The Iliad online

horses of wise Aiakides; for hard are they to be tamed or driven by
mortal man, save only Achilles whom an immortal mother bare. Meanwhile
hath warlike Menelaos Atreus' son stridden over Patroklos and slain the
best of the Trojans there, even Panthoos' son Euphorbos, and hath stayed
him in his impetuous might."

Thus saying the god went back into the strife of men, but dire grief
darkened Hectors inmost soul, and then he gazed searchingly along the
lines, and straightway was aware of the one man stripping off the noble
arms, and the other lying on the earth; and blood was flowing about the
gaping wound. Then he went through the front of the fight harnessed in
flashing bronze, crying a shrill cry, like unto Hephaistos' flame
unquenchable. Not deaf to his shrill cry was Atreus' son, and sore
troubled he spake to his great heart: "Ay me, if I shall leave behind me
these goodly arms, and Patroklos who here lieth for my vengeance' sake,
I fear lest some Danaan beholding it be wroth against me. But if for
honour's sake I do battle alone with Hector and the Trojans, I fear lest
they come about me many against one; for all the Trojans is
bright-helmed Hector leading hither. But if I might somewhere find Aias
of the loud war-cry, then both together would we go and be mindful of
battle even were it against the power of heaven, if haply we might save
his dead for Achilles Peleus' son: that were best among these ills."

While thus he communed with his mind and heart, therewithal the Trojan
ranks came onward, and Hector at their head. Then Menelaos gave
backward, and left the dead man, turning himself ever about like a
deep-waned lion which men and dogs chase from a fold with spears and
cries; and his strong heart within him groweth chill, and loth goeth he
from the steading; so from Patroklos went fair-haired Menelaos, and
turned and stood, when he came to the host of his comrades, searching
for mighty Aias Telamon's son. Him very speedily he espied on the left
of the whole battle, cheering his comrades and rousing them to fight,
for great terror had Phoebus Apollo sent on them; and he hasted him to
run, and straightway stood by him and said: "This way, beloved Aias; let
us bestir us for the dead Patroklos, if haply his naked corpse at least
we may carry to Achilles, though his armour is held by Hector of the
glancing helm."

Thus spake he, and aroused the heart of wise Aias. And he went up
through the front of the fight, and with him fair-haired Menelaos. Now
Hector, when he had stripped from Patroklos his noble armour, was
dragging him thence that he might cut off the head from the shoulders
with the keen bronze and carry his body to give to the dogs of Troy. But
Aias came anigh, and the shield that he bare was as a tower; then Hector
gave back into the company of his comrades, and sprang into his chariot;
and the goodly armour he gave to the Trojans to carry to the city, to be
great glory unto him. But Aias spread his broad shield over the son of
Menoitios and stood as it were a lion before his whelps when huntsmen in
a forest encounter him as he leadeth his young. And by his side stood
Atreus' son, Menelaos dear to Ares, nursing great sorrow in his breast.

Then Hector called on the Trojans with a mighty shout; "Trojans and
Lykians and Dardanians that fight hand to hand, be men, my friends, and
bethink you of impetuous valour, until I do on me the goodly arms of
noble Achilles that I stripped from brave Patroklos when I slew him."

Thus having spoken went Hector of the glancing helm forth out of the
strife of war, and ran and speedily with fleet feet following overtook
his comrades, not yet far off, who were bearing to the city Peleides'
glorious arms. And standing apart from the dolorous battle he changed
his armour; his own he gave the warlike Trojans to carry to sacred
Ilios, and he put on the divine arms of Achilles, Peleus' son.

But when Zeus that gathereth the clouds beheld from afar off Hector
arming him in the armour of Peleus' godlike son, he shook his head and
spake thus unto his soul: "Ah, hapless man, no thought is in thy heart
of death that yet draweth nigh unto thee; thou doest on thee the divine
armour of a peerless man before whom the rest have terror. His comrade,
gentle and brave, thou hast slain, and unmeetly hast stripped the armour
from his head and shoulders; yet now for a while at least I will give
into thy hands great might, in recompense for this, even that nowise
shalt thou come home out of the battle, for Andromache to receive from
thee Peleides' glorious arms."

Thus spake the son of Kronos, and bowed his dark brows therewithal.

