Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
this to Achilles if he will listen to you. Who knows but with
heaven’s help you may talk him over, for it is good to take a
friend’s advice. If, however, he is fearful about some oracle, or if his
mother has told him something from Jove, then let him send you,
and let the rest of the Myrmidons follow with you, if perchance
you may bring light and saving to the Danaans. And let him send
you into battle clad in his own armour, that the Trojans may
mistake you for him and leave off fighting; the sons of the
Achaeans may thus have time to get their breath, for they are hard
pressed and there is little breathing time in battle. You, who are
fresh, might easily drive a tired enemy back to his walls and away
from the tents and ships.”
With these words he moved the heart of Patroclus, who set off
running by the line of the ships to Achilles, descendant of Aeacus.
When he had got as far as the ships of Ulysses, where was their
place of assembly and court of justice, with their altars dedicated to
the gods, Eurypylus son of Euaemon met him, wounded in the
thigh with an arrow, and limping out of the fight. Sweat rained
from his head and shoulders, and black blood welled from his
cruel wound, but his mind did not wander. The son of Menoetius
when he saw him had compassion upon him and spoke piteously
saying, “O unhappy princes and counsellors of the Danaans, are
you then doomed to feed the hounds of Troy with your fat, far from
your friends and your native land? say, noble Eurypylus, will the
Achaeans be able to hold great Hector in check, or will they fall
now before his spear?”
Wounded Eurypylus made answer, “Noble Patroclus, there is no
hope left for the Achaeans but they will perish at their ships. All
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