WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.360 --> 00:00:06.160 Book seventeen. Brave Menelaus, son of Atreus, now came to 2 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:09.000 know that Patroclus had fallen, and made his way through 3 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:12.400 the front ranks, clad in full armor, to bestride him 4 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:16.199 as a cow stands lowing over her first calf. Even 5 00:00:16.280 --> 00:00:20.480 so did yellow haired Menelaus bestride Petroclus. He held his 6 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:23.239 round shield and his spear in front of him, resolute 7 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:26.320 to kill any who should dare face him. But the 8 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:29.320 son of Panthous had also noted the body and came 9 00:00:29.399 --> 00:00:35.039 up to Menelaeus, saying, Menelaus, son of Atreus, draw back, 10 00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:38.359 leave the body, and let the blood stained spoils be. 11 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:42.159 I was first of the Trojans and their brave allies 12 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:45.840 to drive my spear into Petroclus. Let me therefore have 13 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:49.079 my full glory among the Trojans, or I will take 14 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:53.439 aim and kill you. To this, Menelaus answered in great 15 00:00:53.479 --> 00:00:58.799 anger by Father Jove, boasting is an ill thing. The 16 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:02.079 pard is not more bold, nor the lion, nor savage 17 00:01:02.119 --> 00:01:05.480 wild boar, which is fiercest and most dauntless of all creatures, 18 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:10.000 than are the proud sons of Panthouse. Yet Hypernore did 19 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:12.079 not see out the days of his youth when he 20 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:14.840 made light of me and withstood me, deeming me the 21 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:19.239 meanest soldier among the Dinaans. His own feet never bore 22 00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:22.920 him back to gladden his wife and parents. Even so, 23 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:24.760 shall I make an end of you too? If you 24 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:28.040 withstand me, Get you back into the crowd and do 25 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:30.640 not face me, or it shall be worse for you. 26 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:36.040 Even a fool may be wise. After the event, Euphorbus 27 00:01:36.040 --> 00:01:40.959 would not listen and said, now, indeed, Menelaeus, shall you 28 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:43.519 pay for the death of my brother, over whom you 29 00:01:43.640 --> 00:01:47.040 vaunted and whose wife you widowed in her bridal chamber 30 00:01:47.319 --> 00:01:51.439 while you brought grief unspeakable on his parents. I shall 31 00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:53.680 comfort these poor people if I bring your head and 32 00:01:53.799 --> 00:01:56.040 armor and place them in the hands of Panthouse and 33 00:01:56.079 --> 00:01:59.920 noble Frontis the time is come when this matter shall 34 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:04.319 be fought out and settled for me or against me. 35 00:02:05.640 --> 00:02:08.639 As he spoke, he struck Menelaus full on the shield, 36 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:11.479 but the spear did not go through, for the shield 37 00:02:11.560 --> 00:02:16.680 turned its point. Menelaus then took aim, praying to Father Jove. 38 00:02:16.759 --> 00:02:20.879 As he did so, Euphorbus was drawing back, and Menelaus 39 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:23.560 struck him about the roots of his throat, leaning his 40 00:02:23.719 --> 00:02:26.879 whole weight on the spear, so as to drive it home. 41 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:31.159 The point went clean through his neck, and his armor 42 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:34.439 rang rattling round him. As he fell heavily to the ground. 43 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:38.360 His hair, which was like that of the graces, and 44 00:02:38.439 --> 00:02:41.879 his locks, so deftly bound in bands of silver and gold, 45 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:46.960 were all bedrabbled with blood. As one who has grown 46 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:50.199 a fine young olive tree in a clear space where 47 00:02:50.199 --> 00:02:54.080 there is abundance of water. The plant is full of promise, 48 00:02:54.560 --> 00:02:56.919 and though the winds beat upon it from every quarter, 49 00:02:57.400 --> 00:03:00.439 it puts forth its white blossoms till the of some 50 00:03:00.599 --> 00:03:03.599 fierce hurricanes sweep down upon it and level it with 51 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:07.919 the ground. Even so did Menelaeus strip the fair youth 52 00:03:07.960 --> 00:03:11.240 Euphorbus of his armor after he had slain him. Or 53 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:13.680 as some fierce lion upon the mountains, in the pride 54 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:16.680 of his strength, fastens on the finest heifer in a 55 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:21.400 herd as it is feeding. First he breaks her neck 56 00:03:21.439 --> 00:03:24.159 with his strong jaws, and then gorges on her blood 57 00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:27.759 and entrails. Dogs and shepherds raise a hue and cry 58 00:03:27.800 --> 00:03:30.560 against him, but they stand aloof and will not come 59 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:34.360 close to him, for they are pale with fear. Even 60 00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:37.599 so no one had the courage to face valiant Menelaus, 61 00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:40.879 the son of Atreus, would have then