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The English Works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury; Now First Collected and Edited by Sir William Molesworth, Bart., (London: Bohn, 1839-45). 11 vols. Vol. 10.

Author: Homer
Translator: Thomas Hobbes
Editor: Sir William Molesworth

Part of: The English Works of Thomas Hobbes, 11 vols.

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LIB. XVI.

The sixth battle. The acts of Patroclus, and his death.
Thus fiercely fought the Trojans and the Greeks.
And with Achilles was Patroclus now,
With tears abundance running down his cheeks,
Like springs that from a high rock streaming flow.
5No sooner him Achilles weeping spied,

But pitied him. Why weep you so, said he,
Like a child running by his mother’s side,
And holding by her coat, would carried be?
Bring you some news that none but you can tell?
10Menœtius and Peleus still do live

At Phthia with the Myrmidons, and well.
If not, we both have cause enough to grieve.
Or is it that the Greeks are slaughter’d so,
And fall before their ships? ’Tis for their pride!
15Speak, what’s the matter, that we both may know?

Patroclus, sobbing, to him then replied,
O son of Peleus, of all Greeks the best,
Forgive me if in this necessity
I freely speak. They that excel the rest
20In prowess, at the ships all wounded lie.

Ulysses wounded is, and Diomed,
And Agamemnon, and Eurypylus,
And cur’d may be, but stand us in no stead;
Nor does your virtue any good to us.
25O Gods, let never anger in me dwell

Like this of yours. If you cannot, who can
The Trojans from the Argive fleet repel,
And save so many lives? O cruel man!
The noble Peleus sure was not your father;
30Born of the Goddess Thetis you were not.

Sprung from the raging sea I think you rather,
And that by some hard rock you were begot.
But if you stand upon some prophecy,
Or Thetis have forbidden you to fight
35From Jove, yet send some Myrmidons with me,

That I may to the Argives give some light.
But in your armour let me be array’d,
That when they see me they may think me you,
And back into the city run dismay’d,
40And th’ Argives wearied take breath anew.

For long the Trojans have endur’d the fight;
And if fresh enemies they coming see,
With little labour they’ll be put to flight,
And leave the Argive tents and navy free.
The sixth battle.
45Thus prayed he, but ’gainst himself he pray’d,

And rashly sued to cast his life away.
To this Achilles answer made and said,
My dear Patroclus, what is this you say?
I stand not on, nor care for prophecy,
50Nor yet by Jove forbidden am to fight;

But at my heart it lieth grievously,
My equal should oppress me by mere might.
A town I won, in which we found great prey;
For my reward the Greeks gave me a maid,
55Which Agamemnon from me took away,

Only because more people him obey’d,
As if I were a man of little worth.
But let that pass. Though once I never meant
My Myrmidons should with the Greeks go forth
60To battle till the foes were at my tent,

Yet since the Argive ships with such a mist
Of Trojans on the shore environ’d lie,
And th’ Argives, wanting room, can scarce resist,
And have the pow’r of Troy for enemy,
65Take you my arms, and lead unto the fight

The Myrmidons. The Trojans shall not see
My helmet near to put them in a fright.
If Agamemnon had been just to me,
The ditches had been fill’d with Trojans dead.
70But now into the very camp they break;

Nor can resisted be by Diomed.
To save the ships Tydides is too weak.
Nor can that hateful mouth of Atreus’ son
Be heard for Hector, who the air doth fill
75With roaring to the Trojans to fall on,

And shouting of the Trojans as they kill.
Yet so, Patroclus, charge them lustily,
For fear the ships should all be set on fire;
Then lost the Greeks are without remedy,
80And to their country never shall retire.

But now what I shall say give ear unto,
To th’ end the Greeks may honour me, and send
Briseis back with gifts, you thus must do.
When you have freed the ships, there make an end
85And come away. If Jove give you success,

No longer without me pursue the fight,
’Twill make my honour with the Greeks the less;
Nor in the slaughter take so much delight
As to proceed up to the walls of Troy,
90Lest by some God or other you be check’d;

But having freed the ships come straight away,
Apollo has for Troy a great respect,
And leave both sides to fight upon the plain
Till, grant it, O ye Gods, there left are none
95But you and I the town of Troy to gain.

