"The Greeks," said he, "are sorely pressed. Their bravest leaders are wounded, while you sit here, giving way to your wrath. If you will not yourself go to their rescue, at least permit me to lead the Myrmidons to battle, and let me wear your armor. The Trojans at the sight of it may think I am Achilles, and be so terrified that our people may have a little breathing time." To this proposal Achilles assented, but he warned Patroclus not to pursue the Trojans too far, lest he might meet his death at the hands of one of the gods. "Rescue our good ships," said he, "but when you have driven the enemy from the fleet, return hither." With joy and eager haste Patroclus put on the armor of Achilles. Then the great chief himself marshaled his Myrmidons in battle array, after which he addressed them, bidding them fight valiantly. The occasion, he said, had now come which they had so long desired, for they had often blamed him because he had kept them from joining their countrymen in the field. Fierce and fearless these Myrmidons were, and over two thousand strong. Achilles, dear to Jupiter, had led Fifty swift barks to Ilium, and in each Were fifty men, companions at the oar. BRYANT, _Iliad_, Book XVI. Patroclus now mounted the chariot of Achilles, with the brave Au-tomʹe-don as charioteer, a hero next in valor to the renowned son of Peleus himself. There were three horses in the team, Xanthus and Baʹli-us, both of immortal breed, and fleet as the wind, and Pedʹa-sus, which, though of mortal stock, was a match for the others in speed. Like in strength, in swiftness and in grace, A mortal courser match'd the immortal race. POPE, _Iliad_, Book XVI. Great was the terror of the Trojans when they beheld the Myrmidons march forth to battle. Every heart grew faint With fear; the close ranks wavered; for they thought That the swift son of Peleus at the fleet Had laid aside his wrath, and was again The friend of Agamemnon. Eagerly They looked around for an escape from death. BRYANT, _Iliad_, Book XVI. [Illustration: AUTOMEDON AND THE HORSES OF ACHILLES. _Painting by Regnault._] The Greek fleet was soon out of danger, for Patroclus and his Myrmidons, having furiously attacked the Trojans, quickly drove them away from the burning vessel and put out the fire. Having thus saved the ships, the Myrmidonian warriors, aided by the other Greeks, then drove the Trojans with great slaughter from the camp into the plain, and on towards the walls of the city. In that scattered conflict of the chiefs Each Argive slew a warrior. BRYANT, _Iliad_, Book XVI.