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this； leaped on to the ground also。 The two then rushed at one another
with loud cries like eagle…beaked crook…taloned vultures that scream
and tear at one another in some high mountain fastness。
The son of scheming Saturn looked down upon them in pity and said to
Juno who was his wife and sister； 〃Alas； that it should be the lot
of Sarpedon whom I love so dearly to perish by the hand of
Patroclus。 I am in two minds whether to catch him up out of the
fight and set him down safe and sound in the fertile land of Lycia； or
to let him now fall by the hand of the son of Menoetius。〃
And Juno answered； 〃Most dread son of Saturn； what is this that
you are saying？ Would you snatch a mortal man； whose doom has long
been fated； out of the jaws of death？ Do as you will； but we shall not
all of us be of your mind。 I say further； and lay my saying to your
heart； that if you send Sarpedon safely to his own home； some other of
the gods will be also wanting to escort his son out of battle； for
there are many sons of gods fighting round the city of Troy； and you
will make every one jealous。 If； however； you are fond of him and pity
him； let him indeed fall by the hand of Patroclus； but as soon as
the life is gone out of him； send Death and sweet Sleep to bear him
off the field and take him to the broad lands of Lycia； where his
brothers and his kinsmen will bury him with mound and pillar； in due
honour to the dead。〃
The sire of gods and men assented； but he shed a rain of blood
upon the earth in honour of his son whom Patroclus was about to kill
on the rich plain of Troy far from his home。
When they were now come close to one another Patroclus struck
Thrasydemus； the brave squire of Sarpedon； in the lower part of the
belly； and killed him。 Sarpedon then aimed a spear at Patroclus and
missed him； but he struck the horse Pedasus in the right shoulder； and
it screamed aloud as it lay； groaning in the dust until the life
went out of it。 The other two horses began to plunge； the pole of
the chariot cracked and they got entangled in the reins through the
fall of the horse that was yoked along with them； but Automedon knew
what to do； without the loss of a moment he drew the keen blade that
hung by his sturdy thigh and cut the third horse adrift； whereon the
other two righted themselves； and pulling hard at the reins again went
together into battle。
Sarpedon now took a second aim at Patroclus； and again missed him；
the point of the spear passed over his left shoulder without hitting
him。 Patroclus then aimed in his turn； and the spear sped not from his
hand in vain； for he hit Sarpedon just where the midriff surrounds the
ever…beating heart。 He fell like some oak or silver poplar or tall
pine to which woodmen have laid their axes upon the mountains to
make timber for ship…building… even so did he lie stretched at full
length in front of his chariot and horses； moaning and clutching at
the blood…stained dust。 As when a lion springs with a bound upon a
herd of cattle and fastens on a great black bull which dies
bellowing in its clutches… even so did the leader of the Lycian
warriors struggle in death as he fell by the hand of Patroclus。 He
called on his trusty comrade and said； 〃Glaucus； my brother； hero
among heroes； put forth all your strength； fight with might and
main； now if ever quit yourself like a valiant soldier。 First go about
among the Lycian captains and bid them fight for Sarpedon； then
yourself also do battle to save my armour from being taken。 My name
will haunt you henceforth and for ever if the Achaeans rob me of my
armour now that I have fallen at their ships。 Do your very utmost
and call all my people together。〃
Death closed his eyes as he spoke。 Patroclus planted his heel on his
breast and drew the spear from his body； whereon his senses came out
along with it； and he drew out both spear…point and Sarpedon's soul at
the same time。 Hard by the Myrmidons held his snorting steeds； who
were wild with panic at finding themselves deserted by their lords。
Glaucus was overcome with grief when he heard what Sarpedon said；
for he could not help him。 He had to support his arm with his other
hand； being in great pain through the wound which Teucer's arrow had
given him when Teucer was defending the wall as he； Glaucus； was
assailing it。 Therefore he prayed to far…darting Apollo saying；
〃Hear me O king from your seat； may be in the rich land of Lycia； or
may be in Troy； for in all places you can hear the prayer of one who
is in distress； as I now am。 I have a grievous wound； my hand is
aching with pain； there is no staunching the blood； and my whole arm
drags by reason of my hurt； so that I cannot grasp my sword nor go
among my foes and fight them； thou our prince； Jove's son Sarpedon； is
slain。 Jove defended not his son； do you； therefore； O king； heal me
of my wound； ease my pain and grant me strength both to cheer on the
Lycians and to fight along with them round the body of him who has
fallen。〃
Thus did he pray； and Apollo heard his prayer。 He eased his pain；
staunched the black blood from the wound； and gave him new strength。
Glaucus perceived this； and was thankful that the mighty god had
answered his prayer； forthwith； therefore； he went among the Lycian
captains； and bade them come to fight about the body of Sarpedon。 From
these he strode on among the Trojans to Polydamas son of Panthous
and Agenor； he then went in search of Aeneas and Hector； and when he
had found them he said； 〃Hector； you have utterly forgotten your
allies； who languish here for your sake far from friends and home
while you do nothing to support them。 Sarpedon leader of the Lycian
warriors has fallen… he who was at once the right and might of
Lycia； Mars has laid him low by the spear of Patroclus。 Stand by
him； my friends； and suffer not the Myrmidons to strip him of his
armour； nor to treat his body with contumely in revenge for all the
Danaans whom we have speared at the ships。〃
As he spoke the Trojans were plunged in extreme and ungovernable
grief； for Sarpedon； alien though he was； had been one of the main
stays of their city； both as having much people with him； and
himself the foremost among them all。 Led by Hector； who was infuriated
by the fall of Sarpedon； they made instantly for the Danaans with
all their might； while the undaunted spirit of Patroclus son of
Menoetius cheered on the Achaeans。 First he spoke to the two Ajaxes；
men who needed no bidding。 〃Ajaxes；〃 said he； 〃may it now please you
to show youselves the men you have always been； or even better…
Sarpedon is fallen… he who was first to overleap the wall of the
Achaeans； let us take the body and outrage it； let us strip the armour
from his shoulders； and kill his comrades if they try to rescue his
body。〃
He spoke to men who of themselves were full eager； both sides；
therefore； the Trojans and Lycians on the one hand； and the
Myrmidons and Achaeans on the other； strengthened their battalions；
and fought desperately about the body of Sarpedon； shouting fiercely
the while。 Mighty was the din of their armour as they came together；
and Jove shed a thick darkness over the fight； to