The fight around the body of Patroclus.

      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
      blood-stained 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 dragging 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 yoke-straps 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 at 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 Meriones 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 stem 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 all 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.


1  οὐδʼ ἔλαθʼ Ἀτρέος υἱὸν ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον
2  Πάτροκλος Τρώεσσι δαμεὶς ἐν δηϊοτῆτι.
3  βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ,
4  ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτῷ βαῖνʼ ὥς τις περὶ πόρτακι μήτηρ
5  πρωτοτόκος κινυρὴ οὐ πρὶν εἰδυῖα τόκοιο·
6  ὣς περὶ Πατρόκλῳ βαῖνε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.
7  πρόσθε δέ οἱ δόρυ τʼ ἔσχε καὶ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην,
8  τὸν κτάμεναι μεμαὼς ὅς τις τοῦ γʼ ἀντίος ἔλθοι.
9  οὐδʼ ἄρα Πάνθου υἱὸς ἐϋμμελίης ἀμέλησε
10  Πατρόκλοιο πεσόντος ἀμύμονος· ἄγχι δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτοῦ
11  ἔστη, καὶ προσέειπεν ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον·
12  Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ὄρχαμε λαῶν
13  χάζεο, λεῖπε δὲ νεκρόν, ἔα δʼ ἔναρα βροτόεντα·
14  οὐ γάρ τις πρότερος Τρώων κλειτῶν τʼ ἐπικούρων
15  Πάτροκλον βάλε δουρὶ κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην·
16  τώ με ἔα κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἐνὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀρέσθαι,
17  μή σε βάλω, ἀπὸ δὲ μελιηδέα θυμὸν ἕλωμαι.
18  τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
19  Ζεῦ πάτερ οὐ μὲν καλὸν ὑπέρβιον εὐχετάασθαι.
20  οὔτʼ οὖν παρδάλιος τόσσον μένος οὔτε λέοντος
21  οὔτε συὸς κάπρου ὀλοόφρονος, οὗ τε μέγιστος
22  θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι περὶ σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνει,
23  ὅσσον Πάνθου υἷες ἐϋμμελίαι φρονέουσιν.
24  οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ βίη Ὑπερήνορος ἱπποδάμοιο
25  ἧς ἥβης ἀπόνηθʼ, ὅτε μʼ ὤνατο καί μʼ ὑπέμεινε
26  καί μʼ ἔφατʼ ἐν Δαναοῖσιν ἐλέγχιστον πολεμιστὴν
27  ἔμμεναι· οὐδέ ἕ φημι πόδεσσί γε οἷσι κιόντα
28  εὐφρῆναι ἄλοχόν τε φίλην κεδνούς τε τοκῆας.
29  ὥς θην καὶ σὸν ἐγὼ λύσω μένος εἴ κέ μευ ἄντα
30  στήῃς· ἀλλά σʼ ἔγωγʼ ἀναχωρήσαντα κελεύω
31  ἐς πληθὺν ἰέναι, μηδʼ ἀντίος ἵστασʼ ἐμεῖο
32  πρίν τι κακὸν παθέειν· ῥεχθὲν δέ τε νήπιος ἔγνω.
33  ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ οὐ πεῖθεν· ἀμειβόμενος δὲ προσηύδα·
34  νῦν μὲν δὴ Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ἦ μάλα τείσεις
35  γνωτὸν ἐμὸν τὸν ἔπεφνες, ἐπευχόμενος δʼ ἀγορεύεις,
36  χήρωσας δὲ γυναῖκα μυχῷ θαλάμοιο νέοιο,
37  ἀρητὸν δὲ τοκεῦσι γόον καὶ πένθος ἔθηκας.
38  ἦ κέ σφιν δειλοῖσι γόου κατάπαυμα γενοίμην
39  εἴ κεν ἐγὼ κεφαλήν τε τεὴν καὶ τεύχεʼ ἐνείκας
40  Πάνθῳ ἐν χείρεσσι βάλω καὶ Φρόντιδι δίῃ.
41  ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰν ἔτι δηρὸν ἀπείρητος πόνος ἔσται
42  οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἀδήριτος ἤτʼ ἀλκῆς ἤτε φόβοιο.
43  ὣς εἰπὼν οὔτησε κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην·
44  οὐδʼ ἔρρηξεν χαλκός, ἀνεγνάμφθη δέ οἱ αἰχμὴ
45  ἀσπίδʼ ἐνὶ κρατερῇ· ὃ δὲ δεύτερος ὄρνυτο χαλκῷ
46  Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος ἐπευξάμενος Διὶ πατρί·
47  ἂψ δʼ ἀναχαζομένοιο κατὰ στομάχοιο θέμεθλα
48  νύξʼ, ἐπὶ δʼ αὐτὸς ἔρεισε βαρείῃ χειρὶ πιθήσας·
49  ἀντικρὺ δʼ ἁπαλοῖο διʼ αὐχένος ἤλυθʼ ἀκωκή,
50  δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.
51  αἵματί οἱ δεύοντο κόμαι Χαρίτεσσιν ὁμοῖαι
52  πλοχμοί θʼ, οἳ χρυσῷ τε καὶ ἀργύρῳ ἐσφήκωντο.
53  οἷον δὲ τρέφει ἔρνος ἀνὴρ ἐριθηλὲς ἐλαίης
54  χώρῳ ἐν οἰοπόλῳ, ὅθʼ ἅλις ἀναβέβροχεν ὕδωρ,
55  καλὸν τηλεθάον· τὸ δέ τε πνοιαὶ δονέουσι
56  παντοίων ἀνέμων, καί τε βρύει ἄνθεϊ λευκῷ·
57  ἐλθὼν δʼ ἐξαπίνης ἄνεμος σὺν λαίλαπι πολλῇ
58  βόθρου τʼ ἐξέστρεψε καὶ ἐξετάνυσσʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃ·
59  τοῖον Πάνθου υἱὸν ἐϋμμελίην Εὔφορβον
60  Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος ἐπεὶ κτάνε τεύχεʼ ἐσύλα.
61  ὡς δʼ ὅτε τίς τε λέων ὀρεσίτροφος ἀλκὶ πεποιθὼς
62  βοσκομένης ἀγέλης βοῦν ἁρπάσῃ ἥ τις ἀρίστη·
63  τῆς δʼ ἐξ αὐχένʼ ἔαξε λαβὼν κρατεροῖσιν ὀδοῦσι
64  πρῶτον, ἔπειτα δέ θʼ αἷμα καὶ ἔγκατα πάντα λαφύσσει
65  δῃῶν· ἀμφὶ δὲ τόν γε κύνες τʼ ἄνδρές τε νομῆες
66  πολλὰ μάλʼ ἰύζουσιν ἀπόπροθεν οὐδʼ ἐθέλουσιν
67  ἀντίον ἐλθέμεναι· μάλα γὰρ χλωρὸν δέος αἱρεῖ·
68  ὣς τῶν οὔ τινι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐτόλμα
69  ἀντίον ἐλθέμεναι Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.
70  ἔνθά κε ῥεῖα φέροι κλυτὰ τεύχεα Πανθοΐδαο
71  Ἀτρεΐδης, εἰ μή οἱ ἀγάσσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
72  ὅς ῥά οἱ Ἕκτορʼ ἐπῶρσε θοῷ ἀτάλαντον Ἄρηϊ
73  ἀνέρι εἰσάμενος Κικόνων ἡγήτορι Μέντῃ·
74  καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
75  Ἕκτορ νῦν σὺ μὲν ὧδε θέεις ἀκίχητα διώκων
76  ἵππους Αἰακίδαο δαΐφρονος· οἳ δʼ ἀλεγεινοὶ
77  ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι δαμήμεναι ἠδʼ ὀχέεσθαι
78  ἄλλῳ γʼ ἢ Ἀχιλῆϊ, τὸν ἀθανάτη τέκε μήτηρ.
79  τόφρα δέ τοι Μενέλαος ἀρήϊος Ἀτρέος υἱὸς
80  Πατρόκλῳ περιβὰς Τρώων τὸν ἄριστον ἔπεφνε
81  Πανθοΐδην Εὔφορβον, ἔπαυσε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.
82  ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν αὖτις ἔβη θεὸς ἂμ πόνον ἀνδρῶν,
83  Ἕκτορα δʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος πύκασε φρένας ἀμφὶ μελαίνας·
84  πάπτηνεν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ στίχας, αὐτίκα δʼ ἔγνω
85  τὸν μὲν ἀπαινύμενον κλυτὰ τεύχεα, τὸν δʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃ
86  κείμενον· ἔρρει δʼ αἷμα κατʼ οὐταμένην ὠτειλήν.
87  βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ
88  ὀξέα κεκλήγων φλογὶ εἴκελος Ἡφαίστοιο
89  ἀσβέστῳ· οὐδʼ υἱὸν λάθεν Ἀτρέος ὀξὺ βοήσας·
90  ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·
91  ὤ μοι ἐγὼν εἰ μέν κε λίπω κάτα τεύχεα καλὰ
92  Πάτροκλόν θʼ, ὃς κεῖται ἐμῆς ἕνεκʼ ἐνθάδε τιμῆς,
93  μή τίς μοι Δαναῶν νεμεσήσεται ὅς κεν ἴδηται.
94  εἰ δέ κεν Ἕκτορι μοῦνος ἐὼν καὶ Τρωσὶ μάχωμαι
95  αἰδεσθείς, μή πώς με περιστήωσʼ ἕνα πολλοί·
96  Τρῶας δʼ ἐνθάδε πάντας ἄγει κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.
