Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
Nestor spoke first. “My friends,” said he, “is there any man bold
enough to venture the Trojans, and cut off some straggler, or us
news of what the enemy mean to do whether they will stay here by
the ships away from the city, or whether, now that they have
worsted the Achaeans, they will retire within their walls. If he
could learn all this and come back safely here, his fame would be
high as heaven in the mouths of all men, and he would be
rewarded richly; for the chiefs from all our ships would each of
them give him a black ewe with her lamb- which is a present of
surpassing value- and he would be asked as a guest to all feasts
and clan-gatherings.”
They all held their peace, but Diomed of the loud war-cry spoke
saying, “Nestor, gladly will I visit the host of the Trojans over
against us, but if another will go with me I shall do so in greater
confidence and comfort. When two men are together, one of them
may see some opportunity which the other has not caught sight of;
if a man is alone he is less full of resource, and his wit is weaker.”
On this several offered to go with Diomed. The two Ajaxes,
servants of Mars, Meriones, and the son of Nestor all wanted to go,
so did Menelaus son of Atreus; Ulysses also wished to go among
the host of the Trojans, for he was ever full of daring, and thereon
Agamemnon king of men spoke thus: “Diomed,” said he, “son of
Tydeus, man after my own heart, choose your comrade for
yourself- take the best man of those that have offered, for many
would now go with you. Do not through delicacy reject the better
man, and take the worst out of respect for his lineage, because he is
of more royal blood.”
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