Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
shone out and all the fighting was revealed. Ajax then said to
Menelaus, “Look, Menelaus, and if Antilochus son of Nestor be
still living, send him at once to tell Achilles that by far the dearest
to him of all his comrades has fallen.”
Menelaus heeded his words and went his way as a lion from a
stockyard- the lion is tired of attacking the men and hounds, who
keep watch the whole night through and will not let him feast on
the fat of their herd. In his lust of meat he makes straight at them
but in vain, for darts from strong hands assail him, and burning
brands which daunt him for all his hunger, so in the morning he
slinks sulkily away- even so did Menelaus sorely against his will
leave Patroclus, in great fear lest the Achaeans should be driven
back in rout and let him fall into the hands of the foe. He charged
Meriones and the two Ajaxes straitly saying, “Ajaxes and Meriones,
leaders of the Argives, now indeed remember how good Patroclus
was; he was ever courteous while alive, bear it in mind now that he
is dead.”
With this Menelaus left them, looking round him as keenly as an
eagle, whose sight they say is keener than that of any other birdhowever
high he may be in the heavens, not a hare that runs can
escape him by crouching under bush or thicket, for he will swoop
down upon it and make an end of it- even so, O Menelaus, did
your keen eyes range round the mighty host of your followers to
see if you could find the son of Nestor still alive. Presently
Menelaus saw him on the extreme left of the battle cheering on his
men and exhorting them to fight boldly. Menelaus went up to him
and said, “Antilochus, come here and listen to sad news, which I
would indeed were untrue. You must see with your own eyes that
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