THE DEEDS AND DEATH OF PATROCLUS.
Patroclus stood by Achilles, weeping bitterly. Then said Achilles,
“What ails thee, Patroclus, that thou weepest like a girl-child that
runs along by her mother’s side and would be taken up, holding her
gown, and looking at her with tearful eyes till she lift her in her
arms? Hast thou heard evil news from Phthia? Menœtius yet lives, they
say, and Peleus. Or art thou weeping for the Greeks, because they
perish for their folly?”
Then said Patroclus, “Be not wroth with me, great Achilles, for indeed
the Greeks are in grievous straits, and all their bravest are wounded,
and still thou cherishest thy wrath. Surely Peleus was not thy father,
nor Thetis thy mother; but the rocks begat thee, and the sea brought
thee forth. Or if thou goest not to the battle, fearing some warning
from the gods, yet let me go, and thy Myrmidons with me. And let me put
thy armor on me; so shall the Greeks have breathing space from the war.”
So he spake, entreating, nor knew that for his own doom he entreated.
And Achilles made reply,--
“It is no warning that I heed, that I keep back from the war. But these
men took from me my prize, which I won with my own hands. But let the
past be past. I said that I would not rise up till the battle should
come nigh to my own ships. But thou mayest put my armor upon thee,
and lead my Myrmidons to the fight. For in truth the men of Troy are
gathered as a dark cloud about the ships, and the Greeks have scarce
standing-ground between them and the sea. For they see not the gleam
of my helmet. And Diomed is not there with his spear; nor do I hear
the voice of Agamemnon, but only the voice of Hector, as he calls the
men of Troy to battle. Go, therefore, Patroclus, and drive the fire
from the ships. And then come thou back, nor fight any more with the
Trojans, lest thou take my glory from me. And go not near, in the
delight of battle, to the walls of Troy, lest one of the gods meet thee
to thy hurt; and, of a truth, the keen archer Apollo loves them well.”
But as they talked the one to the other, Ajax could hold out no longer.
For swords and javelins came thick upon him, and clattered on his
helmet, and his shoulder was weary with the great shield which he
held; and he breathed heavily and hard, and the great drops of sweat
fell upon the ground. Then at the last Hector came near and smote his
spear with a great sword, so that the head fell off. Then was Ajax sore
afraid, and gave way, and the men of Troy set torches to the ship’s
stem, and a great flame shot up to the sky. And Achilles saw it, and
smote his thigh and spake,--
“Haste thee, Patroclus, for I see the fire rising up from the ships.
Put thou on the armor, and I will call my people to the war.” So
Patroclus put on the armor--corselet and shield and helmet--and bound
upon his shoulder the silver-studded sword, and took a mighty spear in
his hand. But the great Pelian spear he took not, for that no man but
Achilles might wield. Then Automedon yoked the horses to the chariot,
Bayard and Piebald, and with them in the side harness, Pedasus; and
they two were deathless steeds, but he was mortal.
Meanwhile Achilles had called the Myrmidons to battle. Fifty ships had
he brought to Troy, and in each there were fifty men. Five leaders they
had, and the bravest of the five was Pisander.
Then Achilles said, “Forget not, ye Myrmidons, the bold words that
ye spake against the men of Troy during the days of my wrath, making
complaint that I kept you from the battle against your will. Now,
therefore, ye have that which you desired.”
So the Myrmidons went to the battle in close array, helmet to helmet
and shield to shield, close as the stones with which a builder builds a
wall. And in front went Patroclus, and Automedon in the chariot beside
him. Then Achilles went to his tent and took a great cup from the chest
which Thetis his mother had given him. Now no man drank of that cup
but he only, nor did he pour out of it libations to any of the gods
but only to Zeus. This first he cleansed with sulphur, and then with
water from the spring. And after this he washed his hand, and stood in
the midst of the space before his tent, and poured out of it to Zeus,
saying,--
“O Zeus, I send my comrade to this battle; make him strong and bold,
and give him glory, and bring him home safe to the ships, and my people
with him.”
So he prayed, and Father Zeus heard him, and part he granted and part
denied.
