“O counsellor of Crete, Idomeneus! Where are the threats which late the sons of Greece Uttered against the Trojans?” Promptly came The Cretan leader’s answer: “No man here, O Thoas, seems blameworthy, for we all Are skilled in war, nor does unmanly fear Hold any back; nor from the difficult strife Does sloth detain one warrior. So it is Doubtless that it seems good to Saturn’s son, The All-disposer, that the Greeks, afar From Argos, should ingloriously fall And perish. Thoas, thou wert ever brave, And didst exhort the laggards. Cease not now To combat, cease not to exhort the rest.”

And Neptune, he who shakes the earth, rejoined:⁠— “Idomeneus, whoever keeps aloof From battle, willingly, today, may he Never return from Troy, but be the prey Of dogs. Take thou thy arms and come with me, For we must quit ourselves like men, and strive To aid our cause, although we be but two. Great is the strength of feeble arms combined, And we can combat even with the brave.”