Book 17

Chapter 17

51 passages3 observations · 2 observed placesSHA 9f0cba29772f…

Passage 1

Lines 4–5

Canonical text · read-only

Source text

BRAVE Menelaus son of Atreus now came to know that Patroclus had fallen, and made his way through the front ranks clad in full armour to bestride him. As a cow stands lowing over her first calf, even so did yellow-haired Menelaus bestride Patroclus. He held his round shield and his spear in front of him, resolute to kill any who should dare face him. But the son of Panthous had also noted the body, and came up to Menelaus saying, ‘Menelaus, son of Atreus, draw back, leave the body, and let the bloodstained spoils be. I was first of the Trojans and their brave allies to drive my spear into Patroclus, let me, therefore, have my full glory among the Trojans, or I will take aim and kill you.’

Claims for this passage

Euphorbus·Character·Direct

Euphorbus approaches the body and boasts that he was first among the Trojan side to spear Patroclus, demands the bloodstained spoils, and threatens Menelaus.

See evidence text

“But the son of Panthous had also noted the body, and came up to Menelaus saying, ‘Menelaus, son of Atreus, draw back, leave the body, and let the bloodstained spoils be. I was first of the Trojans and their brave allies to drive my spear into Patroclus, let me, therefore, have my full glory among the Trojans, or I will take aim and kill you.”

Menelaus·Character·Direct

Menelaus, yellow-haired and fully armoured, stands over fallen Patroclus with round shield and spear held forward, resolved to kill any challenger; the narrator likens him to a lowing cow over her first calf.

See evidence text

“BRAVE Menelaus son of Atreus now came to know that Patroclus had fallen, and made his way through the front ranks clad in full armour to bestride him. As a cow stands lowing over her first calf, even so did yellow-haired Menelaus bestride Patroclus. He held his round shield and his spear in front of him, resolute to kill any who should dare face him.”

Patroclus·Character·Direct

Patroclus has fallen, and Menelaus moves through the front ranks to stand over him.

See evidence text

“Patroclus had fallen, and made his way through the front ranks clad in full armour to bestride him.”

Published summary

Menelaus learns that Patroclus has fallen and stands armed over his body, while Euphorbus claims the first Trojan spear-wound and demands the spoils under threat of killing him.