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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. XVII.

The seventh battle, about Patroclus’s body.
And Menelaus understanding now
That slain Patroclus lay upon the ground,
Careful, as of her first calf is a cow,
To th’ body went and walk’d about it round,
5Couching his spear and holding out his shield,

Resolv’d to kill him, whosoe’er he was,
That durst to stand against him in the field.
Then to him said Euphorbus, Menelaus,
Retire, let me advise you, from the dead.
10For I am he that gave him the first wound,

That with his arms I may be honoured;
Lest with my spear I strike you to the ground.
And Menelaus to him thus replied.
O Jupiter, in lion never was,
15Nor yet in panther, nor in boar, such pride

(Though other beasts in strength they far surpass)
As in these sons of Panthus. Though they know,
When Hyperenor proudly me defied,
And spitefully did value me below
20All other Greeks, that by my hand he died,

And sorry were his parents and his wife.
Now you succeed will to your brother’s fate.
Begone, then, if you mean to save your life,
And quickly, or you will be wise too late.
25No, Menelaus, said Euphorbus then,

Since you have griev’d his parents and his wife,
’Tis best, I think, to comfort them again,
By making you pay for it with your life.
For though intolerable be their grief,
30Yet when they see your armour and your head

Brought to them home, it will be some relief.
But this by fight must be determined.
This said, he made a thrust at Menelaus,
Which he received on his trusty shield,
35It entered not, resisted by the brass,

Which bent the point, and passage none did yield.
Then, as he backward stepp’d to get away,
He by Atrides on the breast was hit.
The spear press’d with his hand not there did stay,
40But to his neck went up and pierced it.

And then the ground he with his armour knocks,
And dyed was with blood his dainty hair,
Those fine, with gold and silver twined, locks,
Like those that Cytherea’s Graces wear.
45As when one planted hath an olive sprig

In open place, and where are many springs,
And stirr’d by gentle winds it is grown big,
Then comes a storm and to the ground it flings;
So by Atrides fell Euphorbus now.
50As when a lion cometh from the wood

Into the herd and seizeth on a cow,
First breaks her neck, then feeds he on her blood
And bowels, dogs and herdsmen looking on
And hueing him, that dare not to go near;
55So then upon Atrides ventur’d none,

So much the Trojans stricken were with fear.
And now into the hands of Menelaus
Patroclus’ armour came; and borne away
Had been, but that by Phœbus cross’d he was,
60That was a friend to Hector and to Troy.

And in the shape of Mentes gone was then
(Whom now the Cicon regiments obey’d)
To call back Hector to the field again,
And overtaking him, thus to him said:
65Hector, you here Automedon pursue

To take Achilles’ horses all in vain,
Which never will be won or rul’d by you,
And suffer good Euphorbus to be slain
By Menelaus at the body dead
70Of Menœtiades. Then went his way.

And Hector grieved turn’d about his head,
And saw how on the ground Euphorbus lay,
Bleeding and naked left by Menelaus.
And Hector then, enflamed with the sight,
75Like raging fire did through the squadrons pass.

And with great cry returned to the fight.
And cold was then Atrides at the heart,
And with himself he thus disputing stands;
If I should from the body slain depart,
80The Greeks would say of me but little good;

But if I stay alone here ’twill be worse
Than anything the Greeks can of me say.
For he brings with him all the Trojan force.
But wherefore do I thus disputing stay?
85Who fights against him whom a God doth aid,

Draws on himself a great and certain ill.
My best course then is Hector to avoid,
And let the Greeks say of it what they will.
But if of Ajax I could get a sight,
90Then he and I together would not fear

With Hector aided by a God to fight,
And to Achilles the dead body bear.
Whilst thus unto himself he laid the case,
The Trojans came with Hector at their head,
95And Menelaus then forsook the place,

And going left behind the body dead.
But oft look’d back. As when a lion is
Compell’d to leave a fold by men and dogs,
He oft looks back, and runs not for all this,
100But tow’rds the wood still slowly on he jogs

