Nestor

Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 23 Sep 2011 07:56 and updated at 23 Sep 2011 07:56

ILIAD NOUN

ild.01 Then uprose smooth tongued Nestor, the facile speaker of the Pylians, and the words fell from his lips sweeter than honey.
ild.02 It hovered over his head in the likeness of Nestor, son of Neleus, whom Agamemnon honoured above all his councillors, and said:
ild.02 But first he summoned a meeting of the elders at the ship of Nestor king of Pylos, and when they were assembled he laid a cunning counsel before them.
ild.02 "My friends," said he, "I have had a dream from heaven in the dead of night, and its face and figure resembled none but Nestor s.
ild.02 He then sat down, and Nestor the prince of Pylos with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: "My friends," said he, "princes and councillors of the Argives, if any other man of the Achaeans had told us of this dream we should have declared it false, and would have had nothing to do with it.
ild.02 Nestor, knight of Gerene, then addressed them.
ild.02 And Agamemnon answered, Nestor", you have again outdone the sons of the Achaeans in counsel.
ild.02 First he asked Nestor and King Idomeneus, then the two Ajaxes and the son of Tydeus, and Sixthly Ulysses, peer of Gods in counsel; but Menelaus came of his own accord, for he knew how busy his brother then was.
ild.02 As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Nestor, knight of Gerene, began to speak.
ild.02 Nestor could alone rival him, for he was older.
ild.02 These were commanded by Nestor, knight of Gerene, and with him there came ninety ships.
ild.04 With this he left them and went onward to Nestor, the facile speaker of the Pylians, who was marshalling his men and urging them on, in company with Pelagon, Alastor, Chromius, Haemon, and Bias shepherd of his people.
ild.04 And Nestor, knight of Gerene, answered, Son" of Atreus, I too would gladly be the man I was when I slew mighty Ereuthalion; but the Gods will not give us everything at one and the same time.
ild.05 Brave Menelaus pitied them in their fall, and made his way to the front, clad in gleaming Bronze and brandishing his spear, for Mars egged him on to do so with intent that he should be killed by Aeneas; but Antilochus the son of Nestor saw him and sprang forward, fearing that the king might come to harm and thus bring all their labour to nothing; when, therefore Aeneas and Menelaus were setting their hands and spears against one another eager to do battle, Antilochus placed himself by the side of Menelaus.
ild.06 Ablerus fell by the spear of Nestor s son Antilochus, and Agamemnon, king of men, killed Elatus who dwelt in Pedasus by the banks of the river Satnioeis.
ild.06 Meanwhile Nestor shouted to the Argives, saying, "My friends, Danaan warriors, servants of Mars, let no man lag that he may spoil the dead, and bring back much booty to the ships.
ild.07 Then Nestor rose and spoke, "Of a truth," said he, "the Achaean land is fallen upon evil times.
ild.07 Then Nestor knight of Gerene again spoke, saying: "Cast lots among you to see who shall be chosen.
ild.07 As they were speaking, Nestor knight of Gerene shook the helmet, and from it there fell the very lot which they wanted the lot of Ajax.
ild.07 As soon as they had had enough to cat and drink, old Nestor whose counsel was ever truest began to speak; with all sincerity and goodwill, therefore, he addressed them thus:
ild.08 Nestor knight of Gerene alone stood firm, bulwark of the Achaeans, not of his own will, but one of his Horses was disabled.
ild.08 Stay here and help me to defend Nestor from this man s furious onset.
ild.08 Nestor knight of Gerene hearkened to his words.
ild.08 Thereon the doughty squires, Sthenelus and kind hearted Eurymedon, saw to Nestor s Horses, while the two both mounted Diomed s Chariot.
ild.08 Nestor took the reins in his hands and lashed the Horses on; they were soon close up with Hector, and the son of Tydeus aimed a spear at him as he was charging full speed towards them.
ild.08 The Horses were frightened and tried to back beneath the car, while the reins dropped from Nestor s hands.
ild.08 Son" of Tydeus," replied Nestor, "what mean you? Though Hector say that you are a coward the Trojans and Dardanians will not believe him, nor yet the wives of the mighty warriors whom you have laid low.
ild.08 Haste in pursuit, that we may take the shield of Nestor, the fame of which ascends to heaven, for it is of solid Gold, arm rods and all, and that we may strip from the shoulders of Diomed.
