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said to Nestor； 〃Nestor son of Neleus； honour to the Achaean
name； mount your chariot at once； take Machaon with you and drive
your horses to the ships as fast as you can。 A physician is worth
more than several other men put together； for he can cut out
arrows and spread healing herbs。〃
Nestor knight of Gerene did as Idomeneus had counselled； he at
once mounted his chariot； and Machaon son of the famed physician
Aesculapius； went with him。 He lashed his horses and they flew
onward nothing loth towards the ships； as though of their own
free will。
Then Cebriones seeing the Trojans in confusion said to Hector
from his place beside him； 〃Hector； here are we two fighting on
the extreme wing of the battle； while the other Trojans are in
pell…mell rout； they and their horses。 Ajax son of Telamon is
driving them before him； I know him by the breadth of his shield：
let us turn our chariot and horses thither； where horse and foot
are fighting most desperately； and where the cry of battle is
loudest。〃
With this he lashed his goodly steeds； and when they felt the
whip they drew the chariot full speed among the Achaeans and
Trojans； over the bodies and shields of those that had fallen：
the axle was bespattered with blood； and the rail round the car
was covered with splashes both from the horses' hoofs and from
the tyres of the wheels。 Hector tore his way through and flung
himself into the thick of the fight； and his presence threw the
Danaans into confusion； for his spear was not long idle；
nevertheless though he went among the ranks with sword and spear；
and throwing great stones； he avoided Ajax son of Telamon； for
Jove would have been angry with him if he had fought a better man
than himself。
Then father Jove from his high throne struck fear into the heart
of Ajax； so that he stood there dazed and threw his shield behind
himlooking fearfully at the throng of his foes as though he
were some wild beast； and turning hither and thither but
crouching slowly backwards。 As peasants with their hounds chase a
lion from their stockyard； and watch by night to prevent his
carrying off the pick of their herdhe makes his greedy spring；
but in vain； for the darts from many a strong hand fall thick
around him； with burning brands that scare him for all his fury；
and when morning es he slinks foiled and angry awayeven so
did Ajax； sorely against his will； retreat angrily before the
Trojans； fearing for the ships of the Achaeans。 Or as some lazy
ass that has had many a cudgel broken about his back； when he
into a field begins eating the cornboys beat him but he is too
many for them； and though they lay about with their sticks they
cannot hurt him； still when he has had his fill they at last
drive him from the fieldeven so did the Trojans and their
allies pursue great Ajax； ever smiting the middle of his shield
with their darts。 Now and again he would turn and show fight；
keeping back the battalions of the Trojans； and then he would
again retreat； but he prevented any of them from making his way
to the ships。 Single…handed he stood midway between the Trojans
and Achaeans： the spears that sped from their hands stuck some of
them in his mighty shield； while many； though thirsting for his
blood； fell to the ground ere they could reach him to the
wounding of his fair flesh。
Now when Eurypylus the brave son of Euaemon saw that Ajax was
being overpowered by the rain of arrows； he went up to him and
hurled his spear。 He struck Apisaon son of Phausius in the liver
below the midriff； and laid him low。 Eurypylus sprang upon him；
and stripped the armour from his shoulders； but when Alexandrus
saw him； he aimed an arrow at him which struck him in the right
thigh； the arrow broke； but the point that was left in the wound
dragged on the thigh； he drew back； therefore； under cover of his
rades to save his life； shouting as he did so to the Danaans；
〃My friends； princes and counsellors of the Argives； rally to the
defence of Ajax who is being overpowered； and I doubt whether he
will e out of the fight alive。 Hither； then； to the rescue of
great Ajax son of Telamon。〃
Even so did he cry when he was wounded； thereon the others came
near； and gathered round him； holding their shields upwards from
their shoulders so as to give him cover。 Ajax then made towards
them； and turned round to stand at bay as soon as he had reached
his men。
Thus then did they fight as it were a flaming fire。 Meanwhile the
mares of Neleus； all in a lather with sweat； were bearing Nestor
out of the fight； and with him Machaon shepherd of his people。
Achilles saw and took note； for he was standing on the stern of
his ship watching the hard stress and struggle of the fight。 He
called from the ship to his rade Patroclus； who heard him in
the tent and came out looking like Mars himselfhere indeed was
the beginning of the ill that presently befell him。 〃Why；〃 said
he； 〃Achilles； do you call me？ What do you want with me？〃 And
Achilles answered； 〃Noble son of Menoetius； man after my own
heart； I take it that I shall now have the Achaeans praying at my
knees； for they are in great straits； go； Patroclus； and ask
Nestor who it is that he is bearing away wounded from the field；
from his back I should say it was Machaon son of Aesculapius； but
I could not see his face for the horses went by me at full
speed。〃
Patroclus did as his dear rade had bidden him； and set off
running by the ships and tents of the Achaeans。
When Nestor and Machaon had reached the tents of the son of
Neleus； they dismounted； and an esquire； Eurymedon； took the
horses from the chariot。 The pair then stood in the breeze by the
seaside to dry the sweat from their shirts； and when they had so
done they came inside and took their seats。 Fair Hecamede； whom
Nestor had had awarded to him from Tenedos when Achilles took it；
mixed them a mess； she was daughter of wise Arsinous； and the
Achaeans had given her to Nestor because he excelled all of them
in counsel。 First she set for them a fair and well…made table
that had feet of cyanus； on it there was a vessel of bronze and
an onion to give relish to the drink； with honey and cakes of
barley…meal。 There was also a cup of rare workmanship which the
old man had brought with him from home； studded with bosses of
gold； it had four handles； on each of which there were two golden
doves feeding； and it had two feet to stand on。 Any one else
would hardly have been able to lift it from the table when it was
full； but Nestor could do so quite easily。 In this the woman； as
fair as a goddess； mixed them a mess with Pramnian wine； she
grated goat's milk cheese into it with a bronze grater； threw in
a handful of white barley…meal； and having thus prepared the mess
she bade them drink it。 When they had done so and had thus
quenched their thirst； they fell talking with one another； and at
this moment Patroclus appeared at the door。
When the old man saw him he sprang from his seat； seized his
hand； led him into the tent； and bade him take his place among
them； but Patroclus stood where he was and said； 〃Noble sir； I
may not stay； you cannot persuade me to e in； he that sent me
is not