The Iliad
Book XVI
Thus did they fight about the ship of Protesilaus. Then Patroclus drew
near to Achilles with tears welling from his eyes, as from some spring
whose crystal stream falls over the ledges of a high precipice. When Achilles
saw him thus weeping he was sorry for him and said, "Why, Patroclus, do
you stand there weeping like some silly child that comes running to her
mother, and begs to be taken up and carried- she catches hold of her mother′s
dress to stay her though she is in a hurry, and looks tearfully up until
her mother carries her- even such tears, Patroclus, are you now shedding.
Have you anything to say to the Myrmidons or to myself? or have you had
news from Phthia which you alone know? They tell me Menoetius son of Actor
is still alive, as also Peleus son of Aeacus, among the Myrmidons- men
whose loss we two should bitterly deplore; or are you grieving about the
Argives and the way in which they are being killed at the ships, throu
their own high-handed doings? Do not hide anything from me but tell me
that both of us may know about it."
Then, O knight Patroclus, with a deep sigh you answered, "Achilles,
son of Peleus, foremost champion of the Achaeans, do not be angry, but
I weep for the disaster that has now befallen the Argives. All those who
have been their champions so far are lying at the ships, wounded by sword
or spear. Brave Diomed son of Tydeus has been hit with a spear, while famed
Ulysses and Agamemnon have received sword-wounds; Eurypylus again has been
struck with an arrow in the thigh; skilled apothecaries are attending to
these heroes, and healing them of their wounds; are you still, O Achilles,
so inexorable? May it never be my lot to nurse such a passion as you have
done, to the baning of your own good name. Who in future story will speak
well of you unless you now save the Argives from ruin? You know no pity;
knight Peleus was not your father nor Thetis your mother, but the grey
sea bore you and the sheer cliffs begot you, so cruel and remorseless are
you. If however you are kept back through knowledge of some oracle, or
if your mother Thetis has told you something from the mouth of Jove, at
least send me and the Myrmidons with me, if I may bring deliverance to
the Danaans. Let me moreover wear your armour; the Trojans may thus mistake
me for you and quit the field, so that the hard-pressed sons of the Achaeans
may have breathing time- which while they are fighting may hardly be. We
who are fresh might soon drive tired men back from our ships and tents
to their own city."
He knew not what he was asking, nor that he was suing for his own
destruction. Achilles was deeply moved and answered, "What, noble Patroclus,
are you saying? I know no prophesyings which I am heeding, nor has my mother
told me anything from the mouth of Jove, but I am cut to the very heart
that one of my own rank should dare to rob me because he is more powerful
than I am. This, after all that I have gone through, is more than I can
endure. The girl whom the sons of the Achaeans chose for me, whom I won
as the fruit of my spear on having sacked a city- her has King Agamemnon
taken from me as though I were some common vagrant. Still, let bygones
be bygones: no man may keep his anger for ever; I said I would not relent
till battle and the cry of war had reached my own ships; nevertheless,
now gird my armour about your shoulders, and lead the Myrmidons to battle,
for the dark cloud of Trojans has burst furiously over our fleet; the Argives
are driven back on to the beach, cooped within a narrow space, and the
whole people of Troy has taken heart to sally out against them, because
they see not the visor of my helmet gleaming near them. Had they seen this,
there would not have been a creek nor grip that had not been filled with
their dead as they fled back again. And so it would have been, if only
King Agamemnon had dealt fairly by me. As it is the Trojans have beset
our host. Diomed son of Tydeus no longer wields his spear to defend the
Danaans, neither have I heard the voice of the son of Atreus coming from
his hated head, whereas that of murderous Hector rings in my cars as he
gives orders to the Trojans, who triumph over the Achaeans and fill the
whole plain with their cry of battle. But even so, Patroclus, fall upon
them and save the fleet, lest the Trojans fire it and prevent us from being
able to return. Do, however, as I now bid you, that you may win me great
honour from all the Danaans, and that they may restore the girl to me again
and give me rich gifts into the bargain. When you have driven the Trojans
from the ships, come back again. Though Juno′s thundering husband should
put triumph within your reach, do not fight the Trojans further in my absence,
or you will rob me of glory that should be mine. And do not for lust of
battle go on killing the Trojans nor lead the Achaeans on to Ilius, lest
one of the ever-living gods from Olympus attack you- for Phoebus Apollo
loves them well: return when you have freed the ships from peril, and let
others wage war upon the plain. Would, by father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo,
that not a single man of all the Trojans might be left alive, nor yet of
the Argives, but that we two might be alone left to tear aside the mantle
that veils the brow of Troy."
Thus did they converse. But Ajax could no longer hold his ground
for the shower of darts that rained upon him; the will of Jove and the
javelins of the Trojans were too much for him; the helmet that gleamed
about his temples rang with the continuous clatter of the missiles that
kept pouring on to it and on to the cheek-pieces that protected his face.
Moreover his left shoulder was tired with having held his shield so long,
yet for all this, let fly at him as they would, they could not make him
give ground. He could hardly draw his breath, the sweat rained from every
pore of his body, he had not a moment′s respite, and on all sides he was
beset by danger upon danger.
