Iliad, Book 17: The Fight for Patroclus

1οὐδʼ ἔλαθʼ Ἀτρέος υἱὸν ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον

Πάτροκλος Τρώεσσι δαμεὶς ἐν δηϊοτῆτι.

βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ,

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτῷ βαῖνʼ ὥς τις περὶ πόρτακι μήτηρ

5πρωτοτόκος κινυρὴ οὐ πρὶν εἰδυῖα τόκοιο·

ὣς περὶ Πατρόκλῳ βαῖνε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.

πρόσθε δέ οἱ δόρυ τʼ ἔσχε καὶ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην,

τὸν κτάμεναι μεμαὼς ὅς τις τοῦ γʼ ἀντίος ἔλθοι.

1Menelaus, Atreus' war-loving son, saw at once

Patroclus brought down by Trojans in the bitter fighting,

and strode through the front ranks, armed in gleaming bronze.

He moved around him as a mother stands over her calf,

5lowing, a first-time mother who had never known labor before;

so fair-haired Menelaus moved around Patroclus,

holding before him his spear and shield, balanced on every side,

eager to kill whoever came against the fallen man.

9οὐδʼ ἄρα Πάνθου υἱὸς ἐϋμμελίης ἀμέλησε

10Πατρόκλοιο πεσόντος ἀμύμονος· ἄγχι δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτοῦ

ἔστη, καὶ προσέειπεν ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον·

Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ὄρχαμε λαῶν

χάζεο, λεῖπε δὲ νεκρόν, ἔα δʼ ἔναρα βροτόεντα·

οὐ γάρ τις πρότερος Τρώων κλειτῶν τʼ ἐπικούρων

15Πάτροκλον βάλε δουρὶ κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην·

τώ με ἔα κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἐνὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀρέσθαι,

μή σε βάλω, ἀπὸ δὲ μελιηδέα θυμὸν ἕλωμαι.

9Nor did Panthous' son, the strong spearman, neglect

10blameless Patroclus where he had fallen. He came close

and stood beside him, then addressed war-loving Menelaus:

“Menelaus, son of Atreus, Zeus-nurtured marshal of armies,

draw back; leave the corpse and let the bloodied spoils alone.

No Trojan or renowned ally before me

15struck Patroclus with his spear amid the fierce melee.

So let me win noble fame among the Trojans,

or I may strike you and take your honey-sweet life away.”

18τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·

Ζεῦ πάτερ οὐ μὲν καλὸν ὑπέρβιον εὐχετάασθαι.

20οὔτʼ οὖν παρδάλιος τόσσον μένος οὔτε λέοντος

οὔτε συὸς κάπρου ὀλοόφρονος, οὗ τε μέγιστος

θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι περὶ σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνει,

ὅσσον Πάνθου υἷες ἐϋμμελίαι φρονέουσιν.

οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ βίη Ὑπερήνορος ἱπποδάμοιο

25ἧς ἥβης ἀπόνηθʼ, ὅτε μʼ ὤνατο καί μʼ ὑπέμεινε

καί μʼ ἔφατʼ ἐν Δαναοῖσιν ἐλέγχιστον πολεμιστὴν

ἔμμεναι· οὐδέ ἕ φημι πόδεσσί γε οἷσι κιόντα

εὐφρῆναι ἄλοχόν τε φίλην κεδνούς τε τοκῆας.

ὥς θην καὶ σὸν ἐγὼ λύσω μένος εἴ κέ μευ ἄντα

30στήῃς· ἀλλά σʼ ἔγωγʼ ἀναχωρήσαντα κελεύω

ἐς πληθὺν ἰέναι, μηδʼ ἀντίος ἵστασʼ ἐμεῖο

πρίν τι κακὸν παθέειν· ῥεχθὲν δέ τε νήπιος ἔγνω.

18Deeply troubled, fair-haired Menelaus answered him:

“Father Zeus, it is not right to boast so overbearingly.

20Neither leopard nor lion has so great a force,

nor the destructive-minded wild boar, in whose breast

the proudest spirit exults in strength—

as the strong-speared sons of Panthous imagine they possess.

Nor did horse-taming Hyperenor's might

25profit from his youth, after he insulted me, stood against me,

and said I was the most contemptible fighter among the Danaans.

I say he did not return on his own feet

to bring joy to his dear wife and faithful parents.

So I will break your force too, if you stand

30against me. I tell you: withdraw

into the mass of men; do not stand opposed to me

before you suffer harm. A fool learns only after the deed.”

33ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ οὐ πεῖθεν· ἀμειβόμενος δὲ προσηύδα·

νῦν μὲν δὴ Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ἦ μάλα τείσεις

35γνωτὸν ἐμὸν τὸν ἔπεφνες, ἐπευχόμενος δʼ ἀγορεύεις,

χήρωσας δὲ γυναῖκα μυχῷ θαλάμοιο νέοιο,

ἀρητὸν δὲ τοκεῦσι γόον καὶ πένθος ἔθηκας.

ἦ κέ σφιν δειλοῖσι γόου κατάπαυμα γενοίμην

εἴ κεν ἐγὼ κεφαλήν τε τεὴν καὶ τεύχεʼ ἐνείκας

40Πάνθῳ ἐν χείρεσσι βάλω καὶ Φρόντιδι δίῃ.

ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰν ἔτι δηρὸν ἀπείρητος πόνος ἔσται

οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἀδήριτος ἤτʼ ἀλκῆς ἤτε φόβοιο.

33So he spoke but did not persuade him; Euphorbus replied:

“Now, Zeus-nurtured Menelaus, you will surely pay

35for my brother whom you killed and now boast about.

You widowed his wife in the recess of her new bridal chamber

and laid grievous lament and sorrow on his parents.

I would bring an end to those poor parents' lament

if I carried back your head and armor

40and set them in the hands of Panthous and noble Phrontis.

But our contest will not remain untried much longer,

nor uncontested, whether in courage or in flight.”

43ὣς εἰπὼν οὔτησε κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην·

οὐδʼ ἔρρηξεν χαλκός, ἀνεγνάμφθη δέ οἱ αἰχμὴ

45ἀσπίδʼ ἐνὶ κρατερῇ· ὃ δὲ δεύτερος ὄρνυτο χαλκῷ

Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος ἐπευξάμενος Διὶ πατρί·

ἂψ δʼ ἀναχαζομένοιο κατὰ στομάχοιο θέμεθλα

νύξʼ, ἐπὶ δʼ αὐτὸς ἔρεισε βαρείῃ χειρὶ πιθήσας·

ἀντικρὺ δʼ ἁπαλοῖο διʼ αὐχένος ἤλυθʼ ἀκωκή,

50δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.

αἵματί οἱ δεύοντο κόμαι Χαρίτεσσιν ὁμοῖαι

πλοχμοί θʼ, οἳ χρυσῷ τε καὶ ἀργύρῳ ἐσφήκωντο.

οἷον δὲ τρέφει ἔρνος ἀνὴρ ἐριθηλὲς ἐλαίης

χώρῳ ἐν οἰοπόλῳ, ὅθʼ ἅλις ἀναβέβροχεν ὕδωρ,

55καλὸν τηλεθάον· τὸ δέ τε πνοιαὶ δονέουσι

παντοίων ἀνέμων, καί τε βρύει ἄνθεϊ λευκῷ·

ἐλθὼν δʼ ἐξαπίνης ἄνεμος σὺν λαίλαπι πολλῇ

βόθρου τʼ ἐξέστρεψε καὶ ἐξετάνυσσʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃ·

τοῖον Πάνθου υἱὸν ἐϋμμελίην Εὔφορβον

60Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος ἐπεὶ κτάνε τεύχεʼ ἐσύλα.

43With this he thrust at Menelaus' shield, balanced on every side.

The bronze did not break through; its point bent back

45inside the tough shield. Menelaus, in answer,

raised his bronze spear in turn and prayed to Father Zeus:

As Euphorbus drew back, Menelaus drove at the base of his throat,

leaning his weight behind it, trusting in his heavy hand.

The point passed straight through his tender neck.

50He fell with a crash, and his armor clattered over him.

His hair, like the Graces' hair, was drenched in blood,

and the curls braided tight with gold and silver.

As a man nurtures the luxuriant shoot of an olive

in a lonely plot where water wells up richly,

55beautiful and flourishing; breezes shake it

from every wind, and it bursts into white blossom;

then suddenly a wind comes with a mighty squall,

wrenches it from its pit and stretches it flat on the earth—

so Menelaus, son of Atreus, killed Panthous' son,

60Euphorbus the strong spearman, and stripped away his armor.

61ὡς δʼ ὅτε τίς τε λέων ὀρεσίτροφος ἀλκὶ πεποιθὼς

βοσκομένης ἀγέλης βοῦν ἁρπάσῃ ἥ τις ἀρίστη·

τῆς δʼ ἐξ αὐχένʼ ἔαξε λαβὼν κρατεροῖσιν ὀδοῦσι

πρῶτον, ἔπειτα δέ θʼ αἷμα καὶ ἔγκατα πάντα λαφύσσει

65δῃῶν· ἀμφὶ δὲ τόν γε κύνες τʼ ἄνδρές τε νομῆες

πολλὰ μάλʼ ἰύζουσιν ἀπόπροθεν οὐδʼ ἐθέλουσιν

ἀντίον ἐλθέμεναι· μάλα γὰρ χλωρὸν δέος αἱρεῖ·

ὣς τῶν οὔ τινι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐτόλμα

ἀντίον ἐλθέμεναι Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.

61As when a mountain-bred lion, confident in its strength,

seizes from a grazing herd the finest cow:

He catches her and first breaks her neck

then tears her open and gulps down all her blood and entrails,

65while dogs and herdsmen round him

shout again and again from afar, but will not

face him, for pale fear seizes them;

so none of those men found the courage in his breast

to face glorious Menelaus.

70ἔνθά κε ῥεῖα φέροι κλυτὰ τεύχεα Πανθοΐδαο

Ἀτρεΐδης, εἰ μή οἱ ἀγάσσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,

ὅς ῥά οἱ Ἕκτορʼ ἐπῶρσε θοῷ ἀτάλαντον Ἄρηϊ

ἀνέρι εἰσάμενος Κικόνων ἡγήτορι Μέντῃ·

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

75Ἕκτορ νῦν σὺ μὲν ὧδε θέεις ἀκίχητα διώκων

ἵππους Αἰακίδαο δαΐφρονος· οἳ δʼ ἀλεγεινοὶ

ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι δαμήμεναι ἠδʼ ὀχέεσθαι

ἄλλῳ γʼ ἢ Ἀχιλῆϊ, τὸν ἀθανάτη τέκε μήτηρ.

τόφρα δέ τοι Μενέλαος ἀρήϊος Ἀτρέος υἱὸς

80Πατρόκλῳ περιβὰς Τρώων τὸν ἄριστον ἔπεφνε

Πανθοΐδην Εὔφορβον, ἔπαυσε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.

ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν αὖτις ἔβη θεὸς ἂμ πόνον ἀνδρῶν,

70Then Menelaus would easily have carried off the splendid armor of Panthous' son,

had Phoebus Apollo not begrudged it to him.

He roused Hector, a match for swift Ares,

taking the form of Mentes, leader of the Cicones,

and addressed him with winged words:

75“Hector, you are racing after quarry you cannot catch:

the horses of battle-wise Aeacus' grandson. They are hard

for mortal men to master and drive,

for any but Achilles, whom an immortal mother bore.

Meanwhile warlike Menelaus, Atreus' son,

80has stood over Patroclus and killed the best of the Trojans,

Euphorbus son of Panthous, and stopped his furious courage.”

So he spoke, and the god went back into the labor of men.

83Ἕκτορα δʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος πύκασε φρένας ἀμφὶ μελαίνας·

πάπτηνεν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ στίχας, αὐτίκα δʼ ἔγνω

85τὸν μὲν ἀπαινύμενον κλυτὰ τεύχεα, τὸν δʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃ

κείμενον· ἔρρει δʼ αἷμα κατʼ οὐταμένην ὠτειλήν.

βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ

ὀξέα κεκλήγων φλογὶ εἴκελος Ἡφαίστοιο

ἀσβέστῳ· οὐδʼ υἱὸν λάθεν Ἀτρέος ὀξὺ βοήσας·

90ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·

ὤ μοι ἐγὼν εἰ μέν κε λίπω κάτα τεύχεα καλὰ

Πάτροκλόν θʼ, ὃς κεῖται ἐμῆς ἕνεκʼ ἐνθάδε τιμῆς,

μή τίς μοι Δαναῶν νεμεσήσεται ὅς κεν ἴδηται.

εἰ δέ κεν Ἕκτορι μοῦνος ἐὼν καὶ Τρωσὶ μάχωμαι

95αἰδεσθείς, μή πώς με περιστήωσʼ ἕνα πολλοί·

Τρῶας δʼ ἐνθάδε πάντας ἄγει κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.

ἀλλὰ τί ἤ μοι ταῦτα φίλος διελέξατο θυμός;

ὁππότʼ ἀνὴρ ἐθέλῃ πρὸς δαίμονα φωτὶ μάχεσθαι

ὅν κε θεὸς τιμᾷ, τάχα οἱ μέγα πῆμα κυλίσθη.

100τώ μʼ οὔ τις Δαναῶν νεμεσήσεται ὅς κεν ἴδηται

Ἕκτορι χωρήσαντʼ, ἐπεὶ ἐκ θεόφιν πολεμίζει.

εἰ δέ που Αἴαντός γε βοὴν ἀγαθοῖο πυθοίμην,

ἄμφω κʼ αὖτις ἰόντες ἐπιμνησαίμεθα χάρμης

καὶ πρὸς δαίμονά περ, εἴ πως ἐρυσαίμεθα νεκρὸν

105Πηλεΐδῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ· κακῶν δέ κε φέρτατον εἴη.

