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no longer ours。〃
On this Idomeneus lashed the horses to the ships； for fear had
taken hold upon him。
Ajax and Menelaus noted how Jove had turned the scale in favour
of the Trojans； and Ajax was first to speak。 〃Alas；〃 said he；
〃even a fool may see that father Jove is helping the Trojans。 All
their weapons strike home； no matter whether it be a brave man or
a coward that hurls them； Jove speeds all alike； whereas ours
fall each one of them without effect。 What； then； will be best
both as regards rescuing the body； and our return to the joy of
our friends who will be grieving as they look hitherwards； for
they will make sure that nothing can now check the terrible hands
of Hector； and that he will fling himself upon our ships。 I wish
that some one would go and tell the son of Peleus at once； for I
do not think he can have yet heard the sad news that the dearest
of his friends has fallen。 But I can see not a man among the
Achaeans to send； for they and their chariots are alike hidden in
darkness。 O father Jove； lift this cloud from over the sons of
the Achaeans； make heaven serene； and let us see； if you will
that we perish； let us fall at any rate by daylight。〃
Father Jove heard him and had passion upon his tears。
Forthwith he chased away the cloud of darkness； so that the sun
shone out and all the fighting was revealed。 Ajax then said to
Menelaus； 〃Look； Menelaus； and if Antilochus son of Nestor be
still living； send him at once to tell Achilles that by far the
dearest to him of all his rades has fallen。〃
Menelaus heeded his words and went his way as a lion from a
stockyardthe lion is tired of attacking the men and hounds； who
keep watch the whole night through and will not let him feast on
the fat of their herd。 In his lust of meat he makes straight at
them but in vain； for darts from strong hands assail him； and
burning brands which daunt him for all his hunger； so in the
morning he slinks sulkily awayeven so did Menelaus sorely
against his will leave Patroclus； in great fear lest the Achaeans
should be driven back in rout and let him fall into the hands of
the foe。 He charged Meriones and the two Ajaxes straitly saying；
〃Ajaxes and Meriones； leaders of the Argives； now indeed remember
how good Patroclus was； he was ever courteous while alive； bear
it in mind now that he is dead。〃
With this Menelaus left them； looking round him as keenly as an
eagle； whose sight they say is keener than that of any other
birdhowever high he may be in the heavens； not a hare that runs
can escape him by crouching under bush or thicket； for he will
swoop down upon it and make an end of iteven so； O Menelaus；
did your keen eyes range round the mighty host of your followers
to see if you could find the son of Nestor still alive。 Presently
Menelaus saw him on the extreme left of the battle cheering on
his men and exhorting them to fight boldly。 Menelaus went up to
him and said； 〃Antilochus； e here and listen to sad news；
which I would indeed were untrue。 You must see with your own eyes
that heaven is heaping calamity upon the Danaans； and giving
victory to the Trojans。 Patroclus has fallen； who was the bravest
of the Achaeans； and sorely will the Danaans miss him。 Run
instantly to the ships and tell Achilles； that he may e to
rescue the body and bear it to the ships。 As for the armour；
Hector already has it。〃
Antilochus was struck with horror。 For a long time he was
speechless； his eyes filled with tears and he could find no
utterance； but he did as Menelaus had said； and set off running
as soon as he had given his armour to a rade； Laodocus； who
was wheeling his horses round； close beside him。
Thus； then； did he run weeping from the field； to carry the bad
news to Achilles son of Peleus。 Nor were you； O Menelaus； minded
to succour his harassed rades； when Antilochus had left the
Pyliansand greatly did they miss himbut he sent them noble
Thrasymedes； and himself went back to Patroclus。 He came running
up to the two Ajaxes and said； 〃I have sent Antilochus to the
ships to tell Achilles； but rage against Hector as he may； he
cannot e； for he cannot fight without armour。 What then will
be our best plan both as regards rescuing the dead； and our own
escape from death amid the battle…cries of the Trojans？〃
Ajax answered； 〃Menelaus； you have said well： do you； then； and
Meriones stoop down； raise the body； and bear it out of the fray；
while we two behind you keep off Hector and the Trojans； one in
heart as in name； and long used to fighting side by side with one
another。〃
On this Menelaus and Meriones took the dead man in their arms and
lifted him high aloft with a great effort。 The Trojan host raised
a hue and cry behind them when they saw the Achaeans bearing the
body away； and flew after them like hounds attacking a wounded
boar at the loo of a band of young huntsmen。 For a while the
hounds fly at him as though they would tear him in pieces； but
now and again he turns on them in a fury； scaring and scattering
them in all directionseven so did the Trojans for a while
charge in a body； striking with sword and with spears pointed at
both the ends； but when the two Ajaxes faced them and stood at
bay； they would turn pale and no man dared press on to fight
further about the dead。
In this wise did the two heroes strain every nerve to bear the
body to the ships out of the fight。 The battle raged round them
like fierce flames that when once kindled spread like wildfire
over a city； and the houses fall in the glare of its burning
even such was the roar and tramp of men and horses that pursued
them as they bore Patroclus from the field。 Or as mules that put
forth all their strength to draw some beam or great piece of
ship's timber down a rough mountain…track； and they pant and
sweat as they； go even so did Menelaus and pant and sweat as they
bore the body of Patroclus。 Behind them the two Ajaxes held
stoutly out。 As some wooded mountain…spur that stretches across a
plain will turn water and check the flow even of a great river；
nor is there any stream strong enough to break through iteven
so did the two Ajaxes face the Trojans and stem the tide of their
fighting though they kept pouring on towards them and foremost
among them all was Aeneas son of Anchises with valiant Hector。 As
a flock of daws or starlings fall to screaming and chattering
when they see a falcon； foe to all small birds； e soaring near
them； even so did the Achaean youth raise a babel of cries as
they fled before Aeneas and Hector； unmindful of their former
prowess。 In the rout of the Danaans much goodly armour fell round
about the trench； and of fighting there was no end。
BOOK XVIII
The grief of Achilles over PatroclusThe visit of Thetis
to Vulcan and the armour that he made for Achilles。
THUS then did they fight as it were a flaming fire。 Meanwhile the
fleet runner Antilochus； who had been sent as messenger； reached
Achilles； and found him sitting by his tall ships and boding that
which was indeed too surely true。 〃Alas；〃 said he to himself in
the heaviness of his heart； 〃why are the Achaeans again scouring
the plain and flocking towards the ships？