and he came out from the tent, and addressed them:

"Why, I pray, wander ye thus alone through the ambrosial night, near the
ships, through the army; what so great necessity now comes upon you?"

[Footnote 344: Schol.: [Greek: Ten megalen oste kai diple aute
chromenon echein ektetamenen]. The epithet [Greek: phoinikoessa]
denotes that it was the garb of royalty.]

But him Nestor, the Gerenian knight, then answered: "Jove-sprung son of
Laertes, much-scheming Ulysses, be not indignant, for so great a sorrow
hath oppressed the Greeks. But follow, that we may arouse even another,
whomsoever it is fit, to deliberate whether to fly or fight."

Thus he spake, and much-counselling Ulysses returning into his tent,
flung around his shoulders his variegated shield, and followed them. But
they proceeded to Diomede, the son of Tydeus, and him they found
without, before his tent, with his arms; and his companions slept around
him. Beneath their heads they had their shields, and their spears were
fixed erect upon the nether point;[345] and afar off glittered the
brass, like the lightning of father Jove. The hero himself however
slumbered, and beneath him was strewed the hide of a wild bull; but
under his head was spread a splendid piece of tapestry. Standing by him,
the Gerenian knight Nestor awoke him, moving him on the heel with his
foot,[346] he roused him, and upbraided [him] openly:

"Arise, son of Tydeus, why dost thou indulge in sleep all night? Hearest
thou not how the Trojans are encamped upon an eminence in the plain near
the ships, and that now but a small space keeps them off?"

[Footnote 345: [Greek: Sauroteroi' tois sturaxin ton opiso ton
doraton]. Hesychius, who also, with reference to the present
passage, has [Greek: Sauroteros' tou sideriou]. Pollux, x. 31,
well explains it, [Greek: to tou doratos istamenon]. It is also
called [Greek: styrax] and [Greek: styra].]

[Footnote 346: Not "calce pedis movens." See Kennedy.]

Thus he spoke: but he leaped up very quickly from slumber, and
addressing him, spoke winged words:

"Indefatigable art thou, old man: never, indeed, dost thou cease from
labour. Are there not even other younger sons of the Greeks, who, going
about in every direction, might arouse each of the kings? But, O old
man, thou art impossible to be wearied."

But him then the Gerenian knight Nestor in turn addressed: "Truly, my
friend, thou hast spoken all these things arigh