The Iliad: Book 17 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIJEKLMNHEEOB PQRSTUVFWXKKYZHA2B2H FC2D2BHE2F2UEEG2CWBH 2TI2HMJ2K2L2KFKM2N2I 2O2HBP2Q2TTR2L2S2T2F UL2L2L2FUHU2N2E2HK2H L2K2HL2UC2UN2UD2V2UD 2EUW2AKL2HUR2L2L2EU2 HU2HKJ2BX2CFK2W2Y2IF EC2FFFK2FF2OZ2HFI2BU FHA3B3U2EC2C3D3UD2E3 F3D2FKFEEHUHKQHT2G3F TFD2QHUBUHFH3FHFOUD2 FN2UH3H2HD2HHI3FHFFF J3C2D2OK2K3FH3D2AKHK KD2L3D2HM3HFD2K3N3HO 3HE2PUDK2K2P3EHFBUFH Q3ER3D2TFD2U2K3EFEH3 J2S3FD2K2T2S3BFS3D2T 3D2S3BH2D2K2CS3BCBS3 S3H2D2J2FU3S3FK2D2S3 S3V3HT3K2S3HHS3HFS3F HV3D2D2G2S3S3J2S3K2B K2FT2TS3FKD2KW3N2S3F BD2D2N2S3T2C2X3S3D2Y 3D2TX2HZ3D2S3FT3FFS3 S3S3S3BD2FA4HJ3FS3J2 HFFB4D2S3S3D2HC2W3U3 H2T3TT2HS3S3C4S3T3K2 W2G3S3FH2FHFO3G3S3S3 FS3FD2W2D2S3D2G3T3S3 FHFD4S3FD2R3E4J2G3F4 S3C2S3S3S3S3V3S3FHTS 3J2G3HFS3S3S3FHG3D2S 3HV3HS3BG3BS3FD2S3D2 S3D2FKD2S3J3G3C2BBBH D2S3S3S3S3S3J2G3C2S3 S3S3FD2J3G3HT3S3D2FW 2S3W2X3S3FFBS3S3G4S3 XS3FD2HA4G3D2S3D2O3R 3FD2H4S3D2S3I4S3J4HK 4S3S3FFHD2S3FS3FFS3F J3FO3S3S3FS3S3FFFS3O 3D2D2O3S3HFS3J3D2FS3 FS3S3HL4FHO3O3HFFS3S 3M3HS3D2FH4M4O3C3FS3

Brave Menelaus son of Atreus now came to know that Patroclus hadA
fallen and made his way through the front ranks clad in full armourB
to bestride him As a cow stands lowing over her first calf even soC
did yellow haired Menelaus bestride Patroclus He held his roundD
shield and his spear in front of him resolute to kill any whoE
should dare face him But the son of Panthous had also noted the bodyF
and came up to Menelaus saying Menelaus son of Atreus draw backG
leave the body and let the bloodstained spoils be I was first of theH
Trojans and their brave allies to drive my spear into Patroclus letI
me therefore have my full glory among the Trojans or I will takeJ
aim and kill youE
To this Menelaus answered in great anger By father Jove boastingK
is an ill thing The pard is not more bold nor the lion nor savageL
wild boar which is fiercest and most dauntless of all creatures thanM
are the proud sons of Panthous Yet Hyperenor did not see out the daysN
of his youth when he made light of me and withstood me deeming me theH
meanest soldier among the Danaans His own feet never bore him back toE
gladden his wife and parents Even so shall I make an end of youE
too if you withstand me get you back into the crowd and do notO
face me or it shall be worse for you Even a fool may be wise afterB
the eventP
Euphorbus would not listen and said Now indeed Menelaus shallQ
you pay for the death of my brother over whom you vaunted and whoseR
wife you widowed in her bridal chamber while you brought griefS
unspeakable on his parents I shall comfort these poor people if IT
bring your head and armour and place them in the hands of Panthous andU
noble Phrontis The time is come when this matter shall be foughtV
out and settled for me or against meF
As he spoke he struck Menelaus full on the shield but the spear didW
not go through for the shield turned its point Menelaus then tookX
aim praying to father Jove as he did so Euphorbus was drawingK
back and Menelaus struck him about the roots of his throat leaningK
his whole weight on the spear so as to drive it home The pointY
went clean through his neck and his armour rang rattling round him asZ
he fell heavily to the ground His hair which was like that of theH
Graces and his locks so deftly bound in bands of silver and goldA2
were all bedrabbled with blood As one who has grown a fine youngB2
olive tree in a clear space where there is abundance of water theH
plant is full of promise and though the winds beat upon it from everyF
quarter it puts forth its white blossoms till the blasts of someC2
fierce hurricane sweep down upon it and level it with the ground evenD2
so did Menelaus strip the fair youth Euphorbus of his armour afterB
he had slain him Or as some fierce lion upon the mountains in theH
pride of his strength fastens on the finest heifer in a herd as itE2
is feeding first he breaks her neck with his strong jaws and thenF2
gorges on her blood and entrails dogs and shepherds raise a hue andU
cry against him but they stand aloof and will not come close toE
him for they are pale with fear even so no one had the courage toE
face valiant Menelaus The son of Atreus would have then carried offG2
the armour of the son of Panthous with ease had not Phoebus ApolloC
been angry and in the guise of Mentes chief of the Cicons incitedW
Hector to attack him Hector said he you are now going afterB
the horses of the noble son of Aeacus but you will not take themH2
they cannot be kept in hand and driven by mortal man save only byT
Achilles who is son to an immortal mother Meanwhile Menelaus sonI2
of Atreus has bestridden the body of Patroclus and killed theH
noblest of the Trojans Euphorbus son of Panthous so that he canM
fight no moreJ2
The god then went back into the toil and turmoil but the soul ofK2
Hector was darkened with a cloud of grief he looked along the ranksL2
and saw Euphorbus lying on the ground with the blood still flowingK
