Spear-practised Priam, and to sacred Troy. Big with great purposes and proud, they sat,640 Not disarray’d, but in fair form disposed Of even ranks, and watch’d their numerous fires, As when around the clear bright moon, the stars Shine in full splendor, and the winds are hush’d, The groves, the mountain-tops, the headland-heights645 Stand all apparent, not a vapor streaks The boundless blue, but ether open’d wide All glitters, and the shepherd’s heart is cheer’d;[17] So numerous seem’d those fires the bank between Of Xanthus, blazing, and the fleet of Greece,650 In prospect all of Troy; a thousand fires, Each watch’d by fifty warriors seated near. The steeds beside the chariots stood, their corn Chewing, and waiting till the golden-throned Aurora should restore the light of day.655 BOOK IX. ARGUMENT OF THE NINTH BOOK. By advice of Nestor, Agamemnon sends Ulysses, Phœnix, and Ajax to the tent of Achilles with proposals of reconciliation. They execute their commission, but without effect. Phœnix remains with Achilles; Ulysses and Ajax return. BOOK IX. So watch’d the Trojan host; but thoughts of flight, Companions of chill fear, from heaven infused, Possess’d the Grecians; every leader’s heart Bled, pierced with anguish insupportable. As when two adverse winds blowing from Thrace,5 Boreas and Zephyrus, the fishy Deep Vex sudden, all around, the sable flood High curl’d, flings forth the salt weed on the shore Such tempest rent the mind of every Greek. Forth stalk’d Atrides with heart-riving wo10 Transfixt; he bade his heralds call by name Each Chief to council, but without the sound Of proclamation; and that task himself Among the foremost sedulous perform’d. The sad assembly sat; when weeping fast15 As some deep[1] fountain pours its rapid stream Down from the summit of a lofty rock, King Agamemnon in the midst arose, And, groaning, the Achaians thus address’d. Friends, counsellors and leaders of the Greeks!20 In dire perplexity Saturnian Jove Involves me, cruel; he assured me erst, And solemnly, that I should not return Till I had wasted wall-encircled Troy; But now (ah fraudulent and foul reverse!)25 Commands me back inglorious to the shores Of distant Argos, with diminish’d troops. So stands the purpose of almighty Jove, Who many a citadel hath laid in dust, And shall hereafter, matchless in his power.30 Haste therefore. My advice is, that we all Fly with our fleet into our native land, For wide-built Ilium shall not yet be ours. He ceased, and all sat silent; long the sons Of Greece, o’erwhelm’d with sorrow, silent sat,35 When thus, at last, bold Diomede began. Atrides! foremost of the Chiefs I rise To contravert thy purpose ill-conceived, And with such freedom as the laws, O King! Of consultation and debate allow.40 Hear patient. Thou hast been thyself the first Who e’er reproach’d me in the public ear As one effeminate and slow to fight; How truly, let both young and old decide. The son of wily Saturn hath to thee45