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cry which the Achaeans raised； and when the Trojans saw the brave
son of Menoetius and his squire all gleaming in their armour；
they were daunted and their battalions were thrown into
confusion； for they thought the fleet son of Peleus must now have
put aside his anger； and have been reconciled to Agamemnon； every
one； therefore； looked round about to see whither he might fly
for safety。
Patroclus first aimed a spear into the middle of the press where
men were packed most closely； by the stern of the ship of
Protesilaus。 He hit Pyraechmes who had led his Paeonian horsemen
from the Amydon and the broad waters of the river Axius； the
spear struck him on the right shoulder； and with a groan he fell
backwards in the dust； on this his men were thrown into
confusion； for by killing their leader； who was the finest
soldier among them； Patroclus struck panic into them all。 He thus
drove them from the ship and quenched the fire that was then
blazingleaving the half…burnt ship to lie where it was。 The
Trojans were now driven back with a shout that rent the skies；
while the Danaans poured after them from their ships； shouting
also without ceasing。 As when Jove； gatherer of the
thunder…cloud； spreads a dense canopy on the top of some lofty
mountain； and all the peaks； the jutting headlands； and forest
glades show out in the great light that flashes from the bursting
heavens； even so when the Danaans had now driven back the fire
from their ships； they took breath for a little while； but the
fury of the fight was not yet over； for the Trojans were not
driven back in utter rout； but still gave battle； and were ousted
from their ground 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 rades 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 shepherdand when the
wolves see this they pounce upon them at once because they cannot
defend themselveseven 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 rades。
As when a cloud goes up into heaven from Olympus； rising out of a
clear sky when Jove is brewing a galeeven 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 heavenall 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
meneven 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 let them； and bore down on them
between the