II

After the fall of Patroclus, Automedon had driven his car out of the

press of battle, flying from the fury of Hector. When Hector was

recalled from the pursuit, Automedon strove in vain to stir his horses

from the spot where he had halted. In vain he plied the lash, in vain

he coaxed and threatened; still as a monumental pillar on a tomb they

stood, with their heads drooping to the earth, and their glossy manes

streaming over their eyes, while the hot tears dropped fast in the

dust, as they wept for the gentle prince, whom they had borne so often

to battle.

Zeus pitied them in their sorrow, and spake thus within himself: "Ah!

hapless pair, why did we give you to a mortal master, while ye know

neither age nor death? What part or lot have ye with human misery, or

with man, the most wretched thing that breathes and moves on earth?

But Hector shall never mount the car behind you, or put the bit in your

mouths--I will not suffer that. Be strong, and bear your driver safe,

until the battle be done."

Therewith, he breathed new vigour into the steeds, and they shook the

dust from their manes, and galloped lightly with the car back to the

fighting lines. Singlehanded, Automedon could take no part in the

hand-to-hand battle with the Trojans, and for some time he contented

himself with making rapid charges with his chariot, swooping down here

and there, like an eagle pouncing on a flock of geese, and easily

avoiding every attack. At last he found a helper in a comrade named

Alcimedon, and handing the reins to him he dismounted himself to fight

on foot.

When Hector saw the car of Achilles in charge of a strange driver he

called to Æneas, and said: "See, there are the steeds of Æacides,

ill-guided, and ill-defended; let us not miss the occasion to win so

glorious a prize." So together they went, Æneas and Hector, and two

other Trojans, in high hope to slay Automedon, and take the car. But

Automedon, uttering a prayer to Zeus, flung his spear, and slew Aretus,

one of his assailants; and before Hector, who missed his cast at

Automedon, could come to close quarters with his sword, Ajax

interposed, and drove him back.

The arrival of Automedon had interrupted the struggle for the

possession of the body of Patroclus; but it was resumed with new fury

on both sides, and the Greeks now received a new ally in the person of

Athene, who obtained permission from Zeus to bring aid to her old

allies. Disguised in the form of the aged Phœnix, she went and

stood by the side of Menelaus, and said to him: "Courage, son of

Atreus! We shall win the battle yet, and save the noble comrade of

Achilles from the foeman's hands."

"Ah! Phœnix," answered Menelaus, "I would that Athene would put

strength into my arm; then might I, as far as it is now possible,

retrieve the bitter loss which we have suffered this day."

Athene was glad that he had named her before any other god, and she

filled him with an indomitable spirit, and gave him the stubborn

courage of a fly, which returns again and again to the attack, in its

fierce desire for blood. And, seeing a good mark for his spear in the

back of a flying Trojan, Menelaus flung, and pierced him in the waist.

The man whom he slew was Podes, a son of Eëtion, and a friend and boon

companion of Hector. Provoked beyond measure by the death of his

comrade, Hector led such a determined charge against the Greek centre

that even the bravest began to flinch; and to affright them the more

there came a deafening peal of thunder from the heights of Ida, now

wrapped in a pitchy cloud.

The first to fly was Peneleos, the bravest of the Bœotians, whose

shoulder had been cut to the bone by the spear of Polydamas. Then

Idomeneus, coming to succour a wounded Greek, broke his spear on

Hector's breastplate, and it would have gone hard with him had not

Cœranus, a Cretan, driven up to the rescue in the car of Meriones;

for Idomeneus had come to the field on foot, leaving his own car in the

camp. The brave Cœranus paid for this good service with his life,

sustaining a fearful thrust from Hector's spear, which struck him just

at the angle of the jaw, and severed his tongue at the root. He fell

from the car, and dropped the reins on the ground; but Meriones picked

them up, and gave them to Idomeneus, who drove off at full speed

towards the ships.

