He spake, and loud applause thereon ensued From all the Greeks, and fearfully the ships Rang with the clamorous voices uttering The praises of Ulysses and his words. Then Nestor, the Gerenian knight, arose And thus addressed them: “Strangely ye behave, Like boys unwonted to the tasks of war. Where now are all your promises and oaths? Shall all our counselings and all our cares, Leagues made with wine, religiously outpoured, And plightings of the strong right hand, be cast Into the flames? Idly we keep alive A strife of words, which serves no end though long We loiter here! But thou, Atrides, firm Of purpose, give command that now the Greeks Move to the war, and leave to meet their fate Those⁠—one or more⁠—who, parting from our host, Meditate⁠—but I deem in vain⁠—to flee Homeward to Argos ere they are assured Whether the word of Jove omnipotent Be false or true. For when the Greeks embarked In their swift ships, to carry death and fate To Ilium’s sons, almighty Jupiter Flung down his lightnings on the right and gave