The Iliad
Book XVII
Brave Menelaus son of Atreus now came to know that Patroclus had fallen,
and made his way through the front ranks clad in full armour to bestride
him. As a cow stands lowing over her first calf, even so did yellow-haired
Menelaus bestride Patroclus. He held his round shield and his spear in
front of him, resolute to kill any who should dare face him. But the son
of Panthous had also noted the body, and came up to Menelaus saying, "Menelaus,
son of Atreus, draw back, leave the body, and let the bloodstained spoils
be. I was first of the Trojans and their brave allies to drive my spear
into Patroclus, let me, therefore, have my full glory among the Trojans,
or I will take aim and kill you."
To this Menelaus answered in great anger "By father Jove, boasting
is an ill thing. The pard is not more bold, nor the lion nor savage wild-boar,
which is fiercest and most dauntless of all creatures, than are the proud
sons of Panthous. Yet Hyperenor did not see out the days of his youth when
he made light of me and withstood me, deeming me the meanest soldier among
the Danaans. His own feet never bore him back to gladden his wife and parents.
Even so shall I make an end of you too, if you withstand me; get you back
into the crowd and do not face me, or it shall be worse for you. Even a
fool may be wise after the event."
Euphorbus would not listen, and said, "Now indeed, Menelaus, shall
you pay for the death of my brother over whom you vaunted, and whose wife
you widowed in her bridal chamber, while you brought grief unspeakable
on his parents. I shall comfort these poor people if I bring your head
and armour and place them in the hands of Panthous and noble Phrontis.
The time is come when this matter shall be fought out and settled, for
me or against me."
As he spoke he struck Menelaus full on the shield, but the spear
did not go through, for the shield turned its point. Menelaus then took
aim, praying to father Jove as he did so; Euphorbus was drawing back, and
Menelaus struck him about the roots of his throat, leaning his whole weight
on the spear, so as to drive it home. The point went clean through his
neck, and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the
ground. His hair which was like that of the Graces, and his locks so deftly
bound in bands of silver and gold, were all bedrabbled with blood. As one
who has grown a fine young olive tree in a clear space where there is abundance
of water- the plant is full of promise, and though the winds beat upon
it from every quarter it puts forth its white blossoms till the blasts
of some fierce hurricane sweep down upon it and level it with the ground-
even so did Menelaus strip the fair youth Euphorbus of his armour after
he had slain him. Or as some fierce lion upon the mountains in the pride
of his strength fastens on the finest heifer in a herd as it is feeding-
first he breaks her neck with his strong jaws, and then gorges on her blood
and entrails; dogs and shepherds raise a hue and cry against him, but they
stand aloof and will not come close to him, for they are pale with fear-
even so no one had the courage to face valiant Menelaus. The son of Atreus
would have then carried off the armour of the son of Panthous with ease,
had not Phoebus Apollo been angry, and in the guise of Mentes chief of
the Cicons incited Hector to attack him. "Hector," said he, "you are now
going after the horses of the noble son of Aeacus, but you will not take
them; they cannot be kept in hand and driven by mortal man, save only by
Achilles, who is son to an immortal mother. Meanwhile Menelaus son of Atreus
has bestridden the body of Patroclus and killed the noblest of the Trojans,
Euphorbus son of Panthous, so that he can fight no more."
The god then went back into the toil and turmoil, but the soul
of Hector was darkened with a cloud of grief; he looked along the ranks
and saw Euphorbus lying on the ground with the blood still flowing from
his wound, and Menelaus stripping him of his armour. On this he made his
way to the front like a flame of fire, clad in his gleaming armour, and
crying with a loud voice. When the son of Atreus heard him, he said to
himself in his dismay, "Alas! what shall I do? I may not let the Trojans
take the armour of Patroclus who has fallen fighting on my behalf, lest
some Danaan who sees me should cry shame upon me. Still if for my honour′s
sake I fight Hector and the Trojans single-handed, they will prove too
many for me, for Hector is bringing them up in force. Why, however, should
I thus hesitate? When a man fights in despite of heaven with one whom a
god befriends, he will soon rue it. Let no Danaan think ill of me if I
give place to Hector, for the hand of heaven is with him. Yet, if I could
find Ajax, the two of us would fight Hector and heaven too, if we might
only save the body of Patroclus for Achilles son of Peleus. This, of many
evils would be the least."
