Μυρμιδόνας δ’ ἂρ, ἐποιχόμενος θώρηξεν Ἀχιλλεὺς
πάντας ἀνὰ κλισίας σὺν τεύχεσιν, οἱ δὲ λύκοι ὡς
ὠμοφάγοι. τοῖσίν τε περὶ φρεσὶν ἄσπετος ἀλκή:
οἵ τ’ ἔλαφον κεραὸν μέγαν οὔρεσι δῃώσαντες
δάπτουσιν. πᾶσιν δὲ παρήϊον αἵματι φοινὸν.
καί τ’ ἀγεληδὸν ϊάσιν. ἀπο κρήνης μελανύδρου
λάψοντες γλώσσῃσιν ἀραιῇσιν μέλαν ὕδωρ
ἄκρον. ἐρευγόμενοι φόνον αἵματος: ἐν δέ τε θυμὸς
στήθεσιν ἄτρομός ἐστι, περὶστένεται δέ τε γαστὴρ.
τοῖοι Μυρμιδόνων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες
ἀμφ’ ἀγαθὸν θεράποντα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο
ῥώοντ’: ἐν δ’ άρα τοῖσιν ἀρήϊος ἵ¨στατ’ Ἀχιλλεὺς.
ὀτρύνων ἵ¨ππους τε καὶ ἀνέρας ἀσπιδιώτᾱς:
But Achilles went to and fro throughout the huts and let harness in their armour all the Myrmidons, and they rushed forth like ravening wolves in whose hearts is fury unspeakable—wolves that have slain in the hills a great horned stag, and rend him, and the jaws of all are red with gore; and in a pack they go to lap with their slender tongues the surface of the black water from a dusky spring, belching forth the while blood and gore, the heart in their breasts unflinching, and their bellies gorged full; even in such wise the leaders and rulers of the Myrmidons sped forth round about the valiant squire of the swift-footed son of Aeacus. And among them all stood warlike Achilles, urging on both horses and men that bear the shield.
