THE ILIAD XVI

So they fought on around the well-benched ship. But Patroclus came to Achilles, shepherd of the people, shedding hot tears like a dark spring that pours its dusky water down a sheer rock face. Seeing him, the swift-footed, godlike Achilles was filled with pity, and raising his voice, he spoke to him with winged words: “Why do you weep, Patroclus, like a little girl running beside her mother, begging to be picked up? She tugs at her robe, hindering her as she hurries, and looks up at her with tear-filled eyes until she is lifted into her arms. Like her, Patroclus, you let fall a tender tear. Is there something you would tell the Myrmidons, or me myself? Or have you alone heard some news from Phthia? They say that Menoetius, son of Actor, still lives, and that the son of Aeacus, Peleus, still lives among the Myrmidons; were they to have died, we would both grieve deeply indeed. Or is it the Argives you mourn, seeing how they are being slain beside their hollow ships for their own transgression? Speak, do not hide it in your heart, so that we both may know.” To him, with a heavy groan, you answered, O horseman Patroclus: “O Achilles, son of Peleus, by far the greatest of the Achaeans, do not be angry, for such a sorrow has overcome the Achaeans. All those who were once their bravest now lie among the ships, struck by arrow or by spear. The mighty Diomedes, son of Tydeus, has been hit, and spear-famed Odysseus is wounded, as is Agamemnon; Eurypylus, too, has been shot with an arrow in the thigh. The physicians, skilled in many remedies, are tending to them, healing their wounds; but you, Achilles, are beyond all remedy. May such a wrath as this you nurse never seize me, you of ruinous valor! What profit will any other man, even one yet unborn, have of you, if you will not ward off this shameful destruction from the Argives? Merciless one! Then the horseman Peleus was never your father, nor Thetis your mother; it was the grey sea that bore you, and the sheer cliffs, for your heart is unyielding. But if you are shunning some prophecy in your mind, some word from Zeus that your revered mother has made known to you, then at least send me out swiftly, and give me the rest of the Myrmidon people, that I might become a light to the Danaans. And grant that I may gird your armor upon my shoulders, so that the Trojans, taking me for you, may hold back from the war, and the warrior sons of the Achaeans may catch their breath, weary as they are; for even a brief respite is a gain in battle. Then we, who are fresh, could with a shout easily drive weary men back toward the city, away from the ships and the huts.” So he spoke in supplication, the great fool, for it was his own evil death and doom that he was destined to entreat. Deeply troubled, swift-footed Achilles answered him: “Ah me, Zeus-born Patroclus, what have you said? I care for no prophecy that I know of, nor has my revered mother told me anything from Zeus. But a dreadful sorrow pierces my heart and soul, when a man wishes to strip his equal of his prize and take it back for himself, merely because he surpasses him in power. This is the dreadful sorrow I feel, after all the pains my heart has suffered. The girl whom the sons of the Achaeans chose as a prize for me, whom I won with my own spear when I sacked a well-walled city, this girl Lord Agamemnon, son of Atreus, has torn from my hands as if I were some dishonored wanderer. But let us leave the past to be past. It seems it was not my fate to keep my anger burning forever, though I did declare I would not quell my wrath until the war-cry and the battle reached my own ships. But come, gird my glorious armor upon your shoulders and lead the war-loving Myrmidons into the fight, if indeed the dark cloud of Trojans has surrounded the ships with such force, and the Argives, holding now but a narrow strip of land, are hemmed in by the sea-shore. The whole city of the Trojans has come out against them, full of courage, for they do not see the brow of my helmet blazing near them. Soon, in their flight, they would fill the gullies with their dead, if Lord Agamemnon had shown me a gentle heart; but as it is, they now fight all around the camp. For the spear of Diomedes, son of Tydeus, no longer rages in his hands to ward off destruction from the Danaans, nor have I yet heard the voice of the son of Atreus shouting from his hateful head; no, it is the voice of man-slaying Hector that breaks all around, urging on the Trojans, who with their war-cry hold the entire plain, conquering the Achaeans in battle. But even so, Patroclus, fall upon them with all your might and defend the ships from ruin, lest they burn them with blazing fire and rob us of our cherished homecoming. But obey, so that I may put the whole purpose of my words into your heart, that you may win me great honor and glory from all the Danaans, and that they themselves may lead the fair-cheeked girl back to me and give rich gifts besides. When you have driven them from the ships, return. Even if the loud-thundering husband of Hera should grant you to win glory, you must not, without me, be eager to wage war against the war-loving Trojans; you would only lessen my own honor. Nor must you, exulting in war and slaughter, lead the way toward Ilium as you cut down the Trojans, lest one of the everlasting gods from Olympus should intervene; for the far-worker Apollo loves them dearly. You must turn back once you have brought the light of deliverance to the ships, and let the others fight on across the plain. Ah, Father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo, if only no Trojan might escape death, however many there are, and no Argive either, but that we two alone might survive the slaughter, to undo the sacred battlements of Troy by ourselves.” Thus they spoke these things to one another. But Ajax could hold his ground no longer, for he was overwhelmed by missiles. The will of Zeus and the glorious Trojans with their ceaseless throwing were overpowering him. The shining helmet around his temples rang with a terrible, continuous clang as it was struck again and again on its well-made cheek-pieces, and his left shoulder grew weary from holding his glittering shield so steadily; yet they could not dislodge him, for all their pressing attacks. He was seized by a constant, labored breathing, and sweat poured in streams from all his limbs, nor could he find any way to catch his breath, for on every side evil was piled upon evil. Tell me now, O Muses who have your dwellings on Olympus, how fire first fell upon the ships of the Achaeans. Hector, standing close, struck the ash spear of Ajax with his great sword, just behind the point, at the base of the shaft, and sheared it clean through. Telamonian Ajax was left holding only the truncated spear in his hand, while far from him the bronze point fell to the ground with a clang. And Ajax knew in his noble heart, and shuddered at the works of the gods, how Zeus who thunders on high was thwarting the tide of battle and willing victory for the Trojans. He drew back out of the range of the missiles. And the Trojans hurled unwearied fire upon the swift ship, and at once an inextinguishable flame spread over it. Thus the fire engulfed the stern. But Achilles struck his thighs and spoke to Patroclus: “Up, Zeus-born Patroclus, master of horsemen! I see beside the ships the glare of hostile fire. They must not take the ships and leave us no means of escape. Put on the armor quickly, and I shall gather the men.” So he spoke, and Patroclus armed himself in gleaming bronze. First, he placed upon his shins the beautiful greaves, fitted with silver ankle-clasps. Next, he put on the richly-wrought, star-bright corslet of the swift-footed son of Aeacus. Around his shoulders he slung the bronze, silver-hilted sword, and then the great and sturdy shield. Upon his mighty head he set the well-made helmet with its horse-hair crest, and the plume nodded grimly from above. He took up two strong spears that fitted his grip well. Only the spear of the noble son of Aeacus he did not take, the heavy, great, and stout spear which no other of the Achaeans could wield, but Achilles alone knew how to handle it: the Pelian ash, which Chiron had given to his dear father from the peak of Pelion, to be the death of heroes. He ordered Automedon to yoke the horses swiftly, the man he honored most after Achilles, breaker of battle-lines, and who was most faithful to him in a fight, awaiting his call. For him Automedon led the swift horses under the yoke, Xanthus and Balius, who flew like the winds, whom the Harpy Podarge bore to the West Wind, Zephyrus, as she grazed in a meadow beside the stream of Ocean. And in the side-traces he placed the noble Pedasus, whom Achilles had brought with him when he took the city of Eetion, and who, though mortal, kept pace with immortal horses. Meanwhile, Achilles went through the huts and armed all the Myrmidons. They were like raw-fleshed wolves, in whose hearts is a boundless courage, who have torn down a great horned stag in the mountains and now devour it, their jaws all crimson with blood. Then they go in a pack from a dark spring to lap the black water with their slender tongues, belching gore, while in their chests their hearts are fearless and their bellies are lean. Such were the leaders and rulers of the Myrmidons as they rushed to array themselves around the valiant squire of the swift-footed son of Aeacus. And among them stood the warlike Achilles, urging on both the horses and the shield-bearing men. Fifty were the swift ships which Achilles, beloved of Zeus, had led to Troy, and in each ship were fifty men, his comrades at the oar-benches. He had appointed five leaders in whom he trusted to give the commands, while he himself, in his great power, was their supreme lord. One company was led by Menesthius of the gleaming corslet, son of Spercheius, the river that flows from Zeus. Polydora, the beautiful daughter of Peleus, bore him to the tireless Spercheius, a woman who had lain with a god, though she was called the wife of Borus, son of Perieres, who had married her openly and given a countless bride-price. The next company was led by the warlike Eudorus, a maiden’s son. His mother was Polymele, beautiful in the dance, the daughter of Phylas. The mighty slayer of Argus fell in love with her when he saw her among the singing girls in the choir of Artemis of the golden spindle and the ringing cry. At once Hermes the Helper went up to her chamber and lay with her in secret, and she bore him a glorious son, Eudorus, a swift runner and a mighty warrior. But when Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth, had brought him forth into the light and he saw the rays of the sun, the strong Echecles, son of Actor, led her to his house, after he had given a countless bride-price, and the old man Phylas reared and cherished the boy, loving him dearly as if he were his own son. The third company was led by the warlike Peisander, son of Maimalus, who excelled all the Myrmidons in fighting with the spear after the companion of the son of Peleus. The fourth was led by the old horseman Phoenix, and the fifth by Alcimedon, the noble son of Laerces. Then, when Achilles had arrayed them all in their companies with their leaders, he laid upon them a stern command: “Myrmidons, let no one forget the threats you hurled at the Trojans from beside your swift ships throughout all the time of my wrath, when each of you would blame me, saying: ‘Cruel son of Peleus, surely your mother nursed you on gall, pitiless one, for you keep your comrades by the ships against their will. Let us go home again with our sea-faring ships, since such an evil anger has fallen upon your heart.’ These were the words you often spoke to me in your gatherings. Now the great work of battle has appeared, for which you once longed. Let each man now fight the Trojans with a valiant heart.” With these words, he roused the strength and spirit of every man. The ranks drew closer when they heard their king. As when a man builds a wall with close-set stones for a high house, to keep out the force of the winds, so closely were arrayed their helmets and bossed shields. Shield pressed on shield, helmet on helmet, and man on man. The horse-hair crests on the bright helmet-ridges touched as the men nodded their heads, so thick they stood together. And out in front of them all, two men armed themselves, Patroclus and Automedon, of one mind, to fight in the vanguard of the Myrmidons. But Achilles went into his hut and opened the lid of a chest, beautiful and richly wrought, which silver-footed Thetis had placed on his ship for him to take, having filled it well with tunics, wind-proof cloaks, and fleecy rugs. In it was a finely wrought cup, from which no other man drank the gleaming wine, nor did he pour libations to any other god save to Father Zeus. This cup he now took from the chest, cleansed it first with sulphur, then rinsed it in a clear stream of water; he washed his own hands and drew the gleaming wine. Then he stood in the middle of the courtyard and prayed, pouring the wine as he looked up to heaven, and his prayer did not escape Zeus who delights in the thunder. “Lord Zeus, Dodonaean, Pelasgian, you who dwell afar, ruling over wintry Dodona, and around you live the Selli, your interpreters, with unwashed feet, who sleep upon the ground. As once before you heard my prayer, when you honored me and greatly afflicted the Achaean host, so now too grant this desire of mine. I myself shall remain here in the gathering of the ships, but I am sending my companion with many Myrmidons to fight. Send glory with him, far-seeing Zeus, and embolden the heart in his breast, so that even Hector may learn whether my squire knows how to fight alone, or whether his invincible hands only rage when I myself go into the fray of Ares. But when he has driven the battle and the war-cry from the ships, then let him return to me unscathed at the swift ships, with all his armor and his close-fighting comrades.” So he spoke in prayer, and Zeus the counselor heard him. The Father granted one part of his prayer, but the other he denied: he granted that he should thrust the war and battle from the ships, but denied that he should return safely from the fight. Then Achilles, having poured the libation and prayed to Father Zeus, went back into his hut and put the cup away in the chest. He came out and stood before the hut, for in his heart he still wished to watch the terrible conflict between the Trojans and the Achaeans. But the men who were armed and marched with great-hearted Patroclus went forward in formation, until with high spirits they charged upon the Trojans. At once they poured out like wasps by the wayside, which boys are wont to provoke, constantly tormenting them in their nests beside the path, the foolish children, creating a common evil for many. And if a passing traveler should unwittingly disturb them, they, with their valiant hearts, fly out one and all to defend their young. With such hearts and spirits the Myrmidons now poured from the ships, and an unquenchable cry arose. And Patroclus called out to his comrades in a great voice: “Myrmidons, companions of Achilles son of Peleus, be men, my friends, and remember your furious valor, so that we may bring honor to the son of Peleus, who is by far the best of the Argives by the ships, he and his close-fighting squires; and so that the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, may recognize his folly, in that he paid no honor to the best of the Achaeans.” With these words, he roused the strength and spirit of every man, and they fell in a mass upon the Trojans. The ships around them echoed terribly to the shouts of the Achaeans. When the Trojans saw the valiant son of Menoetius, himself and his squire blazing in their armor, the hearts of all were shaken, and their columns wavered, for they thought that the swift-footed son of Peleus had cast aside his wrath by the ships and chosen friendship. Each man looked about to see where he might flee sheer destruction. Patroclus was the first to hurl his shining spear straight into the middle of the fray, where the greatest number were in turmoil, by the stern of the ship of great-hearted Protesilaus. He struck Pyraechmes, who had led the horse-crested Paeonians from Amydon, from the wide-flowing Axius. He hit him on the right shoulder, and he fell backward in the dust with a groan, and his comrades, the Paeonians, fled in fear around him. For Patroclus had struck terror into them all by killing their leader, who was their best in battle. He drove them from the ships and quenched the blazing fire. The ship was left there half-burnt, while the Trojans were routed with a wondrous clamor, and the Danaans poured in among the hollow ships, and the din was unceasing. As when from the high peak of a great mountain Zeus, the gatherer of lightning, moves a dense cloud, and all the watchtowers and high headlands and glens are revealed, and from the heavens the boundless ether breaks forth, so the Danaans, having driven the hostile fire from the ships, took a moment’s breath, but there was no lull in the war. For the Trojans were not yet driven in headlong flight from the black ships by the war-loving Achaeans, but still held their ground, and only gave way from the ships out of necessity. Then, as the battle scattered, man killed man among the leaders. First, the valiant son of Menoetius struck the thigh of Areilycus with his sharp spear just as he turned, and drove the bronze clean through. The spear shattered the bone, and he fell face-down on the ground. Then warlike Menelaus wounded Thoas in the chest where it was exposed beside his shield, and loosed his limbs. The son of Phyleus, seeing Amphiclus charging him, anticipated the attack and thrust his spear into the top of his leg, where a man's muscle is thickest; the spear point tore through the sinews, and darkness shrouded his eyes. Of the sons of Nestor, Antilochus struck Atymnius with his sharp spear, and the bronze point drove through his flank, and he fell before him. But Maris, in a rage over his brother, charged Antilochus with his spear at close range, standing over the body. Godlike Thrasymedes, however, was too quick for him and, before he could strike, thrust his own spear without fail into his shoulder. The point of the spear tore the base of his arm away from the muscles and smashed the bone to pieces. He fell with a thud, and darkness veiled his eyes. Thus these two, vanquished by two brothers, went down to Erebus, valiant companions of Sarpedon, the spear-throwing sons of Amisodarus, he who had reared the monstrous Chimaera, an evil for many men. Ajax, son of Oileus, sprang upon Cleobulus and took him alive, caught up in the throng, but there he put an end to his strength, striking him on the neck with his hilted sword. The whole blade grew warm with blood, and over his eyes descended crimson death and stern fate. Then Peneleos and Lycon charged each other. For they had missed each other with their spears, and both had cast in vain; so now they ran at each other with swords. Lycon struck the ridge of Peneleos’s horse-hair helmet, but his sword shattered at the hilt. Peneleos, however, struck Lycon on the neck below the ear. The whole sword sank in, so that only the skin held, and the head hung to one side as his limbs gave way. Meriones, with a swift burst of speed, overtook Acamas as he was about to mount his chariot and thrust his spear into his right shoulder. He fell from the chariot, and a mist spread over his eyes. Idomeneus struck Erymas in the mouth with the pitiless bronze. The bronze spear passed straight through, under the brain, and shattered the white bones. His teeth were knocked out, and both his eyes were filled with blood, which he spurted through his mouth and nostrils as he gaped. And the black cloud of death enfolded him. These then were the Danaan leaders who each killed his man. As wolves fall upon lambs or kids, snatching them from the flocks that have been scattered on the mountains through the shepherd's folly, and the wolves, seeing them, quickly tear them apart, for they have no heart for a fight; so the Danaans fell upon the Trojans, who now thought only of shrieking flight and forgot their furious valor. The great Ajax was ever striving to cast his spear at bronze-helmed Hector. But Hector, skilled in warfare, kept his broad shoulders covered with his bull's-hide shield, and watched for the hiss of arrows and the thud of spears. He knew well that the tide of victory was turning, yet even so he held his ground, trying to save his loyal companions. As a cloud moves from Olympus into the heavens out of the bright ether when Zeus spreads a storm, so from the ships came their clamor and their flight, and they did not cross back in good order. Hector's swift-footed horses carried him and his armor away, and he left the Trojan host behind, whom the deep-dug trench held against their will. Many swift chariot-horses, breaking their poles at the end of the draught-beam, left their masters' chariots in the trench. But Patroclus pursued them, calling fiercely to the Danaans and devising evil for the Trojans. They, with cries of terror, filled all the ways, now that their ranks were broken. A storm of dust rose high beneath the clouds, and the single-hoofed horses strained to gallop back toward the city, away from the ships and huts. Patroclus, wherever he saw the greatest mass of men in rout, drove his chariot there with a cry, and men fell from their chariots beneath his axles, and the chariots themselves overturned. Straight over the trench leaped the swift, immortal horses, a glorious gift the gods had given to Peleus, straining onward, and his heart urged him on toward Hector, for he was eager to strike him; but Hector's swift horses were already carrying him away. As the whole black earth is weighed down by a tempest on an autumn day, when Zeus pours down his most violent rain in his wrath against men who give crooked judgments in the assembly by force, and drive out justice, heedless of the vengeance of the gods; and all their rivers swell in flood, and the torrents carve away many hillsides, and rush roaring down from the mountains to the purple sea, and the works of men are diminished; so the Trojan mares groaned aloud as they ran. Patroclus, when he had cut off the first Trojan columns, drove them back again toward the ships, and would not let them, for all their eagerness, set foot in the city, but between the ships and the river and the high wall, he rushed upon them and killed them, and so avenged the price of many. There he first struck Pronous with his shining spear on the chest where it was exposed beside his shield, and loosed his limbs. He fell with a thud. Next he rushed upon Thestor, son of Enops, who sat huddled in his polished chariot, for his senses were shattered with terror, and the reins had slipped from his hands. Patroclus came up beside him and struck him with his spear on the right jaw, driving it through his teeth. He seized the spear and dragged him over the chariot rail, as a man sitting on a jutting rock drags a sacred fish from the sea with a line and gleaming bronze hook. So he dragged him, gaping, from the chariot with his shining spear, and cast him down upon his face, and life left him as he fell. Then, as Erylaus charged him, he struck him in the middle of the head with a stone. The head was split in two inside the heavy helmet, and he fell face-down on the ground, and soul-destroying death enveloped him. Then Erymas and Amphoterus and Epaltes, and Tlepolemus son of Damastor, and Echius and Pyris, and Ipheus and Euippus and Polymelus son of Argeas, all these one after another he brought down to the all-nourishing earth. When Sarpedon saw his comrades with ungirt tunics being laid low by the hands of Patroclus, son of Menoetius, he cried out, rebuking the godlike Lycians: “Shame on you, Lycians! Where are you fleeing? Now you must be swift. I myself will go up against this man, so that I may learn who he is that has such power, who has indeed done much harm to the Trojans, since he has unstrung the knees of many a noble man.” He spoke, and leaped with his armor from his chariot to the ground. Patroclus, on the other side, when he saw him, sprang from his own chariot. And like two vultures with curving talons and hooked beaks that fight