83Dread grief enveloped Hector's dark heart.

He looked along the ranks and at once saw

85one man stripping off the splendid armor, the other lying

on the earth, blood streaming from his open wound.

Hector strode through the front ranks, armed in gleaming bronze,

shouting sharply, like the inextinguishable flame of Hephaestus;

nor did his sharp cry escape Menelaus.

90Troubled, he spoke to his own great-hearted spirit:

“Oh no—if I abandon the splendid armor here

and Patroclus, who lies here for the sake of my honor,

some Danaan who sees me may well blame me.

But if I fight Hector and the Trojans alone

95compelled by shame, I may be surrounded, one man by many.

Flashing-helmeted Hector is leading every Trojan here.

But why has my own spirit debated these things with me?

Whenever a man chooses to fight a mortal in defiance of a god

who honors him, a great disaster soon rolls down on that man.

100So no Danaan who sees me yield to Hector

will blame me, since he fights with divine support.

If only I could learn where great Ajax, good at the war cry, was,

we two could turn back together and once more remember battle,

even against divine power, if somehow we might drag the corpse

105to Peleus' son Achilles. That would be best among evils.”

106εἷος ὁ ταῦθʼ ὅρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν

τόφρα δʼ ἐπὶ Τρώων στίχες ἤλυθον· ἦρχε δʼ ἄρʼ Ἕκτωρ.

αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἐξοπίσω ἀνεχάζετο, λεῖπε δὲ νεκρὸν

ἐντροπαλιζόμενος ὥς τε λὶς ἠϋγένειος,

110ὅν ῥα κύνες τε καὶ ἄνδρες ἀπὸ σταθμοῖο δίωνται

ἔγχεσι καὶ φωνῇ· τοῦ δʼ ἐν φρεσὶν ἄλκιμον ἦτορ

παχνοῦται, ἀέκων δέ τʼ ἔβη ἀπὸ μεσσαύλοιο·

ὣς ἀπὸ Πατρόκλοιο κίε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.

στῆ δὲ μεταστρεφθεὶς ἐπεὶ ἵκετο ἔθνος ἑταίρων

115παπταίνων Αἴαντα μέγαν Τελαμώνιον υἱόν.

τὸν δὲ μάλʼ αἶψʼ ἐνόησε μάχης ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ πάσης

θαρσύνονθʼ ἑτάρους καὶ ἐποτρύνοντα μάχεσθαι·

θεσπέσιον γάρ σφιν φόβον ἔμβαλε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·

βῆ δὲ θέειν, εἶθαρ δὲ παριστάμενος ἔπος ηὔδα.

120Αἶαν δεῦρο πέπον, περὶ Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος

σπεύσομεν, αἴ κε νέκυν περ Ἀχιλλῆϊ προφέρωμεν

γυμνόν· ἀτὰρ τά γε τεύχεʼ ἔχει κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.

106While he pondered this in mind and spirit,

the Trojan ranks came on, with Hector leading.

Menelaus backed away and left the corpse,

turning again and again like a bearded lion

110that dogs and men drive from a fold

with spears and shouts; its valiant heart within

is chilled, and against its will it leaves the farmyard.

So fair-haired Menelaus withdrew from Patroclus.

He stopped and turned when he reached his band of companions,

115searching for great Ajax, son of Telamon.

He quickly spotted him on the left of the whole battle,

steadying his companions and urging them to fight;

for Phoebus Apollo had thrown them into a terrible rout.

Menelaus ran to him, stood close, and spoke:

120“Ajax, my friend, come—let us hurry to defend dead Patroclus,

in hope that we may at least carry the corpse to Achilles,

naked; flashing-helmeted Hector has his armor.”

123ὣς ἔφατʼ, Αἴαντι δὲ δαΐφρονι θυμὸν ὄρινε·

βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων, ἅμα δὲ ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.

125Ἕκτωρ μὲν Πάτροκλον ἐπεὶ κλυτὰ τεύχεʼ ἀπηύρα,

ἕλχʼ ἵνʼ ἀπʼ ὤμοιιν κεφαλὴν τάμοι ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

τὸν δὲ νέκυν Τρῳῇσιν ἐρυσσάμενος κυσὶ δοίη.

Αἴας δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε φέρων σάκος ἠΰτε πύργον·

Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἂψ ἐς ὅμιλον ἰὼν ἀνεχάζεθʼ ἑταίρων,

130ἐς δίφρον δʼ ἀνόρουσε· δίδου δʼ ὅ γε τεύχεα καλὰ

Τρωσὶ φέρειν προτὶ ἄστυ, μέγα κλέος ἔμμεναι αὐτῷ.

Αἴας δʼ ἀμφὶ Μενοιτιάδῃ σάκος εὐρὺ καλύψας

ἑστήκει ὥς τίς τε λέων περὶ οἷσι τέκεσσιν,

ᾧ ῥά τε νήπιʼ ἄγοντι συναντήσωνται ἐν ὕλῃ

135ἄνδρες ἐπακτῆρες· ὃ δέ τε σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνει,

πᾶν δέ τʼ ἐπισκύνιον κάτω ἕλκεται ὄσσε καλύπτων·

ὣς Αἴας περὶ Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ βεβήκει.

Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος

ἑστήκει, μέγα πένθος ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀέξων.

123So he spoke and stirred the heart of battle-wise Ajax.

Ajax moved through the front ranks, with fair-haired Menelaus beside him.

125After Hector had stripped the splendid armor from Patroclus,

he was dragging him away, intending to cut the head from his shoulders with sharp bronze

and haul the corpse off to give to the Trojan dogs.

Ajax came close, carrying his shield like a tower.

Hector yielded and withdrew into the mass of his companions

130and sprang into his chariot. He gave the splendid armor

to Trojans to carry into the city, for his great fame.

Ajax covered Menoetius' son with his broad shield

and stood like a lion over his cubs,

when hunters meet him in the woods as he leads his young.

135He glowers in his strength,

and draws down his whole brow, hiding his eyes.

So Ajax stood over the hero Patroclus.

On the other side stood Menelaus, Atreus' war-loving son,

nursing great grief within his breast.

140Γλαῦκος δʼ Ἱππολόχοιο πάϊς Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀνδρῶν

Ἕκτορʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν χαλεπῷ ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·

Ἕκτορ εἶδος ἄριστε μάχης ἄρα πολλὸν ἐδεύεο.

ἦ σʼ αὔτως κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἔχει φύξηλιν ἐόντα.

φράζεο νῦν ὅππως κε πόλιν καὶ ἄστυ σαώσῃς

145οἶος σὺν λαοῖς τοὶ Ἰλίῳ ἐγγεγάασιν·

οὐ γάρ τις Λυκίων γε μαχησόμενος Δαναοῖσιν

εἶσι περὶ πτόλιος, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἄρα τις χάρις ἦεν

μάρνασθαι δηΐοισιν ἐπʼ ἀνδράσι νωλεμὲς αἰεί.

πῶς κε σὺ χείρονα φῶτα σαώσειας μεθʼ ὅμιλον

150σχέτλιʼ, ἐπεὶ Σαρπηδόνʼ ἅμα ξεῖνον καὶ ἑταῖρον

κάλλιπες Ἀργείοισιν ἕλωρ καὶ κύρμα γενέσθαι,

ὅς τοι πόλλʼ ὄφελος γένετο πτόλεΐ τε καὶ αὐτῷ

ζωὸς ἐών· νῦν δʼ οὔ οἱ ἀλαλκέμεναι κύνας ἔτλης.

τὼ νῦν εἴ τις ἐμοὶ Λυκίων ἐπιπείσεται ἀνδρῶν

155οἴκαδʼ ἴμεν, Τροίῃ δὲ πεφήσεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.

εἰ γὰρ νῦν Τρώεσσι μένος πολυθαρσὲς ἐνείη

ἄτρομον, οἷόν τʼ ἄνδρας ἐσέρχεται οἳ περὶ πάτρης

ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσι πόνον καὶ δῆριν ἔθεντο,

αἶψά κε Πάτροκλον ἐρυσαίμεθα Ἴλιον εἴσω.

160εἰ δʼ οὗτος προτὶ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος

ἔλθοι τεθνηὼς καί μιν ἐρυσαίμεθα χάρμης,

αἶψά κεν Ἀργεῖοι Σαρπηδόνος ἔντεα καλὰ

λύσειαν, καί κʼ αὐτὸν ἀγοίμεθα Ἴλιον εἴσω·

τοίου γὰρ θεράπων πέφατʼ ἀνέρος, ὃς μέγʼ ἄριστος

165Ἀργείων παρὰ νηυσὶ καὶ ἀγχέμαχοι θεράποντες.

ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ Αἴαντος μεγαλήτορος οὐκ ἐτάλασσας

στήμεναι ἄντα κατʼ ὄσσε ἰδὼν δηΐων ἐν ἀϋτῇ,

οὐδʼ ἰθὺς μαχέσασθαι, ἐπεὶ σέο φέρτερός ἐστι.

140Then Glaucus, Hippolochus' son, leader of the Lycian men,

looked at Hector from under his brows and rebuked him harshly:

“Hector, best in looks—you fall far short in battle.

Your noble fame is hollow, since you are a coward.

Now think how you can save the city and citadel

145alone, with only the people born in Ilium.

No Lycian will go out to fight the Danaans

for your city, since there has been no gratitude

for fighting our enemies without rest forever.

How could you save a lesser man from the battle,

150you cruel man, when you left Sarpedon, both guest-friend and companion,

to become prey and spoil for the Argives?

While he lived, he brought much help to your city and to you;

now you did not dare protect him even from dogs.

So now, if any Lycian man will listen to me,

155we will go home, and sheer destruction will descend on Troy.

If the Trojans now had fearless, abundant courage,

the kind that enters men who for their homeland

set toil and conflict against hostile men,

we would swiftly drag Patroclus inside Ilium.

160And if his corpse reached the great city of lord Priam,

if we dragged it clear of battle,

the Argives would swiftly release Sarpedon's splendid armor,

and we would bring Sarpedon himself inside Ilium.

For the attendant of such a man has been killed—the man who is far the best

165of the Argives by the ships, with attendants who fight at close quarters.

But you did not dare stand against great-hearted Ajax,

look him in the eyes amid the enemy's battle cry,

or fight him face to face, since he is better than you.”

169τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·

170Γλαῦκε τί ἢ δὲ σὺ τοῖος ἐὼν ὑπέροπλον ἔειπες;

ὢ πόποι ἦ τʼ ἐφάμην σὲ περὶ φρένας ἔμμεναι ἄλλων

τῶν ὅσσοι Λυκίην ἐριβώλακα ναιετάουσι·

νῦν δέ σευ ὠνοσάμην πάγχυ φρένας οἷον ἔειπες,

ὅς τέ με φῂς Αἴαντα πελώριον οὐχ ὑπομεῖναι.

175οὔ τοι ἐγὼν ἔρριγα μάχην οὐδὲ κτύπον ἵππων·

ἀλλʼ αἰεί τε Διὸς κρείσσων νόος αἰγιόχοιο,

ὅς τε καὶ ἄλκιμον ἄνδρα φοβεῖ καὶ ἀφείλετο νίκην

ῥηϊδίως, ὁτὲ δʼ αὐτὸς ἐποτρύνει μαχέσασθαι.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρο πέπον, παρʼ ἔμʼ ἵστασο καὶ ἴδε ἔργον,

180ἠὲ πανημέριος κακὸς ἔσσομαι, ὡς ἀγορεύεις,

ἦ τινα καὶ Δαναῶν ἀλκῆς μάλα περ μεμαῶτα

σχήσω ἀμυνέμεναι περὶ Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος.

169Flashing-helmeted Hector looked at him from under his brows and answered:

170“Glaucus, why have you, a man of such standing, spoken so arrogantly?

Ah—I thought you surpassed all others in understanding

among those who inhabit fertile Lycia.

Now I utterly scorn your judgment after hearing what you said:

you claim I did not stand against gigantic Ajax.

175I do not shudder at battle or the pounding of horses.

But the purpose of aegis-bearing Zeus is always stronger:

he can put even a valiant man to flight and take victory from him

with ease, and at another time he himself urges him to fight.

Come here, my friend; stand beside me and see my work:

180whether I will be a coward all day, as you say,

or will stop some Danaan, however eager in courage,

from defending the body of dead Patroclus.”

183ὣς εἰπὼν Τρώεσσιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·

Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταί,

185ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς,

ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼν Ἀχιλῆος ἀμύμονος ἔντεα δύω

καλά, τὰ Πατρόκλοιο βίην ἐνάριξα κατακτάς.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ

δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο· θέων δʼ ἐκίχανεν ἑταίρους

190ὦκα μάλʼ οὔ πω τῆλε ποσὶ κραιπνοῖσι μετασπών,

οἳ προτὶ ἄστυ φέρον κλυτὰ τεύχεα Πηλεΐωνος.

στὰς δʼ ἀπάνευθε μάχης πολυδακρύου ἔντεʼ ἄμειβεν·

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν τὰ ἃ δῶκε φέρειν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρὴν

Τρωσὶ φιλοπτολέμοισιν, ὃ δʼ ἄμβροτα τεύχεα δῦνε

195Πηλεΐδεω Ἀχιλῆος ἅ οἱ θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες

πατρὶ φίλῳ ἔπορον· ὃ δʼ ἄρα ᾧ παιδὶ ὄπασσε

γηράς· ἀλλʼ οὐχ υἱὸς ἐν ἔντεσι πατρὸς ἐγήρα.

