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