ether it will run: and at other times again they ran back to their
places through one another. But a great crowd surrounded the pleasing
dance, amusing themselves; and amongst them two tumblers, beginning
their song, spun round through the midst.

[Footnote 616: See Knight and Kennedy.]

[Footnote 617: Literally, "finders of oxen," i.e. so attractive
as to be certain of receiving a good dowry, paid, after the
ancient custom, in cattle.]

[Footnote 618: This must have been some kind of oil-cloth, unless
we read [Greek: stilbontes] with Kennedy. The meaning is very
obscure.]

But in it he also formed the vast strength of the river Oceanus, near
the last border of the well-formed shield.

But when he had finished the shield, large and solid, he next formed for
him a corslet, brighter than the splendour of fire. He also made for him
a strong helmet, fitted to his temples, beautiful and variously
ornamented, and on it placed a golden crest; and made greaves for him of
ductile tin.

But when renowned Vulcan had with toil made all the armour, lifting it
up, he laid it before the mother of Achilles; but she, like a hawk,
darted down from snowy Olympus, bearing from Vulcan the shining armour.

BOOK THE NINETEENTH.

ARGUMENT.

Thetis, having brought Achilles his new armour, and promised to preserve
the body of Patroclus from corruption, he is reconciled to Agamemnon,
and being miraculously invigorated by Minerva, goes forth to battle,
regardless of the prediction of his fate by his horse Xanthus.

Safron-robed Morn was rising from the streams of ocean, that she might
bear light to immortals and mortals;[619] but she (Thetis) came to the
ships, bearing the gifts from the god. Her dear son she found lying upon
Patroclus, bitterly lamenting, and his numerous companions were
lamenting around him. But near to him stood the divine of goddesses, and
hung upon his hand and spoke, and addressed him:

[Footnote 619:

"To resalute the world with sacred light
Leucothea waked, and with fresh dews embalm'd
The earth."--Par. Lost. xi. 132.]

"My son, let us suffer him now to lie, grieved although we be, since
first he has been laid low by the counsel of the gods: but do thou
receive these distinguished arms from Vulcan, very beautiful, such as no
man has ever worn upon his shoulders."

Having thus spoken, the god