Now when they came among the assembled guard, Its leaders were not slumbering; every man Sat watchful and in arms. As dogs that guard Flocks in a sheepfold hear some savage beast That comes through thickets down the mountainside; Loud is the clamor of the dogs and men, And sleep is frightened thence—so gentle sleep Fled from the eyes of those who watched, that night, Sadly, with eyes turned ever toward the plain, Intently listening for the foe’s approach. The aged Nestor saw them, and rejoiced, And thus encouraged them with wingèd words:—
“Watch thus, dear youths, let no one yield to sleep, Lest we become the mockery of the foe.”
He spake, and crossed the trench; and with him went The Grecian leaders, they who had been called To council. With them went Meriones And Nestor’s eminent son, for they had both Been summoned. Crossing to the other side Of that deep trench, they found an open space Clear of the dead, in which they sat them down— Just where the fiery Hector, having slain Many Achaians, turned him back when night Came o’er him. There they sat to hold debate And thus spake Nestor the Gerenian knight:—
“Friends! Is there none among you who so far Trusts his own valor that he will tonight Venture among the Trojans? He perchance Might capture on the borders of the camp Some foeman wandering, or might bring report Of what they meditate, and whether still They mean to keep their station far from Troy And near our ships, or, since their late success, Return to Ilium. Could he safely bring This knowledge back to us, his meed were great, Glory among all men beneath the sky, And liberal recompense. As many chiefs As now command our galleys, each would give A black ewe with a suckling lamb—such gifts No one hath yet received—and he should sit A guest at all our banquets and our feasts.”