with loud cries on a high rock, so these two, shouting, rushed upon each other. The son of crooked-counselling Cronus saw them and was filled with pity, and he spoke to Hera, his sister and his wife: “Woe is me, for it is fated that Sarpedon, dearest of men to me, should be vanquished by Patroclus, son of Menoetius. My heart is torn in two as I ponder in my mind whether to snatch him up while he is still alive from the tearful battle and set him down in the rich land of Lycia, or to let him now be vanquished by the hands of the son of Menoetius.” To him, then, the ox-eyed lady Hera replied: “Most dread son of Cronus, what a word you have spoken! A mortal man, long since doomed by fate, you wish to deliver from the echoing gates of death? Do it; but be sure that not all we other gods will approve. And I will tell you another thing, and you must cast it in your heart: if you send Sarpedon living to his home, consider lest some other of the gods may also wish to send his own dear son away from the mighty combat. For many sons of immortals are fighting around the great city of Priam, and you will stir a terrible resentment among them. But if he is dear to you, and your heart grieves for him, then let him be vanquished in the mighty combat by the hands of Patroclus, son of Menoetius. But when his soul and life have left him, then send Death and sweet Sleep to carry him away, until they come to the land of wide Lycia. There his brothers and his kinsmen will give him due burial with a tomb and a stone, for that is the honor of the dead.” So she spoke, and the father of men and gods did not disobey. But he let fall upon the earth drops of blood, honoring his dear son, whom Patroclus was about to slay in the fertile land of Troy, far from his native soil. When they were close to each other, advancing one on the other, Patroclus then struck the renowned Thrasymelus, who was the noble squire of lord Sarpedon. He struck him in the lower belly and loosed his limbs. Sarpedon, charging in his turn, missed him with his shining spear, but he wounded the horse Pedasus on the right shoulder with the spear. The horse cried out, breathing its last, and fell screaming in the dust, and its spirit flew from it. The other two horses shied apart, the yoke creaked, and the reins became entangled, now that the trace-horse lay in the dust. Of this the spear-famed Automedon found the remedy. Drawing the long sword that hung by his thick thigh, he leaped down and without delay cut the trace-horse free. The other two were righted and strained in the harness, and the two heroes came together again in soul-devouring strife. Then again Sarpedon missed with his shining spear; the point of the spear flew over Patroclus’s left shoulder and did not strike him. But Patroclus rose up with the bronze in his turn, and the weapon did not fly from his hand in vain, but struck where the diaphragm encloses the beating heart. He fell as an oak falls, or a poplar, or a tall pine, which carpenters in the mountains have hewn down with freshly-whetted axes to be a ship’s timber. So he lay stretched out before his horses and chariot, groaning and clutching at the bloody dust. As a lion, coming upon a herd, kills a bull, a fiery, great-hearted bull among the shambling-gaited cattle, and it dies groaning beneath the lion's jaws; so, as he was being killed, the leader of the shield-bearing Lycians raged beneath Patroclus's hands, and called his dear companion by name: “Glaucus, my friend, warrior among men, now you must prove yourself a spearman and a fearless fighter. Now you must welcome evil war, if you are swift. First, go everywhere and rouse the leaders of the Lycians to fight for Sarpedon. Then you yourself must fight for me with the bronze. For I shall be a shame and a reproach to you for all your days, ever after, if the Achaeans strip my armor from me, now that I have fallen in the gathering of the ships. So hold your ground firmly, and spur on all the host.” As he spoke, the end of death covered his eyes and nostrils. And Patroclus, planting his heel upon his chest, drew the spear from the flesh, and the diaphragm came with it. At the same time he drew out the soul and the spear point together. The Myrmidons there held his snorting horses, which were eager to flee now that they had left their masters' chariot. A dreadful sorrow came upon Glaucus as he heard his voice, and his heart was stirred that he could not help him. He gripped his own arm and squeezed it, for the wound that Teucer had given him with an arrow as he charged the high wall, warding off ruin from his companions, was tormenting him. Praying, he spoke to Apollo the far-worker: “Hear me, lord, you who are somewhere in the rich land of Lycia or in Troy, for you can hear from anywhere a man in distress, as distress has now come upon me. For I have this grievous wound, and my hand is shot through with sharp pains, nor can the blood be staunched, and my shoulder is heavy with it. I cannot hold my spear steady, nor go and fight my enemies. And the best of men has perished, Sarpedon, the son of Zeus, who does not even defend his own child. But you, lord, at least heal this grievous wound of mine, and lull the pains, and give me strength, so that I may call to my Lycian comrades and urge them on to battle, and I myself may fight over the body of the fallen.” So he spoke in prayer, and Phoebus Apollo heard him. At once he stopped the pains, and from the grievous wound he staunched the black blood, and cast strength into his heart. Glaucus knew it in his mind and was glad that the great god had quickly heard his prayer. First, he went everywhere and roused the leaders of the Lycians to fight for Sarpedon. Then he went with long strides among the Trojans, to Polydamas son of Panthous and to godlike Agenor, and he went after Aeneas and bronze-helmed Hector, and standing close, he spoke to him with winged words: “Hector, now you have utterly forgotten your allies, who for your sake are wasting away their lives far from their friends and their native land, yet you are not willing to help them. Sarpedon lies dead, leader of the shield-bearing Lycians, who protected Lycia with his justice and his strength. Bronze Ares has struck him down under the spear of Patroclus. But you, friends, stand by him, and feel shame in your hearts, lest the Myrmididons strip his armor and dishonor his body, in their anger for all the Danaans who have perished, whom we have slain with our spears at the swift ships.” So he spoke, and a grief that was unbearable and not to be endured seized the Trojans from head to foot, for he had been a bulwark of their city, though he was a foreigner. For many people came with him, and among them he himself was the best in battle. They went straight for the Danaans, full of fury, and Hector led them, enraged over Sarpedon. But the shaggy heart of Patroclus, son of Menoetius, roused the Achaeans. First he spoke to the two Aiantes, who were already eager themselves: “You two Aiantes, now let it be your desire to defend yourselves, and be as you were before among men, or even better. The man who first leaped over the Achaean wall lies dead, Sarpedon. But if only we could take him and dishonor him, and strip the armor from his shoulders, and strike down some of his companions with the pitiless bronze as they try to defend him.” So he spoke, and they themselves were eager to fight back. When both sides had strengthened their columns— Trojans and Lycians, and Myrmidons and Achaeans— they clashed to fight over the body of the fallen, shouting terribly, and the armor of men rang loud. And Zeus stretched a baleful night over the mighty combat, so that the deadly toil of battle might be waged over his dear son. First the Trojans drove back the bright-eyed Achaeans, for a man was struck who was by no means the worst among the Myrmidons, the son of great-hearted Agacles, godlike Epeigeus, who once ruled in well-peopled Budeion. But then, having slain a noble cousin, he came as a suppliant to Peleus and to silver-footed Thetis, who sent him to follow Achilles, breaker of battle-lines, to Ilium of the fine horses, to fight the Trojans. Just as he was laying hands on the corpse, glorious Hector struck him on the head with a stone. His head was split in two inside the heavy helmet, and he fell face-down upon the corpse, and soul-destroying death enveloped him. Then sorrow came upon Patroclus for his fallen companion, and he charged through the front ranks like a swift hawk that puts to flight jackdaws and starlings. So, O horseman Patroclus, you charged straight at the Lycians and the Trojans, your heart enraged for your companion. And he struck Sthenelaus, the dear son of Ithaemenes, on the neck with a stone, and tore the tendons from it. The front-line fighters and glorious Hector gave way. As far as the cast of a long hunting-spear, which a man throws to test his strength in a contest or in war against soul-destroying enemies, so far did the Trojans retreat, and the Achaeans drove them back. Glaucus, leader of the shield-bearing Lycians, was the first to turn, and he killed great-hearted Bathycles, the dear son of Chalcon, who lived in Hellas and excelled among the Myrmidons in wealth and prosperity. Glaucus turned on him suddenly as he was pursuing him and struck him in the middle of the chest with his spear. He fell with a thud, and a deep sorrow seized the Achaeans that a noble man had fallen. But the Trojans rejoiced greatly and came and stood in a throng around him. The Achaeans, however, did not forget their valor, but brought their strength straight against them. Then Meriones killed a Trojan warrior, Laogonus, the bold son of Onetor, who was a priest of Idaean Zeus and was honored by the people like a god. He struck him under the jaw and the ear, and swiftly his spirit fled from his limbs, and hateful darkness seized him. Aeneas then cast his bronze spear at Meriones, for he hoped to hit him as he advanced under cover of his shield. But Meriones, looking straight at him, evaded the bronze spear, for he bent forward, and the long spear stuck in the ground behind him, its butt-end quivering. There, then, mighty Ares took away its force. The spear of Aeneas, vibrating, went into the ground, since it had flown in vain from his strong hand. Then Aeneas grew angry in his heart and spoke: “Meriones, though you are a fine dancer, my spear would have stopped you for good, if I had but hit you.” To him in turn Meriones, famed for his spear, replied: “Aeneas, strong as you are, it would be hard for you to quell the strength of every man who comes against you to defend himself, for you too are mortal. If I were to strike you squarely with my sharp bronze, then, for all your strength and your trust in your hands, you would quickly give the glory to me, and your soul to Hades of the famous horses.” So he spoke, and the valiant son of Menoetius rebuked him: “Meriones, why do you, a good man, talk so? My dear friend, the Trojans will not be driven from the corpse by words of reproach; sooner the earth will hold some of them. The end of war lies in the hands, the end of words in the council. So we must not pile up talk, but fight.” So saying, he led the way, and the godlike man followed him. As the din of woodcutters rises in the glens of a mountain, and the sound is heard from afar, so the clamor of these men rose from the wide-pathed earth, the sound of bronze and of leather and of well-made bull’s-hide shields, as they were struck with swords and with two-edged spears. A man of discerning eye would no longer have recognized godlike Sarpedon, so covered was he with missiles and blood and dust from head to foot. They swarmed constantly about the corpse, as flies in a stable buzz around the brimming milk-pails in the springtime, when the milk wets the vessels. So they swarmed about the corpse. And Zeus never turned his shining eyes from the mighty combat, but looked down upon them always and pondered in his heart, meditating much on the death of Patroclus: whether glorious Hector should now kill him too in the mighty combat over godlike Sarpedon and strip the armor from his shoulders, or whether he should still increase the steep toil for more. And as he pondered, it seemed to him the better way, that the valiant squire of Achilles, son of Peleus, should once again drive the Trojans and bronze-helmed Hector toward the city, and take the lives of many. So he first put a spirit of cowardice into Hector. He leaped into his chariot and turned to flight, and urged the other Trojans to flee, for he recognized the sacred scales of Zeus. Then not even the mighty Lycians stood their ground, but all fled in terror when they saw their king struck to the heart, lying in a heap of the dead, for many had fallen over him when the son of Cronus stretched the bow of strife taut. Then from the shoulders of Sarpedon they took the gleaming bronze armor, and the valiant son of Menoetius gave it to his comrades to carry to the hollow ships. And then Zeus the cloud-gatherer spoke to Apollo: “Come now, dear Phoebus, go and cleanse the dark blood from Sarpedon, whom you must move out of the range of missiles. Then carry him far away and wash him in the streams of the river, and anoint him with ambrosia, and clothe him in immortal garments. Then send him to be carried by swift escorts, by Sleep and Death, who are twins; they will quickly set him down in the rich land of wide Lycia. There his brothers and his kinsmen will give him due burial with a tomb and a stone, for that is the honor of the dead.” So he spoke, and Apollo did not disobey his father. He went down from the mountains of Ida into the terrible fray, and at once lifted godlike Sarpedon out of the range of missiles, and carrying him far away, washed him in the streams of the river, and anointed him with ambrosia, and clothed him in immortal garments. Then he sent him to be carried by swift escorts, by Sleep and Death, who are twins, and they quickly set him down in the rich land of wide Lycia. But Patroclus, urging on his horses and Automedon, went in pursuit of the Trojans and the Lycians, and was greatly deluded, poor fool. For if he had kept the word of the son of Peleus, he would surely have escaped the evil fate of black death. But the will of Zeus is always stronger than that of men. He can put even a valiant man to flight and easily rob him of victory, and at another time he himself can urge him on to fight. And it was he who then put courage in his breast. Then whom first and whom last did you slay, Patroclus, when the gods called you to your death? Adrestus first, and Autonous and Echeclus, and Perimus son of Megas, and Epistor and Melanippus, and then Elasus and Mulius and Pylartes. These he killed, and the others each thought only of flight. Then the sons of the Achaeans would have taken high-gated Troy by the hands of Patroclus, for he raged all around with his spear, if Phoebus Apollo had not stood on the well-built tower, devising destruction for him and aid for the Trojans. Three times Patroclus set foot on a corner of the high wall, and three times Apollo thrust him back, striking his shining shield with his immortal hands. But when for the fourth time he rushed on like a daemon, Apollo shouted at him with a terrible cry and spoke with winged words: “Draw back, Zeus-born Patroclus! It is not your fate to sack the city of the proud Trojans with your spear, nor even with that of Achilles, who is a much better man than you.” So he spoke, and Patroclus drew back a great way, avoiding the wrath of Apollo who shoots from afar. Hector held his single-hoofed horses at the Scaean Gates, for he was in two minds, whether to drive back into the throng and fight, or to call the people to gather within the wall. As he was pondering this, Phoebus Apollo stood beside him, having taken the likeness of a man, strong and vigorous, Asius, who was Hector’s maternal uncle, the brother of Hecuba and son of Dymas, who lived in Phrygia by the streams of the Sangarius. Taking his likeness, Apollo, son of Zeus, spoke to him: “Hector, why do you cease from battle? It does not become you. If only I were as much stronger than you as I am weaker, then you would soon withdraw from the war to your own sorrow. But come, drive your strong-hoofed horses at Patroclus, and see if you can kill him, and if Apollo will grant you the glory.” So speaking, the god went back into the toil of men. Glorious Hector then commanded the wise Cebriones to whip the horses into the battle. But Apollo went and plunged into the throng and sent an evil rout among the Argives, and gave glory to the Trojans and to Hector. Hector let the other Danaans be and did not try to kill them, but drove his strong-hoofed horses at Patroclus. Patroclus, on the other side, leaped from his chariot to the ground, holding his spear in his left hand. In the other he took up a stone, white and jagged, that his hand encompassed. He threw it, leaning into the cast, and did not long shrink from his man, nor was his throw in vain, for he struck Hector’s charioteer, Cebriones, a bastard son of the renowned Priam, as he was holding the reins of the horses, hitting him on the forehead with the sharp stone. The stone smashed both his eyebrows together, nor could the bone withstand it, and his eyes fell to the ground in the dust before his own feet. He, like a diver, fell from the well-wrought chariot, and his spirit left his bones. And mocking him, you spoke, O horseman Patroclus: “Well now, what a nimble man, how gracefully he tumbles! If he were somewhere on the fish-filled sea, this man could satisfy many by diving for oysters, leaping from a ship even in stormy weather, as easily as he now tumbles from his chariot onto the plain. Truly, there are acrobats even among the Trojans.” So speaking, he went for the hero Cebriones with the spring of a lion that, while raiding the farmsteads, has been struck in the chest, and its own courage destroys it. So, Patroclus, you sprang furiously upon Cebriones. Hector, on the other side, leaped from his chariot to the ground. The two of them fought over Cebriones like two lions on the mountain peaks over a slain hind, both hungry, both fighting with high courage. So over Cebriones the two masters of the war-cry, Patroclus son of Menoetius and glorious Hector, were eager to cut each other’s flesh with the pitiless bronze. Hector, once he had seized the head, would not let it go; Patroclus, on the other side, held the foot. And the other Trojans and Danaans joined in the mighty combat. As the East Wind and the South Wind wrestle with each other in the glens of a mountain, shaking the deep woods, the beech and the ash and the smooth-barked cornel tree, and they dash their long branches against one another with a wondrous roar, and there is a crash of breaking boughs; so the Trojans and the Achaeans, leaping upon each other, fought, and neither side thought of ruinous flight. Many sharp spears were planted around Cebriones, and many winged arrows, leaping from the bowstrings, and many great stones struck the shields of those who fought around him. But he, in a whirl of dust, lay mighty in his mightiness, having forgotten his horsemanship. As long as the sun was high in the middle of the sky, the missiles of both sides found their mark, and the people fell. But when the sun turned toward the time for unyoking oxen, then indeed, beyond their fate, the Achaeans proved the stronger. They dragged the hero Cebriones out from the missiles and the war-cry of the Trojans, and stripped the armor from his shoulders. But Patroclus, devising evil for the Trojans, charged them. Three times then he charged, the equal of swift Ares, shouting terribly, and three times he killed nine men. But when for the fourth time he rushed on like a daemon, then, O Patroclus, the end of your life appeared. For Phoebus, terrible, met you in the mighty combat. Patroclus did not see him as he moved through the throng, for he came to meet him shrouded in a thick mist. He stood behind him and struck his back and broad shoulders with the flat of his hand, and his eyes spun. From his head Phoebus Apollo struck the helmet. And it rolled clanging under the horses’ feet, the helmet with its hollow eye-slits, and its plumes were befouled with blood and dust. Before this it had not been lawful for that horse-hair helmet to be sullied in the dust, for it protected the head and handsome brow of a divine man, Achilles. But then Zeus gave it to Hector to wear upon his head, and his own destruction was near. And in his hands the long-shadowed spear was shattered to pieces, the heavy, great, stout, bronze-tipped spear; and from his shoulders the shield with its strap fell to the ground. And the lord Apollo, son of Zeus, loosened his corslet. A blindness seized his mind, and his shining limbs were unstrung. He stood there dazed. And from behind, at close range, a Dardanian man struck him between the shoulders with a sharp spear: Euphorbus, son of Panthous, who surpassed all his peers in spear-throwing, in horsemanship, and in swiftness of foot. He had already brought down twenty men from their horses since first coming with his chariot to learn the art of war. It was he who first cast a weapon at you, O horseman Patroclus, but he did not vanquish you. He ran back and mingled with the crowd, having pulled the ash spear from the flesh, and did not dare to face Patroclus in combat, even though he was now unarmed. Patroclus, overcome by the god’s blow and the spear, drew back into the host of his comrades, avoiding his doom. But Hector, when he saw great-hearted Patroclus drawing back, wounded with the sharp bronze, came up to him through the ranks and struck him with his spear in the lower flank, and drove the bronze clean through. He fell with a thud, and greatly grieved the Achaean host. As a lion in a fight overpowers an untiring boar, when the two of them, with high courage, fight on the mountain peaks over a little spring, for both wish to drink, and the lion, for all the boar's panting, overcomes him by force; so Hector, son of Priam, after Patroclus had killed so many, robbed him of his life with a close spear-thrust, and standing over him in triumph, spoke with winged words: “Patroclus, surely you thought you would sack our city, and take the day of freedom from the Trojan women and carry them away in your ships to your own dear native land, you fool. In front of them Hector's swift horses stretch their legs to fight, and I myself excel among the war-loving Trojans with the spear, I who ward off from them the day of necessity. But as for you, the vultures shall devour you here. Wretched man, for all his valor, Achilles did you no good, though surely as you were leaving he, remaining behind, must have charged you with many things: ‘Do not come back to me, horseman Patroclus, to the hollow ships, until you have torn the blood-stained tunic from about the chest of man-slaying Hector.’ So he must have spoken to you, and persuaded the mind of a fool.” To him, growing faint, you answered, O horseman Patroclus: “Boast loudly now, Hector, for Zeus the son of Cronus and Apollo have given you the victory. They vanquished me with ease, for it was they who stripped the armor from my shoulders. If twenty such as you had met me, they would all have perished here, overcome by my spear. But it was destructive fate and the son of Leto who killed me, and of men, Euphorbus; you are but the third to slay me. And I will tell you another thing, and you must cast it in your heart: you yourself will surely not live long, but already death and mighty fate are standing beside you, to be vanquished by the hands of the noble Achilles, son of Aeacus.” As he spoke, the end of death covered him. His soul, flying from his limbs, went down to the house of Hades, lamenting its fate, leaving behind its manhood and its youth. And to him, though he was dead, glorious Hector spoke: “Patroclus, why do you prophesy sheer destruction for me? Who knows if Achilles, son of fair-haired Thetis, may not be struck first by my spear and lose his life?” So speaking, he drew the bronze spear from the wound, planting his heel on the body and thrusting it backward from the spear. At once he went with his spear after Automedon, the godlike squire of the swift-footed son of Aeacus, for he was eager to strike him. But the swift, immortal horses, a glorious gift the gods had given to Peleus, carried him away.

