Nor be the captive of forgetfulness, So soon as thou shalt wake from honeyed sleep." He spake and parting left him there, to muse In secret on the thing that might not be. For in that day he thought to scale Priam's walls, 40 And knew not, simple one, the wiles of Zeus; How he would bring more woes, more groanings yet, On Trojan and on Greek in hard-fought fields. And o'er his shoulder swung his silver-studded sword. And took his fathers' sceptre in his hand, At broad Olympus' gate stood sacred Dawn, To Zeus and all the gods proclaiming light, 50 Then the king bade his shrill-tongued heralds go And summon council-ward the unshorn Greeks; 55 Who came all swiftly at their heralding. But first a council of high elders sat At Nestor's ship, the Pylos-nurtured *king. Thither he called them: there framed shrewd advice. "Hear, friends! In holy night a heaven-sent Dream бо Came near me while I slept in face, and form, At heart a warrior, tamer of the steed? 65 Who, though far off, yet cares, yet grieves for thee. He bids thee arm in haste thy unshorn Greeks; 70 Saying, Now is Ilion and her broad streets thine. For lo! no longer are the immortals-they Whose home is heaven-divided. Here's prayer Hath bent them all; and woes are nigh to Troy, Woes which Zeus sends. This ponder in thy mind.' 75 So spake the Dream; and spread his wings, and fled. And sweet sleep gat from me. But up and look How we may arm for war Achaia's sons. And first I will prove them, as is meet, with words, And bid them deck for flight their oared ships. 80 Ye, wending separate ways, forbid their flight." He spake, and sate him down. Then Nestor rose, That Nestor who in sandy Pylos reigned. Who friendly-minded rose and spake in the midst. "Friends! lords and captains of the Argive hosts! Now had another Greek this vision told, 85 We had said, 'Thou liest;' and put us far from him. But lo he saw it, of Achaians all Who vaunts him noblest. Nay then, up and look How we may arm for war Achaia's sons." 90 95 He spake; and slowly from the council moved. They rose, and followed in their leaders' wake, Those sceptred kings; the host flocked after them. As when from some rock's hollow, swarm on swarm, Rise multitudes of thickly-thronging bees: And hang in clusters o'er the flowers of spring, And fly in myriads, this way some, some that; They in such multitudes from tent and ship, Skirting the bottomless sea-sand, marched in troops To council. With them sped a voice of fire 100 Bidding them on: Zeus sent it: and they met. Unquietly they met: earth groaned beneath The trampling of the hosts as they sate down: And there was tumult. Then did heralds nine Shout out, entreating them to stay their strife, 105 And listen to the kings, the sons of heaven. In haste they sate down, halting each in his place, And stilled their noise. Then Agamemnon rose, Bearing that sceptre which Hephaestus wrought, And gave unto Croníon, royal Zeus. Zeus to the courier-god, the Argus-slayer: Hermes to Pelops, lasher of the steed: 115 "Friends, sons of Ares, mighty men of Greece! Me hath Zeus bound to heaviness and woe. 120 Once (reckless one!) he swore, and bowed his head, That I should raze Troy's walls and get me home. But mischief doth he plot against me now: Sends me to Argos, shamed; for I have slain. Much people. Thus then fare the favourites 125 Of Zeus the all-mighty: who hath bent the crests Of many cities; yea, and who shall bend The crests of many more; for strong is he. Our sons shall one day hear it, and cry Shame! |