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the mail…clad Trojans； I see the steeds of the fleet son of
Aeacus e into battle with weak hands to drive them。 I am sure；
if you think well； that we might take them； they will not dare
face us if we both attack them。〃
The valiant son of Anchises was of the same mind； and the pair
went right on； with their shoulders covered under shields of
tough dry ox…hide； overlaid with much bronze。 Chromius and Aretus
went also with them； and their hearts beat high with hope that
they might kill the men and capture the horsesfools that they
were； for they were not to return scatheless from their meeting
with Automedon； who prayed to father Jove and was forthwith
filled with courage and strength abounding。 He turned to his
trusty rade Alcimedon and said； 〃Alcimedon； keep your horses
so close up that I may feel their breath upon my back； I doubt
that we shall not stay Hector son of Priam till he has killed us
and mounted behind the horses； he will then either spread panic
among the ranks of the Achaeans； or himself be killed among the
foremost。〃
On this he cried out to the two Ajaxes and Menelaus； 〃Ajaxes
captains of the Argives； and Menelaus； give the dead body over to
them that are best able to defend it； and e to the rescue of
us living； for Hector and Aeneas who are the two best men among
the Trojans； are pressing us hard in the full tide of war。
Nevertheless the issue lies on the lap of heaven； I will
therefore hurl my spear and leave the rest to Jove。〃
He poised and hurled as he spoke； whereon the spear struck the
round shield of Aretus； and went right through it for the shield
stayed it not； so that it was driven through his belt into the
lower part of his belly。 As when some sturdy youth； axe in hand；
deals his blow behind the horns of an ox and severs the tendons
at the back of its neck so that it springs forward and then
drops； even so did Aretus give one bound and then fall on his
back the spear quivering in his body till it made an end of him。
Hector then aimed a spear at Automedon but he saw it ing and
stooped forward to avoid it； so that it flew past him and the
point stuck in the ground； while the butt…end went on quivering
till Mars robbed it of its force。 They would then have fought
hand to hand with swords had not the two Ajaxes forced their way
through the crowd when they heard their rade calling； and
parted them for all their furyfor Hector； Aeneas； and Chromius
were afraid and drew back； leaving Aretus to lie there struck to
the heart。 Automedon； peer of fleet Mars； then stripped him of
his armour and vaunted over him saying； 〃I have done little to
assuage my sorrow for the son of Menoetius； for the man I have
killed is not so good as he was。〃
As he spoke he took the blood…stained spoils and laid them upon
his chariot； then he mounted the car with his hands and feet all
steeped in gore as a lion that has been gorging upon a bull。
And now the fierce groanful fight again raged about Patroclus；
for Minerva came down from heaven and roused its fury by the
mand of far…seeing Jove； who had changed his mind and sent her
to encourage the Danaans。 As when Jove bends his bright bow in
heaven in token to mankind either of war or of the chill storms
that stay men from their labour and plague the flockseven so；
wrapped in such radiant raiment； did Minerva go in among the host
and speak man by man to each。 First she took the form and voice
of Phoenix and spoke to Menelaus son of Atreus； who was standing
near her。 〃Menelaus；〃 said she； 〃it will be shame and dishonour
to you； if dogs tear the noble rade of Achilles under the
walls of Troy。 Therefore be staunch； and urge your men to be so
also。〃
Menelaus answered； 〃Phoenix； my good old friend； may Minerva
vouchsafe me strength and keep the darts from off me； for so
shall I stand by Patroclus and defend him； his death has gone to
my heart； but Hector is as a raging fire and deals his blows
without ceasing； for Jove is now granting him a time of triumph。〃
Minerva was pleased at his having named herself before any of the
other gods。 Therefore she put strength into his knees and
shoulders； and made him as bold as a fly； which； though driven
off will yet e again and bite if it can； so dearly does it
love man's bloodeven so bold as this did she make him as he
stood over Patroclus and threw his spear。 Now there was among the
Trojans a man named Podes； son of Eetion； who was both rich and
valiant。 Hector held him in the highest honour for he was his
rade and boon panion； the spear of Menelaus struck this man
in the girdle just as he had turned in flight； and went right
through him。 Whereon he fell heavily forward； and Menelaus son of
Atreus drew off his body from the Trojans into the ranks of his
own people。
Apollo then went up to Hector and spurred him on to fight； in the
likeness of Phaenops son of Asius who lived in Abydos and was the
most favoured of all Hector's guests。 In his likeness Apollo
said； 〃Hector； who of the Achaeans will fear you henceforward now
that you have quailed before Menelaus who has ever been rated
poorly as a soldier？ Yet he has now got a corpse away from the
Trojans single…handed； and has slain your own true rade； a man
brave among the foremost； Podes son of Eetion。〃
A dark cloud of grief fell upon Hector as he heard； and he made
his way to the front clad in full armour。 Thereon the son of
Saturn seized his bright tasselled aegis； and veiled Ida in
cloud： he sent forth his lightnings and his thunders； and as he
shook his aegis he gave victory to the Trojans and routed the
Achaeans。
The panic was begun by Peneleos the Boeotian； for while keeping
his face turned ever towards the foe he had been hit with a spear
on the upper part of the shoulder； a spear thrown by Polydamas
had grazed the top of the bone； for Polydamas had e up to him
and struck him from close at hand。 Then Hector in close bat
struck Leitus son of noble Alectryon in the hand by the wrist；
and disabled him from fighting further。 He looked about him in
dismay； knowing that never again should he wield spear in battle
with the Trojans。 While Hector was in pursuit of Leitus；
Idomeneus struck him on the breastplate over his chest near the
nipple； but the spear broke in the shaft； and the Trojans cheered
aloud。 Hector then aimed at Idomeneus son of Deucalion as he was
standing on his chariot； and very narrowly missed him； but the
spear hit Coiranus； a follower and charioteer of Meriones who had
e with him from Lyctus。 Idomeneus had left the ships on foot
and would have afforded a great triumph to the Trojans if
Coiranus had not driven quickly up to him； he therefore brought
life and rescue to Idomeneus； but himself fell by the hand of
murderous Hector。 For Hector hit him on the jaw under the ear；
the end of the spear drove out his teeth and cut his tongue in
two pieces； so that he fell from his chariot and let the reins
fall to the ground。 Meriones gathered them up from the ground and
took them into his own hands； then he said to Idomeneus； 〃Lay on；
till you get back to the ships； for you must see that the day is
no longer ours。〃
On this Idomeneus lashed the horses to the ships；