BOOK SIXTEEN

A Ship Fired, a Tide Turned LINES 1-12

That was the way the fighting went for one seagoing ship. Meanwhile Patr6klos approached Akhilleus his commander, streaming warm tea.rs- like a ,haded mountain spring that makes a rockledge nm with dusky water. Akhilleus watched him come, and felt a pang for him. Then the great p1ince and runner said: "Patr6klos, why all the weeping? LilPeleus, away from ships and huts." the son of Aiakos, lives on amid his Myrmidons. If one of these So he petitioned, were dead, we should be grieved. 2.0 witless as a child that what he begged for Or is this weeping Was his own death, hard death and doom. over the Argives, seeing how they perish Akhilleus at the long ships by their own bloody fault! out of his deep anger made reply: Speak out now, don't conceal it, let us share it." ''Ha,rd words, dear prince. There is no oracle 1know of that I must respect, no word And groaning, Patr6lOdysseus and Agamemnon, the great spearman, 30 I stormed and sacked for her. Then Agamemnon have spear wounds; Eurypylos stole her back, out of my hands, a:s though took an arrow shot deep in his thigh. I were some vagabond held cheap. Surgeons with medicines are attending them All that to ease their wounds. we can let pass as being over and done with; But you are a hard case, J could not rage forever. And yet, by heaven, I swore Akhilleus! God forbid this rage you nurse I would not rest from anger till tl1e cries should master me. You and your fearsome pride! and clangor of battle reached my very ships! What good will come of it to anyone, later, But you, now, you can strap my famous gear unless you keep disaster from the Argives? on your own shoulders, and then take command Have you no pity? of Myrmidons on edge and ripe for combat, Peleus, master of horse, was not your father, 40 now that like a dai·k stopncloud the Trojans Thetis was not your mother! Cold grey sea have poured round the first ships, and Argive troops and sea-cliffs bore you, making a mind so harsh. have almost no room for maneuver left, If in your heart you fear some oracle, with notl1ing to their rear but sea. The whole some word of Zeus, told by your gentle mother, townful of Trojans joins in, sure of winning, 80 then send me out at least, and send me quiclMuses, dwellers on Olympos, Even so, defend the ships, Patroldos. how fire first fell on the Akhaiai.1 ships! Attack the enemy in force, or they Hektor moved in to slash with his long blade will set the ships ablaze with whirlmg fire at A.fas' ashwood shaft, and near the spearhead and rob Akhaians of their dear return. Jopped it off. Then Telai.116nian A.fas Now carry out the purpose I confide, wielded a pointless shaft, while far away so that you'll \Vin great honor for me, and gl01y the flying bronze head rang upon the ground,

