Then Ulysses stood before him, while he drew the arrow out of his foot. Grievous was the smart of the wound, for all his brave words. Therefore he leapt into his chariot, and bade drive in haste to the ships; and Ulysses stood alone, and none of the Greeks stood by him, for all were sore afraid. Then spake he to himself:—

"What shall I do? It were much evil to fly before these many foes, and yet worse were I to be caught and slain, for truly Zeus hath sent great fear upon the Greeks. But why talk I thus? 'Tis only the coward that draweth back from the war; the brave man standeth whether he smite or be smitten."

And as he spake, the Trojans came about him as men with dogs come about a wild boar who stands at bay, gnashing his white teeth. Fiercely Ulysses stood at bay, and slew five chiefs of fame. But one of them, before he fell, wounded him on the side, scraping the flesh from the ribs. High spurted the blood from the wound, and the Trojans shouted to see it. Then Ulysses cried aloud for help; three times he cried, and Menelaus heard him, and called to Ajax, saying:—

"O Ajax, I hear the voice of Ulysses; and he shouteth as if the men of Troy had compassed him about, and he was left alone. Come, therefore, let us help him, lest he come to harm, and the Greeks have a heavy loss!"

Thus he spake, and led the way, and Ajax followed him; and when they came to Ulysses, the Trojans had beset him, even as the jackals beset a long-horned hart among the hills, which a hunter hath wounded with an arrow from the bow. From the hunter he flieth, while the wound is warm, but when he groweth weak the jackals tear him. Then cometh a lion, and the jackals flee. So fled the Trojans when Ajax came and stood beside Ulysses. Then Menelaus took Ulysses by the hand, and led him from out the throng.

Then Ajax leapt upon the Trojans and slew many, scouring the plain, and killing horse and man. But Paris, husband of Helen, stayed Machaon from the fight, wounding him on the right shoulder with a three-pointed arrow. Therefore spake Idomeneus to Nestor, "Quick, Nestor, mount thy chariot and take Machaon with thee, and drive quickly to the ships, for the life of a physician is as the lives of many men!"

So Nestor mounted on his chariot, and Machaon stood beside him. He touched the horses, and they flew right willingly to the ships.

Now Achilles was standing on the stern of his ship, looking at the war, and he saw Nestor carrying Machaon in his chariot to the ships. Then he called to Patroclus, and Patroclus, who was in the tent, came forth. Then said Achilles:—

"Now will the Greeks soon come praying for help, for their need is sore. But go and see who is this whom Nestor is taking to the ships. His shoulders are the shoulders of Machaon, but I saw not his face, so swift the horses passed me by."

Then Patroclus ran to the tent of Nestor, and stood in the door. But when old Nestor saw him, he went and took him by the hand, and would have had him sit down. But Patroclus would not, saying:—