He spake, and at his words grief like a cloud
Involved the mind of Hector dark around;
Right through the foremost combatants he rush’d
All clad in dazzling brass. Then, lifting high
His tassel’d Ægis radiant, Jove with storms715
Enveloped Ida; flash’d his lightnings, roar’d
His thunders, and the mountain shook throughout.
Troy’s host he prosper’d, and the Greeks dispersed.
First fled Peneleus, the Bœotian Chief,
Whom facing firm the foe Polydamas720
Struck on his shoulder’s summit with a lance
Hurl’d nigh at hand, which slight inscribed the bone.
[10]Leïtus also, son of the renown’d
Alectryon, pierced by Hector in the wrist,
Disabled left the fight; trembling he fled725
And peering narrowly around, nor hoped
To lift a spear against the Trojans more.
Hector, pursuing Leïtus, the point
Encounter’d of the brave Idomeneus
Full on his chest; but in his mail the lance730
Snapp’d, and the Trojans shouted to the skies.
He, in his turn, cast at Deucalion’s son
Idomeneus, who in that moment gain’d[11]
A chariot-seat; but him the erring spear
Attain’d not, piercing Cœranus instead735
The friend and follower of Meriones
From wealthy Lyctus, and his charioteer.
For when he left, that day, the gallant barks
Idomeneus had sought the field on foot,
And triumph proud, full sure, to Ilium’s host740
Had yielded now, but that with rapid haste
Cœranus drove to his relief, from him
The fate averting which himself incurr’d
Victim of Hector’s homicidal arm.
Him Hector smiting between ear and jaw745
Push’d from their sockets with the lance’s point
His firm-set teeth, and sever’d sheer his tongue.
Dismounted down he fell, and from his hand
Let slide the flowing reins, which, to the earth
Stooping, Meriones in haste resumed,750
And briefly thus Idomeneus address’d.
Now drive, and cease not, to the fleet of Greece!
Thyself see’st victory no longer ours.
He said; Idomeneus whom, now, dismay
Seized also, with his lash plying severe755
The coursers ample-maned, flew to the fleet.
Nor Ajax, dauntless hero, not perceived,
Nor Menelaus, by the sway of Jove
The victory inclining fast to Troy,
And thus the Telamonian Chief began.760
Ah! who can be so blind as not to see
The eternal Father, now, with his own hand
Awarding glory to the Trojan host,
Whose every spear flies, instant, to the mark
Sent forth by brave or base? Jove guides them all,765
While, ineffectual, ours fall to the ground.
But haste, devise we of ourselves the means
How likeliest we may bear Patroclus hence,
And gladden, safe returning, all our friends,
Who, hither looking anxious, hope have none770
That we shall longer check the unconquer’d force
Of hero-slaughtering Hector, but expect
[12]To see him soon amid the fleet of Greece.
Oh for some Grecian now to carry swift
The tidings to Achilles’ ear, untaught,775
As I conjecture, yet the doleful news
Of his Patroclus slain! but no such Greek
May I discern, such universal gloom
Both men and steeds envelops all around.
Father of heaven and earth! deliver thou780
Achaia’s host from darkness; clear the skies;
Give day; and (since thy sovereign will is such)
Destruction with it—but oh give us day![13]
He spake, whose tears Jove saw with pity moved,
And chased the untimely shades; bright beam’d the sun785
And the whole battle was display’d. Then spake
The hero thus to Atreus’ mighty son.
Now noble Menelaus! looking forth,
See if Antilochus be yet alive,
Brave son of Nestor, whom exhort to fly790
With tidings to Achilles, of the friend
Whom most he loved, of his Patroclus slain.
He ceased, nor Menelaus, dauntless Chief,
That task refused, but went; yet neither swift
Nor willing. As a lion leaves the stalls795
Wearied himself with harassing the guard,
Who, interdicting him his purposed prey,
Watch all the night; he famish’d, yet again
Comes furious on, but speeds not, kept aloof
By spears from daring hands dismissed, but more800
By flash of torches which, though fierce, he dreads,
Till at the dawn, sullen he stalks away;
So from Patroclus Menelaus went
Heroic Chief! reluctant; for he fear’d
Lest the Achaians should resign the dead,805
Through consternation, to the host of Troy.
Departing, therefore, he admonish’d oft
Meriones and the Ajaces, thus.
Ye two brave leaders of the Argive host,
And thou, Meriones! now recollect810
The gentle manners of Patroclus fallen
Hapless in battle, who by carriage mild
Well understood, while yet he lived, to engage
All hearts, through prisoner now of death and fate.
So saying, the hero amber-hair’d his steps815
Turn’d thence, the field exploring with an eye
Sharp as the eagle’s, of all fowls beneath
The azure heavens for keenest sight renown’d,
Whom, though he soar sublime, the leveret
By broadest leaves conceal’d ’scapes not, but swift820
Descending, even her he makes his prey;
So, noble Menelaus! were thine eyes
Turn’d into every quarter of the host
In search of Nestor’s son, if still he lived.
Him, soon, encouraging his band to fight,825
He noticed on the left of all the field,
And sudden standing at his side, began.