While he was thus in two minds, the Trojans came up to him with
Hector at their head; he therefore drew back and left the body, turning
about like some bearded lion who is being chased by dogs and men from a
stockyard with spears and hue and cry, whereon he is daunted and slinks
sulkily off- even so did Menelaus son of Atreus turn and leave the body
of Patroclus. When among the body of his men, he looked around for mighty
Ajax son of Telamon, and presently saw him on the extreme left of the fight,
cheering on his men and exhorting them to keep on fighting, for Phoebus
Apollo had spread a great panic among them. He ran up to him and said,
"Ajax, my good friend, come with me at once to dead Patroclus, if so be
that we may take the body to Achilles- as for his armour, Hector already
has it."
These words stirred the heart of Ajax, and he made his way among
the front ranks, Menelaus going with him. Hector had stripped Patroclus
of his armour, and was dragging him away to cut off his head and take the
body to fling before the dogs of Troy. But Ajax came up with his shield
like wall before him, on which Hector withdrew under shelter of his men,
and sprang on to his chariot, giving the armour over to the Trojans to
take to the city, as a great trophy for himself; Ajax, therefore, covered
the body of Patroclus with his broad shield and bestrode him; as a lion
stands over his whelps if hunters have come upon him in a forest when he
is with his little ones- in the pride and fierceness of his strength he
draws his knit brows down till they cover his eyes- even so did Ajax bestride
the body of Patroclus, and by his side stood Menelaus son of Atreus, nursing
great sorrow in his heart.
Then Glaucus son of Hippolochus looked fiercely at Hector and rebuked
him sternly. "Hector," said he, "you make a brave show, but in fight you
are sadly wanting. A runaway like yourself has no claim to so great a reputation.
Think how you may now save your town and citadel by the hands of your own
people born in Ilius; for you will get no Lycians to fight for you, seeing
what thanks they have had for their incessant hardships. Are you likely,
sir, to do anything to help a man of less note, after leaving Sarpedon,
who was at once your guest and comrade in arms, to be the spoil and prey
of the Danaans? So long as he lived he did good service both to your city
and yourself; yet you had no stomach to save his body from the dogs. If
the Lycians will listen to me, they will go home and leave Troy to its
fate. If the Trojans had any of that daring fearless spirit which lays
hold of men who are fighting for their country and harassing those who
would attack it, we should soon bear off Patroclus into Ilius. Could we
get this dead man away and bring him into the city of Priam, the Argives
would readily give up the armour of Sarpedon, and we should get his body
to boot. For he whose squire has been now killed is the foremost man at
the ships of the Achaeans- he and his close-fighting followers. Nevertheless
you dared not make a stand against Ajax, nor face him, eye to eye, with
battle all round you, for he is a braver man than you
are."
Hector scowled at him and answered, "Glaucus, you should know better.
I have held you so far as a man of more understanding than any in all Lycia,
but now I despise you for saying that I am afraid of Ajax. I fear neither
battle nor the din of chariots, but Jove′s will is stronger than ours;
Jove at one time makes even a strong man draw back and snatches victory
from his grasp, while at another he will set him on to fight. Come hither
then, my friend, stand by me and see indeed whether I shall play the coward
the whole day through as you say, or whether I shall not stay some even
of the boldest Danaans from fighting round the body of
Patroclus."
As he spoke he called loudly on the Trojans saying, "Trojans, Lycians,
and Dardanians, fighters in close combat, be men, my friends, and fight
might and main, while I put on the goodly armour of Achilles, which I took
when I killed Patroclus."
With this Hector left the fight, and ran full speed after his men
who were taking the armour of Achilles to Troy, but had not yet got far.
Standing for a while apart from the woeful fight, he changed his armour.
His own he sent to the strong city of Ilius and to the Trojans, while he
put on the immortal armour of the son of Peleus, which the gods had given
to Peleus, who in his age gave it to his son; but the son did not grow
old in his father′s armour.
