The
Iliad
By Homer
Written 800 B.C.E
Translated by Samuel Butler
|
|
Table of Contents |
|
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
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
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
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
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.
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
As when a cloud goes up into heaven from
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
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
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. [Pope jumps ahead]
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
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
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
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. [Pope ends here]
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
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.