He ceased; then up sprang Diomede alarm’d
Instant, and in wing’d accents thus replied.
Old wakeful Chief! thy toils are never done.
Are there not younger of the sons of Greece,195
Who ranging in all parts the camp, might call
The Kings to council? But no curb controls
Or can abate activity like thine.
To whom Gerenian Nestor in return.
My friend! thou hast well spoken. I have sons,200
And they are well deserving; I have here
A numerous people also, one of whom
Might have sufficed to call the Kings of Greece.
But such occasion presses now the host
As hath not oft occurr’d; the overthrow205
Complete, or full deliverance of us all,
In balance hangs, poised on a razor’s edge.
But haste, and if thy pity of my toils
Be such, since thou art younger, call, thyself,
Ajax the swift, and Meges to the guard.210
Then Diomede a lion’s tawny skin
Around him wrapp’d, dependent to his heels,
And, spear in hand, set forth. The Hero call’d
Those two, and led them whither Nestor bade.
They, at the guard arrived, not sleeping found215
The captains of the guard, but sitting all
In vigilant posture with their arms prepared.
As dogs that, careful, watch the fold by night,
Hearing some wild beast in the woods,[5] which hounds
And hunters with tumultuous clamor drive220
Down from the mountain-top, all sleep forego;
So, sat not on their eyelids gentle sleep
That dreadful night, but constant to the plain
At every sound of Trojan feet they turn’d.
The old Chief joyful at the sight, in terms225
Of kind encouragement them thus address’d.
So watch, my children! and beware that sleep
Invade none here, lest all become a prey.
So saying, he traversed with quick pace the trench
By every Chief whom they had thither call’d230
Attended, with whom Nestor’s noble son
Went, and Meriones, invited both
To join their consultation. From the foss
Emerging, in a vacant space they sat,
Unstrew’d with bodies of the slain, the spot,235
Whence furious Hector, after slaughter made
Of numerous Greeks, night falling, had return’d.
There seated, mutual converse close they held,
And Nestor, brave Gerenian, thus began.
Oh friends! hath no Achaian here such trust240
In his own prowess, as to venture forth
Among yon haughty Trojans? He, perchance,
Might on the borders of their host surprise
Some wandering adversary, or might learn
Their consultations, whether they propose245
Here to abide in prospect of the fleet,
Or, satiate with success against the Greeks
So signal, meditate retreat to Troy.
These tidings gain’d, should he at last return
Secure, his recompense will be renown250
Extensive as the heavens, and fair reward.
From every leader of the fleet, his gift
Shall be a sable[6] ewe, and sucking lamb,
Rare acquisition! and at every board
And sumptuous banquet, he shall be a guest.255
He ceased, and all sat silent, when at length
The mighty son of Tydeus thus replied.
Me, Nestor, my courageous heart incites
To penetrate into the neighbor host
Of enemies; but went some other Chief260
With me, far greater would my comfort prove,
And I should dare the more. Two going forth,
One quicker sees than other, and suggests
Prudent advice; but he who single goes,
Mark whatsoe’er he may, the occasion less265
Improves, and his expedients soon exhausts.