ild.09 The sons of the Achaeans shouted applause at the words of Diomed, and presently Nestor rose to speak.
ild.09 The sentinels went out in their armour under command of Nestor s son Thrasymedes, a captain of the host, and of the bold warriors Ascalaphus and Ialmenus: there were also Meriones, Aphareus and Deipyrus, and the son of Creion, noble Lycomedes.
ild.09 They laid their hands on the good things that were before them, and as soon as they had enough to eat and drink, old Nestor, whose counsel was ever truest, was the first to lay his mind before them.
ild.09 Then Nestor answered, "Most noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon.
ild.09 Men servants poured water over the hands of the guests, while pages filled the mixing bowls with wine and water, and handed it round after giving every man his drink offering; then, when they had made their offerings, and had drunk each as much as he was minded, the envoys set out from the tent of Agamemnon son of Atreus; and Nestor, looking first to one and then to another, but most especially at Ulysses, was instant with them that they should prevail with the noble son of Peleus.
ild.10 In the end he deemed it best to go at once to Nestor son of Neleus, and see if between them they could find any way of the Achaeans from destruction.
ild.10 Meanwhile I will go to Nestor, and bid him rise and go about among the companies of our sentinels to give them their instructions; they will listen to him sooner than to any man, for his own son, and Meriones brother in arms to Idomeneus, are captains over them.
ild.10 With these instructions he sent his brother on his way, and went on to Nestor shepherd of his people.
ild.10 And Agamemnon answered, Nestor", son of Neleus, honour to the Achaean name, it is I, Agamemnon son of Atreus, on whom Jove has laid labour and sorrow so long as there is breath in my body and my limbs carry me.
ild.10 Nestor replied, "Most noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, Jove will not do all for Hector that Hector thinks he will; he will have troubles yet in plenty if Achilles will lay aside his anger.
ild.10 "In that case," answered Nestor, "the Argives will not blame him nor disobey his orders when he urges them to fight or gives them instructions.
ild.10 He came outside his tent and said, "Why do you go thus alone about the host, and along the line of the ships in the stillness of the night? What is it that you find so urgent?" And Nestor knight of Gerene answered, Ulysses", noble son of Laertes, take it not amiss, for the Achaeans are in great straits.
ild.10 The hero was sleeping upon the skin of an ox, with a piece of fine carpet under his head; Nestor went up to him and stirred him with his heel to rouse him, upbraiding him and urging him to bestir himself.
ild.10 And Nestor knight of Gerene made answer, "My son, all that you have said is true.
ild.10 Meriones and the brave son of Nestor went also, for the princes bade them.
ild.10 Nestor spoke first.
ild.10 They all held their peace, but Diomed of the loud war cry spoke saying, Nestor", gladly will I visit the host of the Trojans over against us, but if another will go with me I shall do so in greater confidence and comfort.
ild.10 The two Ajaxes, servants of Mars, Meriones, and the son of Nestor all wanted to go, so did Menelaus son of Atreus; Ulysses also wished to go among the host of the Trojans, for he was ever full of daring, and thereon Agamemnon king of men spoke thus: "Diomed," said he, "son of Tydeus, man after my own heart, choose your comrade for yourself take the best man of those that have offered, for many would now go with you.
ild.10 Nestor was first to hear the tramp of their feet.
ild.10 Nestor knight of Gerene was first to question them.
ild.10 And Ulysses answered, Nestor" son of Neleus, honour to the Achaean name, heaven, if it so will, can give us even better Horses than these, for the Gods are far mightier than we are.
ild.11 Hector did not yet know what Ajax was doing, for he was fighting on the extreme left of the battle by the banks of the river Scamander, where the carnage was thickest and the war cry loudest round Nestor and brave Idomeneus.
ild.11 The Achaeans were in great fear that as the fight had turned against them the Trojans might take him prisoner, and Idomeneus said to Nestor, Nestor" son of Neleus, honour to the Achaean name, mount your Chariot at once; take Machaon with you and drive your Horses to the ships as fast as you can.
ild.11 Nestor knight of Gerene did as Idomeneus had counselled; he at once mounted his Chariot, and Machaon son of the famed physician Aesculapius went with him.
