ran　back　into　the　crowd；　after　drawing　his　ashen　spear　out　of　the
  wound；　he　would　not　stand　firm　and　wait　for　Patroclus；　unarmed
  though　he　now　was；　to　attack　him；　but　Patroclus　unnerved；　alike　by　the
  blow　the　god　had　given　him　and　by　the　spear…wound；　drew　back　under
  cover　of　his　men　in　fear　for　his　life。　Hector　on　this；　seeing　him　to
  be　wounded　and　giving　ground；　forced　his　way　through　the　ranks；　and
  when　close　up　with　him　struck　him　in　the　lower　part　of　the　belly
  with　a　spear；　driving　the　bronze　point　right　through　it；　so　that　he
  fell　heavily　to　the　ground　to　the　great　of　the　Achaeans。　As　when　a
  lion　has　fought　some　fierce　wild…boar　and　worsted　him…　the　two　fight
  furiously　upon　the　mountains　over　some　little　fountain　at　which　they
  would　both　drink；　and　the　lion　has　beaten　the　boar　till　he　can
  hardly　breathe…　even　so　did　Hector　son　of　Priam　take　the　life　of　the
  brave　son　of　Menoetius　who　had　killed　so　many；　striking　him　from　close
  at　hand；　and　vaunting　over　him　the　while。　〃Patroclus；〃　said　he；　〃you
  deemed　that　you　should　sack　our　city；　rob　our　Trojan　women　of　their
  freedom；　and　carry　them　off　in　your　ships　to　your　own　country。　Fool；
  Hector　and　his　fleet　horses　were　ever　straining　their　utmost　to　defend
  them。　I　am　foremost　of　all　the　Trojan　warriors　to　stave　the　day　of
  bondage　from　off　them；　as　for　you；　vultures　shall　devour　you　here。
  Poor　wretch；　Achilles　with　all　his　bravery　availed　you　nothing；　and
  yet　I　ween　when　you　left　him　he　charged　you　straitly　saying；　'Come　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
  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　comfort　these　poor　people　if　I
  bring　your　head　and　armour　and　place　them　in　the　hands　of　Panthous　and
  noble　Phrontis。　The　time　is　come　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　water…　the
  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　ground…　even
  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　feeding…　first　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　come　close　to
  him；　for　they　are　pale　with　fear…　even　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　me　should　cry　shame
  upon　me。　Still　if　for　my　honour's　sake　I　fight　Hector　and　the
  Trojans　single…handed；　they　will　prove　too　many　for　me；　for　Hector
  is　bringing　them　up　in　force。　Why；　however；　should　I　thus　hesitate？
  When　a　man　fights　in　despite　of　heaven　with　one　whom　a　god
  befriends；　he　will　soon　rue　it。　Let　no　Danaan　think　ill　of　me　if　I
  give　place　to　Hector；　for　the　hand　of　heaven　is　with　him。　Yet；　if　I
  could　find　Ajax；　the　two　of　us　would　fight　Hector　and　heaven　too；　if
  we　might　only　save　the　body　of　Patroclus　for　Achilles　son　of　Peleus。
  This；　of　many　evils　would　be　the　least。〃
  While　he　was　thus　in　two　minds；　the　Trojans　came　up　to　him　with
  Hector　at　their　head；　he　therefore　drew　back　and　left　the　body；
  turning　about　like　some　bearded　lion　who　is　being　chased　by　dogs　and
  men　from　a　stockyard　with　spears　and　hue　and　cry；　whereon　he　is
  daunted　and　slinks　sulkily　off…　even　so　did　Menelaus　son　of　Atreus
  turn　and　leave　the　body　of　Patroclus。　When　among　the　body　of　his
  men；　he　looked　around　for　mighty　Ajax　son　of　Telamon；　and　presently
  saw　him　on　the　extreme　left　of　the　fight；　cheering　on　his　men　and
  exhorting　them　to　keep　on　fighting；　for　Phoebus　Apollo　had　spread　a
  great　panic　among　them。　He　ran　up　to　him　and　said；　〃Ajax；　my　good
  friend；　come　with　me　at　once　to　dead　Patroclus；　if　so　be　that　we　may
  take　the　body　to　Achilles…　as　for　his　armour；　Hector　already　has　it。〃
  These　words　stirred　the　heart　of　Ajax；　and　he　made　his　way　among　the
  front　ranks；　Menelaus　going　with　him。　Hector　had　stripped　Patroclus　of
  his　armour；　and　was　dragging　him　away　to　cut　off　his　head　and　take　the
  body　to　fling　before　the　dogs　of　Troy。　But　Ajax　c