Page 239 - the-iliad

their way through them. Menestheus, therefore, sent Tho-
otes with a message to Ajax. ‘Run, good Thootes,’ he said,
‘and call Ajax, or better still bid both come, for it will be
all over with us here directly; the leaders of the Lycians are
upon us, men who have ever fought desperately heretofore.
But if they have too much on their hands to let them come,
at any rate let Ajax son of Telamon do so, and let Teucer, the
famous bowman, come with him.’
The messenger did as he was told, and set off running
along the wall of the Achaeans. When he reached the Aja-
xes he said to them, ‘Sirs, princes of the Argives, the son
of noble Peteos bids you come to him for a while and help
him. You had better both come if you can, or it will be all
over with him directly; the leaders of the Lycians are upon
him, men who have ever fought desperately heretofore; if
you have too much on your hands to let both come, at any
rate let Ajax, son of Telamon, do so, and let Teucer, the fa-
mous bowman, come with him.’
Great Ajax son of Telamon heeded the message, and at
once spoke to the son of Oileus. ‘Ajax,’ said he, ‘do you two,
yourself and brave Lycomedes, stay here and keep the Da-
naans in heart to fight their hardest. I will go over yonder,
and bear my part in the fray, but I will come back here at
once as soon as I have given them the help they need.’
With this, Ajax son of Telamon set off, and Teucer, his
brother by the same father, went also, with Pandion to car-
ry Teucer’s bow. They went along inside the wall, and when
they came to the tower where Menestheus was (and hard
pressed indeed did they find him) the brave captains and

The Iliad