The Iliad of Homer. Homer

Replenish'd still, and like myself thou know'st No rule or bound, save what thy choice prescribes. March. Seek the foe. Fight now as heretofore,310

      To whom Idomeneus of Crete replied,

       Atrides! all the friendship and the love

       095 Which I have promised will I well perform.

       Go; animate the rest, Chief after Chief

       Of the Achaians, that the fight begin.315

       For Troy has scatter'd to the winds all faith,

       All conscience; and for such her treachery foul

       Shall have large recompence of death and wo.

      He said, whom Agamemnon at his heart

       Exulting, pass'd, and in his progress came320

       Where stood each Ajax; them he found prepared

       With all their cloud of infantry behind.

       As when the goat-herd on some rocky point

       Advanced, a cloud sees wafted o'er the deep

       By western gales, and rolling slow along,325

       To him, who stands remote, pitch-black it seems,

       And comes with tempest charged; he at the sight

       Shuddering, his flock compels into a cave;

       So moved the gloomy phalanx, rough with spears,

       And dense with shields of youthful warriors bold,330

       Close-following either Ajax to the fight.

      Them also, pleased, the King of men beheld,

       And in wing'd accents hail'd them as he pass'd.

      Brave leaders of the mail-clad host of Greece!

       I move not you to duty; ye yourselves335

       Move others, and no lesson need from me.

       Jove, Pallas, and Apollo! were but all

       Courageous as yourselves, soon Priam's towers

       Should totter, and his Ilium storm'd and sack'd

       By our victorious bands, stoop to the dust.340

      He ceased, and still proceeding, next arrived

       Where stood the Pylian orator, his band

       Marshalling under all their leaders bold

       Alastor, Chromius, Pelagon the vast,

       Hæmon the prince, and Bias, martial Chief.345

       Chariot and horse he station'd in the front;

       His numerous infantry, a strong reserve

       Right valiant, in the rear; the worst, and those

       In whom he trusted least, he drove between,

       That such through mere necessity might act.350

       096 First to his charioteers he gave in charge

       Their duty; bade them rein their horses hard,

       Shunning confusion. Let no warrior, vain

       And overweening of his strength or skill,

       Start from his rank to dare the fight alone,355

       Or fall behind it, weakening whom he leaves.

       [13]And if, dismounted from his own, he climb Another's chariot, let him not affect Perverse the reins, but let him stand, his spear Advancing firm, far better so employ'd.360 Such was the discipline, in ancient times, Of our forefathers; by these rules they fought Successful, and laid many a city low.

      So counsell'd them the venerable Chief

       Long time expert in arms; him also saw365

       King Agamemnon with delight, and said,

      Old Chief! ah how I wish, that thy firm heart

       Were but supported by as firm a knee!

       But time unhinges all. Oh that some youth

       Had thine old age, and thou wast young again!370

       To whom the valiant Nestor thus replied.

      Atrides, I could also ardent wish

       That I were now robust as when I struck

       Brave Ereuthalion[14] breathless to the ground! But never all their gifts the Gods confer375 On man at once; if then I had the force Of youth, I suffer now the effects of age. Yet ancient as I am, I will be seen Still mingling with the charioteers, still prompt To give them counsel; for to counsel youth380 097 Is the old warrior's province. Let the green In years, my juniors, unimpaired by time, Push with the lance, for they have strength to boast.

      So he, whom Agamemnon joyful heard,

       And passing thence, the son of Peteos found385

       Menestheus, foremost in equestrian fame,

       Among the brave Athenians; near to him

       Ulysses held his station, and at hand

       The Cephallenians stood, hardy and bold;

       For rumor none of the approaching fight390

       Them yet had reach'd, so recent had the stir

       Arisen in either host; they, therefore, watch'd

       Till the example of some other band

       Marching, should prompt them to begin the fight,

       But Agamemnon, thus, the King of men395

       Them seeing, sudden and severe reproved.

      Menestheus, son of Peteos prince renown'd,

       And thou, deviser of all evil wiles!

       Adept in artifice! why stand ye here

       Appall'd? why wait ye on this distant spot400

       'Till others move? I might expect from you

       More readiness to meet the burning war,

       Whom foremost I invite of all to share

       The banquet, when the Princes feast with me.

       There ye are prompt; ye find it pleasant there405

       To eat your savory food, and quaff your wine

       Delicious 'till satiety ensue;

       But here you could be well content to stand

       Spectators only, while ten Grecian troops

       Should wage before you the wide-wasting war.410

      To whom Ulysses, with resentful tone

       Dark-frowning, thus replied. What words are these

       Which have escaped thy lips; and for what cause,

       Atrides, hast thou call'd me slow to fight?

       When we of Greece shall in sharp contest clash415

       With you steed-tamer Trojans, mark me then;

       Then thou shalt see (if the concerns of war

       So nearly touch thee, and thou so incline)

       098 The father of Telemachus, engaged

       Among the foremost Trojans. But thy speech420

       Was light as is the wind, and rashly made.

      When him thus moved he saw, the monarch smiled

       Complacent, and in gentler terms replied.

      Laërtes' noble son, for wiles renown'd!

       Short reprimand and exhortation short425

       Suffice for thee, nor did I purpose more.

       For I have known thee long, that thou art one

       Of kindest nature, and so much my friend

       That we have both one heart. Go therefore thou,

       Lead on, and if a word have fallen amiss,430