ild.11 Meanwhile the mares of Neleus, all in a lather with sweat, were bearing Nestor out of the fight, and with him Machaon shepherd of his people.
ild.11 "Why," said he, Achilles" do you call me? what do you what do you want with me?" And Achilles answered, "Noble son of Menoetius, man after my own heart, I take it that I shall now have the Achaeans praying at my knees, for they are in great straits; go, Patroclus, and ask Nestor who is that he is bearing away wounded from the field; from his back I should say it was Machaon son of Aesculapius, but I could not see his face for the Horses went by me at full speed.
ild.11 When Nestor and Machaon had reached the tents of the son of Neleus, they dismounted, and an esquire, Eurymedon, took the Horses from the Chariot.
ild.11 Fair Hecamede, whom Nestor had had awarded to him from Tenedos when Achilles took it, mixed them a mess; she was daughter of wise Arsinous, and the Achaeans had given her to Nestor because he excelled all of them in counsel.
ild.11 Any one else would hardly have been able to lift it from the table when it was full, but Nestor could do so quite easily.
ild.11 And Nestor answered, "Why should Achilles care to know how many of the Achaeans may be wounded? He recks not of the dismay that reigns in our host; our most valiant chieftains lie disabled, brave Diomed son of Tydeus is wounded; so are Ulysses and Agamemnon; Eurypylus has been hit with an arrow in the thigh, and I have just been bringing this man from the field he too wounded with an arrow; nevertheless Achilles, so valiant though he be, cares not and knows no ruth.
ild.11 There I slew the last man and left him; then the Achaeans drove their Horses back from Buprasium to Pylos and gave thanks to Jove among the Gods, and among mortal men to Nestor.
ild.11 Hero" Eurypylus," replied the brave son of Menoetius, "how may these things be? What can I do? I am on my way to bear a message to noble Achilles from Nestor of Gerene, bulwark of the Achaeans, but even so I will not be unmindful your distress.
ild.13 He fell gasping from his Chariot and Antilochus great Nestor s son, drove his Horses from the Trojans to the Achaeans.
ild.13 The Trojans came about him on every side and struck his broad and gleaming shield, but could not wound his body, for Neptune stood guard over the son of Nestor, though the darts fell thickly round him.
ild.14 Nestor was sitting over his wine, but the cry of battle did not escape him, and he said to the son of Aesculapius, "What, noble Machaon, is the meaning of all this? The shouts of men fighting by our ships grow stronger and stronger; stay here, therefore, and sit over your wine, while fair Hecamede heats you a bath and washes the clotted blood from off you.
ild.14 The wounded kings, the son of Tydeus, Ulysses, and Agamemnon son of Atreus, fell in Nestor as they were coming up from their ships for theirs were drawn up some way from where the fighting was going on, being on the shore itself inasmuch as they had been beached first, while the wall had been built behind the hindermost.
ild.14 The kings, leaning on their spears, were coming out to survey the fight, being in great anxiety, and when old Nestor met them they were filled with dismay.
ild.14 Then King Agamemnon said to him, Nestor" son of Neleus, honour to the Achaean name, why have you left the battle to come hither? I fear that what dread Hector said will come true, when he vaunted among the Trojans saying that he would not return to Ilius till he had fired our ships and killed us; this is what he said, and now it is all coming true.
ild.14 Then Nestor knight of Gerene answered, "It is indeed as you say; it is all coming true at this moment, and even Jove who thunders from on high cannot prevent it.
ild.14 And King Agamemnon answered, Nestor", if the Trojans are indeed fighting at the rear of our ships, and neither the wall nor the trench has served us over which the Danaans toiled so hard, and which they deemed would be an impregnable bulwark both for us and our fleet I see it must be the will of Jove that the Achaeans should perish ingloriously here, far from Argos.
ild.15 Nestor of Gerene, tower of strength to the Achaeans, lifted up his hands to the starry firmament of heaven, and prayed more fervently than any of them.
ild.15 Even so did the son of Nestor fly, and the Trojans and Hector with a cry that rent the air showered their weapons after him; nor did he turn round and stay his flight till he had reached his comrades.
ild.15 They kept shouting incessantly to one another, and Nestor of Gerene, tower of strength to the Achaeans, was loudest in imploring every man by his parents, and beseeching him to stand firm.