from his wound and Menelaus stripping him of his armour On this heF
made his way to the front like a flame of fire clad in his gleamingK
armour and crying with a loud voice When the son of Atreus heardM2
him he said to himself in his dismay Alas what shall I do I mayN2
not let the Trojans take the armour of Patroclus who has fallenI2
fighting on my behalf lest some Danaan who sees me should cry shameO2
upon me Still if for my honour's sake I fight Hector and theH
Trojans single handed they will prove too many for me for HectorB
is bringing them up in force Why however should I thus hesitateP2
When a man fights in despite of heaven with one whom a godQ2
befriends he will soon rue it Let no Danaan think ill of me if IT
give place to Hector for the hand of heaven is with him Yet if IT
could find Ajax the two of us would fight Hector and heaven too ifR2
we might only save the body of Patroclus for Achilles son of PeleusL2
This of many evils would be the leastS2
While he was thus in two minds the Trojans came up to him withT2
Hector at their head he therefore drew back and left the bodyF
turning about like some bearded lion who is being chased by dogs andU
men from a stockyard with spears and hue and cry whereon he isL2
daunted and slinks sulkily off even so did Menelaus son of AtreusL2
turn and leave the body of Patroclus When among the body of hisL2
men he looked around for mighty Ajax son of Telamon and presentlyF
saw him on the extreme left of the fight cheering on his men andU
exhorting them to keep on fighting for Phoebus Apollo had spread aH
great panic among them He ran up to him and said Ajax my goodU2
friend come with me at once to dead Patroclus if so be that we mayN2
take the body to Achilles as for his armour Hector already has itE2
These words stirred the heart of Ajax and he made his way among theH
front ranks Menelaus going with him Hector had stripped Patroclus ofK2
his armour and was dragging him away to cut off his head and take theH
body to fling before the dogs of Troy But Ajax came up with hisL2
shield like wall before him on which Hector withdrew under shelter ofK2
his men and sprang on to his chariot giving the armour over to theH
Trojans to take to the city as a great trophy for himself AjaxL2
therefore covered the body of Patroclus with his broad shield andU
bestrode him as a lion stands over his whelps if hunters have comeC2
upon him in a forest when he is with his little ones in the pride andU
fierceness of his strength he draws his knit brows down till theyN2
cover his eyes even so did Ajax bestride the body of Patroclus andU
by his side stood Menelaus son of Atreus nursing great sorrow inD2
his heartV2
Then Glaucus son of Hippolochus looked fiercely at Hector andU
rebuked him sternly Hector said he you make a brave show but inD2
fight you are sadly wanting A runaway like yourself has no claim toE
so great a reputation Think how you may now save your town andU
citadel by the hands of your own people born in Ilius for you willW2
get no Lycians to fight for you seeing what thanks they have hadA
for their incessant hardships Are you likely sir to do anythingK
to help a man of less note after leaving Sarpedon who was at onceL2
your guest and comrade in arms to be the spoil and prey of theH
Danaans So long as he lived he did good service both to your city andU
yourself yet you had no stomach to save his body from the dogs IfR2
the Lycians will listen to me they will go home and leave Troy to itsL2
fate If the Trojans had any of that daring fearless spirit which laysL2
hold of men who are fighting for their country and harassing those whoE
would attack it we should soon bear off Patroclus into Ilius CouldU2
we get this dead man away and bring him into the city of Priam theH
Argives would readily give up the armour of Sarpedon and we shouldU2
get his body to boot For he whose squire has been now killed is theH
foremost man at the ships of the Achaeans he and his close fightingK
followers Nevertheless you dared not make a stand against Ajax norJ2
face him eye to eye with battle all round you for he is a braverB
man than you areX2
Hector scowled at him and answered Glaucus you should knowC
better I have held you so far as a man of more understanding than anyF
in all Lycia but now I despise you for saying that I am afraid ofK2
Ajax I fear neither battle nor the din of chariots but Jove's willW2
is stronger than ours Jove at one time makes even a strong man drawY2
back and snatches victory from his grasp while at another he will setI
him on to fight Come hither then my friend stand by me and seeF
indeed whether I shall play the coward the whole day through as youE
say or whether I shall not stay some even of the boldest Danaans fromC2
fighting round the body of PatroclusF
As he spoke he called loudly on the Trojans saying TrojansF
Lycians and Dardanians fighters in close combat be men my friendsF
