Trojans； but Eurypylus； a Greek chief； was wounded by an arrow from
the bow of Paris； and his friends guarded him with their shields
and spears。
Thus the best of the Greeks were wounded and out of the battle；
save Aias； and the spearmen were in flight。 Meanwhile Achilles was
standing by the stern of his ship watching the defeat of the
Greeks； but when he saw Machaon being carried past； sorely wounded；
in the chariot of Nestor； he bade his friend Patroclus； whom he
loved better than all the rest； to go and ask how Machaon did。 He
was sitting drinking wine with Nestor when Patroclus came； and
Nestor told Patroclus how many of the chiefs were wounded； and
though Patroclus was in a hurry Nestor began a very long story
about his own great deeds of war； done when he was a young man。 At
last he bade Patroclus tell Achilles that； if he would not fight
himself； he should at least send out his men under Patroclus； who
should wear the splendid armour of Achilles。 Then the Trojans
would think that Achilles himself had returned to the battle； and
they would be afraid； for none of them dared to meet Achilles hand
to hand。
So Patroclus ran off to Achilles； but； on his way； he met the
wounded Eurypylus； and he took him to his hut and cut the arrow out
of his thigh with a knife； and washed the wound with warm water；
and rubbed over it a bitter root to take the pain away。 Thus he
waited for some time with Eurypylus； but the advice of Nestor was
in the end to cause the death of Patroclus。 The battle now raged
more fiercely； while Agamemnon and Diomede and Ulysses could only
limp about leaning on their spears； and again Agamemnon wished to
moor the ships near shore； and embark in the night and run away。
But Ulysses was very angry with him； and said： 〃You should lead
some other inglorious army； not us； who will fight on till every
soul of us perish； rather than flee like cowards！ Be silent； lest
the soldiers hear you speaking of flight； such words as no man
should utter。 I wholly scorn your counsel； for the Greeks will
lose heart if； in the midst of battle； you bid them launch the
ships。〃
Agamemnon was ashamed； and； by Diomede's advice； the wounded kings
went down to the verge of the war to encourage the others； though
they were themselves unable to fight。 They rallied the Greeks； and
Aias led them and struck Hector full in the breast with a great
rock； so that his friends carried him out of the battle to the
river side； where they poured water over him； but he lay fainting
on the ground； the black blood gushing up from his mouth。 While
Hector lay there； and all men thought that he would die； Aias and
Idomeneus were driving back the Trojans； and it seemed that； even
without Achilles and his men； the Greeks were able to hold their
own against the Trojans。 But the battle was never lost while
Hector lived。 People in those days believed in 〃omens：〃 they
thought that the appearance of birds on the right or left hand
meant good or bad luck。 Once during the battle a Trojan showed
Hector an unlucky bird； and wanted him to retreat into the town。
But Hector said； 〃One omen is the best： to fight for our own
country。〃 While Hector lay between death and life the Greeks were
winning； for the Trojans had no other great chief to lead them。
But Hector awoke from his faint； and leaped to his feet and ran
here and there； encouraging the men of Troy。 Then the most of the
Greeks fled when they saw him； but Aias and Idomeneus； and the rest
of the bravest； formed in a square between the Trojans and the
ships； and down on them came Hector and Aeneas and Paris； throwing
their spears； and slaying on every hand。 The Greeks turned and
ran； and the Trojans would have stopped to strip the armour from
the slain men； but Hector cried： 〃Haste to the ships and leave the
spoils of war。 I will slay any man who lags behind！〃
On this； all the Trojans drove their chariots down into the ditch
that guarded the ships of the Greeks； as when a great wave sweeps
at sea over the side of a vessel； and the Greeks were on the ship
decks； thrusting with very long spears； used in sea fights； and the
Trojans were boarding the ships； and striking with swords and axes。
Hector had a lighted torch and tried to set fire to the ship of
Aias； but Aias kept him back with the long spear； and slew a
Trojan； whose lighted torch fell from his hand。 And Aias kept
shouting： 〃Come on； and drive away Hector； it is not to a dance
that he is calling his men； but to battle。〃
The dead fell in heaps； and the living ran over them to mount the
heaps of slain and climb the ships。 Hector rushed forward like a
sea wave against a great steep rock； but like the rock stood the
Greeks； still the Trojans charged past the beaks of the foremost
ships； while Aias； thrusting with a spear more than twenty feet
long； leaped from deck to deck like a man that drives four horses
abreast； and leaps from the back of one to the back of another。
Hector seized with his hand the stern of the ship of Protesilaus；
the prince whom Paris shot when he leaped ashore on the day when
