Meantime, whose armor else might serve my need I know not, save perhaps alone the shield Of Telamonian Ajax, whom I deem Himself now busied in the stormy van, Slaying the Trojans in my friend’s defence.240 To whom the swift-wing’d messenger of heaven, Full well we know thine armor Hector’s prize Yet, issuing to the margin of the foss, Show thyself only. Panic-seized, perchance, The Trojans shall from fight desist, and yield245 To the o’ertoil’d though dauntless sons of Greece Short respite; it is all that war allows. So saying, the storm-wing’d Iris disappear’d. Then rose at once Achilles dear to Jove, Athwart whose shoulders broad Minerva cast250 Her Ægis fringed terrific, and his brows Encircled with a golden cloud that shot Fires insupportable to sight abroad. As when some island, situate afar On the wide waves, invested all the day255 By cruel foes from their own city pour’d, Upsends a smoke to heaven, and torches shows On all her turrets at the close of eve Which flash against the clouds, kindled in hope Of aid from neighbor maritime allies,260 So from Achilles’ head light flash’d to heaven. Issuing through the wall, beside the foss He stood, but mix’d not with Achaia’s host, Obedient to his mother’s wise command. He stood and shouted; Pallas also raised265 A dreadful shout and tumult infinite Excited throughout all the host of Troy. Clear as the trumpet’s note when it proclaims A numerous host approaching to invest Some city close around, so clear the voice270 Rang of Æacides, and tumult-toss’d Was every soul that heard the brazen tone. With swift recoil the long-maned coursers thrust The chariots back, all boding wo at hand, And every charioteer astonish’d saw275 Fires that fail’d not, illumining the brows Of Peleus’ son, by Pallas kindled there. Thrice o’er the trench Achilles sent his voice Sonorous, and confusion at the sound Thrice seized the Trojans, and their famed allies.280 Twelve in that moment of their noblest died By their own spears and chariots, and with joy The Grecians from beneath a hill of darts Dragging Patroclus, placed him on his bier. Around him throng’d his fellow-warriors bold,285 All weeping, after whom Achilles went Fast-weeping also at the doleful sight Of his true friend on his funereal bed Extended, gash’d with many a mortal wound, Whom he had sent into the fight with steeds290 And chariot, but received him thence no more. And now majestic Juno sent the sun, Unwearied minister of light, although Reluctant, down into the Ocean stream.[5] So the sun sank, and the Achaians ceased295 From the all-wasting labors of the war. On the other side, the Trojans, from the fight Retiring, loosed their steeds, but ere they took Thought of refreshment, in full council met. It was a council at which no man sat,300 Or dared; all stood; such terror had on all Fallen, for that Achilles had appear’d, After long pause from battle’s arduous toil. First rose Polydamas the prudent son Of Panthus, above all the Trojans skill’d305