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that heaven is heaping calamity upon the Danaans； and giving
victory to the Trojans。 Patroclus has fallen； who was the bravest
of the Achaeans； and sorely will the Danaans miss him。 Run
instantly to the ships and tell Achilles； that he may e to
rescue the body and bear it to the ships。 As for the armour；
Hector already has it。〃
Antilochus was struck with horror。 For a long time he was
speechless； his eyes filled with tears and he could find no
utterance； but he did as Menelaus had said； and set off running
as soon as he had given his armour to a rade； Laodocus； who
was wheeling his horses round； close beside him。
Thus； then； did he run weeping from the field； to carry the bad
news to Achilles son of Peleus。 Nor were you； O Menelaus； minded
to succour his harassed rades； when Antilochus had left the
Pyliansand greatly did they miss himbut he sent them noble
Thrasymedes； and himself went back to Patroclus。 He came running
up to the two Ajaxes and said； 〃I have sent Antilochus to the
ships to tell Achilles； but rage against Hector as he may； he
cannot e； for he cannot fight without armour。 What then will
be our best plan both as regards rescuing the dead； and our own
escape from death amid the battle…cries of the Trojans？〃
Ajax answered； 〃Menelaus； you have said well： do you； then； and
Meriones stoop down； raise the body； and bear it out of the fray；
while we two behind you keep off Hector and the Trojans； one in
heart as in name； and long used to fighting side by side with one
another。〃
On this Menelaus and Meriones took the dead man in their arms and
lifted him high aloft with a great effort。 The Trojan host raised
a hue and cry behind them when they saw the Achaeans bearing the
body away； and flew after them like hounds attacking a wounded
boar at the loo of a band of young huntsmen。 For a while the
hounds fly at him as though they would tear him in pieces； but
now and again he turns on them in a fury； scaring and scattering
them in all directionseven so did the Trojans for a while
charge in a body； striking with sword and with spears pointed at
both the ends； but when the two Ajaxes faced them and stood at
bay； they would turn pale and no man dared press on to fight
further about the dead。
In this wise did the two heroes strain every nerve to bear the
body to the ships out of the fight。 The battle raged round them
like fierce flames that when once kindled spread like wildfire
over a city； and the houses fall in the glare of its burning
even such was the roar and tramp of men and horses that pursued
them as they bore Patroclus from the field。 Or as mules that put
forth all their strength to draw some beam or great piece of
ship's timber down a rough mountain…track； and they pant and
sweat as they； go even so did Menelaus and pant and sweat as they
bore the body of Patroclus。 Behind them the two Ajaxes held
stoutly out。 As some wooded mountain…spur that stretches across a
plain will turn water and check the flow even of a great river；
nor is there any stream strong enough to break through iteven
so did the two Ajaxes face the Trojans and stem the tide of their
fighting though they kept pouring on towards them and foremost
among them all was Aeneas son of Anchises with valiant Hector。 As
a flock of daws or starlings fall to screaming and chattering
when they see a falcon； foe to all small birds； e soaring near
them； even so did the Achaean youth raise a babel of cries as
they fled before Aeneas and Hector； unmindful of their former
prowess。 In the rout of the Danaans much goodly armour fell round
about the trench； and of fighting there was no end。
BOOK XVIII
The grief of Achilles over PatroclusThe visit of Thetis
to Vulcan and the armour that he made for Achilles。
THUS then did they fight as it were a flaming fire。 Meanwhile the
fleet runner Antilochus； who had been sent as messenger； reached
Achilles； and found him sitting by his tall ships and boding that
which was indeed too surely true。 〃Alas；〃 said he to himself in
the heaviness of his heart； 〃why are the Achaeans again scouring
the plain and flocking towards the ships？ Heaven grant the gods
be not now bringing that sorrow upon me of which my mother Thetis
spoke； saying that while I was yet alive the bravest of the
Myrmidons should fall before the Trojans； and see the light of
the sun no longer。 I fear the brave son of Menoetius has fallen
through his own daring and yet I bade him return to the ships as
soon as he had driven back those that were bringing fire against
them； and not join battle with Hector。〃
As he was thus pondering； the son of Nestor came up to him and
told his sad tale； weeping bitterly the while。 〃Alas；〃 he cried；
〃son of noble Peleus； I bring you bad tidings； would indeed that
they were untrue。 Patroclus has fallen； and a fight is raging
about his naked bodyfor Hector holds his armour。〃
A dark cloud of grief fell upon Achilles as he listened。 He
filled both hands with dust from off the ground； and poured it
over his head； disfiguring his ely face； and letting the
refuse settle over his shirt so fair and new。 He flung himself
down all huge and hugely at full length； and tore his hair with
his hands。 The bondswomen whom Achilles and Patroclus had taken
captive screamed aloud for grief； beating their breasts； and with
their limbs failing them for sorrow。 Antilochus bent over him the
while； weeping and holding both his hands as he lay groaning for
he feared that he might plunge a knife into his own throat。 Then
Achilles gave a loud cry and his mother heard him as she was
sitting in the depths of the sea by the old man her father；
whereon she screamed； and all the goddesses daughters of Nereus
that dwelt at the bottom of the sea； came gathering round her。
There were Glauce； Thalia and Cymodoce； Nesaia； Speo； Thoe and
dark…eyed Halie； Cymothoe； Actaea and Limnorea； Melite； Iaera；
Amphithoe and Agave； Doto and Proto； Pherusa and Dynamene；
Dexamene； Amphinome and Callianeira； Doris； Panope； and the
famous sea…nymph Galatea； Nemertes； Apseudes and Callianassa。
There were also Clymene； Ianeira and Ianassa； Maera； Oreithuia
and Amatheia of