Meanwhile Patroclus bade th’ attendant maids Prepare a bed for Phoenix; they obey’d, And quickly laid the bed with fleeces warm, And rugs, and linen light and fine o’erspread. There slept th’ old man, and waited for the morn. Within the tent’s recess Achilles slept; And by his side, from Lesbos captive brought, Daughter of Phorbas, Diomede fair; On th’ other side Patroclus lay; with him The graceful Iphis, whom, when Scyros’ isle He captur’d, and Enyes’ rock-built fort, Achilles to his lov’d companion gave. When to Atrides’ tent the envoys came, The chiefs, uprising, pledg’d them one by one In golden goblets; then their tidings ask’d. First Agamemnon, King of men, enquir’d: “Tell me, renown’d Ulysses, pride of Greece, What says he: will he save our ships from fire, Or still, in wrathful mood, withhold his aid?” To whom again Ulysses, stout of heart: “Most mighty Agamemnon, King of men, His anger is not quench’d, but fiercer still It glows; thy gifts and thee alike he spurns; He bids thee with the other chiefs concert The means thy people and thy ships to save; And menaces himself at early dawn To launch his well-trimm’d vessels on the main. Nay more, he counsels others, so he says, Homeward to turn, since here of lofty Troy We see not yet the end; all-seeing Jove O’er her extends his hand; on him relying, Her people all with confidence are fill’d. Such was his language; here before you stand Ajax and both the heralds, sage, grave men, Who with me went, and will confirm my words. Old Phoenix left we there, so will’d the chief, That with the morrow he with him may sail, And seek their native land, if so he will; For not by force will he remove him hence.” Ulysses thus; they all in silence heard, Amaz’d, so stern the message that he bore. Long time in silence sat the chiefs of Greece. Outspoke at length the valiant Diomed: “Most mighty Agamemnon, King of men, Would that thou ne’er hadst stoop’d with costly gifts To sue for aid from Peleus’ matchless son; For he before was over-proud, and now Thine offers will have tenfold swoll’n his pride. But leave we him, according to his will, To go or stay: he then will join the fight, When his own spirit shall prompt, or Heav’n inspire. But hear ye all, and do as I advise: Refresh’d with food and wine (for therein lie Both strength and courage), turn we to our rest; And when the rosy-finger’d morn appears, Thyself among the foremost, with bold hearts, Before our ships both horse and foot array.” He said; and all the chiefs with loud applause His speech confirm’d; then, due libations pour’d, Each to his sev’ral tent they all withdrew; Then laid them down, and sought the boon of sleep. ARGUMENT. THE NIGHT ADVENTURE OF DIOMED AND ULYSSES.