Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
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.”
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