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only by sheer fighting。
The fight then became more scattered； and the chieftains killed
one another when and how they could。 The valiant son of Menoetius
first drove his spear into the thigh of Areilycus just as he was
turning round； the point went clean through； and broke the bone so
that he fell forward。 Meanwhile Menelaus struck Thoas in the chest；
where it was exposed near the rim of his shield； and he fell dead。 The
son of Phyleus saw Amphiclus 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。 Of the sons
of Nestor one； Antilochus； speared Atymnius； driving the point of
the spear through his throat； and down he fell。 Maris then sprang on
Antilochus 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 Erebus slain by the
two sons of Nestor； they were the warrior sons of Amisodorus； who
had reared the invincible Chimaera； to the bane of many。 Ajax son of
Oileus sprang on Cleobulus 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。
Peneleos and Lycon 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。 Lycon struck the plumed crest of
Peneleos' helmet but his sword broke at the hilt； while Peneleos smote
Lycon 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 Acamas 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。
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。
Meanwhile great Ajax kept on trying to drive a spear into Hector；
but Hector was so skilful 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。
As when a cloud goes up into heaven from Olympus； rising out of a
clear sky when Jove is brewing a gale… even with such panic stricken
rout did the Trojans now fly； and there was no order in their going。
Hector's fleet horses bore him and his armour 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。 Patroclus 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。
Patroclus kept on heading his horses wherever he saw most men flying
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 Patroclus； 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
Hector； for he had set his heart on spearing him； but Hector's
horses were now hurrying him away。 As the whole dark earth bows before
some tempest on an autumn day when Jove rains his hardest to punish
men for giving crooked judgement in their courts； and arriving justice
therefrom without heed to the decrees 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。
Patroclus 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 Yet 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 Pronous 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。 Patroclus 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 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 Erylaus 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；
Amphoterus； Epaltes； Tlepolemus； Echius son of Damastor； Pyris；
lpheus； Euippus and Polymelus son of Argeas。
Now when Sarpedon saw his comrades； men who wore ungirdled tunics；
being overcome by Patroclus son of Menoetius； he rebuked the Lycians
saying。 〃Shame on you； where are you flying 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。〃
He sprang from his chariot as he spoke； and Patroclus； when he saw
this； leaped on to the ground also。 The two then rushed at one another
with loud c