Unwillingly; his heart’s too big to run;
So Menelaus off went safe and sound.
And then for Ajax, son of Telamon,
Look’d round about, and ’mongst his troops him found
105Inciting them to fight. For not a man

But frighted was by Phœbus and dismay’d;
And with all speed Atrides to him ran,
And standing at his side unto him said,
Come, Ajax, quickly come away with me
110To save Patroclus from the Trojans’ wrath,

That to Achilles carried he may be
Though naked. For his armour Hector hath.
Ajax enrag’d at this, flies to the place
With Menelaus where Patroclus lay,
115When Hector from the field him drawing was

(Having already snatch’d his arms away)
Unto the Trojans to cut off his head,
And give the body to the dogs to eat.
But when great Ajax thither came, he fled,
120And to the Trojans made a quick retreat;

And order gave to bear the arms to Troy,
Achilles’ arms, a noble monument
Of his great deed. But Ajax still did stay,
And with his shield about the body went.
125As when a lion, his whelps following him,

Into the open fields comes from the wood,
And hunters meets, he looks upon them grim;
So Ajax looking, by Patroclus stood.
And Glaucus then, that led the Lycian bands,
130To Hector went and frowning to him said,

Though you be thought a good man of your hands,
Hector, it is not so I am afraid.
Consider first if you the town can save
By Trojans only, without other guard,
135And of their service how great need you have;

And then how lightly you their pains regard.
What Lycian again will for you fight?
Or how will you defend a meaner man,
That left Sarpedon to the Argives’ spite
140And sport, and from his body frighted ran,

That was your friend and had such service done?
So that if I were won to lead them home,
You’d find a little after we were gone,
The utmost fate of Troy were on it come.
145For if the Trojans had as forward been,

As men should be that for their country fight,
Patroclus’ body we in Troy had seen,
Fetch’d from the field, for all the Argives’ might;
And from the Greeks in change we might have had
150Sarpedon’s corpse, and brought it into Troy;

And all the Greeks thereof would have been glad,
So great experience of his worth had they.
But you to Ajax never yet durst go,
And when he came to you, you from him ran
155Into the throng o’ th’ Trojans. And why so?

But that you know he is the better man.
Then Hector, frowning on him, thus replied,
Glaucus, ’tis strange that such a man as you
Should so severely without cause me chide;
160I thought you very wise, but ’tis not true.

You say I dare not with great Ajax fight,
When I do neither foot nor horsemen shun,
But only way give sometimes to the might
Of Jove when he the enemy sets on.
165For he to whom he will gives victory,

And from the proud their courage takes away.
But to the fight come with me now, and see
If I be such a coward as you say;
And do not from Patroclus’ body make
170Some of the Argives to retire again.

This said, he turn’d and to the Trojans spake.
Trojans, said he, and Lycians, play the men
Whilst I myself in these good arms array,
Which from Patroclus’ body slain I took.
175This said, he from the field went toward Troy,

And quickly those that bare them overtook,
And gave to them the armour he then wore,
And th’ armour of Patroclus there puts on,
Giv’n by the Gods to Peleus heretofore,
180Which he when aged gave unto his son,

But were not kept by him till he was old.
Then Jove that out of sight in heaven sat,
And Hector in this armour did behold,
Poor man, said he, he knoweth not his fate,
185Which now is near; and at it shook his head,

And said, though now these heavenly arms you wear
Of this great man whom all men else did dread,
Killing the gentle knight that did them bear,
And so unhandsomely, you’ll never go
190To show them to Andromache your wife.

Yet now you shall prevail against the foe,
To please you, since thus shorten’d is your life.
And as he said it, seal’d it with a nod.
Now Hector, having on these arms and fit,
195Into his breast went in the mighty God

Of battle, and with courage filled it.
Then Hector, like Achilles shining, came
To his confederates, and ’mongst them went,
Calling upon the best of them by name,
200To give unto them all encouragement,

Mesthles, and Glaucus, and Thersilochus,
Asteropæus, and Hippothous,
Medon, Disinor, Phorcys, Chromius,
And you, the skilful augur, Ennomus,
205And you, the thousands that to aid me come,

’Tis not to muster that you called are,
But to defend the wives of Ilium,
And babes, against the Greeks, that love the war;
Which to prevent, the Trojans day by day
210With pay and with free quarter, tired are.

