Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
And Nestor, knight of Gerene, answered, “Son of Atreus, I too
would gladly be the man I was when I slew mighty Ereuthalion;
but the gods will not give us everything at one and the same time. I
was then young, and now I am old; still I can go with my knights
and give them that counsel which old men have a right to give. The
wielding of the spear I leave to those who are younger and
stronger than myself.”
Agamemnon went his way rejoicing, and presently found
Menestheus, son of Peteos, tarrying in his place, and with him were
the Athenians loud of tongue in battle. Near him also tarried
cunning Ulysses, with his sturdy Cephallenians round him; they
had not yet heard the battle-cry, for the ranks of Trojans and
Achaeans had only just begun to move, so they were standing still,
waiting for some other columns of the Achaeans to attack the
Trojans and begin the fighting. When he saw this Agamemnon
rebuked them and said, “Son of Peteos, and you other, steeped in
cunning, heart of guile, why stand you here cowering and waiting
on others? You two should be of all men foremost when there is
hard fighting to be done, for you are ever foremost to accept my
invitation when we councillors of the Achaeans are holding feast.
You are glad enough then to take your fill of roast meats and to
drink wine as long as you please, whereas now you would not care
though you saw ten columns of Achaeans engage the enemy in
front of you.”
Ulysses glared at him and answered, “Son of Atreus, what are you
talking about? How can you say that we are slack? When the
Achaeans are in full fight with the Trojans, you shall see, if you care
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