among Dana.ans; then they'll send me back 100 and Afas shivered kJ.1owing in his heaii: rny lovely girl, with bright new gifts as well. the work of gods: how Zeus, the lord of thunder, 140 Once you expel the enemy from the ships, cut off his wai·-craft in that fight, and ,villed rejoin me here. If Hera's lord, victory to the Trojans. He gave way the lord of thunder, grants you the day's honor, before their missiles as they rushed il1 throwing covet no further combat far from me untiring fue into the ship. It caught with Trojan soldiers. That way you'd deny me at once, a-gush with flame, and fue lapped recompense of honor. You must not, about the stern. for joy of battle, joy of killing Trojans, Akhilleus smote his thighs carry the fight to Ilion! Some power and said to Patr6ldos: out of Olympos, one of the immortal gods, no '-'Now go into action, might intervene for them. The Lord Apollo prince and horseman! I see roaring fue loves the Trojans. Turn back, then, as soon burst at the ships. Action, or they'll destroy them, as you restore the safety of the ships, leaving no means of getting home. Be quick, 150 and let the rest contend, out on the plain. strap .on my gea1~ while I alert the troops'" Ah, Father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo! If no t one Trojan of them all Patr6klos now put on the fl.ashing bronze. should get away from death, and not one A.rgive Greaves were the first thing, beautifully fitted save ourselves were spared, we two alone fo calf and shin with silver anlde chains; could pull down Troy's old coronet of towers!" (and next he buckled round his 1ibs the cuirass, \blazoned with stars, of swift Aiakides; These were the speeches they exchanged. Now Afas 120 then slung the silver-studded blade of bronze could no longer hold: he was dislodged about his shoulders, and the vast solid shield; by spear-throws, beaten by the mind of Zeus then on his noble head he placed the helm, and Trojan shots. His shining helm rang out its plume of tenor nodding high above, 160 around his temples dangerously with hits and took two burly spears with his own handgrip. as his helmplates were struck and struck again; He did not take the great spear of Akhilleus, he felt his shoulder galled on the left side vveighty, long, and tough. No other Akhaian hugging the ghtte1ing shield-and yet they could not 376 BOOK SIXTEEN A Ship Fired, a Tide Turned _LINES 1.40-206 377 had the strength to \vield it, only Akhilleus. beautiful Polydore, had conceived him It was a Pelian ash, cut on the crest lying with Sperkl1eios,.. unti ring stream, of Pelion, given to Akhilleus' father awoman with a god; but the world thought by Kheir6n to deal death to soldiery. she bore her child to Perieres' son, He then ordered his war-team put in harness Boros, who married her in the eyes of men bv Automedon, whom he most admired and offered countless b1idal gifts. A second after Prince Akhilleus, breaker of men, company was commanded by Eud6ros, for waiting steadfast at his call in battle. whose motlier was unmanied: Polymele, 2 1 0 Automedon voked the fast horses for him­ Phylas' daughter, a beautiful dancer Xanthos anci' Balios, racers of wind. with whom tl1e strong god Hermes fell in love, The stormgust Podarge, who once had grazed seeing her among singing girls who moved green meadowland by the Ocean stream, conceived in measure for the lady of belling hounds, ~~nd bore them to the west ,vind, Zephyros. Artemis of the golden shaft. And Hermes, In the side-traces Pedasos, a thoroughbred, pure Deliverer, ascending soon was added to the team; AlPelasgians, 'in a quenchless din of shouting. And Patr6klos 0 god whose home lies far! Ruler of ,vintry cried above them all: harsh Dodonal Your interpreters, the Selloi, live with feet like roots, unwashed, "O Myrmidons, m1d sleep on the hard ground. My lord, you hem·d me brothers-in-anns of Peleus' son, Akhilleus, fight like men, dear friends, remember courage, praying before th.is, and honored me 280 BOOK SIXTEEN A Ship Fired, a Tide Turned LINES 2 71- 340 let us win honor for the son of Peleus! In broken He is the greatest captain on the beach, panks the captains sought and killed each other, his officers and soldiers are the bravestl :fylenoitios' son making the first kill. 360 Let King Agamemnon learn his folly "As Areilykos wheeled around to fight, in holding cheap the best of the Akhaians!" hecaught him with his spearhead in the hip, }ind drove the bronze through, shatte1ing the bone. Shouting so, he stirred their hearts. They fell He sprawled face downward on the ground. as one man on the Trojans, and the ships Now veteran around them echoed the onrush and the cries. Mei:J.elaos thrusting past the shield On seeing Menoitios' powerful son, ru1d with him 'ofThoas to the bare chest brought him down. Automed6n, a:B.ash with brazen gear, :tushed by Amphi.klos, the alert Meges the Trojan ranks broke, and they caught their breath, got his tl1rust in first, hitting his thigh imagining that Akhilleus the swift fighter 330 where a man's muscles bunch. Around the spearhead had put aside his wrath for foendshi.p's sake. J~ndons were split, and darkness veiled his eyes. 370 Now each man kept an eye out for retreat Hestor's sons were in action: Antilokhos from sudden death. Patr6klos drove ahead ~th his good spear brought down Atyrnnios, against their center with his shining speru·, laying open his flank; he fell headfirst. into the huddling mass, ru·ow1d the stern Now Mruis moved in, raging for his brother, of Pr6tesilaos' burning ship. He hit lllilging over the dead man with his spear, Pyraikhmes, who had led the Pai.ones !Jut Thrasymedes had already lunged from Amydon, from Axios' wide 1iver- and did not miss, but smashed his shoulder squarely, hit him in the right shoulder. Backward in dust \earing his upper arm out of the socket,