Let’s therefore fight, and either die or slay;
For there’s no other traffic at the war,
And he that shall Patroclus’ body gain,
And, spite of Ajax, fetch it off the field,
215Half of his armour shall have for his pain,

And I will half the honour to him yield.
This said, the Trojans on the Argives fell
With all their weight, and made account to gain
Patroclus’ body; for they could not tell
220How many Trojans there would first be slain.

And then to Menelaus Ajax said,
I fear we shall no more return from Troy;
And am not for Patroclus so afraid
(That to the dogs is sure to be a prey)
225As for myself and you; with such a cloud

Of Trojans Hector thund’ring cometh on.
Go therefore, presently, and call aloud
To th’ other princes. Other help there’s none.
Then Menelaus cried out aloud,
230O you that have command in th’ Argive host,

And diet with Atrides are allow’d,
And drink unstinted at the public cost,
’Tis hard to call you ev’ry one by name,
But you that hear me come away with speed;
235For to us all ’twill be no little shame,

To let the dogs upon Patroclus feed.
This said, first little Ajax running came,
And with Idomeneus, Meriones,
Then many more came in; but who can name
240The number great that came in after these?

And Hector with the Trojans then came in,
And as the sea that rolleth to the shore
Which by some mighty wind had driven been;
So to the fight the Trojans marching roar.
245The Greeks about Patroclus’ body staid,

All of one mind, all cover’d with their shields,
And on their head Jove then a great fog laid,
And all the place about with darkness fills.
For while Patroclus was alive, and serv’d
250Achilles, Jove took at him no offence,

Nor thought that to be dogs’ meat he deserv’d,
And therefore urg’d the Greeks to his defence.
At first the Trojans made the Greeks to fly,
And leave the body, but they killed none,
255So great a fog upon the place did lie.

Then with his friends again came Ajax on,
Of all the Greeks, for person and for might,
The bravest man, excepting Thetis’ son.
The Trojans, when the Greeks refus’d to fight,
260The body seiz’d, and thought the bus’ness done.

As when a boar, pursu’d by hounds and men,
Upon them turns, they scatter’d are and fly;
So, when great Ajax to them came again,
The Trojans, scatter’d, let Patroclus lie.
265For when Hippothous was in great hope

To drag Patroclus’ body up to Troy,
And to his ankle tyed had a rope,
Arrived to him was his latest day.
For Ajax now was come unto him near,
270And smote him through the helmet and the brain,

Which, stained with his blood, stuck to the spear,
And down he threw Patroclus’ foot again,
And with it near unto the body fell,
Depriv’d of life by mighty Ajax’ spear,
275Far from Larissa, where his friends did dwell,

And never for his breeding payed were.
And Hector then a spear at Ajax threw,
Which he perceiving, did a little shun,
A very little it beside him flew,
280And killed Schedius, Iphitus’ son,

That of Photæans all was far the best,
And did in well-built Panopæa reign.
The spear, sharp-pointed, enter’d at his breast,
And at his shoulder out it went again.
285And Ajax then the valiant Phorcys slew,

That ’bout the body of Hippothous went.
The spear through breast-plate and through belly flew,
And as it pass’d the guts in pieces rent.
Then Hector and the Trojan lords gave way,
290Retiring from the Argive lords; and thus

By th’ Argives coming in, without delay,
Stripp’d were both Phorcys and Hippothous.
And now the Trojans had, for want of heart,
Been chased by the Argives up to Troy,
295And th’ Argives gotten had on th’ other part,

Without the Gods, an honourable day;
Had not Apollo, like to Periphas,
Anchises’ squire, to Æneas come disguised,
That very wise now grown, and aged was,
300And standing by his side, him thus advised;

Æneas, cannot you, without the Gods,
As well as the Achæans, gain the day
By valour, since in men they have no odds?
For Jove would rather you should win than they.
305Thus Phœbus said. Æneas knew ’twas he;

And with a loud voice, unto Hector said:
Hector, and you who the commanders be
Of Trojans, or have brought unto them aid,
Oh, what a shame ’tis for us thus to run
310Before the Greeks, ourselves in Troy to hide!