97  ἀλλὰ τί ἤ μοι ταῦτα φίλος διελέξατο θυμός;
98  ὁππότʼ ἀνὴρ ἐθέλῃ πρὸς δαίμονα φωτὶ μάχεσθαι
99  ὅν κε θεὸς τιμᾷ, τάχα οἱ μέγα πῆμα κυλίσθη.
100  τώ μʼ οὔ τις Δαναῶν νεμεσήσεται ὅς κεν ἴδηται
101  Ἕκτορι χωρήσαντʼ, ἐπεὶ ἐκ θεόφιν πολεμίζει.
102  εἰ δέ που Αἴαντός γε βοὴν ἀγαθοῖο πυθοίμην,
103  ἄμφω κʼ αὖτις ἰόντες ἐπιμνησαίμεθα χάρμης
104  καὶ πρὸς δαίμονά περ, εἴ πως ἐρυσαίμεθα νεκρὸν
105  Πηλεΐδῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ· κακῶν δέ κε φέρτατον εἴη.
106  εἷος ὁ ταῦθʼ ὅρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν
107  τόφρα δʼ ἐπὶ Τρώων στίχες ἤλυθον· ἦρχε δʼ ἄρʼ Ἕκτωρ.
108  αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἐξοπίσω ἀνεχάζετο, λεῖπε δὲ νεκρὸν
109  ἐντροπαλιζόμενος ὥς τε λὶς ἠϋγένειος,
110  ὅν ῥα κύνες τε καὶ ἄνδρες ἀπὸ σταθμοῖο δίωνται
111  ἔγχεσι καὶ φωνῇ· τοῦ δʼ ἐν φρεσὶν ἄλκιμον ἦτορ
112  παχνοῦται, ἀέκων δέ τʼ ἔβη ἀπὸ μεσσαύλοιο·
113  ὣς ἀπὸ Πατρόκλοιο κίε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.
114  στῆ δὲ μεταστρεφθεὶς ἐπεὶ ἵκετο ἔθνος ἑταίρων
115  παπταίνων Αἴαντα μέγαν Τελαμώνιον υἱόν.
116  τὸν δὲ μάλʼ αἶψʼ ἐνόησε μάχης ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ πάσης
117  θαρσύνονθʼ ἑτάρους καὶ ἐποτρύνοντα μάχεσθαι·
118  θεσπέσιον γάρ σφιν φόβον ἔμβαλε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·
119  βῆ δὲ θέειν, εἶθαρ δὲ παριστάμενος ἔπος ηὔδα.
120  Αἶαν δεῦρο πέπον, περὶ Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος
121  σπεύσομεν, αἴ κε νέκυν περ Ἀχιλλῆϊ προφέρωμεν
122  γυμνόν· ἀτὰρ τά γε τεύχεʼ ἔχει κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.
123  ὣς ἔφατʼ, Αἴαντι δὲ δαΐφρονι θυμὸν ὄρινε·
124  βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων, ἅμα δὲ ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.
125  Ἕκτωρ μὲν Πάτροκλον ἐπεὶ κλυτὰ τεύχεʼ ἀπηύρα,
126  ἕλχʼ ἵνʼ ἀπʼ ὤμοιιν κεφαλὴν τάμοι ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
127  τὸν δὲ νέκυν Τρῳῇσιν ἐρυσσάμενος κυσὶ δοίη.
128  Αἴας δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε φέρων σάκος ἠΰτε πύργον·
129  Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἂψ ἐς ὅμιλον ἰὼν ἀνεχάζεθʼ ἑταίρων,
130  ἐς δίφρον δʼ ἀνόρουσε· δίδου δʼ ὅ γε τεύχεα καλὰ
131  Τρωσὶ φέρειν προτὶ ἄστυ, μέγα κλέος ἔμμεναι αὐτῷ.
132  Αἴας δʼ ἀμφὶ Μενοιτιάδῃ σάκος εὐρὺ καλύψας
133  ἑστήκει ὥς τίς τε λέων περὶ οἷσι τέκεσσιν,
134  ᾧ ῥά τε νήπιʼ ἄγοντι συναντήσωνται ἐν ὕλῃ
135  ἄνδρες ἐπακτῆρες· ὃ δέ τε σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνει,
136  πᾶν δέ τʼ ἐπισκύνιον κάτω ἕλκεται ὄσσε καλύπτων·
137  ὣς Αἴας περὶ Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ βεβήκει.
138  Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος
139  ἑστήκει, μέγα πένθος ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀέξων.
140  Γλαῦκος δʼ Ἱππολόχοιο πάϊς Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀνδρῶν
141  Ἕκτορʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν χαλεπῷ ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·
142  Ἕκτορ εἶδος ἄριστε μάχης ἄρα πολλὸν ἐδεύεο.
143  ἦ σʼ αὔτως κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἔχει φύξηλιν ἐόντα.
144  φράζεο νῦν ὅππως κε πόλιν καὶ ἄστυ σαώσῃς
145  οἶος σὺν λαοῖς τοὶ Ἰλίῳ ἐγγεγάασιν·
146  οὐ γάρ τις Λυκίων γε μαχησόμενος Δαναοῖσιν
147  εἶσι περὶ πτόλιος, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἄρα τις χάρις ἦεν
148  μάρνασθαι δηΐοισιν ἐπʼ ἀνδράσι νωλεμὲς αἰεί.
149  πῶς κε σὺ χείρονα φῶτα σαώσειας μεθʼ ὅμιλον
150  σχέτλιʼ, ἐπεὶ Σαρπηδόνʼ ἅμα ξεῖνον καὶ ἑταῖρον
151  κάλλιπες Ἀργείοισιν ἕλωρ καὶ κύρμα γενέσθαι,
152  ὅς τοι πόλλʼ ὄφελος γένετο πτόλεΐ τε καὶ αὐτῷ
153  ζωὸς ἐών· νῦν δʼ οὔ οἱ ἀλαλκέμεναι κύνας ἔτλης.
154  τὼ νῦν εἴ τις ἐμοὶ Λυκίων ἐπιπείσεται ἀνδρῶν
155  οἴκαδʼ ἴμεν, Τροίῃ δὲ πεφήσεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.
156  εἰ γὰρ νῦν Τρώεσσι μένος πολυθαρσὲς ἐνείη
157  ἄτρομον, οἷόν τʼ ἄνδρας ἐσέρχεται οἳ περὶ πάτρης
158  ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσι πόνον καὶ δῆριν ἔθεντο,
159  αἶψά κε Πάτροκλον ἐρυσαίμεθα Ἴλιον εἴσω.
160  εἰ δʼ οὗτος προτὶ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος
161  ἔλθοι τεθνηὼς καί μιν ἐρυσαίμεθα χάρμης,
162  αἶψά κεν Ἀργεῖοι Σαρπηδόνος ἔντεα καλὰ
163  λύσειαν, καί κʼ αὐτὸν ἀγοίμεθα Ἴλιον εἴσω·
164  τοίου γὰρ θεράπων πέφατʼ ἀνέρος, ὃς μέγʼ ἄριστος
165  Ἀργείων παρὰ νηυσὶ καὶ ἀγχέμαχοι θεράποντες.
166  ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ Αἴαντος μεγαλήτορος οὐκ ἐτάλασσας
167  στήμεναι ἄντα κατʼ ὄσσε ἰδὼν δηΐων ἐν ἀϋτῇ,
168  οὐδʼ ἰθὺς μαχέσασθαι, ἐπεὶ σέο φέρτερός ἐστι.
169  τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
170  Γλαῦκε τί ἢ δὲ σὺ τοῖος ἐὼν ὑπέροπλον ἔειπες;
171  ὢ πόποι ἦ τʼ ἐφάμην σὲ περὶ φρένας ἔμμεναι ἄλλων
172  τῶν ὅσσοι Λυκίην ἐριβώλακα ναιετάουσι·
173  νῦν δέ σευ ὠνοσάμην πάγχυ φρένας οἷον ἔειπες,
174  ὅς τέ με φῂς Αἴαντα πελώριον οὐχ ὑπομεῖναι.
175  οὔ τοι ἐγὼν ἔρριγα μάχην οὐδὲ κτύπον ἵππων·
176  ἀλλʼ αἰεί τε Διὸς κρείσσων νόος αἰγιόχοιο,
177  ὅς τε καὶ ἄλκιμον ἄνδρα φοβεῖ καὶ ἀφείλετο νίκην
178  ῥηϊδίως, ὁτὲ δʼ αὐτὸς ἐποτρύνει μαχέσασθαι.
179  ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρο πέπον, παρʼ ἔμʼ ἵστασο καὶ ἴδε ἔργον,
180  ἠὲ πανημέριος κακὸς ἔσσομαι, ὡς ἀγορεύεις,
181  ἦ τινα καὶ Δαναῶν ἀλκῆς μάλα περ μεμαῶτα
182  σχήσω ἀμυνέμεναι περὶ Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος.
183  ὣς εἰπὼν Τρώεσσιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·
184  Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταί,
185  ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς,
186  ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼν Ἀχιλῆος ἀμύμονος ἔντεα δύω
187  καλά, τὰ Πατρόκλοιο βίην ἐνάριξα κατακτάς.
188  ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ
189  δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο· θέων δʼ ἐκίχανεν ἑταίρους
190  ὦκα μάλʼ οὔ πω τῆλε ποσὶ κραιπνοῖσι μετασπών,
191  οἳ προτὶ ἄστυ φέρον κλυτὰ τεύχεα Πηλεΐωνος.