And now, tell me, O Muses that hold your mansions on Olympus, how
fire was thrown upon the ships of the Achaeans. Hector came close up and
let drive with his great sword at the ashen spear of Ajax. He cut it clean
in two just behind where the point was fastened on to the shaft of the
spear. Ajax, therefore, had now nothing but a headless spear, while the
bronze point flew some way off and came ringing down on to the ground.
Ajax knew the hand of heaven in this, and was dismayed at seeing that Jove
had now left him utterly defenceless and was willing victory for the Trojans.
Therefore he drew back, and the Trojans flung fire upon the ship which
was at once wrapped in flame.
The fire was now flaring about the ship′s stern, whereon Achilles
smote his two thighs and said to Patroclus, "Up, noble knight, for I see
the glare of hostile fire at our fleet; up, lest they destroy our ships,
and there be no way by which we may retreat. 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. This was the ashen
spear from Mount Pelion, which Chiron had cut upon a mountain top and had
given to Peleus, wherewith to deal out death among heroes. He bade Automedon
yoke his horses with all speed, for he was the man whom he held in honour
next after Achilles, and on whose support in battle he could rely most
firmly. Automedon therefore yoked the fleet horses Xanthus and Balius,
steeds that could fly like the wind: these were they whom the harpy Podarge
bore to the west wind, as she was grazing in a meadow by the waters of
the river Oceanus. In the side traces he set the noble horse Pedasus, whom
Achilles had brought away with him when he sacked the city of Eetion, and
who, mortal steed though he was, could take his place along with those
that were immortal.
Meanwhile Achilles went about everywhere among the tents, and bade
his Myrmidons put on their armour. Even as fierce ravening wolves that
are feasting upon a homed stag which they have killed upon the mountains,
and their jaws are red with blood- they go in a pack to lap water from
the clear spring with their long thin tongues; and they reek of blood and
slaughter; they know not what fear is, for it is hunger drives them- even
so did the leaders and counsellors of the Myrmidons gather round the good
squire of the fleet descendant of Aeacus, and among them stood Achilles
himself cheering on both men and horses.
Fifty ships had noble Achilles brought to Troy, and in each there
was a crew of fifty oarsmen. Over these he set five captains whom he could
trust, while he was himself commander over them all. Menesthius of the
gleaming corslet, son to the river Spercheius that streams from heaven,
was captain of the first company. Fair Polydora daughter of Peleus bore
him to ever-flowing Spercheius- a woman mated with a god- but he was called
son of Borus son of Perieres, with whom his mother was living as his wedded
wife, and who gave great wealth to gain her. The second company was led
by noble Eudorus, son to an unwedded woman. Polymele, daughter of Phylas
the graceful dancer, bore him; the mighty slayer of Argos was enamoured
of her as he saw her among the singing women at a dance held in honour
of Diana the rushing huntress of the golden arrows; he therefore- Mercury,
giver of all good- went with her into an upper chamber, and lay with her
in secret, whereon she bore him a noble son Eudorus, singularly fleet of
foot and in fight valiant. When Ilithuia goddess of the pains of child-birth
brought him to the light of day, and he saw the face of the sun, mighty
Echecles son of Actor took the mother to wife, and gave great wealth to
gain her, but her father Phylas brought the child up, and took care of
him, doting as fondly upon him as though he were his own son. The third
company was led by Pisander son of Maemalus, the finest spearman among
all the Myrmidons next to Achilles′ own comrade Patroclus. The old knight
Phoenix was captain of the fourth company, and Alcimedon, noble son of
Laerceus of the fifth.
When Achilles had chosen his men and had stationed them all with
their captains, he charged them straitly saying, "Myrmidons, remember your
threats against the Trojans while you were at the ships in the time of
my anger, and you were all complaining of me. ′Cruel son of Peleus,′ you
would say, ′your mother must have suckled you on gall, so ruthless are
you. You keep us here at the ships against our will; if you are so relentless
it were better we went home over the sea.′ Often have you gathered and
thus chided with me. The hour is now come for those high feats of arms
that you have so long been pining for, therefore keep high hearts each
one of you to do battle with the Trojans."
With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and they
serried their companies yet more closely when they heard the of their king.
As the stones which a builder sets in the wall of some high house which
is to give shelter from the winds- even so closely were the helmets and
bossed shields set against one another. Shield pressed on shield, helm
on helm, and man on man; so close were they that the horse-hair plumes
on the gleaming ridges of their helmets touched each other as they bent
their heads.