But when Patroclus with the Myrmidons had come to where the battle was
raging about the ship of Protesilaüs, and when the men of Troy beheld
him, they thought that Achilles had forgotten his wrath, and was come
forth to the war. And first Patroclus slew Pyræchmes, who was the chief
of the Pæonians who live on the banks of the broad Axius. Then the men
of Troy turned to flee, and many chiefs of fame fell by the spears of
the Greeks. So the battle rolled back to the trench, and in the trench
many chariots of the Trojans were broken, but the horses of Achilles
went across it at a stride, so nimble were they and strong. And the
heart of Patroclus was set to slay Hector; but he could not overtake
him, so swift were his horses. Then did Patroclus turn his chariot, and
keep back those that fled, that they should not go to the city, and
rushed hither and thither, still slaying as he went.
But Sarpedon, when he saw the Lycians dismayed and scattered, called to
them that they should be of good courage, saying that he would himself
make trial of this great warrior. So he leapt down from his chariot,
and Patroclus also leapt down, and they rushed at each other as two
eagles rush together. Then first Patroclus struck down Thrasymelus, who
was the comrade of Sarpedon; and Sarpedon, who had a spear in either
hand, with the one struck the horse Pedasus, which was of mortal breed,
on the right shoulder, and with the other missed his aim, sending it
over the left shoulder of Patroclus. But Patroclus missed not his aim,
driving his spear into Sarpedon’s heart. Then fell the great Lycian
chief, as an oak, or a poplar, or a pine falls upon the hills before
the axe. But he called to Glaucus, his companion, saying,--
“Now must thou show thyself a good warrior, Glaucus. First call the men
of Lycia to fight for me, and do thou fight thyself, for it would be
foul shame to thee, all thy days, if the Greeks should spoil me of my
arms.”
Then he died. But Glaucus was sore troubled, for he could not help
him, so grievous was the wound where Teucer had wounded him. Therefore
he prayed to Apollo, and Apollo helped him and made him whole. Then
he went first to the Lycians, bidding them fight for their king, and
then to the chiefs of the Trojans, that they should save the body of
Sarpedon. And to Hector he said,--
“Little carest thou for thy allies. Lo! Sarpedon is dead, slain by
Patroclus. Suffer not the Myrmidons to carry him off and do dishonor to
his body.”
But Hector was troubled to hear such news, and so were all the sons
of Troy, for Sarpedon was the bravest of the allies, and led most
people to the battle. So with a great shout they charged and drove the
Greeks back a space from the body; and then again the Greeks did the
like. And so the battle raged, till no one would have known the great
Sarpedon, so covered was he with spears and blood and dust. But at
last the Greeks drave back the men of Troy from the body, and stripped
the arms, but the body itself they harmed not. For Apollo came down at
the bidding of Zeus and carried it out of the midst of the battle, and
washed it with water, and anointed it with ambrosia, and wrapped it in
garments of the gods. And then he gave it to Sleep and Death, and these
two carried it to Lycia, his fatherland.
Then did Patroclus forget the word which Achilles had spoken to him,
that he should not go near to Troy, for he pursued the men of the city
even to the wall. Thrice he mounted on the angle of the wall, and
thrice Apollo himself drove him back, pushing his shining shield. But
the fourth time the god said, “Go thou back, Patroclus. It is not for
thee to take the city of Troy; no, nor for Achilles, who is far better
than thou art.”
So Patroclus went back, fearing the wrath of the archer-god. Then
Apollo stirred up the spirit of Hector, that he should go against
Patroclus. Therefore he went, with his brother Cebriones for driver
of his chariot. But when they came near, Patroclus cast a great stone
which he had in his hand, and smote Cebriones on the forehead,
crushing it in, so that he fell headlong from the chariot. And
Patroclus mocked him, saying,--
“How nimble is this man! how lightly he dives! What spoil he would take
of oysters, diving from a ship, even in a stormy sea! Who would have
thought that there were such skilful divers in Troy!”
