Home to its rest, nor would the counsel scorn Of Pallas. She to heaven well-pleased return’d, And in the mansion of Jove Ægis[20]-armed Arriving, mingled with her kindred Gods. But though from violence, yet not from words275 Abstained Achilles, but with bitter taunt Opprobrious, his antagonist reproached. Oh charged with wine, in steadfastness of face Dog unabashed, and yet at heart a deer! Thou never, when the troops have taken arms,280 Hast dared to take thine also; never thou Associate with Achaia’s Chiefs, to form The secret ambush.[21] No. The sound of war Is as the voice of destiny to thee. Doubtless the course is safer far, to range285 Our numerous host, and if a man have dared Dispute thy will, to rob him of his prize. King! over whom? Women and spiritless— Whom therefore thou devourest; else themselves Would stop that mouth that it should scoff no more.290 But hearken. I shall swear a solemn oath. By this same sceptre,[22] which shall never bud, Nor boughs bring forth as once, which having left Its stock on the high mountains, at what time The woodman’s axe lopped off its foliage green,295 And stript its bark, shall never grow again; Which now the judges of Achaia bear, Who under Jove, stand guardians of the laws, By this I swear (mark thou the sacred oath) Time shall be, when Achilles shall be missed;300 When all shall want him, and thyself the power To help the Achaians, whatsoe’er thy will; When Hector at your heels shall mow you down: The Hero-slaughtering Hector! Then thy soul, Vexation-stung, shall tear thee with remorse,305 That thou hast scorn’d, as he were nothing worth, A Chief, the soul and bulwark of your cause. So saying, he cast his sceptre on the ground Studded with gold, and sat. On the other side The son of Atreus all impassion’d stood,310 When the harmonious orator arose Nestor, the Pylian oracle, whose lips Dropped eloquence—the honey not so sweet. Two generations past of mortals born In Pylus, coëtaneous with himself,315 He govern’d now the third—amid them all He stood, and thus, benevolent, began. Ah! what calamity hath fall’n on Greece! Now Priam and his sons may well exult, Now all in Ilium shall have joy of heart320 Abundant, hearing of this broil, the prime Of Greece between, in council and in arms. But be persuaded; ye are younger both Than I, and I was conversant of old With Princes your superiors, yet from them325 No disrespect at any time received. Their equals saw I never; never shall; Exadius, Cœneus, and the Godlike son Of Ægeus, mighty Theseus; men renown’d For force superior to the race of man,330 Brave Chiefs they were, and with brave foes they fought, With the rude dwellers on the mountain-heights The Centaurs,[23] whom with havoc such as fame Shall never cease to celebrate, they slew. With these men I consorted erst, what time335 From Pylus, though a land from theirs remote, They called me forth, and such as was my strength, With all that strength I served them. Who is he?