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place in the front ranks。 The Epeans fled in all directions when
they saw the captain of their horsemen （the best man they had）
laid low； and I swept down on them like a whirlwind； taking fifty
chariotsand in each of them two men bit the dust； slain by my
spear。 I should have even killed the two Moliones； sons of Actor；
unless their real father； Neptune lord of the earthquake； had
hidden them in a thick mist and borne them out of the fight。
Thereon Jove vouchsafed the Pylians a great victory； for we
chased them far over the plain； killing the men and bringing in
their armour； till we had brought our horses to Buprasium； rich
in wheat； and to the Olenian rock； with the hill that is called
Alision； at which point Minerva turned the people back。 There I
slew the last man and left him； then the Achaeans drove their
horses back from Buprasium to Pylos and gave thanks to Jove among
the gods； and among mortal men to Nestor。
〃Such was I among my peers； as surely as ever was； but Achilles
is for keeping all his valour for himself； bitterly will he rue
it hereafter when the host is being cut to pieces。 My good
friend； did not Menoetius charge you thus； on the day when he
sent you from Phthia to Agamemnon？ Ulysses and I were in the
house； inside； and heard all that he said to you； for we came to
the fair house of Peleus while beating up recruits throughout all
Achaea； and when we got there we found Menoetius and yourself；
and Achilles with you。 The old knight Peleus was in the outer
court； roasting the fat thigh…bones of a heifer to Jove the lord
of thunder； and he held a gold chalice in his hand from which he
poured drink…offerings of wine over the burning sacrifice。 You
two were busy cutting up the heifer； and at that moment we stood
at the gates； whereon Achilles sprang to his feet； led us by the
hand into the house； placed us at table； and set before us such
hospitable entertainment as guests expect。 When we had satisfied
ourselves with meat and drink； I said my say and urged both of
you to join us。 You were ready enough to do so； and the two old
men charged you much and straitly。 Old Peleus bade his son
Achilles fight ever among the foremost and outvie his peers；
while Menoetius the son of Actor spoke thus to you： 'My son；'
said he； 'Achilles is of nobler birth than you are； but you are
older than he； though he is far the better man of the two。
Counsel him wisely； guide him in the right way； and he will
follow you to his own profit。' Thus did your father charge you；
but you have forgotten； nevertheless； even now； say all this to
Achilles if he will listen to you。 Who knows but with heaven's
help you may talk him over； for it is good to take a friend's
advice。 If； however； he is fearful about some oracle； or if his
mother has told him something from Jove； then let him send you；
and let the rest of the Myrmidons follow with you； if perchance
you may bring light and saving to the Danaans。 And let him send
you into battle clad in his own armour； that the Trojans may
mistake you for him and leave off fighting； the sons of the
Achaeans may thus have time to get their breath； for they are
hard pressed and there is little breathing time in battle。 You；
who are fresh； might easily drive a tired enemy back to his walls
and away from the tents and ships。〃
With these words he moved the heart of Patroclus； who set off
running by the line of the ships to Achilles； descendant of
Aeacus。 When he had got as far as the ships of Ulysses； where was
their place of assembly and court of justice； with their altars
dedicated to the gods； Eurypylus son of Euaemon； met him； wounded
in the thigh with an arrow； and limping out of the fight。 Sweat
rained from his head and shoulders； and black blood welled from
his cruel wound； but his mind did not wander。 The son of
Menoetius when he saw him had passion upon him and spoke
piteously saying； 〃O unhappy princes and counsellors of the
Danaans； are you then doomed to feed the hounds of Troy with your
fat； far from your friends and your native land？ Say； noble
Eurypylus； will the Achaeans be able to hold great Hector in
check； or will they fall now before his spear？〃
Wounded Eurypylus made answer； 〃Noble Patroclus； there is no hope
left for the Achaeans but they will perish at their ships。 All
they that were princes among us are lying struck down and wounded
at the hands of the Trojans； who are waxing stronger and
stronger。 But save me and take me to your ship； cut out the arrow
from my thigh； wash the black blood from off it with warm water；
and lay upon it those gracious herbs which； so they say； have
been shown you by Achilles； who was himself shown them by Chiron；
most righteous of all the centaurs。 For of the physicians
Podalirius and Machaon； I hear that the one is lying wounded in
his tent and is himself in need of healing； while the other is
fighting the Trojans upon the plain。〃
〃Hero Eurypylus；〃 replied the brave son of Menoetius； 〃how may
these things be？ What can I do？ I am on my way to bear a message
to noble Achilles from Nestor of Gerene； bulwark of the Achaeans；
but even so I will not be unmindful of your distress。〃
With this he clasped him round the middle and led him into the
tent； and a servant； when he saw him； spread bullock…skins on the
ground for him to lie on。 He laid him at full length and cut out
the sharp arrow from his thigh； he washed the black blood from
the wound with warm water； he then crushed a bitter herb； rubbing
it between his hands； and spread it upon the wound； this was a
virtuous herb which killed all pain； so the wound presently dried
and the blood left off flowing。
BOOK XII
The Trojans and their allies break the wall； led on by Hector。
SO THE son of Menoetius was attending to the hurt of Eurypylus
within the tent； but the Argives and Trojans still fought
desperately； nor were the trench and the high wall above it； to
keep the Trojans in check longer。 They had built it to protect
their ships； and had dug the trench all round it that it might
safeguard both the ships and the rich spoils which they had
taken； but they had not offered hecatombs to the gods。 It h