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his chariot； and his squire drove him against the Pylians and Cretans；
under Nestor and Idomeneus； who were on the left wing of the Greek
army。 Then Diomede fought on till Paris； who stood beside the pillar on
the hillock that was the tomb of old King Ilus； sent an arrow clean through
his foot。 Ulysses went and stood in front of Diomede； who sat down； and
Ulysses drew the arrow from his foot； and Diomede stepped into his
chariot and was driven back to the ships。
Ulysses was now the only Greek chief that still fought in the centre。
The Greeks all fled； and he was alone in the crowd of Trojans； who rushed
on him as hounds and hunters press round a wild boar that stands at bay in
a wood。 〃They are cowards that flee from the fight；〃 said Ulysses to
himself； 〃but I will stand here； one man against a multitude。〃 He covered
the front of his body with his great shield； that hung by a belt round his
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neck； and he smote four Trojans and wounded a fifth。 But the brother of
the wounded man drove a spear through the shield and breastplate of
Ulysses； and tore clean through his side。 Then Ulysses turned on this
Trojan； and he fled； and Ulysses sent a spear through his shoulder and out
at his breast； and he died。 Ulysses dragged from his own side the spear
that had wounded him； and called thrice with a great voice to the other
Greeks； and Menelaus and Aias rushed to rescue him； for many Trojans
were round him； like jackals round a wounded stag that a man has struck
with an arrow。 But Aias ran and covered the wounded Ulysses with his
huge shield till he could climb into the chariot of Menelaus； who drove
him back to the ships。
Meanwhile； Hector was slaying the Greeks on the left of their battle；
and Paris struck the Greek surgeon； Machaon； with an arrow； and
Idomeneus bade Nestor put Machaon in his chariot and drive him to
Nestor's hut； where his wound might be tended。 Meanwhile； Hector sped
to the centre of the line； where Aias was slaying the Trojans； but
Eurypylus； a Greek chief； was wounded by an arrow from the bow of Paris；
and his friends guarded him with their shields and spears。
Thus the best of the Greeks were wounded and out of the battle； save
Aias； and the spearmen were in flight。 Meanwhile Achilles was standing
by the stern of his ship watching the defeat of the Greeks； but when he saw
Machaon being carried past； sorely wounded； in the chariot of Nestor； he
bade his friend Patroclus； whom he loved better than all the rest； to go and
ask how Machaon did。 He was sitting drinking wine with Nestor when
Patroclus came； and Nestor told Patroclus how many of the chiefs were
wounded； and though Patroclus was in a hurry Nestor began a very long
story about his own great deeds of war； done when he was a young man。
At last he bade Patroclus tell Achilles that； if he would not fight himself；
he should at least send out his men under Patroclus； who should wear the
splendid armour of Achilles。 Then the Trojans would think that Achilles
himself had returned to the battle； and they would be afraid； for none of
them dared to meet Achilles hand to hand。
So Patroclus ran off to Achilles； but； on his way； he met the wounded
Eurypylus； and he took him to his hut and cut the arrow out of his thigh
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with a knife； and washed the wound with warm water； and rubbed over it a
bitter root to take the pain away。 Thus he waited for some time with
Eurypylus； but the advice of Nestor was in the end to cause the death of
Patroclus。 The battle now raged more fiercely； while Agamemnon and
Diomede and Ulysses could only limp about leaning on their spears； and
again Agamemnon wished to moor the ships near shore； and embark in the
night and run away。 But Ulysses was very angry with him； and said：
〃You should lead some other inglorious army； not us； who will fight on till
every soul of us perish； rather than flee like cowards！ Be silent； lest the
soldiers hear you speaking of flight； such words as no man should utter。 I
wholly scorn your counsel； for the Greeks will lose heart if； in the midst of
battle； you bid them launch the ships。〃
Agamemnon was ashamed； and； by Diomede's advice； the wounded
kings went down to the verge of the war to encourage the others； though
they were themselves unable to fight。 They rallied the Greeks； and Aias
led them and struck Hector full in the breast with a great rock； so that his
friends carried him out of the battle to the river side； where they poured
water over him； but he lay fainting on the ground； the black blood gushing
up from his mouth。 While Hector lay there； and all men thought that he
would die； Aias and Idomeneus were driving back the Trojans； and it
seemed that； even without Achilles and his men； the Greeks were able to
hold their own against the Trojans。 But the battle was never lost while
Hector lived。 People in those days believed in 〃omens：〃 they thought
that the appearance of birds on the right or left hand meant good or bad
luck。 Once during the battle a Trojan showed Hector an unlucky bird；
and wanted him to retreat into the town。 But Hector said； 〃One omen is the
best： to fight for our own country。〃 While Hector lay between death
and life the Greeks were winning； for the Trojans had no other great chief
to lead them。 But Hector awoke from his faint； and leaped to his feet and
ran here and there； encouraging the men of Troy。 Then the most of the
Greeks fled when they saw him； but Aias and Idomeneus； and the rest of
the bravest； formed in a square between the Trojans and the ships； and
down on them came Hector and Aeneas and Paris； throwing their spears；
and slaying on every hand。 The Greeks turned and ran； and the Trojans
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would have stopped to strip the armour from the slain men； but Hector
cried： 〃Haste to the ships and leave the spoils of war。 I will slay any
man