But Sarpedon, when he saw the Lycians dismayed and scattered, called to them that they should be of good courage, saying that he would himself make trial of this great warrior.  So he leapt down from his chariot, and Patroclus also leapt down, and they rushed at each other as two eagles rush together.  Then first Patroclus struck down Thrasymelus, who was the comrade of Sarpedon; and Sarpedon, who had a spear in either hand, with the one struck the horse Pedasus, which was of mortal breed, on the right shoulder, and with the other missed his aim, sending it over the left shoulder of Patroclus.  But Patroclus missed not his aim, driving his spear into Sarpedon’s heart.  Then fell the great Lycian chief, as an oak, or a poplar, or a pine falls upon the hills before the axe.  But he called to Glaucus, his companion, saying, “Now must thou show thyself a good warrior, Glaucus.  First call the men of Lycia to fight for me, and do thou fight thyself, for it would be foul shame to thee, all thy days, if the Greeks should spoil me of my arms.”

Then he died.  But Glaucus was sore troubled, for he could not help him, so grievous was the wound where Teucer had wounded him.  Therefore he prayed to Apollo, and Apollo helped him and made him whole.  Then he went first to the Lycians, bidding them fight for their king, and then to the chiefs of the Trojans, that they should save the body of Sarpedon.  And to Hector he said, “Little carest thou for thy allies.  Lo!  Sarpedon is dead, slain by Patroclus.  Suffer not the Myrmidons to carry him off and do dishonor to his body.”

But Hector was troubled to hear such news, and so were all the sons of Troy, for Sarpedon was the bravest of the allies, and led most people to the battle.  So with a great shout they charged, and drove the Greeks back a space from the body; and then again the Greeks did the like.  And so the battle raged, till no one would have known the great Sarpedon, so covered was he with spears and blood and dust.  But at the last the Greeks drave back the men of Troy from the body, and stripped the arms, but the body itself they harmed not.  For Apollo came down at the bidding of Zeus, and carried it out of the midst of the battle, and washed it with water, and anointed it with ambrosia, and wrapped it in garments of the Gods.  And then he gave it to Sleep and Death, and these two carried it to Lycia, his fatherland.

Then did Patroclus forget the word which Achilles had spoken to him, that he should not go near to Troy, for he pursued the men of the city even to the wall.  Thrice he mounted on the angle of the wall, and thrice Apollo himself drove him back, pushing his shining shield.  But the fourth time the god said, “Go thou back, Patroclus.  It is not for thee to take the city of Troy; no, nor for Achilles, who is far better than thou art.”

So Patroclus went back, fearing the wrath of the archer god.  Then Apollo stirred up the spirit of Hector, that he should go against Patroclus.  Therefore he went, with his brother Cebriones for driver of his chariot.  But when they came near, Patroclus cast a great stone which he had in his hand, and smote Cebriones on the forehead, crushing it in, so that he fell headlong from the chariot.  And Patroclus mocked him, saying,—­