o, like unto
the lightning, which the son of Saturn, seizing in his hand, brandishes
from glittering Olympus, showing a sign to mortals; and brilliant are
its rays: so shone the brass around the breast of him running. Then
Meriones, his good attendant, met him yet near the tent,--for he was
going to fetch a brazen spear; and the strength of Idomeneus addressed
him:

"Meriones, son of Molus, swift of foot, dearest of my companions, why
comest thou thus, quitting the war and the contest? Art thou at all
wounded, and does the point of a spear afflict thee? Or comest thou to
me on any message? For I myself am not desirous to sit within my tent,
but to fight."

But him prudent Meriones in turn answered: "Idomeneus, thou counsellor
of the brazen-mailed Cretans, I come, if there be any spear left within
thy tents, to take it: because I indeed have broken that which I
formerly had, having struck the shield of ferocious Deiphobus." Whom
again in turn Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, addressed: "Thou wilt
find, if thou desirest [to select from them], one-and-twenty spears
standing in my tent against the shining walls, which I have taken from
the slain Trojans; for I affirm that I do not fight with hostile men,
standing at a distance from them. Hence I have both spears, and bossy
shields, and helmets, and corslets, brightly polished."

But him again prudent Meriones addressed in turn: "At my tent also and
black ship are there many spoils of the Trojans; but they are not near,
so that I might take them. For neither do I conceive that I am forgetful
of valour, but I stand among the foremost in glory-giving battle,
whenever the contest of war has arisen. I am rather unobserved perhaps,
when fighting by some other of the brazen-mailed Greeks; but I think
that thou knowest me."

Whom again Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, addressed in turn: "I know
what thou art as to valour: what necessity is there for thee to
enumerate these things? For if now all we the bravest at the ships
should be selected for an ambuscade, where the courage of men is
especially distinguished, where both the coward as well as the brave man
is made apparent--for the complexion of the coward on the one hand is
changed from this to that, nor is his heart calm within his bosom, so
that he can rest without trembling, but he shifts his position, and sits
upon both his feet, whilst his heart greatly palpitates within his
breast, as he is expecting death; and a ch