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while he reached many-fountained Ida, mother of Now so long as the day waxed and it was still wild beasts, and Gargarus, where are his grove and morning their weapons beat against one another, fragrant altar. There the father of gods and men and the people fell, but when the sun had reached stayed his horses, took them from the chariot, and mid-heaven, the sire of all balanced his golden scales, hid them in a thick cloud; then he took his seat all and put two fates of death within them, one for the glorious upon the topmost crests, looking down Trojans and the other for the Achæans. He took upon the city of Troy and the ships of the Achæans.

the balance by the middle, and when he lifted it up The Achæans took their morning meal hastily at the day of the Achæans sank; the death-fraught scale the ships, and afterwards put on their armour. The of the Achæans settled down upon the ground, while 111

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that of the Trojans rose heavenwards. Then he thun-

“Ulysses,” he cried, “noble son of Lærtes where dered aloud from Ida, and sent the glare of his light-are you flying to, with your back turned like a cow-ning upon the Achæans; when they saw this, pale ard? See that you are not struck with a spear be-fear fell upon them and they were sore afraid.

tween the shoulders. Stay here and help me to de-Idomeneus dared not stay nor yet Agamemnon, fend Nestor from this man’s furious onset.” nor did the two Ajaxes, servants of Mars, hold their Ulysses would not give ear, but sped onward to ground. Nestor knight of Gerene alone stood firm, the ships of the Achæans, and the son of Tydeus bulwark of the Achæans, not of his own will, but flinging himself alone into the thick of the fight one of his horses was disabled. Alexandrus husband took his stand before the horses of the son of Neleus.

of lovely Helen had hit it with an arrow just on the

“Sir,” said he, “these young warriors are pressing top of its head where the mane begins to grow away you hard, your force is spent, and age is heavy upon from the skull, a very deadly place. The horse you, your squire is naught, and your horses are slow bounded in his anguish as the arrow pierced his to move. Mount my chariot and see what the horses brain, and his struggles threw others into confu-of Tros can do—how cleverly they can scud hither sion. The old man instantly began cutting the traces and thither over the plain either in flight or in pur-with his sword, but Hector’s fleet horses bore down suit. I took them from the hero Æneas. Let our upon him through the rout with their bold chari-squires attend to your own steeds, but let us drive oteer, even Hector himself, and the old man would mine straight at the Trojans, that Hector may learn have perished there and then had not Diomed been how furiously I too can wield my spear.” quick to mark, and with a loud cry called Ulysses Nestor knight of Gerene hearkened to his words.

to help him.

Thereon the doughty squires, Sthenelus and kind-112

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hearted Eurymedon, saw to Nestor’s horses, while just in front of Diomed’s horses with a flare of burn-the two both mounted Diomed’s chariot. Nestor ing brimstone. The horses were frightened and tried took the reins in his hands and lashed the horses to back beneath the car, while the reins dropped on; they were soon close up with Hector, and the from Nestor’s hands. Then he was afraid and said son of Tydeus aimed a spear at him as he was charg-to Diomed, “Son of Tydeus, turn your horses in ing full speed towards them. He missed him, but flight; see you not that the hand of Jove is against struck his charioteer and squire Eniopeus son of you? To-day he vouchsafes victory to Hector; tonoble Thebæus in the breast by the nipple while morrow, if it so please him, he will again grant it to the reins were in his hands, so that he died there ourselves; no man, however brave, may thwart the and then, and the horses swerved as he fell head-purpose of Jove, for he is far stronger than any.” long from the chariot. Hector was greatly grieved at Diomed answered, “All that you have said is true; the loss of his charioteer, but let him lie for all his there is a grief however which pierces me to the sorrow, while he went in quest of another driver; very heart, for Hector will talk among the Trojans nor did his steeds have to go long without one, for and say, ‘The son of Tydeus fled before me to the he presently found brave Archeptolemus the son of ships.’ This is the vaunt he will make, and may earth Iphitus, and made him get up behind the horses, then swallow me.”

giving the reins into his hand.

“Son of Tydeus,” replied Nestor, “what mean you?

All had then been lost and no help for it, for they Though Hector say that you are a coward the Tro-would have been penned up in Ilius like sheep, had jans and Dardanians will not believe him, nor yet not the sire of gods and men been quick to mark, the wives of the mighty warriors whom you have and hurled a fiery flaming thunderbolt which fell laid low.”