ἸΛΙΆΣ 16

Ὣς οἱ μὲν περὶ νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μάχοντο·
Πάτροκλος δ’ Ἀχιλῆϊ παρίστατο, ποιμένι λαῶν,
δάκρυα θερμὰ χέων ὥς τε κρήνη μελάνυδρος,
ἥ τε κατ’ αἰγίλιπος πέτρης δνοφερὸν χέει ὕδωρ.
τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ᾤκτιρε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«τίπτε δεδάκρυσαι, Πατρόκλεες, ἠΰτε κούρη
νηπίη, ἥ θ’ ἅμα μητρὶ θέουσ’ ἀνελέσθαι ἀνώγει,
εἱανοῦ ἁπτομένη, καί τ’ ἐσσυμένην κατερύκει,
δακρυόεσσα δέ μιν ποτιδέρκεται, ὄφρ’ ἀνέληται·
τῇ ἴκελος, Πάτροκλε, τέρεν κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβεις.
ἠέ τι Μυρμιδόνεσσι πιφαύσκεαι, ἢ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ,
ἦέ τιν’ ἀγγελίην Φθίης ἐξέκλυες οἶος;
ζώειν μὰν ἔτι φασὶ Μενοίτιον Ἄκτορος υἱόν,
ζώει δ’ Αἰακίδης Πηλεὺς μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσι,
τῶν κε μάλ’ ἀμφοτέρων ἀκαχοίμεθα τεθνηώτων.
ἦε σύ γ’ Ἀργείων ὀλοφύρεαι, ὡς ὀλέκονται
νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ὑπερβασίης ἕνεκα σφῆς;
ἐξαύδα, μὴ κεῦθε νόῳ, ἵνα εἴδομεν ἄμφω.»
Τὸν δὲ βαρὺ στενάχων προσέφης, Πατρόκλεες ἱππεῦ·
«ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ, Πηλῆος υἱέ, μέγα φέρτατ’ Ἀχαιῶν,

μὴ νεμέσα· τοῖον γὰρ ἄχος βεβίηκεν Ἀχαιούς.
οἱ μὲν γὰρ δὴ πάντες, ὅσοι πάρος ἦσαν ἄριστοι,
ἐν νηυσὶν κέαται βεβλημένοι οὐτάμενοί τε.
βέβληται μὲν ὁ Τυδεΐδης κρατερὸς Διομήδης,
οὔτασται δ’ Ὀδυσεὺς δουρικλυτὸς ἠδ’ Ἀγαμέμνων,
βέβληται δὲ καὶ Εὐρύπυλος κατὰ μηρὸν ὀϊστῷ.
τοὺς μέν τ’ ἰητροὶ πολυφάρμακοι ἀμφιπένονται,
ἕλκε’ ἀκειόμενοι· σὺ δ’ ἀμήχανος ἔπλευ Ἀχιλλεῦ.
μὴ ἐμέ γ’ οὖν οὗτός γε λάβοι χόλος, ὃν σὺ φυλάσσεις,
αἰναρέτη· τί σευ ἄλλος ὀνήσεται ὀψίγονός περ,
αἴ κε μὴ Ἀργείοισιν ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀμύνῃς;
νηλεές, οὐκ ἄρα σοί γε πατὴρ ἦν ἱππότα Πηλεύς,
οὐδὲ Θέτις μήτηρ· γλαυκὴ δέ σε τίκτε θάλασσα
πέτραι τ’ ἠλίβατοι, ὅτι τοι νόος ἐστὶν ἀπηνής.
εἰ δέ τινα φρεσὶ σῇσι θεοπροπίην ἀλεείνεις
καί τινά τοι πὰρ Ζηνὸς ἐπέφραδε πότνια μήτηρ,
ἀλλ’ ἐμέ περ πρόες ὦχ’, ἅμα δ’ ἄλλον λαὸν ὄπασσον
Μυρμιδόνων, ἤν πού τι φόως Δαναοῖσι γένωμαι.
δὸς δέ μοι ὤμοιιν τὰ σὰ τεύχεα θωρηχθῆναι,
αἴ κ’ ἐμὲ σοὶ ἴσκοντες ἀπόσχωνται πολέμοιο
Τρῶες, ἀναπνεύσωσι δ’ Ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
τειρόμενοι· ὀλίγη δέ τ’ ἀνάπνευσις πολέμοιο.
ῥεῖα δέ κ’ ἀκμῆτες κεκμηότας ἄνδρας ἀϋτῇ
ὤσαιμεν προτὶ ἄστυ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων.»
Ὣς φάτο λισσόμενος μέγα νήπιος· ἦ γὰρ ἔμελλεν
οἷ αὐτῷ θάνατόν τε κακὸν καὶ κῆρα λιτέσθαι.
τὸν δὲ μέγ’ ὀχθήσας προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
«ὤ μοι, διογενὲς Πατρόκλεες, οἷον ἔειπες·
οὔτε θεοπροπίης ἐμπάζομαι, ἥν τινα οἶδα,
οὔτέ τί μοι πὰρ Ζηνὸς ἐπέφραδε πότνια μήτηρ·

ἀλλὰ τόδ’ αἰνὸν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἱκάνει,
ὁππότε δὴ τὸν ὁμοῖον ἀνὴρ ἐθέλῃσιν ἀμέρσαι
καὶ γέρας ἂψ ἀφελέσθαι, ὅ τε κράτεϊ προβεβήκῃ·
αἰνὸν ἄχος τό μοί ἐστιν, ἐπεὶ πάθον ἄλγεα θυμῷ.
κούρην ἣν ἄρα μοι γέρας ἔξελον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,
δουρὶ δ’ ἐμῷ κτεάτισσα, πόλιν εὐτείχεα πέρσας,
τὴν ἂψ ἐκ χειρῶν ἕλετο κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
Ἀτρεΐδης ὡς εἴ τιν’ ἀτίμητον μετανάστην.
ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν προτετύχθαι ἐάσομεν· οὐδ’ ἄρα πως ἦν
ἀσπερχὲς κεχολῶσθαι ἐνὶ φρεσίν· ἤτοι ἔφην γε
οὐ πρὶν μηνιθμὸν καταπαυσέμεν, ἀλλ’ ὁπότ’ ἂν δὴ
νῆας ἐμὰς ἀφίκηται ἀϋτή τε πτόλεμός τε.
τύνη δ’ ὤμοιιν μὲν ἐμὰ κλυτὰ τεύχεα δῦθι,
ἄρχε δὲ Μυρμιδόνεσσι φιλοπτολέμοισι μάχεσθαι,
εἰ δὴ κυάνεον Τρώων νέφος ἀμφιβέβηκε
νηυσὶν ἐπικρατέως, οἱ δὲ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης
κεκλίαται, χώρης ὀλίγην ἔτι μοῖραν ἔχοντες,
Ἀργεῖοι· Τρώων δὲ πόλις ἐπὶ πᾶσα βέβηκε
θάρσυνος· οὐ γὰρ ἐμῆς κόρυθος λεύσσουσι μέτωπον
ἐγγύθι λαμπομένης· τάχα κεν φεύγοντες ἐναύλους
πλήσειαν νεκύων, εἴ μοι κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
ἤπια εἰδείη· νῦν δὲ στρατὸν ἀμφιμάχονται.
οὐ γὰρ Τυδεΐδεω Διομήδεος ἐν παλάμῃσι
μαίνεται ἐγχείη Δαναῶν ἀπὸ λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι·
οὐδέ πω Ἀτρεΐδεω ὀπὸς ἔκλυον αὐδήσαντος
ἐχθρῆς ἐκ κεφαλῆς· ἀλλ’ Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο
Τρωσὶ κελεύοντος περιάγνυται, οἱ δ’ ἀλαλητῷ
πᾶν πεδίον κατέχουσι, μάχῃ νικῶντες Ἀχαιούς.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς Πάτροκλε νεῶν ἄπο λοιγὸν ἀμύνων
ἔμπεσ’ ἐπικρατέως, μὴ δὴ πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο

νῆας ἐνιπρήσωσι, φίλον δ’ ἀπὸ νόστον ἕλωνται.
πείθεο δ’ ὥς τοι ἐγὼ μύθου τέλος ἐν φρεσὶ θείω,
ὡς ἄν μοι τιμὴν μεγάλην καὶ κῦδος ἄρηαι
πρὸς πάντων Δαναῶν, ἀτὰρ οἳ περικαλλέα κούρην
ἂψ ἀπονάσσωσιν, ποτὶ δ’ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα πόρωσιν.
ἐκ νηῶν ἐλάσας ἰέναι πάλιν· εἰ δέ κεν αὖ τοι
δώῃ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης,
μὴ σύ γ’ ἄνευθεν ἐμεῖο λιλαίεσθαι πολεμίζειν
Τρωσὶ φιλοπτολέμοισιν· ἀτιμότερον δέ με θήσεις·
μηδ’ ἐπαγαλλόμενος πολέμῳ καὶ δηϊοτῆτι
Τρῶας ἐναιρόμενος, προτὶ Ἴλιον ἡγεμονεύειν,
μή τις ἀπ’ Οὐλύμποιο θεῶν αἰειγενετάων
ἐμβήῃ· μάλα τούς γε φιλεῖ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων·
ἀλλὰ πάλιν τρωπᾶσθαι, ἐπὴν φάος ἐν νήεσσι
θήῃς, τοὺς δ’ ἔτ’ ἐᾶν πεδίον κάτα δηριάασθαι.
αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,
μήτε τις οὖν Τρώων θάνατον φύγοι, ὅσσοι ἔασι,
μήτέ τις Ἀργείων, νῶϊν δ’ ἐκδῦμεν ὄλεθρον,
ὄφρ’ οἶοι Τροίης ἱερὰ κρήδεμνα λύωμεν.
Ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
Αἴας δ’ οὐκ ἔτ’ ἔμιμνε· βιάζετο γὰρ βελέεσσι·
δάμνα μιν Ζηνός τε νόος καὶ Τρῶες ἀγαυοὶ
βάλλοντες· δεινὴν δὲ περὶ κροτάφοισι φαεινὴ
πήληξ βαλλομένη καναχὴν ἔχε, βάλλετο δ’ αἰεὶ
κὰπ φάλαρ’ εὐποίηθ’· ὁ δ’ ἀριστερὸν ὦμον ἔκαμνεν,
ἔμπεδον αἰὲν ἔχων σάκος αἰόλον· οὐδ’ ἐδύναντο
ἀμφ’ αὐτῷ πελεμίξαι ἐρείδοντες βελέεσσιν.

αἰεὶ δ’ ἀργαλέῳ ἔχετ’ ἄσθματι, κὰδ δέ οἱ ἱδρὼς
πάντοθεν ἐκ μελέων πολὺς ἔρρεεν, οὐδέ πῃ εἶχεν
ἀμπνεῦσαι· πάντῃ δὲ κακὸν κακῷ ἐστήρικτο.
Ἔσπετε νῦν μοι, Μοῦσαι Ὀλύμπια δώματ’ ἔχουσαι,
ὅππως δὴ πρῶτον πῦρ ἔμπεσε νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.
Ἕκτωρ Αἴαντος δόρυ μείλινον ἄγχι παραστὰς
πλῆξ’ ἄορι μεγάλῳ αἰχμῆς παρὰ καυλὸν ὄπισθεν,
ἀντικρὺ δ’ ἀπάραξε· τὸ μὲν Τελαμώνιος Αἴας
πῆλ’ αὔτως ἐν χειρὶ κόλον δόρυ, τῆλε δ’ ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ
αἰχμὴ χαλκείη χαμάδις βόμβησε πεσοῦσα.
γνῶ δ’ Αἴας κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονα, ῥίγησέν τε,
ἔργα θεῶν, ὅ ῥα πάγχυ μάχης ἐπὶ μήδεα κεῖρε
Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης, Τρώεσσι δὲ βούλετο νίκην·
χάζετο δ’ ἐκ βελέων. τοὶ δ’ ἔμβαλον ἀκάματον πῦρ
νηῒ θοῇ· τῆς δ’ αἶψα κατ’ ἀσβέστη κέχυτο φλόξ.
ὣς τὴν μὲν πρύμνην πῦρ ἄμφεπεν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
μηρὼ πληξάμενος Πατροκλῆα προσέειπεν·
«ὄρσεο διογενὲς Πατρόκλεες ἱπποκέλευθε·
λεύσσω δὴ παρὰ νηυσὶ πυρὸς δηΐοιο ἰωήν·
μὴ δὴ νῆας ἕλωσι καὶ οὐκέτι φυκτὰ πέλωνται·
δύσεο τεύχεα θᾶσσον, ἐγὼ δέ κε λαὸν ἀγείρω.»
Ὣς φάτο, Πάτροκλος δὲ κορύσσετο νώροπι χαλκῷ.
κνημῖδας μὲν πρῶτα περὶ κνήμῃσιν ἔθηκε
καλάς, ἀργυρέοισιν ἐπισφυρίοις ἀραρυίας·
δεύτερον αὖ θώρηκα περὶ στήθεσσιν ἔδυνε
ποικίλον ἀστερόεντα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο.
ἀμφὶ δ’ ἄρ’ ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον
χάλκεον, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα σάκος μέγα τε στιβαρόν τε·
κρατὶ δ’ ἐπ’ ἰφθίμῳ κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκεν

ἵππουριν· δεινὸν δὲ λόφος καθύπερθεν ἔνευεν.
εἵλετο δ’ ἄλκιμα δοῦρε, τά οἱ παλάμηφιν ἀρήρει.
ἔγχος δ’ οὐχ ἕλετ’ οἶον ἀμύμονος Αἰακίδαο,
βριθὺ μέγα στιβαρόν· τὸ μὲν οὐ δύνατ’ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν
πάλλειν, ἀλλά μιν οἶος ἐπίστατο πῆλαι Ἀχιλλεύς,
Πηλιάδα μελίην, τὴν πατρὶ φίλῳ πόρε Χείρων
Πηλίου ἐκ κορυφῆς, φόνον ἔμμεναι ἡρώεσσιν.
ἵππους δ’ Αὐτομέδοντα θοῶς ζευγνῦμεν ἄνωγε,
τὸν μετ’ Ἀχιλλῆα ῥηξήνορα τῖε μάλιστα,
πιστότατος δέ οἱ ἔσκε μάχῃ ἔνι μεῖναι ὁμοκλήν.
τῷ δὲ καὶ Αὐτομέδων ὕπαγε ζυγὸν ὠκέας ἵππους,
Ξάνθον καὶ Βαλίον, τὼ ἅμα πνοιῇσι πετέσθην,
τοὺς ἔτεκε Ζεφύρῳ ἀνέμῳ Ἅρπυια Ποδάργη,
βοσκομένη λειμῶνι παρὰ ῥόον Ὠκεανοῖο.
ἐν δὲ παρηορίῃσιν ἀμύμονα Πήδασον ἵει,
τόν ῥά ποτ’ Ἠετίωνος ἑλὼν πόλιν ἤγαγ’ Ἀχιλλεύς,
ὃς καὶ θνητὸς ἐὼν ἕπεθ’ ἵπποις ἀθανάτοισι.
Μυρμιδόνας δ’ ἄρ’ ἐποιχόμενος θώρηξεν Ἀχιλλεὺς
πάντας ἀνὰ κλισίας σὺν τεύχεσιν· οἱ δὲ λύκοι ὣς
ὠμοφάγοι, τοῖσίν τε περὶ φρεσὶν ἄσπετος ἀλκή,
οἵ τ’ ἔλαφον κεραὸν μέγαν οὔρεσι δῃώσαντες
δάπτουσιν· πᾶσιν δὲ παρήϊον αἵματι φοινόν·
καί τ’ ἀγεληδὸν ἴασιν ἀπὸ κρήνης μελανύδρου
λάψοντες γλώσσῃσιν ἀραιῇσιν μέλαν ὕδωρ
ἄκρον, ἐρευγόμενοι φόνον αἵματος· ἐν δέ τε θυμὸς
στήθεσιν ἄτρομός ἐστι, περιστένεται δέ τε γαστήρ·
τοῖοι Μυρμιδόνων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες
ἀμφ’ ἀγαθὸν θεράποντα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο
ῥώοντ’· ἐν δ’ ἄρα τοῖσιν ἀρήϊος ἵστατ’ Ἀχιλλεύς,

ὀτρύνων ἵππους τε καὶ ἀνέρας ἀσπιδιώτας.
Πεντήκοντ’ ἦσαν νῆες θοαί, ᾗσιν Ἀχιλλεὺς
ἐς Τροίην ἡγεῖτο Διῒ φίλος· ἐν δὲ ἑκάστῃ
πεντήκοντ’ ἔσαν ἄνδρες ἐπὶ κληῗσιν ἑταῖροι·
πέντε δ’ ἄρ’ ἡγεμόνας ποιήσατο τοῖς ἐπεποίθει
σημαίνειν· αὐτὸς δὲ μέγα κρατέων ἤνασσε.
τῆς μὲν ἰῆς στιχὸς ἦρχε Μενέσθιος αἰολοθώρηξ,
υἱὸς Σπερχειοῖο, διιπετέος ποταμοῖο·
ὃν τέκε Πηλῆος θυγάτηρ, καλὴ Πολυδώρη,
Σπερχειῷ ἀκάμαντι, γυνὴ θεῷ εὐνηθεῖσα,
αὐτὰρ ἐπίκλησιν Βώρῳ, Περιήρεος υἷι,
ὅς ῥ’ ἀναφανδὸν ὄπυιε πορὼν ἀπερείσια ἕδνα.
τῆς δ’ ἑτέρης Εὔδωρος ἀρήϊος ἡγεμόνευε,
παρθένιος, τὸν ἔτικτε χορῷ καλὴ Πολυμήλη,
Φύλαντος θυγάτηρ· τῆς δὲ κρατὺς Ἀργειφόντης
ἠράσατ’, ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδὼν μετὰ μελπομένῃσιν
ἐν χορῷ Ἀρτέμιδος χρυσηλακάτου κελαδεινῆς.
αὐτίκα δ’ εἰς ὑπερῷ’ ἀναβὰς παρελέξατο λάθρῃ
Ἑρμείας ἀκάκητα, πόρεν δέ οἱ ἀγλαὸν υἱὸν
Εὔδωρον, πέρι μὲν θείειν ταχὺν ἠδὲ μαχητήν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τόν γε μογοστόκος Εἰλείθυια
ἐξάγαγε πρὸ φόωσδε καὶ ἠελίου ἴδεν αὐγάς,
τὴν μὲν Ἐχεκλῆος κρατερὸν μένος Ἀκτορίδαο
ἠγάγετο πρὸς δώματ’, ἐπεὶ πόρε μυρία ἕδνα,
τὸν δ’ ὁ γέρων Φύλας εὖ ἔτρεφεν ἠδ’ ἀτίταλλεν,
ἀμφαγαπαζόμενος ὡς εἴ θ’ ἑὸν υἱὸν ἐόντα.
τῆς δὲ τρίτης Πείσανδρος ἀρήϊος ἡγεμόνευε
Μαιμαλίδης, ὃς πᾶσι μετέπρεπε Μυρμιδόνεσσιν
ἔγχεϊ μάρνασθαι μετὰ Πηλεΐωνος ἑταῖρον.
τῆς δὲ τετάρτης ἦρχε γέρων ἱππηλάτα Φοῖνιξ,

πέμπτης δ’ Ἀλκιμέδων, Λαέρκεος υἱὸς ἀμύμων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντας ἅμ’ ἡγεμόνεσσιν Ἀχιλλεὺς
στῆσεν ἐῢ κρίνας, κρατερὸν δ’ ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλε·
«Μυρμιδόνες, μή τίς μοι ἀπειλάων λελαθέσθω,
ἃς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ θοῇσιν ἀπειλεῖτε Τρώεσσι
πάνθ’ ὑπὸ μηνιθμόν, καί μ’ ᾐτιάασθε ἕκαστος·
“σχέτλιε Πηλέος υἱέ, χόλῳ ἄρα σ’ ἔτρεφε μήτηρ,
νηλεές, ὃς παρὰ νηυσὶν ἔχεις ἀέκοντας ἑταίρους·
οἴκαδέ περ σὺν νηυσὶ νεώμεθα ποντοπόροισιν
αὖτις, ἐπεί ῥά τοι ὧδε κακὸς χόλος ἔμπεσε θυμῷ.”
ταῦτά μ’ ἀγειρόμενοι θάμ’ ἐβάζετε· νῦν δὲ πέφανται
φυλόπιδος μέγα ἔργον, ἕης τὸ πρίν γ’ ἐράασθε.
ἔνθά τις ἄλκιμον ἦτορ ἔχων Τρώεσσι μαχέσθω.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.
μᾶλλον δὲ στίχες ἄρθεν, ἐπεὶ βασιλῆος ἄκουσαν.
ὡς δ’ ὅτε τοῖχον ἀνὴρ ἀράρῃ πυκινοῖσι λίθοισι
δώματος ὑψηλοῖο βίας ἀνέμων ἀλεείνων,
ὣς ἄραρον κόρυθές τε καὶ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι.
ἀσπὶς ἄρ’ ἀσπίδ’ ἔρειδε, κόρυς κόρυν, ἀνέρα δ’ ἀνήρ·
ψαῦον δ’ ἱππόκομοι κόρυθες λαμπροῖσι φάλοισι
νευόντων, ὡς πυκνοὶ ἐφέστασαν ἀλλήλοισι.
πάντων δὲ προπάροιθε δύ’ ἀνέρε θωρήσσοντο,
Πάτροκλός τε καὶ Αὐτομέδων, ἕνα θυμὸν ἔχοντες,
πρόσθεν Μυρμιδόνων πολεμιζέμεν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
βῆ ῥ’ ἴμεν ἐς κλισίην, χηλοῦ δ’ ἀπὸ πῶμ’ ἀνέῳγε
καλῆς δαιδαλέης, τήν οἱ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζα
θῆκ’ ἐπὶ νηὸς ἄγεσθαι, ἐῢ πλήσασα χιτώνων
χλαινάων τ’ ἀνεμοσκεπέων οὔλων τε ταπήτων.
ἔνθα δέ οἱ δέπας ἔσκε τετυγμένον, οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
οὔτ’ ἀνδρῶν πίνεσκεν ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ αἴθοπα οἶνον,

