Iliad

Thus did they fight about the ship of Protesilaos. Then Patroklos drew near to Achilles with tears welling from his eyes, as from some spring whose crystal stream falls over the ledges of a high precipice. When Achilles saw him thus weeping he was sorry for him and said, "Why, Patroklos, do you stand there weeping like some silly child that comes running to her mother, and begs to be taken up and carried- she catches hold of her mother's dress to stay her though she is in a hurry, and looks tearfully up until her mother carries her - even such tears, Patroklos, are you now shedding. Have you anything to say to the Myrmidons or to myself? or have you had news from Phthia which you alone know? They tell me Menoitios son of Aktor is still alive, as also Peleus son of Aiakos, among the Myrmidons - men whose loss we two should bitterly deplore; or are you grieving about the Argives and the way in which they are being killed at the ships, through their own high-handed doings? Do not hide in your mind [ noos ] anything from me but tell me that both of us may know about it."

ὣς οἳ μὲν περὶ νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μάχοντο·

Πάτροκλος δʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ παρίστατο ποιμένι λαῶν

δάκρυα θερμὰ χέων ὥς τε κρήνη μελάνυδρος,

ἥ τε κατʼ αἰγίλιπος πέτρης δνοφερὸν χέει ὕδωρ.

τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ᾤκτιρε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

τίπτε δεδάκρυσαι Πατρόκλεες, ἠΰτε κούρη

νηπίη, ἥ θʼ ἅμα μητρὶ θέουσʼ ἀνελέσθαι ἀνώγει

εἱανοῦ ἁπτομένη, καί τʼ ἐσσυμένην κατερύκει,

δακρυόεσσα δέ μιν ποτιδέρκεται, ὄφρʼ ἀνέληται·

τῇ ἴκελος Πάτροκλε τέρεν κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβεις.

ἠέ τι Μυρμιδόνεσσι πιφαύσκεαι, ἢ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ,

ἦέ τινʼ ἀγγελίην Φθίης ἐξέκλυες οἶος;

ζώειν μὰν ἔτι φασὶ Μενοίτιον Ἄκτορος υἱόν,

ζώει δʼ Αἰακίδης Πηλεὺς μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσι;

τῶν κε μάλʼ ἀμφοτέρων ἀκαχοίμεθα τεθνηώτων.

ἦε σύ γʼ Ἀργείων ὀλοφύρεαι, ὡς ὀλέκονται

νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ὑπερβασίης ἕνεκα σφῆς;

ἐξαύδα, μὴ κεῦθε νόῳ, ἵνα εἴδομεν ἄμφω.

Then, O horseman Patroklos, with a deep sigh you answered, "Achilles, son of Peleus, foremost champion of the Achaeans, do not be angry, but I feel grief [ akhos ] for the disaster that has now befallen the Argives. All those who have been their champions so far are lying at the ships, wounded by sword or spear. Brave Diomedes son of Tydeus has been hit with a spear, while famed Odysseus and Agamemnon have received sword-wounds;

τὸν δὲ βαρὺ στενάχων προσέφης Πατρόκλεες ἱππεῦ·

ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ Πηλῆος υἱὲ μέγα φέρτατʼ Ἀχαιῶν

μὴ νεμέσα· τοῖον γὰρ ἄχος βεβίηκεν Ἀχαιούς.

οἳ μὲν γὰρ δὴ πάντες, ὅσοι πάρος ἦσαν ἄριστοι,

ἐν νηυσὶν κέαται βεβλημένοι οὐτάμενοί τε.

βέβληται μὲν ὃ Τυδεΐδης κρατερὸς Διομήδης,

οὔτασται δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς δουρικλυτὸς ἠδʼ Ἀγαμέμνων,

Eurypylos again has been struck with an arrow in the thigh; skilled apothecaries are attending to these heroes, and healing them of their wounds; are you still, O Achilles, so inexorable? May it never be my lot to nurse such a passion as you have done, to the baning of your own good name. Who in future story will speak well of you unless you now save the Argives from ruin? You know no pity; horseman Peleus was not your father nor Thetis your mother, but the gray sea bore you and the sheer cliffs begot you, so cruel and remorseless are you in your thinking [ noos ]. If however you are kept back through knowledge of some oracle, or if your mother Thetis has told you something from the mouth of Zeus, at least send me and the Myrmidons with me, if I may bring deliverance to the Danaans. Let me moreover wear your armor; the Trojans may thus mistake me for you and quit the field, so that the hard-pressed sons of the Achaeans may have breathing time- which while they are fighting may hardly be. We who are fresh might soon drive tired men back from our ships and tents to their own city."

βέβληται δὲ καὶ Εὐρύπυλος κατὰ μηρὸν ὀϊστῷ.

τοὺς μέν τʼ ἰητροὶ πολυφάρμακοι ἀμφιπένονται

ἕλκεʼ ἀκειόμενοι· σὺ δʼ ἀμήχανος ἔπλευ Ἀχιλλεῦ.

μὴ ἐμέ γʼ οὖν οὗτός γε λάβοι χόλος, ὃν σὺ φυλάσσεις

αἰναρέτη· τί σευ ἄλλος ὀνήσεται ὀψίγονός περ

αἴ κε μὴ Ἀργείοισιν ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀμύνῃς;

νηλεές, οὐκ ἄρα σοί γε πατὴρ ἦν ἱππότα Πηλεύς,

οὐδὲ Θέτις μήτηρ· γλαυκὴ δέ σε τίκτε θάλασσα

πέτραι τʼ ἠλίβατοι, ὅτι τοι νόος ἐστὶν ἀπηνής.

εἰ δέ τινα φρεσὶ σῇσι θεοπροπίην ἀλεείνεις

καί τινά τοι πὰρ Ζηνὸς ἐπέφραδε πότνια μήτηρ,

ἀλλʼ ἐμέ περ πρόες ὦχʼ, ἃμα δʼ ἄλλον λαὸν ὄπασσον

Μυρμιδόνων, ἤν πού τι φόως Δαναοῖσι γένωμαι.

δὸς δέ μοι ὤμοιιν τὰ σὰ τεύχεα θωρηχθῆναι,

αἴ κʼ ἐμὲ σοὶ ἴσκοντες ἀπόσχωνται πολέμοιο

Τρῶες, ἀναπνεύσωσι δʼ Ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

τειρόμενοι· ὀλίγη δέ τʼ ἀνάπνευσις πολέμοιο.

ῥεῖα δέ κʼ ἀκμῆτες κεκμηότας ἄνδρας ἀϋτῇ

ὤσαιμεν προτὶ ἄστυ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων.

He knew not what he was asking, nor that he was suing for his own destruction. Achilles was deeply moved and answered, "What, noble Patroklos, are you saying? I know no prophesyings which I am heeding, nor has my mother told me anything from the mouth of Zeus, but I am cut to the very heart with grief [ akhos ] that one of my own rank should dare to rob me because he is more powerful than I am. This grief [ akhos ], after all that I have gone through, is more than I can endure. The girl whom the sons of the Achaeans chose for me, whom I won as the fruit of my spear on having sacked a city - her has King Agamemnon taken from me as though I were some common vagrant. Still, let bygones be bygones: no man may keep his anger for ever; I said I would not relent till battle and the cry of war had reached my own ships; nevertheless, now gird my armor about your shoulders, and lead the Myrmidons to battle, for the dark cloud of Trojans has burst furiously over our fleet;

ὣς φάτο λισσόμενος μέγα νήπιος· ἦ γὰρ ἔμελλεν

οἷ αὐτῷ θάνατόν τε κακὸν καὶ κῆρα λιτέσθαι.

τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·

ὤ μοι διογενὲς Πατρόκλεες οἷον ἔειπες·

οὔτε θεοπροπίης ἐμπάζομαι ἥν τινα οἶδα,

οὔτέ τί μοι πὰρ Ζηνὸς ἐπέφραδε πότνια μήτηρ·

ἀλλὰ τόδʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἱκάνει,

ὁππότε δὴ τὸν ὁμοῖον ἀνὴρ ἐθέλῃσιν ἀμέρσαι

καὶ γέρας ἂψ ἀφελέσθαι, ὅ τε κράτεϊ προβεβήκῃ·

αἰνὸν ἄχος τό μοί ἐστιν, ἐπεὶ πάθον ἄλγεα θυμῷ.

κούρην ἣν ἄρα μοι γέρας ἔξελον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,

δουρὶ δʼ ἐμῷ κτεάτισσα πόλιν εὐτείχεα πέρσας,

τὴν ἂψ ἐκ χειρῶν ἕλετο κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

Ἀτρεΐδης ὡς εἴ τινʼ ἀτίμητον μετανάστην.

ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν προτετύχθαι ἐάσομεν· οὐδʼ ἄρα πως ἦν

ἀσπερχὲς κεχολῶσθαι ἐνὶ φρεσίν· ἤτοι ἔφην γε

οὐ πρὶν μηνιθμὸν καταπαυσέμεν, ἀλλʼ ὁπότʼ ἂν δὴ

νῆας ἐμὰς ἀφίκηται ἀϋτή τε πτόλεμός τε.

τύνη δʼ ὤμοιιν μὲν ἐμὰ κλυτὰ τεύχεα δῦθι,

ἄρχε δὲ Μυρμιδόνεσσι φιλοπτολέμοισι μάχεσθαι,

εἰ δὴ κυάνεον Τρώων νέφος ἀμφιβέβηκε

the Argives are driven back on to the beach, cooped within a narrow space, and the whole people of Troy has taken heart to sally out against them, because they see not the visor of my helmet gleaming near them. Had they seen this, there would not have been a creek nor grip that had not been filled with their dead as they fled back again. And so it would have been, if only King Agamemnon had dealt fairly by me. As it is the Trojans have beset our host. Diomedes son of Tydeus no longer wields his spear to defend the Danaans, neither have I heard the voice of the son of Atreus coming from his hated [ ekhthrê ] head, whereas that of murderous Hektor rings in my cars as he gives orders to the Trojans, who triumph over the Achaeans and fill the whole plain with their cry of battle. But even so, Patroklos, fall upon them and save the fleet, lest the Trojans fire it and deprive us of our safe homecoming [ nostos ]. Bring to fulfillment [ telos ] what I now order you to do, so that you may win me great honor [ timê ] from all the Danaans, and that they may restore the girl to me again and give me rich gifts into the bargain. When you have driven the Trojans from the ships, come back again. Though Hera's thundering husband should put triumph within your reach, do not fight the Trojans further in my absence, or you will rob me of glory that should be mine. And do not for lust of battle go on killing the Trojans nor lead the Achaeans on to Ilion , lest one of the ever-living gods from Olympus attack you - for Phoebus Apollo loves them well: return when you have freed the ships from peril, and let others wage war upon the plain. Would, by father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo, that not a single man of all the Trojans might be left alive, nor yet of the Argives, but that we two might be alone left to tear aside the mantle that veils the brow of Troy ."

νηυσὶν ἐπικρατέως, οἳ δὲ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης

κεκλίαται, χώρης ὀλίγην ἔτι μοῖραν ἔχοντες

Ἀργεῖοι, Τρώων δὲ πόλις ἐπὶ πᾶσα βέβηκε

θάρσυνος· οὐ γὰρ ἐμῆς κόρυθος λεύσσουσι μέτωπον

ἐγγύθι λαμπομένης· τάχα κεν φεύγοντες ἐναύλους

πλήσειαν νεκύων, εἴ μοι κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

ἤπια εἰδείη· νῦν δὲ στρατὸν ἀμφιμάχονται.

