Meanwhile Achilles stood beside his ship, overlooking the battle. Full of anxious fear he said to himself: 'Why are the Greeks being driven back again in confusion to their camp? Heaven forbid that my brave Patroclus has been killed!'
At this moment one of his friends came up to him with his eyes full of tears, and said: ' Achilles, I bring you bad news. Patroclus has fallen and the Greeks are fighting hard' for his naked body, for Hector has taken his armor.'
Achilles gave a loud and bitter cry at his mother Thetis came to him and asked why he was sad, for surely the Greeks were suffering for their insult to him.
'True, mother,’ replied Achilles, 'but what do I care for that, now that my dear friend Patroclus, whom I loved best of all my companions, has fallen? I have lost him and my armor, too. I shall never rest until Hector falls before my spear!'
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Hector took Achilles' armor off the body of Patroc1us, and he would have seized the carriage as well, but he drove away the immortal horses and took them back to Achilles.
Menelaus saw the fall of Patroclus, and quickly' ran up, calling the Greeks to help him in protecting the young man's bleeding body. Hector dropped the body of Patroclus and moved away. Glaucus angrily called him a coward, but Hector went back only a little way, removed his own arm¬our, and put on that of Achilles-the glorious armor which the gods gave Peleus on his wed¬ding day. Then Hector hurried back to the fight. They fought long' and bravely, but such a hedge of spears now surrounded the dead body of Patroclus that no Trojan could reach where he lay. Backward and forward rocked the battle and each side fought hard, the Greeks hoping to bear away the body to their camp, the Trojans hoping to throw it to the dogs.
Menelaus saw the fall of Patroclus, and quickly' ran up, calling the Greeks to help him in protecting the young man's bleeding body. Hector dropped the body of Patroclus and moved away. Glaucus angrily called him a coward, but Hector went back only a little way, removed his own arm¬our, and put on that of Achilles-the glorious armor which the gods gave Peleus on his wed¬ding day. Then Hector hurried back to the fight. They fought long' and bravely, but such a hedge of spears now surrounded the dead body of Patroclus that no Trojan could reach where he lay. Backward and forward rocked the battle and each side fought hard, the Greeks hoping to bear away the body to their camp, the Trojans hoping to throw it to the dogs.
In this manner did Patroclus, after all his brave deeds in battle, fall at last to Hector's spear. As he lay dying, Hector stood over him, saying: 'Patroclus, not long ago you boasted that you would capture our fine city and take our Trojan wives away as prisoners to Greece. But now you are dying. Achilles was unwise to send you out to fight with me!'
Patroclus replied faintly: ' Hector, it is now your turn to boast, for the gods have delivered me into your hands. I was not afraid to meet you in fair fight, but today Apollo struck me first. And I warn you that you• yourself will not live long, because Achilles will kill you before the gates of Troy.' And so the brave young man died, and his soul flew sadly to the shadows of the Underworld.
Patroclus replied faintly: ' Hector, it is now your turn to boast, for the gods have delivered me into your hands. I was not afraid to meet you in fair fight, but today Apollo struck me first. And I warn you that you• yourself will not live long, because Achilles will kill you before the gates of Troy.' And so the brave young man died, and his soul flew sadly to the shadows of the Underworld.
Meanwhile Hector stood beside his carriage at the gate of Troy, wondering whether he should go and fight in the plain once more, or call back his army to the shelter of the city walls. Apollo, dressed as one of Hector's own friends, went to him and told him to go out again. 'Attack Patroclus bravely,' he said, ' and perhaps Apollo may help you to win the battle.’
Hector at once drove out to meet Patroclus. Patroclus leaped to the ground, with his spear in his left hand. Hector also leaped from his carriage, and they fought each other, hand to hand. Patroclus fiercely pressed against his enemy, but death was near him. Apollo struck him, and his helmet fell to the ground. Never before had that proud helmet rolled in the mud, for, until that day, it had been worn by the unconquerable Achilles himself. Patroclus almost fell before the force of Apollo's blow, and Hector at once stepped forward arid struck him to the ground.
Hector at once drove out to meet Patroclus. Patroclus leaped to the ground, with his spear in his left hand. Hector also leaped from his carriage, and they fought each other, hand to hand. Patroclus fiercely pressed against his enemy, but death was near him. Apollo struck him, and his helmet fell to the ground. Never before had that proud helmet rolled in the mud, for, until that day, it had been worn by the unconquerable Achilles himself. Patroclus almost fell before the force of Apollo's blow, and Hector at once stepped forward arid struck him to the ground.
Patroclus led the Myrmidons to the very walls of Troy, and it seemed as if no one would be able to stand before him and prevent him from entering the besieged city. But the time had not yet come for Troy to be captured, and the sun-god, Apollo, stood on the walls of Troy and prevented Patroclus from climbing the wall.
‘Go back, brave Patroclus!' cried the sun-god. Troy shall not be won by you, or even by Achilles, who is more powerful than you. The gods do not wish it.' And so Patroclus retired again to the plain below the city.
