Now beside their ships all the other chieftains of the host of the Achaeans were slumbering the whole night through, overcome of soft sleep, but Agamemnon, son of Atreus, shepherd of the host, was not holden of sweet sleep, so many things debated he in mind.
ἄλλοι μὲν παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶνεὗδον παννύχιοι μαλακῷ δεδμημένοι ὕπνῳ·ἀλλʼ οὐκ Ἀτρεΐδην Ἀγαμέμνονα ποιμένα λαῶνὕπνος ἔχε γλυκερὸς πολλὰ φρεσὶν ὁρμαίνοντα.
Even as when the lord of fair-haired Hera lighteneth, what time he maketh ready either a mighty rain unspeakable or hail or snow, when the snow-flakes sprinkle the fields, or haply the wide mouth of bitter war; even so often did Agamemnon groan from the deep of his breast, and his heart trembled within him. So often as he gazed toward the Trojan plain, he marvelled at the many fires that burned before the face of Ilios, and at the sound of flutes and pipes, and the din of men; but whensoever he looked toward the ships and the host of the Achaeans, then many were the hairs that he pulled from his head by the very roots in appeal to Zeus that is above, and in his noble heart he groaned mightily. And this plan seemed to his mind the best, to go first of all to Nestor, son of Neleus, if so be he might contrive with him some goodly device that should be for the warding off of evil from the Danaan host. So he sate him up and did on his tunic about his breast, and beneath his shining feet bound his fair sandals, and thereafter clad him in the tawny skin of a lion, fiery and great, a skin that reached his feet; and he grasped his spear.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἀστράπτῃ πόσις Ἥρης ἠϋκόμοιοτεύχων ἢ πολὺν ὄμβρον ἀθέσφατον ἠὲ χάλαζανἢ νιφετόν, ὅτε πέρ τε χιὼν ἐπάλυνεν ἀρούρας,ἠέ ποθι πτολέμοιο μέγα στόμα πευκεδανοῖο,ὣς πυκίνʼ ἐν στήθεσσιν ἀνεστενάχιζʼ Ἀγαμέμνωννειόθεν ἐκ κραδίης, τρομέοντο δέ οἱ φρένες ἐντός.ἤτοι ὅτʼ ἐς πεδίον τὸ Τρωϊκὸν ἀθρήσειε,θαύμαζεν πυρὰ πολλὰ τὰ καίετο Ἰλιόθι πρὸαὐλῶν συρίγγων τʼ ἐνοπὴν ὅμαδόν τʼ ἀνθρώπων.αὐτὰρ ὅτʼ ἐς νῆάς τε ἴδοι καὶ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν,πολλὰς ἐκ κεφαλῆς προθελύμνους ἕλκετο χαίταςὑψόθʼ ἐόντι Διί, μέγα δʼ ἔστενε κυδάλιμον κῆρ.ἥδε δέ οἱ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλὴΝέστορʼ ἔπι πρῶτον Νηλήϊον ἐλθέμεν ἀνδρῶν,εἴ τινά οἱ σὺν μῆτιν ἀμύμονα τεκτήναιτο,ἥ τις ἀλεξίκακος πᾶσιν Δαναοῖσι γένοιτο.ὀρθωθεὶς δʼ ἔνδυνε περὶ στήθεσσι χιτῶνα,ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,ἀμφὶ δʼ ἔπειτα δαφοινὸν ἑέσσατο δέρμα λέοντοςαἴθωνος μεγάλοιο ποδηνεκές, εἵλετο δʼ ἔγχος.
And even in like manner was Menelaus holden of trembling fear—for on his eyelids too sleep settled not down—lest aught should befall the Argives who for his sake had come to Troy over the wide waters of the sea, pondering in their hearts fierce war. With a leopard's skin first he covered his broad shoulders, a dappled fell, and lifted up and set upon his head a helmet of bronze, and grasped a spear in his stout hand. Then he went his way to rouse his brother, that ruled mightily over all the Argives, and was honoured of the folk even as a god. Him he found putting about his shoulders his fair armour by the stern of his ship, and welcome was he to him as he came. To him first spake Menelaus, good at the war-cry:Wherefore, my brother, art thou thus arming? Wilt thou be rousing some man of thy comrades to spy upon the Trojans? Nay, sorely am I afraid lest none should undertake for thee this task, to go forth alone and spy upon the foemen, through the immortal night; right hardy of heart must that man be.Then in answer to him spake lord Agamemnon:Need have we, both thou and I, O Menelaus, fostered of Zeus, of shrewd counsel that shall save and deliver the Argives and their ships, seeing the mind of Zeus is turned. To the sacrifices of Hector, it seemeth, his heart inclineth rather than to ours. For never have I seen neither heard by the telling of another that one man devised in one day so many terrible deeds, as Hector, dear to Zeus, hath wrought upon the sons of the Achaeans, by himself alone, he that is not the dear son of goddess or of god. Deeds hath he wrought that methinks will be a sorrow to the Argives for ever and aye, so many evils hath he devised against the Achaeans. But go now, run swiftly along the lines of ships and call hither Aias and Idomeneus, and I will go to goodly Nestor and bid him arise, if so be he will be minded to go to the sacred company of the sentinels and give them charge. To him would they hearken as to no other, for his son is captain over the guard, he and Meriones, comrade of Idomeneus; for to them above all we entrusted this charge.
