heart　of　the　shepherd　is　glad…　even　thus　shone　the　watchfires　of　the
  Trojans　before　Ilius　midway　between　the　ships　and　the　river　Xanthus。　A
  thousand　camp…fires　gleamed　upon　the　plain；　and　in　the　glow　of　each
  there　sat　fifty　men；　while　the　horses；　champing　oats　and　corn　beside
  their　chariots；　waited　till　dawn　should　come。
  BOOK　IX
  THUS　did　the　Trojans　watch。　But　Panic；　comrade　of　blood…stained
  Rout；　had　taken　fast　hold　of　the　Achaeans　and　their　princes　were　all
  of　them　in　despair。　As　when　the　two　winds　that　blow　from　Thrace…　the
  north　and　the　northwest…　spring　up　of　a　sudden　and　rouse　the　fury　of
  the　main…　in　a　moment　the　dark　waves　uprear　their　heads　and　scatter
  their　sea…wrack　in　all　directions…　even　thus　troubled　were　the
  hearts　of　the　Achaeans。
  The　son　of　Atreus　in　dismay　bade　the　heralds　call　the　people　to　a
  council　man　by　man；　but　not　to　cry　the　matter　aloud；　he　made　haste
  also　himself　to　call　them；　and　they　sat　sorry　at　heart　in　their
  assembly。　Agamemnon　shed　tears　as　it　were　a　running　stream　or　cataract
  on　the　side　of　some　sheer　cliff；　and　thus；　with　many　a　heavy　sigh　he
  spoke　to　the　Achaeans。　〃My　friends；〃　said　he；　〃princes　and　councillors
  Of　the　Argives；　the　hand　of　heaven　has　been　laid　heavily　upon　me。
  Cruel　Jove　gave　me　his　solemn　promise　that　I　should　sack　the　city　of
  Troy　before　returning；　but　he　has　played　me　false；　and　is　now
  bidding　me　go　ingloriously　back　to　Argos　with　the　loss　of　much　people。
  Such　is　the　will　of　Jove；　who　has　laid　many　a　proud　city　in　the　dust
  as　he　will　yet　lay　others；　for　his　power　is　above　all。　Now；　therefore；
  let　us　all　do　as　I　say　and　sail　back　to　our　own　country；　for　we
  shall　not　take　Troy。〃
  Thus　he　spoke；　and　the　sons　of　the　Achaeans　for　a　long　while　sat
  sorrowful　there；　but　they　all　held　their　peace；　till　at　last　Diomed　of
  the　loud　battle…cry　made　answer　saying；　〃Son　of　Atreus；　I　will　chide
  your　folly；　as　is　my　right　in　council。　Be　not　then　aggrieved　that　I
  should　do　so。　In　the　first　place　you　attacked　me　before　all　the
  Danaans　and　said　that　I　was　a　coward　and　no　soldier。　The　Argives　young
  and　old　know　that　you　did　so。　But　the　son　of　scheming　Saturn　endowed
  you　by　halves　only。　He　gave　you　honour　as　the　chief　ruler　over　us；　but
  valour；　which　is　the　highest　both　right　and　might　he　did　not　give　you。
  Sir；　think　you　that　the　sons　of　the　Achaeans　are　indeed　as　unwarlike
  and　cowardly　as　you　say　they　are？　If　your　own　mind　is　set　upon　going
  home…　go…　the　way　is　open　to　you；　the　many　ships　that　followed　you
  from　Mycene　stand　ranged　upon　the　seashore；　but　the　rest　of　us　stay
  here　till　we　have　sacked　Troy。　Nay　though　these　too　should　turn
  homeward　with　their　ships；　Sthenelus　and　myself　will　still　fight　on
  till　we　reach　the　goal　of　Ilius；　for　for　heaven　was　with　us　when　we
  came。〃
  The　sons　of　the　Achaeans　shouted　applause　at　the　words　of　Diomed；
  and　presently　Nestor　rose　to　speak。　〃Son　of　Tydeus；〃　said　he；　〃in
  war　your　prowess　is　beyond　question；　and　in　council　you　excel　all
  who　are　of　your　own　years；　no　one　of　the　Achaeans　can　make　light　of
