The Iliad (Audiobook) by Homer - Book 16

Book 16: The Death of Patroclus
Patroclus, Achilles’ closest companion, dons Achilles’ armor and enters battle. He fights bravely but is ultimately slain by Hector. Summary by Dream Audiobooks

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Section sixteen of the Iliad by Homer, translated by Samuel Butler.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by
Peter Dan Book sixteen. Fire now being thrown on the
ship of Protessileus, Petroclus fights in the armor of Achilles.
He drives the Trojan's back, but is in the end

(00:22):
killed by Euphorbus and Hector. Thus did they fight about
the ship of Protessilaus. Then Petroclus drew near to Achilles
with tears welling from his eyes, as from some spring
whose crystal stream falls over the ledges of a high precipice.
When Achilles saw him thus weeping, he was sorry for him,
and said, why, Petrocolus, do you stand there weeping? Like

(00:44):
some silly child that comes running to her mother and
begs to be taken up and carried. She catches hold
of her mother's dress to stay her, though she is
in a hurry, and looks tearfully up until her mother
carries her. Even such tears, Petroclus, are you now shedding?
You anything to say to the Myrmidons or to myself?
Or have you had news from Phythia which you alone know?

(01:06):
They tell me Monoecius, son of Actor, is still alive,
as also Pelius, son of Asus, among themrmidons, men whose
last we two should bitterly deplore. Or are you grieving
about the archives and the way in which they are
being killed at the ships through their own high handed doings?
Do not hide anything from me, but tell me that
both of us may know about it. Then, oh knight Patroclus,

(01:31):
with a deep sigh, you answered, Achilles, son of Pelius,
foremost champion of the Achaeans. Do not be angry, but
I weep for the disaster that has now befallen the Archives.
All those who have been their champion so far are
lying at the ships, wounded by sword or spear. Brave
Diomed son of Tideus, has been hit with a spear,

(01:53):
while famed Ulysses and Agamemnon have received sword wounds. Eurypulus
again has been struck with an arrow in the thar.
Skilled Apocethar is attending to these heroes and healing them
of their wounds. Are you, still, oh Achilles, so inexorable?
May it never be my lot to nurse such a
passion as you have done to the banging of your

(02:14):
own good name, who in future's story will speak well
of you unless you now save the archives from ruin.
You know no pity, Knight. Peleus was not your father,
nor Thetis your mother. But the Gray Sea bore you,
and the sheer cliffs begot you. So cruel and remorseless
are you, If, however, you are kept back through knowledge

(02:34):
of some oracle, or if your mother Thetis, has told
you something from the mouth of Jove, at least send
me in the Mrmidons with me. If I may bring
deliverance to the Danaans, Let me moreoverwear your armor. The
Trojans may thus mistake me for you and quit the field,
so that the hard pressed sons of the Achaeans may
have breathing time, which while they are fighting may hardly be. We,

(02:58):
who are fresh, might soon drive tired men back from
our ships and tents to their own city. He knew
not what he was asking, nor that he was suing
for his own destruction. Achilles was deeply moved and answered, what,
noble Petruclus, are you saying. I know no propher sayings
which I am heeding, Nor has my mother told me

(03:20):
anything from the mouth of Jove. But I am cut
to the very heart that one of my own ranks
should dare to rob me, because he is more powerful
than I am. This, after all that I have gone through,
is more than I can endure. The girl whom the
sons of the Achaeans chose for me, whom I won
as the fruit of my spear, on having sacked a city,

(03:40):
her has King Agamemnon taken from me as though I
were some common vagrant. Still that bygones be bygones, no
man may keep his anger forever I said I would
not relent till battle and the cry of war had
reached my own ships. Nevertheless, now gird my armor about
your shoulders and lead the Murmadons to battle, for the

(04:02):
dark cloud of Trojans has burst furiously over our fleet.
The Argives are driven back on to the beach, cooped
within a narrow space, and the whole people of Troy
has taken heart to sally out against them, because they
see not the visor of my helmet gleaming near them.
Had they seen this, there would not have been a
creek nor grip that had not been filled with their

(04:22):
dead as they fled back again. And so it would
have been if only King Agamemnon had dealt fairly by me.
As it is, the Trojans have beset our host. Diomed,
son of Tedious, no longer wields his spear to defend
the Daraians. Neither have I heard the voice of the
son of Atreus coming from his hated head, whereas that
of Murderer's actor rings in my ears as he gives

(04:44):
orders to the Trojans, who triumph over the Achaeans and
fill the whole plain with their cry of battle. But
even so, Petropolus fall upon them and save the fleet,
lest the Trojans fire it and prevent us from being
able to return. Do, however, as I now be, that
you may win me great honor from all the Daraeans,
and that they may restore the girl to me again,

(05:05):
and give me rich gifts into the bargain. When you
have driven the Trojans from the ships, come back again.
Though Juno's thundering husband should put triumph within your reach,
do not fight the Trojans further in my absence, or
you will rob me of glory that should be mine.
And do not, for lust of battle, go on killing
the Trojans, nor lead the Achaeans, on to Ilius, lest

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one of the ever living gods from Olympus attack you
for fevers. Apollo loves them well, return when you have
freed the ships from peril, and let others wage war
upon the plain. Would by Father Jove, Minerva and Apollo,
that not a single man of all the Trojans might
be left alive, nor yet of the Argives, but that
we too might be alone, left to tear aside the