Then again the battle waxed hot about the body of Cebriones, and this
too, at the last, the Greeks drew unto themselves, and spoiled it of
the arms. And this being accomplished, Patroclus rushed against the
men of Troy. Thrice he rushed, and each time he slew nine chiefs of
fame. But the fourth time Apollo stood behind him and struck him on
the head and shoulders, so that his eyes were darkened. And the helmet
fell from off his head, so that the horsehair plumes were soiled with
dust. Never before had it touched the ground, for it was the helmet of
Achilles. And also the god brake the spear in his hand, and struck the
shield from his arms, and loosed his corselet. All amazed he stood, and
then Euphorbus, son of Panthoüs, smote him on the back with his spear,
but slew him not. Then Patroclus sought to flee to the ranks of his
comrades. But Hector saw him, and thrust at him with his spear, smiting
him in the groin, so that he fell. And when the Greeks saw him fall,
they sent up a terrible cry. Then Hector stood over him and cried,--
“Didst thou think to spoil our city, Patroclus, and to carry away our
wives and daughters in the ships? But, lo! I have slain thee, and the
fowls of the air shall eat thy flesh; nor shall the great Achilles help
thee at all--Achilles, who bade thee, I trow, strip the tunic from my
breast, and thou thoughtest in thy folly to do it.”
But Patroclus answered, “Thou boasteth much, Hector. Yet _thou_ didst
not slay me, but Apollo, who took from me my arms, for had twenty such
as thou met me, I had slain them all. And mark thou this: death and
fate are close to thee by the hand of the great Achilles.”
And Hector answered, but Patroclus was dead already,--
“Why dost thou prophesy death to me? May be the great Achilles himself
shall fall by my hand.”
Then he drew his spear from the wound, and went after Automedon, to
slay him, but the swift horses of Achilles carried him away.
Fierce was the fight about the body of Patroclus, and many heroes fell,
both on this side and on that, and first of them all Euphorbus, who,
indeed, had wounded him. For as he came near to strip the dead man of
his arms, Menelaüs slew him with his spear. He slew him, but took not
his arms, for Hector came through the battle; nor did Menelaüs dare to
abide his coming, but went back into the ranks of his own people. Then
did Hector strip off the arms of Patroclus, the arms which the great
Achilles had given him to wear. Then he laid hold of the body, and
would have dragged it into the host of the Trojans, but Ajax Telamon
came forth, and put his broad shield before it, as a lion stands before
its cubs when the hunters meet it in the woods, drawing down over its
eyes its shaggy brows. Then Hector gave place, but Glaucus saw him and
said,--
“Now is this a shame to thee, that thou darest not to stand against
Ajax. How wilt thou and thy countrymen save the city of Troy? For
surely no more will thy allies fight for it. Small profit have they
of thee. Did not Sarpedon fall, and didst thou not leave him to be a
prey to the dogs? And now, if thou hadst stood firm and carried off
Patroclus, we might have made exchange, and gained from the Greeks
Sarpedon and his arms. But it may not be, for thou fearest Ajax, and
fleest before him.”
But Hector said, “I fear him not, nor any man. Only Zeus gives victory
now to one man and now to another. But wait thou here, and see whether
I be a coward, as thou sayest.”
Now he had sent the armor of Patroclus to the city. But now he ran
after those that were carrying it, and overtook them, and put on the
armor himself (but Zeus saw him doing it, and liked it not), and came
back to the battle; and all who saw him thought that it had been the
great Achilles himself. Then they all charged together, and fiercer
grew the battle and fiercer as the day went on. For the Greeks said
one to another, “Now had the earth better yawn and swallow us up
alive, than we should let the men of Troy carry off Patroclus to their
city”; and the Trojans said, “Now if we must all fall by the body of
this man, be it so, but we will not yield.” But the horses of Achilles
stood apart from the battle, when they knew that Patroclus was dead,
and wept. Nor could Automedon move them with the lash, nor with gentle
words, nor with threats. They would not return to the ships, nor would
they go into the battle; but as a pillar stands on the tomb of some
dead man, so they stood, with their heads drooped to the ground, with
the big tears dropping to the earth, and their long manes trailing in
the dust.
But Father Zeus beheld them, and pitied them, and said,--
“It was not well that we gave you, immortal as ye are, to a mortal man;
for of all things that move on earth, mortal man is the fullest of
sorrow. But Hector shall not possess you. It is enough for him, yea,
and too much, that he has the arms of Achilles.”
Then did the horses move from their place and obey their charioteer as
before. Nor could Hector take them, though he desired them very much.
