although very discerning, have recognized
noble Sarpedon, since he was totally involved, from his head to the
soles of his feet, with weapons, and blood, and dust. But they still
crowded round the corse, as when flies in the stall hum around the pails
full of milk, during the spring season, when the milk makes moist the
vessel. So they still crowded round the body: nor did Jove ever turn his
bright eyes from the violent conflict; but he ever beheld them, and
meditated many evil things in his mind concerning the death of
Patroclus, anxiously deliberating whether now illustrious Hector should
kill him with his spear in the brave battle, over godlike Sarpedon, and
spoil the armour from his shoulders, or whether he should still increase
the severe labour to the multitude. To him, thus reflecting, it appeared
better that the brave servant of Achilles, the son of Peleus, should
repulse the Trojans and brazen-armed Hector, towards the city, and take
away the life of many. Into Hector, therefore, first [of all], he sent
unwarlike flight, and ascending his chariot, he turned himself to
flight, and advised the other Trojans to fly, for he recognized the
sacred scales of Jove.[540] Then not even the brave Lycians remained,
but were all turned in flight, when they beheld their king wounded to
the heart, lying in the heap of dead; for many had fallen over him,
whilst the son of Saturn stretched on the violent strife. But after they
had taken from the shoulders of Sarpedon the brazen and glittering
armour, the gallant son of Menoetius gave them to his companions to carry
to the hollow ships; and then cloud-compelling Jove addressed Apollo:

"Come now, dear Phoebus, going, cleanse Sarpedon, [withdrawn] from among
the heap of weapons, of sable gore, and afterwards bearing him far away,
lave him in the stream of the river, and anoint him with ambrosia, and
put around him immortal garments, then give him in charge to the
twin-brothers. Sleep and Death, swift conductors, to be borne away, who
will quickly place him in the rich state of wide Lycia. There will his
brethren and kindred perform his obsequies with a tomb and a
pillar,[541] for this is the honour of the dead."

[Footnote 540: _I.e._ He perceived that the fortune of the battle
was changed by the will of Jove.]

[Footnote 541: _I.e._ A cippus, or column reared upon the tomb.
See Pollux, viii. 14, and the Scriptores Rei Agrim. p. 88, ed.
Goes.]

Thus he spoke;