and fight might and main while I put on the goodly armour ofK2
Achilles which I took when I killed PatroclusF
With this Hector left the fight and ran full speed after his menF2
who were taking the armour of Achilles to Troy but had not yet gotO
far Standing for a while apart from the woeful fight he changedZ2
his armour His own he sent to the strong city of Ilius and to theH
Trojans while he put on the immortal armour of the son of PeleusF
which the gods had given to Peleus who in his age gave it to his sonI2
but the son did not grow old in his father's armourB
When Jove lord of the storm cloud saw Hector standing aloof andU
arming himself in the armour of the son of Peleus he wagged hisF
head and muttered to himself saying A poor wretch you arm in theH
armour of a hero before whom many another trembles and you reckA3
nothing of the doom that is already close upon you You have killedB3
his comrade so brave and strong but it was not well that you shouldU2
strip the armour from his head and shoulders I do indeed endow youE
with great might now but as against this you shall not return fromC2
battle to lay the armour of the son of Peleus before AndromacheC3
The son of Saturn bowed his portentous brows and Hector fittedD3
the armour to his body while terrible Mars entered into him andU
filled his whole body with might and valour With a shout he strode inD2
among the allies and his armour flashed about him so that he seemedE3
to all of them like the great son of Peleus himself He went aboutF3
among them and cheered them on Mesthles Glaucus MedonD2
Thersilochus Asteropaeus Deisenor and Hippothous PhorcysF
Chromius and Ennomus the augur All these did he exhort sayingK
Hear me allies from other cities who are here in your thousandsF
it was not in order to have a crowd about me that I called youE
hither each from his several city but that with heart and soul youE
might defend the wives and little ones of the Trojans from theH
fierce Achaeans For this do I oppress my people with your food andU
the presents that make you rich Therefore turn and charge at theH
foe to stand or fall as is the game of war whoever shall bringK
Patroclus dead though he be into the hands of the Trojans and shallQ
make Ajax give way before him I will give him one half of theH
spoils while I keep the other He will thus share like honour withT2
myselfG3
When he had thus spoken they charged full weight upon the DanaansF
with their spears held out before them and the hopes of each ran highT
that he should force Ajax son of Telamon to yield up the body foolsF
that they were for he was about to take the lives of many ThenD2
Ajax said to Menelaus My good friend Menelaus you and I shallQ
hardly come out of this fight alive I am less concerned for theH
body of Patroclus who will shortly become meat for the dogs andU
vultures of Troy than for the safety of my own head and yours HectorB
has wrapped us round in a storm of battle from every quarter andU
our destruction seems now certain Call then upon the princes of theH
Danaans if there is any who can hear usF
Menelaus did as he said and shouted to the Danaans for help atH3
the top of his voice My friends he cried princes and counsellorsF
of the Argives all you who with Agamemnon and Menelaus drink at theH
public cost and give orders each to his own people as Jove vouchsafesF
him power and glory the fight is so thick about me that I cannotO
distinguish you severally come on therefore every man unbidden andU
think it shame that Patroclus should become meat and morsel for TrojanD2
houndsF
Fleet Ajax son of Oileus heard him and was first to force his wayN2
through the fight and run to help him Next came Idomeneus andU
Meriones his esquire peer of murderous Mars As for the others thatH3
came into the fight after these who of his own self could name themH2
The Trojans with Hector at their head charged in a body As aH
great wave that comes thundering in at the mouth of some heaven bornD2
river and the rocks that jut into the sea ring with the roar of theH
breakers that beat and buffet them even with such a roar did theH
Trojans come on but the Achaeans in singleness of heart stood firmI3
about the son of Menoetius and fenced him with their bronzeF
shields Jove moreover hid the brightness of their helmets in aH
thick cloud for he had borne no grudge against the son of MenoetiusF
while he was still alive and squire to the descendant of AeacusF
therefore he was loth to let him fall a prey to the dogs of his foesF
the Trojans and urged his comrades on to defend himJ3
At first the Trojans drove the Achaeans back and they withdrew fromC2
the dead man daunted The Trojans did not succeed in killing anyD2
one nevertheless they drew the body away But the Achaeans did notO
lose it long for Ajax foremost of all the Danaans after the son ofK2
Peleus alike in stature and prowess quickly rallied them and madeK3