Thus they to one another talk’d alone.
Ajax by this time from the ship was gone,
Forc’d by the spears that from the Trojans flew,
And weak’ned by the hand of Saturn’s son.
100For at his head the Trojans alway threw,

And forc’d he was to hold his great shield high,
And wearied was thereby his buckler-hand.
With spear in hand no Trojan durst come nigh,
But pelting him with spears aloof they stand.
105The sweat ran down his limbs, nor could he well,

Though mightily for breath he pull’d, respire,
Now tell me, Muses, that in heav’n do dwell,
How came the ship first to be set on fire?
Thus. Hector with his broad-sword, at a blow,
110The spear of Ajax chanc’d to cut in twain,

Where to the staff the head was fix’d, and so
His mighty naval spear he shook in vain:
The head of brass flew humming to the ground.
This Ajax saw, and frighted was to see
115Jove thus the counsel of the Greeks confound,

To give unto the Trojans victory,
And went his way. Then in the Trojans came
With brands of flaming fire; and presently
The hind part of the ship was all in flame.
120Achilles with his hand then clapp’d his thigh,

And to Patroclus said, a flame I see
Rise at the ships. ’Tis time that you were gone,
Lest our retreat should intercepted be.
Away, and quickly put my armour on.
125This said, Patroclus first of all puts on

His boots of war, and to his legs them tied
With silver clasps; and next of Thetis’ son
The breast-plate good he to his breast applied,
With golden stars like heaven beautified.
130His sword then o’er his shoulder he puts on,

With silver studs to hang down by his side;
And then his helmet, shining like the sun,
He puts upon his head; and last of all
He took two spears that fit were for his hand.
135But not that which Achilles fought withal,

For that none but Achilles could command.
A great and strong and heavy spear it was,
Made of an ash cut down i’ th’ woody hill
Of Pelius, and by Chiron given ’twas
140To Peleus, his mighty foes to kill.

Then to Achilles’ car Automedon
The horses Balius and Xanthus tied,
That were by Zephyrus begotten on
Podarge, feeding by the ocean’s side;
145And at their heads he Pedasus did place,

(A horse he took at Thebe in the prey),
That with them both was able to keep pace,
Though he were mortal, and immortal they.
While by his car Patroclus arming stands,
150Apace from tent to tent Achilles runs,

And calleth unto those that had commands,
To arm and bring away the Myrmidons.
Then came they and about Patroclus stood,
Like wolves that on a lusty stag had fed,
155And lapping stain’d the river with his blood,

With bellies full and hearts encouraged.
When they together were, Achilles then
Appointed who i’ th’ field should them command.
To Troy he ships brought with him five times ten,
160From ev’ry ship came fifty men to land.

And then five bodies he made of them all,
And captains five by whom they led should be.
But was himself the captain-general,
For of the Myrmidons the king was he.
165Of these five captains one Menestius was,

Who was the river Sperchius his son,
And by the name of Boro then did pass.
His mother was of Peleus’ daughters one,
And Polydora was her name. And she
170To Perierus had been married,

And for his wife reputed constantly
Before she was of M’nestius brought to bed.
The second bands were by Eudorus led,
The son of Polymela, a fair maid.
175Hermes of her became enamoured,

As at a dance her beauty he survey’d.
It was upon Diana’s holy day
He saw her dancing, and at night he got
Unseen into her bed and with her lay,
180And his brave son Eudorus then begot.

To Echecles she after married.
Her father Phylas to him took her son,
And unto man’s estate him nourished,
And lov’d no less than if t’ had been his own.
185The third Pisandrus led, that swift could run,

And had at fighting with a spear more art
In bloody war than any Myrmidon
Amongst them all, Patroclus set apart.
The fourth was by the old knight Phœnix led.
190And of the fifth, charge had Alcimedon.

When they were all together gathered,
Unto them sharply thus spake Thetis’ son.
Ye Myrmidons, said he, remember now,
How all the time I kept you have from fight,
195You have the Trojans threaten’d hard; and how

You said my mother fed me had with gall,
And in great tumult bid me let you go,
Or at the ships upon the Trojans fall.
Lo, there before you is the war you crave.
200The Trojans are about to burn the fleet;

Do you your utmost now the same to save.
Let him that brags of valour let us see’t.
This said, the Myrmidons became more keen,
Because they saw the king had chang’d his mind;
205And presently into their ranks fell in,

And close themselves to one another join’d,
As close as in a wall are laid the stones,
By him that means his house shall keep out wind;
So close together stood the Myrmidons,
210Helmets with helmets, shields with shields conjoin’d.