In front of them all two men put on their armour- Patroclus and
Automedon- two men, with but one mind to lead the Myrmidons. Then Achilles
went inside his tent and opened the lid of the strong chest which silver-footed
Thetis had given him to take on board ship, and which she had filled with
shirts, cloaks to keep out the cold, and good thick rugs. In this chest
he had a cup of rare workmanship, from which no man but himself might drink,
nor would he make offering from it to any other god save only to father
Jove. He took the cup from the chest and cleansed it with sulphur; this
done he rinsed it clean water, and after he had washed his hands he drew
wine. Then he stood in the middle of the court and prayed, looking towards
heaven, and making his drink-offering of wine; nor was he unseen of Jove
whose joy is in thunder. "King Jove," he cried, "lord of Dodona, god of
the Pelasgi, who dwellest afar, you who hold wintry Dodona in your sway,
where your prophets the Selli dwell around you with their feet unwashed
and their couches made upon the ground- if you heard me when I prayed to
you aforetime, and did me honour while you sent disaster on the Achaeans,
vouchsafe me now the fulfilment of yet this further prayer. I shall stay
here where my ships are lying, but I shall send my comrade into battle
at the head of many Myrmidons. Grant, O all-seeing Jove, that victory may
go with him; put your courage into his heart that Hector may learn whether
my squire is man enough to fight alone, or whether his might is only then
so indomitable when I myself enter the turmoil of war. Afterwards when
he has chased the fight and the cry of battle from the ships, grant that
he may return unharmed, with his armour and his comrades, fighters in close
combat."
Thus did he pray, and all-counselling Jove heard his prayer. Part
of it he did indeed vouchsafe him- but not the whole. He granted that Patroclus
should thrust back war and battle from the ships, but refused to let him
come safely out of the fight.
When he had made his drink-offering and had thus prayed, Achilles
went inside his tent and put back the cup into his chest.
Then he again came out, for he still loved to look upon the fierce
fight that raged between the Trojans and Achaeans.
Meanwhile the armed band that was about Patroclus marched on till
they sprang high in hope upon the Trojans. They came swarming out like
wasps whose nests are by the roadside, and whom silly children love to
tease, whereon any one who happens to be passing may get stung- or again,
if a wayfarer going along the road vexes them by accident, every wasp will
come flying out in a fury to defend his little ones- even with such rage
and courage did the Myrmidons swarm from their ships, and their cry of
battle rose heavenwards. Patroclus called out to his men at the top of
his voice, "Myrmidons, followers of Achilles son of Peleus, be men my friends,
fight with might and with main, that we may win glory for the son of Peleus,
who is far the foremost man at the ships of the Argives- he, and his close
fighting followers. The son of Atreus King Agamemnon will thus learn his
folly in showing no respect to the bravest of the Achaeans."
With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and they
fell in a body upon the Trojans. The ships rang again with the cry which
the Achaeans raised, and when the Trojans saw the brave son of Menoetius
and his squire all gleaming in their armour, they were daunted and their
battalions were thrown into confusion, for they thought the fleet son of
Peleus must now have put aside his anger, and have been reconciled to Agamemnon;
every one, therefore, looked round about to see whither he might fly for
safety.
Patroclus first aimed a spear into the middle of the press where
men were packed most closely, by the stern of the ship of Protesilaus.
He hit Pyraechmes who had led his Paeonian horsemen from the Amydon and
the broad waters of the river Axius; the spear struck him on the right
shoulder, and with a groan he fell backwards in the dust; on this his men
were thrown into confusion, for by killing their leader, who was the finest
soldier among them, Patroclus struck panic into them all. He thus drove
them from the ship and quenched the fire that was then blazing- leaving
the half-burnt ship to lie where it was. The Trojans were now driven back
with a shout that rent the skies, while the Danaans poured after them from
their ships, shouting also without ceasing. As when Jove, gatherer of the
thunder-cloud, spreads a dense canopy on the top of some lofty mountain,
and all the peaks, the jutting headlands, and forest glades show out in
the great light that flashes from the bursting heavens, even so when the
Danaans had now driven back the fire from their ships, they took breath
for a little while; but the fury of the fight was not yet over, for the
Trojans were not driven back in utter rout, but still gave battle, and
were ousted from their ground only by sheer fighting.
The fight then became more scattered, and the chieftains killed
one another when and how they could. The valiant son of Menoetius first
drove his spear into the thigh of Areilycus just as he was turning round;
the point went clean through, and broke the bone so that he fell forward.
Meanwhile Menelaus struck Thoas in the chest, where it was exposed near
the rim of his shield, and he fell dead. The son of Phyleus saw Amphiclus
about to attack him, and ere he could do so took aim at the upper part
of his thigh, where the muscles are thicker than in any other part; the
spear tore through all the sinews of the leg, and his eyes were closed
in darkness. Of the sons of Nestor one, Antilochus, speared Atymnius, driving
the point of the spear through his throat, and down he fell. Maris then
sprang on Antilochus in hand-to-hand fight to avenge his brother, and bestrode
the body spear in hand; but valiant Thrasymedes was too quick for him,
and in a moment had struck him in the shoulder ere he could deal his blow;
his aim was true, and the spear severed all the muscles at the root of
his arm, and tore them right down to the bone, so he fell heavily to the
ground and his eyes were closed in darkness. Thus did these two noble comrades
of Sarpedon go down to Erebus slain by the two sons of Nestor; they were
the warrior sons of Amisodorus, who had reared the invincible Chimaera,
to the bane of many. Ajax son of Oileus sprang on Cleobulus and took him
alive as he was entangled in the crush; but he killed him then and there
by a sword-blow on the neck. The sword reeked with his blood, while dark
death and the strong hand of fate gripped him and closed his
eyes.
