ran back into the crowd； after drawing his ashen spear out of the
wound； he would not stand firm and wait for Patroclus； unarmed
though he now was； to attack him； but Patroclus unnerved； alike by the
blow the god had given him and by the spear…wound； drew back under
cover of his men in fear for his life。 Hector on this； seeing him to
be wounded and giving ground； forced his way through the ranks； and
when close up with him struck him in the lower part of the belly
with a spear； driving the bronze point right through it； so that he
fell heavily to the ground to the great of the Achaeans。 As when a
lion has fought some fierce wild…boar and worsted him… the two fight
furiously upon the mountains over some little fountain at which they
would both drink； and the lion has beaten the boar till he can
hardly breathe… even so did Hector son of Priam take the life of the
brave son of Menoetius who had killed so many； striking him from close
at hand； and vaunting over him the while。 〃Patroclus；〃 said he； 〃you
deemed that you should sack our city； rob our Trojan women of their
freedom； and carry them off in your ships to your own country。 Fool；
Hector and his fleet horses were ever straining their utmost to defend
them。 I am foremost of all the Trojan warriors to stave the day of
bondage from off them； as for you； vultures shall devour you here。
Poor wretch； Achilles with all his bravery availed you nothing； and
yet I ween when you left him he charged you straitly saying； 'Come not
back to the ships； knight Patroclus； till you have rent the
bloodstained shirt of murderous Hector about his body。 Thus I ween did
he charge you； and your fool's heart answered him 'yea' within you。〃
Then； as the life ebbed out of you； you answered； O knight
Patroclus： 〃Hector； vaunt as you will； for Jove the son of Saturn
and Apollo have vouchsafed you victory； it is they who have vanquished
me so easily； and they who have stripped the armour from my shoulders；
had twenty such men as you attacked me； all of them would have
fallen before my spear。 Fate and the son of Leto have overpowered
me； and among mortal men Euphorbus； you are yourself third only in the
killing of me。 I say further； and lay my saying to your heart； you too
shall live but for a little season； death and the day of your doom are
close upon you； and they will lay you low by the hand of Achilles
son of Aeacus。〃
When he had thus spoken his eyes were closed in death； his soul left
his body and flitted down to the house of Hades； mourning its sad fate
and bidding farewell to the youth and vigor of its manhood。 Dead
though he was； Hector still spoke to him saying； 〃Patroclus； why
should you thus foretell my doom？ Who knows but Achilles； son of
lovely Thetis； may be smitten by my spear and die before me？〃
As he spoke he drew the bronze spear from the wound； planting his
foot upon the body； which he thrust off and let lie on its back。 He
then went spear in hand after Automedon； squire of the fleet
descendant of Aeacus； for he longed to lay him low； but the immortal
steeds which the gods had given as a rich gift to Peleus bore him
swiftly from the field。
BOOK XVII
BRAVE Menelaus son of Atreus now came to know that Patroclus had
fallen； and made his way through the front ranks clad in full armour
to bestride him。 As a cow stands lowing over her first calf； even so
did yellow…haired Menelaus bestride Patroclus。 He held his round
shield and his spear in front of him； resolute to kill any who
should dare face him。 But the son of Panthous had also noted the body；
and came up to Menelaus saying； 〃Menelaus； son of Atreus； draw back；
leave the body； and let the bloodstained spoils be。 I was first of the
Trojans and their brave allies to drive my spear into Patroclus； let
me； therefore； have my full glory among the Trojans； or I will take
aim and kill you。〃
To this Menelaus answered in great anger 〃By father Jove； boasting
is an ill thing。 The pard is not more bold； nor the lion nor savage
wild…boar； which is fiercest and most dauntless of all creatures； than
are the proud sons of Panthous。 Yet Hyperenor did not see out the days
of his youth when he made light of me and withstood me； deeming me the
meanest soldier among the Danaans。 His own feet never bore him back to
gladden his wife and parents。 Even so shall I make an end of you
too； if you withstand me； get you back into the crowd and do not
face me； or it shall be worse for you。 Even a fool may be wise after
the event。〃
Euphorbus would not listen； and said； 〃Now indeed； Menelaus； shall
