Page 355 - the-iliad

should let the Trojans have the triumph of bearing off Pa-
troclus to their city.’
The Trojans also on their part spoke to one another say-
ing, ‘Friends, though we fall to a man beside this body, let
none shrink from fighting.’ With such words did they ex-
hort each other. They fought and fought, and an iron clank
rose through the void air to the brazen vault of heaven. The
horses of the descendant of Aeacus stood out of the fight
and wept when they heard that their driver had been laid
low by the hand of murderous Hector. Automedon, valiant
son of Diores, lashed them again and again; many a time did
he speak kindly to them, and many a time did he upbraid
them, but they would neither go back to the ships by the
waters of the broad Hellespont, nor yet into battle among
the Achaeans; they stood with their chariot stock still, as a
pillar set over the tomb of some dead man or woman, and
bowed their heads to the ground. Hot tears fell from their
eyes as they mourned the loss of their charioteer, and their
noble manes drooped all wet from under the yokestraps on
either side the yoke.
The son of Saturn saw them and took pity upon their
sorrow. He wagged his head, and muttered to himself, say-
ing, ‘Poor things, why did we give you to King Peleus who
is a mortal, while you are yourselves ageless and immortal?
Was it that you might share the sorrows that befall man-
kind? for of all creatures that live and move upon the earth
there is none so pitiable as he is—still, Hector son of Priam
shall drive neither you nor your chariot. I will not have it.
It is enough that he should have the armour over which he

The Iliad