Eurypylos saw Aias under pressure and stood beside him. He threw and killed Apisaon, then began stripping the body. Paris saw him and shot him in the thigh. The reed broke, but pain seized Eurypylos. He drew back among his companions and shouted for the Argives to save Aias.
The wounded men spoke to one another and stood firm with shields sloped on shoulders and spears out. Aias came back toward them. Still the Trojans pressed under Hector, and the fight burned around the ships.
Meanwhile Nestor's mares carried Machaon away from battle, for Paris had shot the healer in the right shoulder.
Achilles, standing on the stern of his great ship, saw the old man driving with a wounded man and wondered whether it was Machaon. From that man, he knew, the Achaeans had great need, since a healer is worth many others.
Achilles called Patroclus from the shelter. Patroclus came out like Ares, and Achilles told him to run to Nestor and learn whom he had brought wounded from the fighting. From behind he looked like Machaon, but Achilles had not seen his face.
Patroclus obeyed and ran along the ships. Nestor and Machaon reached the old man's shelter, and Eurymedon unyoked the sweating horses.
They dried their tunics in the sea breeze, then entered and sat on chairs. Hecamede, captured from Tenedos and given to Nestor, mixed them a drink with Pramnian wine, grated goat cheese, barley, and an onion relish beside it.
As they drank, Patroclus stood at the door. Nestor rose in wonder and welcomed him, but Patroclus said he could not sit. A man stronger than he was waiting, and Achilles had sent him to ask who was wounded. But he could see Machaon for himself and must return with the answer.
Nestor asked why Achilles pitied the wounded now when he knew nothing of the army's grief. The best men were hurt: Diomedes, Odysseus, Agamemnon, Eurypylos, and Machaon. Achilles remained hard and would perhaps wait until the ships burned, when even his strength would be useless.
Then the old man remembered the day Peleus and Menoitios sent their sons from Phthia. Peleus told Achilles always to be best and surpass others; Menoitios told Patroclus to counsel Achilles with good words, because Achilles was stronger but Patroclus was older and could guide him.