Alas! alas! the Achaians brazen-greaved
  All, like Achilles, have deserted me
  Resentful, and decline their fleet’s defence. 
    To whom Gerenian Nestor thus replied. 
  Those threats are verified; nor Jove himself 60
  The Thunderer can disappoint them now;
  For our chief strength in which we trusted most
  That it should guard impregnably secure
  Our navy and ourselves, the wall hath fallen. 
  Hence all this conflict by our host sustain’d 65
  Among the ships; nor could thy keenest sight
  Inform thee where in the Achaian camp
  Confusion most prevails, such deaths are dealt
  Promiscuous, and the cry ascends to heaven. 
  But come—­consult we on the sum of all, 70
  If counsel yet may profit.  As for you,
  Ye shall have exhortation none from me
  To seek the fight; the wounded have excuse. 
    Whom Agamemnon answer’d, King of men. 
  Ah Nestor! if beneath our very sterns 75
  The battle rage, if neither trench nor wall
  Constructed with such labor, and supposed
  Of strength to guard impregnably secure
  Our navy and ourselves, avail us aught,
  It is because almighty Jove hath will’d 80
  That the Achaian host should perish here
  Inglorious, from their country far remote. 
  When he vouchsafed assistance to the Greeks,
  I knew it well; and now, not less I know
  That high as the immortal Gods he lifts 85
  Our foes to glory, and depresses us. 
  Haste therefore all, and act as I advise. 
  Our ships—­all those that nearest skirt the Deep,
  Launch we into the sacred flood, and moor
  With anchors safely, till o’ershadowing night 90
  (If night itself may save us) shall arrive. 
  Then may we launch the rest; for I no shame
  Account it, even by ’vantage of the night
  To fly destruction.  Wiser him I deem
  Who ’scapes his foe, than whom his foe enthralls. 95
    But him Ulysses, frowning stern, reproved. 
  What word, Atrides, now hath pass’d thy lips? 
  Counsellor of despair! thou should’st command
  (And would to heaven thou didst) a different host,
  Some dastard race, not ours; whom Jove ordains 100
  From youth to hoary age to weave the web
  Of toilsome warfare, till we perish all. 
  Wilt thou the spacious city thus renounce
  For which such numerous woes we have endured? 
  Hush! lest some other hear; it is a word 105
  Which no man qualified by years mature
  To speak discreetly, no man bearing rule
  O’er such a people as confess thy sway,
  Should suffer to contaminate his lips. 
  I from my soul condemn thee, and condemn 110
  Thy counsel, who persuad’st us in the heat
  Of battle terrible as this, to launch