“O son of Peteus, foster-child of Jove, And thou, the man of craft and evil wiles! Why stand ye here aloof, irresolute, And wait for others? Ye should be the first To meet the foe and stem the battle’s rage. I bid you first to banquets which the Greeks Give to their leaders, where ye feast at will On roasted meats and bowls of pleasant wine. Now, ere ye move, ye willingly would see Ten Grecian squadrons join the deadly strife.”

The man of many arts, Ulysses, spake, And frowned: “O Atreus’ son! What words are those Which pass thy lips? How canst thou say that we Avoid the battle? Ever when the Greeks Seek bloody conflict with the Trojan knights, Thou, if thou wilt, and if thou givest heed To things like these, shalt with thine eyes behold The father of Telemachus engaged In combat with the foremost knights that form The Trojan van. Thou utterest empty words.”

King Agamemnon, when he saw the chief Offended, changed his tone, and, smiling, said:⁠—