EUPHORBUS launched a spear at Patroclus. It found its mark. With the spear buried in his side, Patroclus stumbled and wove his way back toward the Greek lines. Hector finished him off with a spear thrust that pierced his bowels and came out of his back. “You think you killed me, Hector,” Patroclus gasped. “But it took the god Apollo to do that. Euphorbus was next. You, famous Hector, noble Hector, were just the third. All you did is finish me off. I die knowing that your fate will be settled by one greater than any . . . by my Achilles.”
