“O much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve,
Of thy presumed return! event perverse!”
“O Alcimedon, do not now detain the steeds far from me; but [keep them]
breathing closely at my back; for I do not think that Hector, the son
of Priam, will abstain from violence, before that he has mounted the
beautiful-maned horses of Achilles, having slain both of us, and put to
rout the ranks of Grecian heroes; or himself be slain among the first.”
Thus saying, he called upon the Ajaces, and Menelaus: “Ye Ajaces,
leaders of the Greeks, and Menelaus, leave then the dead body to those,
as many as are bravest, to defend it on all sides, and to repulse the
ranks of men; but from us who are alive avert the merciless day. For
hither violently rush through the lamentable fight Hector and Æneas,
who are the best of the Trojans. But all these things rest upon the
knees of the gods; for I also will hurl, and all these things will be a
care to Jove.”
He said; and, brandishing, hurled his long-shadowed spear, and struck
upon the shield of Aretus, equal on all sides; it however did not repel
the spear, but the brass went entirely through, and passed through the
belt into the bottom of his belly. And as when a man in youthful
vigour, holding a sharp axe, cuts through the whole tendon, striking
behind the horns of a wild bull; but it, leaping forward, falls; so he,
springing forward, fell supine; and the sharp spear, quivering in his
entrails, relaxed his limbs. Then Hector took aim at Automedon with his
shining spear, but he, seeing it in front of him, avoided the brazen
weapon; for he bent forward. But the long spear was fixed in the ground
behind him; and moreover the nether end of the spear was shaken; but
there then the strong weapon spent its force. Then truly they would
have engaged hand to hand with their swords, had not the eager Ajaces,
who came through the crowd, at the call of their companion, separated
them. But Hector, Æneas, and godlike Chromius, greatly dreading them,
retired back again, and left Aretus lying there, lacerated as to his
heart; but him Automedon, equal to swift Mars, despoiled of his armour,
and, boasting, uttered this speech:
“Surely now I have a little relieved my heart of sorrow for the dead
son of Menœtius, although having slain but an inferior man.”
Thus having spoken, seizing the gore-stained spoils, he placed them in
the chariot, and mounted himself, bloody as to his feet and hands
above, like some lion which has fed upon a bull. Again over Patroclus
was the direful battle extended, grievous, lamentable; and Minerva
excited the contention, descending from heaven; for far-sounding Jove
sent her forth to encourage the Greeks, as his intention was now
changed. As Jove extends a purple rainbow from heaven to mortals, to be
a signal either of war, or of a chilling storm, which causes men to
cease from their works upon the earth, and afflicts the cattle; so she,
having obscured herself in a purple cloud, entered the army of the
Greeks, and aroused every man. First, however, she addressed the son of
Atreus, gallant Menelaus, inciting him, for he was near her,
assimilating herself, in her form and unwearied voice, to Phœnix:
“Thine, of a truth, will shame and disgrace now be, O Menelaus, if the
swift dogs tear the faithful companion of illustrious Achilles beneath
the wall of the Trojans; therefore bravely hold on, and urge on all the
people.” Whom, in return, Menelaus, good in the din of war, addressed:
“Phœnix, father, old man long since born, would that Minerva would give
me strength, and ward off the force of the weapons. Then indeed would I
be willing to stand by and defend Patroclus; for dying, he greatly
affected my mind with grief. But Hector has the dreadful force of fire,
nor does he cease slaying with his spear; for to him Jove affords
glory.”
Thus he spoke; but the azure-eyed goddess Minerva rejoiced, because to
her he had prayed first of all the gods. But in his shoulders and knees
she put strength, and placed in his bosom the boldness of a fly, which,
although frequently driven away from a human body, persists in
biting,—and the blood of man is sweet to it. With such confidence she
filled his dark soul: and he advanced towards Patroclus, and took aim
with his splendid spear. Now there was among the Trojans one Podes, the
son of Eëtion, rich and brave; whom of his people Hector chiefly
honoured, for he was his dear companion in the banquet. Him
yellow-haired Menelaus smote upon the belt while hastening to flight,
and drove the brazen weapon quite through. He, falling, gave a crash,
and Menelaus, the son of Atreus, dragged away the body from the Trojans
to the crowd of his companions. But Apollo, standing near, excited
Hector in the likeness of Phœnops, son of Asias, who, inhabiting
dwellings at Abydos, was most dear to him of all his guests.
Assimilating himself to him, far-darting Apollo spoke:
“Hector, what other of the Greeks will any more fear thee, since now
thou dreadest Menelaus, who indeed before was but an effeminate
warrior, but now departs done, bearing off the dead corse from the
Trojans? He has slain, in the front ranks, Podes, the son of Eëtion,
thy comrade, faithful and brave.”
Thus he spoke; but him a dark cloud of grief overshadowed, and he went
through the front ranks, armed in glittering brass. And then the son of
Saturn took his ægis, fringed and splendid, and covered Ida with
clouds; but having flashed his lightning, he thundered very loudly, and
shook it (the mountain); and (he) gave victory to the Trojans, but put
the Greeks to flight.
