They fought still like the rage of fire. And now Antilochus Came to Æacides, whose mind was much solicitous For that which, as he fear’d, was fall’n. He found him near the fleet With upright sail-yards, utt’ring this to his heroic conceit: “Ah me! Why see the Greeks themselves thus beaten from the field, And routed headlong to their fleet? O let not heaven yield Effect to what my sad soul fears, that, as I was foretold, The strongest Myrmidon next me, when I should still behold The sun’s fair light, must part with it. Past doubt Menœtius’ son Is he on whom that fate is wrought. O wretch, to leave undone What I commanded; that, the fleet once freed of hostile fire, Not meeting Hector, instantly he should his pow’rs retire.” As thus his troubled mind discours’d, Antilochus appear’d, And told with tears the sad news thus: “My lord, that must be heard Which would to heav’n I might not tell! Menœtius’ son lies dead, And for his naked corse (his arms already forfeited, And worn by Hector) the debate is now most vehement.” This said, grief darken’d all his pow’rs. With both his hands he rent The black mould from the forcéd earth, and pour’d it on his head, Smear’d all his lovely face; his weeds, divinely fashionéd, All fil’d and mangled; and himself he threw upon the shore, Lay, as laid out for funeral, then tumbled round, and tore His gracious curls. His ecstasy he did so far extend, That all the ladies won by him and his now slaughter’d friend, Afflicted strangely for his plight, came shrieking from the tents, And fell about him, beat their breasts, their tender lineaments Dissolv’d with sorrow. And with them wept Nestor’s warlike son, Fell by him, holding his fair hands, in fear he would have done His person violence; his heart, extremely straiten’d, burn’d, Beat, swell’d, and sigh’d as it would burst. So terribly he mourn’d, That Thetis, sitting in the deeps of her old father’s seas, Heard, and lamented. To her plaints the bright Nereides Flock’d all, how many those dark gulfs soever comprehend. There Glauce, and Cymodoce, and Spio, did attend, Nessea, and Cymothoe, and calm Amphithoe, Thalia, Thoa, Panope, and swift Dynamene, Actæa, and Limnoria, and Halia the fair Fam’d for the beauty of her eyes, Amathia for her hair, Iæra, Proto, Clymene, and curl’d Dexamene, Pherusa, Doris, and with these the smooth Amphinome, Chaste Galatea so renown’d, and Callianira, came, With Doto and Orythia, to cheer the mournful dame. Apseudes likewise visited, and Callianassa gave Her kind attendance, and with her Agave grac’d the cave, Nemertes, Mæra, followéd, Melita, Ianesse, With Ianira, and the rest of those Nereides That in the deep seas make abode; all which together beat Their dewy bosoms; and to all, thus Thetis did repeat Her cause of mourning: “Sisters, hear, how much the sorrows weigh, Whose cries now call’d ye. Hapless I brought forth unhappily The best of all the sons of men; who, like a well-set plant