Peneleos and Lycon now met in close fight, for they had missed
each other with their spears. They had both thrown without effect, so now
they drew their swords. Lycon struck the plumed crest of Peneleos′ helmet
but his sword broke at the hilt, while Peneleos smote Lycon on the neck
under the ear. The blade sank so deep that the head was held on by nothing
but the skin, and there was no more life left in him. Meriones gave chase
to Acamas on foot and caught him up just as he was about to mount his chariot;
he drove a spear through his right shoulder so that he fell headlong from
the car, and his eyes were closed in darkness. Idomeneus speared Erymas
in the mouth; the bronze point of the spear went clean through it beneath
the brain, crashing in among the white bones and smashing them up. His
teeth were all of them knocked out and the blood came gushing in a stream
from both his eyes; it also came gurgling up from his mouth and nostrils,
and the darkness of death enfolded him round about.
Thus did these chieftains of the Danaans each of them kill his
man. As ravening wolves seize on kids or lambs, fastening on them when
they are alone on the hillsides and have strayed from the main flock through
the carelessness of the shepherd- and when the wolves see this they pounce
upon them at once because they cannot defend themselves- even so did the
Danaans now fall on the Trojans, who fled with ill-omened cries in their
panic and had no more fight left in them.
Meanwhile great Ajax kept on trying to drive a spear into Hector,
but Hector was so skilful that he held his broad shoulders well under cover
of his ox-hide shield, ever on the look-out for the whizzing of the arrows
and the heavy thud of the spears. He well knew that the fortunes of the
day had changed, but still stood his ground and tried to protect his
comrades.
As when a cloud goes up into heaven from Olympus, rising out of
a clear sky when Jove is brewing a gale- even with such panic stricken
rout did the Trojans now fly, and there was no order in their going. Hector′s
fleet horses bore him and his armour out of the fight, and he left the
Trojan host penned in by the deep trench against their will. Many a yoke
of horses snapped the pole of their chariots in the trench and left their
master′s car behind them. Patroclus gave chase, calling impetuously on
the Danaans and full of fury against the Trojans, who, being now no longer
in a body, filled all the ways with their cries of panic and rout; the
air was darkened with the clouds of dust they raised, and the horses strained
every nerve in their flight from the tents and ships towards the
city.
Patroclus kept on heading his horses wherever he saw most men flying
in confusion, cheering on his men the while. Chariots were being smashed
in all directions, and many a man came tumbling down from his own car to
fall beneath the wheels of that of Patroclus, whose immortal steeds, given
by the gods to Peleus, sprang over the trench at a bound as they sped onward.
He was intent on trying to get near Hector, for he had set his heart on
spearing him, but Hector′s horses were now hurrying him away. As the whole
dark earth bows before some tempest on an autumn day when Jove rains his
hardest to punish men for giving crooked judgement in their courts, and
arriving justice therefrom without heed to the decrees of heaven- all the
rivers run full and the torrents tear many a new channel as they roar headlong
from the mountains to the dark sea, and it fares ill with the works of
men- even such was the stress and strain of the Trojan horses in their
flight.
Patroclus now cut off the battalions that were nearest to him and
drove them back to the ships. They were doing their best to reach the city,
but he would not Yet them, and bore down on them between the river and
the ships and wall. Many a fallen comrade did he then avenge. First he
hit Pronous with a spear on the chest where it was exposed near the rim
of his shield, and he fell heavily to the ground. Next he sprang on Thestor
son of Enops, who was sitting all huddled up in his chariot, for he had
lost his head and the reins had been torn out of his hands. Patroclus went
up to him and drove a spear into his right jaw; he thus hooked him by the
teeth and the spear pulled him over the rim of his car, as one who sits
at the end of some jutting rock and draws a strong fish out of the sea
with a hook and a line- even so with his spear did he pull Thestor all
gaping from his chariot; he then threw him down on his face and he died
while falling. On this, as Erylaus was on to attack him, he struck him
full on the head with a stone, and his brains were all battered inside
his helmet, whereon he fell headlong to the ground and the pangs of death
took hold upon him. Then he laid low, one after the other, Erymas, Amphoterus,
Epaltes, Tlepolemus, Echius son of Damastor, Pyris, lpheus, Euippus and
Polymelus son of Argeas.
Now when Sarpedon saw his comrades, men who wore ungirdled tunics,
being overcome by Patroclus son of Menoetius, he rebuked the Lycians saying.
"Shame on you, where are you flying to? Show your mettle; I will myself
meet this man in fight and learn who it is that is so masterful; he has
done us much hurt, and has stretched many a brave man upon the
ground."
He sprang from his chariot as he spoke, and Patroclus, when he
saw this, leaped on to the ground also. The two then rushed at one another
with loud cries like eagle-beaked crook-taloned vultures that scream and
tear at one another in some high mountain fastness.