ὣς δʼ αὔτως Μενέλαον ἔχε τρόμος· οὐδὲ γὰρ αὐτῷὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἐφίζανε· μή τι πάθοιενἈργεῖοι, τοὶ δὴ ἕθεν εἵνεκα πουλὺν ἐφʼ ὑγρὴνἤλυθον ἐς Τροίην πόλεμον θρασὺν ὁρμαίνοντες.παρδαλέῃ μὲν πρῶτα μετάφρενον εὐρὺ κάλυψεποικίλῃ, αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ στεφάνην κεφαλῆφιν ἀείραςθήκατο χαλκείην, δόρυ δʼ εἵλετο χειρὶ παχείῃ.βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἀνστήσων ὃν ἀδελφεόν, ὃς μέγα πάντωνἈργείων ἤνασσε, θεὸς δʼ ὣς τίετο δήμῳ.τὸν δʼ εὗρʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι τιθήμενον ἔντεα καλὰνηῒ πάρα πρύμνῃ· τῷ δʼ ἀσπάσιος γένετʼ ἐλθών.τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·τίφθʼ οὕτως ἠθεῖε κορύσσεαι; ἦ τινʼ ἑταίρωνὀτρυνέεις Τρώεσσιν ἐπίσκοπον; ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἰνῶςδείδω μὴ οὔ τίς τοι ὑπόσχηται τόδε ἔργονἄνδρας δυσμενέας σκοπιαζέμεν οἶος ἐπελθὼννύκτα διʼ ἀμβροσίην· μάλα τις θρασυκάρδιος ἔσται.τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·χρεὼ βουλῆς ἐμὲ καὶ σὲ διοτρεφὲς ὦ Μενέλαεκερδαλέης, ἥ τίς κεν ἐρύσσεται ἠδὲ σαώσειἈργείους καὶ νῆας, ἐπεὶ Διὸς ἐτράπετο φρήν.Ἑκτορέοις ἄρα μᾶλλον ἐπὶ φρένα θῆχʼ ἱεροῖσιν·οὐ γάρ πω ἰδόμην, οὐδʼ ἔκλυον αὐδήσαντοςἄνδρʼ ἕνα τοσσάδε μέρμερʼ ἐπʼ ἤματι μητίσασθαι,ὅσσʼ Ἕκτωρ ἔρρεξε Διῒ φίλος υἷας Ἀχαιῶναὔτως, οὔτε θεᾶς υἱὸς φίλος οὔτε θεοῖο.ἔργα δʼ ἔρεξʼ ὅσα φημὶ μελησέμεν Ἀργείοισιδηθά τε καὶ δολιχόν· τόσα γὰρ κακὰ μήσατʼ Ἀχαιούς.ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν Αἴαντα καὶ Ἰδομενῆα κάλεσσονῥίμφα θέων παρὰ νῆας· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐπὶ Νέστορα δῖονεἶμι, καὶ ὀτρυνέω ἀνστήμεναι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσινἐλθεῖν ἐς φυλάκων ἱερὸν τέλος ἠδʼ ἐπιτεῖλαι.κείνῳ γάρ κε μάλιστα πιθοίατο· τοῖο γὰρ υἱὸςσημαίνει φυλάκεσσι καὶ Ἰδομενῆος ὀπάωνΜηριόνης· τοῖσιν γὰρ ἐπετράπομέν γε μάλιστα.
Then made answer to him Menelaus, good at the war-cry:With what meaning doth thy word thus charge and command me? Shall I abide there with them, waiting until thou shalt come, or run back to thee again, when I have duly laid on them thy command?And to him did the king of men, Agamemnon, make answer, saying:Abide there, lest haply we miss each other as we go, for many are the paths throughout the camp. But lift up thy voice wheresoever thou goest, and bid men be awake, calling each man by his lineage and his father's name, giving due honour to each, and be not thou proud of heart but rather let us ourselves be busy; even thus I ween hath Zeus laid upon us even at our birth the heaviness of woe.So spake he, and sent forth his brother when he had duly given him commandment. But he went his way after Nestor, shepherd of the host, and found him by his hut and his black ship on his soft bed, and beside him lay his armour richly dight, his shield and two spears and gleaming helmet. And by his side lay the flashing girdle, wherewith the old man was wont to gird himself, whenso he arrayed him for battle, the bane of men, and led forth his people, for he yielded not to grievous old age.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·πῶς γάρ μοι μύθῳ ἐπιτέλλεαι ἠδὲ κελεύεις;αὖθι μένω μετὰ τοῖσι δεδεγμένος εἰς ὅ κεν ἔλθῃς,ἦε θέω μετὰ σʼ αὖτις, ἐπὴν εὖ τοῖς ἐπιτείλω;τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,αὖθι μένειν, μή πως ἀβροτάξομεν ἀλλήλοιινἐρχομένω· πολλαὶ γὰρ ἀνὰ στρατόν εἰσι κέλευθοι.φθέγγεο δʼ ᾗ κεν ἴῃσθα καὶ ἐγρήγορθαι ἄνωχθιπατρόθεν ἐκ γενεῆς ὀνομάζων ἄνδρα ἕκαστονπάντας κυδαίνων· μηδὲ μεγαλίζεο θυμῷ,ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτοί περ πονεώμεθα· ὧδέ που ἄμμιΖεὺς ἐπὶ γιγνομένοισιν ἵει κακότητα βαρεῖαν.ὣς εἰπὼν ἀπέπεμπεν ἀδελφεὸν εὖ ἐπιτείλας·αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ ῥʼ ἰέναι μετὰ Νέστορα ποιμένα λαῶν·τὸν δʼ εὗρεν παρά τε κλισίῃ καὶ νηῒ μελαίνῃεὐνῇ ἔνι μαλακῇ· παρὰ δʼ ἔντεα ποικίλʼ ἔκειτοἀσπὶς καὶ δύο δοῦρε φαεινή τε τρυφάλεια.πὰρ δὲ ζωστὴρ κεῖτο παναίολος, ᾧ ῥʼ ὁ γεραιὸςζώννυθʼ ὅτʼ ἐς πόλεμον φθισήνορα θωρήσσοιτολαὸν ἄγων, ἐπεὶ οὐ μὲν ἐπέτρεπε γήραϊ λυγρῷ.
