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heart； forsooth； is set on destroying our ships； but we too have bands
that can keep you at bay； and your own fair town shall be sooner taken
and sacked by ourselves。 The time is near when you shall pray Jove and
all the gods in your flight； that your steeds may be swifter than
hawks as they raise the dust on the plain and bear you back to your
city。〃
As he was thus speaking a bird flew by upon his right hand； and
the host of the Achaeans shouted； for they took heart at the omen。 But
Hector answered； 〃Ajax； braggart and false of tongue； would that I
were as sure of being son for evermore to aegis…bearing Jove； with
Queen Juno for my mother； and of being held in like honour with
Minerva and Apollo； as I am that this day is big with the
destruction of the Achaeans； and you shall fall among them if you dare
abide my spear； it shall rend your fair body and bid you glut our
hounds and birds of prey with your fat and your flesh； as you fall
by the ships of the Achaeans。〃
With these words he led the way and the others followed after with a
cry that rent the air； while the host shouted behind them。 The Argives
on their part raised a shout likewise； nor did they forget their
prowess； but stood firm against the onslaught of the Trojan
chieftains； and the cry from both the hosts rose up to heaven and to
the brightness of Jove's presence。
BOOK XIV
NESTOR was sitting over his wine； but the cry of battle did not
escape him； and he said to the son of Aesculapius； 〃What； noble
Machaon； is the meaning of all this？ The shouts of men fighting by our
ships grow stronger and stronger； stay here； therefore； and sit over
your wine； while fair Hecamede heats you a bath and washes the clotted
blood from off you。 I will go at once to the look…out station and
see what it is all about。〃
As he spoke he took up the shield of his son Thrasymedes that was
lying in his tent； all gleaming with bronze； for Thrasymedes had taken
his father's shield； he grasped his redoubtable bronze…shod spear； and
as soon as he was outside saw the disastrous rout of the Achaeans who；
now that their wall was overthrown； were flying pell…mell before the
Trojans。 As when there is a heavy swell upon the sea； but the waves
are dumb… they keep their eyes on the watch for the quarter whence the
fierce winds may spring upon them； but they stay where they are and
set neither this way nor that； till some particular wind sweeps down
from heaven to determine them… even so did the old man ponder
whether to make for the crowd of Danaans； or go in search of
Agamemnon。 In the end he deemed it best to go to the son of Atreus；
but meanwhile the hosts were fighting and killing one another； and the
hard bronze rattled on their bodies； as they thrust at one another
with their swords and spears。
The wounded kings； the son of Tydeus； Ulysses； and Agamemnon son
of Atreus； fell in Nestor as they were coming up from their ships… for
theirs were drawn up some way from where the fighting was going on；
being on the shore itself inasmuch as they had been beached first；
while the wall had been built behind the hindermost。 The stretch of
the shore； wide though it was； did not afford room for all the
ships； and the host was cramped for space； therefore they had placed
the ships in rows one behind the other； and had filled the whole
opening of the bay between the two points that formed it。 The kings；
leaning on their spears； were coming out to survey the fight； being in
great anxiety； and when old Nestor met them they were filled with
dismay。 Then King Agamemnon said to him； 〃Nestor son of Neleus； honour
to the Achaean name； why have you left the battle to come hither？ I
fear that what dread Hector said will come true； when he vaunted among
the Trojans saying that he would not return to Ilius till he had fired
our ships and killed us； this is what he said； and now it is all
coming true。 Alas！ others of the Achaeans； like Achilles； are in anger
with me that they refuse to fight by the sterns of our ships。〃
Then Nestor knight of Gerene answered； 〃It is indeed as you say；
it is all coming true at this moment； and even Jove who thunders
from on high cannot prevent it。 Fallen is the wall on which we
relied as an impregnable bulwark both for us and our fleet。 The
Trojans are fighting stubbornly and without ceasing at the ships； look
where you may you cannot see from what quarter the rout of the
Achaeans is coming； they are being killed in a confused mass and the
battle…cry ascends to heaven； let us think； if counsel can be of any
use； what we had better do； but I do not advise our going into
battle ourselves； for a man cannot fight when he is wounded。〃
And King Agamemnon answered； 〃Nestor； if the Trojans are indeed
fighting at the rear of our ships； and neither the wall nor the trench
has served us… over which the Danaans toiled so hard； and which they
deemed would be an impregnable bulwark both for us and our fleet… I
see it must be the will of Jove that the Achaeans should perish
ingloriously here； far from Argos。 I knew when Jove was willing to
defend us； and I know now that he is raising the Trojans to like
honour with the gods； while us； on the other hand； he bas bound hand
and foot。 Now； therefore； let us all do as I say； let us bring down
the ships that are on the beach and draw them into the water； let us
make them fast to their mooring…stones a little way out； against the
fall of night… if even by night the Trojans will desist from fighting；
we may then draw down the rest of the fleet。 There is nothing wrong in
flying ruin even by night。 It is better for a man that he should fly
and be saved than be caught and killed。〃
Ulysses looked fiercely at him and said； 〃Son of Atreus； what are
you talking about？ Wretch； you should have commanded some other and
baser army； and not been ruler over us to whom Jove has allotted a
life of hard fighting from youth to old age； till we every one of us
perish。 Is it thus that you would quit the city of Troy； to win
which we have suffered so much hardship？ Hold your peace； lest some
other of the Achaeans hear you say what no man who knows how to give
good counsel； no king over so great a host as that of the Argives
should ever have let fall from his lips。 I despise your judgement
utterly for what you have been saying。 Would you； then； have us draw
down our ships into the water while the battle is raging； and thus
play further into the hands of the conquering Trojans？ It would be
ruin； the Achaeans will not go on fighting when they see the ships
being drawn into the water； but will cease attacking and keep
turning their eyes towards them； your counsel； therefore； Sir captain；
would be our destruction。〃
Agamemnon answered； 〃Ulysses； your rebuke has stung me to the heart。
I am not； however； ordering the Achaeans to draw their ships into
the sea whether they will or no。 Some one； it may be； old or young；
can offer us better counsel which I shall rejoice to hear。〃
Then said Diomed； 〃Such an one is at hand； he is not far to seek； if
you will listen to me and not resent my speaking though I am younger
than any of you。 I am by linea