September 16, 2024 • 39 mins
Book 17: The Battle Over Patroclus’ Body
Both sides fight fiercely for Patroclus’ body. Menelaus and Ajax defend it against the Trojans.
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Both sides fight fiercely for Patroclus’ body. Menelaus and Ajax defend it against the Trojans.
Summary by Dream Audiobooks
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Section seventeen of the Iliad by Homer, translated by Samuel Butler.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by
Peter Dan, Book seventeen. The fight around the body of Petroclus.
Brave Menilaeus, son of Atreus, now came to know that
Petroclus had fallen, and made his way through the front ranks,
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clad in full armor, to bestride him as a cow
stands lowing over her first calf. Even so did yellow
haired Menelaus bestride Petroclus. He held his round shield and
his spear in front of him, resolute to kill any
who should dare face him. But the son of Panthous
had also noted the body and came up to Menelaeus, saying, Menelaeus,
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son of Atreus, draw back, leave the body, and let
the blood stained spoils be. I was first of the
Trojans and their brave allies to drive my spear into Petroclus.
Let me therefore have my full glory among the Trojans,
or I would take aim and kill you. To this,
Menelaius answered in great anger, by Father Jove, boasting is
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an ill thing. The pard is not more bold, nor
the leopard, nor savage wild boar, which is fiercest and
most dauntless of all creatures than are the proud sons
of panthers. Yet Hyperanoi did not see out the days
of his youth when he made light of me and
withstood me, deeming me the meanest soldier among the Danaeans.
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His own feet never bore him back to gladden his
wife and parents. Even so, shall I make an end
of you too if you withstand me. Get you back
into the crowd and do not face me, or it
shall be worse for you. Even a fool may be wise.
After the event, Euphoubus would not listen and said, now, indeed, Menelaius,
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you shall pay for the death of my brother, over
whom you vaunted, and whose wife you widowed in her
bridal chamber while you brought a grief unspeakable on his parents.
I shall comfort these poor people if I bring you
your head an armor and placed them in the hands
of Panthus and noble fronts. The time is come when
this matter shall be fought out and settled for me
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or against me. As he spoke, he struck Menelaus full
on the shield, but the spear did not go through,
for the shield turned its point. Menelaus then took aim,
praying to Father Jove. As he did so, Euphorbus was
drawing back, and Menelaus struck him about the roots of
his throat, leaning his whole weight on the spear so
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as to drive it home. The point went clean through
his neck, and his armor rang rattling round him. As
he fell heavily to the ground. His hair, which was
like that of the graces, and his locks, so deftly
bound in bands of silver and gold, were all but
troubled with blood. As one who has grown a fine,
young olive tree in a clear space where there is
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abundance of water. The plant is full of promise, and
though the winds beat upon it from every quarter, it
puts forth its white blossoms, till the blasts of some
fierce arra can sweep down upon it, level it with
the ground. Even so did Menelaeus strip the fair youth
Ephorbis of his armor after he had slain him, or
a some fierce lion upon the mountains, in the pride
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of his strength, fastens on the finest heiferin a herd,
as it is feeding. First, he breaks her neck with
his strong jaws, and then gorge is on her blood
and entrails. Dogs and shepherds raise a hue and cry
against him, But they stand aloof and will not come
close to him, for they are pale with fear. Even so,
no one had the courage to face valiant Menelaeus, the
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son of Atreus, would have then carried off the armor
of the son of Pantus with these, had not Phebus
Apollo been angry, and in the guise of Mentes, chief
of the Saissons, incited Hector to attack him. Hector said, he,
you are now going after the horses of the noble
son of Aesus, but you will not take them. They
cannot be kept in hand and driven by mortal man,
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save only by Achilles, who is son of an immortal mother. Meanwhile, Menelaeus,
son of Atreus, has bestridden the body of Petroclus, and
killed the noblest of the Trojans, Euphobus, son of Panduus,
so that he can fight no more. The god then
went back into the toil and turmoil, but the soul
of Hector was darkened with a cloud of grief. He
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looked along the ranks and saw Euphorbus lying on the
ground with a blood still flowing from his wound, and
Menelaeus stripping him of his armor. On this he made
his way to the front like a flame of fire,
clad in his gleaming armor and crying with a loud voice.
When the son of Atreus heard him, he said to
himself in his dismay alas, what shall I do? I
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may not let the Trojans take the armor of Petroclus,
who has fallen fighting on my behalf, lest some Denaean
who seized me should gray shame upon me. Still, if
for my honor's sake I fight Hector and the Trojans
single handed, they will prove too many for me, for
Hector is bringing them up in force. Why, however, should
I thus hesitate. When a man fights in despite of
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heaven with one whom I God be friends, he will
soon ruin it. Let no Danaan think ill of me
if I give place to Actor, for the hand of
Heaven is with him. Yet, if I could find Ajax,
the two of us would fight Hector in heaven too.
If we might only save the body of Petroclus for Achilles,
son of Pelius, this of many evils would be the least.
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While he was thus in two minds, the Trojans came
up to him, and Hector at their head. He therefore
drew back and left the body, turning about like some
bearded lion who has been chased by dogs and men
from a stockyard with spears and hue and cry, whereon
he is daunted and SLINKs sulkily off. Even so did Menelaya's,
son of Atreus, turn and leave the body of Petroclus.
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When among the body of his men, he looked around
for mighty Ajax, son of Telamon, and presently saw him
on the extreme left of the fight, cheering on his
men and exhorting them to keep on fighting. For Phoebus
Apollo had spread a great panic among them. He ran
up to him and said, Ajax, my good friend, come
with me at once to dead Petroclus, if so be
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that we may take the body to Achilles. As for
his armor. Hector already hazard. These words stirred the heart
of Ajax, and he made his way among the front ranks.
Menelaeus going with him. Hectord stripped Petroclus of his armor
and was dragging him away to cut off his head
and take the body to fling before the dogs of Troy.
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But Ajax came up with his shield like wall before him,
on which Hector withdrew under shelter of his men, and
sprang onto his chariot, giving the armor over to the
Trojans to take to the city as a great trophy
for himself. Ajax therefore covered the body of Petroclus with
his broad shield and bestrode him as a lion stands
over his whelps. If hunters have come upon him in
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a forest, when he is with his little ones, in
the pride and fierceness of his strength, he draws his
knit brows down till they cover his eyes. Even so
did Ajax bestride the body of Petroclus, and by his
side stood Menilaeus Atreus, nursing great sorrow in his heart.
Then Glaucus, son of Hippolochus, looked fiercely at Hector and
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rebuked him sternly. Actor said he, you make a brave show,
but in fight you are sadly wanting. A runaway like yourself.
Has no claim to so great a reputation. Think I
you may now save your town and citadel by the
hands of your own people born in Ilius. For you
will get no Lysians to fight for you, seeing what
thanks they have had for their incessant hardships. Are you likely, sir,
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to do anything to help a man of less note?
After leaving Sarpadon, who was at once your guest and
comrade in arms, to be the spoil and prey of
the Dunaeans. So long as he lived, he did good
service both to your city and yourself. Yet you have
no stomach to save his body from the dogs. If
the Lycians will listen to me, they will go home
and leave Troy to its fate. If the Trojans had
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any of that daring, fearless spirit which lays hold of
men who are fighting for their country and harassing those
who had attacket, we would soon bear off Patroclus into Ilius.
Could we get this dead man away and bring him
into the city of Priam the eye gives would readily
give up the armor of Zarpadon, and we could get
his body to boot for he whose squire has now
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been killed, as the foremost man at the ships of
the Achaids, he and his close fighting followers. Nevertheless, you
dared not make a stand against Ajax, nor face him.
I to eye with battle all around you, for he
is a braver man than you are. Hector scowled at
him and answered, Glaucus, you should know better. I have
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held you so far as a man of more understanding
than any in all Lysia. But now I despise you
for saying that I am afraid of Ajax. I fear
neither battle nor the din of Chariot's. But Jove's will
is stronger than ours. Jove at one time makes even
a strong man draw back and snatches victory from his grasp,
while at another he will set him on to fight.
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Come hither, then, my friend, stand by me, and see
indeed whether I shall play the cowd the whole day
through as you say, or whether I shall not stay
some even of the boldest Daraeans from fighting round the
body of Petroclus. As he spoke, he called loudly on
the Trojans, saying, Trojans, Lyssians and Dardanians fighters in close combat.