Before them all two good men armed went,
Patroclus and Automedon, to th’ fight.
Achilles then returned to his tent,
Where stood a chest most beautiful to sight,
215Which Thetis gave him when he went to Troy,

Wherein were carpets, coats, and cloaks laid up,
To keep him warm when he a ship-board lay;
And in the same was kept a dainty cup,
In which no other man e’er drank but he,
220Though ’twere to offer to the Gods above.

Nor he himself (such was his nicety)
E’er in it drank but offering to Jove.
Achilles then with sulphur scour’d the cup,
And having rins’d it clean with water fair,
225And wash’d his hands, went out and held it up

Tow’rds heav’n, and thus to Jove address’d his prayer.
Pelasgic Jove, that far from hence dost dwell,
But at Dodona men thy counsel know,
The Selli there, thy prophets, fortunes tell,
230Though on the ground they sleep, and barefoot go,

That at my prayer once didst honour me,
And broughtest on the Argive host much woe,
Once more unto my prayer inclined be.
Though to the fight myself I do not go,
235I thither send my dear companion.

O Jove, now honour him! Let Hector know
Patroclus is a man of war alone,
And not then only when I with him go.
And when he has the Trojans driven from
240The Argive ships, then grant, O Jove, he may

With all his Myrmidons safe hither come,
With all their arms, and make no longer stay!
Thus prayed he. To half of his desire
Jove nodded; but the other half denied.
The acts of Patroclus, and his death.
245He granted him to save the ships from fire;

But at returning safe his neck he wried.
Achilles, when he offer’d had and pray’d,
Went with the cup again into his tent,
And safely laid it up; and not long staid,
250But out again to see the fight he went.

The Myrmidons now marched orderly;
But when unto the Trojans they were near,
Like wasps incensed they upon them fly.
As when at unawares a traveller
255Is going by a wasps’ nest near the way,

Which to the common damage stirr’d has been,
And anger’d by a young unlucky boy,
Upon the traveller they vent their spleen,
And all at once with fury on him fly:
260Just so the Myrmidons occasion take,

Provok’d by Agamemnon’s injury,
To fall upon the Trojans for his sake.
Patroclus yet did further them incite.
Ye Myrmidons, said he, Achilles’ bands,
265Remember now courageously to fight;

Achilles’ honour now lies in your hands,
The best of Greeks. Let Agamemnon see
The fault he did, and know he was unwise,
How wide soever his dominion be,
270The best of all th’ Achæans to despise.

Then on the Trojans all at once they fly:
With them the other Greeks by shouts conspire.
The Trojans when they saw Patroclus nigh,
With stout Automedon, Achilles’ squire,
275Their courage fell, their ranks disorder’d were,

They look’d about which way ’twere best to run.
For they suppos’d Achilles now was there,
And that his discontent was past and gone.
Patroclus first of all lets fly his spear
280Amongst the thickest of the foes, about

Protesilaus’ hollow ship (for there
The Trojans standing close together fought)
And slew Pyræchmes, who from Amydon,
And Axius’ wide stream, the Pœons led.
285The spear passed through his right shoulder-bone,

And when the Pœons saw him fall, they fled.
Not only these he frighted had, but all,
By killing of a captain of such fame.
Patroclus then upon the rest did fall,
290And drave them from the ships, and quench’d the flame.

The Trojans towards Troy retire apace;
Patroclus and the Argives them pursue,
Leaving the ship half burnt upon the place,
And on the plain the fight began anew.
295As men see all the rocks and woods about,

When than the hills the mist is gotten higher;
So when the fire was at the ships put out,
The Greeks did for a little while respire.
For yet the Trojans did not plainly fly,
300But still resisting went, and losing ground.

