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.