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mantle that veils the brow of Troy. Thus did they converse,
But Ajax could no longer hold his ground, for the
shower of darts that rained upon him, the will of
Jove and the javelins of the Trojans were too much
for him. The helmet that gleamed about his temples rang
with the continuous clatter of the missiles that kept pouring

(06:10):
on to it and onto the cheek pieces that protected
his face. Moreover, his left shoulder was tired with having
held his shield so long. Yet, for all this, let
fly at him as they would, They could not make
him get ground. He could hardly draw his breath. The
sweat rained from every pore of his body. He had
not a moment's respite. And on all sides. He was

(06:30):
beset by danger upon danger. And now tell me, o,
muses that hold your mansions on Olympus, how fire was
thrown upon the ships of the Achaeans. Hector came close
up and let drive with his great sword at the
ashen spear of Ajax. He cut it clean in two,
just behind where the point was fastened onto the shaft
of the spear. Ajax therefore had now nothing but a

(06:53):
headless spear, while the bronze point flew some way off
and came ringing down onto the ground. Ajax knew the
hand of Even in this, and was dismayed at seeing
that Jove had now left him utterly defenseless, and was
willing victory for the Trojans. Therefore he drew back, and
the Trojans flung fire upon the ship, which was at
once wrapped in flame. The fire was now flaring about

(07:17):
the ship's stern, whereon Achilles smote his two thighs and
said to Patroclus, up noble night, for I see the
glare of hostile fire at our fleet. Up lest they
destroy our ships, and there be no way by which
we may retreat. Gird on your armor at once, while
I call our people together. As he spoke, Patroclus put

(07:37):
on his armor. First, he grieved his legs with greaves
of good make, and fitted with ankle clasps of silver.
After this he donned the cairass of the son of Aesis,
richly inlaid and studded. He hung his silver studded sword
of bronze about his shoulders, and then his mighty shield
on his comely head. He set his helmet, well wrought,

(07:57):
with a crest of horse hair that knudded menace. Above it.
He grasped two redoubtable spears that suited his hands, but
did not take the spear of noble Achilles, so stout
and strong, for none other of the Achaeans could wield it,
though Achilles could do so easily. This was the ashen
spear from Mount Pelion, which Chiron had cut upon a

(08:18):
mountain top and given to Pelias, wherewith to deal out
death among heroes. He bade Or to meet and yoke
his horses with all speed, for he was the man
whom he held in on or next to Achilles, and
on whose support in battle he could rely most firmly.
Or to meet on. Therefore yoked the fleet horses Xanthus
and Balius, steeds that could fly like the wind. These

(08:40):
were they whom the happy Podage brought to the west
wind as she was grazing in a meadow by the
waters of the river Oceanus. In the side traces he
set the noble horse Pedasus, whom Achilles had brought away
with him when he sacked the city of Aetion, and
who mortal steed, though he was, could take his place
along with those that were immortal. Meanwhile, Achilles went about

(09:02):
everywhere among the tents and bade his murmadons put on
their armor. Even as fierce ravening wolves that are feasting
upon a homed stag, which they have killed upon the mountains,
and their jaws are red with blood. They go in
a pack to lap water from the clear spring with
their long, thin tongues, and they reek of blood and slaughter.
They know not what fear is. Fredi's hunger drives them.

(09:25):
Even so did the leaders and counselors of the mermadons
gather round the good squire of the fleet, descendant of Asus,
and among them stood Achilles himself, cheering on both men
and horses. Fifty ships had noble Achilles brought to Troy,
and in each there was a crew of fifty oarsmen.
Over these he set five captains whom he could trust,

(09:46):
while he was himself commander over them all Menestheus, of
the gleaming corselet sounder the river Sperquaeus that streams from Heaven,
was captain of the first company. Fair Polydora, daughter of Pelias,
bore him to ever flowing Spircaeus, a woman mated with
a god. But he was called son of Borus, son
of Perieres, with whom his mother was living as his

(10:09):
wedded wife, and who gave great wealth to gain her.
The second company was led by noble Eudorus, son to
an unwedded woman. Polymilee, daughter of Phylus, the Graceful Dancer,
bore him. The mighty slayer of Argos, was enamored of
her as he saw her among the singing women at
a dance held in honor of Diana, the rushing Huntress

(10:29):
of the Golden Arrows. He therefore, Mercury, giver of all good,
went with her into an upper chamber and lay with
her in secret, whereon she bore him a noble son.
Eudorus singularly fleet of foot and in fight valiant. When
in Lithuia, Goddess of the pains of childbirth brought him
to the light of day, and he saw the face

(10:50):
of the sun. Mighty Eccectle, son of Acdor, took the
mother to wife and gave great wealth to gain her.
But her father, Phyleus, brought the child up and took
care of him, doting as fondly upon him as though
he were his own son. The third company was led
by Pisander, son of Maemalus, the finest spearmen among all
the Mermadants, next to achilles own comrade Patroclus, the old

(11:14):
night Phoenix, was captain of the fourth company, and also
made on noble son of Liarceus of the fifth. When
Achilles had chosen his men and had stationed them all
with their captains, he charged them straightly, saying, Mrmidants, remember
your threats against the Trojans while you were at the
ships in the time of my anger, and you were
all complaining of me, cruel son of Pelias. You would

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say your mother must have suckled you on gall So
ruthless are you? You keep us here at the ships
against our will? If you are so relentless. It were
better we went home over the sea. Often have you gathered,
and thus chided with me, The hours now come for
those high feats of arms that you have so long
been pining for. Therefore keep high hearts, each one of