οὐ γὰρ Τυδεΐδεω Διομήδεος ἐν παλάμῃσι

μαίνεται ἐγχείη Δαναῶν ἀπὸ λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι·

οὐδέ πω Ἀτρεΐδεω ὀπὸς ἔκλυον αὐδήσαντος

ἐχθρῆς ἐκ κεφαλῆς· ἀλλʼ Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο

Τρωσὶ κελεύοντος περιάγνυται, οἳ δʼ ἀλαλητῷ

πᾶν πεδίον κατέχουσι μάχῃ νικῶντες Ἀχαιούς.

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς Πάτροκλε νεῶν ἄπο λοιγὸν ἀμύνων

ἔμπεσʼ ἐπικρατέως, μὴ δὴ πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο

νῆας ἐνιπρήσωσι, φίλον δʼ ἀπὸ νόστον ἕλωνται.

πείθεο δʼ ὥς τοι ἐγὼ μύθου τέλος ἐν φρεσὶ θείω,

ὡς ἄν μοι τιμὴν μεγάλην καὶ κῦδος ἄρηαι

πρὸς πάντων Δαναῶν, ἀτὰρ οἳ περικαλλέα κούρην

ἂψ ἀπονάσσωσιν, ποτὶ δʼ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα πόρωσιν.

ἐκ νηῶν ἐλάσας ἰέναι πάλιν· εἰ δέ κεν αὖ τοι

δώῃ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης,

μὴ σύ γʼ ἄνευθεν ἐμεῖο λιλαίεσθαι πολεμίζειν

Τρωσὶ φιλοπτολέμοισιν· ἀτιμότερον δέ με θήσεις·

μὴ δʼ ἐπαγαλλόμενος πολέμῳ καὶ δηϊοτῆτι

Τρῶας ἐναιρόμενος προτὶ Ἴλιον ἡγεμονεύειν,

μή τις ἀπʼ Οὐλύμποιο θεῶν αἰειγενετάων

ἐμβήῃ· μάλα τούς γε φιλεῖ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων·

ἀλλὰ πάλιν τρωπᾶσθαι, ἐπὴν φάος ἐν νήεσσι

θήῃς, τοὺς δʼ ἔτʼ ἐᾶν πεδίον κάτα δηριάασθαι.

αἲ γὰρ Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον

μήτέ τις οὖν Τρώων θάνατον φύγοι ὅσσοι ἔασι,

μήτέ τις Ἀργείων, νῶϊν δʼ ἐκδῦμεν ὄλεθρον,

ὄφρʼ οἶοι Τροίης ἱερὰ κρήδεμνα λύωμεν.

Thus did they converse. But Ajax could no longer hold his ground for the shower of darts that rained upon him; the will [ noos ] of Zeus and the javelins of the Trojans were too much for him; the helmet that gleamed about his temples rang with the continuous clatter of the missiles that kept pouring on to it and on to the cheek-pieces that protected his face. Moreover his left shoulder was tired with having held his shield so long, yet for all this, let fly at him as they would, they could not make him give ground. He could hardly draw his breath, the sweat rained from every pore of his body, he had not a moment's respite, and on all sides he was beset by danger upon danger.

ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,

Αἴας δʼ οὐκ ἔτʼ ἔμιμνε· βιάζετο γὰρ βελέεσσι·

δάμνα μιν Ζηνός τε νόος καὶ Τρῶες ἀγαυοὶ

βάλλοντες· δεινὴν δὲ περὶ κροτάφοισι φαεινὴ

πήληξ βαλλομένη καναχὴν ἔχε, βάλλετο δʼ αἰεὶ

κὰπ φάλαρʼ εὐποίηθʼ· ὃ δʼ ἀριστερὸν ὦμον ἔκαμνεν

ἔμπεδον αἰὲν ἔχων σάκος αἰόλον· οὐδὲ δύναντο

ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ πελεμίξαι ἐρείδοντες βελέεσσιν.

αἰεὶ δʼ ἀργαλέῳ ἔχετʼ ἄσθματι, κὰδ δέ οἱ ἱδρὼς

πάντοθεν ἐκ μελέων πολὺς ἔρρεεν, οὐδέ πῃ εἶχεν

ἀμπνεῦσαι· πάντῃ δὲ κακὸν κακῷ ἐστήρικτο.

And now, tell me, O Muses that hold your mansions on Olympus , how fire was thrown upon the ships of the Achaeans. Hektor came close up and let drive with his great sword at the ashen spear of Ajax. He cut it clean in two just behind where the point was fastened on to the shaft of the spear. Ajax, therefore, had now nothing but a headless spear, while the bronze point flew some way off and came ringing down on to the ground. Ajax knew the hand of heaven in this, and was dismayed at seeing that Zeus had now left him utterly defenseless and was willing victory for the Trojans. Therefore he drew back, and the Trojans flung fire upon the ship which was at once wrapped in flame.

ἔσπετε νῦν μοι Μοῦσαι Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχουσαι,

ὅππως δὴ πρῶτον πῦρ ἔμπεσε νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.

Ἕκτωρ Αἴαντος δόρυ μείλινον ἄγχι παραστὰς

πλῆξʼ ἄορι μεγάλῳ αἰχμῆς παρὰ καυλὸν ὄπισθεν,

ἀντικρὺ δʼ ἀπάραξε· τὸ μὲν Τελαμώνιος Αἴας

πῆλʼ αὔτως ἐν χειρὶ κόλον δόρυ, τῆλε δʼ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ

αἰχμὴ χαλκείη χαμάδις βόμβησε πεσοῦσα.

γνῶ δʼ Αἴας κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονα ῥίγησέν τε

ἔργα θεῶν, ὅ ῥα πάγχυ μάχης ἐπὶ μήδεα κεῖρε

Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης, Τρώεσσι δὲ βούλετο νίκην·

χάζετο δʼ ἐκ βελέων. τοὶ δʼ ἔμβαλον ἀκάματον πῦρ

νηῒ θοῇ· τῆς δʼ αἶψα κατʼ ἀσβέστη κέχυτο φλόξ.

The fire was now flaring about the ship's stern, whereon Achilles smote his two thighs and said to Patroklos, "Up, noble horseman, for I see the glare of hostile fire at our fleet; up, lest they destroy our ships, and there be no way by which we may retreat. Gird on your armor at once while I call our people together."

ὣς τὴν μὲν πρυμνὴν πῦρ ἄμφεπεν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

μηρὼ πληξάμενος Πατροκλῆα προσέειπεν·

ὄρσεο διογενὲς Πατρόκλεες ἱπποκέλευθε·

λεύσσω δὴ παρὰ νηυσὶ πυρὸς δηΐοιο ἰωήν·

μὴ δὴ νῆας ἕλωσι καὶ οὐκέτι φυκτὰ πέλωνται·

δύσεο τεύχεα θᾶσσον, ἐγὼ δέ κε λαὸν ἀγείρω.

ὣς φάτο, Πάτροκλος δὲ κορύσσετο νώροπι χαλκῷ.

As he spoke Patroklos put on his armor. First he greaved his legs with greaves of good make, and fitted with ankle-clasps of silver; after this he donned the cuirass of the son of Aiakos, richly inlaid and studded. He hung his silver-studded sword of bronze about his shoulders, and then his mighty shield. On his comely head he set his helmet, well wrought, with a crest of horse-hair that nodded menacingly above it. He grasped two redoubtable spears that suited his hands, but he did not take the spear of noble Achilles, so stout and strong,

κνημῖδας μὲν πρῶτα περὶ κνήμῃσιν ἔθηκε

καλάς, ἀργυρέοισιν ἐπισφυρίοις ἀραρυίας·

δεύτερον αὖ θώρηκα περὶ στήθεσσιν ἔδυνε

ποικίλον ἀστερόεντα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο.

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον

χάλκεον, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα σάκος μέγα τε στιβαρόν τε·

κρατὶ δʼ ἐπʼ ἰφθίμῳ κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκεν

ἵππουριν· δεινὸν δὲ λόφος καθύπερθεν ἔνευεν.

εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμα δοῦρε, τά οἱ παλάμηφιν ἀρήρει.

ἔγχος δʼ οὐχ ἕλετʼ οἶον ἀμύμονος Αἰακίδαο

for none other of the Achaeans could wield it, though Achilles could do so easily. This was the ashen spear from Mount Pelion, which Chiron had cut upon a mountain top and had given to Peleus, wherewith to deal out death among heroes. He bade Automedon yoke his horses with all speed, for he was the man whom he held in honor next after Achilles, and on whose support in battle he could rely most firmly. Automedon therefore yoked the fleet horses Xanthos and Balios, steeds that could fly like the wind: these were they whom the harpy Podarge bore to the west wind, as she was grazing in a meadow by the waters of the river Okeanos. In the side traces he set the noble horse Pedasos, whom Achilles had brought away with him when he sacked the city of Eetion, and who, mortal steed though he was, could take his place along with those that were immortal.

βριθὺ μέγα στιβαρόν· τὸ μὲν οὐ δύνατʼ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν

πάλλειν, ἀλλά μιν οἶος ἐπίστατο πῆλαι Ἀχιλλεὺς

Πηλιάδα μελίην, τὴν πατρὶ φίλῳ πόρε Χείρων

Πηλίου ἐκ κορυφῆς, φόνον ἔμμεναι ἡρώεσσιν.

ἵππους δʼ Αὐτομέδοντα θοῶς ζευγνῦμεν ἄνωγε,

τὸν μετʼ Ἀχιλλῆα ῥηξήνορα τῖε μάλιστα,

πιστότατος δέ οἱ ἔσκε μάχῃ ἔνι μεῖναι ὁμοκλήν.

τῷ δὲ καὶ Αὐτομέδων ὕπαγε ζυγὸν ὠκέας ἵππους

Ξάνθον καὶ Βαλίον, τὼ ἅμα πνοιῇσι πετέσθην,

τοὺς ἔτεκε Ζεφύρῳ ἀνέμῳ Ἅρπυια Ποδάργη

βοσκομένη λειμῶνι παρὰ ῥόον Ὠκεανοῖο.

ἐν δὲ παρηορίῃσιν ἀμύμονα Πήδασον ἵει,

τόν ῥά ποτʼ Ἠετίωνος ἑλὼν πόλιν ἤγαγʼ Ἀχιλλεύς,

ὃς καὶ θνητὸς ἐὼν ἕπεθʼ ἵπποις ἀθανάτοισι.

Meanwhile Achilles went about everywhere among the tents, and bade his Myrmidons put on their armor. Even as fierce ravening wolves that are feasting upon a horned stag which they have killed upon the mountains, and their jaws are red with blood - they go in a pack to lap water from the clear spring with their long thin tongues; and they reek of blood and slaughter; they know not what fear is, for it is hunger drives them - even so did the leaders and counselors of the Myrmidons gather round the good squire [ therapôn ] of the fleet descendant of Aiakos, and among them stood Achilles himself cheering on both men and horses.

Μυρμιδόνας δʼ ἄρʼ ἐποιχόμενος θώρηξεν Ἀχιλλεὺς

πάντας ἀνὰ κλισίας σὺν τεύχεσιν· οἳ δὲ λύκοι ὣς

ὠμοφάγοι, τοῖσίν τε περὶ φρεσὶν ἄσπετος ἀλκή,

οἵ τʼ ἔλαφον κεραὸν μέγαν οὔρεσι δῃώσαντες

δάπτουσιν· πᾶσιν δὲ παρήϊον αἵματι φοινόν·

καί τʼ ἀγεληδὸν ἴασιν ἀπὸ κρήνης μελανύδρου

λάψοντες γλώσσῃσιν ἀραιῇσιν μέλαν ὕδωρ

ἄκρον ἐρευγόμενοι φόνον αἵματος· ἐν δέ τε θυμὸς

στήθεσιν ἄτρομός ἐστι, περιστένεται δέ τε γαστήρ·

τοῖοι Μυρμιδόνων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες

ἀμφʼ ἀγαθὸν θεράποντα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο

ῥώοντʼ· ἐν δʼ ἄρα τοῖσιν ἀρήϊος ἵστατʼ Ἀχιλλεύς,

ὀτρύνων ἵππους τε καὶ ἀνέρας ἀσπιδιώτας.