But the armour fitted itself unto Hectors body, and Ares the dread
war-god entered into him, and his limbs were filled within with valour
and strength. Then he sped among the noble allies with a mighty cry, and
in the flashing of his armour he seemed to all of them like unto Peleus'
great-hearted son. And he came to each and encouraged him with his
words - Mesthles and Glaukos and Medon and Thersilochos and Asteropaios
and Deisenor and Hippothoos and Phorkys and Chromios and the augur
Ennomos - these encouraged he and spake to them winged words: "Listen, ye
countless tribes of allies that dwell round about. It was not for mere
numbers that I sought or longed when I gathered each of you from your
cities, but that ye might zealously guard the Trojans' wives and infant
little ones from the war-loving Achaians. For this end am I wearying my
people by taking gifts and food from them, and nursing thereby the
courage of each of you. Now therefore let all turn straight against the
foe and live or die, for such is the dalliance of war. And whoso shall
drag Patroklos, dead though he be, among the horse-taming men of Troy,
and make Aias yield, to him will I award half the spoils and keep half
myself; so shall his glory be great as mine."

Thus spake he, and they against the Danaans charged with all their
weight, levelling their spears, and their hearts were high of hope to
drag the corpse from under Aias, Telamon's son. Fond men! from full many
reft he life over that corpse. And then spake Aias to Menelaos of the
loud war-cry: "Dear Menelaos, fosterling of Zeus, no longer count I that
we two of ourselves shall return home out of the war. Nor have I so much
dread for the corpse of Patroklos, that shall soon glut the dogs and
birds of the men of Troy, as for thy head and mine lest some evil fall
thereon, for all is shrouded by a storm-cloud of war, even by Hector,
and sheer doom stareth in our face. But come, call thou to the best men
of the Danaans, if haply any hear."

Thus spake he, and Menelaos of the loud war-cry disregarded him not, but
shouted unto the Danaans, crying a far-heard cry: "O friends, ye leaders
and counsellors of the Argives, who by the side of the sons of Atreus,
Agamemnon and Menelaos, drink at the common cost and are all commanders
of the host, on whom wait glory and honour from Zeus, hard is it for me
to distinguish each chief amid the press - such blaze is there of the
strife of war. But let each go forward of himself and be wroth at heart
that Patroklos should become a sport among the dogs of Troy."

Thus spake he, and Oileus' son fleet Aias heard him clearly, and was
first to run along the mellay to meet him, and after him Idomeneus, and
Idomeneus' brother-in-arms, Meriones, peer of the man-slaying war-god.
And who shall of his own thought tell the names of the rest, even of all
that after these aroused the battle of the Achaians?

Now the Trojans charged forward in close array, and Hector led them. And
as when at the mouth of some heaven-born river a mighty wave roareth
against the stream, and arouseth the high cliffs' echo as the salt sea
belloweth on the beach, so loud was the cry wherewith the Trojans came.
But the Achaians stood firm around Menoitios' son with one soul all,
walled in with shields of bronze. And over their bright helmets the son
of Kronos shed thick darkness, for in the former time was Menoitios' son
not unloved of him, while he was yet alive and squire of Aiakides. So
was Zeus loth that he should become a prey of the dogs of his enemies at
Troy, and stirred his comrades to do battle for him.

Now first the Trojans thrust back the glancing-eyed Achaians, who shrank
before them and left the dead, yet the proud Trojans slew not any of
them with spears, though they were fain, but set to hale the corpse. But
little while would the Achaians hold back therefrom, for very swiftly
Aias rallied them, Aias the first in presence and in deeds of all the
Danaans after the noble son of Peleus. Right through the fighters in the
forefront rushed he like a wild boar in his might that in the mountains
when he turneth at bay scattereth lightly dogs and lusty young men
through the glades. Thus did proud Telamon's son the glorious Aias press
on the Trojan battalions and lightly scatter them, as they had bestrode
Patroklos and were full fain to drag him to their city and win renown.

Then would the Trojans in their turn in their weakness overcome have
been driven back into Ilios by the Achaians dear to Ares, and the
Argives would have won glory even against the appointment of Zeus by
their power and might. But Apollo himself aroused Aineias, putting on
the semblance of Periphas the herald, the son of Epytos, who grew old
with his old father in his heraldship, of friendly thought toward
Aineias. In his similitude spake Apollo, son of Zeus: "Aineias, how
could ye ever guard high Ilios if it were against the will of God? Other
men have I seen that trust in their own might and power and valour, and
in their host, even though they have scant folk to lead. But here,
albeit Zeus is fainer far to give victory to us than to the Danaans, yet
ye are dismayed exceedingly and fight not."

