of
the Trojans, on the one hand, eagerly hoped to draw him to Ilium, but of
the Greeks, on the other, to the hollow ships. Around him arose a fierce
tumult; nor could Mars, the exciter of troops, nor Minerva, having
beheld it, have found fault, not even if wrath had particularly come
upon her; such an evil labour of men and horses did Jove extend over
Patroclus on that day. Nor as yet did noble Achilles at all know that
Patroclus was dead, because they fought far from the swift ships,
beneath the wall of the Trojans. He never thought in his mind that he
was dead; but that alive, having approached the gates, he would return
back, since he did not at all suppose that he could sack the city
without him, for he had often heard this from his mother, hearing it
apart, who used to tell him the design of mighty Jove. Yet his mother
had not then told him so great an evil as had happened, that the
companion by far most dear to him had perished.

[Footnote 557: _I.e._ resting at intervals, as it is explained in
ver. 373.]

But they, ever around the dead body, holding their sharp spears, charged
incessantly, and slaughtered one another, and thus would some of the
brazen-mailed Greeks say:

"O friends, surely it will not be honourable for us to retreat to the
hollow ships; but [rather] let the black earth here gape for all. This
indeed would at once be better for us, than that we should permit the
horse-breaking Trojans to drag him to their city, and obtain glory."

And thus also would some one of the magnanimous Trojans say:

"O friends, although it be our destiny that all be equally subdued
beside this man, never let any one retire from the battle."

Thus, then, some one said, and aroused the spirit of each. Thus indeed
were they fighting; and the iron clangour[558] reached the brazen heaven
through the unfruitful air. But the horses of AEacides being apart from
the combat, wept, when first they perceived that their charioteer had
fallen in the dust, beneath man-slaughtering Hector. Automedon, indeed,
the brave son of Diores, frequently urged them on, beating them with the
sharp lash, and frequently addressed them in mild terms and in threats;
but they chose neither to go back to the ships towards the wide
Hellespont nor into the battle among the Greeks; but, as a pillar
remains firm, which stands at the tomb of a dead man or woman, so they
remained detaining the splendid chariot motionless, and drooping their
heads