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So saying he turned the horses back through the he will deal destruction upon the Danaans. Fools, for thick of the battle, and with a cry that rent the air having thought of building this weak and worthless the Trojans and Hector rained their darts after them.

wall. It shall not stay my fury; my horses will spring Hector shouted to him and said, “Son of Tydeus, lightly over their trench, and when I am at their ships the Danaans have done you honour hitherto as re-forget not to bring me fire that I may burn them, gards your place at table, the meals they give you, while I slaughter the Argives who will be all dazed and the filling of your cup with wine. Henceforth and bewildered by the smoke.” they will despise you, for you are become no better Then he cried to his horses, “Xanthus and than a woman. Be off, girl and coward that you are, Podargus, and you Æthon and goodly Lampus, pay you shall not scale our walls through any Hinching me for your keep now and for all the honey-sweet upon my part; neither shall you carry off our wives corn with which Andromache daughter of great in your ships, for I shall kill you with my own hand.” Eetion has fed you, and for she has mixed wine and The son of Tydeus was in two minds whether or no water for you to drink whenever you would, before to turn his horses round again and fight him. Thrice doing so even for me who am her own husband.

did he doubt, and thrice did Jove thunder from the Haste in pursuit, that we may take the shield of heights of. Ida in token to the Trojans that he would Nestor, the fame of which ascends to heaven, for it turn the battle in their favour. Hector then shouted is of solid gold, arm-rods and all, and that we may to them and said, “Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians, strip from the shoulders of Diomed. the cuirass lovers of close fighting, be men, my friends, and fight which Vulcan made him. Could we take these two with might and with main; I see that Jove is minded things, the Achæans would set sail in their ships to vouchsafe victory and great glory to myself, while this self-same night.”

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Thus did he vaunt, but Queen Juno made high put it into the mind of Agamemnon, to bestir him-Olympus quake as she shook with rage upon her self and to encourage the Achæans. To this end he throne. Then said she to the mighty god of Nep-went round the ships and tents carrying a great tune, “What now, wide ruling lord of the earth-purple cloak, and took his stand by the huge black quake? Can you find no compassion in your heart hull of Ulysses’ ship, which was middlemost of all; for the dying Danaans, who bring you many a wel-it was from this place that his voice would carry come offering to Helice and to Ægæ? Wish them farthest, on the one hand towards the tents of Ajax well then. If all of us who are with the Danaans son of Telamon, and on the other towards those of were to drive the Trojans back and keep Jove from Achilles—for these two heroes, well assured of their helping them, he would have to sit there sulking own strength, had valorously drawn up their ships alone on Ida.”

at the two ends of the line. From this spot then, King Neptune was greatly troubled and answered, with a voice that could be heard afar, he shouted to

“Juno, rash of tongue, what are you talking about?

the Danaans, saying, “Argives, shame on you cow-We other gods must not set ourselves against Jove, ardly creatures, brave in semblance only; where are for he is far stronger than we are.” now our vaunts that we should prove victorious—

Thus did they converse; but the whole space en-the vaunts we made so vaingloriously in Lemnos, closed by the ditch, from the ships even to the wall, when we ate the flesh of horned cattle and filled was filled with horses and warriors, who were pent our mixing-bowls to the brim? You vowed that you up there by Hector son of Priam, now that the hand would each of you stand against a hundred or two of Jove was with him. He would even have set fire hundred men, and now you prove no match even to the ships and burned them, had not Queen Juno for one—for Hector, who will be ere long setting 115

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our ships in a blaze. Father Jove, did you ever so son of Tydeus; long before any one else could do so ruin a great king and rob him so utterly of his great-he slew an armed warrior of the Trojans, Agelaus ness? yet, when to my sorrow I was coming hither, the son of Phradmon. He had turned his horses in I never let my ship pass your altars without offer-flight, but the spear struck him in the back midway ing the fat and thigh-bones of heifers upon every between his shoulders and went right through his one of them, so eager was I to sack the city of Troy.

chest, and his armour rang rattling round him as he Vouchsafe me then this prayer—suffer us to escape fell forward from his chariot.

