Gird on your armour at once while I call our people together." As he spoke Patroclus put on his armour.

First he greaved his legs with greaves of good make, and fitted with ancle-clasps of silver; after this he donned the cuirass of the son of Aeacus, richly inlaid and studded.

He hung his silver-studded sword of bronze about his shoulders, and then his mighty shield.

On his comely head he set his helmet, well wrought, with a crest of horse-hair that nodded menacingly above it.

He grasped two redoubtable spears that suited his hands, but he did not take the spear of noble Achilles, so stout and strong, for none other of the Achaeans could wield it, though Achilles could do so easily.