The son of scheming Saturn looked down upon them in pity and said
to Juno who was his wife and sister, "Alas, that it should be the lot of
Sarpedon whom I love so dearly to perish by the hand of Patroclus. I am
in two minds whether to catch him up out of the fight and set him down
safe and sound in the fertile land of Lycia, or to let him now fall by
the hand of the son of Menoetius."
And Juno answered, "Most dread son of Saturn, what is this that
you are saying? Would you snatch a mortal man, whose doom has long been
fated, out of the jaws of death? Do as you will, but we shall not all of
us be of your mind. I say further, and lay my saying to your heart, that
if you send Sarpedon safely to his own home, some other of the gods will
be also wanting to escort his son out of battle, for there are many sons
of gods fighting round the city of Troy, and you will make every one jealous.
If, however, you are fond of him and pity him, let him indeed fall by the
hand of Patroclus, but as soon as the life is gone out of him, send Death
and sweet Sleep to bear him off the field and take him to the broad lands
of Lycia, where his brothers and his kinsmen will bury him with mound and
pillar, in due honour to the dead."
The sire of gods and men assented, but he shed a rain of blood
upon the earth in honour of his son whom Patroclus was about to kill on
the rich plain of Troy far from his home.
When they were now come close to one another Patroclus struck Thrasydemus,
the brave squire of Sarpedon, in the lower part of the belly, and killed
him. Sarpedon then aimed a spear at Patroclus and missed him, but he struck
the horse Pedasus in the right shoulder, and it screamed aloud as it lay,
groaning in the dust until the life went out of it. The other two horses
began to plunge; the pole of the chariot cracked and they got entangled
in the reins through the fall of the horse that was yoked along with them;
but Automedon knew what to do; without the loss of a moment he drew the
keen blade that hung by his sturdy thigh and cut the third horse adrift;
whereon the other two righted themselves, and pulling hard at the reins
again went together into battle.
Sarpedon now took a second aim at Patroclus, and again missed him,
the point of the spear passed over his left shoulder without hitting him.
Patroclus then aimed in his turn, and the spear sped not from his hand
in vain, for he hit Sarpedon just where the midriff surrounds the ever-beating
heart. He fell like some oak or silver poplar or tall pine to which woodmen
have laid their axes upon the mountains to make timber for ship-building-
even so did he lie stretched at full length in front of his chariot and
horses, moaning and clutching at the blood-stained dust. As when a lion
springs with a bound upon a herd of cattle and fastens on a great black
bull which dies bellowing in its clutches- even so did the leader of the
Lycian warriors struggle in death as he fell by the hand of Patroclus.
He called on his trusty comrade and said, "Glaucus, my brother, hero among
heroes, put forth all your strength, fight with might and main, now if
ever quit yourself like a valiant soldier. First go about among the Lycian
captains and bid them fight for Sarpedon; then yourself also do battle
to save my armour from being taken. My name will haunt you henceforth and
for ever if the Achaeans rob me of my armour now that I have fallen at
their ships. Do your very utmost and call all my people
together."
Death closed his eyes as he spoke. Patroclus planted his heel on
his breast and drew the spear from his body, whereon his senses came out
along with it, and he drew out both spear-point and Sarpedon′s soul at
the same time. Hard by the Myrmidons held his snorting steeds, who were
wild with panic at finding themselves deserted by their
lords.
Glaucus was overcome with grief when he heard what Sarpedon said,
for he could not help him. He had to support his arm with his other hand,
being in great pain through the wound which Teucer′s arrow had given him
when Teucer was defending the wall as he, Glaucus, was assailing it. Therefore
he prayed to far-darting Apollo saying, "Hear me O king from your seat,
may be in the rich land of Lycia, or may be in Troy, for in all places
you can hear the prayer of one who is in distress, as I now am. I have
a grievous wound; my hand is aching with pain, there is no staunching the
blood, and my whole arm drags by reason of my hurt, so that I cannot grasp
my sword nor go among my foes and fight them, thou our prince, Jove′s son
Sarpedon, is slain. Jove defended not his son, do you, therefore, O king,
heal me of my wound, ease my pain and grant me strength both to cheer on
the Lycians and to fight along with them round the body of him who has
fallen."
Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer. He eased his pain,
staunched the black blood from the wound, and gave him new strength. Glaucus
perceived this, and was thankful that the mighty god had answered his prayer;
forthwith, therefore, he went among the Lycian captains, and bade them
come to fight about the body of Sarpedon. From these he strode on among
the Trojans to Polydamas son of Panthous and Agenor; he then went in search
of Aeneas and Hector, and when he had found them he said, "Hector, you
have utterly forgotten your allies, who languish here for your sake far
from friends and home while you do nothing to support them. Sarpedon leader
of the Lycian warriors has fallen- he who was at once the right and might
of Lycia; Mars has laid him low by the spear of Patroclus. Stand by him,
my friends, and suffer not the Myrmidons to strip him of his armour, nor
to treat his body with contumely in revenge for all the Danaans whom we
have speared at the ships."