But come, there yet amongst the Gods is one
That hath assur’d me Jove is on our side.
This said, before the Trojans he leapt out,
And with his spear in hand, stood at their head.
315And when he made them had to wheel about,

Unto the body he directly led,
And with his spear Leocritus he slew,
The friend of Lycomed, Arisbas’ son;
And Lycomed, displeas’d, at Hector threw,
320And hit him not, but kill’d Apisaon;

Of all that from Pæonia pass’d the seas,
He was in battle of the greatest might,
Excepting no man but Asteropæus;
Who angry at his fall went to the fight.
325But now the Greeks about Patroclus stood

So close, with spears advanc’d, with bucklers hidden,
That there Asteropæus did no good;
For by great Ajax so they had been bidden.
Let none from hence again retire, said he,
330Nor any man before the rest skip out,

But stand together till you charged be.
Thus roaring to them Ajax went about,
And thick the Trojans and their aids now fell,
And with their blood bedewed was the ground.
335Nor did the Argives come off very well;

But fewer of them ’mongst the dead were found,
For standing close, one shield sav’d more than one.
Thus keen as fire on both sides fought they here;
And such a darkness was the place upon,
340As if nor sun nor moon in safety were.

But th’ other places all about had light,
And brightly did the sun in Ida shine,
And gentle at a distance was the fight,
And one another’s spear did oft decline.
345But in the middle, where the very best

Both of the Argives and the Trojans stood,
The pain they suffer’d cannot be express’d,
Of restless labour, and of loss of blood.
But of Patroclus, by the Trojans kill’d,
350Antilochus and Torasymed knew not,

But fought in other places of the field,
And that he still pursu’d the Trojans thought,
When for his body, who the same should get,
Now fighting were the Trojans and the Greeks,
355And from their knees and legs ran down the sweat,

And stained were with blood their arms and cheeks.
As when men set themselves about the skin
Of some fat bull, and stretch it ev’ry way,
That th’ humour may go out, the grease go in,
360Just so Patroclus’ body tugged they,

Trojans to Troy, and Argives to the fleet;
And thereupon arose this mighty fray.
If Mars or Pallas had been there to see’t,
They had not known on whom a fault to lay,
365Though angry they had been; such work was then

By Jove, about Patroclus’ body, set
For Trojans and for Argives, horse and men.
But to Achilles known it was not yet,
That slain by th’ Trojans was his favourite.
370For now not far off from the Trojan wall,

At a great distance from him, was the fight,
So that he thought not on his death at all;
But having chas’d the Trojans to the gates
Of Ilium, that straight he would come back;
375For well he knew ’twas order’d by the Fates,

Patroclus never should the city sack.
His mother, Thetis, oft had told him that,
As she before had told it been by Jove;
But quite Patroclus’ destiny forgat,
380Or knew it not, whom he so much did love.

The Greeks and Trojans at the body staid
Together close, and one another kill’d.
And one Achæan to another said,
’Twould be a great disgrace to quit the field,
385And leave the body of Patroclus thus;

I rather had by th’ earth we swallowed were,
Than they should have it and crow over us,
And to the town the noble body bear.
The Trojans likewise t’ one another cried,
390Though ev’ry one of us were sure to die

By this man’s body, let us here abide.
And then the clamour rose up to the sky.
Achilles’ steeds now, with Automedon
Upon the car, without the battle stood;
395But to the fight he could not get them on.

He to them call’d, but that would do no good;
And then he flatters them, then threats, then whips,
But for Patroclus griev’d, they would not go
With th’ Argives to the fight, nor to the ships,
400But lay down on the ground, and wept for woe

That they had lost a gentle char’oteer.
Jove, seeing them upon the ground thus laid,
And for Patroclus how they grieved were,
Shaking his head, unto himself he said,
405Poor steeds, why did I you on man bestow,

That mortal is, and you immortal are,
And make you also misery to know,
And to participate of human care?
There breatheth not upon the earth so wide,
410So poor a thing and wretched as a man.