Here Areilochus was killed by
Patroclus, that gave him a deadly wound
Upon the thigh, just as he turn’d about;
The spear went through, and passing brake the bone,
305And at the wound his blood and life went out,

And on his face he fell down with a groan.
Thoas by Menelaus on the breast,
Close by his shield, a wound receiv’d and died.
To Meges Antichus a spear addrest,
310But Meges, that his purpose had espied,

Prevented him, and with his spear him hits
Upon the leg, and near unto the knee,
And all the nerves thereof asunder splits,
And of the wound he died presently.
315Antilochus then slew Atymnius,

The spear went through his flank and struck him dead.
And Maris then struck at Antilochus,
But was prevented by Torasymed,
And slain, pierc’d through the shoulder with his spear.
320And thus by two sons of old Nestor slain

The two sons of Amisodorus were,
And of Sarpedon good companions twain;
Their sire, Amisodorus, kept at home
The foul Chimæra, that had done much harm,
325Devouring people which did that way come,

Till she was slain by Bellerophontes’ arm.
Cleobulus then, pester’d in the throng
By little Ajax, taken was alive,
But after he was taken, liv’d not long,
330For Ajax did him of his life deprive.

For on the neck he gave him such a wound
With his broad sword as made it smoke with blood;
And presently he fell unto the ground,
And on his eyes perpetual darkness stood.
335With swords Peneleos and Lycon prest

Each other hard. For both their spears had miss’d.
Lycon him hit upon the helmet crest,
And broke his sword. One part staid in his fist,
The other flew. Peneleos him hit
340Upon the neck. The sword so far went in,

As from the shoulders it divided it,
Save that it hung a little by the skin.
Meriones pursued Acamas,
Amongst the Trojans that before him fled;
345And overtook him as he mounting was,

And with a wound i’ th’ shoulder left him dead.
And by Idomeneus, the king of Crete,
Hit in the mouth was Erymas and slain.
His teeth all stricken out, fell at his feet,
350And by the spear pierced through was his brain,

And fill’d with blood stood staring both his eyes,
Which through his nose and mouth he strove to void,
And gasping, seeks to cast it out, and dies.
Thus the Greek lords each one his man destroy’d:
355And then as bloody wolves invade the lambs

Or kids, that by the shepherd’s negligence
Are wander’d on the mountains from their dams,
And kill; for nature gives them no defence;
So fiercely on the Trojans fell the Greeks,
360But they no more trust to their hands, but feet.

Ajax to throw his spear at Hector seeks,
But with him Hector has no mind to meet,
But by th’ advantage of his skill in war,
Knowing of arrows and of spears the sound,
365To keep aloof from Ajax still took care,

And cover’d with his shield, oft shifted ground.
And though he knew the honour of the day
Would fall unto th’ Achæans in the end,
Yet from the field he went not straight away,
370But staid and sought his people to defend.

And then as clouds rise from Olympus high,
And through the air to heaven tend upright
Before tempestuous winds; so rose the cry
At th’ Argive ships. Then Hector left the fight,
375And after him the Trojans take their heels,

But in the trench greatly encumbered were,
And many char’ot-poles they brake and wheels.
And when they of the trench were gotten clear,
Fill’d with affright was ev’ry path and way;
380Thus at the ships the storm of war gave o’er.

The horses that were loose ran back to Troy;
And to the ships the Trojans came no more.
Patroclus, where he most disorder found,
Thither he drove, and trod the Trojans down,
385And char’ot-seats were tumbled to the ground,

And many from their seats were headlong thrown.
But the swift horses of Patroclus, which
On Peleus by the Gods bestowed were,
Found no impediment, but leapt the ditch,
390Pursuing Hector, who now was not there.

As when with stormy winds th’ autumnal rain
Falls heavy on the earth, from heaven sent,
When wrested are the laws by men for gain,
Who from the Gods expect no punishment;
395The rivers swell; down from the mountain’s side

Innumerable currents headlong run,
Roaring and foaming, to the ocean wide;
And wash’d away is all man’s work, and gone:
So fled the Trojans. These thus put to flight,
400He kept the Greeks from going to the town,

As they desir’d; yet gave not over fight,
But ’twixt the ships and river overthrown
Were many more; for unrevenged yet
Were many Greeks. First Pronous he kill’d,
405Whom with his spear upon the breast he hit,

Where he was not well cover’d with his shield.
The next he slew was Thestor, Enop’s son,
That sate upon his seat amaz’d with fear,
And from his hand the horses’ reins were gone.
410Patroclus standing by him with his spear,

Struck him upon the cheek, and there it stuck
Fast in his teeth; and over the fore-wheel
To th’ ground Patroclus fetch’d him with a pluck,
As to the bank a fisher pulls an eel,
415And to the earth he threw him on his face.

