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cry　which　the　Achaeans　raised；　and　when　the　Trojans　saw　the　brave
son　of　Menoetius　and　his　squire　all　gleaming　in　their　armour；
they　were　daunted　and　their　battalions　were　thrown　into
confusion；　for　they　thought　the　fleet　son　of　Peleus　must　now　have
put　aside　his　anger；　and　have　been　reconciled　to　Agamemnon；　every
one；　therefore；　looked　round　about　to　see　whither　he　might　fly
for　safety。

Patroclus　first　aimed　a　spear　into　the　middle　of　the　press　where
men　were　packed　most　closely；　by　the　stern　of　the　ship　of
Protesilaus。　He　hit　Pyraechmes　who　had　led　his　Paeonian　horsemen
from　the　Amydon　and　the　broad　waters　of　the　river　Axius；　the
spear　struck　him　on　the　right　shoulder；　and　with　a　groan　he　fell
backwards　in　the　dust；　on　this　his　men　were　thrown　into
confusion；　for　by　killing　their　leader；　who　was　the　finest
soldier　among　them；　Patroclus　struck　panic　into　them　all。　He　thus
drove　them　from　the　ship　and　quenched　the　fire　that　was　then
blazingleaving　the　half…burnt　ship　to　lie　where　it　was。　The
Trojans　were　now　driven　back　with　a　shout　that　rent　the　skies；
while　the　Danaans　poured　after　them　from　their　ships；　shouting
also　without　ceasing。　As　when　Jove；　gatherer　of　the
thunder…cloud；　spreads　a　dense　canopy　on　the　top　of　some　lofty
mountain；　and　all　the　peaks；　the　jutting　headlands；　and　forest
glades　show　out　in　the　great　light　that　flashes　from　the　bursting
heavens；　even　so　when　the　Danaans　had　now　driven　back　the　fire
from　their　ships；　they　took　breath　for　a　little　while；　but　the
fury　of　the　fight　was　not　yet　over；　for　the　Trojans　were　not
driven　back　in　utter　rout；　but　still　gave　battle；　and　were　ousted
from　their　ground　only　by　sheer　fighting。

The　fight　then　became　more　scattered；　and　the　chieftains　killed
one　another　when　and　how　they　could。　The　valiant　son　of　Menoetius
first　drove　his　spear　into　the　thigh　of　Areilycus　just　as　he　was
turning　round；　the　point　went　clean　through；　and　broke　the　bone
so　that　he　fell　forward。　Meanwhile　Menelaus　struck　Thoas　in　the
chest；　where　it　was　exposed　near　the　rim　of　his　shield；　and　he
fell　dead。　The　son　of　Phyleus　saw　Amphiclus　about　to　attack　him；
and　ere　he　could　do　so　took　aim　at　the　upper　part　of　his　thigh；
where　the　muscles　are　thicker　than　in　any　other　part；　the　spear
tore　through　all　the　sinews　of　the　leg；　and　his　eyes　were　closed
in　darkness。　Of　the　sons　of　Nestor　one；　Antilochus；　speared
Atymnius；　driving　the　point　of　the　spear　through　his　throat；　and
down　he　fell。　Maris　then　sprang　on　Antilochus　in　hand…to…hand
fight　to　avenge　his　brother；　and　bestrode　the　body　spear　in　hand；
but　valiant　Thrasymedes　was　too　quick　for　him；　and　in　a　moment
had　struck　him　in　the　shoulder　ere　he　could　deal　his　blow；　his
aim　was　true；　and　the　spear　severed　all　the　muscles　at　the　root
of　his　arm；　and　tore　them　right　down　to　the　bone；　so　he　fell
heavily　to　the　ground　and　his　eyes　were　closed　in　darkness。　Thus
did　these　two　noble　rades　of　Sarpedon　go　down　to　Erebus　slain
by　the　two　sons　of　Nestor；　they　were　the　warrior　sons　of
Amisodorus；　who　had　reared　the　invincible　Chimaera；　to　the　bane
of　many。　Ajax　son　of　Oileus　sprang　on　Cleobulus　and　took　him
alive　as　he　was　entangled　in　the　crush；　but　he　killed　him　then
and　there　by　a　sword…blow　on　the　neck。　The　sword　reeked　with　his
blood；　while　dark　death　and　the　strong　hand　of　fate　gripped　him
and　closed　his　eyes。

