On green hills and fields, two young boys speed,
Handsome young boys, galloping a white horse.
My dear, hug me tight, tighter still.

Part I Patroclus: Achilles' sun

Let the rage of fire rise higher in Troy, which even the Aegean seawater shan't slake.
-- Achilles murmurs.

The sky is overcast by black clouds, thunderbolts sound gathering,
It starts to blow a gale, and all the plants in Troy begin to tremble.
The galleys in the distance are rocking, a sea storm is coming.

Aegean Sea, since when have you quietly changed your colors?
[Achilles is full of tears]: Ocean, I will nevermore see
your calm blue, as blood pervades your dark abysses.

How can you leave me like this, bearing the loneliness in this world?
[caressing Patroclus' naked body]: my love,
from now on, I can only face the cold moonlight with sword in my hand.

No matter for how long I shall stop looking for joy, it won't be long enough
To recall all the times of your smiles. Ocean! I beseech you,
Bestow upon me just a moment of his breath by Moses' rod.

[Achilles kisses Patroclus on the dead arms,
the legs, the feet, with his lips pressing long on the feet]
Half of my life has vanished: glory and love! -- No! All of it!

The sky nevermore will be blue, nor will the seas, the sword in my hand
Is no longer bright -- Is Troy, [ruefully] meant to be
A punishment on me, and I, to lose forever my naked god of starry nights...

Patroclus, my love, my life, you are finally
with me, let me look at you closely again, let me kiss you
to the full. Tonight, I'll drop my sword outside the brocade curtains for the first time.

On my bed, I only want you, whether or not you have departed.
I only want to recollect your eternal smiles with my naked body,
and warm your ever more cold body with my burning life.

Across the icy waters, this massive expedition is a mistake which I
cannot remedy, everything is gone, my happiness that will never again be found, the times
that cannot be reversed and called, Patroclus, my love, gift from Heaven.

Let me have your breath once more, and put it into an enclave in my life that only belongs
to you, again let me listen to your murmurs of all those nights,
Let me sip the last drop of your lip juice in this sea storm, before the fire flares up.

Flames! Burn, redden the dark clouds, burn the thunderbolts brighter!
Blaze all the woods of Troy, and the shores of the Aegean Sea shall be
your funeral site. [Achilles holds Patroclus' hanging hand tight, sobbing]

In the surge of the Aegean Sea, in the flames of Troy, Patroclus,
my love, you shall become the only star in the black sky that shall direct
my joy, when my curtain is flipped open by wind, I will have got the first kiss.

Part II Hephaestion: Alexander’s moon
Even the eminent Taurus Mountain range is not as high as the hairline of your forehead.
-- Alexander’s eulogy

Get jubilant, golden cups and silver goblets have been scattered about, lands
And jungles are their destinations for sleep; yellow leaves shall fly, strong
Winds shall also come here, sing, jump, let us all dance!

It is the time of heroes, from the Black Sea to the Red Sea, across the Mediterranean
to the Persian Gulf, to the end of the known world, the rivers are dyed red.
Where are our heroes, Alexander, where are you, Hephaestion?

[Aside]: The two rascals, they must have found a nice place, behind thin
Bed curtains, where they fell over each other, not even bother to close the door.
[Alexander sniggers]: My dear, no hurry, you should wait for the last sip of my wine.

Now that half of the sip is left, I want you to get it with your lips, let the sweet smell
Permeate our long night, Hephaestion, sweet love, Hephaestion,
My life, I cannot wait any more, let the wind more vigorously blow.

I do not need any armor, I do not need any weapon.
You are my only breath, I just beg to be allowed to present my stark
Naked body to you. Come, Hephaestion, come stay at my side.

You are my king here, and our sheets are your staff.
Let me remove your weary armor, let me scoop a ladle of aromatic
bath. Let me take off your muddy boots, and breathe on your feet.

Let me, the bashfulness below your soft belly, let me take and clean it
with my hands, and adorn my armor with it; let me suck your wounds, may gods
Bless you. I'll spread your love juice on the handle of my sword and cremate it over combatants' bones.

You shall always enjoy the inscriptions of my love, let me kiss your eyes, let me kiss
Your lips, I'll absorb your nightly waiting with my taste buds, I’ll wash away
the dust on your arms with my lip juice. I’ll rest on their gentleness in this long night.

[Hephaestion whispers]: Your Majesty, my love, the Mediterranean
Performs ablution on your unique body with its seething waves. The flowers of Babylon
are now ornaments on your crown, and the Armenia Mount the cornerstone of your throne.

O, my love, I will throw myself at your knees, kiss your tracks and earth, kiss your
Fatigue; appease your trembling and pains, make bed for you, and scatter on it the petals
Of fragrant, blooming flowers, then lie naked like the stars and wait for your lithe steps.

[Grunts of love from Alexander and Hephaestion]: I want all of you,
I want all of you......I want all the interlacing creases on your naked
body, I want the enchanting youth that you had, until the next starry night.

[Alexander]: The loving eyes of Hephaestion are glittering in the starlight,
[Hephaestion]: The lips of Patroclus will always be as tender as water,
My God, I request all the stars to exit, and leave the intimacies of lovers brightening the depth of the night.

Epilogue:

In ancient Canaan, there is a handsome young man.
In beautiful Jerusalem, there is a wise king.
The sun rises, and shines down on the whole Florence.

　　　　Translator: Edgar Dive
　　

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