But Hector on your car shall never ride,
For he, without my leave, do nothing can.
Is’t not enough for him that he hath got
Achilles’ arms, to please himself in vain?
415But have Achilles’ horses he shall not,

For you shall to the ships return again,
And safely carry back Automedon,
Though to the Trojans I intend to-day
The victory, till setting of the sun,
420And that by darkness parted be the fray.

This said, he strength and courage to them gave:
Automedon then to the troops of Greece,
As swiftly the immortal horses drave
As flies a vulture at a flock of geese.
425For from the foe he quickly could retire,

And easily upon them go again,
As oft as the occasion should require;
But by his hand no enemy was slain,
For since he was upon the seat alone,
430He could not both together fight and guide.

But to him came at last Alcimedon,
Laertes’ son, and stood by th’ char’ot side.
What God, said he, has put it in your head,
Automedon, amongst so many spears
435To be alone, knowing your friend is dead,

And Hector now Achilles’ armour wears?
Automedon unto him then replied:
Alcimedon, a fitter man is none
Than you are, the immortal steeds to guide,
440Since Menoctiades, my friend, is gone.

Get up then you, and the good steeds command,
Whilst on the ground I with the Trojans fight.
Alcimedon then took the whip in hand
And reins; Automedon did then alight.
445This Hector saw, and to Æneas spake:

Achilles’ horses yonder coming are;
To us, said he, they are not hard to take,
For with them there is no great man of war;
And if we to them go, they dare not stand.
450This said, Æneas well contented was,

And forward then they go, with spear in hand,
And shoulders cover’d well with hide and brass.
And Chromius with them, and Aretus went,
And made no doubt but both the men to slay;
455And then to seize Achilles’ steeds they meant,

And with the car triumphing drive to Troy.
Vain men, that were not sure themselves to save.
To Jupiter Automedon then pray’d,
Who heard his pray’r, and great strength to him gave.
460And then unto Alcimedon he said:

Alcimedon, keep still thy horses near,
So that upon my back may fall their breath;
For quiet never will be Hector’s spear,
Until of both of us he see the death,
465And set himself upon Achilles’ car,

And put the squadrons of the Greeks to rout,
Or be amongst the foremost slain i’ th’ war.
This said, he to th’ Ajaxes cried out,
And Menelaus: Ajax, Menelaus,
470The care of him that’s dead to others give,

And shew your valour where there is more cause.
Come hither, and take care of us that live;
For Hector and Æneas both are here.
But yet, since on Jove’s will dependeth all,
475Both good and evil hap, I’ll throw my spear,

And let him where he pleaseth make it fall.
And as he spake the spear he from him sent,
Which chanc’d to light upon Aretes’ shield,
And passing through, into his belly went,
480At which he starting fell upon the field.

And at Automedon then Hector threw;
But stooping forward he the spear declin’d,
And o’er his head through th’ empty air it flew,
And shaking fix’d it stood i’ th’ ground behind.
485And then the fight by Mars becalmed was;

But with their swords they had again fall’n on,
But that th’ Ajaxes two and Menelaus
Came in, that call’d were by Automedon.
Æneas then and Hector shrunk away,
490And Chromius with them, but Aretes not,

But on the ground without his armour lay.
Automedon then mounts his chariot
All bloody, and the armour by him set;
And said, though this revenge be very small
495For great Patroclus’ death, ’tis better yet,

Though this a worse man be, than none at all.
And at Patroclus’ body now the fight
Was greater than before, and fiercer grown.
For Pallas coming, did the Greeks incite,
500By Jove himself (whose mind was chang’d) sent down.