ild.16 Of the sons of Nestor one, Antilochus, speared Atymnius, driving the point of the spear through his throat, and down he fell.
ild.16 Thus did these two noble comrades of Sarpedon go down to Erebus slain by the two sons of Nestor; they were the warrior sons of Amisodorus, who had reared the invincible Chimaera, to the bane of many.
ild.17 All the best of them were being worn out by the great weight of their armour, but the two valiant heroes, Thrasymedes and Antilochus, had not yet heard of the death of Patroclus, and believed him to be still alive and leading the van against the Trojans; they were keeping themselves in reserve against the death or rout of their own comrades, for so Nestor had ordered when he sent them from the ships into battle.
ild.17 Ajax then said to Menelaus, "Look, Menelaus, and if Antilochus son of Nestor be still living, send him at once to tell Achilles that by far the dearest to him of all his comrades has fallen.
ild.17 With this Menelaus left them, looking round him as keenly as an Eagle, whose sight they say is keener than that of any other bird however high he may be in the heavens, not a hare that runs can escape him by crouching under bush or thicket, for he will swoop down upon it and make an end of it even so, O Menelaus, did your keen eyes range round the mighty host of your followers to see if you could find the son of Nestor still alive.
ild.18 As he was thus pondering, the son of Nestor came up to him and told his sad tale, weeping bitterly the while.
ild.19 When he had thus spoken he took with him the sons of Nestor, with Meges son of Phyleus, Thoas, Meriones, Lycomedes son of Creontes, and Melanippus, and went to the tent of Agamemnon son of Atreus.
ild.19 On this he sent the other princes away, save only the two sons of Atreus and Ulysses, Nestor, Idomeneus, and the knight Phoenix, who stayed behind and tried to comfort him in the bitterness of his sorrow: but he would not be comforted till he should have flung himself into the jaws of battle, and he fetched sigh on sigh, thinking ever of Patroclus.
ild.23 Fourth in order Antilochus, son to noble Nestor son of Neleus, made ready his Horses.
ild.23 Antilochus"," said Nestor, "you are young, but Jove and Neptune have loved you well, and have made you an excellent Horseman.
ild.23 When Nestor had made an end of counselling his son he sat down in his place, and fifth in order Meriones got ready his Horses.
ild.23 Achilles shook the helmet, and the lot of Antilochus son of Nestor fell out first; next came that of King Eumelus, and after his, those of Menelaus son of Atreus and of Meriones.
ild.23 Why, my good fellows, are you lagging? I tell you, and it shall surely be Nestor will keep neither of you, but will put both of you to the sword, if we win any the worse a prize through your carelessness, fly after them at your utmost speed; I will hit on a plan for passing them in a narrow part of the way, and it shall not fail me.
ild.23 Thus did he speak and the others all of them applauded his saying, and were for doing as he had said, but Nestor s son Antilochus stood up and claimed his rights from the son of Peleus.
ild.23 The son of Nestor then took the mare and gave her over to Menelaus, whose anger was thus appeased; as when dew falls upon a field of ripening corn, and the lands are bristling with the harvest even so, O Menelaus, was your heart made glad within you.
ild.23 Meriones, who had come in fourth, carried off the two talents of Gold, and the fifth prize, the two handled urn, being unawarded, Achilles gave it to Nestor, going up to him among the assembled Argives and saying, "Take this, my good old friend, as an heirloom and memorial of the funeral of Patroclus for you shall see him no more among the Argives.
ild.23 So saying he gave the urn over to Nestor, who received it gladly and answered, "My son, all that you have said is true; there is no strength now in my legs and feet, nor can I hit out with my hands from either shoulder.
ild.23 Thereon the son of Peleus, when he had listened to all the thanks of Nestor, went about among the concourse of the Achaeans, and presently offered prizes for skill in the painful art of boxing.
ild.23 Forthwith uprose fleet Ajax son of Oileus, with cunning Ulysses, and Nestor s son Antilochus, the fastest runner among all the youth of his time.
ild.24 Miserable man that I am, I have had the bravest sons in all Troy noble Nestor, Troilus the dauntless Charioteer, and Hector who was a God among men, so that one would have thought he was son to an immortal yet there is not one of them left.

Arise Greece! from thy silent sleep, 2000 years long it is! Forget not, thy ancient culture, beautiful and marvelous it is!

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