183So he spoke, then called to the Trojans with a great shout:

“Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians who fight at close quarters,

185be men, my friends, and remember your furious courage,

while I put on the fine armor of blameless Achilles,

which I stripped from mighty Patroclus after killing him.”

So flashing-helmeted Hector called out and left

the grim battle. Running after them, he caught his companions

190very quickly, while they were not yet far off—

the men carrying Peleus' son's splendid armor toward the city.

Standing apart from the tear-filled battle, he exchanged armor.

He gave his own armor to the war-loving Trojans to carry

toward sacred Ilium, then put on the immortal armor

195of Peleus' son Achilles, which the gods of heaven

had given his dear father, and his father, grown old, gave to his son.

But the son did not grow old in his father's armor.

198τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἀπάνευθεν ἴδεν νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς

τεύχεσι Πηλεΐδαο κορυσσόμενον θείοιο,

200κινήσας ῥα κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν·

ἆ δείλʼ οὐδέ τί τοι θάνατος καταθύμιός ἐστιν

ὃς δή τοι σχεδὸν εἶσι· σὺ δʼ ἄμβροτα τεύχεα δύνεις

ἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος, τόν τε τρομέουσι καὶ ἄλλοι·

τοῦ δὴ ἑταῖρον ἔπεφνες ἐνηέα τε κρατερόν τε,

205τεύχεα δʼ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον ἀπὸ κρατός τε καὶ ὤμων

εἵλευ· ἀτάρ τοι νῦν γε μέγα κράτος ἐγγυαλίξω,

τῶν ποινὴν ὅ τοι οὔ τι μάχης ἐκνοστήσαντι

δέξεται Ἀνδρομάχη κλυτὰ τεύχεα Πηλεΐωνος.

ἦ καὶ κυανέῃσιν ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦσε Κρονίων.

210Ἕκτορι δʼ ἥρμοσε τεύχεʼ ἐπὶ χροΐ, δῦ δέ μιν Ἄρης

δεινὸς ἐνυάλιος, πλῆσθεν δʼ ἄρα οἱ μέλεʼ ἐντὸς

ἀλκῆς καὶ σθένεος· μετὰ δὲ κλειτοὺς ἐπικούρους

βῆ ῥα μέγα ἰάχων· ἰνδάλλετο δέ σφισι πᾶσι

τεύχεσι λαμπόμενος μεγαθύμου Πηλεΐωνος.

198When cloud-gathering Zeus saw him from afar

arming himself in the armor of godlike Peleus' son,

200he shook his head and spoke to his own spirit:

“Poor man, death is nowhere in your thoughts,

though it is already close. You are putting on the immortal armor

of the greatest man, whom even others fear.

You killed his companion, gentle and strong,

205and stripped the armor from his head and shoulders without due order.

Yet now I will place great power in your hands,

in recompense for this: you will not return from battle,

and Andromache will not receive Peleus' son's splendid armor from you.”

So Cronus' son nodded beneath his dark brows.

210The armor fitted itself to Hector's body, and dread Enyalius Ares entered him;

his limbs within were filled with courage and strength.

He went among his renowned allies,

shouting loud. To them all he seemed

to blaze in the armor of great-hearted Peleus' son.

215ὄτρυνεν δὲ ἕκαστον ἐποιχόμενος ἐπέεσσι

Μέσθλην τε Γλαῦκόν τε Μέδοντά τε Θερσίλοχόν τε

Ἀστεροπαῖόν τε Δεισήνορά θʼ Ἱππόθοόν τε

Φόρκυν τε Χρομίον τε καὶ Ἔννομον οἰωνιστήν·

τοὺς ὅ γʼ ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

220κέκλυτε μυρία φῦλα περικτιόνων ἐπικούρων·

οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ πληθὺν διζήμενος οὐδὲ χατίζων

ἐνθάδʼ ἀφʼ ὑμετέρων πολίων ἤγειρα ἕκαστον,

ἀλλʼ ἵνα μοι Τρώων ἀλόχους καὶ νήπια τέκνα

προφρονέως ῥύοισθε φιλοπτολέμων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν.

225τὰ φρονέων δώροισι κατατρύχω καὶ ἐδωδῇ

λαούς, ὑμέτερον δὲ ἑκάστου θυμὸν ἀέξω.

τώ τις νῦν ἰθὺς τετραμμένος ἢ ἀπολέσθω

ἠὲ σαωθήτω· ἣ γὰρ πολέμου ὀαριστύς.

ὃς δέ κε Πάτροκλον καὶ τεθνηῶτά περ ἔμπης

230Τρῶας ἐς ἱπποδάμους ἐρύσῃ, εἴξῃ δέ οἱ Αἴας,

ἥμισυ τῷ ἐνάρων ἀποδάσσομαι, ἥμισυ δʼ αὐτὸς

ἕξω ἐγώ· τὸ δέ οἱ κλέος ἔσσεται ὅσσον ἐμοί περ.

215He went from man to man, urging each with words—

Mesthles and Glaucus, Medon and Thersilochus,

Asteropaeus and Deisenor, Hippothous

and Phorcys, Chromius, and Ennomus the bird-seer.

Urging them on, he addressed them with winged words:

220“Listen, countless tribes of neighboring allies!

It was not from desire or need for greater numbers

that I summoned each of you here from your cities,

but so you would earnestly protect the wives and infant children

of the Trojans from the war-loving Achaeans.

225With that in mind, I exhaust my people with gifts and food,

and I strengthen the spirit of every one of you.

So now let each man turn straight ahead—let him perish

or be saved: such is war's intimate exchange.

Whoever drags Patroclus, dead though he is,

230among the horse-taming Trojans, and makes Ajax yield,

to him I will give half the spoils; half

I will keep myself. His fame will equal mine.”

233ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἰθὺς Δαναῶν βρίσαντες ἔβησαν

δούρατʼ ἀνασχόμενοι· μάλα δέ σφισιν ἔλπετο θυμὸς

235νεκρὸν ὑπʼ Αἴαντος ἐρύειν Τελαμωνιάδαο

νήπιοι· ἦ τε πολέσσιν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ θυμὸν ἀπηύρα.

καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ Αἴας εἶπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον·

ὦ πέπον ὦ Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς οὐκέτι νῶϊ

ἔλπομαι αὐτώ περ νοστησέμεν ἐκ πολέμοιο.

240οὔ τι τόσον νέκυος περιδείδια Πατρόκλοιο,

ὅς κε τάχα Τρώων κορέει κύνας ἠδʼ οἰωνούς,

ὅσσον ἐμῇ κεφαλῇ περιδείδια μή τι πάθῃσι,

καὶ σῇ, ἐπεὶ πολέμοιο νέφος περὶ πάντα καλύπτει

Ἕκτωρ, ἡμῖν δʼ αὖτʼ ἀναφαίνεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.

245ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἀριστῆας Δαναῶν κάλει, ἤν τις ἀκούσῃ.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,

233So he spoke, and they bore straight down on the Danaans,

holding their spears aloft. Their spirits held high hopes

235of dragging the corpse away from Ajax, son of Telamon—

fools! Over that body he took the lives of many.

Then Ajax said to Menelaus, good at the war cry:

“My friend, Zeus-nurtured Menelaus, I no longer expect

that we two ourselves will return from the battle.

240I do not fear so much for the corpse of Patroclus,

who will soon glut the dogs and birds of Troy,

as I fear for my own head, lest harm come to it,

and yours, since Hector covers everything around us with a cloud of war,

and sheer destruction is appearing before us.

245Come, call the Danaans' best men, in case someone hears.”

So he spoke, and Menelaus, good at the war cry, obeyed.

247ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Δαναοῖσι γεγωνώς·

ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες

οἵ τε παρʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳ

250δήμια πίνουσιν καὶ σημαίνουσιν ἕκαστος

λαοῖς· ἐκ δὲ Διὸς τιμὴ καὶ κῦδος ὀπηδεῖ.

ἀργαλέον δέ μοί ἐστι διασκοπιᾶσθαι ἕκαστον

ἡγεμόνων· τόσση γὰρ ἔρις πολέμοιο δέδηεν·

ἀλλά τις αὐτὸς ἴτω, νεμεσιζέσθω δʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ

255Πάτροκλον Τρῳῇσι κυσὶν μέλπηθρα γενέσθαι.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὀξὺ δʼ ἄκουσεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας·

πρῶτος δʼ ἀντίος ἦλθε θέων ἀνὰ δηϊοτῆτα,

τὸν δὲ μετʼ Ἰδομενεὺς καὶ ὀπάων Ἰδομενῆος

Μηριόνης ἀτάλαντος Ἐνυαλίῳ ἀνδρειφόντῃ.

260τῶν δʼ ἄλλων τίς κεν ᾗσι φρεσὶν οὐνόματʼ εἴποι,

ὅσσοι δὴ μετόπισθε μάχην ἤγειραν Ἀχαιῶν;

247He cried out in a piercing voice, calling to the Danaans:

“Friends, leaders and rulers of the Argives,

you who beside the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus,

250drink wine at public expense and each command

your peoples, with honor and ascendancy attending you from Zeus:

it is hard for me to make out each

of the leaders, such a blaze of battle-strife has risen.

Let someone come of his own accord, and let him feel outrage in his heart

255that Patroclus should become a plaything for Trojan dogs.”

So he spoke. Swift Ajax, son of Oileus, heard his piercing call.

He was first to come running to meet them through the fighting,

then Idomeneus, and Idomeneus' companion

Meriones, a match for man-killing Enyalius.

260Who in his own mind could tell the names of all the others

who came after and rallied the Achaeans to battle?

262Τρῶες δὲ προὔτυψαν ἀολλέες· ἦρχε δʼ ἄρʼ Ἕκτωρ.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἐπὶ προχοῇσι διιπετέος ποταμοῖο

βέβρυχεν μέγα κῦμα ποτὶ ῥόον, ἀμφὶ δέ τʼ ἄκραι

265ἠϊόνες βοόωσιν ἐρευγομένης ἁλὸς ἔξω,

τόσσῃ ἄρα Τρῶες ἰαχῇ ἴσαν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ

ἕστασαν ἀμφὶ Μενοιτιάδῃ ἕνα θυμὸν ἔχοντες

φραχθέντες σάκεσιν χαλκήρεσιν· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρά σφι

λαμπρῇσιν κορύθεσσι Κρονίων ἠέρα πολλὴν

270χεῦʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ Μενοιτιάδην ἔχθαιρε πάρος γε,

ὄφρα ζωὸς ἐὼν θεράπων ἦν Αἰακίδαο·

μίσησεν δʼ ἄρα μιν δηΐων κυσὶ κύρμα γενέσθαι

Τρῳῇσιν· τὼ καί οἱ ἀμυνέμεν ὦρσεν ἑταίρους.

262The Trojans surged forward in a mass, and Hector led them.

As when, at the mouths of a heaven-fed river,

a great wave bellows against the current, and the jutting

265shores roar all around as the sea thunders outward—

with such a cry the Trojans advanced. But the Achaeans

stood around Menoetius’ son, united in spirit,

fenced in with bronze-bound shields. Around them

and their shining helmets, Cronus’ son poured a heavy mist,

270for he had never hated Menoetius’ son before,

while he lived as attendant to Aeacus’ grandson.

Now he recoiled from letting him become prey to the enemy dogs

of Troy, and so he roused the dead man’s comrades to defend him.

274ὦσαν δὲ πρότεροι Τρῶες ἑλίκωπας Ἀχαιούς·

275νεκρὸν δὲ προλιπόντες ὑπέτρεσαν, οὐδέ τινʼ αὐτῶν

Τρῶες ὑπέρθυμοι ἕλον ἔγχεσιν ἱέμενοί περ,

ἀλλὰ νέκυν ἐρύοντο· μίνυνθα δὲ καὶ τοῦ Ἀχαιοὶ

μέλλον ἀπέσσεσθαι· μάλα γάρ σφεας ὦκʼ ἐλέλιξεν

Αἴας, ὃς περὶ μὲν εἶδος, περὶ δʼ ἔργα τέτυκτο

280τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.

274At first the Trojans drove back the bright-eyed Achaeans,

275who left the corpse and fled; yet the high-hearted Trojans

killed none of them with their spears, eager though they were,

but set about dragging the body. The Achaeans would not

stay away from it for long, for Ajax quickly wheeled them around—

Ajax, who surpassed in stature and in deeds

280all the other Danaans after peerless Peleus’ son.

281ἴθυσεν δὲ διὰ προμάχων συῒ εἴκελος ἀλκὴν

καπρίῳ, ὅς τʼ ἐν ὄρεσσι κύνας θαλερούς τʼ αἰζηοὺς

ῥηϊδίως ἐκέδασσεν, ἑλιξάμενος διὰ βήσσας·

ὣς υἱὸς Τελαμῶνος ἀγαυοῦ φαίδιμος Αἴας

285ῥεῖα μετεισάμενος Τρώων ἐκέδασσε φάλαγγας

οἳ περὶ Πατρόκλῳ βέβασαν, φρόνεον δὲ μάλιστα

ἄστυ πότι σφέτερον ἐρύειν καὶ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.

281He charged through the front ranks, in battle-strength like a boar,

a wild boar that in the mountains scatters dogs and sturdy young men

with ease as it wheels through the glens.

So glorious Ajax, son of noble Telamon,

285plunged among the Trojans and easily scattered the formations

that had advanced around Patroclus, bent above all

on dragging him to their city and winning glory.

