Seeing the peril of the Greeks, Juno urges Agamemnon to visit Ulysses’ tent, and there proclaim, in such loud tones that Achilles cannot fail to overhear him, that their vessels will soon be in flames.  Then, fearing for his companions, Agamemnon prays so fervently for aid that an eagle flies over the camp and drops a lamb upon the Greek altar.  This omen of good fortune renews the courage of the Greeks, and stimulates the archer Teucer to cause new havoc in the Trojan ranks with his unfailing arrows, until Hector hurls a rock, which lays him low, and rushes into the Greek camp.

Full of anxiety for their proteges, Juno and Minerva forget Jupiter’s injunctions, and are about to hurry off to their rescue, when the king of the gods bids them stop, assuring them the Greeks will suffer defeat, until, Patroclus having fallen, Achilles arises to avenge him.  When the setting sun signals the close of the day’s fight, although the Greeks are still in possession of their tents, the Trojans bivouac in the plain, just outside the trench, to prevent their escape.

Book IX. Such anxiety reigns in the Greek camp that Agamemnon holds a council in his tent.  There, almost choked by tears, he declares no alternative remains save flight, but Diomedes so hotly contradicts him that the Greeks decide to remain.  At Nestor’s suggestion, Agamemnon then tries to atone for his insult to Achilles by gifts and apologies, instructing the bearers to promise the return of the captive and to offer an alliance with one of his daughters, if Achilles will only come to their aid.  Wending their way through the moonlit camp, these emissaries find Achilles idly listening to Patroclus’ music.  After delivering the message, Ulysses makes an eloquent appeal in behalf of his countrymen, but Achilles coldly rejoins the Greeks will have to defend themselves as he is about to depart.  Such is his resentment that he refuses to forgive Agamemnon, although his aged tutor urges him to be brave enough to conquer himself.  Most reluctantly therefore Ulysses and Ajax return, and, although sleep hovers over Achilles’ tent, dismay reigns within that of Agamemnon, until Diomedes vows they will yet prove they do not need Achilles’ aid.

Book X. Exhausted by the day’s efforts, most of the Greeks have fallen asleep, when Agamemnon, after conversing for a while with Menelaus, arouses Nestor, Ulysses, and Diomedes to inspect their posts.  It is in the course of these rounds that Nestor suggests one of their number steal into the Trojan camp to discover their plans.  This suggestion is eagerly seized by Diomedes and Ulysses, who, on their way to the enemy’s camp, encounter Dolon, a Trojan spy, who is coming to find out what they are planning.  Crouching among the corpses, Diomedes and Ulysses capture this man, from whom they wring all the information they require, together with exact directions to find the steeds of Rhesus.  To secure this prize, Ulysses and Diomedes steal into the Trojan camp, where, after slaying a few sleepers, they capture the steeds and escape in safety, thanks to Minerva’s aid.  On seeing his friends emerge from the gloom with so glorious a prize, Nestor, who has been anxiously watching, expresses great joy, and invites his companions to refresh themselves after their exertions.