Fifty ships had noble Achilles brought to Troy , and in each there was a crew of fifty oarsmen. Over these he set five leaders whom he could trust, while he was himself commander over them all. Menesthios of the gleaming corselet, son to the river Spercheios that streams from heaven, was leader of the first company. Fair Polydora daughter of Peleus bore him to ever-flowing Spercheios - a woman mated with a god - but he was called son of Boros son of Perieres, with whom his mother was living as his wedded wife, and who gave great wealth to gain her.

πεντήκοντʼ ἦσαν νῆες θοαί, ᾗσιν Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἐς Τροίην ἡγεῖτο Διῒ φίλος· ἐν δὲ ἑκάστῃ

πεντήκοντʼ ἔσαν ἄνδρες ἐπὶ κληῗσιν ἑταῖροι·

πέντε δʼ ἄρʼ ἡγεμόνας ποιήσατο τοῖς ἐπεποίθει

σημαίνειν· αὐτὸς δὲ μέγα κρατέων ἤνασσε.

τῆς μὲν ἰῆς στιχὸς ἦρχε Μενέσθιος αἰολοθώρηξ

υἱὸς Σπερχειοῖο διιπετέος ποταμοῖο·

ὃν τέκε Πηλῆος θυγάτηρ καλὴ Πολυδώρη

Σπερχειῷ ἀκάμαντι γυνὴ θεῷ εὐνηθεῖσα,

αὐτὰρ ἐπίκλησιν Βώρῳ Περιήρεος υἷι,

The second company was led by noble Eudoros, son to an unwedded woman. Polymele, daughter of Phylas, graceful in dancing [ khoros ], bore him; the mighty slayer of Argos was enamored of her as he saw her among the singing women at a dance [ khoros ] held in honor of Artemis the rushing huntress of the golden arrows; he therefore - Hermes, giver of all good - went with her into an upper chamber, and lay with her in secret, whereon she bore him a noble son Eudoros, singularly fleet of foot and in fight valiant. When Eileithuia goddess of the pains of child-birth brought him to the light of day, and he saw the face of the sun, mighty Echekles son of Aktor took the mother to wife, and gave great wealth to gain her, but her father Phylas brought the child up, and took care of him, doting as fondly upon him as though he were his own son. The third company was led by Peisandros son of Maimalos, the finest spearman among all the Myrmidons next to Achilles' own comrade Patroklos. The old horseman Phoenix was leader of the fourth company, and Alkimedon, noble son of Laerceus of the fifth.

ὅς ῥʼ ἀναφανδὸν ὄπυιε πορὼν ἀπερείσια ἕδνα.

τῆς δʼ ἑτέρης Εὔδωρος ἀρήϊος ἡγεμόνευε

παρθένιος, τὸν ἔτικτε χορῷ καλὴ Πολυμήλη

Φύλαντος θυγάτηρ· τῆς δὲ κρατὺς ἀργεϊφόντης

ἠράσατʼ, ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδὼν μετὰ μελπομένῃσιν

ἐν χορῷ Ἀρτέμιδος χρυσηλακάτου κελαδεινῆς.

αὐτίκα δʼ εἰς ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβὰς παρελέξατο λάθρῃ

Ἑρμείας ἀκάκητα, πόρεν δέ οἱ ἀγλαὸν υἱὸν

Εὔδωρον πέρι μὲν θείειν ταχὺν ἠδὲ μαχητήν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τόν γε μογοστόκος Εἰλείθυια

ἐξάγαγε πρὸ φόως δὲ καὶ ἠελίου ἴδεν αὐγάς,

τὴν μὲν Ἐχεκλῆος κρατερὸν μένος Ἀκτορίδαο

ἠγάγετο πρὸς δώματʼ, ἐπεὶ πόρε μυρία ἕδνα,

τὸν δʼ ὃ γέρων Φύλας εὖ ἔτρεφεν ἠδʼ ἀτίταλλεν

ἀμφαγαπαζόμενος ὡς εἴ θʼ ἑὸν υἱὸν ἐόντα.

τῆς δὲ τρίτης Πείσανδρος ἀρήϊος ἡγεμόνευε

Μαιμαλίδης, ὃς πᾶσι μετέπρεπε Μυρμιδόνεσσιν

ἔγχεϊ μάρνασθαι μετὰ Πηλεΐωνος ἑταῖρον.

τῆς δὲ τετάρτης ἦρχε γέρων ἱππηλάτα Φοῖνιξ,

πέμπτης δʼ Ἀλκιμέδων Λαέρκεος υἱὸς ἀμύμων.

When Achilles had chosen [ krinô ] his men and had stationed them all with their leaders, he charged them straitly saying, "Myrmidons, remember your threats against the Trojans while you were at the ships in the time of my anger, and you were all complaining of me. ‘Cruel son of Peleus,’ you would say, ‘your mother must have suckled you on gall, so ruthless are you. You keep us here at the ships against our will; if you are so relentless it were better we went home over the sea.’ Often have you gathered and thus chided with me. The hour is now come for those high feats of arms that you have so long been pining for, therefore keep high hearts each one of you to do battle with the Trojans."

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντας ἅμʼ ἡγεμόνεσσιν Ἀχιλλεὺς

στῆσεν ἐῢ κρίνας, κρατερὸν δʼ ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλε·

Μυρμιδόνες μή τίς μοι ἀπειλάων λελαθέσθω,

ἃς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ θοῇσιν ἀπειλεῖτε Τρώεσσι

πάνθʼ ὑπὸ μηνιθμόν, καί μʼ ᾐτιάασθε ἕκαστος·

σχέτλιε Πηλέος υἱὲ χόλῳ ἄρα σʼ ἔτρεφε μήτηρ,

νηλεές, ὃς παρὰ νηυσὶν ἔχεις ἀέκοντας ἑταίρους·

οἴκαδέ περ σὺν νηυσὶ νεώμεθα ποντοπόροισιν

αὖτις, ἐπεί ῥά τοι ὧδε κακὸς χόλος ἔμπεσε θυμῷ.

ταῦτά μʼ ἀγειρόμενοι θάμʼ ἐβάζετε· νῦν δὲ πέφανται

φυλόπιδος μέγα ἔργον, ἕης τὸ πρίν γʼ ἐράασθε.

ἔνθά τις ἄλκιμον ἦτορ ἔχων Τρώεσσι μαχέσθω.

With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and they serried their companies yet more closely when they heard the of their king. As the stones which a builder sets in the wall of some high house which is to give shelter from the winds - even so closely were the helmets and bossed shields set against one another. Shield pressed on shield, helm on helm, and man on man; so close were they that the horse-hair plumes on the gleaming ridges of their helmets touched each other as they bent their heads.

ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.

μᾶλλον δὲ στίχες ἄρθεν, ἐπεὶ βασιλῆος ἄκουσαν.

ὡς δʼ ὅτε τοῖχον ἀνὴρ ἀράρῃ πυκινοῖσι λίθοισι

δώματος ὑψηλοῖο βίας ἀνέμων ἀλεείνων,

ὣς ἄραρον κόρυθές τε καὶ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι.

ἀσπὶς ἄρʼ ἀσπίδʼ ἔρειδε, κόρυς κόρυν, ἀνέρα δʼ ἀνήρ·

ψαῦον δʼ ἱππόκομοι κόρυθες λαμπροῖσι φάλοισι

νευόντων, ὡς πυκνοὶ ἐφέστασαν ἀλλήλοισι.

In front of them all two men put on their armor - Patroklos and Automedon - two men, with but one mind to lead the Myrmidons. Then Achilles went inside his tent and opened the lid of the strong chest which silver-footed Thetis had given him to take on board ship, and which she had filled with shirts, cloaks to keep out the cold, and good thick rugs. In this chest he had a cup of rare workmanship, from which no man but himself might drink, nor would he make offering from it to any other god save only to father Zeus. He took the cup from the chest and cleansed it with sulfur; this done he rinsed it clean water, and after he had washed his hands he drew wine. Then he stood in the middle of the court and prayed, looking towards heaven, and making his drink-offering of wine; nor was he unseen of Zeus whose joy is in thunder. "King Zeus," he cried, "lord of Dodona , god of the Pelasgi, you who dwell afar, you who hold wintry Dodona in your sway, where your seers the Selloi dwell around you with their feet unwashed and their couches made upon the ground - if you heard me when I prayed to you aforetime, and did me honor while you sent disaster on the Achaeans, grant me now the fulfillment of yet this further prayer. I shall stay here where my assembly [ agôn ] of ships are lying, but I shall send my comrade into battle at the head of many Myrmidons. Grant, O all-seeing Zeus, that victory may go with him; put your courage into his heart that Hektor may learn whether my squire [ therapôn ] is man enough to fight alone, or whether his might is only then so indomitable when I myself enter the turmoil of war. Afterwards when he has chased the fight and the cry of battle from the ships, grant that he may return unharmed, with his armor and his comrades, fighters in close combat."

πάντων δὲ προπάροιθε δύʼ ἀνέρε θωρήσσοντο

Πάτροκλός τε καὶ Αὐτομέδων ἕνα θυμὸν ἔχοντες

πρόσθεν Μυρμιδόνων πολεμιζέμεν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐς κλισίην, χηλοῦ δʼ ἀπὸ πῶμʼ ἀνέῳγε

καλῆς δαιδαλέης, τήν οἱ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζα

θῆκʼ ἐπὶ νηὸς ἄγεσθαι ἐῢ πλήσασα χιτώνων

χλαινάων τʼ ἀνεμοσκεπέων οὔλων τε ταπήτων.

ἔνθα δέ οἱ δέπας ἔσκε τετυγμένον, οὐδέ τις ἄλλος

οὔτʼ ἀνδρῶν πίνεσκεν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ αἴθοπα οἶνον,

οὔτέ τεῳ σπένδεσκε θεῶν, ὅτε μὴ Διὶ πατρί.

τό ῥα τότʼ ἐκ χηλοῖο λαβὼν ἐκάθηρε θεείῳ

πρῶτον, ἔπειτα δʼ ἔνιψʼ ὕδατος καλῇσι ῥοῇσι,

νίψατο δʼ αὐτὸς χεῖρας, ἀφύσσατο δʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον.

εὔχετʼ ἔπειτα στὰς μέσῳ ἕρκεϊ, λεῖβε δὲ οἶνον

οὐρανὸν εἰσανιδών· Δία δʼ οὐ λάθε τερπικέραυνον·

Ζεῦ ἄνα Δωδωναῖε Πελασγικὲ τηλόθι ναίων

Δωδώνης μεδέων δυσχειμέρου, ἀμφὶ δὲ Σελλοὶ

σοὶ ναίουσʼ ὑποφῆται ἀνιπτόποδες χαμαιεῦναι,

ἠμὲν δή ποτʼ ἐμὸν ἔπος ἔκλυες εὐξαμένοιο,

τίμησας μὲν ἐμέ, μέγα δʼ ἴψαο λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν,

ἠδʼ ἔτι καὶ νῦν μοι τόδʼ ἐπικρήηνον ἐέλδωρ·

αὐτὸς μὲν γὰρ ἐγὼ μενέω νηῶν ἐν ἀγῶνι,

ἀλλʼ ἕταρον πέμπω πολέσιν μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσι

μάρνασθαι· τῷ κῦδος ἅμα πρόες εὐρύοπα Ζεῦ,

θάρσυνον δέ οἱ ἦτορ ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ὄφρα καὶ Ἕκτωρ

εἴσεται ἤ ῥα καὶ οἶος ἐπίστηται πολεμίζειν

ἡμέτερος θεράπων, ἦ οἱ τότε χεῖρες ἄαπτοι

μαίνονθʼ, ὁππότʼ ἐγώ περ ἴω μετὰ μῶλον Ἄρηος.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κʼ ἀπὸ ναῦφι μάχην ἐνοπήν τε δίηται,

ἀσκηθής μοι ἔπειτα θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ἵκοιτο

τεύχεσί τε ξὺν πᾶσι καὶ ἀγχεμάχοις ἑτάροισιν.