Thus spake he, and Aineias knew far-darting Apollo when he looked upon
his face, and spake unto Hector, shouting loud "Hector and ye other
leaders of the Trojans and their allies, shame were this if in our
weakness overcome we were driven back into Ilios by the Achaians dear to
Ares. Nay, thus saith a god, who standeth by my side: Zeus, highest
Orderer, is our helper in this fight. Therefore let us go right onward
against the Danaans. Not easily at least let them take the dead
Patroklos to the ships."

Thus spake he, and leapt forth far before the fighters in the front. And
the Trojans rallied and stood up against the Achaians. Thus strove they
as it had been fire, nor wouldst thou have thought there was still sun
or moon, for over all the battle where the chiefs stood around the slain
son of Menoitios they were shrouded in darkness, while the other Trojans
and well-greaved Achaians fought at ease in the clear air, and piercing
sunlight was spread over them, and on all the earth and hills there was
no cloud seen; and they ceased fighting now sad again, avoiding each
other's dolorous darts and standing far apart. But they who were in the
midst endured affliction of the darkness and the battle, and all the
best men of them were wearied by the pitiless weight of their bronze
arms.

Thus all day long waxed the mighty fray of their sore strife; and
unabatingly ever with the sweat of toil were the knees and legs and feet
of each man and arms anal eyes bedewed as the two hosts did battle
around the brave squire of fleet Aiakides. And as when a man giveth the
hide of a great bull to his folk to stretch, all soaked in fat, and they
take and stretch it standing in a circle, and straightway the moisture
thereof departeth and the fat entereth in under the haling of many
hands, and it is all stretched throughout, - thus they on both sides
haled the dead man this way and that in narrow space, for their hearts
were high of hope, the Trojans that they should drag him to Ilios and
the Achaians to the hollow ships; and around him the fray waxed wild,
nor might Ares rouser of hosts nor Athene despise the sight thereof,
albeit their anger were exceeding great.

Such was the grievous travail of men and horses over Patroklos that Zeus
on that day wrought. But not as yet knew noble Achilles aught of
Patroklos' death, for far away from the swift ships they were fighting
beneath the wall of the men of Troy. Therefore never deemed he in his
heart that he was dead, but that he should come back alive, after that
he had touched the gates; for neither that other thought had he anywise,
that Patroklos should sack the stronghold without his aid.

Now the rest continually around the dead man with their keen spears made
onset relentlessly and slew each the other. And thus would one speak
among the mail-clad Achaians: "Friends, it were verily not glorious for
us to go back to the hollow ships; rather let the black earth yawn for
us all beneath our feet. Far better were that straightway for us if we
suffer the horse-taming Trojans to hale this man to their city and win
renown."

And thus on the other side would one of the great-hearted Trojans say:
"Friends, though it were our fate that all together we be slain beside
this man, let none yet give backward from the fray."

Thus would one speak, and rouse the spirit of each. So they fought on,
and the iron din went up through the high desert air unto the brazen
heaven. But the horses of Aiakides that were apart from the battle were
weeping, since first they were aware that their charioteer was fallen in
the dust beneath the hand of man-slaying Hector. Verily Automedon,
Diores' valiant son, plied them oft with blows of the swift lash, and
oft with gentle words he spake to them and oft with chiding, yet would
they neither go back to the ships at the broad Hellespont nor yet to the
battle after the Achaians, but as a pillar abideth firm that standeth on
the tomb of a man or woman dead, so abode they immovably with the
beautiful chariot, abasing their heads unto the earth. And hot tears
flowed from their eyes to the ground as they mourned in sorrow for their
charioteer, and their rich manes were soiled as they drooped from
beneath the yoke-cushion on both sides beside the yoke. And when the son
of Kronos beheld them mourning he had compassion on them, and shook his
head and spake to his own heart: "Ah, hapless pair, why gave we you to
king Peleus, a mortal man, while ye are deathless and ever young? Was it
that ye should suffer sorrows among ill-fated men? For methinketh there
is nothing more piteous than a man among all things that breathe and
creep upon the earth. But verily Hector Priam's son shall not drive you
and your deftly-wrought car; that will I not suffer. Is it a small thing
that he holdeth the armour and vaunteth himself vainly thereupon? Nay, I
will put courage into your knees and heart that ye may bring Automedon
also safe out of the war to the hollow ships. For yet further will I
increase victory to the men of Troy, so that they slay until they come
unto the well-timbered ships, and the sun set and divine night come
down."

