The heralds now commanded silence as Ulysses again stood up to speak. Turning to Agamemnon he said: “Oh son of Atreus, how badly have the Achaians kept faith with thee. They promised not to return home until we had conquered Troy, and now they act like children. I do not blame anyone for longing for his home after ten years of absence. But just because we have waited so long, it were a shame to return when we are so near the goal. For we must succeed or all the signs of the immortal Jove are a mockery. Did not Calchas tell us, back in Aulis, how it would be? Do ye not remember the sparrow’s nest in the beautiful maple tree near our altar? I can still see the spotted serpent gliding up its trunk and swallowing the eight young birds and catching the frightened mother bird at last by the wing. We were all alarmed at the omen, but Calchas interpreted the occurrence favorably. He said: ‘The war shall consume nine years, but in the tenth, Troy shall fall.’ Behold, friends, the prophecy is about to be fulfilled, and will ye now flee? Wait but a short time until we have taken the proud city of Priam, and then let us depart laden with rich booty and crowned with immortal glory.” Old Nestor next arose to persuade those who still hesitated. “That is right,” he said. “Let reason speak to you. Shall our great plans go up in smoke and shall our sacred vows to Menelaus and his good brother, Agamemnon, be broken? Indeed no! Lead the Achaians into battle, great king, and most of them will, I hope, cheerfully follow thee. Let the men be gathered together by tribes, that each may fight for his own blood. Then thou shalt clearly see whether the gods protect the city or whether it is the cowardice and ignorance of our army which defeats us.” “Well spoken!” cried Agamemnon. “We must not rest until the fortress is taken. Jove will surely aid us. His flashing lightnings as we left Aulis are the surest pledge of this. The city would already be ours had I ten men in my army as wise as thou art, O Nestor, and alas! had Achilles not left us—Achilles, whom I have wounded so sorely. But come! Let everyone prepare for the battle. Let us quickly refresh and strengthen ourselves and then advance upon the city in a body.” With these words he dismissed the assembly and the people streamed back to the tents to arm themselves and take some food. The king invited all the chiefs to join him at breakfast in his tent. Nestor, Idomeneus, the two brave Ajaxes, Diomedes, and Ulysses were there, besides his brother Menelaus. They took a steer, strewing sacred barley upon it, and while they all stood about it in a circle, Agamemnon lifted up his voice and prayed to Jupiter for victory. Alas! he did not know that the god had turned against him.