“How nimble is this man! how lightly he dives!  What spoil he would take of oysters, diving from a ship, even in a stormy sea!  Who would have thought that there were such skillful divers in Troy!”

Then again the battle waxed hot about the body of Cebriones, and this too, at the last, the Greeks drew unto themselves, and spoiled it of the arms.  And this being accomplished, Patroclus rushed against the men of Troy.  Thrice he rushed, and each time he slew nine chiefs of fame.  But the fourth time Apollo stood behind him and struck him on the head and shoulders, so that his eyes were darkened.  And the helmet fell from off his head, so that the horse-hair plumes were soiled with dust.  Never before had it touched the ground, for it was the helmet of Achilles.  And also the god brake the spear in his hand, and struck the shield from his arms, and loosed his corselet.  All amazed he stood, and then Euphorbus, son of Panthous, smote him on the back with his spear, but slew him not.  Then Patroclus sought to flee to the ranks of his comrades.  But Hector saw him, and thrust at him with his spear, smiting him in the groin, so that he fell.  And when the Greeks saw him fall, they sent up a terrible cry.  Then Hector stood over him and cried,—­

“Didst thou think to spoil our city, Patroclus, and to carry away our wives and daughters in the ships?  But lo!  I have slain thee, and the fowls of the air shall eat thy flesh; nor shall the great Achilles help thee at all,—­Achilles, who bade thee, I trow, strip the tunic from my breast, and thou thoughtest in thy folly to do it.”

But Patroclus answered, “Thou boasteth much, Hector.  Yet thou didst not slay me, but Apollo, who took from me my arms, for had twenty such as thou met me, I had slain them all.  And mark thou this:  death and fate are close to thee by the hand of the great Achilles.”

And Hector answered, but Patroclus was dead already, “Why dost thou prophesy death to me?  Maybe the great Achilles himself shall fall by my hand.”  Then he drew his spear from the wound, and went after Automedon, to slay him, but the swift horse of Achilles carried him away.

Fierce was the fight about the body of Patroclus, and many heroes fell, both on this side and on that.

[Illustration:  FIERCE WAS THE FIGHT ABOUT THE BODY OF PATROCLUS AND MANY HEROES FELL]

Meanwhile Antilochus, son of Nestor, ran to Achilles and said, “I bring ill news; Patroclus lies low.  The Greeks fight for his body, but Hector hath his arms.”

Then Achilles took of the dust of the plain in his hand, and poured it on his head, and lay at his length upon the ground, and tare his hair.  And all the women wailed.  And Antilochus sat weeping; but ever he held the hands of Achilles, lest he should slay himself in his great grief.

Then came his mother, hearing his cry, from where she sat in the depths of the sea, and laid her hand on him and said,—­