Thus did he pray, and all-counseling Zeus heard his prayer. Part of it he did indeed grant him - but not the whole. He granted that Patroklos should thrust back war and battle from the ships, but refused to let him come safely out of the fight.

ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε μητίετα Ζεύς.

τῷ δʼ ἕτερον μὲν ἔδωκε πατήρ, ἕτερον δʼ ἀνένευσε·

νηῶν μέν οἱ ἀπώσασθαι πόλεμόν τε μάχην τε

When he had made his drink-offering and had thus prayed, Achilles went inside his tent and put back the cup into his chest.

δῶκε, σόον δʼ ἀνένευσε μάχης ἐξαπονέεσθαι.

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν σπείσας τε καὶ εὐξάμενος Διὶ πατρὶ

ἂψ κλισίην εἰσῆλθε, δέπας δʼ ἀπέθηκʼ ἐνὶ χηλῷ,

Then he again came out, for he still loved to look upon the fierce fight that raged between the Trojans and Achaeans.

στῆ δὲ πάροιθʼ ἐλθὼν κλισίης, ἔτι δʼ ἤθελε θυμῷ

εἰσιδέειν Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν φύλοπιν αἰνήν.

Meanwhile the armed band that was about Patroklos marched on till they sprang high in hope upon the Trojans. They came swarming out like wasps whose nests are by the roadside, and whom silly children love to tease, whereon any one who happens to be passing may get stung - or again, if a wayfarer going along the road vexes them by accident, every wasp will come flying out in a fury to defend his little ones- even with such rage and courage did the Myrmidons swarm from their ships, and their cry of battle rose heavenwards. Patroklos called out to his men at the top of his voice, "Myrmidons, followers of Achilles son of Peleus, be men my friends, fight with might and with main, that we may win glory for the son of Peleus, who is far the foremost man at the ships of the Argives - he, and his close fighting followers [therapontes]. The son of Atreus King Agamemnon will thus recognize his derangement [ atê ] in showing no respect to the bravest of the Achaeans."

οἳ δʼ ἅμα Πατρόκλῳ μεγαλήτορι θωρηχθέντες

ἔστιχον, ὄφρʼ ἐν Τρωσὶ μέγα φρονέοντες ὄρουσαν.

αὐτίκα δὲ σφήκεσσιν ἐοικότες ἐξεχέοντο

εἰνοδίοις, οὓς παῖδες ἐριδμαίνωσιν ἔθοντες

αἰεὶ κερτομέοντες ὁδῷ ἔπι οἰκίʼ ἔχοντας

νηπίαχοι· ξυνὸν δὲ κακὸν πολέεσσι τιθεῖσι.

τοὺς δʼ εἴ περ παρά τίς τε κιὼν ἄνθρωπος ὁδίτης

κινήσῃ ἀέκων, οἳ δʼ ἄλκιμον ἦτορ ἔχοντες

πρόσσω πᾶς πέτεται καὶ ἀμύνει οἷσι τέκεσσι.

τῶν τότε Μυρμιδόνες κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἔχοντες

ἐκ νηῶν ἐχέοντο· βοὴ δʼ ἄσβεστος ὀρώρει.

Πάτροκλος δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·

Μυρμιδόνες ἕταροι Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος

ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς,

ὡς ἂν Πηλεΐδην τιμήσομεν, ὃς μέγʼ ἄριστος

Ἀργείων παρὰ νηυσὶ καὶ ἀγχέμαχοι θεράποντες,

γνῷ δὲ καὶ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

ἣν ἄτην, ὅ τʼ ἄριστον Ἀχαιῶν οὐδὲν ἔτισεν.

With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and they fell in a body upon the Trojans. The ships rang again with the cry which the Achaeans raised, and when the Trojans saw the brave son of Menoitios and his squire [ therapôn ] all gleaming in their armor, they were daunted and their battalions were thrown into confusion, for they thought the fleet son of Peleus must now have put aside his anger, and have been reconciled to Agamemnon; every one, therefore, looked round about to see whither he might flee for safety.

ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου,

ἐν δʼ ἔπεσον Τρώεσσιν ἀολλέες· ἀμφὶ δὲ νῆες

σμερδαλέον κονάβησαν ἀϋσάντων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν.

Τρῶες δʼ ὡς εἴδοντο Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμον υἱὸν

αὐτὸν καὶ θεράποντα σὺν ἔντεσι μαρμαίροντας,

πᾶσιν ὀρίνθη θυμός, ἐκίνηθεν δὲ φάλαγγες

ἐλπόμενοι παρὰ ναῦφι ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα

μηνιθμὸν μὲν ἀπορρῖψαι, φιλότητα δʼ ἑλέσθαι·

πάπτηνεν δὲ ἕκαστος ὅπῃ φύγοι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.

Patroklos first aimed a spear into the middle of the press where men were packed most closely, by the stern of the ship of Protesilaos. He hit Pyraikhmes who had led his Paeonian horsemen from the Amydon and the broad waters of the river Axios ; the spear struck him on the right shoulder, and with a groan he fell backwards in the dust; on this his men were thrown into confusion, for by killing their leader, who was the finest warrior among them, Patroklos struck panic into them all. He thus drove them from the ship and quenched the fire that was then blazing - leaving the half-burnt ship to lie where it was. The Trojans were now driven back with a shout that rent the skies, while the Danaans poured after them from their ships, shouting also without ceasing. As when Zeus, gatherer of the thunder-cloud, spreads a dense canopy on the top of some lofty mountain, and all the peaks, the jutting headlands, and forest glades show out in the great light that flashes from the bursting heavens, even so when the Danaans had now driven back the fire from their ships, they took breath for a little while; but the fury of the fight was not yet over, for the Trojans were not driven back in utter rout, but still gave battle, and were ousted from their ground only by sheer fighting.

Πάτροκλος δὲ πρῶτος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ

ἀντικρὺ κατὰ μέσσον, ὅθι πλεῖστοι κλονέοντο,

νηῒ πάρα πρυμνῇ μεγαθύμου Πρωτεσιλάου,

καὶ βάλε Πυραίχμην, ὃς Παίονας ἱπποκορυστὰς

ἤγαγεν ἐξ Ἀμυδῶνος ἀπʼ Ἀξιοῦ εὐρὺ ῥέοντος·

τὸν βάλε δεξιὸν ὦμον· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσι

κάππεσεν οἰμώξας, ἕταροι δέ μιν ἀμφεφόβηθεν

Παίονες· ἐν γὰρ Πάτροκλος φόβον ἧκεν ἅπασιν

ἡγεμόνα κτείνας, ὃς ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι.

ἐκ νηῶν δʼ ἔλασεν, κατὰ δʼ ἔσβεσεν αἰθόμενον πῦρ.

ἡμιδαὴς δʼ ἄρα νηῦς λίπετʼ αὐτόθι· τοὶ δὲ φόβηθεν

Τρῶες θεσπεσίῳ ὁμάδῳ· Δαναοὶ δʼ ἐπέχυντο

νῆας ἀνὰ γλαφυράς· ὅμαδος δʼ ἀλίαστος ἐτύχθη.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀφʼ ὑψηλῆς κορυφῆς ὄρεος μεγάλοιο

κινήσῃ πυκινὴν νεφέλην στεροπηγερέτα Ζεύς,

ἔκ τʼ ἔφανεν πᾶσαι σκοπιαὶ καὶ πρώονες ἄκροι

καὶ νάπαι, οὐρανόθεν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπερράγη ἄσπετος αἰθήρ,

ὣς Δαναοὶ νηῶν μὲν ἀπωσάμενοι δήϊον πῦρ

τυτθὸν ἀνέπνευσαν, πολέμου δʼ οὐ γίγνετʼ ἐρωή·

οὐ γάρ πώ τι Τρῶες ἀρηϊφίλων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν

προτροπάδην φοβέοντο μελαινάων ἀπὸ νηῶν,

ἀλλʼ ἔτʼ ἄρʼ ἀνθίσταντο, νεῶν δʼ ὑπόεικον ἀνάγκῃ.

The fight then became more scattered, and the chieftains killed one another when and how they could. The valiant son of Menoitios first drove his spear into the thigh of Areilykos just as he was turning round; the point went clean through, and broke the bone so that he fell forward. Meanwhile Menelaos struck Thoas in the chest, where it was exposed near the rim of his shield, and he fell dead. The son of Phyleus saw Amphiklos about to attack him, and ere he could do so took aim at the upper part of his thigh, where the muscles are thicker than in any other part; the spear tore through all the sinews of the leg, and his eyes were closed in darkness.

ἔνθα δʼ ἀνὴρ ἕλεν ἄνδρα κεδασθείσης ὑσμίνης

ἡγεμόνων. πρῶτος δὲ Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱὸς

αὐτίκʼ ἄρα στρεφθέντος Ἀρηϊλύκου βάλε μηρὸν

ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι, διὰ πρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσε·

ῥῆξεν δʼ ὀστέον ἔγχος, ὃ δὲ πρηνὴς ἐπὶ γαίῃ

κάππεσʼ· ἀτὰρ Μενέλαος ἀρήϊος οὖτα Θόαντα

στέρνον γυμνωθέντα παρʼ ἀσπίδα, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα.

Φυλεΐδης δʼ Ἄμφικλον ἐφορμηθέντα δοκεύσας

ἔφθη ὀρεξάμενος πρυμνὸν σκέλος, ἔνθα πάχιστος

μυὼν ἀνθρώπου πέλεται· περὶ δʼ ἔγχεος αἰχμῇ

Of the sons of Nestor one, Antilokhos, speared Atymnios, driving the point of the spear through his throat, and down he fell. Maris then sprang on Antilokhos in hand-to-hand fight to avenge his brother, and bestrode the body spear in hand; but valiant Thrasymedes was too quick for him, and in a moment had struck him in the shoulder ere he could deal his blow; his aim was true, and the spear severed all the muscles at the root of his arm, and tore them right down to the bone, so he fell heavily to the ground and his eyes were closed in darkness. Thus did these two noble comrades of Sarpedon go down to Erebos slain by the two sons of Nestor; they were the warrior sons of Amisodoros, who had reared the invincible Chimaera, to the bane of many. Ajax son of Oileus sprang on Kleoboulos and took him alive as he was entangled in the crush; but he killed him then and there by a sword-blow on the neck. The sword reeked with his blood, while dark death and the strong hand of fate gripped him and closed his eyes.

νεῦρα διεσχίσθη· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε.

Νεστορίδαι δʼ ὃ μὲν οὔτασʼ Ἀτύμνιον ὀξέϊ δουρὶ

Ἀντίλοχος, λαπάρης δὲ διήλασε χάλκεον ἔγχος·

ἤριπε δὲ προπάροιθε. Μάρις δʼ αὐτοσχεδὰ δουρὶ

Ἀντιλόχῳ ἐπόρουσε κασιγνήτοιο χολωθεὶς

στὰς πρόσθεν νέκυος· τοῦ δʼ ἀντίθεος Θρασυμήδης

ἔφθη ὀρεξάμενος πρὶν οὐτάσαι, οὐδʼ ἀφάμαρτεν,

ὦμον ἄφαρ· πρυμνὸν δὲ βραχίονα δουρὸς ἀκωκὴ

δρύψʼ ἀπὸ μυώνων, ἀπὸ δʼ ὀστέον ἄχρις ἄραξε·

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, κατὰ δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψεν.

