Achilles (Mythological character); Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War
Then the king of men, Agamemnon, answered him: “O Nestor, son of
Neleus, great glory of the Achaians, thou shalt know Agamemnon, son of
Atreus, whom above all men Zeus hath planted for ever among labours,
while my breath abides within my breast, and my knees move. I wander
thus, for that sweet sleep rests not on mine eyes, but war is my care,
and the troubles of the Achaians. Yea, greatly I fear for the sake of
the Danaans, nor is my heart firm, but I am tossed to and fro, and my
heart is leaping from my breast, and my good knees tremble beneath me.
But if thou wilt do aught, since neither on thee cometh sleep, let us
go thither to the sentinels, that we may see them, lest they be fordone
with toil and drowsihead, and so are slumbering, and have quite
forgotten to keep watch. And hostile men camp hard by, nor know we at
all but that they are keen to do battle in the night.”
Then knightly Nestor of Gerenia answered him: “Most renowned son of
Atreus, Agamemnon king of men, assuredly not all his designs will
wise-counselling Zeus fulfil for Hector, even all that now he thinketh;
nay methinks he will contend with even more troubles if but Achilles
turn back his heart from grievous anger. And verily will I follow after
thee, but let us also rouse others again, both the son of Tydeus,
spearman renowned, and Odysseus, and swift Aias, and the strong son of
Phyleus. But well it would be if one were to go and call those also,
the godlike Aias, and Idomeneus the prince; for their ships are
furthest of all, and nowise close at hand. But Menelaos will I blame,
dear as he is and worshipful, yea, even if thou be angry with me, nor
will I hide my thought, for that he slumbereth, and to thee alone hath
left the toil; now should he be toiling among all the chiefs and
beseeching them, for need no longer tolerable is coming upon us.”
And the king of men, Agamemnon, answered him again: “Old man, another
day I even bid thee blame him, for often is he slack, and willeth not
to labour, yielding neither to unreadiness nor heedlessness of heart,
but looking toward me, and expecting mine instance. But now he awoke
far before me, and came to me, and him I sent forward to call those
concerning whom thou inquirest. But let us be gone, and them shall we
find before the gates, among the sentinels, for there I bade them
gather.”
Then knightly Nestor of Gerenia answered him: “So will none of the
Argives be wroth with him or disobey him, when soever he doth urge any
one, and give him his commands.”
So spake he and did on his doublet about his breast, and beneath his
bright feet he bound goodly shoon, and all around him buckled a purple
cloak, with double folds and wide, and thick down all over it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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