ioteers were
panic-struck when they beheld the terrific, indefatigable flame, blazing
over the head of magnanimous Pelides; for the azure-eyed goddess Minerva
lighted it. Thrice over the trench loudly shouted noble Achilles, and
thrice were the Trojans and their illustrious allies thrown into
confusion. There then perished twelve bravest heroes by their chariots
and spears, whilst the Greeks, dragging Patroclus with joy out of the
reach of weapons, stretched him on a bier; but his beloved companions
stood round him mourning, and with them followed swift-footed Achilles,
shedding warm tears, when he beheld his faithful comrade lying upon a
bier, lacerated with the sharp brass: whom indeed he had sent forth with
his horses and chariots to battle, but did not receive him again, having
returned.

[Footnote 584: Hesychius: [Greek: epetrimois, allepalleloi]. Cf.
Oppian, Cyn. i. 321; iii. 275. The orthography [Greek: epitrimoi]
is equally correct, according to Abresch.]

But the large-eyed, venerable Juno sent the unwearied sun, to return to
the flowing of the ocean, against his inclination. The sun then set, and
the noble Greeks desisted from the violent conflict, and the equally
destructive battle. The Trojans again, on the other side, retiring from
the violent combat, loosed their fleet steeds from their chariots. But
they assembled in the council before they bethought them of their
banquet. The assembly consisted of persons standing up, nor did any one
dare to sit; for fear possessed all, because Achilles had appeared, who
had long abstained from the direful combat. Among them prudent
Polydamas, the son of Panthus, began to speak, for he alone saw both the
future and the past. He was the companion of Hector, and they were born
in one night, but the one excelled in counsel, and the other greatly in
the spear. He wisely counselling, harangued them, and spoke:

"My friends, consider well on both sides; for I advise that we now
return to the city, nor await the sacred Morn in the plain near the
ships; for we are far away from the wall. As long indeed as this man was
wroth with noble Agamemnon, so long were the Greeks more easy to fight
with. For even I was delighted, passing the night by the swift barks,
expecting that we should take the equally-plied barks; but now greatly
do I fear swift-footed Pelides: so violent is his soul, nor will he be
content to remain in the plain, where usually the Trojans and Greeks in