thinking he should fall, retired back a
short space to the seven-feet bench, and deserted the deck of his equal
ship. There he stood watching, and with his spear continually repulsed
the Trojans from the ships, whoever might bring the indefatigable fire;
and always shouting dreadfully, he animated the Greeks:

"O my friends, Grecian heroes, servants of Mars, be men, my friends, and
be mindful of impetuous strength. Whether do we think that we have any
assistants in the rear, or any stronger rampart which may avert
destruction from the men? Indeed there is not any other city near,
fortified with towers, where we may be defended, having a reinforcing
army; but bordering on the sea, we sit in the plain of the well-armed
Trojans, far away from our native land; therefore safety is in our
exertions, not in remission of battle."

He said, and furious, charged with his sharp spear whoever of the
Trojans was borne towards the hollow ships with burning fire, for the
sake of Hector who incited them;--him Ajax wounded, receiving him with
his long spear; and he slew twelve in close fight before the ships.

[Footnote 504: The reader will do well to read the beautiful
sketch of this hero's deification after death in Philostratus's
preface to the Heroica. He was the first of the Greeks who fell,
being slain by Hector as he leaped from the vessel (Hygin. Fab.
ciii.; Auson. Epigr. xx.). He was buried on the Chersonese, near
the city Plagusa. Hygin. P.A. ii. 40.]

[Footnote 505: The Oxford translator renders [Greek: aphlaston] "the
tafferel."]

[Footnote 506: This is, I think, much more spirited than the
Scholiast's [Greek: panton ponon isorropon], or [Greek: panton
ton tolmethenion]. Supply, therefore, [Greek: ematon].]

[Footnote 507: _I.e._ befooled our senses, taking away our proper
spirit. So Theognis has [Greek: yooi beblammenos esthlou].]

BOOK THE SIXTEENTH.

ARGUMENT.

Patroclus at length obtains permission from Achilles, and enters the
fight, on condition that he should return after liberating the Greeks
from their immediate peril. He comes opportunely to the assistance of
Ajax, routs the Trojans, and kills Sarpedon, whose body, but without the
armour, is rescued by Hector and Glaucus. Forgetful of his promise to
Achilles, Patroclus pursues the Trojans to their very walls. He is
driven back by Apollo, but slays the ch