ischarges his wrath
upon Juno's head. Hearing her attribute the blame to Neptune, Jupiter
wrathfully orders his brother back to his realm and despatches Apollo
to cure Hector. Then he reiterates that the Greeks shall be worsted
until Patroclus, wearing Achilles' armor, takes part in the fray. He
adds that, after slaying his son Sarpedon, this hero will succumb
beneath Hector's sword, and that, to avenge Patroclus' death, Achilles
will slay Hector and thus insure the fall of Troy.

Once more the Trojans drive back the Greeks, who would have given up
in despair had not Jupiter encouraged them by a clap of thunder.
Hearing the Trojans again burst into camp, Patroclus rushes out of
Achilles' tent and sees Teucer winging one deadly arrow after another
among the foe. But, in spite of his skill, and although Ajax fights
like a lion at bay, Hector and the Trojans press fiercely forward,
torch in hand, to fire the Greek ships.

_Book XVI._ Appalled by this sight, Patroclus rushes back to Achilles,
and, after vainly urging him to fight, persuades him to lend him his
armor, chariot, and men. But, even while furthering his friend's
departure, Achilles charges him neither to slay Hector nor take Troy,
as he wishes to reserve that double honor for himself. It is just as
the first vessels are enveloped in flames that Patroclus rushes to the
rescue of his countrymen. At the sight of a warrior whom they mistake
for Achilles, and at this influx of fresh troops, the Trojans beat a
retreat, and the Greeks, fired with new courage, pursue them across
the plain and to the very gates of Troy. Such is Patroclus' ardor
that, forgetting Achilles' injunctions, he is about to attack Hector,
when Sarpedon challenges him to a duel. Knowing this fight will prove
fatal to his beloved son, Jupiter causes a bloody dew to fall upon
earth, and despatches Sleep and Death to take charge of his remains,
which they are to convey first to Olympus to receive a fatherly kiss
and then to Lycia for burial. No sooner is Sarpedon slain than a grim
fight ensues over his spoil and remains, but while the Greeks secure
his armor, his corpse is borne away by Apollo, who, after purifying it
from all battle soil, entrusts it to Sleep and Death.

Meantime, renewing his pursuit of the Trojans, Patroclus is about to
scale the walls of Troy, when Apollo reminds him the city is not to
fall a prey either to him or to his friend. Then, in the midst of a
duel in which Patroclus