Around him, fearless in their broods’ defence,
  So issued from their fleet the Myrmidons 320
  Undaunted; clamor infinite arose,
  And thus Patroclus loud his host address’d. 
    Oh Myrmidons, attendants in the field
  On Peleus’ son, now be ye men, my friends! 
  Call now to mind the fury of your might; 325
  That we, close-fighting servants of the Chief
  Most excellent in all the camp of Greece,
  May glory gain for him, and that the wide-
  Commanding Agamemnon, Atreus’ son,
  May learn his fault, that he dishonor’d foul 330
  The prince in whom Achaia glories most. 
    So saying he fired their hearts, and on the van
  Of Troy at once they fell; loud shouted all
  The joyful Grecians, and the navy rang. 
  Then, soon as Ilium’s host the valiant son 335
  Saw of Menoetius and his charioteer
  In dazzling armor clad, all courage lost,
  Their closest ranks gave way, believing sure
  That, wrath renounced, and terms of friendship chosen,
  Achilles’ self was there; thus thinking, each 340
  Look’d every way for refuge from his fate. 
    Patroclus first, where thickest throng he saw
  Gather’d tumultuous around the bark
  Of brave Protesilaues, hurl’d direct
  At the whole multitude his glittering spear. 345
  He smote Pyraechmes; he his horsemen band
  Poeonian led from Amydon, and from
  Broad-flowing Axius.  In his shoulder stood
  The spear, and with loud groans supine he fell. 
  At once fled all his followers, on all sides 350
  With consternation fill’d, seeing their Chief
  And their best warrior, by Patroclus slain. 
  Forth from the fleet he drove them, quench’d the flames,
  And rescued half the ship.  Then scatter’d fled
  With infinite uproar the host of Troy, 355
  While from between their ships the Danai
  Pour’d after them, and hideous rout ensued. 
  As when the king of lightnings, Jove, dispels
  From some huge eminence a gloomy cloud,
  The groves, the mountain-tops, the headland heights 360
  Shine all, illumined from the boundless heaven,
  So when the Danai those hostile fires
  Had from their fleet expell’d, awhile they breathed,
  Yet found short respite, for the battle yet
  Ceased not, nor fled the Trojans in all parts 365
  Alike, but still resisted, from the ships
  Retiring through necessity alone. 
  Then, in that scatter’d warfare, every Chief
  Slew one.  While Areilochus his back
  Turn’d on Patroclus, sudden with a lance 370
  His thigh he pierced, and urged the weapon through,
  Shivering the bone; he headlong smote the ground. 
  The hero Menelaus, where he saw
  The breast of Thoas by his slanting shield