Drawing incontinent his bow, he sent
A shaft to his right thigh; the brittle reed
Snapp’d, and the rankling barb stuck fast within. 700
Terrified at the stroke, the wounded Chief
To his own band retired, but, as he went,
With echoing voice call’d on the Danai—­

    Friends!  Counsellors, and leaders of the Greeks! 

Turn ye and stand, and from his dreadful lot 705
Save Ajax whelm’d with weapons; ’scape, I judge,
He cannot from the roaring fight, yet oh
Stand fast around him; if save ye may,
Your champion huge, the Telamonian Chief! 

    So spake the wounded warrior.  They at once 710

With sloping bucklers, and with spears erect,
To his relief approach’d.  Ajax with joy
The friendly phalanx join’d, then turn’d and stood. 

    Thus burn’d the embattled field as with the flames

Of a devouring fire.  Meantime afar 715
From all that tumult the Neleian mares
Bore Nestor, foaming as they ran, with whom
Machaon also rode, leader revered. 
Achilles mark’d him passing; for he stood
Exalted on his huge ship’s lofty stern, 720
Spectator of the toil severe, and flight
Deplorable of the defeated Greeks. 
He call’d his friend Patroclus.  He below
Within his tent the sudden summons heard
And sprang like Mars abroad, all unaware 725
That in that sound he heard the voice of fate. 
Him first Menoetius’ gallant son address’d. 

    What would Achilles?  Wherefore hath he call’d? 

To whom Achilles swiftest of the swift: 

    Brave Menoetiades! my soul’s delight! 730

Soon will the Grecians now my knees surround
Suppliant, by dread extremity constrain’d. 
But fly Patroclus, haste, oh dear to Jove! 
Inquire of Nestor, whom he hath convey’d
From battle, wounded?  Viewing him behind, 735
I most believed him AEsculapius’ son
Machaon, but the steeds so swiftly pass’d
My galley, that his face escaped my note.[19]

    He said, and prompt to gratify his friend,

Forth ran Patroclus through the camp of Greece. 740

    Now when Neleian Nestor to his tent

Had brought Machaon, they alighted both,
And the old hero’s friend Eurymedon
Released the coursers.  On the beach awhile
Their tunics sweat-imbued in the cool air 745
They ventilated, facing full the breeze,
Then on soft couches in the tent reposed. 
Meantime, their beverage Hecamede mix’d,
The old King’s bright-hair’d captive, whom he brought
From Tenedos, what time Achilles sack’d 750
The city, daughter of the noble Chief
Arsinoues, and selected from the rest
For Nestor, as the honorable meed
Of counsels always eminently wise.