192  στὰς δʼ ἀπάνευθε μάχης πολυδακρύου ἔντεʼ ἄμειβεν·
193  ἤτοι ὃ μὲν τὰ ἃ δῶκε φέρειν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρὴν
194  Τρωσὶ φιλοπτολέμοισιν, ὃ δʼ ἄμβροτα τεύχεα δῦνε
195  Πηλεΐδεω Ἀχιλῆος ἅ οἱ θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες
196  πατρὶ φίλῳ ἔπορον· ὃ δʼ ἄρα ᾧ παιδὶ ὄπασσε
197  γηράς· ἀλλʼ οὐχ υἱὸς ἐν ἔντεσι πατρὸς ἐγήρα.
198  τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἀπάνευθεν ἴδεν νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς
199  τεύχεσι Πηλεΐδαο κορυσσόμενον θείοιο,
200  κινήσας ῥα κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν·
201  ἆ δείλʼ οὐδέ τί τοι θάνατος καταθύμιός ἐστιν
202  ὃς δή τοι σχεδὸν εἶσι· σὺ δʼ ἄμβροτα τεύχεα δύνεις
203  ἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος, τόν τε τρομέουσι καὶ ἄλλοι·
204  τοῦ δὴ ἑταῖρον ἔπεφνες ἐνηέα τε κρατερόν τε,
205  τεύχεα δʼ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον ἀπὸ κρατός τε καὶ ὤμων
206  εἵλευ· ἀτάρ τοι νῦν γε μέγα κράτος ἐγγυαλίξω,
207  τῶν ποινὴν ὅ τοι οὔ τι μάχης ἐκνοστήσαντι
208  δέξεται Ἀνδρομάχη κλυτὰ τεύχεα Πηλεΐωνος.
209  ἦ καὶ κυανέῃσιν ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦσε Κρονίων.
210  Ἕκτορι δʼ ἥρμοσε τεύχεʼ ἐπὶ χροΐ, δῦ δέ μιν Ἄρης
211  δεινὸς ἐνυάλιος, πλῆσθεν δʼ ἄρα οἱ μέλεʼ ἐντὸς
212  ἀλκῆς καὶ σθένεος· μετὰ δὲ κλειτοὺς ἐπικούρους
213  βῆ ῥα μέγα ἰάχων· ἰνδάλλετο δέ σφισι πᾶσι
214  τεύχεσι λαμπόμενος μεγαθύμου Πηλεΐωνος.
215  ὄτρυνεν δὲ ἕκαστον ἐποιχόμενος ἐπέεσσι
216  Μέσθλην τε Γλαῦκόν τε Μέδοντά τε Θερσίλοχόν τε
217  Ἀστεροπαῖόν τε Δεισήνορά θʼ Ἱππόθοόν τε
218  Φόρκυν τε Χρομίον τε καὶ Ἔννομον οἰωνιστήν·
219  τοὺς ὅ γʼ ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
220  κέκλυτε μυρία φῦλα περικτιόνων ἐπικούρων·
221  οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ πληθὺν διζήμενος οὐδὲ χατίζων
222  ἐνθάδʼ ἀφʼ ὑμετέρων πολίων ἤγειρα ἕκαστον,
223  ἀλλʼ ἵνα μοι Τρώων ἀλόχους καὶ νήπια τέκνα
224  προφρονέως ῥύοισθε φιλοπτολέμων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν.
225  τὰ φρονέων δώροισι κατατρύχω καὶ ἐδωδῇ
226  λαούς, ὑμέτερον δὲ ἑκάστου θυμὸν ἀέξω.
227  τώ τις νῦν ἰθὺς τετραμμένος ἢ ἀπολέσθω
228  ἠὲ σαωθήτω· ἣ γὰρ πολέμου ὀαριστύς.
229  ὃς δέ κε Πάτροκλον καὶ τεθνηῶτά περ ἔμπης
230  Τρῶας ἐς ἱπποδάμους ἐρύσῃ, εἴξῃ δέ οἱ Αἴας,
231  ἥμισυ τῷ ἐνάρων ἀποδάσσομαι, ἥμισυ δʼ αὐτὸς
232  ἕξω ἐγώ· τὸ δέ οἱ κλέος ἔσσεται ὅσσον ἐμοί περ.
233  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἰθὺς Δαναῶν βρίσαντες ἔβησαν
234  δούρατʼ ἀνασχόμενοι· μάλα δέ σφισιν ἔλπετο θυμὸς
235  νεκρὸν ὑπʼ Αἴαντος ἐρύειν Τελαμωνιάδαο
236  νήπιοι· ἦ τε πολέσσιν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ θυμὸν ἀπηύρα.
237  καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ Αἴας εἶπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον·
238  ὦ πέπον ὦ Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς οὐκέτι νῶϊ
239  ἔλπομαι αὐτώ περ νοστησέμεν ἐκ πολέμοιο.
240  οὔ τι τόσον νέκυος περιδείδια Πατρόκλοιο,
241  ὅς κε τάχα Τρώων κορέει κύνας ἠδʼ οἰωνούς,
242  ὅσσον ἐμῇ κεφαλῇ περιδείδια μή τι πάθῃσι,
243  καὶ σῇ, ἐπεὶ πολέμοιο νέφος περὶ πάντα καλύπτει
244  Ἕκτωρ, ἡμῖν δʼ αὖτʼ ἀναφαίνεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.
245  ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἀριστῆας Δαναῶν κάλει, ἤν τις ἀκούσῃ.
246  ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,
247  ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Δαναοῖσι γεγωνώς·
248  ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες
249  οἵ τε παρʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳ
250  δήμια πίνουσιν καὶ σημαίνουσιν ἕκαστος
251  λαοῖς· ἐκ δὲ Διὸς τιμὴ καὶ κῦδος ὀπηδεῖ.
252  ἀργαλέον δέ μοί ἐστι διασκοπιᾶσθαι ἕκαστον
253  ἡγεμόνων· τόσση γὰρ ἔρις πολέμοιο δέδηεν·
254  ἀλλά τις αὐτὸς ἴτω, νεμεσιζέσθω δʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
255  Πάτροκλον Τρῳῇσι κυσὶν μέλπηθρα γενέσθαι.
256  ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὀξὺ δʼ ἄκουσεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας·
257  πρῶτος δʼ ἀντίος ἦλθε θέων ἀνὰ δηϊοτῆτα,
258  τὸν δὲ μετʼ Ἰδομενεὺς καὶ ὀπάων Ἰδομενῆος
259  Μηριόνης ἀτάλαντος Ἐνυαλίῳ ἀνδρειφόντῃ.
260  τῶν δʼ ἄλλων τίς κεν ᾗσι φρεσὶν οὐνόματʼ εἴποι,
261  ὅσσοι δὴ μετόπισθε μάχην ἤγειραν Ἀχαιῶν;
262  Τρῶες δὲ προὔτυψαν ἀολλέες· ἦρχε δʼ ἄρʼ Ἕκτωρ.
263  ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἐπὶ προχοῇσι διιπετέος ποταμοῖο
264  βέβρυχεν μέγα κῦμα ποτὶ ῥόον, ἀμφὶ δέ τʼ ἄκραι
265  ἠϊόνες βοόωσιν ἐρευγομένης ἁλὸς ἔξω,
266  τόσσῃ ἄρα Τρῶες ἰαχῇ ἴσαν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ
267  ἕστασαν ἀμφὶ Μενοιτιάδῃ ἕνα θυμὸν ἔχοντες
268  φραχθέντες σάκεσιν χαλκήρεσιν· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρά σφι
269  λαμπρῇσιν κορύθεσσι Κρονίων ἠέρα πολλὴν
270  χεῦʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ Μενοιτιάδην ἔχθαιρε πάρος γε,
271  ὄφρα ζωὸς ἐὼν θεράπων ἦν Αἰακίδαο·
272  μίσησεν δʼ ἄρα μιν δηΐων κυσὶ κύρμα γενέσθαι
273  Τρῳῇσιν· τὼ καί οἱ ἀμυνέμεν ὦρσεν ἑταίρους.
274  ὦσαν δὲ πρότεροι Τρῶες ἑλίκωπας Ἀχαιούς·
275  νεκρὸν δὲ προλιπόντες ὑπέτρεσαν, οὐδέ τινʼ αὐτῶν
276  Τρῶες ὑπέρθυμοι ἕλον ἔγχεσιν ἱέμενοί περ,
277  ἀλλὰ νέκυν ἐρύοντο· μίνυνθα δὲ καὶ τοῦ Ἀχαιοὶ
278  μέλλον ἀπέσσεσθαι· μάλα γάρ σφεας ὦκʼ ἐλέλιξεν
279  Αἴας, ὃς περὶ μὲν εἶδος, περὶ δʼ ἔργα τέτυκτο
280  τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.
281  ἴθυσεν δὲ διὰ προμάχων συῒ εἴκελος ἀλκὴν
282  καπρίῳ, ὅς τʼ ἐν ὄρεσσι κύνας θαλερούς τʼ αἰζηοὺς
283  ῥηϊδίως ἐκέδασσεν, ἑλιξάμενος διὰ βήσσας·
284  ὣς υἱὸς Τελαμῶνος ἀγαυοῦ φαίδιμος Αἴας
285  ῥεῖα μετεισάμενος Τρώων ἐκέδασσε φάλαγγας
286  οἳ περὶ Πατρόκλῳ βέβασαν, φρόνεον δὲ μάλιστα
287  ἄστυ πότι σφέτερον ἐρύειν καὶ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.
