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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 one to be trifled with； and he bade me ask who the wounded
man was whom you were bearing away from the field。 I can now see
for myself that he is Machaon； shepherd of his people。 I must go
back and tell Achilles。 You； sir； know what a terrible man he is；
and how ready to blame even where no blame should lie。〃
And Nestor answered； 〃Why should Achilles care to know how many
of the Achaeans may be wounded？ He recks not of the dismay that
reigns in our host； our most valiant chieftains lie disabled；
brave Diomed； son of Tydeus； is wounded； so are Ulysses and
Agamemnon； Eurypylus has been hit with an arrow in the thigh； and
I have just been bringing this man from the fieldhe too wounded
with an arrow。 Nevertheless； Achilles； so valiant though he be；
cares not and knows no ruth。 Will he wait till the ships； do what
we may； are in a blaze； and we perish one upon the other？ As for
me； I have no strength nor stay in me any longer； would that I
were still young and strong as in the days when there was a fight
between us and the men of Elis about some cattle…raiding。 I then
killed Itymoneus； the valiant son of Hypeirochus； a dweller in
Elis； as I was driving in the spoil； he was hit by a dart thrown
by my hand while fighting in the front rank in defence of his
cows； so he fell and the country people around him were in great
fear。 We drove off a vast quantity of booty from the plain； fifty
herds of cattle and as many flocks of sheep； fifty droves also of
pigs； and as many wide…spreading flocks of goats。 Of horses；
moreover； we seized a hundred and fifty； all of them mares； and
many had foals running with them。 All these did we drive by night
to Pylus； the city of Neleus； taking them within the city； and
the heart of Neleus was glad in that I had taken so much； though
it was the first time I had ever been in the field。 At daybreak
the heralds went round crying that all in Elis to whom there was
a debt owing should e； and the leading Pylians assembled to
divide the spoils。 There were many to whom the Epeans owed
chattels； for we men of Pylus were few and had been oppressed
with wrong； in former years Hercules had e； and had laid his
hand heavy upon us； so that all our best men had perished。 Neleus
had had twelve sons； but I alone was left； the others had all
been killed。 The Epeans presuming upon all this had looked down
upon us and had done us much evil。 My father chose a herd of
cattle and a great flock of sheepthree hundred in alland he
took their shepherds with him； for there was a great debt due to
him in Elis； to wit four horses； winners of prizes。 They and
their chariots with them had gone to the games and were to run
for a tripod； but King Augeas took them； and sent back their
driver grieving for the loss of his horses。 Neleus was angered by
what he had both said and done； and took great value in return；
but he divided the rest； that no man might have less than his
full share。
〃Thus did we order all things； and offer sacrifices to the gods
throughout the city； but three days afterwards the Epeans came in
a body； many in number； they and their chariots； in full array；
and with them the two Moliones in their armour； though they were
still lads and unused to fighting。 Now there is a certain town；
Thryoessa； perched upon a rock on the river Alpheus； the border
city Pylus。 This they would destroy； and pitched their camp about
it； but when they had crossed their whole plain； Minerva darted
down by night from Olympus and bade us set ourselves in array；
and she found willing soldiers in Pylos； for the men meant
fighting。 Neleus would not let me arm； and hid my horses； for he
said that as yet I could know nothing about war； nevertheless
Minerva so ordered the fight that； all on foot as I was； I fought
among our mounted forces and vied with the foremost of them。
There is a river Minyeius that falls into the sea near Arene； and
there they that were mounted （and I with them） waited till
morning； when the panies of foot soldiers came up with us in
force。 Thence in full panoply and equipment we came towards noon
to the sacred waters of the Alpheus； and there we offered victims
to almighty Jove； with a bull to Alpheus； another to Neptune； and
a herd…heifer to Minerva。 After this we took supper in our
panies； and laid us down to rest each in his armour by the
river。
〃The Epeans were beleaguering the city and were determined to
take it； but ere this might be there was a desperate fight in
store for them。 When the sun's rays began to fall upon the earth
we joined battle； praying to Jove and to Minerva； and when the
fight had begun； I was the first to kill my man and take his
horsesto wit the warrior Mulius。 He was son…in…law to Augeas；
having married his eldest daughter； golden…haired Agamede； who
knew the virtues of every herb which grows upon the face of the
earth。 I speared him as he was ing towards me； and when he
fell headlong in the dust； I sprang upon his chariot and took my
place in the front ranks。 The Epeans fled in all directions when
they saw the captain of their horsemen （the best man they had）
laid low； and I swept down on them like a whirlwind； taking fifty
chariotsand in each of them two men bit the dust； slain by my
spear。 I should have even killed the two Moliones； sons of Actor；
unless their real father； Neptune lord of the earthquake； had
hidden them in a thick mist and borne them out of the fight。
Thereon Jove vouchsafed the Pylians a great victory； for we
chased them far over the plain； killing the men and bringing in
their armour； till we had brought our horses to Buprasium； rich
in wheat； and to the Olenian rock； with the hill that is called
Alision； at which point Minerva turned the people back。 There I
slew the last man and left him； then the Achaeans drove their
horses back from Buprasium to Pylos and gave thanks to Jove among
the gods； and among mortal men to Nestor。
〃Such was I among my peers； as surely as ever was； but Achilles
is for keeping all his valour for himself； bitterly will he rue
it hereafter when the host is being cut to pieces。 My good
friend； did not Menoetius charge you thus； on the day when he
sent you from Phthia to Agamemnon？ Ulysses and I were in the
house； inside； and heard all that he said to you； for we came to
the fair house of Peleus while beating up recruits throughout all
Achaea； and when we got there we found Menoetius and yourself；
and Achilles with you。 The old knight Peleus was in the outer
court； roasting the fat thigh…bones of a heifer to Jove the lord
of thunder； and he held a gold chalice in his hand from which he
poured drink…offerings of wine over the burning sacrifice。 You
two were busy cutting up the heifer； and at that moment we stood
at the gates； whereon Achilles sprang to his feet； led us by the
hand into the house； placed us at table； and set before us such
hospitable entertainment as guests expect。 When we had satisfied
ourselves with meat and drink； I said my say and urged both of
you to join us。 You were ready enough to do so； and