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once to tell Achilles that by far the dearest to him of all his
comrades has fallen。〃
Menelaus heeded his words and went his way as a lion from a
stockyard… the lion is tired of attacking the men and hounds； who keep
watch the whole night through and will not let him feast on the fat of
their herd。 In his lust of meat he makes straight at them but in vain；
for darts from strong hands assail him； and burning brands which daunt
him for all his hunger； so in the morning he slinks sulkily away… even
so did Menelaus sorely against his will leave Patroclus； in great fear
lest the Achaeans should be driven back in rout and let him fall
into the hands of the foe。 He charged Meriones and the two Ajaxes
straitly saying； 〃Ajaxes and Meriones； leaders of the Argives； now
indeed remember how good Patroclus was； he was ever courteous while
alive； bear it in mind now that he is dead。〃
With this Menelaus left them； looking round him as keenly as an
eagle； whose sight they say is keener than that of any other bird…
however high he may be in the heavens； not a hare that runs can escape
him by crouching under bush or thicket； for he will swoop down upon it
and make an end of it… even so； O Menelaus； did your keen eyes range
round the mighty host of your followers to see if you could find the
son of Nestor still alive。 Presently Menelaus saw him on the extreme
left of the battle cheering on his men and exhorting them to fight
boldly。 Menelaus went up to him and said； 〃Antilochus； come here and
listen to sad news； which I would indeed were untrue。 You must see
with your own eyes that heaven is heaping calamity upon the Danaans；
and giving victory to the Trojans。 Patroclus has fallen； who was the
bravest of the Achaeans； and sorely will the Danaans miss him。 Run
instantly to the ships and tell Achilles； that he may come to rescue
the body and bear it to the ships。 As for the armour； Hector already
has it。〃
Antilochus was struck with horror。 For a long time he was
speechless； his eyes filled with tears and he could find no utterance；
but he did as Menelaus had said； and set off running as soon as he had
given his armour to a comrade； Laodocus； who was wheeling his horses
round； close beside him。
Thus； then； did he run weeping from the field； to carry the bad news
to Achilles son of Peleus。 Nor were you； O Menelaus； minded to succour
his harassed comrades； when Antilochus had left the Pylians… and
greatly did they miss him… but he sent them noble Thrasymedes； and
himself went back to Patroclus。 He came running up to the two Ajaxes
and said； 〃I have sent Antilochus to the ships to tell Achilles； but
rage against Hector as he may； he cannot come； for he cannot fight
without armour。 What then will be our best plan both as regards
rescuing the dead； and our own escape from death amid the battle…cries
of the Trojans？〃
Ajax answered； 〃Menelaus； you have said well： do you； then； and
Meriones stoop down； raise the body； and bear it out of the fray；
while we two behind you keep off Hector and the Trojans； one in
heart as in name； and long used to fighting side by side with one
another。〃
On this Menelaus and Meriones took the dead man in their arms and
lifted him high aloft with a great effort。 The Trojan host raised a
hue and cry behind them when they saw the Achaeans bearing the body
away； and flew after them like hounds attacking a wounded boar at
the loo of a band of young huntsmen。 For a while the hounds fly at him
as though they would tear him in pieces； but now and again he turns on
them in a fury； scaring and scattering them in all directions… even so
did the Trojans for a while charge in a body； striking with sword
and with spears pointed ai both the ends； but when the two Ajaxes
faced them and stood at bay； they would turn pale and no man dared
press on to fight further about the dead。
In this wise did the two heroes strain every nerve to bear the
body to the ships out of the fight。 The battle raged round them like
fierce flames that when once kindled spread like wildfire over a city；
and the houses fall in the glare of its burning… even such was the
roar and tramp of men and horses that pursued them as they bore
Patroclus from the field。 Or as mules that put forth all their
strength to draw some beam or great piece of ship's timber down a
rough mountain…track； and they pant and sweat as they； go even so
did Menelaus and pant and sweat as they bore the body of Patroclus。
Behind them the two Ajaxes held stoutly out。 As some wooded
mountain…spur that stretches across a plain will turn water and
check the flow even of a great river； nor is there any stream strong
enough to break through it… even so did the two Ajaxes face the
Trojans and stern the tide of their fighting though they kept
pouring on towards them and foremost among them all was Aeneas son
of Anchises with valiant Hector。 As a flock of daws or starlings
fall to screaming and chattering when they see a falcon； foe to i'll
small birds； come soaring near them； even so did the Achaean youth
raise a babel of cries as they fled before Aeneas and Hector；
unmindful of their former prowess。 In the rout of the Danaans much
goodly armour fell round about the trench； and of fighting there was
no end。
BOOK XVIII
THUS then did they fight as it were a flaming fire。 Meanwhile the
fleet runner Antilochus； who had been sent as messenger； reached
Achilles； and found him sitting by his tall ships and boding that
which was indeed too surely true。 〃Alas；〃 said he to himself in the
heaviness of his heart； 〃why are the Achaeans again scouring the plain
and flocking towards the ships？ Heaven grant the gods be not now
bringing that sorrow upon me of which my mother Thetis spoke； saying
that while I was yet alive the bravest of the Myrmidons should fall
before the Trojans； and see the light of the sun no longer。 I fear the
brave son of Menoetius has fallen through his own daring and yet I
bade him return to the ships as soon as he had driven back those
that were bringing fire against them； and not join battle with
Hector。〃
As he was thus pondering； the son of Nestor came up to him and
told his sad tale； weeping bitterly the while。 〃Alas；〃 he cried；
〃son of noble Peleus； I bring you bad tidings； would indeed that
they were untrue。 Patroclus has fallen； and a fight is raging about
his naked body… for Hector holds his armour。〃
A dark cloud of grief fell upon Achilles as he listened。 He filled
both hands with dust from off the ground； and poured it over his head；
disfiguring his comely face； and letting the refuse settle over his
shirt so fair and new。 He flung himself down all huge and hugely at
full length； and tore his hair with his hands。 The bondswomen whom
Achilles and Patroclus had taken captive screamed aloud for grief；
beating their breasts； and with their limbs failing them for sorrow。
Antilochus bent over him the while； weeping and holding both his hands
as he lay groaning for he feared that he might plunge a knife into his
own throat。 Then Achilles gave a loud cry and his mother heard him
as she was sitting in the depths of the sea by the old man her fa