Achilles saw them, smote his thighs, and said, 150
    Patroclus, noble charioteer, arise! 
  I see the rapid run of hostile fires
  Already in the fleet—­lest all be lost,
  And our return impossible, arm, arm
  This moment; I will call, myself, the band. 155
    Then put Patroclus on his radiant arms. 
  Around his legs his polish’d greaves he clasp’d,
  With argent studs secured; the hauberk rich
  Star-spangled to his breast he bound of swift
  AEacides; he slung his brazen sword 160
  With silver bright emboss’d, and his broad shield
  Ponderous; on his noble head his casque
  He settled elegant, whose lofty crest
  Waved dreadful o’er his brows, and last he seized
  Well fitted to his gripe two sturdy spears. 165
  Of all Achilles’ arms his spear alone
  He took not; that huge beam, of bulk and length
  Enormous, none, AEacides except,
  In all Achaia’s host had power to wield. 
  It was that Pelian ash which from the top 170
  Of Pelion hewn that it might prove the death
  Of heroes, Chiron had to Peleus given. 
  He bade Automedon his coursers bind
  Speedily to the yoke, for him he loved
  Next to Achilles most, as worthiest found 175
  Of trust, what time the battle loudest roar’d. 
  Then led Automedon the fiery steeds
  Swift as wing’d tempests to the chariot-yoke,
  Xanthus and Balius.  Them the harpy bore
  Podarge, while in meadows green she fed 180
  On Ocean’s side, to Zephyrus the wind. 
  To these he added, at their side, a third,
  The noble Pedasus; him Peleus’ son,
  Eetion’s city taken, thence had brought,
  Though mortal, yet a match for steeds divine. 185
  Meantime from every tent Achilles call’d
  And arm’d his Myrmidons.  As wolves that gorge
  The prey yet panting, terrible in force,
  When on the mountains wild they have devour’d
  An antler’d stag new-slain, with bloody jaws 190
  Troop all at once to some clear fountain, there
  To lap with slender tongues the brimming wave;
  No fears have they, but at their ease eject
  From full maws flatulent the clotted gore;
  Such seem’d the Myrmidon heroic Chiefs 195
  Assembling fast around the valiant friend
  Of swift AEacides.  Amid them stood
  Warlike Achilles, the well-shielded ranks
  Exhorting, and the steeds, to glorious war. 
    The galleys by Achilles dear to Jove 200
  Commanded, when to Ilium’s coast he steer’d,
  Were fifty; fifty rowers sat in each,
  And five, in whom he trusted, o’er the rest
  He captains named, but ruled, himself, supreme. 
  One band Menestheus swift in battle led, 205