And as they passed through the host they found the sentinels sitting wide awake with their arms, like dogs that watch by a lonely sheepfold amongst the hills and listen to the cries of the savage wild beasts that come towards them through the woods.
Gladly did old Nestor see them.
‘Even so keep watch, dear children,’ he said, ‘lest we allow our enemies to triumph over us.’
Out in the open field, beyond the deep trench which they had dug, the chiefs of the Greeks sat themselves down in council.
To them, then, spake Nestor.
‘O friends,’ said he, ‘is there among you a man with heart so fearless that all alone he will go into the camp of the Trojans this night and there learn what are their plans for battle? If such an one there be, and he return to us scathless, great will be his fame among all men, and great the rewards that he wins.’
Then said Diomedes of the loud war-cry:
‘With willing heart will go, Nestor: yet if another man will come with me, more comfort and courage will be ours.’
Many there were who asked with eagerness to be that one who should go with Diomedes. But Agamemnon spoke.
‘Diomedes, joy of mine heart, verily shalt thou choose thine own comrade,’ he said.