And the son of Atreus, Menelaus, dear to Ares, failed not to mark that Patroclus had been slain in battle by the Trojans, but fared amid the foremost fighters, harnessed in flaming bronze, and bestrode the dead, as over a calf standeth lowing plaintively its mother, that hath brought forth her first-born, ere then knowing naught of motherhood; even so over Patroclus strode fair-haired Menelaus, and before him he held his spear and his shield that was well-balanced upon every side, eager to slay the man who should come to seize the corpse. Then was Panthous' son, of the good spear of ash, not unheedful of the falling of peerless Patroclus, but he took his stand hard by him, and spake to Menelaus, dear to Ares:Menelaus, son of Atreus, fostered of Zeus, thou leader of hosts, give back, and leave the corpse, and let be the bloody spoils; for before me no man of the Trojans and their famed allies smote Patroclus with the spear in the fierce conflict; wherefore suffer thou me to win goodly renown among the Trojans, lest I cast and smite thee, and rob thee of honey-sweet life.Then, his heart mightily stirred, fair-haired Menelaus spake unto him:O father Zeus, no good thing is it to boast overweeningly.
οὐδʼ ἔλαθʼ Ἀτρέος υἱὸν ἀρηΐφιλον ΜενέλαονΠάτροκλος Τρώεσσι δαμεὶς ἐν δηϊοτῆτι.βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ,ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτῷ βαῖνʼ ὥς τις περὶ πόρτακι μήτηρπρωτοτόκος 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.οὐδʼ ἄρα Πάνθου υἱὸς ἐϋμμελίης ἀμέλησεΠατρόκλοιο πεσόντος ἀμύμονος· ἄγχι δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτοῦἔστη, καὶ προσέειπεν ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον·Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ὄρχαμε λαῶνχάζεο, λεῖπε δὲ νεκρόν, ἔα δʼ ἔναρα βροτόεντα·οὐ γάρ τις πρότερος Τρώων κλειτῶν τʼ ἐπικούρωνΠάτροκλον βάλε δουρὶ κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην·τώ με ἔα κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἐνὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀρέσθαι,μή σε βάλω, ἀπὸ δὲ μελιηδέα θυμὸν ἕλωμαι.τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·Ζεῦ πάτερ οὐ μὲν καλὸν ὑπέρβιον εὐχετάασθαι.
Verily neither is the spirit of pard so high, nor of lion, nor of wild boar, of baneful mind, in whose breast the greatest fury exulteth exceedingly in might, as is the spirit of Panthous' sons, of the good spear of ash. Nay, but in sooth even the mighty Hyperenor, tamer of horses, had no profit of his youth, when he made light of me and abode my coming, and deemed that among the Danaans I was the meanest warrior; not on his own feet, I ween, did he fare home to make glad his dear wife and his worthy parents. Even so, meseems, shall I loose thy might as well, if thou stand to face me; nay, of myself I bid thee get thee back into the throng, and stand not forth to face me, ere yet some evil befall thee; when it is wrought even a fool getteth understanding.So spake he, yet persuaded not the other, but he answered, saying:Now in good sooth, Menelaus, nurtured of Zeus, shalt thou verily pay the price for my brother whom thou slewest, and over whom thou speakest vauntingly; and thou madest his wife a widow in her new-built bridal chamber, and broughtest grief unspeakable and sorrow upon his parents. Verily for them in their misery should I prove an assuaging of grief, if I but bring thy head and thy armour and lay them in the hands of Panthous and queenly Phrontis. Howbeit not for long shall the struggle be untried or unfought, be it for victory or for flight.So saying, he smote upon his shield that was well-balanced upon every side; howbeit the bronze brake not through, but its point was bent back in the stout shield. Then in turn did Atreus' son, Menelaus, rush upon him with his spear, and made prayer to father Zeus; and as he gave back, stabbed him at the base of the throat, and put his weight into the thrust, trusting in his heavy hand; and clean out through the tender neck passed the point. And he fell with a thud, and upon him his armour clanged. In blood was his hair drenched, that was like the hair of the Graces, and his tresses that were braided with gold and silver. And as a man reareth a lusty sapling of an olive in a lonely place, where water welleth up abundantly— a goodly sapling and a fair-growing; and the blasts of all the winds make it to quiver, and it burgeoneth out with white blossoms; but suddenly cometh the wind with a mighty tempest, and teareth it out of its trench, and layeth it low upon the earth; even in such wise did Menelaus, son of Atreus, slay Panthous' son, Euphorbus of the good ashen spear, and set him to spoil him of his armour. And as when a mountain-nurtured lion, trusting in his might, hath seized from amid a grazing herd the heifer that is goodliest: her neck he seizeth first in his strong jaws, and breaketh it, and thereafter devoureth the blood and all the inward parts in his fury; and round about him hounds and herds-men folk clamour loudly from afar, but have no will to come against him, for pale fear taketh hold on them; even so dared not the heart in the breast of any Trojan go to face glorious Menelaus.
