Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
BOOK XVI
Thus did they fight about the ship of Protesilaus. Then Patroclus
drew near to Achilles with tears welling from his eyes, as from
some spring whose crystal stream falls over the ledges of a high
precipice. When Achilles saw him thus weeping he was sorry for
him and said, “Why, Patroclus, do you stand there weeping like
some silly child that comes running to her mother, and begs to be
taken up and carried- she catches hold of her mother’s dress to stay
her though she is in a hurry, and looks tearfully up until her
mother carries her- even such tears, Patroclus, are you now
shedding. Have you anything to say to the Myrmidons or to
myself? or have you had news from Phthia which you alone know?
They tell me Menoetius son of Actor is still alive, as also Peleus
son of Aeacus, among the Myrmidons- men whose loss we two
should bitterly deplore; or are you grieving about the Argives and
the way in which they are being killed at the ships, throu their own
high-handed doings? Do not hide anything from me but tell me
that both of us may know about it.”
Then, O knight Patroclus, with a deep sigh you answered,
“Achilles, son of Peleus, foremost champion of the Achaeans, do
not be angry, but I weep for the disaster that has now befallen the
Argives. All those who have been their champions so far are lying
at the ships, wounded by sword or spear. Brave Diomed son of
Tydeus has been hit with a spear, while famed Ulysses and
Agamemnon have received sword-wounds; Eurypylus again has
been struck with an arrow in the thigh; skilled apothecaries are
attending to these heroes, and healing them of their wounds; are
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