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assembly； and range themselves upon the wide…watered shore； while
among them ran Wildfire Rumour； messenger of Jove； urging them
ever to the fore。 Thus they gathered in a pell…mell of mad
confusion； and the earth groaned under the tramp of men as the
people sought their places。 Nine heralds went crying about among
them to stay their tumult and bid them listen to the kings； till
at last they were got into their several places and ceased their
clamour。 Then King Agamemnon rose； holding his sceptre。 This was
the work of Vulcan； who gave it to Jove the son of Saturn。 Jove
gave it to Mercury； slayer of Argus； guide and guardian。 King
Mercury gave it to Pelops； the mighty charioteer； and Pelops to
Atreus； shepherd of his people。 Atreus； when he died； left it to
Thyestes； rich in flocks； and Thyestes in his turn left it to be
borne by Agamemnon； that he might be lord of all Argos and of the
isles。 Leaning； then； on his sceptre； he addressed the Argives。
〃My friends；〃 he said； 〃heroes； servants of Mars； the hand of
heaven has been laid heavily upon me。 Cruel Jove gave me his
solemn promise that I should sack the city of Priam 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。 It will be a
sorry tale hereafter that an Achaean host； at once so great and
valiant； battled in vain against men fewer in number than
themselves； but as yet the end is not in sight。 Think that the
Achaeans and Trojans have sworn to a solemn covenant； and that
they have each been numberedthe Trojans by the roll of their
householders； and we by panies of ten； think further that each
of our panies desired to have a Trojan householder to pour out
their wine； we are so greatly more in number that full many a
pany would have to go without its cup…bearer。 But they have in
the town allies from other places； and it is these that hinder me
from being able to sack the rich city of Ilius。 Nine of Jove's
years are gone； the timbers of our ships have rotted； their
tackling is sound no longer。 Our wives and little ones at home
look anxiously for our ing； but the work that we came hither
to do has not been done。 Now； therefore； let us all do as I say：
let us sail back to our own land； for we shall not take Troy。〃
With these words he moved the hearts of the multitude； so many of
them as knew not the cunning counsel of Agamemnon。 They surged to
and fro like the waves of the Icarian Sea； when the east and
south winds break from heaven's clouds to lash them； or as when
the west wind sweeps over a field of corn and the ears bow
beneath the blast； even so were they swayed as they flew with
loud cries towards the ships； and the dust from under their feet
rose heavenward。 They cheered each other on to draw the ships
into the sea； they cleared the channels in front of them； they
began taking away the stays from underneath them； and the welkin
rang with their glad cries； so eager were they to return。
Then surely the Argives would have returned after a fashion that
was not fated。 But Juno said to Minerva； 〃Alas； daughter of
aegis…bearing Jove； unweariable； shall the Argives fly home to
their own land over the broad sea； and leave Priam and the
Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen； for whose sake so many
of the Achaeans have died at Troy； far from their homes？ Go about
at once among the host； and speak fairly to them； man by man；
that they draw not their ships into the sea。〃
Minerva was not slack to do her bidding。 Down she darted from the
topmost summits of Olympus； and in a moment she was at the ships
of the Achaeans。 There she found Ulysses； peer of Jove in
counsel； standing alone。 He had not as yet laid a hand upon his
ship； for he was grieved and sorry； so she went close up to him
and said； 〃Ulysses； noble son of Laertes； are you going to fling
yourselves into your ships and be off home to your own land in
this way？ Will you leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still
keeping Helen； for whose sake so many of the Achaeans have died
at Troy； far from their homes？ Go about at once among the host；
and speak fairly to them； man by man； that they draw not their
ships into the sea。〃
Ulysses knew the voice as that of the goddess： he flung his cloak
from him and set off to run。 His servant Eurybates； a man of
Ithaca； who waited on him； took charge of the cloak； whereon
Ulysses went straight up to Agamemnon and received from him his
ancestral； imperishable staff。 With this he went about among the
ships of the Achaeans。
Whenever he met a king or chieftain； he stood by him and spoke
him fairly。 〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃this flight is cowardly and
unworthy。 Stand to your post； and bid your people also keep their
places。 You do not yet know the full mind of Agamemnon； he was
sounding us； and ere long will visit the Achaeans with his
displeasure。 We were not all of us at the council to hear what he
then said； see to it lest he be angry and do us a mischief； for
the pride of kings is great； and the hand of Jove is with them。〃
But when he came across any mon man who was making a noise； he
struck him with his staff and rebuked him； saying； 〃Sirrah； hold
your peace； and listen to better men than yourself。 You are a
coward and no soldier； you are nobody either in fight or council；
we cannot all be kings； it is not well that there should be many
masters； one man must be supremeone king to whom the son of
scheming Saturn has given the sceptre of sovereignty over you
all。〃
Thus masterfully did he go about among the host； and the people
hurried back to the council from their tents and ships with a
sound as the thunder of surf when it es crashing down upon the
shore； and all the sea is in an uproar。
The rest now took their seats and kept to their own several
places； but Thersites still went on wagging his unbridled
tonguea man of many words； and those unseemly； a monger of
sedition； a railer against all who were in authority； who cared
not what he said； so that he might set the Achaeans in a laugh。
He was the ugliest man of all those that came before
Troybandy…legged； lame of one foot； with his two shoulders
rounded and hunched over his chest。 His head ran up to a point；
but there was little hair on the top of it。 Achilles and Ulysses
hated him worst of all； for it was with them that he was most
wont to wrangle； now； however； with a shrill squeaky voice he
began heaping his abuse on Agamemnon。 The Achaeans were angry and
disgusted； yet none the less he kept on brawling and bawling at
the son of Atreus。
〃Agamemnon；〃 he cried； 〃what ails you now； and what more do you
want？ Your tents are filled with bronze and with fair women； for
whenever we take a town we give you the pick of them。 Would you
have yet more gold； which some Trojan is to give you as a ransom
for his son； when I or another Achaean has taken him prisoner？ or
is it some young girl to hide and lie with？ It is not well that
you； the ruler of the Achaeans； should bring them into such
misery。 Weakling cowards； women rather th