οὔτʼ οὖν παρδάλιος τόσσον μένος οὔτε λέοντοςοὔτε συὸς κάπρου ὀλοόφρονος, οὗ τε μέγιστοςθυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι περὶ σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνει,ὅσσον Πάνθου υἷες ἐϋμμελίαι φρονέουσιν.οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ βίη Ὑπερήνορος ἱπποδάμοιοἧς ἥβης ἀπόνηθʼ, ὅτε μʼ ὤνατο καί μʼ ὑπέμεινεκαί μʼ ἔφατʼ ἐν Δαναοῖσιν ἐλέγχιστον πολεμιστὴνἔμμεναι· οὐδέ ἕ φημι πόδεσσί γε οἷσι κιόνταεὐφρῆναι ἄλοχόν τε φίλην κεδνούς τε τοκῆας.ὥς θην καὶ σὸν ἐγὼ λύσω μένος εἴ κέ μευ ἄνταστήῃς· ἀλλά σʼ ἔγωγʼ ἀναχωρήσαντα κελεύωἐς πληθὺν ἰέναι, μηδʼ ἀντίος ἵστασʼ ἐμεῖοπρίν τι κακὸν παθέειν· ῥεχθὲν δέ τε νήπιος ἔγνω.ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ οὐ πεῖθεν· ἀμειβόμενος δὲ προσηύδα·νῦν μὲν δὴ Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ἦ μάλα τείσειςγνωτὸν 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 γενοίμηνεἴ κεν ἐγὼ κεφαλήν τε τεὴν καὶ τεύχεʼ ἐνείκαςΠάνθῳ ἐν χείρεσσι βάλω καὶ Φρόντιδι δίῃ.ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰν ἔτι δηρὸν ἀπείρητος πόνος ἔσταιοὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἀδήριτος ἤτʼ ἀλκῆς ἤτε φόβοιο.ὣς εἰπὼν οὔτησε κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην·οὐδʼ ἔρρηξεν χαλκός, ἀνεγνάμφθη δέ οἱ αἰχμὴἀσπίδʼ ἐνὶ κρατερῇ· ὃ δὲ δεύτερος ὄρνυτο χαλκῷἈτρεΐδης Μενέλαος ἐπευξάμενος Διὶ πατρί·ἂψ δʼ ἀναχαζομένοιο κατὰ στομάχοιο θέμεθλανύξʼ, ἐπὶ δʼ αὐτὸς ἔρεισε βαρείῃ χειρὶ πιθήσας·ἀντικρὺ δʼ ἁπαλοῖο διʼ αὐχένος ἤλυθʼ ἀκωκή,δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.αἵματί οἱ δεύοντο κόμαι Χαρίτεσσιν ὁμοῖαιπλοχμοί θʼ, οἳ χρυσῷ τε καὶ ἀργύρῳ ἐσφήκωντο.οἷον δὲ τρέφει ἔρνος ἀνὴρ ἐριθηλὲς ἐλαίηςχώρῳ ἐν οἰοπόλῳ, ὅθʼ ἅλις ἀναβέβροχεν ὕδωρ,καλὸν τηλεθάον· τὸ δέ τε πνοιαὶ δονέουσιπαντοίων ἀνέμων, καί τε βρύει ἄνθεϊ λευκῷ·ἐλθὼν δʼ ἐξαπίνης ἄνεμος σὺν λαίλαπι πολλῇβόθρου τʼ ἐξέστρεψε καὶ ἐξετάνυσσʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃ·τοῖον Πάνθου υἱὸν ἐϋμμελίην ΕὔφορβονἈτρεΐδης Μενέλαος ἐπεὶ κτάνε τεύχεʼ ἐσύλα.ὡς δʼ ὅτε τίς τε λέων ὀρεσίτροφος ἀλκὶ πεποιθὼςβοσκομένης ἀγέλης βοῦν ἁρπάσῃ ἥ τις ἀρίστη·τῆς δʼ ἐξ αὐχένʼ ἔαξε λαβὼν κρατεροῖσιν ὀδοῦσιπρῶτον, ἔπειτα δέ θʼ αἷμα καὶ ἔγκατα πάντα λαφύσσειδῃῶν· ἀμφὶ δὲ τόν γε κύνες τʼ ἄνδρές τε νομῆεςπολλὰ μάλʼ ἰύζουσιν ἀπόπροθεν οὐδʼ ἐθέλουσινἀντίον ἐλθέμεναι· μάλα γὰρ χλωρὸν δέος αἱρεῖ·ὣς τῶν οὔ τινι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐτόλμαἀντίον ἐλθέμεναι Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.
Full easily then would Atreus' son have borne off the glorious armour of the son of Panthous, but that Phoebus Apollo begrudged it him, and in the likeness of a man, even of Mentes, leader of the Cicones, aroused against him Hector, the peer of swift Ares. And he spake and addressed him in winged words:
ἔνθά κε ῥεῖα φέροι κλυτὰ τεύχεα ΠανθοΐδαοἈτρεΐδης, εἰ μή οἱ ἀγάσσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,ὅς ῥά οἱ Ἕκτορʼ ἐπῶρσε θοῷ ἀτάλαντον Ἄρηϊἀνέρι εἰσάμενος Κικόνων ἡγήτορι Μέντῃ·καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
Hector, now art thou hasting thus vainly after what thou mayest not attain, even the horses of the wise-hearted son of Aeacus; but hard are they for mortal men to master or to drive, save only for Achilles, whom an immortal mother bare. Meanwhile hath warlike Menelaus, son of Atreus, bestridden Patroclus, and slain the best man of the Trojans, even Panthous' son, Euphorbus, and hath made him cease from his furious valour.So spake he, and went back again, a god into the toil of men. But the soul of Hector was darkly clouded with dread sorrow, and he glanced then along the lines, and forthwith was ware of the one stripping off the glorious arms, and of the other lying on the ground; and the blood was flowing down from the stricken wound. Then strode he forth amid the foremost fighters, harnessed in flaming bronze, crying a shrill cry, in fashion like unto the flame of Hephaestus that none may quench. Nor was his shrill cry unheard of the son of Atreus, but sore troubled he spake to his own great-hearted spirit:Ah, woe is me! If I leave behind the goodly arms, and Patroclus, that here lieth low for that he would get me recompense, I fear lest many a Danaan wax wroth against me, whosoever beholdeth it. But if for very shame I, that am alone, do battle with Hector and the Trojans, I fear lest haply they beset me round about, many against one; for all the Trojans is Hector of the flashing helm leading hitherward. But why doth my heart thus hold converse with me? Whenso a warrior is minded against the will of heaven to fight with another whom a god honoureth, forthwith then upon him rolleth mighty woe.
Ἕκτορ νῦν σὺ μὲν ὧδε θέεις ἀκίχητα διώκωνἵππους Αἰακίδαο δαΐφρονος· οἳ δʼ ἀλεγεινοὶἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι δαμήμεναι ἠδʼ ὀχέεσθαιἄλλῳ γʼ ἢ Ἀχιλῆϊ, τὸν ἀθανάτη τέκε μήτηρ.τόφρα δέ τοι Μενέλαος ἀρήϊος Ἀτρέος υἱὸςΠατρόκλῳ περιβὰς Τρώων τὸν ἄριστον ἔπεφνεΠανθοΐδην Εὔφορβον, ἔπαυσε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν αὖτις ἔβη θεὸς ἂμ πόνον ἀνδρῶν,Ἕκτορα δʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος πύκασε φρένας ἀμφὶ μελαίνας·πάπτηνεν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ στίχας, αὐτίκα δʼ ἔγνωτὸν μὲν ἀπαινύμενον κλυτὰ τεύχεα, τὸν δʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃκείμενον· ἔρρει δʼ αἷμα κατʼ οὐταμένην ὠτειλήν.βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷὀξέα κεκλήγων φλογὶ εἴκελος Ἡφαίστοιοἀσβέστῳ· οὐδʼ υἱὸν λάθεν Ἀτρέος ὀξὺ βοήσας·ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·ὤ μοι ἐγὼν εἰ μέν κε λίπω κάτα τεύχεα καλὰΠάτροκλόν θʼ, ὃς κεῖται ἐμῆς ἕνεκʼ ἐνθάδε τιμῆς,μή τίς μοι Δαναῶν νεμεσήσεται ὅς κεν ἴδηται.εἰ δέ κεν Ἕκτορι μοῦνος ἐὼν καὶ Τρωσὶ μάχωμαιαἰδεσθείς, 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 μάχεσθαιὅν κε θεὸς τιμᾷ, τάχα οἱ μέγα πῆμα κυλίσθη.