As he spoke the Trojans were plunged in extreme and ungovernable
grief; for Sarpedon, alien though he was, had been one of the main stays
of their city, both as having much people with him, and himself the foremost
among them all. Led by Hector, who was infuriated by the fall of Sarpedon,
they made instantly for the Danaans with all their might, while the undaunted
spirit of Patroclus son of Menoetius cheered on the Achaeans. First he
spoke to the two Ajaxes, men who needed no bidding. "Ajaxes," said he,
"may it now please you to show youselves the men you have always been,
or even better- Sarpedon is fallen- he who was first to overleap the wall
of the Achaeans; let us take the body and outrage it; let us strip the
armour from his shoulders, and kill his comrades if they try to rescue
his body."
He spoke to men who of themselves were full eager; both sides,
therefore, the Trojans and Lycians on the one hand, and the Myrmidons and
Achaeans on the other, strengthened their battalions, and fought desperately
about the body of Sarpedon, shouting fiercely the while. Mighty was the
din of their armour as they came together, and Jove shed a thick darkness
over the fight, to increase the of the battle over the body of his
son.
At first the Trojans made some headway against the Achaeans, for
one of the best men among the Myrmidons was killed, Epeigeus, son of noble
Agacles who had erewhile been king in the good city of Budeum; but presently,
having killed a valiant kinsman of his own, he took refuge with Peleus
and Thetis, who sent him to Ilius the land of noble steeds to fight the
Trojans under Achilles. Hector now struck him on the head with a stone
just as he had caught hold of the body, and his brains inside his helmet
were all battered in, so that he fell face foremost upon the body of Sarpedon,
and there died. Patroclus was enraged by the death of his comrade, and
sped through the front ranks as swiftly as a hawk that swoops down on a
flock of daws or starlings. Even so swiftly, O noble knight Patroclus,
did you make straight for the Lycians and Trojans to avenge your comrade.
Forthwith he struck Sthenelaus the son of Ithaemenes on the neck with a
stone, and broke the tendons that join it to the head and spine. On this
Hector and the front rank of his men gave ground. As far as a man can throw
a javelin when competing for some prize, or even in battle- so far did
the Trojans now retreat before the Achaeans. Glaucus, captain of the Lycians,
was the first to rally them, by killing Bathycles son of Chalcon who lived
in Hellas and was the richest man among the Myrmidons. Glaucus turned round
suddenly, just as Bathycles who was pursuing him was about to lay hold
of him, and drove his spear right into the middle of his chest, whereon
he fell heavily to the ground, and the fall of so good a man filled the
Achaeans with dismay, while the Trojans were exultant, and came up in a
body round the corpse. Nevertheless the Achaeans, mindful of their prowess,
bore straight down upon them.
Meriones then killed a helmed warrior of the Trojans, Laogonus
son of Onetor, who was priest of Jove of Mt. Ida, and was honoured by the
people as though he were a god. Meriones struck him under the jaw and ear,
so that life went out of him and the darkness of death laid hold upon him.
Aeneas then aimed a spear at Meriones, hoping to hit him under the shield
as he was advancing, but Meriones saw it coming and stooped forward to
avoid it, whereon the spear flew past him and the point stuck in the ground,
while the butt-end went on quivering till Mars robbed it of its force.
The spear, therefore, sped from Aeneas′s hand in vain and fell quivering
to the ground. Aeneas was angry and said, "Meriones, you are a good dancer,
but if I had hit you my spear would soon have made an end of
you."
And Meriones answered, "Aeneas, for all your bravery, you will
not be able to make an end of every one who comes against you. You are
only a mortal like myself, and if I were to hit you in the middle of your
shield with my spear, however strong and self-confident you may be, I should
soon vanquish you, and you would yield your life to Hades of the noble
steeds."
On this the son of Menoetius rebuked him and said, "Meriones, hero
though you be, you should not speak thus; taunting speeches, my good friend,
will not make the Trojans draw away from the dead body; some of them must
go under ground first; blows for battle, and words for council; fight,
therefore, and say nothing."
He led the way as he spoke and the hero went forward with him.
As the sound of woodcutters in some forest glade upon the mountains- and
the thud of their axes is heard afar- even such a din now rose from earth-clash
of bronze armour and of good ox-hide shields, as men smote each other with
their swords and spears pointed at both ends. A man had need of good eyesight
now to know Sarpedon, so covered was he from head to foot with spears and
blood and dust. Men swarmed about the body, as flies that buzz round the
full milk-pails in spring when they are brimming with milk- even so did
they gather round Sarpedon; nor did Jove turn his keen eyes away for one
moment from the fight, but kept looking at it all the time, for he was
settling how best to kill Patroclus, and considering whether Hector should
be allowed to end him now in the fight round the body of Sarpedon, and
strip him of his armour, or whether he should let him give yet further
trouble to the Trojans. In the end, he deemed it best that the brave squire
of Achilles son of Peleus should drive Hector and the Trojans back towards
the city and take the lives of many. First, therefore, he made Hector turn
fainthearted, whereon he mounted his chariot and fled, bidding the other
Trojans fly also, for he saw that the scales of Jove had turned against
him. Neither would the brave Lycians stand firm; they were dismayed when
they saw their king lying struck to the heart amid a heap of corpses- for
when the son of Saturn made the fight wax hot many had fallen above him.
