Page 187 - the-iliad

cil. Meriones and the brave son of Nestor went also, for the
princes bade them. When they were beyond the trench that
was dug round the wall they held their meeting on the open
ground where there was a space clear of corpses, for it was
here that when night fell Hector had turned back from his
onslaught on the Argives. They sat down, therefore, and
held debate with one another.
Nestor spoke first. ‘My friends,’ said he, ‘is there any man
bold enough to venture the Trojans, and cut off some strag-
gler, or us news of what the enemy mean to do whether they
will stay here by the ships away from the city, or whether,
now that they have worsted the Achaeans, they will retire
within their walls. If he could learn all this and come back
safely here, his fame would be high as heaven in the mouths
of all men, and he would be rewarded richly; for the chiefs
from all our ships would each of them give him a black ewe
with her lamb—which is a present of surpassing value—and
he would be asked as a guest to all feasts and clan-gather-
ings.’
They all held their peace, but Diomed of the loud war-cry
spoke saying, ‘Nestor, gladly will I visit the host of the Tro-
jans over against us, but if another will go with me I shall do
so in greater confidence and comfort. When two men are
together, one of them may see some opportunity which the
other has not caught sight of; if a man is alone he is less full
of resource, and his wit is weaker.’
On this several offered to go with Diomed. The two Aja-
xes, servants of Mars, Meriones, and the son of Nestor all
wanted to go, so did Menelaus son of Atreus; Ulysses also

1 The Iliad