on helm； and man on man； so close were they
that the horse…hair plumes on the gleaming ridges of their helmets
touched each other as they bent their heads。
In front of them all two men put on their armour… Patroclus and
Automedon… two men； with but one mind to lead the Myrmidons。 Then
Achilles went inside his tent and opened the lid of the strong chest
which silver…footed Thetis had given him to take on board ship； and
which she had filled with shirts； cloaks to keep out the cold； and
good thick rugs。 In this chest he had a cup of rare workmanship；
from which no man but himself might drink； nor would he make
offering from it to any other god save only to father Jove。 He took
the cup from the chest and cleansed it with sulphur； this done he
rinsed it clean water； and after he had washed his hands he drew wine。
Then he stood in the middle of the court and prayed； looking towards
heaven； and making his drink…offering of wine； nor was he unseen of
Jove whose joy is in thunder。 〃King Jove；〃 he cried； 〃lord of
Dodona； god of the Pelasgi； who dwellest afar； you who hold wintry
Dodona in your sway； where your prophets the Selli dwell around you
with their feet unwashed and their couches made upon the ground… if
you heard me when I prayed to you aforetime； and did me honour while
you sent disaster on the Achaeans； vouchsafe me now the fulfilment
of yet this further prayer。 I shall stay here where my ships are
lying； but I shall send my comrade into battle at the head of many
Myrmidons。 Grant； O all…seeing Jove； that victory may go with him； put
your courage into his heart that Hector may learn whether my squire is
man enough to fight alone； or whether his might is only then so
indomitable when I myself enter the turmoil of war。 Afterwards when he
has chased the fight and the cry of battle from the ships； grant
that he may return unharmed； with his armour and his comrades；
fighters in close combat。〃
Thus did he pray； and all…counselling Jove heard his prayer。 Part of
it he did indeed vouchsafe him… but not the whole。 He granted that
Patroclus should thrust back war and battle from the ships； but
refused to let him come safely out of the fight。
When he had made his drink…offering and had thus prayed； Achilles
went inside his tent and put back the cup into his chest。
Then he again came out； for he still loved to look upon the fierce
fight that raged between the Trojans and Achaeans。
Meanwhile the armed band that was about Patroclus marched on till
they sprang high in hope upon the Trojans。 They came swarming out like
wasps whose nests are by the roadside； and whom silly children love to
tease； whereon any one who happens to be passing may get stung… or
again； if a wayfarer going along the road vexes them by accident；
every wasp will come flying out in a fury to defend his little ones…
even with such rage and courage did the Myrmidons swarm from their
ships； and their cry of battle rose heavenwards。 Patroclus called
out to his men at the top of his voice； 〃Myrmidons； followers of
Achilles son of Peleus； be men my friends； fight with might and with
main； that we may win glory for the son of Peleus； who is far the
foremost man at the ships of the Argives… he； and his close fighting
followers。 The son of Atreus King Agamemnon will thus learn his
folly in showing no respect to the bravest of the Achaeans。〃
With these words he put heart and soul into them all； and they
fell in a body upon the Trojans。 The ships rang again with the cry
which the Achaeans raised； and when the Trojans saw the brave son of
Menoetius and his squire all gleaming in their armour； they were
daunted and their battalions were thrown into confusion； for they
thought the fleet son of Peleus must now have put aside his anger； and
have been reconciled to Agamemnon； every one； therefore； looked
round about to see whither he might fly for safety。
Patroclus first aimed a spear into the middle of the press where men
were packed most closely； by the stern of the ship of Protesilaus。
He hit Pyraechmes who had led his Paeonian horsemen from the Amydon
and the broad waters of the river Axius； the spear struck him on the
right shoulder； and with a groan he fell backwards in the dust； on
this his men were thrown into confusion； for by killing their
leader； who was the finest soldier among them； Patroclus struck
panic into them all。 He thus drove them from the ship and quenched the
fire that was then blazing… leaving the half…burnt ship to lie where
it was。 The Trojans were now driven back with a shout that rent the
skies； while the Danaans poured after them from their ships；
shouting also without ceasing。 As when Jove； gatherer of the
thunder…cloud； spreads a dense canopy on the top of some lofty
mountain； and all the peaks； the jutting headlands； and forest
glades show out in the great light that flashes from the bursting
heavens； even so when the Danaans had now driven back the fire from
their ships； they took breath for a little while； but the fury of
the fight was not yet over； for the Trojans were not driven back in
utter rout； but still gave battle； and were ousted from their ground
only by sheer fighting。
The fight then became more scattered； and the chieftains killed
one another when and how they could。 The valiant son of Menoe