at any rate with our lives, and let not the Achæans After him came Agamemnon and Menelaus, sons be so utterly vanquished by the Trojans.” of Atreus, the two Ajaxes clothed in valour as with Thus did he pray, and father Jove pitying his tears a garment, Idomeneus and his companion in arms vouchsafed him that his people should live, not die; Meriones, peer of murderous Mars, and Eurypylus forthwith he sent them an eagle, most unfailingly the brave son of Euæmon. Ninth came Teucer with portentous of all birds, with a young fawn in its his bow, and took his place under cover of the shield talons; the eagle dropped the fawn by the altar on of Ajax son of Telamon. When Ajax lifted his shield which the Achæans sacrificed to Jove the lord of Teucer would peer round, and when he had hit any omens; When, therefore, the people saw that the one in the throng, the man would fall dead; then bird had come from Jove, they sprang more fiercely Teucer would hie back to Ajax as a child to its upon the Trojans and fought more boldly.

mother, and again duck down under his shield.

There was no man of all the many Danaans who Which of the Trojans did brave Teucer first kill?

could then boast that he had driven his horses over Orsilochus, and then Ormenus and Ophelestes, the trench and gone forth to fight sooner than the Dætor, Chromius, and godlike Lycophontes, 116

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Amopaon son of Polyæmon, and Melanippus. these all of them have been buried in the flesh of warlike in turn did he lay low upon the earth, and King youths, but this mad dog I cannot hit.” Agamemnon was glad when he saw him making As he spoke he aimed another arrow straight at havoc of the Trojans with his mighty bow. He went Hector, for he was bent on hitting him; neverthe-up to him and said, “Teucer, man after my own less he missed him, and the arrow hit Priam’s brave heart, son of Telamon, captain among the host, son Gorgythion in the breast. His mother, fair shoot on, and be at once the saving of the Danaans Castianeira, lovely as a goddess, had been married and the glory of your father Telamon, who brought from Æsyme, and now he bowed his head as a gar-you up and took care of you in his own house when den poppy in full bloom when it is weighed down you were a child, bastard though you were. Cover by showers in spring—even thus heavy bowed his him with glory though he is far off; I will promise head beneath the weight of his helmet.

and I will assuredly perform; if ægis-bearing Jove Again he aimed at Hector, for he was longing to and Minerva grant me to sack the city of Ilius, you hit him, and again his arrow missed, for Apollo shall have the next best meed of honour after my turned it aside; but he hit Hector’s brave charioteer own—a tripod, or two horses with their chariot, or Archeptolemus in the breast, by the nipple, as he a woman who shall go up into your bed.” was driving furiously into the fight. The horses And Teucer answered, “Most noble son of Atreus, swerved aside as he fell headlong from the chariot, you need not urge me; from the moment we began and there was no life left in him. Hector was greatly to drive them back to Ilius, I have never ceased so grieved at the loss of his charioteer, but for all his far as in me lies to look out for men whom I can sorrow he let him lie where he fell, and bade his shoot and kill; I have shot eight barbed shafts, and brother Cebriones, who was hard by, take the reins.

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Cebriones did as he had said. Hector thereon with he gives him chase, and watches warily for his wheel-a loud cry sprang from his chariot to the ground, ing, even so did Hector follow close upon the and seizing a great stone made straight for Teucer Achæans, ever killing the hindmost as they rushed with intent kill him. Teucer had just taken an ar-panic-stricken onwards. When they had fled row from his quiver and had laid it upon the bow-through the set stakes and trench and many string, but Hector struck him with the jagged stone Achæans had been laid low at the hands of the Tro-as he was taking aim and drawing the string to his jans, they halted at their ships, calling upon one shoulder; he hit him just where the collar-bone di-another and praying every man instantly as they vides the neck from the chest, a very deadly place, lifted up their hands to the gods; but Hector wheeled and broke the sinew of his arm so that his wrist was his horses this way and that, his eyes glaring like less, and the bow dropped from his hand as he fell those of Gorgo or murderous Mars.

forward on his knees. Ajax saw that his brother had Juno when she saw them had pity upon them, fallen, and running towards him bestrode him and and at once said to Minerva, “Alas, child of ægis-sheltered him with his shield. Meanwhile his two bearing Jove, shall you and I take no more thought trusty squires, Mecisteus son of Echius, and Alastor, for the dying Danaans, though it be the last time came up and bore him to the ships groaning in his we ever do so? See how they perish and come to a great pain.