(11:59):
you to do bat cattle were the Trojans. With these words.
He put heart and soul into them all, and they
serried their companies yet more closely when they heard the
words of their king, as the stones which a builder
sets in the wall of some high house, which is
to give shelter from the winds. Even so closely were
the helmets and bossed shields set against one another, shield

(12:21):
pressed on shield, helm on helm, and man on man.
So close were they that the horse air plumes on
the gleaming ridges of their helmets touched each other as
they bent their heads in front of them, all two
men put on their armor, but truckless, and not a
maid on two men, but with one mind to lead
the mohmodons. Thenichilles went inside his tent and opened the

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lid of the strong chest which silver Footed Thetis had
given him to take on board ship, and which he
had filled with shirts cloaks to keep out the cold.
And good thick rugs. In this chest he had a
cup of rare workmanship, from which no man but himself
might drink, nor would he make offerings from it to
any other the God, save only to Father Jove. He

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took the cup from the chest and cleansed it with sulfur.
This done, he rinsed it in clean water, and after
he had washed his hands, he drew wine. Then he
stood in the middle of the court and prayed, looking
towards Heaven, and making his drink offering of wine. Nor
was he unseen of Jove, whose joy is in thunder.
King Jove, he cried, Lord of Dardona, God of the

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PALASKI dwellest afar you, who hold wintry Dodona in your sway,
where your profits the sally dwell round you, with their
feet unwashed and their couches made upon the ground. If
you heard me when I prayed to you aforetime, and
did me honor whilst you sent disaster on the Achaeans,
vouchsafe me now the fulfillment of yet this further prayer.

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I shall stay here where my ships are lying, but
I shall send my comrade into battle at the head
of many murmadans, grant o all seeing Jove, that victory
may go with him. Put your courage into his heart,
that hector may learn whether my squire is man enough
to fight alone, or whether his might is only then
so indomitable when I myself enter the turmoil of war. Afterwards,

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when he has chased the fight and the cry of
battle from the ships, grant that he may return unharmed,
with his armor and his comrades fighters in close combat.
Thus did he pray, and all counseling Jove heard his prayer.
Part of it. He did, indeed vouchsafe him, but not
the whole. He granted that Petroclus should thrust back war

(14:37):
and battle from the ships, but refused to let him
come back safely out of the fight. When he had
made his drink offering and had thus prayed, Achilles went
inside his tent and put back the cup into his chest.
Then he again came out, for he still loved to
look upon the fierce fight that raged between the Trojans
and Achaeans. Meanwhile, the armed band that was about Petroclus

(15:00):
marched on till they sprang high in hope. Upon the Trojans.
They came swarming out like wasps, whose nests are by
the roadside, and whom silly children loved to tease, whereon
any one who happens to be passing may get stung.
Or again, if a wayfarer going along the road vexes
them by accident, every wasp will come flying out in
a fury to defend his little ones. Even with such

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rage and courage did the Mermadons swarm from their ships,
and their cry of battle rose heavenwards. Patroclus called out
to his men at the top of his voice, Murmadons,
followers of Achilles, son of Pelias, be man, my friends,
fight with might and with main, that we may win
glory for the son of Pelius, who is far the
foremost man at the ships of the argives he and

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his close fighting followers, the son of Atreus, King Agamemnon,
will thus learn his folly in showing no respect to
the bravest of the Achaeans. With these words, he put
heart and soul into them all, and they fell in
a boar upon the Trojans. The ships rang again with
a cry which the Achaeans raised, And when the Trojans

(16:06):
saw the brave son of Menoetius and his squire, all
gleaming in their armor. They were daunted, and their battalions
were thrown into confusion, for they thought the fleet son
of Peleus, must now have put aside his anger and
have been reconciled to Agamamnon. Everyone therefore looked round about
to see whether he might fly for safety. Buttroclus first

(16:26):
aimed a spear into the middle of the press, where
men were packed most closely by the stern of the
ship of Protesilaus. He hit Pyraechmes, who had led his
Paeonian horsemen from the Amadon and the broad waters of
the river Axius. The spear struck him on the right shoulder,
and with a groan, he fell backwards in the dust.
On this his men were thrown into confusion, for by

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killing their leader, who was the finest soldier among them,
Betruclas struck panic into them all. He thus drove them
from the ship and quenched the fire that was then blazing,
leaving the half burnt ship to lie where it was.
The Trojans were now driven back with a shout that
rent the skies, while the Danaeans poured after them from
their ships, shouting also without ceasing, as when Jove, gatherer

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of the thunder cloud, spreads a dense canopy on the
top of some lofty mountain, and all the peaks, the
jutting headlands and forest glades show out in the great
light that flashes from the bursting heavens. Even So, when
the Danaans had now driven back the fire from their ships,
they took breath for a little while. But the fury
of the fight was not yet over, for the Trojans

(17:31):
were not driven back in utter rout, but still gave
battle and were ousted from their ground only by sheer fighting.
The fight then became more scattered, and the chieftains killed
one another when and how they could. The valiant son
of Minotius first drove his spear into the thigh of
Aralikahs just as he was turning round. The point went
cleaned through and broke the bone, so that he fell forward. Meanwhile,

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when a layers struck Thoas in the chest where it
was exposed near the rim of his shield, and he
fell dead. The son of Phileus or Amphiclus about to
attack him, and ere he could do so, took aim
at the upper part of his thigh, where the muscles
are thicker than in any other part. The spear tore
through all the sinews of the leg, and his eyes
were closed in darkness. Are the sons of Nestor. One

