could get no rest。 As when fair Juno's lord flashes his lightning in
token of great rain or hail or snow when the snow…flakes whiten the
ground； or again as a sign that he will open the wide jaws of hungry
war； even so did Agamemnon heave many a heavy sigh； for his soul
trembled within him。 When he looked upon the plain of Troy he
marvelled at the many watchfires burning in front of Ilius； and at the
sound of pipes and flutes and of the hum of men； but when presently he
turned towards the ships and hosts of the Achaeans； he tore his hair
by handfuls before Jove on high； and groaned aloud for the very
disquietness of his soul。 In the end he deemed it best to go at once
to Nestor son of Neleus； and see if between them they could find any
way of the Achaeans from destruction。 He therefore rose； put on his
shirt； bound his sandals about his comely feet； flung the skin of a
huge tawny lion over his shoulders… a skin that reached his feet…
and took his spear in his hand。
Neither could Menelaus sleep； for he； too； boded ill for the Argives
who for his sake had sailed from far over the seas to fight the
Trojans。 He covered his broad back with the skin of a spotted panther；
put a casque of bronze upon his head； and took his spear in his brawny
hand。 Then he went to rouse his brother； who was by far the most
powerful of the Achaeans； and was honoured by the people as though
he were a god。 He found him by the stern of his ship already putting
his goodly array about his shoulders； and right glad was he that his
brother had come。
Menelaus spoke first。 〃Why；〃 said he； 〃my dear brother； are you thus
arming？ Are you going to send any of our comrades to exploit the
Trojans？ I greatly fear that no one will do you this service； and
spy upon the enemy alone in the dead of night。 It will be a deed of
great daring。〃
And King Agamemnon answered； 〃Menelaus； we both of us need shrewd
counsel to save the Argives and our ships； for Jove has changed his
mind； and inclines towards Hector's sacrifices rather than ours。 I
never saw nor heard tell of any man as having wrought such ruin in one
day as Hector has now wrought against the sons of the Achaeans… and
that too of his own unaided self； for he is son neither to god nor
goddess。 The Argives will rue it long and deeply。 Run； therefore； with
all speed by the line of the ships； and call Ajax and Idomeneus。
Meanwhile I will go to Nestor； and bid him rise and go about among the
companies of our sentinels to give them their instructions； they
will listen to him sooner than to any man； for his own son； and
Meriones brother in arms to Idomeneus； are captains over them。 It
was to them more particularly that we gave this charge。〃
Menelaus replied； 〃How do I take your meaning？ Am I to stay with
them and wait your coming； or shall I return here as soon as I have
given your orders？〃 〃Wait；〃 answered King Agamemnon； 〃for there are so
many paths about the camp that we might miss one another。 Call every
man on your way； and bid him be stirring； name him by his lineage
and by his father's name； give each all titular observance； and
stand not too much upon your own dignity； we must take our full
share of toil； for at our birth Jove laid this heavy burden upon us。〃
With these instructions he sent his brother on his way； and went
on to Nestor shepherd of his people。 He found him sleeping in his tent
hard by his own ship； his goodly armour lay beside him… his shield；
his two spears and his helmet； beside him also lay the gleaming girdle
with which the old man girded himself when he armed to lead his people
into battle… for his age stayed him not。 He raised himself on his
elbow and looked up at Agamemnon。 〃Who is it；〃 said he； 〃that goes
thus about the host and the ships alone and in the dead of night； when
men are sleeping？ Are you looking for one of your mules or for some
comrade？ Do not stand there and say nothing； but speak。 What is your
business？〃
And Agamemnon answered； 〃Nestor； son of Neleus； honour to the
Achaean name； it is I； Agamemnon son of Atreus； on whom Jove has
laid labour and sorrow so long as there is breath in my body and my
limbs carry me。 I am thus abroad because sleep sits not upon my
eyelids； but my heart is big with war and with the jeopardy of the
Achaeans。 I am in great fear for the Danaans。 I am at sea； and without
sure counsel； my heart beats as though it would leap out of my body；
and my limbs fail me。 If then you can do anything… for you too
cannot sleep… let us go the round of the watch； and see whether they
are drowsy with toil and sleeping to the neglect of their duty。 The
enemy is encamped hard and we know not but he may attack us by night。〃
Nestor replied； 〃Most noble son of Atreus； king of men； Agamemnon；
Jove will not do all for Hector that Hector thinks he will； he will
have troubles yet in plenty if Achilles will lay aside his anger。 I
will go with you； and we will rouse others； either the son of
Tydeus； or Ulysses； or fleet Ajax and the valiant son of Phyleus。 Some
one had also better go and call Ajax and King Idomeneus； for their
ships are not near at hand but the farthest of all。 I cannot however
refrain from blaming Menelaus； much as I love him and respect him… and
I will say so plainly； even at the risk of offending you… for sleeping
and leaving all this trouble to yourself。 He ought to be going about
imploring aid from all the princes of the Achaeans； for we are in
extreme danger。〃
And Agamemnon answered； 〃Sir； you may sometimes blame him justly；
for he is often remiss and unwilling to exert himself… not indeed from
sloth； nor yet heedlessness； but because he looks to me and expects me
to take the lead。 On this occasion； however； he was awake before I
was； and came to me of his own accord。 I have already sent him to call
the very men whom you have named。 And now let us be going。 We shall
find them with the watch outside the gates； for it was there I said
that we would meet them。〃
〃In that case；〃 answered Nestor； 〃the Argives will not blame him nor
disobey his orders when he urges them to fight or gives them
instructions。〃
With this he put on his shirt； and bound his sandals about his
comely feet。 He buckled on his purple coat； of two thicknesses； large；
and of a rough shaggy texture； grasped his redoubtable bronze…shod
spear； and wended his way along the line of the Achaean ships。 First
he called loudly to Ulysses peer of gods in counsel and woke him；
for he was soon roused by the sound of the battle…cry。 He came outside
his tent and said； 〃Why do you go thus alone about the host； and along
the line of the ships in the stillness of the night？ What is it that
you find so urgent？〃 And Nestor knight of Gerene answered； 〃Ulysses；
noble son of Laertes； take it not amiss； for the Achaeans are in great
straits。 Come 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
comrades 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 feet… and 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 coming through the mountain forest
towards them… forthwith there is a hue and cry of dogs and men； and
slumber is broken… even 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；〃 sa