Achilles (Mythological character); Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War
Thus he spoke, but he roused the courage of warlike Ajax, and he
advanced through the foremost warriors, and with him yellow-haired
Menelaus. Hector on his part, after he had despoiled him of his
beautiful armour, was dragging Patroclus, that he might sever the head
from the shoulders with the sharp brass, and, carrying off the body,
might give it to the Trojan dogs, when Ajax came near, bearing his
shield, like a tower. Then Hector, retiring back, retreated into the
throng of his companions, and sprung up into his chariot; but he gave
the handsome armour to the Trojans to carry to the city, to be a great
glory to him. But Ajax, with his broad shield covering around the son
of Menœtius, stood like a lion over her young; against which, when
leading her whelps, the huntsmen rush together in the wood; whilst he
looks dreadful in his might, and draws down all his eyebrows,
concealing his eyes: so strode Ajax round the hero Patroclus. On the
other side stood the son of Atreus, warlike Menelaus, augmenting the
great grief in his bosom.
But Glaucus, the son of Hippolochus, leader of the Lycian heroes,
looking sternly at Hector, upbraided him with harsh language: “Hector,
most excellent as to appearance, certainly thou art greatly deficient
in fighting; doubtless good fame possesses thee without reason, since
thou art a fugitive. Consider now, how alone with the people [who are]
born in Ilium, thou mayest preserve the state and city, for none of the
Lycians, at all events, will go to fight with the Greeks for thy city;
since indeed there is no gratitude for fighting ever incessantly with
hostile men. How indeed, inglorious one, hast thou preserved an
inferior man in the throng, and suffered Sarpedon, at once thy guest
and companion, to become a prey and booty to the Greeks; who, when
alive, was a great advantage to thy city and thyself; but now thou
didst not attempt to drive away the dogs from him. Wherefore if any of
the Lycian warriors will now obey me, go home, 551 and utter
destruction will be manifest to Troy. For if now that confident,
intrepid strength, was in the Trojans, which enters heroes who in the
defence of their country undertake toil, and conflict with hostile men,
immediately might we draw Patroclus into Ilium. But if he, lifeless,
should come to the great city of king Priam, and we had drawn him away
from the battle, quickly indeed would the Greeks ransom [to us] the
beautiful armour of Sarpedon, and we might bear himself also into Troy;
for the attendant of that man is slain, who is by far the bravest of
the Greeks at the ships, and whose servants are close-fighting
warriors. But thou, forsooth, hast not dared to stand against
magnanimous Ajax, beholding his eyes in the battle of the enemy, nor to
fight against him; for he is more brave than thou.”
Footnote 551: (return) Take ἴμεν (ἰέναι) imperatively, or understand
ἐπιπείσεται ἐμοὶ ὤστε αὐτὸν ἰέναι εἰς οἷκον, ἄμεινον ἂν εἴη οὕτως ἄρα
ὄλεθρος, κ. τ. λ. See Kennedy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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