being on the shore itself inasmuch as they had been beached first；
while the wall had been built behind the hindermost。 The stretch of
the shore； wide though it was； did not afford room for all the
ships； and the host was cramped for space； therefore they had placed
the ships in rows one behind the other； and had filled the whole
opening of the bay between the two points that formed it。 The kings；
leaning on their spears； were coming out to survey the fight； being in
great anxiety； and when old Nestor met them they were filled with
dismay。 Then King Agamemnon said to him； 〃Nestor son of Neleus； honour
to the Achaean name； why have you left the battle to come hither？ I
fear that what dread Hector said will come true； when he vaunted among
the Trojans saying that he would not return to Ilius till he had fired
our ships and killed us； this is what he said； and now it is all
coming true。 Alas！ others of the Achaeans； like Achilles； are in anger
with me that they refuse to fight by the sterns of our ships。〃
Then Nestor knight of Gerene answered； 〃It is indeed as you say；
it is all coming true at this moment； and even Jove who thunders
from on high cannot prevent it。 Fallen is the wall on which we
relied as an impregnable bulwark both for us and our fleet。 The
Trojans are fighting stubbornly and without ceasing at the ships； look
where you may you cannot see from what quarter the rout of the
Achaeans is coming； they are being killed in a confused mass and the
battle…cry ascends to heaven； let us think； if counsel can be of any
use； what we had better do； but I do not advise our going into
battle ourselves； for a man cannot fight when he is wounded。〃
And King Agamemnon answered； 〃Nestor； if the Trojans are indeed
fighting at the rear of our ships； and neither the wall nor the trench
has served us… over which the Danaans toiled so hard； and which they
deemed would be an impregnable bulwark both for us and our fleet… I
see it must be the will of Jove that the Achaeans should perish
ingloriously here； far from Argos。 I knew when Jove was willing to
defend us； and I know now that he is raising the Trojans to like
honour with the gods； while us； on the other hand； he bas bound hand
and foot。 Now； therefore； let us all do as I say； let us bring down
the ships that are on the beach and draw them into the water； let us
make them fast to their mooring…stones a little way out； against the
fall of night… if even by night the Trojans will desist from fighting；
we may then draw down the rest of the fleet。 There is nothing wrong in
flying ruin even by night。 It is better for a man that he should fly
and be saved than be caught and killed。〃
Ulysses looked fiercely at him and said； 〃Son of Atreus； what are
you talking about？ Wretch； you should have commanded some other and
baser army； and not been ruler over us to whom Jove has allotted a
life of hard fighting from youth to old age； till we every one of us
perish。 Is it thus that you would quit the city of Troy； to win
which we have suffered so much hardship？ Hold your peace； lest some
other of the Achaeans hear you say what no man who knows how to give
good counsel； no king over so great a host as that of the Argives
should ever have let fall from his lips。 I despise your judgement
utterly for what you have been saying。 Would you； then； have us draw
down our ships into the water while the battle is raging； and thus
play further into the hands of the conquering Trojans？ It would be
ruin； the Achaeans will not go on fighting when they see the ships
being drawn into the water； but will cease attacking and keep
turning their eyes towards them； your counsel； therefore； Sir captain；
would be our destruction。〃
Agamemnon answered； 〃Ulysses； your rebuke has stung me to the heart。
I am not； however； ordering the Achaeans to draw their ships into
the sea whether they will or no。 Some one； it may be； old or young；
can offer us better counsel which I shall rejoice to hear。〃
Then said Diomed； 〃Such an one is at hand； he is not far to seek； if
you will listen to me and not resent my speaking though I am younger
than any of you。 I am by lineage son to a noble sire； Tydeus； who lies
buried at Thebes。 For Portheus had three noble sons； two of whom；
Agrius and Melas； abode in Pleuron and rocky Calydon。 The third was
the knight Oeneus； my father's father； and he was the most valiant
of them all。 Oeeneus remained in his own country； but my father （as
Jove and the other gods ordained it） migrated to Argos。 He married
into the family of Adrastus； and his house was one of great abundance；
