ὣς εἰπὼν. ἀπέπεμπεν ἀδελφεὸν. εὖ, ἐπιτείλας:
αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ ρ' ϊέναι μετα Νέστορα ποιμένα λαῶν:
τὸν δ' εὗρεν παρά τε κλισίῃ καὶ νηῒ μελαίνῃ
εὐνῇ, ἐνι μαλακῇ. παρὰ δ' έντεα ποικίλ' ἔκειτο.
ἀσπὶς. καὶ δύο δοῦρε, φαεινή τε τρυφάλεια:
πὰρ δὲ ζωστὴρ κεῖτο παναίολος. ᾧ ῥ' ὁ γεραιὸς
ζώννυθ', ὁτ' ἐς πόλεμον φθισήνορα θωρήσσοιτο
λαὸν ἄγων: ἐπεὶ οὐ μὲν ἐπέτραπεἐπέτρεπε γήραϊ λυγρῷ:
ὀρθωθεὶς δ' ὰρ ἐπ' ἀγκῶνος. κεφαλὴν ἐπαείρας,
Ἀτρείδην προσέειπε. καὶ ἐξερεείνετο μύθῳ:
τίς δ' οὗτος κατὰ νῆας ἀνα στρατὸν ἔρχεαι οἶος
νύκτα δι' ὀρφναίην. ὅτε θ' εὕδουσι βροτοὶ ἄλλοι.
ἠέ τιν' οὐρήων διζήμενος. ἤ τιν' ἑταίρων:
φθέγγεο: μὴδ' ἀκέων ἐπ' ὲμ' ἔρχεο: τίπτε δέ σε χρεώ:
So spake he, and sent forth his brother when he had duly given him commandment. But he went his way after Nestor, shepherd of the host, and found him by his hut and his black ship on his soft bed, and beside him lay his armour richly dight, his shield and two spears and gleaming helmet. And by his side lay the flashing girdle, wherewith the old man was wont to gird himself, whenso he arrayed him for battle, the bane of men, and led forth his people, for he yielded not to grievous old age. He rose upon his elbow, lifting up his head, and spake to the son of Atreus, and questioned him, saying: "Who art thou that art faring alone by the ships throughout the camp in the darkness of night, when other mortals are sleeping? Seekest thou one of thy mules, or of thy comrades? Speak, and come not silently upon me. Of what hast thou need?"