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Be men, my friends, and fight might and maine, while
I put on the goodly armor of Achilles, which I
took when I killed Petroclus. With this, Hector left the
fight and ran full speed after his men who were
taking the armor of Achilles to Troy, but had not
yet got far. Standing for a while apart from the
woeful fight, he changed his armor his own. He sent
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to the strong city of Ilius and to the Trojans,
while he put on the immortal armor of the son
of Pelius, which the gods had given to Pelius, who
in his age gave it to his son. But the
son did not grow old in his father's armor. When Jove,
lord of the storm Cloud, saw Hector standing aloof and
arming himself in the armor of the son of Pelius,
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he wagged his head and muttered to himself, saying, ah,
poor wretch, you arm and the armor of a hero
before whom many another trembles, and you wreck nothing of
the doom that is already close upon you. You have
killed his comrades, so brave and strong, But it was
not well that you should strip the armor from his
head and shoulders. I do indeed endow you with great
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might now, but as against this, you shall not return
from battle to lay the armor of the son of
Pelius before Andromachi, the son of Satin, bowed his portentous brows,
and Hector fitted the armor to his body, while terrible
Mars entered into him and filled his whole body with
might and valor. With a shout, he strouted among the allies,
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and his armor flashed about him, so that he seemed
to all of them like the great son of Pelius himself.
He went about among them and cheered them on Mesthles, Glaucus, Medon, Thersilochus, Asteopaeus, Daisenore,
and Hippothous, Forcus, Chromius, and Anomus the Orger. All these
did he exhort, saying, hear me, allies from other cities
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are here in your thousands. It was not in order
to have a crowd about me that I called you hither,
each from his several city, but that with heart and
soul you might defend the wives and little ones of
the Trojans from the fierce a Khaians. For this I
do oppress my people, with your food and the presence
that make you rich. Therefore, turn and charge at the foe,
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to stand or fall, as is the game of war.
Whoever shall bring Petroclus dead, though he be into the
hands of the Trojans, and shall make Ajax give way
before him, I will give him one half of the spoils,
while I keep the other. He will thus share like
honor with myself. When he had thus spoken, they charged
full weight upon the Daranaeans, with their spears held out
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before them, and the hopes of each ran high that
he should force Ajax, son of Telamon to yield up
the body fools that they were, for he was about
to take the live of many. Then Ajax said to Menelaeus,
my good friend, Menelaus, you and I shall hardly come
out of this fight alive. I am less concerned for
the body of Petroclus, who will shortly become meat for
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the dogs and vultures of Troy, than for the safety
of my own head and yours. Hector has wrapt us
round in a storm of battle from every quarter, and
our destruction seems now certain. Call then, upon the princes
of the Darnaeans, if there is any one who can
hear us. Menelaus did as he said, and shouted to
the Darnaeans for help at the top of his voice.
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My friends, he cried, princes and counselors of the argives,
all you who with Agamemnon and Menelayus drink at the
public costs, and give orders each to his own people,
as Jove vouchsafes him power and glory. The fight is
so thick about me that I cannot distinguish you severally.
Come on, therefore, every man unbidden, and think it shame
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that Petroclas should become meat and morsel for Trojan hounds.
Fleet de jackson of Oelius, heard him, and was first
to force his way through the fight and run to
help him. Next came in Demnaeus, and Marione says his squire,
peer of murderous mars. As for the others that came
into the fight after these, who of his own self
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could name them? The Trojans, with hector at their head,
charged in a body as a great wave that comes
thundering in at the mouth of some heaven born river,
and the rocks that jut into the sea ring with
the roar of the breakers that beat and buff at them.
Even with such a roar did the Trojans come on.
But the Achaeans, in singleness of heart, stood firm about
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the son of Menoetius, and fenced him with their bronze shields.
Jove moreover hid the brightness of their helmets in a
thick cloud, for he had borne no grudge against the
son of Menoetius while he was still alive and squire
to the descendant of Asus. Therefore, he was loath to
let him fall a prey to the dogs of his foes,
the Trojans, and urged his comrades on to defend him.
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At first, the Trojans drove the Achaeans back, and they
withdrew from the dead man. Daunted, the Trojans did not
succeed in killing any one. Nevertheless, they drew the body away,
But the Achaeans did not lose it long for Ajax,
foremost of all the Danaeians, after the son of Peleus,
alike in stature and prowess, quickly rallied them and made
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towards the front. Like a wild boar upon the mountains
when he stands at bay in the forest glades and
routs the hounds and lusty ewes that have attacked him.
Even so did Ajax, son of Telamon, passing easily in
among the phalanxes of the Trojans, disperse those who had
bestridden Patroclus and were most bent on winning glory by
dragging him off to their city. At this moment, Hippothous,
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brave son of the pelasgian Lethus, in his zeal for
Hector and the Trojans, was dragging the body off by
the foot through the press of the fight, having bound
a strap round the sinews near the ankle. But a
mischief soon befell him, from which none of those could
save him, who would have gladly he done so, for
the son of Talamon sprang forward and smote him on
his bronze cheeked helmet. The plumed head Peas broke about
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the point of the weapon, struck at once by the
spear and by the strong hand of Ajax, so that
the bloody brain came oozing out through the crest socket.
His strength then failed him, and he let Patroclus's foot
drop from his hand as he fell full length dead
upon the body. Thus he died far from the fertile
land of Larissa, and never repaid his parents the cost
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of bringing him up, for his life was cut short
early by the spear of mighty Ajax. Hector then took
aim at Ajax with a spear, but he saw it
coming and just managed to avoid it. The spear passed
on and struck Sheedius, son of Noblephytus, captain of the Phocians,
who dwelt in famed Panopeus and reigned over much people.
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It struck him under the middle of the collar bone.
The bronze point went right through him, coming out at
the bottom of his shoulder blade, and his armor rang
rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground. Ajax,
in his turn, struck noble Forces, son of Phoenops, in
the middle of the belly as he was bestriding Hippothous,
and broke the plate of his cuirass, whereon the spear
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tore at his entrails, and he clutched the ground in
his palm as he fell to earth. Hector and those
who were in the front rank then gave ground, while
the Argives raised a loud cry of triumph and drew
off the bodies of Phorcus and Hippothous, which they stripped
presently of their armor. The Trojans would now have been
worsted by the brave Achaeans and driven back to Ilius
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through their own cowardice, while the Argives, so great was
their courage and endurance, would have achieved a triumph even
against the will of Jove. If Apollo had not roused
Aeneus in the likeness of Periphas, son of Epetus, an
attendant who had grown old in the service of Aeneas's
aged father, and was at all times devoted to him
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in his likeness. Then Apollo said, Aeneas, can you not manage,
even though Heaven be against us, to save high Ilius.
I have known men whose numbers, courage, and self reliance
have saved their people in spite of Jove, Whereas in
this case he would much rather give victory to us
than to the Dnaeans, if you would only fight instead
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of being so terribly afraid. Aeneas knew Apollo when he
looked straight at him and shouted to Hector, saying, Hector
and all other Trojans and allies, shame on us if
we are beaten by the Achaeans and driven back to
Ilius through our own cowardice. A god has just come
up to me and told me that Jove, the supreme disposal,
will be with us. Therefore, let us make for the Dnaeians,
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that it may go hard with them or they bear
away dead. Patroclus to the ships. As he spoke, he
sprang out far in front of the others, who then
rallied and again faced the Achaeans. Aeneas speared Leacretus, son
of Arispus, a valiant follower of Lycomedes, and Lycomedes was
moved with pity as he saw him fall. He therefore
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went close up and speared up a say On, son
of Hippasus, shepherd of his people, and the liver under
the midriff, so that he died. It come from fertile Pionia,
and was the best man of them all. After est Apaeus,
Asteropaeus flew forward to avenge him and attack the Daranaeans.
But this might no longer be inasmuch as those about
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Petroclus were well covered by their shields and held their
spears in front of them, for Ajax had given them
strict orders that no man was either to give ground
or to stand out before the others, but all were
to hold well together about the body and fight hand
to hand. Thus did huge Ajax bid them, and the
earth ran red with blood as the corpses fell thick
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on one another alike, on the side of the Trojans
and allies, and on that of the Danaeans. For these last,
too fought no bloodless fight, though many fewer of them
perished through the care they took to defend and stand
by one another. Thus did they fight, as it were
a flaming fire. It seemed as though it had gone hard,
even with the sun and moon, for they were hidden
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over all that part with the bravest heroes were fighting
about the dead son of Minetius, whereas the other Danaeans
and Achaians fought at their ease in full daylight, with
brilliant sunshine all round them, and there was not a
cloud to be seen, neither on plain nor mountain. These last, moreover,
would rest for a while and leave off fighting, for
they were some distance apart and beyond the range of
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one another's weapons. Whereas those who were in the thick
of the fray suffered from both battle and darkness. All
the best of them were being worn out by the
great weight of their armour. But the two valiant heroes,
Thrasamedes and Antilochus, had not yet heard of the death
of Petroclus, and believed him to be still alive and
leading the van against the Trojans. They were keeping themselves
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in reserve against the death or rout of their own comrades,
for so Nesta had ordered them when he sent them
from the ships into battle. Thus through the livelong day
did they wage fierce war, and the sweat of their
toil reigned ever on their legs under them, and on
their hands eyes. As they fought over the squire of
the fleet, son of Pelias. It was as when a
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man gives a great ox hide, all drenched in fat,
to his men, and bids them stretch it, whereon they
stand round it in a ring and tug till the
moisture leaves it and the fat soaks in for the
many that pull at it, and it is well stretched.
