Homer, Iliad

Then made answer to him the horseman, Nestor of Gerenia: “So will no man be wroth at him or disobey him [130] of all the Argives, whenso he urgeth any man or giveth commands.” So saying he did on his tunic about his breast, and beneath his shining feet bound his fair sandals and around him buckled a purple cloak of double fold and wide, whereon the down was thick. [135] And he grasped a mighty spear, tipped with sharp bronze, and went his way among the ships of the brazen-coated Achaeans. Then Odysseus first, the peer of Zeus in counsel, did the horseman, Nestor of Gerenia, awaken out of sleep with his voice, and forthwith the call rang all about his mind [140] and he came forth from the hut and spake to them, saying: “How is it that ye fare thus alone by the ships throughout the camp in the immortal night? What need so great hath come upon you?” Then made answer to him the horseman, Nestor of Gerenia:“Zeus-born son of Laërtes, Odysseus of many wiles, [145] be not thou wroth, for great sorrow hath overmastered the Achaeans. Nay, follow, that we may arouse another also, whomsoever it behoveth to take counsel, whether to flee or to fight.” So spake he, and Odysseus of many wiles went to the hut and cast about his shoulders a shield richly dight, and followed after them. [150] And they came to Tydeus' son, Diomedes, and him they found outside his hut with his arms; and around him his comrades were sleeping with their shields beneath their heads, but their spears were driven into the ground erect on their spikes, and afar shone the bronze like the lightning of father Zeus. But the warrior was sleeping, [155] and beneath him was spread the hide of an ox of the field, and beneath his head was stretched a bright carpet. To his side came the horseman, Nestor of Gerenia, and woke him, stirring him with a touch of his heel, and aroused him, and chid him to his face:“Awake, son of Tydeus, why slumberest thou the whole night through in sleep? [160] Knowest thou not that the Trojans on the rising ground of the plain are camped hard by the ships, and but scant space still holdeth them off?” So said he, but the other right swiftly sprang up out of sleep, and he spake and addressed him with winged words:“Hardy art thou, old sir, and from toil thou never ceasest. [165] Are there not other sons of the Achaeans that be younger, who might then rouse each one of the kings, going everywhere throughout the host? But with thee, old sir, may no man deal.”