He rose upon his elbow, lifting up his head, and spake to the son of Atreus, and questioned him, saying:Who art thou that art faring alone by the ships throughout the camp in the darkness of night, when other mortals are sleeping? Seekest thou one of thy mules, or of thy comrades?
ὀρθωθεὶς δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνος κεφαλὴν ἐπαείραςἈτρεΐδην προσέειπε καὶ ἐξερεείνετο μύθῳ·τίς δʼ οὗτος κατὰ νῆας ἀνὰ στρατὸν ἔρχεαι οἶοςνύκτα διʼ ὀρφναίην, ὅτε θʼ εὕδουσι βροτοὶ ἄλλοι,ἠέ τινʼ οὐρήων διζήμενος, ἤ τινʼ ἑταίρων;
Speak, and come not silently upon me. Of what hast thou need?Then made answer the king of men, Agamemnon:Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans, thou shalt know Agamemnon, son of Atreus, whom beyond all others Zeus hath set amid toils continually, so long as the breath abideth in my breast and my knees are quick. I wander thus, because sweet sleep settleth not upon mine eyes, but war is a trouble to me and the woes of the Achaeans. Wondrously do I fear for the Danaans, nor is my mind firm, but I am tossed to and fro, and my heart leapeth forth from out my breast, and my glorious limbs tremble beneath me. But if thou wouldest do aught, seeing on thee too sleep cometh not, come, let us go to the sentinels, that we may look to them, lest fordone with toil and drowsiness they be slumbering, and have wholly forgot their watch.
φθέγγεο, μηδʼ ἀκέων ἐπʼ ἔμʼ ἔρχεο· τίπτε δέ σε χρεώ;τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·ὦ Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶνγνώσεαι Ἀτρεΐδην Ἀγαμέμνονα, τὸν περὶ πάντωνΖεὺς ἐνέηκε πόνοισι διαμπερὲς εἰς ὅ κʼ ἀϋτμὴἐν στήθεσσι μένῃ καί μοι φίλα γούνατʼ ὀρώρῃ.πλάζομαι ὧδʼ ἐπεὶ οὔ μοι ἐπʼ ὄμμασι νήδυμος ὕπνοςἱζάνει, ἀλλὰ μέλει πόλεμος καὶ κήδεʼ Ἀχαιῶν.αἰνῶς γὰρ Δαναῶν περιδείδια, οὐδέ μοι ἦτορἔμπεδον, ἀλλʼ ἀλαλύκτημαι, κραδίη δέ μοι ἔξωστηθέων ἐκθρῴσκει, τρομέει δʼ ὑπὸ φαίδιμα γυῖα.ἀλλʼ εἴ τι δραίνεις, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ σέ γʼ ὕπνος ἱκάνει,δεῦρʼ ἐς τοὺς φύλακας καταβήομεν, ὄφρα ἴδωμενμὴ τοὶ μὲν καμάτῳ ἀδηκότες ἠδὲ καὶ ὕπνῳκοιμήσωνται, ἀτὰρ φυλακῆς ἐπὶ πάγχυ λάθωνται.