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Antilochus speared Atymnius, driving the point of the spear through
his throat, and down he fell. Marus then sprang on
Antilochus in hand to hand, fight to avenge his brother,
and bestrode the body spear in hand, But Valiantrasemedes was
too quick for him, and in a moment it struck
him in the shoulder. Ere he could deal his blow.
His aim was true, and the spear severed all the

(18:40):
muscles at the root of his arm and tore them
right down to the bone. So he fell heavily to
the ground, and his eyes were closed in darkness. Thus
did these two noble comrades of Sarpodon go down to Erebus,
slain by the two sons of Nestor. They were the warriors,
sons of Amysiodorus, who had reared the invincible Chimera to
the bane of men Ajax, and of Oelius. Sprang on

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clear Bulus and took him alive, as he was entangled
in the crush, but he killed him then and there
by a sword blow on the neck. The sword reeked
with his blood, while dark death and the strong hand
of fate repped him and closed his eyes. Penelaus and
Lycon now met in close fight. For they had missed
each other with their spears, they had both thrown without effect,

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so now they drew their swords. Lacon struck the plumed
crest of Penalaeus's helmet, but his sword broke at the hilt,
while Penelaus smote Lycon on the neck under the ear.
The blade sank so deep that the head was held
on by nothing but the skin, and there was no
more life left in him. Marians gave chase to a
carmas on foot and caught him up. Just as he

(19:45):
was about to mount his chariot. He drove a spear
through his right shoulders, so that he fell headlong from
the car, and his eyes were closed in darkness. It
Ameneus sped Aramis in the mouth. The bronze point of
the spear went clean through it beneath the brain, crashing
in among the white bones and smashing them up. His
teeth were all of them knocked out, and the blood

(20:06):
came gushing in a stream from both his eyes. It
also came gurgling up from his mouth and nostrils, and
the darkness of death enfolded him round about. Thus did
these chieftains of the Daranaeans, each of them kill his
man as ravening wools seize on kids or lambs fastening
on them when they are alone on the hillsides and

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have strayed from the main flock through the carelessness of
the shepherd. And when the wolves see this, they pounce
upon them at once, because they cannot defend themselves. Even
so did the Daraeans now fall on the Trojans, who
fled with ill omened cries in their panic, and had
no more fight left in them. Meanwhile, Great Ajax kept
on trying to drive a spear into Hector, But Hector

(20:47):
was so skillful that he held his broad shoulders well
under cover of his ox hide shield. Ever on the
lookout for the whizzing of the arrows and the heavy
thud of the spears. He well knew that the fortunes
of the day had changed, but still stood his ground
and tried to protect his comrades. As when a cloud
goes up into heaven from Olympus, rising out of a

(21:08):
clear sky when Jove is brewing a gale. Even with
such a panic stricken rout, did the Trojans now fly,
and there was no worder in their going. Hector's fleet
horses bore him and his arm are out of the fight,
and he left the Trojan host penned in by the
deep trench against their will. Many a yoke of horses
snapped the pole of their chariots in the trench and

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left their master's car behind them. Patroclus gave chase, calling
impetuously on the Danaeans and full of fury against the Trojans, who,
being now no longer in a body, filled all the
ways with their cries of panic and rout. The air
was darkened with the clouds of dust they raised, and
the horses strained every nerve in their flight from the
tents and ships towards the city. Patroclus kept on heading

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his horses wherever he saw most men flying in confusion,
cheering on his men. The while chariots were being smashed
in all directions, and many a man came tumbling down
from his own car to fall beneath the wheels of
that of Petroclus, whose immortal steeds, given by the gods
to Pelias, sprang over the trench at Abound. As they
sped onward. He was intent on trying to get near Hector,

(22:16):
for he had set his heart on spearing him. But
Hector's horses were now hurrying him away. As the whole
dark earth bows before some tempest on an autumn day,
when Jove reins his hardest to punish men for giving
crooked judgment in their courts and driving justice therefrom without
heed to the decrees of Heaven. All the rivers run full,

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and the torrents tear many a new channel as they
roar headlong from the mountains to the dark sea. And
at fairs ill were the works of men. Even such
was the stress and strain of the Trojan horses in
their flight. Patroclus now cut off the battalions that were
nearest to him and drove them back to the ships.
They were doing their best to reach the city, but

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he would not let them, and bore down on them
between the river and the ships, and wall many a
fallen comrade. Did he then avenge. First, he hit Pronous
with a spear on the chest, where it was exposed
near the rim of his shield, and he fell heavily
to the ground. Next, he sprang on Thestor, son of Enops,
who was sitting all huddled up in his chariot, for

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he had lost his head and the reins had been
torn out of his hands. Patroclus went up to him
and drove a spear into his right jaw. He thus
hooked him by the teeth, and the spear pulled him
over the rim of his car, as one who sits
in the end of some jutting rock and draws a
strong fish out of the sea with a hook and
a line. Even so with his spear did he pull
thest Or, all gaping from his chariot. He then threw

(23:39):
him down on his face, and he died while falling
on this. As Erelaius was on coming to attack him,
he struck him full on the head with a stone,
and his brains were all battered inside his helmet, whereon
he fell headlong to the ground, and the pangs of
death took hold upon him. Then he laid low, one
after the other, Aramas and fot Apolti, Clepolamus Echius, son

(24:03):
of Demastor Pyrus Ipheus, Euippus, and Polymalus, son of Argius.
Now and Sarpadons are his comrades, men who wore ungirded tunics.
Being overcome by Petroclus, son of Monoecius, he rebuked the Lycians, saying,
shame on you, where are you flying to show your metal?
I will myself meet this man in fight and learn

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who it is that is so masterful. He has done
as much hurt and has stretched many a brave man
upon the ground. He sprang from his chariot as he spoke,
and Petroclus, when he saw this, leaped onto the ground also.
The two of them then rushed at one another with
loud cries, like eagle beaked croc taloned vultures that scream
and tear at one another. In some high a mountain fastness.