Even so did the two sides tug the dead body
hither and thither, within the compass of but a little space.
The Trojans steadfastly set on dragging it into Elias, while
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the Achaeans were no less so on taking it to
their ships. And fierce was the fight between them. Not
Mars himself, the lord of Hosts, nor yet Minerva, even
in their fullest fury, could make light of such a battle.
Such fearful turmoil of men and horses did jove on
that day, or Dane round the body of Petroclus Meanwhile,
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Achilles did not know that he had fallen, for the
fight was under the wall of Troy, a long way
off the ships. He had no idea, therefore, that Petroclus
was dead, and deemed that he would return alive. As
soon as he had gone close up to the gates.
He knew that he was not to sack the city,
neither with nor without himself, for his mother had often
told him this when he had sat alone with her,
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and she had informed him of the councils of Great Jove. Now, however,
she had not told him how great a disaster had
befallen him, and the death of the one who was
far dearest to him of all his comrades. The others
still kept on charging one another round the body with
their pointed spears and killing each other. Then one would say,
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my friends, we can never again show our faces at
the ships. Better and greatly better that earth should open
and swallow us here in this place, than that we
should let the Trojans have the triumph of bearing off
petruckles to their city. The Trojans, also, on their part,
spoke to one another, saying, friends, though we fall to
a man beside this body, let none shrink from fighting.
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With such words did they exhort each other. They fought
and fought, and an iron clank rose through the void
air to the brazen vault of heaven. The horses of
the descendant of Aesus stood out of the fight and
wept when they heard that their driver had been laid
low by the hand of murderous hector or to maiden. Valiant,
son of Diories lashed them. Again and again. Many a
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time did he speak kindly to them, and many a
time did he upbraid them. But they would neither go
back to the ships by the waters of the broad Hellispont,
nor yet into battle. Among the archaeans. They stood with
their chariot stocks still as a pillar set over the
tomb of some dead man or woman, and bowed their
heads to the ground. Hot tears fell from their eyes
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as they mourned the loss of their chariot tear and
their noble manes drooped all wet from under the yoke
straps on either side of the yoke. The son of
Satin saw them and took pity upon their sorrow. He
wagged his head and muttered to himself, saying, poor things,
why did we give you to King Pelias, who was immortal,
while you are yourselves ageless and immortal. Was it that
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you might share the sorrows that before mankind? For of
all creatures that live and move upon the earth, there
is none so pitiable as he is. Still Hector, son
of Priam, shall drive neither you nor your chariot. I
will not have it. It is enough that he should
have the armor over which he vaunts so vainly. Furthermore,
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I will give you strength of heart and limb to bear,
or to meet in safely to the ships from battle.
For I shall let the Trojans triumph still further and
go on killing till they reach the ships, whereon night
shall fall and darkness overshadow the land. As he spoke,
he breathed heart and strength into the horses, so that
they shook the dust from out of their manes, and
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bore their chariots swiftly into the fight that raged between
Trojans and Achaeans. Behind them, fought utomedon full of sorrow
for his comrade. As a vulture amid a flock of geese,
in and out, and here and there, full speed he
dashed amid the throng of the Trojans, But for all
the fury of his pursuit, he killed no man, for
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he could not wield his spear and keep his horses
in hand when alone in the chariot. At last, however,
a comrade Alcemedon, son of Laius, his son of him On,
caught sight of him and came up behind his chariot.
Ortamiden said, he what God has put this folly into
your heart and robbed you of your right mind that
you fight the Trojans in the front rank single handed?
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Here was your comrade is slain, And Hector plumes himself on,
being armed in the armor of the descendant of Asses. Ortomiedan,
son of Diores, answered Alcemidon, there is no one else
who could control and guide the immortal steers so well
as you can, save only Petroclus while he was alive,
Peer of gods in council, Take then the whip and reins,
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while I go down from the car and fight. Alcamidon
sprang on to the chariot and caught up the whip
and reins, while Automaidon leaped from off the car. When
Hector saw him, he said to Aeneas, who was near
him a Nea s counselor of the mail clad Trojans.
I see the steeds of the fleet, son of Asus,
come into battle with weak hands to drive them. I
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am sure if you think well that we might take them,
they will not dare face us if we both attack them.
The valiant son of Anchises, was of the same mind,
and the pair went right on, with their shoulders covered
with shields of tough, dry ox hide overlaid with much bronze.
Cromius and Aretas went also with them, and their hearts
beat high with hope that they might kill the men
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and capture the horses. Fools that they were, for they
were not to return scathless from their meeting with allt
a Meaden, who prayed to Father Jove and was forthwith
filled with courage and strength abounding. He turned to his
trusty commander Alcamidon and said, Alsamadon, keep your horses so
close up that I may fill their breath upon my back.
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I doubt that we shall not stay. Hecta, son of
priamptily As, killed us and mounted behind the horses. Here there,
when neither spread panic among the ranks of the Achaeans,
or himself be killed, among the foremost. On this he
cried out to the two Ajaxes and Menelayus Ajaxes, captains
of the Argives, and Menilaeus, give the dead body over
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to them that are best able to defend it, and
come to the rescue of us living. For Hector and Aeneas,
who are the two best men among the Trojans oppressing
us hard in the full tide of war. Nevertheless, the
issue lies on the lap of heaven. I will therefore
hurl my spear and leave the rest to Jove. He poised,
and hurled as he spoke, whereon the spear struck the
(26:37):
round shield of Aretas and went right through it. For
the shield stated not so that it was driven through
his belt into the lower part of his belly, as
when some sturdy youth acts in hand, deals his blow
behind the horns of an ox and severs the tendons
at the back of its neck, so that it springs
forward and then drops. Even so did Aretas give one
bound and then four on his back, the spear quivering
(27:00):
in his body, till it made an end of him.
Hector then aimed a spirit order meetum, but he saw
it coming and stooped forward to avoid it, so that
it flew past him and the points stuck in the ground,
while the butt end went on quivering till Mars robbed
it of its force. They were then afought hand to
hand with swords. Had not the two Ajaxes forced their
way through the crowd when they heard their comrades calling,
(27:22):
and parted them for all their fury. For Hector, Aeneas
and Chromius were afraid and drew back, leaving Aretus to
lie there, struck to the heart order maiden peer of fleet.
Mars then stripped him of his armor and waundered over him, saying,
I have done little to assuage my sorrow for the
son of Moniches, For the man I have killed is
(27:43):
not so good as he was as he spoke. He
took the blood stained spoils and laid them upon his chariot.
Then he mounted the car, with his hands and feet
all steeped in gore, as a lion that has been
gorging upon a bull. And now the fierce, groanful fight
again raged about Petroclus, for Minerva came down from heaven
and roused its fury by the command of far seeing Jove,
(28:06):
who had changed his mind and sent her to encourage
the Dunaeans, as when Jove bends his bright beau in
heaven and token to mankind, either of war or of
the chill storms that stay men from their labor and
plague the flocks. Even so, wrapped in such radiant raiment,
did Minerva go in among the hosts and speak man
(28:26):
by man to each. First, she took the form and
voice of Phoenix and spoke to Menelaya's son of Atreus,
who was standing near her. Menelaya said she, it will
be shame and dishonor to you if dogs tear the
noble comrade of Achilles under the walls of Troy. Therefore
be staunch, and urge your men to be so also.
(28:48):
Menelayus answered Phoenix, my good old friend. May Minerva outsafe
me strength and keep the darts from off me? For
so shall I stand by Petroclus and defend him. His
death has gone to my heart. But Hector is as
a raging fire and deals his blows without ceasing. For
Jove as now granting him a time of triumph. Manova
(29:09):
was pleased at his having named herself before any of
the other gods. Therefore, she put strength into his knees
and shoulders, and made him as bold as a fly, which,
though driven off, would yet come again and bite if
it can, so dearly does it love man's blood? Even
so bold as this did she make him. As he
stood over Betruclus, and through his spear. Now there was
(29:31):
among the Trojans a man named Podys, son of Etion,
who was both rich and valiant. Hector held him in
the highest honor, for he was his comrade and boon companion.