carried off the 62 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:43.639 armor of the son of Panthouse with ease, had not 63 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:46.919 Phoebus Apollo been angry and in the guise of Mentes, 64 00:03:47.080 --> 00:03:51.919 chief of the Secons, incited Hector to attack him. Ector 65 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:55.120 said he, you are now going after the horses of 66 00:03:55.159 --> 00:03:58.879 the noble son of Aachus, but you will not take them. 67 00:03:59.159 --> 00:04:02.240 They cannot be kept in hand and driven by mortal man, 68 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:09.080 save only by Achilles, who is son to an immortal mother. Meanwhile, Menelaeus, 69 00:04:09.159 --> 00:04:12.840 son of Atreus, has bestridden the body of Patroclus and 70 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:16.920 killed the noblest of the Trojans, Euphorbus, son of Panthas, 71 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:20.839 so that he can fight no more. The god then 72 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:23.800 went back into the toil and turmoil, but the soul 73 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:27.399 of Hector was darkened with a cloud of grief. He 74 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:30.879 looked along the ranks and saw Euphorbus lying on the 75 00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:34.439 ground with the blood still flowing from his wound, and 76 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:38.959 Menelaeus stripping him of his armor. On this he made 77 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:41.079 his way to the front like a flame of fire, 78 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:45.199 clad in his gleaming armor and crying with a loud voice. 79 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:49.519 When the son of Atreus heard him, he said to 80 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:54.639 himself in his dismay alas, what shall I do? I 81 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:57.199 may not let the Trojans take the armor of Patroclus, 82 00:04:57.240 --> 00:05:01.040 who has fallen fighting on my behalf. Some dana Ann 83 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:05.160 who sees me should cry shame upon me. Still, if 84 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:07.560 for my honour's sake I fight Hector and the Trojans 85 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:11.160 single handed, they will prove too many for me, for 86 00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:15.720 Hector is bringing them up in force. Why, however, should 87 00:05:15.720 --> 00:05:19.199 I thus hesitate. When a man fights in despite of 88 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:22.639 Heaven with one whom a god befriends, he will soon 89 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:25.959 ruin it. Let no danan think ill of me if 90 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:28.600 I give place to Hector, for the hand of Heaven 91 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:32.680 is with him. Yet, if I could find Ajax, the 92 00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:35.360 two of us would fight Hector and Heaven too. If 93 00:05:35.360 --> 00:05:38.160 we might only save the body of Patroclus for Achilles, 94 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:43.720 son of Pelias, this of many evils would be the least. 95 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:48.000 While he was thus in two minds, the Trojans came 96 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:50.839 up to him, with Hector at their head. He therefore 97 00:05:50.920 --> 00:05:54.199 drew back and left the body, turning about like some 98 00:05:54.319 --> 00:05:57.399 bearded lion who is being chased by dogs and men 99 00:05:57.639 --> 00:06:01.480 from a stockyard with spears and hue and cry, whereon 100 00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:06.839 he is daunted and SLINKs sulkily off. Even so did Menelaeus, 101 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:10.199 son of Atreus, turn and leave the body of Petroclus. 102 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:14.040 When among the body of his men, he looked around 103 00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:18.079 for mighty Ajax, son of Telamann, and presently saw him 104 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:20.759 on the extreme left of the fight, cheering on his 105 00:06:20.839 --> 00:06:24.160 men and exhorting them to keep on fighting. For Phoebus 106 00:06:24.199 --> 00:06:28.120 Apollo had spread a great panic among them. He ran 107 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:32.079 up to him and said, Ajax, my good friend, come 108 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:34.720 with me at once to dead Patroclus, if so be 109 00:06:34.839 --> 00:06:37.879 that we may take the body to Achilles. As for 110 00:06:37.959 --> 00:06:43.240 his armor, Hector already has it. These words stirred the 111 00:06:43.240 --> 00:06:46.040 heart of Ajax, and he made his way among the 112 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:51.399 front ranks, Menelaeus going with him. Hector had stripped Petroclus 113 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:53.959 of his armor and was dragging him away to cut 114 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:56.399 off his head and take the body to fling before 115 00:06:56.439 --> 00:07:00.000 the dogs of Troy. But Ajax came up with him, 116 00:07:00.120 --> 00:07:04.000 shield like wall before him, on which Hector withdrew under 117 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:07.000 shelter of his men and sprang on to his chariot, 118 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:09.839 giving the armor over to the Trojans to take to 119 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:13.800 the city as a great trophy for himself. Ajax therefore 120 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:16.519 covered the body of Patroclus with his broad shield and 121 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:20.240 bestrode him as a lion stands over his whelps. If 122 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:22.920 hunters have come upon him in a forest, when he 123 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:26.920 is with his little ones, in the pride and fierceness 124 00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:30.160 of his strength, he draws his knit brows down till 125 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:34.839 they cover his eyes. Even so did Ajax bestride the 126 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:38.639 body of Patroclus, and by his side stood Menelaeus, son 127 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:43.439 of Atreus, nursing great sorrow in his heart. Then Glaucus, 128 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:47.680 son of Hippolochus, looked fiercely at Hector and rebuked him sternly. 