When Jove, lord of the storm-cloud, saw Hector standing aloof and
arming himself in the armour of the son of Peleus, he wagged his head and
muttered to himself saying, "A! poor wretch, you arm in the armour of a
hero, before whom many another trembles, and you reck nothing of the doom
that is already close upon you. You have killed his comrade so brave and
strong, but it was not well that you should strip the armour from his head
and shoulders. I do indeed endow you with great might now, but as against
this you shall not return from battle to lay the armour of the son of Peleus
before Andromache."
The son of Saturn bowed his portentous brows, and Hector fitted
the armour to his body, while terrible Mars entered into him, and filled
his whole body with might and valour. With a shout he strode in among the
allies, and his armour flashed about him so that he seemed to all of them
like the great son of Peleus himself. He went about among them and cheered
them on- Mesthles, Glaucus, Medon, Thersilochus, Asteropaeus, Deisenor
and Hippothous, Phorcys, Chromius and Ennomus the augur. All these did
he exhort saying, "Hear me, allies from other cities who are here in your
thousands, it was not in order to have a crowd about me that I called you
hither each from his several city, but that with heart and soul you might
defend the wives and little ones of the Trojans from the fierce Achaeans.
For this do I oppress my people with your food and the presents that make
you rich. Therefore turn, and charge at the foe, to stand or fall as is
the game of war; whoever shall bring Patroclus, dead though he be, into
the hands of the Trojans, and shall make Ajax give way before him, I will
give him one half of the spoils while I keep the other. He will thus share
like honour with myself."
When he had thus spoken they charged full weight upon the Danaans
with their spears held out before them, and the hopes of each ran high
that he should force Ajax son of Telamon to yield up the body- fools that
they were, for he was about to take the lives of many. Then Ajax said to
Menelaus, "My good friend Menelaus, you and I shall hardly come out of
this fight alive. I am less concerned for the body of Patroclus, who will
shortly become meat for the dogs and vultures of Troy, than for the safety
of my own head and yours. Hector has wrapped us round in a storm of battle
from every quarter, and our destruction seems now certain. Call then upon
the princes of the Danaans if there is any who can hear
us."
Menelaus did as he said, and shouted to the Danaans for help at
the top of his voice. "My friends," he cried, "princes and counsellors
of the Argives, all you who with Agamemnon and Menelaus drink at the public
cost, and give orders each to his own people as Jove vouchsafes him power
and glory, the fight is so thick about me that I cannot distinguish you
severally; come on, therefore, every man unbidden, and think it shame that
Patroclus should become meat and morsel for Trojan hounds."
Fleet Ajax son of Oileus heard him and was first to force his way
through the fight and run to help him. Next came Idomeneus and Meriones
his esquire, peer of murderous Mars. As for the others that came into the
fight after these, who of his own self could name them?
The Trojans with Hector at their head charged in a body. As a great
wave that comes thundering in at the mouth of some heaven-born river, and
the rocks that jut into the sea ring with the roar of the breakers that
beat and buffet them- even with such a roar did the Trojans come on; but
the Achaeans in singleness of heart stood firm about the son of Menoetius,
and fenced him with their bronze shields. Jove, moreover, hid the brightness
of their helmets in a thick cloud, for he had borne no grudge against the
son of Menoetius while he was still alive and squire to the descendant
of Aeacus; therefore he was loth to let him fall a prey to the dogs of
his foes the Trojans, and urged his comrades on to defend
him.
