“Atque animum nunc huc celerem, nune dividit illuc,
In partesque rapit varias, perque omnia versat.”
x. 680. Ter. Andr. i. 5, 25. Ovid, Met. vii. 19; x. 373. Plato, Rep.
iii. p. 433, B. ed. Læm. finds great fault with Homer for thus
debasing the character of Jove. His remarks are reiterated by
Clemens Alexandr. Protr. p. 16, 50, and Minucius Felix, § 22.
Then the large-eyed, venerable Juno answered: “Most dread son of
Saturn, what a word hast thou spoken? Whether dost thou wish to
liberate from sad death a mortal man long since doomed to fate? Do so;
but all we, the other gods, will not assent to it. But another thing I
will tell thee, and do thou revolve it in thy mind. If indeed thou
sendest this Sarpedon safe home, reflect whether some other of the gods
may not also wish to send his beloved son [safe home] from the violent
conflict; for many sons of immortals fight round the great city of
Priam, upon whom thou wilt bring heavy wrath. If, however, he be dear
to thee, and thy heart pities him, let him indeed be subdued in the
violent conflict, beneath the hands of Patroclus, the son of Menœtius:
but when his spirit and life shall have left him, send death and sweet
sleep to bear him until they reach the people of expansive Lycia. There
will his brethren and friends perform his obsequies with a tomb and a
pillar; for this is the honour of the dead.”
Thus she spoke, nor did the father of gods and men disobey; but he
poured down upon the earth bloody dew-drops, 531 honouring his beloved
son, whom Patroclus was about to slay in fertile-soiled Troy, far away
from his native land.
Footnote 531: (return) There is a similar prodigy in Hesiod, Scut.
Here. 384: Κάδδ’ ἄρ’ ἀπ’ ουρανόθεν ψιάδας βάλεν αἱματοέσσας, Σῆμα
τιθεὶς πολέμοιο ἑῷ μεγαθαρσέϊ παιδί. Tzetzes there refers to the
present passage, regarding it as ominous of the death of Sarpedon. Cf.
Lomeier, De Lustrationibus, xii. p. 143.
But when, advancing, they were now near each other, then indeed
Patroclus [struck] illustrious Thrasymelus, who was the brave companion
of king Sarpedon, him he struck upon the lower part of the belly, and
relaxed his limbs. Then Sarpedon, attacking second, missed him with his
splendid javelin; but he wounded his horse Pedasus, with his spear, in
the right shoulder; but he groaned, breathing out his life, and fell in
the dust, moaning, and his spirit fled from him. But the two [other
steeds] leaped asunder, and the yoke crashed, and the reins were
entangled about them, when the side horse lay in the dust. But
spear-renowned Automedon found an end of this. Drawing his long sword
from his robust thigh, rising, he cut away the farther horse, nor did
he act slothfully. And the two [remaining horses] were set aright, and
were directed by the reins; and they [the men] again engage in
life-devouring combat.
Then again Sarpedon missed [him] with his shining spear, and the point
of the weapon passed over the left shoulder of Patroclus, nor did it
wound him. But Patroclus rushed on with his javelin, and the weapon did
not escape in vain from his hand, for he struck him where the midriff
encloses the compact 532 heart. And he fell, as when falls some oak, or
poplar, or lofty pine, which the workmen fell in the mountains with
newly-sharpened axes, to be a naval timber: so he lay stretched out
before his horses and chariot, gnashing with his teeth, grasping the
bloody dust. As a lion slays a bull, coming among a herd, tawny,
noble-spirited, among the stamping 533 oxen, and he perishes,
bellowing, beneath the jaws of the lion; so the leader of the shielded
Lycians was indignant, 534 being slain by Patroclus, and addressed his
dear companion by name:
Footnote 532: (return) “By comparing the different uses of ἀδινὸς
together, one thing is clear, that all the meanings which can occur in
them, proceed from one, which is that in the epithet of the heart,
_dense_ or _compact_, which physical idea the word retains, according
to the Homeric usage, in Od. τ. 516, as a fixed epithet of the heart,
although there its physical state has nothing to do with the context.”
