Transpierced his spine,[12] and started forth beyond. It wrench’d his teeth, and fill’d his eyes with blood; Blood also blowing through his open mouth420 And nostrils, to the realms of death he pass’d. Thus slew these Grecian leaders, each, a foe. Sudden as hungry wolves the kids purloin Or lambs, which haply some unheeding swain Hath left to roam at large the mountains wild;425 They, seeing, snatch them from beside the dams, And rend incontinent the feeble prey, So swift the Danaï the host assail’d Of Ilium; they, into tumultuous flight Together driven, all hope, all courage lost.430 Huge Ajax ceaseless sought his spear to cast At Hector brazen-mail’d, who, not untaught The warrior’s art, with bull-hide buckler stood Sheltering his ample shoulders, while he mark’d The hiss of flying shafts and crash of spears.435 Full sure he saw the shifting course of war Now turn’d, but scorning flight, bent all his thoughts To rescue yet the remnant of his friends. As when the Thunderer spreads a sable storm O’er ether, late serene, the cloud that wrapp’d440 Olympus’ head escapes into the skies, So fled the Trojans from the fleet of Greece Clamoring in their flight, nor pass’d the trench In fair array; the coursers fleet indeed Of Hector, him bore safe with all his arms445 Right through, but in the foss entangled foul He left his host, and struggling to escape. Then many a chariot-whirling steed, the pole Broken at its extremity, forsook His driver, while Patroclus with the shout450 Of battle calling his Achaians on, Destruction purposed to the powers of Troy. They, once dispersed, with clamor and with flight Fill’d all the ways, the dust beneath the clouds Hung like a tempest, and the steeds firm-hoof’d455 Whirl’d off at stretch the chariots to the town. He, wheresoe’er most troubled he perceived The routed host, loud-threatening thither drove, While under his own axle many a Chief Fell prone, and the o’ertumbled chariots rang.460 Right o’er the hollow foss the coursers leap’d Immortal, by the Gods to Peleus given, Impatient for the plain, nor less desire Felt he who drove to smite the Trojan Chief, But him his fiery steeds caught swift away.465 As when a tempest from autumnal skies Floats all the fields, what time Jove heaviest pours Impetuous rain, token of wrath divine Against perverters of the laws by force, Who drive forth justice, reckless of the Gods;470 The rivers and the torrents, where they dwell, Sweep many a green declivity away, And plunge at length, groaning, into the Deep From the hills headlong, leaving where they pass’d No traces of the pleasant works of man,475 So, in their flight, loud groan’d the steeds of Troy. And now, their foremost intercepted all, Patroclus back again toward the fleet Drove them precipitate, nor the ascent Permitted them to Troy for which they strove,480 But in the midway space between the ships The river and the lofty Trojan wall Pursued them ardent, slaughtering whom he reached,