he tumbled groaning, and his men-at-arms, 340 }evering muscles, breaking through the bone. the Pai6nes, fell back arow1d him. Dealing Be thudded down and darkness veiled his eyes. 380 death to a chief and champion, Patr6klos $0 these two, overcome by the two brothers, drove them in confusion from the ship, ;chopped to the undeiworld of Erebos. and doused the ti.ge1ish fire. The hull half-burnt They were Sru-ped6n's true brothers-in-arms lay smoking on the shipway Now the Trojru1s arid sons of Amis6daros, who reared with a great outc1y streamed away; Dana.ans ;\l1e fierce Khimaira, nightmare to many men. poured along the curved ships, and the din Mas, Oileus' son, drove at Kle6boulos of war kept on. As when the l.ighb1ing master, ii.nd took him alive, encumbered in the press, Zeus, removes a dense cloud from the peak J;ut killed him on the spot with a sword stroke of some great mountain, and the lookout points 350 {across his nape-the whole blade running hot and spurs and clearings are distinctly seen \vi.th blood, as welling death and his harsh destiny 390 as though pure space had broken through from heaven: possessed him. Now Peneleos so when the dangerous fire had been repelled "and Lykon clashed; as both had cast and missed Danaans took breath for a space. The battle and lunged and missed with spears, had not ended, though; not yet were Trojans }hey fought again with swords. The stroke of Lykon put to rout by the Ald1airu1 charge came down on the other's helmet ridge or out of range of the black ships. They withdrew hut his blade broke at the hilt. Peneleos but by regrouping tried to make a stand. thrust at his neck below the ear and drove BOOK SIXTEEN A Ship Fired, a Tide Tu.rned /LlNES 340-410 the blade clear in and through; his head toppled, f6de shouting where he saw the enemy mass held only by skin, and his knees gave way. l#uproar: men fell from their cha1iots Merfones on the run overtook Aka.mas 400 ~nder the wheels and cars jounced over them, mounting behind his horses and hit his shoulder, ~pd running horses leapt over the ditch­ lmocking him from the car. Mist swathed his eyes. lfommtal horses, whom the gods gave Peleus, Id6meneus thrust hard at Erymas' mouth giill.oping as their mettle called them onward with his hard bronze. The spearhead passed on through &tet Hektor, target of Patr6kl9s. beneath his brain and split the white brain-pan. ~llt Hektor's battle-team bore hi.m away. His teeth were dashed out, blood filled both his eyes, and from his mouth and nostrils as he gaped l.1h under a great storm black eai-th is drenched he spurted blood. Death's cloud enveloped him '.§fan autumn day, when Zeus pours down the rain There each Dana.an captain killed his man. J\1 scudding gusts to punish men, annoyed As ravenous wolves come down on lambs and kids 410 pecause they will enforce their crooked judgments astray from some flock that in hilly countiy ;lpd banish justice from the market place, sphts in two by a shepherd's negligence, [thoughtless of tl1e gods' vengeance; all their streams and quickly wolves bear off the defenseless things, :fun high and full, and torrents cut their way so when Dana.ans fell on Trojans, sluieking ffl.6wn dry declivities into the swollen sea flight was all they thought of, not of combat. iivith a hoarse clamor, headlong out of hills, Afas the Tall kept after bronze-hehned Hektor, '\fhile cultivated :fields erode away- casting his lance, but Hektor, skilled in war, ;s\ich was the gasping flight of the Trojan horses. would fit his shoulders under the bull's-hide shield, and watch for whizzing arrows, thudding spears. 'When he had cut their first wave off, Patr6klos Aye, though he lmew the tide of battle turned, 420 fotced it back again upon the ships he kept his discipline and saved his friends. 'a.s the men fought toward the city. In between As when Lord Zeus would hang the sky with storm, the ships and river and the parapet a cloud may enter heaven from Olympos )ie swept among them killing, taking toll out of crystalline space, so terror and cries fp r many dead Akhaians. First, increased about the shipways. In disorder Jfuilsting past Pr6noos' shield, he hit him men withdrew. Then Hektor's chariot team 'hrithe bare chest, and made him crumple: down cante1ing bore him off with all his gear, fre tumbled with a crash. Then he rushed Thest6r, leaving the Trojans whom the moat con£ned; 1tnop's son, who sat all doubled up and many chaiiot horses in that ditch, '¥a polished war-car, shocked outofhis wits, breaking their poles off at the tip, abandoned 430 :the reins flown from his hands-and the Akhaian war-cars and masters. Hard on their heels got home his thrust on the right jawbone, driving 470 Patr6l