‘Go back, brave Patroclus!' cried the sun-god. Troy shall not be won by you, or even by Achilles, who is more powerful than you. The gods do not wish it.' And so Patroclus retired again to the plain below the city.
Patroclus ran back to Achilles; while Nestor pulled out the arrow from Machaon's shoulder, washed the wound, and bound it tightly with clean white cloth.
Achilles himself refused to go and help the Greeks, remembering the wrong which Agamemnon had done him; but Patroclus begged so hard to be allowed to help his friends that at last Achilles lent him his own armor, and told him to lead the Myrmidons to the rescue.
And so, dressed in the well-known armor of Achilles, glittering like the sun in his splendor, Patroclus led the brave 1'fyrmidons into the thick¬est part of the fight. Just as the soft wind rolls away the dark mist which has gathered round a mountain, even so did Patroclus roll back the Trojan army from the Greek camp. The Trojans did not fly in terror, but fought bravely all the way. Patroclus and Menelaus each killed a Trojan leader, and Nestor's two sons, laid low two friends of Sarpedon, the King of Lycia and son of Zeus. Patroclus, driving the immortal horses of Achilles, met Sarpedon face to face. The two champions rushed together like two fierce eagles, and, after a short, bitter struggle, Patroclus killed Sarpedon with his spear. Zeus himself sorrowed for his beloved son. He looked down upon the battlefield and planned a punishment for Patroclus who had killed him.
Achilles himself refused to go and help the Greeks, remembering the wrong which Agamemnon had done him; but Patroclus begged so hard to be allowed to help his friends that at last Achilles lent him his own armor, and told him to lead the Myrmidons to the rescue.
And so, dressed in the well-known armor of Achilles, glittering like the sun in his splendor, Patroclus led the brave 1'fyrmidons into the thick¬est part of the fight. Just as the soft wind rolls away the dark mist which has gathered round a mountain, even so did Patroclus roll back the Trojan army from the Greek camp. The Trojans did not fly in terror, but fought bravely all the way. Patroclus and Menelaus each killed a Trojan leader, and Nestor's two sons, laid low two friends of Sarpedon, the King of Lycia and son of Zeus. Patroclus, driving the immortal horses of Achilles, met Sarpedon face to face. The two champions rushed together like two fierce eagles, and, after a short, bitter struggle, Patroclus killed Sarpedon with his spear. Zeus himself sorrowed for his beloved son. He looked down upon the battlefield and planned a punishment for Patroclus who had killed him.
From his tall ship, Achilles watched the fortune of the battle. He saw one leader after another return wounded to the camp, and he said to his friend Patroclus: 'Before long the 'Greeks will kneel at my feet and beg for my help, for their need is great. But go quickly, Patroclus, and find out whom Nestor is bringing back wounded in his carriage. He looks like Machaon the doctor, but the horses galloped past me so fast that I could not see his face.'
Patroclus ran quickly to Nestor's tent, where he found the old man washing Machaon's wounds. When Nestor saw Patroclus he said bitterly: ' What does Achilles care if every Greek in the army is hurt? Does he not know that Diomedes, Odysseus, Agamemnon himself, have all been wounded, and now I have brought back Machaon, whom Paris shot with an arrow in the shoulder? How I wish I were young again: I would soon perform some brave deed! But go, Patroclus, and beg Achilles, if he will not come out himself, to lend you his armor. Perhaps the men of Troy will think you are. the' great Achilles, and they may be afraid. You and the Myrmidons, fresh and unwounded, might well drive them back.'
Patroclus ran quickly to Nestor's tent, where he found the old man washing Machaon's wounds. When Nestor saw Patroclus he said bitterly: ' What does Achilles care if every Greek in the army is hurt? Does he not know that Diomedes, Odysseus, Agamemnon himself, have all been wounded, and now I have brought back Machaon, whom Paris shot with an arrow in the shoulder? How I wish I were young again: I would soon perform some brave deed! But go, Patroclus, and beg Achilles, if he will not come out himself, to lend you his armor. Perhaps the men of Troy will think you are. the' great Achilles, and they may be afraid. You and the Myrmidons, fresh and unwounded, might well drive them back.'
The following day Agamemnon once more led his army boldly out against the Trojans. No man that day had more glory than Agamemnon. He killed many a proud Trojan, and beat back their army, until at mid-day he was struck through the right hand by an enemy spear. For a time he fought on, but before long the pain of the wound forced him to return to the camp. Then Hector advanced.
Odysseus and Diomedes, two of the bravest Greeks, met Hector, and Diomedes struck him such a blow on the helmet that Hector turned faint and dizzy, and was forced to fall back for a while: but Paris shot Diomedes in the ankle, and he too had to leave the battle. So Odysseus was left alone, and the Trojans gathered round him and one of them wounded him in his side. Odysseus continued to fight, but, wounded and alone, he would soon have been killed if he had not shouted aloud for help. Ajax and Menelaus heard his cry, 'and came up and rescued him.
And now, as most of their leaders were wounded, the Greeks turned and fled back to their camp, pursued by the cheering Trojans.