οὔτέ τεῳ σπένδεσκε θεῶν, ὅτε μὴ Διὶ πατρί.
τό ῥα τότ’ ἐκ χηλοῖο λαβὼν ἐκάθηρε θεείῳ
πρῶτον, ἔπειτα δ’ ἔνιψ’ ὕδατος καλῇσι ῥοῇσι,
νίψατο δ’ αὐτὸς χεῖρας, ἀφύσσατο δ’ αἴθοπα οἶνον.
εὔχετ’ ἔπειτα στὰς μέσῳ ἕρκεϊ, λεῖβε δὲ οἶνον
οὐρανὸν εἰσανιδών· Δία δ’ οὐ λάθε τερπικέραυνον·
«Ζεῦ ἄνα, Δωδωναῖε, Πελασγικέ, τηλόθι ναίων
Δωδώνης μεδέων δυσχειμέρου, ἀμφὶ δὲ Σελλοὶ
σοὶ ναίουσ’ ὑποφῆται ἀνιπτόποδες χαμαιεῦναι.
ἠμὲν δή ποτ’ ἐμὸν ἔπος ἔκλυες εὐξαμένοιο,
τίμησας μὲν ἐμέ, μέγα δ’ ἴψαο λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν,
ἠδ’ ἔτι καὶ νῦν μοι τόδ’ ἐπικρήηνον ἐέλδωρ·
αὐτὸς μὲν γὰρ ἐγὼ μενέω νηῶν ἐν ἀγῶνι,
ἀλλ’ ἕταρον πέμπω πολέσιν μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσι
μάρνασθαι· τῷ κῦδος ἅμα πρόες εὐρύοπα Ζεῦ,
θάρσυνον δέ οἱ ἦτορ ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ὄφρα καὶ Ἕκτωρ
εἴσεται ἤ ῥα καὶ οἶος ἐπίστηται πολεμίζειν
ἡμέτερος θεράπων, ἦ οἱ τότε χεῖρες ἄαπτοι
μαίνονθ’, ὁππότ’ ἐγώ περ ἴω μετὰ μῶλον Ἄρηος.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κ’ ἀπὸ ναῦφι μάχην ἐνοπήν τε δίηται,
ἀσκηθής μοι ἔπειτα θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ἵκοιτο
τεύχεσί τε ξὺν πᾶσι καὶ ἀγχεμάχοις ἑτάροισιν.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δ’ ἔκλυε μητίετα Ζεύς.
τῷ δ’ ἕτερον μὲν ἔδωκε πατήρ, ἕτερον δ’ ἀνένευσε·
νηῶν μέν οἱ ἀπώσασθαι πόλεμόν τε μάχην τε
δῶκε, σόον δ’ ἀνένευσε μάχης ἐξαπονέεσθαι.
ἤτοι ὃ μὲν σπείσας τε καὶ εὐξάμενος Διὶ πατρὶ

ἂψ κλισίην εἰσῆλθε, δέπας δ’ ἀπέθηκ’ ἐνὶ χηλῷ,
στῆ δὲ πάροιθ’ ἐλθὼν κλισίης, ἔτι δ’ ἤθελε θυμῷ
εἰσιδέειν Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν φύλοπιν αἰνήν.
Οἱ δ’ ἅμα Πατρόκλῳ μεγαλήτορι θωρηχθέντες
ἔστιχον, ὄφρ’ ἐν Τρωσὶ μέγα φρονέοντες ὄρουσαν.
αὐτίκα δὲ σφήκεσσιν ἐοικότες ἐξεχέοντο
εἰνοδίοις, οὓς παῖδες ἐριδμαίνωσιν ἔθοντες,
αἰεὶ κερτομέοντες ὁδῷ ἔπι οἰκί’ ἔχοντας
νηπίαχοι· ξυνὸν δὲ κακὸν πολέεσσι τιθεῖσι.
τοὺς δ’ εἴ περ παρά τίς τε κιὼν ἄνθρωπος ὁδίτης
κινήσῃ ἀέκων, οἳ δ’ ἄλκιμον ἦτορ ἔχοντες
πρόσσω πᾶς πέτεται καὶ ἀμύνει οἷσι τέκεσσι.
τῶν τότε Μυρμιδόνες κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἔχοντες
ἐκ νηῶν ἐχέοντο· βοὴ δ’ ἄσβεστος ὀρώρει.
Πάτροκλος δ’ ἑτάροισιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·
«Μυρμιδόνες, ἕταροι Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος,
ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς,
ὡς ἂν Πηλεΐδην τιμήσομεν, ὃς μέγ’ ἄριστος
Ἀργείων παρὰ νηυσὶ καὶ ἀγχέμαχοι θεράποντες,
γνῷ δὲ καὶ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
ἣν ἄτην, ὅ τ’ ἄριστον Ἀχαιῶν οὐδὲν ἔτεισεν.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου,
ἐν δ’ ἔπεσον Τρώεσσιν ἀολλέες· ἀμφὶ δὲ νῆες
σμερδαλέον κονάβησαν ἀϋσάντων ὑπ’ Ἀχαιῶν.
Τρῶες δ’ ὡς εἴδοντο Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμον υἱόν,
αὐτὸν καὶ θεράποντα σὺν ἔντεσι μαρμαίροντας,
πᾶσιν ὀρίνθη θυμός, ἐκίνηθεν δὲ φάλαγγες,
ἐλπόμενοι παρὰ ναῦφι ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα
μηνιθμὸν μὲν ἀποῤῥῖψαι, φιλότητα δ’ ἑλέσθαι·
πάπτηνεν δὲ ἕκαστος ὅπῃ φύγοι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.

Πάτροκλος δὲ πρῶτος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ
ἀντικρὺ κατὰ μέσσον, ὅθι πλεῖστοι κλονέοντο,
νηῒ πάρα πρυμνῇ μεγαθύμου Πρωτεσιλάου,
καὶ βάλε Πυραίχμην, ὃς Παίονας ἱπποκορυστὰς
ἤγαγεν ἐξ Ἀμυδῶνος ἀπ’ Ἀξιοῦ εὐρὺ ῥέοντος·
τὸν βάλε δεξιὸν ὦμον· ὃ δ’ ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσι
κάππεσεν οἰμώξας, ἕταροι δέ μιν ἀμφὶ φόβηθεν
Παίονες· ἐν γὰρ Πάτροκλος φόβον ἧκεν ἅπασιν
ἡγεμόνα κτείνας, ὃς ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι.
ἐκ νηῶν δ’ ἔλασεν, κατὰ δ’ ἔσβεσεν αἰθόμενον πῦρ.
ἡμιδαὴς δ’ ἄρα νηῦς λίπετ’ αὐτόθι· τοὶ δὲ φόβηθεν
Τρῶες θεσπεσίῳ ὁμάδῳ· Δαναοὶ δ’ ἐπέχυντο
νῆας ἀνὰ γλαφυράς· ὅμαδος δ’ ἀλίαστος ἐτύχθη.
ὡς δ’ ὅτ’ ἀφ’ ὑψηλῆς κορυφῆς ὄρεος μεγάλοιο
κινήσῃ πυκινὴν νεφέλην στεροπηγερέτα Ζεύς,
ἔκ τ’ ἔφανεν πᾶσαι σκοπιαὶ καὶ πρώονες ἄκροι
καὶ νάπαι, οὐρανόθεν δ’ ἄρ’ ὑπεῤῥάγη ἄσπετος αἰθήρ,
ὣς Δαναοὶ νηῶν μὲν ἀπωσάμενοι δήϊον πῦρ
τυτθὸν ἀνέπνευσαν, πολέμου δ’ οὐ γίγνετ’ ἐρωή·
οὐ γάρ πώ τι Τρῶες ἀρηϊφίλων ὑπ’ Ἀχαιῶν
προτροπάδην φοβέοντο μελαινάων ἀπὸ νηῶν,
ἀλλ’ ἔτ’ ἄρ’ ἀνθίσταντο, νεῶν δ’ ὑπόεικον ἀνάγκῃ.
Ἔνθα δ’ ἀνὴρ ἕλεν ἄνδρα κεδασθείσης ὑσμίνης
ἡγεμόνων. πρῶτος δὲ Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱὸς
αὐτίκ’ ἄρα στρεφθέντος Ἀρηϊλύκου βάλε μηρὸν
ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι, διὰ πρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσε·
ῥῆξεν δ’ ὀστέον ἔγχος, ὁ δὲ πρηνὴς ἐπὶ γαίῃ
κάππεσ’· ἀτὰρ Μενέλαος ἀρήϊος οὖτα Θόαντα
στέρνον γυμνωθέντα παρ’ ἀσπίδα, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα.
Φυλεΐδης δ’ Ἄμφικλον ἐφορμηθέντα δοκεύσας
ἔφθη ὀρεξάμενος πρυμνὸν σκέλος, ἔνθα πάχιστος

μυὼν ἀνθρώπου πέλεται· περὶ δ’ ἔγχεος αἰχμῇ
νεῦρα διεσχίσθη· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε.
Νεστορίδαι δ’ ὁ μὲν οὔτασ’ Ἀτύμνιον ὀξέϊ δουρὶ
Ἀντίλοχος, λαπάρης δὲ διήλασε χάλκεον ἔγχος·
ἤριπε δὲ προπάροιθε. Μάρις δ’ αὐτοσχεδὰ δουρὶ
Ἀντιλόχῳ ἐπόρουσε κασιγνήτοιο χολωθείς,
στὰς πρόσθεν νέκυος· τοῦ δ’ ἀντίθεος Θρασυμήδης
ἔφθη ὀρεξάμενος πρὶν οὐτάσαι, οὐδ’ ἀφάμαρτεν,
ὦμον ἄφαρ· πρυμνὸν δὲ βραχίονα δουρὸς ἀκωκὴ
δρύψ’ ἀπὸ μυώνων, ἀπὸ δ’ ὀστέον ἄχρις ἄραξε·
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, κατὰ δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψεν.
ὣς τὼ μὲν δοιοῖσι κασιγνήτοισι δαμέντε
βήτην εἰς Ἔρεβος Σαρπηδόνος ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι,
υἷες ἀκοντισταὶ Ἀμισωδάρου, ὅς ῥα Χίμαιραν
θρέψεν ἀμαιμακέτην, πολέσιν κακὸν ἀνθρώποισιν.
Αἴας δὲ Κλεόβουλον Ὀϊλιάδης ἐπορούσας
ζωὸν ἕλε, βλαφθέντα κατὰ κλόνον· ἀλλά οἱ αὖθι
λῦσε μένος πλήξας ξίφει αὐχένα κωπήεντι.
πᾶν δ’ ὑπεθερμάνθη ξίφος αἵματι· τὸν δὲ κατ’ ὄσσε
ἔλλαβε πορφύρεος θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κραταιή.
Πηνέλεως δὲ Λύκων τε συνέδραμον· ἔγχεσι μὲν γὰρ
ἤμβροτον ἀλλήλων, μέλεον δ’ ἠκόντισαν ἄμφω·
τὼ δ’ αὖτις ξιφέεσσι συνέδραμον. ἔνθα Λύκων μὲν
ἱπποκόμου κόρυθος φάλον ἤλασεν, ἀμφὶ δὲ καυλὸν
φάσγανον ἐρραίσθη· ὁ δ’ ὑπ’ οὔατος αὐχένα θεῖνε
Πηνέλεως, πᾶν δ’ εἴσω ἔδυ ξίφος, ἔσχεθε δ’ οἶον
δέρμα, παρηέρθη δὲ κάρη, ὑπέλυντο δὲ γυῖα.
Μηριόνης δ’ Ἀκάμαντα κιχεὶς ποσὶ καρπαλίμοισι
νύξ’ ἵππων ἐπιβησόμενον κατὰ δεξιὸν ὦμον·
ἤριπε δ’ ἐξ ὀχέων, κατὰ δ’ ὀφθαλμῶν κέχυτ’ ἀχλύς.
Ἰδομενεὺς δ’ Ἐρύμαντα κατὰ στόμα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ

νύξε· τὸ δ’ ἀντικρὺ δόρυ χάλκεον ἐξεπέρησε
νέρθεν ὑπ’ ἐγκεφάλοιο, κέασσε δ’ ἄρ’ ὀστέα λευκά·
ἐκ δ’ ἐτίναχθεν ὀδόντες, ἐνέπλησθεν δέ οἱ ἄμφω
αἵματος ὀφθαλμοί· τὸ δ’ ἀνὰ στόμα καὶ κατὰ ῥῖνας
πρῆσε χανών· θανάτου δὲ μέλαν νέφος ἀμφεκάλυψεν.
Οὗτοι ἄρ’ ἡγεμόνες Δαναῶν ἕλον ἄνδρα ἕκαστος.
ὡς δὲ λύκοι ἄρνεσσιν ἐπέχραον ἢ ἐρίφοισι
σίνται, ὑπ’ ἐκ μήλων αἱρεύμενοι, αἵ τ’ ἐν ὄρεσσι
ποιμένος ἀφραδίῃσι διέτμαγεν· οἱ δὲ ἰδόντες
αἶψα διαρπάζουσιν ἀνάλκιδα θυμὸν ἐχούσας·
ὣς Δαναοὶ Τρώεσσιν ἐπέχραον· οἱ δὲ φόβοιο
δυσκελάδου μνήσαντο, λάθοντο δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.
Αἴας δ’ ὁ μέγας αἰὲν ἐφ’ Ἕκτορι χαλκοκορυστῇ
ἵετ’ ἀκοντίσσαι· ὁ δὲ ἰδρείῃ πολέμοιο,
ἀσπίδι ταυρείῃ κεκαλυμμένος εὐρέας ὤμους,
σκέπτετ’ ὀϊστῶν τε ῥοῖζον καὶ δοῦπον ἀκόντων.
ἦ μὲν δὴ γίγνωσκε μάχης ἑτεραλκέα νίκην·
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς ἀνέμιμνε, σάω δ’ ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους.
Ὡς δ’ ὅτ’ ἀπ’ Οὐλύμπου νέφος ἔρχεται οὐρανὸν εἴσω
αἰθέρος ἐκ δίης, ὅτε τε Ζεὺς λαίλαπα τείνῃ,
ὣς τῶν ἐκ νηῶν γένετο ἰαχή τε φόβος τε,
οὐδὲ κατὰ μοῖραν πέραον πάλιν. Ἕκτορα δ’ ἵπποι
ἔκφερον ὠκύποδες σὺν τεύχεσι, λεῖπε δὲ λαὸν
Τρωϊκόν, οὓς ἀέκοντας ὀρυκτὴ τάφρος ἔρυκε.
πολλοὶ δ’ ἐν τάφρῳ ἐρυσάρματες ὠκέες ἵπποι
ἄξαντ’ ἐν πρώτῳ ῥυμῷ λίπον ἅρματ’ ἀνάκτων,
Πάτροκλος δ’ ἕπετο σφεδανὸν Δαναοῖσι κελεύων,
Τρωσὶ κακὰ φρονέων· οἱ δὲ ἰαχῇ τε φόβῳ τε
πάσας πλῆσαν ὁδούς, ἐπεὶ ἂρ τμάγεν· ὕψι δ’ ἀέλλη

σκίδναθ’ ὑπὸ νεφέων, τανύοντο δὲ μώνυχες ἵπποι
ἄψορρν προτὶ ἄστυ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων.
Πάτροκλος δ’ ᾗ πλεῖστον ὀρινόμενον ἴδε λαόν,
τῇ ῥ’ ἔχ’ ὁμοκλήσας· ὑπὸ δ’ ἄξοσι φῶτες ἔπιπτον
πρηνέες ἐξ ὀχέων, δίφροι δ’ ἀνακυμβαλίαζον.
ἀντικρὺ δ’ ἄρα τάφρον ὑπέρθορον ὠκέες ἵπποι
ἄμβροτοι, οὓς Πηλῆϊ θεοὶ δόσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα,
πρόσσω ἱέμενοι, ἐπὶ δ’ Ἕκτορι κέκλετο θυμός·
ἵετο γὰρ βαλέειν· τὸν δ’ ἔκφερον ὠκέες ἵπποι.
ὡς δ’ ὑπὸ λαίλαπι πᾶσα κελαινὴ βέβριθε χθὼν
ἤματ’ ὀπωρινῷ, ὅτε λαβρότατον χέει ὕδωρ
Ζεύς, ὅτε δή ῥ’ ἄνδρεσσι κοτεσσάμενος χαλεπήνῃ,
οἳ βίῃ εἰν ἀγορῇ σκολιὰς κρίνωσι θέμιστας,
ἐκ δὲ δίκην ἐλάσωσι, θεῶν ὄπιν οὐκ ἀλέγοντες·
τῶν δέ τε πάντες μὲν ποταμοὶ πλήθουσι ῥέοντες,
πολλὰς δὲ κλιτῦς τότ’ ἀποτμήγουσι χαράδραι,
ἐς δ’ ἅλα πορφυρέην μεγάλα στενάχουσι ῥέουσαι
ἐξ ὀρέων ἐπικάρ, μινύθει δέ τε ἔργ’ ἀνθρώπων·
ὣς ἵπποι Τρῳαὶ μεγάλα στενάχοντο θέουσαι.
Πάτροκλος δ’ ἐπεὶ οὖν πρώτας ἐπέκερσε φάλαγγας,
ἂψ ἐπὶ νῆας ἔεργε παλιμπετές, οὐδὲ πόληος
εἴα ἱεμένους ἐπιβαινέμεν, ἀλλὰ μεσηγὺ
νηῶν καὶ ποταμοῦ καὶ τείχεος ὑψηλοῖο
κτεῖνε μεταΐσσων, πολέων δ’ ἀπετίνυτο ποινήν.
ἔνθ’ ἤτοι Πρόνοον πρῶτον βάλε δουρὶ φαεινῷ,
στέρνον γυμνωθέντα παρ’ ἀσπίδα, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα·
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών· ὁ δὲ Θέστορα Ἤνοπος υἱόν,
δεύτερον ὁρμηθείς—ὁ μὲν εὐξέστῳ ἐνὶ δίφρῳ
ἧστο ἀλείς· ἐκ γὰρ πλήγη φρένας, ἐκ δ’ ἄρα χειρῶν

