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The Book of the Epic by H. A. (Hélène Adeline) Guerber
page 33 of 639 (05%)
retreat, and the Greeks, fired with new courage, pursue them across
the plain and to the very gates of Troy. Such is Patroclus' ardor
that, forgetting Achilles' injunctions, he is about to attack Hector,
when Sarpedon challenges him to a duel. Knowing this fight will prove
fatal to his beloved son, Jupiter causes a bloody dew to fall upon
earth, and despatches Sleep and Death to take charge of his remains,
which they are to convey first to Olympus to receive a fatherly kiss
and then to Lycia for burial. No sooner is Sarpedon slain than a grim
fight ensues over his spoil and remains, but while the Greeks secure
his armor, his corpse is borne away by Apollo, who, after purifying it
from all battle soil, entrusts it to Sleep and Death.

Meantime, renewing his pursuit of the Trojans, Patroclus is about to
scale the walls of Troy, when Apollo reminds him the city is not to
fall a prey either to him or to his friend. Then, in the midst of a
duel in which Patroclus engages with Hector, Apollo snatches the
helmet off the Greek hero's head, leaving him thus exposed to his
foe's deadly blows. The dying Patroclus, therefore, declares that had
not the gods betrayed him he would have triumphed, and predicts that
Achilles will avenge his death. Meantime, pleased with having slain so
redoubtable a foe, Hector makes a dash to secure Achilles' chariot and
horses, but fails because the driver (Automedon) speeds away.

_Book XVII._ On seeing Patroclus fall, Menelaus rushes forward to
defend his remains and rescue Achilles' armor from the foe. Warned of
this move, Hector abandons the vain pursuit of Achilles' chariot, and
returns to claim his spoil. He has barely secured it when Menelaus and
Ajax attack him, and a mad battle takes place over Patroclus' remains,
while Achilles' horses weep for the beloved youth who so often
caressed them.
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