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The son of Scheming sat and looked down upon them
in pity, and said to Juno, who was with his
wife and sister Alas, that it should be the lot
of Sarpadon, whom I love so dearly, to perish by
the hand of petrol I am in two minds whether
to catch him up out of the fight and set
him down safe and sound, in the fertile land of Lysia,
or to let him now fall by the hand of

(25:09):
the son of Menoetius. And Juno answered, most dread son
of Saturn, What is this that you were saying? Would
you snatch a mortal man whose doom has long been
fated out of the jaws of death? Do as you will,
but we shall not, all of us be of your mind.
I say further, and lay my saying to your heart,
that if you sensarp and on safely to his own home,

(25:31):
some other of the gods will also be wanting to
escort his son out of battle. For there are many
sons of gods fighting round the city of Troy, and
you will make every one jealous. If, however, you are
fond of him and pity him, Let him indeed fall
by the hand of Patroclus. But as soon as the
life is gone out of him, send death and sweet
sleep to bear him off the field, and take him

(25:52):
to the broad lands of Lysia, where his brothers and
his kinsmen will bury him with mound and pillar in
due honor to the dead. The sire of gods and
men assented, but he shed a rain of blood upon
the earth in honor of his son, whom Petroclus was
about to kill on the rich plain of Troy, far
from his home. When they were now come close to

(26:13):
one another, Petroclus struck Thrastodemus, the brave squire of Sarbadon,
in the lower part of the belly, and killed him.
Sarpadon then named a spear at Petroclus and missed him.
But he struck the horse Pedasus in the right shoulder,
and it screamed aloud as it lay groaning in the
dust until the life went out of it. The other
two horses began to plunge. The pole of the chariot cracked,

(26:35):
and they got entangled in the reins through the fall
of the horse that was yoked along with them. But
Ortameden knew what to do without the loss of a moment.
He drew the keen blade that hung by his sturdy
thigh and cut the third horse adrift, where on the
other two righted themselves, and, pulling hard at the reins,
again went together into battle. Sarpadon now took a second

(26:56):
aim at Petroclus and again missed him. The point of
the spear passed over his left shoulder without hitting him.
Patroclus then named in his turn, and the spear spared
not from his hand in vain, for he hits arbat
on just with a midrift, surrounds the ever beating heart.
He fell like some moak, or silver poplar, or tall
pine to which woodsmen have laid their axes upon the

(27:18):
mountains to make timber for shipbuilding. Even so did he
lie stretched at full length in front of his chariot
and horses, moaning and clutching at the bloodstained dust, as
when a lion springs with a bound upon a herd
of cattle and fastens on a great black bull, which
dies bellowing in its clutches. Even so did the leader

(27:38):
of the Lysian warriors struggle in death. As he fell
by the hand of Petroclus. He called on his trusty comrade,
and said, Glaucus, my brother hero among heroes, put forth
all your strength, fight with might and main. Now, if
ever quit yourself like a valiant soldier, first go about
among the Lysian captains and bid them fight for Sarpaedon,

(28:02):
then yourself also do battle to save my armor from
being taken. My name will haunt you henceforth and forever.
If the Achaeans rub me of my armor now that
I have fallen at their ships to your very utmost,
and call all my people to gather. Death closed his
eyes as he spoke, Buttroclus planted his heel on his

(28:24):
breast and drew the spear from his body, whereon his
senses came out along with it, and he drew out
both spear point and Sarpedon's soul. At the same time,
ard By the Murmadons held his snorting steeds, who were
wild with panic at finding themselves deserted by their lords.
Glaucus was overcome with grief when he heard what Sarpadon said,

(28:45):
for he could not help him. He had to support
his arm with his other hand being in great pain
through the wound which Tusu's arrow had given him when
Tusa was defending the wall as he Glaucus was assailing it. Therefore,
he prayed to far darting Apollo, saying, he me, O, King,
from your seat, maybe in the rich land of Lysia,

(29:05):
or maybe in Troy, For in all places you can
hear the prayer of one who is in distress. As
I now am. I have a grievous wound, My hand
is aching with pain. There is no staunching the blood,
and my whole arm drags by reason of my hurt,
so that I cannot grasp my sword, nor go among
my foes and fight them. Though our Prince Jove's son

(29:25):
Sarpadon is slain, Jove defended not his son. Do you, therefore,
O King, heal me of my wound is my pain,
and grant me strength both to cheer on the Lycians
and to fight along with them round the body of
him who has fallen. Thus did he pray, and Apollo
heard his prayer. He eased his pain, staunched the black

(29:47):
blood from the wound, and gave him new strength. Glaucus
perceived this and was thankful that the mighty God had
answered his prayer forthwith. Therefore, he went among the Lycian
captains and bade them come to fight about the body
of Sarpedon. From these he strode on among the Trojans
to Polydamus, son of Panthus, and Agonore. He then went

(30:08):
in search of Aneas and Hector, And when he had
found them, he said, Hector, you have utterly forgotten your allies,
who languish here for your sake, far from friends and home,
while you do nothing to support them. Sarpadon, leader of
the Lycian warriors, has fallen. He who was at once
the right and might of Lysia Mars, has laid him
low by the spear of Patroclus. Stand by him, my friends,

(30:31):
and suffer not the Myrmadons to strip him of his armor,
nor to treat his body with contumely and revengeful All
the Danaeans whom we have speared at the ships. As
he spoke, the Trojans were plunged in extreme and ungovernable
grief for Sarbadon, alien though he was, had been one
of the main stays of their city, both as having
much people with him and himself the foremost among them.

