gitation of the crowd, he persuades
all by his shrewd words, moderately blaming them for not carrying out
what they promised, and at the same time excusing them on the ground
that they have been idle for some time and have been deprived of what is
dearest to them. He persuades them to remain by the hope of the seer's
prophecy.

Likewise Nestor, using arguments unchanged indeed but tending to the
same end, and also using greater freedom to those who have been spoilt
by inaction, brings over the crowd. He places the blame of their
negligence on a few unworthy people and advises the rest. He threatens
the disobedient and immediately takes counsel with the king as to how
the forces are to be drawn up.

Again, when in the deeds of war the Greeks have partly succeeded and
partly failed and been reduced to terror, Diomed, since he has the
audacity of youth and freedom of speech by reason of his success,
before he had shown his valor, took the king's reproof in silence, but
afterward he turns on Agamemnon as if he had counselled flight through
cowardice. For he says (I. ix. 32):--

Atrides I thy folly must confront,
As is my right in council! thou, O King,
Be not offended.

In his speech he tries to advise him and at the same time deprecate his
anger. He then recites the things just performed by him, without envy,
saying (I. ix. 36):--

How justly so
Is known to all the Greeks both young and old.

Afterward he exhorts the Greeks, giving them indirect praise (I. ix.
40):--

How canst thou hope the sons of Greece shall prove
Such heartless cowards as thy words suppose?

And he shames Agamemnon, excusing him if he wishes to depart, saying the
others will be sufficient, or if all flee, he will remain alone with his
comrade and fight (I. ix. 48):--

Yet I and Sthenelaus, we two, will fight.

Nestor commends the excellence of his judgment and his actions. As to
the aim of the council he considers that, as the eldest, he has the
right to offer advice. And he continues endeavoring to arrange for
sending ambassadors to Achilles.

And in the embassy itself he makes the speakers employ different devices
of arguments. For Odysseus, at the opening of his speech, did not say
immediately that Agamemnon repented the taking away of Briseis, and
would give the girl back, and that he was giving some gifts immediately
and promised the rest later. For it was not useful,