198 THE WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES 



lame blacksmith of the gods, and its likeness for 

 beauty and service had never been seen. When 

 he had proved the armor to see whether it fitted 

 him, he took in hand the ashen spear, great and 

 heavy and strong, which Cheiron had given to, 

 his father and which none of the Greeks could 

 wield. Forthwith the grooms led out his war 

 steeds. They buckled on the breast-straps and 

 put bits into their mouths and stretched the reins 

 behind to the chariot. Then Automedon sprang 

 up into his place, ready to drive to the field of 

 combat, and Achilles, armed in his sun-bright 

 coat of mail, stepped into the car. 



" Xanthos and Balios, Swift and Old-Gold," 

 he cried, " take heed that you bring your chari- 

 oteer safe back to his tent and to his own folk, 

 and do not leave him on the field as you left 

 Patroclus ! " 



Then Old-Gold bowed his head to the ground 

 until his long mane fell over his eyes and face, 

 and said : " Truly, great master, we will bear thee , 

 safe this day, but yet thy death is not far away. 

 It was through no fault of ours that the Trojans 

 slew good Patroclus, but by the will of the gods. 

 And so, too, shall thy own fate overtake thee." 



Achilles was sorely troubled by these words, 



