Achilles (Mythological character); Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War
Then Aias leaped on the Trojans, and slew Doyrklos, bastard son of
Priam, and thereafter wounded he Pandokos, and he wounded Lysandros,
and Pyrasos, and Pylartes. And as when a brimming river cometh down
upon the plain, in winter flood from the hills, swollen by the rain of
Zeus, and many dry oaks and many pines it sucketh in, and much soil it
casteth into the sea, even so renowned Aias charged them, pursuing
through the plain, slaying horses and men. Nor wist Hector thereof at
all, for he was fighting on the left of all the battle, by the banks of
the river Skamandros, whereby chiefly fell the heads of men, and an
unquenchable cry arose, around great Nestor and warlike Idomeneus. And
Hector with them was warring, and terrible things did he, with the
spear and in horsemanship, and he ravaged the battalions of the young
men. Nor would the noble Achaians have yet given ground from the path,
if Alexandros, the lord of fair-tressed Helen, had not stayed Machaon
shepherd of the host in his valorous deeds, and smitten him on the
right shoulder with a three-barbed arrow. Therefore were the Achaians,
breathing valour, in great fear, lest men should seize Machaon in the
turning of the fight.
Then Idomeneus spake to noble Nestor: “O Nestor, son of Neleus, great
glory of the Achaians, arise, get thee up into thy chariot, and with
thee let Machaon go, and swiftly drive to the ships the whole-hooved
horses. For a leech is worth many other men, to cut out arrows, and
spread soothing medicaments.”
So spake he, nor did knightly Nestor of Gerenia disobey him, but
straightway gat up into his chariot, and with him went Machaon, son of
Asklepios the good leech, and he lashed the horses, and willingly flew
they forward to the hollow ships, where they desired to be.
But Kebriones, the charioteer of Hector, beheld the Trojans driven in
flight, and spake to him, and said: “Hector, here do we contend with
the Danaans, at the limit of the wailful war, but, lo, the other
Trojans are driven in flight confusedly, men and horses. And Aias son
of Telamon is driving them; well I know him, for wide is the shield
round his shoulders. Nay, let us too urge thither the horses and
chariot, there where horsemen and footmen thickest in the forefront of
evil strife are slaying each other, and the cry goes up unquenchable.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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