288  ἤτοι τὸν Λήθοιο Πελασγοῦ φαίδιμος υἱὸς
289  Ἱππόθοος ποδὸς ἕλκε κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην
290  δησάμενος τελαμῶνι παρὰ σφυρὸν ἀμφὶ τένοντας
291  Ἕκτορι καὶ Τρώεσσι χαριζόμενος· τάχα δʼ αὐτῷ
292  ἦλθε κακόν, τό οἱ οὔ τις ἐρύκακεν ἱεμένων περ.
293  τὸν δʼ υἱὸς Τελαμῶνος ἐπαΐξας διʼ ὁμίλου
294  πλῆξʼ αὐτοσχεδίην κυνέης διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου·
295  ἤρικε δʼ ἱπποδάσεια κόρυς περὶ δουρὸς ἀκωκῇ
296  πληγεῖσʼ ἔγχεΐ τε μεγάλῳ καὶ χειρὶ παχείῃ,
297  ἐγκέφαλος δὲ παρʼ αὐλὸν ἀνέδραμεν ἐξ ὠτειλῆς
298  αἱματόεις· τοῦ δʼ αὖθι λύθη μένος, ἐκ δʼ ἄρα χειρῶν
299  Πατρόκλοιο πόδα μεγαλήτορος ἧκε χαμᾶζε
300  κεῖσθαι· ὃ δʼ ἄγχʼ αὐτοῖο πέσε πρηνὴς ἐπὶ νεκρῷ
301  τῆλʼ ἀπὸ Λαρίσης ἐριβώλακος, οὐδὲ τοκεῦσι
302  θρέπτρα φίλοις ἀπέδωκε, μινυνθάδιος δέ οἱ αἰὼν
303  ἔπλεθʼ ὑπʼ Αἴαντος μεγαθύμου δουρὶ δαμέντι.
304  Ἕκτωρ δʼ αὖτʼ Αἴαντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ·
305  ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος
306  τυτθόν· ὃ δὲ Σχεδίον μεγαθύμου Ἰφίτου υἱὸν
307  Φωκήων ὄχʼ ἄριστον, ὃς ἐν κλειτῷ Πανοπῆϊ
308  οἰκία ναιετάασκε πολέσσʼ ἄνδρεσσιν ἀνάσσων,
309  τὸν βάλʼ ὑπὸ κληῗδα μέσην· διὰ δʼ ἀμπερὲς ἄκρη
310  αἰχμὴ χαλκείη παρὰ νείατον ὦμον ἀνέσχε·
311  δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.
312  Αἴας δʼ αὖ Φόρκυνα δαΐφρονα Φαίνοπος υἱὸν
313  Ἱπποθόῳ περιβάντα μέσην κατὰ γαστέρα τύψε·
314  ῥῆξε δὲ θώρηκος γύαλον, διὰ δʼ ἔντερα χαλκὸς
315  ἤφυσʼ· ὃ δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.
316  χώρησαν δʼ ὑπό τε πρόμαχοι καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ·
317  Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγα ἴαχον, ἐρύσαντο δὲ νεκροὺς
318  Φόρκυν θʼ Ἱππόθοόν τε, λύοντο δὲ τεύχεʼ ἀπʼ ὤμων.
319  ἔνθά κεν αὖτε Τρῶες ἀρηϊφίλων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν
320  Ἴλιον εἰσανέβησαν ἀναλκείῃσι δαμέντες,
321  Ἀργεῖοι δέ κε κῦδος ἕλον καὶ ὑπὲρ Διὸς αἶσαν
322  κάρτεϊ καὶ σθένεϊ σφετέρῳ· ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς Ἀπόλλων
323  Αἰνείαν ὄτρυνε δέμας Περίφαντι ἐοικὼς
324  κήρυκι Ἠπυτίδῃ, ὅς οἱ παρὰ πατρὶ γέροντι
325  κηρύσσων γήρασκε φίλα φρεσὶ μήδεα εἰδώς·
326  τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσέφη Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·
327  Αἰνεία πῶς ἂν καὶ ὑπὲρ θεὸν εἰρύσσαισθε
328  Ἴλιον αἰπεινήν; ὡς δὴ ἴδον ἀνέρας ἄλλους
329  κάρτεΐ τε σθένεΐ τε πεποιθότας ἠνορέῃ τε
330  πλήθεΐ τε σφετέρῳ καὶ ὑπερδέα δῆμον ἔχοντας·
331  ἡμῖν δὲ Ζεὺς μὲν πολὺ βούλεται ἢ Δαναοῖσι
332  νίκην· ἀλλʼ αὐτοὶ τρεῖτʼ ἄσπετον οὐδὲ μάχεσθε.
333  ὣς ἔφατʼ, Αἰνείας δʼ ἑκατηβόλον Ἀπόλλωνα
334  ἔγνω ἐς ἄντα ἰδών, μέγα δʼ Ἕκτορα εἶπε βοήσας·
335  Ἕκτόρ τʼ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι Τρώων ἀγοὶ ἠδʼ ἐπικούρων
336  αἰδὼς μὲν νῦν ἥδε γʼ ἀρηϊφίλων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν
337  Ἴλιον εἰσαναβῆναι ἀναλκείῃσι δαμέντας.
338  ἀλλʼ ἔτι γάρ τίς φησι θεῶν ἐμοὶ ἄγχι παραστὰς
339  Ζῆνʼ ὕπατον μήστωρα μάχης ἐπιτάρροθον εἶναι·
340  τώ ῥʼ ἰθὺς Δαναῶν ἴομεν, μηδʼ οἵ γε ἕκηλοι
341  Πάτροκλον νηυσὶν πελασαίατο τεθνηῶτα.
342  ὣς φάτο, καί ῥα πολὺ προμάχων ἐξάλμενος ἔστη·
343  οἳ δʼ ἐλελίχθησαν καὶ ἐναντίοι ἔσταν Ἀχαιῶν.
344  ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ Αἰνείας Λειώκριτον οὔτασε δουρὶ
345  υἱὸν Ἀρίσβαντος Λυκομήδεος ἐσθλὸν ἑταῖρον.
346  τὸν δὲ πεσόντʼ ἐλέησεν ἀρηΐφιλος Λυκομήδης,
347  στῆ δὲ μάλʼ ἐγγὺς ἰών, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ,
348  καὶ βάλεν Ἱππασίδην Ἀπισάονα ποιμένα λαῶν
349  ἧπαρ ὑπὸ πραπίδων, εἶθαρ δʼ ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσεν,
350  ὅς ῥʼ ἐκ Παιονίης ἐριβώλακος εἰληλούθει,
351  καὶ δὲ μετʼ Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι.
352  τὸν δὲ πεσόντʼ ἐλέησεν ἀρήϊος Ἀστεροπαῖος,
353  ἴθυσεν δὲ καὶ ὃ πρόφρων Δαναοῖσι μάχεσθαι·
354  ἀλλʼ οὔ πως ἔτι εἶχε· σάκεσσι γὰρ ἔρχατο πάντῃ
355  ἑσταότες περὶ Πατρόκλῳ, πρὸ δὲ δούρατʼ ἔχοντο.
356  Αἴας γὰρ μάλα πάντας ἐπῴχετο πολλὰ κελεύων·
357  οὔτέ τινʼ ἐξοπίσω νεκροῦ χάζεσθαι ἀνώγει
358  οὔτέ τινα προμάχεσθαι Ἀχαιῶν ἔξοχον ἄλλων,
359  ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ βεβάμεν, σχεδόθεν δὲ μάχεσθαι.
360  ὣς Αἴας ἐπέτελλε πελώριος, αἵματι δὲ χθὼν
361  δεύετο πορφυρέῳ, τοὶ δʼ ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον
362  νεκροὶ ὁμοῦ Τρώων καὶ ὑπερμενέων ἐπικούρων
363  καὶ Δαναῶν· οὐδʼ οἳ γὰρ ἀναιμωτί γε μάχοντο,
364  παυρότεροι δὲ πολὺ φθίνυθον· μέμνηντο γὰρ αἰεὶ
365  ἀλλήλοις ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἀλεξέμεναι φόνον αἰπύν.
366  ὣς οἳ μὲν μάρναντο δέμας πυρός, οὐδέ κε φαίης
367  οὔτέ ποτʼ ἠέλιον σῶν ἔμμεναι οὔτε σελήνην·
368  ἠέρι γὰρ κατέχοντο μάχης ἐπί θʼ ὅσσον ἄριστοι
369  ἕστασαν ἀμφὶ Μενοιτιάδῃ κατατεθνηῶτι.
370  οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι Τρῶες καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
371  εὔκηλοι πολέμιζον ὑπʼ αἰθέρι, πέπτατο δʼ αὐγὴ
372  ἠελίου ὀξεῖα, νέφος δʼ οὐ φαίνετο πάσης
373  γαίης οὐδʼ ὀρέων· μεταπαυόμενοι δὲ μάχοντο
374  ἀλλήλων ἀλεείνοντες βέλεα στονόεντα
375  πολλὸν ἀφεσταότες. τοὶ δʼ ἐν μέσῳ ἄλγεʼ ἔπασχον
376  ἠέρι καὶ πολέμῳ, τείροντο δὲ νηλέϊ χαλκῷ
377  ὅσσοι ἄριστοι ἔσαν· δύο δʼ οὔ πω φῶτε πεπύσθην
378  ἀνέρε κυδαλίμω Θρασυμήδης Ἀντίλοχός τε
379  Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος ἀμύμονος, ἀλλʼ ἔτʼ ἔφαντο
380  ζωὸν ἐνὶ πρώτῳ ὁμάδῳ Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι.