The Achaeans, therefore stripped the gleaming armour from his shoulders
and the brave son of Menoetius gave it to his men to take to the ships.
Then Jove lord of the storm-cloud said to Apollo, "Dear Phoebus, go, I
pray you, and take Sarpedon out of range of the weapons; cleanse the black
blood from off him, and then bear him a long way off where you may wash
him in the river, anoint him with ambrosia, and clothe him in immortal
raiment; this done, commit him to the arms of the two fleet messengers,
Death, and Sleep, who will carry him straightway to the rich land of Lycia,
where his brothers and kinsmen will inter him, and will raise both mound
and pillar to his memory, in due honour to the dead."
Thus he spoke. Apollo obeyed his father′s saying, and came down
from the heights of Ida into the thick of the fight; forthwith he took
Sarpedon out of range of the weapons, and then bore him a long way off,
where he washed him in the river, anointed him with ambrosia and clothed
him in immortal raiment; this done, he committed him to the arms of the
two fleet messengers, Death, and Sleep, who presently set him down in the
rich land of Lycia.
Meanwhile Patroclus, with many a shout to his horses and to Automedon,
pursued the Trojans and Lycians in the pride and foolishness of his heart.
Had he but obeyed the bidding of the son of Peleus, he would have, escaped
death and have been scatheless; but the counsels of Jove pass man′s understanding;
he will put even a brave man to flight and snatch victory from his grasp,
or again he will set him on to fight, as he now did when he put a high
spirit into the heart of Patroclus.
Who then first, and who last, was slain by you, O Patroclus, when
the gods had now called you to meet your doom? First Adrestus, Autonous,
Echeclus, Perimus the son of Megas, Epistor and Melanippus; after these
he killed Elasus, Mulius, and Pylartes. These he slew, but the rest saved
themselves by flight.
The sons of the Achaeans would now have taken Troy by the hands
of Patroclus, for his spear flew in all directions, had not Phoebus Apollo
taken his stand upon the wall to defeat his purpose and to aid the Trojans.
Thrice did Patroclus charge at an angle of the high wall, and thrice did
Apollo beat him back, striking his shield with his own immortal hands.
When Patroclus was coming on like a god for yet a fourth time, Apollo shouted
to him with an awful voice and said, "Draw back, noble Patroclus, it is
not your lot to sack the city of the Trojan chieftains, nor yet will it
be that of Achilles who is a far better man than you are." On hearing this,
Patroclus withdrew to some distance and avoided the anger of
Apollo.
Meanwhile Hector was waiting with his horses inside the Scaean
gates, in doubt whether to drive out again and go on fighting, or to call
the army inside the gates. As he was thus doubting Phoebus Apollo drew
near him in the likeness of a young and lusty warrior Asius, who was Hector′s
uncle, being own brother to Hecuba, and son of Dymas who lived in Phrygia
by the waters of the river Sangarius; in his likeness Jove′s son Apollo
now spoke to Hector saying, "Hector, why have you left off fighting? It
is ill done of you. If I were as much better a man than you, as I am worse,
you should soon rue your slackness. Drive straight towards Patroclus, if
so be that Apollo may grant you a triumph over him, and you may rull
him."
With this the god went back into the hurly-burly, and Hector bade
Cebriones drive again into the fight. Apollo passed in among them, and
struck panic into the Argives, while he gave triumph to Hector and the
Trojans. Hector let the other Danaans alone and killed no man, but drove
straight at Patroclus. Patroclus then sprang from his chariot to the ground,
with a spear in his left hand, and in his right a jagged stone as large
as his hand could hold. He stood still and threw it, nor did it go far
without hitting some one; the cast was not in vain, for the stone struck
Cebriones, Hector′s charioteer, a bastard son of Priam, as he held the
reins in his hands. The stone hit him on the forehead and drove his brows
into his head for the bone was smashed, and his eyes fell to the ground
at his feet. He dropped dead from his chariot as though he were diving,
and there was no more life left in him. Over him did you then vaunt, O
knight Patroclus, saying, "Bless my heart, how active he is, and how well
he dives. If we had been at sea this fellow would have dived from the ship′s
side and brought up as many oysters as the whole crew could stomach, even
in rough water, for he has dived beautifully off his chariot on to the
ground. It seems, then, that there are divers also among the
Trojans."
As he spoke he flung himself on Cebriones with the spring, as it
were, of a lion that while attacking a stockyard is himself struck in the
chest, and his courage is his own bane- even so furiously, O Patroclus,
did you then spring upon Cebriones. Hector sprang also from his chariot
to the ground. The pair then fought over the body of Cebriones. As two
lions fight fiercely on some high mountain over the body of a stag that
they have killed, even so did these two mighty warriors, Patroclus son
of Menoetius and brave Hector, hack and hew at one another over the corpse
of Cebriones. Hector would not let him go when he had once got him by the
head, while Patroclus kept fast hold of his feet, and a fierce fight raged
between the other Danaans and Trojans. As the east and south wind buffet
one another when they beat upon some dense forest on the mountains- there
is beech and ash and spreading cornel; the to of the trees roar as they
beat on one another, and one can hear the boughs cracking and breaking-
even so did the Trojans and Achaeans spring upon one another and lay about
each other, and neither side would give way. Many a pointed spear fell
to ground and many a winged arrow sped from its bow-string about the body
of Cebriones; many a great stone, moreover, beat on many a shield as they
fought around his body, but there he lay in the whirling clouds of dust,
all huge and hugely, heedless of his driving now.