The spear of Menelaia struck this man in the girdle,
just as he had turned in flight, and went right
through him, whereon he fell heavily forward, and Menelaea's son
of Atreus, drew off his body from the Trojans into
(29:53):
the ranks of his own people. Apollo then went up
to Hector and spurred him on to fight in the
likeness of fanop son Evasius, who lived in Abidus and
was the most favored of all Hector's guests. In his likeness,
Apollo said, Hector, who of the Achaeans will fear you henceforward,
now that you have quailed before Menelaus, who has ever
(30:14):
been rated poorly as a soldier. Yet now he has
got a corpse away from the trojan single handed, and
has slain your own true comrade, a man brave among
the foremost pody, son of Aetion. A dark cloud of
grief fell upon Hector as he heard, and he made
his way to the front, clad in full rama, thereon
the son of sat and seized his bright tasseled agis
(30:37):
and veiled ider in clouds. He sent forth his lightnings
and his thunders, and as he shook his aegis, he
gave victory to the Trojans and routed the Achaeans. The
panic was begun by Penelaus the Poetian, for while keeping
his face turned ever towards the foe, he had been
hit with a spear on the upper part of his shoulder.
A spear thrown by Polydamus had grazed the top of
(30:59):
the bone. For Polydamus had come up to him and
struck him from close at hand. Then Hector, in close combat,
struck Laitus, son of noble Electrion, in the hand by
the wrist, and disabled him from fighting further. He looked
about him in dismay, knowing that never again would he
wield spear in battle with the Trojans, while Hector was
(31:20):
in pursuit of Laitus. Idamaneus struck him on the breastplate
over his chest, near the nipple, but the spear broke
in the shaft, and the Trojans cheered aloud. Hector then
named at Idamaneus, son of Ducalian, as he was standing
on his chariot, and very narrowly missed him. But the
spear hit Coiranus, a follower and charioteer of Mariones, who
had come with him from Lyctus. Idamaneus had left the
(31:43):
ships on foot and would have afforded a great triumph
to the Trojans of Chiranus had not driven quickly up
to him. He therefore brought life and rescue to Idamanaeus,
but himself fell by the hand of Murderus Hector, For
Hector hit him on the jaw under the ear. The
end of the spear, drove out his teeth and cut
his tongue in two pieces, so that he fell from
(32:03):
his chariot and let the reins fall to the ground.
Mariones gathered them up from the ground and took them
into his own hands, But he said to Idomeneus, lay
on till you get back to the ships, for you
must see that the day is no longer ours. On
this Idomeneus lashed the horses to the ships, for fear
had taken hold upon him. Ajax and Menelayus noted how
(32:26):
Jove had turned the scale in favor of the Trojans,
and Ajax was first to speak alas said he, even
a fool may see that Father Jove is helping the Trojans.
All their weapons strike home, no matter whether it be
a brave man or a coward that hurls them. Jove's
speeds all alike, whereas ours fall, each one of them
without effect. What then will be best, both as regards
(32:49):
rescuing the body and our return to the joy of
our friends, who will be grieving as they look hitherwards,
for they will make sure that nothing can now check
the terrible hands of Hector, and that he will fling
himself upon our ships. I wish that some one would
go and tell the son of Pelias at once, for
I do not think he can have yet heard the
sad news that the dearest of his friends has fallen.
(33:11):
But I can see not a man among the Achaeans
to send, for they and their chariots are alike hidden
in darkness. Oh, Father Jove, lift this cloud from over
the sons of the Achaeans. Make heaven serene, and let
us see if you will that we perish, let us
fall at any rate by daylight. Father Jove heard him
and had compassion upon his tears. Forthwith he chased away
(33:34):
the cloud of darkness, so that the sun shone out,
and all the fighting was revealed. Ajax then said to Menelaeus, Look, Menilaeus,
and if Antilochus, son of Nestor, be still living, send
him at once to tell Achilles that by father dearest
to him of all his comrades, has fallen. Menelaus heeded
(33:55):
his words and went his way as a lion from
a stockyard. The lion is tired of attacking the men
and hounds, who keep watch the whole night through and
will not let him feast on the fat of their herd.
In his lust of meat, he makes straight at them,
but in vain, for darts from strong hands assail him,
and burning brands which daunt him for all his hunger.
(34:15):
So in the morning he SLINKs sulkily away. Even so
did Menelaus sorely, against his will, leave Petroclus in great fear,
les the Achaean should be driven back in rout, and
let him fall into the hands of the foe. He
charged Mariones and the two Ajaxes straitly, saying, Ajaxes and Marionees,
leaders of the argives. Now, indeed, remember how good Petruclus was.
(34:40):
He was ever courteous while alive. Bear it in mind
now that he is dead. With this, Menelaeus left them
looking round him as keenly as an eagle, whose sight
they say, is keener than that of any other bird.
However high he may be in the heavens, Not a
hare that runs can escape him by crouching under bush
or thicket, for he will swoop down upon it and
(35:01):
make an end of it. Even so, o, Menelaus, did
your keen eyes range round the mighty host of your
followers to see if you could find the son of
Nestor still alive. Presently Menelaeus saw him on the extreme
left of the battle, cheering on his men and exalting
them to fight boldly. Menelaus went up to him and said, Antelochus,
(35:22):
come here and listen to sad news, which I would
indeed were untrue. You must see with your own eyes
that Heaven is heaping calamity upon the Danaans and giving
victory to the Trojans. But Troclus has fallen, who is
the bravest of the Achaeans, And sorely will the Danaeans
miss him. Run instantly to the ships and tell Achilles
(35:43):
that he may come to rescue the body and bear
it to the ships. As for the armor, Hector already
has it. Antilochus was struck with horror for a long time.
He was speechless, his eyes filled with tears, and he
could find no utterance. But he did as Menialaeus had said,
and set off running as soon as he had given
his armor to a comrade, Leodicus, who was wheeling his
(36:06):
horses round close behind him. Thus then did he run,
weeping from the field, to carry the bad news to Achilles,
son of Pelias. Nor were you, o, Menilaeus, minded to
succor his harassed comrades. When Antilochus had left the Paralians,
and greatly did they miss him, But he sent them
noble Thrasemedes, and himself went back to Patroclus. He came
(36:28):
running up to the two Ajaxes and said, I have
sent Antilagus to the ships to tell Achilles, but a
rage against Hector as he may, he cannot come, for
he cannot fight without armor. What then will be our
best plan, both as regards rescuing the dead and our
own escape from death? Amid the battle grives of the Trojans,
(36:48):
Ajax answered, Menelaeus, you have said, well, do you? Then?
And Marione stoop down, raised the body and bear it
out of the fray, while we two behind you keep
off Hector and the Trojans, one in heart as in name,
and long used to fighting side by side with one another.
On this Menelaeus and Meriones took the dead man in
(37:09):
their arms and lifted him high aloft with a great effort.
The Trojan host raised a hue and cry behind them
when they saw the Achaeans bearing the body away, and
flew after them, like hounds attacking a wounded boar at
the loo of a band of young huntsmen. For a
while the hounds fly at him as though they would
tear him in pieces. But now and again he turns
(37:30):
on them in a fury, scaring and scattering them in
all directions. Even so did the Trojans for a while
charge in a body, striking with sword and with spears
pointed at both the ends. But when the two Ajaxes
faced them and stood at bay, they would turn pale,
and no man dead press on to fight further about
the dead. And this wise did the two heroes strain
(37:52):
every nerve to bear the body to the ships out
of the fight. The battle raged round them like fierce
flames that, when once kindled, spread like wildfire over a city,
and the houses fall in the glare of its burning.
Even such was the roar and tramp of men and
horses that pursued them as they bore Petroclus from the field,
(38:12):
or as mules that put forth all their strength to
draw some beam or great piece of ship's timber down
a rough mountain track, and they pant and sweat as
they go. Even so did Menelaeus and Mariones pant and
sweat as they bore the body of Petroclus behind them.
The two Ajaxes held stoutly out the some wounded mountain
(38:33):
spur that stretches across a plain will turn water and
check the floe even of a great river nor is
there any stream strong enough to break through it. Even
so did the two Ajaxes face the Trojans and stem
the tide of their fighting, though they kept pouring on
towards them, And foremost among them all was ana son
of Anchises, with valiant Hector, as a flock of doors
(38:56):
or starlings, vaulters screaming and chattering when they see a
falcon foe to all small birds come soaring near them.
Even so did the Achaean youth raise a babble of
cries as they fled before Aeneas and Hector, unmindful of
their former prowess. In the rout of the Danaeans, much
goodly armor fell round about the trench, and of fighting
(39:17):
there was no end. End of Section seventeen
Section seventeen of the Iliad by Homer, translated by Samuel Butler.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by
Peter Dan, Book seventeen. The fight around the body of Petroclus.