288ἤτοι τὸν Λήθοιο Πελασγοῦ φαίδιμος υἱὸς

Ἱππόθοος ποδὸς ἕλκε κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην

290δησάμενος τελαμῶνι παρὰ σφυρὸν ἀμφὶ τένοντας

Ἕκτορι καὶ Τρώεσσι χαριζόμενος· τάχα δʼ αὐτῷ

ἦλθε κακόν, τό οἱ οὔ τις ἐρύκακεν ἱεμένων περ.

τὸν δʼ υἱὸς Τελαμῶνος ἐπαΐξας διʼ ὁμίλου

πλῆξʼ αὐτοσχεδίην κυνέης διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου·

295ἤρικε δʼ ἱπποδάσεια κόρυς περὶ δουρὸς ἀκωκῇ

πληγεῖσʼ ἔγχεΐ τε μεγάλῳ καὶ χειρὶ παχείῃ,

ἐγκέφαλος δὲ παρʼ αὐλὸν ἀνέδραμεν ἐξ ὠτειλῆς

αἱματόεις· τοῦ δʼ αὖθι λύθη μένος, ἐκ δʼ ἄρα χειρῶν

Πατρόκλοιο πόδα μεγαλήτορος ἧκε χαμᾶζε

300κεῖσθαι· ὃ δʼ ἄγχʼ αὐτοῖο πέσε πρηνὴς ἐπὶ νεκρῷ

τῆλʼ ἀπὸ Λαρίσης ἐριβώλακος, οὐδὲ τοκεῦσι

θρέπτρα φίλοις ἀπέδωκε, μινυνθάδιος δέ οἱ αἰὼν

ἔπλεθʼ ὑπʼ Αἴαντος μεγαθύμου δουρὶ δαμέντι.

288Glorious Hippothous, son of Pelasgian Lethus,

had been dragging him by the foot through the bitter struggle,

290after fastening a strap around his ankle over the tendons,

seeking favor with Hector and the Trojans; but soon

evil came upon him, which none could ward off, eager though they were.

Telamon’s son rushed at him through the press

and struck at close quarters through his bronze-cheeked helmet.

295The horsehair-crested helmet split around the spearpoint,

struck by the massive spear and the heavy hand behind it.

Bloodied brain spurted from the wound beside the socket,

and his force failed him there. From his hands he let

great-hearted Patroclus’ foot fall to the ground,

300and he himself fell face down close by, on top of the corpse,

far from deep-soiled Larissa. He never

repaid his dear parents for raising him; brief was his life,

for he was killed by the spear of great-hearted Ajax.

304Ἕκτωρ δʼ αὖτʼ Αἴαντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ·

305ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος

τυτθόν· ὃ δὲ Σχεδίον μεγαθύμου Ἰφίτου υἱὸν

Φωκήων ὄχʼ ἄριστον, ὃς ἐν κλειτῷ Πανοπῆϊ

οἰκία ναιετάασκε πολέσσʼ ἄνδρεσσιν ἀνάσσων,

τὸν βάλʼ ὑπὸ κληῗδα μέσην· διὰ δʼ ἀμπερὲς ἄκρη

310αἰχμὴ χαλκείη παρὰ νείατον ὦμον ἀνέσχε·

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.

304Hector in turn cast his shining spear at Ajax.

305But he saw the bronze spear head-on and avoided it

by a little. It struck Schedius, son of great-hearted Iphitus,

by far the best of the Phocians, who in famed Panopeus

made his home and ruled over many men.

Hector struck him beneath the middle of the collarbone; the bronze point

310passed clean through and came out beside the base of his shoulder.

He fell with a crash, and his armor clattered over him.

312Αἴας δʼ αὖ Φόρκυνα δαΐφρονα Φαίνοπος υἱὸν

Ἱπποθόῳ περιβάντα μέσην κατὰ γαστέρα τύψε·

ῥῆξε δὲ θώρηκος γύαλον, διὰ δʼ ἔντερα χαλκὸς

315ἤφυσʼ· ὃ δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.

χώρησαν δʼ ὑπό τε πρόμαχοι καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ·

Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγα ἴαχον, ἐρύσαντο δὲ νεκροὺς

Φόρκυν θʼ Ἱππόθοόν τε, λύοντο δὲ τεύχεʼ ἀπʼ ὤμων.

312Ajax then struck wise-in-war Phorcys, Phaenops’ son,

in the middle of the belly as he stood over Hippothous.

split the breastplate’s plate, and the bronze spilled his entrails out;

315he fell in the dust and clutched the earth in his fist.

The front fighters and glorious Hector gave ground before him;

the Argives gave a great cry and hauled away the bodies

of Phorcys and Hippothous, stripping the armor from their shoulders.

319ἔνθά κεν αὖτε Τρῶες ἀρηϊφίλων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν

320Ἴλιον εἰσανέβησαν ἀναλκείῃσι δαμέντες,

Ἀργεῖοι δέ κε κῦδος ἕλον καὶ ὑπὲρ Διὸς αἶσαν

κάρτεϊ καὶ σθένεϊ σφετέρῳ· ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς Ἀπόλλων

Αἰνείαν ὄτρυνε δέμας Περίφαντι ἐοικὼς

κήρυκι Ἠπυτίδῃ, ὅς οἱ παρὰ πατρὶ γέροντι

325κηρύσσων γήρασκε φίλα φρεσὶ μήδεα εἰδώς·

τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσέφη Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·

Αἰνεία πῶς ἂν καὶ ὑπὲρ θεὸν εἰρύσσαισθε

Ἴλιον αἰπεινήν; ὡς δὴ ἴδον ἀνέρας ἄλλους

κάρτεΐ τε σθένεΐ τε πεποιθότας ἠνορέῃ τε

330πλήθεΐ τε σφετέρῳ καὶ ὑπερδέα δῆμον ἔχοντας·

ἡμῖν δὲ Ζεὺς μὲν πολὺ βούλεται ἢ Δαναοῖσι

νίκην· ἀλλʼ αὐτοὶ τρεῖτʼ ἄσπετον οὐδὲ μάχεσθε.

319Then the Trojans, hard pressed by the war-loving Achaeans,

320would have climbed back into Ilium, subdued by lack of battle-strength,

and the Argives would have won glory even beyond Zeus’s allotment

through their own might and strength. But Apollo himself

roused Aeneas, taking the form of Periphas,

the herald, Epytus’ son, who beside Aeneas’ aged father

325had grown old in service, a man whose wise counsels his heart loved.

In his shape, Apollo, son of Zeus, addressed Aeneas:

“Aeneas, how could you defend lofty Ilium

even against a god? I have seen other men

put their trust in might, strength, and courage,

330and in their own numbers, though their host was smaller.

Zeus wishes victory far more for us than for the Danaans,

yet you yourselves flee in boundless terror and will not fight.”

333ὣς ἔφατʼ, Αἰνείας δʼ ἑκατηβόλον Ἀπόλλωνα

ἔγνω ἐς ἄντα ἰδών, μέγα δʼ Ἕκτορα εἶπε βοήσας·

335Ἕκτόρ τʼ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι Τρώων ἀγοὶ ἠδʼ ἐπικούρων

αἰδὼς μὲν νῦν ἥδε γʼ ἀρηϊφίλων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν

Ἴλιον εἰσαναβῆναι ἀναλκείῃσι δαμέντας.

ἀλλʼ ἔτι γάρ τίς φησι θεῶν ἐμοὶ ἄγχι παραστὰς

Ζῆνʼ ὕπατον μήστωρα μάχης ἐπιτάρροθον εἶναι·

340τώ ῥʼ ἰθὺς Δαναῶν ἴομεν, μηδʼ οἵ γε ἕκηλοι

Πάτροκλον νηυσὶν πελασαίατο τεθνηῶτα.

ὣς φάτο, καί ῥα πολὺ προμάχων ἐξάλμενος ἔστη·

οἳ δʼ ἐλελίχθησαν καὶ ἐναντίοι ἔσταν Ἀχαιῶν.

333So he spoke, and Aeneas recognized far-shooting Apollo

when he looked him full in the face, and cried loudly to Hector:

335“Hector, and you other leaders of the Trojans and their allies,

what shame it would be now, beneath the war-loving Achaeans,

to climb back into Ilium, subdued by lack of battle-strength.

But a god has just stood close beside me and said

that Zeus, supreme planner of battle, is our helper.

340So let us go straight at the Danaans, and do not let them at ease

bring dead Patroclus near their ships.”

So he spoke, then sprang far ahead of the front ranks and took his stand.

The Trojans wheeled around and stood facing the Achaeans.

344ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ Αἰνείας Λειώκριτον οὔτασε δουρὶ

345υἱὸν Ἀρίσβαντος Λυκομήδεος ἐσθλὸν ἑταῖρον.

τὸν δὲ πεσόντʼ ἐλέησεν ἀρηΐφιλος Λυκομήδης,

στῆ δὲ μάλʼ ἐγγὺς ἰών, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ,

καὶ βάλεν Ἱππασίδην Ἀπισάονα ποιμένα λαῶν

ἧπαρ ὑπὸ πραπίδων, εἶθαρ δʼ ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσεν,

350ὅς ῥʼ ἐκ Παιονίης ἐριβώλακος εἰληλούθει,

καὶ δὲ μετʼ Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι.

344There Aeneas wounded Leocritus with his spear,

345Arisbas’ son and the loyal companion of Lycomedes.

War-loving Lycomedes pitied him as he fell,

He came and stood very near, then cast his shining spear

and struck Apisaon, Hippasus’ son, shepherd of the host,

in the liver beneath the midriff, and at once unstrung his knees.

350He had come from deep-soiled Paeonia

and was the foremost fighter after Asteropaeus.

352τὸν δὲ πεσόντʼ ἐλέησεν ἀρήϊος Ἀστεροπαῖος,

ἴθυσεν δὲ καὶ ὃ πρόφρων Δαναοῖσι μάχεσθαι·

ἀλλʼ οὔ πως ἔτι εἶχε· σάκεσσι γὰρ ἔρχατο πάντῃ

355ἑσταότες περὶ Πατρόκλῳ, πρὸ δὲ δούρατʼ ἔχοντο.

Αἴας γὰρ μάλα πάντας ἐπῴχετο πολλὰ κελεύων·

οὔτέ τινʼ ἐξοπίσω νεκροῦ χάζεσθαι ἀνώγει

οὔτέ τινα προμάχεσθαι Ἀχαιῶν ἔξοχον ἄλλων,

ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ βεβάμεν, σχεδόθεν δὲ μάχεσθαι.

360ὣς Αἴας ἐπέτελλε πελώριος, αἵματι δὲ χθὼν

δεύετο πορφυρέῳ, τοὶ δʼ ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον

νεκροὶ ὁμοῦ Τρώων καὶ ὑπερμενέων ἐπικούρων

καὶ Δαναῶν· οὐδʼ οἳ γὰρ ἀναιμωτί γε μάχοντο,

παυρότεροι δὲ πολὺ φθίνυθον· μέμνηντο γὰρ αἰεὶ

365ἀλλήλοις ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἀλεξέμεναι φόνον αἰπύν.

352Warlike Asteropaeus pitied him as he fell

and rushed forward himself, eager to fight the Danaans.

But there was no way through: he was hemmed in on every side by shields

355as the men stood around Patroclus with spears held out in front.

Ajax moved among them all, giving many commands.

He ordered no one to give ground behind the corpse,

and no Achaean to fight far out ahead of the rest,

but all to stand tight around Patroclus and fight at close range.

360So mighty Ajax gave his orders, while the ground was drenched

with crimson blood and the corpses fell close-packed together—

Trojans and their mighty allies

and Danaans too, for they did not fight without bloodshed,

though far fewer Danaans died, since they always remembered

365to shield one another from sheer destruction in the press.

366ὣς οἳ μὲν μάρναντο δέμας πυρός, οὐδέ κε φαίης

οὔτέ ποτʼ ἠέλιον σῶν ἔμμεναι οὔτε σελήνην·

ἠέρι γὰρ κατέχοντο μάχης ἐπί θʼ ὅσσον ἄριστοι

ἕστασαν ἀμφὶ Μενοιτιάδῃ κατατεθνηῶτι.

370οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι Τρῶες καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

εὔκηλοι πολέμιζον ὑπʼ αἰθέρι, πέπτατο δʼ αὐγὴ

ἠελίου ὀξεῖα, νέφος δʼ οὐ φαίνετο πάσης

γαίης οὐδʼ ὀρέων· μεταπαυόμενοι δὲ μάχοντο

ἀλλήλων ἀλεείνοντες βέλεα στονόεντα

375πολλὸν ἀφεσταότες. τοὶ δʼ ἐν μέσῳ ἄλγεʼ ἔπασχον

ἠέρι καὶ πολέμῳ, τείροντο δὲ νηλέϊ χαλκῷ

ὅσσοι ἄριστοι ἔσαν· δύο δʼ οὔ πω φῶτε πεπύσθην

ἀνέρε κυδαλίμω Θρασυμήδης Ἀντίλοχός τε

Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος ἀμύμονος, ἀλλʼ ἔτʼ ἔφαντο

380ζωὸν ἐνὶ πρώτῳ ὁμάδῳ Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι.

τὼ δʼ ἐπιοσσομένω θάνατον καὶ φύζαν ἑταίρων

νόσφιν ἐμαρνάσθην, ἐπεὶ ὣς ἐπετέλλετο Νέστωρ

ὀτρύνων πόλεμον δὲ μελαινάων ἀπὸ νηῶν.

366So they fought there like fire, and no one would have thought

that sun or moon was still alive,

for mist held all that part of the battle where the best men

stood around the dead son of Menoetius.