So long as the sun was still high in mid-heaven the weapons of
either side were alike deadly, and the people fell; but when he went down
towards the time when men loose their oxen, the Achaeans proved to be beyond
all forecast stronger, so that they drew Cebriones out of range of the
darts and tumult of the Trojans, and stripped the armour from his shoulders.
Then Patroclus sprang like Mars with fierce intent and a terrific shout
upon the Trojans, and thrice did he kill nine men; but as he was coming
on like a god for a time, then, O Patroclus, was the hour of your end approaching,
for Phoebus fought you in fell earnest. Patroclus did not see him as he
moved about in the crush, for he was enshrouded in thick darkness, and
the god struck him from behind on his back and his broad shoulders with
the flat of his hand, so that his eyes turned dizzy. Phoebus Apollo beat
the helmet from off his head, and it rolled rattling off under the horses′
feet, where its horse-hair plumes were all begrimed with dust and blood.
Never indeed had that helmet fared so before, for it had served to protect
the head and comely forehead of the godlike hero Achilles. Now, however,
Zeus delivered it over to be worn by Hector. Nevertheless the end of Hector
also was near. The bronze-shod spear, so great and so strong, was broken
in the hand of Patroclus, while his shield that covered him from head to
foot fell to the ground as did also the band that held it, and Apollo undid
the fastenings of his corslet.
On this his mind became clouded; his limbs failed him, and he stood
as one dazed; whereon Euphorbus son of Panthous a Dardanian, the best spearman
of his time, as also the finest horseman and fleetest runner, came behind
him and struck him in the back with a spear, midway between the shoulders.
This man as soon as ever he had come up with his chariot had dismounted
twenty men, so proficient was he in all the arts of war- he it was, O knight
Patroclus, that first drove a weapon into you, but he did not quite overpower
you. Euphorbus then ran back into the crowd, after drawing his ashen spear
out of the wound; he would not stand firm and wait for Patroclus, unarmed
though he now was, to attack him; but Patroclus unnerved, alike by the
blow the god had given him and by the spear-wound, drew back under cover
of his men in fear for his life. Hector on this, seeing him to be wounded
and giving ground, forced his way through the ranks, and when close up
with him struck him in the lower part of the belly with a spear, driving
the bronze point right through it, so that he fell heavily to the ground
to the great of the Achaeans. As when a lion has fought some fierce wild-boar
and worsted him- the two fight furiously upon the mountains over some little
fountain at which they would both drink, and the lion has beaten the boar
till he can hardly breathe- even so did Hector son of Priam take the life
of the brave son of Menoetius who had killed so many, striking him from
close at hand, and vaunting over him the while. "Patroclus," said he, "you
deemed that you should sack our city, rob our Trojan women of their freedom,
and carry them off in your ships to your own country. Fool; Hector and
his fleet horses were ever straining their utmost to defend them. I am
foremost of all the Trojan warriors to stave the day of bondage from off
them; as for you, vultures shall devour you here. Poor wretch, Achilles
with all his bravery availed you nothing; and yet I ween when you left
him he charged you straitly saying, ′Come not back to the ships, knight
Patroclus, till you have rent the bloodstained shirt of murderous Hector
about his body. Thus I ween did he charge you, and your fool′s heart answered
him ′yea′ within you."
Then, as the life ebbed out of you, you answered, O knight Patroclus:
"Hector, vaunt as you will, for Jove the son of Saturn and Apollo have
vouchsafed you victory; it is they who have vanquished me so easily, and
they who have stripped the armour from my shoulders; had twenty such men
as you attacked me, all of them would have fallen before my spear. Fate
and the son of Leto have overpowered me, and among mortal men Euphorbus;
you are yourself third only in the killing of me. I say further, and lay
my saying to your heart, you too shall live but for a little season; death
and the day of your doom are close upon you, and they will lay you low
by the hand of Achilles son of Aeacus."
When he had thus spoken his eyes were closed in death, his soul
left his body and flitted down to the house of Hades, mourning its sad
fate and bidding farewell to the youth and vigor of its manhood. Dead though
he was, Hector still spoke to him saying, "Patroclus, why should you thus
foretell my doom? Who knows but Achilles, son of lovely Thetis, may be
smitten by my spear and die before me?"
As he spoke he drew the bronze spear from the wound, planting his
foot upon the body, which he thrust off and let lie on its back. He then
went spear in hand after Automedon, squire of the fleet descendant of Aeacus,
for he longed to lay him low, but the immortal steeds which the gods had
given as a rich gift to Peleus bore him swiftly from the
field.
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