Page 216 - the-iliad

as some swollen torrent comes rushing in full flood from
the mountains on to the plain, big with the rain of heaven—
many a dry oak and many a pine does it engulf, and much
mud does it bring down and cast into the sea— even so did
brave Ajax chase the foe furiously over the plain, slaying
both men and horses.
Hector did not yet know what Ajax was doing, for he
was fighting on the extreme left of the battle by the banks
of the river Scamander, where the carnage was thickest and
the war-cry loudest round Nestor and brave Idomeneus.
Among these Hector was making great slaughter with his
spear and furious driving, and was destroying the ranks
that were opposed to him; still the Achaeans would have
given no ground, had not Alexandrus husband of love-
ly Helen stayed the prowess of Machaon, shepherd of his
people, by wounding him in the right shoulder with a triple-
barbed arrow. The Achaeans were in great fear that as the
fight had turned against them the Trojans might take him
prisoner, and Idomeneus said to Nestor, ‘Nestor son of Ne-
leus, 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 sev-
eral other men put together, for he can cut out arrows and
spread healing herbs.’
Nestor knight of Gerene did as Idomeneus had coun-
selled; 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.

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