Such contest for that gallant bark they waged. Meantime Patroclus, standing at the side Of the illustrious Chief Achilles, wept Fast as a crystal fountain from the height Of some rude rock pours down its rapid[1] stream.5 Divine Achilles with compassion moved Mark’d him, and in wing’d accents thus began.[2] Who weeps Patroclus like an infant girl Who, running at her mother’s side, entreats To be uplifted in her arms? She grasps10 Her mantle, checks her haste, and looking up With tearful eyes, pleads earnest to be borne; So fall, Patroclus! thy unceasing tears. Bring’st thou to me or to my people aught Afflictive? Hast thou mournful tidings learn’d15 Prom Phthia, trusted to thy ear alone? Menœtius, son of Actor, as they say, Still lives; still lives his Myrmidons among Peleus Æacides; whom, were they dead, With cause sufficient we should both deplore.20 Or weep’st thou the Achaians at the ships Perishing, for their outrage done to me? Speak. Name thy trouble. I would learn the cause To whom, deep-sorrowing, thou didst reply, Patroclus! Oh Achilles, Peleus’ son!25 Noblest of all our host! bear with my grief, Since such distress hath on the Grecians fallen. The bravest of their ships disabled lie, Some wounded from afar, some hand to hand. Diomede, warlike son of Tydeus, bleeds,30 Gall’d by a shaft; Ulysses, glorious Chief, And Agamemnon suffer by the spear, And brave Eurypylus an arrow-point Bears in his thigh. These all, are now the care Of healing hands. Oh thou art pity-proof,35 Achilles! be my bosom ever free From anger such as harbor finds in thine, Scorning all limits! whom, of men unborn, Hereafter wilt thou save, from whom avert Disgrace, if not from the Achaians now?40 Ah ruthless! neither Peleus thee begat, Nor Thetis bore, but rugged rocks sublime, And roaring billows blue gave birth to thee, Who bear’st a mind that knows not to relent, But, if some prophecy alarm thy fears,45 If from thy Goddess-mother thou have aught Received, and with authority of Jove, Me send at least, me quickly, and with me The Myrmidons. A dawn of cheerful hope Shall thence, it may be, on the Greeks arise.50 Grant me thine armor also, that the foe Thyself supposing present, may abstain From battle, and the weary Greeks enjoy Short respite; it is all that war allows. We, fresh and vigorous, by our shouts alone55 May easily repulse an army spent With labor from the camp, and from the fleet, Such suit he made, alas! all unforewarn’d That his own death should be the bitter fruit, And thus Achilles, sorrowful, replied.60 Patroclus, noble friend! what hast thou spoken? Me neither prophesy that I have heard Holds in suspense, nor aught that I have learn’d From Thetis with authority of Jove! Hence springs, and hence alone, my grief of heart;65 If one, in nought superior to myself Save in his office only, should by force Amerce me of my well-earn’d recompense— How then? There lies the grief that stings my soul. The virgin chosen for me by the sons70