Odysseus and Diomedes, two of the bravest Greeks, met Hector, and Diomedes struck him such a blow on the helmet that Hector turned faint and dizzy, and was forced to fall back for a while: but Paris shot Diomedes in the ankle, and he too had to leave the battle. So Odysseus was left alone, and the Trojans gathered round him and one of them wounded him in his side. Odysseus continued to fight, but, wounded and alone, he would soon have been killed if he had not shouted aloud for help. Ajax and Menelaus heard his cry, 'and came up and rescued him.
And now, as most of their leaders were wounded, the Greeks turned and fled back to their camp, pursued by the cheering Trojans.
Hector said: 'Ajax, you are brave and strong, and the best fighter of all the Greeks.
Let us now stop fighting, for it is growing dark. I will go home to Troy and you return to your camp. Another day we will fight, until Zeus shall give one of us the victory. But let us, tonight, part good friends, and give presents to each other, so that all men will say:" They fought bravely in single fight, and then parted fiends".'
Then Hector gave Ajax a sword, and Ajax gave Hector a silver belt. And so they parted.
That night Agamemnon held a feast for Ajax in his tent, and praised him greatly for the brave deeds he had done; and the next morning the Greeks and the Trojans gathered up the bodies of their dead, and there was no fighting that day.
Let us now stop fighting, for it is growing dark. I will go home to Troy and you return to your camp. Another day we will fight, until Zeus shall give one of us the victory. But let us, tonight, part good friends, and give presents to each other, so that all men will say:" They fought bravely in single fight, and then parted fiends".'
Then Hector gave Ajax a sword, and Ajax gave Hector a silver belt. And so they parted.
That night Agamemnon held a feast for Ajax in his tent, and praised him greatly for the brave deeds he had done; and the next morning the Greeks and the Trojans gathered up the bodies of their dead, and there was no fighting that day.
For a time all the Greeks sat silent, fearing to meet so fierce a fighter alone. Menelaus would have fought him, in spite of his wound, but his brother Agamemnon held him back. At last the great Ajax came forward, and all the Trojans whispered fearfully together when they saw his huge size and broad shoulders. Even Hector's brave heart beat more quickly, but he knew there was no escape for him, the challenger.
‘Now, Hector,' said Ajax, 'you shall learn that many brave men left in our army, even though Achilles fights for us no more.'
‘Do not try to frighten me!' answered Hector am not a child or woman, unskilled shall kill you if I can, in open fight.'
He threw his long spear, but could not break the great sword of Ajax. Ajax, in his turn, threw - at Hector. The spear cut through his Hector avoided its point. All afternoon first with spears, then with swords, with their bare hands, until evening it was too dark to see.
‘Now, Hector,' said Ajax, 'you shall learn that many brave men left in our army, even though Achilles fights for us no more.'
‘Do not try to frighten me!' answered Hector am not a child or woman, unskilled shall kill you if I can, in open fight.'
He threw his long spear, but could not break the great sword of Ajax. Ajax, in his turn, threw - at Hector. The spear cut through his Hector avoided its point. All afternoon first with spears, then with swords, with their bare hands, until evening it was too dark to see.
Like great waves dashing against a rocky shore, Greeks rolled unceasingly onward against the armies of Troy. Terrible was the noise of battle the cries of the wounded, while beneath their the plain of Troy ran red with blood.
At last the gods, sorrowing at so much bloodshed, advised Hector to call for another truce and challenge some Greek to single fight. When both sides were seated on the ground, Hector called out:'Listen, Trojans and Greeks. It did not please the gods to let us keep our last truce. But now, as all the leaders of the Greeks are here, let one of them come forward and fight with me alone.'
At last the gods, sorrowing at so much bloodshed, advised Hector to call for another truce and challenge some Greek to single fight. When both sides were seated on the ground, Hector called out:'Listen, Trojans and Greeks. It did not please the gods to let us keep our last truce. But now, as all the leaders of the Greeks are here, let one of them come forward and fight with me alone.'
Meanwhile Athene, wishing to cause trouble for the Trojans by making them break off the truce, disguised herself as Laodocus, son of Antenor. She went quickly to one of the archers and said: ‘If you will shoot an arrow and kill Menelaus, your fame will be great and Paris will give you a splendid reward.'
The foolish archer listened to her words, and at once fitted an arrow to the string of his bow and shot it at Menelaus. The arrow struck him in the side and the dark blood began to flow. The wound was not deep and Menelaus was not killed, but a the sight of the blood Agamemnon cried out in bitter anger:’ The Trojans have foully broken the truce! They shall pay the penalty for this!’ And he called to the Greek princes to lead their men into battle again.
The foolish archer listened to her words, and at once fitted an arrow to the string of his bow and shot it at Menelaus. The arrow struck him in the side and the dark blood began to flow. The wound was not deep and Menelaus was not killed, but a the sight of the blood Agamemnon cried out in bitter anger:’ The Trojans have foully broken the truce! They shall pay the penalty for this!’ And he called to the Greek princes to lead their men into battle again.
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