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them； but they stay where they are and set neither this way nor
that； till some particular wind sweeps down from heaven to
determine themeven so did the old man ponder whether to make
for the crowd of Danaans； or go in search of Agamemnon。 In the
end he deemed it best to go to the son of Atreus； but meanwhile
the hosts were fighting and killing one another； and the hard
bronze rattled on their bodies； as they thrust at one another
with their swords and spears。
The wounded kings； the son of Tydeus； Ulysses； and Agamemnon son
of Atreus； fell in Nestor as they were ing up from their
shipsfor theirs were drawn up some way from where the fighting
was going on； 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 ing 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 e hither？ I fear
that what dread Hector said will e 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 ing 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 ing 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 ing； 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 usover which the Danaans toiled so hard； and
which they deemed would be an impregnable bulwark both for us and
our fleetI 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 has 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 nightif
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 manded 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。 Someone； 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。 Oeneus 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 remorsemay he e 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 bee
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
herselfif 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 fro