The foemen bivouac hard by, nor know we at all whether haply they may not be fain to do battle even in the night.Then made answer to him the horseman Nestor of Gerenia:Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men, of a surety not all his purposes shall Zeus the counsellor fulfill for Hector, even all that now he thinketh; nay methinks he shall labour amid troubles yet more than ours, if so be Achilles shall turn his heart from grievous anger. Howbeit with thee will I gladly follow, but let us moreover arouse others also, both the son of Tydeus, famed for his spear, and Odysseus, and the swift Aias, and the valiant son of Phyleus. And I would that one should go and summon these also, the godlike Aias and lord Idomeneus, for their ships are furthest of all and nowise nigh at hand. But Menelaus will I chide, dear though he be and honoured, aye, though thou shouldest be angry with me, nor will I hide my thought, for that he sleepeth thus, and hath suffered thee to toil alone. Now had it been meet that he laboured among all the chieftains, beseeching them, for need has come upon them that may no longer be borne.And to him did the king of men, Agamemnon, make answer, saying:
δυσμενέες δʼ ἄνδρες σχεδὸν εἵαται· οὐδέ τι ἴδμενμή πως καὶ διὰ νύκτα μενοινήσωσι μάχεσθαι.τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνονοὔ θην Ἕκτορι πάντα νοήματα μητίετα Ζεὺςἐκτελέει, ὅσα πού νυν ἐέλπεται· ἀλλά μιν οἴωκήδεσι μοχθήσειν καὶ πλείοσιν, εἴ κεν Ἀχιλλεὺςἐκ χόλου ἀργαλέοιο μεταστρέψῃ φίλον ἦτορ.σοὶ δὲ μάλʼ ἕψομʼ ἐγώ· ποτὶ δʼ αὖ καὶ ἐγείρομεν ἄλλουςἠμὲν Τυδεΐδην δουρὶ κλυτὸν ἠδʼ Ὀδυσῆαἠδʼ Αἴαντα ταχὺν καὶ Φυλέος ἄλκιμον υἱόν.ἀλλʼ εἴ τις καὶ τούσδε μετοιχόμενος καλέσειενἀντίθεόν τʼ Αἴαντα καὶ Ἰδομενῆα ἄνακτα·τῶν γὰρ νῆες ἔασιν ἑκαστάτω, οὐδὲ μάλʼ ἐγγύς.ἀλλὰ φίλον περ ἐόντα καὶ αἰδοῖον Μενέλαοννεικέσω, εἴ πέρ μοι νεμεσήσεαι, οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσωὡς εὕδει, σοὶ δʼ οἴῳ ἐπέτρεψεν πονέεσθαι.νῦν ὄφελεν κατὰ πάντας ἀριστῆας πονέεσθαιλισσόμενος· χρειὼ γὰρ ἱκάνεται οὐκέτʼ ἀνεκτός.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·
Old sir, at another time shalt thou chide him even at mine own bidding, seeing he is often slack and not minded to labour, neither yielding to sloth nor to heedlessness of mind, but ever looking to me and awaiting my leading. But now he awoke even before myself, and came to me, and myself I sent him forth to summon those of whom thou inquirest. But let us go; we shall find them before the gates amid the sentinels, for there I bade them gather.Then made answer to him the horseman, Nestor of Gerenia:So will no man be wroth at him or disobey him of all the Argives, whenso he urgeth any man or giveth commands.So saying he did on his tunic about his breast, and beneath his shining feet bound his fair sandals and around him buckled a purple cloak of double fold and wide, whereon the down was thick.
ὦ γέρον ἄλλοτε μέν σε καὶ αἰτιάασθαι ἄνωγα·πολλάκι γὰρ μεθιεῖ τε καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλει πονέεσθαιοὔτʼ ὄκνῳ εἴκων οὔτʼ ἀφραδίῃσι νόοιο,ἀλλʼ ἐμέ τʼ εἰσορόων καὶ ἐμὴν ποτιδέγμενος ὁρμήν.νῦν δʼ ἐμέο πρότερος μάλʼ ἐπέγρετο καί μοι ἐπέστη·τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ προέηκα καλήμεναι οὓς σὺ μεταλλᾷς.ἀλλʼ ἴομεν· κείνους δὲ κιχησόμεθα πρὸ πυλάωνἐν φυλάκεσσʼ, ἵνα γάρ σφιν ἐπέφραδον ἠγερέθεσθαι.τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·οὕτως οὔ τίς οἱ νεμεσήσεται οὐδʼ ἀπιθήσειἈργείων, ὅτε κέν τινʼ ἐποτρύνῃ καὶ ἀνώγῃ.ὣς εἰπὼν ἔνδυνε περὶ στήθεσσι χιτῶνα,ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα χλαῖναν περονήσατο φοινικόεσσανδιπλῆν ἐκταδίην, οὔλη δʼ ἐπενήνοθε λάχνη.
And he grasped a mighty spear, tipped with sharp bronze, and went his way among the ships of the brazen-coated Achaeans. Then Odysseus first, the peer of Zeus in counsel, did the horseman, Nestor of Gerenia, awaken out of sleep with his voice, and forthwith the call rang all about his mind and he came forth from the hut and spake to them, saying:How is it that ye fare thus alone by the ships throughout the camp in the immortal night? What need so great hath come upon you?Then made answer to him the horseman, Nestor of Gerenia:Zeus-born son of Laërtes, Odysseus of many wiles, be not thou wroth, for great sorrow hath overmastered the Achaeans. Nay, follow, that we may arouse another also, whomsoever it behoveth to take counsel, whether to flee or to fight.So spake he, and Odysseus of many wiles went to the hut and cast about his shoulders a shield richly dight, and followed after them.
εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος ἀκαχμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,βῆ δʼ ἰέναι κατὰ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων.πρῶτον ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντονἐξ ὕπνου ἀνέγειρε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρφθεγξάμενος· τὸν δʼ αἶψα περὶ φρένας ἤλυθʼ ἰωή,ἐκ δʼ ἦλθε κλισίης καί σφεας πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·τίφθʼ οὕτω κατὰ νῆας ἀνὰ στρατὸν οἶοι ἀλᾶσθενύκτα διʼ ἀμβροσίην, ὅ τι δὴ χρειὼ τόσον ἵκει;τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦμὴ νεμέσα· τοῖον γὰρ ἄχος βεβίηκεν Ἀχαιούς.ἀλλʼ ἕπεʼ, ὄφρα καὶ ἄλλον ἐγείρομεν ὅν τʼ ἐπέοικεβουλὰς βουλεύειν, ἢ φευγέμεν ἠὲ μάχεσθαι.ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δὲ κλισίην δὲ κιὼν πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεὺςποικίλον ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι σάκος θέτο, βῆ δὲ μετʼ αὐτούς.
