Page 329 - the-iliad

chariot cracked and they got entangled in the reins through
the fall of the horse that was yoked along with them; but
Automedon knew what to do; without the loss of a moment
he drew the keen blade that hung by his sturdy thigh and
cut the third horse adrift; whereon the other two righted
themselves, and pulling hard at the reins again went togeth-
er into battle.
Sarpedon now took a second aim at Patroclus, and again
missed him, the point of the spear passed over his left shoul-
der without hitting him. Patroclus then aimed in his turn,
and the spear sped not from his hand in vain, for he hit
Sarpedon just where the midriff surrounds the ever-beating
heart. He fell like some oak or silver poplar or tall pine to
which woodmen have laid their axes upon the mountains to
make timber for ship-building—even so did he lie stretched
at full length in front of his chariot and horses, moaning
and clutching at the blood-stained dust. As when a lion
springs with a bound upon a herd of cattle and fastens on a
great black bull which dies bellowing in its clutches—even
so did the leader of the Lycian warriors struggle in death
as he fell by the hand of Patroclus. He called on his trusty
comrade and said, ‘Glaucus, my brother, hero among he-
roes, put forth all your strength, fight with might and main,
now if ever quit yourself like a valiant soldier. First go about
among the Lycian captains and bid them fight for Sarpedon;
then yourself also do battle to save my armour from being
taken. My name will haunt you henceforth and for ever if
the Achaeans rob me of my armour now that I have fallen
at their ships. Do your very utmost and call all my people

The Iliad