hands, and darkness fills their eyes. As when a slaughter'd bull's yet reeking hide, Strain'd with full force, and tugg'd from side to side, The brawny curriers stretch; and labour o'er The extended surface, drunk with fat and gore: So tugging round the corse both armies stood; The mangled body bathed in sweat and blood; While Greeks and Ilians equal strength employ, Now to the ships to force it, now to Troy. Not Pallas' self, her breast when fury warms, Nor he whose anger sets the world in arms, Could blame this scene; such rage, such horror reign'd; Such, Jove to honour the great dead ordain'd. Achilles in his ships at distance lay, Nor knew the fatal fortune of the day; He, yet unconscious of Patroclus' fall, In dust extended under Ilion's wall, Expects him glorious from the conquered plain, And for his wish'd return prepares in vain; Though well he knew, to make proud Ilion bend Was more than heaven had destined to his friend. Perhaps to him: this Thetis had reveal'd; The rest, in pity to her son, conceal'd. Still raged the conflict round the hero dead, And heaps on heaps by mutual wounds they bled. "Cursed be the man (even private Greeks would say) Who dares desert this well-disputed day! First may the cleaving earth before our eyes Gape wide, and drink our blood for sacrifice; First perish all, ere haughty Troy shall boast We lost Patroclus, and our glory lost!" Thus they: while with one voice the Trojans said, "Grant this day, Jove! or heap us on the dead!" Then clash their sounding arms; the clangours rise, And shake the brazen concave of the skies. Meantime, at distance from the scene of blood, The pensive steeds of great Achilles stood: Their godlike master slain before their eyes, They wept, and shared in human miseries.(248) In vain Automedon now shakes the rein, Now plies the lash, and soothes and threats in vain; Nor to the fight nor Hellespont they go, Restive th