Automedon, and bear him off. To Troy I still will give The grace of slaughter, till at fleet their bloody feet arrive, Till Phœbus drink the western sea, and sacred Darkness throws Her sable mantle ’twixt their points.” Thus in the steeds he blows Excessive spirit; and through the Greeks and Ilians they rapt The whirring chariot, shaking off the crumbled centre wrapt Amongst their tresses. And with them, Automedon let fly Amongst the Trojans, making way through all as frightfully As through a jangling flock of geese a lordly vulture beats, Giv’n way with shrikes by ev’ry goose, that comes but near his threats; With such state fled he through the press, pursuing as he fled; But made no slaughter; nor he could, alone being carried Upon the sacred chariot. How could he both works do, Direct his jav’lin, and command his fi’ry horses too? At length he came where he beheld his friend Alcimedon, That was the good Laercius’, the son of Æmon’s, son; Who close came to his chariot side, and ask’d: “What God is he That hath so robb’d thee of thy soul, to run thus franticly Amongst these fore fights, being alone; thy fighter being slain, And Hector glorying in his arms?” He gave these words again: “Alcimedon, what man is he, of all the Argive race, So able as thyself to keep, in use of press and pace, These deathless horse; himself being gone, that like the Gods had th’ art Of their high manage? Therefore take to thy command his part, And ease me of the double charge, which thou hast blam’d with right.” He took the scourge and reins in hand, Automedon the fight. Which Hector seeing, instantly, Æneas standing near, He told him, he discern’d the horse, that mere immortal were, Address’d to fight with coward guides, and therefore hop’d to make A rich prise of them, if his mind would help to undertake, For those two could not stand their charge. He granted, and both cast Dry solid hides upon their necks, exceeding soundly brast; And forth they went, associate with two more god-like men, Aretus and bold Chromius; nor made they question then To prise the goodly-crested horse, and safely send to hell The souls of both their guardians. O fools, that could not tell They could not work out their return from fierce Automedon Without the lib’ral cost of blood; who first made orison To father Jove, and then was fill’d with fortitude and strength; When (counselling Alcimedon to keep at no great length The horse from him, but let them breathe upon his back, because He saw th’ advance that Hector made, whose fury had no laws Propos’d to it, but both their lives and those horse made his prise, Or his life theirs) he call’d to friend these well-approv’d supplies, Th’ Ajaces, and the Spartan king, and said, “Come, princes, leave A sure guard with the corse, and then to your kind care receive Our threaten’d safeties. I discern the two chief props of Troy Prepar’d against us. But herein, what best men can enjoy Lies in the free knees of the Gods. My dart shall lead ye all[4]