The deeds of Patroclus
Patroclus stood by Achilles, weeping. Achilles said: “What is the matter, Patroclus?”
Patroclus answered: “The Greeks are in trouble. If you will not go to the battle, let me go. Let me put on your armor; the Trojans will think that you have come back to the battle.”
Achilles answered: “I said that I would not fight till the Trojans should bring the fire near to my own ships. But now, for I see that the Greeks are in need, you may put on my armor and go to the fight. But when you have done this, come back and fight no more with the Trojans, for it is my business to conquer them. And go not near the wall of Troy, lest one of the gods harm you. These gods love the Trojans.”
Patroclus put on the armor. When the Trojans saw the armor he wore, they thought he was Achilles and turned to flee. Patroclus’s heart was set upon slaying Hector, for he had forgotten Achilles’ command.
Patroclus thought, “Now shall I take the city of Troy.” Apollo cried to him: “Go back, Patroclus; it is not for you to conquer Troy.”
Patroclus went back, for he feared the god’s anger. Then did Apollo put it into the heart of Hector to go against Patroclus.
So Hector said to his charioteer: “We will see whether we cannot drive back Patroclus, for it must be he; Achilles he is not, though he wears his armor.”
Three times did Patroclus charge into the Trojans. When he charged the fourth time, Apollo stood behind him and gave him a great blow on his neck, so that he could not see. Hector stood over him and said: “Did you think that you would take our city? This you will not do, and Achilles cannot help you.”
Patroclus answered: “You boast too much. It is not by your hand that I am overcome; it was Apollo who brought me to my death. And mark you this: Achilles will slay you.”
Then said Hector: “Maybe, as I have slain you, so shall I slay the great Achilles.” But Patroclus was dead already.
As a lioness stands before its cubs and will not suffer the hunter to take them, so did Ajax stand before the body of Patroclus and defend it from the Trojans.
The Trojans charged and the battle grew fiercer. The Greeks said to themselves: “Better that the Earth should open and swallow us than that we let the Trojans carry off the body of Patroclus.” And the Trojans said to themselves: “If we must be slain fighting for this body, be it so; but we will not yield.”
When the Greeks were growing weary, and the Trojans pressed them more, Ajax said to Menelaus : “See if you can find Antilochus, Nestor’s son, and bid him carry the news to Achilles that Patroclus is dead and that the Greeks and Trojans are fighting over his body.”
Antilochus ran to Achilles and said: “Patroclus is dead and Hector has his arms, but the Greeks and Trojans are fighting for his body.”
Achilles threw himself upon the ground and wailed. His mother came to him and said: “Why do you weep?”
Achilles answered: “All that you asked from Zeus, he has done: But what is the good? The man whom I loved above all others is dead, and Hector has my arms, for Patroclus was wearing them. I do not wish to live except to avenge myself upon him.”
Thetis said: “Do not speak so: Do you not know that when Hector dies, the hour is near when you also must die?”
Achilles cried: “Would that I could die, for I sent my friend to death. Cursed be the anger that sets men to strive with one another, as it made me strive with King Agamemnon. As for my fate, let it come, but first I will have vengeance on Hector. Seek not, therefore, to keep me back from the battle.”
Thetis answered: “But you cannot go without arms, and these Hector has. Tomorrow I will go to Hephæstus, that he may make new arms for you.”
While they talked, the Trojans pressed the Greeks still more, so that Ajax himself could no longer stand against them.
Zeus sent Iris to Achilles with this message: “Rouse yourself or Patroclus will be a prey to the dogs of Troy.”
But Achilles said: “How shall I go, for I have no arms?”
Iris said: “Go to the trench and show yourself, for the Trojans will be swift and draw back.”
So to the trench Achilles went, and the hearts of the men of Troy filled with fear. The Greeks took up the body of Patroclus and carried it to the tent of Achilles.
This had been a sad day; so did the Greeks rest from their labors while the Trojans assembled. One of the Trojan elders said: “It was well for us to fight so long as Achilles was angry with King Agamemnon. But now this has ceased to be. Tomorrow will Achilles come to the battle. It will be an evil day for us. Let us go back to the city, for its walls are high and its gates are strong.”
Hector said: “This is bad counsel. Shall we shut ourselves up in the city? If Achilles comes to the battle, I will meet him, for the gods give victory now to one man and now to another.”
And the people clapped their hands, for they were foolish and knew not what the morrow would bring.
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