"What lackest thou yet, son of Atreus? Full of bronze are thy tents, and many are the fair women whom we have given thee. Wantest thou more than these? Surely a leader of men should not bring the Greeks into trouble. And ye, who are women rather than men, why sail ye not home, and leave this man to gorge himself with his spoils alone? For now he hath wronged Achilles, taking away his gift--Achilles, who is far better than he. Surely Achilles is mild of temper, or this, son of Atreus, had been thy last wrong-doing!" Thereupon Ulysses rose up beside him, and spake in wrath: "Peace, babbler; take not the name of kings upon thy lips, nor taunt thy betters. Hearken now to me: if I hear thee speak idle words again as thou hast done this day, I will surely strip from off thee cloak and tunic, and drive thee to the ships with shameful blows." So speaking, he smote him with the sceptre on back and shoulders; and a bloody weal rose up beneath the blow. All dazed, the fellow cowered down and wiped away his tears. Merrily laughed the others, saying one to his neighbour: "Often hath Ulysses done well, but never better than now, when he hath stopped this babbler's tongue. He will not rail against the kings again." Then Ulysses stood up to speak, holding the sceptre in his hand; and Athene stood by his side, in the likeness of a herald, bidding the people keep silence, that all, nearest and farthest alike, might hear his words. "Now, O King," he said, "the Greeks are shaming thee, abiding no more by their promise which they made thee coming from Argos; that they would not return till they had taken the city of Troy. Truly there is toil enough here to make us sick of heart and wishful to return. For a man will feel weary if he be kept but a single moon from his wife by winter winds and stormy sea, and we have lingered here for twelve moons nine times told. But it is not well to tarry long and come back empty-handed, after all. Ye all remember the prophecy that was given when we set sail from Greece,--all whom death hath not carried away,--that for nine years we should make war, and in the tenth we should take the fair city of Troy. Remain, therefore, ye Greeks, till ye have taken Priam's mighty town." So he spake, and all the Greeks shouted in assent; and the ships sent back the shout as if it had been thunder. Then King Agamemnon stood up, and said: "Go now to your meal, and afterwards we will join the battle. Let every man whet well his spear, and fit his shield, and feed his horses abundantly, and look to his chariot, that all day long we may fight, and cease not, even for a little space, till night shall come and separate the hosts. Truly the band of the shield shall grow wet, and the hand be weary that holdeth the spear, and the horse shall sweat that draweth the polished chariot. And whoever holdeth back from the fight, tarrying at the ships, nothing shall save him from feeding the dogs and the fowls of the air."