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208 ILIAD. XVI. 1
the hands of Diomede, the son of Tydeus, to avert destruction from the Greeks:
nor do I at all hear the voice of Agamemnon shouting from his odious head; but
[the voice] of man-slaughtering Hector, animating the Trojans, resounds: while
they with a shout possess the whole plain, conquering the Greeks in battle.
Yet even thus, Patroclus, do thou fall on them bravely, warding off destruction
from the ships; nor let them consume the vessels with blazing fire, and cut off
thy own return. But obey, as I shall lay the sum of my advice in thy mind,
in order that thou mayest obtain for me great honor and glory from all the
Greeks; and they may send back to me the beautiful maid, and afford [me]
besides rich presents. Having repulsed the enemy from the ships, return back:
and if, indeed, the loud-thundering husband of Juno permit thee to obtain glory,
do not be desirous of fighting with the warlike Trojans apart from me; for thou
wouldst render me more dishonored; nor, exulting in the battle and havoc, lead
on as far as Ilium, slaughtering the Trojans, lest some of the immortal gods
come down from Olympus [against thee]; for far-darting Apollo greatly loves
them. But return after thou hast given safety to the ships, and allow the others
to contend through the plain. For would that, O father Jove, Minerva, and
Apollo, not one of the Trojans, as many as there are, may escape death, nor
any of the Greeks: while to us two it [may be granted] to avoid destruction,
that we alone might overthrow the sacred bulwarks of Troy.”
Thus they indeed discussed these matters with each other. But Ajax no
longer remained firm, 1 for he was pressed hard with weapons; because the counsel
of Jove overpowered him, and the fierce Trojans hurling. And a dreadful
clang did his glittering helmet round his temples emit, being struck, and he was
constantly smitten upon the well-made studs of his casque. He was fatigued in
the left shoulder, by always firmly holding his movable shield; nor could they,
pressing him all around with their weapons, drive him from his place. Unceasingly
afflicted was he with severe panting, and every where from his limbs
poured copious perspiration, nor was he able to respire; for every where evil was
heaped upon evil.
Declare now to me, ye Muses, possessing Olympic habitations, how first the
fire fell upon the ships of the Greeks!
Hector, standing near, struck the ashen spear of Ajax with his great sword,
at the socket of the blade behind, and cut it quite off; Telamonian Ajax indeed
vainly brandished the mutilated spear in his hand; but the brazen blade rang,
falling upon the earth at a distance from him. Then Ajax knew in his blameless
soul, and shuddered at the deeds of the gods; because the lofty thundering Jove
cut off his plans of war, and willed the victory to the Trojans. Wherefore he
1 Compare the splendid description in Ennius apud Macrob. Sat. vi. 3:
“Undique conveniunt, vel imber, tela Tribuno.
Configunt parmam, tinnit hastilibus umbo,
Æratæ sonitant galeæ: sed nec pote quisquam
Undique nitendo corpus discerpere ferro.
Semper abundanteis hastas frangitque, quatitque,
Totum sudor habet corpus, multumque laborat:
Nec respirandi fit copia præpete ferro.”
Cf. Virg. Æn. ix. 806, sqq.; Stat. Theb. ii. 668, sqq.