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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 yourselves the men you
have always been； or even betterSarpedon is fallenhe 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 rades 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 increase the toil of the battle over the body of his
son。
At first the Trojans made some headway against the Achaeans； for
one of the best men among the Myrmidons was killed； Epeigeus； son
of noble Agacles who had erewhile been king in the good city of
Budeum； but presently； having killed a valiant kinsman of his
own； he took refuge with Peleus and Thetis； who sent him to Ilius
the land of noble steeds to fight the Trojans under Achilles。
Hector now struck him on the head with a stone just as he had
caught hold of the body； and his brains inside his helmet were
all battered in； so that he fell face foremost upon the body of
Sarpedon； and there died。 Patroclus was enraged by the death of
his rade； and sped through the front ranks as swiftly as a
hawk that swoops down on a flock of daws or starlings。 Even so
swiftly； O noble knight Patroclus； did you make straight for the
Lycians and Trojans to avenge your rade。 Forthwith he struck
Sthenelaus the son of Ithaemenes on the neck with a stone； and
broke the tendons that join it to the head and spine。 On this
Hector and the front rank of his men gave ground。 As far as a man
can throw a javelin when peting for some prize； or even in
battleso far did the Trojans now retreat before the Achaeans。
Glaucus； captain of the Lycians； was the first to rally them； by
killing Bathycles son of Chalcon who lived in Hellas and was the
richest man among the Myrmidons。 Glaucus turned round suddenly；
just as Bathycles who was pursuing him was about to lay hold of
him； and drove his spear right into the middle of his chest；
whereon he fell heavily to the ground； and the fall of so good a
man filled the Achaeans with dismay； while the Trojans were
exultant； and came up in a body round the corpse。 Nevertheless
the Achaeans； mindful of their prowess； bore straight down upon
them。
Meriones then killed a helmed warrior of the Trojans； Laogonus
son of Onetor； who was priest of Jove of Mt。 Ida； and was
honoured by the people as though he were a god。 Meriones struck
him under the jaw and ear； so that life went out of him and the
darkness of death laid hold upon him。 Aeneas then aimed a spear
at Meriones； hoping to hit him under the shield as he was
advancing； but Meriones saw it ing and stooped forward to
avoid it； whereon the spear flew past him and the point stuck in
the ground； while the butt…end went on quivering till Mars robbed
it of its force。 The spear； therefore； sped from Aeneas's hand in
vain and fell quivering to the ground。 Aeneas was angry and said；
〃Meriones； you are a good dancer； but if I had hit you my spear
would soon have made an end of you。〃
And Meriones answered； 〃Aeneas； for all your bravery； you will
not be able to make an end of every one who es against you。
You are only a mortal like myself； and if I were to hit you in
the middle of your shield with my spear； however strong and
self…confident you may be； I should soon vanquish you； and you
would yield your life to Hades of the noble steeds。〃
On this the son of Menoetius rebuked him and said； 〃Meriones；
hero though you be； you should not speak thus； taunting speeches；
my good friend； will not make the Trojans draw away from the dead
body； some of them must go under ground first； blows for battle；
and words for council； fight； therefore； and say nothing。〃
He led the way as he spoke and the hero went forward with him。
As the sound of woodcutters in some forest glade upon the
mountainsand the thud of their axes is heard afareven such a
din now rose from earth…clash of bronze armour and of good
ox…hide shields； as men smote each other with their swords and
spears pointed at both ends。 A man had need of good eyesight now
to know Sarpedon； so covered was he from head to foot with spears
and blood and dust。 Men swarmed about the body； as flies that
buzz round the full milk…pails in spring when they are brimming
with milkeven so did they gather round Sarpedon； nor did Jove
turn his keen eyes away for one moment from the fight； but kept
looking at it all the time； for he was settling how best to kill
Patroclus； and considering whether Hector should be allowed to
end him now in the fight round the body of Sarpedon； and strip
him of his armour； or whether he should let him give yet further
trouble to the Trojans。 In the end； he deemed it best that the
brave squire of Achilles son of Peleus should drive Hector and
the Trojans back towards the city and take the lives of many。
First； therefore； he made Hector turn fainthearted； whereon he
mounted his chariot and fled； bidding the other Trojans fly also；
for he saw that the scales of Jove had turned against him。
Neither would the brave Lycians stand firm； they were dismayed
when they saw their king lying struck to the heart amid a heap of
corpsesfor when the son of Saturn made the fight wax hot many
had fallen above him。 The Achaeans； therefore stripped the
gleaming armour from his shoulders and the brave son of Menoetius
gave it to his men to take to the ships。 Then Jove lord of the
storm…cloud said to Apollo； 〃Dear Phoebus； go； I pray you； and
take Sarpedon out of range of the weapons； cleanse the black
blood from off him； and then bear him a long way off where you
may wash him in the river； anoint him with ambrosia； and clothe
him in immortal raiment； this done； mit him to the arms of the
two fleet messengers； Death； and Sleep； who will carry him
straightway to the rich land of Lycia； where