Therefore shall no man of the Danaans wax wroth against me, whoso shall mark me giving ground before Hector, seeing he fighteth with the help of heaven. But if I might anywhere find Aias, good at the war-cry, then might we twain turn back and bethink us of fight, even were it against the will of heaven, in hope to save the dead for Achilles, Peleus' son: of ills that were the best.While he pondered thus in mind and heart, meanwhile the ranks of the Trojans came on, and Hector led them. Then Menelaus gave ground backward, and left the corpse, ever turning him about like a bearded lion that dogs and men drive from a fold with spears and shouting; and the valiant heart in his breast groweth chill, and sore loth he fareth from the farmstead; even so from Patroclus went fair-haired Menelaus. But he turned him about and stood, when he reached the throng of his comrades, glancing this way and that for great Aias, son of Telamon. Him he marked full quickly on the left of the whole battle, heartening his comrades, and urging them on to fight, for wondrous fear had Phoebus Apollo cast upon them. And he set him to run, and straightway came up to him, and spake, saying:
τώ μʼ οὔ τις Δαναῶν νεμεσήσεται ὅς κεν ἴδηταιἝκτορι χωρήσαντʼ, ἐπεὶ ἐκ θεόφιν πολεμίζει.εἰ δέ που Αἴαντός γε βοὴν ἀγαθοῖο πυθοίμην,ἄμφω κʼ αὖτις ἰόντες ἐπιμνησαίμεθα χάρμηςκαὶ πρὸς δαίμονά περ, εἴ πως ἐρυσαίμεθα νεκρὸνΠηλεΐδῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ· κακῶν δέ κε φέρτατον εἴη.εἷος ὁ ταῦθʼ ὅρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸντόφρα δʼ ἐπὶ Τρώων στίχες ἤλυθον· ἦρχε δʼ ἄρʼ Ἕκτωρ.αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἐξοπίσω ἀνεχάζετο, λεῖπε δὲ νεκρὸνἐντροπαλιζόμενος ὥς τε λὶς ἠϋγένειος,ὅν ῥα κύνες τε καὶ ἄνδρες ἀπὸ σταθμοῖο δίωνταιἔγχεσι καὶ φωνῇ· τοῦ δʼ ἐν φρεσὶν ἄλκιμον ἦτορπαχνοῦται, ἀέκων δέ τʼ ἔβη ἀπὸ μεσσαύλοιο·ὣς ἀπὸ Πατρόκλοιο κίε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.στῆ δὲ μεταστρεφθεὶς ἐπεὶ ἵκετο ἔθνος ἑταίρωνπαπταίνων Αἴαντα μέγαν Τελαμώνιον υἱόν.τὸν δὲ μάλʼ αἶψʼ ἐνόησε μάχης ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ πάσηςθαρσύνονθʼ ἑτάρους καὶ ἐποτρύνοντα μάχεσθαι·θεσπέσιον γάρ σφιν φόβον ἔμβαλε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·βῆ δὲ θέειν, εἶθαρ δὲ παριστάμενος ἔπος ηὔδα.
Aias, come hither, good friend, let us hasten in defence of the dead Patroclus, if so be we may bear forth his corpse at least to Achilles—his naked corpse; but his armour is held by Hector of the flashing helm.So spake he, and stirred the soul of wise-hearted Aias, and he strode amid the foremost fighters, and with him fair-haired Menelaus.
Αἶαν δεῦρο πέπον, περὶ Πατρόκλοιο θανόντοςσπεύσομεν, αἴ κε νέκυν περ Ἀχιλλῆϊ προφέρωμενγυμνόν· ἀτὰρ τά γε τεύχεʼ ἔχει κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.ὣς ἔφατʼ, Αἴαντι δὲ δαΐφρονι θυμὸν ὄρινε·βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων, ἅμα δὲ ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.
Now Hector, when he had stripped from Patroclus his glorious armour, sought to hale him away that he might cut the head from off his shoulders with the sharp bronze, and drag off the corpse, and give it to the dogs of Troy; but Aias drew near, bearing his shield, that was like a city wall. Then Hector gave ground backward into the throng of his comrades, and leapt upon his chariot, and gave the goodly armour to the Trojans to bear to the city, to be a great glory unto him. But Aias covered the son of Menoetius round about with his broad shield, and stood as a lion over his whelps, one that huntsmen have encountered in the forest as he leadeth his young; then he exulteth in his strength, and draweth down all his brows to cover his eyes; even so did Aias bestride the warrior Patroclus, and hard by him stood the son of Atreus, Menelaus, dear to Ares, nursing great sorrow in his breast.
Ἕκτωρ 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,ἐς δίφρον δʼ ἀνόρουσε· δίδου δʼ ὅ γε τεύχεα καλὰΤρωσὶ φέρειν προτὶ ἄστυ, μέγα κλέος ἔμμεναι αὐτῷ.Αἴας δʼ ἀμφὶ Μενοιτιάδῃ σάκος εὐρὺ καλύψαςἑστήκει ὥς τίς τε λέων περὶ οἷσι τέκεσσιν,ᾧ ῥά τε νήπιʼ ἄγοντι συναντήσωνται ἐν ὕλῃἄνδρες ἐπακτῆρες· ὃ δέ τε σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνει,πᾶν δέ τʼ ἐπισκύνιον κάτω ἕλκεται ὄσσε καλύπτων·ὣς Αἴας περὶ Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ βεβήκει.Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαοςἑστήκει, μέγα πένθος ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀέξων.
And Glaucus, son of Hippolochus, leader of the Lycians, with an angry glance from beneath his brows, chid Hector with hard words, saying:Hector, most fair to look upon, in battle art thou sorely lacking. In good sooth 'tis but in vain that fair renown possesseth thee that art but a runagate. Bethink thee now how by thyself thou mayest save thy city and home aided only by the folk that were born in Ilios; for of the Lycians at least will no man go forth to do battle with the Danaans for the city's sake, seeing there were to be no thanks, it seemeth, for warring against the foemen ever without respite. How art thou like to save a meaner man amid the press of battle, thou heartless one, when Sarpedon, that was at once thy guest and thy comrade, thou didst leave to the Argives to be their prey and spoil!—one that full often proved a boon to thee, to thy city and thine own self, while yet he lived; whereas now thou hadst not the courage to ward from him the dogs. Wherefore now, if any one of the men of Lycia will hearken to me, homeward will we go, and for Troy shall utter destruction be made plain. Ah, that there were now in the Trojans dauntless courage, that knoweth naught of fear, such as cometh upon men that for their country's sake toil and strive with foemen; then forthwith should we hale Patroclus into Ilios.
Γλαῦκος δʼ Ἱππολόχοιο πάϊς Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀνδρῶνἝκτορʼ 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 σαώσῃςοἶος σὺν λαοῖς τοὶ Ἰλίῳ ἐγγεγάασιν·οὐ γάρ τις Λυκίων γε μαχησόμενος Δαναοῖσινεἶσι περὶ πτόλιος, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἄρα τις χάρις ἦενμάρνασθαι δηΐοισιν ἐπʼ ἀνδράσι νωλεμὲς αἰεί.πῶς κε σὺ χείρονα φῶτα σαώσειας μεθʼ ὅμιλονσχέτλιʼ, ἐπεὶ Σαρπηδόνʼ ἅμα ξεῖνον καὶ ἑταῖρονκάλλιπες Ἀργείοισιν ἕλωρ καὶ κύρμα γενέσθαι,ὅς τοι πόλλʼ ὄφελος γένετο πτόλεΐ τε καὶ αὐτῷζωὸς ἐών· νῦν δʼ οὔ οἱ ἀλαλκέμεναι κύνας ἔτλης.τὼ νῦν εἴ τις ἐμοὶ Λυκίων ἐπιπείσεται ἀνδρῶνοἴκαδʼ ἴμεν, Τροίῃ δὲ πεφήσεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.εἰ γὰρ νῦν Τρώεσσι μένος πολυθαρσὲς ἐνείηἄτρομον, οἷόν τʼ ἄνδρας ἐσέρχεται οἳ περὶ πάτρηςἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσι πόνον καὶ δῆριν ἔθεντο,αἶψά κε Πάτροκλον ἐρυσαίμεθα Ἴλιον εἴσω.
