And then Ulysses, wise in council, spake, Answering Achilles: “Nay, thou shouldst not thus, Brave as thou art, lead on the sons of Greece, Yet fasting, to the conflict with the men Of Troy beside their city. No brief space The struggle will endure when once the foes Rush on each other, and a god inspires Both hosts with fury. Bid the Achaians take In their swift galleys food and wine; in these Are force and vigor. No man can endure To combat all the day till set of sun, Save with the aid of food, however great The promptings of his valor; for his limbs Grow heavy, thirst and hunger weaken him, And his knees fail him as he walks. Not so The warrior well supplied with food and wine: He fights the foe all day; a resolute heart Is in his bosom; nor does weariness O’ertake him till all others leave the field. Now let the people be dismissed awhile, And a repast be ordered. Let the king, Atrides, bring to the assembly here His gifts, that all the Greeks may look on them, And thou rejoice to see them. Let him rise