And they came to Tydeus' son, Diomedes, and him they found outside his hut with his arms; and around him his comrades were sleeping with their shields beneath their heads, but their spears were driven into the ground erect on their spikes, and afar shone the bronze like the lightning of father Zeus. But the warrior was sleeping, and beneath him was spread the hide of an ox of the field, and beneath his head was stretched a bright carpet. To his side came the horseman, Nestor of Gerenia, and woke him, stirring him with a touch of his heel, and aroused him, and chid him to his face:Awake, son of Tydeus, why slumberest thou the whole night through in sleep?
βὰν δʼ ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδην Διομήδεα· τὸν δὲ κίχανονἐκτὸς ἀπὸ κλισίης σὺν τεύχεσιν· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροιεὗδον, ὑπὸ κρασὶν δʼ ἔχον ἀσπίδας· ἔγχεα δέ σφινὄρθʼ ἐπὶ σαυρωτῆρος ἐλήλατο, τῆλε δὲ χαλκὸςλάμφʼ ὥς τε στεροπὴ πατρὸς Διός· αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἥρωςεὗδʼ, ὑπὸ δʼ ἔστρωτο ῥινὸν βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο,αὐτὰρ ὑπὸ κράτεσφι τάπης τετάνυστο φαεινός.τὸν παρστὰς ἀνέγειρε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ,λὰξ ποδὶ κινήσας, ὄτρυνέ τε νείκεσέ τʼ ἄντην·ἔγρεο Τυδέος υἱέ· τί πάννυχον ὕπνον ἀωτεῖς;
Knowest thou not that the Trojans on the rising ground of the plain are camped hard by the ships, and but scant space still holdeth them off?So said he, but the other right swiftly sprang up out of sleep, and he spake and addressed him with winged words:Hardy art thou, old sir, and from toil thou never ceasest.
οὐκ ἀΐεις ὡς Τρῶες ἐπὶ θρωσμῷ πεδίοιοεἵαται ἄγχι νεῶν, ὀλίγος δʼ ἔτι χῶρος ἐρύκει;ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἐξ ὕπνοιο μάλα κραιπνῶς ἀνόρουσε,καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·σχέτλιός ἐσσι γεραιέ· σὺ μὲν πόνου οὔ ποτε λήγεις.
Are there not other sons of the Achaeans that be younger, who might then rouse each one of the kings, going everywhere throughout the host? But with thee, old sir, may no man deal.Then the horseman, Nestor of Gerenia, answered him:Nay verily, friend, all this hast thou spoken according to right.
οὔ νυ καὶ ἄλλοι ἔασι νεώτεροι υἷες Ἀχαιῶνοἵ κεν ἔπειτα ἕκαστον ἐγείρειαν βασιλήωνπάντῃ ἐποιχόμενοι; σὺ δʼ ἀμήχανός ἐσσι γεραιέ.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα φίλος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.
Peerless sons have I, and folk there be full many, of whom any one might go and call others. But in good sooth great need hath overmastered the Achaeans, for now to all it standeth on a razor's edge, either woeful ruin for the Achaeans, or to live.
εἰσὶν μέν μοι παῖδες ἀμύμονες, εἰσὶ δὲ λαοὶκαὶ πολέες, τῶν κέν τις ἐποιχόμενος καλέσειεν·ἀλλὰ μάλα μεγάλη χρειὼ βεβίηκεν Ἀχαιούς.νῦν γὰρ δὴ πάντεσσιν ἐπὶ ξυροῦ ἵσταται ἀκμῆςἢ μάλα λυγρὸς ὄλεθρος Ἀχαιοῖς ἠὲ βιῶναι.
But go now and rouse swift Aias and the son of Phyleus, for thou art younger —if so be thou pitiest me.So spake he, and Diomedes clad about his shoulders the skin of a lion, fiery and great, a skin that reached his feet, and grasped his spear, and he went his way, and roused those warriors from where they were, and brought them.
ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν Αἴαντα ταχὺν καὶ Φυλέος υἱὸνἄνστησον· σὺ γάρ ἐσσι νεώτερος· εἴ μʼ ἐλεαίρεις.ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἑέσσατο δέρμα λέοντοςαἴθωνος μεγάλοιο ποδηνεκές, εἵλετο δʼ ἔγχος.βῆ δʼ ἰέναι, τοὺς δʼ ἔνθεν ἀναστήσας ἄγεν ἥρως.
Now when they had joined the company of the sentinels as they were gathered together, they found not the leaders of the sentinels asleep, but all were sitting awake with their arms. And even as dogs keep painful watch about sheep in a fold, when they hear the wild beast, stout of heart, that cometh through the wood among the hills, and a great din ariseth about him of men and dogs, and from them sleep perisheth; even so from their eyelids did sweet sleep perish, as they kept watch through the evil night; for toward the plain were they ever turning if haply they might hear the Trojans coming on.
οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ φυλάκεσσιν ἐν ἀγρομένοισιν ἔμιχθεν,οὐδὲ μὲν εὕδοντας φυλάκων ἡγήτορας εὗρον,ἀλλʼ ἐγρηγορτὶ σὺν τεύχεσιν εἵατο πάντες.ὡς δὲ κύνες περὶ μῆλα δυσωρήσωνται ἐν αὐλῇθηρὸς ἀκούσαντες κρατερόφρονος, ὅς τε καθʼ ὕληνἔρχηται διʼ ὄρεσφι· πολὺς δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς ἐπʼ αὐτῷἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ κυνῶν, ἀπό τέ σφισιν ὕπνος ὄλωλεν·ὣς τῶν νήδυμος ὕπνος ἀπὸ βλεφάροιιν ὀλώλεινύκτα φυλασσομένοισι κακήν· πεδίον δὲ γὰρ αἰεὶτετράφαθʼ, ὁππότʼ ἐπὶ Τρώων ἀΐοιεν ἰόντων.
At sight of them the old man waxed glad and heartened them, and spake and addressed them with winged words:Even so now, dear children, keep your watch, neither let sleep seize any man, lest we become a cause of rejoicing to our foes.So saying he hasted through the trench, and there followed with him the kings of the Argives, even all that had been called to the council. But with them went Meriones and the glorious son of Nestor; for of themselves they bade these share in their counsel. So they went through and out from the digged ditch and sate them down in an open space, where the ground shewed clear of dead men fallen, even where mighty Hector had turned back again from destroying the Argives, when night enfolded him. There they sate them down and spake one to the other, and among them the horse-man, Nestor of Gerenia, was first to speak:My friends, is there then no man who would trust his own venturous spirit to go among the great-souled Trojans, if so be he might slay some straggler of the foemen, or haply hear some rumour among the Trojans, and what counsel they devise among themselves, whether to abide where they be by the ships afar, or to withdraw again to the city, seeing they have worsted the Achaeans? All this might he learn, and come back to us unscathed: great would his fame be under heaven among all men, and a goodly gift shall be his. For of all the princes that hold sway over the ships, of all these shall every man give him a black ewe with a lamb at the teat— therewith may no possession compare;—and ever shall he be with us at feasts and drinking-bouts.So said he, and they all became hushed in silence. Then spake among them Diomedes, good at the war-cry:
τοὺς δʼ ὃ γέρων γήθησεν ἰδὼν θάρσυνέ τε μύθῳκαί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·οὕτω νῦν φίλα τέκνα φυλάσσετε· μηδέ τινʼ ὕπνοςαἱρείτω, μὴ χάρμα γενώμεθα δυσμενέεσσιν.ὣς εἰπὼν τάφροιο διέσσυτο· τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντοἈργείων βασιλῆες ὅσοι κεκλήατο βουλήν.τοῖς δʼ ἅμα Μηριόνης καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸςἤϊσαν· αὐτοὶ γὰρ κάλεον συμμητιάασθαι.τάφρον δʼ ἐκδιαβάντες ὀρυκτὴν ἑδριόωντοἐν καθαρῷ, ὅθι δὴ νεκύων διεφαίνετο χῶροςπιπτόντων· ὅθεν αὖτις ἀπετράπετʼ ὄβριμος Ἕκτωρὀλλὺς Ἀργείους, ὅτε δὴ περὶ νὺξ ἐκάλυψεν.ἔνθα καθεζόμενοι ἔπεʼ ἀλλήλοισι πίφαυσκον·τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·ὦ φίλοι οὐκ ἂν δή τις ἀνὴρ πεπίθοιθʼ ἑῷ αὐτοῦθυμῷ τολμήεντι μετὰ Τρῶας μεγαθύμουςἐλθεῖν, εἴ τινά που δηΐων ἕλοι ἐσχατόωντα,ἤ τινά που καὶ φῆμιν ἐνὶ Τρώεσσι πύθοιτο,ἅσσά τε μητιόωσι μετὰ σφίσιν, ἢ μεμάασιναὖθι μένειν παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀπόπροθεν, ἦε πόλιν δὲἂψ ἀναχωρήσουσιν, ἐπεὶ δαμάσαντό γʼ Ἀχαιούς.ταῦτά κε πάντα πύθοιτο, καὶ ἂψ εἰς ἡμέας ἔλθοιἀσκηθής· μέγα κέν οἱ ὑπουράνιον κλέος εἴηπάντας ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους, καί οἱ δόσις ἔσσεται ἐσθλή·ὅσσοι γὰρ νήεσσιν ἐπικρατέουσιν ἄριστοιτῶν πάντων οἱ ἕκαστος ὄϊν δώσουσι μέλαινανθῆλυν ὑπόρρηνον· τῇ μὲν κτέρας οὐδὲν ὁμοῖον,αἰεὶ δʼ ἐν δαίτῃσι καὶ εἰλαπίνῃσι παρέσται.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·
Nestor, my heart and proud spirit urge me to enter the camp of the foemen that are near, even of the Trojans; howbeit if some other man were to follow with me, greater comfort would there be, and greater confidence. When two go together, one discerneth before the other how profit may be had; whereas if one alone perceive aught, yet is his wit the shorter, and but slender his device.So spake he, and many there were that were fain to follow Diomedes. Fain were the two Aiantes, squires of Ares, fain was Meriones, and right fain the son of Nestor, fain was the son of Atreus, Menelaus, famed for his spear, and fain too was the stead-fast Odysseus to steal into the throng of the Trojans, for ever daring was the spirit in his breast. Then among them spake the king of men, Agamemnon:Diomedes, son of Tydeus, dear to my heart, that man shalt thou choose as thy comrade, whomsoever thou wilt, the best of them that offer themselves, for many are eager. And do not thou out of reverent heart leave the better man behind, and take as thy comrade one that is worse, yielding to reverence, and looking to birth, nay, not though one be more kingly.
