Authors of Greece | Page 9

to Lycia for burial.
The great glory Patroclus had won tempted him to forget his promise to
Achilles. He pursued the Trojans back to the walls of the town, slaying
Cebriones the charioteer of Hector. In the fight which took place over
the body Patroclus was assailed by Hector and Euphorbus under the
guidance of Apollo. Hector administered the death-blow; before he
died Patroclus foretold a speedy vengeance to come from Achilles.
A mighty struggle arose over his body. Menelaus slew Euphorbus, but
retreated at the approach of Hector, who seized the armour of Achilles
and put it on. A thick cloud settled over the combatants, heightening
the dread of battle. The gods came down to encourage their respective
warriors; the Greeks were thrust back over the plain, but the bravery of
Ajax and Menelaus enabled the latter to save Patroclus' body and carry
it from the dust of battle towards the ships.
When the news of his friend's death came to Achilles his grief was so
mighty that it seemed likely that he would have slain himself. He burst
into a lamentation so bitter that his mother heard him in her sea-cave
and came forth to learn what new sorrow had taken him. Too late he
learned the hard lesson that revenge may be sweet but is always bought
at the cost of some far greater thing.
"I could not bring salvation to Patroclus or my men, but sit at the ships
a useless burden upon the land, albeit I am such a man as no other in
war, though others excel me in speech. Perish strife from among men
and gods, and anger which inciteth even a prudent man to take offence;
far sweeter than dropping honey it groweth in a man's heart like smoke,
even now as Agamemnon hath roused me to a fury."
Being robbed of his armour he could not sally out to convey his
companion's body into the camp. Hera therefore sent Iris to him
bidding him merely show himself at the trenches and cry aloud. At the
sound of his thrice-repeated cry the Trojans shrank back in terror,
leaving the Greeks to carry in Patroclus' body unmolested; then Hera
bade the sun set at once into the ocean to end the great day of battle.
Polydamas knew well what the appearance of Achilles portended to the
Trojans, for he was the one man among them who could look both
before and after; his advice was that they should retire into the town
and there shut themselves up. It was received with scorn by Hector. In

the Greek camp Achilles burst into a wild lament over Patroclus,
swearing that he would not bury him before he had brought in Hector
dead and twelve living captives to sacrifice before the pyre. That night
his mother went to Hephaestus and persuaded him to make divine
armour for her son, which the poet describes in detail.
On receiving the armour from his mother Achilles made haste to
reconcile himself with Agamemnon. His impatience for revenge and
the oath he had taken made it impossible for him to take any food. His
strength was maintained by Athena who supplied him with nectar. On
issuing forth to the fight he addressed his two horses:
"Xanthus and Balius, bethink you how ye may save your charioteer
when he hath done with the battle, and desert him not in death as ye did
Patroclus."
In reply they prophesied his coming end.
"For this we are not to blame, but the mighty god--and violent Fate. We
can run quick as the breath of the North wind, who men say is the
swiftest of all, but thy fate it is to die by the might of a god and a man."
The Avenging Spirits forbade them to reveal more. The awe of the
climax of the poem is heightened by supernatural interventions. At last
the gods themselves received permission from Zeus to enter the fray.
They took sides, the shock of their meeting causing the nether deity to
start from his throne in fear that his realm should collapse about him.
Achilles met Aeneas and would have slain him had not Poseidon saved
him. Hector withdrew before him, warned by Apollo not to meet him
face to face. Disregarding the god's advice he attacked Achilles, but for
the moment was spirited away. Disappointed of his prey Achilles
sowed havoc among the lesser Trojans.
Choked by the numerous corpses the River-God Scamander begged
him cease his work of destruction. When the Hero disregarded him, he
assembled all his waters and would have overwhelmed him but for
Athena who gave him power to resist; the river was checked by the
Fire-God who dried up his streams. The gods then plunged into strife,
the sight whereof made