The wounding of the chiefs
As soon as it was light, Agamemnon called the Greeks and Hector called the Trojans to battle. The first man to break through the line of the Trojans was King Agamemnon. Hector himself did not dare to stand up before him, for Iris brought this message to him from Zeus: “So long as Agamemnon fights in the front do you hold back, for this is the day on which it is his lot to win great honor for himself; but when he shall be wounded, then do you go forward, and you shall have strength to drive the Greeks before you till they come to the ships and the sun shall set.”
So Hector held back, and after a while the king was wounded. The next of the chiefs that was wounded was Diomed. So Ulysses was left alone. Not one of the chiefs stood by him, for now that King Agamemnon and Diomed had departed, there was great fear upon all the Greeks. Ulysses cried out for help, and Menelaus heard him and called to Ajax.
“I hear the voice of Ulysses, and it sounds like the voice of one who is in great trouble. Come, let us help him, for it would be a great loss to the Greeks if he were to come to harm.”
Then he led the way and Ajax followed him. When they came to Ulysses, Menelaus took Ulysses by the hand, and led him out of the throng, while Ajax drove the Trojans before him.
Then another chief was wounded, for Paris shot an arrow at Machaon, and wounded him. One of the chiefs cried to Nestor: “Nestor, take Machaon in your chariot and drive him to the ships, for the life of a physician is worth the lives of many men.”
So Nestor took Machaon in his chariot and they galloped to the ships.
Achilles was standing on the stern of his ship, looking at the battle, and Patroclus stood by him. When Nestor passed by taking Machaon to the ships, Achilles said to his friend: “Soon, I think, will the Greeks come and pray me to help them, for they are in great trouble. But go and see who was this Nestor is taking to the ships. I thought it was Machaon, but his face I could not see, for the horses went by very fast.”
Patroclus ran to do his errand. Meanwhile Nestor took Machaon to his tent. While they talked, Patroclus stood in the door of the tent and said: “I came to see who it was you have brought wounded out of the battle. I see that it is Machaon. Therefore I will go back without delay, for you know what kind of man is Achilles, how he quickly grows angry and is ready to blame.”
Then said Nestor: “Why then do you not advise Achilles to help us? And if he is still resolved not to go forth to the battle, then let him send you forth, and let him lend you his armor to wear. Then the Trojans will think that Achilles himself has come back to the battle, and they will be afraid, and we shall have a breathing space.”
So Patroclus turned and ran back to the tent of Achilles.
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At one of the gates, where Hector was leading his company, there was seen a strange thing in the skies. An eagle had caught a snake and was carrying it in his claws. But the snake fought fiercely for its life and bit the bird upon the breast. The eagle dropped the snake into the middle of the two armies.
Polydamas, who was a wise man and knew the meaning of all such signs, said to Hector: “It will be well for us not to follow the Greeks to their ships. This strange thing we have just seen in the sky is a sign to us. The eagle signifies the Trojans, and the snake signifies the Greeks. As the eagle caught the snake but could not hold it, so have we prevailed over the Greeks, but shall not be able to conquer them altogether. And as the snake turned upon the bird and bit it, so the Greeks turn upon us and do us great damage, so that we shall be driven back from the ships, and leave many of our comrades dead behind us.”
Hector said: “This is bad advice that you give me. Take heed, if you hold back from the war or cause any other man to hold back, I will smite you with my spear.”
Then he sprang forward, and the Trojans followed him with a great shout. And Zeus sent down from Mount Ida a great wind, and the wind carried the dust of the plain straight into the faces of the Greeks, troubling them not a little.
At the last, Zeus gave the glory to Hector. Once again, he sprang to the front, crying: “Now follow me, men of Troy, and we will burn the ships.”
In front of the gate, there lay a great stone but Hector took it up as easily as a shepherd carries in one hand the fleece of a sheep and threw with all his might at the doors. The bolts could not hold against it and the doors flew back. Hector leapt into the open space, holding a spear in either hand, and his eyes flashed with fire. The Trojans followed him, some entering by the gate and some climbing over the wall.
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