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you； the ruler of the Achaeans； should bring them into such
misery。 Weakling cowards； women rather than men； let us sail
home； and leave this fellow here at Troy to stew in his own meeds
of honour； and discover whether we were of any service to him or
no。 Achilles is a much better man than he is； and see how he has
treated himrobbing him of his prize and keeping it himself。
Achilles takes it meekly and shows no fight； if he did； son of
Atreus； you would never again insult him。〃
Thus railed Thersites； but Ulysses at once went up to him and
rebuked him sternly。 〃Check your glib tongue； Thersites；〃 said
be； 〃and babble not a word further。 Chide not with princes when
you have none to back you。 There is no viler creature e before
Troy with the sons of Atreus。 Drop this chatter about kings； and
neither revile them nor keep harping about going home。 We do not
yet know how things are going to be； nor whether the Achaeans are
to return with good success or evil。 How dare you gibe at
Agamemnon because the Danaans have awarded him so many prizes？ I
tell you； thereforeand it shall surely bethat if I again
catch you talking such nonsense； I will either forfeit my own
head and be no more called father of Telemachus； or I will take
you； strip you stark naked； and whip you out of the assembly till
you go blubbering back to the ships。〃
On this he beat him with his staff about the back and shoulders
till he dropped and fell a…weeping。 The golden sceptre raised a
bloody weal on his back； so he sat down frightened and in pain；
looking foolish as he wiped the tears from his eyes。 The people
were sorry for him； yet they laughed heartily； and one would turn
to his neighbour saying； 〃Ulysses has done many a good thing ere
now in fight and council； but he never did the Argives a better
turn than when he stopped this fellow's mouth from prating
further。 He will give the kings no more of his insolence。〃
Thus said the people。 Then Ulysses rose； sceptre in hand； and
Minerva in the likeness of a herald bade the people be still；
that those who were far off might hear him and consider his
council。 He therefore with all sincerity and goodwill addressed
them thus：
〃King Agamemnon； the Achaeans are for making you a by…word among
all mankind。 They forget the promise they made you when they set
out from Argos； that you should not return till you had sacked
the town of Troy； and； like children or widowed women； they
murmur and would set off homeward。 True it is that they have had
toil enough to be disheartened。 A man chafes at having to stay
away from his wife even for a single month； when he is on
shipboard； at the mercy of wind and sea； but it is now nine long
years that we have been kept here； I cannot； therefore； blame the
Achaeans if they turn restive； still we shall be shamed if we go
home empty after so long a staytherefore； my friends； be
patient yet a little longer that we may learn whether the
prophesyings of Calchas were false or true。
〃All who have not since perished must remember as though it were
yesterday or the day before； how the ships of the Achaeans were
detained in Aulis when we were on our way hither to make war on
Priam and the Trojans。 We were ranged round about a fountain
offering hecatombs to the gods upon their holy altars； and there
was a fine plane…tree from beneath which there welled a stream of
pure water。 Then we saw a prodigy； for Jove sent a fearful
serpent out of the ground； with blood…red stains upon its back；
and it darted from under the altar on to the plane…tree。 Now
there was a brood of young sparrows； quite small； upon the
topmost bough； peeping out from under the leaves； eight in all；
and their mother that hatched them made nine。 The serpent ate the
poor cheeping things； while the old bird flew about lamenting her
little ones； but the serpent threw his coils about her and caught
her by the wing as she was screaming。 Then； when he had eaten
both the sparrow and her young； the god who had sent him made him
bee a sign； for the son of scheming Saturn turned him into
stone； and we stood there wondering at that which had e to
pass。 Seeing； then； that such a fearful portent had broken in
upon our hecatombs； Calchas forthwith declared to us the oracles
of heaven。 'Why； Achaeans；' said he； 'are you thus speechless？
Jove has sent us this sign； long in ing； and long ere it be
fulfilled； though its fame shall last for ever。 As the serpent
ate the eight fledglings and the sparrow that hatched them； which
makes nine； so shall we fight nine years at Troy； but in the
tenth shall take the town。' This was what he said； and now it is
all ing true。 Stay here； therefore； all of you； till we take
the city of Priam。〃
On this the Argives raised a shout； till the ships rang again
with the uproar。 Nestor； knight of Gerene； then addressed them。
〃Shame on you；〃 he cried； 〃to stay talking here like children；
when you should fight like men。 Where are our covenants now； and
where the oaths that we have taken？ Shall our counsels be flung
into the fire； with our drink…offerings and the right hands of
fellowship wherein we have put our trust？ We waste our time in
words； and for all our talking here shall be no further forward。
Stand； therefore； son of Atreus； by your own steadfast purpose；
lead the Argives on to battle； and leave this handful of men to
rot； who scheme； and scheme in vain； to get back to Argos ere
they have learned whether Jove be true or a liar。 For the mighty
son of Saturn surely promised that we should succeed； when we
Argives set sail to bring death and destruction upon the Trojans。
He showed us favourable signs by flashing his lightning on our
right hands； therefore let none make haste to go till he has
first lain with the wife of some Trojan； and avenged the toil and
sorrow that he has suffered for the sake of Helen。 Nevertheless；
if any man is in such haste to be at home again； let him lay his
hand to his ship that he may meet his doom in the sight of all。
But； O king； consider and give ear to my counsel； for the word
that I say may not be neglected lightly。 Divide your men；
Agamemnon； into their several tribes and clans； that clans and
tribes may stand by and help one another。 If you do this； and if
the Achaeans obey you； you will find out who； both chiefs and
peoples； are brave； and who are cowards； for they will vie
against the other。 Thus you shall also learn whether it is
through the counsel of heaven or the cowardice of man that you
shall fail to take the town。〃
And Agamemnon answered； 〃Nestor； you have again outdone the sons
of the Achaeans in counsel。 Would； by Father Jove； Minerva； and
Apollo； that I had among them ten more such councillors； for the
city of King Priam would then soon fall beneath our hands； and we
should sack it。 But the son of Saturn afflicts me with bootless
wranglings and strife。 Achilles and I are quarrelling about this
girl； in which matter I was the first to offend； if we can be of
one mind again； the Trojans will not stave off destruction for a
day。 Now； therefore； get your morning meal； that our hosts join
in fight。 Whet well your spears； see well to the ordering of your
shield