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their heads and scatter their sea…wrack in all directionseven
thus troubled were the hearts of the Achaeans。
The son of Atreus in dismay bade the heralds call the people to a
council man by man； but not to cry the matter aloud； he made
haste also himself to call them； and they sat sorry at heart in
their assembly。 Agamemnon shed tears as it were a running stream
or cataract on the side of some sheer cliff； and thus； with many
a heavy sigh he spoke to the Achaeans。 〃My friends；〃 said he；
〃princes and councillors Of the Argives； the hand of heaven has
been laid heavily upon me。 Cruel Jove gave me his solemn promise
that I should sack the city of Troy before returning； but he has
played me false； and is now bidding me go ingloriously back to
Argos with the loss of much people。 Such is the will of Jove； who
has laid many a proud city in the dust as he will yet lay others；
for his power is above all。 Now； therefore； let us all do as I
say and sail back to our own country； for we shall not take
Troy。〃
Thus he spoke； and the sons of the Achaeans for a long while sat
sorrowful there； but they all held their peace； till at last
Diomed of the loud battle…cry made answer saying； 〃Son of Atreus；
I will chide your folly； as is my right in council。 Be not then
aggrieved that I should do so。 In the first place you attacked me
before all the Danaans and said that I was a coward and no
soldier。 The Argives young and old know that you did so。 But the
son of scheming Saturn endowed you by halves only。 He gave you
honour as the chief ruler over us； but valour； which is the
highest both right and might he did not give you。 Sir； think you
that the sons of the Achaeans are indeed as unwarlike and
cowardly as you say they are？ If your own mind is set upon going
homegothe way is open to you； the many ships that followed
you from Mycene stand ranged upon the seashore； but the rest of
us stay here till we have sacked Troy。 Nay though these too
should turn homeward with their ships； Sthenelus and myself will
still fight on till we reach the goal of Ilius； for heaven was
with us when we came。〃
The sons of the Achaeans shouted applause at the words of Diomed；
and presently Nestor rose to speak。 〃Son of Tydeus；〃 said he； 〃in
war your prowess is beyond question； and in council you excel all
who are of your own years； no one of the Achaeans can make light
of what you say nor gainsay it； but you have not yet e to the
end of the whole matter。 You are still youngyou might be the
youngest of my own childrenstill you have spoken wisely and
have counselled the chief of the Achaeans not without discretion；
nevertheless I am older than you and I will tell you everything；
therefore let no man； not even King Agamemnon； disregard my
saying； for he that foments civil discord is a clanless；
hearthless outlaw。
〃Now； however； let us obey the behests of night and get our
suppers； but let the sentinels every man of them camp by the
trench that is without the wall。 I am giving these instructions
to the young men； when they have been attended to； do you； son of
Atreus； give your orders； for you are the most royal among us
all。 Prepare a feast for your councillors； it is right and
reasonable that you should do so； there is abundance of wine in
your tents； which the ships of the Achaeans bring from Thrace
daily。 You have everything at your disposal wherewith to
entertain guests； and you have many subjects。 When many are got
together； you can be guided by him whose counsel is wisestand
sorely do we need shrewd and prudent counsel； for the foe has lit
his watchfires hard by our ships。 Who can be other than dismayed？
This night will either be the ruin of our host； or save it。〃
Thus did he speak； and they did even as he had said。 The
sentinels went out in their armour under mand of Nestor's son
Thrasymedes； a captain of the host； and of the bold warriors
Ascalaphus and Ialmenus： there were also Meriones； Aphareus and
Deipyrus； and the son of Creion； noble Lyedes。 There were
seven captains of the sentinels； and with each there went a
hundred youths armed with long spears： they took their places
midway between the trench and the wall； and when they had done so
they lit their fires and got every man his supper。
The son of Atreus then bade many councillors of the Achaeans to
his quarters prepared a great feast in their honour。 They laid
their hands on the good things that were before them； and as soon
as they had enough to eat and drink； old Nestor； whose counsel
was ever truest； was the first to lay his mind before them。 He；
therefore； with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus。
〃With yourself； most noble son of Atreus； king of men； Agamemnon；
will I both begin my speech and end it； for you are king over
much people。 Jove； moreover； has vouchsafed you to wield the
sceptre and to uphold righteousness； that you may take thought
for your people under you； therefore it behooves you above all
others both to speak and to give ear； and to out the counsel of
another who shall have been minded to speak wisely。 All turns on
you and on your mands； therefore I will say what I think will
be best。 No man will be of a truer mind than that which has been
mine from the hour when you； sir； angered Achilles by taking the
girl Briseis from his tent against my judgment。 I urged you not
to do so； but you yielded to your own pride； and dishonoured a
hero whom heaven itself had honouredfor you still hold the
prize that had been awarded to him。 Now； however； let us think
how we may appease him； both with presents and fair speeches that
may conciliate him。〃
And King Agamemnon answered； 〃Sir； you have reproved my folly
justly。 I was wrong。 I own it。 One whom heaven befriends is in
himself a host； and Jove has shown that he befriends this man by
destroying much people of the Achaeans。 I was blinded with
passion and yielded to my worser mind； therefore I will make
amends； and will give him great gifts by way of atonement。 I will
tell them in the presence of you all。 I will give him seven
tripods that have never yet been on the fire； and ten talents of
gold。 I will give him twenty iron cauldrons and twelve strong
horses that have won races and carried off prizes。 Rich； indeed；
both in land and gold is he that has as many prizes as my horses
have won me。 I will give him seven excellent workwomen； Lesbians；
whom I chose for myself when he took Lesbosall of surpassing
beauty。 I will give him these； and with them her whom I erewhile
took from him； the daughter of Briseus； and I swear a great oath
that I never went up into her couch； nor have been with her after
the manner of men and women。
〃All these things will I give him now； and if hereafter the gods
vouchsafe me to sack the city of Priam； let him e when we
Achaeans are dividing the spoil； and load his ship with gold and
bronze to his liking； furthermore let him take twenty Trojan
women； the loveliest after Helen herself。 Then； when we reach
Achaean Argos； wealthiest of all lands； he shall be my son…in…law
and I will show him like honour with my own dear son Orestes； who
is being nurtured in all abundance。 I have three daughters；