And all the while the battle raged about the dead Patroclus. And at
last Ajax said to Menelaüs (now these two had borne themselves more
bravely in the fight than all others),--
“See if thou canst find Antilochus, Nestor’s son, that he may carry the
tidings to Achilles, how that Patroclus is dead.”
So Menelaüs went and found Antilochus on the left of the battle, and
said to him, “I have ill news for thee. Thou seest, I trow, that the
men of Troy have the victory to-day. And also Patroclus lies dead. Run,
therefore, to Achilles, and tell him, if haply he may save the body;
but as for the arms, Hector has them already.”
Sore dismayed was Antilochus to hear such tidings, and his eyes were
filled with tears and his voice was choked. Yet did he give heed to the
words of Menelaüs, and ran to tell Achilles of what had chanced. But
Menelaüs went back to Ajax, where he had left him by Patroclus, and
said,--
“Antilochus, indeed, bears the tidings to Achilles. Yet I doubt whether
he will come, for all his wrath against Hector, seeing that he has no
armor to cover him. Let us think, then, how we may best carry Patroclus
away from the men of Troy.”
Then said Ajax, “Do thou and Meriones run forward and raise the body in
your arms, and I and the son of Oïleus will keep off meanwhile the men
of Troy.”
So Menelaüs and Meriones ran forward and lifted up the body. And the
Trojans ran forward with a great shout when they saw them, as dogs run
barking before the hunters when they chase a wild boar; but when the
beast turns to bay, lo! they flee this way and that. So did the men
of Troy flee when Ajax the Greater and Ajax the Less turned to give
battle. But still the Greeks gave way, and still the Trojans came on,
and ever in the front were Hector, the son of Priam, and Æneas, the son
of Anchises. But in the meantime Antilochus came near to Achilles, who,
indeed, seeing that the Greeks fled and the men of Troy pursued, was
already sore afraid. And he said, weeping as he spake,--
“I bring ill news,--Patroclus lies low. The Greeks fight for his body,
but Hector has his arms.”
Then Achilles took of the dust of the plain in his hands, and poured it
on his head, and lay at his length upon the ground, and tare his hair.
And all the women wailed. And Antilochus sat weeping; but ever he held
the hands of Achilles, lest he should slay himself in his great grief.
Then came his mother, hearing his cry, from where she sat in the depths
of the sea, and laid her hand on him and said,--
“Why weepest thou, my son? Hide not the matter from me, but tell me.”
And Achilles answered, “All that Zeus promised thee for me he hath
fulfilled. But what profit have I, for lo! my friend Patroclus is dead,
and Hector has the arms which I gave him to wear. And as for me, I care
not to live, except I can avenge me upon him.”
Then said Thetis, “Nay, my son, speak not thus. For when Hector dieth,
thy doom also is near.”
And Achilles spake in great wrath: “Would that I might die this
hour, seeing that I could not help my friend, but am a burden on the
earth--I, who am better in battle than all the Greeks besides. Cursed
be the wrath that sets men to strive the one with the other, even as
it set me to strive with King Agamemnon! But let the past be past. And
as for my fate,--let it come when it may, so that I first avenge myself
on Hector. Wherefore seek not to keep me back from the battle.”
Then Thetis said, “Be it so; only thou canst not go without thy arms,
which Hector hath. But to-morrow will I go to Hephæstus, that he may
furnish thee anew.”
But while they talked the men of Troy pressed the Greeks more and more,
and the two heroes, Ajax the Greater and Ajax the Less, could no longer
keep Hector back, but that he should lay hold of the body of Patroclus.
And indeed he would have taken it, but that Zeus sent Iris to Achilles,
who said,--
“Rouse thee, son of Peleus, or Patroclus will be a prey for the dogs of
Troy!”
But Achilles said, “How shall I go?--for arms have I none, nor know I
whose I might wear. Haply I could shift with the shield of Ajax, son of
Telamon, but he, I know, is carrying it in the front of the battle.”
Then answered Iris, “Go only to the trench and show thyself; so shall
the men of Troy tremble and cease from the battle, and the Greeks shall
have breathing space.”
