Hastens to meet in arms the Trojan chief.”

Thus with upbraiding words the old man spake; And straight arose nine warriors from their seats. The first was Agamemnon, king of men; The second, brave Tydides Diomed; And then the chieftains Ajax, bold and strong; And then Idomeneus, with whom arose Meriones, his armor-bearer, great As Mars himself in battle. After them, Eurypylus, Evaemon’s valiant son, And Thoas, offspring of Androemon, rose, And the divine Ulysses⁠—claiming all To encounter noble Hector in the lists. But then spake Nestor the Gerenian knight:⁠—

“Now let us cast the lot for all, and see To whom it falls; for greatly will he aid The nobly-armed Achaians, and as great Will be his share of honor should he come Alive from the hard trial of the fight.”