And if this man were to come, a corpse, to the great city of king Priam, and we should hale him forth from out the battle, straightway then would the Argives give back the goodly armour of Sarpedon, and we should bring his body into Ilios; for such a man is he whose squire hath been slain, one that is far the best of the Argives by the ships, himself and his squires that fight in close combat. But thou hadst not the courage to stand before great-hearted Aias, facing him eye to eye amid the battle-cry of the foemen, nor to do battle against him, seeing he is a better man than thou.Then with an angry glance from beneath his brows, spake to him Hector of the flashing helm:
εἰ δʼ οὗτος προτὶ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἄνακτοςἔλθοι τεθνηὼς καί μιν ἐρυσαίμεθα χάρμης,αἶψά κεν Ἀργεῖοι Σαρπηδόνος ἔντεα καλὰλύσειαν, καί κʼ αὐτὸν ἀγοίμεθα Ἴλιον εἴσω·τοίου γὰρ θεράπων πέφατʼ ἀνέρος, ὃς μέγʼ ἄριστοςἈργείων παρὰ νηυσὶ καὶ ἀγχέμαχοι θεράποντες.ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ Αἴαντος μεγαλήτορος οὐκ ἐτάλασσαςστήμεναι ἄντα κατʼ ὄσσε ἰδὼν δηΐων ἐν ἀϋτῇ,οὐδʼ ἰθὺς μαχέσασθαι, ἐπεὶ σέο φέρτερός ἐστι.τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
Glaucus, wherefore hast thou, being such a one as thou art, spoken an overweening word? Good friend, in sooth I deemed that in wisdom thou wast above all others that dwell in deep-soiled Lycia; but now have I altogether scorn of thy wits, that thou speakest thus, seeing thou sayest I stood not to face mighty Aias.
Γλαῦκε τί ἢ δὲ σὺ τοῖος ἐὼν ὑπέροπλον ἔειπες;ὢ πόποι ἦ τʼ ἐφάμην σὲ περὶ φρένας ἔμμεναι ἄλλωντῶν ὅσσοι Λυκίην ἐριβώλακα ναιετάουσι·νῦν δέ σευ ὠνοσάμην πάγχυ φρένας οἷον ἔειπες,ὅς τέ με φῂς Αἴαντα πελώριον οὐχ ὑπομεῖναι.
I shudder not at battle, I tell thee, nor at the din of chariots, but ever is the intent of Zeus that beareth the aegis strongest, for he driveth even a valiant man in rout, and robbeth him of victory full easily, and again of himself he rouseth men to fight. Nay, come thou hither, good friend, take thy stand by my side, and behold my handiwork, whether this whole day through I shall prove me a coward, as thou pratest, or shall stay many a one of the Danaans, how fierce soever for valorous deeds he be, from fighting in defence of the dead Patroclus.So saying, he shouted aloud, and called to the Trojans:Ye Trojans, and Lycians, and Dardanians that fight in close combat, be men, my friends, and bethink you of furious valour, until I put upon me the armour of peerless Achilles, the goodly armour that I stripped from the mighty Patroclus, when I slew him.When he had thus spoken, Hector of the flashing helm went forth from the fury of war, and ran, and speedily reached his comrades not yet far off, hastening after them with swift steps, even them that were bearing toward the city the glorious armour of the son of Peleus. Then he halted apart from the tear-fraught battle, and changed his armour; his own he gave to the war-loving Trojans to bear to sacred Ilios, but clad himself in the immortal armour of Peleus' son, Achilles, that the heavenly gods had given to his father and that he had given to his son, when he himself waxed old; howbeit in the armour of the father the son came not to old age. But when Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, beheld him from afar as he harnessed him in the battle-gear of the godlike son of Peleus, he shook his head, and thus he spake unto his own heart:Ah, poor wretch, death verily is not in thy thoughts, that yet draweth nigh thee; but thou art putting upon thee the immortal armour of a princely man before whom others besides thee are wont to quail. His comrade, kindly and valiant, hast thou slain, and in unseemly wise hast stripped the armour from his head and shoulders. Howbeit for this present will I vouch-safe thee great might, in recompense for this—that in no wise shalt thou return from out the battle for Andromache to receive from thee the glorious armour of the son of Peleus.The son of Cronos spake and bowed thereto with his dark brows, and upon Hector's body he made the armour to fit, and there entered into him Ares, the dread Enyalius, and his limbs were filled within with valour and with might. Then went he his way into the company of the famed allies, crying a great cry, and shewed himself before the eyes of all, flashing in the armour of the great-souled son of Peleus. And going to and fro he spake and heartened each man, Mesthles and Glaucus and Medon and Thersilochus and Asteropaeus and Deisenor and Hippothous and Phorcys and Chroraius and Ennomus, the augur—these he heartened, and spake to them winged words:
οὔ τοι ἐγὼν ἔρριγα μάχην οὐδὲ κτύπον ἵππων·ἀλλʼ αἰεί τε Διὸς κρείσσων νόος αἰγιόχοιο,ὅς τε καὶ ἄλκιμον ἄνδρα φοβεῖ καὶ ἀφείλετο νίκηνῥηϊδίως, ὁτὲ δʼ αὐτὸς ἐποτρύνει μαχέσασθαι.ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρο πέπον, παρʼ ἔμʼ ἵστασο καὶ ἴδε ἔργον,ἠὲ πανημέριος κακὸς ἔσσομαι, ὡς ἀγορεύεις,ἦ τινα καὶ Δαναῶν ἀλκῆς μάλα περ μεμαῶτασχήσω ἀμυνέμεναι περὶ Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος.ὣς εἰπὼν Τρώεσσιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταί,ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς,ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼν Ἀχιλῆος ἀμύμονος ἔντεα δύωκαλά, τὰ Πατρόκλοιο βίην ἐνάριξα κατακτάς.ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρδηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο· θέων δʼ ἐκίχανεν ἑταίρουςὦκα 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 ἱρὴνΤρωσὶ φιλοπτολέμοισιν, ὃ δʼ ἄμβροτα τεύχεα δῦνεΠηλεΐδεω Ἀχιλῆος ἅ οἱ θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνεςπατρὶ φίλῳ ἔπορον· ὃ δʼ ἄρα ᾧ παιδὶ ὄπασσεγηράς· ἀλλʼ οὐχ υἱὸς ἐν ἔντεσι πατρὸς ἐγήρα.τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἀπάνευθεν ἴδεν νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺςτεύχεσι Πηλεΐδαο κορυσσόμενον θείοιο,κινήσας ῥα κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν·ἆ δείλʼ οὐδέ τί τοι θάνατος καταθύμιός ἐστινὃς δή τοι σχεδὸν εἶσι· σὺ δʼ ἄμβροτα τεύχεα δύνειςἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος, τόν τε τρομέουσι καὶ ἄλλοι·τοῦ δὴ ἑταῖρον ἔπεφνες ἐνηέα τε κρατερόν τε,τεύχεα δʼ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον ἀπὸ κρατός τε καὶ ὤμωνεἵλευ· ἀτάρ τοι νῦν γε μέγα κράτος ἐγγυαλίξω,τῶν ποινὴν ὅ τοι οὔ τι μάχης ἐκνοστήσαντιδέξεται Ἀνδρομάχη κλυτὰ τεύχεα Πηλεΐωνος.ἦ καὶ κυανέῃσιν ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦσε Κρονίων.Ἕκτορι δʼ ἥρμοσε τεύχεʼ ἐπὶ χροΐ, δῦ δέ μιν Ἄρηςδεινὸς ἐνυάλιος, πλῆσθεν δʼ ἄρα οἱ μέλεʼ ἐντὸςἀλκῆς καὶ σθένεος· μετὰ δὲ κλειτοὺς ἐπικούρουςβῆ ῥα μέγα ἰάχων· ἰνδάλλετο δέ σφισι πᾶσιτεύχεσι λαμπόμενος μεγαθύμου Πηλεΐωνος.ὄτρυνεν δὲ ἕκαστον ἐποιχόμενος ἐπέεσσιΜέσθλην τε Γλαῦκόν τε Μέδοντά τε Θερσίλοχόν τεἈστεροπαῖόν τε Δεισήνορά θʼ Ἱππόθοόν τεΦόρκυν τε Χρομίον τε καὶ Ἔννομον οἰωνιστήν·τοὺς ὅ γʼ ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
Hear me, ye tribes uncounted of allies that dwell round about. Not because I sought for numbers or had need thereof, did I gather each man of you from, your cities, but that with ready hearts ye might save the Trojans' wives and their little children from the war-loving Achaeans.
κέκλυτε μυρία φῦλα περικτιόνων ἐπικούρων·οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ πληθὺν διζήμενος οὐδὲ χατίζωνἐνθάδʼ ἀφʼ ὑμετέρων πολίων ἤγειρα ἕκαστον,ἀλλʼ ἵνα μοι Τρώων ἀλόχους καὶ νήπια τέκναπροφρονέως ῥύοισθε φιλοπτολέμων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν.
With this intent am I wasting the substance of mine own folk that ye may have gifts and food, and thereby I cause the strength of each one of you to wax. Wherefore let every man turn straight against the foe and die haply, or live; for this is the dalliance of war. And whosoever shall hale Patroclus, dead though he be, into the midst of the horse-taming Trojans, and make Aias to yield, the half of the spoils shall I render unto him, and the half shall I keep mine ownself; and his glory shall be even as mine own.So spake he, and they charged straight against the Danaans with all their weight, holding their spears on high, and their hearts within them were full of hope to drag the corpse froma beneath Aias, son of Telamon—fools that they were! Verily full many did he rob of life over that corpse. Then spake Aias unto Menelaus, good at the war-cry,Good Menelaus, fostered of Zeus, no more have I hope that we twain by ourselves alone shall win back from out the war.
τὰ φρονέων δώροισι κατατρύχω καὶ ἐδωδῇλαούς, ὑμέτερον δὲ ἑκάστου θυμὸν ἀέξω.τώ τις νῦν ἰθὺς τετραμμένος ἢ ἀπολέσθωἠὲ σαωθήτω· ἣ γὰρ πολέμου ὀαριστύς.ὃς δέ κε Πάτροκλον καὶ τεθνηῶτά περ ἔμπηςΤρῶας ἐς ἱπποδάμους ἐρύσῃ, εἴξῃ δέ οἱ Αἴας,ἥμισυ τῷ ἐνάρων ἀποδάσσομαι, ἥμισυ δʼ αὐτὸςἕξω ἐγώ· τὸ δέ οἱ κλέος ἔσσεται ὅσσον ἐμοί περ.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἰθὺς Δαναῶν βρίσαντες ἔβησανδούρατʼ ἀνασχόμενοι· μάλα δέ σφισιν ἔλπετο θυμὸςνεκρὸν ὑπʼ Αἴαντος ἐρύειν Τελαμωνιάδαονήπιοι· ἦ τε πολέσσιν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ θυμὸν ἀπηύρα.καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ Αἴας εἶπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον·ὦ πέπον ὦ Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς οὐκέτι νῶϊἔλπομαι αὐτώ περ νοστησέμεν ἐκ πολέμοιο.
In no wise have I such dread for the corpse of Patroclus that shall presently glut the dogs and birds of the Trojans, as I have for mine own life, lest some evil befall, and for thine as well, for a cloud of war compasseth everything about, even Hector, and for us is utter destruction plain to see.
οὔ 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 καλύπτειἝκτωρ, ἡμῖν δʼ αὖτʼ ἀναφαίνεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.
Howbeit, come thou, call upon the chieftains of the Danaans, if so be any may hear.So spake he, and Menelaus, good at the war-cry, failed not to hearken, but uttered a piercing shout and called to the Danaans:Friends, leaders and rulers of the Argives, ye that at the board of the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus, drink at the common cost, and give commands each one to his folk—ye upon whom attend honour and glory from Zeus—hard is it for me to discern each man of the chieftains, in such wise is the strife of war ablaze. Nay, let every man go forth unbidden, and have shame at heart that Patroclus should become the sport of the dogs of Troy.So spake he, and swift Aias, son of Oileus, heard him clearly, and was first to come running to meet him amid the battle, and after him Idomeneus and Idomeneus' comrade, Meriones, the peer of Enyalius, slayer of men.
ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἀριστῆας Δαναῶν κάλει, ἤν τις ἀκούσῃ.ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Δαναοῖσι γεγωνώς·ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντεςοἵ τε παρʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳδήμια πίνουσιν καὶ σημαίνουσιν ἕκαστοςλαοῖς· ἐκ δὲ Διὸς τιμὴ καὶ κῦδος ὀπηδεῖ.ἀργαλέον δέ μοί ἐστι διασκοπιᾶσθαι ἕκαστονἡγεμόνων· τόσση γὰρ ἔρις πολέμοιο δέδηεν·ἀλλά τις αὐτὸς ἴτω, νεμεσιζέσθω δʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷΠάτροκλον 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 ἸδομενῆοςΜηριόνης ἀτάλαντος Ἐνυαλίῳ ἀνδρειφόντῃ.