(30:54):
All led by Hector, who was infuriated by the fall
of Sarpadon, they made instantly for the Danaans with all
their might, while the undaunted spirit of Patroclus, son of Minetius,
cheered on the Achaeans. First, he spoke to the two Ajaxes,
men who needed no bidding. Ajaxes said, he, may it

(31:14):
now please you to show yourselves the men you have
always been, or even better. Sarpaedon is fallen, he who
was first to overleap the walls of the Achaeans. Let
us take the body and outrage it. Let us strip
the armor from his shoulders and kill his comrades if
they try to rescue his body. He spoke to men
who of themselves were full eager both sides. Therefore, the

(31:37):
Trojans and Lycians on the one hand, and the Mrmadons
and Achaeans on the other, strengthened their battalions and fought
desperately about the body of Sarpedon, shouting fiercely. The while
mighty was the din of their armor as they came together,
and Jove shed a thick darkness over the fight to
increase the toil of the battle over the body of
his son. At first the Trojans made some headway against

(32:00):
the Achaeans, were one of the best men among the
Myrmidons was killed, Epigeus, son of noble Agacles, who had
erwa been king in the good city of Boudhium, but
presently having killed a valiant kinsman of his own, he
took refuge with Pelias and Thetus, who sent him to Ilius,
the land of noble Steeds, to fight the Trojans under Achilles.

(32:21):
Actor now struck him on the head with a stone,
just as he had caught hold of the body, and
his brains inside his helmet were all battered in, so
that he fell face foremost upon the body of Sarpedon,
and there died. Patruclus was enraged by the death of
his comrade, and sped through the front ranks as swiftly
as a hawk that swoops down on a flock of
doors or starlings. Even so swiftly, O, noble knight, Petroclus,

(32:44):
did you make straight for the Lysians and Trojans to
avenge your comrade. Forthwith he struck Sthenelaus, the son of Ithemenes,
on the neck with a stone, and broke the tendons
that joined it to their head and spine. On this
hector and the front rank of his men gave ground
as far as a man can throw a javelin when
competing for some prize, or even in battle. So far

(33:06):
did the Trojans now retreat before the Achaeans. Glaucus, captain
of the Lycians, was the first to rally them by
killing Bathocles, son of Chalcon, who lived in Hallus and
was the richest man among the Myrmidons. Glaucus turned round
suddenly just as Bathocles, who was pursuing him, was about
to lay hold of him, and drove his spear right
into the middle of his chest, whereon he fell heavily

(33:29):
to the ground, and the fall of so good a
man filled the Achaeans with dismay, while the Trojans were
exalted and came up in a body round the corpse. Nevertheless,
the Achaeans, mindful of their prowess, bore straight down upon them.
Mariones then killed a helmed warrior of the Trojans, Layoganus,
son of Onetor, who was priest of Jove at Mount

(33:50):
Ida and was honored by the people as though he
were a god. Mariones struck him under the jaw and ear,
so that life went out of him, and the darkness
of death laid hold upon him. Aeneas then named a
spirit Mariones, hoping to hit him under the shield as
he was advancing. But Mariones saw it coming and stooped
forward to avoid it, whereon the spear flew past him

(34:11):
and the points stuck in the ground, while the butt
end went on quivering till Mars robbed it of its force.
The spear therefore sped from Aeneas's hand in vain and
fell quivering to the ground. Aeneas was angry and said, Mariones,
you are a good dancer, but if I had hit you,
my spear would soon have made an end of you.
And Mariones answered Aeneus, for all your bravery, you will

(34:34):
not be able to make an end of every one
who comes against you. You are only a mortal like myself.
And if I were to hit you in the middle
of your shield with my spear, however strong and self
confident you may be, I should soon vanquish you, and
you would yield your life to hades of the noble steeds.
On this, the son of Monotius rebuked him and said, Mariones, Hero,

(34:57):
though you be, you should not speak thus taunt speeches,
my good friend would not make the Trojans draw away
from the dead body. Some of them must go underground.
First blows for battle and words for counsel. Fight therefore,
and say nothing. He led the way as he spoke,
and the Hero went forward with him, as the sound

(35:18):
of wood cutters in some forest glade upon the mountains,
and the thud of their axes, as heard afar, even
such a din now rose from earth. Clash of bronze
armor and of good ox hide shields, as men smote
each other with their swords and spears pointed at both ends.
A man at need of good eyesight now to know Sarpedon.
So covered was he from head to foot with spears

(35:40):
and blood and dust. Men swarmed about the body as
flies that buzz round the full milk pales in spring
when they are brimming with milk. Even so did they
gather round Sarpedon. Nor did Jove turn his keen eyes
away for one moment from the fight, but kept looking
at it all the time, for he was settling how
to best kill Patroclus, and considering whether Hector should be

(36:03):
allowed to end him now and the fight round the
body of Sarpadon and strip him of his armor, or
whether he should let him give yet further trouble to
the Trojans. In the end, he deemed it best that
the brave squire of Achilles, son of Peleus, should drive
Hector and the Trojans back towards the city and take
the lives of many first. Therefore he made Hector turn