Peneleus, the Bœotian, first was leader of the flight; for he was
wounded slightly 565 on the tip of the shoulder with a spear, being
always turned frontwards; but the spear of Polydamas grazed even to the
bone, for he, coming close, had wounded him. Next Hector wounded
Leïtus, son of magnanimous Alectryon, on the hand at the wrist, and
caused him to cease from battle. Then looking around him, he trembled,
since he no longer hoped in his mind [to be able] to fight with the
Trojans, holding his spear in his hand. But Idomeneus had struck, on
the corslet, upon the breast near the pap, Hector rushing after Leïtus:
the long spear, however, was broken at the socket; and the Trojans
shouted. But he [Hector] discharged his javelin at Idomeneus, the son
of Deucalion, as he was standing in his car: him he missed by a little,
but struck Coeranus, the attendant and charioteer of Meriones, who had
followed him from well-situated Lyctus. For at first on foot, having
left his equally-plied ships, he came, and would have secured a decided
victory to the Trojans, had not Coeranus quickly driven on his
swift-footed steeds: to him then he (Coeranus) came as a help, and
warded off the merciless day; but he himself lost his life beneath
man-slaughtering Hector. Him he smote beneath the jaw-bone and ear, and
the extremity of the spear forced out his teeth and cut through the
middle of his tongue. He fell from his chariot, and the reins dropped
to the ground; and Meriones, stooping, lifted them from the plain in
his own hands, and addressed Idomeneus:
“Lash on, now, until thou reach the swift ships; for even thou thyself
perceivest that victory is no longer on the side of the Achæans.”
Footnote 565: (return) Ἐπιλίγδην, _on the surface_, δι’
ἐπιπολῆς·—Kennedy.
Thus he spake; and Idomeneus lashed on the beautiful-maned steeds to
the hollow ships; for fear now seized his mind.
Nor did Jove escape notice of magnanimous Ajax and Menelaus, when he
for the present gave the dubious victory to the Trojans; but to them
the mighty Ajax, son of Telamon, began to speak:
“Alas! even he who is very stupid might now know that father Jove
himself is aiding the Trojans; for the weapons of them all take effect,
whoever may throw them, whether coward or brave man. Jove certainly
directs them all. But the weapons of all of us fall to the earth in
vain. Come, however, let us devise the best plan, both how we may drag
off the corse, and how we ourselves may be a source of joy to our
beloved comrades, having returned home. They, of a truth, beholding us
here, are grieved, and think that we shall no longer resist the might
and invincible hands of man-slaughtering Hector. But, would there were
some companion who would quickly bring word to Achilles, since I think
he has not yet heard the mournful tidings, that his dear comrade has
died. But nowhere can I see such a person among the Greeks, for they
and their steeds are together enveloped in darkness. O father Jove,
liberate at least the sons of the Greeks from darkness; make a clear
atmosphere, and grant us to see with our eyes; then destroy us in the
light, 566 if thus it be pleasing to thee.”
Footnote 566: (return) A prayer well worthy of Ajax. Ammian. Marcell.
xxviii.: “Per horrorem tenebrarum—quo tempore hebetari solent obstrictæ
terroribus mentes; ut inter innumera multa Ajax quoque Homericus docet,
optans perire potius luce, quam pati formidinis augmenta nocturnæ.” Cf.
Longin. ix.
Thus he spoke; but the Sire felt compassion for him weeping, and
immediately dissipated the haze, and removed the cloud. And the sun
shone forth, and the whole battle was displayed, and then Ajax
addressed Menelaus, good in the din of war:
“Look around now, O Jove-nurtured Menelaus, if anywhere thou canst
perceive, yet alive, Antilochus, the son of magnanimous Nestor. Urge
him, going speedily, to tell to warlike Achilles, that the comrade, by
far most dear to him, has perished.”
Thus he spoke; nor did Menelaus, good in the din of war, disobey. But
he hastened to go, like some lion from a fold, which after that he is
fatigued, harassing both dogs and men, who watching all night, suffer
him not to carry off the fat of the oxen; but he, desirous of flesh,
rushes on, but nothing profits; for many javelins fly against him from
daring hands, and blazing torches, which, eager as he is, he dreads;
but early in the morning he goes apart with saddened mind. So, most
unwilling, from Patroclus went Menelaus, brave in the din of war;
because he greatly feared lest the Greeks, through grievous terror,
should leave him a prey to the enemy. And much, therefore, he exhorted
Meriones and the Ajaces:
“Ye Ajaces, leaders of the Greeks, and Meriones, now let each one be
mindful of the gentleness of wretched Patroclus; for when alive, he
knew how to be mild to all; but now, indeed, Death and Fate overtake
him.”