As when to mortals Jove will signify
Th’ approach of war, or tempests cold and loud,
To make men leave their work, and cattle die,
He sets up in the sky a purple cloud;
505In such a cloud wrapp’d up Athena came,

The daughter of great Jove, and martial maid,
To th’ Argive host, their courage to inflame,
And to Atrides, who stood nearest, said,
In voice and shape like Phœnix: Menelaus,
510If you let dogs Patroclus’ body tear,

That of Achilles so beloved was,
You will be scorn’d. Go to him, do not fear.
Phœnix, said he, would Pallas strengthen me,
And save me from so many spears that fly,
515Patroclus’ body soon should rescued be.

For no man for him griev’d is more than I,
But Hector fighteth like a raging flame,
And as he goes Jove gives him victory.
This said, Athena pleas’d was with the same,
520Because to her he trusted specially,

And strengthened both his shoulders and his thighs,
And made him bold as is a busy fly,
Which, beaten off, again upon you flies,
And fears not for a little blood to die.
525And to Patroclus then went Menelaus,

And ’mongst the throng of Trojans threw his spear.
It chanced that amongst them one there was,
Pydes, Eëtion’s son, to Hector dear,
And at the wine his good companion.
530Him Menelaus with his spear then slew

Just as he turn’d himself about to run,
And from the Trojans the dead body drew.
To Hector then came Phœbus, having on
The form of Phœnops, son of Asius,
535In Hector’s grace inferior to none,

And standing by his side said to him thus:
If you be so afraid of Menelaus,
What other Greek will be afraid of you?
He never yet good spear-man counted was,
540Nor is, though Pydes now by chance he slew,

And vainly now he thinks alone he can
Bring off Patroclus’ body from the field.
This said, unto the body Hector ran,
And Jove then lifted up his mighty shield,
545And in thick clouds the mountain Ida wraps,

And dark it was upon the field as night.
And then with lightning and with thunder claps
The squadrons of the Argives puts to flight.
Menelaus, who the Bœotians led,
550Hurt in the shoulder by Polydamas,

Of the Achæans was the first that fled,
And Leïtus his mate the second was,
That was by Hector wounded in the wrist,
And could no longer use make of his spear;
555But from the battle forc’d was to desist,

And looking still about him ran in fear.
Him Hector as he running was pursues.
On Hector’s shield then lights a heavy spear,
That thrown was at him by Idomeneus,
560But brake in two; and glad the Trojans were.

And at Idomeneus then Hector threw;
Beside him but a little went the spear,
And lighting upon Cœranus him slew,
Who was Meriones his char’oteer,
565And with him came to Lyctus all the way

By sea, and thence he went to Troy by land.
And much good service he had done to Troy,
For fallen had the king by Hector’s hand,
And safe had been himself; but now was hit
570By Hector’s spear betwixt the cheek and ear,

And struck out were his teeth, his tongue was slit,
And fallen to the ground expired there.
And then Meriones took up the reins,
And to Idomeneus cried out to fly.
575To little purpose now is all our pains;

You see the Trojans have the victory.
Idomeneus to th’ ships then drave away
As fast as he could make the horses go,
As being certain they had lost the day.
580And Ajax did the same acknowledge now.

Meriones, said he, and Menelaus,
That Jove will to the Trojans give the day,
A man may see that little judgment has,
So manifestly now he fights for Troy.
585The spears thrown by the Trojans never miss,

But on one Greek or other always light;
Ours seldom hit. What cause is there of this,
But that great Jove doth for the Trojans fight?
Let’s therefore here consider of some way
590To fetch Patroclus off, and then go home.

For to our friends in Greece ’twill be a joy
To see us safe again from Hector come;
Who when they to the sea their faces turn,
Despair of ever seeing us again,
595And think that Hector will the navy burn,

And that we there shall ev’ry man be slain.
O that we had some fit man here to send
T’Achilles’ tent; for nothing yet knows he,
That by the Trojans slain is his dear friend;
600But ’tis so dark I no such man can see.

