The Iliad. Homer

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       The timbers of our ships are all decay'd,

       The cordage rotted; in our homes the while

       Our wives and helpless children sit, in vain

       Expecting our return; and still the work,

       For which we hither came, remains undone.

       Hear then my counsel; let us all agree

       Home to direct our course, since here in vain

       We strive to take the well-built walls of Troy."

      Thus as he spoke, the crowd, that had not heard

       The secret council, by his words was mov'd;

       So sway'd and heav'd the multitude, as when

       O'er the vast billows of th' Icarian sea

       Eurus and Notus from the clouds of Heav'n

       Pour forth their fury; or as some deep field

       Of wavy corn, when sweeping o'er the plain

       The ruffling west wind sways the bending ears;

       So was th' Assembly stirr'd; and tow'rd the ships

       With clam'rous joy they rush'd; beneath, their feet

       Rose clouds of dust, while one to other call'd

       To seize the ships and drag them to the main.

       They clear'd the channels, and with shouts of "home"

       That rose to Heav'n, they knock'd the shores away.

       Then had the Greeks in shameful flight withdrawn,

       Had Juno not to Pallas thus appeal'd:

       "Oh Heav'n! brave child of aegis-bearing Jove,

       Shall thus the Greeks, in ignominious flight,

       O'er the wide sea their homeward course pursue,

       And as a trophy to the sons of Troy

       The Argive Helen leave, on whose account,

       Far from their home, so many valiant Greeks

       Have cast their lives away? Go quickly thou

       Amid the brass-clad Greeks, and man by man

       Address with words persuasive, nor permit

       To launch their well-trimm'd vessels on the deep."

      She said, nor did Minerva not obey,

       But swift descending from Olympus' heights

       With rapid flight she reach'd the Grecian ships.

       Laertes' son, in council sage as Jove

       There found she standing; he no hand had laid

       On his dark vessel, for with bitter grief

       His heart was filled; the blue-ey'd Maid approach'd,

       And thus address'd him: "Great Laertes' son,

       Ulysses, sage in council, can it be

       That you, the men of Greece, embarking thus

       On your swift ships, in ignominious flight,

       O'er the wide sea will take your homeward way,

       And as a trophy to the sons of Troy

       The Argive Helen leave, on whose account

       Far from their homes so many valiant Greeks

       Have cast their lives away? Go quickly thou

       Among the multitude, and man by man

       Address with words persuasive, nor permit

       To launch their well-trimm'd vessels on the deep."

      She said; the heav'nly voice Ulysses knew;

       Straight, springing to the course, he cast aside,

       And to Eurybates of Ithaca,

       His herald and attendant, threw his robe;

       Then to Atrides hasten'd, and by him

       Arm'd with his royal staff ancestral, pass'd

       With rapid step amid the ships of Greece.

       Each King or leader whom he found he thus

       With cheering words encourag'd and restrain'd:

       "O gallant friend, 'tis not for thee to yield,

       Like meaner men, to panic; but thyself

       Sit quiet, and the common herd restrain.

       Thou know'st not yet Atrides' secret mind:

       He tries us now, and may reprove us soon.

       His words in council reach'd not all our ears:

       See that he work us not some ill; for fierce

       His anger; and the Lord of counsel, Jove,

       From whom proceeds all honour, loves him well."

      But of the common herd whome'er he found

       Clam'ring, he check'd with staff and threat'ning words:

       "Good friend, keep still, and hear what others say,

       Thy betters far: for thou art good for nought,

       Of small account in council or in fight.

       All are not sovereigns here: ill fares the state

       Where many masters rule; let one be Lord,

       One King supreme; to whom wise Saturn's son

       In token of his sov'reign power hath giv'n

       The sceptre's sway and ministry of law."

      Such were his words, as through the ranks he pass'd:

       They from the vessels and the tents again

       Throng'd to th' Assembly, with such rush of sound,

       As when the many-dashing ocean's wave

       Breaks on the shore, and foams the frothing sea.

       The others all were settled in their seats:

       Only Thersites, with unmeasur'd words,

       Of which he had good store, to rate the chiefs,

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