He spake, nor Menelaus not complied,
But call’d aloud on all the Chiefs of Greece.
Friends, senators, and leaders of the powers300
Of Argos! who with Agamemnon drink
And Menelaus at the public feast,
Each bearing rule o’er many, by the will
Of Jove advanced to honor and renown!
The task were difficult to single out305
Chief after Chief by name amid the blaze
Of such contention; but oh, come yourselves
Indignant forth, nor let the dogs of Troy
Patroclus rend, and gambol with his bones!
He ceased, whom Oïliades the swift310
Hearing incontinent, of all the Chiefs
Ran foremost, after whom Idomeneus
Approach’d, and dread as homicidal Mars
Meriones. But never mind of man
Could even in silent recollection name315
The whole vast multitude who, following these
Renew’d the battle on the part of Greece.
The Trojans first, with Hector at their head,
Wedged in close phalanx, rush’d to the assault
As when within some rapid river’s mouth320
The billows and stream clash, on either shore[3]
Loud sounds the roar[3] of waves ejected wide,
Such seem’d the clamors of the Trojan host.
But the Achaians, one in heart, around
Patroclus stood, bulwark’d with shields of brass325
And over all their glittering helmets Jove
Darkness diffused, for he had loved Patroclus
While yet he lived friend of Æacides,
And now, abhorring that the dogs of Troy
Should eat him, urged the Greeks to his defence,330
The host of Troy first shook the Grecian host;
The body left, they fled; yet of them all,
The Trojan powers, determined as they were,
Slew none, but dragg’d the body. Neither stood
The Greeks long time aloof, soon as repulsed335
Again led on by Ajax, who in form
And in exploits all others far excell’d.
Peerless Æacides alone except.
Right through the foremost combatants he rush’d,
In force resembling most some savage boar340
That in the mountains bursting through the brakes,
The swains disperses and their hounds with ease;
Like him, illustrious Ajax, mighty son
Of Telamon, at his assault dispersed
With ease the close imbattled ranks who fought345
Around Patroclus’ body, strong in hope
To achieve it, and to make the glory theirs.
Hippothoüs, a youth of high renown,
Son of Pelasgian Lethus, by a noose
Around his ancle cast dragg’d through the fight350
Patroclus, so to gratify the host
Of Ilium and their Chief; but evil him
Reached suddenly, by none of all his friends
(Though numerous wish’d to save him) turn’d aside.
For swift advancing on him through the crowd355
The son of Telamon pierced, spear in hand,
His helmet brazen-cheek’d; the crested casque,
So smitten, open’d wide, for huge the hand
And ponderous was the spear that gave the blow
And all around its neck, mingled with blood360
Gush’d forth the brain. There, lifeless, down he sank,
Let fall the hero’s foot, and fell himself
Prone on the dead, never to see again?
Deep-soil’d Larissa, never to require
Their kind solicitudes who gave him birth,365
In bloom of life by dauntless Ajax slain.
Then Hector hurl’d at Ajax his bright spear,
But he, forewarn’d of its approach, escaped
Narrowly, and it pierced Schedius instead,
Brave son of Iphitus; he, noblest Chief370
Of the Phocensians, over many reign’d,
Dwelling in Panopeus the far-renown’d.
Entering beneath the clavicle[4] the point
Right through his shoulder’s summit pass’d behind,
And on his loud-resounding arms he fell.375
But Ajax at his waist wounded the son
Of Phœnops, valiant Phorcys, while he stood
Guarding Hippothöus; through his hollow mail
Enforced the weapon drank his inmost life,
And in his palm, supine, he clench’d the dust.380
Then, Hector with the foremost Chiefs of Troy
Fell back; the Argives sent a shout to heaven,
And dragging Phorcys and Hippothöus thence
Stripp’d both. In that bright moment Ilium’s host
Fear-quell’d before Achaia’s warlike sons385
Had Troy re-enter’d, and the host of Greece
By matchless might and fortitude their own
Had snatch’d a victory from the grasp of fate,
But that, himself, the King of radiant shafts
Æneas roused; Epytis’ son he seem’d390
Periphas, ancient in the service grown
Of old Anchises whom he dearly loved;
His form assumed, Apollo thus began.
How could ye save, Æneas, were the Gods
Your enemies, the towers of lofty Troy?395
As I have others seen, warriors who would,
Men fill’d with might and valor, firm themselves
And Chiefs of multitudes disdaining fear.