bad end before the onset of but a single man. Hec-Jove now again put heart into the Trojans, and tor the son of Priam rages with intolerable fury, and they drove the Achæans to their deep trench with has already done great mischief.” Hector in all his glory at their head. As a hound Minerva answered, “Would, indeed, this fellow grips a wild boar or lion in flank or buttock when might die in his own land, and fall by the hands of 118

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the Achæans; but my father Jove is mad with spleen, Thus did she speak and white-armed Juno, daugh-ever foiling me, ever headstrong and unjust. He forter of great Saturn, obeyed her words; she set about gets how often I saved his son when he was worn harnessing her gold-bedizened steeds, while out by the labours Eurystheus had laid on him. He Minerva daughter of ægis-bearing Jove flung her would weep till his cry came up to heaven, and then richly vesture, made with her own hands, on to the Jove would send me down to help him; if I had had threshold of her father, and donned the shirt of Jove, the sense to foresee all this, when Eurystheus sent arming herself for battle. Then she stepped into her him to the house of Hades, to fetch the hell-hound flaming chariot, and grasped the spear so stout and from Erebus, he would never have come back alive sturdy and strong with which she quells the ranks out of the deep waters of the river Styx. And now of heroes who have displeased her. Juno lashed her Jove hates me, while he lets Thetis have her way horses, and the gates of heaven bellowed as they because she kissed his knees and took hold of his flew open of their own accord—gates over which beard, when she was begging him to do honour to the Hours preside, in whose hands are heaven and Achilles. I shall know what to do next time he be-Olympus, either to open the dense cloud that hides gins calling me his grey-eyed darling. Get our horses them or to close it. Through these the goddesses ready, while I go within the house of ægis-bearing drove their obedient steeds.

Jove and put on my armour; we shall then find out But father Jove when he saw them from Ida was whether Priam’s son Hector will be glad to meet us very angry, and sent winged Iris with a message to in the highways of battle, or whether the Trojans them. “Go,” said he, “fleet Iris, turn them back, will glut hounds and vultures with the fat of their and see that they do not come near me, for if we flesh as they he dead by the ships of the Achæans.” come to fighting there will be mischief. This is what 119

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I say, and this is what I mean to do. I will lame their always contradicts him but you, bold bold hussy, horses for them; I will hurl them from their chariot, will you really dare to raise your huge spear in defi-and will break it in pieces. It will take them all ten ance of Jove?”

years to heal the wounds my lightning shall inflict With this she left them, and Juno said to Minerva, upon them; my grey-eyed daughter will then learn

“Of a truth, child of ægis-bearing Jove, I am not for what quarrelling with her father means. I am less fighting men’s battles further in defiance of Jove.

surprised and angry with Juno, for whatever I say Let them live or die as luck will have it, and let Jove she always contradicts me.” mete out his judgements upon the Trojans and With this Iris went her way, fleet as the wind, Danaans according to his own pleasure.” from the heights of Ida to the lofty summits of She turned her steeds; the Hours presently Olympus. She met the goddesses at the outer gates unyoked them, made them fast to their ambrosial of its many valleys and gave them her message.

mangers, and leaned the chariot against the end wall

“What,” said she, “are you about? Are you mad?

of the courtyard. The two goddesses then sat down The son of Saturn forbids going. This is what he upon their golden thrones, amid the company of says, and this is he means to do, he will lame your the other gods; but they were very angry.

horses for you, he will hurl you from your chariot, Presently father Jove drove his chariot to and will break it in pieces. It will take you all ten Olympus, and entered the assembly of gods. The years to heal the wounds his lightning will inflict mighty lord of the earthquake unyoked his horses upon you, that you may learn, grey-eyed goddess, for him, set the car upon its stand, and threw a what quarrelling with your father means. He is less cloth over it. Jove then sat down upon his golden hurt and angry with Juno, for whatever he says she throne and Olympus reeled beneath him. Minerva 120