129 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:52.600 Hector said, he you make a brave show, but in 130 00:07:52.720 --> 00:07:57.000 fight you are sadly wanting. A runaway like yourself, has 131 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:01.079 no claim to so great a reputation. Think how you 132 00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:03.959 may now save your town and citadel by the hands 133 00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:07.079 of your own people born in Ilius. For you will 134 00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:10.199 get no Lycians to fight for you, seeing what thanks 135 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:14.199 they have had for their incessant hardships. Are you likely, sir, 136 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:16.639 to do anything to help a man of less note? 137 00:08:17.079 --> 00:08:20.000 After leaving Sarpadan, who was at once your guest and 138 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:22.680 comrade in arms, to be the spoil and prey of 139 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:26.160 the Danaans. So long as he lived, he did good 140 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:29.839 service both to your city and yourself. Yet you had 141 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:33.159 no stomach to save his body from the dogs. If 142 00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:35.919 the Lysians will listen to me, they will go home 143 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:39.360 and leave Troy to its fate. If the Trojans had 144 00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:42.440 any of that daring, fearless spirit which lays hold of 145 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:45.240 men who are fighting for their country and harassing those 146 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:48.720 who would attack it, we should soon bear off Patroclus 147 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:52.399 into Ilius. Could we get this dead man away and 148 00:08:52.440 --> 00:08:55.639 bring him into the city of Priam, the archives would 149 00:08:55.679 --> 00:08:58.360 readily give up the armor of Sarpedon, and we should 150 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:01.279 get his body to boot, For he whose squire has 151 00:09:01.320 --> 00:09:04.000 been now killed is the foremost man at the ships 152 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:08.679 of the Achaeans, he and his close fighting followers. Nevertheless, 153 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:11.720 you dared not make a stand against Ajax, nor face 154 00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:14.399 him eye to eye, with battle all round you, for 155 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:18.039 he is a braver man than you are. Hector scowled 156 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:22.240 at him and answered, Glaucus, you should know better. I 157 00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:24.000 have held you so far as a man of more 158 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:27.960 understanding than any in all Lycia. But now I despise 159 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:31.039 you for saying that I am afraid of Ajax. I 160 00:09:31.080 --> 00:09:34.480 fear neither battle nor the din of chariots. But Jove's 161 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:38.000 will is stronger than ours. Jove at one time makes 162 00:09:38.080 --> 00:09:41.200 even a strong man draw back and snatches victory from 163 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:44.440 his grasp, while at another he will set him on 164 00:09:44.519 --> 00:09:48.639 to fight. Come hither, then, my friend, stand by me, 165 00:09:49.159 --> 00:09:51.440 and see indeed whether I shall play the coward the 166 00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:54.360 whole day through as you say, or whether I shall 167 00:09:54.360 --> 00:09:56.879 not stay some even of the boldest dyn arms from 168 00:09:56.879 --> 00:10:01.159 fighting round the body of Patroclus. He spoke. He called 169 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:07.320 loudly on the Trojans, saying, Trojans, Lysians and Dardanians fighters 170 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:11.360 in close combat. Be men, my friends, and fight might 171 00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:15.000 and main. While I put on the goodly armor of Achilles, 172 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:20.559 which I took when I killed Patroclus. With this, Hector 173 00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:23.559 left the fight and ran full speed after his men, 174 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:26.200 who were taking the armor of Achilles to Troy, but 175 00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:30.320 had not yet got far. Standing for a while, apart 176 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:34.279 from the woeful fight, he changed his armor, his own. 177 00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:36.320 He sent to the strong city of Ilius and to 178 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:39.799 the Trojans, while he put on the immortal armor of 179 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:42.919 the son of Pelias, which the gods had given to Pelias, 180 00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:46.639 who in his age gave it to his son. But 181 00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:49.200 the son did not grow old in his father's armor. 