you pay for the death of my brother over whom you vaunted； and whose
wife you widowed in her bridal chamber； while you brought grief
unspeakable on his parents。 I shall comfort these poor people if I
bring your head and armour and place them in the hands of Panthous and
noble Phrontis。 The time is come when this matter shall be fought
out and settled； for me or against me。〃
As he spoke he struck Menelaus full on the shield； but the spear did
not go through； for the shield turned its point。 Menelaus then took
aim； praying to father Jove as he did so； Euphorbus was drawing
back； and Menelaus struck him about the roots of his throat； leaning
his whole weight on the spear； so as to drive it home。 The point
went clean through his neck； and his armour rang rattling round him as
he fell heavily to the ground。 His hair which was like that of the
Graces； and his locks so deftly bound in bands of silver and gold；
were all bedrabbled with blood。 As one who has grown a fine young
olive tree in a clear space where there is abundance of water… the
plant is full of promise； and though the winds beat upon it from every
quarter it puts forth its white blossoms till the blasts of some
fierce hurricane sweep down upon it and level it with the ground… even
so did Menelaus strip the fair youth Euphorbus of his armour after
he had slain him。 Or as some fierce lion upon the mountains in the
pride of his strength fastens on the finest heifer in a herd as it
is feeding… first he breaks her neck with his strong jaws； and then
gorges on her blood and entrails； dogs and shepherds raise a hue and
cry against him； but they stand aloof and will not come close to
him； for they are pale with fear… even so no one had the courage to
face valiant Menelaus。 The son of Atreus would have then carried off
the armour of the son of Panthous with ease； had not Phoebus Apollo
been angry； and in the guise of Mentes chief of the Cicons incited
Hector to attack him。 〃Hector；〃 said he； 〃you are now going after
the horses of the noble son of Aeacus； but you will not take them；
they cannot be kept in hand and driven by mortal man； save only by
Achilles； who is son to an immortal mother。 Meanwhile Menelaus son
of Atreus has bestridden the body of Patroclus and killed the
noblest of the Trojans； Euphorbus son of Panthous； so that he can
fight no more。〃
The god then went back into the toil and turmoil； but the soul of
Hector was darkened with a cloud of grief； he looked along the ranks
and saw Euphorbus lying on the ground with the blood still flowing
from his wound； and Menelaus stripping him of his armour。 On this he
made his way to the front like a flame of fire； clad in his gleaming
armour； and crying with a loud voice。 When the son of Atreus heard
him； he said to himself in his dismay； 〃Alas！ what shall I do？ I may
not let the Trojans take the armour of Patroclus who has fallen
fighting on my behalf； lest some Danaan who sees me should cry shame
upon me。 Still if for my honour's sake I fight Hector and the
Trojans single…handed； they will prove too many for me； for Hector
is bringing them up in force。 Why； however； should I thus hesitate？
When a man fights in despite of heaven with one whom a god
befriends； he will soon rue it。 Let no Danaan think ill of me if I
give place to Hector； for the hand of heaven is with him。 Yet； if I
could find Ajax； the two of us would fight Hector and heaven too； if
we might only save the body of Patroclus for Achilles son of Peleus。
This； of many evils would be the least。〃
While he was thus in two minds； the Trojans came up to him with
Hector at their head； he therefore drew back and left the body；
turning about like some bearded lion who is being chased by dogs and
men from a stockyard with spears and hue and cry； whereon he is
daunted and slinks sulkily off… even so did Menelaus son of Atreus
turn and leave the body of Patroclus。 When among the body of his
men； he looked around for mighty Ajax son of Telamon； and presently
saw him on the extreme left of the fight； cheering on his men and
exhorting them to keep on fighting； for Phoebus Apollo had spread a
great panic among them。 He ran up to him and said； 〃Ajax； my good
friend； come with me at once to dead Patroclus； if so be that we may
take the body to Achilles… as for his armour； Hector already has it。〃
These words stirred the heart of Ajax； and he made his way among the
front ranks； Menelaus going with him。 Hector had stripped Patroclus of
his armour； and was dragging him away to cut off his head and take the
body to fling before the dogs of Troy。 But Ajax c