towards the front like a wild boar upon the mountains when he standsF
at bay in the forest glades and routs the hounds and lusty youths thatH3
have attacked him even so did Ajax son of Telamon passing easily inD2
among the phalanxes of the Trojans disperse those who hadA
bestridden Patroclus and were most bent on winning glory by draggingK
him off to their city At this moment Hippothous brave son of theH
Pelasgian Lethus in his zeal for Hector and the Trojans was draggingK
the body off by the foot through the press of the fight havingK
bound a strap round the sinews near the ancle but a mischief soonD2
befell him from which none of those could save him who would haveL3
gladly done so for the son of Telamon sprang forward and smote him onD2
his bronze cheeked helmet The plumed headpiece broke about theH
point of the weapon struck at once by the spear and by the strongM3
hand of Ajax so that the bloody brain came oozing out through theH
crest socket His strength then failed him and he let Patroclus'F
foot drop from his hand as he fell full length dead upon the bodyD2
thus he died far from the fertile land of Larissa and never repaidK3
his parents the cost of bringing him up for his life was cut shortN3
early by the spear of mighty Ajax Hector then took aim at Ajax with aH
spear but he saw it coming and just managed to avoid it the spearO3
passed on and struck Schedius son of noble Iphitus captain of theH
Phoceans who dwelt in famed Panopeus and reigned over much people itE2
struck him under the middle of the collar bone the bronze point wentP
right through him coming out at the bottom of his shoulder blade andU
his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the groundD
Ajax in his turn struck noble Phorcys son of Phaenops in the middle ofK2
the belly as he was bestriding Hippothous and broke the plate ofK2
his cuirass whereon the spear tore out his entrails and he clutchedP3
the ground in his palm as he fell to earth Hector and those whoE
were in the front rank then gave ground while the Argives raised aH
loud cry of triumph and drew off the bodies of Phorcys and HippothousF
which they stripped presently of their armourB
The Trojans would now have been worsted by the brave Achaeans andU
driven back to Ilius through their own cowardice while the ArgivesF
so great was their courage and endurance would have achieved aH
triumph even against the will of Jove if Apollo had not rousedQ3
Aeneas in the likeness of Periphas son of Epytus an attendant whoE
had grown old in the service of Aeneas' aged father and was at allR3
times devoted to him In his likeness then Apollo said Aeneas canD2
you not manage even though heaven be against us to save highT
Ilius I have known men whose numbers courage and self relianceF
have saved their people in spite of Jove whereas in this case heD2
would much rather give victory to us than to the Danaans if you wouldU2
only fight instead of being so terribly afraidK3
Aeneas knew Apollo when he looked straight at him and shouted toE
Hector saying Hector and all other Trojans and allies shame on usF
if we are beaten by the Achaeans and driven back to Ilius throughE
our own cowardice A god has just come up to me and told me thatH3
Jove the supreme disposer will be with us Therefore let us make forJ2
the Danaans that it may go hard with them ere they bear away deadS3
Patroclus to the shipsF
As he spoke he sprang out far in front of the others who thenD2
rallied and again faced the Achaeans Aeneas speared Leiocritus son ofK2
Arisbas a valiant follower of Lycomedes and Lycomedes was moved withT2
pity as he saw him fall he therefore went close up and spearedS3
Apisaon son of Hippasus shepherd of his people in the liver underB
the midriff so that he died he had come from fertile Paeonia and wasF
the best man of them all after Asteropaeus Asteropaeus flew forwardS3
to avenge him and attack the Danaans but this might no longer beD2
inasmuch as those about Patroclus were well covered by theirT3
shields and held their spears in front of them for Ajax had givenD2
them strict orders that no man was either to give ground or toS3
stand out before the others but all were to hold well togetherB
about the body and fight hand to hand Thus did huge Ajax bid themH2
and the earth ran red with blood as the corpses fell thick on oneD2
another alike on the side of the Trojans and allies and on that ofK2
the Danaans for these last too fought no bloodless fight thoughC
many fewer of them perished through the care they took to defendS3
and stand by one anotherB
Thus did they fight as it were a flaming fire it seemed as thoughC
it had gone hard even with the sun and moon for they were hidden overB
all that part where the bravest heroes were fighting about the deadS3
son of Menoetius whereas the other Danaans and Achaeans fought atS3
their ease in full daylight with brilliant sunshine all round themH2
and there was not a cloud to be seen neither on plain nor mountainD2
