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came to the place where Menelaus had been wounded and was lying
with the chieftains gathered in a circle round him。 Machaon
passed into the middle of the ring and at once drew the arrow
from the belt； bending its barbs back through the force with
which he pulled it out。 He undid the burnished belt； and beneath
this the cuirass and the belt of mail which the bronze…smiths had
made； then； when he had seen the wound； he wiped away the blood
and applied some soothing drugs which Chiron had given to
Aesculapius out of the good will he bore him。
While they were thus busy about Menelaus； the Trojans came
forward 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 rade； 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 windblack as pitch is the offing and a
mighty whirlwind draws towards him； so that he is afraid and
drives his flock into a caveeven 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 pany 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 mon 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 m