So habited; his death is also nigh. But thou with yonder warring multitudes Mix not till thou behold me here again; For with the rising sun I will return To-morrow, and will bring thee glorious arms,170 By Vulcan forged himself, the King of fire.[4] She said, and turning from her son aside, The sisterhood of Ocean thus address’d. Plunge ye again into the briny Deep, And to the hoary Sovereign of the floods175 Report as ye have heard. I to the heights Olympian haste, that I may there obtain From Vulcan, glorious artist of the skies, Arms of excelling beauty for my son. She said; they plunged into the waves again,180 And silver-footed Thetis, to the heights Olympian soaring swiftly to obtain Arms for renown’d Achilles, disappear’d. Meantime, with infinite uproar the Greeks From Hector’s hero-slaying arm had fled185 Home to their galleys station’d on the banks Of Hellespont. Nor yet Achaia’s sons Had borne the body of Patroclus clear From flight of darts away, but still again The multitude of warriors and of steeds190 Came on, by Priameian Hector led Rapid as fire. Thrice noble Hector seized His ancles from behind, ardent to drag Patroclus, calling to his host the while; But thrice, the two Ajaces, clothed with might,195 Shock’d and repulsed him reeling. He with force Fill’d indefatigable, through his ranks Issuing, by turns assail’d them, and by turns Stood clamoring, yet not a step retired; But as the hinds deter not from his prey200 A tawny lion by keen hunger urged, So would not both Ajaces, warriors bold, Intimidate and from the body drive Hector; and he had dragg’d him thence and won Immortal glory, but that Iris, sent205 Unseen by Jove and by the powers of heaven, From Juno, to Achilles brought command That he should show himself. Full near she drew, And in wing’d accents thus the Chief address’d. Hero! most terrible of men, arise!210 protect Patroclus, for whose sake the war Stands at the fleet of Greece. Mutual prevails The slaughter, these the dead defending, those Resolute hence to drag him to the gates Of wind-swept Ilium. But beyond them all215 Illustrious Hector, obstinate is bent To win him, purposing to lop his head, And to exhibit it impaled on high. Thou then arise, nor longer on the ground Lie stretch’d inactive; let the thought with shame220 Touch thee, of thy Patroclus made the sport Of Trojan dogs, whose corse, if it return Dishonored home, brings with it thy reproach. To whom Achilles matchless in the race. Iris divine! of all the Gods, who sent thee?225 Then, thus, the swift ambassadress of heaven. By Juno sent I come, consort of Jove. Nor knows Saturnian Jove high-throned, himself, My flight, nor any of the Immortal Powers, Tenants of the Olympian heights snow-crown’d.230 Her answer’d then Pelides, glorious Chief. How shall I seek the fight? they have my arms. My mother charged me also to abstain From battle, till she bring me armor new Which she hath promised me from Vulcan’s hand.235