Book IX

BOOK IX

THUS did the Trojans watch. But Panic, comrade of blood-stained

Rout, had taken fast hold of the Achaeans, and their princes were

all of them in despair. As when the two winds that blow from

Thrace--the north and the northwest--spring up of a sudden and

rouse the fury of the main--in a moment the dark waves uprear

their heads and scatter their sea-wrack in all directions--even

thus troubled were the hearts of the Achaeans.

The son of Atreus in dismay bade the heralds call the people to a

council man by man, but not to cry the matter aloud; he made

haste also himself to call them, and they sat sorry at heart in

their assembly. Agamemnon shed tears as it were a running stream

or cataract on the side of some sheer cliff; and thus, with many

a heavy sigh he spoke to the Achaeans. "My friends," said he,

"princes and councillors Of the Argives, the hand of heaven has

been laid heavily upon me. Cruel Jove gave me his solemn promise

that I should sack the city of Troy before returning, but he has

played me false, and is now bidding me go ingloriously back to

Argos with the loss of much people. Such is the will of Jove, who

has laid many a proud city in the dust as he will yet lay others,

for his power is above all. Now, therefore, let us all do as I

say and sail back to our own country, for we shall not take

Troy."

Thus he spoke, and the sons of the Achaeans for a long while sat

sorrowful there, but they all held their peace, till at last

Diomed of the loud battle-cry made answer saying, "Son of Atreus,

I will chide your folly, as is my right in council. Be not then

aggrieved that I should do so. In the first place you attacked me

before all the Danaans and said that I was a coward and no

soldier. The Argives young and old know that you did so. But the

son of scheming Saturn endowed you by halves only. He gave you

honour as the chief ruler over us, but valour, which is the

highest both right and might he did not give you. Sir, think you

that the sons of the Achaeans are indeed as unwarlike and

cowardly as you say they are? If your own mind is set upon going

home--go--the way is open to you; the many ships that followed

you from Mycene stand ranged upon the seashore; but the rest of

us stay here till we have sacked Troy. Nay though these too

should turn homeward with their ships, Sthenelus and myself will

still fight on till we reach the goal of Ilius, for heaven was

with us when we came."

The sons of the Achaeans shouted applause at the words of Diomed,

and presently Nestor rose to speak.