Character · Individual
Read-only identity and editorial metadata.
smooth-tongued Nestor
Epithet · Direct
facile speaker of the Pylians
Title · Direct
knight of Gerene
Epithet · Direct
son of Neleus
Descriptive reference · Direct
Phase 6 currently covers 24 processed books.
Nestor crosses the Achaeans’ trench with the summoned chiefs before meeting beyond it.
“With this he passed the trench, and with him the other chiefs of the Achaeans who had been called to the council. Meriones and the brave son of Nestor went also, for the princes bade them. When they were beyond the trench that was dug round the wall they held their meeting on the open ground”
Nestor entered Pylos with the captured spoil.
“All these did we drive by night to Pylus, the city of Neleus, taking them within the city”
Nestor recalls participating in sacrifices throughout Pylos.
“Thus did we order all things, and offer sacrifices to the gods throughout the city”
Nestor was physically in Pylos among those whom Minerva ordered to prepare for battle.
“Minerva darted down by night from Olympus and bade us set ourselves in array; and she found willing soldiers in Pylos, for the men meant fighting. Neleus would not let me arm, and hid my horses”
Nestor came to the waters of the Alpheus and rested by the river.
“There is a river Minyeius that falls into the sea near Arene, and there they that were mounted (and I with them) waited till morning, when the companies of foot soldiers came up with us in force. Thence in full panoply and equipment we came towards noon to the sacred waters of the Alpheus, and there we offered victims to almighty Jove, with a bull to Alpheus, another to Neptune, and a herd-heifer to Minerva. After this we took supper in our companies, and laid us down to rest each in his armour by the river”
Nestor waited with the mounted force at the Minyeius.
“There is a river Minyeius that falls into the sea near Arene, and there they that were mounted (and I with them) waited till morning”
Nestor reached Alision, where he killed the last man.
“with the hill that is called Alision, at which point Minerva turned the people back. There I slew the last man and left him”
Nestor physically reached Buprasium during the pursuit.
“we chased them far over the plain, killing the men and bringing in their armour, till we had brought our horses to Buprasium, rich in wheat, and to the Olenian rock, with the hill that is called Alision, at which point Minerva turned the people back. There I slew the last man and left him”
Nestor remembers competing at the funeral games in Buprasium.
“So saying he gave the urn over to Nestor, who received it gladly and answered, ‘My son, all that you have said is true; there is no strength now in my legs and feet, nor can I hit out with my hands from either shoulder. Would that I were still young and strong as when the Epeans were burying King Amarynceus in Buprasium, and his sons offered prizes in his honour. There was then none that could vie with me neither of the Epeans nor the Pylians themselves nor the Aetolians. In boxing I overcame Clytomedes son of Enops, and in wrestling, Ancaeus of Pleuron who had come forward against me. Iphiclus was a good runner, but I beat him, and threw farther with my spear than either Phyleus or Polydorus. In chariot-racing alone did the two sons of Actor surpass me”
Nestor physically reached the Olenian rock during the pursuit.
“we chased them far over the plain, killing the men and bringing in their armour, till we had brought our horses to Buprasium, rich in wheat, and to the Olenian rock, with the hill that is called Alision, at which point Minerva turned the people back. There I slew the last man and left him”
Nestor rises as a smooth-tongued, honey-sweet, facile speaker; two Pylian generations have passed under his rule and he reigns over a third.
“Then uprose smooth-tongued Nestor, the facile speaker of the Pylians, and the words fell from his lips sweeter than honey. Two generations of men born and bred in Pylos had passed away under his rule, and he was now reigning over the third. With all sincerity and goodwill, therefore, he addressed them thus:—”
Nestor invokes his greater age and remembers fighting beside unsurpassed heroes who heeded his counsel; he now mediates directly, urging Agamemnon not to take the girl and Achilles not to continue challenging the king.
“I am older than either of you; therefore be guided by me. Moreover I have been the familiar friend of men even greater than you are, and they did not disregard my counsels. Never again can I behold such men as Pirithous and Dryas shepherd of his people, or as Caeneus, Exadius, godlike Polyphemus, and Theseus son of Aegeus, peer of the immortals. These were the mightiest men ever born upon this earth: mightiest were they, and when they fought the fiercest tribes of mountain savages they utterly overthrew them. I came from distant Pylos, and went about among them, for they would have me come, and I fought as it was in me to do. Not a man now living could withstand them, but they heard my words, and were persuaded by them. So be it also with yourselves, for this is the more excellent way. Therefore, Agamemnon, though you be strong, take not this girl away, for the sons of the Achaeans have already given her to Achilles; and you, Achilles, strive not further with the king, for no man who by the grace of Jove wields a sceptre has like honour with Agamemnon. You are strong, and have a goddess for your mother; but Agamemnon is stronger than you, for he has more people under him. Son of Atreus, check your anger, I implore you; end this quarrel with Achilles, who in the day of battle is a tower of strength to the Achaeans.’”