ἡνία ἠΐχθησαν—ὁ δ’ ἔγχεϊ νύξε παραστὰς
γναθμὸν δεξιτερόν, διὰ δ’ αὐτοῦ πεῖρεν ὀδόντων,
ἕλκε δὲ δουρὸς ἑλὼν ὑπὲρ ἄντυγος, ὡς ὅτε τις φὼς
πέτρῃ ἔπι προβλῆτι καθήμενος ἱερὸν ἰχθὺν
ἐκ πόντοιο θύραζε λίνῳ καὶ ἤνοπι χαλκῷ·
ὣς ἕλκ’ ἐκ δίφροιο κεχηνότα δουρὶ φαεινῷ,
κὰδ δ’ ἄρ’ ἐπὶ στόμ’ ἔωσε· πεσόντα δέ μιν λίπε θυμός.
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ’ Ἐρύλαον ἐπεσσύμενον βάλε πέτρῳ
μέσσην κὰκ κεφαλήν· ἡ δ’ ἄνδιχα πᾶσα κεάσθη
ἐν κόρυθι βριαρῇ· ὁ δ’ ἄρα πρηνὴς ἐπὶ γαίῃ
κάππεσεν, ἀμφὶ δέ μιν θάνατος χύτο θυμοραϊστής.
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ’ Ἐρύμαντα καὶ Ἀμφοτερὸν καὶ Ἐπάλτην,
Τληπόλεμόν τε Δαμαστορίδην Ἐχίον τε Πύριν τε,
Ἰφέα τ’ Εὔιππόν τε καὶ Ἀργεάδην Πολύμηλον,
πάντας ἐπασσυτέρους πέλασε χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ.
Σαρπηδὼν δ’ ὡς οὖν ἴδ’ ἀμιτροχίτωνας ἑταίρους
χέρσ’ ὕπο Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο δαμέντας,
κέκλετ’ ἄρ’ ἀντιθέοισι καθαπτόμενος Λυκίοισιν·
«αἰδὼς ὦ Λύκιοι· πόσε φεύγετε; νῦν θοοὶ ἔστε.
ἀντήσω γὰρ ἐγὼ τοῦδ’ ἀνέρος, ὄφρα δαείω
ὅς τις ὅδε κρατέει καὶ δὴ κακὰ πολλὰ ἔοργε
Τρῶας, ἐπεὶ πολλῶν τε καὶ ἐσθλῶν γούνατ’ ἔλυσεν.»
Ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε.
Πάτροκλος δ’ ἑτέρωθεν, ἐπεὶ ἴδεν ἔκθορε δίφρου.
οἱ δ’ ὥς τ’ αἰγυπιοὶ γαμψώνυχες ἀγκυλοχεῖλαι
πέτρῃ ἐφ’ ὑψηλῇ μεγάλα κλάζοντε μάχωνται,
ὣς οἱ κεκλήγοντες ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοισιν ὄρουσαν.
τοὺς δὲ ἰδὼν ἐλέησε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω,
Ἥρην δὲ προσέειπε κασιγνήτην ἄλοχόν τε·
«ὤ μοι ἐγών, ὅ τέ μοι Σαρπηδόνα φίλτατον ἀνδρῶν

μοῖρ’ ὑπὸ Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο δαμῆναι.
διχθὰ δέ μοι κραδίη μέμονε φρεσὶν ὁρμαίνοντι,
ἤ μιν ζωὸν ἐόντα μάχης ἄπο δακρυοέσσης
θείω ἀναρπάξας Λυκίης ἐν πίονι δήμῳ,
ἦ ἤδη ὑπὸ χερσὶ Μενοιτιάδαο δαμάσσω.»
Τὸν δ’ ἠμείβετ’ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη·
«αἰνότατε Κρονίδη, ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες.
ἄνδρα θνητὸν ἐόντα, πάλαι πεπρωμένον αἴσῃ,
ἂψ ἐθέλεις θανάτοιο δυσηχέος ἐξαναλῦσαι;
ἔρδ’· ἀτὰρ οὔ τοι πάντες ἐπαινέομεν θεοὶ ἄλλοι.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ’ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
αἴ κε ζὼν πέμψῃς Σαρπηδόνα ὃνδε δόμονδε,
φράζεο μή τις ἔπειτα θεῶν ἐθέλῃσι καὶ ἄλλος
πέμπειν ὃν φίλον υἱὸν ἀπὸ κρατερῆς ὑσμίνης·
πολλοὶ γὰρ περὶ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο μάχονται
υἱέες ἀθανάτων, τοῖσιν κότον αἰνὸν ἐνήσεις.
ἀλλ’ εἴ τοι φίλος ἐστί, τεὸν δ’ ὀλοφύρεται ἦτορ,
ἤτοι μέν μιν ἔασον ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ
χέρσ’ ὕπο Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο δαμῆναι·
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ τόν γε λίπῃ ψυχή τε καὶ αἰών,
πέμπειν μιν Θάνατόν τε φέρειν καὶ νήδυμον Ὕπνον,
εἰς ὅ κε δὴ Λυκίης εὐρείης δῆμον ἵκωνται,
ἔνθά ἑ ταρχύσουσι κασίγνητοί τε ἔται τε
τύμβῳ τε στήλῃ τε· τὸ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, οὐδ’ ἀπίθησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·
αἱματοέσσας δὲ ψιάδας κατέχευεν ἔραζε
παῖδα φίλον τιμῶν, τόν οἱ Πάτροκλος ἔμελλε
φθίσειν ἐν Τροίῃ ἐριβώλακι, τηλόθι πάτρης.
Οἱ δ’ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,
ἔνθ’ ἤτοι Πάτροκλος ἀγακλειτὸν Θρασύμηλον,

ὅς ῥ’ ἠῢς θεράπων Σαρπηδόνος ἦεν ἄνακτος,
τὸν βάλε νείαιραν κατὰ γαστέρα, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα.
Σαρπηδὼν δ’ αὐτοῦ μὲν ἀπήμβροτε δουρὶ φαεινῷ
δεύτερον ὁρμηθείς, ὁ δὲ Πήδασον οὔτασεν ἵππον
ἔγχεϊ δεξιὸν ὦμον· ὁ δ’ ἔβραχε θυμὸν ἀΐσθων,
κὰδ δ’ ἔπεσ’ ἐν κονίῃσι μακών, ἀπὸ δ’ ἔπτατο θυμός.
τὼ δὲ διαστήτην, κρίκε δὲ ζυγόν, ἡνία δέ σφι
σύγχυτ’, ἐπεὶ δὴ κεῖτο παρήορος ἐν κονίῃσι.
τοῖο μὲν Αὐτομέδων δουρικλυτὸς εὕρετο τέκμωρ·
σπασσάμενος τανύηκες ἄορ παχέος παρὰ μηροῦ,
ἀΐξας ἀπέκοψε παρήορον οὐδὲ μάτησε·
τὼ δ’ ἰθυνθήτην, ἐν δὲ ῥυτῆρσι τάνυσθεν·
τὼ δ’ αὖτις συνίτην ἔριδος πέρι θυμοβόροιο.
Ἔνθ’ αὖ Σαρπηδὼν μὲν ἀπήμβροτε δουρὶ φαεινῷ,
Πατρόκλου δ’ ὑπὲρ ὦμον ἀριστερὸν ἤλυθ’ ἀκωκὴ
ἔγχεος, οὐδ’ ἔβαλ’ αὐτόν· ὁ δ’ ὕστερος ὄρνυτο χαλκῷ
Πάτροκλος· τοῦ δ’ οὐχ ἅλιον βέλος ἔκφυγε χειρός,
ἀλλ’ ἔβαλ’ ἔνθ’ ἄρα τε φρένες ἔρχαται ἀμφ’ ἁδινὸν κῆρ.
ἤριπε δ’ ὡς ὅτε τις δρῦς ἤριπεν ἢ ἀχερωῒς,
ἠὲ πίτυς βλωθρή, τήν τ’ οὔρεσι τέκτονες ἄνδρες
ἐξέταμον πελέκεσσι νεήκεσι νήϊον εἶναι·
ὣς ὁ πρόσθ’ ἵππων καὶ δίφρου κεῖτο τανυσθείς,
βεβρυχώς, κόνιος δεδραγμένος αἱματοέσσης.
ἠΰτε ταῦρον ἔπεφνε λέων ἀγέληφι μετελθών,
αἴθωνα μεγάθυμον, ἐν εἰλιπόδεσσι βόεσσι,
ὤλετό τε στενάχων ὑπὸ γαμφηλῇσι λέοντος,
ὣς ὑπὸ Πατρόκλῳ Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀσπιστάων

κτεινόμενος μενέαινε, φίλον δ’ ὀνόμηνεν ἑταῖρον·
«Γλαῦκε πέπον, πολεμιστὰ μετ’ ἀνδράσι νῦν σε μάλα χρὴ
αἰχμητήν τ’ ἔμεναι καὶ θαρσαλέον πολεμιστήν·
νῦν τοι ἐελδέσθω πόλεμος κακός, εἰ θοός ἐσσι.
πρῶτα μὲν ὄτρυνον Λυκίων ἡγήτορας ἄνδρας,
πάντῃ ἐποιχόμενος, Σαρπηδόνος ἀμφιμάχεσθαι·
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα καὶ αὐτὸς ἐμεῦ πέρι μάρναο χαλκῷ.
σοὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ καὶ ἔπειτα κατηφείη καὶ ὄνειδος
ἔσσομαι ἤματα πάντα διαμπερές, εἴ κέ μ’ Ἀχαιοὶ
τεύχεα συλήσωσι νεῶν ἐν ἀγῶνι πεσόντα.
ἀλλ’ ἔχεο κρατερῶς, ὄτρυνε δὲ λαὸν ἅπαντα.»
Ὣς ἄρα μιν εἰπόντα τέλος θανάτοιο κάλυψεν
ὀφθαλμοὺς ῥῖνάς θ’· ὁ δὲ λὰξ ἐν στήθεσι βαίνων
ἐκ χροὸς ἕλκε δόρυ, προτὶ δὲ φρένες αὐτῷ ἕποντο·
τοῖο δ’ ἅμα ψυχήν τε καὶ ἔγχεος ἐξέρυσ’ αἰχμήν.
Μυρμιδόνες δ’ αὐτοῦ σχέθον ἵππους φυσιόωντας,
ἱεμένους φοβέεσθαι, ἐπεὶ λίπον ἅρματ’ ἀνάκτων.
Γλαύκῳ δ’ αἰνὸν ἄχος γένετο φθογγῆς ἀΐοντι·
ὠρίνθη δέ οἱ ἦτορ, ὅ τ’ οὐ δύνατο προσαμῦναι.
χειρὶ δ’ ἑλὼν ἐπίεζε βραχίονα· τεῖρε γὰρ αὐτὸν
ἕλκος, ὃ δή μιν Τεῦκρος ἐπεσσύμενον βάλεν ἰῷ
τείχεος ὑψηλοῖο, ἀρὴν ἑτάροισιν ἀμύνων.
εὐχόμενος δ’ ἄρα εἶπεν ἑκηβόλῳ Ἀπόλλωνι·
«κλῦθι ἄναξ, ὅς που Λυκίης ἐν πίονι δήμῳ
εἲς ἢ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ· δύνασαι δὲ σὺ πάντοσ’ ἀκούειν
ἀνέρι κηδομένῳ, ὡς νῦν ἐμὲ κῆδος ἱκάνει.
ἕλκος μὲν γὰρ ἔχω τόδε καρτερόν, ἀμφὶ δέ μοι χεὶρ
ὀξείῃς ὀδύνῃσιν ἐλήλαται, οὐδέ μοι αἷμα
τερσῆναι δύναται, βαρύθει δέ μοι ὦμος ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ·

ἔγχος δ’ οὐ δύναμαι σχεῖν ἔμπεδον, οὐδὲ μάχεσθαι
ἐλθὼν δυσμενέεσσιν. ἀνὴρ δ’ ὤριστος ὄλωλε,
Σαρπηδὼν Διὸς υἱός· ὁ δ’ οὐ οὗ παιδὸς ἀμύνει.
ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μοι ἄναξ τόδε καρτερὸν ἕλκος ἄκεσσαι,
κοίμησον δ’ ὀδύνας, δὸς δὲ κράτος, ὄφρ’ ἑτάροισι
κεκλόμενος Λυκίοισιν ἐποτρύνω πολεμίζειν,
αὐτός τ’ ἀμφὶ νέκυι κατατεθνηῶτι μάχωμαι.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δ’ ἔκλυε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων.
αὐτίκα παῦσ’ ὀδύνας, ἀπὸ δ’ ἕλκεος ἀργαλέοιο
αἷμα μέλαν τέρσηνε, μένος δέ οἱ ἔμβαλε θυμῷ.
Γλαῦκος δ’ ἔγνω ᾗσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ γήθησέν τε,
ὅττί οἱ ὦκ’ ἤκουσε μέγας θεὸς εὐξαμένοιο.
πρῶτα μὲν ὄτρυνεν Λυκίων ἡγήτορας ἄνδρας
πάντῃ ἐποιχόμενος, Σαρπηδόνος ἀμφιμάχεσθαι·
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα μετὰ Τρῶας κίε μακρὰ βιβάσθων,
Πουλυδάμαντ’ ἔπι Πανθοΐδην καὶ Ἀγήνορα δῖον,
βῆ δὲ μετ’ Αἰνείαν τε καὶ Ἕκτορα χαλκοκορυστήν,
ἀγχοῦ δ’ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«Ἕκτορ νῦν δὴ πάγχυ λελασμένος εἰς ἐπικούρων,
οἳ σέθεν εἵνεκα τῆλε φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴης
θυμὸν ἀποφθινύθουσι· σὺ δ’ οὐκ ἐθέλεις ἐπαμύνειν.
κεῖται Σαρπηδὼν, Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀσπιστάων,
ὃς Λυκίην εἴρυτο δίκῃσί τε καὶ σθένεϊ ᾧ·
τὸν δ’ ὑπὸ Πατρόκλῳ δάμασ’ ἔγχεϊ χάλκεος Ἄρης.
ἀλλὰ φίλοι πάρστητε, νεμεσσήθητε δὲ θυμῷ,
μὴ ἀπὸ τεύχε’ ἕλωνται, ἀεικίσσωσι δὲ νεκρὸν
Μυρμιδόνες, Δαναῶν κεχολωμένοι ὅσσοι ὄλοντο,
τοὺς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ θοῇσιν ἐπέφνομεν ἐγχείῃσιν.»
Ὣς ἔφατο, Τρῶας δὲ κατὰ κρῆθεν λάβε πένθος
ἄσχετον, οὐκ ἐπιεικτόν, ἐπεί σφισιν ἕρμα πόληος
ἔσκε καὶ ἀλλοδαπός περ ἐών· πολέες γὰρ ἅμ’ αὐτῷ

