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When she had so said； they dived forthwith beneath the waves；
while silver…footed Thetis went her way that she might bring the
armour for her son。
Thus； then； did her feet bear the goddess to Olympus； and
meanwhile the Achaeans were flying with loud cries before
murderous Hector till they reached the ships and the Hellespont；
and they could not draw the body of Mars's servant Patroclus out
of reach of the weapons that were showered upon him； for Hector
son of Priam with his host and horsemen had again caught up to
him like the flame of a fiery furnace； thrice did brave Hector
seize him by the feet； striving with might and main to draw him
away and calling loudly on the Trojans； and thrice did the two
Ajaxes； clothed in valour as with a garment； beat him from off
the body； but all undaunted he would now charge into the thick of
the fight； and now again he would stand still and cry aloud； but
he would give no ground。 As upland shepherds that cannot chase
some famished lion from a carcase； even so could not the two
Ajaxes scare Hector son of Priam from the body of Patroclus。
And now he would even have dragged it off and have won
imperishable glory； had not Iris fleet as the wind； winged her
way as messenger from Olympus to the son of Peleus and bidden him
arm。 She came secretly without the knowledge of Jove and of the
other gods； for Juno sent her； and when she had got close to him
she said； 〃Up； son of Peleus； mightiest of all mankind； rescue
Patroclus about whom this 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 windy 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 bee 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 ing； 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 e； 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 yourself 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 seaall 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 e with their
ships and succour themeven 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 rades stood
mourning round him； and among them fleet Achilles who wept
bitterly as he saw his true rade lying dead upon his bier。 He
had sent him out with horses and chariots into battle； but his
return he was not to wele。
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 e 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 rade 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 bee 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。 Ha