The Lying Dream borrows the likeness of Nestor, son of Neleus and the councillor whom Agamemnon honours above all others.
“It hovered over his head in the likeness of Nestor, son of Neleus, whom Agamemnon honoured above all his councillors”
Nestor speaks with sincerity and goodwill, judges the dream credible because Agamemnon saw it, and urges that the people be armed.
“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.’”
Nestor fiercely rebukes delay, demands steadfast battle, threatens immediate doom for anyone who launches his ship, insists that no man leave before avenging his toil for Helen by lying with a Trojan wife, and advises Agamemnon to array the army by tribes and clans so mutual support will reveal brave and cowardly chiefs and peoples.
“On this the Argives raised a shout, till the ships rang again with the uproar. Nestor, knight of Gerene, then addressed them. ‘Shame on you,’ he cried, ‘to stay talking here like children, when you should fight like men. Where are our covenants now, and where the oaths that we have taken? Shall our counsels be flung into the fire, with our drink-offerings and the right hands of fellowship wherein we have put our trust? We waste our time in words, and for all our talking here shall be no further forward. Stand, therefore, son of Atreus, by your own steadfast purpose; lead the Argives on to battle, and leave this handful of men to rot, who scheme, and scheme in vain, to get back to Argos ere they have learned whether Jove be true or a liar. For the mighty son of Saturn surely promised that we should succeed, when we Argives set sail to bring death and destruction upon the Trojans. He showed us favourable signs by flashing his lightning on our right hands; therefore let none make haste to go till he has first lain with the wife of some Trojan, and avenged the toil and sorrow that he has suffered for the sake of Helen. Nevertheless, if any man is in such haste to be at home again, let him lay his hand to his ship that he may meet his doom in the sight of all. But, O king, consider and give ear to my counsel, for the word that I say may not be neglected lightly. Divide your men, Agamemnon, into their several tribes and clans, that clans and tribes may stand by and help one another. If you do this, and if the Achaeans obey you, you will find out who, both chiefs and peoples, are brave, and who are cowards; for they will vie against the other. Thus you shall also learn whether it is through the counsel of heaven or the cowardice of man that you shall fail to take the town.’”
Agamemnon says Nestor has again surpassed all Achaean sons in counsel and that ten more such councillors would bring Priam’s city swiftly down.
“And Agamemnon answered, ‘Nestor, you have again outdone the sons of the Achaeans in counsel. Would, by Father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, that I had among them ten more such councillors, for the city of King Priam would then soon fall beneath our hands, and we should sack it. But the son of Saturn afflicts me with bootless wranglings and strife. Achilles and I are quarrelling about this girl, in which matter I was the first to offend; if we can be of one mind again, the Trojans will not stave off destruction for a day. Now, therefore, get your morning meal, that our hosts join in fight. Whet well your spears; see well to the ordering of your shields; give good feeds to your horses, and look your chariots carefully over, that we may do battle the livelong day; for we shall have no rest, not for a moment, till night falls to part us. The bands that bear your shields shall be wet with the sweat upon your shoulders, your hands shall weary upon your spears, your horses shall steam in front of your chariots, and if I see any man shirking the fight, or trying to keep out of it at the ships, there shall be no help for him, but he shall be a prey to dogs and vultures.’”
Nestor marshals his men with chariots in front, trusted infantry behind, and cowards compelled in the middle, then orders controlled formation fighting.
“Nestor, the facile speaker of the Pylians, who was marshalling his men and urging them on, in company with Pelagon, Alastor, Chromius, Haemon, and Bias shepherd of his people. He placed his knights with their chariots and horses in the front rank, while the foot-soldiers, brave men and many, whom he could trust, were in the rear. The cowards he drove into the middle, that they might fight whether they would or no. He gave his orders to the knights first, bidding them hold their horses well in hand, so as to avoid confusion. ‘Let no man,’ he said, ‘relying on his strength or horsemanship, get before the others and engage singly with the Trojans, nor yet let him lag behind or you will weaken your attack; but let each when he meets an enemy’s chariot throw his spear from his own; this be much the best; this is how the men of old took towns and strongholds; in this wise were they minded”
Agamemnon says battle-experienced Nestor retains sure judgment but age has diminished his suppleness and strength.