So he went, and Athené put her ægis about his mighty shoulders, and a
golden halo about his head, making it shine as a flame of fire, even as
the watch-fires shine at night from some city that is besieged. Then
went he to the trench; with the battle he mingled not, heeding his
mother’s commands, but he shouted aloud, and his voice was as the sound
of a trumpet. And when the men of Troy heard, they were stricken with
fear, and the horses backed with the chariots, and the drivers were
astonished when they saw the flaming fire above his head which Athené
had kindled. Thrice across the trench the great Achilles shouted, and
thrice the men of Troy fell back. And that hour there perished twelve
chiefs of fame, wounded by their own spears or trampled by their own
steeds, so great was the terror among the men of Troy.
Right gladly did the Greeks take Patroclus out of the press. Then they
laid him on a bier and carried him to the tent, Achilles walking with
many tears by his side.
But on the other side the men of Troy held an assembly. Standing they
held it, for none dared to sit, lest Achilles should be upon them.
Then spake Polydamas: “Let us not wait here for the morning. It was
well for us to fight at the ships while Achilles yet kept his wrath
against Agamemnon. But now it is not so. For to-morrow he will come
against us in his anger, and many will fall before him. Wherefore let
us go back to the city, for high are the walls and strong the gates,
and he will perish before he pass them.”
Then said Hector, “This is ill counsel, Polydamas. Shall we shut
ourselves up in the city, where all our goods are wasted already,
buying meat for the people? Nay, let us watch to-night, and to-morrow
will we fight with the Greeks. And if Achilles be indeed come forth
from his tent, be it so. I will not shun to meet him, for Ares gives
the victory now to one man and now to another.”
So he spake, and all the people applauded, foolish, not knowing what
the morrow should bring forth.
Meanwhile in the camp of the Greeks they mourned for Patroclus. And
Achilles stood among his Myrmidons and said,--
“Vain was the promise that I made to Menœtius that I would bring back
his son with his portion of the spoils of Troy. But Zeus fulfils not
the thoughts of man. For he lies dead, nor shall I return to the house
of Peleus, my father, for I, too, must die in this land. But thee, O
Patroclus, I will not bury till I bring hither the head and the arms of
Hector, and twelve men of Troy to slay at thy funeral pile.”
So they washed the body of Patroclus and anointed it, putting ointment
into the wounds, and laid it on a bed, and covered it with a veil from
the head to the feet.
Then went Thetis to the palace of Hephæstus, to pray him that he would
make arms for her son. And the lady his wife, whose name was Grace,
bade her welcome, and said,--
“Why comest thou, Thetis? for thou art not wont to come hither, though
thou art dear to us.”
Then she called to her husband that Thetis sought him, and he answered
from his forge where he wrought,--
“Dear is Thetis to me, for she saved me in the old time, when my mother
would have put me away because that I was lame. Greet her therefore
for me; right willingly will I pay her what she deserves at my hands.”
Then he came from his forge and sat down by the goddess, and asked her,
“What wantest thou?”
Then did Thetis tell him of her son Achilles, and of the wrong that had
been done to him, and of his wrath, and of how Patroclus was dead, and
the arms that he had had were lost.
Then said Hephæstus, “Be of good cheer: I will make what thou askest.
Would that I could as easily keep from him the doom of death.”
Then Hephæstus wrought at his forge. And first of all he made a mighty
shield. On it he wrought the earth, and the sky, and the sea, and the
sun, and the moon, and all the stars. He wrought also two cities. In
the one there was peace, and about the other there was war. For in the
first they led a bride to her home with music and dancing, and the
women stood in the doors to see the show, and in the market-place the
judges judged about one that had been slain, and one man said that he
had paid the price of blood, and the other denied. But about the other
city there sat an army besieging it, and the men of the city stood upon
the wall, defending it. These had also set an ambush by a river where
the herds were wont to drink. And when the herds came down, they rose
up and took them, and slew the herdsmen. But the army of the besiegers
heard the cry, and came swiftly on horses, and fought by the bank of
the river. Also he wrought one field where many men drove the plough,
and another where reapers reaped the corn, and boys gathered it in
their arms to bind into sheaves, while the lord stood glad at heart
beholding them. Also he wrought a vineyard, wherein was a path, and
youths and maidens bearing baskets of grapes, and in the midst a boy
played on a harp of gold and sang a pleasant song. Also he made a herd
of oxen going from the stables to the pastures, and herdsmen and dogs,
and in the front two lions had caught a mighty bull and were devouring
it, while the dogs stood far off and barked. Also he made a sheepfold;
also a marvellous dance of men and maidens, and these had coronets
of gold, and those daggers of gold hanging from belts of silver. And
round about the shield he wrought the great river of ocean. Besides the
shield, he also made a corselet brighter than fire, and a great helmet
with a crest of gold, and greaves of tin.