Peneleos　and　Lycon　now　met　in　close　fight；　for　they　had　missed
each　other　with　their　spears。　They　had　both　thrown　without
effect；　so　now　they　drew　their　swords。　Lycon　struck　the　plumed
crest　of　Peneleos'　helmet　but　his　sword　broke　at　the　hilt；　while
Peneleos　smote　Lycon　on　the　neck　under　the　ear。　The　blade　sank　so
deep　that　the　head　was　held　on　by　nothing　but　the　skin；　and　there
was　no　more　life　left　in　him。　Meriones　gave　chase　to　Acamas　on
foot　and　caught　him　up　just　as　he　was　about　to　mount　his　chariot；
he　drove　a　spear　through　his　right　shoulder　so　that　he　fell
headlong　from　the　car；　and　his　eyes　were　closed　in　darkness。
Idomeneus　speared　Erymas　in　the　mouth；　the　bronze　point　of　the
spear　went　clean　through　it　beneath　the　brain；　crashing　in　among
the　white　bones　and　smashing　them　up。　His　teeth　were　all　of　them
knocked　out　and　the　blood　came　gushing　in　a　stream　from　both　his
eyes；　it　also　came　gurgling　up　from　his　mouth　and　nostrils；　and
the　darkness　of　death　enfolded　him　round　about。

Thus　did　these　chieftains　of　the　Danaans　each　of　them　kill　his
man。　As　ravening　wolves　seize　on　kids　or　lambs；　fastening　on　them
when　they　are　alone　on　the　hillsides　and　have　strayed　from　the
main　flock　through　the　carelessness　of　the　shepherdand　when　the
wolves　see　this　they　pounce　upon　them　at　once　because　they　cannot
defend　themselveseven　so　did　the　Danaans　now　fall　on　the
Trojans；　who　fled　with　ill…omened　cries　in　their　panic　and　had　no
more　fight　left　in　them。

Meanwhile　great　Ajax　kept　on　trying　to　drive　a　spear　into　Hector；
but　Hector　was　so　skilful　that　he　held　his　broad　shoulders　well
under　cover　of　his　ox…hide　shield；　ever　on　the　look…out　for　the
whizzing　of　the　arrows　and　the　heavy　thud　of　the　spears。　He　well
knew　that　the　fortunes　of　the　day　had　changed；　but　still　stood
his　ground　and　tried　to　protect　his　rades。

As　when　a　cloud　goes　up　into　heaven　from　Olympus；　rising　out　of　a
clear　sky　when　Jove　is　brewing　a　galeeven　with　such　panic
stricken　rout　did　the　Trojans　now　fly；　and　there　was　no　order　in
their　going。　Hector's　fleet　horses　bore　him　and　his　armour　out　of
the　fight；　and　he　left　the　Trojan　host　penned　in　by　the　deep
trench　against　their　will。　Many　a　yoke　of　horses　snapped　the　pole
of　their　chariots　in　the　trench　and　left　their　master's　car
behind　them。　Patroclus　gave　chase；　calling　impetuously　on　the
Danaans　and　full　of　fury　against　the　Trojans；　who；　being　now　no
longer　in　a　body；　filled　all　the　ways　with　their　cries　of　panic
and　rout；　the　air　was　darkened　with　the　clouds　of　dust　they
raised；　and　the　horses　strained　every　nerve　in　their　flight　from
the　tents　and　ships　towards　the　city。