At first the Trojans drove the Achaeans back, and they withdrew
from the dead man daunted. The Trojans did not succeed in killing any one,
nevertheless they drew the body away. But the Achaeans did not lose it
long, for Ajax, foremost of all the Danaans after the son of Peleus alike
in stature and prowess, quickly rallied them and made towards the front
like a wild boar upon the mountains when he stands at bay in the forest
glades and routs the hounds and lusty youths that have attacked him- even
so did Ajax son of Telamon passing easily in among the phalanxes of the
Trojans, disperse those who had bestridden Patroclus and were most bent
on winning glory by dragging him off to their city. At this moment Hippothous
brave son of the Pelasgian Lethus, in his zeal for Hector and the Trojans,
was dragging the body off by the foot through the press of the fight, having
bound a strap round the sinews near the ancle; but a mischief soon befell
him from which none of those could save him who would have gladly done
so, for the son of Telamon sprang forward and smote him on his bronze-cheeked
helmet. The plumed headpiece broke about the point of the weapon, struck
at once by the spear and by the strong hand of Ajax, so that the bloody
brain came oozing out through the crest-socket. His strength then failed
him and he let Patroclus′ foot drop from his hand, as he fell full length
dead upon the body; thus he died far from the fertile land of Larissa,
and never repaid his parents the cost of bringing him up, for his life
was cut short early by the spear of mighty Ajax. Hector then took aim at
Ajax with a spear, but he saw it coming and just managed to avoid it; the
spear passed on and struck Schedius son of noble Iphitus, captain of the
Phoceans, who dwelt in famed Panopeus and reigned over much people; it
struck him under the middle of the collar-bone the bronze point went right
through him, coming out at the bottom of his shoulder-blade, and his armour
rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground. Ajax in his turn
struck noble Phorcys son of Phaenops in the middle of the belly as he was
bestriding Hippothous, and broke the plate of his cuirass; whereon the
spear tore out his entrails and he clutched the ground in his palm as he
fell to earth. Hector and those who were in the front rank then gave ground,
while the Argives raised a loud cry of triumph, and drew off the bodies
of Phorcys and Hippothous which they stripped presently of their
armour.
The Trojans would now have been worsted by the brave Achaeans and
driven back to Ilius through their own cowardice, while the Argives, so
great was their courage and endurance, would have achieved a triumph even
against the will of Jove, if Apollo had not roused Aeneas, in the likeness
of Periphas son of Epytus, an attendant who had grown old in the service
of Aeneas′ aged father, and was at all times devoted to him. In his likeness,
then, Apollo said, "Aeneas, can you not manage, even though heaven be against
us, to save high Ilius? I have known men, whose numbers, courage, and self-reliance
have saved their people in spite of Jove, whereas in this case he would
much rather give victory to us than to the Danaans, if you would only fight
instead of being so terribly afraid."
Aeneas knew Apollo when he looked straight at him, and shouted
to Hector saying, "Hector and all other Trojans and allies, shame on us
if we are beaten by the Achaeans and driven back to Ilius through our own
cowardice. A god has just come up to me and told me that Jove the supreme
disposer will be with us. Therefore let us make for the Danaans, that it
may go hard with them ere they bear away dead Patroclus to the
ships."
As he spoke he sprang out far in front of the others, who then
rallied and again faced the Achaeans. Aeneas speared Leiocritus son of
Arisbas, a valiant follower of Lycomedes, and Lycomedes was moved with
pity as he saw him fall; he therefore went close up, and speared Apisaon
son of Hippasus shepherd of his people in the liver under the midriff,
so that he died; he had come from fertile Paeonia and was the best man
of them all after Asteropaeus. Asteropaeus flew forward to avenge him and
attack the Danaans, but this might no longer be, inasmuch as those about
Patroclus were well covered by their shields, and held their spears in
front of them, for Ajax had given them strict orders that no man was either
to give ground, or to stand out before the others, but all were to hold
well together about the body and fight hand to hand. Thus did huge Ajax
bid them, and the earth ran red with blood as the corpses fell thick on
one another alike on the side of the Trojans and allies, and on that of
the Danaans; for these last, too, fought no bloodless fight though many
fewer of them perished, through the care they took to defend and stand
by one another.
Thus did they fight as it were a flaming fire; it seemed as though
it had gone hard even with the sun and moon, for they were hidden over
all that part where the bravest heroes were fighting about the dead son
of Menoetius, whereas the other Danaans and Achaeans fought at their ease
in full daylight with brilliant sunshine all round them, and there was
not a cloud to be seen neither on plain nor mountain. These last moreover
would rest for a while and leave off fighting, for they were some distance
apart and beyond the range of one another′s weapons, whereas those who
were in the thick of the fray suffered both from battle and darkness. All
the best of them were being worn out by the great weight of their armour,
but the two valiant heroes, Thrasymedes and Antilochus, had not yet heard
of the death of Patroclus, and believed him to be still alive and leading
the van against the Trojans; they were keeping themselves in reserve against
the death or rout of their own comrades, for so Nestor had ordered when
he sent them from the ships into battle.
