The Iliads of Homer. Homer

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      ANOTHER ARGUMENT

      Beta the dream and synod cites;

       And catalogues the naval knights.

      The other Gods, and knights at arms, all night slept; only Jove

       Sweet slumber seiz'd not; he discours'd how best he might approve

       His vow made for Achilles' grace, and make the Grecians find

       His miss in much death. All ways cast, this counsel serv'd his mind

       With most allowance; to despatch a harmful Dream to greet

       The king of men, and gave this charge: "Go to the Achive fleet,

       Pernicious Dream, and, being arriv'd in Agamemnon's tent,

       Deliver truly all this charge. Command him to convent

       His whole host arm'd before these tow'rs; for now Troy's

       broad-way'd town

       He shall take in; the heav'n-hous'd Gods are now indiff'rent grown:

       Juno's request hath won them; Troy now under imminent ills

       At all parts labours." This charge heard, the Vision straight

       fulfils;

       The ships reach'd, and Atrides' tent, in which he found him laid,

       Divine sleep pour'd about his pow'rs. He stood above his head

       Like Nestor, grac'd of old men most, and this did intimate:

       "Sleeps the wise Atreus' tame-horse son? A councillor of state

       Must not the whole night spend in sleep, to whom the people are

       For guard committed, and whose life stands bound to so much care.

       Now hear me, then, Jove's messenger, who, though far off from thee,

       Is near thee yet in ruth and care, and gives command by me

       To arm thy whole host. Thy strong hand the broad-way'd town of Troy

       Shall now take in; no more the Gods dissentiously employ

       Their high-hous'd powers; Juno's suit hath won them all to her;

       And ill fates overhang these tow'rs, address'd by Jupiter.

       Fix in thy mind this, nor forget to give it action, when

       Sweet sleep shall leave thee." Thus, he fled; and left the king of

       men

       Repeating in discourse his dream, and dreaming still, awake,

       Of pow'r, not ready yet for act. O fool, he thought to take

       In that next day old Priam's town; not knowing what affairs

       Jove had in purpose, who prepar'd, by strong fight, sighs and cares

       For Greeks and Trojans. The Dream gone, his voice still murmured

       About the king's ears; who sate up, put on him in his bed

       His silken inner weed, fair, new; and then in haste arose,

       Cast on his ample mantle, tied to his soft feet fair shoes,

       His silver-hilted sword he hung about his shoulder, took

       His father's sceptre never stain'd, which then abroad he shook,

       And went to fleet. And now great heav'n Goddess Aurora scal'd,

       To Jove, and all Gods, bringing light; when Agamemnon call'd

       His heralds, charging them aloud to call to instant court

       The thick-hair'd Greeks. The heralds call'd; the Greeks made quick

       resort.

       The Council chiefly he compos'd of old great-minded men,

       At Nestor's ships, the Pylian king. All there assembled then,

       Thus Atreus' son begun the court: "Hear, friends: A Dream divine,

       Amidst the calm night in my sleep, did through my shut eyes shine,

       Within my fantasy. His form did passing naturally

       Resemble Nestor; such attire, a stature just as high.

       He stood above my head, and words thus fashion'd did relate:

       'Sleeps the wise Atreus' tame-horse son? A councillor of state

       Must not the whole night spend in sleep, to whom the people are

       For guard committed, and whose life stands bound to so much care.

       Now hear me then, Jove's messenger, who, though far off from thee,

       Is near thee yet in love and care, and gives command by me

       To arm thy whole host. Thy strong hand the broad-way'd town of Troy

       Shall now take in; no more the Gods dissentiously employ

       Their high-hous'd pow'rs; Saturnia's suit hath won them all to her;

       And ill fates over-hang these tow'rs, address'd by Jupiter.

       Fix in thy mind this.' This express'd, he took wing and away,

       And sweet sleep left me. Let us then by all our means assay

       To arm our army; I will first (as far as fits our right)

       Try their addictions, and command with full-sail'd ships our

       flight;

       Which if they yield to, oppose you." He sate, and up arose

       Nestor, of sandy Pylos king, who, willing to dispose

       Their counsel to the public good, propos'd this to the state:

       "Princes and Councillors of Greece, if any should relate

       This vision but the king himself, it might be held a tale,

       And move the rather our retreat; but since our General

       Affirms he saw it, hold it true, and all our best means make

       To arm our army." This speech us'd, he first the Council brake;

       The other sceptre-bearing States arose too, and obey'd

       The people's Rector. Being abroad, the earth was overlaid

       With flockers to them, that came forth, as when of frequent bees

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