(36:23):
fainthearted whereon he mounted his chariot and fled, bidding the
other Trojans fly also, for he saw that the scales
of Jove had turned against him. Neither would the brave
Lycians stand firm. They were dismayed when they saw their
king lying struck to the heart amid a heap of corpses,
For when the son of Satin made the fight wax
hot many had fallen above him. The Achaeans therefore stripped

(36:47):
the gleaming armor from his shoulders, and the brave son
of Menoetius gave it to his men to take to
the ships. Then Jove, lord of the storm Cloud, said
to Apollo, dear Phoebus, go I pray you, and takes
arpad on outer range of the weapons. Cleanse the black
blood from off him, and then bear him a long
way off, where you may wash him in the river,

(37:08):
anoint him with ambrosia, and clothe him in immortal rayment.
This stun commit him to the arms of the two
fleet messengers Death and Sleep, who will carry him straightway
to the rich land of Lysia, where his brothers and
kinsmen will inter him, and will raise both Mound and
Pellar to his memory. In due honor to the dead.

(37:28):
Thus he spoke, Apollo, obeyed his father's saying, and came
down from the heights of Ida into the thick of
the fight. Forthwith, he took Sarpadon out of range of
the weapons, and then bore him a long way off,
where he washed him in the river, anointed him with ambrosia,
and clothed him in immortal raiment. This done, he committed
him to the arms of the two fleet messengers Death

(37:50):
and Sleep, who presently set him down on the rich
land of Lysia. Meanwhile, Patrocolus, with many a shout to
his horses and to water maiden, pursued the Trojans and
Lysians in their pride and foolishness of his heart. Had
he but obeyed the bidding of the son of Peleus,
he would have escaped death and have been scathless. But
the counsels of Jove pass man's understanding. He will put

(38:14):
even a brave man to flight and snatch victory from
his grasp. Or again he will set him on to fight,
as he now did when he put a high spirit
into the heart of Patroclus, who then first and who
last was slain by you, O Patroclus, when the gods
had now called you to meet your doom. First Adrastus, Ortenoeus, Echolus, Peramus,

(38:35):
the son of Megas Epestor, and Melanippus. After these he
killed Elasus, Mulius, and Pilates. These he slew, but the
rest saved themselves by flight. The sons of the Achaeans
would now have taken Troy by the hands of Patroclus,
for his spear flew in all directions, had not Phoebus
Apollo taken his stand upon the wall to defeat his

(38:57):
purpose and to aid the Trojans. Thrice did Patroclus charge
at an angle of the high wall, and thrice did
Apollo beat him back, striking his shield with his own
immortal hands. When Patroclus was coming on like a god
for yet a fourth time, Apollo shouted to him with
an awful voice, and said, draw back, noble Patroclus, it

(39:18):
is not your lot to sack the city of the
Trojan chieftains, nor yet will it be that of Achilles,
who is a far better man than you are. On
hearing this, Patroclus withdrew to some distance and avoided the
anger of Apollo. Meanwhile, Hector was waiting with his horses
inside the ski and gates, in doubt whether to drive

(39:38):
out again and go on fighting, or to call the
army inside the gates. As he was thus doubting Febus,
Apollo drew near him in the likeness of a young
and lusty warrior, Aesus, who was Hector's uncle, being own
brother to Hecuba and son of Daimus, who lived in
Frigire by the waters of the river Sangarius. In his
likeness Jove's son Apollo now s spoke to Hector, saying, Hector,

(40:02):
why have you left off fighting? It is ill done
of you. If I were as much better a man
than you as I am worse, you should soon ru
your slackness. Drive straight towards Petroclus. If so be that
Apollo may grant you a triumph over him, and you
may rule him. With this. The god went back into
the hurly burling, and Hector bade Cebriones drive again into

(40:24):
the fight. Apollo passed in among them and struck panic
into the Argives. While he gave triumph to Hector and
the Trojans. Hector let the other Danaans alone and killed
no man but drave straight to Petroclus. Patroclus then sprang
from his chariot to the ground, with a spear in
his left hand and in his right a jagged's stone
as large as his hand could hold. He stood still

(40:47):
and through it, nor did it go far without hitting
some one. The cast was not in vain, for the
stone struck Cebriones, Hector's charioteer, a bastard son of Priam,
As he held the reins in his hands. The stone
hit him on the forehead and drove his brows into
his head, for the bone was smashed, and his eyes
fell to the ground at his feet. He dropped dead

(41:08):
from his chariot, as though he were diving, and there
was no more life left in him. Over him, did
you then, vaunt, o knight, Petrocolas, saying, and bless my heart,
how active he is, and how well he dives. If
we had been at sea, this fellow would have dived
from the ship's side and brought up as many oysters
as the whole crew could stomach, even in rough water.

(41:29):
For he has dived beautifully off his chariot on to
the ground. It seems then that there are divers also
among the Trojans. As he spoke, he flung himself on
Cebriones with the spring, as it were of a lion that,
while attacking a stockyard, is himself struck in the chest,
and his courage is his own bane. Even so furiously

(41:49):
of Petroclus, did you then spring upon Cebriones. Hector sprang
also from his chariot to the ground. The pair then
fought over the body of Cebriones, as two lions fight
fiercely on some high mountain over the body of a
stag that they have killed. Even so did these two
mighty warriors, Petroclus, son of Monetius, and brave Hector hak

(42:11):
and hew at one another over the corpse of Sabriones.
Hector would not let him go when he had once
got him by the head, while Petroclus kept fast hold
of his feet. And a fierce fight raged between the
other Danaeans and Trojans, as the east and south wind
buffet one another. When they beat upon some dense forest
on the mountains, there is beech and ash and spreading cornel.

