Yours is the shame, Atrides. You will hang your head if under the walls of Troy the dogs in all their frenzy drag and maul the proud Achilles' steadfast friend. Hold on, full force - spur all our men to battle.

And the first one she roused was Atreus’ son
powerful Menelaus – he stood right at hand –
she took the build and tireless voice of Phoenix:
"Yours is the shame, Atrides. You will hang your head
if under the walls of Troy the dogs in all their frenzy
drag and maul the proud Achilles’ steadfast friend.
Hold on, full force – spur all our men to battle."

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 17, lines 630-636. When Patroclus is killed in battle, Menelaus has to decide whether to leave his body and fall back, or fight to protect the body. Goddess Athena takes Phoenix’s form and meets Menelaus to convince him to save Patroclus’s body from the Trojans and continue fighting to preserve his honor.

Homer Quotes