Into the Trojan squadrons. As the sound Of trumpet rises clear when deadly foes Lay siege to a walled city, such was heard The clear shout uttered by Aeacides. The hearts of all who heard that brazen voice Were troubled, and their steeds with flowing manes Turned backward with the chariots—such the dread Of coming slaughter. When the charioteers Beheld the terrible flame that played unquenched Upon the brow of the magnanimous son Of Peleus, lighted by the blue-eyed maid Minerva, they were struck with panic fear. Thrice o’er the trench Achilles shouted; thrice The men of Troy and their renowned allies Fell into wild disorder. Then there died, Entangled midst their chariots, and transfixed By their own spears, twelve of their bravest chiefs. The Greeks bore off Patroclus from the field With eager haste, and placed him on a bier, And there the friends that loved him gathered round Lamenting. With them swift Achilles came, The hot tears on his cheeks, as he beheld His faithful comrade lying on his bier, Mangled with many wounds, whom he had sent With steeds and car to battle, never more To welcome him alive on his return.
Now Juno, large-eyed and august, bade set The never-wearied sun; unwillingly He sank into the ocean streams. Then paused The noble Greeks from that ferocious strife, Deadly in equal measure to both hosts. The Trojans also paused, and from their cars Unharnessed the fleet steeds, and ere they took Their evening meal assembled to consult. Standing they held the council; no man cared To sit, for all were trembling from the hour When, long a stranger to the bloody field, Achilles showed himself again. And now The son of Panthoüs, wise Polydamas, Began to speak. Beyond the rest he saw Things past and things to come, and he had been Hector’s companion, born in the same night, Mighty in speech as Hector with the spear. With prudent admonitions thus he spake:—
“Consider well, my friends. My counsel is That we return, nor wait the holy morn Here, by the fleet and in the open plain, Far from our city