And first he threw a leopard’s spotted hide O’er his broad back, and placed the brazen helm Upon his head, and took in his strong grasp A spear, and went to bid his brother wake— His brother, the chief ruler over all The men of Greece, and honored like a god. He found him at his galley’s prow in act To sheath his shoulders in the shining mail, And pleased to greet his coming. To the king Thus Menelaus, great in battle, spake:—
“Why arm thyself, my brother? Wouldst thou send A warrior to explore the Trojan camp? None will accept the task, I fear, to creep Alone at dead of night, a spy, within The hostile lines;—a bold man must he be.”
Then answered Agamemnon, king of men:— “Most noble Menelaus, much we need Wise counsel—thou and I—to save our men And galleys from destruction, since the will Of Jove is changed. Now hath the God respect To Hector’s sacrifices; for in truth I never saw—I never heard of one Who in one day performed such mighty deeds As Hector, dear to Jove, just now hath wrought, Though not the son of goddess or of god. Those deeds will be, I deem, for many a day A cause of bitter sorrow to the Greeks— Such evil hath he wrought. Now go at once, And from their galleys call Idomeneus And Ajax; while to noble Nestor’s tent I go, and pray that he will rise and give Their orders to the sacred band of guards;— For they will hearken to him, since his son Commands them jointly with Meriones, The armor-bearer of Idomeneus— Both named by us to that important trust.”
Then Menelaus, great in battle, said:— “What wilt thou, then, and what dost thou command— That I remain with them until thou come, Or, having given the message, seek thee here?”
Again the monarch Agamemnon spake:— “Wait there, lest as we go I meet thee not, For many ways are through the camp. But thou, In going, shout aloud and bid them all Be vigilant, accosting everyone By his