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456–513 ILIAD. XI. 145
noble Greeks will pay me funeral honors.”
So saying, he plucked the strong spear of warlike Socus out of his flesh and
bossy shield; and his blood gushed forth as he drew it out, and tortured his
mind. But the magnanimous Trojans, when they beheld the blood of Ulysses,
encouraging one another through the crowd, all rushed on against him; while
he kept retreating backward, and called to his companions. Thrice did he then
shout as much as the head of mortal could contain, and thrice warlike Menelaus
heard him exclaiming, and instantly addressed Ajax, being near:
“Most noble Ajax, son of Telamon, chieftain of the people, the cry of invincible
Ulysses has come upon me, like to that as if the Trojans were greatly
pressing upon him, being alone, having cut him off in the sharp fight. Wherefore
let us go through the crowd, as it is better to aid him. I fear lest being
left alone amid the Trojans, he suffer aught, although being brave, and there be
great want [of him] to the Greeks.”
Thus speaking, he led the way, and the godlike hero, followed along with him.
Then they found Ulysses, dear to Jove; and around him followed the Trojans,
like tawny jackals round an antlered stag when wounded in the mountains, which
a man hath stricken with an arrow from the bowstring. Him indeed, flying, it
escapes on its feet, as long as the blood is warm, and its knees have the power of
motion. But when the swift arrow hath subdued it, the raw-devouring jackals
destroy it in a shady grove among the mountains. Chance, however, brings
thither the destructive lion: the jackals then fly in terror, and he devours. So
at that time followed the Trojans, numerous and brave, round warlike, crafty
Ulysses; but the hero, rushing on with his spear, warded off the merciless day.
Then Ajax came near, bearing his shield, like a tower, and stood beside him; and
the Trojans fled, terrified, different ways. In the meantime warlike Menelaus,
taking him by the hand, withdrew [him] from the throng, till his attendant
drove his horses near. But Ajax, springing upon the Trojans, slew Doryclus,
son of Priam, an illegitimate son; and next wounded Pandocus. Lysander he
wounded, and Pyrasus, and Pylartes. And as when an overflowing river comes
down on the plain, a torrent from the mountains, accompanied by the shower
of Jove, and bears along with it many dry oaks and many pines, and casts forth
the swollen torrent into the sea; so illustrious Ajax, routing [them], pursued
[them] along the plain, slaughtering both horses and men. Nor as yet had
Hector heard it; for he was fighting on the left of the battle, on the banks of the
river Scamander; for there chiefly fell the heads of men, and an inextinguishable
clamor had arisen around mighty Nestor, and warlike Idomeneus. Among these
did Hector mingle, performing arduous deeds with his spear and equestrian skill,
and he was laying waste the phalanxes of youth. Nevertheless the noble Greeks
would not have retired from the way, had not Paris, the husband of fair-haired
Helen, disabled Machaon, the shepherd of the people, performing prodigies of
valor, wounding him on the right shoulder with a triple-barbed arrow. For him
then the valor-breathing Greeks trembled, lest perchance they should slay him,
the battle giving way, and immediately Idomeneus addressed noble Nester:
“O Neleian Nestor, great glory of the Greeks, come, ascend thy chariot, and
let Machaon mount beside thee; and direct thy solid-hoofed horses with all speed