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tent； where they laid down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep。
BOOK X
Ulysses and Diomed go out as spies； and meet Dolon； who gives
them information： they then kill him； and profiting by what
he had told them； kill Rhesus king of the Thracians and take
his horses。
NOW the other princes of the Achaeans slept soundly the whole
night through； but Agamemnon son of Atreus was troubled； so that
he could get no rest。 As when fair Juno's lord flashes his
lightning in token of great rain or hail or snow when the
snow…flakes whiten the ground； or again as a sign that he will
open the wide jaws of hungry war； even so did Agamemnon heave
many a heavy sigh； for his soul trembled within him。 When he
looked upon the plain of Troy he marvelled at the many watchfires
burning in front of Ilius； and at the sound of pipes and flutes
and of the hum of men； but when presently he turned towards the
ships and hosts of the Achaeans； he tore his hair by handfuls
before Jove on high； and groaned aloud for the very disquietness
of his soul。 In the end he deemed it best to go at once to Nestor
son of Neleus； and see if between them they could find any way of
the Achaeans from destruction。 He therefore rose； put on his
shirt； bound his sandals about his ely feet； flung the skin of
a huge tawny lion over his shouldersa skin that reached his
feetand took his spear in his hand。
Neither could Menelaus sleep； for he； too； boded ill for the
Argives who for his sake had sailed from far over the seas to
fight the Trojans。 He covered his broad back with the skin of a
spotted panther； put a casque of bronze upon his head； and took
his spear in his brawny hand。 Then he went to rouse his brother；
who was by far the most powerful of the Achaeans； and was
honoured by the people as though he were a god。 He found him by
the stern of his ship already putting his goodly array about his
shoulders； and right glad was he that his brother had e。
Menelaus spoke first。 〃Why；〃 said he； 〃my dear brother； are you
thus arming？ Are you going to send any of our rades to exploit
the Trojans？ I greatly fear that no one will do you this service；
and spy upon the enemy alone in the dead of night。 It will be a
deed of great daring。〃
And King Agamemnon answered； 〃Menelaus； we both of us need shrewd
counsel to save the Argives and our ships； for Jove has changed
his mind； and inclines towards Hector's sacrifices rather than
ours。 I never saw nor heard tell of any man as having wrought
such ruin in one day as Hector has now wrought against the sons
of the Achaeansand that too of his own unaided self； for he is
son neither to god nor goddess。 The Argives will rue it long and
deeply。 Run； therefore； with all speed by the line of the ships；
and call Ajax and Idomeneus。 Meanwhile I will go to Nestor； and
bid him rise and go about among the panies of our sentinels to
give them their instructions； they will listen to him sooner than
to any man； for his own son； and Meriones brother in arms to
Idomeneus； are captains over them。 It was to them more
particularly that we gave this charge。〃
Menelaus replied； 〃How do I take your meaning？ Am I to stay with
them and wait your ing； or shall I return here as soon as I
have given your orders？〃 〃Wait；〃 answered King Agamemnon； 〃for
there are so many paths about the camp that we might miss one
another。 Call every man on your way； and bid him be stirring；
name him by his lineage and by his father's name； give each all
titular observance； and stand not too much upon your own dignity；
we must take our full share of toil； for at our birth Jove laid
this heavy burden upon us。〃
With these instructions he sent his brother on his way； and went
on to Nestor shepherd of his people。 He found him sleeping in his
tent hard by his own ship； his goodly armour lay beside himhis
shield； his two spears and his helmet； beside him also lay the
gleaming girdle with which the old man girded himself when he
armed to lead his people into battlefor his age stayed him not。
He raised himself on his elbow and looked up at Agamemnon。 〃Who
is it；〃 said he； 〃that goes thus about the host and the ships
alone and in the dead of night； when men are sleeping？ Are you
looking for one of your mules or for some rade？ Do not stand
there and say nothing； but speak。 What is your business？〃
And Agamemnon answered； 〃Nestor； son of Neleus； honour to the
Achaean name； it is I； Agamemnon son of Atreus； on whom Jove has
laid labour and sorrow so long as there is breath in my body and
my limbs carry me。 I am thus abroad because sleep sits not upon
my eyelids； but my heart is big with war and with the jeopardy of
the Achaeans。 I am in great fear for the Danaans。 I am at sea；
and without sure counsel； my heart beats as though it would leap
out of my body； and my limbs fail me。 If then you can do
anythingfor you too cannot sleeplet us go the round of the
watch； and see whether they are drowsy with toil and sleeping to
the neglect of their duty。 The enemy is encamped hard and we know
not but he may attack us by night。〃
Nestor replied； 〃Most noble son of Atreus； king of men；
Agamemnon； Jove will not do all for Hector that Hector thinks he
will； he will have troubles yet in plenty if Achilles will lay
aside his anger。 I will go with you； and we will rouse others；
either the son of Tydeus； or Ulysses； or fleet Ajax and the
valiant son of Phyleus。 Some one had also better go and call Ajax
and King Idomeneus； for their ships are not near at hand but the
farthest of all。 I cannot however refrain from blaming Menelaus；
much as I love him and respect himand I will say so plainly；
even at the risk of offending youfor sleeping and leaving all
this trouble to yourself。 He ought to be going about imploring
aid from all the princes of the Achaeans； for we are in extreme
danger。〃
And Agamemnon answered； 〃Sir； you may sometimes blame him justly；
for he is often remiss and unwilling to exert himselfnot
indeed from sloth； nor yet heedlessness； but because he looks to
me and expects me to take the lead。 On this occasion； however； he
was awake before I was； and came to me of his own accord。 I have
already sent him to call the very men whom you have named。 And
now let us be going。 We shall find them with the watch outside
the gates； for it was there I said that we would meet them。〃
〃In that case；〃 answered Nestor； 〃the Argives will not blame him
nor disobey his orders when he urges them to fight or gives them
instructions。〃
With this he put on his shirt； and bound his sandals about his
ely feet。 He buckled on his purple coat； of two thicknesses；
large； and of a rough shaggy texture； grasped his redoubtable
bronze…shod spear； and wended his way along the line of the
Achaean ships。 First he called loudly to Ulysses peer of gods in
counsel and woke him； for he was soon roused by the sound of the
battle…cry。 He came outside his tent and said； 〃Why do you go
thus alone about the host； and along the line of the ships in the
stillness of the night？ What is it that you find so urgent？〃 And
Nestor knight of Gerene answered； 〃Ulysses； noble son of Laertes；
take it not amiss； for the Achaean