Eryalus then to him went, in vain,
And by Patroclus slain was on the place,
For with a stone he cleft his head in twain.
Epaltes, Erymas, Amphoterus,
420And Echius, Pyres, Damastorides,

Euippus, Polymelus, Iphius;
He one upon another kill’d all these.
Sarpedon saw how fast his good friends died,
And that his Lycians ready were to fly;
425He them rebuking, with a loud voice cried,

Whither d’ye go? For shame, stay here; for I
Intend to meet this man myself, and know
Who ’tis that here so furiously fights,
And lays so many valiant Trojans low.
430This said, he from his chariot alights.

Patroclus, seeing that, alighted too,
And presently betook him to the fight,
As keen as on a high rock vultures two.
And Jupiter was grieved at the sight,
435And to his wife and sister, Juno, said,

Ay me, my son Sarpedon will be slain,
For by the Fates long since it so is laid;
And now my mind divided is in twain,
To snatch him hence, and carry him again
440To Lycia, or now to let him die,

And by Patroclus’ fatal spear be slain.
And Juno then to Jove made this reply.
O Jove, most wilful of the Gods, what say’e?
A mortal man condemn’d is by the Fates,
445And you would now the execution stay?

Do. But take heed how you offend the states.
And this I tell you further, if you do
Your son, Sarpedon, from the combat save,
The other Gods will look to do so too,
450For sons at Troy many immortals have.

But since you love your son, and for him grieve,
First let Patroclus take away his life,
And then to Death and Sleep commandment give
To carry him, from out the bloody strife,
455To Lycia, amongst his friends and kin,

Who see him will embalm’d and buried,
And build a tomb to lay his ashes in,
Which are the honours due unto the dead.
This Juno says; Jove to it condescends,
460And for the honour of his son so dear,

For rain he drops of blood from heaven sends.
When they were come to one another near,
First threw Patroclus, and kill’d Thrasymed,
A valiant man, Sarpedon’s charioteer,
465The spear into his belly entered.

Then at Patroclus flew Sarpedon’s spear,
And hit him not, but Pedasus he slew,
The fore-horse of Achilles’ car, and now
The sprawling horse caus’d a disorder new.
470The yoke screeks, and Automedon lets go

The reins; whereby the combatants are parted;
Automedon soon found a remedy,
For from the char’ot-seat he nimbly started,
And cut the gears that did the fore-horse tie.
475The horses two adjusted were again,

And then the combatants the fight renew.
And first Sarpedon threw, and threw in vain;
The spear just over his left shoulder flew.
But not in vain Patroclus’ spear was thrown,
480That smote him through the midriff. Heavily

Sarpedon then unto the ground came down,
As if’t had been an oak or poplar-tree;
Or as a pine cut down i’ th’ hill, to be
A mast for some great ship, falls to the ground,
485So fell to th’ earth Sarpedon heavily,

And with his armour made the place resound.
As when a bull is by a lion slain,
Under his paw to th’ ground he groaning falls;
So groaning fell Sarpedon, in great pain,
490And to his friend, the valiant Glaucus, calls,

And to him said, Now, Glaucus, valiant be,
And set your mind on nothing but to fight.
But first, go call my best men all to me,
And to assist me here join all your might.
495If of my arms I stripp’d be by the foe,

The shame thereof for ever will abide.
So therefore quickly call the people: go.
And when he thus had spoken to him, died.
Patroclus on the body sets his foot,
500And out again he pull’d the bloody spear,

With pieces of the midriff sticking to’t.
And now away the horses ready were
To run, for no man was upon the seat;
But by the Myrmidons they soon were staid.
505The grief of Glaucus then was very great,

For that he knew not how the king to aid;
For in great pain his arm was with the stroke
Of Teucer’s arrow, at the Argive wall,
And found no remedy but to invoke
510Apollo, and upon him thus did call:

Apollo, whether thou in Troy be now
Or Lycia, unto my prayer give ear;
For when distressed men unto thee bow,
Thou dost from any place or distance hear.
515I grievously am wounded in the hand,

The pain whereof up to my shoulder goes;
No longer now can I my spear command,
When most I need to use it ’gainst the foes.
Sarpedon, the brave son of Jove, is slain;
520His father of him takes no further care.