370But the other Trojans and well-greaved Achaeans

fought at ease beneath clear sky. The sharp light

of the sun spread wide, and no cloud showed over all

the earth or mountains. They fought with pauses between attacks,

avoiding one another’s pain-dealing missiles

375as they stood far apart. The men in the center suffered agonies

from mist and war, worn down by pitiless bronze—

all the finest fighters. But two glorious men had not yet learned,

Thrasymedes and Antilochus,

that peerless Patroclus was dead. They still thought him alive,

380fighting the Trojans in the foremost tumult.

The two watched for death and flight among their companions

and fought apart from them, for so Nestor had commanded

when he urged them into battle from the black ships.

384τοῖς δὲ πανημερίοις ἔριδος μέγα νεῖκος ὀρώρει

385ἀργαλέης· καμάτῳ δὲ καὶ ἱδρῷ νωλεμὲς αἰεὶ

γούνατά τε κνῆμαί τε πόδες θʼ ὑπένερθεν ἑκάστου

χεῖρές τʼ ὀφθαλμοί τε παλάσσετο μαρναμένοιιν

ἀμφʼ ἀγαθὸν θεράποντα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ ταύροιο βοὸς μεγάλοιο βοείην

390λαοῖσιν δώῃ τανύειν μεθύουσαν ἀλοιφῇ·

δεξάμενοι δʼ ἄρα τοί γε διαστάντες τανύουσι

κυκλόσʼ, ἄφαρ δέ τε ἰκμὰς ἔβη, δύνει δέ τʼ ἀλοιφὴ

πολλῶν ἑλκόντων, τάνυται δέ τε πᾶσα διὰ πρό·

ὣς οἵ γʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα νέκυν ὀλίγῃ ἐνὶ χώρῃ

395εἵλκεον ἀμφότεροι· μάλα δέ σφισιν ἔλπετο θυμὸς

Τρωσὶν μὲν ἐρύειν προτὶ Ἴλιον, αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοῖς

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· περὶ δʼ αὐτοῦ μῶλος ὀρώρει

ἄγριος· οὐδέ κʼ Ἄρης λαοσσόος οὐδέ κʼ Ἀθήνη

τόν γε ἰδοῦσʼ ὀνόσαιτʼ, οὐδʼ εἰ μάλα μιν χόλος ἵκοι·

384For them all day long the great clash of bitter strife raged.

385With unrelenting weariness and sweat,

each man’s knees and shins and feet beneath him,

his hands and his eyes were fouled as they fought

over the noble attendant of swift Aeacus’ grandson.

As when a man gives his people the hide of a great bull

390to stretch, its leather soaked in fat;

they take it, stand apart, and pull it taut

in a circle; at once the moisture leaves it and the fat sinks in

as many hands pull, and the whole hide stretches through and through.

So from both sides in that narrow space the two armies

395hauled the corpse, and each side’s spirit strongly hoped

the Trojans to drag it toward Ilium, the Achaeans

to the hollow ships. Around him a savage struggle

rose up—one neither Ares, rouser of armies, nor Athena

could have scorned on seeing it, even if anger seized them.

400τοῖον Ζεὺς ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ ἵππων

ἤματι τῷ ἐτάνυσσε κακὸν πόνον· οὐδʼ ἄρα πώ τι

ᾔδεε Πάτροκλον τεθνηότα δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·

πολλὸν γὰρ ῥʼ ἀπάνευθε νεῶν μάρναντο θοάων

τείχει ὕπο Τρώων· τό μιν οὔ ποτε ἔλπετο θυμῷ

405τεθνάμεν, ἀλλὰ ζωὸν ἐνιχριμφθέντα πύλῃσιν

ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ τὸ ἔλπετο πάμπαν

ἐκπέρσειν πτολίεθρον ἄνευ ἕθεν, οὐδὲ σὺν αὐτῷ·

πολλάκι γὰρ τό γε μητρὸς ἐπεύθετο νόσφιν ἀκούων,

ἥ οἱ ἀπαγγέλλεσκε Διὸς μεγάλοιο νόημα.

410δὴ τότε γʼ οὔ οἱ ἔειπε κακὸν τόσον ὅσσον ἐτύχθη

μήτηρ, ὅττί ῥά οἱ πολὺ φίλτατος ὤλεθʼ ἑταῖρος.

400Such was the bitter labor Zeus stretched out over Patroclus

for men and horses that day. Yet godlike Achilles

still knew nothing of Patroclus’ death,

for they were fighting far away from the swift ships,

beneath the wall of Troy. He never expected in his heart

405that Patroclus was dead, but thought he would approach the gates alive

and make his way back again, since he had no hope at all

that Patroclus would sack the city without him—or even with him.

He had often learned this from his mother, listening in private,

as she reported to him the purpose of great Zeus.

410But she had not told him then of an evil so great as the one

that now had come to pass: his dearest comrade had died.

412οἳ δʼ αἰεὶ περὶ νεκρὸν ἀκαχμένα δούρατʼ ἔχοντες

νωλεμὲς ἐγχρίμπτοντο καὶ ἀλλήλους ἐνάριζον·

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων·

415ὦ φίλοι οὐ μὰν ἧμιν ἐϋκλεὲς ἀπονέεσθαι

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ γαῖα μέλαινα

πᾶσι χάνοι· τό κεν ἧμιν ἄφαρ πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη

εἰ τοῦτον Τρώεσσι μεθήσομεν ἱπποδάμοισιν

ἄστυ πότι σφέτερον ἐρύσαι καὶ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.

420ὣς δέ τις αὖ Τρώων μεγαθύμων αὐδήσασκεν·

ὦ φίλοι, εἰ καὶ μοῖρα παρʼ ἀνέρι τῷδε δαμῆναι

πάντας ὁμῶς, μή πώ τις ἐρωείτω πολέμοιο.

ὣς ἄρα τις εἴπεσκε, μένος δʼ ὄρσασκεν ἑκάστου.

ὣς οἳ μὲν μάρναντο, σιδήρειος δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς

425χάλκεον οὐρανὸν ἷκε διʼ αἰθέρος ἀτρυγέτοιο·

412The fighters kept their sharp spears leveled around the body,

pressing close without rest and killing one another.

Again and again one of the bronze-clad Achaeans would say:

415“Friends, we will win no good fame by returning

to the hollow ships. Let the black earth here

gape wide for us all—that would be far better for us at once

than yielding this man to the horse-taming Trojans

to drag to their city and win glory.”

420And again one of the great-hearted Trojans would say:

“Friends, even if it is our fate for all alike

to die beside this man, let no one yet withdraw from battle.”

So one would speak, and rouse the battle-force of every man.

So they fought, and the iron din

425rose through the barren air to the bronze sky.

426ἵπποι δʼ Αἰακίδαο μάχης ἀπάνευθεν ἐόντες

κλαῖον, ἐπεὶ δὴ πρῶτα πυθέσθην ἡνιόχοιο

ἐν κονίῃσι πεσόντος ὑφʼ Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο.

ἦ μὰν Αὐτομέδων Διώρεος ἄλκιμος υἱὸς

430πολλὰ μὲν ἂρ μάστιγι θοῇ ἐπεμαίετο θείνων,

πολλὰ δὲ μειλιχίοισι προσηύδα, πολλὰ δʼ ἀρειῇ·

τὼ δʼ οὔτʼ ἂψ ἐπὶ νῆας ἐπὶ πλατὺν Ἑλλήσποντον

ἠθελέτην ἰέναι οὔτʼ ἐς πόλεμον μετʼ Ἀχαιούς,

ἀλλʼ ὥς τε στήλη μένει ἔμπεδον, ἥ τʼ ἐπὶ τύμβῳ

435ἀνέρος ἑστήκῃ τεθνηότος ἠὲ γυναικός,

ὣς μένον ἀσφαλέως περικαλλέα δίφρον ἔχοντες

οὔδει ἐνισκίμψαντε καρήατα· δάκρυα δέ σφι

θερμὰ κατὰ βλεφάρων χαμάδις ῥέε μυρομένοισιν

ἡνιόχοιο πόθῳ· θαλερὴ δʼ ἐμιαίνετο χαίτη

440ζεύγλης ἐξεριποῦσα παρὰ ζυγὸν ἀμφοτέρωθεν.

426Apart from the battle, the horses of Aeacus’ grandson

wept from the moment they first learned that their charioteer

had fallen in the dust beneath man-killing Hector.

Brave Automedon, Diores’ son,

430struck at them often with the quick whip,

often addressed them gently, and often with threats.

But the pair would neither go back to the ships by the broad Hellespont

nor into the war among the Achaeans.

Like a grave marker standing fixed upon the tomb

435of a dead man or woman,

so they stood immovable, holding the beautiful chariot,

their heads braced against the ground. Hot tears

ran from their eyelids to the earth as they mourned

in longing for their driver; their full manes were stained,

440spilling from the yoke-strap beside the yoke on either side.

441μυρομένω δʼ ἄρα τώ γε ἰδὼν ἐλέησε Κρονίων,

κινήσας δὲ κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν·

ἆ δειλώ, τί σφῶϊ δόμεν Πηλῆϊ ἄνακτι

θνητῷ, ὑμεῖς δʼ ἐστὸν ἀγήρω τʼ ἀθανάτω τε;

445ἦ ἵνα δυστήνοισι μετʼ ἀνδράσιν ἄλγεʼ ἔχητον;

οὐ μὲν γάρ τί πού ἐστιν ὀϊζυρώτερον ἀνδρὸς

πάντων, ὅσσά τε γαῖαν ἔπι πνείει τε καὶ ἕρπει.

ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰν ὑμῖν γε καὶ ἅρμασι δαιδαλέοισιν

Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης ἐποχήσεται· οὐ γὰρ ἐάσω.

450ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ὡς καὶ τεύχεʼ ἔχει καὶ ἐπεύχεται αὔτως;

σφῶϊν δʼ ἐν γούνεσσι βαλῶ μένος ἠδʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,

ὄφρα καὶ Αὐτομέδοντα σαώσετον ἐκ πολέμοιο

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· ἔτι γάρ σφισι κῦδος ὀρέξω

κτείνειν, εἰς ὅ κε νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους ἀφίκωνται

455δύῃ τʼ ἠέλιος καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἱερὸν ἔλθῃ·

ὣς εἰπὼν ἵπποισιν ἐνέπνευσεν μένος ἠΰ.

441Cronus’ son saw the pair mourning and pitied them.

He shook his head and spoke to his own spirit:

“Poor creatures, why did we give you to King Peleus,

a mortal man, when you are ageless and immortal?

445Was it so you might suffer grief among wretched mortals?

For there is surely nothing more miserable than man

among all that breathe and crawl upon the earth.

But Hector, Priam’s son, will never ride

you and your skillfully wrought chariot. I will not allow it.

450Is it not enough that he has the armor and boasts in vain?

I will put force into your knees and into your spirit,

so you may save Automedon from the fighting

and bring him to the hollow ships. I will still grant the Trojans ascendancy

to kill until they reach the well-benched ships,

455the sun goes down, and holy darkness comes.”

So he spoke and breathed good battle-force into the horses.

457τὼ δʼ ἀπὸ χαιτάων κονίην οὖδας δὲ βαλόντε

ῥίμφα φέρον θοὸν ἅρμα μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς.

τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Αὐτομέδων μάχετʼ ἀχνύμενός περ ἑταίρου

460ἵπποις ἀΐσσων ὥς τʼ αἰγυπιὸς μετὰ χῆνας·

ῥέα μὲν γὰρ φεύγεσκεν ὑπʼ ἐκ Τρώων ὀρυμαγδοῦ,

ῥεῖα δʼ ἐπαΐξασκε πολὺν καθʼ ὅμιλον ὀπάζων.

ἀλλʼ οὐχ ᾕρει φῶτας ὅτε σεύαιτο διώκειν·

οὐ γάρ πως ἦν οἶον ἐόνθʼ ἱερῷ ἐνὶ δίφρῳ

465ἔγχει ἐφορμᾶσθαι καὶ ἐπίσχειν ὠκέας ἵππους.

457They shook the dust from their manes down to the ground

and swiftly carried the racing chariot among Trojans and Achaeans.

From the chariot Automedon fought on, though grieving for his comrade,

460darting with the horses like a vulture among geese.

With ease he fled out from under the Trojan din,

and just as easily wheeled to pursue through the crowded press.

But he killed no men whenever he surged forward in pursuit,

for alone in the sacred chariot he had no way

465both to attack with his spear and hold the swift horses in check.

466ὀψὲ δὲ δή μιν ἑταῖρος ἀνὴρ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν

Ἀλκιμέδων υἱὸς Λαέρκεος Αἱμονίδαο·

στῆ δʼ ὄπιθεν δίφροιο καὶ Αὐτομέδοντα προσηύδα·

Αὐτόμεδον, τίς τοί νυ θεῶν νηκερδέα βουλὴν

470ἐν στήθεσσιν ἔθηκε, καὶ ἐξέλετο φρένας ἐσθλάς;

οἷον πρὸς Τρῶας μάχεαι πρώτῳ ἐν ὁμίλῳ

μοῦνος· ἀτάρ τοι ἑταῖρος ἀπέκτατο, τεύχεα δʼ Ἕκτωρ

αὐτὸς ἔχων ὤμοισιν ἀγάλλεται Αἰακίδαο.

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Αὐτομέδων προσέφη Διώρεος υἱός·

475Ἀλκίμεδον τίς γάρ τοι Ἀχαιῶν ἄλλος ὁμοῖος

ἵππων ἀθανάτων ἐχέμεν δμῆσίν τε μένος τε,

εἰ μὴ Πάτροκλος θεόφιν μήστωρ ἀτάλαντος

ζωὸς ἐών; νῦν αὖ θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κιχάνει.

ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία σιγαλόεντα

480δέξαι, ἐγὼ δʼ ἵππων ἀποβήσομαι, ὄφρα μάχωμαι.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀλκιμέδων δὲ βοηθόον ἅρμʼ ἐπορούσας

καρπαλίμως μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία λάζετο χερσίν,

Αὐτομέδων δʼ ἀπόρουσε· νόησε δὲ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ,

466At last a companion saw him with his own eyes,

Alcimedon, son of Laerces, Haemon’s son.

He stood behind the chariot and addressed Automedon:

“Automedon, which god has put this profitless plan

470in your chest and taken away your good sense?

You fight the Trojans alone in the foremost press,

while your comrade has been killed, and Hector wears

the armor of Aeacus’ grandson on his shoulders and glories in it.”

Automedon, Diores’ son, answered him:

475“Alcimedon, what other Achaean is your equal

at handling the immortal horses—their training and their force—

unless it was Patroclus, a counselor equal to the gods,

while he lived? Now death and fate have overtaken him.

Take the whip and the shining reins;

480I will dismount from the horses so that I can fight.”

So he spoke. Alcimedon sprang onto the battle-aiding chariot

and swiftly took the whip and reins in his hands,

while Automedon leaped down. Glorious Hector saw it

484αὐτίκα δʼ Αἰνείαν προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα·

485Αἰνεία Τρώων βουληφόρε χαλκοχιτώνων

ἵππω τώδʼ ἐνόησα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο

ἐς πόλεμον προφανέντε σὺν ἡνιόχοισι κακοῖσι·

τώ κεν ἐελποίμην αἱρησέμεν, εἰ σύ γε θυμῷ

σῷ ἐθέλεις, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἂν ἐφορμηθέντε γε νῶϊ

490τλαῖεν ἐναντίβιον στάντες μαχέσασθαι Ἄρηϊ.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησεν ἐῢς πάϊς Ἀγχίσαο.

τὼ δʼ ἰθὺς βήτην βοέῃς εἰλυμένω ὤμους

αὔῃσι στερεῇσι· πολὺς δʼ ἐπελήλατο χαλκός.

τοῖσι δʼ ἅμα Χρομίος τε καὶ Ἄρητος θεοειδὴς

495ἤϊσαν ἀμφότεροι· μάλα δέ σφισιν ἔλπετο θυμὸς

αὐτώ τε κτενέειν ἐλάαν τʼ ἐριαύχενας ἵππους

νήπιοι, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλον ἀναιμωτί γε νέεσθαι

αὖτις ἀπʼ Αὐτομέδοντος. ὃ δʼ εὐξάμενος Διὶ πατρὶ

ἀλκῆς καὶ σθένεος πλῆτο φρένας ἀμφὶ μελαίνας·

484and at once addressed Aeneas, who was close beside him:

485“Aeneas, counselor of the bronze-clad Trojans,

I have seen these two horses of swift Aeacus’ grandson

come forward into battle with worthless drivers.

I would hope to capture them, if your own spirit

is willing, since if the two of us charge them,

490they would not dare stand against us face-to-face in battle.”

So he spoke, and the noble son of Anchises obeyed.

The two went straight on with oxhide shields wrapped over their shoulders,

tough and seasoned, with a thick facing of bronze beaten over them.

With them went Chromius and godlike Aretus,

495both together, and their spirits strongly hoped

to kill the two men and drive away the high-necked horses—

fools, for they were not destined to return without bloodshed

from Automedon. He prayed to Father Zeus

and his dark heart was filled with courage and strength.

500αὐτίκα δʼ Ἀλκιμέδοντα προσηύδα πιστὸν ἑταῖρον·

Ἀλκίμεδον μὴ δή μοι ἀπόπροθεν ἰσχέμεν ἵππους,

ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐμπνείοντε μεταφρένῳ· οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε

Ἕκτορα Πριαμίδην μένεος σχήσεσθαι ὀΐω,

πρίν γʼ ἐπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος καλλίτριχε βήμεναι ἵππω

505νῶϊ κατακτείναντα, φοβῆσαί τε στίχας ἀνδρῶν

Ἀργείων, ἤ κʼ αὐτὸς ἐνὶ πρώτοισιν ἁλοίη.

ὣς εἰπὼν Αἴαντε καλέσσατο καὶ Μενέλαον·

Αἴαντʼ Ἀργείων ἡγήτορε καὶ Μενέλαε

ἤτοι μὲν τὸν νεκρὸν ἐπιτράπεθʼ οἵ περ ἄριστοι

510ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ βεβάμεν καὶ ἀμύνεσθαι στίχας ἀνδρῶν,

νῶϊν δὲ ζωοῖσιν ἀμύνετε νηλεὲς ἦμαρ·

τῇδε γὰρ ἔβρισαν πόλεμον κάτα δακρυόεντα

Ἕκτωρ Αἰνείας θʼ, οἳ Τρώων εἰσὶν ἄριστοι.

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται·

515ἥσω γὰρ καὶ ἐγώ, τὰ δέ κεν Διὶ πάντα μελήσει.

500At once he addressed Alcimedon, his trusted companion:

“Alcimedon, do not hold the horses far away from me,

but keep them breathing hard upon my back. I do not think

Hector, Priam’s son, will restrain his battle-force

before he mounts Achilles’ beautiful-maned horses

505after killing the two of us, and drives the ranks

of Argive men to flight—or he himself is caught among the foremost.”

So he spoke, then called to the two Ajaxes and Menelaus:

“You two Ajaxes, leaders of the Argives, and Menelaus,

entrust the body now to the best men,

510those who can stand around it and hold off the ranks of men,

and ward the merciless day away from us while we live.

Here, through tear-filled war, they have thrown their weight against us—

Hector and Aeneas, the finest of the Trojans.

Yet these things lie upon the gods’ knees.

515For I too will make my cast; all else will be Zeus’s concern.”

516ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

καὶ βάλεν Ἀρήτοιο κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην·

ἣ δʼ οὐκ ἔγχος ἔρυτο, διὰ πρὸ δὲ εἴσατο χαλκός,

νειαίρῃ δʼ ἐν γαστρὶ διὰ ζωστῆρος ἔλασσεν.

520ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ὀξὺν ἔχων πέλεκυν αἰζήϊος ἀνὴρ

κόψας ἐξόπιθεν κεράων βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο

ἶνα τάμῃ διὰ πᾶσαν, ὃ δὲ προθορὼν ἐρίπῃσιν,

ὣς ἄρʼ ὅ γε προθορὼν πέσεν ὕπτιος· ἐν δέ οἱ ἔγχος

νηδυίοισι μάλʼ ὀξὺ κραδαινόμενον λύε γυῖα.

516He spoke, poised his long-shadowed spear, and cast it,

striking Aretus’ shield, balanced on every side.

The shield did not stop it: bronze drove through,

and low in the belly he drove it through the belt.

520As when a vigorous man with a sharp axe

strikes behind the horns of a field-ranging ox

and cuts clean through the tendon, and it springs forward and falls,

so Aretus sprang forward, then fell backward; in his belly the spear,

quivering keenly, loosed his limbs.

525Ἕκτωρ δʼ Αὐτομέδοντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ·

ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος·

πρόσσω γὰρ κατέκυψε, τὸ δʼ ἐξόπιθεν δόρυ μακρὸν

οὔδει ἐνισκίμφθη, ἐπὶ δʼ οὐρίαχος πελεμίχθη

ἔγχεος· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀφίει μένος ὄβριμος Ἄρης.

530καί νύ κε δὴ ξιφέεσσʼ αὐτοσχεδὸν ὁρμηθήτην

εἰ μή σφωʼ Αἴαντε διέκριναν μεμαῶτε,

οἵ ῥʼ ἦλθον καθʼ ὅμιλον ἑταίρου κικλήσκοντος·

τοὺς ὑποταρβήσαντες ἐχώρησαν πάλιν αὖτις

Ἕκτωρ Αἰνείας τʼ ἠδὲ Χρομίος θεοειδής,

535Ἄρητον δὲ κατʼ αὖθι λίπον δεδαϊγμένον ἦτορ

κείμενον· Αὐτομέδων δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ

τεύχεά τʼ ἐξενάριξε καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·

ἦ δὴ μὰν ὀλίγον γε Μενοιτιάδαο θανόντος

κῆρ ἄχεος μεθέηκα χερείονά περ καταπέφνων.

540ὣς εἰπὼν ἐς δίφρον ἑλὼν ἔναρα βροτόεντα

θῆκʼ, ἂν δʼ αὐτὸς ἔβαινε πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν

αἱματόεις ὥς τίς τε λέων κατὰ ταῦρον ἐδηδώς.

525Hector cast his shining spear at Automedon.

But Automedon saw the bronze spear coming and dodged it,

crouching forward; the long spear behind him

drove into the ground, and the butt of the spear quivered

until mighty Ares spent its force there,

530Then the two would have rushed together at close quarters with swords

had not the two eager Ajaxes parted them,

coming through the throng at their comrade’s call.

In fear of them, they went back again—

Hector, Aeneas, and godlike Chromius—

535leaving Aretus where he lay, his heart torn open.

Automedon, a match for swift Ares,

stripped off his armor, and spoke this boast:

“Now I have eased my heart a little of its grief for Menoetius’ son,

though the man I killed was lesser than he.”

540So he spoke, took the bloodied spoils, and placed them in the chariot,

then climbed aboard himself, his hands and feet all

bloody—like a lion that has devoured a bull.

543ἂψ δʼ ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ τέτατο κρατερὴ ὑσμίνη

ἀργαλέη πολύδακρυς, ἔγειρε δὲ νεῖκος Ἀθήνη

545οὐρανόθεν καταβᾶσα· προῆκε γὰρ εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς

ὀρνύμεναι Δαναούς· δὴ γὰρ νόος ἐτράπετʼ αὐτοῦ.

ἠΰτε πορφυρέην ἶριν θνητοῖσι τανύσσῃ

Ζεὺς ἐξ οὐρανόθεν τέρας ἔμμεναι ἢ πολέμοιο

ἢ καὶ χειμῶνος δυσθαλπέος, ὅς ῥά τε ἔργων

550ἀνθρώπους ἀνέπαυσεν ἐπὶ χθονί, μῆλα δὲ κήδει,

ὣς ἣ πορφυρέῃ νεφέλῃ πυκάσασα ἓ αὐτὴν

δύσετʼ Ἀχαιῶν ἔθνος, ἔγειρε δὲ φῶτα ἕκαστον.

πρῶτον δʼ Ἀτρέος υἱὸν ἐποτρύνουσα προσηύδα

ἴφθιμον Μενέλαον· ὃ γάρ ῥά οἱ ἐγγύθεν ἦεν·

555εἰσαμένη Φοίνικι δέμας καὶ ἀτειρέα φωνήν·

σοὶ μὲν δὴ Μενέλαε κατηφείη καὶ ὄνειδος

ἔσσεται εἴ κʼ Ἀχιλῆος ἀγαυοῦ πιστὸν ἑταῖρον

τείχει ὕπο Τρώων ταχέες κύνες ἑλκήσουσιν.

ἀλλʼ ἔχεο κρατερῶς, ὄτρυνε δὲ λαὸν ἅπαντα.

543Once more the bitter, tear-bringing struggle

stretched hard over Patroclus; Athena roused the conflict

545when she came down from heaven, for wide-seeing Zeus had sent her

to spur the Danaans on: his purpose had now turned.

As Zeus stretches a purple rainbow before mortals

from heaven as a sign of war

or of a harsh winter storm, which brings men’s work

550on earth to a halt and brings distress upon the flocks,

so Athena wrapped herself in a purple cloud

and entered the Achaean host, rousing every man.

First she addressed the mighty son of Atreus,

Menelaus, since he was close beside her,

555taking Phoenix’s form and his unwearied voice:

“Menelaus, shame and reproach will fall upon you

if swift dogs beneath the Trojan wall drag away

the trusted companion of glorious Achilles.

Hold your ground strongly, and urge on all the host!”

560τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·

Φοῖνιξ ἄττα γεραιὲ παλαιγενές, εἰ γὰρ Ἀθήνη

δοίη κάρτος ἐμοί, βελέων δʼ ἀπερύκοι ἐρωήν·

τώ κεν ἔγωγʼ ἐθέλοιμι παρεστάμεναι καὶ ἀμύνειν

Πατρόκλῳ· μάλα γάρ με θανὼν ἐσεμάσσατο θυμόν.

565ἀλλʼ Ἕκτωρ πυρὸς αἰνὸν ἔχει μένος, οὐδʼ ἀπολήγει

χαλκῷ δηϊόων· τῷ γὰρ Ζεὺς κῦδος ὀπάζει.

ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,

ὅττί ῥά οἱ πάμπρωτα θεῶν ἠρήσατο πάντων.

ἐν δὲ βίην ὤμοισι καὶ ἐν γούνεσσιν ἔθηκε,

570καί οἱ μυίης θάρσος ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐνῆκεν,

ἥ τε καὶ ἐργομένη μάλα περ χροὸς ἀνδρομέοιο

ἰσχανάᾳ δακέειν, λαρόν τέ οἱ αἷμʼ ἀνθρώπου·

τοίου μιν θάρσευς πλῆσε φρένας ἀμφὶ μελαίνας,

βῆ δʼ ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ.

575ἔσκε δʼ ἐνὶ Τρώεσσι Ποδῆς υἱὸς Ἠετίωνος

ἀφνειός τʼ ἀγαθός τε· μάλιστα δέ μιν τίεν Ἕκτωρ

δήμου, ἐπεί οἱ ἑταῖρος ἔην φίλος εἰλαπιναστής·

τόν ῥα κατὰ ζωστῆρα βάλε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος

ἀΐξαντα φόβον δέ, διὰ πρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσε·

580δούπησεν δὲ πεσών· ἀτὰρ Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος

νεκρὸν ὑπʼ ἐκ Τρώων ἔρυσεν μετὰ ἔθνος ἑταίρων.

