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BOOK THE ELEVENTH.

 

ARGUMENT.

Agamemnon distinguishes himself, but, being wounded, retires from the field. Diomede is wounded by Paris: Ulysses by Socus. Ajax and Menelaus then go to the relief of Ajax, and Eurypylus, who had joined them, is shot in the thigh by Paris, who also wounds Machaon. Nestor conveys Machaon from the field. Achilles sends Patroclus to the tent of Nestor, who exhorts Patroclus to engage in battle, assuming the armor of Achilles.

But Aurora was rising from her couch, from beside glorious Tithonus, that she might bear light to immortals and to mortals, when Jove sent forth fell Discord to the swift ships of the Greeks, bearing in her hand the portent of war. And she stood upon the huge^[1] black ship of Ulysses, which was in the center, to shout to both sides, as well to the tents of Telamonian Ajax, as to those of Achilles; who had both drawn up their equal ships at the very extremities, relying on their valor and strength of hands. There standing, the goddess shouted both loudly and terribly, in Orthian strain,^[2] to the Greeks, aud implanted mighty strength in the heart of each, to war and fight incessantly. And immediately war became more sweet to them, than to return in the hollow ships to their dear fatherland. Then the son of Atreus shouted aloud, and ordered the Greeks to be girded; and arrayed himself, putting on his shining armor. First he put upon his legs his beautiful greaves, fitted with silver clasps; next he placed around his breast a corselet which Cinyras once gave him, to be a pledge of hospitality. For a great rumor was heard at Cyprus, that the Greeks were about to sail to Troy

1. Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 378, sqq.
2. i. e., shrill, at the full pitch of the voice. Cf. Æsch. Pers. 387: Μολπηδὸν ηὐφήμησεν, ὄρθιον δ' ἅμα Ἀντηλάλαξε.