182 00:10:51.960 --> 00:10:55.399 When Jove, lord of the storm Cloud, saw Hector standing 183 00:10:55.399 --> 00:10:57.960 aloof and arming himself in the armor of the son 184 00:10:57.960 --> 00:11:03.159 of Pelias, he wagged his head and muttered to himself, saying, ah, 185 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:06.480 poor wretch, you arm in the armor of a hero 186 00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:10.360 before whom many another trembles, and you wreck nothing of 187 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:14.320 the doom that is already close upon you. You have 188 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:17.799 killed his comrade, so brave and strong, but it was 189 00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:20.039 not well that you should strip the armor from his 190 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:23.399 head and shoulders. I do indeed endow you with great 191 00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:26.759 might now, but as against this, you shall not return 192 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:28.960 from battle to lay the armor of the son of 193 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:35.320 Pelias before Andromache, the son of Saturn, bowed his portentous brows, 194 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:38.840 and Hector fitted the armor to his body, while terrible 195 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:41.799 Mars entered into him and filled his whole body with 196 00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:45.559 might and valor. With a shout, he strode in among 197 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:48.200 the allies, and his armor flashed about him, so that 198 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:50.000 he seemed to all of them like the great son 199 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:53.960 of Pelias himself. He went about among them and cheered 200 00:11:53.960 --> 00:12:01.360 them on. Mesthelees, Glaucus, Medon, Thersilicus, Asteropaeus, Dysonor and Hippothos, 201 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:06.720 forces Chromius, and Anemous the Auger. All these did he exhort, saying, 202 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:11.080 hear me, allies from other cities, who are here in 203 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:13.480 your thousands. It was not in order to have a 204 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:16.080 crowd about me that I called you hither, each from 205 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:19.639 his several city, but that with heart and soul you 206 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:22.200 might defend the wives and little ones of the Trojans 207 00:12:22.200 --> 00:12:25.399 from the fierce a Kaians. For this do I oppress 208 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:28.279 my people, with your food and the presence that make 209 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:33.039 you rich. Therefore, turn and charge at the foe, to 210 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:36.559 stand or fall, as is the game of war. Whoever 211 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:40.360 shall bring Patroclus dead, though he be, into the hands 212 00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:44.399 of the Trojans, and shall make Ajax give way before him, 213 00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:47.799 I will give him one half of the spoils, while 214 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:51.200 I keep the other. He will thus share like honor 215 00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:55.919 with myself. When he had thus spoken, they charged full 216 00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:59.320 weight upon the Dnaans, with their spears held out before them, 217 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:02.000 and the hope of each ran high that he should 218 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:05.240 force Ajax, son of Telemann, to yield up the body 219 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:08.240 fools that they were, for he was about to take 220 00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:14.080 the lives of many. Then Ajax said to Menelaus, my 221 00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:17.919 good friend, Menilaeus, you and I shall hardly come out 222 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:21.039 of this fight alive. I am less concerned for the 223 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:24.320 body of Patroclus, who will shortly become meat for the 224 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:27.840 dogs and vultures of Troy, than for the safety of 225 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:31.720 my own head and yours. Hector has wrapped us round 226 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:34.840 in a storm of battle from every quarter, and our 227 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:38.879 destruction seems now certain. Call then, upon the princes of 228 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:41.559 the Dinans, if there is any who can hear us. 229 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:46.120 Menelaeus did as he said, and shouted to the Dinans 230 00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:49.600 for help at the top of his voice. My friends, 231 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:54.720 he cried, princes and counselors of the argives all you 232 00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:58.480 who with Agamemnon and Menelaeus drink at the public cost, 233 00:13:58.919 --> 00:14:01.200 and give orders each to his own people, as Jove 234 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:04.720 vouchsafes him power and glory. The fight is so thick 235 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:09.080 about me that I cannot distinguish you severally. Come