Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
son of Priam shall drive neither you nor your chariot. I will not
have it. It is enough that he should have the armour over which he
vaunts so vainly. Furthermore I will give you strength of heart and
limb to bear Automedon safely to the ships from battle, for I shall
let the Trojans triumph still further, and go on killing till they reach
the ships; whereon night shall fall and darkness overshadow the
land.”
As he spoke he breathed heart and strength into the horses so that
they shook the dust from out of their manes, and bore their chariot
swiftly into the fight that raged between Trojans and Achaeans.
Behind them fought Automedon full of sorrow for his comrade, as
a vulture amid a flock of geese. In and out, and here and there, full
speed he dashed amid the throng of the Trojans, but for all the fury
of his pursuit he killed no man, for he could not wield his spear
and keep his horses in hand when alone in the chariot; at last,
however, a comrade, Alcimedon, son of Laerces son of Haemon
caught sight of him and came up behind his chariot. “Automedon,”
said he, “what god has put this folly into your heart and robbed
you of your right mind, that you fight the Trojans in the front rank
single-handed? He who was your comrade is slain, and Hector
plumes himself on being armed in the armour of the descendant of
Aeacus.”
Automedon son of Diores answered, “Alcimedon, there is no one
else who can control and guide the immortal steeds so well as you
can, save only Patroclus- while he was alive- peer of gods in
counsel. Take then the whip and reins, while I go down from the
car and fight.
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