Patroclus　kept　on　heading　his　horses　wherever　he　saw　most　men
flying　in　confusion；　cheering　on　his　men　the　while。　Chariots　were
being　smashed　in　all　directions；　and　many　a　man　came　tumbling
down　from　his　own　car　to　fall　beneath　the　wheels　of　that　of
Patroclus；　whose　immortal　steeds；　given　by　the　gods　to　Peleus；
sprang　over　the　trench　at　a　bound　as　they　sped　onward。　He　was
intent　on　trying　to　get　near　Hector；　for　he　had　set　his　heart　on
spearing　him；　but　Hector's　horses　were　now　hurrying　him　away。　As
the　whole　dark　earth　bows　before　some　tempest　on　an　autumn　day
when　Jove　rains　his　hardest　to　punish　men　for　giving　crooked
judgement　in　their　courts；　and　arriving　justice　therefrom　without
heed　to　the　decrees　of　heavenall　the　rivers　run　full　and　the
torrents　tear　many　a　new　channel　as　they　roar　headlong　from　the
mountains　to　the　dark　sea；　and　it　fares　ill　with　the　works　of
meneven　such　was　the　stress　and　strain　of　the　Trojan　horses　in
their　flight。

Patroclus　now　cut　off　the　battalions　that　were　nearest　to　him　and
drove　them　back　to　the　ships。　They　were　doing　their　best　to　reach
the　city；　but　he　would　not　let　them；　and　bore　down　on　them
between　the　river　and　the　ships　and　wall。　Many　a　fallen　rade
did　he　then　avenge。　First　he　hit　Pronous　with　a　spear　on　the
chest　where　it　was　exposed　near　the　rim　of　his　shield；　and　he
fell　heavily　to　the　ground。　Next　he　sprang　on　Thestor　son　of
Enops；　who　was　sitting　all　huddled　up　in　his　chariot；　for　he　had
lost　his　head　and　the　reins　had　been　torn　out　of　his　hands。
Patroclus　went　up　to　him　and　drove　a　spear　into　his　right　jaw；　he
thus　hooked　him　by　the　teeth　and　the　spear　pulled　him　over　the
rim　of　his　car；　as　one　who　sits　at　the　end　of　some　jutting　rock
and　draws　a　strong　fish　out　of　the　sea　with　a　hook　and　a　line
even　so　with　his　spear　did　he　pull　Thestor　all　gaping　from　his
chariot；　he　then　threw　him　down　on　his　face　and　he　died　while
falling。　On　this；　as　Erylaus　was　on　to　attack　him；　he　struck　him
full　on　the　head　with　a　stone；　and　his　brains　were　all　battered
inside　his　helmet；　whereon　he　fell　headlong　to　the　ground　and　the
pangs　of　death　took　hold　upon　him。　Then　he　laid　low；　one　after
the　other；　Erymas；　Amphoterus；　Epaltes；　Tlepolemus；　Echius　son　of
Damastor；　Pyris；　Ipheus；　Euippus　and　Polymelus　son　of　Argeas。

Now　when　Sarpedon　saw　his　rades；　men　who　wore　ungirdled
tunics；　being　overe　by　Patroclus　son　of　Menoetius；　he　rebuked
the　Lycians　saying。　〃Shame　on　you；　where　are　you　flying　to？　Show
your　mettle；　I　will　myself　meet　this　man　in　fight　and　learn　who
it　is　that　is　so　masterful；　he　has　done　us　much　hurt；　and　has
stretched　many　a　brave　man　upon　the　ground。〃

He　sprang　from　his　chariot　as　he　spoke；　and　Patroclus；　when　he
saw　this；　leaped　on　to　the　ground　also。　The　two　then　rushed　at
one　another　with　loud　cries　like　eagle…beaked　crook…taloned
vultures　that　scream　and　tear　at　one　another　in　some　high
mountain　fastness。

The　son　of　scheming　Saturn　looked　down　upon　them　in　pity　and　said
to　Juno　who　was　his　wife　and　sister；　〃Alas；　that　it　should　be　the
lot　of　Sarpedon　whom　I　love　so　dearly　to　perish　by　the　hand　of
Patroclus。　I　am　in　two　minds　whether　to　catch　him　up　out　of　the
fight　an