560Menelaus, good at the war cry, answered her:

“Father Phoenix, aged man of ancient days, if only Athena

would give me strength and ward off the rush of missiles,

then I would gladly stand here and defend

Patroclus, for his death has deeply stirred my spirit.

565But Hector has the dread force of fire and never ceases

destroying men with bronze, for Zeus grants him ascendancy.”

So he spoke, and the bright-eyed goddess Athena rejoiced

because he had prayed to her first of all the gods.

She put strength into his shoulders and his knees

570and set in his breast the daring of a fly,

which, though driven again and again from a man’s skin,

still longs to bite, delighting in human blood.

With such daring she filled his dark heart.

He went to Patroclus and cast his shining spear.

575Among the Trojans was Podes, Eetion’s son,

a wealthy and noble man; Hector honored him most

among the people, for he was his dear companion at the feast.

Fair-haired Menelaus struck him through the belt

as he sprang away in flight; he drove the bronze clean through.

580He fell with a crash. Then Atreus’ son Menelaus

dragged the corpse from beneath the Trojans into the ranks of his companions.

582Ἕκτορα δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἱστάμενος ὄτρυνεν Ἀπόλλων

Φαίνοπι Ἀσιάδῃ ἐναλίγκιος, ὅς οἱ ἁπάντων

ξείνων φίλτατος ἔσκεν Ἀβυδόθι οἰκία ναίων·

585τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσέφη ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων·

Ἕκτορ τίς κέ σʼ ἔτʼ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν ταρβήσειεν;

οἷον δὴ Μενέλαον ὑπέτρεσας, ὃς τὸ πάρος γε

μαλθακὸς αἰχμητής· νῦν δʼ οἴχεται οἶος ἀείρας

νεκρὸν ὑπʼ ἐκ Τρώων, σὸν δʼ ἔκτανε πιστὸν ἑταῖρον

590ἐσθλὸν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι Ποδῆν υἱὸν Ἠετίωνος.

ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ ἄχεος νεφέλη ἐκάλυψε μέλαινα,

βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.

καὶ τότʼ ἄρα Κρονίδης ἕλετʼ αἰγίδα θυσσανόεσσαν

μαρμαρέην, Ἴδην δὲ κατὰ νεφέεσσι κάλυψεν,

595ἀστράψας δὲ μάλα μεγάλʼ ἔκτυπε, τὴν δὲ τίναξε,

νίκην δὲ Τρώεσσι δίδου, ἐφόβησε δʼ Ἀχαιούς.

582Apollo stood close to Hector and urged him on,

wearing the likeness of Phainops, son of Asius, who among all

Hector’s guest-friends was dearest to him and made his home in Abydos.

585In his shape, far-working Apollo addressed Hector:

“Hector, what other Achaean could still frighten you,

when you have shrunk from Menelaus, who until now

was a weak spearman? Now he has gone off alone, carrying

a corpse from beneath the Trojans, and has killed your trusted companion,

590Podes, Eetion’s noble son, among the front fighters.”

So he spoke, and a black cloud of grief covered Hector.

Hector strode through the front ranks, armed in gleaming bronze.

Then the son of Cronus took up his tasseled aegis,

dazzling, and covered Ida in clouds.

595He flashed lightning, thundered mightily, and shook the aegis,

giving victory to the Trojans and routing the Achaeans.

597πρῶτος Πηνέλεως Βοιώτιος ἦρχε φόβοιο.

βλῆτο γὰρ ὦμον δουρὶ πρόσω τετραμμένος αἰεὶ

ἄκρον ἐπιλίγδην· γράψεν δέ οἱ ὀστέον ἄχρις

600αἰχμὴ Πουλυδάμαντος· ὃ γάρ ῥʼ ἔβαλε σχεδὸν ἐλθών.

Λήϊτον αὖθʼ Ἕκτωρ σχεδὸν οὔτασε χεῖρʼ ἐπὶ καρπῷ

υἱὸν Ἀλεκτρυόνος μεγαθύμου, παῦσε δὲ χάρμης·

τρέσσε δὲ παπτήνας, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι ἔλπετο θυμῷ

ἔγχος ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ μαχήσεσθαι Τρώεσσιν.

605Ἕκτορα δʼ Ἰδομενεὺς μετὰ Λήϊτον ὁρμηθέντα

βεβλήκει θώρηκα κατὰ στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν·

ἐν καυλῷ δʼ ἐάγη δολιχὸν δόρυ, τοὶ δὲ βόησαν

Τρῶες· ὃ δʼ Ἰδομενῆος ἀκόντισε Δευκαλίδαο

δίφρῳ ἐφεσταότος· τοῦ μέν ῥʼ ἀπὸ τυτθὸν ἅμαρτεν·

610αὐτὰρ ὃ Μηριόναο ὀπάονά θʼ ἡνίοχόν τε

Κοίρανον, ὅς ῥʼ ἐκ Λύκτου ἐϋκτιμένης ἕπετʼ αὐτῷ·

πεζὸς γὰρ τὰ πρῶτα λιπὼν νέας ἀμφιελίσσας

ἤλυθε, καί κε Τρωσὶ μέγα κράτος ἐγγυάλιξεν,

εἰ μὴ Κοίρανος ὦκα ποδώκεας ἤλασεν ἵππους·

615καὶ τῷ μὲν φάος ἦλθεν, ἄμυνε δὲ νηλεὲς ἦμαρ,

αὐτὸς δʼ ὤλεσε θυμὸν ὑφʼ Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο·

τὸν βάλʼ ὑπὸ γναθμοῖο καὶ οὔατος, ἐκ δʼ ἄρʼ ὀδόντας

ὦσε δόρυ πρυμνόν, διὰ δὲ γλῶσσαν τάμε μέσσην.

ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, κατὰ δʼ ἡνία χεῦεν ἔραζε.

620καὶ τά γε Μηριόνης ἔλαβεν χείρεσσι φίλῃσι

κύψας ἐκ πεδίοιο, καὶ Ἰδομενῆα προσηύδα·

μάστιε νῦν εἷός κε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ἵκηαι·

γιγνώσκεις δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ὅ τʼ οὐκέτι κάρτος Ἀχαιῶν.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἵμασεν καλλίτριχας ἵππους

625νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· δὴ γὰρ δέος ἔμπεσε θυμῷ.

597Peneleos the Boeotian was first to lead the rout,

for Polydamas struck his shoulder as he kept facing forward,

a glancing blow at its very edge; the spearpoint grazed the bone

600when Polydamas came close and struck him.

Hector wounded Leitus at close range in the hand by the wrist,

the son of great-hearted Alectryon, and stopped him from fighting.

He drew back, looking about him, since he no longer hoped in his heart

to fight the Trojans with a spear in his hand.

605As Hector rushed after Leitus, Idomeneus

struck his breastplate on the chest beside the nipple.

The long spear broke at the shaft, and the Trojans shouted.

Hector cast at Idomeneus, Deucalion’s son,

as he stood in his chariot, and missed him only slightly,

610but struck Meriones’ follower and charioteer,

Coiranus, who had come with him from well-built Lyctus.

Idomeneus had first left the curved ships on foot

and would have put great power into Trojan hands

had Coiranus not quickly driven up the swift-footed horses.

615For Idomeneus he brought the light of life and warded off the pitiless day,

but he himself lost his life beneath man-killing Hector.

Hector struck him beneath the jaw and ear; the spear

drove his teeth out by the roots and cut through the middle of his tongue.

He pitched from the chariot and spilled the reins to the ground.

620Meriones took them in his own hands,

stooping to the ground, and addressed Idomeneus:

“Whip the horses now until you reach the swift ships.

You see for yourself that the Achaeans have no strength left.”

So he spoke, and Idomeneus lashed the fine-maned horses

625toward the hollow ships, for fear had entered his spirit.

626οὐδʼ ἔλαθʼ Αἴαντα μεγαλήτορα καὶ Μενέλαον

Ζεύς, ὅτε δὴ Τρώεσσι δίδου ἑτεραλκέα νίκην.

τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·

ὢ πόποι ἤδη μέν κε καὶ ὃς μάλα νήπιός ἐστι

630γνοίη ὅτι Τρώεσσι πατὴρ Ζεὺς αὐτὸς ἀρήγει.

τῶν μὲν γὰρ πάντων βέλεʼ ἅπτεται ὅς τις ἀφήῃ

ἢ κακὸς ἢ ἀγαθός· Ζεὺς δʼ ἔμπης πάντʼ ἰθύνει·

ἡμῖν δʼ αὔτως πᾶσιν ἐτώσια πίπτει ἔραζε.

ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ αὐτοί περ φραζώμεθα μῆτιν ἀρίστην,

635ἠμὲν ὅπως τὸν νεκρὸν ἐρύσσομεν, ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ

χάρμα φίλοις ἑτάροισι γενώμεθα νοστήσαντες,

οἵ που δεῦρʼ ὁρόωντες ἀκηχέδατʼ, οὐδʼ ἔτι φασὶν

Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους

σχήσεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐν νηυσὶ μελαίνῃσιν πεσέεσθαι.

640εἴη δʼ ὅς τις ἑταῖρος ἀπαγγείλειε τάχιστα

Πηλεΐδῃ, ἐπεὶ οὔ μιν ὀΐομαι οὐδὲ πεπύσθαι

λυγρῆς ἀγγελίης, ὅτι οἱ φίλος ὤλεθʼ ἑταῖρος.

ἀλλʼ οὔ πῃ δύναμαι ἰδέειν τοιοῦτον Ἀχαιῶν·

ἠέρι γὰρ κατέχονται ὁμῶς αὐτοί τε καὶ ἵπποι.

645Ζεῦ πάτερ ἀλλὰ σὺ ῥῦσαι ὑπʼ ἠέρος υἷας Ἀχαιῶν,

ποίησον δʼ αἴθρην, δὸς δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι·

ἐν δὲ φάει καὶ ὄλεσσον, ἐπεί νύ τοι εὔαδεν οὕτως.

626Nor did it escape great-hearted Ajax and Menelaus

that Zeus was giving the Trojans victory that shifted the balance.

Great Telamonian Ajax began speaking among them:

“Look—even a man who is utterly foolish

630can see now that Father Zeus himself is helping the Trojans.

Every one of their missiles finds its mark, whoever casts it,

coward or brave; Zeus guides them all alike.

But all of ours fall uselessly to the ground.

Come, let us devise the best plan ourselves,

635both how we can rescue the corpse and how we ourselves

may return and bring joy to our dear companions.

They must be looking here in anguish and no longer think

that man-killing Hector’s force and irresistible hands will

hold back, but will fall upon the black ships.

640If only some companion would carry word as quickly as possible

to Peleus’ son, for I do not think he has even heard

the grim news that his dear companion is dead.

But nowhere can I see an Achaean fit for this:

mist covers men and horses alike.

645Father Zeus, rescue the sons of the Achaeans from this mist.

Make the sky clear and grant our eyes the power to see.

Kill us in the light, since this is what pleases you.”

648ὣς φάτο, τὸν δὲ πατὴρ ὀλοφύρατο δάκρυ χέοντα·

αὐτίκα δʼ ἠέρα μὲν σκέδασεν καὶ ἀπῶσεν ὀμίχλην,

650ἠέλιος δʼ ἐπέλαμψε, μάχη δʼ ἐπὶ πᾶσα φαάνθη·

καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ Αἴας εἶπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον·

σκέπτεο νῦν Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς αἴ κεν ἴδηαι

ζωὸν ἔτʼ Ἀντίλοχον μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱόν,

ὄτρυνον δʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ δαΐφρονι θᾶσσον ἰόντα

655εἰπεῖν ὅττι ῥά οἱ πολὺ φίλτατος ὤλεθʼ ἑταῖρος.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,

648So he spoke, and the Father pitied him as he wept.

At once he scattered the mist and drove the fog away.

650The sun shone out, and the whole battle came into view.

Then Ajax said to Menelaus, good at the war cry:

“Look now, Menelaus, cherished by Zeus, and see if you can find

Antilochus still alive, the son of great-hearted Nestor.

Urge him to go quickly to battle-minded Achilles

655and tell him that his dearest companion is dead.”

So he spoke, and Menelaus, good at the war cry, obeyed.

657βῆ δʼ ἰέναι ὥς τίς τε λέων ἀπὸ μεσσαύλοιο,

ὅς τʼ ἐπεὶ ἄρ κε κάμῃσι κύνας τʼ ἄνδρας τʼ ἐρεθίζων,

οἵ τέ μιν οὐκ εἰῶσι βοῶν ἐκ πῖαρ ἑλέσθαι

660πάννυχοι ἐγρήσσοντες· ὃ δὲ κρειῶν ἐρατίζων

ἰθύει, ἀλλʼ οὔ τι πρήσσει· θαμέες γὰρ ἄκοντες

ἀντίον ἀΐσσουσι θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν,

καιόμεναί τε δεταί, τάς τε τρεῖ ἐσσύμενός περ·

ἠῶθεν δʼ ἀπονόσφιν ἔβη τετιηότι θυμῷ·

665ὣς ἀπὸ Πατρόκλοιο βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος

ἤϊε πόλλʼ ἀέκων· περὶ γὰρ δίε μή μιν Ἀχαιοὶ

ἀργαλέου πρὸ φόβοιο ἕλωρ δηΐοισι λίποιεν.

