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two fleet messengers； Death； and Sleep； who will carry him
straightway to the rich land of Lycia； where his brothers and
kinsmen will inter him； and will raise both mound and pillar to
his memory； in due honour to the dead。〃
Thus he spoke。 Apollo obeyed his father's saying； and came down
from the heights of Ida into the thick of the fight； forthwith he
took Sarpedon out of range of the weapons； and then bore him a
long way off； where he washed him in the river； anointed him with
ambrosia and clothed him in immortal raiment； this done； he
mitted him to the arms of the two fleet messengers； Death； and
Sleep； who presently set him down in the rich land of Lycia。
Meanwhile Patroclus； with many a shout to his horses and to
Automedon； pursued the Trojans and Lycians in the pride and
foolishness of his heart。 Had he but obeyed the bidding of the
son of Peleus； he would have； escaped death and have been
scatheless； but the counsels of Jove pass man's understanding； he
will put even a brave man to flight and snatch victory from his
grasp； or again he will set him on to fight； as he now did when
he put a high spirit into the heart of Patroclus。
Who then first； and who last； was slain by you； O Patroclus； when
the gods had now called you to meet your doom？ First Adrestus；
Autonous； Echeclus； Perimus the son of Megas； Epistor and
Melanippus； after these he killed Elasus； Mulius； and Pylartes。
These he slew； but the rest saved themselves by flight。
The sons of the Achaeans would now have taken Troy by the hands
of Patroclus； for his spear flew in all directions； had not
Phoebus Apollo taken his stand upon the wall to defeat his
purpose and to aid the Trojans。 Thrice did Patroclus charge at an
angle of the high wall； and thrice did Apollo beat him back；
striking his shield with his own immortal hands。 When Patroclus
was ing on like a god for yet a fourth time； Apollo shouted to
him with an awful voice and said； 〃Draw back； noble Patroclus； it
is not your lot to sack the city of the Trojan chieftains； nor
yet will it be that of Achilles who is a far better man than you
are。〃 On hearing this； Patroclus withdrew to some distance and
avoided the anger of Apollo。
Meanwhile Hector was waiting with his horses inside the Scaean
gates； in doubt whether to drive out again and go on fighting； or
to call the army inside the gates。 As he was thus doubting
Phoebus Apollo drew near him in the likeness of a young and lusty
warrior Asius； who was Hector's uncle； being own brother to
Hecuba； and son of Dymas who lived in Phrygia by the waters of
the river Sangarius； in his likeness Jove's son Apollo now spoke
to Hector saying； 〃Hector； why have you left off fighting？ It is
ill done of you。 If I were as much better a man than you； as I am
worse； you should soon rue your slackness。 Drive straight towards
Patroclus； if so be that Apollo may grant you a triumph over him；
and you may rule him。〃
With this the god went back into the hurly…burly； and Hector bade
Cebriones drive again into the fight。 Apollo passed in among
them； and struck panic into the Argives； while he gave triumph to
Hector and the Trojans。 Hector let the other Danaans alone and
killed no man； but drove straight at Patroclus。 Patroclus then
sprang from his chariot to the ground； with a spear in his left
hand； and in his right a jagged stone as large as his hand could
hold。 He stood still and threw it； nor did it go far without
hitting some one； the cast was not in vain； for the stone struck
Cebriones； Hector's charioteer； a bastard son of Priam； as he
held the reins in his hands。 The stone hit him on the forehead
and drove his brows into his head for the bone was smashed； and
his eyes fell to the ground at his feet。 He dropped dead from his
chariot as though he were diving； and there was no more life left
in him。 Over him did you then vaunt； O knight Patroclus； saying；
〃Bless my heart； how active he is； and how well he dives。 If we
had been at sea this fellow would have dived from the ship's side
and brought up as many oysters as the whole crew could stomach；
even in rough water； for he has dived beautifully off his chariot
on to the ground。 It seems； then； that there are divers also
among the Trojans。〃
As he spoke he flung himself on Cebriones with the spring； as it
were； of a lion that while attacking a stockyard is himself
struck in the chest； and his courage is his own baneeven so
furiously； O Patroclus； did you then spring upon Cebriones。
Hector sprang also from his chariot to the ground。 The pair then
fought over the body of Cebriones。 As two lions fight fiercely on
some high mountain over the body of a stag that they have killed；
even so did these two mighty warriors； Patroclus son of Menoetius
and brave Hector； hack and hew at one another over the corpse of
Cebriones。 Hector would not let him go when he had once got him
by the head； while Patroclus kept fast hold of his feet； and a
fierce fight raged between the other Danaans and Trojans。 As the
east and south wind buffet one another when they beat upon some
dense forest on the mountainsthere is beech and ash and
spreading cornel； the top of the trees roar as they beat on one
another； and one can hear the boughs cracking and breakingeven
so did the Trojans and Achaeans spring upon one another and lay
about each other； and neither side would give way。 Many a pointed
spear fell to ground and many a winged arrow sped from its
bow…string about the body of Cebriones； many a great stone；
moreover； beat on many a shield as they fought around his body；
but there he lay in the whirling clouds of dust； all huge and
hugely； heedless of his driving now。
So long as the sun was still high in mid…heaven the weapons of
either side were alike deadly； and the people fell； but when he
went down towards the time when men loose their oxen； the
Achaeans proved to be beyond all forecast stronger； so that they
drew Cebriones out of range of the darts and tumult of the
Trojans； and stripped the armour from his shoulders。 Then
Patroclus sprang like Mars with fierce intent and a terrific
shout upon the Trojans； and thrice did he kill nine men； but as
he was ing on like a god for a time； then； O Patroclus； was
the hour of your end approaching； for Phoebus fought you in fell
earnest。 Patroclus did not see him as he moved about in the
crush； for he was enshrouded in thick darkness； and the god
struck him from behind on his back and his broad shoulders with
the flat of his hand； so that his eyes turned dizzy。 Phoebus
Apollo beat the helmet from off his head； and it rolled rattling
off under the horses' feet； where its horse…hair plumes were all
begrimed with dust and blood。 Never indeed had that helmet fared
so before； for it had served to protect the head and ely
forehead of the godlike hero Achilles。 Now； however； Zeus
delivered it over to be worn by Hector。 Nevertheless the end of
Hector also was near。 The bronze…shod spear； so great and so
strong； was broken in the hand of Patroclus； while his shield
that covered him from head to foot fell to the ground as did also
the band that held it； and Apollo undid the fastenings of his
corslet。
O