Swift Iris, had not stoop’d in haste, ambassadress from heav’n To Peleus’ son, to bid him arm; her message being giv’n By Juno, kept from all the Gods; she thus excited him: “Rise, thou most terrible of men, and save the precious limb Of thy belov’d; in whose behalf, the conflict now runs high Before the fleet, the either host fells other mutually, These to retain, those to obtain. Amongst whom most of all Is Hector prompt, he’s apt to drag thy friend home, he your pall Will make his shoulders; his head forc’d, he’ll be most famous; rise, No more lie idle, set the foe a much more costly prize Of thy friend’s value than let dogs make him a monument, Where thy name will be grav’n.” He ask’d, “What Deity hath sent Thy presence hither?” She replied: “Saturnia, she alone, Not high Jove knowing, nor one God that doth inhabit on Snowy Olympus.” He again: “How shall I set upon The work of slaughter, when mine arms are worn by Priam’s son? How will my Goddess-mother grieve, that bade I should not arm Till she brought arms from Mulciber! But should I do such harm To her and duty, who is he, but Ajax, that can vaunt The fitting my breast with his arms; and he is conversant Amongst the first in use of his, and rampires of the foe Slain near Patroclus builds to him?” “All this,” said she, “we know, And wish thou only wouldst but show thy person to the eyes Of these hot Ilians, that, afraid of further enterprise, The Greeks may gain some little breath.” She woo’d, and he was won; And straight Minerva honour’d him, who Jove’s shield clapp’d upon His mighty shoulders, and his head girt with a cloud of gold That cast beams round about his brows. And as when arms enfold A city in an isle, from thence a fume at first appears, Being in the day, but, when the even her cloudy forehead rears, Thick show the fires, and up they cast their splendour, that men nigh, Seeing their distress, perhaps may set ships out to their supply; So (to show such aid) from his head a light rose, scaling heav’n, And forth the wall he stept and stood, nor brake the precept giv’n By his great mother, mix’d in fight, but sent abroad his voice; Which Pallas far-off echoéd, who did betwixt them hoise Shrill tumult to a topless height. And as a voice is heard With emulous affectión, when any town is spher’d With siege of such a foe as kills men’s minds, and for the town Makes sound his trumpet; so the voice from Thetis’ issue thrown Won emulously th’ ears of all. His brazen voice once heard, The minds of all were startled so they yielded; and so fear’d The fair-man’d horses, that they flew back, and their chariots turn’d, Presaging in their augurous hearts the labours that they mourn’d A little after; and their guides a repercussive dread Took from the horrid radiance of his refulgent head, Which Pallas set on fire with grace. Thrice great Achilles spake, And thrice (in heat of all the charge) the Trojans started back. Twelve men, of greatest strength in Troy, left with their lives exhal’d