The Iliad

by Homer

She made his helmet blaze with tireless flames, his shield as well—like a late star in summer which shines especially bright, newly risen from its bath in Ocean’s streams.

Then death’s black night, all-powerful fate, moved in and stole away his sight.

Then Diomedes went after Xanthus and Thoön, two sons of Phaenops, both of whom he loved. Worn down by sad old age, he’d have no other child, no person to inherit all his property. Diomedes killed them, took the life they loved, leaving bitter grief and anguish for their father, who wouldn’t welcome them back home from war alive. 180

I thought I’d shipped him straight to Hades.

I’ll go to fight them as I am, on foot. Pallas Athena does not allow me to withdraw in fear.

That said, he threw his spear. Athena guided it [290] straight to Pandarus’ nose, directly by the eyes. It smashed through his white teeth. The tireless bronze sliced through his tongue at its root, coming out his chin, right at the tip. Pandarus fell from the chariot, his brightly shining armour rattling round him.

for I was carrying off Aeneas, my dear son, away from battle. Of all men, he’s the one I love the most.

we’re so amazed prince Hector is such a spearman, so courageous, warlike. But he’s always got some god beside him, to ward off destruction.

Generations of men are like the leaves. In winter, winds blow them down to earth, but then, when spring season comes again, the budding wood grows more. And so with men— one generation grows, another dies away.

My own heart has no desire to live on, to continue living among men, unless Hector is hit by my spear first, losing his life and paying me compensation for killing Menoetius’ son, Patroclus.”

So now I’ll go to meet Hector, killer of the man I loved. As for my own fate, let it come to me when Zeus and the other deathless gods determine.

But Achilles kept on weeping, remembering his dear companion. All-conquering Sleep could not overcome him, as he tossed and turned, longing for manly, courageous, strong Patroclus, thinking of all he’d done with him, all the pain they’d suffered, as they’d gone through wars with other men and with the perilous sea. As he kept remembering, he cried heavy tears, sometimes lying on his side, 10 sometimes on his back or on his face. Then he’d get up, [10] to wander in distress, back and forth along the shore.