Thus through the livelong day did they wage fierce war, and the
sweat of their toil rained ever on their legs under them, and on their
hands and eyes, as they fought over the squire of the fleet son of Peleus.
It was as when a man gives a great ox-hide all drenched in fat to his men,
and bids them stretch it; whereon they stand round it in a ring and tug
till the moisture leaves it, and the fat soaks in for the many that pull
at it, and it is well stretched- even so did the two sides tug the dead
body hither and thither within the compass of but a little space- the Trojans
steadfastly set on drag ing it into Ilius, while the Achaeans were no less
so on taking it to their ships; and fierce was the fight between them.
Not Mars himself the lord of hosts, nor yet Minerva, even in their fullest
fury could make light of such a battle.
Such fearful turmoil of men and horses did Jove on that day ordain
round the body of Patroclus. Meanwhile Achilles did not know that he had
fallen, for the fight was under the wall of Troy a long way off the ships.
He had no idea, therefore, that Patroclus was dead, and deemed that he
would return alive as soon as he had gone close up to the gates. He knew
that he was not to sack the city neither with nor without himself, for
his mother had often told him this when he had sat alone with her, and
she had informed him of the counsels of great Jove. Now, however, she had
not told him how great a disaster had befallen him in the death of the
one who was far dearest to him of all his comrades.
The others still kept on charging one another round the body with
their pointed spears and killing each other. Then would one say, "My friends,
we can never again show our faces at the ships- better, and greatly better,
that earth should open and swallow us here in this place, than that we
should let the Trojans have the triumph of bearing off Patroclus to their
city."
The Trojans also on their part spoke to one another saying, "Friends,
though we fall to a man beside this body, let none shrink from fighting."
With such words did they exhort each other. They fought and fought, and
an iron clank rose through the void air to the brazen vault of heaven.
The horses of the descendant of Aeacus stood out of the fight and wept
when they heard that their driver had been laid low by the hand of murderous
Hector. Automedon, valiant son of Diores, lashed them again and again;
many a time did he speak kindly to them, and many a time did he upbraid
them, but they would neither go back to the ships by the waters of the
broad Hellespont, nor yet into battle among the Achaeans; they stood with
their chariot stock still, as a pillar set over the tomb of some dead man
or woman, and bowed their heads to the ground. Hot tears fell from their
eyes as they mourned the loss of their charioteer, and their noble manes
drooped all wet from under the yokestraps on either side the
yoke.
The son of Saturn saw them and took pity upon their sorrow. He
wagged his head, and muttered to himself, saying, "Poor things, why did
we give you to King Peleus who is a mortal, while you are yourselves ageless
and immortal? Was it that you might share the sorrows that befall mankind?
for of all creatures that live and move upon the earth there is none so
pitiable as he is- still, Hector son of Priam shall drive neither you nor
your chariot. I will not have it. It is enough that he should have the
armour over which he vaunts so vainly. Furthermore I will give you strength
of heart and limb to bear Automedon safely to the ships from battle, for
I shall let the Trojans triumph still further, and go on killing till they
reach the ships; whereon night shall fall and darkness overshadow the
land."
As he spoke he breathed heart and strength into the horses so that
they shook the dust from out of their manes, and bore their chariot swiftly
into the fight that raged between Trojans and Achaeans. Behind them fought
Automedon full of sorrow for his comrade, as a vulture amid a flock of
geese. In and out, and here and there, full speed he dashed amid the throng
of the Trojans, but for all the fury of his pursuit he killed no man, for
he could not wield his spear and keep his horses in hand when alone in
the chariot; at last, however, a comrade, Alcimedon, son of Laerces son
of Haemon caught sight of him and came up behind his chariot. "Automedon,"
said he, "what god has put this folly into your heart and robbed you of
your right mind, that you fight the Trojans in the front rank single-handed?
He who was your comrade is slain, and Hector plumes himself on being armed
in the armour of the descendant of Aeacus."