the Greeks first landed； and Hector kept calling： 〃Bring fire！〃
and even Aias； in this strange sea fight on land； left the decks
and went below； thrusting with his spear through the portholes。
Twelve men lay dead who had brought fire against the ship which
Aias guarded。
THE SLAYING AND AVENGING OF PATROCLUS
At this moment； when torches were blazing round the ships； and all
seemed lost； Patroclus came out of the hut of Eurypylus； whose
wound he had been tending； and he saw that the Greeks were in great
danger； and ran weeping to Achilles。 〃Why do you weep；〃 said
Achilles； 〃like a little girl that runs by her mother's side； and
plucks at her gown and looks at her with tears in her eyes； till
her mother takes her up in her arms？ Is there bad news from home
that your father is dead； or mine； or are you sorry that the Greeks
are getting what they deserve for their folly？〃 Then Patroclus
told Achilles how Ulysses and many other princes were wounded and
could not fight； and begged to be allowed to put on Achilles'
armour and lead his men； who were all fresh and unwearied； into the
battle； for a charge of two thousand fresh warriors might turn the
fortune of the day。
Then Achilles was sorry that he had sworn not to fight himself till
Hector brought fire to his own ships。 He would lend Patroclus his
armour； and his horses； and his men； but Patroclus must only drive
the Trojans from the ships； and not pursue them。 At this moment
Aias was weary； so many spears smote his armour； and he could
hardly hold up his great shield； and Hector cut off his spear…head
with the sword； the bronze head fell ringing on the ground； and
Aias brandished only the pointless shaft。 So he shrank back and
fire blazed all over his ship； and Achilles saw it； and smote his
thigh； and bade Patroclus make haste。 Patroclus armed himself in
the shining armour of Achilles； which all Trojans feared； and
leaped into the chariot where Automedon； the squire； had harnessed
Xanthus and Balius； two horses that were the children； men said； of
the West Wind； and a led horse was harnessed beside them in the
side traces。 Meanwhile the two thousand men of Achilles； who were
called Myrmidons； had met in armour； five companies of four hundred
apiece； under five chiefs of noble names。 Forth they came； as
eager as a pack of wolves that have eaten a great red deer and run
to slake their thirst with the dark water of a well in the hills。
So all in close array； helmet touching helmet and shield touching
shield； like a moving wall of shining bronze； the men of Achilles
charged； and Patroclus； in the chariot led the way。 Down they came
at full speed on the flank of the Trojans； who saw the leader； and
knew the bright armour and the horses of the terrible Achilles； and
thought that he had returned to the war。 Then each Trojan looked
round to see by what way he could escape； and when men do that in
battle they soon run by the way they have chosen。 Patroclus rushed
to the ship of Protesilaus； and slew the leader of the Trojans
there； and drove them out； and quenched the fire； while they of
Troy drew back from the ships； and Aias and the other unwounded
Greek princes leaped among them； smiting with sword and spear。
Well did Hector know that the break in the battle had come again；
but even so he stood； and did what he might； while the Trojans were
driven back in disorder across the ditch； where the poles of many
chariots were broken and the horses fled loose across the plain。
The horses of Achilles cleared the ditch； and Patroclus drove them
between the Trojans and the wall of their own town； slaying many
men； and； chief of all； Sarpedon； king of the Lycians； and round
the body of Sarpedon the Trojans rallied under Hector； and the
fight swayed this way and that； and there was such a noise of
spears and swords smiting shields and helmets as when many
woodcutters fell trees in a glen of the hills。 At last the Trojans
gave way； and the Greeks stripped the armour from the body of brave
Sarpedon； but men say that Sleep and Death； like two winged angels；
bore his body away to his own country。 Now Patroclus forgot how
Achilles had told him not to pursue the Trojans across the plain；
but to return when he had driven them from the ships。 On he raced；
slaying as he went； even till he reached the foot of the wall of
Troy。 Thrice he tried to climb it； but thrice he fell back。
Hector was in his chariot in the gateway； and he bade his squire
lash his horses into the war； and struck at no other man； great or
small； but drove straight against Patroclus； who stood and threw a
heavy stone at Hector； which missed him； but killed his charioteer。
Then Patroclus leaped on the charioteer to strip his armour； but
Hector stood over the body； grasping it by the head； while
Patroclus dragged at the feet； and spears and arrows flew in clouds
around the fallen man。 At last； towards sunset； the Greeks drew
him out of the war； and Patroclus thrice charged into the thick of
the Trojans。 But the helmet of Achilles was loosened in the fight；
and fell from the h