381  τὼ δʼ ἐπιοσσομένω θάνατον καὶ φύζαν ἑταίρων
382  νόσφιν ἐμαρνάσθην, ἐπεὶ ὣς ἐπετέλλετο Νέστωρ
383  ὀτρύνων πόλεμον δὲ μελαινάων ἀπὸ νηῶν.
384  τοῖς δὲ πανημερίοις ἔριδος μέγα νεῖκος ὀρώρει
385  ἀργαλέης· καμάτῳ δὲ καὶ ἱδρῷ νωλεμὲς αἰεὶ
386  γούνατά τε κνῆμαί τε πόδες θʼ ὑπένερθεν ἑκάστου
387  χεῖρές τʼ ὀφθαλμοί τε παλάσσετο μαρναμένοιιν
388  ἀμφʼ ἀγαθὸν θεράποντα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο.
389  ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ ταύροιο βοὸς μεγάλοιο βοείην
390  λαοῖσιν δώῃ τανύειν μεθύουσαν ἀλοιφῇ·
391  δεξάμενοι δʼ ἄρα τοί γε διαστάντες τανύουσι
392  κυκλόσʼ, ἄφαρ δέ τε ἰκμὰς ἔβη, δύνει δέ τʼ ἀλοιφὴ
393  πολλῶν ἑλκόντων, τάνυται δέ τε πᾶσα διὰ πρό·
394  ὣς οἵ γʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα νέκυν ὀλίγῃ ἐνὶ χώρῃ
395  εἵλκεον ἀμφότεροι· μάλα δέ σφισιν ἔλπετο θυμὸς
396  Τρωσὶν μὲν ἐρύειν προτὶ Ἴλιον, αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοῖς
397  νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· περὶ δʼ αὐτοῦ μῶλος ὀρώρει
398  ἄγριος· οὐδέ κʼ Ἄρης λαοσσόος οὐδέ κʼ Ἀθήνη
399  τόν γε ἰδοῦσʼ ὀνόσαιτʼ, οὐδʼ εἰ μάλα μιν χόλος ἵκοι·
400  τοῖον Ζεὺς ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ ἵππων
401  ἤματι τῷ ἐτάνυσσε κακὸν πόνον· οὐδʼ ἄρα πώ τι
402  ᾔδεε Πάτροκλον τεθνηότα δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
403  πολλὸν γὰρ ῥʼ ἀπάνευθε νεῶν μάρναντο θοάων
404  τείχει ὕπο Τρώων· τό μιν οὔ ποτε ἔλπετο θυμῷ
405  τεθνάμεν, ἀλλὰ ζωὸν ἐνιχριμφθέντα πύλῃσιν
406  ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ τὸ ἔλπετο πάμπαν
407  ἐκπέρσειν πτολίεθρον ἄνευ ἕθεν, οὐδὲ σὺν αὐτῷ·
408  πολλάκι γὰρ τό γε μητρὸς ἐπεύθετο νόσφιν ἀκούων,
409  ἥ οἱ ἀπαγγέλλεσκε Διὸς μεγάλοιο νόημα.
410  δὴ τότε γʼ οὔ οἱ ἔειπε κακὸν τόσον ὅσσον ἐτύχθη
411  μήτηρ, ὅττί ῥά οἱ πολὺ φίλτατος ὤλεθʼ ἑταῖρος.
412  οἳ δʼ αἰεὶ περὶ νεκρὸν ἀκαχμένα δούρατʼ ἔχοντες
413  νωλεμὲς ἐγχρίμπτοντο καὶ ἀλλήλους ἐνάριζον·
414  ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων·
415  ὦ φίλοι οὐ μὰν ἧμιν ἐϋκλεὲς ἀπονέεσθαι
416  νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ γαῖα μέλαινα
417  πᾶσι χάνοι· τό κεν ἧμιν ἄφαρ πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη
418  εἰ τοῦτον Τρώεσσι μεθήσομεν ἱπποδάμοισιν
419  ἄστυ πότι σφέτερον ἐρύσαι καὶ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.
420  ὣς δέ τις αὖ Τρώων μεγαθύμων αὐδήσασκεν·
421  ὦ φίλοι, εἰ καὶ μοῖρα παρʼ ἀνέρι τῷδε δαμῆναι
422  πάντας ὁμῶς, μή πώ τις ἐρωείτω πολέμοιο.
423  ὣς ἄρα τις εἴπεσκε, μένος δʼ ὄρσασκεν ἑκάστου.
424  ὣς οἳ μὲν μάρναντο, σιδήρειος δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς
425  χάλκεον οὐρανὸν ἷκε διʼ αἰθέρος ἀτρυγέτοιο·
426  ἵπποι δʼ Αἰακίδαο μάχης ἀπάνευθεν ἐόντες
427  κλαῖον, ἐπεὶ δὴ πρῶτα πυθέσθην ἡνιόχοιο
428  ἐν κονίῃσι πεσόντος ὑφʼ Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο.
429  ἦ μὰν Αὐτομέδων Διώρεος ἄλκιμος υἱὸς
430  πολλὰ μὲν ἂρ μάστιγι θοῇ ἐπεμαίετο θείνων,
431  πολλὰ δὲ μειλιχίοισι προσηύδα, πολλὰ δʼ ἀρειῇ·
432  τὼ δʼ οὔτʼ ἂψ ἐπὶ νῆας ἐπὶ πλατὺν Ἑλλήσποντον
433  ἠθελέτην ἰέναι οὔτʼ ἐς πόλεμον μετʼ Ἀχαιούς,
434  ἀλλʼ ὥς τε στήλη μένει ἔμπεδον, ἥ τʼ ἐπὶ τύμβῳ
435  ἀνέρος ἑστήκῃ τεθνηότος ἠὲ γυναικός,
436  ὣς μένον ἀσφαλέως περικαλλέα δίφρον ἔχοντες
437  οὔδει ἐνισκίμψαντε καρήατα· δάκρυα δέ σφι
438  θερμὰ κατὰ βλεφάρων χαμάδις ῥέε μυρομένοισιν
439  ἡνιόχοιο πόθῳ· θαλερὴ δʼ ἐμιαίνετο χαίτη
440  ζεύγλης ἐξεριποῦσα παρὰ ζυγὸν ἀμφοτέρωθεν.
441  μυρομένω δʼ ἄρα τώ γε ἰδὼν ἐλέησε Κρονίων,
442  κινήσας δὲ κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν·
443  ἆ δειλώ, τί σφῶϊ δόμεν Πηλῆϊ ἄνακτι
444  θνητῷ, ὑμεῖς δʼ ἐστὸν ἀγήρω τʼ ἀθανάτω τε;
445  ἦ ἵνα δυστήνοισι μετʼ ἀνδράσιν ἄλγεʼ ἔχητον;
446  οὐ μὲν γάρ τί πού ἐστιν ὀϊζυρώτερον ἀνδρὸς
447  πάντων, ὅσσά τε γαῖαν ἔπι πνείει τε καὶ ἕρπει.
448  ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰν ὑμῖν γε καὶ ἅρμασι δαιδαλέοισιν
449  Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης ἐποχήσεται· οὐ γὰρ ἐάσω.
450  ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ὡς καὶ τεύχεʼ ἔχει καὶ ἐπεύχεται αὔτως;
451  σφῶϊν δʼ ἐν γούνεσσι βαλῶ μένος ἠδʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
452  ὄφρα καὶ Αὐτομέδοντα σαώσετον ἐκ πολέμοιο
453  νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· ἔτι γάρ σφισι κῦδος ὀρέξω
454  κτείνειν, εἰς ὅ κε νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους ἀφίκωνται
455  δύῃ τʼ ἠέλιος καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἱερὸν ἔλθῃ·
456  ὣς εἰπὼν ἵπποισιν ἐνέπνευσεν μένος ἠΰ.
457  τὼ δʼ ἀπὸ χαιτάων κονίην οὖδας δὲ βαλόντε
458  ῥίμφα φέρον θοὸν ἅρμα μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς.
459  τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Αὐτομέδων μάχετʼ ἀχνύμενός περ ἑταίρου
460  ἵπποις ἀΐσσων ὥς τʼ αἰγυπιὸς μετὰ χῆνας·
461  ῥέα μὲν γὰρ φεύγεσκεν ὑπʼ ἐκ Τρώων ὀρυμαγδοῦ,
462  ῥεῖα δʼ ἐπαΐξασκε πολὺν καθʼ ὅμιλον ὀπάζων.
463  ἀλλʼ οὐχ ᾕρει φῶτας ὅτε σεύαιτο διώκειν·
464  οὐ γάρ πως ἦν οἶον ἐόνθʼ ἱερῷ ἐνὶ δίφρῳ
465  ἔγχει ἐφορμᾶσθαι καὶ ἐπίσχειν ὠκέας ἵππους.
466  ὀψὲ δὲ δή μιν ἑταῖρος ἀνὴρ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν
467  Ἀλκιμέδων υἱὸς Λαέρκεος Αἱμονίδαο·
468  στῆ δʼ ὄπιθεν δίφροιο καὶ Αὐτομέδοντα προσηύδα·
469  Αὐτόμεδον, τίς τοί νυ θεῶν νηκερδέα βουλὴν
470  ἐν στήθεσσιν ἔθηκε, καὶ ἐξέλετο φρένας ἐσθλάς;
471  οἷον πρὸς Τρῶας μάχεαι πρώτῳ ἐν ὁμίλῳ
472  μοῦνος· ἀτάρ τοι ἑταῖρος ἀπέκτατο, τεύχεα δʼ Ἕκτωρ
473  αὐτὸς ἔχων ὤμοισιν ἀγάλλεται Αἰακίδαο.
