And thus the Telamonian Chief began. 760
    Ah! who can be so blind as not to see
  The eternal Father, now, with his own hand
  Awarding glory to the Trojan host,
  Whose every spear flies, instant, to the mark
  Sent forth by brave or base?  Jove guides them all, 765
  While, ineffectual, ours fall to the ground. 
  But haste, devise we of ourselves the means
  How likeliest we may bear Patroclus hence,
  And gladden, safe returning, all our friends,
  Who, hither looking anxious, hope have none 770
  That we shall longer check the unconquer’d force
  Of hero-slaughtering Hector, but expect
  [12]To see him soon amid the fleet of Greece. 
  Oh for some Grecian now to carry swift
  The tidings to Achilles’ ear, untaught, 775
  As I conjecture, yet the doleful news
  Of his Patroclus slain! but no such Greek
  May I discern, such universal gloom
  Both men and steeds envelops all around. 
  Father of heaven and earth! deliver thou 780
  Achaia’s host from darkness; clear the skies;
  Give day; and (since thy sovereign will is such)
  Destruction with it—­but oh give us day![13]
    He spake, whose tears Jove saw with pity moved,
  And chased the untimely shades; bright beam’d the sun 785
  And the whole battle was display’d.  Then spake
  The hero thus to Atreus’ mighty son. 
    Now noble Menelaus! looking forth,
  See if Antilochus be yet alive,
  Brave son of Nestor, whom exhort to fly 790
  With tidings to Achilles, of the friend
  Whom most he loved, of his Patroclus slain. 
    He ceased, nor Menelaus, dauntless Chief,
  That task refused, but went; yet neither swift
  Nor willing.  As a lion leaves the stalls 795
  Wearied himself with harassing the guard,
  Who, interdicting him his purposed prey,
  Watch all the night; he famish’d, yet again
  Comes furious on, but speeds not, kept aloof
  By spears from daring hands dismissed, but more 800
  By flash of torches which, though fierce, he dreads,
  Till at the dawn, sullen he stalks away;
  So from Patroclus Menelaus went
  Heroic Chief! reluctant; for he fear’d
  Lest the Achaians should resign the dead, 805
  Through consternation, to the host of Troy. 
  Departing, therefore, he admonish’d oft
  Meriones and the Ajaces, thus. 
    Ye two brave leaders of the Argive host,
  And thou, Meriones! now recollect 810
  The gentle manners of Patroclus fallen
  Hapless in battle, who by carriage mild
  Well understood, while yet he lived, to engage
  All hearts, through prisoner now of death and fate. 
    So saying, the hero amber-hair’d his steps 815