Page:Homer - Iliad, translation Pope, 1909.djvu/192

That great Achilles rise and rage again,
What toils attend thee, and what woes remain!
Lo faithful Nestor thy command obeys;
The care is next our other chiefs to raise:
Ulysses, Diomed, we chiefly need;
Meges for strength, Oïleus famed for speed,
Some other be despatched of nimbler feet,
To those tall ships, remotest of the fleet,
Where lie great Ajax, and the king of Crete,
To rouse the Spartan I myself decree;
Dear as he is to us, and dear to thee,
Yet must I tax his sloth, that claims no share,
With his great brother, in this martial care:
Him it behoved to every chief to sue,
Preventing every part performed by you;
For strong necessity our toils demands,
Claims all our hearts, and urges all our hands."
To whom the king: "With reverence we allow
Thy just rebukes, yet learn to spare them now.
My generous brother is of gentle kind,
He seems remiss, but bears a valiant mind;
Through too much deference to our sovereign sway,
Content to follow when we lead the way.
But now, our ills industrious to prevent,
Long ere the rest he rose, and sought my tent.
The chiefs you named, already, at his call,
Prepare to meet us at the navy-wall;
Assembling there, between the trench and gates,
Near the night-guards our chosen council waits."
"Then none," said Nestor, "shall his rule withstand,
For great examples justify command."
With that, the venerable warrior rose;
The shining greaves his manly legs enclose;
His purple mantle golden buckles joined,
Warm with the softest wool, and doubly lined.
Then, rushing from his tent, he snatched in haste,
His steely lance, that lightened as he passed.
The camp he traversed through the sleeping crowd,
Stopped at Ulysses' tent, and called aloud;
Ulysses, sudden as the voice was sent,
Awakes, starts up, and issues from his tent:
"What new distress, what sudden cause of fright,
Thus leads you wandering in the silent night?"
"O prudent chief!" the Pylian chief replied,
"Wise as thou art, be now thy wisdom tried:
Whatever means of safety can be sought,
Whatever counsels can inspire our thought,
Whatever methods, or to fly or fight;
All, all depend on this important night."