None, none of these, but ran himself away. } I saw him run, and was ashamed to see; Who plied his feet so fast to get aboard as he? Then speeding through the place, I made a stand, } And loudly cried,--O base degenerate band, } To leave a town already in your hand! } After so long expence of blood, for fame, To bring home nothing but perpetual shame!-- These words, or what I have forgotten since, For grief inspired me then with eloquence, Reduced their minds; they leave the crowded port, And to their late forsaken camp resort. Dismayed the council met; this man was there, But mute, and not recovered of his fear: Thersites taxed the king, and loudly railed, But his wide opening mouth with blows I sealed. Then, rising, I excite their souls to fame, And kindle sleeping virtue into flame. From thence, whatever he performed in fight Is justly mine, who drew him back from flight. Which of the Grecian chiefs consorts with thee? } But Diomede desires my company, } And still communicates his praise with me. } As guided by a god, secure he goes, Armed with my fellowship, amid the foes; And sure no little merit I may boast, Whom such a man selects from such an host. Unforced by lots, I went without affright, To dare with him the dangers of the night; On the same errand sent, we met the spy Of Hector, double-tongued, and used to lie; Him I dispatched, but not till, undermined, I drew him first to tell what treacherous Troy designed. My task performed, with praise I had retired, But, not content with this, to greater praise aspired; Invaded Rhœsus, and his Thracian crew, And him, and his, in their own strength, I slew: Returned a victor, all my vows complete, With the king's chariot, in his royal seat. Refuse me now his arms, whose fiery steeds Were promised to the spy for his nocturnal deeds;[37] And let dull Ajax bear away my right, When all his days outbalance this one night. Nor fought I darkling still; the sun beheld With slaughtered Lycians when I strewed the field: You saw, and counted as I passed along, Alastor, Cromius, Ceranos the strong, Alcander, Prytanis, and Halius, Noemon, Charopes, and Ennomus, Choon, Chersidamas, and five beside, Men of obscure descent, but courage tried; All these this hand laid breathless on the ground. Nor want I proofs of many a manly wound; All honest, all before; believe not me, Words may deceive, but credit what you see. At this he bared his breast, and showed his scars, As of a furrowed field, well ploughed with wars; Nor is this part unexercised, said he; That giant bulk of his from wounds is free; Safe in his shield he fears no foe to try,