with his balsams soothe the bitter pain.” Then turning to Talthybius, he addressed The sacred herald: “Hasten with all speed, Talthybius; call Machaon, warrior-son Of Aesculapius, that much-honored leech, And bring him to the Achaian general, The warlike Menelaus, whom some hand Of Trojan or of Lycian, skilled to bend The bow, hath wounded with his shaft—a deed For him to exult in, but a grief to us.”
He spake; nor failed the herald to obey, But hastened at the word and passed among The squadrons of Achaia, mailed in brass, In search of great Machaon. Him he found As midst the valiant ranks of bucklered men He stood—the troops who followed him to war From Triccae, nurse of steeds. Then, drawing near, The herald spake to him in wingèd words:—
“O son of Aesculapius, come in haste. King Agamemnon calls thee to the aid Of warlike Menelaus, whom some hand Of Trojan or of Lycian, skilled to bend The bow, hath wounded with his shaft—a deed For him to exult in, but a grief to us.”