This said, he cross’d the ditch, and with him went The Grecian leaders, to the council call’d: With them, admitted to the conf’rence, went Meriones, and Nestor’s noble son. The deep-dug ditch they cross’d, and sat them down Upon an open space, from corpses clear; Where Hector from the slaughter of the Greeks Turn’d back, when Ev’ning spread her veil around: There sat they down, and there the conf’rence held. Gerenian Nestor first took up the word: “O friends! is any here with heart so bold Who dares, self-confident, the Trojan camp To enter? there some straggler he might take, Or in the camp itself some tidings gain, What are their secret counsels; if they mean Here by the ships to hold their ground, or back, Sated with vict’ry, to the town retire. This could he learn, and hither scatheless bring His tidings, high as Heav’n in all men’s mouths Would be his praise, and ample his reward. For ev’ry captain of a ship should give A coal-black ewe, and at her foot a lamb, A prize beyond compare; and high should be His place at banquets and at solemn feasts.” He said; but all the chiefs in silence heard; Then rose the valiant Diomed, and said: “Nestor, that heart is mine; I dare alone Enter the hostile camp, so close at hand; Yet were one comrade giv’n me, I should go With more of comfort, more of confidence. Where two combine, one before other sees The better course; and ev’n though one alone The readiest way discover, yet would be His judgment slower, his decision less.” He said, and many chiefs to Diomed Proffer’d companionship; stood forth at once, With him to penetrate the Trojan camp, The two Ajaces, ministers of Mars; Stood forth Meriones, and eagerly Stood forth the son of Nestor; Atreus’ son, The royal Menelaus, spearman bold, And stout Ulysses, whose enduring heart For ev’ry deed of valour was prepar’d. Rose Agamemnon, King of men, and said: “Tydides, comrade dearest to my soul, Choose thou thine own companion, whom thou wilt; Of all the many here that proffer aid Him whom thou deem’st the best; nor from respect To persons leave the better man behind, And take the worse; nor def’rence show to rank, Not though the purest royal blood were his.” In fear for Menelaus thus he spoke: Then answer’d valiant Diomed, and said; “If my companion I may freely choose, How can I pass the sage Ulysses by? Of ready wit, and dauntless courage, prov’d In ev’ry danger; and to Pallas dear. I should not fear, by him accompanied, To pass through fire, and safely both return; So far in prudence he surpasses all.” Whom answer’d thus Ulysses, stout of heart: “Tydides, nor exaggerated praise Bestow on me, nor censure; for thou speak’st To those who know me all for what I am. But go we; night wanes fast, the morn is near: The stars are high in Heav’n; and of the night Two thirds are spent, one third alone remains.”