And all together feast at night. Meat will be something worth, When stomachs first have made it way with venting infamy, And other sorrows late sustain’d, with long’d-for wreaks, that lie Heavy upon them, for right’s sake. Before which load be got From off my stomach, meat nor drink, I vow, shall down my throat, My friend being dead, who digg’d with wounds, and bor’d through both his feet, Lies in the entry of my tent, and in the tears doth fleet Of his associates. Meat and drink have little merit then To comfort me; but blood, and death, and deadly groans of men.” The great in counsels yet made good his former counsels thus: “O Peleus’ son, of all the Greeks by much most valorous, Better and mightier than myself no little with thy lance I yield thy worth; in wisdom, yet, no less I dare advance My right above thee, since above in years, and knowing more. Let then thy mind rest in thy words. We quickly shall have store And all satiety of fight, whose steel heaps store of straw And little corn upon a floor, when Jove, that doth withdraw And join all battles, once begins t’ incline his balances, In which he weighs the lives of men. The Greeks you must not press To mourning with the belly; death hath nought to do with that In healthful men that mourn for friends. His steel we stumble at, And fall at, ev’ry day, you see, sufficient store, and fast. What hour is it that any breathes? We must not use; more haste, Than speed holds fit for our revenge. Nor should we mourn too much. Who dead is, must be buriéd. Men’s patience should be such, That one day’s moan should serve one man. The dead must end with death, And life last with what strengthens life. All those that held their breath From death in fight the more should eat, that so they may supply Their fellows that have stuck in field, and fight incessantly. Let none expect reply to this, nor stay; for this shall stand Or fall with some offence to him that looks for new command, Whoever in dislike holds back. All join then, all things fit Allow’d for all; set on a charge, at all parts answering it.” This said, he chose, for noblest youths to bear the presents, these: The sons of Nestor, and with them renown’d Meriones, Phylides, Thoas, Lycomed, and Meges, all which went, And Menalippus, following Ulysses to the tent Of Agamemnon. He but spake, and with the word the deed Had join’d effect. The fitness well was answer’d in the speed. The presents, added to the dame the Gen’ral did enforce, Were twenty caldrons, tripods sev’n, twelve young and goodly horse; Sev’n ladies excellently seen in all Minerva’s skill, The eighth Briseis who had pow’r to ravish ev’ry will; Twelve talents of the finest gold, all which Ulysses weigh’d And carried first; and after him, the other youths convey’d The other presents, tender’d all in face of all the court. Up rose the king. Talthybius, whose voice had a report Like to a God, call’d to the rites. There having brought the boar,