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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
compassion 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 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
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 had been built without the consent of the immortals；
and therefore it did not last。 So long as Hector lived and Achilles
nursed his anger； and so long as the city of Priam remained untaken；
the great wall of the Achaeans stood firm； but when the bravest of the
Trojans were no more； and many also of the Argives； though some were
yet left alive when； moreover； the city was sacked in the tenth
year； and the Argives had gone back with their ships to their own
country… then Neptune and Apollo took counsel to destroy the wall； and
they turned on to it the streams of all the rivers from Mount Ida into
the sea； Rhesus； Heptaporus； Caresus； Rhodius； Grenicus； Aesopus；
and goodly Scamander； with Simois； where many a shield and helm had
fallen； and many a hero of the race of demigods had bitten the dust。
Phoebus Apollo turned the mouths of all these rivers together and made
them flow for nine days against the wall； while Jove rained the
whole time that he might wash it sooner into the sea。 Neptune himself；
trident in hand； surveyed the work and threw into the sea all the
foundations of beams and stones which the Achaeans had laid with so
much toil； he made all level by the mighty stream of the Hellespont；
and then when he had swept the wall away he spread a great beach of
sand over the place where it had been。 This done he turned the
rivers back into their old courses。
This was what Neptune and Apollo were to do in after time； but as
yet battle and turmoil were still raging round the wall till its
timbers rang under the blows that rained upon them。 The Argives； cowed
by the scourge of Jove； were hemmed in at their ships in fear of
Hector the mighty minister of Rout； who as heretofore fought with
the force and fury of a whirlwind。 As a lion or wild boar turns
fiercely on the dogs and men that attack him； while these form solid
wall and shower their javelins as they face him… his courage is all
undaunted； but his high spirit will be the death of him； many a time
does he charge at his pursuers to scatter them； and they fall back
as often as he does so… even so did Hector go about among the host
exhorting his men； and cheering them on to cross the trench。
But the horses dared not do so； and stood neighing upon its brink；
for the width frightened them。 They could neither jump it nor cross
it； for it had overhanging banks all round upon either side； above
which there were the sharp stakes that the sons of the Achaeans had
planted so close and strong as a defence against all who would
assail it； a horse； therefore； could not get into it and draw his
chariot after him； but those who were on foot kept trying their very
utmost。 Then Polydamas went up to Hector and said； 〃Hector； and you
other captains of the Trojans and allies； it is madness for us to
try and drive our horses across the trench； it will be very hard to
cross； for it is full of sharp stakes； and beyond these there is the
wall。 Our horses therefore cannot get down into it； and would be of no
use if they did； moreover it is a narrow place and we should come to
harm。 If； indeed； great Jove is minded to help the Trojans； and in his
anger will utterly destroy the Achaeans； I would myself gladly see
them perish now and here far from Argos； but if they should rally
and we are driven back from the ships pell…mell into the trench
there will be not so much as a man get back to the city to tell the
tale。 Now； therefore； let us all do as I say； let our squires hold our
horses by the trench； but let us follow Hector in a body on foot； clad
in full armour； and if the day of their doom is at hand the Achaeans
will not be able to withstand us。〃
Thus spoke Polydamas and his saying pleased Hector； who sprang in
full armour to the ground； and all the other Trojans； when they saw
him do so； also left their chariots。 Each man then gave his horses
over to his charioteer in charge to hold them ready for him at the
trench。 Then they formed themselves into companies； made themselves
ready； and in five bodies followed their leaders。 Those that went with
Hector and Polydamas were the bravest and most in number； and the most
determined to break through the wall and fight at the ships。 Cebriones
was also joined with them as third in command； for Hector had left his
chariot in charge of a less valiant soldier。 The next company was
led by Paris； Alcathous； and Agenor； the third by Helenus and
Deiphobus； two sons of Priam； and with them was the hero Asius…
Asius the son of Hyrtacus； whose great black horses of the breed
that comes from the river Selleis had brought him from Arisbe。
Aeneas the valiant son of Anchises led the fourth； he and the two sons
of Antenor； Archelochus and Acamas； men well versed in all the arts of
war。 Sarpedon was captain over the allies； and took