These last moreover would rest for a while and leave off fighting forJ2
they were some distance apart and beyond the range of one another'sF
weapons whereas those who were in the thick of the fray suffered bothU3
from battle and darkness All the best of them were being worn outS3
by the great weight of their armour but the two valiant heroesF
Thrasymedes and Antilochus had not yet heard of the death ofK2
Patroclus and believed him to be still alive and leading the vanD2
against the Trojans they were keeping themselves in reserve againstS3
the death or rout of their own comrades for so Nestor had orderedS3
when he sent them from the ships into battleV3
Thus through the livelong day did they wage fierce war and theH
sweat of their toil rained ever on their legs under them and on theirT3
hands and eyes as they fought over the squire of the fleet son ofK2
Peleus It was as when a man gives a great ox hide all drenched in fatS3
to his men and bids them stretch it whereon they stand round it in aH
ring and tug till the moisture leaves it and the fat soaks in for theH
many that pull at it and it is well stretched even so did the twoS3
sides tug the dead body hither and thither within the compass of but aH
little space the Trojans steadfastly set on drag ing it into IliusF
while the Achaeans were no less so on taking it to their ships andS3
fierce was the fight between them Not Mars himself the lord of hostsF
nor yet Minerva even in their fullest fury could make light of such aH
battleV3
Such fearful turmoil of men and horses did Jove on that day ordainD2
round the body of Patroclus Meanwhile Achilles did not know that heD2
had fallen for the fight was under the wall of Troy a long way offG2
the ships He had no idea therefore that Patroclus was dead andS3
deemed that he would return alive as soon as he had gone close up toS3
the gates He knew that he was not to sack the city neither with norJ2
without himself for his mother had often told him this when he hadS3
sat alone with her and she had informed him of the counsels ofK2
great Jove Now however she had not told him how great a disasterB
had befallen him in the death of the one who was far dearest to him ofK2
all his comradesF
The others still kept on charging one another round the body withT2
their pointed spears and killing each other Then would one say MyT
friends we can never again show our faces at the ships better andS3
greatly better that earth should open and swallow us here in thisF
place than that we should let the Trojans have the triumph of bearingK
off Patroclus to their cityD2
The Trojans also on their part spoke to one another sayingK
Friends though we fall to a man beside this body let none shrinkW3
from fighting With such words did they exhort each other TheyN2
fought and fought and an iron clank rose through the void air toS3
the brazen vault of heaven The horses of the descendant of AeacusF
stood out of the fight and wept when they heard that their driverB
had been laid low by the hand of murderous Hector AutomedonD2
valiant son of Diores lashed them again and again many a time did heD2
speak kindly to them and many a time did he upbraid them but theyN2
would neither go back to the ships by the waters of the broadS3
Hellespont nor yet into battle among the Achaeans they stood withT2
their chariot stock still as a pillar set over the tomb of someC2
dead man or woman and bowed their heads to the ground Hot tears fellX3
from their eyes as they mourned the loss of their charioteer andS3
their noble manes drooped all wet from under the yokestraps onD2
either side the yokeY3
The son of Saturn saw them and took pity upon their sorrow HeD2
wagged his head and muttered to himself saying Poor things whyT
did we give you to King Peleus who is a mortal while you areX2
yourselves ageless and immortal Was it that you might share theH
sorrows that befall mankind for of all creatures that live and moveZ3
upon the earth there is none so pitiable as he is still Hector sonD2
of Priam shall drive neither you nor your chariot I will not have itS3
It is enough that he should have the armour over which he vaunts soF
vainly Furthermore I will give you strength of heart and limb to bearT3
Automedon safely to the ships from battle for I shall let the TrojansF
triumph still further and go on killing till they reach the shipsF
whereon night shall fall and darkness overshadow the landS3
As he spoke he breathed heart and strength into the horses so thatS3
they shook the dust from out of their manes and bore their chariotS3
swiftly into the fight that raged between Trojans and Achaeans BehindS3
them fought Automedon full of sorrow for his comrade as a vultureB
amid a flock of geese In and out and here and there full speed heD2
dashed amid the throng of the Trojans but for all the fury of hisF
pursuit he killed no man for he could not wield his spear and keepA4
his horses in hand when alone in the chariot at last however aH
