But the son of scheming Saturn endowed you by halves only.

He gave you honour as the chief ruler over us, but valour, which is the highest both right and might he did not give you.

Sir, think you that the sons of the Achaeans are indeed as unwarlike and cowardly as you say they are?
If your own mind is set upon going home--go--the way is open to you; the many ships that followed you from Mycene stand ranged upon the seashore; but the rest of us stay here till we have sacked Troy.

Nay though these too should turn homeward with their ships, Sthenelus and myself will still fight on till we reach the goal of Ilius, for heaven was with us when we came." The sons of the Achaeans shouted applause at the words of Diomed, and presently Nestor rose to speak.

"Son of Tydeus," said he, "in war your prowess is beyond question, and in council you excel all who are of your own years; no one of the Achaeans can make light of what you say nor gainsay it, but you have not yet come to the end of the whole matter.