Page 70 - the-iliad

whit in your onset; father Jove will be no helper of liars; the
Trojans have been the first to break their oaths and to attack
us; therefore they shall be devoured of vultures; we shall
take their city and carry off their wives and children in our
ships.’
But he angrily rebuked those whom he saw shirking and
disinclined to fight. ‘Argives,’ he cried, ‘cowardly miserable
creatures, have you no shame to stand here like frightened
fawns who, when they can no longer scud over the plain,
huddle together, but show no fight? You are as dazed and
spiritless as deer. Would you wait till the Trojans reach the
sterns of our ships as they lie on the shore, to see wheth-
er the son of Saturn will hold his hand over you to protect
you?’
Thus did he go about giving his orders among the ranks.
Passing through the crowd, he came presently on the Cre-
tans, arming round Idomeneus, who was at their head,
fierce as a wild boar, while Meriones was bringing up the
battalions that were in the rear. Agamemnon was glad
when he saw him, and spoke him fairly. ‘Idomeneus,’ said
he, ‘I treat you with greater distinction than I do any oth-
ers of the Achaeans, whether in war or in other things, or
at table. When the princes are mixing my choicest wines in
the mixing-bowls, they have each of them a fixed allowance,
but your cup is kept always full like my own, that you may
drink whenever you are minded. Go, therefore, into battle,
and show yourself the man you have been always proud to
be.’
Idomeneus answered, ‘I will be a trusty comrade, as I