474  τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Αὐτομέδων προσέφη Διώρεος υἱός·
475  Ἀλκίμεδον τίς γάρ τοι Ἀχαιῶν ἄλλος ὁμοῖος
476  ἵππων ἀθανάτων ἐχέμεν δμῆσίν τε μένος τε,
477  εἰ μὴ Πάτροκλος θεόφιν μήστωρ ἀτάλαντος
478  ζωὸς ἐών; νῦν αὖ θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κιχάνει.
479  ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία σιγαλόεντα
480  δέξαι, ἐγὼ δʼ ἵππων ἀποβήσομαι, ὄφρα μάχωμαι.
481  ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀλκιμέδων δὲ βοηθόον ἅρμʼ ἐπορούσας
482  καρπαλίμως μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία λάζετο χερσίν,
483  Αὐτομέδων δʼ ἀπόρουσε· νόησε δὲ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ,
484  αὐτίκα δʼ Αἰνείαν προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα·
485  Αἰνεία Τρώων βουληφόρε χαλκοχιτώνων
486  ἵππω τώδʼ ἐνόησα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο
487  ἐς πόλεμον προφανέντε σὺν ἡνιόχοισι κακοῖσι·
488  τώ κεν ἐελποίμην αἱρησέμεν, εἰ σύ γε θυμῷ
489  σῷ ἐθέλεις, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἂν ἐφορμηθέντε γε νῶϊ
490  τλαῖεν ἐναντίβιον στάντες μαχέσασθαι Ἄρηϊ.
491  ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησεν ἐῢς πάϊς Ἀγχίσαο.
492  τὼ δʼ ἰθὺς βήτην βοέῃς εἰλυμένω ὤμους
493  αὔῃσι στερεῇσι· πολὺς δʼ ἐπελήλατο χαλκός.
494  τοῖσι δʼ ἅμα Χρομίος τε καὶ Ἄρητος θεοειδὴς
495  ἤϊσαν ἀμφότεροι· μάλα δέ σφισιν ἔλπετο θυμὸς
496  αὐτώ τε κτενέειν ἐλάαν τʼ ἐριαύχενας ἵππους
497  νήπιοι, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλον ἀναιμωτί γε νέεσθαι
498  αὖτις ἀπʼ Αὐτομέδοντος. ὃ δʼ εὐξάμενος Διὶ πατρὶ
499  ἀλκῆς καὶ σθένεος πλῆτο φρένας ἀμφὶ μελαίνας·
500  αὐτίκα δʼ Ἀλκιμέδοντα προσηύδα πιστὸν ἑταῖρον·
501  Ἀλκίμεδον μὴ δή μοι ἀπόπροθεν ἰσχέμεν ἵππους,
502  ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐμπνείοντε μεταφρένῳ· οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε
503  Ἕκτορα Πριαμίδην μένεος σχήσεσθαι ὀΐω,
504  πρίν γʼ ἐπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος καλλίτριχε βήμεναι ἵππω
505  νῶϊ κατακτείναντα, φοβῆσαί τε στίχας ἀνδρῶν
506  Ἀργείων, ἤ κʼ αὐτὸς ἐνὶ πρώτοισιν ἁλοίη.
507  ὣς εἰπὼν Αἴαντε καλέσσατο καὶ Μενέλαον·
508  Αἴαντʼ Ἀργείων ἡγήτορε καὶ Μενέλαε
509  ἤτοι μὲν τὸν νεκρὸν ἐπιτράπεθʼ οἵ περ ἄριστοι
510  ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ βεβάμεν καὶ ἀμύνεσθαι στίχας ἀνδρῶν,
511  νῶϊν δὲ ζωοῖσιν ἀμύνετε νηλεὲς ἦμαρ·
512  τῇδε γὰρ ἔβρισαν πόλεμον κάτα δακρυόεντα
513  Ἕκτωρ Αἰνείας θʼ, οἳ Τρώων εἰσὶν ἄριστοι.
514  ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται·
515  ἥσω γὰρ καὶ ἐγώ, τὰ δέ κεν Διὶ πάντα μελήσει.
516  ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,
517  καὶ βάλεν Ἀρήτοιο κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην·
518  ἣ δʼ οὐκ ἔγχος ἔρυτο, διὰ πρὸ δὲ εἴσατο χαλκός,
519  νειαίρῃ δʼ ἐν γαστρὶ διὰ ζωστῆρος ἔλασσεν.
520  ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ὀξὺν ἔχων πέλεκυν αἰζήϊος ἀνὴρ
521  κόψας ἐξόπιθεν κεράων βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο
522  ἶνα τάμῃ διὰ πᾶσαν, ὃ δὲ προθορὼν ἐρίπῃσιν,
523  ὣς ἄρʼ ὅ γε προθορὼν πέσεν ὕπτιος· ἐν δέ οἱ ἔγχος
524  νηδυίοισι μάλʼ ὀξὺ κραδαινόμενον λύε γυῖα.
525  Ἕκτωρ δʼ Αὐτομέδοντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ·
526  ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος·
527  πρόσσω γὰρ κατέκυψε, τὸ δʼ ἐξόπιθεν δόρυ μακρὸν
528  οὔδει ἐνισκίμφθη, ἐπὶ δʼ οὐρίαχος πελεμίχθη
529  ἔγχεος· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀφίει μένος ὄβριμος Ἄρης.
530  καί νύ κε δὴ ξιφέεσσʼ αὐτοσχεδὸν ὁρμηθήτην
531  εἰ μή σφωʼ Αἴαντε διέκριναν μεμαῶτε,
532  οἵ ῥʼ ἦλθον καθʼ ὅμιλον ἑταίρου κικλήσκοντος·
533  τοὺς ὑποταρβήσαντες ἐχώρησαν πάλιν αὖτις
534  Ἕκτωρ Αἰνείας τʼ ἠδὲ Χρομίος θεοειδής,
535  Ἄρητον δὲ κατʼ αὖθι λίπον δεδαϊγμένον ἦτορ
536  κείμενον· Αὐτομέδων δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ
537  τεύχεά τʼ ἐξενάριξε καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·
538  ἦ δὴ μὰν ὀλίγον γε Μενοιτιάδαο θανόντος
539  κῆρ ἄχεος μεθέηκα χερείονά περ καταπέφνων.
540  ὣς εἰπὼν ἐς δίφρον ἑλὼν ἔναρα βροτόεντα
541  θῆκʼ, ἂν δʼ αὐτὸς ἔβαινε πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν
542  αἱματόεις ὥς τίς τε λέων κατὰ ταῦρον ἐδηδώς.
543  ἂψ δʼ ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ τέτατο κρατερὴ ὑσμίνη
544  ἀργαλέη πολύδακρυς, ἔγειρε δὲ νεῖκος Ἀθήνη
545  οὐρανόθεν καταβᾶσα· προῆκε γὰρ εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
546  ὀρνύμεναι Δαναούς· δὴ γὰρ νόος ἐτράπετʼ αὐτοῦ.
547  ἠΰτε πορφυρέην ἶριν θνητοῖσι τανύσσῃ
548  Ζεὺς ἐξ οὐρανόθεν τέρας ἔμμεναι ἢ πολέμοιο
549  ἢ καὶ χειμῶνος δυσθαλπέος, ὅς ῥά τε ἔργων
550  ἀνθρώπους ἀνέπαυσεν ἐπὶ χθονί, μῆλα δὲ κήδει,
551  ὣς ἣ πορφυρέῃ νεφέλῃ πυκάσασα ἓ αὐτὴν
552  δύσετʼ Ἀχαιῶν ἔθνος, ἔγειρε δὲ φῶτα ἕκαστον.
553  πρῶτον δʼ Ἀτρέος υἱὸν ἐποτρύνουσα προσηύδα
554  ἴφθιμον Μενέλαον· ὃ γάρ ῥά οἱ ἐγγύθεν ἦεν·
555  εἰσαμένη Φοίνικι δέμας καὶ ἀτειρέα φωνήν·
556  σοὶ μὲν δὴ Μενέλαε κατηφείη καὶ ὄνειδος
557  ἔσσεται εἴ κʼ Ἀχιλῆος ἀγαυοῦ πιστὸν ἑταῖρον
558  τείχει ὕπο Τρώων ταχέες κύνες ἑλκήσουσιν.
559  ἀλλʼ ἔχεο κρατερῶς, ὄτρυνε δὲ λαὸν ἅπαντα.
560  τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·
561  Φοῖνιξ ἄττα γεραιὲ παλαιγενές, εἰ γὰρ Ἀθήνη
562  δοίη κάρτος ἐμοί, βελέων δʼ ἀπερύκοι ἐρωήν·
563  τώ κεν ἔγωγʼ ἐθέλοιμι παρεστάμεναι καὶ ἀμύνειν
564  Πατρόκλῳ· μάλα γάρ με θανὼν ἐσεμάσσατο θυμόν.
565  ἀλλʼ Ἕκτωρ πυρὸς αἰνὸν ἔχει μένος, οὐδʼ ἀπολήγει
566  χαλκῷ δηϊόων· τῷ γὰρ Ζεὺς κῦδος ὀπάζει.
567  ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
568  ὅττί ῥά οἱ πάμπρωτα θεῶν ἠρήσατο πάντων.
569  ἐν δὲ βίην ὤμοισι καὶ ἐν γούνεσσιν ἔθηκε,
570  καί οἱ μυίης θάρσος ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐνῆκεν,
571  ἥ τε καὶ ἐργομένη μάλα περ χροὸς ἀνδρομέοιο
572  ἰσχανάᾳ δακέειν, λαρόν τέ οἱ αἷμʼ ἀνθρώπου·
573  τοίου μιν θάρσευς πλῆσε φρένας ἀμφὶ μελαίνας,
574  βῆ δʼ ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ.
