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other gods。 Therefore she put strength into his knees and
shoulders； and made him as bold as a fly； which； though driven
off will yet e again and bite if it can； so dearly does it
love man's bloodeven so bold as this did she make him as he
stood over Patroclus and threw his spear。 Now there was among the
Trojans a man named Podes； son of Eetion； who was both rich and
valiant。 Hector held him in the highest honour for he was his
rade and boon panion； the spear of Menelaus struck this man
in the girdle just as he had turned in flight； and went right
through him。 Whereon he fell heavily forward； and Menelaus son of
Atreus drew off his body from the Trojans into the ranks of his
own people。
Apollo then went up to Hector and spurred him on to fight； in the
likeness of Phaenops son of Asius who lived in Abydos and was the
most favoured of all Hector's guests。 In his likeness Apollo
said； 〃Hector； who of the Achaeans will fear you henceforward now
that you have quailed before Menelaus who has ever been rated
poorly as a soldier？ Yet he has now got a corpse away from the
Trojans single…handed； and has slain your own true rade； a man
brave among the foremost； Podes son of Eetion。〃
A dark cloud of grief fell upon Hector as he heard； and he made
his way to the front clad in full armour。 Thereon the son of
Saturn seized his bright tasselled aegis； and veiled Ida in
cloud： he sent forth his lightnings and his thunders； and as he
shook his aegis he gave victory to the Trojans and routed the
Achaeans。
The panic was begun by Peneleos the Boeotian； for while keeping
his face turned ever towards the foe he had been hit with a spear
on the upper part of the shoulder； a spear thrown by Polydamas
had grazed the top of the bone； for Polydamas had e up to him
and struck him from close at hand。 Then Hector in close bat
struck Leitus son of noble Alectryon in the hand by the wrist；
and disabled him from fighting further。 He looked about him in
dismay； knowing that never again should he wield spear in battle
with the Trojans。 While Hector was in pursuit of Leitus；
Idomeneus struck him on the breastplate over his chest near the
nipple； but the spear broke in the shaft； and the Trojans cheered
aloud。 Hector then aimed at Idomeneus son of Deucalion as he was
standing on his chariot； and very narrowly missed him； but the
spear hit Coiranus； a follower and charioteer of Meriones who had
e with him from Lyctus。 Idomeneus had left the ships on foot
and would have afforded a great triumph to the Trojans if
Coiranus had not driven quickly up to him； he therefore brought
life and rescue to Idomeneus； but himself fell by the hand of
murderous Hector。 For Hector hit him on the jaw under the ear；
the end of the spear drove out his teeth and cut his tongue in
two pieces； so that he fell from his chariot and let the reins
fall to the ground。 Meriones gathered them up from the ground and
took them into his own hands； then he said to Idomeneus； 〃Lay on；
till you get back to the ships； for you must see that the day is
no longer ours。〃
On this Idomeneus lashed the horses to the ships； for fear had
taken hold upon him。
Ajax and Menelaus noted how Jove had turned the scale in favour
of the Trojans； and Ajax was first to speak。 〃Alas；〃 said he；
〃even a fool may see that father Jove is helping the Trojans。 All
their weapons strike home； no matter whether it be a brave man or
a coward that hurls them； Jove speeds all alike； whereas ours
fall each one of them without effect。 What； then； will be best
both as regards rescuing the body； and our return to the joy of
our friends who will be grieving as they look hitherwards； for
they will make sure that nothing can now check the terrible hands
of Hector； and that he will fling himself upon our ships。 I wish
that some one would go and tell the son of Peleus at once； for I
do not think he can have yet heard the sad news that the dearest
of his friends has fallen。 But I can see not a man among the
Achaeans to send； for they and their chariots are alike hidden in
darkness。 O father Jove； lift this cloud from over the sons of
the Achaeans； make heaven serene； and let us see； if you will
that we perish； let us fall at any rate by daylight。〃
Father Jove heard him and had passion upon his tears。
Forthwith he chased away the cloud of darkness； so that the sun
shone out and all the fighting was revealed。 Ajax then said to
Menelaus； 〃Look； Menelaus； and if Antilochus son of Nestor be
still living； send him at once to tell Achilles that by far the
dearest to him of all his rades has fallen。〃
Menelaus heeded his words and went his way as a lion from a
stockyardthe lion is tired of attacking the men and hounds； who
keep watch the whole night through and will not let him feast on
the fat of their herd。 In his lust of meat he makes straight at
them but in vain； for darts from strong hands assail him； and
burning brands which daunt him for all his hunger； so in the
morning he slinks sulkily awayeven so did Menelaus sorely
against his will leave Patroclus； in great fear lest the Achaeans
should be driven back in rout and let him fall into the hands of
the foe。 He charged Meriones and the two Ajaxes straitly saying；
〃Ajaxes and Meriones； leaders of the Argives； now indeed remember
how good Patroclus was； he was ever courteous while alive； bear
it in mind now that he is dead。〃
With this Menelaus left them； looking round him as keenly as an
eagle； whose sight they say is keener than that of any other
birdhowever high he may be in the heavens； not a hare that runs
can escape him by crouching under bush or thicket； for he will
swoop down upon it and make an end of iteven so； O Menelaus；
did your keen eyes range round the mighty host of your followers
to see if you could find the son of Nestor still alive。 Presently
Menelaus saw him on the extreme left of the battle cheering on
his men and exhorting them to fight boldly。 Menelaus went up to
him and said； 〃Antilochus； e here and listen to sad news；
which I would indeed were untrue。 You must see with your own eyes
that heaven is heaping calamity upon the Danaans； and giving
victory to the Tro