In turn the monarch Agamemnon spake:⁠— “O aged warrior, thou excellest all The Greeks in council. Would to Jupiter, To Pallas and Apollo, that with me There were but ten such comrades. Priam’s town Would quickly fall before us and be made A desolation. But the god who bears The aegis, Saturn’s son, hath cast on me Much grief, entangling me in idle strifes And angry broils. Achilles and myself Have quarrelled for a maid with bitter words, And I was first incensed. But if again We meet and act as friends, the overthrow That threatens Ilium will not be delayed⁠— Not for an hour. Now all to your repast! And then prepare for battle. First let each See that his spear be sharp, and put his shield In order, give to his swift-footed steeds Their ample forage, and o’erlook his car That it be strong for war; for all the day Shall we maintain the stubborn fight, nor cease Even for a moment, till the night come down To part the wrathful combatants. The band Of each broad buckler shall be moist with sweat