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Danaans if there is any who can hear us。〃
Menelaus did as he said； and shouted to the Danaans for help at
the top of his voice。 〃My friends；〃 he cried； 〃princes and counsellors
of the Argives； all you who with Agamemnon and Menelaus drink at the
public cost； and give orders each to his own people as Jove vouchsafes
him power and glory； the fight is so thick about me that I cannot
distinguish you severally； come on； therefore； every man unbidden； and
think it shame that Patroclus should become meat and morsel for Trojan
hounds。〃
Fleet Ajax son of Oileus heard him and was first to force his way
through the fight and run to help him。 Next came Idomeneus and
Meriones his esquire； peer of murderous Mars。 As for the others that
came into the fight after these； who of his own self could name them？
The Trojans with Hector at their head charged in a body。 As a
great wave that comes thundering in at the mouth of some heaven…born
river； and the rocks that jut into the sea ring with the roar of the
breakers that beat and buffet them… even with such a roar did the
Trojans come on； but the Achaeans in singleness of heart stood firm
about the son of Menoetius； and fenced him with their bronze
shields。 Jove； moreover； hid the brightness of their helmets in a
thick cloud； for he had borne no grudge against the son of Menoetius
while he was still alive and squire to the descendant of Aeacus；
therefore he was loth to let him fall a prey to the dogs of his foes
the Trojans； and urged his comrades on to defend him。
At first the Trojans drove the Achaeans back； and they withdrew from
the dead man daunted。 The Trojans did not succeed in killing any
one； nevertheless they drew the body away。 But the Achaeans did not
lose it long； for Ajax； foremost of all the Danaans after the son of
Peleus alike in stature and prowess； quickly rallied them and made
towards the front like a wild boar upon the mountains when he stands
at bay in the forest glades and routs the hounds and lusty youths that
have attacked him… even so did Ajax son of Telamon passing easily in
among the phalanxes of the Trojans； disperse those who had
bestridden Patroclus and were most bent on winning glory by dragging
him off to their city。 At this moment Hippothous brave son of the
Pelasgian Lethus； in his zeal for Hector and the Trojans； was dragging
the body off by the foot through the press of the fight； having
bound a strap round the sinews near the ancle； but a mischief soon
befell him from which none of those could save him who would have
gladly done so； for the son of Telamon sprang forward and smote him on
his bronze…cheeked helmet。 The plumed headpiece broke about the
point of the weapon； struck at once by the spear and by the strong
hand of Ajax； so that the bloody brain came oozing out through the
crest…socket。 His strength then failed him and he let Patroclus'
foot drop from his hand； as he fell full length dead upon the body；
thus he died far from the fertile land of Larissa； and never repaid
his parents the cost of bringing him up； for his life was cut short
early by the spear of mighty Ajax。 Hector then took aim at Ajax with a
spear； but he saw it coming and just managed to avoid it； the spear
passed on and struck Schedius son of noble Iphitus； captain of the
Phoceans； who dwelt in famed Panopeus and reigned over much people； it
struck him under the middle of the collar…bone the bronze point went
right through him； coming out at the bottom of his shoulder…blade； and
his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground。
Ajax in his turn struck noble Phorcys son of Phaenops in the middle of
the belly as he was bestriding Hippothous； and broke the plate of
his cuirass； whereon the spear tore out his entrails and he clutched
the ground in his palm as he fell to earth。 Hector and those who
were in the front rank then gave ground； while the Argives raised a
loud cry of triumph； and drew off the bodies of Phorcys and Hippothous
which they stripped presently of their armour。
The Trojans would now have been worsted by the brave Achaeans and
driven back to Ilius through their own cowardice； while the Argives；
so great was their courage and endurance； would have achieved a
triumph even against the will of Jove； if Apollo had not roused
Aeneas； in the likeness of Periphas son of Epytus； an attendant who
had grown old in the service of Aeneas' aged father； and was at all
times devoted to him。 In his likeness； then； Apollo said； 〃Aeneas； can
you not manage； even though heaven be against us； to save high
Ilius？ I have known men； whose numbers； courage； and self…reliance
have saved their people in spite of Jove； whereas in this case he
would much rather give victory to us than to the Danaans； if you would
only fight instead of being so terribly afraid。〃
Aeneas knew Apollo when he looked straight at him； and shouted to
Hector saying； 〃Hector and all other Trojans and allies； shame on us
if we are beaten by the Achaeans and driven back to Ilius through
our own cowardice。 A god has just come up to me and told me that
Jove the supreme disposer will be with us。 Therefore let us make for
the Danaans； that it may go hard with them ere they bear away dead
Patroclus to the ships。〃
As he spoke he sprang out far in front of the others； who then
rallied and again faced the Achaeans。 Aeneas speared Leiocritus son of
Arisbas； a valiant follower of Lycomedes； and Lycomedes was moved with
pity as he saw him fall； he therefore went close up； and speared
Apisaon son of Hippasus shepherd of his people in the liver under
the midriff； so that he died； he had come from fertile Paeonia and was
the best man of them all after Asteropaeus。 Asteropaeus flew forward
to avenge him and attack the Danaans； but this might no longer be；
inasmuch as those about Patroclus were well covered by their
shields； and held their spears in front of them； for Ajax had given
them strict orders that no man was either to give ground； or to
stand out before the others； but all were to hold well together
about the body and fight hand to hand。 Thus did huge Ajax bid them；
and the earth ran red with blood as the corpses fell thick on one
another alike on the side of the Trojans and allies； and on that of
the Danaans； for these last； too； fought no bloodless fight though
many fewer of them perished； through the care they took to defend
and stand by one another。
Thus did they fight as it were a flaming fire； it seemed as though
it had gone hard even with the sun and moon； for they were hidden over
all that part where the bravest heroes were fighting about the dead
son of Menoetius； whereas the other Danaans and Achaeans fought at
their ease in full daylight with brilliant sunshine all round them；
and there was not a cloud to be seen neither on plain nor mountain。
These last moreover would rest for a while and leave off fighting； for
they were some distance apart and beyond the range of one another's
weapons； whereas those who were in the thick of the fray suffered both
from battle and darkness。 All the best of them were being worn out
by the great weight of their armour； but the two valiant heroes；
Thrasyme