380
While, wheeling o’er his head, with screams the dam
Bewail’d her darling brood.  Her also next,
Hovering and clamoring, he by the wing
Within his spiry folds drew, and devoured. 
All eaten thus, the nestlings and the dam, 385
The God who sent him, signalized him too,
For him Saturnian Jove transform’d to stone. 
We wondering stood, to see that strange portent
Intrude itself into our holy rites,
When Calchas, instant, thus the sign explain’d. 390
Why stand ye, Greeks, astonish’d?  Ye behold
A prodigy by Jove himself produced,
An omen, whose accomplishment indeed
Is distant, but whose fame shall never die.[12]
E’en as this serpent in your sight devour’d 395
Eight youngling sparrows, with their dam, the ninth,
So we nine years must war on yonder plain,
And in the tenth, wide-bulwark’d Troy is ours. 
So spake the seer, and as he spake, is done. 
Wait, therefore, brave Achaians! go not hence 400
Till Priam’s spacious city be your prize. 
He ceased, and such a shout ensued, that all
The hollow ships the deafening roar return’d
Of acclamation, every voice the speech
Extolling of Ulysses, glorious Chief. 405
Then Nestor the Gerenian,[13] warrior old,
Arising, spake; and, by the Gods, he said,
Ye more resemble children inexpert
In war, than disciplined and prudent men. 
Where now are all your promises and vows, 410
Councils, libations, right-hand covenants?[14]
Burn them, since all our occupation here
Is to debate and wrangle, whereof end
Or fruit though long we wait, shall none be found. 
But, Sovereign, be not thou appall’d.  Be firm. 415
Relax not aught of thine accustomed sway,
But set the battle forth as thou art wont. 
And if there be a Grecian, here and there,
One,[15] adverse to the general voice, let such
Wither alone.  He shall not see his wish 420
Gratified, neither will we hence return
To Argos, ere events shall yet have proved
Jove’s promise false or true.  For when we climb’d
Our gallant barks full-charged with Ilium’s fate,
Saturnian Jove omnipotent, that day, 425
(Omen propitious!) thunder’d on the right. 
Let no man therefore pant for home, till each
Possess a Trojan spouse, and from her lips
Take sweet revenge for Helen’s pangs of heart. 
Who then?  What soldier languishes and sighs 430
To leave us?  Let him dare to lay his hand
On his own vessel, and he dies the first. 
But hear, O King!  I shall suggest a course
Not trivial.  Agamemnon! sort the Greeks
By districts and by tribes, that tribe may tribe 435
Support, and each his fellow.  This performed,
And with consent of all, thou shalt discern