And now to this, and now to that he flies;

Admiring numbers follow with their eyes. From ship to ship thus Ajax swiftly flew, No less the wonder of the warring crew. As furious, Hector thunder'd threats aloud, 832

And rush'd enraged before the Trojan crowd;

Then swift invades the ships, whose beaky prores

Lay rank'd contiguous on the bending. shores.

So the strong eagle from his airy height, Who marks the swans' or cranes' embodied flight,

Stoops down impetuous, while they light for food,

And stooping darkens with his wings the flood.

839

Is finish'd; and the day desired appears! This happy day with acclamations greet, Bright with destruction of yon hostile fleet. The coward counsels of a tim'rous throng Of rev'rend dotards, check'd our glory long:

Too long Jove lull'd us with lethargic charms,

But now in peals of thunder calls to arms; In this great day he crowns our full desires,

Wakes all our force, and seconds all our fires.'

He spoke. The warriors, at his fierce command,

880

Pour a new deluge on the Grecian band. Ev'n Ajax paus'd (so thick the jav'lins fly), Stepp'd back, and doubted or to live, or die.

Yet where the oars are placed, he stands to wait

What Chief approaching dares attempt his fate:

Ev'n to the last his naval charge defends, Now shakes his spear, now lifts, and now protends;

Ev'n yet, the Greeks with piercing shouts inspires,

Amidst attacks, and deaths, and darts, and fires:

O friends! O heroes! names for ever dear, 890 Once sons of Mars, and thunderbolts of war! Ah! yet be mindful of your old renown, Your great forefathers' virtues and your

own.

What aids expect you in this utmost strait? What bulwarks rising between you and fate?

Patroclus (in pursuance of the request of Nestor in the eleventh book) entreats Achilles to suffer him to go to the assistance of the Greeks with Achilles' troops and armour. He agrees to it, but at the same time charges him to content himself with rescuing the fleet, without farther pursuit of the enemy. The armour, horses, soldiers, and officers of Achilles are described. Achilles offers a libation for the success of his friend, after which Patroclus leads the Myrmidons to battle. The Trojans, at the sight of Patroclus in Achilles' armour, taking him for that hero, are cast into the utmost consternation: he beats them off from the vessels, Hector himself flies, Sarpedon is killed, though Jupiter was averse to his fate. Several other particulars of the battle are described; in the heat of which, Patroclus, neglecting the orders of Achilles, pursues the foe to the walls of Troy; where Apollo repulses and disarms him. Euphorbus wounds him, and Hector kills him: which concludes the book.

So warr'd both armies on th' ensanguin'd shore,

While the black vessels smoked with hu man gore.

Meantime Patroclus to Achilles flies;

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In the rich belt, as in a starry zone.
Achilles' shield his ample shoulders spread,
Achilles' helmet nodded o'er his head.
Adorn'd in all his terrible array,
He flash'd around intolerable day.
Alone, untouch'd, Pelides' jav'lin stands,
Not to be pois'd but by Pelides' hands :
From Pelion's shady brow the plant entire
Old Chiron rent, and shaped it for his sire;
Whose son's great arm alone the weapon
wields,

The death of heroes, and the dread of fields.

Then brave Automedon (an honour'd

Derived from thee, whose waters wash the earth,

Divine Sperchius! Jove-descended flood!
A mortal mother mixing with a God.
Such was Menestheus, but miscall'd by
Fame

The son of Borus, that espous'd the dame.
Eudorus next; whom Polymele the gay,
Famed in the graceful dance, produced to

day.