ὣς τὼ μὲν δοιοῖσι κασιγνήτοισι δαμέντε

βήτην εἰς Ἔρεβος Σαρπηδόνος ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι

υἷες ἀκοντισταὶ Ἀμισωδάρου, ὅς ῥα Χίμαιραν

θρέψεν ἀμαιμακέτην πολέσιν κακὸν ἀνθρώποισιν.

Αἴας δὲ Κλεόβουλον Ὀϊλιάδης ἐπορούσας

ζωὸν ἕλε βλαφθέντα κατὰ κλόνον· ἀλλά οἱ αὖθι

λῦσε μένος πλήξας ξίφει αὐχένα κωπήεντι.

πᾶν δʼ ὑπεθερμάνθη ξίφος αἵματι· τὸν δὲ κατʼ ὄσσε

ἔλλαβε πορφύρεος θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κραταιή.

Peneleos and Lykon now met in close fight, for they had missed each other with their spears. They had both thrown without effect, so now they drew their swords. Lykon struck the plumed crest of Peneleos' helmet but his sword broke at the hilt, while Peneleos smote Lykon on the neck under the ear. The blade sank so deep that the head was held on by nothing but the skin, and there was no more life left in him. Meriones gave chase to Akamas on foot and caught him up just as he was about to mount his chariot; he drove a spear through his right shoulder so that he fell headlong from the car, and his eyes were closed in darkness. Idomeneus speared Erymas in the mouth; the bronze point of the spear went clean through it beneath the brain, crashing in among the white bones and smashing them up. His teeth were all of them knocked out and the blood came gushing in a stream from both his eyes; it also came gurgling up from his mouth and nostrils, and the darkness of death enfolded him round about.

Πηνέλεως δὲ Λύκων τε συνέδραμον· ἔγχεσι μὲν γὰρ

ἤμβροτον ἀλλήλων, μέλεον δʼ ἠκόντισαν ἄμφω·

τὼ δʼ αὖτις ξιφέεσσι συνέδραμον. ἔνθα Λύκων μὲν

ἱπποκόμου κόρυθος φάλον ἤλασεν, ἀμφὶ δὲ καυλὸν

φάσγανον ἐρραίσθη· ὃ δʼ ὑπʼ οὔατος αὐχένα θεῖνε

Πηνέλεως, πᾶν δʼ εἴσω ἔδυ ξίφος, ἔσχεθε δʼ οἶον

δέρμα, παρηέρθη δὲ κάρη, ὑπέλυντο δὲ γυῖα.

Μηριόνης δʼ Ἀκάμαντα κιχεὶς ποσὶ καρπαλίμοισι

νύξʼ ἵππων ἐπιβησόμενον κατὰ δεξιὸν ὦμον·

ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, κατὰ δʼ ὀφθαλμῶν κέχυτʼ ἀχλύς.

Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ Ἐρύμαντα κατὰ στόμα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ

νύξε· τὸ δʼ ἀντικρὺ δόρυ χάλκεον ἐξεπέρησε

νέρθεν ὑπʼ ἐγκεφάλοιο, κέασσε δʼ ἄρʼ ὀστέα λευκά·

ἐκ δʼ ἐτίναχθεν ὀδόντες, ἐνέπλησθεν δέ οἱ ἄμφω

αἵματος ὀφθαλμοί· τὸ δʼ ἀνὰ στόμα καὶ κατὰ ῥῖνας

πρῆσε χανών· θανάτου δὲ μέλαν νέφος ἀμφεκάλυψεν.

Thus did these chieftains of the Danaans each of them kill his man. As ravening wolves seize on kids or lambs, fastening on them when they are alone on the hillsides and have strayed from the main flock through the carelessness of the shepherd - and when the wolves see this they pounce upon them at once because they cannot defend themselves- even so did the Danaans now fall on the Trojans, who fled with ill-omened cries in their panic and had no more fight left in them.

οὗτοι ἄρʼ ἡγεμόνες Δαναῶν ἕλον ἄνδρα ἕκαστος.

ὡς δὲ λύκοι ἄρνεσσιν ἐπέχραον ἢ ἐρίφοισι

σίνται ὑπʼ ἐκ μήλων αἱρεύμενοι, αἵ τʼ ἐν ὄρεσσι

ποιμένος ἀφραδίῃσι διέτμαγεν· οἳ δὲ ἰδόντες

αἶψα διαρπάζουσιν ἀνάλκιδα θυμὸν ἐχούσας·

ὣς Δαναοὶ Τρώεσσιν ἐπέχραον· οἳ δὲ φόβοιο

δυσκελάδου μνήσαντο, λάθοντο δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.

Meanwhile great Ajax kept on trying to drive a spear into Hektor, but Hektor was so skillful that he held his broad shoulders well under cover of his ox-hide shield, ever on the look-out for the whizzing of the arrows and the heavy thud of the spears. He well knew that the fortunes of the day had changed, but still stood his ground and tried to protect his comrades.

Αἴας δʼ ὃ μέγας αἰὲν ἐφʼ Ἕκτορι χαλκοκορυστῇ

ἵετʼ ἀκοντίσσαι· ὃ δὲ ἰδρείῃ πολέμοιο

ἀσπίδι ταυρείῃ κεκαλυμμένος εὐρέας ὤμους

σκέπτετʼ ὀϊστῶν τε ῥοῖζον καὶ δοῦπον ἀκόντων.

ἦ μὲν δὴ γίγνωσκε μάχης ἑτεραλκέα νίκην·

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς ἀνέμιμνε, σάω δʼ ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους.

As when a cloud goes up into heaven from Olympus , rising out of a clear sky when Zeus is brewing a gale - even with such panic stricken rout did the Trojans now flee, and there was no order in their going. Hektor's fleet horses bore him and his armor out of the fight, and he left the Trojan host penned in by the deep trench against their will. Many a yoke of horses snapped the pole of their chariots in the trench and left their master's car behind them. Patroklos gave chase, calling impetuously on the Danaans and full of fury against the Trojans, who, being now no longer in a body, filled all the ways with their cries of panic and rout; the air was darkened with the clouds of dust they raised, and the horses strained every nerve in their flight from the tents and ships towards the city.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀπʼ Οὐλύμπου νέφος ἔρχεται οὐρανὸν εἴσω

αἰθέρος ἐκ δίης, ὅτε τε Ζεὺς λαίλαπα τείνῃ,

ὣς τῶν ἐκ νηῶν γένετο ἰαχή τε φόβος τε,

οὐδὲ κατὰ μοῖραν πέραον πάλιν. Ἕκτορα δʼ ἵπποι

ἔκφερον ὠκύποδες σὺν τεύχεσι, λεῖπε δὲ λαὸν

Τρωϊκόν, οὓς ἀέκοντας ὀρυκτὴ τάφρος ἔρυκε.

πολλοὶ δʼ ἐν τάφρῳ ἐρυσάρματες ὠκέες ἵπποι

ἄξαντʼ ἐν πρώτῳ ῥυμῷ λίπον ἅρματʼ ἀνάκτων,

Πάτροκλος δʼ ἕπετο σφεδανὸν Δαναοῖσι κελεύων

Τρωσὶ κακὰ φρονέων· οἳ δὲ ἰαχῇ τε φόβῳ τε

πάσας πλῆσαν ὁδούς, ἐπεὶ ἂρ τμάγεν· ὕψι δʼ ἀέλλη

σκίδναθʼ ὑπὸ νεφέων, τανύοντο δὲ μώνυχες ἵπποι

ἄψορρον προτὶ ἄστυ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων.

Patroklos kept on heading his horses wherever he saw most men fleeing in confusion, cheering on his men the while. Chariots were being smashed in all directions, and many a man came tumbling down from his own car to fall beneath the wheels of that of Patroklos, whose immortal steeds, given by the gods to Peleus, sprang over the trench at a bound as they sped onward. He was intent on trying to get near Hektor, for he had set his heart on spearing him, but Hektor's horses were now hurrying him away. As the whole dark earth bows before some tempest on an autumn day when Zeus rains his hardest to punish men for judging [ krinô ] crookedly in their courts, and arriving justice there from without heed to the decrees [ themistes ] of heaven - all the rivers run full and the torrents tear many a new channel as they roar headlong from the mountains to the dark sea, and it fares ill with the works of men - even such was the stress and strain of the Trojan horses in their flight.

Πάτροκλος δʼ ᾗ πλεῖστον ὀρινόμενον ἴδε λαόν,

τῇ ῥʼ ἔχʼ ὁμοκλήσας· ὑπὸ δʼ ἄξοσι φῶτες ἔπιπτον

πρηνέες ἐξ ὀχέων, δίφροι δʼ ἀνακυμβαλίαζον.

ἀντικρὺ δʼ ἄρα τάφρον ὑπέρθορον ὠκέες ἵπποι

ἄμβροτοι, οὓς Πηλῆϊ θεοὶ δόσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα,

πρόσσω ἱέμενοι, ἐπὶ δʼ Ἕκτορι κέκλετο θυμός·

ἵετο γὰρ βαλέειν· τὸν δʼ ἔκφερον ὠκέες ἵπποι.

ὡς δʼ ὑπὸ λαίλαπι πᾶσα κελαινὴ βέβριθε χθὼν

ἤματʼ ὀπωρινῷ, ὅτε λαβρότατον χέει ὕδωρ

Ζεύς, ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἄνδρεσσι κοτεσσάμενος χαλεπήνῃ,

οἳ βίῃ εἰν ἀγορῇ σκολιὰς κρίνωσι θέμιστας,

ἐκ δὲ δίκην ἐλάσωσι θεῶν ὄπιν οὐκ ἀλέγοντες·

τῶν δέ τε πάντες μὲν ποταμοὶ πλήθουσι ῥέοντες,

πολλὰς δὲ κλιτῦς τότʼ ἀποτμήγουσι χαράδραι,

ἐς δʼ ἅλα πορφυρέην μεγάλα στενάχουσι ῥέουσαι

ἐξ ὀρέων ἐπικάρ, μινύθει δέ τε ἔργʼ ἀνθρώπων·

ὣς ἵπποι Τρῳαὶ μεγάλα στενάχοντο θέουσαι.

Patroklos now cut off the battalions that were nearest to him and drove them back to the ships. They were doing their best to reach the city, but he would not let them, and bore down on them between the river and the ships and wall. Many a fallen comrade did he then avenge. First he hit Pronoos with a spear on the chest where it was exposed near the rim of his shield, and he fell heavily to the ground. Next he sprang on Thestor son of Enops, who was sitting all huddled up in his chariot, for he had lost his head and the reins had been torn out of his hands. Patroklos went up to him and drove a spear into his right jaw; he thus hooked him by the teeth and the spear pulled him over the rim of his car, as one who sits at the end of some jutting rock and draws a strong fish out of the sea [ pontos ] with a hook and a line - even so with his spear did he pull Thestor all gaping from his chariot; he then threw him down on his face and he died while falling. On this, as Erylaos was on to attack him, he struck him full on the head with a stone, and his brains were all battered inside his helmet, whereon he fell headlong to the ground and the pangs of death took hold upon him. Then he laid low, one after the other, Erymas, Amphoteros, Epaltes, Tlepolemos, Echios son of Damastor, Pyris, Ipheus, Euippos and Polymelos son of Argeas.

Πάτροκλος δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν πρώτας ἐπέκερσε φάλαγγας,

ἂψ ἐπὶ νῆας ἔεργε παλιμπετές, οὐδὲ πόληος

εἴα ἱεμένους ἐπιβαινέμεν, ἀλλὰ μεσηγὺ

νηῶν καὶ ποταμοῦ καὶ τείχεος ὑψηλοῖο

κτεῖνε μεταΐσσων, πολέων δʼ ἀπετίνυτο ποινήν.