But of the rest, what man of his own wit could name the names—of all that came after these and aroused the battle of the Achaeans? Then the Trojans drave forward in close throng, and Hector led them. And as when at the mouth of some heaven-fed river the mighty wave roareth against the stream, and the headlands of the shore echo on either hand, as the salt-sea belloweth without; even with such din of shouting came on the Trojans. But the Achaeans stood firm about the son of Menoetius with oneness of heart, fenced about with shields of bronze. And the son of Cronos shed thick darkness over their bright helms, for even aforetime was the son of Menoetius nowise hated of him, while he was yet alive and the squire of the son of Aeacus; and now was Zeus full loath that he should become the sport of the dogs of his foemen, even them of Troy; wherefore Zeus roused his comrades to defend him. And first the Trojans drave back the bright-eyed Achaeans, who left the corpse and shrank back before them; howbeit not a man did the Trojans high of heart slay with their spears, albeit they were fain, but they set them to hale the corpse. Yet for but scant space were the Achaeans to hold back therefrom, for full speedily did Aias rally them—Aias that in comeliness and in deeds of war was above all the other Danaans next to the peerless son of Peleus. Straight through the foremost fighters he strode, in might like a wild boar that, amid the mountains lightly scattereth hounds and lusty youths when he wheeleth upon them in the glades; even so the son of lordly Telamon, glorious Aias, when he had got among them lightly scattered the battalions of the Trojans, that had taken their stand above Patroclus, and were fain above all to hale him to their city, and get them glory. Now Hippothous, the glorious son of Pelasgian Lethus, was dragging the corpse by the foot through the fierce conflict, and had bound his baldric about the tendons of either ankle, doing pleasure unto Hector and the Trojans. But full swiftly upon him came evil that not one of them could ward off, how fain soever they were. For the son of Telamon, darting upon him through the throng, smote him from close at hand through the helmet with cheek-pieces of bronze;
τῶν δʼ ἄλλων τίς κεν ᾗσι φρεσὶν οὐνόματʼ εἴποι,ὅσσοι δὴ μετόπισθε μάχην ἤγειραν Ἀχαιῶν;Τρῶες δὲ προὔτυψαν ἀολλέες· ἦρχε δʼ ἄρʼ Ἕκτωρ.ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἐπὶ προχοῇσι διιπετέος ποταμοῖοβέβρυχεν μέγα κῦμα ποτὶ ῥόον, ἀμφὶ δέ τʼ ἄκραιἠϊόνες βοόωσιν ἐρευγομένης ἁλὸς ἔξω,τόσσῃ ἄρα Τρῶες ἰαχῇ ἴσαν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶἕστασαν ἀμφὶ Μενοιτιάδῃ ἕνα θυμὸν ἔχοντεςφραχθέντες σάκεσιν χαλκήρεσιν· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρά σφιλαμπρῇσιν κορύθεσσι Κρονίων ἠέρα πολλὴνχεῦʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ Μενοιτιάδην ἔχθαιρε πάρος γε,ὄφρα ζωὸς ἐὼν θεράπων ἦν Αἰακίδαο·μίσησεν δʼ ἄρα μιν δηΐων κυσὶ κύρμα γενέσθαιΤρῳῇσιν· τὼ καί οἱ ἀμυνέμεν ὦρσεν ἑταίρους.ὦσαν δὲ πρότεροι Τρῶες ἑλίκωπας Ἀχαιούς·νεκρὸν δὲ προλιπόντες ὑπέτρεσαν, οὐδέ τινʼ αὐτῶνΤρῶες ὑπέρθυμοι ἕλον ἔγχεσιν ἱέμενοί περ,ἀλλὰ νέκυν ἐρύοντο· μίνυνθα δὲ καὶ τοῦ Ἀχαιοὶμέλλον ἀπέσσεσθαι· μάλα γάρ σφεας ὦκʼ ἐλέλιξενΑἴας, ὃς περὶ μὲν εἶδος, περὶ δʼ ἔργα τέτυκτοτῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.ἴθυσεν δὲ διὰ προμάχων συῒ εἴκελος ἀλκὴνκαπρίῳ, ὅς τʼ ἐν ὄρεσσι κύνας θαλερούς τʼ αἰζηοὺςῥηϊδίως ἐκέδασσεν, ἑλιξάμενος διὰ βήσσας·ὣς υἱὸς Τελαμῶνος ἀγαυοῦ φαίδιμος Αἴαςῥεῖα μετεισάμενος Τρώων ἐκέδασσε φάλαγγαςοἳ περὶ Πατρόκλῳ βέβασαν, φρόνεον δὲ μάλισταἄστυ πότι σφέτερον ἐρύειν καὶ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.ἤτοι τὸν Λήθοιο Πελασγοῦ φαίδιμος υἱὸςἹππόθοος ποδὸς ἕλκε κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνηνδησάμενος τελαμῶνι παρὰ σφυρὸν ἀμφὶ τένονταςἝκτορι καὶ Τρώεσσι χαριζόμενος· τάχα δʼ αὐτῷἦλθε κακόν, τό οἱ οὔ τις ἐρύκακεν ἱεμένων περ.τὸν δʼ υἱὸς Τελαμῶνος ἐπαΐξας διʼ ὁμίλουπλῆξʼ αὐτοσχεδίην κυνέης διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου·
and the helm with horse-hair crest was cloven about the spear-point, smitten by the great spear and the strong hand; and the brain spurted forth from the wound along the socket of the spear all mingled with blood. There then his strength was loosed, and from his hands he let fall to lie upon the ground the foot of great-hearted Patroclus, and hard thereby himself fell headlong upon the corpse, far from deep-soiled Larissa; nor paid he back to his dear parents the recompense of his upbringing, and but brief was the span of his life, for that he was laid low by the spear of great-souled Aias. And Hector in turn cast at Aias with his bright spear, but Aias, looking steadily at him, avoided the spear of bronze albeit by a little, and Hector smote Schedius, son of great-souled Iphitus, far the best of the Phocians, that dwelt in a house in famous Panopeus, and was king over many men. Him Hector smote beneath the midst of the collar-bone, and clean through passed the point of bronze, and came out beneath the base of the shoulder. And he fell with a thud, and upon him his armour clanged. And Aias in his turn smote wise-hearted Phorcys, son of Phaenops, full upon the belly as he