comrade Alcimedon son of Laerces son of Haemon caught sight of himJ3
and came up behind his chariot Automedon said he what god hasF
put this folly into your heart and robbed you of your right mind thatS3
you fight the Trojans in the front rank single handed He who was yourJ2
comrade is slain and Hector plumes himself on being armed in theH
armour of the descendant of AeacusF
Automedon son of Diores answered Alcimedon there is no one elseF
who can control and guide the immortal steeds so well as you can saveB4
only Patroclus while he was alive peer of gods in counsel Take thenD2
the whip and reins while I go down from the car and fightS3
Alcimedon sprang on to the chariot and caught up the whip andS3
reins while Automedon leaped from off the car When Hector saw him heD2
said to Aeneas who was near him Aeneas counsellor of theH
mail clad Trojans I see the steeds of the fleet son of Aeacus comeC2
into battle with weak hands to drive them I am sure if you thinkW3
well that we might take them they will not dare face us if we bothU3
attack themH2
The valiant son of Anchises was of the same mind and the pairT3
went right on with their shoulders covered under shields of tough dryT
ox hide overlaid with much bronze Chromius and Aretus went also withT2
them and their hearts beat high with hope that they might kill theH
men and capture the horses fools that they were for they were not toS3
return scatheless from their meeting with Automedon who prayed toS3
father Jove and was forthwith filled with courage and strengthC4
abounding He turned to his trusty comrade Alcimedon and saidS3
Alcimedon keep your horses so close up that I may feel theirT3
breath upon my back I doubt that we shall not stay Hector son ofK2
Priam till he has killed us and mounted behind the horses he willW2
then either spread panic among the ranks of the Achaeans or himselfG3
be killed among the foremostS3
On this he cried out to the two Ajaxes and Menelaus AjaxesF
captains of the Argives and Menelaus give the dead body over to themH2
that are best able to defend it and come to the rescue of usF
living for Hector and Aeneas who are the two best men among theH
Trojans are pressing us hard in the full tide of war NeverthelessF
the issue lies on the lap of heaven I will therefore hurl my spearO3
and leave the rest to JoveG3
He poised and hurled as he spoke whereon the spear struck the roundS3
shield of Aretus and went right through it for the shield stayed itS3
not so that it was driven through his belt into the lower part of hisF
belly As when some sturdy youth axe in hand deals his blow behindS3
the horns of an ox and severs the tendons at the back of its neck soF
that it springs forward and then drops even so did Aretus give oneD2
bound and then fall on his back the spear quivering in his body tillW2
it made an end of him Hector then aimed a spear at Automedon but heD2
saw it coming and stooped forward to avoid it so that it flew pastS3
him and the point stuck in the ground while the butt end went onD2
quivering till Mars robbed it of its force They would then haveG3
fought hand to hand with swords had not the two Ajaxes forced theirT3
way through the crowd when they heard their comrade calling andS3
parted them for all their fury for Hector Aeneas and ChromiusF
were afraid and drew back leaving Aretus to lie there struck to theH
heart Automedon peer of fleet Mars then stripped him of hisF
armour and vaunted over him saying I have done little to assuageD4
my sorrow for the son of Menoetius for the man I have killed is notS3
so good as he wasF
As he spoke he took the blood stained spoils and laid them uponD2
his chariot then he mounted the car with his hands and feet allR3
steeped in gore as a lion that has been gorging upon a bullE4
And now the fierce groanful fight again raged about Patroclus forJ2
Minerva came down from heaven and roused its fury by the command ofG3
far seeing Jove who had changed his mind and sent her to encourageF4
the Danaans As when Jove bends his bright bow in heaven in token toS3
mankind either of war or of the chill storms that stay men fromC2
their labour and plague the flocks even so wrapped in such radiantS3
raiment did Minerva go in among the host and speak man by man toS3
each First she took the form and voice of Phoenix and spoke toS3
Menelaus son of Atreus who was standing near her Menelaus saidS3
she it will be shame and dishonour to you if dogs tear the nobleV3
comrade of Achilles under the walls of Troy Therefore be staunch andS3
urge your men to be so alsoF
Menelaus answered Phoenix my good old friend may MinervaH
vouchsafe me strength and keep the darts from off me for so shall IT
stand by Patroclus and defend him his death has gone to my heart butS3
Hector is as a raging fire and deals his blows without ceasing forJ2
Jove is now granting him a time of triumphG3
Minerva was pleased at his having named herself before any of theH