for he had large estates of rich corn…growing land； with much
orchard ground as well； and he had many sheep； moreover he excelled
all the Argives in the use of the spear。 You must yourselves have
heard whether these things are true or no； therefore when I say well
despise not my words as though I were a coward or of ignoble birth。
I say； then； let us go to the fight as we needs must； wounded though
we be。 When there； we may keep out of the battle and beyond the
range of the spears lest we get fresh wounds in addition to what we
have already； but we can spur on others； who have been indulging their
spleen and holding aloof from battle hitherto。〃
Thus did he speak； whereon they did even as he had said and set out；
King Agamemnon leading the way。
Meanwhile Neptune had kept no blind look…out； and came up to them in
the semblance of an old man。 He took Agamemnon's right hand in his own
and said； 〃Son of Atreus； I take it Achilles is glad now that he
sees the Achaeans routed and slain； for he is utterly without remorse…
may he come to a bad end and heaven confound him。 As for yourself； the
blessed gods are not yet so bitterly angry with you but that the
princes and counsellors of the Trojans shall again raise the dust upon
the plain； and you shall see them flying from the ships and tents
towards their city。〃
With this he raised a mighty cry of battle； and sped forward to
the plain。 The voice that came from his deep chest was as that of nine
or ten thousand men when they are shouting in the thick of a fight；
and it put fresh courage into the hearts of the Achaeans to wage war
and do battle without ceasing。
Juno of the golden throne looked down as she stood upon a peak of
Olympus and her heart was gladdened at the sight of him who was at
once her brother and her brother…in…law； hurrying hither and thither
amid the fighting。 Then she turned her eyes to Jove as he sat on the
topmost crests of many…fountained Ida； and loathed him。 She set
herself to think how she might hoodwink him； and in the end she deemed
that it would be best for her to go to Ida and array herself in rich
attire； in the hope that Jove might become enamoured of her； and
wish to embrace her。 While he was thus engaged a sweet and careless
sleep might be made to steal over his eyes and senses。
She went； therefore； to the room which her son Vulcan had made
her； and the doors of which he had cunningly fastened by means of a
secret key so that no other god could open them。 Here she entered
and closed the doors behind her。 She cleansed all the dirt from her
fair body with ambrosia； then she anointed herself with olive oil；
ambrosial； very soft； and scented specially for herself… if it were so
much as shaken in the bronze…floored house of Jove； the scent pervaded
the universe of heaven and earth。 With this she anointed her
delicate skin； and then she plaited the fair ambrosial locks that
flowed in a stream of golden tresses from her immortal head。 She put
on the wondrous robe which Minerva had worked for her with
consummate art； and had embroidered with manifold devices； she
fastened it about her bosom with golden clasps； and she girded herself
with a girdle that had a hundred tassels： then she fastened her
earrings； three brilliant pendants that glistened most beautifully；
through the pierced lobes of her ears； and threw a lovely new veil
over her head。 She bound her sandals on to her feet； and when she
had arrayed herself perfectly to her satisfaction； she left her room
and called Venus to come aside and speak to her。 〃My dear child；〃 said
she； 〃will you do what I am going to ask of you； or will refuse me
because you are angry at my being on the Danaan side； while you are on
the Trojan？〃
Jove's daughter Venus answered； 〃Juno； august queen of goddesses；
daughter of mighty Saturn； say what you want； and I will do it for
at once； if I can； and if it can be done at all。〃
Then Juno told her a lying tale and said； 〃I want you to endow me
with some of those fascinating charms； the spells of which bring all
things mortal and immortal to your feet。 I am going to the world's end
to visit Oceanus （from whom all we gods proceed） and mother Tethys：
they received me in their house； took care of me； and brought me up；
having taken me over from Rhaea when Jove imprisoned great Saturn in
the depths that are under earth and sea。 I must go and see them that I
may make peace between them； they have been quarrelling； and are so
angry that they have not slept with one another this long while； if
I can bring them round and restore them to one another's embrac