I
Patroclus had been long detained by Eurypylus, whose wound was severe,
and demanded all his skill. But when the roar of battle drew nearer
and nearer, and he heard the voice of Hector calling for a torch, he
would delay no longer, but sprang up and ran in headlong haste to the
quarters of the Myrmidons. There he found Achilles still sitting
before his tent, and listening to the mingled cries of triumph and
dismay which came from the distant scene of conflict. When Patroclus
saw him, he came and stood by his side, and lifted up his voice, and
wept.
"Why weepest thou, Patroclus," asked Achilles, "like a little maid, who
runs by her mother's side, plucking her by the gown, and looking into
her face with tearful eyes, begging to be carried? What means this
melting mood? Hast thou ill news of thy father, or of mine, or are
these tears for the Greeks, now perishing by their own transgression?"
"Ah! son of Peleus," answered Patroclus, with a pitiful sigh, "take not
my words amiss, but I am sore afflicted for the sake of my countrymen.
Their best and noblest are grievously wounded, and the leeches are busy
about them; and those that remain can no longer make head against the
foe. Can nothing move thee? What avails all thy splendid manhood, if
thou wilt sit idle here, until thine arm is palsied with age? Oh! yet
at last relent, if thou art indeed the son of gentle Thetis, and not
some savage changeling, born of the rocks, and nourished by the sea!
If thou wilt not go to the field thyself, at least let me put on thine
armour, and lead the Myrmidons to aid our friends in their dreadful
strait."
For some time Achilles answered nothing, and it was evident that a sore
struggle was passing in his breast. At last he looked up, and said
with an effort: "Thou hast prevailed, son of Menœtius, though I
vowed that I would never cease from mine anger until the fire had
reached my own ships. When I think of the foul outrage---- But
enough! Down, down, rebellious pride!" He paused, frowning, and
grinding his teeth; for the fierce fit had come on him again. Then,
mastering himself, he continued: "Thou shalt have my armour, and lead
the Myrmidons to battle. But take heed to what I shall say, and let
not thine ardour carry thee too far, but when thou hast driven the
enemy out of the camp lead thy men back, and be not tempted to fight in
the open field, lest thou rob me of mine honour, and leave naught for
me to do. Remember this, and have a care for thyself, for they have a
mighty ally on their side, even Apollo."
While they were thus conversing, Ajax was still keeping up an unequal
struggle against an overpowering force. The Trojans surrounded the
ship on which he was fighting, and plied him with a shower of missiles,
which rattled on his helmet, and threatened every moment to bring him
down. His left shoulder ached with holding his shield, which was
thrust back upon him by a dozen spears at once. Yet still he fought
on, with his breath coming in heavy gasps, and the sweat pouring from
every limb. Then Hector aimed a blow with his sword, and cut off the
head of the pike which Ajax was wielding. Thus left without a weapon,
Ajax was compelled at last to retreat, and the Trojans rushed forward,
and set fire to the ship.
Achilles saw the smoke rising, and cried: "Arm thee, Patroclus. Make
haste! I will go and call up the Myrmidons." Patroclus hurried to the
tent, and put on the armour of Achilles--the greaves and starry
corslet, the helmet and vast orbed shield--and girded on his great
comrade's sword. Only the spear of Achilles he took not, for no arm in
all the host, save only the arm of Achilles, could wield that ponderous
beam of ash, toughened by many a storm on the windy slopes of Pelion,
where it grew.
Meanwhile Automedon, Achilles' charioteer, was yoking to the car the
two immortal steeds--Xanthus and Balius--offspring of the West Wind,
and nourished on the meadows by the shores of Oceanus. And with them
went as a trace horse the mortal courser, Pedasus, which Achilles had
taken among the spoils when he sacked the city of Eëtion.
When the Myrmidons heard their leader's voice calling them to arms,
they rushed forth from their tents, like thirsty wolves which have
gorged themselves with the flesh of a tall stag, and now hasten, with
bloodstained chaps and lolling tongues, to slake their thirst in a deep
mountain pool. With like eagerness arose the hardy veterans, whose
warlike spirit had been fed high by their long repose; and proud was
the glance of Achilles, as he glanced down the armed files, marshalled
under five famous captains, five times five hundred men. When all were
standing silent at their posts he addressed them briefly, and said:
"Now is the time to make good the threats which ye uttered against the
Trojans, during all the long time of my wrath. Remember how ye
murmured against me because I suffered you not to go unto battle.
'Hard-hearted son of Peleus,' ye would say, 'surely thy mother
nourished thee with gall, and therefore art thou so ruthless to thy
loving comrades, keeping them here in inglorious ease.' See that your
deeds are as valiant as your words, and let the Trojans feel the weight
of your arm this day."
Firm and close as blocks of stone, fitted together by a master-builder
to be the wall of some great house, so stood the warriors in that
invincible column, shield leaning on shield, and man on man; and in the
van were seen the tall figures of Patroclus and Automedon, two leaders
with one heart. Then Achilles went to his tent, and brought forth a
golden goblet, a gift from his mother, and sacred to the service of
Zeus. Having purified it with sulphur, and washed it with fresh water,
he cleansed his own hands, and filling the bowl with wine returned to
the open space before the tent. Then lifting up his eyes to heaven he
poured the drink-offering, and prayed thus to the king and lord of
Olympus: "O thou, whose ancient dwelling is in wintry Dodona, where thy
chosen priests serve thee day and night with fasting and prayer, as
thou hast lent thine ear to my former petition, and grievously
afflicted the Greeks for my sake, so grant me once more my heart's
desire. Let thine eyes rest with favour on my noble comrade, and give
him honour in the battle. And when he hath driven the Trojans from the
camp bring him back safe, with his armour, and all this company, to our
tents."
So prayed he in his ignorance, having yet to learn that Zeus is a
jealous god, dispensing his gifts with unequal hand, two evil for one
good.