(42:35):
The tops of the trees roar as they beat on
one another, and one can hear the boughs cracking and breaking.
Even so did the Trojans and Eki and spring upon
one another, and lay about each other, and neither side
would give way. Many a pointed spear fell to ground,
Many a winged darrow sped from its bowstring about the
body of Sabriones. Many a great stone moreover, beat on

(42:58):
many a shield as they fall around his body. But
there he lay in the whirling clouds of dust, all
huge and hugely heedless of his driving. Now, so long
as the sun was still high in mid heaven, the
weapons on either side were alike deadly, and the people fell.
But when he went down towards the time when men

(43:19):
loosed their oxen, the Achaeans proved to be beyond all forecasts, stronger,
so that they drew Cebriones outer range of the darts
and tumult of the Trojans, and stripped the armor from
his shoulders. Then Petroclus sprang like Mars, with fierce intent
and a terrific shout upon the Trojans, And thrice did
he kill nine men. But as he was coming on

(43:40):
like a god for a time, then, how Petroclus, was
the hour of your end approaching. For Phoebu's fortune in
fell earnest. Patroclus did not see him as he moved
about in the crush, for he was enshrouded in thick darkness,
and the god struck him from behind on his back
and his broad shoulders with the flat of his hand,

(44:01):
so that his eyes turned dizzy. Phoebus Apollo beat the
helmet from off his head, and had rolled rattling off
under the horses feet, where its horse hair plumes were
all begrimed with dust and blood. Never indeed, had that
helmet fared so before, for it had served to protect
the head and comely forehead of the godlike hero's achilles. Now, however,

(44:23):
Zeus delivered it over to be worn by Hector. Nevertheless,
the end of Hector also was near the Broonshot's spear,
so great and so strong, was broken in the hand
of Petruclus, while his shield that covered him from head
to foot, fell to the ground, as did also the
band that held it, and Apollo undid the fastings of

(44:43):
his corselet. On this his mind became clouded, his limbs
failed him, and he stood as one dazed. Whereon Euphorbus,
son of Pantus, a Dardanian, the best spearman of his time,
as also the finest horseman and fleetest runner, came by
behind him and struck him in the back with a
spear midway between the shoulders. This man, as soon as

(45:06):
ever he had come up with his chariot, had dismounted
twenty men, So proficient was he in all the arts
of war. He it was O King Petroclus that first
drove a weapon into you, but he did not quite
overpower you. Euphaubus then ran back into the crowd, after
drawing his action spear out of the wound. He would
not stand firm and wait for Petroclus, unarmed, though he

(45:28):
now was to attack him. But Petroclus, unnerved alike by
the blow that God had given him and by the
spear wound, drew back under cover of his men in
fear for his life. Hector on this, seeing him to
be wounded and giving ground, forced his way through the ranks,
and when close up with him, struck him in the
lower part of the belly with a spear, driving the

(45:49):
bronze point right through it, so that he fell heavily
to the ground, to the great grief of the Achaeans.
As when a lion has fought some fierce wild ball
and worsted him, the too fight furiously among the mountains
over some little fountain at which they would both drink,
and the lion has beaten the boar till he can
hardly breathe. Even so did Hector, son of Priam, take

(46:12):
the life of the brave son of Minitius, who had
killed so many, striking him from close at hand and
vaunting over him the while. But Truclas said, he you deem,
that you should sack our city, rob our Trojan women
of their freedom, and carry them off in your ships
to your own country, full Hector and his fleet horses

(46:34):
wherever straining their utmost to defend them. I am foremost
of all the Trojan warriors, to stave the day of
bondage from off them. As for you, vultures shall devour you. Here.
Poor wretche Keilles, with all his bravery, availed you nothing.
And yet I ween when you left him, he charged
you straightly, saying, come not back to the ship's night, Petruclas,

(46:57):
till you have rent the blood stained shirt of he
as Hector about his body. Thus, I ween did he
charge you and your fool's heart answered him, yea within you. Then,
as the life ebbed out of you, you answered, O,
knight Petroclus, Hector, vaunt as you will, For Jove, the

(47:18):
son of Saturn, and Apollo have that safed you victory.
It is they who have vanquished me so easily, and
they who have stripped the armor from my shoulders. Had
twenty such men as you attacked me, all of them
would have fallen before my spear. Fate and the son
of Lito have overpowered me. And among mortal men, you faubers,

(47:39):
you are yourself third only in the killing of me.
I say further and lay my saying to your heart,
you too shall live, but for a little season. Death
and the day of your doom are close upon you,
and they will lay you low by the hand of Achilles,
son of Asis. When he had thus spoke and his

(48:00):
eyes were closed in death, his soul left his body
and flitted down to the house of Hades, mourning its
sad fate and bidding farewell to the youth and vigor
of its manhood. Dead though he was, Hector still spoke
to him, saying, but, Tropers, why should you thus foretell
my doom? Who knows, but Achilles, son of lovely theaters,

(48:21):
may be spitten by my spear and die before me.
As he spoke, he drew the bronze spear from the wound,
planting his foot upon the body, which he thrust off
and let lie on its back. He then went spear
in hand, after all a meaden squire of the fleet,
descendant of Aesus. For he longed to lay him low.
But the immortal stige, which the gods had given as

(48:44):
a rich gift to Pelias, bore him swiftly from the field.
End of Section sixteen.