Page:The Story of the Iliad.djvu/194

164 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; but it was an evil hour for him. Then said Achilles:—

"Now will the Greeks soon come, methinks, 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.

Meanwhile Nestor brought Machaon into his tent. There Hecamedé of the beautiful locks, whom the Greeks had given to Nestor from the spoils of Tenedos, mixed them a posset. First she placed a table, and set on it a charger of bronze, with a leek that giveth savour to drink, and yellow honey, and barley meal. After that she brought a bowl; four handles it had, pair and pair, and over each pair twin doves that seemed to peck. A man might scarce lift it from the table when it was full, but Nestor raised it easily. Into the bowl