Brave Menilaeus, son of Atreus, now came to know that
Petroclus had fallen, and made his way through the front ranks,
(00:23):
clad in full armor, to bestride him as a cow
stands lowing over her first calf. Even so did yellow
haired Menelaus bestride Petroclus. He held his round shield and
his spear in front of him, resolute to kill any
who should dare face him. But the son of Panthous
had also noted the body and came up to Menelaeus, saying, Menelaeus,
(00:45):
son of Atreus, draw back, leave the body, and let
the blood stained spoils be. I was first of the
Trojans and their brave allies to drive my spear into Petroclus.
Let me therefore have my full glory among the Trojans,
or I would take aim and kill you. To this,
Menelaius answered in great anger, by Father Jove, boasting is
(01:07):
an ill thing. The pard is not more bold, nor
the leopard, nor savage wild boar, which is fiercest and
most dauntless of all creatures than are the proud sons
of panthers. Yet Hyperanoi did not see out the days
of his youth when he made light of me and
withstood me, deeming me the meanest soldier among the Danaeans.
(01:28):
His own feet never bore him back to gladden his
wife and parents. Even so, shall I make an end
of you too if you withstand me. Get you back
into the crowd and do not face me, or it
shall be worse for you. Even a fool may be wise.
After the event, Euphoubus would not listen and said, now, indeed, Menelaius,
(01:48):
you shall pay for the death of my brother, over
whom you vaunted, and whose wife you widowed in her
bridal chamber while you brought a grief unspeakable on his parents.
I shall comfort these poor people if I bring you
your head an armor and placed them in the hands
of Panthus and noble fronts. The time is come when
this matter shall be fought out and settled for me
(02:08):
or against me. As he spoke, he struck Menelaus full
on the shield, but the spear did not go through,
for the shield turned its point. Menelaus then took aim,
praying to Father Jove. As he did so, Euphorbus was
drawing back, and Menelaus struck him about the roots of
his throat, leaning his whole weight on the spear so
(02:29):
as to drive it home. The point went clean through
his neck, and his armor rang rattling round him. As
he fell heavily to the ground. His hair, which was
like that of the graces, and his locks, so deftly
bound in bands of silver and gold, were all but
troubled with blood. As one who has grown a fine,
young olive tree in a clear space where there is
(02:49):
abundance of water. The plant is full of promise, and
though the winds beat upon it from every quarter, it
puts forth its white blossoms, till the blasts of some
fierce arra can sweep down upon it, level it with
the ground. Even so did Menelaeus strip the fair youth
Ephorbis of his armor after he had slain him, or
a some fierce lion upon the mountains, in the pride
(03:10):
of his strength, fastens on the finest heiferin a herd,
as it is feeding. First, he breaks her neck with
his strong jaws, and then gorge is on her blood
and entrails. Dogs and shepherds raise a hue and cry
against him, But they stand aloof and will not come
close to him, for they are pale with fear. Even so,
no one had the courage to face valiant Menelaeus, the
(03:32):
son of Atreus, would have then carried off the armor
of the son of Pantus with these, had not Phebus
Apollo been angry, and in the guise of Mentes, chief
of the Saissons, incited Hector to attack him. Hector said, he,
you are now going after the horses of the noble
son of Aesus, but you will not take them. They
cannot be kept in hand and driven by mortal man,
(03:54):
save only by Achilles, who is son of an immortal mother. Meanwhile, Menelaeus,
son of Atreus, has bestridden the body of Petroclus, and
killed the noblest of the Trojans, Euphobus, son of Panduus,
so that he can fight no more. The god then
went back into the toil and turmoil, but the soul
of Hector was darkened with a cloud of grief. He
(04:16):
looked along the ranks and saw Euphorbus lying on the
ground with a blood still flowing from his wound, and
Menelaeus stripping him of his armor. On this he made
his way to the front like a flame of fire,
clad in his gleaming armor and crying with a loud voice.
When the son of Atreus heard him, he said to
himself in his dismay alas, what shall I do? I
(04:37):
may not let the Trojans take the armor of Petroclus,
who has fallen fighting on my behalf, lest some Denaean
who seized me should gray shame upon me. Still, if
for my honor's sake I fight Hector and the Trojans
single handed, they will prove too many for me, for
Hector is bringing them up in force. Why, however, should
I thus hesitate. When a man fights in despite of
(04:59):
heaven with one whom I God be friends, he will
soon ruin it. Let no Danaan think ill of me
if I give place to Actor, for the hand of
Heaven is with him. Yet, if I could find Ajax,
the two of us would fight Hector in heaven too.
If we might only save the body of Petroclus for Achilles,
son of Pelius, this of many evils would be the least.
(05:21):
While he was thus in two minds, the Trojans came
up to him, and Hector at their head. He therefore
drew back and left the body, turning about like some
bearded lion who has been chased by dogs and men
from a stockyard with spears and hue and cry, whereon
he is daunted and SLINKs sulkily off. Even so did Menelaya's,
son of Atreus, turn and leave the body of Petroclus.
(05:43):
When among the body of his men, he looked around
for mighty Ajax, son of Telamon, and presently saw him
on the extreme left of the fight, cheering on his
men and exhorting them to keep on fighting. For Phoebus
Apollo had spread a great panic among them. He ran
up to him and said, Ajax, my good friend, come
with me at once to dead Petroclus, if so be
(06:04):
that we may take the body to Achilles. As for
his armor. Hector already hazard. These words stirred the heart
of Ajax, and he made his way among the front ranks.
Menelaeus going with him. Hectord stripped Petroclus of his armor
and was dragging him away to cut off his head
and take the body to fling before the dogs of Troy.
(06:24):
But Ajax came up with his shield like wall before him,
on which Hector withdrew under shelter of his men, and
sprang onto his chariot, giving the armor over to the
Trojans to take to the city as a great trophy
for himself. Ajax therefore covered the body of Petroclus with
his broad shield and bestrode him as a lion stands
over his whelps. If hunters have come upon him in
(06:45):
a forest, when he is with his little ones, in
the pride and fierceness of his strength, he draws his
knit brows down till they cover his eyes. Even so
did Ajax bestride the body of Petroclus, and by his
side stood Menilaeus Atreus, nursing great sorrow in his heart.
Then Glaucus, son of Hippolochus, looked fiercely at Hector and
(07:07):
rebuked him sternly. Actor said he, you make a brave show,
but in fight you are sadly wanting. A runaway like yourself.
Has no claim to so great a reputation. Think I
you may now save your town and citadel by the
hands of your own people born in Ilius. For you
will get no Lysians to fight for you, seeing what
thanks they have had for their incessant hardships. Are you likely, sir,
(07:31):
to do anything to help a man of less note?
After leaving Sarpadon, who was at once your guest and
comrade in arms, to be the spoil and prey of
the Dunaeans. So long as he lived, he did good
service both to your city and yourself. Yet you have
no stomach to save his body from the dogs. If
the Lycians will listen to me, they will go home
and leave Troy to its fate. If the Trojans had
(07:53):
any of that daring, fearless spirit which lays hold of
men who are fighting for their country and harassing those
who had attacket, we would soon bear off Patroclus into Ilius.
Could we get this dead man away and bring him
into the city of Priam the eye gives would readily
give up the armor of Zarpadon, and we could get
his body to boot for he whose squire has now
(08:14):
been killed, as the foremost man at the ships of
the Achaids, he and his close fighting followers. Nevertheless, you
dared not make a stand against Ajax, nor face him.
I to eye with battle all around you, for he
is a braver man than you are. Hector scowled at
him and answered, Glaucus, you should know better. I have
(08:34):
held you so far as a man of more understanding
than any in all Lysia. But now I despise you
for saying that I am afraid of Ajax. I fear
neither battle nor the din of Chariot's. But Jove's will
is stronger than ours. Jove at one time makes even
a strong man draw back and snatches victory from his grasp,
while at another he will set him on to fight.
(08:55):
Come hither, then, my friend, stand by me, and see
indeed whether I shall play the cowd the whole day
through as you say, or whether I shall not stay
some even of the boldest Daraeans from fighting round the
body of Petroclus. As he spoke, he called loudly on
the Trojans, saying, Trojans, Lyssians and Dardanians fighters in close combat.
