He spake, and Menelaus, great in war, Complied, and hastened forth, as from a fold A lion stalks away, that long has kept In fear the hounds and herdsmen, who all night Have watched to drive him from their well-fed beeves, While, eager for his prey, he rushes oft Against them, but in vain, for many a spear Is hurled at him, and many a blazing brand, Which, fierce for ravin as he is, he dreads, Till sullenly at early morn he goes. So from Patroclus went unwillingly The valiant Menelaus, for he feared Lest, panic-struck, the Greeks should leave his corpse The enemy’s prey. Thus earnestly he prayed The warriors Ajax and Meriones:—
“Ye warriors Ajax, leaders of the Greeks! And thou, Meriones! Let each of you Bear well in mind how kindly was the mood Of poor Patroclus; gentle in his life Was he to all, and now is with the dead.” The fair-haired Menelaus, speaking thus, Withdrew. He looked around him as he went, As looks an eagle, bird of sharpest sight— So men declare—of all the fowls of air, From which, though high in heaven, the nimble hare Beneath the thicket is not hid; he stoops, And takes the creature’s life. Thy piercing eyes, O