Thus saying he breathed good courage into the horses. And they shook to
earth the dust from their manes, and lightly bare the swift car amid
Trojans and Achaians. And behind them fought Automedon, albeit in grief
for his comrade, swooping with his chariot as a vulture on wild geese;
for lightly he would flee out of the onset of the Trojans and lightly
charge, pursuing them through the thick mellay. Yet could he not slay
any man as he halted to pursue them, for it was impossible that being
alone in his sacred car he should at once assail them with the spear and
hold his fleet horses. Then at last espied him a comrade, even Alkimedon
son of Laerkes, son of Haimon, and he halted behind the car and spake
unto Automedon: "Automedon, what god hath put into thy breast
unprofitable counsel and taken from thee wisdom, that thus alone thou
art fighting against the Trojans in the forefront of the press? Thy
comrade even now was slain, and Hector goeth proudly, wearing on his own
shoulders the armour of Aiakides."

And Automedon son of Diores answered him, saying: "Alkimedon, what other
Achaian hath like skill to guide the spirit of immortal steeds, save
only Patroklos, peer of gods in counsel, while he yet lived? but now
have death and fate overtaken him. But take thou the lash and shining
reins, and I will get me down from my horses, that I may fight."

Thus spake he, and Alkimedon leapt on the fleet war-chariot and swiftly
took the lash and reins in his hands, and Automedon leapt down. And
noble Hector espied them, and straightway spake unto Aineias as he stood
near: "Aineias, counsellor of mail-clad Trojans, I espy here the two
horses of fleet Aiakides come forth to battle with feeble charioteers.
Therefore might I hope to take them if thou in thy heart art willing,
since they would not abide our onset and stand to do battle against us."

Thus spake he, and the brave son of Anchises disregarded him not. And
they twain went right onward, their shoulders shielded by ox-hides dried
and tough, and bronze thick overlaid. And with them went both Chromios
and godlike Aretos, and their hearts were of high hope to slay the men
and drive off the strong-necked horses - fond hope, for not without blood
lost were they to get them back from Automedon. He praying to father
Zeus was filled in his inmost heart with valour and strength. And
straightway he spake to Alkimedon, his faithful comrade: "Alkimedon,
hold the horses not far from me, but with their very breath upon my
back; for I deem that Hector the son of Priam will not refrain him from
his fury until he mount behind Achilles' horses of goodly manes after
slaying us twain, and dismay the ranks of Argive men, or else himself
fall among the foremost."

Thus said he, and called upon the Aiantes and Menelaos: "Aiantes,
leaders of the Argives, and Menelaos, lo now, commit ye the corpse unto
whoso may best avail to bestride it and resist the ranks of men, and
come ye to ward the day of doom from us who are yet alive, for here in
the dolorous war are Hector and Aineias, the best men of the Trojans,
pressing hard. Yet verily these issues lie in the lap of the gods: I too
will cast my spear, and the rest shall Zeus decide."

He said, and poised his far-shadowing spear and hurled it, and smote on
the circle of the shield of Aretos, and the shield sustained not the
spear, but right through went the bronze, and he forced it into his
belly low down through his belt. And as when a strong man with a sharp
axe smiting behind the horns of an ox of the homestead cleaveth the
sinew asunder, and the ox leapeth forward and falleth, so leapt Aretos
forward and fell on his back; and the spear in his entrails very
piercingly quivering unstrung his limbs. And Hector hurled at Automedon
with his bright spear, but he looked steadfastly on the bronze javelin
as it came at him and avoided it, for he stooped forward, and the long
spear fixed itself in the ground behind, and the javelin-butt quivered,
and there dread Ares took away its force. And then had they lashed at
each other with their swords hand to hand, had not the Aiantes parted
them in their fury, when they were come through the mellay at their
comrades' call. Before them Hector and Aineias and godlike Chromios
shrank backward and gave ground and left Aretos wounded to the death as
he lay. And Automedon, peer of swift Ares, stripped off the armour of
the dead, and spake exultingly: "Verily, I have a little eased my heart
of grief for the death of Menoitios' son, albeit a worse man than him
have I slain."

Thus saying he took up the gory spoils and set them in his car, and gat
him thereon, with feet and hands all bloody, as a lion that hath
devoured a bull.