But all the while Achilles sat mourning for Patroclus, and his comrades
wept about him. And at dawn Thetis brought him the arms and laid them
before him. Loud they rattled on the ground, and all the Myrmidons
trembled to hear; but when Achilles saw them his eyes blazed with fire,
and he rejoiced in his heart. Only he said to his mother that he feared
lest the body should decay, but she answered,--
“Be not troubled about this, for I will see to it. Make thy peace with
Agamemnon, and go to the battle.”
Then Achilles went along the shore and called the Greeks to an
assembly, shouting mightily; and all, even those who were wont to
abide in the ships, listened to his voice and came. So the assembly
was gathered, and Achilles stood up in the midst, saying that he had
put away his wrath; and King Agamemnon, sitting on his throne (for his
wound hindered him from standing), said that he repented him of the
wrong which he had done, only that Zeus had turned his thoughts to
folly; but now he would give to Achilles all that Ulysses had promised
on his behalf. And Achilles would have led the Greeks straightway to
battle, but the wise Ulysses hindered him, saying that it was not well
that he should send them to the fight fasting. Then did Agamemnon send
to the tents of Achilles all the gifts that he had promised, and with
them the maiden Briseïs. But she, when she came and saw Patroclus,
beat her breast and her fair neck and face, and wailed aloud, for he
had been gentle and good, she said. And all the women wailed with her,
thinking each of her own sorrows.
Then the chiefs would have Achilles feast with them; but he hearkened
not, for he would neither eat nor drink till he had had vengeance for
the dead. And he spake, saying,--
“Often, Patroclus, hast thou ordered the feast when we were hastening
to the war. And now thou liest slain, and for grief for thee I cannot
eat nor drink. For greater sorrow could not have come to me, not though
Peleus himself were dead, or my young son Neoptolemus. Often did I
think that I only should perish here, but that thou shouldst return and
show him all that was mine--goods and servants and palace.”
And as he wept the old men wept with him, thinking each of what he had
left at home.
But after this the Greeks were gathered to the battle, and Achilles
shone in the midst with the arms of Hephæstus upon him, and he flashed
like fire. Then he spake to his horses,--
“Take heed, Bayard and Piebald, that you save your driver to-day, nor
leave him dead on the field, as you left Patroclus.”
Then Heré gave to the horse Bayard a voice, so that he spake: “Surely
we will save thee, great Achilles; yet, for all that, doom is near to
thee, nor are we the cause, but the gods and mastering Fate. Nor was it
of us that Patroclus died, but Apollo slew him, and gave the glory to
Hector. So shalt thou, too, die by the hands of a god and of a mortal
man.”
And Achilles said, “What need to tell me of my doom? Right well I know
it. Yet will I not cease till I have made the Trojans weary of battle.”
Then with a shout he rushed to the battle. And first there met him
Æneas. Now Achilles cared not to fight with him, but bade him go back
to his comrades. But Æneas would not, but told him of his race, how
that he came from Zeus on his father’s side, and how that his mother
was Aphrodité, and that he held himself a match for any mortal man.
Then he cast his spear, which struck the shield of Achilles with so
dreadful a sound that the hero feared lest it should pierce it through,
knowing not that the gifts of the gods are not easy for mortal man
to vanquish. Two folds indeed it pierced that were of bronze, but in
the gold it was stayed, and there were yet two of tin within. Then
Achilles cast his spear. Through the shield of Æneas it passed, and
though it wounded him not, yet was he sore dismayed, so near it came.