ἔνθʼ ἤτοι Πρόνοον πρῶτον βάλε δουρὶ φαεινῷ

στέρνον γυμνωθέντα παρʼ ἀσπίδα, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα·

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών· ὃ δὲ Θέστορα Ἤνοπος υἱὸν

δεύτερον ὁρμηθείς· ὃ μὲν εὐξέστῳ ἐνὶ δίφρῳ

ἧστο ἀλείς· ἐκ γὰρ πλήγη φρένας, ἐκ δʼ ἄρα χειρῶν

ἡνία ἠΐχθησαν· ὃ δʼ ἔγχεϊ νύξε παραστὰς

γναθμὸν δεξιτερόν, διὰ δʼ αὐτοῦ πεῖρεν ὀδόντων,

ἕλκε δὲ δουρὸς ἑλὼν ὑπὲρ ἄντυγος, ὡς ὅτε τις φὼς

πέτρῃ ἔπι προβλῆτι καθήμενος ἱερὸν ἰχθὺν

ἐκ πόντοιο θύραζε λίνῳ καὶ ἤνοπι χαλκῷ·

ὣς ἕλκʼ ἐκ δίφροιο κεχηνότα δουρὶ φαεινῷ,

κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ στόμʼ ἔωσε· πεσόντα δέ μιν λίπε θυμός.

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ Ἐρύλαον ἐπεσσύμενον βάλε πέτρῳ

μέσσην κὰκ κεφαλήν· ἣ δʼ ἄνδιχα πᾶσα κεάσθη

ἐν κόρυθι βριαρῇ· ὃ δʼ ἄρα πρηνὴς ἐπὶ γαίῃ

κάππεσεν, ἀμφὶ δέ μιν θάνατος χύτο θυμοραϊστής.

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ Ἐρύμαντα καὶ Ἀμφοτερὸν καὶ Ἐπάλτην

Τληπόλεμόν τε Δαμαστορίδην Ἐχίον τε Πύριν τε

Ἰφέα τʼ Εὔιππόν τε καὶ Ἀργεάδην Πολύμηλον

πάντας ἐπασσυτέρους πέλασε χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ.

Now when Sarpedon saw his comrades, men who wore unbelted tunics, being overcome by Patroklos son of Menoitios, he rebuked the Lycians saying. "Shame [ aidôs ] on you, where are you fleeing to? Show your mettle; I will myself meet this man in fight and learn who it is that is so masterful; he has done us much hurt, and has stretched many a brave man upon the ground."

Σαρπηδὼν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἴδʼ ἀμιτροχίτωνας ἑταίρους

χέρσʼ ὕπο Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο δαμέντας,

κέκλετʼ ἄρʼ ἀντιθέοισι καθαπτόμενος Λυκίοισιν·

αἰδὼς ὦ Λύκιοι· πόσε φεύγετε; νῦν θοοὶ ἔστε.

ἀντήσω γὰρ ἐγὼ τοῦδʼ ἀνέρος, ὄφρα δαείω

ὅς τις ὅδε κρατέει καὶ δὴ κακὰ πολλὰ ἔοργε

Τρῶας, ἐπεὶ πολλῶν τε καὶ ἐσθλῶν γούνατʼ ἔλυσεν.

He sprang from his chariot as he spoke, and Patroklos, when he saw this, leaped on to the ground also. The two then rushed at one another with loud cries like eagle-beaked crook-taloned vultures that scream and tear at one another in some high mountain fastness.

ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε.

Πάτροκλος δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐπεὶ ἴδεν ἔκθορε δίφρου.

οἳ δʼ ὥς τʼ αἰγυπιοὶ γαμψώνυχες ἀγκυλοχεῖλαι

πέτρῃ ἐφʼ ὑψηλῇ μεγάλα κλάζοντε μάχωνται,

ὣς οἳ κεκλήγοντες ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ὄρουσαν.

The son of scheming Kronos looked down upon them in pity and said to Hera who was his wife and sister, "Alas, that it should be the lot of Sarpedon whom I love so dearly to perish by the hand of Patroklos. I am in two minds whether to catch him up out of the fight and set him down safe and sound in the fertile district [ dêmos ] of Lycia , or to let him now fall by the hand of the son of Menoitios."

τοὺς δὲ ἰδὼν ἐλέησε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω,

Ἥρην δὲ προσέειπε κασιγνήτην ἄλοχόν τε·

ὤ μοι ἐγών, ὅ τέ μοι Σαρπηδόνα φίλτατον ἀνδρῶν

μοῖρʼ ὑπὸ Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο δαμῆναι.

διχθὰ δέ μοι κραδίη μέμονε φρεσὶν ὁρμαίνοντι,

ἤ μιν ζωὸν ἐόντα μάχης ἄπο δακρυοέσσης

θείω ἀναρπάξας Λυκίης ἐν πίονι δήμῳ,

ἦ ἤδη ὑπὸ χερσὶ Μενοιτιάδαο δαμάσσω.

And Hera answered, "Most dread son of Kronos, what is this that you are saying? Would you snatch a mortal man, whose doom has long been fated, out of the jaws of death? Do as you will, but we shall not all of us be of your mind. I say further, and lay my saying to your heart, that if you send Sarpedon safely to his own home, some other of the gods will be also wanting to escort his son out of battle, for there are many sons of gods fighting round the city of Troy , and you will make every one jealous. If, however, you are fond of him and pity him, let him indeed fall by the hand of Patroklos, but as soon as the life [ psukhê ] is gone out of him, send Death and sweet Sleep to bear him off the field and take him to the broad district [ dêmos ] of Lycia , where his brothers and his kinsmen will bury him with mound and pillar, in due honor to the dead."

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη·

αἰνότατε Κρονίδη ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες.

ἄνδρα θνητὸν ἐόντα πάλαι πεπρωμένον αἴσῃ

ἂψ ἐθέλεις θανάτοιο δυσηχέος ἐξαναλῦσαι;

ἔρδʼ· ἀτὰρ οὔ τοι πάντες ἐπαινέομεν θεοὶ ἄλλοι.

ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·

αἴ κε ζὼν πέμψῃς Σαρπηδόνα ὃν δὲ δόμον δέ,

φράζεο μή τις ἔπειτα θεῶν ἐθέλῃσι καὶ ἄλλος

πέμπειν ὃν φίλον υἱὸν ἀπὸ κρατερῆς ὑσμίνης·

πολλοὶ γὰρ περὶ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο μάχονται

υἱέες ἀθανάτων, τοῖσιν κότον αἰνὸν ἐνήσεις.

ἀλλʼ εἴ τοι φίλος ἐστί, τεὸν δʼ ὀλοφύρεται ἦτορ,

ἤτοι μέν μιν ἔασον ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ

χέρσʼ ὕπο Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο δαμῆναι·

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ τόν γε λίπῃ ψυχή τε καὶ αἰών,

πέμπειν μιν θάνατόν τε φέρειν καὶ νήδυμον ὕπνον

εἰς ὅ κε δὴ Λυκίης εὐρείης δῆμον ἵκωνται,

ἔνθά ἑ ταρχύσουσι κασίγνητοί τε ἔται τε

τύμβῳ τε στήλῃ τε· τὸ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.

The sire of gods and men assented, but he shed a rain of blood upon the earth in honor [ timê ] of his son whom Patroklos was about to kill on the fertile plain of Troy far from his home.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·

αἱματοέσσας δὲ ψιάδας κατέχευεν ἔραζε

παῖδα φίλον τιμῶν, τόν οἱ Πάτροκλος ἔμελλε

φθίσειν ἐν Τροίῃ ἐριβώλακι τηλόθι πάτρης.

When they were now come close to one another Patroklos struck Thrasydemos, the brave squire [ therapôn ] of Sarpedon, in the lower part of the belly, and killed him. Sarpedon then aimed a spear at Patroklos and missed him, but he struck the horse Pedasos in the right shoulder, and it screamed aloud as it lay, groaning in the dust until the life went out of it. The other two horses began to plunge; the pole of the chariot cracked and they got entangled in the reins through the fall of the horse that was yoked along with them; but Automedon knew what to do; without the loss of a moment he drew the keen blade that hung by his sturdy thigh and cut the third horse adrift; whereon the other two righted themselves, and pulling hard at the reins again went together into battle.

οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,

ἔνθʼ ἤτοι Πάτροκλος ἀγακλειτὸν Θρασύμηλον,

ὅς ῥʼ ἠῢς θεράπων Σαρπηδόνος ἦεν ἄνακτος,

τὸν βάλε νείαιραν κατὰ γαστέρα, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα.

Σαρπηδὼν δʼ αὐτοῦ μὲν ἀπήμβροτε δουρὶ φαεινῷ

δεύτερον ὁρμηθείς, ὃ δὲ Πήδασον οὔτασεν ἵππον

ἔγχεϊ δεξιὸν ὦμον· ὃ δʼ ἔβραχε θυμὸν ἀΐσθων,

κὰδ δʼ ἔπεσʼ ἐν κονίῃσι μακών, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔπτατο θυμός.

τὼ δὲ διαστήτην, κρίκε δὲ ζυγόν, ἡνία δέ σφι

σύγχυτʼ, ἐπεὶ δὴ κεῖτο παρήορος ἐν κονίῃσι.

τοῖο μὲν Αὐτομέδων δουρικλυτὸς εὕρετο τέκμωρ·

σπασσάμενος τανύηκες ἄορ παχέος παρὰ μηροῦ

ἀΐξας ἀπέκοψε παρήορον οὐδʼ ἐμάτησε·

τὼ δʼ ἰθυνθήτην, ἐν δὲ ῥυτῆρσι τάνυσθεν·

τὼ δʼ αὖτις συνίτην ἔριδος πέρι θυμοβόροιο.

Sarpedon now took a second aim at Patroklos, and again missed him, the point of the spear passed over his left shoulder without hitting him. Patroklos then aimed in his turn, and the spear sped not from his hand in vain, for he hit Sarpedon just where the midriff surrounds the ever-beating heart. He fell like some oak or silver poplar or tall pine to which woodmen have laid their axes upon the mountains to make timber for ship-building - even so did he lie stretched at full length in front of his chariot and horses, moaning and clutching at the blood-stained dust. As when a lion springs with a bound upon a herd of cattle and fastens on a great black bull which dies bellowing in its clutches - even so did the leader of the Lycian warriors struggle in death as he fell by the hand of Patroklos. He called on his trusty comrade and said, "Glaukos, my brother, hero among heroes, put forth all your strength, fight with might and main, now if ever quit yourself like a valiant warrior. First go about among the Lycian leaders and bid them fight for Sarpedon; then yourself also do battle to save my armor from being taken. My name will haunt you henceforth and for ever if the Achaeans rob me of my armor now that I have fallen near the assembly [ agôn ] of their ships. Do your very utmost and call all my people together."

ἔνθʼ αὖ Σαρπηδὼν μὲν ἀπήμβροτε δουρὶ φαεινῷ,

Πατρόκλου δʼ ὑπὲρ ὦμον ἀριστερὸν ἤλυθʼ ἀκωκὴ

ἔγχεος, οὐδʼ ἔβαλʼ αὐτόν· ὃ δʼ ὕστερος ὄρνυτο χαλκῷ

Πάτροκλος· τοῦ δʼ οὐχ ἅλιον βέλος ἔκφυγε χειρός,

ἀλλʼ ἔβαλʼ ἔνθʼ ἄρα τε φρένες ἔρχαται ἀμφʼ ἁδινὸν κῆρ.

ἤριπε δʼ ὡς ὅτε τις δρῦς ἤριπεν ἢ ἀχερωῒς

ἠὲ πίτυς βλωθρή, τήν τʼ οὔρεσι τέκτονες ἄνδρες

ἐξέταμον πελέκεσσι νεήκεσι νήϊον εἶναι·

ὣς ὃ πρόσθʼ ἵππων καὶ δίφρου κεῖτο τανυσθεὶς

βεβρυχὼς κόνιος δεδραγμένος αἱματοέσσης.

