His words fresh courage rous’d in ev’ry breast, And more compact, beneath their monarch’s eye, Their ranks were form’d; as when the builder lays The closely-fitting stones, to form the wall Of some great house, and brave the winds of Heav’n; So close were fitted helm and bossy shield; Buckler on buckler press’d, and helm on helm, And man on man; the horsehair plumes above, That nodded, fearful, from the warriors’ brows, Each other touch’d; so closely mass’d they stood. Before them all stood prominent in arms Two chiefs, Patroclus and Automedon, Both with one thought possess’d, to lead the fight In the fore-front of all the Myrmidons. Achilles then within his tent withdrew, And of a gorgeous coffer rais’d the lid, Well-wrought, by silver-footed Thetis plac’d On board his ship, and fill’d with rich attire, With store of wind-proof cloaks, and carpets soft. There lay a goblet, richly chas’d, whence none, But he alone, might drink the ruddy wine, Nor might libations thence to other Gods Be made, save only Jove: this brought he forth, And first with sulphur purified, and next Wash’d with pure water; then his hands he wash’d, And drew the ruddy wine; then standing forth Made in the centre of the court his pray’r, And as he pour’d the wine, look’d up to Heav’n, Not unbeheld of Jove, the lightning’s Lord: “Great King, Dodona’s Lord, Pelasgian Jove, Who dwell’st on high, and rul’st with sov’reign sway Dodona’s wintry heights; where dwell around Thy Sellian priests, men of unwashen feet, That on the bare ground sleep; thou once before Hast heard my pray’r, and me with honour crown’d, And on the Greeks inflicted all thy plagues; Hear yet again, and this my boon accord. I ’mid the throng of ships myself remain; But with a num’rous force of Myrmidons I send my comrade in my stead to fight: On him, all-seeing Jove, thy favour pour; Strengthen his heart, that Hector’s self may learn If, e’en alone, my follower knows to fight, Or only then resistless pow’r displays, When I myself the toil of battle share. And from our vessels when the foe is driv’n, Grant that with all his arms and comrades true He may in safety to the ships return.”