and called his foend by name: 570 .This way he prayed, and Phoibos Apollo heard mm, "Glaukos, old man, cutting his pain and making the da.rk blood dry old war-dog, now's the time to be a spea.rman! on his deep wound, then filled his heart with valor. 6io Put your heart iJ.1 combat! Let giim war Glaukos felt the change, and knew with joy be all your longing! Quickly, if you can, ·how swiftly the great god had heard his prayer. arouse the Lyk:ian captains, round them up First he appealed to the Lykian captains, going to fight over Sarpedon. You, too, fight right and left, to defend Sarped6n's body, to keep my body, else in later days then on the run he followed other Trojans, this day will be your shame. You'll hang your head :Poulydamas, Pantl106s' son, Agenor, all your life long, if these Akhaians take and caught up with Ainefas and with Hektor, my.armor here, where I have gone down fightiJ.1g · shoulder to shoulder, urgently appealing: before the ships. Hold hard; cheer on the troops!" 580 ''Hektor, you've put your allies out of mind, The end of life came on him as he spoke, those men who give their lives here for your sake 62.0 closing his eyes and nostrils. And Patr6klos so distant from their friends and lands: you ,vill not with one foot on his chest drew from his belly come to their aid! Sarpedon lies there dead, spearhead and spear; the diaphragm came out, commander of the Lykians, who kept so he extracted life and blade together. . his country safe by his furn hand, in justice! Myrmidons clung to the panting Lykian horses, ·.. Ares in bronze has brought him down: the spear reaiing to turn the car left by their lords. belonged to Patr6klos. Come, stand with me, friends, BOOK SIXTEEN A Ship Fired, a Tide Tttmed LINES 544-6H and count it shame if they st1ip off his gear to make war in the wild-horse country of Ilion or b1ing dishonor on his body-these against the Trojans. Even as he touched the dead man, fresh Myrmidons enraged for the Dana.ans Hektor hit him square upon tlrn crest cut do,vn at the shipways by our spears!" With a great stone: his skull split in the helmet, lllld he fell prone upon the corpse·. Death's cloud At this, grief and remorse possessed the Trojans, f)oured round him, heart-corroding. Grief and pain g1ief not to be borne, because Sarped6n for this foend dying came to Lord Patr6klos, 670 had been a bastion of the tm:vn of Troy, y,,ho pounced through spear-play like a diving hawk foreigner though he was. A host came ,,vi.th him, that puts jackdaws and starlings wildly to flight: but he had fought most gallantly of all. ;&aight through Lykians, through Trojans, too, They made straight for the Dana.ans, and H ektor you drove, Patr6klos, master of horse, led them, hot \'l'lth anger for Sarped6n. in fury for your foend. Sthenelaos Patr6klos in his savagery cheered on the son oflthaimenes was the victim: the Akhaians, first tl1e two named Afas, both :Patr6klos with a great stone broke his nape-cord. already aflame for war: Backward the line bent, Hektor too gave way, "Afas and Afas, far as a hunting spear inay hurtle, thrown let it be sweet to you to stand and fight! .as by a man in practice or in competition 680 You always do; be lionhearted, now. 6r matched with deadly foes in war. So far The man who crossed the rampart of Akhaians the Trojans ebbed, as the AJambrosia, put ambrosial Patr6l

In a low faint voice, Patr6klos, master of horse, you answered him:

"This is your hour to glo1y over me, 97° Hektor. The Lord Zeus and Apollo gave you