Buttm. Lexil. p. 33.
Footnote 533: (return) See Buttm. Lexil. p. 267.
Footnote 534: (return) “Indignata anima gemebat,”—Heyne, comparing Æn.
xii. Ult. “Vitaque cum gemitu fugit indignata sub umbras.”
“Glaucus, dear friend, warrior amongst heroes, now it greatly behoves
thee to be a hero and a bold warrior; now if thou art impetuous, let
destructive battle be thy desire. First indeed, going in every
direction, exhort the leaders of the Lycians to fight around Sarpedon,
and do thou thyself also fight for me with thy spear. For I will
hereafter be a cause of shame and disgrace to thee, all thy days,
throughout, if indeed the Greeks despoil me of my armour, falling in
the conflict at the ships. But persevere, and animate all the army.”
While he was thus speaking, the end of death covered him as to his eyes
and nostrils; but Patroclus, trampling with his heel upon his breast,
drew out the spear from his body, and the midriff 535 followed with it;
and he drew out at the same time his life and the point of the weapon.
But the Myrmidons there held his panting steeds, eager to fly along,
since they had quitted the chariots of their lords. Then bitter grief
arose to Glaucus, hearing the voice [of his friend], and his heart was
grieved because he could not aid him. But grasping his own arm in his
hand, he compressed it; for grievously the wound pained him, which
Teucer, with an arrow, had inflicted upon him, as he was rushing
against the lofty wall, warding off the battle from his companions.
Wherefore, praying, he addressed far-darting Apollo:
Footnote 535: (return) Probably the _pericardium_ is meant.
“Hear, O king, thou who art somewhere in the rich state of Lycia, or in
Troy; for thou canst everywhere hear a man afflicted, as sorrow now
comes upon me. For indeed I have this grievous wound, and my hand is
penetrated on every side with acute pains, nor can the blood be
stanched, but my shoulder is oppressed with it. For neither can I
firmly I hold my spear, nor, advancing, fight with the enemy; moreover
a very brave hero has fallen, Sarpedon, the son of Jove; but he aids
not even his own son. But heal for me this severe wound, O king;
assuage my pains, and grant me strength, that, cheering on my
companions, the Lycians, I may urge them to fight; and may myself fight
for the dead body.”
Thus he spoke praying; but Phœbus Apollo heard him. Immediately he
allayed the pains, and dried the black gore from the grievous wound,
and instilled strength into his soul. But Glaucus knew in his mind, and
rejoiced because the mighty god had quickly heard him praying. First
then, going about in all directions, he aroused the heroes, leaders of
the Lycians, to fight for Sarpedon; and then he went to the Trojans,
advancing with long strides to Polydamas, son of Panthous, and noble
Agenor. He also went after Æneas and brazen-armed Hector, and, standing
near, addressed to him winged words:
“O Hector, now hast thou altogether neglected thine allies, who are
losing their lives for thy sake, far away from their friends and
father-land; but thou dost not wish to aid them. Sarpedon lies low, the
leader of the shield-bearing Lycians, who protected Lycia by his
justice and his valour. Him hath brazen Mars subdued with a spear at
the hands of Patroclus. But stand near, my friends, and be indignant in
your minds, lest the Myrmidons spoil his armour, and unworthily treat
the body, enraged on account of the Greeks, as many as have perished,
whom we have slain with our spears at the ships.”
Thus he spoke; but intolerable, unyielding grief wholly possessed the
Trojans, for he had been a pillar of their city, though being a
foreigner; for many forces followed along with him, among whom he
himself was the most valiant in battle. They therefore advanced eagerly
straight against the Greeks, ardent with desire; but Hector led the
way, enraged on account of Sarpedon. But the valiant heart of
Patroclus, son of Menœtius, aroused the Greeks. First he addressed the
Ajaces, though they themselves were also eager:
“O Ajaces, now let it be a delightful thing to you both to repel [the
foe]; be ye such as of old ye were amongst heroes, or even braver.