But thou, Apollo, now assuage my pain,
And cure my wound, and make me fit for war;
That I may bring the Lycians to fight,
And I with them the body may defend.
525This said, Apollo, by his heavenly might,

His wound heal’d up, the pain was at an end;
The blood was gone; encourag’d was his mind,
And Glaucus knew Apollo did it all,
And joy’d such favour with the God to find:
530Then out he went the Lycians to call.

That done, he to the Trojan princes goes,
Agenor, Hector, and Polydamas,
Divine Æneas, and craves aid of those;
But what he said, to Hector spoken was.
535Hector, said he, your friends you now forget,

Who from their country hither came so far,
Their lives to venture for your sake. For yet
How to assist them you take little care.
Slain is the King Sarpedon in the fight,
540That both with might and justice rul’d the land

Of Lycia. Let them not vent their spite
Upon the body slain; but by him stand:
The Myrmidons else, for th’ Achæans’ sake,
Of whom he slew so many at the fleet,
545Will in revenge his armour from him take,

And do unto him other things unmeet.
This said, the Trojans all were on a flame
To be reveng’d. To Troy he was a wall,
Although he thither as a stranger came;
550He many led, himself the best of all.

And to the Myrmidons they march’d away,
Hector himself before them, at the head,
As angry for Sarpedon’s death as they.
Patroclus then the Greeks encouraged,
555And speaking first to the Ajaxes two,

Ajax, said he, both you and you, again
Fight gallantly, as you are us’d to do,
Or better if you can. For I have slain
Sarpedon with my spear, who was the man
560That mounted first up to the Argive wall.

Let’s take his armour off him if we can,
And make his fellows some of them to fall.
This said, they into order put their men,
Trojan and Lycian; Greek and Myrmidon;
565And to the body slain return again,

And fiercely one another fell upon.
And Jove the place with darkness cover’d round,
As long as they were fighting ’bout his son.
And at the first the Greeks forsook the ground.
570For then there was a noble Myrmidon,

Epigeus, that king was formerly
Of Budeon, and forced thence away
For a man’s death, to Peleus did fly,
Who sent him with Achilles unto Troy.
575And now no sooner layed had his hand

Upon Sarpedon’s body, but was slain
By a great stone, that flew from Hector’s hand,
And broke (for all his casque) his skull in twain.
Down he upon the dead king falling, dies.
580Patroclus, when he saw his friend thus fall,

Swift as a hawk that at a starling flies,
Up to the foes ran, and amongst them all
He threw a stone, which lighted on the neck
Of Stenelaus, and the tendon rent.
585And this gave to the Trojan horse a check;

And back a little Hector with them went,
As far as one can for experiment,
Or at a foe in battle throw a spear;
So far back Hector with his char’ot went,
590The Argives them pursuing in the rear.

But Glaucus, that did then the Lycians lead,
Pursu’d by Bathycles, and very near,
Upon a sudden to him turn’d his head,
And deep into his breast he thrust his spear,
595And down he fell. The Trojans then were glad,

And at the body fallen boldly staid.
On th’ other side, the Greeks were very sad
To lose so good a man, but not dismay’d.
Meriones then slew Laogonus,
600Son of Onetor, priest of Jupiter,

And honour’d like a God in Gargarus,
The spear him pierc’d between the cheek and ear.
Then at Meriones Æneas threw,
And was in hopes to give him his death’s wound;
605But he then stoop’d, and o’er him the spear flew,

And one end shook, the other stuck i’ th’ ground.
At this Æneas, angry, to him said,
Meriones, as well as you can dance,
My spear was like your motion to have staid,
610And that it did not, think it was by chance.

To him replying, said Meriones,
Æneas, strong and valiant as you are,
You cannot kill men whom and when you please;
Yourself are subject to the chance of war
615As well as I. And if my spear fall right

(As much as to your hands you trust) you’ll die
Like other men, and I win honour by’t,
And to the shades below your soul will fly.
This said, Patroclus came and him reproved.
620Meriones, why talk you thus, said he,

D’ye think the Trojans can be hence removed
With evil words, till many slain there be?
In council words may somewhat signify,
But hands in war determine the event,
625’Tis to no purpose words to multiply.

This said, away they both together went,
And by and by was heard a mighty sound,
As if the woods were falling on the hills,
Of men in armour falling to the ground,
630And swords and spears on helmets and on shields.