(09:16):
Be men, my friends, and fight might and maine, while
I put on the goodly armor of Achilles, which I
took when I killed Petroclus. With this, Hector left the
fight and ran full speed after his men who were
taking the armor of Achilles to Troy, but had not
yet got far. Standing for a while apart from the
woeful fight, he changed his armor his own. He sent
(09:38):
to the strong city of Ilius and to the Trojans,
while he put on the immortal armor of the son
of Pelius, which the gods had given to Pelius, who
in his age gave it to his son. But the
son did not grow old in his father's armor. When Jove,
lord of the storm Cloud, saw Hector standing aloof and
arming himself in the armor of the son of Pelius,
(09:59):
he wagged his head and muttered to himself, saying, ah,
poor wretch, you arm and the armor of a hero
before whom many another trembles, and you wreck nothing of
the doom that is already close upon you. You have
killed his comrades, so brave and strong, But it was
not well that you should strip the armor from his
head and shoulders. I do indeed endow you with great
(10:22):
might now, but as against this, you shall not return
from battle to lay the armor of the son of
Pelius before Andromachi, the son of Satin, bowed his portentous brows,
and Hector fitted the armor to his body, while terrible
Mars entered into him and filled his whole body with
might and valor. With a shout, he strouted among the allies,
(10:45):
and his armor flashed about him, so that he seemed
to all of them like the great son of Pelius himself.
He went about among them and cheered them on Mesthles, Glaucus, Medon, Thersilochus, Asteopaeus, Daisenore,
and Hippothous, Forcus, Chromius, and Anomus the Orger. All these
did he exhort, saying, hear me, allies from other cities
(11:07):
are here in your thousands. It was not in order
to have a crowd about me that I called you hither,
each from his several city, but that with heart and
soul you might defend the wives and little ones of
the Trojans from the fierce a Khaians. For this I
do oppress my people, with your food and the presence
that make you rich. Therefore, turn and charge at the foe,
(11:28):
to stand or fall, as is the game of war.
Whoever shall bring Petroclus dead, though he be into the
hands of the Trojans, and shall make Ajax give way
before him, I will give him one half of the spoils,
while I keep the other. He will thus share like
honor with myself. When he had thus spoken, they charged
full weight upon the Daranaeans, with their spears held out
(11:50):
before them, and the hopes of each ran high that
he should force Ajax, son of Telamon to yield up
the body fools that they were, for he was about
to take the live of many. Then Ajax said to Menelaeus,
my good friend, Menelaus, you and I shall hardly come
out of this fight alive. I am less concerned for
the body of Petroclus, who will shortly become meat for
(12:12):
the dogs and vultures of Troy, than for the safety
of my own head and yours. Hector has wrapt us
round in a storm of battle from every quarter, and
our destruction seems now certain. Call then, upon the princes
of the Darnaeans, if there is any one who can
hear us. Menelaus did as he said, and shouted to
the Darnaeans for help at the top of his voice.
(12:35):
My friends, he cried, princes and counselors of the argives,
all you who with Agamemnon and Menelayus drink at the
public costs, and give orders each to his own people,
as Jove vouchsafes him power and glory. The fight is
so thick about me that I cannot distinguish you severally.
Come on, therefore, every man unbidden, and think it shame
(12:56):
that Petroclas should become meat and morsel for Trojan hounds.
Fleet de jackson of Oelius, heard him, and was first
to force his way through the fight and run to
help him. Next came in Demnaeus, and Marione says his squire,
peer of murderous mars. As for the others that came
into the fight after these, who of his own self
(13:16):
could name them? The Trojans, with hector at their head,
charged in a body as a great wave that comes
thundering in at the mouth of some heaven born river,
and the rocks that jut into the sea ring with
the roar of the breakers that beat and buff at them.
Even with such a roar did the Trojans come on.
But the Achaeans, in singleness of heart, stood firm about
(13:38):
the son of Menoetius, and fenced him with their bronze shields.
Jove moreover hid the brightness of their helmets in a
thick cloud, for he had borne no grudge against the
son of Menoetius while he was still alive and squire
to the descendant of Asus. Therefore, he was loath to
let him fall a prey to the dogs of his foes,
the Trojans, and urged his comrades on to defend him.
(14:00):
At first, the Trojans drove the Achaeans back, and they
withdrew from the dead man. Daunted, the Trojans did not
succeed in killing any one. Nevertheless, they drew the body away,
But the Achaeans did not lose it long for Ajax,
foremost of all the Danaeians, after the son of Peleus,
alike in stature and prowess, quickly rallied them and made
(14:21):
towards the front. Like a wild boar upon the mountains
when he stands at bay in the forest glades and
routs the hounds and lusty ewes that have attacked him.
Even so did Ajax, son of Telamon, passing easily in
among the phalanxes of the Trojans, disperse those who had
bestridden Patroclus and were most bent on winning glory by
dragging him off to their city. At this moment, Hippothous,
(14:45):
brave son of the pelasgian Lethus, in his zeal for
Hector and the Trojans, was dragging the body off by
the foot through the press of the fight, having bound
a strap round the sinews near the ankle. But a
mischief soon befell him, from which none of those could
save him, who would have gladly he done so, for
the son of Talamon sprang forward and smote him on
his bronze cheeked helmet. The plumed head Peas broke about
(15:07):
the point of the weapon, struck at once by the
spear and by the strong hand of Ajax, so that
the bloody brain came oozing out through the crest socket.
His strength then failed him, and he let Patroclus's foot
drop from his hand as he fell full length dead
upon the body. Thus he died far from the fertile
land of Larissa, and never repaid his parents the cost
(15:28):
of bringing him up, for his life was cut short
early by the spear of mighty Ajax. Hector then took
aim at Ajax with a spear, but he saw it
coming and just managed to avoid it. The spear passed
on and struck Sheedius, son of Noblephytus, captain of the Phocians,
who dwelt in famed Panopeus and reigned over much people.
(15:49):
It struck him under the middle of the collar bone.
The bronze point went right through him, coming out at
the bottom of his shoulder blade, and his armor rang
rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground. Ajax,
in his turn, struck noble Forces, son of Phoenops, in
the middle of the belly as he was bestriding Hippothous,
and broke the plate of his cuirass, whereon the spear
(16:10):
tore at his entrails, and he clutched the ground in
his palm as he fell to earth. Hector and those
who were in the front rank then gave ground, while
the Argives raised a loud cry of triumph and drew
off the bodies of Phorcus and Hippothous, which they stripped
presently of their armor. The Trojans would now have been
worsted by the brave Achaeans and driven back to Ilius
(16:31):
through their own cowardice, while the Argives, so great was
their courage and endurance, would have achieved a triumph even
against the will of Jove. If Apollo had not roused
Aeneus in the likeness of Periphas, son of Epetus, an
attendant who had grown old in the service of Aeneas's
aged father, and was at all times devoted to him
(16:51):
in his likeness. Then Apollo said, Aeneas, can you not manage,
even though Heaven be against us, to save high Ilius.
I have known men whose numbers, courage, and self reliance
have saved their people in spite of Jove, Whereas in
this case he would much rather give victory to us
than to the Dnaeans, if you would only fight instead
(17:11):
of being so terribly afraid. Aeneas knew Apollo when he
looked straight at him and shouted to Hector, saying, Hector
and all other Trojans and allies, shame on us if
we are beaten by the Achaeans and driven back to
Ilius through our own cowardice. A god has just come
up to me and told me that Jove, the supreme disposal,
will be with us. Therefore, let us make for the Dnaeians,
(17:34):
that it may go hard with them or they bear
away dead. Patroclus to the ships. As he spoke, he
sprang out far in front of the others, who then
rallied and again faced the Achaeans. Aeneas speared Leacretus, son
of Arispus, a valiant follower of Lycomedes, and Lycomedes was
moved with pity as he saw him fall. He therefore
(17:55):
went close up and speared up a say On, son
of Hippasus, shepherd of his people, and the liver under
the midriff, so that he died. It come from fertile Pionia,
and was the best man of them all. After est Apaeus,
Asteropaeus flew forward to avenge him and attack the Daranaeans.
But this might no longer be inasmuch as those about
(18:16):
Petroclus were well covered by their shields and held their
spears in front of them, for Ajax had given them
strict orders that no man was either to give ground
or to stand out before the others, but all were
to hold well together about the body and fight hand
to hand. Thus did huge Ajax bid them, and the
earth ran red with blood as the corpses fell thick
(18:37):
on one another alike, on the side of the Trojans
and allies, and on that of the Danaeans. For these last,
too fought no bloodless fight, though many fewer of them
perished through the care they took to defend and stand
by one another. Thus did they fight, as it were
a flaming fire. It seemed as though it had gone hard,
even with the sun and moon, for they were hidden
(18:59):
over all that part with the bravest heroes were fighting
about the dead son of Minetius, whereas the other Danaeans
and Achaians fought at their ease in full daylight, with
brilliant sunshine all round them, and there was not a
cloud to be seen, neither on plain nor mountain. These last, moreover,
would rest for a while and leave off fighting, for
they were some distance apart and beyond the range of
(19:21):
one another's weapons. Whereas those who were in the thick
of the fray suffered from both battle and darkness. All
the best of them were being worn out by the
great weight of their armour. But the two valiant heroes,
Thrasamedes and Antilochus, had not yet heard of the death
of Petroclus, and believed him to be still alive and
leading the van against the Trojans. They were keeping themselves
(19:43):
in reserve against the death or rout of their own comrades,
for so Nesta had ordered them when he sent them
from the ships into battle. Thus through the livelong day
did they wage fierce war, and the sweat of their
toil reigned ever on their legs under them, and on
their hands eyes. As they fought over the squire of
the fleet, son of Pelias. It was as when a
(20:05):
man gives a great ox hide, all drenched in fat,
to his men, and bids them stretch it, whereon they
stand round it in a ring and tug till the
moisture leaves it and the fat soaks in for the
many that pull at it, and it is well stretched.