Sarpedon lies low, the man who first broke through 536 the wall of the
Greeks. But oh! that taking him, we could treat him with indignity, and
spoil the armour from his shoulders, and subdue with the cruel brass
some one of his companions keeping [us] off from him.”
Footnote 536: (return) We must understand him as having done so in
company with Hector, otherwise this passage would be at variance with
xii. 290, 437.
Thus he spoke; but they also themselves were ready to repel [the foe].
But when they had strengthened their phalanxes on both sides, the
Trojans and Lycians, as well as the Myrmidons and Achæans, they closed
to fight round the dead body, shouting dreadfully, and loudly rattled
the arms of men. But Jove stretched pernicious night over the violent
contest, that there might be a destructive toil of battle around his
dear son. The Trojans first drove back the rolling-eyed Greeks; for a
man was smitten, by no means the most inferior among the Myrmidons,
noble Epigeus, son of magnanimous Agacles, who formerly ruled in
well-inhabited Budium; but then having slain a noble kinsman, he came
as a suppliant to Peleus and silver-footed Thetis: they sent him to
follow with the rank-breaker Achilles, to steed-renowned Ilium, that he
might fight with the Trojans. Him then, while seizing the body,
illustrious Hector struck upon the head with a stone; and it was
entirely split in two in his strong helmet; and he fell prone upon the
corpse, and soul-destroying death was diffused around him. Then to
Patroclus grief arose, on account of his companion slain; and he rushed
right through the foremost warriors, like unto a swift hawk, which has
put to flight jackdaws or starlings; so, O equestrian Patroclus, didst
thou rush right against the Lycians and Trojans; for thou wert enraged
in thine heart for thy companion. And he struck Sthenelaus, the beloved
son of Ithæmeneus, on the neck with a stone, and broke his tendons: and
the foremost warriors and illustrious Hector gave back. And as far as
is the cast of a long javelin, which a man may have sent forth striving
either in the game, or even in war, on account of life-destroying
enemies; so far did the Trojans retire, and the Greeks repelled them.
But Glaucus, the leader of the shield-bearing Lycians, first turned,
and slew magnanimous Bathycles, the beloved son of Chalcon, who,
inhabiting dwellings in Hellas, was conspicuous among the Myrmidons for
his riches and wealth. Him then Glaucus, turning suddenly round,
wounded in the middle of the breast with his spear, when, pursuing, he
had overtaken him. But he made a crash as he fell; and deep grief
possessed the Greeks, because a brave warrior had thus fallen; but the
Trojans greatly rejoiced, and, advancing in crowds, stood round him;
nor were the Greeks forgetful of valour, but they directed their
strength straight against them. Then again Meriones slew a hero of the
Trojans, the warrior Laogonus, the gallant son of Onetor, who was the
priest of Idæan Jove, and was honoured like a god by the people. He
smote him under the jaw and ear, and his soul immediately departed from
his limbs, and dreadful darkness overshadowed him. 537 But Æneas hurled
a brazen spear at Meriones, for he hoped to hit him, advancing under
protection of his shield. He, however, observing it in front, avoided
the brazen spear; for he stooped forward, and the long javelin was
fixed in the ground behind him, and the nether point 538 of the spear
was shaken; then the rapid weapon spent its force. Thus the javelin of
Æneas, quivering entered the earth, for it had fled in vain from his
strong hand. Then Æneas was enraged in his mind, and said:
“Meriones, quickly indeed, although being a dancer, 539 would my spear
have made thee cease for ever, if I had struck thee.”
Footnote 537: (return) It has been well observed that Homer never
describes a wound as mortal, except when it is inflicted in a part
really vital.
Footnote 538: (return) The οὐρίαχος was the same as the σαυρωτὴρ. See
Glossæ Herodoteæ, and Hesych. p. 820.
Footnote 539: (return) A probable allusion to the Pyrrhic dance, which
was in use among the Cretans, from whose country Meriones had come. See
the Scholiast, and Müller, Dorians, vol. ii, p. 349.