on, therefore, 236 00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:12.799 every man, unbidden, and think it shame that Patroclus should 237 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:17.799 become meat and morsel for Trojan hounds. Fleet Ajax son 238 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:20.320 of Eulius, heard him, and was first to force his 239 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:24.000 way through the fight and run to help him. Next 240 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:28.759 came my Dominius, and merionis his esquire, peer of murderous Mars. 241 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:32.519 As for the others that came into the fight after these, 242 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:37.360 who of his own self could name them, The Trojans, 243 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:41.000 with hector at their head, charged in a body as 244 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:43.519 a great wave that comes thundering in at the mouth 245 00:14:43.559 --> 00:14:46.720 of some heaven born river, and the rocks that jut 246 00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:48.840 into the sea ring with the roar of the breakers 247 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:52.279 that beat and buffet them. Even with such a roar 248 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:57.000 did the Trojans come on. But the Achaeans, in singleness 249 00:14:57.000 --> 00:15:00.480 of heart, stood firm about the son of Menoetius, and 250 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:05.919 fenced him with their bronze shields. Jove moreover hid the 251 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:09.039 brightness of their helmets in a thick cloud. For he 252 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:11.960 had borne no grudge against the son of Menoetius while 253 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:16.679 he was still alive and squire to the descendant of Iarchus. Therefore, 254 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:18.639 he was loth to let him fall a prey to 255 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:21.519 the dogs of his foes, the Trojans, and urged his 256 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:27.120 comrades on to defend him. At first, the Trojans drove 257 00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:30.480 the Achaeans back, and they withdrew from the dead man. Daunted, 258 00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:35.600 the Trojans did not succeed in killing anyone. Nevertheless, they 259 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:39.080 drew the body away, but the Achaeans did not lose 260 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:43.279 it long for Ajax, foremost of all the Denans, after 261 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:46.799 the son of Pelias, alike in stature and prowess, quickly 262 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:50.360 rallied them and made towards the front. Like a wild 263 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:52.960 boar upon the mountains when he stands at bay in 264 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:56.240 the forest glades and routs the hounds and lusty youths 265 00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:59.799 that have attacked him. Even so did Ajax, son of 266 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:03.759 ten Eleemon, passing easily in among the phalanxes of the Trojans, 267 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:07.679 dispersed those who had bestridden Patroclus and were most bent 268 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:10.320 on winning glory by dragging him off to their city. 269 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:15.559 At this moment, Hippothous, brave, son of the Pelasgian Lethus, 270 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:18.840 in his zeal for Hector and the Trojans, was dragging 271 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:20.639 the body off by the foot through the press of 272 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:23.519 the fight, having bound a strap round the sinews near 273 00:16:23.559 --> 00:16:26.879 the ankle. But a mischief soon befell him, from which 274 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:29.399 none of those could save him. Who would have gladly 275 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:32.320 done so, for the son of Telemonn sprang forward and 276 00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:36.080 smote him on his bronze cheeked helmet. The plumed head 277 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:38.879 piece broke about the point of the weapon, struck at 278 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:41.919 once by the spear and by the strong hand of Ajax, 279 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:44.720 so that the bloody brain came oozing out through the 280 00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:48.919 crest socket. His strength then failed him, and he let 281 00:16:48.919 --> 00:16:52.039 Patroclus's foot drop from his hand as he fell full 282 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:55.279 length dead upon the body. Thus he died far from 283 00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:58.600 the fertile land of Larissa, and never repaid his parents 284 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:01.080 the cost of bringing him up, for his life was 285 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:05.359 cut short early by the spear of mighty Ajax. Hector 286 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:08.039 then took aim at Ajax with a spear, but he 287 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:11.119 saw it coming and just managed to avoid it. The 288 00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:15.200 spear passed on and struck Skedias, son of noble Ephytus, 289 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:19.400 captain of the Phocians, who dwelt in famed Panopeus and 290 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:23.039 reigned over much people. It struck him under the middle 291 00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:26.599 of the collarbone. The bronze point went right through him, 292 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:29.599 coming out at the bottom of his shoulder blade, and 293 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:32.920 his armor rang rattling round him as he fell heavily 294 00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:37.920 to the ground. Ajax, in his turn, struck noble Force's 295 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:41.000 son of Phoenops, in the middle of the belly as 296 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:44.880 he was bestriding Hippothous, and broke the plate of his cuirass, 297 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:49.000 whereon the spear tore out his entrails, and he clutched 298 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:51.039 the ground in his palm as he fell to earth. 