bestrode Hippothous, and he brake the plate of his corselet, and the bronze let forth the bowels there-through; and he fell in the dust and clutched the earth in his palm. Thereat the foremost fighters and glorious Hector gave ground, and the Argives shouted aloud, and drew off the dead, even Phorcys and Hippothous, and set them to strip the armour from their shoulders. Then would the Trojans have been driven again by the Achaeans, dear to Ares, up to Ilios, vanquished in their cowardice, and the Argives would have won glory even beyond the allotment of Zeus, by reason of their might and their strength, had not Apollo himself aroused Aeneas, taking upon him the form of the herald, Periphas, son of Epytos, that in the house of his old father had grown old in his heraldship, and withal was of kindly mind toward him. In his likeness spake unto Aeneas the son of Zeus, Apollo:Aeneas, how could ye ever guard steep Ilios, in defiance of a god? In sooth I have seen other men that had trust in their strength and might, in their valour and in their host, and that held their realm even in defiance of Zeus. But for us Zeus willeth the victory far more than for the Danaans; yet yourselves ye have measureless fear, and fight not.So spake he, and Aeneas knew Apollo that smiteth afar, when he looked upon his face, and he called aloud, and spake to Hector:
ἤρικε δʼ ἱπποδάσεια κόρυς περὶ δουρὸς ἀκωκῇπληγεῖσʼ ἔγχεΐ τε μεγάλῳ καὶ χειρὶ παχείῃ,ἐγκέφαλος δὲ παρʼ αὐλὸν ἀνέδραμεν ἐξ ὠτειλῆςαἱματόεις· τοῦ δʼ αὖθι λύθη μένος, ἐκ δʼ ἄρα χειρῶνΠατρόκλοιο πόδα μεγαλήτορος ἧκε χαμᾶζεκεῖσθαι· ὃ δʼ ἄγχʼ αὐτοῖο πέσε πρηνὴς ἐπὶ νεκρῷτῆλʼ ἀπὸ Λαρίσης ἐριβώλακος, οὐδὲ τοκεῦσιθρέπτρα φίλοις ἀπέδωκε, μινυνθάδιος δέ οἱ αἰὼνἔπλεθʼ ὑπʼ Αἴαντος μεγαθύμου δουρὶ δαμέντι.Ἕκτωρ δʼ αὖτʼ Αἴαντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ·ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχοςτυτθόν· ὃ δὲ Σχεδίον μεγαθύμου Ἰφίτου υἱὸνΦωκήων ὄχʼ ἄριστον, ὃς ἐν κλειτῷ Πανοπῆϊοἰκία ναιετάασκε πολέσσʼ ἄνδρεσσιν ἀνάσσων,τὸν βάλʼ ὑπὸ κληῗδα μέσην· διὰ δʼ ἀμπερὲς ἄκρηαἰχμὴ χαλκείη παρὰ νείατον ὦμον ἀνέσχε·δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.Αἴας δʼ αὖ Φόρκυνα δαΐφρονα Φαίνοπος υἱὸνἹπποθόῳ περιβάντα μέσην κατὰ γαστέρα τύψε·ῥῆξε δὲ θώρηκος γύαλον, διὰ δʼ ἔντερα χαλκὸςἤφυσʼ· ὃ δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.χώρησαν δʼ ὑπό τε πρόμαχοι καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ·Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγα ἴαχον, ἐρύσαντο δὲ νεκροὺςΦόρκυν θʼ Ἱππόθοόν τε, λύοντο δὲ τεύχεʼ ἀπʼ ὤμων.ἔνθά κεν αὖτε Τρῶες ἀρηϊφίλων ὑπʼ ἈχαιῶνἼλιον εἰσανέβησαν ἀναλκείῃσι δαμέντες,Ἀργεῖοι δέ κε κῦδος ἕλον καὶ ὑπὲρ Διὸς αἶσανκάρτεϊ καὶ σθένεϊ σφετέρῳ· ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς ἈπόλλωνΑἰνείαν ὄτρυνε δέμας Περίφαντι ἐοικὼςκήρυκι Ἠπυτίδῃ, ὅς οἱ παρὰ πατρὶ γέροντικηρύσσων γήρασκε φίλα φρεσὶ μήδεα εἰδώς·τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσέφη Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·Αἰνεία πῶς ἂν καὶ ὑπὲρ θεὸν εἰρύσσαισθεἼλιον αἰπεινήν; ὡς δὴ ἴδον ἀνέρας ἄλλουςκάρτεΐ τε σθένεΐ τε πεποιθότας ἠνορέῃ τεπλήθεΐ τε σφετέρῳ καὶ ὑπερδέα δῆμον ἔχοντας·ἡμῖν δὲ Ζεὺς μὲν πολὺ βούλεται ἢ Δαναοῖσινίκην· ἀλλʼ αὐτοὶ τρεῖτʼ ἄσπετον οὐδὲ μάχεσθε.ὣς ἔφατʼ, Αἰνείας δʼ ἑκατηβόλον Ἀπόλλωναἔγνω ἐς ἄντα ἰδών, μέγα δʼ Ἕκτορα εἶπε βοήσας·
Hector, and ye other leaders of the Trojans and allies, shame verily were this, if before the Achaeans, dear to Ares, we be driven back to Ilios, vanquished in our cowardice. Howbeit even yet, declareth one of the gods that stood by my side, is Zeus, the counsellor most high, our helper in the fight.
Ἕκτόρ τʼ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι Τρώων ἀγοὶ ἠδʼ ἐπικούρωναἰδὼς μὲν νῦν ἥδε γʼ ἀρηϊφίλων ὑπʼ ἈχαιῶνἼλιον εἰσαναβῆναι ἀναλκείῃσι δαμέντας.ἀλλʼ ἔτι γάρ τίς φησι θεῶν ἐμοὶ ἄγχι παραστὰςΖῆνʼ ὕπατον μήστωρα μάχης ἐπιτάρροθον εἶναι·
Wherefore let us make straight for the Danaans, and let it not be at their ease that they bring to the ships the dead Patroclus.So spake he, and leapt forth far to the front of the foremost fighters, and there stood. And they rallied, and took their stand with their faces toward the Achaeans. Then Aeneas wounded with a thrust of his spear Leocritus, son of Arisbas and valiant comrade of Lycomedes. And as he fell Lycomedes, dear to Ares, had pity for him, and came and stood hard by and with a cast of his bright spear smote Apisaon, son of Hippasus, shepherd of the host, in the liver, below the midriff, and straightway loosed his knees—Apisaon that was come from out of deep-soiled Paeonia, and next to Asteropaeus was preeminent above them all in fight. But as he fell warlike Asteropaeus had pity for him, and he too rushed onward, fain to fight with the Danaans; howbeit thereto could he no more avail, for with shields were they fenced in on every side, as they stood around Patroclus, and before them they held their spears. For Aias ranged to and fro among them and straitly charged every man; not one, he bade them, should give ground backward from the corpse, nor yet fight in front of the rest of the Achaeans as one pre-eminent above them all; but stand firm close beside the corpse and do battle hand to hand.
