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with all his bravery availed you nothing； and yet I ween when you
left him he charged you straitly saying； 'e not back to the
ships； knight Patroclus； till you have rent the bloodstained
shirt of murderous Hector about his body。' Thus I ween did he
charge you； and your fool's heart answered him 'yea' within you。〃
Then； as the life ebbed out of you； you answered； O knight
Patroclus： 〃Hector； vaunt as you will； for Jove the son of Saturn
and Apollo have vouchsafed you victory； it is they who have
vanquished me so easily； and they who have stripped the armour
from my shoulders； had twenty such men as you attacked me； all of
them would have fallen before my spear。 Fate and the son of Leto
have overpowered me； and among mortal men Euphorbus； you are
yourself third only in the killing of me。 I say further； and lay
my saying to your heart； you too shall live but for a little
season； death and the day of your doom are close upon you； and
they will lay you low by the hand of Achilles son of Aeacus。〃
When he had thus spoken his eyes were closed in death； his soul
left his body and flitted down to the house of Hades； mourning
its sad fate and bidding farewell to the youth and vigor of its
manhood。 Dead though he was； Hector still spoke to him saying；
〃Patroclus； why should you thus foretell my doom？ Who knows but
Achilles； son of lovely Thetis； may be smitten by my spear and
die before me？〃
As he spoke he drew the bronze spear from the wound； planting his
foot upon the body； which he thrust off and let lie on its back。
He then went spear in hand after Automedon； squire of the fleet
descendant of Aeacus； for he longed to lay him low； but the
immortal steeds which the gods had given as a rich gift to Peleus
bore him swiftly from the field。
BOOK XVII
The light around the body of Patroclus。
BRAVE Menelaus son of Atreus now came to know that Patroclus had
fallen； and made his way through the front ranks clad in full
armour to bestride him。 As a cow stands lowing over her first
calf； even so did yellow…haired Menelaus bestride Patroclus。 He
held his round shield and his spear in front of him； resolute to
kill any who should dare face him。 But the son of Panthous had
also noted the body； and came up to Menelaus saying； 〃Menelaus；
son of Atreus； draw back； leave the body； and let the
bloodstained spoils be。 I was first of the Trojans and their
brave allies to drive my spear into Patroclus； let me； therefore；
have my full glory among the Trojans； or I will take aim and kill
you。〃
To this Menelaus answered in great anger 〃By father Jove；
boasting is an ill thing。 The pard is not more bold； nor the lion
nor savage wild…boar； which is fiercest and most dauntless of all
creatures； than are the proud sons of Panthous。 Yet Hyperenor did
not see out the days of his youth when he made light of me and
withstood me； deeming me the meanest soldier among the Danaans。
His own feet never bore him back to gladden his wife and parents。
Even so shall I make an end of you too； if you withstand me； get
you back into the crowd and do not face me； or it shall be worse
for you。 Even a fool may be wise after the event。〃
Euphorbus would not listen； and said； 〃Now indeed； Menelaus；
shall you pay for the death of my brother over whom you vaunted；
and whose wife you widowed in her bridal chamber； while you
brought grief unspeakable on his parents。 I shall fort these
poor people if I bring your head and armour and place them in the
hands of Panthous and noble Phrontis。 The time is e when this
matter shall be fought out and settled； for me or against me。〃
As he spoke he struck Menelaus full on the shield； but the spear
did not go through； for the shield turned its point。 Menelaus
then took aim； praying to father Jove as he did so； Euphorbus was
drawing back； and Menelaus struck him about the roots of his
throat； leaning his whole weight on the spear； so as to drive it
home。 The point went clean through his neck； and his armour rang
rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground。 His hair
which was like that of the Graces； and his locks so deftly bound
in bands of silver and gold； were all bedrabbled with blood。 As
one who has grown a fine young olive tree in a clear space where
there is abundance of waterthe plant is full of promise； and
though the winds beat upon it from every quarter it puts forth
its white blossoms till the blasts of some fierce hurricane sweep
down upon it and level it with the groundeven so did Menelaus
strip the fair youth Euphorbus of his armour after he had slain
him。 Or as some fierce lion upon the mountains in the pride of
his strength fastens on the finest heifer in a herd as it is
feedingfirst he breaks her neck with his strong jaws； and then
gorges on her blood and entrails； dogs and shepherds raise a hue
and cry against him； but they stand aloof and will not e close
to him； for they are pale with feareven so no one had the
courage to face valiant Menelaus。 The son of Atreus would have
then carried off the armour of the son of Panthous with ease； had
not Phoebus Apollo been angry； and in the guise of Mentes chief
of the Cicons incited Hector to attack him。 〃Hector；〃 said he；
〃you are now going after the horses of the noble son of Aeacus；
but you will not take them； they cannot be kept in hand and
driven by mortal man； save only by Achilles； who is son to an
immortal mother。 Meanwhile Menelaus son of Atreus has bestridden
the body of Patroclus and killed the noblest of the Trojans；
Euphorbus son of Panthous； so that he can fight no more。〃
The god then went back into the toil and turmoil； but the soul of
Hector was darkened with a cloud of grief； he looked along the
ranks and saw Euphorbus lying on the ground with the blood still
flowing from his wound； and Menelaus stripping him of his armour。
On this he made his way to the front like a flame of fire； clad
in his gleaming armour； and crying with a loud voice。 When the
son of Atreus heard him； he said to himself in his dismay； 〃Alas！
what shall I do？ I may not let the Trojans take the armour of
Patroclus who has fallen fighting on my behalf； lest some Danaan
who sees m