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Troy to stew in his own meeds of honour； and discover whether we
were of any service to him or no。 Achilles is a much better man than
he is； and see how he has treated him… robbing him of his prize and
keeping it himself。 Achilles takes it meekly and shows no fight； if he
did； son of Atreus； you would never again insult him。〃
Thus railed Thersites； but Ulysses at once went up to him and
rebuked him sternly。 〃Check your glib tongue； Thersites；〃 said be；
〃and babble not a word further。 Chide not with princes when you have
none to back you。 There is no viler creature come before Troy with the
sons of Atreus。 Drop this chatter about kings； and neither revile them
nor keep harping about going home。 We do not yet know how things are
going to be； nor whether the Achaeans are to return with good
success or evil。 How dare you gibe at Agamemnon because the Danaans
have awarded him so many prizes？ I tell you； therefore… and it shall
surely be… that if I again catch you talking such nonsense； I will
either forfeit my own head and be no more called father of Telemachus；
or I will take you； strip you stark naked； and whip you out of the
assembly till you go blubbering back to the ships。〃
On this he beat him with his staff about the back and shoulders till
he dropped and fell a…weeping。 The golden sceptre raised a bloody weal
on his back； so he sat down frightened and in pain； looking foolish as
he wiped the tears from his eyes。 The people were sorry for him； yet
they laughed heartily； and one would turn to his neighbour saying；
〃Ulysses has done many a good thing ere now in fight and council；
but he never did the Argives a better turn than when he stopped this
fellow's mouth from prating further。 He will give the kings no more of
his insolence。〃
Thus said the people。 Then Ulysses rose； sceptre in hand； and
Minerva in the likeness of a herald bade the people be still； that
those who were far off might hear him and consider his council。 He
therefore with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus：…
〃King Agamemnon； the Achaeans are for making you a by…word among all
mankind。 They forget the promise they made you when they set out
from Argos； that you should not return till you had sacked the town of
Troy； and； like children or widowed women； they murmur and would set
off homeward。 True it is that they have had toil enough to be
disheartened。 A man chafes at having to stay away from his wife even
for a single month； when he is on shipboard； at the mercy of wind
and sea； but it is now nine long years that we have been kept here；
I cannot； therefore； blame the Achaeans if they turn restive； still we
shall be shamed if we go home empty after so long a stay… therefore；
my friends； be patient yet a little longer that we may learn whether
the prophesyings of Calchas were false or true。
〃All who have not since perished must remember as though it were
yesterday or the day before； how the ships of the Achaeans were
detained in Aulis when we were on our way hither to make war on
Priam and the Trojans。 We were ranged round about a fountain
offering hecatombs to the gods upon their holy altars； and there was a
fine plane…tree from beneath which there welled a stream of pure
water。 Then we saw a prodigy； for Jove sent a fearful serpent out of
the ground； with blood…red stains upon its back； and it darted from
under the altar on to the plane…tree。 Now there was a brood of young
sparrows； quite small； upon the topmost bough； peeping out from
under the leaves； eight in all； and their mother that hatched them
made nine。 The serpent ate the poor cheeping things； while the old
bird flew about lamenting her little ones； but the serpent threw his
coils about her and caught her by the wing as she was screaming。 Then；
when he had eaten both the sparrow and her young； the god who had sent
him made him become a sign； for the son of scheming Saturn turned
him into stone； and we stood there wondering at that which had come to
pass。 Seeing； then； that such a fearful portent had broken in upon our
hecatombs； Calchas forthwith declared to us the oracles of heaven。
'Why； Achaeans；' said he； 'are you thus speechless？ Jove has sent us
this sign； long in coming； and long ere it be fulfilled； though its
fame shall last for ever。 As the serpent ate the eight fledglings
and the sparrow that hatched them； which makes nine； so shall we fight
nine years at Troy； but in the tenth shall take the town。' This was
what he said； and now it is all coming true。 Stay here； therefore； all
of you； till we take the city of Priam。〃
On this the Argives raised a shout； till the ships rang again with
the uproar。 Nestor； knight of Gerene； then addressed them。 〃Shame on
you；〃 he cried； 〃to stay talking here like children； when you should
fight like men。 Where are our covenants now； and where the oaths
that we have taken？ Shall our counsels be flung into the fire； with
our drink…offerings and the right hands of fellowship wherein we
have put our trust？ We waste our time in words； and for all our
talking here shall be no further forward。 Stand； therefore； son of
Atreus； by your own steadfast purpose； lead the Argives on to
battle； and leave this handful of men to rot； who scheme； and scheme
in vain； to get back to Argos ere they have learned whether Jove be
true or a liar。 For the mighty son of Saturn surely promised that we
should succeed； when we Argives set sail to bring death and
destruction upon the Trojans。 He showed us favourable signs by
flashing his lightning on our right hands； therefore let none make
haste to go till he has first lain with the wife of some Trojan； and
avenged the toil and sorrow that he has suffered for the sake of
Helen。 Nevertheless； if any man is in such haste to be at home
again； let him lay his hand to his ship that he may meet his doom in
the sight of all。 But； O king； consider and give ear to my counsel；
for the word that I say may not be neglected lightly。 Divide your men；
Agamemnon； into their several tribes and clans； that clans and
tribes may stand by and help one another。 If you do this； and if the
Achaeans obey you； you will find out who； both chiefs and peoples； are
brave； and who are cowards； for they will vie against the other。
Thus you shall also learn whether it is through the counsel of
heaven or the cowardice of man that you shall fail to take the town。〃
And Agamemnon answered； 〃Nestor； you have again outdone the sons
of the Achaeans in counsel。 Would； by Father Jove； Minerva； and
Apollo； that I had among them ten more such councillors； for the
city of King Priam would then soon fall beneath our hands； and we
should sack it。 But the son of Saturn afflicts me with bootless
wranglings and strife。 Achilles and I are quarrelling about this girl；
in which matter I was the first to offend； if we can be of one mind
again； the Trojans will not stave off destruction for a day。 Now；
therefore； get your morning meal； that our hosts join in fight。 Whet
well your spears； see well to the ordering of your shields； give
good feeds to your horses； and look your chariots carefully over； that
we may do battle the livelong day； for we shall have no rest； n