Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
And Nestor knight of Gerene made answer, “My son, all that you
have said is true. I have good sons, and also much people who
might call the chieftains, but the Achaeans are in the gravest
danger; life and death are balanced as it were on the edge of a
razor. Go then, for you are younger than I, and of your courtesy
rouse Ajax and the fleet son of Phyleus.”
Diomed threw the skin of a great tawny lion about his shoulders- a
skin that reached his feet- and grasped his spear. When he had
roused the heroes, he brought them back with him; they then went
the round of those who were on guard, and found the captains not
sleeping at their posts but wakeful and sitting with their arms
about them. As sheep dogs that watch their flocks when they are
yarded, and hear a wild beast coming through the mountain forest
towards them- forthwith there is a hue and cry of dogs and men,
and slumber is broken- even so was sleep chased from the eyes of
the Achaeans as they kept the watches of the wicked night, for they
turned constantly towards the plain whenever they heard any stir
among the Trojans. The old man was glad bade them be of good
cheer. “Watch on, my children,” said he, “and let not sleep get hold
upon you, lest our enemies triumph over us.”
With this he passed the trench, and with him the other chiefs of the
Achaeans who had been called to the council. Meriones and the
brave son of Nestor went also, for the princes bade them. When
they were beyond the trench that was dug round the wall they held
their meeting on the open ground where there was a space clear of
corpses, for it was here that when night fell Hector had turned back
from his onslaught on the Argives. They sat down, therefore, and
held debate with one another.
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