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bustling about the heavenly mansion。
Thus through the livelong day to the going down of the sun they
feasted； and every one had his full share； so that all were
satisfied。 Apollo struck his lyre； and the Muses lifted up their
sweet voices； calling and answering one another。 But when the
sun's glorious light had faded； they went home to bed； each in
his own abode； which lame Vulcan with his consummate skill had
fashioned for them。 So Jove； the Olympian Lord of Thunder； hied
him to the bed in which he always slept； and when he had got on
to it he went to sleep； with Juno of the golden throne by his
side。
BOOK II
Jove sends a lying dream to Agamemnon； who thereon calls the
chiefs in assembly； and proposes to sound the mind of his
armyIn the end they march to fightCatalogue of the
Achaean and Trojan forces。
Now the other gods and the armed warriors on the plain slept
soundly； but Jove was wakeful； for he was thinking how to do
honour to Achilles； and destroyed much people at the ships of the
Achaeans。 In the end he deemed it would be best to send a lying
dream to King Agamemnon； so he called one to him and said to it；
〃Lying Dream； go to the ships of the Achaeans； into the tent of
Agamemnon； and say to him word for word as I now bid you。 Tell
him to get the Achaeans instantly under arms； for he shall take
Troy。 There are no longer divided counsels among the gods； Juno
has brought them to her own mind； and woe betides the Trojans。〃
The dream went when it had heard its message； and soon reached
the ships of the Achaeans。 It sought Agamemnon son of Atreus and
found him in his tent； wrapped in a profound slumber。 It hovered
over his head in the likeness of Nestor； son of Neleus； whom
Agamemnon honoured above all his councillors； and said：
〃You are sleeping； son of Atreus； one who has the welfare of his
host and so much other care upon his shoulders should dock his
sleep。 Hear me at once； for I e as a messenger from Jove； who；
though he be not near； yet takes thought for you and pities you。
He bids you get the Achaeans instantly under arms； for you shall
take Troy。 There are no longer divided counsels among the gods；
Juno has brought them over to her own mind； and woe betides the
Trojans at the hands of Jove。 Remember this； and when you wake
see that it does not escape you。〃
The dream then left him； and he thought of things that were；
surely not to be acplished。 He thought that on that same day
he was to take the city of Priam； but he little knew what was in
the mind of Jove； who had many another hard…fought fight in store
alike for Danaans and Trojans。 Then presently he woke； with the
divine message still ringing in his ears； so he sat upright； and
put on his soft shirt so fair and new； and over this his heavy
cloak。 He bound his sandals on to his ely feet； and slung his
silver…studded sword about his shoulders； then he took the
imperishable staff of his father； and sallied forth to the ships
of the Achaeans。
The goddess Dawn now wended her way to vast Olympus that she
might herald day to Jove and to the other immortals； and
Agamemnon sent the criers round to call the people in assembly；
so they called them and the people gathered thereon。 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。
〃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。 It hovered over my head and said； 'You are sleeping；
son of Atreus； one who has the welfare of his host and so much
other care upon his shoulders should dock his sleep。 Hear me at
once； for I am a messenger from Jove； who； though he be not near；
yet takes thought for you and pities you。 He bids you get the
Achaeans instantly under arms； for you shall take Troy。 There are
no longer divided counsels among the gods； Juno has brought them
over to her own mind； and woe betides the Trojans at the hands of
Jove。 Remember this。' The dream then vanished and I awoke。 Let us
now； therefore； arm the sons of the Achaeans。 But it will be well
that I should first sound them； and to this end I will tell them
to fly with their ships； but do you others go about among the
host and prevent their doing so。〃
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。 But he who has
seen it is the foremost man among us； we must therefore set about
getting the people under arms。〃
With this he led the way from the assembly； and the other
sceptred kings rose with him in obedience to the word of
Agamemnon； but the people pressed forward to hear。 They swarmed
like bees that sally from some hollow cave and flit in countless
throng among the spring flowers； bunched in knots and clusters；
even so did the mighty multitude pour from ships and tents to the
assembly； and range themselves upon the wide…watered shore； while
among them ran Wildfire Rumour； messenger of Jove； urging them
ever to the fore。 Thus they gathered in a pell…mell of mad
confusion； and the earth groaned under the tramp of men as the
people sought their places。 Nine heralds went crying about among
them to stay their tumult and bid them listen to the kings； till
at last they were got into their several places and ceased their
clamour。 Then King Agamemnon rose； holding his sceptre。 This was
the work of Vulcan； who gave it to Jove the son of Saturn。 Jove
gave it to Mercury； slayer of Argus； guide and guardian。 King
Mercury gave it to Pelops； the mighty charioteer； and Pelops to
Atreus； shepherd of his people。 Atreus； when he died； left it to
Thyestes； rich in flocks； and Thyestes in his turn left it to be
borne by Agamemnon； that he might be lord of all Argos and of the
isles。 Leaning； then； on his sceptre； he addressed the Argives。
〃My friends；〃 he said； 〃heroes； servants of Mars； the hand of
heaven has been laid heavi