the Greeks, Gerenian
Nestor, most particularly prayed, stretching forth his hands to the
starry heaven: "O father Jove, if ever any one in fruitful Argos, to
thee burning the fat thighs of either oxen or sheep, supplicated that he
might return, and thou didst promise and assent; be mindful of these
things, O Olympian, and avert the cruel day; nor thus permit the Greeks
to be subdued by the Trojans."

Thus he spoke, praying: but provident Jove loudly thundered, hearing the
prayers of the Neleian old man. But the Trojans, when they understood
the will of aegis-bearing Jove, rushed the more against the Greeks, and
were mindful of battle. And as a mighty wave of the wide-flowing ocean
dashes over the sides of a ship, when the force of the wind impels it
(for that most of all increases waves); so the Trojans with a mighty
shout mounted over the wall. And having driven in their horses, they
fought at the sterns, hand to hand with two-edged spears, the one party
from their chariots, but the other on high from their black ships,
having ascended them with long poles which lay in their vessels, for
fighting by sea, well glued, and clad on the tip with brass.

But Patroclus, as long indeed as the Greeks and Trojans fought round
the wall, without the swift ships, so long he sat in the tent of
valour-loving Eurypylus, and delighted him with his discourse; and to
the severe wound he applied medicines, assuagers of dark pains. But when
he perceived that the Trojans had burst within the walls, and moreover
that a clamour and flight of the Greeks had arisen, then indeed he
groaned, and smote both his thighs with his downward-bent hands; and
lamenting spoke:

"O Eurypylus, I cannot any longer remain here with thee, although
needing much, for now has a mighty contest arisen. But let thy attendant
entertain thee, and I will hasten to Achilles, that I may encourage him
to fight. And who knows whether, with God's assistance, persuading, I
may move his soul? for the admonition of a companion is effectual." But
him his feet then bore away thus speaking. Meanwhile the Greeks firmly
withstood the Trojans rushing on, nor were they able to repel them from
the ships, although being fewer; nor could the Trojans, breaking through
the phalanxes of the Greeks, be mingled with the tents or ships. But as
a plumb-line in the hands of a skilful shipwright (who knows well the
whole art by the precepts of Minerva) correctly adjusts the naval plank,
so wa