Sarpedon cover’d was from top to toe,
With dust and spears, and so besmear’d with blood,
That wise he must have been that could him know,
Though who it was they all well understood,
635And busy were about him as the flies

That buzz in summer time about the pans
Of milk. And all this while Jove kept his eyes
Upon the battle; and advising stands,
Whether ’twere best to let Patroclus die
640Upon Sarpedon, slain by Hector, or

Let him go on, and follow those that fly,
And of the Trojans make the slaughter more.
At last resolv’d, he made the Trojans fly.
Patroclus then pursu’d them up to Troy,
645And as he went, made many of them die;

And Hector was the first that fled away,
Not ignorant of Jove’s apostacy.
And then the lusty Lycians also fled;
Whose king, Sarpedon, now i’ th’ heap did lie,
650Stretch’d out on th’ earth amongst the other dead.

And him Patroclus of his armour strips,
His mighty armour, all of solid brass,
And sent it by his fellows to the ships.
Thus slain and stripp’d Jove’s son Sarpedon was.
655Then Jove unto Apollo spake, and said,

Go, Phœbus, bear Sarpedon from the fight
A great way off, and let him be array’d
In an immortal garment, pure and bright.
But in the river clear first wash him clean,
660And with ambrosia anoint his skin.

Let Death and Sleep, two sisters, bear him then
To Lycia, unto his friends and kin,
By whom his body will embalmed be,
And tomb and pillar set upon his grave,
665Whereby preserv’d will be his memory,

Which all the honour is the dead can have.
This said, Apollo down from Ida came,
And bare Sarpedon’s body from the fight.
And far off in the river wash’d the same,
670And with ambrosia his body white

Anointed, and with garments fair array’d,
Immortal garments; and into the hands
Of Death and Sleep committed it, who laid
It down again amongst the Lycians.
675Patroclus then commands Automedon

To drive to Troy. Not well; for had he then
The counsel of Achilles thought upon,
He had escap’d. But Jove knows more than men,
And quickly can take from a man of might,
680And to a weaker give the victory,

Whom he himself encourage will to fight,
As now by Jove himself set on was he.
But while Patroclus chas’d the Trojans thus,
Who fell? Adrestus, and Autonous,
685Epistor, Melanippus, Perimus,

Pylartus, Mulius, and Echeclus,
And Elasus. And taken had been Troy
Now by Patroclus, but that Phœbus stood
Upon the tow’r, and push’d him still away,
690To vex the Greeks, and do the Trojans good.

For thrice he mounted, and was thrice put back
By the immortal hand; but when again
He mounting was, Apollo to him spake.
Retire, said he, Patroclus, ’tis in vain;
695It is not you that Ilium can win,

Nor Thetis’ son, a better man than you.
Patroclus, at these words, great fear was in,
And far off from the wall himself withdrew.
Now Hector was upon his char’ot seat,
700I’ th’ Scæan gate, and did deliberate

Whether to make the Trojans to retreat,
And when they were come in to shut the gate,
Or go to th’ fight. While he consulted thus,
Apollo came, and standing by his side
705In likeness of his uncle Asius,

Him sharply did for standing idle chide.
Hector, said he, why stay you here? If I
Exceeded you in strength as you do me,
I teach you would, in such necessity
710To quit the field thus, and unuseful be.

Go: to Patroclus now directly drive,
And doubt not but that by Apollo’s aid,
You may him of his life and arms deprive.
Away went Phœbus when he this had said,
715And Hector then returned to the fight,

While Phœbus did the Argive throng dismay.
Cebriones still kept his horses right
Upon Patroclus. For upon the way
Hector pass’d through the Greeks, and killed none.
720Patroclus then alighting, with his spear

In his left hand, in th’ other took a stone,
And with it killed Hector’s charioteer,
Cebriones, King Priam’s bastard son.
Above his eyes, upon his forehead just,
725Patroclus hit him with the knobby stone,

Then from his seat he dropp’d into the dust.
Broke was his skull, his eye-brows crush’d int’ one,
And at his feet, before him fell his eyes.
Patroclus scoff’d, and said ’tis nimbly done.
730And proudly thus, insulting, o’er him cries:

Oh, that we had a man could leap like him,
And set upon one of our ships were he,
To leap into the sea, and groping swim!
How satisfied with oysters should we be!
735So quickly down he tumbled to the plain,

I see that there good tumblers are in Troy.
This said, he ran unto the body slain,
Himself with his own valour to destroy.
And then unto the ground leapt Hector too,
740And at Cebriones his body, fought