Then Achilles drew his sword and rushed on Æneas, and Æneas caught up
a great stone to cast at him. But it was not the will of the gods that
Æneas should perish, seeing that he and his sons after him should rule
over the men of Troy in the ages to come. Therefore Poseidon lifted him
up and bore him over the ranks of men to the left of the battle, but
first he drew the spear out of the shield and laid it at the feet of
Achilles. Much the hero marvelled to see it, crying,--
“This is a great wonder that I see with mine eyes. For, lo! the spear
is before me, but the man whom I sought to slay I see not. Of a truth
Æneas spake truth, saying that he was dear to the immortal gods.”
Then he rushed into the battle, slaying as he went. And Hector would
have met him, but Apollo stood by him and said, “Fight not with
Achilles, lest he slay thee.” Therefore he went back among the men of
Troy. Many did Achilles slay, and among them Polydorus, son of Priam,
who, because he was the youngest and very dear, his father suffered
not to go to the battle. Yet he went, in his folly, and being very
swift of foot, he trusted in his speed, running through the foremost
of the fighters. But as he ran Achilles smote him and wounded him to
the death. But when Hector saw it he could not bear any more to stand
apart. Therefore he rushed at Achilles, and Achilles rejoiced to see
him, saying, “This is the man who slew my comrade.” But they fought not
then, for when Hector cast his spear, Athené turned it aside, and when
Achilles charged, Apollo bore Hector away.
Then Achilles turned to the others, and slew multitudes of them, so
that they fled, part across the plain, and part to the river, the
eddying Xanthus. And these leapt into the water as locusts leap into a
river when the fire which men light drives them from the fields. And
all the river was full of horses and men. Then Achilles leapt into the
stream, leaving his spear on the bank, resting on the tamarisk trees.
Only his sword had he, and with this he slew many; and they were as
fishes which fly from some great dolphin in the sea. In all the bays of
a harbor they hide themselves, for the great beast devours them apace.
So did the Trojans hide themselves under the banks of the river. And
when Achilles was weary of slaying he took twelve alive, whom he would
slay on the tomb of Patroclus. Nor was there but one who dared to stand
up against him, and this was Asteropæus, who was the grandson of the
river-god Axius, and led the men of Pæonia. And Achilles wondered to
see him, and said,--
“Who art thou, that standest against me?”
And he said, “I am the grandson of the river-god Axius, fairest of all
the streams on the earth, and I lead the men of Pæonia.”
And as he spake he cast two spears, one with each hand, for he could
use either alike; and the one struck the shield, nor pierced it
through, for the gold stayed it, and the other grazed the right hand
so that the blood spurted forth. Then did Achilles cast his spear, but
missed his aim, and the great spear stood fast in the bank. And thrice
Asteropæus strove to draw it forth. Thrice he strove in vain, and the
fourth time he strove to break the spear. But as he strove Achilles
smote him that he died. Yet had he some glory, for that he wounded the
great Achilles.
But Priam stood on a tower of the wall and saw the people. Sore
troubled was he, and he hastened down to the gates and said to the
keepers, “Keep the wicket-gates in your hands open, that the people
may enter in, for they fly before Achilles.” So the keepers held the
wicket-gates in their hands, and the people hastened in, wearied
with toil and thirst, and covered with dust, and Achilles followed
close upon them. And that hour would the Greeks have taken the city
of Troy, but that Apollo saved it. For he put courage into the heart
of Antenor’s son Agenor, standing also by him, that he should not be
slain. Therefore Agenor stood, thinking within himself,--
“Shall I now flee with these others? Nay, for not the less will
Achilles take me and slay me, and I shall die as a coward dies. Or
shall I flee across the plain to Ida, and hide me in the thickets,
and come back at nightfall to the city? Yet should he see me he will
overtake me and smite me, so swift of foot is he and strong. But what
if I stand to meet him before the gates? Well, he, too, is a mortal
man, and his flesh may be pierced by the spear.”
Therefore he stood till Achilles should come near. And when he came he
cast his spear, striking the leg below the knee, but the greave turned
off the spear, so strong was it. But when Achilles would have slain
him, lo! Apollo lifted him up and set him within the city. And that the
men of Troy might have space to enter, he took upon him Agenor’s shape.
And the false Agenor fled, and Achilles pursued. But meanwhile the men
of Troy flocked into the city, nor did they stay to ask who was safe
and who was dead, in such haste and fear did they flee.