299 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:54.839 Hector and those who were in the front rank then 300 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:58.839 gave ground, while the Argives raised a loud cry of 301 00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:02.599 triumph and drew off the bodies of Forces and Hippothous, 302 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:07.359 which they stripped presently of their armor. The Trojans would 303 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:10.359 now have been worsted by the brave Achaeans and driven 304 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:13.799 back to Ilius through their own cowardice, while the Argives, 305 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:17.160 so great was their courage and endurance, would have achieved 306 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:20.640 a triumph even against the will of Jove. If Apollo 307 00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:24.079 had not roused Aeneus in the likeness of Periphus, son 308 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:27.440 of Epeitus, an attendant who had grown old in the 309 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:31.039 service of Aeneus's aged father, and was at all times 310 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:36.720 devoted to him in his likeness, then Apollo said, Eneus, 311 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:40.240 can you not manage, even though Heaven be against us 312 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:46.440 to save high Ilius. I have known men whose numbers, courage, 313 00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:50.000 and self reliance have saved their people in spite of Jove, 314 00:18:50.839 --> 00:18:53.920 whereas in this case he would much rather give victory 315 00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:56.680 to us than to the Dnans, if you would only 316 00:18:56.720 --> 00:19:01.240 fight instead of being so terribly afraid. Eneus knew Apollo 317 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:04.359 when he looked straight at him and shouted to Hector, saying, 318 00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:08.759 Hector and all other Trojans and allies, shame on us 319 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:11.519 if we are beaten by the Achaeans and driven back 320 00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:15.519 to Ilius through our own cowardice. A god has just 321 00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:17.559 come up to me and told me that Jove, the 322 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:21.240 supreme disposer, will be with us. Therefore, let us make 323 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:23.960 for the Danons, that it may go hard with them 324 00:19:24.119 --> 00:19:28.440 ere they bear away dead Patroclus to the ships. As 325 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:31.519 he spoke, he sprang out far in front of the others, 326 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:37.039 who then rallied and again faced the Achaeans. Eneas Spearedlyocritus, 327 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:41.640 son of arisbas a valiant follower of Lycomedes, and Lycomedes 328 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:44.880 was moved with pity as he saw him fall. He 329 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:48.720 therefore went close up and speared Apisaeon's son of Hippasus, 330 00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:51.000 shepherd of his people in the liver under the midriff, 331 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:54.759 so that he died. He had come from fertile Paeonia, 332 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:58.480 and was the best man of them all after astor Apaeus. 333 00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:02.640 Astor Apaeus flew forward to avenge him and attack the Denians. 334 00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:06.279 But this might no longer be inasmuch as those about 335 00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:09.519 Patroclus were well covered by their shields and held their 336 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:12.160 spears in front of them, for Ajax had given them 337 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:14.960 strict orders that no man was either to give ground 338 00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:18.519 or to stand out before the others, but all were 339 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:21.519 to hold well together about the body and fight hand 340 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:25.640 to hand. Thus did huge Ajax bid them, and the 341 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:28.640 earth ran red with blood as the corpses fell thick 342 00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:31.599 on one another alike, on the side of the Trojans 343 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:35.759 and allies, and on that of the Darn'ans. For these 344 00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:39.799 last two fought no bloodless fight, though many fewer of 345 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:42.359 them perished through the care they took to defend and 346 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:47.440 stand by one another. Thus did they fight, as it 347 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:50.559 were a flaming fire. It seemed as though it had 348 00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:54.039 gone hard even with the sun and moon, for they 349 00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:56.880 were hidden over all that part where the bravest heroes 350 00:20:56.880 --> 00:21:00.440 were fighting about the dead son of Menoetius, whereas the 351 00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:04.240 other Danaeans and Achaeans fought at their ease in full daylight, 352 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:07.440 with brilliant sunshine all round them, and there was not 353 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:09.880 a cloud to be seen, neither on plain nor mountain. 