Νέστορ ἔμʼ ὀτρύνει κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων δῦναι στρατὸν ἐγγὺς ἐόντωνΤρώων· ἀλλʼ εἴ τίς μοι ἀνὴρ ἅμʼ ἕποιτο καὶ ἄλλοςμᾶλλον θαλπωρὴ καὶ θαρσαλεώτερον ἔσται.σύν τε δύʼ ἐρχομένω καί τε πρὸ ὃ τοῦ ἐνόησενὅππως κέρδος ἔῃ· μοῦνος δʼ εἴ πέρ τε νοήσῃἀλλά τέ οἱ βράσσων τε νόος, λεπτὴ δέ τε μῆτις.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἔθελον Διομήδεϊ πολλοὶ ἕπεσθαι.ἠθελέτην Αἴαντε δύω θεράποντες Ἄρηος,ἤθελε Μηριόνης, μάλα δʼ ἤθελε Νέστορος υἱός,ἤθελε δʼ Ἀτρεΐδης δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος,ἤθελε δʼ ὁ τλήμων Ὀδυσεὺς καταδῦναι ὅμιλονΤρώων· αἰεὶ γάρ οἱ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἐτόλμα.τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·Τυδεΐδη Διόμηδες ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷτὸν μὲν δὴ ἕταρόν γʼ αἱρήσεαι ὅν κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα,φαινομένων τὸν ἄριστον, ἐπεὶ μεμάασί γε πολλοί.μηδὲ σύ γʼ αἰδόμενος σῇσι φρεσὶ τὸν μὲν ἀρείωκαλλείπειν, σὺ δὲ χείρονʼ ὀπάσσεαι αἰδοῖ εἴκωνἐς γενεὴν ὁρόων, μηδʼ εἰ βασιλεύτερός ἐστιν.
So said he, since he feared for the sake of fair-haired Menelaus. But among them spake again Diomedes, good at the war-cry:If of a truth ye bid me of myself choose me a comrade, how should I then forget godlike Odysseus, whose heart and proud spirit are beyond all others eager in all manner of toils; and Pallas Athene loveth him. If he but follow with me, even out of blazing fire might we both return, for wise above all is he in understanding.Then spake unto him much enduring goodly Odysseus:Son of Tydeus, praise me not over-much, neither blame me in aught:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἔδεισεν δὲ περὶ ξανθῷ Μενελάῳ.τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·εἰ μὲν δὴ ἕταρόν γε κελεύετέ μʼ αὐτὸν ἑλέσθαι,πῶς ἂν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐγὼ θείοιο λαθοίμην,οὗ πέρι μὲν πρόφρων κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρἐν πάντεσσι πόνοισι, φιλεῖ δέ ἑ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.τούτου γʼ ἑσπομένοιο καὶ ἐκ πυρὸς αἰθομένοιοἄμφω νοστήσαιμεν, ἐπεὶ περίοιδε νοῆσαι.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·Τυδεΐδη μήτʼ ἄρ με μάλʼ αἴνεε μήτέ τι νείκει·
this thou sayest among the Argives that themselves know all. Nay, let us go, for verily the night is waning and dawn draweth near; lo, the stars have moved onward, and of the night more than two watches have past, and the third alone is left us.So saying the twain clothed them in their dread armour.
εἰδόσι γάρ τοι ταῦτα μετʼ Ἀργείοις ἀγορεύεις.ἀλλʼ ἴομεν· μάλα γὰρ νὺξ ἄνεται, ἐγγύθι δʼ ἠώς,ἄστρα δὲ δὴ προβέβηκε, παροίχωκεν δὲ πλέων νὺξτῶν δύο μοιράων, τριτάτη δʼ ἔτι μοῖρα λέλειπται.ὣς εἰπόνθʼ ὅπλοισιν ἔνι δεινοῖσιν ἐδύτην.
To Tydeus' son Thrasymedes, staunch in fight, gave a two-edged sword—for his own was left by his ship—and a shield, and about his head he set a helm of bull's hide without horn and without crest, a helm that is called a skull-cap, and that guards the heads of lusty youths.
Τυδεΐδῃ μὲν δῶκε μενεπτόλεμος Θρασυμήδηςφάσγανον ἄμφηκες· τὸ δʼ ἑὸν παρὰ νηῒ λέλειπτο·καὶ σάκος· ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ κυνέην κεφαλῆφιν ἔθηκεταυρείην, ἄφαλόν τε καὶ ἄλλοφον, ἥ τε καταῖτυξκέκληται, ῥύεται δὲ κάρη θαλερῶν αἰζηῶν.