τώ ῥʼ ἰθὺς Δαναῶν ἴομεν, μηδʼ οἵ γε ἕκηλοιΠάτροκλον νηυσὶν πελασαίατο τεθνηῶτα.ὣς φάτο, καί ῥα πολὺ προμάχων ἐξάλμενος ἔστη·οἳ δʼ ἐλελίχθησαν καὶ ἐναντίοι ἔσταν Ἀχαιῶν.ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ Αἰνείας Λειώκριτον οὔτασε δουρὶυἱὸν Ἀρίσβαντος Λυκομήδεος ἐσθλὸν ἑταῖρον.τὸν δὲ πεσόντʼ ἐλέησεν ἀρηΐφιλος Λυκομήδης,στῆ δὲ μάλʼ ἐγγὺς ἰών, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ,καὶ βάλεν Ἱππασίδην Ἀπισάονα ποιμένα λαῶνἧπαρ ὑπὸ πραπίδων, εἶθαρ δʼ ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσεν,ὅς ῥʼ ἐκ Παιονίης ἐριβώλακος εἰληλούθει,καὶ δὲ μετʼ Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι.τὸν δὲ πεσόντʼ ἐλέησεν ἀρήϊος Ἀστεροπαῖος,ἴθυσεν δὲ καὶ ὃ πρόφρων Δαναοῖσι μάχεσθαι·ἀλλʼ οὔ πως ἔτι εἶχε· σάκεσσι γὰρ ἔρχατο πάντῃἑσταότες περὶ Πατρόκλῳ, πρὸ δὲ δούρατʼ ἔχοντο.Αἴας γὰρ μάλα πάντας ἐπῴχετο πολλὰ κελεύων·οὔτέ τινʼ ἐξοπίσω νεκροῦ χάζεσθαι ἀνώγειοὔτέ τινα προμάχεσθαι Ἀχαιῶν ἔξοχον ἄλλων,ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ βεβάμεν, σχεδόθεν δὲ μάχεσθαι.
Thus mighty Aias charged them, and the earth grew wet with dark blood, and the dead fell thick and fast alike of the Trojans and their mighty allies, and of the Danaans; for these too fought not without shedding of blood, howbeit fewer of them by far were falling; for they ever bethought them to ward utter destruction from one another in the throng. So fought they like unto blazing fire, nor wouldst thou have deemed that sun or moon yet abode, for with darkness were they shrouded in the fight, all the chieftains that stood around the slain son of Menoetius.
ὣς Αἴας ἐπέτελλε πελώριος, αἵματι δὲ χθὼνδεύετο πορφυρέῳ, τοὶ δʼ ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτοννεκροὶ ὁμοῦ Τρώων καὶ ὑπερμενέων ἐπικούρωνκαὶ Δαναῶν· οὐδʼ οἳ γὰρ ἀναιμωτί γε μάχοντο,παυρότεροι δὲ πολὺ φθίνυθον· μέμνηντο γὰρ αἰεὶἀλλήλοις ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἀλεξέμεναι φόνον αἰπύν.ὣς οἳ μὲν μάρναντο δέμας πυρός, οὐδέ κε φαίηςοὔτέ ποτʼ ἠέλιον σῶν ἔμμεναι οὔτε σελήνην·ἠέρι γὰρ κατέχοντο μάχης ἐπί θʼ ὅσσον ἄριστοιἕστασαν ἀμφὶ Μενοιτιάδῃ κατατεθνηῶτι.
But the rest of the Trojans and the well-greaved Achaeans fought at their ease under clear air, and over them was spread the piercing brightness of the sun, and on all the earth and the mountains was no cloud seen; and they fought resting themselves at times, avoiding one another's shafts, fraught with groaning, and standing far apart. But those in the midst suffered woes by reason of the darkness and the war, and were sore distressed with the pitiless bronze, even all they that were chieftains. Howbeit two men that were famous warriors, even Thrasymedes and Antilochus, had not yet learned that peerless Patroclus was dead, but deemed that, yet alive, he was fighting with the Trojans in the forefront of the throng. And they twain, watching against the death and rout of their comrades, were warring in a place apart, for thus had Nestor bidden them, when he roused them forth to the battle from the black ships. So then the whole day through raged the great strife of their cruel fray, and with the sweat of toil were the knees and legs and feet of each man beneath him ever ceaselessly bedewed, and his arms and eyes, as the two hosts fought about the goodly squire of swift-footed Achilles. And as when a man giveth to his people the hide of a great bull for stretching, all drenched in fat, and when they have taken it, they stand in a circle and stretch it, and forthwith its moisture goeth forth and the fat entereth in under the tugging of many hands, and all the hide is stretched to the uttermost; even so they on this side and on that were haling the corpse hither and thither in scant space; and their hearts within them were full of hope, the Trojans that they might drag him to Ilios, but the Achaeans to the hollow ships; and around him the battle waxed wild, nor could even Ares, rouser of hosts, nor Athene, at sight of that strife have made light thereof, albeit their anger were exceeding great.
οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι Τρῶες καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶεὔκηλοι πολέμιζον ὑπʼ αἰθέρι, πέπτατο δʼ αὐγὴἠελίου ὀξεῖα, νέφος δʼ οὐ φαίνετο πάσηςγαίης οὐδʼ ὀρέων· μεταπαυόμενοι δὲ μάχοντοἀλλήλων ἀλεείνοντες βέλεα στονόενταπολλὸν ἀφεσταότες. τοὶ δʼ ἐν μέσῳ ἄλγεʼ ἔπασχονἠέρι καὶ πολέμῳ, τείροντο δὲ νηλέϊ χαλκῷὅσσοι ἄριστοι ἔσαν· δύο δʼ οὔ πω φῶτε πεπύσθηνἀνέρε κυδαλίμω Θρασυμήδης Ἀντίλοχός τεΠατρόκλοιο θανόντος ἀμύμονος, ἀλλʼ ἔτʼ ἔφαντοζωὸν ἐνὶ πρώτῳ ὁμάδῳ Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι.τὼ δʼ ἐπιοσσομένω θάνατον καὶ φύζαν ἑταίρωννόσφιν ἐμαρνάσθην, ἐπεὶ ὣς ἐπετέλλετο Νέστωρὀτρύνων πόλεμον δὲ μελαινάων ἀπὸ νηῶν.τοῖς δὲ πανημερίοις ἔριδος μέγα νεῖκος ὀρώρειἀργαλέης· καμάτῳ δὲ καὶ ἱδρῷ νωλεμὲς αἰεὶγούνατά τε κνῆμαί τε πόδες θʼ ὑπένερθεν ἑκάστουχεῖρές τʼ ὀφθαλμοί τε παλάσσετο μαρναμένοιινἀμφʼ ἀγαθὸν θεράποντα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο.ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ ταύροιο βοὸς μεγάλοιο βοείηνλαοῖσιν δώῃ τανύειν μεθύουσαν ἀλοιφῇ·δεξάμενοι δʼ ἄρα τοί γε διαστάντες τανύουσικυκλόσʼ, ἄφαρ δέ τε ἰκμὰς ἔβη, δύνει δέ τʼ ἀλοιφὴπολλῶν ἑλκόντων, τάνυται δέ τε πᾶσα διὰ πρό·ὣς οἵ γʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα νέκυν ὀλίγῃ ἐνὶ χώρῃεἵλκεον ἀμφότεροι· μάλα δέ σφισιν ἔλπετο θυμὸςΤρωσὶν μὲν ἐρύειν προτὶ Ἴλιον, αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοῖςνῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· περὶ δʼ αὐτοῦ μῶλος ὀρώρειἄγριος· οὐδέ κʼ Ἄρης λαοσσόος οὐδέ κʼ Ἀθήνητόν γε ἰδοῦσʼ ὀνόσαιτʼ, οὐδʼ εἰ μάλα μιν χόλος ἵκοι·