Automedon son of Diores answered, "Alcimedon, there is no one else
who can control and guide the immortal steeds so well as you can, save
only Patroclus- while he was alive- peer of gods in counsel. Take then
the whip and reins, while I go down from the car and
fight.
Alcimedon sprang on to the chariot, and caught up the whip and
reins, while Automedon leaped from off the car. When Hector saw him he
said to Aeneas who was near him, "Aeneas, counsellor of the mail-clad Trojans,
I see the steeds of the fleet son of Aeacus come into battle with weak
hands to drive them. I am sure, if you think well, that we might take them;
they will not dare face us if we both attack them."
The valiant son of Anchises was of the same mind, and the pair
went right on, with their shoulders covered under shields of tough dry
ox-hide, overlaid with much bronze. Chromius and Aretus went also with
them, and their hearts beat high with hope that they might kill the men
and capture the horses- fools that they were, for they were not to return
scatheless from their meeting with Automedon, who prayed to father Jove
and was forthwith filled with courage and strength abounding. He turned
to his trusty comrade Alcimedon and said, "Alcimedon, keep your horses
so close up that I may feel their breath upon my back; I doubt that we
shall not stay Hector son of Priam till he has killed us and mounted behind
the horses; he will then either spread panic among the ranks of the Achaeans,
or himself be killed among the foremost."
On this he cried out to the two Ajaxes and Menelaus, "Ajaxes captains
of the Argives, and Menelaus, give the dead body over to them that are
best able to defend it, and come to the rescue of us living; for Hector
and Aeneas who are the two best men among the Trojans, are pressing us
hard in the full tide of war. Nevertheless the issue lies on the lap of
heaven, I will therefore hurl my spear and leave the rest to
Jove."
He poised and hurled as he spoke, whereon the spear struck the
round shield of Aretus, and went right through it for the shield stayed
it not, so that it was driven through his belt into the lower part of his
belly. As when some sturdy youth, axe in hand, deals his blow behind the
horns of an ox and severs the tendons at the back of its neck so that it
springs forward and then drops, even so did Aretus give one bound and then
fall on his back the spear quivering in his body till it made an end of
him. Hector then aimed a spear at Automedon but he saw it coming and stooped
forward to avoid it, so that it flew past him and the point stuck in the
ground, while the butt-end went on quivering till Mars robbed it of its
force. They would then have fought hand to hand with swords had not the
two Ajaxes forced their way through the crowd when they heard their comrade
calling, and parted them for all their fury- for Hector, Aeneas, and Chromius
were afraid and drew back, leaving Aretus to lie there struck to the heart.
Automedon, peer of fleet Mars, then stripped him of his armour and vaunted
over him saying, "I have done little to assuage my sorrow for the son of
Menoetius, for the man I have killed is not so good as he
was."
As he spoke he took the blood-stained spoils and laid them upon
his chariot; then he mounted the car with his hands and feet all steeped
in gore as a lion that has been gorging upon a bull.
And now the fierce groanful fight again raged about Patroclus,
for Minerva came down from heaven and roused its fury by the command of
far-seeing Jove, who had changed his mind and sent her to encourage the
Danaans. As when Jove bends his bright bow in heaven in token to mankind
either of war or of the chill storms that stay men from their labour and
plague the flocks- even so, wrapped in such radiant raiment, did Minerva
go in among the host and speak man by man to each. First she took the form
and voice of Phoenix and spoke to Menelaus son of Atreus, who was standing
near her. "Menelaus," said she, "it will be shame and dishonour to you,
if dogs tear the noble comrade of Achilles under the walls of Troy. Therefore
be staunch, and urge your men to be so also."
Menelaus answered, "Phoenix, my good old friend, may Minerva vouchsafe
me strength and keep the darts from off me, for so shall I stand by Patroclus
and defend him; his death has gone to my heart, but Hector is as a raging
fire and deals his blows without ceasing, for Jove is now granting him
a time of triumph."
Minerva was pleased at his having named herself before any of the
other gods. Therefore she put strength into his knees and shoulders, and
made him as bold as a fly, which, though driven off will yet come again
and bite if it can, so dearly does it love man′s blood- even so bold as
this did she make him as he stood over Patroclus and threw his spear. Now
there was among the Trojans a man named Podes, son of Eetion, who was both
rich and valiant. Hector held him in the highest honour for he was his
comrade and boon companion; the spear of Menelaus struck this man in the
girdle just as he had turned in flight, and went right through him. Whereon
he fell heavily forward, and Menelaus son of Atreus drew off his body from
the Trojans into the ranks of his own people.
