Our pow’rs to these designs, if Jove had not our drifts approv’d; Which since we see he did for blood, ’tis desp’rate fight in us To strive with him; then let us fly; ’tis flight he urgeth thus.” Long time still silence held them all; at last did Diomed rise: “Atrides, I am first must cross thy indiscreet advice,[1] As may become me, being a king, in this our martial court. Be not displeas’d then; for thyself didst broadly misreport In open field my fortitude, and call’d me faint and weak, Yet I was silent, knowing the time, loth any rites to break That appertain’d thy public rule, yet all the Greeks knew well, Of ev’ry age, thou didst me wrong. As thou then didst refell My valour first of all the host, as of a man dismay’d; So now, with fit occasion giv’n, I first blame thee afraid. Inconstant Saturn’s son hath giv’n inconstant spirits to thee, And, with a sceptre over all, an eminent degree; But with a sceptre’s sov’reign grace, the chief pow’r, fortitude, (To bridle thee) he thought not best thy breast should be endu’d. Unhappy king, think’st thou the Greeks are such a silly sort, And so excessive impotent, as thy weak words import? If thy mind move thee to be gone, the way is open, go; Mycenian ships enow ride near, that brought thee to this woe; The rest of Greece will stay, nor stir till Troy be overcome With full eversion; or if not, but (doters of their home) Will put on wings to fly with thee. Myself and Sthenelus Will fight till (trusting favouring Jove) we bring home Troy with us.” This all applauded, and admir’d the spirit of Diomed; When Nestor, rising from the rest, his speech thus seconded: “Tydides, thou art, questionless, our strongest Greek in war, And gravest in thy counsels too, of all that equal are In place with thee, and stand on strength; nor is there any one Can blame, or contradict thy speech; and yet thou hast not gone So far, but we must further go. Thou’rt young, and well mightst be My youngest son, though still I yield thy words had high degree Of wisdom in them to our king, since well they did become Their right in question, and refute inglorious going home. But I (well known thy senior far) will speak, and handle all Yet to propose, which none shall check; no, not our general. A hater of society, unjust, and wild, is he That loves intestine war, being stuff’d with manless cruelty. And therefore in persuading peace, and home-flight, we the less May blame our gen’ral, as one loth to wrap in more distress His lovéd soldiers. But because they bravely are resolv’d To cast lives after toils, before they part in shame involv’d, Provide we for our honour’d stay; obey black night, and fall Now to our suppers; then appoint our guards without the wall, And in the bottom of the dike; which guard I wish may stand Of our brave youth. And, Atreus’ son, since thou art in command Before our other kings, be first in thy command’s effect. It well becomes thee; since ’tis both what all thy peers expect,