fair-haired Helen, disabled Machaon, the shepherd of the people, performing prodigies of valour, wounding him on the right shoulder with a triple-barbed arrow. For him then the valour-breathing Greeks trembled, lest perchance they should slay him, the battle giving way, and immediately Idomeneus addressed noble Nestor: “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 towards the ships, for a medical man is equivalent to many others, both to cut out arrows, and to apply mild remedies.” 378 Footnote 378: (return) Scribonius Largus, Compos. Med. cc. “Neque chirurgia sine diætetica, neque hæc sine chirurgia, id est, sine ea parte quæ medicamentorum utilium usum habeat, perfici possunt; sed aliæ ab aliis adjuvantur, et quasi consumantur.” Where John Rhodius well observes: “Antiquos chirurgos Homerus Chironis exemplo herbarum succis vulnera sanasse memorat. Hunc et sectiones adhibuisse notat Pindarus Pyth. Od. iii. Neque ingeniorum fons Ιλ. Λ. τὸ ἐκτάμνειν omisit.” Cf. Celsus, Pref. with the notes of Almeloveen, and lib. vii. præf., where the chirurgical part of ancient medicine is amusingly discussed. Thus he spoke, nor did the Gerenian knight Nestor disobey. Forthwith he ascended his chariot, and Machaon, the son of Æsculapius, blameless physician, mounted beside him; but he lashed on the steeds, and they flew not unwillingly towards the hollow ships, for there it was agreeable to their inclination [to go]. But Cebriones, sitting beside Hector, perceived the Trojans in confusion, and addressed him in [these] words: “Hector, we two are mingling here with the Greeks in the outskirt of evil-sounding battle, whilst the other Trojans are thrown into confusion in crowds, both their horses and themselves. Telamonian Ajax is routing them, for I know him well, for around his shoulders he bears a broad shield. But let us also direct our horses and chariot thither, where cavalry and infantry, having engaged in the evil strife, are slaughtering each other, and inextinguishable tumult hath arisen.” Thus then having spoken, he lashed on the fair-maned steeds with his shrill-cracking lash. But they, sensible of the stroke, speedily bore the swift chariot through Trojans and Greeks, trampling on both corses and shields. With blood the whole axletree was stained beneath, and the rims around the chariot-seat, which the drops from the horses’ hoofs, and from the wheel-tires, spattered. But he longed to enter the crowd of heroes, and to break through, springing upon them. And he sent destructive tumult upon the Greeks, and abstained very little from the spear. Among the ranks of other men indeed he ranged with his spear, his sword, and with huge stones; but he shunned the conflict of Telamonian Ajax.