the body of Patroclus back to the ships.

Swiftly Antilochus came running to Achilles, saying: "Fallen is
Patroclus, and they are fighting round his naked body, for Hector has his
armour." Then Achilles said never a word, but fell on the floor of his
hut, and threw black ashes on his yellow hair, till Antilochus seized his
hands, fearing that he would cut his own throat with his dagger, for very
sorrow. His mother, Thetis, arose from the sea to comfort him, but he
said that he desired to die if he could not slay Hector, who had slain
his friend. Then Thetis told him that he could not fight without armour,
and now he had none; but she would go to the God of armour-making and
bring from him such a shield and helmet and breastplate as had never been
seen by men.

Meanwhile the fight raged round the dead body of Patroclus, which was
defiled with blood and dust, near the ships, and was being dragged this
way and that, and torn and wounded. Achilles could not bear this sight,
yet his mother had warned him not to enter without armour the battle
where stones and arrows and spears were flying like hail; and he was so
tall and broad that he could put on the arms of no other man. So he went
down to the ditch as he was, unarmed, and as he stood high above it,
against the red sunset, fire seemed to flow from his golden hair like the
beacon blaze that soars into the dark sky when an island town is attacked
at night, and men light beacons that their neighbours may see them and
come to their help from other isles. There Achilles stood in a splendour
of fire, and he shouted aloud, as clear as a clarion rings when men fall
on to attack a besieged city wall. Thrice Achilles shouted mightily, and
thrice the horses of the Trojans shuddered for fear and turned back from
the onslaught,--and thrice the men of Troy were confounded and shaken
with terror. Then the Greeks drew the body of Patroclus out of the dust