Page 219 - the-iliad
P. 219

‘My friends, princes and counsellors of the Argives, rally to
           the defence of Ajax who is being overpowered, and I doubt
           whether he will come 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. Mean-
           while 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 comrade Patroclus, who heard him in the tent and came
            out  looking  like  Mars  himself—here  indeed  was  the  be-
            ginning 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 pray-
           ing 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 hors-
            es went by me at full speed.’
              Patroclus did as his dear comrade had bidden him, and
            set off running by the ships and tents of the Achaeans.
              When  Nestor  and  Machaon  had  reached  the  tents  of

            1                                        The Iliad
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