But him then in turn spear-renowned Meriones answered: “Æneas, it were
difficult for thee, although being brave, to extinguish the valour of
all men, whosoever may come against thee about to repulse thee; for
thou too art mortal. And if I, taking aim, should strike thee in the
middle with my sharp spear, although being brave, and confiding in thy
might, thou wouldst give glory to me, but thy soul to steed-famed
Pluto.”
Thus he spoke; but him the brave son of Menœtius rebuked: “Meriones,
why dost thou, although being brave, harangue thus? O, my friend, the
Trojans will not retire from the corse by opprobrious words: first will
the earth possess some of them; for the emergency of battle is placed
in the hands, but of counsel in words; wherefore it is by no means
necessary to multiply words, but to fight.”
So saying, he on his part led the way, and along with him the godlike
hero followed. And as the crash of woodcutting men arises in the dells
of a mountain, and the sound is heard from afar; so the noise of these,
smitten with swords and two-edged spears, arose from the wide-extended
plain, from brass, from leather, and from well-prepared bull’s-hide
shields. Nor would a man, although very discerning, have recognized
noble Sarpedon, since he was totally involved, from his head to the
soles of his feet, with weapons, and blood, and dust. But they still
crowded round the corse, as when flies in the stall hum around the
pails full of milk, during the spring season, when the milk makes moist
the vessel. So they still crowded round the body: nor did Jove ever
turn his bright eyes from the violent conflict; but he ever beheld
them, and meditated many evil things in his mind concerning the death
of Patroclus, anxiously deliberating whether now illustrious Hector
should kill him with his spear in the brave battle, over godlike
Sarpedon, and spoil the armour from his shoulders, or whether he should
still increase the severe labour to the multitude. To him, thus
reflecting, it appeared better that the brave servant of Achilles, the
son of Peleus, should repulse the Trojans and brazen-armed Hector,
towards the city, and take away the life of many. Into Hector,
therefore, first [of all], he sent unwarlike flight, and ascending his
chariot, he turned himself to flight, and advised the other Trojans to
fly, for he recognized the sacred scales of Jove. 540 Then not even the
brave Lycians remained, but were all turned in flight, when they beheld
their king wounded to the heart, lying in the heap of dead; for many
had fallen over him, whilst the son of Saturn stretched on the violent
strife. But after they had taken from the shoulders of Sarpedon the
brazen and glittering armour, the gallant son of Menœtius gave them to
his companions to carry to the hollow ships; and then cloud-compelling
Jove addressed Apollo:
“Come now, dear Phœbus, going, cleanse Sarpedon, [withdrawn] from among
the heap of weapons, of sable gore, and afterwards bearing him far
away, lave him in the stream of the river, and anoint him with
ambrosia, and put around him immortal garments, then give him in charge
to the twin-brothers. Sleep and Death, swift conductors, to be borne
away, who will quickly place him in the rich state of wide Lycia. There
will his brethren and kindred perform his obsequies with a tomb and a
pillar, 541 for this is the honour of the dead.”
Footnote 540: (return) _I.e._ He perceived that the fortune of the
battle was changed by the will of Jove.
Footnote 541: (return) _I.e._ A cippus, or column reared upon the
tomb. See Pollux, viii. 14, and the Scriptores Rei Agrim. p. 88, ed.
Goes.
Thus he spoke; nor was Apollo inattentive to his father, but he
descended from the Idæan mountains to the grievous conflict.
Immediately removing noble Sarpedon out of [the reach of] weapons, and
bearing him far away, he laved him in the stream of the river, anointed
him with ambrosia, and placed around him immortal garments, then gave
him in charge to the twin-brothers, Sleep and Death, swift conductors,
to be borne away with them; who accordingly quickly placed him in the
rich state of wide Lycia.