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and Juno sat alone, apart from Jove, and neither however, since you so bid us, refrain from actual spoke nor asked him questions, but Jove knew what fighting, but we will make serviceable suggestions they meant, and said, “Minerva and Juno, why are to the Argives, that they may not all of them perish you so angry? Are you fatigued with killing so many in your displeasure.”

of your dear friends the Trojans? Be this as it may, And Jove answered, “To-morrow morning, Juno, such is the might of my hands that all the gods in if you choose to do so, you will see the son of Sat-Olympus cannot turn me; you were both of you urn destroying large numbers of the Argives, for trembling all over ere ever you saw the fight and its fierce Hector shall not cease fighting till he has terrible doings. I tell you therefore-and it would have roused the son of Peleus when they are fighting in surely been—I should have struck you with light-dire straits at their ships’ sterns about the body of ing, and your chariots would never have brought Patroclus. Like it or no, this is how it is decreed; for you back again to Olympus.” aught I care, you may go to the lowest depths be-Minerva and Juno groaned in spirit as they sat neath earth and sea, where Iapetus and Saturn dwell side by side and brooded mischief for the Trojans.

in lone Tartarus with neither ray of light nor breath Minerva sat silent without a word, for she was in a of wind to cheer them. You may go on and on till furious passion and bitterly incensed against her you get there, and I shall not care one whit for your father; but Juno could not contain herself and said, displeasure; you are the greatest vixen living.”

“What, dread son of Saturn, are you talking about?

Juno made him no answer. The sun’s glorious orb We know how great your power is, nevertheless we now sank into Oceanus and drew down night over have compassion upon the Danaan warriors who the land. Sorry indeed were the Trojans when light are perishing and coming to a bad end. We will, failed them, but welcome and thrice prayed for did 121

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darkness fall upon the Achæans.

may try to fly beyond the sea by night, and they Then Hector led the Trojans back from the ships, must not embark scatheless and unmolested; many and held a council on the open space near the river, a man among them must take a dart with him to where there was a spot ear corpses. They left their nurse at home, hit with spear or arrow as he is leap-chariots and sat down on the ground to hear the ing on board his ship, that others may fear to bring speech he made them. He grasped a spear eleven war and weeping upon the Trojans. Moreover let cubits long, the bronze point of which gleamed in the heralds tell it about the city that the growing front of it, while the ring round the spear-head was youths and grey-bearded men are to camp upon its of gold Spear in hand he spoke. “Hear me,” said he, heaven-built walls. Let the women each of them

“Trojans, Dardanians, and allies. I deemed but now light a great fire in her house, and let watch be safely that I should destroy the ships and all the Achæans kept lest the town be entered by surprise while the with them ere I went back to Ilius, but darkness host is outside. See to it, brave Trojans, as I have came on too soon. It was this alone that saved them said, and let this suffice for the moment; at day-and their ships upon the seashore. Now, therefore, break I will instruct you further. I pray in hope to let us obey the behests of night, and prepare our Jove and to the gods that we may then drive those suppers. Take your horses out of their chariots and fate-sped hounds from our land, for ’tis the fates give them their feeds of corn; then make speed to that have borne them and their ships hither. This bring sheep and cattle from the city; bring wine also night, therefore, let us keep watch, but with early and corn for your horses and gather much wood, morning let us put on our armour and rouse fierce that from dark till dawn we may burn watchfires war at the ships of the Achæans; I shall then know whose flare may reach to heaven. For the Achæans whether brave Diomed the son of Tydeus will drive 122

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me back from the ships to the wall, or whether I watchfire did they kindle. As when the stars shine shall myself slay him and carry off his bloodstained clear, and the moon is bright—there is not a breath spoils. To-morrow let him show his mettle, abide of air, not a peak nor glade nor jutting headland my spear if he dare. I ween that at break of day, he but it stands out in the ineffable radiance that breaks shall be among the first to fall and many another of from the serene of heaven; the stars can all of them his comrades round him. Would that I were as sure be told and the heart of the shepherd is glad—even of being immortal and never growing old, and of thus shone the watchfires of the Trojans before Ilius being worshipped like Minerva and Apollo, as I am midway between the ships and the river Xanthus.

that this day will bring evil to the Argives.” A thousand camp-fires gleamed upon the plain, and Thus spoke Hector and the Trojans shouted ap-in the glow of each there sat fifty men, while the plause. They took their sweating steeds from under horses, champing oats and corn beside their chari-the yoke, and made them fast each by his own ots, waited till dawn should come.