He and Patroclus, fierce as lions two,
That had a great stag, slain by chance, found out;
And hungry both, strove who should first be fed,
So sought these two each other to destroy.
745And Hector pull’d the dead man by the head,

Patroclus by the heels, the other way.
Meanwhile the Greeks and Trojans fighting stood,
As when between two hills two great winds fight,
On both sides strongly shaken is the wood,
750And boughs beat one another with great might,

And with a horrid noise together clash,
And many lusty limbs then broken are,
Of barky corme, broad beech, and lofty ash;
So did it with the Greeks and Trojans fare.
755About Cebriones stuck many a spear,

And many a fledg’d arrow from the bow,
And many shields by great stones broken were,
While he along in bed of dust lay low,
And quite forgotten had his chivalry.
760Now all the while that mounting was the sun,

The weapons flew, and men fell equally,
But after noon, when half the day was gone,
The Argives clearly had the victory,
And from the field Cebriones they drew,
765And stripp’d there of his armour, let him lie.

Patroclus then the Trojans chas’d anew,
And there before the Myrmidons leapt out,
Like Mars himself, and thrice nine Trojans slew.
And out again he went; but at that bout,
770Upon himself untimely death he drew.

For Phœbus came (Patroclus saw him not)
Wrapp’d up in air, and standing on the ground,
Between the shoulders with his hand him smote,
That all about him seemed to go round,
775And from his head his helmet then he flung

Into the dust, and foul it was all o’er,
And beaten by the hoofs of horses rung,
That never had been so defil’d before,
When on Achilles’ godlike head it sate.
780But Jove to Hector gave it now to wear,

And only then, when near him was his fate.
Moreover, Phœbus brake Patroclus’ spear,
A heavy spear, well armed at the head,
And pluck’d his mighty shield out of his hand,
785And left him of his arms uncovered.

With this, Patroclus did amazed stand;
And near unto him then a Dardan came,
And in the back he smote him with his spear;
Panthorides Euphorbus was his name,
790And kill’d him not, but back ran to the rear.

For though he well could fight, and ride, and run,
And going first abroad to learn the wars,
He was by no man of his age outdone,
And had o’erthrown twice ten men from their cars;
795Yet for Patroclus now he durst not stay,

Although he wounded and disarmed were.
Then to the rear Patroclus went away;
And after him ran Hector with his spear,
And at the belly struck him through the side,
800And down he fell. The Greeks were grieved sore.

As when at a small fountain almost dried,
Together come a lion and a boar
With equal thirst, and drink they both would fain,
But fight who shall drink first, slain is the boar;
805So now by Hector was Patroclus slain,

Though many Trojans he had kill’d before.
And Hector then triumphing o’er him said,
Patroclus, you thought sure t’ have stormed Troy,
And in your ships our women t’ have convey’d
810To Argos with you, when you went away.

Were you so simple that you could not see
That Hector, with his horses and his spear,
Protects the Trojans from captivity?
Now shall you for the dogs and fowls lie here;
815Nor can Achilles do you any good,

That bad you, ’t may be, when you from him went,
Not to return, till dyed in his blood,
You Hector’s coat had from his shoulders rent,
And vain enough you were to promise it.
820Patroclus, with a feeble voice, replied,

Hector, you now may boast as you think fit,
And in your own ability take pride.
T’ Apollo first my death I owe, who threw
My armour from my body to the ground;
825I could have slain else twenty such as you,

And from Euphorbus I receiv’d a wound.
To bring me down, you were but one of three.
But hear me, and remember what I say;
Hector, you will not long live after me,
830And only for Achilles’ hand you stay.

And at these words he was of life bereft.
His soul unto th’ infernal regions fled,
Lamenting so much youth and vigour left;
And Hector to him spake again, though dead.
835Patroclus, why do you foretell my death?

Who knows but that Achilles may be slain
By me first, and before me lose his breath?
This said, he pulled out the spear again,
And presently pursu’d Automedon,
840Who of Achilles was the char’oteer;

But he away was carried and gone
By Peleus’ horses, that immortal were.

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LIB. XVI. - Homer, The English Works, vol. X (Iliad and Odyssey) [1839]

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Part of: The English Works of Thomas Hobbes, 11 vols.

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LIB. XVI.