All vanish, and the lion feeds alone;
So swarm’d the Trojan powers, numerous and bold, 585
Around Ulysses, who with wary skill
Heroic combated his evil day. 
But Ajax came, cover’d with his broad shield
That seem’d a tower, and at Ulysses’ side
Stood fast; then fled the Trojans wide-dispersed, 590
And Menelaus led him by the hand
Till his own chariot to his aid approach’d. 
But Ajax, springing on the Trojans, slew
Doryclus, from the loins of Priam sprung,
But spurious.  Pandocus he wounded next, 595
Then wounded Pyrasus, and after him
Pylartes and Lysander.  As a flood
Runs headlong from the mountains to the plain
After long showers from Jove; many a dry oak
And many a pine the torrent sweeps along, 600
And, turbid, shoots much soil into the sea,
So, glorious Ajax troubled wide the field,
Horse and man slaughtering, whereof Hector yet
Heard not; for on the left of all the war
He fought beside Scamander, where around 605
Huge Nestor, and Idomeneus the brave,
Most deaths were dealt, and loudest roar’d the fight. 
There Hector toil’d, feats wonderful of spear
And horsemanship achieving, and the lines
Of many a phalanx desolating wide. 610
Nor even then had the bold Greeks retired,
But that an arrow triple-barb’d, dispatch’d
By Paris, Helen’s mate, against the Chief
Machaon warring with distinguish’d force,
Pierced his right shoulder.  For his sake alarm’d, 615
The valor-breathing Grecians fear’d, lest he
In that disast’rous field should also fall.[16]
At once, Idomeneus of Crete approach’d
The noble Nestor, and him thus bespake. 

    Arise, Neleian Nestor!  Pride of Greece! 620

Ascend thy chariot, and Machaon placed
Beside thee, bear him, instant to the fleet. 
For one, so skill’d in medicine, and to free
The inherent barb, is worth a multitude. 

    He said, nor the Gerenian hero old 625

Aught hesitated, but into his seat
Ascended, and Machaon, son renown’d
Of AEsculapius, mounted at his side. 
He lash’d the steeds, they not unwilling sought
The hollow ships, long their familiar home. 630

    Cebriones, meantime, the charioteer

Of Hector, from his seat the Trojan ranks
Observing sore discomfited, began. 

    Here are we busied, Hector! on the skirts

Of roaring battle, and meantime I see 635
Our host confused, their horses and themselves
All mingled.  Telamonian Ajax there
Routs them; I know the hero by his shield. 
Haste, drive we thither, for the carnage most
Of horse and foot conflicting furious, there 640
Rages, and infinite the shouts arise.