O Jove, give us once more a sky serene;
Remove this mist that we may see to fight,
Or if to kill the Argives all you mean,
O father Jove, yet kill us in the light.
605This said, Jove had compassion on his tears;

The sun again his glitt’ring beams displays,
Scatters the clouds again and th’ Heaven clears.
And then to Menelaus Ajax says,
About the field go Menelaus now,
610And seek Antilochus, and bid him go

Unto Achilles’ tent, and let him know
His friend Patroclus slain is by the foe.
This said, away Atrides went. As when
A hungry lion parteth from a fold,
615Having in vain provok’d the dogs and men

That did him from th’ expected prey withhold,
Watching all night, when fain he would have fed;
But all the night the darts about him fly
And flaming brands, which lions chiefly dread;
620Away he goes i’th’ morn unwillingly;

So from Patroclus’ body parted he
Against his will, thinking the Greeks afraid
Might leave Patroclus to the enemy,
And to Meriones and th’ Ajaxes said,
625How good a man Patroclus was you know,

And how in our defence his blood he shed,
And therefore valiantly defend him now.
Let not the foe abuse his body dead.
And when he this had said he went away,
630Amongst the Argives peeping here and there,

Like to an eagle soaring for a prey
Amongst the bushes peeping for a hare;
So he amongst the Argives look’d about
Seeking of Nestor’s son Antilochus.
635Nor was it long before he found him out,

Cheering his men, and said unto him thus:
Antilochus, come near, and hear from me
Sad news; I would it were not also true.
That now the Trojans have the victory,
640I think it is already known to you.

But further know that slain Patroclus is.
Run therefore to Achilles quickly, and
Tell him the news. It may be, mov’d by this
To help the Argives with his mighty hand,
645He’ll to the naked body hither come;

For now Achilles’ armour Hector wears.
At this Antilochus was stricken dumb,
And filled were and swoln his eyes with tears.
And there Antilochus no longer staid,
650But to Laodocus his armour gave,

And he the same upon his char’ot laid;
For to that end he near unto him drave.
Away Antilochus then weeping went
To carry to Achilles the ill news,
655And left to Thrasymed his regiment.

For Menelaus did the same refuse;
Though of a valiant commander then
The tired Pylians had the greatest need,
And to the Ajaxes return’d again
660Where lay Patroclus’ body, with all speed.

And when he thither came, unto them said,
Antilochus is to Achilles gone,
Although I see not how he should us aid.
How can he, seeing armour he has none?
665Let’s therefore now bethink ourselves, how we

Ourselves may bear the body from the field,
And also how we may secured be,
Against the Trojans, that we be not kill’d!
Ajax to this replying said, ’Tis true,
670And the advice I’ll give you will be right.

Take up the corpse, Meriones and you,
And on your shoulders bear it from the fight.
We two, that are of one name and one mind,
And in the field together use to be,
675Will fighting with the Trojans come behind,

Till at the ships the body lain we see.
This said, Meriones and Menelaus
Up to their shoulders hoist the body dead.
Whilst towards them the back of Ajax was,
680The Trojans with great shouting followed.

Just as a pack of hounds pursue a boar
Wounded by hunters, running with great cry,
Until he turn; then follow him no more,
But scatter’d are, and this and that way fly;
685So did the Trojans after Ajax run

As long as towards them was not his face.
But when he turned, near him durst stay none,
But stood at a great distance from the place.
Thus fetch’d they off at last the body dead,
490With at their heels of Trojans’ spears great showers;

And Argives dropt abundance as they fled,
Like houses in a town on fire, and tow’rs.
As when two mules in heavy way are set
To drag down from the hills some mighty tree,
695To be a beam or mast, it makes them sweat

Before into the plain it drawn could be;
So Menelaus and Meriones
Sweating and moiling with the body go;
And as a rock that keepeth off the seas;
700So Ajax at their backs kept off the foe.

The Trojans, led by Hector and Æneas,
Pursue the flying Greeks with mighty cry,
As from a hawk that preys on birds like these,
A cloud of starlings cackle when they fly.
705And many of them threw their arms away,

And that they came to fight had quite forgot;
In and about the ditch much armour lay
Of flying Greeks. But done the fight was not.

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

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LIB. XVII.