Even so did the two sides tug the dead body
hither and thither, within the compass of but a little space.
The Trojans steadfastly set on dragging it into Elias, while
(20:29):
the Achaeans were no less so on taking it to
their ships. And fierce was the fight between them. Not
Mars himself, the lord of Hosts, nor yet Minerva, even
in their fullest fury, could make light of such a battle.
Such fearful turmoil of men and horses did jove on
that day, or Dane round the body of Petroclus Meanwhile,
(20:51):
Achilles did not know that he had fallen, for the
fight was under the wall of Troy, a long way
off the ships. He had no idea, therefore, that Petroclus
was dead, and deemed that he would return alive. As
soon as he had gone close up to the gates.
He knew that he was not to sack the city,
neither with nor without himself, for his mother had often
told him this when he had sat alone with her,
(21:12):
and she had informed him of the councils of Great Jove. Now, however,
she had not told him how great a disaster had
befallen him, and the death of the one who was
far dearest to him of all his comrades. The others
still kept on charging one another round the body with
their pointed spears and killing each other. Then one would say,
(21:32):
my friends, we can never again show our faces at
the ships. Better and greatly better that earth should open
and swallow us here in this place, than that we
should let the Trojans have the triumph of bearing off
petruckles to their city. The Trojans, also, on their part,
spoke to one another, saying, friends, though we fall to
a man beside this body, let none shrink from fighting.
(21:55):
With such words did they exhort each other. They fought
and fought, and an iron clank rose through the void
air to the brazen vault of heaven. The horses of
the descendant of Aesus stood out of the fight and
wept when they heard that their driver had been laid
low by the hand of murderous hector or to maiden. Valiant,
son of Diories lashed them. Again and again. Many a
(22:18):
time did he speak kindly to them, and many a
time did he upbraid them. But they would neither go
back to the ships by the waters of the broad Hellispont,
nor yet into battle. Among the archaeans. They stood with
their chariot stocks still as a pillar set over the
tomb of some dead man or woman, and bowed their
heads to the ground. Hot tears fell from their eyes
(22:39):
as they mourned the loss of their chariot tear and
their noble manes drooped all wet from under the yoke
straps on either side of the yoke. The son of
Satin saw them and took pity upon their sorrow. He
wagged his head and muttered to himself, saying, poor things,
why did we give you to King Pelias, who was immortal,
while you are yourselves ageless and immortal. Was it that
(23:02):
you might share the sorrows that before mankind? For of
all creatures that live and move upon the earth, there
is none so pitiable as he is. Still Hector, son
of Priam, shall drive neither you nor your chariot. I
will not have it. It is enough that he should
have the armor over which he vaunts so vainly. Furthermore,
(23:23):
I will give you strength of heart and limb to bear,
or to meet in safely to the ships from battle.
For I shall let the Trojans triumph still further and
go on killing till they reach the ships, whereon night
shall fall and darkness overshadow the land. As he spoke,
he breathed heart and strength into the horses, so that
they shook the dust from out of their manes, and
(23:44):
bore their chariots swiftly into the fight that raged between
Trojans and Achaeans. Behind them, fought utomedon full of sorrow
for his comrade. As a vulture amid a flock of geese,
in and out, and here and there, full speed he
dashed amid the throng of the Trojans, But for all
the fury of his pursuit, he killed no man, for
(24:04):
he could not wield his spear and keep his horses
in hand when alone in the chariot. At last, however,
a comrade Alcemedon, son of Laius, his son of him On,
caught sight of him and came up behind his chariot.
Ortamiden said, he what God has put this folly into
your heart and robbed you of your right mind that
you fight the Trojans in the front rank single handed?
(24:26):
Here was your comrade is slain, And Hector plumes himself on,
being armed in the armor of the descendant of Asses. Ortomiedan,
son of Diores, answered Alcemidon, there is no one else
who could control and guide the immortal steers so well
as you can, save only Petroclus while he was alive,
Peer of gods in council, Take then the whip and reins,
(24:49):
while I go down from the car and fight. Alcamidon
sprang on to the chariot and caught up the whip
and reins, while Automaidon leaped from off the car. When
Hector saw him, he said to Aeneas, who was near
him a Nea s counselor of the mail clad Trojans.
I see the steeds of the fleet, son of Asus,
come into battle with weak hands to drive them. I
(25:11):
am sure if you think well that we might take them,
they will not dare face us if we both attack them.
The valiant son of Anchises, was of the same mind,
and the pair went right on, with their shoulders covered
with shields of tough, dry ox hide overlaid with much bronze.
Cromius and Aretas went also with them, and their hearts
beat high with hope that they might kill the men
(25:33):
and capture the horses. Fools that they were, for they
were not to return scathless from their meeting with allt
a Meaden, who prayed to Father Jove and was forthwith
filled with courage and strength abounding. He turned to his
trusty commander Alcamidon and said, Alsamadon, keep your horses so
close up that I may fill their breath upon my back.
(25:53):
I doubt that we shall not stay. Hecta, son of
priamptily As, killed us and mounted behind the horses. Here there,
when neither spread panic among the ranks of the Achaeans,
or himself be killed, among the foremost. On this he
cried out to the two Ajaxes and Menelayus Ajaxes, captains
of the Argives, and Menilaeus, give the dead body over
(26:14):
to them that are best able to defend it, and
come to the rescue of us living. For Hector and Aeneas,
who are the two best men among the Trojans oppressing
us hard in the full tide of war. Nevertheless, the
issue lies on the lap of heaven. I will therefore
hurl my spear and leave the rest to Jove. He poised,
and hurled as he spoke, whereon the spear struck the
(26:37):
round shield of Aretas and went right through it. For
the shield stated not so that it was driven through
his belt into the lower part of his belly, as
when some sturdy youth acts in hand, deals his blow
behind the horns of an ox and severs the tendons
at the back of its neck, so that it springs
forward and then drops. Even so did Aretas give one
bound and then four on his back, the spear quivering
(27:00):
in his body, till it made an end of him.
Hector then aimed a spirit order meetum, but he saw
it coming and stooped forward to avoid it, so that
it flew past him and the points stuck in the ground,
while the butt end went on quivering till Mars robbed
it of its force. They were then afought hand to
hand with swords. Had not the two Ajaxes forced their
way through the crowd when they heard their comrades calling,
(27:22):
and parted them for all their fury. For Hector, Aeneas
and Chromius were afraid and drew back, leaving Aretus to
lie there, struck to the heart order maiden peer of fleet.
Mars then stripped him of his armor and waundered over him, saying,
I have done little to assuage my sorrow for the
son of Moniches, For the man I have killed is
(27:43):
not so good as he was as he spoke. He
took the blood stained spoils and laid them upon his chariot.
Then he mounted the car, with his hands and feet
all steeped in gore, as a lion that has been
gorging upon a bull. And now the fierce, groanful fight
again raged about Petroclus, for Minerva came down from heaven
and roused its fury by the command of far seeing Jove,
(28:06):
who had changed his mind and sent her to encourage
the Dunaeans, as when Jove bends his bright beau in
heaven and token to mankind, either of war or of
the chill storms that stay men from their labor and
plague the flocks. Even so, wrapped in such radiant raiment,
did Minerva go in among the hosts and speak man
(28:26):
by man to each. First, she took the form and
voice of Phoenix and spoke to Menelaya's son of Atreus,
who was standing near her. Menelaya said she, it will
be shame and dishonor to you if dogs tear the
noble comrade of Achilles under the walls of Troy. Therefore
be staunch, and urge your men to be so also.
(28:48):
Menelayus answered Phoenix, my good old friend. May Minerva outsafe
me strength and keep the darts from off me? For
so shall I stand by Petroclus and defend him. His
death has gone to my heart. But Hector is as
a raging fire and deals his blows without ceasing. For
Jove as now granting him a time of triumph. Manova
(29:09):
was pleased at his having named herself before any of
the other gods. Therefore, she put strength into his knees
and shoulders, and made him as bold as a fly, which,
though driven off, would yet come again and bite if
it can, so dearly does it love man's blood? Even
so bold as this did she make him. As he
stood over Betruclus, and through his spear. Now there was
(29:31):
among the Trojans a man named Podys, son of Etion,
who was both rich and valiant. Hector held him in
the highest honor, for he was his comrade and boon companion.
