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that he seemed to all of them like the great son of Peleus
himself。 He went about among them and cheered them onMesthles；
Glaucus； Medon； Thersilochus； Asteropaeus； Deisenor and
Hippothous； Phorcys； Chromius and Ennomus the augur。 All these
did he exhort saying； 〃Hear me； allies from other cities who are
here in your thousands； it was not in order to have a crowd about
me that I called you hither each from his several city； but that
with heart and soul you might defend the wives and little ones of
the Trojans from the fierce Achaeans。 For this do I oppress my
people with your food and the presents that make you rich。
Therefore turn； and charge at the foe； to stand or fall as is the
game of war； whoever shall bring Patroclus； dead though he be；
into the hands of the Trojans； and shall make Ajax give way
before him； I will give him one half of the spoils while I keep
the other。 He will thus share like honour with myself。〃
When he had thus spoken they charged full weight upon the Danaans
with their spears held out before them； and the hopes of each ran
high that he should force Ajax son of Telamon to yield up the
bodyfools that they were； for he was about to take the lives of
many。 Then Ajax said to Menelaus； 〃My good friend Menelaus； you
and I shall hardly e out of this fight alive。 I am less
concerned for the body of Patroclus； who will shortly bee meat
for the dogs and vultures of Troy； than for the safety of my own
head and yours。 Hector has wrapped us round in a storm of battle
from every quarter； and our destruction seems now certain。 Call
then upon the princes of the Danaans if there is any who can hear
us。〃
Menelaus did as he said； and shouted to the Danaans for help at
the top of his voice。 〃My friends；〃 he cried； 〃princes and
counsellors of the Argives； all you who with Agamemnon and
Menelaus drink at the public cost； and give orders each to his
own people as Jove vouchsafes him power and glory； the fight is
so thick about me that I cannot distinguish you severally； e
on； therefore； every man unbidden； and think it shame that
Patroclus should bee meat and morsel for Trojan hounds。〃
Fleet Ajax son of Oileus heard him and was first to force his way
through the fight and run to help him。 Next came Idomeneus and
Meriones his esquire； peer of murderous Mars。 As for the others
that came into the fight after these； who of his own self could
name them？
The Trojans with Hector at their head charged in a body。 As a
great wave that es thundering in at the mouth of some
heaven…born river； and the rocks that jut into the sea ring with
the roar of the breakers that beat and buffet themeven with
such a roar did the Trojans e on； but the Achaeans in
singleness of heart stood firm about the son of Menoetius； and
fenced him with their bronze shields。 Jove； moreover； hid the
brightness of their helmets in a thick cloud； for he had borne no
grudge against the son of Menoetius while he was still alive and
squire to the descendant of Aeacus； therefore he was loth to let
him fall a prey to the dogs of his foes the Trojans； and urged
his rades on to defend him。
At first the Trojans drove the Achaeans back； and they withdrew
from the dead man daunted。 The Trojans did not succeed in killing
any one； nevertheless they drew the body away。 But the Achaeans
did not lose it long； for Ajax； foremost of all the Danaans after
the son of Peleus alike in stature and prowess； quickly rallied
them and made towards the front like a wild boar upon the
mountains when he stands at bay in the forest glades and routs
the hounds and lusty youths that have attacked himeven so did
Ajax son of Telamon passing easily in among the phalanxes of the
Trojans； disperse those who had bestridden Patroclus and were
most bent on winning glory by dragging him off to their city。 At
this moment Hippothous brave son of the Pelasgian Lethus； in his
zeal for Hector and the Trojans； was dragging the body off by the
foot through the press of the fight； having bound a strap round
the sinews near the ancle； but a mischief soon befell him from
which none of those could save him who would have gladly done so；
for the son of Telamon sprang forward and smote him on his
bronze…cheeked helmet。 The plumed headpiece broke about the point
of the weapon； struck at once by the spear and by the strong hand
of Ajax； so that the bloody brain came oozing out through the
crest…socket。 His strength then failed him and he let Patroclus'
foot drop from his hand； as he fell full length dead upon the
body； thus he died far from the fertile land of Larissa； and
never repaid his parents the cost of bringing him up； for his
life was cut short early by the spear of mighty Ajax。 Hector then
took aim at Ajax with a spear； but he saw it ing and just
managed to avoid it； the spear passed on and struck Schedius son
of noble Iphitus； captain of the Phoceans； who dwelt in famed
Panopeus and reigned over much people； it struck him under the
middle of the collar…bone the bronze point went right through
him； ing out at the bottom of his shoulder…blade； and his
armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground。
Ajax in his turn struck noble Phorcys son of Phaenops in the
middle of the belly as he was bestriding Hippothous； and broke
the plate of his cuirass； whereon the spear tore out his entrails
and he clutched the ground in his palm as he fell to earth。
Hector and those who were in the front rank then gave ground；
while the Argives raised a loud cry of triumph； and drew off the
bodies of Phorcys and Hippothous which they stripped presently of
their armour。
The Trojans would now have been worsted by the brave Achaeans and
driven back to Ilius through their own cowardice； while the
Argives； so great was their courage and endurance； would have
achieved a triumph even against the will of Jove； if Apollo had
not roused Aeneas； in the likeness of Periphas son of Epytus； an
attendant who had grown old in the service of Aeneas' aged
father； and was at all times devoted to him。 In his likeness；
then； Apollo said； 〃Aeneas； can you not manage； even though
heaven be against us； to save high Ilius？ I have known men； whose
numbers； courage； and self…reliance have saved their people in
spite of Jove； whereas in this case he would much rather give
victory to us than to the Danaans； if you would only fight
instead of being so terribly afraid。〃
Aeneas knew Apollo when he looked straight at him； and shouted to
Hector saying； 〃Hector and all other Trojans and allies； shame on
us if we are beaten by the Achaeans and driven back to Ilius
through our own cowardice。 A god has just e up to me and told
me that Jove the supreme disposer will be with us。 Therefore let
us make for the Danaans； that it may go hard with them ere they
bear away dead Patroclus to the ships。〃
As he spoke he sprang out far in front of the others； who then
rallied and again faced the Achaeans。 Aeneas speared Leiocritus
son of Arisbas； a valiant follower of Lyedes； and Lyedes
was moved with pity as he saw him fall； he therefore went close
up； and speared Apisaon son of Hippasus shepherd of his people in
the liver under the midriff；