πολλὰ δὲ Μηριόνῃ τε καὶ Αἰάντεσσʼ ἐπέτελλεν·

Αἴαντʼ Ἀργείων ἡγήτορε Μηριόνη τε

670νῦν τις ἐνηείης Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο

μνησάσθω· πᾶσιν γὰρ ἐπίστατο μείλιχος εἶναι

ζωὸς ἐών· νῦν αὖ θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κιχάνει.

657He went like a lion leaving a farmyard

after it has wearied itself harrying the dogs and men,

not letting it take the fat of the herd

660as they keep watch all night, while it craves the meat

and charges straight on but accomplishes nothing, for a thick flight of spears

comes darting against it from daring hands,

with blazing torches that it fears despite all its fury,

and at dawn it goes away from them with grief in its heart.

665So Menelaus, good at the war cry, left Patroclus

very unwillingly, for he feared the Achaeans might

yield to grievous flight and leave him as prey to their enemies.

Again and again he gave instructions to Meriones and the Ajaxes:

“Ajaxes, leaders of the Argives, and Meriones,

670let each of you now remember poor Patroclus’ kindness.

He knew how to be gentle to every man

while he lived; now death and fate have overtaken him.”

673ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,

πάντοσε παπταίνων ὥς τʼ αἰετός, ὅν ῥά τέ φασιν

675ὀξύτατον δέρκεσθαι ὑπουρανίων πετεηνῶν,

ὅν τε καὶ ὑψόθʼ ἐόντα πόδας ταχὺς οὐκ ἔλαθε πτὼξ

θάμνῳ ὑπʼ ἀμφικόμῳ κατακείμενος, ἀλλά τʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ

ἔσσυτο, καί τέ μιν ὦκα λαβὼν ἐξείλετο θυμόν.

ὣς τότε σοὶ Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ὄσσε φαεινὼ

680πάντοσε δινείσθην πολέων κατὰ ἔθνος ἑταίρων,

εἴ που Νέστορος υἱὸν ἔτι ζώοντα ἴδοιτο.

τὸν δὲ μάλʼ αἶψʼ ἐνόησε μάχης ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ πάσης

θαρσύνονθʼ ἑτάρους καὶ ἐποτρύνοντα μάχεσθαι,

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·

673So fair-haired Menelaus called out and left,

looking in every direction like an eagle, which they say

675has the keenest sight of all the birds beneath heaven.

Though high aloft, the swift-footed hare does not escape its eye

as it lies beneath a thick-leaved bush: the eagle swoops down,

seizes it at once, and takes its life.

So then, Menelaus cherished by Zeus, your shining eyes

680swept everywhere through the great host of companions,

hoping to see Nestor’s son still alive.

He quickly spotted him on the left of the whole battle,

encouraging his companions and urging them to fight.

Fair-haired Menelaus stood close and addressed him:

685Ἀντίλοχʼ εἰ δʼ ἄγε δεῦρο διοτρεφὲς ὄφρα πύθηαι

λυγρῆς ἀγγελίης, ἣ μὴ ὤφελλε γενέσθαι.

ἤδη μὲν σὲ καὶ αὐτὸν ὀΐομαι εἰσορόωντα

γιγνώσκειν ὅτι πῆμα θεὸς Δαναοῖσι κυλίνδει,

νίκη δὲ Τρώων· πέφαται δʼ ὤριστος Ἀχαιῶν

690Πάτροκλος, μεγάλη δὲ ποθὴ Δαναοῖσι τέτυκται.

ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ αἶψʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ θέων ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν

εἰπεῖν, αἴ κε τάχιστα νέκυν ἐπὶ νῆα σαώσῃ

γυμνόν· ἀτὰρ τά γε τεύχεʼ ἔχει κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀντίλοχος δὲ κατέστυγε μῦθον ἀκούσας·

695δὴν δέ μιν ἀμφασίη ἐπέων λάβε, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε

δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.

ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὧς Μενελάου ἐφημοσύνης ἀμέλησε,

βῆ δὲ θέειν, τὰ δὲ τεύχεʼ ἀμύμονι δῶκεν ἑταίρῳ

Λαοδόκῳ, ὅς οἱ σχεδὸν ἔστρεφε μώνυχας ἵππους.

700τὸν μὲν δάκρυ χέοντα πόδες φέρον ἐκ πολέμοιο

Πηλεΐδῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ κακὸν ἔπος ἀγγελέοντα.

685“Antilochus, cherished by Zeus, come here and hear

the grim news that should never have come to pass.

I think you can see for yourself already

that a god is rolling disaster upon the Danaans

and victory belongs to the Trojans. The best of the Achaeans has been killed—

690Patroclus—and the Danaans feel his great absence.

Run quickly to Achilles at the Achaean ships

and tell him, in case he can quickly save the corpse to his ship,

naked; flashing-helmeted Hector has his armor.”

So he spoke, and Antilochus recoiled at the message he heard.

695For a long time speechlessness held him; his eyes

filled with tears, and his strong voice was checked.

Even so, he did not neglect Menelaus’ command.

He set off running, but gave his armor to his blameless companion

Laodocus, who nearby was wheeling the single-hoofed horses for him.

700His feet carried him weeping from the battle

to Peleus’ son Achilles, bearing the bitter message.

702οὐδʼ ἄρα σοὶ Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ἤθελε θυμὸς

τειρομένοις ἑτάροισιν ἀμυνέμεν, ἔνθεν ἀπῆλθεν

Ἀντίλοχος, μεγάλη δὲ ποθὴ Πυλίοισιν ἐτύχθη·

705ἀλλʼ ὅ γε τοῖσιν μὲν Θρασυμήδεα δῖον ἀνῆκεν,

αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ βεβήκει,

στῆ δὲ παρʼ Αἰάντεσσι θέων, εἶθαρ δὲ προσηύδα·

κεῖνον μὲν δὴ νηυσὶν ἐπιπροέηκα θοῇσιν

ἐλθεῖν εἰς Ἀχιλῆα πόδας ταχύν· οὐδέ μιν οἴω

710νῦν ἰέναι μάλα περ κεχολωμένον Ἕκτορι δίῳ·

οὐ γάρ πως ἂν γυμνὸς ἐὼν Τρώεσσι μάχοιτο.

ἡμεῖς δʼ αὐτοί περ φραζώμεθα μῆτιν ἀρίστην,

ἠμὲν ὅπως τὸν νεκρὸν ἐρύσσομεν, ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ

Τρώων ἐξ ἐνοπῆς θάνατον καὶ κῆρα φύγωμεν.

702Nor was your spirit willing, Menelaus cherished by Zeus,

to defend the hard-pressed companions from whom Antilochus had gone,

though the Pylians felt his absence keenly.

705Instead Menelaus sent godlike Thrasymedes to them

and went back himself to the hero Patroclus.

He ran and stood beside the Ajaxes, then spoke at once:

“I have sent that man on to the swift ships

to go to swift-footed Achilles. But I do not think he will

710come to battle now, however angry he is with glorious Hector,

for he cannot fight the Trojans unarmed.

Let us devise the best plan ourselves,

both how we can rescue the corpse and how we ourselves

can escape death and fate from the din of the Trojans.”

715τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·

πάντα κατʼ αἶσαν ἔειπες ἀγακλεὲς ὦ Μενέλαε·

ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν καὶ Μηριόνης ὑποδύντε μάλʼ ὦκα

νεκρὸν ἀείραντες φέρετʼ ἐκ πόνου· αὐτὰρ ὄπισθε

νῶϊ μαχησόμεθα Τρωσίν τε καὶ Ἕκτορι δίῳ

720ἶσον θυμὸν ἔχοντες ὁμώνυμοι, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ

μίμνομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα παρʼ ἀλλήλοισι μένοντες.

715Then great Telamonian Ajax answered him:

“Everything you have said is right, renowned Menelaus.

You and Meriones quickly stoop beneath the body,

lift it, and carry it from the struggle. Behind you

we two will fight the Trojans and glorious Hector,

720equal in spirit and alike in name, as before

we have stood together and faced sharp Ares side by side.”

722ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα νεκρὸν ἀπὸ χθονὸς ἀγκάζοντο

ὕψι μάλα μεγάλως· ἐπὶ δʼ ἴαχε λαὸς ὄπισθε

Τρωϊκός, ὡς εἴδοντο νέκυν αἴροντας Ἀχαιούς.

725ἴθυσαν δὲ κύνεσσιν ἐοικότες, οἵ τʼ ἐπὶ κάπρῳ

βλημένῳ ἀΐξωσι πρὸ κούρων θηρητήρων·

ἕως μὲν γάρ τε θέουσι διαρραῖσαι μεμαῶτες,

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐν τοῖσιν ἑλίξεται ἀλκὶ πεποιθώς,

ἄψ τʼ ἀνεχώρησαν διά τʼ ἔτρεσαν ἄλλυδις ἄλλος.

730ὣς Τρῶες εἷος μὲν ὁμιλαδὸν αἰὲν ἕποντο

νύσσοντες ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισιν·

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ Αἴαντε μεταστρεφθέντε κατʼ αὐτοὺς

σταίησαν, τῶν δὲ τράπετο χρώς, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη

πρόσσω ἀΐξας περὶ νεκροῦ δηριάασθαι.

722So he spoke. They took the corpse in their arms from the ground

and lifted it very high; the Trojan host shouted behind them

when they saw the Achaeans lifting the dead man.

725They charged like dogs that rush upon a wounded boar

ahead of the young hunters.

For a time they run, eager to tear it apart,

but when it wheels among them, trusting in its strength,

they fall back again and scatter in fear, each a different way.

730So the Trojans followed all together without cease,

stabbing with swords and double-edged spears;

but whenever the two Ajaxes turned and stood against them,

their skin went pale, and no one dared

to spring forward and fight over the corpse.

735ὣς οἵ γʼ ἐμμεμαῶτε νέκυν φέρον ἐκ πολέμοιο

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· ἐπὶ δὲ πτόλεμος τέτατό σφιν

ἄγριος ἠΰτε πῦρ, τό τʼ ἐπεσσύμενον πόλιν ἀνδρῶν

ὄρμενον ἐξαίφνης φλεγέθει, μινύθουσι δὲ οἶκοι

ἐν σέλαϊ μεγάλῳ· τὸ δʼ ἐπιβρέμει ἲς ἀνέμοιο.

740ὣς μὲν τοῖς ἵππων τε καὶ ἀνδρῶν αἰχμητάων

ἀζηχὴς ὀρυμαγδὸς ἐπήϊεν ἐρχομένοισιν·

735So the two men pressed on, carrying the corpse from battle

toward the hollow ships, while war strained against them,

savage as fire that suddenly attacks a city of men

and flares up in violence; houses dwindle away

in the great blaze, and the force of the wind roars over it.

740So the ceaseless din of horses and spearmen

bore down upon them as they went.

742οἳ δʼ ὥς θʼ ἡμίονοι κρατερὸν μένος ἀμφιβαλόντες

ἕλκωσʼ ἐξ ὄρεος κατὰ παιπαλόεσσαν ἀταρπὸν

ἢ δοκὸν ἠὲ δόρυ μέγα νήϊον· ἐν δέ τε θυμὸς

745τείρεθʼ ὁμοῦ καμάτῳ τε καὶ ἱδρῷ σπευδόντεσσιν·

ὣς οἵ γʼ ἐμμεμαῶτε νέκυν φέρον. αὐτὰρ ὄπισθεν

Αἴαντʼ ἰσχανέτην, ὥς τε πρὼν ἰσχάνει ὕδωρ

ὑλήεις πεδίοιο διαπρύσιον τετυχηκώς,

ὅς τε καὶ ἰφθίμων ποταμῶν ἀλεγεινὰ ῥέεθρα

750ἴσχει, ἄφαρ δέ τε πᾶσι ῥόον πεδίον δὲ τίθησι

πλάζων· οὐδέ τί μιν σθένεϊ ῥηγνῦσι ῥέοντες·

ὣς αἰεὶ Αἴαντε μάχην ἀνέεργον ὀπίσσω

Τρώων· οἳ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο, δύω δʼ ἐν τοῖσι μάλιστα

Αἰνείας τʼ Ἀγχισιάδης καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ.

742They were like mules gathering all their strength

that drag from a mountain down a rugged path

a roof beam or a great timber for a ship; their spirits

745are worn by toil and sweat together as they hurry.

So those two pressed on carrying the corpse. Behind them

the Ajaxes held the enemy back, as a wooded ridge holds water,

a ridge stretching all across the plain,

which checks the harsh-flowing currents even of mighty rivers

750and at once turns all their courses out across the plain,

deflecting them; not even their strong flow can break it.

So the Ajaxes continually held back the Trojan battle behind them.

The Trojans followed close, and two were foremost among them:

Aeneas, Anchises’ son, and glorious Hector.

755τῶν δʼ ὥς τε ψαρῶν νέφος ἔρχεται ἠὲ κολοιῶν

οὖλον κεκλήγοντες, ὅτε προΐδωσιν ἰόντα

κίρκον, ὅ τε σμικρῇσι φόνον φέρει ὀρνίθεσσιν,

ὣς ἄρʼ ὑπʼ Αἰνείᾳ τε καὶ Ἕκτορι κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν

οὖλον κεκλήγοντες ἴσαν, λήθοντο δὲ χάρμης.

760πολλὰ δὲ τεύχεα καλὰ πέσον περί τʼ ἀμφί τε τάφρον

φευγόντων Δαναῶν· πολέμου δʼ οὐ γίγνετʼ ἐρωή.

755As a cloud of starlings or jackdaws moves

with cries of doom when they see coming

a hawk that brings death to small birds,

so before Aeneas and Hector the young Achaeans

went with cries of doom and forgot their joy in battle.

760Much fine armor fell on every side of the trench

as the Danaans fled, and there was no pause in the war.