ἠΰτε ταῦρον ἔπεφνε λέων ἀγέληφι μετελθὼν

αἴθωνα μεγάθυμον ἐν εἰλιπόδεσσι βόεσσι,

ὤλετό τε στενάχων ὑπὸ γαμφηλῇσι λέοντος,

ὣς ὑπὸ Πατρόκλῳ Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀσπιστάων

κτεινόμενος μενέαινε, φίλον δʼ ὀνόμηνεν ἑταῖρον·

Γλαῦκε πέπον πολεμιστὰ μετʼ ἀνδράσι νῦν σε μάλα χρὴ

αἰχμητήν τʼ ἔμεναι καὶ θαρσαλέον πολεμιστήν·

νῦν τοι ἐελδέσθω πόλεμος κακός, εἰ θοός ἐσσι.

πρῶτα μὲν ὄτρυνον Λυκίων ἡγήτορας ἄνδρας

πάντῃ ἐποιχόμενος Σαρπηδόνος ἀμφιμάχεσθαι·

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα καὶ αὐτὸς ἐμεῦ πέρι μάρναο χαλκῷ.

σοὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ καὶ ἔπειτα κατηφείη καὶ ὄνειδος

ἔσσομαι ἤματα πάντα διαμπερές, εἴ κέ μʼ Ἀχαιοὶ

τεύχεα συλήσωσι νεῶν ἐν ἀγῶνι πεσόντα.

ἀλλʼ ἔχεο κρατερῶς, ὄτρυνε δὲ λαὸν ἅπαντα.

ὣς ἄρα μιν εἰπόντα τέλος θανάτοιο κάλυψεν

The outcome [ telos ] of death closed his eyes as he spoke. Patroklos planted his heel on his breast and drew the spear from his body, whereon his diaphragm came out along with it, and he drew out both spear-point and Sarpedon's life-breath [ psukhê ] at the same time. Hard by the Myrmidons held his snorting steeds, who were wild with panic at finding themselves deserted by their lords. Glaukos was overcome with grief [ akhos ] when he heard what Sarpedon said, for he could not help him. He had to support his arm with his other hand, being in great pain through the wound which Teucer's arrow had given him when Teucer was defending the wall as he, Glaukos, was assailing it. Therefore he prayed to far-darting Apollo saying, "Hear me O king from your seat, may be in the fertile district [ dêmos ] of Lycia , or may be in Troy , for in all places you can hear the prayer of one who is in distress, as I now am. I have a grievous wound; my hand is aching with pain, there is no staunching the blood, and my whole arm drags by reason of my hurt, so that I cannot grasp my sword nor go among my foes and fight them, though our prince, Zeus' son Sarpedon, is slain. Zeus defended not his son, do you, therefore, O king, heal me of my wound, ease my pain and grant me strength both to cheer on the Lycians and to fight along with them round the body of him who has fallen."

ὀφθαλμοὺς ῥῖνάς θʼ· ὃ δὲ λὰξ ἐν στήθεσι βαίνων

ἐκ χροὸς ἕλκε δόρυ, προτὶ δὲ φρένες αὐτῷ ἕποντο·

τοῖο δʼ ἅμα ψυχήν τε καὶ ἔγχεος ἐξέρυσʼ αἰχμήν.

Μυρμιδόνες δʼ αὐτοῦ σχέθον ἵππους φυσιόωντας

ἱεμένους φοβέεσθαι, ἐπεὶ λίπον ἅρματʼ ἀνάκτων.

Γλαύκῳ δʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος γένετο φθογγῆς ἀΐοντι·

ὠρίνθη δέ οἱ ἦτορ ὅ τʼ οὐ δύνατο προσαμῦναι.

χειρὶ δʼ ἑλὼν ἐπίεζε βραχίονα· τεῖρε γὰρ αὐτὸν

ἕλκος, ὃ δή μιν Τεῦκρος ἐπεσσύμενον βάλεν ἰῷ

τείχεος ὑψηλοῖο, ἀρὴν ἑτάροισιν ἀμύνων.

εὐχόμενος δʼ ἄρα εἶπεν ἑκηβόλῳ Ἀπόλλωνι·

κλῦθι ἄναξ ὅς που Λυκίης ἐν πίονι δήμῳ

εἲς ἢ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ· δύνασαι δὲ σὺ πάντοσʼ ἀκούειν

ἀνέρι κηδομένῳ, ὡς νῦν ἐμὲ κῆδος ἱκάνει.

ἕλκος μὲν γὰρ ἔχω τόδε καρτερόν, ἀμφὶ δέ μοι χεὶρ

ὀξείῃς ὀδύνῃσιν ἐλήλαται, οὐδέ μοι αἷμα

τερσῆναι δύναται, βαρύθει δέ μοι ὦμος ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ·

ἔγχος δʼ οὐ δύναμαι σχεῖν ἔμπεδον, οὐδὲ μάχεσθαι

ἐλθὼν δυσμενέεσσιν. ἀνὴρ δʼ ὤριστος ὄλωλε

Σαρπηδὼν Διὸς υἱός· ὃ δʼ οὐ οὗ παιδὸς ἀμύνει.

ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μοι ἄναξ τόδε καρτερὸν ἕλκος ἄκεσσαι,

κοίμησον δʼ ὀδύνας, δὸς δὲ κράτος, ὄφρʼ ἑτάροισι

κεκλόμενος Λυκίοισιν ἐποτρύνω πολεμίζειν,

αὐτός τʼ ἀμφὶ νέκυι κατατεθνηῶτι μάχωμαι.

Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer. He eased his pain, staunched the black blood from the wound, and gave him new strength. Glaukos perceived this, and was thankful that the mighty god had answered his prayer; forthwith, therefore, he went among the Lycian leaders, and bade them come to fight about the body of Sarpedon. From these he strode on among the Trojans to Polydamas son of Panthoos and Agenor; he then went in search of Aeneas and Hektor, and when he had found them he said, "Hektor, you have utterly forgotten your allies, who languish here for your sake far from friends and home while you do nothing to support them.

ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων.

αὐτίκα παῦσʼ ὀδύνας ἀπὸ δʼ ἕλκεος ἀργαλέοιο

αἷμα μέλαν τέρσηνε, μένος δέ οἱ ἔμβαλε θυμῷ.

Γλαῦκος δʼ ἔγνω ᾗσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ γήθησέν τε

ὅττί οἱ ὦκʼ ἤκουσε μέγας θεὸς εὐξαμένοιο.

πρῶτα μὲν ὄτρυνεν Λυκίων ἡγήτορας ἄνδρας

πάντῃ ἐποιχόμενος Σαρπηδόνος ἀμφιμάχεσθαι·

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα μετὰ Τρῶας κίε μακρὰ βιβάσθων

Πουλυδάμαντʼ ἔπι Πανθοΐδην καὶ Ἀγήνορα δῖον,

βῆ δὲ μετʼ Αἰνείαν τε καὶ Ἕκτορα χαλκοκορυστήν,

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

Ἕκτορ νῦν δὴ πάγχυ λελασμένος εἰς ἐπικούρων,

οἳ σέθεν εἵνεκα τῆλε φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴης

Sarpedon leader of the Lycian warriors has fallen - he who was at once the right and might of Lycia ; Ares has laid him low by the spear of Patroklos. Stand by him, my friends, and suffer not the Myrmidons to strip him of his armor, nor to treat his body with contumely in revenge for all the Danaans whom we have speared at the ships."

θυμὸν ἀποφθινύθουσι· σὺ δʼ οὐκ ἐθέλεις ἐπαμύνειν.

κεῖται Σαρπηδὼν Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀσπιστάων,

ὃς Λυκίην εἴρυτο δίκῃσί τε καὶ σθένεϊ ᾧ·

τὸν δʼ ὑπὸ Πατρόκλῳ δάμασʼ ἔγχεϊ χάλκεος Ἄρης.

ἀλλὰ φίλοι πάρστητε, νεμεσσήθητε δὲ θυμῷ,

μὴ ἀπὸ τεύχεʼ ἕλωνται, ἀεικίσσωσι δὲ νεκρὸν

Μυρμιδόνες, Δαναῶν κεχολωμένοι ὅσσοι ὄλοντο,

τοὺς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ θοῇσιν ἐπέφνομεν ἐγχείῃσιν.

As he spoke the Trojans were plunged in extreme and ungovernable grief [ penthos ]; for Sarpedon, alien though he was, had been one of the main stays of their city, both as having many people with him, and himself the foremost among them all. Led by Hektor, who was infuriated by the fall of Sarpedon, they made instantly for the Danaans with all their might, while the undaunted spirit of Patroklos son of Menoitios cheered on the Achaeans. First he spoke to the two Ajaxes, men who needed no bidding. "Ajaxes," said he, "may it now please you to show yourselves the men you have always been, or even better- Sarpedon is fallen - he who was first to overleap the wall of the Achaeans; let us take the body and outrage it; let us strip the armor from his shoulders, and kill his comrades if they try to rescue his body."

ὣς ἔφατο, Τρῶας δὲ κατὰ κρῆθεν λάβε πένθος

ἄσχετον, οὐκ ἐπιεικτόν, ἐπεί σφισιν ἕρμα πόληος

ἔσκε καὶ ἀλλοδαπός περ ἐών· πολέες γὰρ ἅμʼ αὐτῷ

λαοὶ ἕποντʼ, ἐν δʼ αὐτὸς ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι·

βὰν δʼ ἰθὺς Δαναῶν λελιημένοι· ἦρχε δʼ ἄρά σφιν

Ἕκτωρ χωόμενος Σαρπηδόνος. αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὺς

ὦρσε Μενοιτιάδεω Πατροκλῆος λάσιον κῆρ·

Αἴαντε πρώτω προσέφη μεμαῶτε καὶ αὐτώ·

Αἴαντε νῦν σφῶϊν ἀμύνεσθαι φίλον ἔστω,

οἷοί περ πάρος ἦτε μετʼ ἀνδράσιν ἢ καὶ ἀρείους.

κεῖται ἀνὴρ ὃς πρῶτος ἐσήλατο τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν

Σαρπηδών· ἀλλʼ εἴ μιν ἀεικισσαίμεθʼ ἑλόντες,

τεύχεά τʼ ὤμοιιν ἀφελοίμεθα, καί τινʼ ἑταίρων

αὐτοῦ ἀμυνομένων δαμασαίμεθα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.

He spoke to men who of themselves were full eager; both sides, therefore, the Trojans and Lycians on the one hand, and the Myrmidons and Achaeans on the other, strengthened their battalions, and fought desperately about the body of Sarpedon, shouting fiercely the while. Mighty was the din of their armor as they came together, and Zeus shed a thick darkness over the fight, to increase the ordeal [ ponos ] of the battle over the body of his son.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἀλέξασθαι μενέαινον.

οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἐκαρτύναντο φάλαγγας

Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Μυρμιδόνες καὶ Ἀχαιοί,

σύμβαλον ἀμφὶ νέκυι κατατεθνηῶτι μάχεσθαι

δεινὸν ἀΰσαντες· μέγα δʼ ἔβραχε τεύχεα φωτῶν.

Ζεὺς δʼ ἐπὶ νύκτʼ ὀλοὴν τάνυσε κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ,

ὄφρα φίλῳ περὶ παιδὶ μάχης ὀλοὸς πόνος εἴη.