575  ἔσκε δʼ ἐνὶ Τρώεσσι Ποδῆς υἱὸς Ἠετίωνος
576  ἀφνειός τʼ ἀγαθός τε· μάλιστα δέ μιν τίεν Ἕκτωρ
577  δήμου, ἐπεί οἱ ἑταῖρος ἔην φίλος εἰλαπιναστής·
578  τόν ῥα κατὰ ζωστῆρα βάλε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος
579  ἀΐξαντα φόβον δέ, διὰ πρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσε·
580  δούπησεν δὲ πεσών· ἀτὰρ Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος
581  νεκρὸν ὑπʼ ἐκ Τρώων ἔρυσεν μετὰ ἔθνος ἑταίρων.
582  Ἕκτορα δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἱστάμενος ὄτρυνεν Ἀπόλλων
583  Φαίνοπι Ἀσιάδῃ ἐναλίγκιος, ὅς οἱ ἁπάντων
584  ξείνων φίλτατος ἔσκεν Ἀβυδόθι οἰκία ναίων·
585  τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσέφη ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων·
586  Ἕκτορ τίς κέ σʼ ἔτʼ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν ταρβήσειεν;
587  οἷον δὴ Μενέλαον ὑπέτρεσας, ὃς τὸ πάρος γε
588  μαλθακὸς αἰχμητής· νῦν δʼ οἴχεται οἶος ἀείρας
589  νεκρὸν ὑπʼ ἐκ Τρώων, σὸν δʼ ἔκτανε πιστὸν ἑταῖρον
590  ἐσθλὸν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι Ποδῆν υἱὸν Ἠετίωνος.
591  ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ ἄχεος νεφέλη ἐκάλυψε μέλαινα,
592  βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.
593  καὶ τότʼ ἄρα Κρονίδης ἕλετʼ αἰγίδα θυσσανόεσσαν
594  μαρμαρέην, Ἴδην δὲ κατὰ νεφέεσσι κάλυψεν,
595  ἀστράψας δὲ μάλα μεγάλʼ ἔκτυπε, τὴν δὲ τίναξε,
596  νίκην δὲ Τρώεσσι δίδου, ἐφόβησε δʼ Ἀχαιούς.
597  πρῶτος Πηνέλεως Βοιώτιος ἦρχε φόβοιο.
598  βλῆτο γὰρ ὦμον δουρὶ πρόσω τετραμμένος αἰεὶ
599  ἄκρον ἐπιλίγδην· γράψεν δέ οἱ ὀστέον ἄχρις
600  αἰχμὴ Πουλυδάμαντος· ὃ γάρ ῥʼ ἔβαλε σχεδὸν ἐλθών.
601  Λήϊτον αὖθʼ Ἕκτωρ σχεδὸν οὔτασε χεῖρʼ ἐπὶ καρπῷ
602  υἱὸν Ἀλεκτρυόνος μεγαθύμου, παῦσε δὲ χάρμης·
603  τρέσσε δὲ παπτήνας, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι ἔλπετο θυμῷ
604  ἔγχος ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ μαχήσεσθαι Τρώεσσιν.
605  Ἕκτορα δʼ Ἰδομενεὺς μετὰ Λήϊτον ὁρμηθέντα
606  βεβλήκει θώρηκα κατὰ στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν·
607  ἐν καυλῷ δʼ ἐάγη δολιχὸν δόρυ, τοὶ δὲ βόησαν
608  Τρῶες· ὃ δʼ Ἰδομενῆος ἀκόντισε Δευκαλίδαο
609  δίφρῳ ἐφεσταότος· τοῦ μέν ῥʼ ἀπὸ τυτθὸν ἅμαρτεν·
610  αὐτὰρ ὃ Μηριόναο ὀπάονά θʼ ἡνίοχόν τε
611  Κοίρανον, ὅς ῥʼ ἐκ Λύκτου ἐϋκτιμένης ἕπετʼ αὐτῷ·
612  πεζὸς γὰρ τὰ πρῶτα λιπὼν νέας ἀμφιελίσσας
613  ἤλυθε, καί κε Τρωσὶ μέγα κράτος ἐγγυάλιξεν,
614  εἰ μὴ Κοίρανος ὦκα ποδώκεας ἤλασεν ἵππους·
615  καὶ τῷ μὲν φάος ἦλθεν, ἄμυνε δὲ νηλεὲς ἦμαρ,
616  αὐτὸς δʼ ὤλεσε θυμὸν ὑφʼ Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο·
617  τὸν βάλʼ ὑπὸ γναθμοῖο καὶ οὔατος, ἐκ δʼ ἄρʼ ὀδόντας
618  ὦσε δόρυ πρυμνόν, διὰ δὲ γλῶσσαν τάμε μέσσην.
619  ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, κατὰ δʼ ἡνία χεῦεν ἔραζε.
620  καὶ τά γε Μηριόνης ἔλαβεν χείρεσσι φίλῃσι
621  κύψας ἐκ πεδίοιο, καὶ Ἰδομενῆα προσηύδα·
622  μάστιε νῦν εἷός κε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ἵκηαι·
623  γιγνώσκεις δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ὅ τʼ οὐκέτι κάρτος Ἀχαιῶν.
624  ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἵμασεν καλλίτριχας ἵππους
625  νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· δὴ γὰρ δέος ἔμπεσε θυμῷ.
626  οὐδʼ ἔλαθʼ Αἴαντα μεγαλήτορα καὶ Μενέλαον
627  Ζεύς, ὅτε δὴ Τρώεσσι δίδου ἑτεραλκέα νίκην.
628  τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·
629  ὢ πόποι ἤδη μέν κε καὶ ὃς μάλα νήπιός ἐστι
630  γνοίη ὅτι Τρώεσσι πατὴρ Ζεὺς αὐτὸς ἀρήγει.
631  τῶν μὲν γὰρ πάντων βέλεʼ ἅπτεται ὅς τις ἀφήῃ
632  ἢ κακὸς ἢ ἀγαθός· Ζεὺς δʼ ἔμπης πάντʼ ἰθύνει·
633  ἡμῖν δʼ αὔτως πᾶσιν ἐτώσια πίπτει ἔραζε.
634  ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ αὐτοί περ φραζώμεθα μῆτιν ἀρίστην,
635  ἠμὲν ὅπως τὸν νεκρὸν ἐρύσσομεν, ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
636  χάρμα φίλοις ἑτάροισι γενώμεθα νοστήσαντες,
637  οἵ που δεῦρʼ ὁρόωντες ἀκηχέδατʼ, οὐδʼ ἔτι φασὶν
638  Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους
639  σχήσεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐν νηυσὶ μελαίνῃσιν πεσέεσθαι.
640  εἴη δʼ ὅς τις ἑταῖρος ἀπαγγείλειε τάχιστα
641  Πηλεΐδῃ, ἐπεὶ οὔ μιν ὀΐομαι οὐδὲ πεπύσθαι
642  λυγρῆς ἀγγελίης, ὅτι οἱ φίλος ὤλεθʼ ἑταῖρος.
643  ἀλλʼ οὔ πῃ δύναμαι ἰδέειν τοιοῦτον Ἀχαιῶν·
644  ἠέρι γὰρ κατέχονται ὁμῶς αὐτοί τε καὶ ἵπποι.
645  Ζεῦ πάτερ ἀλλὰ σὺ ῥῦσαι ὑπʼ ἠέρος υἷας Ἀχαιῶν,
646  ποίησον δʼ αἴθρην, δὸς δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι·
647  ἐν δὲ φάει καὶ ὄλεσσον, ἐπεί νύ τοι εὔαδεν οὕτως.
648  ὣς φάτο, τὸν δὲ πατὴρ ὀλοφύρατο δάκρυ χέοντα·
649  αὐτίκα δʼ ἠέρα μὲν σκέδασεν καὶ ἀπῶσεν ὀμίχλην,
650  ἠέλιος δʼ ἐπέλαμψε, μάχη δʼ ἐπὶ πᾶσα φαάνθη·
651  καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ Αἴας εἶπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον·
652  σκέπτεο νῦν Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς αἴ κεν ἴδηαι
653  ζωὸν ἔτʼ Ἀντίλοχον μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱόν,
654  ὄτρυνον δʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ δαΐφρονι θᾶσσον ἰόντα
655  εἰπεῖν ὅττι ῥά οἱ πολὺ φίλτατος ὤλεθʼ ἑταῖρος.
656  ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,
657  βῆ δʼ ἰέναι ὥς τίς τε λέων ἀπὸ μεσσαύλοιο,
658  ὅς τʼ ἐπεὶ ἄρ κε κάμῃσι κύνας τʼ ἄνδρας τʼ ἐρεθίζων,
659  οἵ τέ μιν οὐκ εἰῶσι βοῶν ἐκ πῖαρ ἑλέσθαι
660  πάννυχοι ἐγρήσσοντες· ὃ δὲ κρειῶν ἐρατίζων
661  ἰθύει, ἀλλʼ οὔ τι πρήσσει· θαμέες γὰρ ἄκοντες
662  ἀντίον ἀΐσσουσι θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν,
663  καιόμεναί τε δεταί, τάς τε τρεῖ ἐσσύμενός περ·
664  ἠῶθεν δʼ ἀπονόσφιν ἔβη τετιηότι θυμῷ·
665  ὣς ἀπὸ Πατρόκλοιο βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος
666  ἤϊε πόλλʼ ἀέκων· περὶ γὰρ δίε μή μιν Ἀχαιοὶ
667  ἀργαλέου πρὸ φόβοιο ἕλωρ δηΐοισι λίποιεν.