354 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:13.839 These last, moreover would rest for a while and leave 355 00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:17.039 off fighting, for they were some distance apart and beyond 356 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:20.039 the range of one another's weapons. Whereas those who were 357 00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:22.640 in the thick of the fray suffered both from battle 358 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:26.759 and darkness. All the best of them were being worn 359 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:30.759 out by the great weight of their armour. But the 360 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:35.200 two valiant heroes, through Symides and Antilochus, had not yet 361 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:38.240 heard of the death of Patroclus, and believed him to 362 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:41.559 be still alive and leading the van against the Trojans. 363 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:45.559 They were keeping themselves in reserve against the death or 364 00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:49.279 rout of their own comrades, for so Nestor had ordered 365 00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:52.839 when he sent them from the ships into battle. Thus 366 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:56.079 through the live long day did they wage fierce war, 367 00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:59.039 and the sweat of their toil reigned ever on their 368 00:21:59.119 --> 00:22:02.279 legs under them, and on their hands and eyes. As 369 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:05.119 they fought over the squire of the fleet sun of Pelias. 370 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:08.880 It was as when a man gives a great ox hide, 371 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:12.039 all drenched in fat, to his men, and bids them 372 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:15.440 stretch it, whereon they stand round it in a ring, 373 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:18.400 and tug till the moisture leaves it and the fat 374 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:21.079 soaks in, for the many that pull at it, and 375 00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:24.240 it is well stretched. Even so did the two sides 376 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:26.880 tug the dead body hither and thither, within the compass 377 00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:30.920 of but a little space. The Trojans steadfastly set on 378 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:34.359 dragging it into Ilius, while the Achaeans were no less 379 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:37.160 so on taking it to their ships. And fierce was 380 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:42.079 the fight between them. Not Mars himself, the lord of Hosts, 381 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:46.480 nor yet Minerva, even in their fullest fury, could make 382 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:50.119 light of such a battle. Such fearful turmoil of men 383 00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:53.119 and horses did jove on that day ordain round the 384 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:56.839 body of Patroclus. Meanwhile, Achilles did not know that he 385 00:22:56.880 --> 00:23:00.160 had fallen, for the fight was under the wall of Troy, 386 00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:04.720 a long way off the ships. He had no idea, therefore, 387 00:23:04.920 --> 00:23:08.440 that Patroclus was dead, and deemed that he would return alive. 388 00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:10.640 As soon as he had gone close up to the gates. 389 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:13.720 He knew that he was not to sack the city 390 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:18.559 neither with nor without himself. For his mother had often 391 00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:21.039 told him this when he had sat alone with her, 392 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:26.359 and she had informed him of the councils of great Jove. Now, however, 393 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:29.359 she had not told him how great a disaster had 394 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:31.559 befallen him in the death of the one who was 395 00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:35.599 far dearest to him of all his comrades. The others 396 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:38.279 still kept on charging one another round the body with 397 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:42.759 their pointed spears and killing each other. Then would one say, 398 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:47.640 my friends, we can never again show our faces at 399 00:23:47.640 --> 00:23:52.799 the ships. Better and greatly better that earth should open 400 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:55.400 and swallow us here in this place, than that we 401 00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:58.160