o Achilles,
who said,--

"Rouse thee, son of Peleus, or Patroclus will be a prey for the dogs of
Troy."

But Achilles said, "How shall I go?--for arms have I none, nor know I
whose I might wear. Haply I could shift with the shield of Ajax, son of
Telamon, but he, I know, is carrying it in the front of the battle."

Then answered Iris, "Go only to the trench and show thyself; so shall the
men of Troy tremble and cease from the battle, and the Greeks shall have
breathing-space."

So he went, and Athene put her aegis about his mighty shoulders, and a
golden halo about his head, making it shine as a flame of fire, even as
the watch-fires shine at night from some city that is beseiged. Then went
he to the trench; with the battle he mingled not, heeding his mother's
commands, but he shouted aloud, and his voice was as the sound of a
trumpet. And when the men of Troy heard, they were stricken with fear, and
the horses backed with the chariots, and the drivers were astonished when
they saw the flaming fire above his head which Athene had kindled. Thrice
across the trench the great Achilles shouted, and thrice the men of Troy
fell back. And that hour there perished twelve chiefs of fame, wounded by
their own spears or trampled by their own steeds, so great was the terror
among the men of Troy.

Right gladly did the Greeks take Patroclus out of the press. Then they
laid him on a bier, and carried him to the tent, Achilles walking with
many tears by his side.

But on the other side the men of Troy held an assembly. Standing they held
it, for none dared to sit, lest Achilles should be upon them.

Then spake Polydamas: "Let us not wait here for the morning. It was well
for us to fight at the ships while Achilles yet kept his wrath against
Agamemnon. But now it is not so, for to-morrow he will come against us in
his anger, and many will fall before him. Wherefore, let us go back to the
city, for high are the walls and strong the gates, and he will perish
before he pass them."

Then said Hector, "This is ill counsel, Polydamas. Shall we shut ourselves
up in the city, where all our goods are wasted already, buying meat for
the people? Nay, let us watch to-night, and to-morrow will we fight with
the Greeks. And if Achilles be indeed come forth from his tent, be it so.
I will not shun to meet him, for Mars gives the victory now to one man and
now to another."

So he spake, and all the people applauded, not knowing what the mor