Page:Homer - Iliad, translation Pope, 1909.djvu/190

188 Inly he groans; while glory and despair

Divide his heart, and wage a doubtful war.

A thousand cares his labouring breast revolves;

To seek sage Nestor now the chief resolves,

With him, in wholesome counsels, to debate

What yet remains to save the afflicted state.

He rose, and first he cast his mantle round,

Next on his feet the shining sandals bound;

A lion's yellow spoils his back concealed;

His warlike hand a pointed javelin held.

Meanwhile his brother, pressed with equal woes,

Alike denied the gift of soft repose,

Laments for Greece, that in his cause before

So much had suffered, and must suffer more.

A leopard's spotted hide his shoulders spread;

A brazen helmet glittered on his head:

Thus, with a javelin in his hand, he went

To wake Atrides in the royal tent.

Already waked, Atrides he descried

His armour buckling at his vessel's side.

Joyful they met; the Spartan thus begun:

"Why puts my brother this bright armour on?

Sends he some spy, amidst these silent hours,

To try yon camp, and watch the Trojan powers?

But say, what hero shall sustain the task?

Such bold exploits uncommon courage ask,

Guideless, alone, through night's dark shade to go,

And 'midst a hostile camp explore the foe."

To whom the king: "In such distress we stand,

No vulgar counsels our affairs demand;

Greece to preserve is now no easy part,

But asks high wisdom, deep design, and art.

For Jove averse our humble prayer denies,

And bows his head to Hector's sacrifice.

What eye has witnessed, or what ear believed,

In one great day, by one great arm achieved,

Such wondrous deeds as Hector's hand has done,

And we beheld, the last revolving sun?

What honours the beloved of Jove adorn,

Sprung from no god, and of no goddess born!

Yet such his acts, as Greeks unborn shall tell,

And curse the battle where their fathers fell.

"Now speed thy hasty course along the fleet,

There call great Ajax, and the prince of Crete;

Ourself to hoary Nestor will repair;

To keep the guards on duty, be his care:

For Nestor's influence best that quarter guides,

Whose son, with Merion, o'er the watch presides."

To whom the Spartan: "These thy orders borne,