In the meantime Patroclus, cheering on his steeds, and Automedon,
followed upon the Trojans and Lycians, and came to great
harm,—infatuate one!—but if he had observed the direction of the son of
Peleus, he had certainly escaped the evil fate of black death. But the
counsel of Jove is ever better than that of men, who puts to flight
even the valiant man, and easily deprives him of victory, even when he
himself has impelled him to fight; who then also excited courage in his
breast. Then whom first, and whom last, didst thou slay, O Patroclus,
when the gods now called thee on to death? Adrastus indeed first,
Autonous and Echeclus, and Perimus, son of Megas, and Epistor and
Melanippus; but then Elasus, and Mulius, and Pylartes. These he slew,
but the others were, each of them, mindful of flight. Then indeed had
the sons of the Greeks taken lofty-gated Troy, by the hands of
Patroclus, for he raged greatly beyond [others] with his spear, had not
Phœbus Apollo stood upon a well-built tower, meditating destructive
things to him, and assisting the Trojans. Thrice indeed Patroclus
mounted a buttress of the lofty wall, and thrice did Apollo repel him
with violence, striking his glittering shield with his immortal hands.
But when now, godlike, he rushed on the fourth time, far-casting
Apollo, threatening fearfully, addressed him:
“Retire, thou Jove-sprung Patroclus; by no means is it destined that
the city of the magnanimous Trojans should be destroyed by thy spear,
nor by Achilles, who is much better than thou.”
Thus he spoke, but Patroclus retired far back, avoiding the wrath of
far-darting Apollo. But Hector detained his steeds at the Scæan 542
gates; for he doubted whether, having driven again into the crowd, he
should fight, or should loudly command the people to be collected
within the walls. To him then, meditating these things, Phœbus Apollo
stood near, having assimilated himself to a hero youthful and brave, to
Asius, who was the maternal uncle of horse-breaking Hector, own brother
of Hecuba, and the son of Dymas, who dwelt in Phrygia, by the streams
of the Sangarius: to him Phœbus Apollo, assimilating himself, spoke:
Footnote 542: (return) Schneider on Nicander, Ther. 264-9, p. 229,
observes: “In Homerica Iliade fuerunt olim qui Σκαιὰς πύλας, quæ alibi
Dardaniæ dicuntur, interpretabantur obliquas, teste Hesychio: ἢ διὰ τὸ
σκολιὰς εἶναι κατὰ τὴν εἰσβολήν. Plane uti Servius ad Æn. iii. 351:
‘Scæa porta dicta est—nec ab itinere ingressis scævo id est sinistro,
quod ingressi non recto sed sinistro eunt itinere, sed a cadavere
Laomedontis, hoc est scæomate, quod in ejus fuerit superliminio.’ Ita
Vitruvius, i. 5, 2; unde vides, quomodo notio _sinistri_ et _obliqui_
in hac voce coaluerit. Notio ipsa serius tandem invaluisse videtur:
antiquiorem enim Nicandreo locum ignore.”
“Hector, why dost thou cease from battle? Nor does it at all become
thee. Would that I were so much superior to thee as I am inferior; then
indeed wouldst thou quickly have retired from the battle to thy loss.
But come, direct thy solid-hoofed steeds against Patroclus, if
perchance thou mayest slay him, and Apollo may give thee glory.” So
saying, the god on his part went again through the labour of men; but
illustrious Hector on his part commanded warlike Cebriones to lash on
his steeds to the battle, whilst Apollo, proceeding, entered the
throng; and sent an evil tumult among the Greeks; but gave glory to the
Trojans and Hector. Then indeed did Hector neglect the other Greeks,
nor slew them; but directed his solid-hoofed horses against Patroclus.
But Patroclus, on the other side, leaped from his chariot to the
ground, in his left hand holding his spear; but in the other he seized
a stone, white, rugged, which his hand embraced around. Putting his
force to it, he hurled it; nor did it err far from the man, nor was the
weapon hurled in vain, 543 for in the forehead with the sharp stone he
smote the charioteer of Hector, Cebriones, the illegitimate son of
illustrious Priam, whilst holding the reins of the horses. But the
stone crushed both his eyebrows, nor did the bone sustain it, and his
eyes fell amid the dust upon the ground before his feet. But he then,
like unto a diver, fell from the well-formed chariot-seat, and life
left his bones. But him insulting, thou didst address, O equestrian
Patroclus:
Footnote 543: (return) See Kennedy. Others make βέλος the accusative,
and take ἁλίωσε transitively.