Thus deprived of his bravest supporters, Ajax cast a glance of dismay

at Menelaus, who was still fighting at his side, and said: "Alas! even

a blind man might see that Zeus himself is aiding the Trojans. Every

weapon of theirs finds its mark, let it be hurled by ever so weak a

hand; but our spears fall idle to the ground, one and all. Yet,

abandoned though we are, let us take thought how we may save the body

of Patroclus, and ourselves return alive to gladden the eyes of our

faithful comrades, who methinks are in sore distress, thinking that the

might and the murderous hands of Hector shall no more be stayed until

they have hurled destruction on our fleet. Also I would fain despatch

a messenger to bear the bitter tidings to Pelides, who dreams not that

his beloved Patroclus has perished. But I cannot see anyone to whom I

might deliver this charge, for men and steeds alike are covered by

thick darkness. Dread sire of heaven, at least from darkness deliver

the sons of Greece! Bring back the day, and give us the sight of our

eyes. Slay us, if die we must--but slay us in the light!"

Zeus had compassion on that brave man in his agony, and forthwith the

thick cloud of darkness was removed, and the sun shone out, and all the

field of battle was disclosed to view. "Now haste, Menelaus," said

Ajax. "Go thou, and find Antilochus, who is very dear to Achilles, and

bid him carry this message, which none other may dare to bring."

Menelaus was very reluctant to leave his place among the defenders of

Patroclus. Slowly, and with many a backward glance, he turned to go,

like a lion who is driven off at dawn by a shower of javelins and

burning brands, after he has prowled all night round the stalls where

fat oxen are housed. "Ah! remember," he said earnestly, pausing once

more, "remember how dear, how gentle he was to us all, this poor

Patroclus, who now lies cold in death. Forsake him not, but stand by

him till I come back."

After this fervent appeal he made all haste, and ran along the fighting

line, looking about him with a piercing glance, like an eagle soaring

high in the heaven, who spies out a hare as she crouches in the shadow

of a thicket. So did the keen eye of Menelaus soon discern where

Antilochus was fighting, on the extreme left of the field. "Dire is

the news I bring," said Menelaus, halting by his side: "Patroclus is

slain, Hector has his armour, and thou art chosen to tell Achilles of

his loss, that if it be possible he may yet save the body."

With parted lips, and eyes staring with horror, Antilochus stood gazing

at the bringer of the message of woe. Then dashing the tears from his

eyes, and drawing a deep sobbing breath, he flung down his shield and

sped away on his mournful errand.

"I have sent him," said Menelaus, when he had returned with all speed

to the defenders of the fallen Patroclus. "I know not what Achilles

will do--he cannot fight without armour. But to our task." "The

Trojans have drawn off a little," answered Ajax. "Now is the time: do

thou and Meriones take the corpse on your shoulders, while I and my

brother-in-arms hold the foe in play."

Without a moment's delay Menelaus and Meriones hoisted the body on

their shoulders and began to carry it towards the camp: which when the

Trojans saw, they raised a great shout, and rushed after, like hounds

attacking a wounded wild boar; but as the hounds are scattered when the

great brute wheels to the charge, so fled the Trojans before the

determined stand of Ajax and his comrade.

But only for a moment: on they came again, fierce as a mighty

conflagration, which sweeps through the streets of a town, driven

before the gale, while the houses melt away like wax in the flames:

with like furious uproar came horse and foot hard at their heels, as

they bore the body from the field. But stoutly and stubbornly they

plodded on with their burden, panting and sweating like a pair of mules

which drag a heavy beam down a rugged mountain path: and behind them

those two doughty champions opposed an impassable barrier to the

Trojans, like a long wooded mountain spur, which hurls back the fierce

assault of a swollen stream, and cannot be broken.

Yet even now the issue seemed doubtful; for just as the bearers reached

the barriers of the camp Hector and Æneas led a vigorous charge,

scattering the Greeks as a hawk scatters a noisy mob of starlings or

daws.