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.