Thus then having spoken, yellow-haired Menelaus departed, gazing round
in all directions, like an eagle, which, they say, sees most acutely of
birds beneath the sky, and which, though being aloft, the swift-footed
hare does not escape, when lying beneath the dense-foliaged thicket;
but he pounces upon it, and quickly seizing it, deprives it of life.
Thus, O Jove-nurtured Menelaus, were thy shining eyes turned round in
all directions through the band of thy numerous companions, if anywhere
thou mightst behold the son of Nestor, yet living. But him he very soon
perceived upon the left of all the battle, encouraging his companions,
and inciting them to fight; and standing near, yellow-haired Menelaus
addressed [him]:
“Ho! hither come, Antilochus, Jove-nurtured, that thou mayest hear the
sad message which—would that it had not happened. I think, indeed, that
thou thyself looking, perceivest that a god rolls disaster upon the
Greeks, but that victory is on the side of the Trojans; for Patroclus,
the bravest of the Greeks, is slain; and a great longing [after him]
has befallen the Greeks. But do thou quickly tell it to Achilles,
running to the ships of the Greeks, if perchance quickly he may bring
in safety to his ships the unarmed body; for crest-tossing Hector
possesses the armour.”
Thus he spoke; but Antilochus shuddered, hearing the news; and long did
a want of words possess him; and his eyes were filled with tears, and
his liquid voice was interrupted. Yet not even thus did he neglect the
command of Menelaus; but he hastened to run, and gave his armour to
Laodocus, his blameless companion, who, near him, managed the
solid-hoofed steeds. Him, however, his feet bore, weeping, from the
battle, about to communicate the evil news to Achilles, son of Peleus.
Nor, O Jove-nurtured Menelaus, was thy mind willing to aid the harassed
comrades, in the place whence Antilochus had departed, and great
longing after him was caused to the Pylians; but to them he sent noble
Thrasymedes, and he himself went again towards the hero Patroclus; but
arriving, he stood beside the Ajaces, and immediately addressed them:
“Him, indeed, I have now despatched to the swift ships, to go to
swift-footed Achilles: yet I do not think that he will come, although
greatly enraged with noble Hector; for being unarmed, he could by no
means fight with the Trojans. Let even us then ourselves deliberate
upon the best plan, as well how we shall draw off the body, as also how
we ourselves may escape Death and Fate from the clamour of the
Trojans.”
But him mighty Telamonian Ajax then answered:
“All things correctly hast thou spoken, O illustrious Menelaus. But do
thou, and Meriones, stooping quickly under it, having lifted it up,
bear the body from the fight; whilst we two of like name, possessing
equal courage, will fight with the Trojans and with noble Hector, we
who even formerly have sustained the sharp conflict, remaining by each
other.”
Thus he spoke; but they with great exertion lifted up the body in their
arms from the ground: but the Trojan army shouted in their rear when
they saw the Greeks raising up the dead body, and rushed on like dogs,
which spring upon a wounded boar, before the youthful hunters. One
while indeed they run, eager to tear him asunder, but again, when he
turns upon them, relying on his strength, then they retreat, and fly in
different directions hither and thither: so the Trojans sometimes
steadily pursued in a body, striking with their swords and two-edged
spears; but when again the Ajaces, turning round upon them, stood, then
was their colour changed, nor dared any one, rushing forward, to combat
for the corpse.
Thus they with alacrity bore the body from the fight towards the hollow
ships; but the fierce battle was extended to them like a flame, which
assailing, [and] being suddenly excited, sets fire to a city of men,
and the houses diminish in the mighty blaze; whilst the force of the
wind roars through it: so a horrid tumult of steeds and warlike heroes
followed them departing. But as mules, exerting vast strength, 567 drag
from a mountain along a rugged path either a beam or a large piece of
timber for ship-building, but the spirit within them, as they hasten,
is wearied equally with fatigue and perspiration; so they with alacrity
bore away the body, whilst the Ajaces behind them checked [the enemy];
as a barrier of wood, stretched straight across a plain, restrains
water; which checks the furious courses even of rapid rivers, and
immediately turning them, directs the streams of all into the plain;
nor can they at all burst through it, though flowing with violence. So
the Ajaces in the rear always repulsed the attack of the Trojans, who,
however, followed along with them; but two amongst them in particular,
Æneas, son of Anchises, and illustrious Hector. And as a cloud of
starlings or jackdaws, shrilly chattering, 568 flies away when they
perceive a hawk advancing, which brings death to small birds; so then
from Æneas and Hector departed the sons of the Greeks, loudly
clamouring, and were forgetful of the fight. And much beautiful armour
of the flying Greeks fell both in and about the trench; but there was
no cessation from the battle.
Footnote 567: (return) Literally, “girding themselves with strength.”
Footnote 568: (return) Or, “shouting in presage of their doom,” as
Heyne and Kennedy would take it, a meaning borne out by προΐδωσιν. Cf.
Longus. Past. ii. 12: Οἱ κωμῆται ταραχθέντες, ἐπιπήδωσιν αὐτοῖς ὡσεὶ
ψᾶρες, ἢ κολο οί.