chariot. They made haste to bring sheep and cattle from the city, they brought wine also and corn from BOOK IX

their houses and gathered much wood. They then offered unblemished hecatombs to the immortals, THUS DID THE TROJANS WATCH. But Panic, comrade and the wind carried the sweet savour of sacrifice of blood-stained Rout, had taken fast hold of the to heaven—but the blessed gods partook not thereof, Achæans and their princes were all of them in de-for they bitterly hated Ilius with Priam and Priam’s spair. As when the two winds that blow from people. Thus high in hope they sat through the live-Thrace—the north and the northwest—spring up long night by the highways of war, and many a of a sudden and rouse the fury of the main—in a 123

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moment the dark waves uprear their heads and scat-Thus he spoke, and the sons of the Achæans for a ter their sea-wrack in all directions—even thus long while sat sorrowful there, but they all held their troubled were the hearts of the Achæans.

peace, till at last Diomed of the loud battle-cry made The son of Atreus in dismay bade the heralds call answer saying, “Son of Atreus, I will chide your folly, the people to a council man by man, but not to cry as is my right in council. Be not then aggrieved that the matter aloud; he made haste also himself to call I should do so. In the first place you attacked me them, and they sat sorry at heart in their assembly.

before all the Danaans and said that I was a coward Agamemnon shed tears as it were a running stream and no soldier. The Argives young and old know or cataract on the side of some sheer cliff; and thus, that you did so. But the son of scheming Saturn with many a heavy sigh he spoke to the Achæans.

endowed you by halves only. He gave you honour

“My friends,” said he, “princes and councillors of as the chief ruler over us, but valour, which is the the Argives, the hand of heaven has been laid heavily highest both right and might he did not give you.

upon me. Cruel Jove gave me his solemn promise Sir, think you that the sons of the Achæans are in-that I should sack the city of Troy before returning, deed as unwarlike and cowardly as you say they but he has played me false, and is now bidding me are? If your own mind is set upon going home—

go ingloriously back to Argos with the loss of much go—the way is open to you; the many ships that people. Such is the will of Jove, who has laid many followed you from Mycene stand ranged upon the a proud city in the dust as he will yet lay others, for seashore; but the rest of us stay here till we have his power is above all. Now, therefore, let us all do sacked Troy. Nay though these too should turn as I say and sail back to our own country, for we homeward with their ships, Sthenelus and myself shall not take Troy.”

will still fight on till we reach the goal of Ilius, for 124

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for heaven was with us when we came.” son of Atreus, give your orders, for you are the most The sons of the Achæans shouted applause at the royal among us all. Prepare a feast for your council-words of Diomed, and presently Nestor rose to lors; it is right and reasonable that you should do speak. “Son of Tydeus,” said he, “in war your prow-so; there is abundance of wine in your tents, which ess is beyond question, and in council you excel all the ships of the Achæans bring from Thrace daily.

who are of your own years; no one of the Achæans You have everything at your disposal wherewith to can make light of what you say nor gainsay it, but entertain guests, and you have many subjects. When you have not yet come to the end of the whole many are got together, you can be guided by him matter. You are still young—you might be the young-whose counsel is wisest—and sorely do we need est of my own children—still you have spoken wisely shrewd and prudent counsel, for the foe has lit his and have counselled the chief of the Achæans not watchfires hard by our ships. Who can be other without discretion; nevertheless I am older than you than dismayed? This night will either be the ruin and I will tell you every” thing; therefore let no of our host, or save it.”

man, not even King Agamemnon, disregard my say-Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had ing, for he that foments civil discord is a clanless, said. The sentinels went out in their armour under hearthless outlaw.

command of Nestor’s son Thrasymedes, a captain

“Now, however, let us obey the behests of night of the host, and of the bold warriors Ascalaphus and get our suppers, but let the sentinels every man and Ialmenus: there were also Meriones, Aphareus of them camp by the trench that is without the and Deipyrus, and the son of Creion, noble wall. I am giving these instructions to the young Lycomedes. There were seven captains of the senti-men; when they have been attended to, do you, nels, and with each there went a hundred youths 125

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armed with long spears: they took their places mid-