“O gods! truly he is a very active man! how nimbly he dives! if indeed
he were anywhere in the fishy sea, this man, groping for oysters, might
have satisfied many, plunging from his ship, although it might be
stormy; so easily now in the plain does he dive from his chariot!
Without doubt there are divers among the Trojans.”
So saying, he advanced against the hero Cebriones, having the force of
a lion, which, ravaging the folds, is wounded in the breast, and his
own courage destroys him; thus, O Patroclus, ardent, didst thou spring
upon Cebriones; whilst Hector, on the other side, leaped from his
chariot to the ground. These two, as lions, fought for Cebriones, when
both being hungry fight with utmost courage for a slaughtered stag in
mountain tops. So, for Cebriones, these two masters of the fight,
Patroclus, son of Menœtius, and illustrious Hector, wished to rend each
other’s body with the pitiless brass. Hector indeed, after he seized
him by the head, did not let him go; but Patroclus, on the other side,
held [him by the] foot; and now the rest of the Trojans and Greeks
engaged in the violent conflict.
And as the East and South winds strive with each other, in the dells of
a mountain, to shake a deep wood, beech, ash, and rugged cornel, but
they strike their long-extended boughs against each other with an
immense sound, and a crash of them breaking [arises]; thus the Trojans
and Greeks, leaping upon each other, slaughtered, but neither were
mindful of pernicious flight. And many sharp spears were fixed round
Cebriones, and winged arrows bounding from the string; and many huge
stones smote the shields of those fighting round him; but he, mighty
over mighty space, lay in a whirlwind of dust, forgetful of his
equestrian skill.
As long indeed as the sun was ascending the middle heaven, so long did
the weapons reach both sides effectually, and the people kept falling.
But when the sun had passed over towards the west, then indeed the
Greeks were superior, contrary to fate. They drew the hero Cebriones
from the weapons, out of the tumult of Trojans, and took the armour
from his shoulders. But Patroclus, devising evils against the Trojans,
rushed on. Thrice then he charged, equal to swift Mars, shouting
horridly, and thrice he slew nine heroes. But when, like unto a god, he
made the attack for the fourth time, then indeed, O Patroclus, was the
end of thy life manifest; for Phœbus, terrible in the dire battle, met
thee. He did not indeed perceive him coming through the crowd, for he
advanced against him covered with much darkness; but he stood behind,
and smote him with his flat hand upon the back and broad shoulders, and
his eyes were seized with giddiness. 544 And from his head Phœbus
Apollo struck the helmet, and the oblong helmet rattled, rolling under
the horses’ feet, and the crest was defiled with blood and dust;
although before this it was not permitted that [this] helmet, crested
with horse-hair, should be contaminated by the dust; for it protected
the head of a godlike hero, even the venerable forehead of Achilles;
but Jove then gave it to Hector to wear upon his head; but his
destruction was near. But the long-shadowed spear, great, sturdy,
pointed [with brass], was utterly shattered in his hands; whilst the
shield, which reached to his heels, with its belt, fell to the ground;
and king Apollo, the son of Jove, unbound his corslet. But stupor
seized his brain, and his fair limbs were relaxed under him, and he
stood astounded. But a Trojan, hero, Euphorbus, the son of Panthous,
who excelled those of his own age in the spear, in horsemanship, and in
swiftness of foot, smote him close at hand with his sharp spear, in the
back between the shoulders. For even before this he had hurled twenty
men from their horses, at first coming with his chariot, learning [the
art] of war. He [it was] who first hurled a weapon at thee, O knight
Patroclus, nor did he subdue thee; for he ran back, and was mingled
with the crowd, having plucked the ashen spear out of thy body; nor did
he await Patroclus, though being unarmed, in the fight. Patroclus,
however, subdued by the blow of the god, and by the spear, retired into
the crowd of his companions, avoiding death. But Hector, when he
perceived magnanimous Patroclus retiring, wounded with a sharp spear,
went through the ranks near him, and smote him with his javelin in the
lowest part of the groin, and drove the brass quite through. Falling,
he gave a crash, and greatly grieved the people of the Greeks. As when
a lion presses on an unwearied boar in fight, and they twain, high
spirited, contend upon the mountain tops for a small rill, for they
both desire to drink, but the lion subdues him by force, panting much;
so Hector, the son of Priam, in close fight with his spear, deprived
the gallant son of Menœtius of life, having slain many; and, boasting
over him, spoke winged words:
Footnote 544: (return) Swam round, probably from exhaustion. Celsus;
i. 3: “Si quando insuetus aliquis laboravit, aut si multo plus, quam
solet, etiam is qui assuevit...... oculi caligant.” The affection is
well described by Cælius Aurol. Chron. i. 2: “Repentina visus
tenebratio, atque nebula, cum capitis vertigine.”
