ὡς ἔφατο. Τρῶας δὲ κατὰ κρῆθεν λάβε πένθος
ἄσχετον. οὐκ ἐπιεικτόν. ἐπεί σφισιν ἕρμα πόληος
ἔσκε. καὶ ἀλλοδαπός περ ἐών: πολέες γὰρ ἅμ’ αὐτῷ
λαοὶ ἕποντ’. ἐν δ’ αὐτὸς ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι:
βὰν δ’ ϊθὺς Δαναῶν λελιημένοι: ἦρχε δ’ ἄρά σφιν
Ἕκτωρ χωόμενος Σαρπηδόνος. αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὺς
ὦρσε Μενοιτιάδεω Πατροκλῆος λάσιον κῆρ:
Αἴαντε πρώτω προσέφη, μεμαῶτε καὶ αὐτώ:
Αἴαντε: νῦν σφῶϊν ἀμύνεσθαι φίλον ἔστω,
οἷοί περ πάρος ἦτε μετ’ ἀνδράσιν. ἢ καὶ ἀρείους.
κεῖται ἀνὴρ. ὃς πρῶτος ἐσήλατο τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν.
Σαρπηδὼν: ἀλλ’ εἴ μιν ἀεικισσαίμεθ’ ἑλόντες,
τεύχεά τ’ ὤμοιϊν ἀφελοίμεθα. καί τιν’ ἑταίρων
αὐτοῦ ἀμυνομένων δαμασαίμεθα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.
So spake he, and the Trojans were utterly seized with grief, unbearable, overpowering; for Sarpedon was ever the stay of their city, albeit he was a stranger from afar; for much people followed with him, and among them he was himself pre-eminent in fight. And they made straight for the Danaans full eagerly, and Hector led them, in wrath for Sarpedon's sake. But the Achaeans were urged on by Patroclus, of the shaggy heart, son of Menoetius. To the twain Aiantes spake he first, that were of themselves full eager: "Ye twain Aiantes, now be it your will to ward off the foe, being of such valour as of old ye were amid warriors, or even braver. Low lies the man that was first to leap within the wall of the Achaeans, even Sarpedon. Nay, let us seek to take him, and work shame upon his body, and strip the armour from his shoulders, and many a one of his comrades that seek to defend his body let us slay with the pitiless bronze."
