Silver-footed Thetis told him it was well to save his comrades from destruction — but he must not enter battle without armor. Hector wore what had been his. She would go at dawn to Hephaestus and bring back shining gear; until then let him keep from the fighting.
She sent the Nereids back into the bosom of the sea to tell the old man of the deep, and herself turned toward Olympus to ask the famous lame god for glorious armor for her son.
Meanwhile the Achaeans were still fleeing with loud cries before murderous Hector, until they came to the ships and the Hellespont. They could not drag Patroclus's body clear of the weapons; Hector had seized it again by the feet, meaning to cut off the head and give the trunk to Trojan dogs.
Aias drove him back again and again, covering the body with his broad shield, but the Trojans pressed hard. Then Iris, fleet as the wind, came as messenger from Hera of the white arms, without Zeus's knowledge and without the other gods knowing.
She stood by Achilles and said, "Rise, son of Peleus, most dread of men. Defend Patroclus — for his sake go to the fighting by the ships, or Hector will drag him off and give him to the dogs of Troy. Shame would be yours if he go mutilated to the dead."
Achilles asked which of the gods had sent her. Iris answered that it was Hera, and that Zeus and the other immortals who live on snowy Olympus did not know of her coming.
Fleet Achilles answered that how could he go into battle? They had his armor. His mother had forbidden him to arm until she brought gear from Hephaestus. He knew of no other armor that would fit him, unless he took Aias's great shield — and Aias himself was busy in the front among the spears.
Iris said they knew his armor was taken, but he should go as he was to the deep trench and show himself to the Trojans, that they might take fright and draw back from the dead, and the hard-pressed Achaeans gain breathing room.