And Meriones gave to Odysseus a bow and a quiver and a sword, and about his head he set a helm wrought of hide, and with many a tight-stretched thong was it made stiff within, while without the white teeth of a boar of gleaming tusks were set thick on this side and that, well and cunningly, and within was fixed a lining of felt. This cap Autolycus on a time stole out of Eleon when he had broken into the stout-built house of Amyntor, son of Ormenus; and he gave it to Amphidamas of Cythem to take to Scandeia, and Amphidamas gave it to Molus as a guest-gift, but he gave it to his own son Meriones to wear; and now, being set thereon, it covered the head of Odysseus. So when the twain had clothed them in their dread armour, they went their way and left there all the chieftains. And for them Pallas Athene sent forth on their right a heron, hard by the way, and though they saw it not through the darkness of night, yet they heard its cry. And Odysseus was glad at the omen, and made prayer to Athene:Hear me, child of Zeus, that beareth the aegis, thou that dost ever stand by my side in all manner of toils, nor am I unseen of thee where'er I move; now again be thou my friend, Athene, as ne'er thou wast before, and grant that with goodly renown we come back to the ships, having wrought a great work that shall be a sorrow to the Trojans.And after him again prayed Diomedes, good at the war-cry:Hearken thou now also to me, child of Zeus, unwearied one.
Μηριόνης δʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ δίδου βιὸν ἠδὲ φαρέτρηνκαὶ ξίφος, ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ κυνέην κεφαλῆφιν ἔθηκεῥινοῦ ποιητήν· πολέσιν δʼ ἔντοσθεν ἱμᾶσινἐντέτατο στερεῶς· ἔκτοσθε δὲ λευκοὶ ὀδόντεςἀργιόδοντος ὑὸς θαμέες ἔχον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθαεὖ καὶ ἐπισταμένως· μέσσῃ δʼ ἐνὶ πῖλος ἀρήρει.τήν ῥά ποτʼ ἐξ Ἐλεῶνος Ἀμύντορος Ὀρμενίδαοἐξέλετʼ Αὐτόλυκος πυκινὸν δόμον ἀντιτορήσας,Σκάνδειαν δʼ ἄρα δῶκε Κυθηρίῳ Ἀμφιδάμαντι·Ἀμφιδάμας δὲ Μόλῳ δῶκε ξεινήϊον εἶναι,αὐτὰρ ὃ Μηριόνῃ δῶκεν ᾧ παιδὶ φορῆναι·δὴ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος πύκασεν κάρη ἀμφιτεθεῖσα.τὼ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ὅπλοισιν ἔνι δεινοῖσιν ἐδύτην,βάν ῥʼ ἰέναι, λιπέτην δὲ κατʼ αὐτόθι πάντας ἀρίστους.τοῖσι δὲ δεξιὸν ἧκεν ἐρῳδιὸν ἐγγὺς ὁδοῖοΠαλλὰς Ἀθηναίη· τοὶ δʼ οὐκ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσινύκτα διʼ ὀρφναίην, ἀλλὰ κλάγξαντος ἄκουσαν.χαῖρε δὲ τῷ ὄρνιθʼ Ὀδυσεύς, ἠρᾶτο δʼ Ἀθήνῃ·κλῦθί μευ αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος, ἥ τέ μοι αἰεὶἐν πάντεσσι πόνοισι παρίστασαι, οὐδέ σε λήθωκινύμενος· νῦν αὖτε μάλιστά με φῖλαι Ἀθήνη,δὸς δὲ πάλιν ἐπὶ νῆας ἐϋκλεῖας ἀφικέσθαιῥέξαντας μέγα ἔργον, ὅ κε Τρώεσσι μελήσῃ.δεύτερος αὖτʼ ἠρᾶτο βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·κέκλυθι νῦν καὶ ἐμεῖο Διὸς τέκος Ἀτρυτώνη·
Follow now with me even as thou didst follow with my father, goodly Tydeus, into Thebes, what time he went forth as a messenger of the Achaeans. Them he left by the Asopus, the brazen-coated Achaeans, and he bare a gentle word thither to the Cadmeians; but as he journeyed back he devised deeds right terrible with thee, fair goddess, for with a ready heart thou stoodest by his side. Even so now of thine own will stand thou by my side, and guard me. And to thee in return will I sacrifice a sleek heifer, broad of brow, unbroken, which no man hath yet led beneath the yoke. Her will I sacrifice to thee and will overlay her horns with gold.
σπεῖό μοι ὡς ὅτε πατρὶ ἅμʼ ἕσπεο Τυδέϊ δίῳἐς Θήβας, ὅτε τε πρὸ Ἀχαιῶν ἄγγελος ᾔει.τοὺς δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀσωπῷ λίπε χαλκοχίτωνας Ἀχαιούς,αὐτὰρ ὃ μειλίχιον μῦθον φέρε Καδμείοισικεῖσʼ· ἀτὰρ ἂψ ἀπιὼν μάλα μέρμερα μήσατο ἔργασὺν σοὶ δῖα θεά, ὅτε οἱ πρόφρασσα παρέστης.ὣς νῦν μοι ἐθέλουσα παρίσταο καί με φύλασσε.σοὶ δʼ αὖ ἐγὼ ῥέξω βοῦν ἦνιν εὐρυμέτωπονἀδμήτην, ἣν οὔ πω ὑπὸ ζυγὸν ἤγαγεν ἀνήρ·τήν τοι ἐγὼ ῥέξω χρυσὸν κέρασιν περιχεύας.