But him prudent Meriones in turn answered: “Idomeneus, thou counsellor of the brazen-mailed Cretans, I come, if there be any spear left within thy tents, to take it: because I indeed have broken that which I formerly had, having struck the shield of ferocious Deïphobus.” Whom again in turn Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, addressed: “Thou wilt find, if thou desirest [to select from them], one-and-twenty spears standing in my tent against the shining walls, which I have taken from the slain Trojans; for I affirm that I do not fight with hostile men, standing at a distance from them. Hence I have both spears, and bossy shields, and helmets, and corslets, brightly polished.” But him again prudent Meriones addressed in turn: “At my tent also and black ship are there many spoils of the Trojans; but they are not near, so that I might take them. For neither do I conceive that I am forgetful of valour, but I stand among the foremost in glory-giving battle, whenever the contest of war has arisen. I am rather unobserved perhaps, when fighting by some other of the brazen-mailed Greeks; but I think that thou knowest me.” Whom again Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, addressed in turn: “I know what thou art as to valour: what necessity is there for thee to enumerate these things? For if now all we the bravest at the ships should be selected for an ambuscade, where the courage of men is especially distinguished, where both the coward as well as the brave man is made apparent—for the complexion of the coward on the one hand is changed from this to that, nor is his heart calm within his bosom, so that he can rest without trembling, but he shifts his position, and sits upon both his feet, whilst his heart greatly palpitates within his breast, as he is expecting death; and a chattering of his teeth arises. But neither is the complexion of the brave man changed, nor is he at all disturbed, after he first sits down in the ambush of heroes; but he burns to be mingled with all haste in direful fight—[no one], in that case, would find fault with thy courage and might. For if, labouring [in the battle], thou wert wounded from a distance, or smitten in close fight, the weapon would not fall upon thy neck behind, nor upon thy back; but it would pierce through either thy breast, or thy stomach, as thou wast rushing forward amid the conflict 420 of foremost combatants. But come, no longer let us speak of these things, standing like infatuated persons, lest perhaps some one chide us inordinately; but do thou, going to the tent, take a strong spear.” Footnote 420: (return) Hesych. Όαριστυν μάχην. Etym. Μ. fol. 131, Β. 2. ‘Αντί του εv τη των τρωταγωνιστων oμιλίᾳ (which is its proper meaning, as derived from oaρ) και συναναστρoφη.