Page 73 - the-iliad

of the Achaeans to attack the Trojans and begin the fight-
ing. When he saw this Agamemnon rebuked them and said,
‘Son of Peteos, and you other, steeped in cunning, heart of
guile, why stand you here cowering and waiting on others?
You two should be of all men foremost when there is hard
fighting to be done, for you are ever foremost to accept my
invitation when we councillors of the Achaeans are hold-
ing feast. You are glad enough then to take your fill of roast
meats and to drink wine as long as you please, whereas now
you would not care though you saw ten columns of Achae-
ans engage the enemy in front of you.’
Ulysses glared at him and answered, ‘Son of Atreus, what
are you talking about? How can you say that we are slack?
When the Achaeans are in full fight with the Trojans, you
shall see, if you care to do so, that the father of Telemachus
will join battle with the foremost of them. You are talking
idly.’
When Agamemnon saw that Ulysses was angry, he
smiled pleasantly at him and withdrew his words. ‘Ulysses,’
said he, ‘noble son of Laertes, excellent in all good coun-
sel, I have neither fault to find nor orders to give you, for I
know your heart is right, and that you and I are of a mind.
Enough; I will make you amends for what I have said, and if
any ill has now been spoken may the gods bring it to noth-
ing.’
He then left them and went on to others. Presently he
saw the son of Tydeus, noble Diomed, standing by his char-
iot and horses, with Sthenelus the son of Capaneus beside
him; whereon he began to upbraid him. ‘Son of Tydeus,’ he

The Iliad