The spear of Menelaia struck this man in the girdle,
just as he had turned in flight, and went right
through him, whereon he fell heavily forward, and Menelaea's son
of Atreus, drew off his body from the Trojans into
(29:53):
the ranks of his own people. Apollo then went up
to Hector and spurred him on to fight in the
likeness of fanop son Evasius, who lived in Abidus and
was the most favored of all Hector's guests. In his likeness,
Apollo said, Hector, who of the Achaeans will fear you henceforward,
now that you have quailed before Menelaus, who has ever
(30:14):
been rated poorly as a soldier. Yet now he has
got a corpse away from the trojan single handed, and
has slain your own true comrade, a man brave among
the foremost pody, son of Aetion. A dark cloud of
grief fell upon Hector as he heard, and he made
his way to the front, clad in full rama, thereon
the son of sat and seized his bright tasseled agis
(30:37):
and veiled ider in clouds. He sent forth his lightnings
and his thunders, and as he shook his aegis, he
gave victory to the Trojans and routed the Achaeans. The
panic was begun by Penelaus the Poetian, for while keeping
his face turned ever towards the foe, he had been
hit with a spear on the upper part of his shoulder.
A spear thrown by Polydamus had grazed the top of
(30:59):
the bone. For Polydamus had come up to him and
struck him from close at hand. Then Hector, in close combat,
struck Laitus, son of noble Electrion, in the hand by
the wrist, and disabled him from fighting further. He looked
about him in dismay, knowing that never again would he
wield spear in battle with the Trojans, while Hector was
(31:20):
in pursuit of Laitus. Idamaneus struck him on the breastplate
over his chest, near the nipple, but the spear broke
in the shaft, and the Trojans cheered aloud. Hector then
named at Idamaneus, son of Ducalian, as he was standing
on his chariot, and very narrowly missed him. But the
spear hit Coiranus, a follower and charioteer of Mariones, who
had come with him from Lyctus. Idamaneus had left the
(31:43):
ships on foot and would have afforded a great triumph
to the Trojans of Chiranus had not driven quickly up
to him. He therefore brought life and rescue to Idamanaeus,
but himself fell by the hand of Murderus Hector, For
Hector hit him on the jaw under the ear. The
end of the spear, drove out his teeth and cut
his tongue in two pieces, so that he fell from
(32:03):
his chariot and let the reins fall to the ground.
Mariones gathered them up from the ground and took them
into his own hands, But he said to Idomeneus, lay
on till you get back to the ships, for you
must see that the day is no longer ours. On
this Idomeneus lashed the horses to the ships, for fear
had taken hold upon him. Ajax and Menelayus noted how
(32:26):
Jove had turned the scale in favor of the Trojans,
and Ajax was first to speak alas said he, even
a fool may see that Father Jove is helping the Trojans.
All their weapons strike home, no matter whether it be
a brave man or a coward that hurls them. Jove's
speeds all alike, whereas ours fall, each one of them
without effect. What then will be best, both as regards
(32:49):
rescuing the body and our return to the joy of
our friends, who will be grieving as they look hitherwards,
for they will make sure that nothing can now check
the terrible hands of Hector, and that he will fling
himself upon our ships. I wish that some one would
go and tell the son of Pelias at once, for
I do not think he can have yet heard the
sad news that the dearest of his friends has fallen.
(33:11):
But I can see not a man among the Achaeans
to send, for they and their chariots are alike hidden
in darkness. Oh, Father Jove, lift this cloud from over
the sons of the Achaeans. Make heaven serene, and let
us see if you will that we perish, let us
fall at any rate by daylight. Father Jove heard him
and had compassion upon his tears. Forthwith he chased away
(33:34):
the cloud of darkness, so that the sun shone out,
and all the fighting was revealed. Ajax then said to Menelaeus, Look, Menilaeus,
and if Antilochus, son of Nestor, be still living, send
him at once to tell Achilles that by father dearest
to him of all his comrades, has fallen. Menelaus heeded
(33:55):
his words and went his way as a lion from
a stockyard. The lion is tired of attacking the men
and hounds, who keep watch the whole night through and
will not let him feast on the fat of their herd.
In his lust of meat, he makes straight at them,
but in vain, for darts from strong hands assail him,
and burning brands which daunt him for all his hunger.
(34:15):
So in the morning he SLINKs sulkily away. Even so
did Menelaus sorely, against his will, leave Petroclus in great fear,
les the Achaean should be driven back in rout, and
let him fall into the hands of the foe. He
charged Mariones and the two Ajaxes straitly, saying, Ajaxes and Marionees,
leaders of the argives. Now, indeed, remember how good Petruclus was.
(34:40):
He was ever courteous while alive. Bear it in mind
now that he is dead. With this, Menelaeus left them
looking round him as keenly as an eagle, whose sight
they say, is keener than that of any other bird.
However high he may be in the heavens, Not a
hare that runs can escape him by crouching under bush
or thicket, for he will swoop down upon it and
(35:01):
make an end of it. Even so, o, Menelaus, did
your keen eyes range round the mighty host of your
followers to see if you could find the son of
Nestor still alive. Presently Menelaeus saw him on the extreme
left of the battle, cheering on his men and exalting
them to fight boldly. Menelaus went up to him and said, Antelochus,
(35:22):
come here and listen to sad news, which I would
indeed were untrue. You must see with your own eyes
that Heaven is heaping calamity upon the Danaans and giving
victory to the Trojans. But Troclus has fallen, who is
the bravest of the Achaeans, And sorely will the Danaeans
miss him. Run instantly to the ships and tell Achilles
(35:43):
that he may come to rescue the body and bear
it to the ships. As for the armor, Hector already
has it. Antilochus was struck with horror for a long time.
He was speechless, his eyes filled with tears, and he
could find no utterance. But he did as Menialaeus had said,
and set off running as soon as he had given
his armor to a comrade, Leodicus, who was wheeling his
(36:06):
horses round close behind him. Thus then did he run,
weeping from the field, to carry the bad news to Achilles,
son of Pelias. Nor were you, o, Menilaeus, minded to
succor his harassed comrades. When Antilochus had left the Paralians,
and greatly did they miss him, But he sent them
noble Thrasemedes, and himself went back to Patroclus. He came
(36:28):
running up to the two Ajaxes and said, I have
sent Antilagus to the ships to tell Achilles, but a
rage against Hector as he may, he cannot come, for
he cannot fight without armor. What then will be our
best plan, both as regards rescuing the dead and our
own escape from death? Amid the battle grives of the Trojans,
(36:48):
Ajax answered, Menelaeus, you have said, well, do you? Then?
And Marione stoop down, raised the body and bear it
out of the fray, while we two behind you keep
off Hector and the Trojans, one in heart as in name,
and long used to fighting side by side with one another.
On this Menelaeus and Meriones took the dead man in
(37:09):
their arms and lifted him high aloft with a great effort.
The Trojan host raised a hue and cry behind them
when they saw the Achaeans bearing the body away, and
flew after them, like hounds attacking a wounded boar at
the loo of a band of young huntsmen. For a
while the hounds fly at him as though they would
tear him in pieces. But now and again he turns
(37:30):
on them in a fury, scaring and scattering them in
all directions. Even so did the Trojans for a while
charge in a body, striking with sword and with spears
pointed at both the ends. But when the two Ajaxes
faced them and stood at bay, they would turn pale,
and no man dead press on to fight further about
the dead. And this wise did the two heroes strain
(37:52):
every nerve to bear the body to the ships out
of the fight. The battle raged round them like fierce
flames that, when once kindled, spread like wildfire over a city,
and the houses fall in the glare of its burning.
Even such was the roar and tramp of men and
horses that pursued them as they bore Petroclus from the field,
(38:12):
or as mules that put forth all their strength to
draw some beam or great piece of ship's timber down
a rough mountain track, and they pant and sweat as
they go. Even so did Menelaeus and Mariones pant and
sweat as they bore the body of Petroclus behind them.
The two Ajaxes held stoutly out the some wounded mountain
(38:33):
spur that stretches across a plain will turn water and
check the floe even of a great river nor is
there any stream strong enough to break through it. Even
so did the two Ajaxes face the Trojans and stem
the tide of their fighting, though they kept pouring on
towards them, And foremost among them all was ana son
of Anchises, with valiant Hector, as a flock of doors
(38:56):
or starlings, vaulters screaming and chattering when they see a
falcon foe to all small birds come soaring near them.
Even so did the Achaean youth raise a babble of
cries as they fled before Aeneas and Hector, unmindful of
their former prowess. In the rout of the Danaeans, much
goodly armor fell round about the trench, and of fighting
(39:17):
there was no end. End of Section seventeen
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