arioteer of Hector, Cebriones. He
is suddenly afflicted with stupor by Apollo, and dies by the hand of
Hector, whose death he foretells. Hector pursues Automedon with the
chariot of Achilles towards the ships.

Thus, then, they were fighting for the well-benched ship. But Patroclus
stood beside Achilles, the shepherd of the people, shedding warm[508]
tears; as a black-water fountain, which pours its sable tide down from a
lofty rock. But swift-footed noble Achilles, seeing, pitied him, and
addressing him, spoke winged words:

"Why weepest thou, O Patroclus, as an infant girl, who, running along
with her mother, importunes to be taken up, catching her by the robe,
and detains her hastening; and weeping, looks at her [mother] till she
is taken up?--like unto her, O Patroclus, dost thou shed the tender
tear. Dost thou bear any tidings to the Myrmidons, or to me myself? Or
hast thou alone heard any news from Phthia? They say that, indeed,
Menoetius, the son of Actor, still lives, and that Peleus, the son of
AEacus, lives amongst the Myrmidons: for deeply should we lament for
either of them dying. Or dost thou mourn for the Greeks, because they
thus perish at their hollow ships, on account of their injustice? Speak
out, nor conceal it in thy mind, that we both may know."

[Footnote 508: Longus, iv. 7: [Greek: Dakrya en epi toutois
Thermotera], which Mollus, referring to Homer, thus explains:
"Lacrymae, quae ex magno impetu, et animi affectu quasi calido,
neutiquam simulatae prosiliebant."]

But deeply sighing, O knight Patroclus, him thou didst address: "O
Achilles, son of Peleus, by far the bravest of the Greeks, be not
indignant; since a grief so heavy does oppress the Greeks: for now all
they, as many as were formerly most valiant, lie in the ships, wounded
or stricken. Brave Diomede, indeed, the son of Tydeus, is wounded, and
spear-renowned Ulysses is stricken, as also Agamemnon; and Eurypylus is
also wounded in the thigh with an arrow. About these, indeed, physicians
skilled in many remedies are employed healing their wounds: but thou, O
Achilles, art inexorable. Never may such anger seize me at least, as
thee, O cruelly brave, dost preserve. What other after-born man will be
defended by thee, if thou will not avert unworthy ruin from the Greeks?
merciless one! Certainly the knight Peleus was not thy father, nor
Thetis thy mother; but the grey[509] Ocean produced thee, and the lofty
rocks; for thy mind