Page 362 - the-iliad

of his friends has fallen. But I can see not a man among the
Achaeans to send, for they and their chariots are alike hid-
den in darkness. O father Jove, lift this cloud from over the
sons of the Achaeans; make heaven serene, and let us see; if
you will that we perish, let us fall at any rate by daylight.’
Father Jove heard him and had compassion upon his
tears. Forthwith he chased away the cloud of darkness, so
that the sun shone out and all the fighting was revealed.
Ajax then said to Menelaus, ‘Look, Menelaus, and if Anti-
lochus son of Nestor be still living, send him at once to tell
Achilles that by far the dearest to him of all his comrades
has fallen.’
Menelaus heeded his words and went his way as a lion
from a stockyard—the lion is tired of attacking the men and
hounds, who keep watch the whole night through and will
not let him feast on the fat of their herd. In his lust of meat
he makes straight at them but in vain, for darts from strong
hands assail him, and burning brands which daunt him for
all his hunger, so in the morning he slinks sulkily away—
even so did Menelaus sorely against his will leave Patroclus,
in great fear lest the Achaeans should be driven back in rout
and let him fall into the hands of the foe. He charged Merio-
nes and the two Ajaxes straitly saying, ‘Ajaxes and Meriones,
leaders of the Argives, now indeed remember how good Pa-
troclus was; he was ever courteous while alive, bear it in
mind now that he is dead.’
With this Menelaus left them, looking round him as
keenly as an eagle, whose sight they say is keener than that
of any other bird—however high he may be in the heavens,

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