his beloved son, Jupiter causes a bloody dew to fall upon earth, and despatches Sleep and Death to take charge of his remains, which they are to convey first to Olympus to receive a fatherly kiss and then to Lycia for burial.  No sooner is Sarpedon slain than a grim fight ensues over his spoil and remains, but while the Greeks secure his armor, his corpse is borne away by Apollo, who, after purifying it from all battle soil, entrusts it to Sleep and Death.

Meantime, renewing his pursuit of the Trojans, Patroclus is about to scale the walls of Troy, when Apollo reminds him the city is not to fall a prey either to him or to his friend.  Then, in the midst of a duel in which Patroclus engages with Hector, Apollo snatches the helmet off the Greek hero’s head, leaving him thus exposed to his foe’s deadly blows.  The dying Patroclus, therefore, declares that had not the gods betrayed him he would have triumphed, and predicts that Achilles will avenge his death.  Meantime, pleased with having slain so redoubtable a foe, Hector makes a dash to secure Achilles’ chariot and horses, but fails because the driver (Automedon) speeds away.

Book XVII. On seeing Patroclus fall, Menelaus rushes forward to defend his remains and rescue Achilles’ armor from the foe.  Warned of this move, Hector abandons the vain pursuit of Achilles’ chariot, and returns to claim his spoil.  He has barely secured it when Menelaus and Ajax attack him, and a mad battle takes place over Patroclus’ remains, while Achilles’ horses weep for the beloved youth who so often caressed them.

Book XVIII. No sooner is the death of Patroclus known in Achilles’ tent than the female captives wail, while the hero groans so loudly that Thetis hears him.  Rising from the depths of the sea, she hurries to his side, regretting his brief life should be marred by so much sorrow.  Then, hearing him swear to avenge his friend, she entreats him to wait until the morrow, so she can procure him armor from Vulcan.  Having obtained this promise, she hastens off to visit the god and bespeak his aid in behalf of her son.

Meanwhile the Greeks, who are trying to bear away Patroclus’ remains, are so hard pressed by the Trojans that Juno sends word Achilles must interfere.  Hampered by a lack of armor and by the promise to his mother, the hero ventures only as far as the trench, where, however, he utters so threatening a war-cry that the Trojans flee, and the Greeks are thus able to bring Patroclus’ body safely into camp, just as the sun sets and the day’s fighting ends.

Having unharnessed their steeds, the Trojans assemble to consider whether it will not be best to retreat within their walls, for they know Achilles will appear on the morrow to avenge Patroclus.  But Hector so vehemently insists that they maintain the advantage gained, that they camp on the plain, where Jupiter predicts his wife’s wish will be granted and her favorite Achilles win great glory.  It is in the course of that night that Thetis visits Vulcan’s forge and in the attitude of a suppliant implores the divine blacksmith to make an armor for her son.  Not only does Vulcan consent, but hurries off to his anvil, where he and Cyclops labor to such good purpose that a superb suit of armor is ready by dawn.