Apollo then went up to Hector and spurred him on to fight, in the
likeness of Phaenops son of Asius who lived in Abydos and was the most
favoured of all Hector′s guests. In his likeness Apollo said, "Hector,
who of the Achaeans will fear you henceforward now that you have quailed
before Menelaus who has ever been rated poorly as a soldier? Yet he has
now got a corpse away from the Trojans single-handed, and has slain your
own true comrade, a man brave among the foremost, Podes son of
Eetion.
A dark cloud of grief fell upon Hector as he heard, and he made
his way to the front clad in full armour. Thereon the son of Saturn seized
his bright tasselled aegis, and veiled Ida in cloud: he sent forth his
lightnings and his thunders, and as he shook his aegis he gave victory
to the Trojans and routed the Achaeans.
The panic was begun by Peneleos the Boeotian, for while keeping
his face turned ever towards the foe he had been hit with a spear on the
upper part of the shoulder; a spear thrown by Polydamas had grazed the
top of the bone, for Polydamas had come up to him and struck him from close
at hand. Then Hector in close combat struck Leitus son of noble Alectryon
in the hand by the wrist, and disabled him from fighting further. He looked
about him in dismay, knowing that never again should he wield spear in
battle with the Trojans. While Hector was in pursuit of Leitus, Idomeneus
struck him on the breastplate over his chest near the nipple; but the spear
broke in the shaft, and the Trojans cheered aloud. Hector then aimed at
Idomeneus son of Deucalion as he was standing on his chariot, and very
narrowly missed him, but the spear hit Coiranus, a follower and charioteer
of Meriones who had come with him from Lyctus. Idomeneus had left the ships
on foot and would have afforded a great triumph to the Trojans if Coiranus
had not driven quickly up to him, he therefore brought life and rescue
to Idomeneus, but himself fell by the hand of murderous Hector. For Hector
hit him on the jaw under the ear; the end of the spear drove out his teeth
and cut his tongue in two pieces, so that he fell from his chariot and
let the reins fall to the ground. Meriones gathered them up from the ground
and took them into his own hands, then he said to Idomeneus, "Lay on, till
you get back to the ships, for you must see that the day is no longer
ours."
On this Idomeneus lashed the horses to the ships, for fear had
taken hold upon him.
Ajax and Menelaus noted how Jove had turned the scale in favour
of the Trojans, and Ajax was first to speak. "Alas," said he, "even a fool
may see that father Jove is helping the Trojans. All their weapons strike
home; no matter whether it be a brave man or a coward that hurls them,
Jove speeds all alike, whereas ours fall each one of them without effect.
What, then, will be best both as regards rescuing the body, and our return
to the joy of our friends who will be grieving as they look hitherwards;
for they will make sure that nothing can now check the terrible hands of
Hector, and that he will fling himself upon our ships. I wish that some
one would go and tell the son of Peleus at once, for I do not think he
can have yet heard the sad news that the dearest of his friends has fallen.
But I can see not a man among the Achaeans to send, for they and their
chariots are alike hidden in darkness. O father Jove, lift this cloud from
over the sons of the Achaeans; make heaven serene, and let us see; if you
will that we perish, let us fall at any rate by daylight."
Father Jove heard him and had compassion upon his tears. Forthwith
he chased away the cloud of darkness, so that the sun shone out and all
the fighting was revealed. Ajax then said to Menelaus, "Look, Menelaus,
and if Antilochus son of Nestor be still living, send him at once to tell
Achilles that by far the dearest to him of all his comrades has
fallen."