Now great-hearted Aias and Menelaos were aware of Zeus how he gave the
Trojans their turn to victory. First of these to speak was great Aias
son of Telamon: "Ay me, now may any man, even though he be a very fool,
know that father Zeus himself is helping the Trojans. Come, let us
ourselves devise some excellent means, that we may both hale the corpse
away and ourselves return home to the joy of our friends, who grieve as
they look hitherward and deem that no longer shall the fury of
man-slaying Hector's unapproachable hand refrain itself, but fall upon
the black ships. And would there were some comrade to carry tidings with
all speed unto the son of Peleus, since I deem that he hath not even
heard the grievous tidings, how his dear comrade is slain. But nowhere
can I behold such an one among the Achaians, for themselves and their
horses likewise are wrapped in darkness. O father Zeus, deliver thou the
sons of the Achaians from the darkness, and make clear sky and vouchsafe
sight unto our eyes. In the light be it that thou slayest us, since it
is thy good pleasure that we die."

Then fair-haired Menelaos departed glancing everywhither, as an eagle
which men say hath keenest sight of all birds under heaven, and though
he be far aloft the fleet-footed hare eludeth him not by crouching
beneath a leafy bush, but the eagle swoopeth thereon and swiftly seizeth
her and taketh her life. Thus in that hour, Menelaos fosterling of Zeus,
ranged thy shining eyes everywhither through the multitude of the host
of thy comrades, if haply they might behold Nestor's son yet alive. Him
quickly he perceived at the left of the whole battle, heartening his
comrades and rousing them to fight. And fair-haired Menelaos came and
stood nigh and said unto him: "Antilochos, fosterling of Zeus, come
hither that thou mayest learn woful tidings - would it had never been.
Ere now, I ween, thou too hast known by thy beholding that God rolleth
mischief upon the Danaans, and with the Trojans is victory. And slain is
the best man of the Achaians, Patroklos, and great sorrow is wrought for
the Danaans. But run thou to the ships of the Achaians and quickly tell
this to Achilles, if haply he may straightway rescue to his ship the
naked corpse: but his armour is held by Hector of the glancing helmet."

Thus spake he, and Antilochos had horror of the word he heard. And long
time speechlessness possessed him, and his eyes were filled with tears,
and his full voice choked. Yet for all this disregarded he not the
bidding of Menelaos, but set him to run, when he had given his armour to
a noble comrade, Laodokos, who close anigh him was wheeling his
whole-hooved horses.

So him his feet bare out of the battle weeping, to Achilles son of
Peleus carrying an evil tale. But thy heart, Menelaos fosterling of
Zeus, chose not to stay to aid the wearied comrades from whom Antilochos
departed, and great sorrow was among the Pylians. But to them Menelaos
sent noble Thrasymedes, and himself went again to bestride the hero
Patroklos. And he hasted and stood beside the Aiantes and straightway
spake to them: "So have I sent that man to the swift ships to go to
fleet-footed Achilles. Yet deem I not that he will now come, for all his
wrath against noble Hector, for he could not fight unarmed against the
men of Troy. But let us ourselves devise some excellent means, both how
we may hale the dead away, and how we ourselves may escape death and
fate amid the Trojans' battle-cry."

Then answered him great Aias Telamon's son, saying: "All this hast thou
said well, most noble Menelaos. But do thou and Meriones put your
shoulders beneath the dead and lift him and bear him swiftly out of the
fray, while we twain behind you shall do battle with the Trojans and
noble Hector, one in heart as we are in name, for from of old time we
are wont to await fierce battle side by side."

Thus spake he, and the others took the dead man in their arms and lifted
him mightily on high. But the Trojan host behind cried aloud when they
saw the Achaians lifting the corpse, and charged like hounds that spring
in front of hunter-youths upon a wounded wild boar, and for a while run
in haste to rend him, but when he wheeleth round among them, trusting in
his might, then they give ground and shrink back here and there. Thus
for a while the Trojans pressed on with all their power, striking with
swords and double-headed spears, but when the Aiantes turned about and
halted over against them, then they changed colour, and none dared
farther onset to do battle around the dead.



BOOK XVIII.

How Achilles grieved for Patroklos, and how Thetis asked for
him new armour of Hephaistos; and of the making of the
armour.

Thus fought the rest in the likeness of blazing fire, while to Achilles
came Antilochos, a messenger fleet of foot. Him found he in front of his
ships of upright horns, boding in his soul the things which even now
were accomplished. And sore troubled he spake to his great heart: "Ay