“Patroclus, doubtless thou didst think to waste our city, and to carry
off in thy ships the Trojan women to thy dear father-land, having taken
away their day of freedom,—infatuated one! But in defence of these, the
fleet steeds of Hector hasten with their feet to war, and I myself, who
avert the day of slavery 545 from them, am conspicuous amongst the
war-loving Trojans in [the use of] the spear. But the vultures shall
devour thee here. Unhappy man! Nor indeed did Achilles, although being
brave, aid thee, who remaining behind, doubtless enjoined many things
to thee, going forth: ‘Do not return to me, O equestrian Patroclus, to
the hollow barks, before thou rendest the blood-stained garment around
the breast of man-slaughtering Hector.’ Thus, doubtless, he addressed
thee, and persuaded the mind of foolish thee.”
But him, O knight Patroclus, breathing faintly, thou didst address:
“Even now, Hector, vaunt greatly, for Jove, the son of Saturn, and
Apollo, have given thee the victory, who subdued me easily; for they
stripped the armour from my shoulders. But if even twenty such [as
thou] had opposed me, they had all perished here, subdued by my spear.
But destructive fate, and the son of Latona, have slain me, and of men,
Euphorbus; whilst thou, the third, dost despoil me slain. Another thing
will I tell thee, and do thou ponder it in thy soul. 546 Not long,
indeed, shalt thou thyself advance in life, but death and violent fate
already stand near thee, subdued by the hands of Achilles, the
blameless descendant of Æacus.”
Footnote 545: (return) So ἐλεύθερον ἧμαρ in ver. 830. Thus ἀνάγκη
ἀμφίπτολις, “slavery caused by the capture of a city,” Æsch. Choeph.
75.
Footnote 546: (return) This prophecy of the dying Patroclus seems to
have attracted the notice of Aristotle, if we may believe Sextus,
Empir. adv. Phys. ix. p. 553: “Οταν γάρ, φησίν, ἐν τῷ ὑπνοῦν καθ’
ἑαυτὴν γίνεται ἡ ψυχή, τότε τὴν ἴδιον ἀπολαβοῦσα φύσιν προμαντεύεται τε
καὶ προαγορεύει τὰ μέλλοντα’ τοιαύτη δέ ἐστι καὶ ἐν τῷ κατὰ τὸν θάνατον
χωρίζεσθαι τῶν σωμάτων.” He then refers to the similar example of
Hector prophesying the death of Achilles, xxiii. 358, sqq.
Him then, having thus spoken, the end of death then overshadowed. But
his soul flying from his members, departed to Hades, bewailing its lot,
547 relinquishing manliness and youth. But him dead illustrious Hector
addressed:
“Why now, Patroclus, dost thou prophesy cruel destruction to me? Who
knows whether Achilles, the son of fair-haired Thetis, stricken by my
spear, may not be the first to lose his life?”
Footnote 547: (return) See my note on προῖαψεν, II. i. 3. and Heyne.
Thus having spoken, he extracted the brazen spear from the wound,
pressing on him with his heel; and thrust him prostrate from the spear.
Then immediately, with the spear, he went against Automedon, the
godlike servant of swift-footed Æacides, for he was anxious to strike
him. But the fleet immortal steeds, which the gods bestowed on Peleus,
splendid gifts, bore him away.