illy shouting,
like unto the inextinguishable flame of Vulcan. Nor did he escape the
notice of the son of Atreus, loudly exclaiming; but he, deeply sighing,
thus communed with his own great-hearted soul:

"Ah me! if I leave the beautiful armour and Patroclus, who lies here for
the sake of my honour, [I dread] lest some one of the Greeks, whoever
perceives it, will be indignant; but if, being alone, I fight with
Hector and the Trojans, from shame, [I fear] lest many surround me,
[being] alone. But crest-tossing Hector is leading all the Trojans
hither. But wherefore has my soul been thus debating? Whenever a man
desires, in opposition to a deity, to fight with a hero whom a god
honours, soon is a great destruction hurled upon him; wherefore no one
of the Greeks will blame me, who may perceive me retiring from Hector,
since he wars under the impulse of a god. But if I could hear Ajax,
brave in the din of war, both of us, again returning, would be mindful
of battle even against a god, if by any means we could draw off the body
for the sake of Achilles, the son of Peleus: of evils, certainly it
would be the better." [550]

[Footnote 550: "The evil here spoken of, and of which a choice is
presented to Menelaus, are loss of both the body and the armour
of Patroclus, or of either separately. The first alternative he
is resolved on guarding against by summoning Ajax to his aid; of
the last two, he prefers the abandonment of the arms, _i.e._
[Greek: syle], spoliation of the corpse, to [Greek: aeikeia], its
disfigurement."--Kennedy.]

While he was thus deliberating these things in his mind and soul, the
ranks of the Trojans were meanwhile advancing; and Hector led the way.
But he retired back, and quitted the corpse, turning round as a
shaggy-bearded lion, which dogs and men drive from the stall with spears
and clamour; out his valiant heart within his breast is shaken, and he,
unwilling, departs from the fold: thus did yellow-haired Menelaus retire
from Patroclus. And being turned round, he stood, when he had reached
the band of his companions, looking all around for mighty Ajax, the son
of Telamon; whom he very quickly perceived upon the left of the whole
battle, encouraging his companions, and urging them to fight: for Phoebus
Apollo had cast a heaven-sent panic amongst them. But he made haste to
run, and, immediately standing near, spoke:

"Ajax, hither, friend, let us hasten in defence of slain Patro