With shouts the warlike Diomede extoll’d, 60
When thus equestrian Nestor next began. 
Tydides, thou art eminently brave
In fight, and all the princes of thy years
Excell’st in council.  None of all the Greeks
Shall find occasion just to blame thy speech 65
Or to gainsay; yet thou hast fallen short. 
What wonder?  Thou art young; and were myself
Thy father, thou should’st be my latest born. 
Yet when thy speech is to the Kings of Greece,
It is well-framed and prudent.  Now attend! 70
Myself will speak, who have more years to boast
Than thou hast seen, and will so closely scan
The matter, that Atrides, our supreme,
Himself shall have no cause to censure me. 
He is a wretch, insensible and dead 75
To all the charities of social life,
Whose pleasure is in civil broils alone.[3]
But Night is urgent, and with Night’s demands
Let all comply.  Prepare we now repast,
And let the guard be stationed at the trench 80
Without the wall; the youngest shall supply
That service; next, Atrides, thou begin
(For thou art here supreme) thy proper task. 
Banquet the elders; it shall not disgrace
Thy sovereignty, but shall become thee well. 85
Thy tents are fill’d with wine which day by day
Ships bring from Thrace; accommodation large
Hast thou, and numerous is thy menial train. 
Thy many guests assembled, thou shalt hear
Our counsel, and shalt choose the best; great need 90
Have all Achaia’s sons, now, of advice
Most prudent; for the foe, fast by the fleet
Hath kindled numerous fires, which who can see
Unmoved?  This night shall save us or destroy.[4]
He spake, whom all with full consent approved. 95
Forth rush’d the guard well-arm’d; first went the son
Of Nestor, Thrasymedes, valiant Chief;
Then, sons of Mars, Ascalaphus advanced,
And brave Iaelmenus; whom follow’d next
Deipyrus, Aphareus, Meriones, 100
And Lycomedes, Creon’s son renown’d. 
Seven were the leaders of the guard, and each
A hundred spearmen headed, young and bold. 
Between the wall and trench their seat they chose,
There kindled fires, and each his food prepared. 105
Atrides, then, to his pavilion led
The thronging Chiefs of Greece, and at his board
Regaled them; they with readiness and keen
Dispatch of hunger shared the savory feast,
And when nor thirst remain’d nor hunger more 110
Unsated, Nestor then, arising first,
Whose counsels had been ever wisest deem’d,
Warm for the public interest, thus began. 
Atrides! glorious sovereign!  King of men! 
Thou art my first and last, proem and close, 115
For thou art mighty, and to thee are given
From Jove the sceptre and the laws in charge,