Menelaus heeded his words and went his way as a lion from a stockyard-
the lion is tired of attacking the men and hounds, who keep watch the whole
night through and will not let him feast on the fat of their herd. In his
lust of meat he makes straight at them but in vain, for darts from strong
hands assail him, and burning brands which daunt him for all his hunger,
so in the morning he slinks sulkily away- even so did Menelaus sorely against
his will leave Patroclus, in great fear lest the Achaeans should be driven
back in rout and let him fall into the hands of the foe. He charged Meriones
and the two Ajaxes straitly saying, "Ajaxes and Meriones, leaders of the
Argives, now indeed remember how good Patroclus was; he was ever courteous
while alive, bear it in mind now that he is dead."
With this Menelaus left them, looking round him as keenly as an
eagle, whose sight they say is keener than that of any other bird- however
high he may be in the heavens, not a hare that runs can escape him by crouching
under bush or thicket, for he will swoop down upon it and make an end of
it- even so, O Menelaus, did your keen eyes range round the mighty host
of your followers to see if you could find the son of Nestor still alive.
Presently Menelaus saw him on the extreme left of the battle cheering on
his men and exhorting them to fight boldly. Menelaus went up to him and
said, "Antilochus, come here and listen to sad news, which I would indeed
were untrue. You must see with your own eyes that heaven is heaping calamity
upon the Danaans, and giving victory to the Trojans. Patroclus has fallen,
who was the bravest of the Achaeans, and sorely will the Danaans miss him.
Run instantly to the ships and tell Achilles, that he may come to rescue
the body and bear it to the ships. As for the armour, Hector already has
it."
Antilochus was struck with horror. For a long time he was speechless;
his eyes filled with tears and he could find no utterance, but he did as
Menelaus had said, and set off running as soon as he had given his armour
to a comrade, Laodocus, who was wheeling his horses round, close beside
him.
Thus, then, did he run weeping from the field, to carry the bad
news to Achilles son of Peleus. Nor were you, O Menelaus, minded to succour
his harassed comrades, when Antilochus had left the Pylians- and greatly
did they miss him- but he sent them noble Thrasymedes, and himself went
back to Patroclus. He came running up to the two Ajaxes and said, "I have
sent Antilochus to the ships to tell Achilles, but rage against Hector
as he may, he cannot come, for he cannot fight without armour. What then
will be our best plan both as regards rescuing the dead, and our own escape
from death amid the battle-cries of the Trojans?"
Ajax answered, "Menelaus, you have said well: do you, then, and
Meriones stoop down, raise the body, and bear it out of the fray, while
we two behind you keep off Hector and the Trojans, one in heart as in name,
and long used to fighting side by side with one another."
On this Menelaus and Meriones took the dead man in their arms and
lifted him high aloft with a great effort. The Trojan host raised a hue
and cry behind them when they saw the Achaeans bearing the body away, and
flew after them like hounds attacking a wounded boar at the loo of a band
of young huntsmen. For a while the hounds fly at him as though they would
tear him in pieces, but now and again he turns on them in a fury, scaring
and scattering them in all directions- even so did the Trojans for a while
charge in a body, striking with sword and with spears pointed ai both the
ends, but when the two Ajaxes faced them and stood at bay, they would turn
pale and no man dared press on to fight further about the
dead.
In this wise did the two heroes strain every nerve to bear the
body to the ships out of the fight. The battle raged round them like fierce
flames that when once kindled spread like wildfire over a city, and the
houses fall in the glare of its burning- even such was the roar and tramp
of men and horses that pursued them as they bore Patroclus from the field.
Or as mules that put forth all their strength to draw some beam or great
piece of ship′s timber down a rough mountain-track, and they pant and sweat
as they, go even so did Menelaus and pant and sweat as they bore the body
of Patroclus. Behind them the two Ajaxes held stoutly out. As some wooded
mountain-spur that stretches across a plain will turn water and check the
flow even of a great river, nor is there any stream strong enough to break
through it- even so did the two Ajaxes face the Trojans and stern the tide
of their fighting though they kept pouring on towards them and foremost
among them all was Aeneas son of Anchises with valiant Hector. As a flock
of daws or starlings fall to screaming and chattering when they see a falcon,
foe to i′ll small birds, come soaring near them, even so did the Achaean
youth raise a babel of cries as they fled before Aeneas and Hector, unmindful
of their former prowess. In the rout of the Danaans much goodly armour
fell round about the trench, and of fighting there was no
end.
Next page →
© e-libr.com
feedback