λαοὶ ἕποντ’, ἐν δ’ αὐτὸς ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι·
βὰν δ’ ἰθὺς Δαναῶν λελιημένοι· ἦρχε δ’ ἄρά σφιν
Ἕκτωρ χωόμενος Σαρπηδόνος. αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὺς
ὦρσε Μενοιτιάδεω Πατροκλῆος λάσιον κῆρ·
Αἴαντε πρώτω προσέφη μεμαῶτε καὶ αὐτώ·
«Αἴαντε, νῦν σφῶϊν ἀμύνεσθαι φίλον ἔστω,
οἷοί περ πάρος ἦτε μετ’ ἀνδράσιν, ἢ καὶ ἀρείους.
κεῖται ἀνὴρ ὃς πρῶτος ἐσήλατο τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν,
Σαρπηδών· ἀλλ’ εἴ μιν ἀεικισσαίμεθ’ ἑλόντες,
τεύχεά τ’ ὤμοιιν ἀφελοίμεθα, καί τιν’ ἑταίρων
αὐτοῦ ἀμυνομένων δαμασαίμεθα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἱ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἀλέξασθαι μενέαινον.
οἱ δ’ ἐπεὶ ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἐκαρτύναντο φάλαγγας,
Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Μυρμιδόνες καὶ Ἀχαιοί,
σύμβαλον ἀμφὶ νέκυι κατατεθνηῶτι μάχεσθαι
δεινὸν ἀΰσαντες· μέγα δ’ ἔβραχε τεύχεα φωτῶν.
Ζεὺς δ’ ἐπὶ νύκτ’ ὀλοὴν τάνυσε κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ,
ὄφρα φίλῳ περὶ παιδὶ μάχης ὀλοὸς πόνος εἴη.
Ὦσαν δὲ πρότεροι Τρῶες ἑλίκωπας Ἀχαιούς·
βλῆτο γὰρ οὔ τι κάκιστος ἀνὴρ μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσιν,
υἱὸς Ἀγακλῆος μεγαθύμου δῖος Ἐπειγεύς,
ὅς ῥ’ ἐν Βουδείῳ εὖ ναιομένῳ ἤνασσε
τὸ πρίν· ἀτὰρ τότε γ’ ἐσθλὸν ἀνεψιὸν ἐξεναρίξας
ἐς Πηλῆ’ ἱκέτευσε καὶ ἐς Θέτιν ἀργυρόπεζαν·
οἱ δ’ ἅμ’ Ἀχιλλῆϊ ῥηξήνορι πέμπον ἕπεσθαι
Ἴλιον εἰς εὔπωλον, ἵνα Τρώεσσι μάχοιτο.
τόν ῥα τόθ’ ἁπτόμενον νέκυος βάλε φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ
χερμαδίῳ κεφαλήν· ἡ δ’ ἄνδιχα πᾶσα κεάσθη
ἐν κόρυθι βριαρῇ· ὁ δ’ ἄρα πρηνὴς ἐπὶ νεκρῷ
κάππεσεν, ἀμφὶ δέ μιν θάνατος χύτο θυμοραϊστής.
Πατρόκλῳ δ’ ἄρ’ ἄχος γένετο φθιμένου ἑτάροιο,
ἴθυσεν δὲ διὰ προμάχων ἴρηκι ἐοικὼς

ὠκέϊ, ὅς τ’ ἐφόβησε κολοιούς τε ψῆράς τε·
ὣς ἰθὺς Λυκίων, Πατρόκλεες ἱπποκέλευθε,
ἔσσυο καὶ Τρώων, κεχόλωσο δὲ κῆρ ἑτάροιο.
καί ῥ’ ἔβαλε Σθενέλαον, Ἰθαιμένεος φίλον υἱόν,
αὐχένα χερμαδίῳ, ῥῆξεν δ’ ἀπὸ τοῖο τένοντας.
χώρησαν δ’ ὑπό τε πρόμαχοι καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ.
ὅσση δ’ αἰγανέης ῥιπὴ ταναοῖο τέτυκται,
ἥν ῥά τ’ ἀνὴρ ἀφέῃ πειρώμενος ἢ ἐν ἀέθλῳ
ἠὲ καὶ ἐν πολέμῳ, δηΐων ὕπο θυμοραϊστέων,
τόσσον ἐχώρησαν Τρῶες, ὤσαντο δ’ Ἀχαιοί.
Γλαῦκος δὲ πρῶτος, Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀσπιστάων,
ἐτράπετ’, ἔκτεινεν δὲ Βαθυκλῆα μεγάθυμον,
Χάλκωνος φίλον υἱόν, ὃς Ἑλλάδι οἰκία ναίων
ὄλβῳ τε πλούτῳ τε μετέπρεπε Μυρμιδόνεσσι.
τὸν μὲν ἄρα Γλαῦκος στῆθος μέσον οὔτασε δουρὶ
στρεφθεὶς ἐξαπίνης, ὅτε μιν κατέμαρπτε διώκων·
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών· πυκινὸν δ’ ἄχος ἔλλαβ’ Ἀχαιούς,
ὡς ἔπεσ’ ἐσθλὸς ἀνήρ· μέγα δὲ Τρῶες κεχάροντο,
στὰν δ’ ἀμφ’ αὐτὸν ἰόντες ἀολλέες· οὐδ’ ἄρ’ Ἀχαιοὶ
ἀλκῆς ἐξελάθοντο, μένος δ’ ἰθὺς φέρον αὐτῶν.
ἔνθ’ αὖ Μηριόνης Τρώων ἕλεν ἄνδρα κορυστήν,
Λαόγονον θρασὺν υἱὸν Ὀνήτορος, ὃς Διὸς ἱρεὺς
Ἰδαίου ἐτέτυκτο, θεὸς δ’ ὣς τίετο δήμῳ.
τὸν βάλ’ ὑπὸ γναθμοῖο καὶ οὔατος· ὦκα δὲ θυμὸς
ᾤχετ’ ἀπὸ μελέων, στυγερὸς δ’ ἄρα μιν σκότος εἷλεν.
Αἰνείας δ’ ἐπὶ Μηριόνῃ δόρυ χάλκεον ἧκεν·
ἔλπετο γὰρ τεύξεσθαι ὑπασπίδια προβιβῶντος.
ἀλλ’ ὁ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος·
πρόσσω γὰρ κατέκυψε, τὸ δ’ ἐξόπιθεν δόρυ μακρὸν

οὔδει ἐνισκίμφθη, ἐπὶ δ’ οὐρίαχος πελεμίχθη
ἔγχεος· ἔνθα δ’ ἔπειτ’ ἀφίει μένος ὄβριμος Ἄρης.
αἰχμὴ δ’ Αἰνείαο κραδαινομένη κατὰ γαίης
ᾤχετ’, ἐπεί ῥ’ ἅλιον στιβαρῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ὄρουσεν.
Αἰνείας δ’ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐχώσατο φώνησέν τε·
«Μηριόνη, τάχα κέν σε καὶ ὀρχηστήν περ ἐόντα
ἔγχος ἐμὸν κατέπαυσε διαμπερές, εἴ σ’ ἔβαλόν περ.»
Τὸν δ’ αὖ Μηριόνης δουρικλυτὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«Αἰνεία, χαλεπόν σε καὶ ἴφθιμόν περ ἐόντα
πάντων ἀνθρώπων σβέσσαι μένος, ὅς κέ σευ ἄντα
ἔλθῃ ἀμυνόμενος· θνητὸς δέ νυ καὶ σὺ τέτυξαι.
εἰ καὶ ἐγώ σε βάλοιμι τυχὼν μέσον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
αἶψά κε καὶ κρατερός περ ἐὼν καὶ χερσὶ πεποιθὼς
εὖχος ἐμοὶ δοίης, ψυχὴν δ’ Ἄϊδι κλυτοπώλῳ.»
Ὣς φάτο, τὸν δ’ ἐνένιπε Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱός·
«Μηριόνη, τί σὺ ταῦτα καὶ ἐσθλὸς ἐὼν ἀγορεύεις;
ὦ πέπον, οὔ τοι Τρῶες ὀνειδείοις ἐπέεσσι
νεκροῦ χωρήσουσι· πάρος τινὰ γαῖα καθέξει.
ἐν γὰρ χερσὶ τέλος πολέμου, ἐπέων δ’ ἐνὶ βουλῇ·
τὼ οὔ τι χρὴ μῦθον ὀφέλλειν, ἀλλὰ μάχεσθαι.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ὁ μὲν ἦρχ’, ὁ δ’ ἅμ’ ἕσπετο ἰσόθεος φώς.
τῶν δ’ ὥς τε δρυτόμων ἀνδρῶν ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρεν
οὔρεος ἐν βήσσῃς, ἕκαθεν δέ τε γίγνετ’ ἀκουή,
ὣς τῶν ὄρνυτο δοῦπος ἀπὸ χθονὸς εὐρυοδείης
χαλκοῦ τε ῥινοῦ τε βοῶν τ’ εὐποιητάων,
νυσσομένων ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισιν.
οὐδ’ ἂν ἔτι φράδμων περ ἀνὴρ Σαρπηδόνα δῖον
ἔγνω, ἐπεὶ βελέεσσι καὶ αἵματι καὶ κονίῃσιν

ἐκ κεφαλῆς εἴλυτο διαμπερὲς ἐς πόδας ἄκρους.
οἱ δ’ αἰεὶ περὶ νεκρὸν ὁμίλεον, ὡς ὅτε μυῖαι
σταθμῷ ἔνι βρομέωσι περιγλαγέας κατὰ πέλλας
ὥρῃ ἐν εἰαρινῇ, ὅτε τε γλάγος ἄγγεα δεύει·
ὣς ἄρα τοὶ περὶ νεκρὸν ὁμίλεον, οὐδέ ποτε Ζεὺς
τρέψεν ἀπὸ κρατερῆς ὑσμίνης ὄσσε φαεινώ,
ἀλλὰ κατ’ αὐτοὺς αἰὲν ὅρα καὶ φράζετο θυμῷ,
πολλὰ μάλ’ ἀμφὶ φόνῳ Πατρόκλου μερμηρίζων,
ἢ ἤδη καὶ κεῖνον ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ
αὐτοῦ ἐπ’ ἀντιθέῳ Σαρπηδόνι φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ
χαλκῷ δῃώσῃ, ἀπό τ’ ὤμων τεύχε’ ἕληται,
ἦ ἔτι καὶ πλεόνεσσιν ὀφέλλειεν πόνον αἰπύν.
ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,
ὄφρ’ ἠῢς θεράπων Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος
ἐξαῦτις Τρῶάς τε καὶ Ἕκτορα χαλκοκορυστὴν
ὤσαιτο προτὶ ἄστυ, πολέων δ’ ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἕλοιτο.
Ἕκτορι δὲ πρωτίστῳ ἀνάλκιδα θυμὸν ἐνῆκεν·
ἐς δίφρον δ’ ἀναβὰς φύγαδ’ ἔτραπε, κέκλετο δ’ ἄλλους
Τρῶας φευγέμεναι· γνῶ γὰρ Διὸς ἱρὰ τάλαντα.
ἔνθ’ οὐδ’ ἴφθιμοι Λύκιοι μένον, ἀλλὰ φόβηθεν
πάντες, ἐπεὶ βασιλῆα ἴδον βεβλαμμένον ἦτορ,
κείμενον ἐν νεκύων ἀγύρει· πολέες γὰρ ἐπ’ αὐτῷ
κάππεσον, εὖτ’ ἔριδα κρατερὴν ἐτάνυσσε Κρονίων.
οἱ δ’ ἄρ’ ἀπ’ ὤμοιιν Σαρπηδόνος ἔντε’ ἕλοντο
χάλκεα μαρμαίροντα, τὰ μὲν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας
δῶκε φέρειν ἑτάροισι Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱός.
καὶ τότ’ Ἀπόλλωνα προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
«εἰ δ’ ἄγε νῦν, φίλε Φοῖβε, κελαινεφὲς αἷμα κάθηρον
ἐλθὼν ἐκ βελέων Σαρπηδόνα, καί μιν ἔπειτα

πολλὸν ἀποπρὸ φέρων λοῦσον ποταμοῖο ῥοῇσι
χρῖσόν τ’ ἀμβροσίῃ, περὶ δ’ ἄμβροτα εἵματα ἕσσον·
πέμπε δέ μιν πομποῖσιν ἅμα κραιπνοῖσι φέρεσθαι,
«Ὕπνῳ καὶ θανάτῳ διδυμάοσιν, οἵ ῥά μιν ὦκα
θήσουσ’ ἐν Λυκίης εὐρείης πίονι δήμῳ,
ἔνθά ἑ ταρχύσουσι κασίγνητοί τε ἔται τε
τύμβῳ τε στήλῃ τε· τὸ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, οὐδ’ ἄρα πατρὸς ἀνηκούστησεν Ἀπόλλων.
βῆ δὲ κατ’ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἐς φύλοπιν αἰνήν,
αὐτίκα δ’ ἐκ βελέων Σαρπηδόνα δῖον ἀείρας
πολλὸν ἀπὸ πρὸ φέρων λοῦσεν ποταμοῖο ῥοῇσι
χρῖσέν τ’ ἀμβροσίῃ, περὶ δ’ ἄμβροτα εἵματα ἕσσε·
πέμπε δέ μιν πομποῖσιν ἅμα κραιπνοῖσι φέρεσθαι,
Ὕπνῳ καὶ Θανάτῳ διδυμάοσιν, οἵ ῥά μιν ὦκα
κάτθεσαν ἐν Λυκίης εὐρείης πίονι δήμῳ.
Πάτροκλος δ’ ἵπποισι καὶ Αὐτομέδοντι κελεύσας
Τρῶας καὶ Λυκίους μετεκίαθε, καὶ μέγ’ ἀάσθη
νήπιος· εἰ δὲ ἔπος Πηληϊάδαο φύλαξεν,
ἦ τ’ ἂν ὑπέκφυγε κῆρα κακὴν μέλανος θανάτοιο.
ἀλλ’ αἰεί τε Διὸς κρείσσων νόος ἠέ περ ἀνδρῶν·
ὅς τε καὶ ἄλκιμον ἄνδρα φοβεῖ καὶ ἀφείλετο νίκην
ῥηϊδίως, ὅτε δ’ αὐτὸς ἐποτρύνῃσι μάχεσθαι·
ὅς οἱ καὶ τότε θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀνῆκεν.
Ἔνθα τίνα πρῶτον τίνα δ’ ὕστατον ἐξενάριξας,
Πατρόκλεις, ὅτε δή σε θεοὶ θάνατον δὲ κάλεσσαν;
Ἄδρηστον μὲν πρῶτα καὶ Αὐτόνοον καὶ Ἔχεκλον
καὶ Πέριμον Μεγάδην καὶ Ἐπίστορα καὶ Μελάνιππον,
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ’ Ἔλασον καὶ Μούλιον ἠδὲ Πυλάρτην·
τοὺς ἕλεν· οἱ δ’ ἄλλοι φύγαδε μνώοντο ἕκαστος.

