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Nestor knight of Gerene answered； 〃Ulysses； noble son of Laertes；
take it not amiss； for the Achaeans are in great straits。 e
with me and let us wake some other； who may advise well with us
whether we shall fight or fly。〃
On this Ulysses went at once into his tent； put his shield about
his shoulders and came out with them。 First they went to Diomed
son of Tydeus； and found him outside his tent clad in his armour
with his rades sleeping round him and using their shields as
pillows； as for their spears； they stood upright on the spikes of
their butts that were driven into the ground； and the burnished
bronze flashed afar like the lightning of father Jove。 The hero
was sleeping upon the skin of an ox； with a piece of fine carpet
under his head； Nestor went up to him and stirred him with his
heel to rouse him； upbraiding him and urging him to bestir
himself。 〃Wake up；〃 he exclaimed； 〃son of Tydeus。 How can you
sleep on in this way？ Can you not see that the Trojans are
encamped on the brow of the plain hard by our ships； with but a
little space between us and them？〃
On these words Diomed leaped up instantly and said； 〃Old man；
your heart is of iron； you rest not one moment from your labours。
Are there no younger men among the Achaeans who could go about to
rouse the princes？ There is no tiring you。〃
And Nestor knight of Gerene made answer； 〃My son； all that you
have said is true。 I have good sons； and also much people who
might call the chieftains； but the Achaeans are in the gravest
danger； life and death are balanced as it were on the edge of a
razor。 Go then； for you are younger than I； and of your courtesy
rouse Ajax and the fleet son of Phyleus。〃
Diomed threw the skin of a great tawny lion about his shoulders
a skin that reached his feetand grasped his spear。 When he had
roused the heroes； he brought them back with him； they then went
the round of those who were on guard； and found the captains not
sleeping at their posts but wakeful and sitting with their arms
about them。 As sheep dogs that watch their flocks when they are
yarded； and hear a wild beast ing through the mountain forest
towards themforthwith there is a hue and cry of dogs and men；
and slumber is brokeneven so was sleep chased from the eyes of
the Achaeans as they kept the watches of the wicked night； for
they turned constantly towards the plain whenever they heard any
stir among the Trojans。 The old man was glad bade them be of good
cheer。 〃Watch on； my children；〃 said he； 〃and let not sleep get
hold upon you； lest our enemies triumph over us。〃
With this he passed the trench； and with him the other chiefs of
the Achaeans who had been called to the council。 Meriones and the
brave son of Nestor went also； for the princes bade them。 When
they were beyond the trench that was dug round the wall they held
their meeting on the open ground where there was a space clear of
corpses； for it was here that when night fell Hector had turned
back from his onslaught on the Argives。 They sat down； therefore；
and held debate with one another。
Nestor spoke first。 〃My friends；〃 said he； 〃is there any man bold
enough to venture the Trojans； and cut off some straggler； or us
news of what the enemy mean to do whether they will stay here by
the ships away from the city； or whether； now that they have
worsted the Achaeans； they will retire within their walls。 If he
could learn all this and e back safely here； his fame would be
high as heaven in the mouths of all men； and he would be rewarded
richly； for the chiefs from all our ships would each of them give
him a black ewe with her lambwhich is a present of surpassing
valueand he would be asked as a guest to all feasts and
clan…gatherings。〃
They all held their peace； but Diomed of the loud war…cry spoke
saying； 〃Nestor； gladly will I visit the host of the Trojans over
against us； but if another will go with me I shall do so in
greater confidence and fort。 When two men are together； one of
them may see some opportunity which the other has not caught
sight of； if a man is alone he is less full of resource； and his
wit is weaker。〃
On this several offered to go with Diomed。 The two Ajaxes；
servants of Mars； Meriones； and the son of Nestor all wanted to
go； so did Menelaus son of Atreus； Ulysses also wished to go
among the host of the Trojans； for he was ever full of daring；
and thereon Agamemnon king of men spoke thus： 〃Diomed；〃 said he；
〃son of Tydeus； man after my own heart； choose your rade for
yourselftake the best man of those that have offered； for many
would now go with you。 Do not through delicacy reject the better
man； and take the worst out of respect for his lineage； because
he is of more royal blood。〃
He said this because he feared for Menelaus。 Diomed answered； 〃If
you bid me take the man of my own choice； how in that case can I
fail to think of Ulysses； than whom there is no man more eager to
face all kinds of dangerand Pallas Minerva loves him well？ If
he were to go with me we should pass safely through fire itself；
for he is quick to see and understand。〃
〃Son of Tydeus；〃 replied Ulysses； 〃say neither good nor ill about
me； for you are among Argives who know me well。 Let us be going；
for the night wanes and dawn is at hand。 The stars have gone
forward； two…thirds of the night are already spent； and the third
is alone left us。〃
They then put on their armour。 Brave Thrasymedes provided the son
of Tydeus with a sword and a shield （for he had left his own at
his ship） and on his head he set a helmet of bull's hide without
either peak or crest； it is called a skull…cap and is a mon
headgear。 Meriones found a bow and quiver for Ulysses； and on his
head he set a leathern helmet that was lined with a strong
plaiting of leathern thongs； while on the outside it was thickly
studded with boar's teeth； well and skilfully set into it； next
the head there was an inner lining of felt。 This helmet had been
stolen by Autolycus out of Eleon when he broke into the house of
Amyntor son of Ormenus。 He gave it to Amphidamas of Cythera to
take to Scandea； and Amphidamas gave it as a guest…gift to Molus；
who gave it to his son Meriones； and now it was set upon the head
of Ulysses。
When the pair had armed； they set out； and left the other
chieftains behind them。 Pallas Minerva sent them a heron by the
wayside upon their right hands； they could not see it for the
darkness； but they heard its cry。 Ulysses was glad when he heard
it and prayed to Minerva： 〃Hear me；〃 he cried； 〃daughter of
aegis…bearing Jove； you who spy out all my ways and who are with
me in all my hardships； befriend me in this mine hour； and grant
that we may return to the ships covered with glory after having
achieved some mighty exploit that shall bring sorrow to the
Trojans。〃
Then Diomed of the loud war…cry also prayed： 〃Hear me too；〃 said
he； 〃daughter of Jove； unweariable； be with me even as you were
with my noble father Tydeus when he went to Thebes as envoy sent
by the Achaeans。 He left the Achaeans by the banks of the river
Aesopus； and went to the city bearing a message of peace to the
Cadmeians； on his return thence； with your help； goddess