Book XVII

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With Hector at their head the Trojans now rushed forward. Ajax, seeing them advance, bade Menelaus summon the other Greek warriors to help in defending the body of their countryman. Quickly they were called and quickly they came. Then hand to hand and sword to sword both armies fought, and the battle raged furiously round the corpse of Patroclus.

They of Ilium strove To drag it to the city, they of Greece, To bear it to the fleet.

BRYANT, _Iliad_,