Ἔνθά κεν ὑψίπυλον Τροίην ἕλον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
Πατρόκλου ὑπὸ χερσί, περὶ πρὸ γὰρ ἔγχεϊ θῦεν·
εἰ μὴ Ἀπόλλων Φοῖβος ἐϋδμήτου ἐπὶ πύργου
ἔστη, τῷ ὀλοὰ φρονέων, Τρώεσσι δ’ ἀρήγων.
τρὶς μὲν ἐπ’ ἀγκῶνος βῆ τείχεος ὑψηλοῖο
Πάτροκλος, τρὶς δ’ αὐτὸν ἀπεστυφέλιξεν Ἀπόλλων,
χείρεσσ’ ἀθανάτῃσι φαεινὴν ἀσπίδα νύσσων.
ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ τὸ τέταρτον ἐπέσσυτο δαίμονι ἶσος,
δεινὰ δ’ ὁμοκλήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«χάζεο διογενὲς Πατρόκλεες· οὔ νύ τοι αἶσα
σῷ ὑπὸ δουρὶ πόλιν πέρθαι Τρώων ἀγερώχων,
οὐδ’ ὑπ’ Ἀχιλλῆος, ὅς περ σέο πολλὸν ἀμείνων.»
Ὣς φάτο, Πάτροκλος δ’ ἀνεχάζετο πολλὸν ὀπίσσω
μῆνιν ἀλευάμενος ἑκατηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος.
Ἕκτωρ δ’ ἐν Σκαιῇσι πύλῃς ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους·
δίζε γὰρ ἠὲ μάχοιτο κατὰ κλόνον αὖτις ἐλάσσας,
ἦ λαοὺς ἐς τεῖχος ὁμοκλήσειεν ἀλῆναι.
ταῦτ’ ἄρα οἱ φρονέοντι παρίστατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
ἀνέρι εἰσάμενος αἰζηῷ τε κρατερῷ τε,
Ἀσίῳ, ὃς μήτρως ἦν Ἕκτορος ἱπποδάμοιο,
αὐτοκασίγνητος Ἑκάβης, υἱὸς δὲ Δύμαντος,
ὃς Φρυγίῃ ναίεσκε ῥοῇς ἔπι Σαγγαρίοιο·
τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσέφη Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·
«Ἕκτορ τίπτε μάχης ἀποπαύεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρή.
αἴθ’ ὅσον ἥσσων εἰμί, τόσον σέο φέρτερος εἴην·
τώ κε τάχα στυγερῶς πολέμου ἀπερωήσειας.
ἀλλ’ ἄγε Πατρόκλῳ ἔφεπε κρατερώνυχας ἵππους,
αἴ κέν πώς μιν ἕλῃς, δώῃ δέ τοι εὖχος Ἀπόλλων.»

Ὣς εἰπὼν ὁ μὲν αὖτις ἔβη θεὸς ἂμ πόνον ἀνδρῶν,
Κεβριόνῃ δ’ ἐκέλευσε δαΐφρονι φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ
ἵππους ἐς πόλεμον πεπληγέμεν. αὐτὰρ Ἀπόλλων
δύσεθ’ ὅμιλον ἰών, ἐν δὲ κλόνον Ἀργείοισιν
ἧκε κακόν, Τρωσὶν δὲ καὶ Ἕκτορι κῦδος ὄπαζεν.
Ἕκτωρ δ’ ἄλλους μὲν Δαναοὺς ἔα οὐδ’ ἐνάριζεν·
αὐτὰρ ὁ Πατρόκλῳ ἔφεπε κρατερώνυχας ἵππους.
Πάτροκλος δ’ ἑτέρωθεν ἀφ’ ἵππων ἆλτο χαμᾶζε
σκαιῇ ἔγχος ἔχων· ἑτέρηφι δὲ λάζετο πέτρον
μάρμαρον ὀκριόεντα, τόν οἱ περὶ χεὶρ ἐκάλυψεν,
ἧκε δ’ ἐρεισάμενος, οὐδὲ δὴν χάζετο φωτός,
οὐδ’ ἁλίωσε βέλος, βάλε δ’ Ἕκτορος ἡνιοχῆα,
Κεβριόνην, νόθον υἱὸν ἀγακλῆος Πριάμοιο,
ἵππων ἡνί’ ἔχοντα, μετώπιον ὀξέϊ λᾶϊ.
ἀμφοτέρας δ’ ὀφρῦς σύνελεν λίθος, οὐδέ οἱ ἔσχεν
ὀστέον, ὀφθαλμοὶ δὲ χαμαὶ πέσον ἐν κονίῃσιν
αὐτοῦ πρόσθε ποδῶν· ὁ δ’ ἄρ’ ἀρνευτῆρι ἐοικὼς
κάππεσ’ ἀπ’ εὐεργέος δίφρου, λίπε δ’ ὀστέα θυμός.
τὸν δ’ ἐπικερτομέων προσέφης Πατρόκλεες ἱππεῦ·
«ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλ’ ἐλαφρὸς ἀνήρ, ὡς ῥεῖα κυβιστᾷ.
εἰ δή που καὶ πόντῳ ἐν ἰχθυόεντι γένοιτο,
πολλοὺς ἂν κορέσειεν ἀνὴρ ὅδε τήθεα διφῶν,
νηὸς ἀποθρῴσκων, εἰ καὶ δυσπέμφελος εἴη,
ὡς νῦν ἐν πεδίῳ ἐξ ἵππων ῥεῖα κυβιστᾷ.
ἦ ῥα καὶ ἐν Τρώεσσι κυβιστητῆρες ἔασιν.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ἐπὶ Κεβριόνῃ ἥρωϊ βεβήκει
οἶμα λέοντος ἔχων, ὅς τε σταθμοὺς κεραΐζων
ἔβλητο πρὸς στῆθος, ἑή τέ μιν ὤλεσεν ἀλκή·
ὣς ἐπὶ Κεβριόνῃ, Πατρόκλεες ἆλσο μεμαώς.
Ἕκτωρ δ’ αὖθ’ ἑτέρωθεν ἀφ’ ἵππων ἆλτο χαμᾶζε.
τὼ περὶ Κεβριόναο λέονθ’ ὣς δηρινθήτην,

ὥ τ’ ὄρεος κορυφῇσι περὶ κταμένης ἐλάφοιο,
ἄμφω πεινάοντε, μέγα φρονέοντε μάχεσθον·
ὣς περὶ Κεβριόναο δύω μήστωρες ἀϋτῆς,
Πάτροκλός τε Μενοιτιάδης καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ,
ἵεντ’ ἀλλήλων ταμέειν χρόα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.
Ἕκτωρ μὲν κεφαλῆφιν ἐπεὶ λάβεν, οὐχὶ μεθίει·
Πάτροκλος δ’ ἑτέρωθεν ἔχεν ποδός· οἳ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι
Τρῶες καὶ Δαναοὶ σύναγον κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην.
Ὡς δ’ Εὖρός τε Νότος τ’ ἐριδαίνετον ἀλλήλοιιν
οὔρεος ἐν βήσσῃς βαθέην πελεμιζέμεν ὕλην,
φηγόν τε μελίην τε τανύφλοιόν τε κράνειαν,
αἵ τε πρὸς ἀλλήλας ἔβαλον τανυήκεας ὄζους
ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ, πάταγος δέ τε ἀγνυμενάων,
ὣς Τρῶες καὶ Ἀχαιοὶ ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοισι θορόντες
δῄουν, οὐδ’ ἕτεροι μνώοντ’ ὀλοοῖο φόβοιο.
πολλὰ δὲ Κεβριόνην ἀμφ’ ὀξέα δοῦρα πεπήγει
ἰοί τε πτερόεντες ἀπὸ νευρῆφι θορόντες,
πολλὰ δὲ χερμάδια μεγάλ’ ἀσπίδας ἐστυφέλιξαν
μαρναμένων ἀμφ’ αὐτόν· ὃ δ’ ἐν στροφάλιγγι κονίης
κεῖτο μέγας μεγαλωστί, λελασμένος ἱπποσυνάων.
Ὄφρα μὲν Ἠέλιος μέσον οὐρανὸν ἀμφιβεβήκει,
τόφρα μάλ’ ἀμφοτέρων βέλε’ ἥπτετο, πῖπτε δὲ λαός·
ἦμος δ’ Ἠέλιος μετενίσετο βουλυτὸν δέ,
καὶ τότε δή ῥ’ ὑπὲρ αἶσαν Ἀχαιοὶ φέρτεροι ἦσαν.
ἐκ μὲν Κεβριόνην βελέων ἥρωα ἔρυσσαν
Τρώων ἐξ ἐνοπῆς, καὶ ἀπ’ ὤμων τεύχε’ ἕλοντο,
Πάτροκλος δὲ Τρωσὶ κακὰ φρονέων ἐνόρουσε.
τρὶς μὲν ἔπειτ’ ἐπόρουσε θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ,
σμερδαλέα ἰάχων, τρὶς δ’ ἐννέα φῶτας ἔπεφνεν.
ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ τὸ τέταρτον ἐπέσσυτο δαίμονι ἶσος,

ἔνθ’ ἄρα τοι, Πάτροκλε φάνη βιότοιο τελευτή·
ἤντετο γάρ τοι Φοῖβος ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ
δεινός· ὁ μὲν τὸν ἰόντα κατὰ κλόνον οὐκ ἐνόησεν·
ἠέρι γὰρ πολλῇ κεκαλυμμένος ἀντεβόλησε·
στῆ δ’ ὄπιθεν, πλῆξεν δὲ μετάφρενον εὐρέε τ’ ὤμω
χειρὶ καταπρηνεῖ, στρεφεδίνηθεν δέ οἱ ὄσσε.
τοῦ δ’ ἀπὸ μὲν κρατὸς κυνέην βάλε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·
ἡ δὲ κυλινδομένη καναχὴν ἔχε ποσσὶν ὑφ’ ἵππων
αὐλῶπις τρυφάλεια, μιάνθησαν δὲ ἔθειραι
αἵματι καὶ κονίῃσι· πάρος γε μὲν οὐ θέμις ἦεν
ἱππόκομον πήληκα μιαίνεσθαι κονίῃσιν,
ἀλλ’ ἀνδρὸς θείοιο κάρη χαρίεν τε μέτωπον
ῥύετ’ Ἀχιλλῆος· τότε δὲ Ζεὺς Ἕκτορι δῶκεν
ᾗ κεφαλῇ φορέειν, σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἦεν ὄλεθρος.
πᾶν δέ οἱ ἐν χείρεσσιν ἄγη δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,
βριθὺ μέγα στιβαρὸν κεκορυθμένον· αὐτὰρ ἀπ’ ὤμων
ἀσπὶς σὺν τελαμῶνι χαμαὶ πέσε τερμιόεσσα.
λῦσε δέ οἱ θώρηκα ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων.
τὸν δ’ ἄτη φρένας εἷλε, λύθεν δ’ ὑπὸ φαίδιμα γυῖα,
στῆ δὲ ταφών· ὄπιθεν δὲ μετάφρενον ὀξέϊ δουρὶ
ὤμων μεσσηγὺς σχεδόθεν βάλε Δάρδανος ἀνὴρ,
Πανθοΐδης Εὔφορβος, ὃς ἡλικίην ἐκέκαστο
ἔγχεΐ θ’ ἱπποσύνῃ τε πόδεσσί τε καρπαλίμοισι·
καὶ γὰρ δὴ τότε φῶτας ἐείκοσι βῆσεν ἀφ’ ἵππων
πρῶτ’ ἐλθὼν σὺν ὄχεσφι διδασκόμενος πολέμοιο·
ὅς τοι πρῶτος ἐφῆκε βέλος, Πατρόκλεες ἱππεῦ,
οὐδὲ δάμασσ’· ὃ μὲν αὖτις ἀνέδραμε, μίκτο δ’ ὁμίλῳ,
ἐκ χροὸς ἁρπάξας δόρυ μείλινον, οὐδ’ ὑπέμεινε
Πάτροκλον γυμνόν περ ἐόντ’ ἐν δηϊοτῆτι.
Πάτροκλος δὲ θεοῦ πληγῇ καὶ δουρὶ δαμασθεὶς
ἂψ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρ’ ἀλεείνων.

Ἕκτωρ δ’ ὡς εἶδεν Πατροκλῆα μεγάθυμον
ἂψ ἀναχαζόμενον βεβλημένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
ἀγχίμολόν ῥά οἱ ἦλθε κατὰ στίχας, οὖτα δὲ δουρὶ
νείατον ἐς κενεῶνα, διὰ πρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσε·
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, μέγα δ’ ἤκαχε λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν·
ὡς δ’ ὅτε σῦν ἀκάμαντα λέων ἐβιήσατο χάρμῃ,
ὥ τ’ ὄρεος κορυφῇσι μέγα φρονέοντε μάχεσθον
πίδακος ἀμφ’ ὀλίγης· ἐθέλουσι δὲ πιέμεν ἄμφω·
πολλὰ δέ τ’ ἀσθμαίνοντα λέων ἐδάμασσε βίηφιν·
ὣς πολέας πεφνόντα Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμον υἱὸν
Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης σχεδὸν ἔγχεϊ θυμὸν ἀπηύρα,
καί οἱ ἐπευχόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«Πάτροκλ’, ἦ που ἔφησθα πόλιν κεραϊξέμεν ἁμήν,
Τρωϊάδας δὲ γυναῖκας ἐλεύθερον ἦμαρ ἀπούρας
ἄξειν ἐν νήεσσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
νήπιε· τάων δὲ πρόσθ’ Ἕκτορος ὠκέες ἵπποι
ποσσὶν ὀρωρέχαται πολεμίζειν· ἔγχεϊ δ’ αὐτὸς
Τρωσὶ φιλοπτολέμοισι μεταπρέπω, ὅ σφιν ἀμύνω
ἦμαρ ἀναγκαῖον· σὲ δέ τ’ ἐνθάδε γῦπες ἔδονται.
ἆ δείλ’, οὐδέ τοι ἐσθλὸς ἐὼν χραίσμησεν Ἀχιλλεύς,
ὅς πού τοι μάλα πολλὰ μένων ἐπετέλλετ’ ἰόντι·
μή μοι πρὶν ἰέναι Πατρόκλεες ἱπποκέλευθε,
νῆας ἔπι γλαφυρὰς πρὶν Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο
αἱματόεντα χιτῶνα περὶ στήθεσσι δαΐξαι.
ὥς πού σε προσέφη, σοὶ δὲ φρένας ἄφρονι πεῖθε.»
Τὸν δ’ ὀλιγοδρανέων προσέφης Πατρόκλεες ἱππεῦ·
«ἤδη νῦν Ἕκτορ, μεγάλ’ εὔχεο· σοὶ γὰρ ἔδωκε
νίκην Ζεὺς Κρονίδης καὶ Ἀπόλλων, οἵ με δάμασσαν
ῥηιδίως· αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀπ’ ὤμων τεύχε’ ἕλοντο.
τοιοῦτοι δ’ εἴ πέρ μοι ἐείκοσιν ἀντεβόλησαν,
πάντές κ’ αὐτόθ’ ὄλοντο ἐμῷ ὑπὸ δουρὶ δαμέντες.

ἀλλά με μοῖρ’ ὀλοὴ καὶ Λητοῦς ἔκτανεν υἱός,
ἀνδρῶν δ’ Εὔφορβος· σὺ δέ με τρίτος ἐξεναρίζεις.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ’ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
οὔ θην οὐδ’ αὐτὸς δηρὸν βέῃ, ἀλλά τοι ἤδη
ἄγχι παρέστηκεν θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κραταιή,
χερσὶ δαμέντ’ Ἀχιλῆος ἀμύμονος Αἰακίδαο.»
Ὣς ἄρα μιν εἰπόντα τέλος θανάτοιο κάλυψε·
ψυχὴ δ’ ἐκ ῥεθέων πταμένη Ἄϊδος δὲ βεβήκει,
ὃν πότμον γοόωσα λιποῦσ’ ἀνδροτῆτα καὶ ἥβην.
τὸν καὶ τεθνηῶτα προσηύδα φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ·
«Πατρόκλεις, τί νύ μοι μαντεύεαι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον;
τίς δ’ οἶδ’ εἴ κ’ Ἀχιλεὺς Θέτιδος πάϊς ἠϋκόμοιο
φθήῃ ἐμῷ ὑπὸ δουρὶ τυπεὶς ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὀλέσσαι;»
Ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας δόρυ χάλκεον ἐξ ὠτειλῆς
εἴρυσε λὰξ προσβάς, τὸν δ’ ὕπτιον ὦσ’ ἀπὸ δουρός.
αὐτίκα δὲ ξὺν δουρὶ μετ’ Αὐτομέδοντα βεβήκει,
ἀντίθεον θεράποντα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο·
ἵετο γὰρ βαλέειν· τὸν δ’ ἔκφερον ὠκέες ἵπποι
ἄμβροτοι, οὓς Πηλῆϊ θεοὶ δόσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.


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