other gods Therefore she put strength into his knees and shouldersF
and made him as bold as a fly which though driven off will yetS3
come again and bite if it can so dearly does it love man's bloodS3
even so bold as this did she make him as he stood over Patroclus andS3
threw his spear Now there was among the Trojans a man named PodesF
son of Eetion who was both rich and valiant Hector held him in theH
highest honour for he was his comrade and boon companion the spear ofG3
Menelaus struck this man in the girdle just as he had turned inD2
flight and went right through him Whereon he fell heavily forwardS3
and Menelaus son of Atreus drew off his body from the Trojans into theH
ranks of his own peopleV3
Apollo then went up to Hector and spurred him on to fight in theH
likeness of Phaenops son of Asius who lived in Abydos and was the mostS3
favoured of all Hector's guests In his likeness Apollo said HectorB
who of the Achaeans will fear you henceforward now that you haveG3
quailed before Menelaus who has ever been rated poorly as a soldierB
Yet he has now got a corpse away from the Trojans single handed andS3
has slain your own true comrade a man brave among the foremost PodesF
son of EetionD2
A dark cloud of grief fell upon Hector as he heard and he madeS3
his way to the front clad in full armour Thereon the son of SaturnD2
seized his bright tasselled aegis and veiled Ida in cloud he sentS3
forth his lightnings and his thunders and as he shook his aegis heD2
gave victory to the Trojans and routed the AchaeansF
The panic was begun by Peneleos the Boeotian for while keepingK
his face turned ever towards the foe he had been hit with a spear onD2
the upper part of the shoulder a spear thrown by Polydamas had grazedS3
the top of the bone for Polydamas had come up to him and struck himJ3
from close at hand Then Hector in close combat struck Leitus son ofG3
noble Alectryon in the hand by the wrist and disabled him fromC2
fighting further He looked about him in dismay knowing that neverB
again should he wield spear in battle with the Trojans While HectorB
was in pursuit of Leitus Idomeneus struck him on the breastplate overB
his chest near the nipple but the spear broke in the shaft and theH
Trojans cheered aloud Hector then aimed at Idomeneus son of DeucalionD2
as he was standing on his chariot and very narrowly missed him butS3
the spear hit Coiranus a follower and charioteer of Meriones whoS3
had come with him from Lyctus Idomeneus had left the ships on footS3
and would have afforded a great triumph to the Trojans if Coiranus hadS3
not driven quickly up to him he therefore brought life and rescueS3
to Idomeneus but himself fell by the hand of murderous Hector ForJ2
Hector hit him on the jaw under the ear the end of the spear droveG3
out his teeth and cut his tongue in two pieces so that he fell fromC2
his chariot and let the reins fall to the ground Meriones gatheredS3
them up from the ground and took them into his own hands then he saidS3
to Idomeneus Lay on till you get back to the ships for you mustS3
see that the day is no longer oursF
On this Idomeneus lashed the horses to the ships for fear had takenD2
hold upon himJ3
Ajax and Menelaus noted how Jove had turned the scale in favour ofG3
the Trojans and Ajax was first to speak Alas said he even aH
fool may see that father Jove is helping the Trojans All theirT3
weapons strike home no matter whether it be a brave man or a cowardS3
that hurls them Jove speeds all alike whereas ours fall each oneD2
of them without effect What then will be best both as regardsF
rescuing the body and our return to the joy of our friends who willW2
be grieving as they look hitherwards for they will make sure thatS3
nothing can now check the terrible hands of Hector and that he willW2
fling himself upon our ships I wish that some one would go and tellX3
the son of Peleus at once for I do not think he can have yet heardS3
the sad news that the dearest of his friends has fallen But I can seeF
not a man among the Achaeans to send for they and their chariotsF
are alike hidden in darkness O father Jove lift this cloud from overB
the sons of the Achaeans make heaven serene and let us see if youS3
will that we perish let us fall at any rate by daylightS3
Father Jove heard him and had compassion upon his tears ForthwithG4
he chased away the cloud of darkness so that the sun shone out andS3
all the fighting was revealed Ajax then said to Menelaus LookX
Menelaus and if Antilochus son of Nestor be still living send him atS3
once to tell Achilles that by far the dearest to him of all hisF
comrades has fallenD2
Menelaus heeded his words and went his way as a lion from aH
stockyard the lion is tired of attacking the men and hounds who keepA4
watch the whole night through and will not let him feast on the fat ofG3
their herd In his lust of meat he makes straight at them but in vainD2