  what　you　say　nor　gainsay　it；　but　you　have　not　yet　come　to　the　end　of
  the　whole　matter。　You　are　still　young…　you　might　be　the　youngest　of　my
  own　children…　still　you　have　spoken　wisely　and　have　counselled　the
  chief　of　the　Achaeans　not　without　discretion；　nevertheless　I　am
  older　than　you　and　I　will　tell　you　every〃　thing；　therefore　let　no　man；
  not　even　King　Agamemnon；　disregard　my　saying；　for　he　that　foments
  civil　discord　is　a　clanless；　hearthless　outlaw。
  〃Now；　however；　let　us　obey　the　behests　of　night　and　get　our　suppers；
  but　let　the　sentinels　every　man　of　them　camp　by　the　trench　that　is
  without　the　wall。　I　am　giving　these　instructions　to　the　young　men；
  when　they　have　been　attended　to；　do　you；　son　of　Atreus；　give　your
  orders；　for　you　are　the　most　royal　among　us　all。　Prepare　a　feast　for
  your　councillors；　it　is　right　and　reasonable　that　you　should　do　so；
  there　is　abundance　of　wine　in　your　tents；　which　the　ships　of　the
  Achaeans　bring　from　Thrace　daily。　You　have　everything　at　your　disposal
  wherewith　to　entertain　guests；　and　you　have　many　subjects。　When　many
  are　got　together；　you　can　be　guided　by　him　whose　counsel　is　wisest…
  and　sorely　do　we　need　shrewd　and　prudent　counsel；　for　the　foe　has
  lit　his　watchfires　hard　by　our　ships。　Who　can　be　other　than
  dismayed？　This　night　will　either　be　the　ruin　of　our　host；　or　save　it。〃
  Thus　did　he　speak；　and　they　did　even　as　he　had　said。　The　sentinels
  went　out　in　their　armour　under　command　of　Nestor's　son　Thrasymedes；
  a　captain　of　the　host；　and　of　the　bold　warriors　Ascalaphus　and
  Ialmenus：　there　were　also　Meriones；　Aphareus　and　Deipyrus；　and　the　son
  of　Creion；　noble　Lycomedes。　There　were　seven　captains　of　the
  sentinels；　and　with　each　there　went　a　hundred　youths　armed　with　long
  spears：　they　took　their　places　midway　between　the　trench　and　the　wall；
  and　when　they　had　done　so　they　lit　their　fires　and　got　every　man　his
  supper。
  The　son　of　Atreus　then　bade　many　councillors　of　the　Achaeans　to
  his　quarters　prepared　a　great　feast　in　their　honour。　They　laid　their
  hands　on　the　good　things　that　were　before　them；　and　as　soon　as　they
  had　enough　to　eat　and　drink；　old　Nestor；　whose　counsel　was　ever
  truest；　was　the　first　to　lay　his　mind　before　them。　He；　therefore；　with
  all　sincerity　and　goodwill　addressed　them　thus。
  〃With　yourself；　most　noble　son　of　Atreus；　king　of　men；　Agamemnon；
  will　I　both　begin　my　speech　and　end　it；　for　you　are　king　over　much
  people。　Jove；　moreover；　has　vouchsafed　you　to　wield　the　sceptre　and　to
  uphold　righteousness；　that　you　may　take　thought　for　your　people
  under　you；　therefore　it　behooves　you　above　all　others　both　to　speak
  and　to　give　ear；　and　to　out　the　counsel　of　another　who　shall　have　been
  minded　to　speak　wisely。　All　turns　on　you　and　on　your　commands；
  therefore　I　will　say　what　I　think　will　be　best。　No　man　will　be　of　a
  truer　mind　than　that　which　has　been　mine　from　the　hour　when　you；
  sir；　angered　Achilles　by　taking　the　girl　Briseis　from　his　tent　against
  my　judgment。　I　urged　you　not　to　do　so；　but　you　yielded　to　your　own
  pride；　and　dishonoured　a　hero　whom　heaven　itself　had　honoured…　for　you
