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against them； for they had put on their armour； and now renewed the
fight。
You would not have then found Agamemnon asleep nor cowardly and
unwilling to fight； but eager rather for the fray。 He left his chariot
rich with bronze and his panting steeds in charge of Eurymedon； son of
Ptolemaeus the son of Peiraeus； and bade him hold them in readiness
against the time his limbs should weary of going about and giving
orders to so many； for he went among the ranks on foot。 When he saw
men hasting to the front he stood by them and cheered them on。
〃Argives；〃 said he； 〃slacken not one whit in your onset； father Jove
will be no helper of liars； the Trojans have been the first to break
their oaths and to attack us； therefore they shall be devoured of
vultures； we shall take their city and carry off their wives and
children in our ships。〃
But he angrily rebuked those whom he saw shirking and disinclined to
fight。 〃Argives；〃 he cried； 〃cowardly miserable creatures； have you no
shame to stand here like frightened fawns who； when they can no longer
scud over the plain； huddle together； but show no fight？ You are as
dazed and spiritless as deer。 Would you wait till the Trojans reach
the sterns of our ships as they lie on the shore； to see； whether
the son of Saturn will hold his hand over you to protect you？〃
Thus did he go about giving his orders among the ranks。 Passing
through the crowd； he came presently on the Cretans； arming round
Idomeneus； who was at their head； fierce as a wild boar； while
Meriones was bringing up the battalions that were in the rear。
Agamemnon was glad when he saw him； and spoke him fairly。 〃Idomeneus；〃
said he； 〃I treat you with greater distinction than I do any others of
the Achaeans； whether in war or in other things； or at table。 When the
princes are mixing my choicest wines in the mixing…bowls； they have
each of them a fixed allowance； but your cup is kept always full
like my own； that you may drink whenever you are minded。 Go；
therefore； into battle； and show yourself the man you have been always
proud to be。〃
Idomeneus answered； 〃I will be a trusty comrade； as I promised you
from the first I would be。 Urge on the other Achaeans； that we may
join battle at once； for the Trojans have trampled upon their
covenants。 Death and destruction shall be theirs； seeing they have
been the first to break their oaths and to attack us。〃
The son of Atreus went on； glad at heart； till he came upon the
two Ajaxes arming themselves amid a host of foot…soldiers。 As when a
goat…herd from some high post watches a storm drive over the deep
before the west wind… black as pitch is the offing and a mighty
whirlwind draws towards him； so that he is afraid and drives his flock
into a cave… even thus did the ranks of stalwart youths move in a dark
mass to battle under the Ajaxes； horrid with shield and spear。 Glad
was King Agamemnon when he saw them。 〃No need；〃 he cried； 〃to give
orders to such leaders of the Argives as you are； for of your own
selves you spur your men on to fight with might and main。 Would； by
father Jove； Minerva； and Apollo that all were so minded as you are；
for the city of Priam would then soon fall beneath our hands； and we
should sack it。〃
With this he left them and went onward to Nestor； the facile speaker
of the Pylians； who was marshalling his men and urging them on； in
company with Pelagon； Alastor； Chromius； Haemon； and Bias shepherd
of his people。 He placed his knights with their chariots and horses in
the front rank； while the foot…soldiers； brave men and many； whom he
could trust； were in the rear。 The cowards he drove into the middle；
that they might fight whether they would or no。 He gave his orders
to the knights first； bidding them hold their horses well in hand；
so as to avoid confusion。 〃Let no man；〃 he said； 〃relying on his
strength or horsemanship； get before the others and engage singly with
the Trojans； nor yet let him lag behind or you will weaken your
attack； but let each when he meets an enemy's chariot throw his
spear from his own； this be much the best； this is how the men of
old took towns and strongholds； in this wise were they minded。〃
Thus did the old man charge them； for he had been in many a fight；
and King Agamemnon was glad。 〃I wish；〃 he said to him； that your limbs
were as supple and your strength as sure as your judgment is； but age；
the common enemy of mankind； has laid his hand upon you； would that it
had fallen upon some other； and that you were still young。〃
And Nestor； knight of Gerene； answered； 〃Son of Atreus； I too
would gladly be the man I was when I slew mighty Ereuthalion； but
the gods will not give us everything at one and the same time。 I was
then young； and now I am old； still I can go with my knights and
give them that counsel which old men have a right to give。 The
wielding of the spear I leave to those who are younger and stronger
than myself。〃
Agamemnon went his way rejoicing； and presently found Menestheus；
son of Peteos； tarrying in his place； and with him were the
Athenians loud of tongue in battle。 Near him also tarried cunning
Ulysses； with his sturdy Cephallenians round him； they had not yet
heard the battle…cry； for the ranks of Trojans and Achaeans had only
just begun to move； so they were standing still； waiting for some
other columns of the Achaeans to attack the Trojans and begin the
fighting。 When he saw this Agamemnon rebuked them and said； 〃Son of
Peteos； and you other； steeped in cunning； heart of guile； why stand
you here cowering and waiting on others？ You two should be of all
men foremost when there is hard fighting to be done； for you are
ever foremost to accept my invitation when we councillors of the
Achaeans are holding feast。 You are glad enough then to take your fill
of roast meats and to drink wine as long as you please； whereas now
you would not care though you saw ten columns of Achaeans engage the
enemy in front of you。〃
Ulysses glared at him and answered； 〃Son of Atreus； what are you
talking about？ How can you say that we are slack？ When the Achaeans
are in full fight with the Trojans； you shall see； if you care to do
so； that the father of Telemachus will join battle with the foremost
of them。 You are talking idly。〃
When Agamemnon saw that Ulysses was angry； he smiled pleasantly at
him and withdrew his words。 〃Ulysses；〃 said he； 〃noble son of Laertes；
excellent in all good counsel； I have neither fault to find nor orders
to give you； for I know your heart is right； and that you and I are of
a mind。 Enough； I will make you amends for what I have said； and if
any ill has now been spoken may the gods bring it to nothing。〃
He then left them and went on to others。 Presently he saw the son of
Tydeus； noble Diomed； standing by his chariot and horses； with
Sthenelus the son of Capaneus beside him； whereon he began to
upbraid him。 〃Son of Tydeus；〃 he said； 〃why stand you cowering here
upon the brink of battle？ Tydeus did not shrink thus； but was ever
ahead of his men when leading them on against the foe… so； at least；
say they that saw him in battle； for I never set eyes upon him myself。
They say that there was no m