668  πολλὰ δὲ Μηριόνῃ τε καὶ Αἰάντεσσʼ ἐπέτελλεν·
669  Αἴαντʼ Ἀργείων ἡγήτορε Μηριόνη τε
670  νῦν τις ἐνηείης Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο
671  μνησάσθω· πᾶσιν γὰρ ἐπίστατο μείλιχος εἶναι
672  ζωὸς ἐών· νῦν αὖ θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κιχάνει.
673  ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,
674  πάντοσε παπταίνων ὥς τʼ αἰετός, ὅν ῥά τέ φασιν
675  ὀξύτατον δέρκεσθαι ὑπουρανίων πετεηνῶν,
676  ὅν τε καὶ ὑψόθʼ ἐόντα πόδας ταχὺς οὐκ ἔλαθε πτὼξ
677  θάμνῳ ὑπʼ ἀμφικόμῳ κατακείμενος, ἀλλά τʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ
678  ἔσσυτο, καί τέ μιν ὦκα λαβὼν ἐξείλετο θυμόν.
679  ὣς τότε σοὶ Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ὄσσε φαεινὼ
680  πάντοσε δινείσθην πολέων κατὰ ἔθνος ἑταίρων,
681  εἴ που Νέστορος υἱὸν ἔτι ζώοντα ἴδοιτο.
682  τὸν δὲ μάλʼ αἶψʼ ἐνόησε μάχης ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ πάσης
683  θαρσύνονθʼ ἑτάρους καὶ ἐποτρύνοντα μάχεσθαι,
684  ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
685  Ἀντίλοχʼ εἰ δʼ ἄγε δεῦρο διοτρεφὲς ὄφρα πύθηαι
686  λυγρῆς ἀγγελίης, ἣ μὴ ὤφελλε γενέσθαι.
687  ἤδη μὲν σὲ καὶ αὐτὸν ὀΐομαι εἰσορόωντα
688  γιγνώσκειν ὅτι πῆμα θεὸς Δαναοῖσι κυλίνδει,
689  νίκη δὲ Τρώων· πέφαται δʼ ὤριστος Ἀχαιῶν
690  Πάτροκλος, μεγάλη δὲ ποθὴ Δαναοῖσι τέτυκται.
691  ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ αἶψʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ θέων ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν
692  εἰπεῖν, αἴ κε τάχιστα νέκυν ἐπὶ νῆα σαώσῃ
693  γυμνόν· ἀτὰρ τά γε τεύχεʼ ἔχει κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.
694  ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀντίλοχος δὲ κατέστυγε μῦθον ἀκούσας·
695  δὴν δέ μιν ἀμφασίη ἐπέων λάβε, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε
696  δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.
697  ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὧς Μενελάου ἐφημοσύνης ἀμέλησε,
698  βῆ δὲ θέειν, τὰ δὲ τεύχεʼ ἀμύμονι δῶκεν ἑταίρῳ
699  Λαοδόκῳ, ὅς οἱ σχεδὸν ἔστρεφε μώνυχας ἵππους.
700  τὸν μὲν δάκρυ χέοντα πόδες φέρον ἐκ πολέμοιο
701  Πηλεΐδῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ κακὸν ἔπος ἀγγελέοντα.
702  οὐδʼ ἄρα σοὶ Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ἤθελε θυμὸς
703  τειρομένοις ἑτάροισιν ἀμυνέμεν, ἔνθεν ἀπῆλθεν
704  Ἀντίλοχος, μεγάλη δὲ ποθὴ Πυλίοισιν ἐτύχθη·
705  ἀλλʼ ὅ γε τοῖσιν μὲν Θρασυμήδεα δῖον ἀνῆκεν,
706  αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ βεβήκει,
707  στῆ δὲ παρʼ Αἰάντεσσι θέων, εἶθαρ δὲ προσηύδα·
708  κεῖνον μὲν δὴ νηυσὶν ἐπιπροέηκα θοῇσιν
709  ἐλθεῖν εἰς Ἀχιλῆα πόδας ταχύν· οὐδέ μιν οἴω
710  νῦν ἰέναι μάλα περ κεχολωμένον Ἕκτορι δίῳ·
711  οὐ γάρ πως ἂν γυμνὸς ἐὼν Τρώεσσι μάχοιτο.
712  ἡμεῖς δʼ αὐτοί περ φραζώμεθα μῆτιν ἀρίστην,
713  ἠμὲν ὅπως τὸν νεκρὸν ἐρύσσομεν, ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
714  Τρώων ἐξ ἐνοπῆς θάνατον καὶ κῆρα φύγωμεν.
715  τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·
716  πάντα κατʼ αἶσαν ἔειπες ἀγακλεὲς ὦ Μενέλαε·
717  ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν καὶ Μηριόνης ὑποδύντε μάλʼ ὦκα
718  νεκρὸν ἀείραντες φέρετʼ ἐκ πόνου· αὐτὰρ ὄπισθε
719  νῶϊ μαχησόμεθα Τρωσίν τε καὶ Ἕκτορι δίῳ
720  ἶσον θυμὸν ἔχοντες ὁμώνυμοι, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ
721  μίμνομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα παρʼ ἀλλήλοισι μένοντες.
722  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα νεκρὸν ἀπὸ χθονὸς ἀγκάζοντο
723  ὕψι μάλα μεγάλως· ἐπὶ δʼ ἴαχε λαὸς ὄπισθε
724  Τρωϊκός, ὡς εἴδοντο νέκυν αἴροντας Ἀχαιούς.
725  ἴθυσαν δὲ κύνεσσιν ἐοικότες, οἵ τʼ ἐπὶ κάπρῳ
726  βλημένῳ ἀΐξωσι πρὸ κούρων θηρητήρων·
727  ἕως μὲν γάρ τε θέουσι διαρραῖσαι μεμαῶτες,
728  ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐν τοῖσιν ἑλίξεται ἀλκὶ πεποιθώς,
729  ἄψ τʼ ἀνεχώρησαν διά τʼ ἔτρεσαν ἄλλυδις ἄλλος.
730  ὣς Τρῶες εἷος μὲν ὁμιλαδὸν αἰὲν ἕποντο
731  νύσσοντες ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισιν·
732  ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ Αἴαντε μεταστρεφθέντε κατʼ αὐτοὺς
733  σταίησαν, τῶν δὲ τράπετο χρώς, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
734  πρόσσω ἀΐξας περὶ νεκροῦ δηριάασθαι.
735  ὣς οἵ γʼ ἐμμεμαῶτε νέκυν φέρον ἐκ πολέμοιο
736  νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· ἐπὶ δὲ πτόλεμος τέτατό σφιν
737  ἄγριος ἠΰτε πῦρ, τό τʼ ἐπεσσύμενον πόλιν ἀνδρῶν
738  ὄρμενον ἐξαίφνης φλεγέθει, μινύθουσι δὲ οἶκοι
739  ἐν σέλαϊ μεγάλῳ· τὸ δʼ ἐπιβρέμει ἲς ἀνέμοιο.
740  ὣς μὲν τοῖς ἵππων τε καὶ ἀνδρῶν αἰχμητάων
741  ἀζηχὴς ὀρυμαγδὸς ἐπήϊεν ἐρχομένοισιν·
742  οἳ δʼ ὥς θʼ ἡμίονοι κρατερὸν μένος ἀμφιβαλόντες
743  ἕλκωσʼ ἐξ ὄρεος κατὰ παιπαλόεσσαν ἀταρπὸν
744  ἢ δοκὸν ἠὲ δόρυ μέγα νήϊον· ἐν δέ τε θυμὸς
745  τείρεθʼ ὁμοῦ καμάτῳ τε καὶ ἱδρῷ σπευδόντεσσιν·
746  ὣς οἵ γʼ ἐμμεμαῶτε νέκυν φέρον. αὐτὰρ ὄπισθεν
747  Αἴαντʼ ἰσχανέτην, ὥς τε πρὼν ἰσχάνει ὕδωρ
748  ὑλήεις πεδίοιο διαπρύσιον τετυχηκώς,
749  ὅς τε καὶ ἰφθίμων ποταμῶν ἀλεγεινὰ ῥέεθρα
750  ἴσχει, ἄφαρ δέ τε πᾶσι ῥόον πεδίον δὲ τίθησι
751  πλάζων· οὐδέ τί μιν σθένεϊ ῥηγνῦσι ῥέοντες·
752  ὣς αἰεὶ Αἴαντε μάχην ἀνέεργον ὀπίσσω
753  Τρώων· οἳ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο, δύω δʼ ἐν τοῖσι μάλιστα
754  Αἰνείας τʼ Ἀγχισιάδης καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ.
755  τῶν δʼ ὥς τε ψαρῶν νέφος ἔρχεται ἠὲ κολοιῶν
756  οὖλον κεκλήγοντες, ὅτε προΐδωσιν ἰόντα
757  κίρκον, ὅ τε σμικρῇσι φόνον φέρει ὀρνίθεσσιν,
758  ὣς ἄρʼ ὑπʼ Αἰνείᾳ τε καὶ Ἕκτορι κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν
759  οὖλον κεκλήγοντες ἴσαν, λήθοντο δὲ χάρμης.
760  πολλὰ δὲ τεύχεα καλὰ πέσον περί τʼ ἀμφί τε τάφρον
761  φευγόντων Δαναῶν· πολέμου δʼ οὐ γίγνετʼ ἐρωή.