290
Of Jove, if he will prove, himself, your shield? 
Thus, in discharge of his high office, pass’d
Atrides through the ranks, and now arrived
Where, hardy Chief!  Idomeneus in front
Of his bold Cretans stood, stout as a boar 295
The van he occupied, while in the rear
Meriones harangued the most remote. 
Them so prepared the King of men beheld
With joyful heart, and thus in courteous terms
Instant the brave Idomeneus address’d. 300
Thee fighting, feasting, howsoe’er employed,
I most respect, Idomeneus, of all
The well-horsed Danaei; for when the Chiefs
Of Argos, banqueting, their beakers charge
With rosy wine the honorable meed 305
Of valor, thou alone of all the Greeks
Drink’st not by measure.[12] No—­thy goblet stands
Replenish’d still, and like myself thou know’st
No rule or bound, save what thy choice prescribes. 
March.  Seek the foe.  Fight now as heretofore, 310
To whom Idomeneus of Crete replied,
Atrides! all the friendship and the love
Which I have promised will I well perform. 
Go; animate the rest, Chief after Chief
Of the Achaians, that the fight begin. 315
For Troy has scatter’d to the winds all faith,
All conscience; and for such her treachery foul
Shall have large recompence of death and wo. 
He said, whom Agamemnon at his heart
Exulting, pass’d, and in his progress came 320
Where stood each Ajax; them he found prepared
With all their cloud of infantry behind. 
As when the goat-herd on some rocky point
Advanced, a cloud sees wafted o’er the deep
By western gales, and rolling slow along, 325
To him, who stands remote, pitch-black it seems,
And comes with tempest charged; he at the sight
Shuddering, his flock compels into a cave;
So moved the gloomy phalanx, rough with spears,
And dense with shields of youthful warriors bold, 330
Close-following either Ajax to the fight. 
Them also, pleased, the King of men beheld,
And in wing’d accents hail’d them as he pass’d. 
Brave leaders of the mail-clad host of Greece! 
I move not you to duty; ye yourselves 335
Move others, and no lesson need from me. 
Jove, Pallas, and Apollo! were but all
Courageous as yourselves, soon Priam’s towers
Should totter, and his Ilium storm’d and sack’d
By our victorious bands, stoop to the dust. 340
He ceased, and still proceeding, next arrived
Where stood the Pylian orator, his band
Marshalling under all their leaders bold
Alastor, Chromius, Pelagon the vast,
Haemon the prince, and Bias, martial Chief. 345
Chariot and horse he station’d in the front;
His numerous infantry, a strong reserve
Right valiant, in the rear; the worst, and those