But Jove to us the victory far more
Than to the Grecians wills; therefore the fault400
Is yours, who tremble and refuse the fight.
He ended, whom Æneas marking, knew
At once the glorious Archer of the skies,
And thus to distant Hector call’d aloud.
Oh, Hector, and ye other Chiefs of Troy405
And of her brave confederates! Shame it were
Should we re-enter Ilium, driven to flight
By dastard fear before the host of Greece.
A God assured me even now, that Jove,
Supreme in battle, gives his aid to Troy.410
Rush, therefore, on the Danaï direct,
Nor let them, safe at least and unannoy’d,
Bear hence Patroclus’ body to the fleet.
He spake, and starting far into the van
Stood foremost forth; they, wheeling, faced the Greeks.415
Then, spear in hand, Æneas smote the friend
Of Lycomedes, brave Leocritus,
Son of Arisbas. Lycomedes saw
Compassionate his death, and drawing nigh
First stood, then hurling his resplendent lance,420
Right through the liver Apisaon pierced
Offspring of Hippasus, his chest beneath,
And, lifeless, instant, on the field he fell.
He from Pæonia the deep soil’d to Troy
Came forth, Asteropæus sole except,425
Bravest of all Pæonia’s band in arms.
Asteropæus saw, and to the van
Sprang forth for furious combat well prepared,
But room for fight found none, so thick a fence
Of shields and ported spears fronted secure430
The phalanx guarding Menœtiades.
For Ajax ranging all the ranks, aloud
Admonish’d them that no man yielding ground
Should leave Patroclus, or advance before
The rest, but all alike fight and stand fast.435
Such order gave huge Ajax; purple gore
Drench’d all the ground; in slaughter’d heaps they fell
Trojans and Trojan aids of dauntless hearts
And Grecians; for not even they the fight
Waged bloodless, though with far less cost of blood,440
Each mindful to avert his fellow’s fate.
Thus burn’d the battle; neither hadst thou deem’d
The sun himself in heaven unquench’d, or moon,
Beneath a cope so dense of darkness strove
Unceasing all the most renown’d in arms445
For Menœtiades. Meantime the war,
Wherever else, the bright-arm’d Grecians waged
And Trojans under skies serene. The sun
On them his radiance darted; not a cloud,
From mountain or from vale rising, allay’d450
His fervor; there at distance due they fought
And paused by turns, and shunn’d the cruel dart.
But in the middle field not war alone
They suffer’d, but night also; ruthless raged
The iron storm, and all the mightiest bled.455
Two glorious Chiefs, the while, Antilochus
And Thrasymedes, had no tidings heard
Of brave Patroclus slain, but deem’d him still
Living, and troubling still the host of Troy;
For watchful[5] only to prevent the flight460
Or slaughter of their fellow-warriors, they
Maintain’d a distant station, so enjoin’d
By Nestor when he sent them to the field.
But fiery conflict arduous employ’d
The rest all day continual; knees and legs,465
Feet, hands, and eyes of those who fought to guard
The valiant friend of swift Æacides
Sweat gather’d foul and dust. As when a man
A huge ox-hide drunken with slippery lard
Gives to be stretch’d, his servants all around470
Disposed, just intervals between, the task
Ply strenuous, and while many straining hard
Extend it equal on all sides, it sweats
The moisture out, and drinks the unction in,[6]
So they, in narrow space struggling, the dead475
Dragg’d every way, warm hope conceiving, these
To drag him thence to Troy, those, to the ships.
Wild tumult raged around him; neither Mars,
Gatherer of hosts to battle, nor herself
Pallas, however angry, had beheld480
That conflict with disdain, Jove to such length
Protracted on that day the bloody toil
Of steeds and men for Menœtiades.
Nor knew divine Achilles or had aught
Heard of Patroclus slain, for from the ships485
Remote they fought, beneath the walls of Troy.
He, therefore, fear’d not for his death, but hope
Indulged much rather, that, the battle push’d
To Ilium’s gates, he should return alive.
For that his friend, unaided by himself490
Or ever aided, should prevail to lay
Troy waste, he nought supposed; by Thetis warn’d
In secret conference oft, he better knew
Jove’s purpose; yet not even she had borne
Those dreadful tidings to his ear, the loss495
Immeasurable of his dearest friend.
They all around the dead fought spear in hand
With mutual slaughter ceaseless, and amid
Achaia’s host thus spake a Chief mail-arm’d.