At first the Trojans made some headway against the Achaeans, for one of the best men among the Myrmidons was killed, Epeigeus, son of noble Agakles who had erewhile been king in the good city of Boudeion; but presently, having killed a valiant kinsman of his own, he took refuge with Peleus and Thetis, who sent him to Ilion the land of noble steeds to fight the Trojans under Achilles. Hektor now struck him on the head with a stone just as he had caught hold of the body,

ὦσαν δὲ πρότεροι Τρῶες ἑλίκωπας Ἀχαιούς·

βλῆτο γὰρ οὔ τι κάκιστος ἀνὴρ μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσιν

υἱὸς Ἀγακλῆος μεγαθύμου δῖος Ἐπειγεύς,

ὅς ῥʼ ἐν Βουδείῳ εὖ ναιομένῳ ἤνασσε

τὸ πρίν· ἀτὰρ τότε γʼ ἐσθλὸν ἀνεψιὸν ἐξεναρίξας

ἐς Πηλῆʼ ἱκέτευσε καὶ ἐς Θέτιν ἀργυρόπεζαν·

οἳ δʼ ἅμʼ Ἀχιλλῆϊ ῥηξήνορι πέμπον ἕπεσθαι

Ἴλιον εἰς εὔπωλον, ἵνα Τρώεσσι μάχοιτο.

τόν ῥα τόθʼ ἁπτόμενον νέκυος βάλε φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ

and his brains inside his helmet were all battered in, so that he fell face foremost upon the body of Sarpedon, and there died. Patroklos was enraged with grief [ akhos ] over by the death of his comrade, and sped through the front ranks as swiftly as a hawk that swoops down on a flock of daws or starlings. Even so swiftly, O noble horseman Patroklos, did you make straight for the Lycians and Trojans to avenge your comrade. Forthwith he struck Sthenelaos the son of Ithaimenes on the neck with a stone, and broke the tendons that join it to the head and spine. On this Hektor and the front rank of his men gave ground. As far as a man can throw a javelin in competition [ athlos ] for some prize, or even in battle - so far did the Trojans now retreat before the Achaeans. Glaukos, leader of the Lycians, was the first to rally them, by killing Bathykles son of Khalkon who lived in Hellas and was supreme in wealth [ olbos ] among the Myrmidons. Glaukos turned round suddenly, just as Bathykles who was pursuing him was about to lay hold of him, and drove his spear right into the middle of his chest, whereon he fell heavily to the ground, and the fall of so good a man filled the Achaeans with dismay [ akhos ], while the Trojans were exultant, and came up in a body round the corpse. Nevertheless the Achaeans, mindful of their prowess, bore straight down upon them.

χερμαδίῳ κεφαλήν· ἣ δʼ ἄνδιχα πᾶσα κεάσθη

ἐν κόρυθι βριαρῇ· ὃ δʼ ἄρα πρηνὴς ἐπὶ νεκρῷ

κάππεσεν, ἀμφὶ δέ μιν θάνατος χύτο θυμοραϊστής.

Πατρόκλῳ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄχος γένετο φθιμένου ἑτάροιο,

ἴθυσεν δὲ διὰ προμάχων ἴρηκι ἐοικὼς

ὠκέϊ, ὅς τʼ ἐφόβησε κολοιούς τε ψῆράς τε·

ὣς ἰθὺς Λυκίων Πατρόκλεες ἱπποκέλευθε

ἔσσυο καὶ Τρώων, κεχόλωσο δὲ κῆρ ἑτάροιο.

καί ῥʼ ἔβαλε Σθενέλαον Ἰθαιμένεος φίλον υἱὸν

αὐχένα χερμαδίῳ, ῥῆξεν δʼ ἀπὸ τοῖο τένοντας.

χώρησαν δʼ ὑπό τε πρόμαχοι καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ.

ὅσση δʼ αἰγανέης ῥιπὴ ταναοῖο τέτυκται,

ἥν ῥά τʼ ἀνὴρ ἀφέῃ πειρώμενος ἢ ἐν ἀέθλῳ

ἠὲ καὶ ἐν πολέμῳ δηΐων ὕπο θυμοραϊστέων,

τόσσον ἐχώρησαν Τρῶες, ὤσαντο δʼ Ἀχαιοί.

Γλαῦκος δὲ πρῶτος Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀσπιστάων

ἐτράπετʼ, ἔκτεινεν δὲ Βαθυκλῆα μεγάθυμον

Χάλκωνος φίλον υἱόν, ὃς Ἑλλάδι οἰκία ναίων

ὄλβῳ τε πλούτῳ τε μετέπρεπε Μυρμιδόνεσσι.

τὸν μὲν ἄρα Γλαῦκος στῆθος μέσον οὔτασε δουρὶ

στρεφθεὶς ἐξαπίνης, ὅτε μιν κατέμαρπτε διώκων·

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών· πυκινὸν δʼ ἄχος ἔλλαβʼ Ἀχαιούς,

ὡς ἔπεσʼ ἐσθλὸς ἀνήρ· μέγα δὲ Τρῶες κεχάροντο,

στὰν δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἰόντες ἀολλέες· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ἀχαιοὶ

ἀλκῆς ἐξελάθοντο, μένος δʼ ἰθὺς φέρον αὐτῶν.

Meriones then killed a helmed warrior of the Trojans, Laogonos son of Onetor, who was priest of Zeus of Mount Ida , and was honored in the district [ dêmos ] as though he were a god. Meriones struck him under the jaw and ear, so that life went out of him and the darkness of death laid hold upon him. Aeneas then aimed a spear at Meriones, hoping to hit him under the shield as he was advancing, but Meriones saw it coming and stooped forward to avoid it, whereon the spear flew past him and the point stuck in the ground, while the butt-end went on quivering till Ares robbed it of its force. The spear, therefore, sped from Aeneas' hand in vain and fell quivering to the ground. Aeneas was angry and said, "Meriones, you are a good dancer, but if I had hit you my spear would soon have made an end of you."

ἔνθʼ αὖ Μηριόνης Τρώων ἕλεν ἄνδρα κορυστὴν

Λαόγονον θρασὺν υἱὸν Ὀνήτορος, ὃς Διὸς ἱρεὺς

Ἰδαίου ἐτέτυκτο, θεὸς δʼ ὣς τίετο δήμῳ.

τὸν βάλʼ ὑπὸ γναθμοῖο καὶ οὔατος· ὦκα δὲ θυμὸς

ᾤχετʼ ἀπὸ μελέων, στυγερὸς δʼ ἄρα μιν σκότος εἷλεν.

Αἰνείας δʼ ἐπὶ Μηριόνῃ δόρυ χάλκεον ἧκεν·

ἔλπετο γὰρ τεύξεσθαι ὑπασπίδια προβιβῶντος.

ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος·

πρόσσω γὰρ κατέκυψε, τὸ δʼ ἐξόπιθεν δόρυ μακρὸν

οὔδει ἐνισκίμφθη, ἐπὶ δʼ οὐρίαχος πελεμίχθη

ἔγχεος· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀφίει μένος ὄβριμος Ἄρης.

αἰχμὴ δʼ Αἰνείαο κραδαινομένη κατὰ γαίης

ᾤχετʼ, ἐπεί ῥʼ ἅλιον στιβαρῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ὄρουσεν.

Αἰνείας δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐχώσατο φώνησέν τε·

Μηριόνη τάχα κέν σε καὶ ὀρχηστήν περ ἐόντα

ἔγχος ἐμὸν κατέπαυσε διαμπερές, εἴ σʼ ἔβαλόν περ.

And Meriones answered, "Aeneas, for all your bravery, you will not be able to make an end of every one who comes against you. You are only a mortal like myself, and if I were to hit you in the middle of your shield with my spear, however strong and self-confident you may be, I should soon vanquish you, and you would yield your life-breath [ psukhê ] to Hades of the noble steeds."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Μηριόνης δουρικλυτὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·

Αἰνεία χαλεπόν σε καὶ ἴφθιμόν περ ἐόντα

πάντων ἀνθρώπων σβέσσαι μένος, ὅς κέ σευ ἄντα

ἔλθῃ ἀμυνόμενος· θνητὸς δέ νυ καὶ σὺ τέτυξαι.

εἰ καὶ ἐγώ σε βάλοιμι τυχὼν μέσον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

αἶψά κε καὶ κρατερός περ ἐὼν καὶ χερσὶ πεποιθὼς

εὖχος ἐμοὶ δοίης, ψυχὴν δʼ Ἄϊδι κλυτοπώλῳ.

ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ ἐνένιπε Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱός·

On this the son of Menoitios rebuked him and said, "Meriones, hero though you be, you should not speak thus; taunting speeches, my good friend, will not make the Trojans draw away from the dead body; some of them must go under ground first; the outcome [ telos ] of battle is in the force of hands, while the outcome of deliberation is words; fight, therefore, and say nothing."

Μηριόνη τί σὺ ταῦτα καὶ ἐσθλὸς ἐὼν ἀγορεύεις;

ὦ πέπον οὔ τοι Τρῶες ὀνειδείοις ἐπέεσσι

νεκροῦ χωρήσουσι· πάρος τινὰ γαῖα καθέξει.

ἐν γὰρ χερσὶ τέλος πολέμου, ἐπέων δʼ ἐνὶ βουλῇ·

τὼ οὔ τι χρὴ μῦθον ὀφέλλειν, ἀλλὰ μάχεσθαι.

He led the way as he spoke and the hero went forward with him. As the sound of woodcutters in some forest glade upon the mountains- and the thud of their axes is heard afar - even such a din now rose from earth-clash of bronze armor and of good ox-hide shields, as men smote each other with their swords and spears pointed at both ends. A man had need of good eyesight now to know Sarpedon, so covered was he from head to foot with spears and blood and dust. Men swarmed about the body, as flies that buzz round the full milk-pails in the season [ hôra ] of spring when they are brimming with milk - even so did they gather round Sarpedon; nor did Zeus turn his keen eyes away for one moment from the fight, but kept looking at it all the time, for he was settling how best to kill Patroklos, and considering whether Hektor should be allowed to end him now in the fight round the body of Sarpedon, and strip him of his armor, or whether he should let him give yet further trouble [ ponos ] to the Trojans. In the end, he deemed it best that the brave squire [ therapôn ] of Achilles son of Peleus should drive Hektor and the Trojans back towards the city and take the lives of many. First, therefore, he made Hektor turn fainthearted, whereon he mounted his chariot and fled, bidding the other Trojans flee also,

ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν ἦρχʼ, ὃ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕσπετο ἰσόθεος φώς.

τῶν δʼ ὥς τε δρυτόμων ἀνδρῶν ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει

οὔρεος ἐν βήσσῃς, ἕκαθεν δέ τε γίγνετʼ ἀκουή,

ὣς τῶν ὄρνυτο δοῦπος ἀπὸ χθονὸς εὐρυοδείης

χαλκοῦ τε ῥινοῦ τε βοῶν τʼ εὐποιητάων,

νυσσομένων ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισιν.

οὐδʼ ἂν ἔτι φράδμων περ ἀνὴρ Σαρπηδόνα δῖον

ἔγνω, ἐπεὶ βελέεσσι καὶ αἵματι καὶ κονίῃσιν

ἐκ κεφαλῆς εἴλυτο διαμπερὲς ἐς πόδας ἄκρους.

οἳ δʼ αἰεὶ περὶ νεκρὸν ὁμίλεον, ὡς ὅτε μυῖαι

σταθμῷ ἔνι βρομέωσι περιγλαγέας κατὰ πέλλας

ὥρῃ ἐν εἰαρινῇ, ὅτε τε γλάγος ἄγγεα δεύει·

ὣς ἄρα τοὶ περὶ νεκρὸν ὁμίλεον, οὐδέ ποτε Ζεὺς

τρέψεν ἀπὸ κρατερῆς ὑσμίνης ὄσσε φαεινώ,

ἀλλὰ κατʼ αὐτοὺς αἰὲν ὅρα καὶ φράζετο θυμῷ,

πολλὰ μάλʼ ἀμφὶ φόνῳ Πατρόκλου μερμηρίζων,

ἢ ἤδη καὶ κεῖνον ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ

αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ ἀντιθέῳ Σαρπηδόνι φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