ld, two spears, and a glittering helmet: beside
him also lay a flexible belt, with which the old man girded himself,
when he was arming for man-destroying war, leading on his people; since
he by no means yielded to sad old age. Being supported on his
elbow,[338] and lifting up his head, he addressed the son of Atreus, and
questioned him in [these] words:

[Footnote 336: Buttmann, Lexil. p. 85, comes to the conclusion
that "we must include [Greek: athrotazein] among the forms of
[Greek: amartano], whose etymological connections, as long as we
are ignorant of them, we can easily do without."]

[Footnote 337: Instances of this complimentary style of address
occur in ver. 144. [Greek: Diogenes Laertiade. 86: Nestor
Neleiade].]

[Footnote 338: Cf. Propert. 1. 3, 34. "Sic ait in molli fixa toro
cubitum."]

"Who art thou who comest thus alone by the ships, along the army, during
the gloomy night, when other mortals are asleep? Whether seeking any of
the guards, or any of thy companions? Speak, nor approach me in silence;
of what is there need to thee?"

But him Agamemnon, king of men, then answered: "O Nestor, son of Neleus,
great glory of the Greeks, thou wilt recognize Agamemnon, the son of
Atreus, whom beyond all Jove hath plunged into toils continually, whilst
breath remains in my breast, or my knees have the power of motion. I
wander[339] thus, because sweet sleep sits not on mine eyes, but war and
the calamities of the Greeks are my care. For I greatly fear for the
Greeks, neither is my heart firm, but I am confounded.[340] My heart
leaps without my breast, and my fair limbs tremble beneath. But if thou
canst do aught (since neither doth sleep come upon thee), come, let us
go down to the guards, that we may see whether, worn out by toil and
[overpowered][341] by sleep, they slumber, and are altogether forgetful
of the watch. And hostile men are encamped near, nor do we at all know
but that they perhaps meditate in their minds to engage even during the
night." [342]

But him Nestor, the Gerenian knight, then answered: "Agamemnon, most
glorious son of Atreus, king of men, assuredly provident Jove will not
accomplish to Hector all those devices, which now, perhaps, he expects;
but I think that he will labour under even more cares if Achilles shall
but turn away his heart from heavy wrath. Yet will I willingly follow
thee; and let us moreover incite others, both spear-renowned Diomede,
and