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day。 Now； therefore； get your morning meal； that our hosts join
in fight。 Whet well your spears； see well to the ordering of your
shields； give good feeds to your horses； and look your chariots
carefully over； that we may do battle the livelong day； for we
shall have no rest； not for a moment； till night falls to part
us。 The bands that bear your shields shall be wet with the sweat
upon your shoulders； your hands shall weary upon your spears；
your horses shall steam in front of your chariots； and if I see
any man shirking the fight； or trying to keep out of it at the
ships； there shall be no help for him； but he shall be a prey to
dogs and vultures。〃
Thus he spoke； and the Achaeans roared applause。 As when the
waves run high before the blast of the south wind and break on
some lofty headland； dashing against it and buffeting it without
ceasing； as the storms from every quarter drive them； even so did
the Achaeans rise and hurry in all directions to their ships。
There they lighted their fires at their tents and got dinner；
offering sacrifice every man to one or other of the gods； and
praying each one of them that he might live to e out of the
fight。 Agamemnon； king of men； sacrificed a fat five…year…old
bull to the mighty son of Saturn； and invited the princes and
elders of his host。 First he asked Nestor and King Idomeneus；
then the two Ajaxes and the son of Tydeus； and sixthly Ulysses；
peer of gods in counsel； but Menelaus came of his own accord； for
he knew how busy his brother then was。 They stood round the bull
with the barley…meal in their hands； and Agamemnon prayed；
saying； 〃Jove； most glorious； supreme； that dwellest in heaven；
and ridest upon the storm…cloud； grant that the sun may not go
down； nor the night fall； till the palace of Priam is laid low；
and its gates are consumed with fire。 Grant that my sword may
pierce the shirt of Hector about his heart； and that full many of
his rades may bite the dust as they fall dying round him。〃
Thus he prayed； but the son of Saturn would not fulfil his
prayer。 He accepted the sacrifice； yet none the less increased
their toil continually。 When they had done praying and sprinkling
the barley…meal upon the victim； they drew back its head； killed
it； and then flayed it。 They cut out the thigh…bones； wrapped
them round in two layers of fat； and set pieces of raw meat on
the top of them。 These they burned upon the split logs of
firewood； but they spitted the inward meats； and held them in the
flames to cook。 When the thigh…bones were burned； and they had
tasted the inward meats； they cut the rest up small； put the
pieces upon spits； roasted them till they were done； and drew
them off； then； when they had finished their work and the feast
was ready； they ate it； and every man had his full share； so that
all were satisfied。 As soon as they had had enough to eat and
drink； Nestor； knight of Gerene； began to speak。 〃King
Agamemnon；〃 said he； 〃let us not stay talking here； nor be slack
in the work that heaven has put into our hands。 Let the heralds
summon the people to gather at their several ships； we will then
go about among the host； that we may begin fighting at once。〃
Thus did he speak； and Agamemnon heeded his words。 He at once
sent the criers round to call the people in assembly。 So they
called them； and the people gathered thereon。 The chiefs about
the son of Atreus chose their men and marshalled them； while
Minerva went among them holding her priceless aegis that knows
neither age nor death。 From it there waved a hundred tassels of
pure gold； all deftly woven； and each one of them worth a hundred
oxen。 With this she darted furiously everywhere among the hosts
of the Achaeans； urging them forward； and putting courage into
the heart of each； so that he might fight and do battle without
ceasing。 Thus war became sweeter in their eyes even than
returning home in their ships。 As when some great forest fire is
raging upon a mountain top and its light is seen afar； even so as
they marched the gleam of their armour flashed up into the
firmament of heaven。
They were like great flocks of geese； or cranes； or swans on the
plain about the waters of Cayster； that wing their way hither and
thither； glorying in the pride of flight； and crying as they
settle till the fen is alive with their screaming。 Even thus did
their tribes pour from ships and tents on to the plain of the
Scamander； and the ground rang as brass under the feet of men and
horses。 They stood as thick upon the flower…bespangled field as
leaves that bloom in summer。
As countless swarms of flies buzz around a herdsman's homestead
in the time of spring when the pails are drenched with milk； even
so did the Achaeans swarm on to the plain to charge the Trojans
and destroy them。
The chiefs disposed their men this way and that before the fight
began； drafting them out as easily as goatherds draft their
flocks when they have got mixed while feeding； and among them
went King Agamemnon； with a head and face like Jove the lord of
thunder； a waist like Mars； and a chest like that of Neptune。 As
some great bull that lords it over the herds upon the plain； even
so did Jove make the son of Atreus stand peerless among the
multitude of heroes。
And now； O Muses； dwellers in the mansions of Olympus； tell me
for you are goddesses and are in all places so that you see all
things； while we know nothing but by reportwho were the chiefs
and princes of the Danaans？ As for the mon soldiers； they were
so that I could not name every single one of them though I had
ten tongues； and though my voice failed not and my heart were of
bronze within me； unless you； O Olympian Muses； daughters of
aegis…bearing Jove； were to recount them to me。 Nevertheless； I
will tell the captains of the ships and all the fleet together。
Peneleos； Leitus； Arcesilaus； Prothoenor； and Clonius were
captains of the Boeotians。 These were they that dwelt in Hyria
and rocky Aulis； and who held Schoenus； Scolus； and the highlands
of Eteonus； with Thespeia； Graia； and the fair city of
Mycalessus。 They also held Harma； Eilesium； and Erythrae； and
they had Eleon； Hyle； and Peteon； Ocalea and the strong fortress
of Medeon； Copae； Eutresis； and Thisbe the haunt of doves；
Coronea； and the pastures of Haliartus； Plataea and Glisas； the
fortress of Thebes the less； holy Onchestus with its famous grove
of Neptune； Arne rich in vineyards； Midea； sacred Nisa； and
Anthedon upon the sea。 From these there came fifty ships； and in
each there were a hundred and twenty young men of the Boeotians。
Ascalaphus and Ialmenus； sons of Mars； led the people that dwelt
in Aspledon and Orchomenus the realm of Minyas。 Astyoche a noble
maiden bore them in the house of Actor son of Azeus； for she had
gone with Mars secretly into an upper chamber； and he had lain
with her。 With these there came thirty ships。
The Phoceans were led by Schedius and Epistrophus； sons of mighty
Iphitus the son of Naubolus。 These were they that held
Cyparissus； rocky Pytho； holy Crisa； Daulis； and Panopeus； they
also that dwelt in Anemorea and Hyampolis； and about the waters
of the river Cephissus； and Lilaea by