  still　hold　the　prize　that　had　been　awarded　to　him。　Now；　however；　let
  us　think　how　we　may　appease　him；　both　with　presents　and　fair
  speeches　that　may　conciliate　him。〃
  And　King　Agamemnon　answered；　〃Sir；　you　have　reproved　my　folly
  justly。　I　was　wrong。　I　own　it。　One　whom　heaven　befriends　is　in　himself
  a　host；　and　Jove　has　shown　that　he　befriends　this　man　by　destroying
  much　people　of　the　Achaeans。　I　was　blinded　with　passion　and　yielded　to
  my　worser　mind；　therefore　I　will　make　amends；　and　will　give　him
  great　gifts　by　way　of　atonement。　I　will　tell　them　in　the　presence　of
  you　all。　I　will　give　him　seven　tripods　that　have　never　yet　been　on　the
  fire；　and　ten　talents　of　gold。　I　will　give　him　twenty　iron　cauldrons
  and　twelve　strong　horses　that　have　won　races　and　carried　off　prizes。
  Rich；　indeed；　both　in　land　and　gold　is　he　that　has　as　many　prizes　as
  my　horses　have　won　me。　I　will　give　him　seven　excellent　workwomen；
  Lesbians；　whom　I　chose　for　myself　when　he　took　Lesbos…　all　of
  surpassing　beauty。　I　will　give　him　these；　and　with　them　her　whom　I
  erewhile　took　from　him；　the　daughter　of　Briseus；　and　I　swear　a　great
  oath　that　I　never　went　up　into　her　couch；　nor　have　been　with　her　after
  the　manner　of　men　and　women。
  〃All　these　things　will　I　give　him　now　down；　and　if　hereafter　the
  gods　vouchsafe　me　to　sack　the　city　of　Priam；　let　him　come　when　we
  Achaeans　are　dividing　the　spoil；　and　load　his　ship　with　gold　and
  bronze　to　his　liking；　furthermore　let　him　take　twenty　Trojan　women；
  the　loveliest　after　Helen　herself。　Then；　when　we　reach　Achaean
  Argos；　wealthiest　of　all　lands；　he　shall　be　my　son…in…law　and　I　will
  show　him　like　honour　with　my　own　dear　son　Orestes；　who　is　being
  nurtured　in　all　abundance。　I　have　three　daughters；　Chrysothemis；
  Laodice；　and　lphianassa；　let　him　take　the　one　of　his　choice；　freely
  and　without　gifts　of　wooing；　to　the　house　of　Peleus；　I　will　add　such
  dower　to　boot　as　no　man　ever　yet　gave　his　daughter；　and　will　give
  him　seven　well　established　cities；　Cardamyle；　Enope；　and　Hire；　where
  there　is　grass；　holy　Pherae　and　the　rich　meadows　of　Anthea；　Aepea
  also；　and　the　vine…clad　slopes　of　Pedasus；　all　near　the　sea；　and　on
  the　borders　of　sandy　Pylos。　The　men　that　dwell　there　are　rich　in
  cattle　and　sheep；　they　will　honour　him　with　gifts　as　though　he　were
  a　god；　and　be　obedient　to　his　comfortable　ordinances。　All　this　will
  I　do　if　he　will　now　forgo　his　anger。　Let　him　then　yieldit　is　only
  Hades　who　is　utterly　ruthless　and　unyielding…　and　hence　he　is　of　all
  gods　the　one　most　hateful　to　mankind。　Moreover　I　am　older　and　more
  royal　than　himself。　Therefore；　let　him　now　obey　me。〃
  Then　Nestor　answered；　〃Most　noble　son　of　Atreus；　king　of　men；
  Agamemnon。　The　gifts　you　offer　are　no　small　ones；　let　us　then　send
  chosen　messengers；　who　may　go　to　the　tent　of　Achilles　son　of　Peleus
  without　delay。　Let　those　go　whom　I　shall　name。　Let　Phoenix；　dear　to
  Jove；　lead　the　way；　let　Ajax　and　Ulysses　follow；　and　let　the　heralds
  Odius　and　Eurybates　go　with　them。　Now　bring　water　for　our　hands；　and
  bid　all　keep　silence　w