for darts from strong hands assail him and burning brands which dauntS3
him for all his hunger so in the morning he slinks sulkily away evenD2
so did Menelaus sorely against his will leave Patroclus in great fearO3
lest the Achaeans should be driven back in rout and let him fallR3
into the hands of the foe He charged Meriones and the two AjaxesF
straitly saying Ajaxes and Meriones leaders of the Argives nowD2
indeed remember how good Patroclus was he was ever courteous whileH4
alive bear it in mind now that he is deadS3
With this Menelaus left them looking round him as keenly as anD2
eagle whose sight they say is keener than that of any other birdS3
however high he may be in the heavens not a hare that runs can escapeI4
him by crouching under bush or thicket for he will swoop down upon itS3
and make an end of it even so O Menelaus did your keen eyes rangeJ4
round the mighty host of your followers to see if you could find theH
son of Nestor still alive Presently Menelaus saw him on the extremeK4
left of the battle cheering on his men and exhorting them to fightS3
boldly Menelaus went up to him and said Antilochus come here andS3
listen to sad news which I would indeed were untrue You must seeF
with your own eyes that heaven is heaping calamity upon the DanaansF
and giving victory to the Trojans Patroclus has fallen who was theH
bravest of the Achaeans and sorely will the Danaans miss him RunD2
instantly to the ships and tell Achilles that he may come to rescueS3
the body and bear it to the ships As for the armour Hector alreadyF
has itS3
Antilochus was struck with horror For a long time he wasF
speechless his eyes filled with tears and he could find no utteranceF
but he did as Menelaus had said and set off running as soon as he hadS3
given his armour to a comrade Laodocus who was wheeling his horsesF
round close beside himJ3
Thus then did he run weeping from the field to carry the bad newsF
to Achilles son of Peleus Nor were you O Menelaus minded to succourO3
his harassed comrades when Antilochus had left the Pylians andS3
greatly did they miss him but he sent them noble Thrasymedes andS3
himself went back to Patroclus He came running up to the two AjaxesF
and said I have sent Antilochus to the ships to tell Achilles butS3
rage against Hector as he may he cannot come for he cannot fightS3
without armour What then will be our best plan both as regardsF
rescuing the dead and our own escape from death amid the battle criesF
of the TrojansF
Ajax answered Menelaus you have said well do you then andS3
Meriones stoop down raise the body and bear it out of the frayO3
while we two behind you keep off Hector and the Trojans one inD2
heart as in name and long used to fighting side by side with oneD2
anotherO3
On this Menelaus and Meriones took the dead man in their arms andS3
lifted him high aloft with a great effort The Trojan host raised aH
hue and cry behind them when they saw the Achaeans bearing the bodyF
away and flew after them like hounds attacking a wounded boar atS3
the loo of a band of young huntsmen For a while the hounds fly at himJ3
as though they would tear him in pieces but now and again he turns onD2
them in a fury scaring and scattering them in all directions even soF
did the Trojans for a while charge in a body striking with swordS3
and with spears pointed ai both the ends but when the two AjaxesF
faced them and stood at bay they would turn pale and no man daredS3
press on to fight further about the deadS3
In this wise did the two heroes strain every nerve to bear theH
body to the ships out of the fight The battle raged round them likeL4
fierce flames that when once kindled spread like wildfire over a cityF
and the houses fall in the glare of its burning even such was theH
roar and tramp of men and horses that pursued them as they boreO3
Patroclus from the field Or as mules that put forth all theirO3
strength to draw some beam or great piece of ship's timber down aH
rough mountain track and they pant and sweat as they go even soF
did Menelaus and pant and sweat as they bore the body of PatroclusF
Behind them the two Ajaxes held stoutly out As some woodedS3
mountain spur that stretches across a plain will turn water andS3
check the flow even of a great river nor is there any stream strongM3
enough to break through it even so did the two Ajaxes face theH
Trojans and stern the tide of their fighting though they keptS3
pouring on towards them and foremost among them all was Aeneas sonD2
of Anchises with valiant Hector As a flock of daws or starlingsF
fall to screaming and chattering when they see a falcon foe to i'llH4
small birds come soaring near them even so did the Achaean youthM4
raise a babel of cries as they fled before Aeneas and HectorO3
unmindful of their former prowess In the rout of the Danaans muchC3
goodly armour fell round about the trench and of fighting there wasF
no endS3

Homer



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