“he had been in many a fight, and King Agamemnon was glad. ‘I wish,’ he said to him, ‘that your limbs were as supple and your strength as sure as your judgment is; but age, the common enemy of mankind, has laid his hand upon you; would that it had fallen upon some other, and that you were still young”
Nestor recalls slaying Ereuthalion when young; now old, he still counsels his knights and leaves spear-work to younger, stronger men.
“I too would gladly be the man I was when I slew mighty Ereuthalion; but the gods will not give us everything at one and the same time. I was then young, and now I am old; still I can go with my knights and give them that counsel which old men have a right to give. The wielding of the spear I leave to those who are younger and stronger than myself”
Nestor orders the Argives to kill first rather than lag to strip the dead, leaving plunder until later.
“let no man lag that he may spoil the dead, and bring back much booty to the ships. Let us kill as many as we can; the bodies will lie upon the plain, and you can despoil them later at your leisure”
Nestor recalls himself as the youngest man willing to face Ereuthalion, says Minerva granted him victory over the biggest and strongest man he ever killed, and contrasts that former strength with his old age.
“Would, by father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, that I were still young and strong as when the Pylians and Arcadians were gathered in fight by the rapid river Celadon under the walls of Pheia, and round about the waters of the river Iardanus. The godlike hero Ereuthalion stood forward as their champion, with the armour of King Areithous upon his shoulders— Areithous whom men and women had surnamed ‘the Mace-man,’ because he fought neither with bow nor spear, but broke the battalions of the foe with his iron mace. Lycurgus killed him, not in fair fight, but by entrapping him in a narrow way where his mace served him in no stead; for Lycurgus was too quick for him and speared him through the middle, so he fell to earth on his back. Lycurgus then spoiled him of the armour which Mars had given him, and bore it in battle thenceforward; but when he grew old and stayed at home, he gave it to his faithful squire Ereuthalion, who in this same armour challenged the foremost men among us. The others quaked and quailed, but my high spirit bade me fight him though none other would venture; I was the youngest man of them all; but when I fought him Minerva vouchsafed me victory. He was the biggest and strongest man that ever I killed, and covered much ground as he lay sprawling upon the earth. Would that I were still young and strong as I then was, for the son of Priam would then soon find one who would face him. But you, foremost among the whole host though you be, have none of you any stomach for fighting Hector”
Nestor directs the nine champions to cast lots, saying the chosen survivor will serve himself and the Achaeans well.
“Cast lots among you to see who shall be chosen. If he come alive out of this fight he will have done good service alike to his own soul and to the Achaeans”
Nestor, whose counsel is described as ever truest, addresses the chieftains sincerely and with goodwill.
“old Nestor whose counsel was ever truest began to speak; with all sincerity and goodwill, therefore, he addressed them thus”
Nestor proposes a morning truce to collect and burn the Achaean dead, preserve their bones, and construct a common barrow, high gated wall, and deep surrounding trench for defence.
“it will be well when morning comes that we should cease fighting; we will then wheel our dead together with oxen and mules and burn them not far from the ships, that when we sail hence we may take the bones of our comrades home to their children. Hard by the funeral pyre we will build a barrow that shall be raised from the plain for all in common; near this let us set about building a high wall, to shelter ourselves and our ships, and let it have well-made gates that there may be a way through them for our chariots. Close outside we will dig a deep trench all round it to keep off both horse and foot, that the Trojan chieftains may not bear hard upon us”
Nestor alone stands firm when other chiefs retreat, then immediately cuts the traces of his disabled horse with his sword.
“Nestor knight of Gerene alone stood firm, bulwark of the Achaeans, not of his own will, but one of his horses was disabled. Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen had hit it with an arrow just on the top of its head where the mane begins to grow away from the skull, a very deadly place. The horse bounded in his anguish as the arrow pierced his brain, and his struggles threw others into confusion. The old man instantly began cutting the traces with his sword”
Diomed tells Nestor that age weighs heavily on him, his strength is spent, his squire is worthless, and his horses are slow.
“these young warriors are pressing you hard, your force is spent, and age is heavy upon you, your squire is naught, and your horses are slow to move”
Nestor takes the reins in Diomed’s chariot and lashes the horses toward Hector.
“while the two both mounted Diomed’s chariot. Nestor took the reins in his hands and lashed the horses on; they were soon close up with Hector”
The reins drop from Nestor’s hands and he becomes afraid.
“while the reins dropped from Nestor’s hands. Then he was afraid”
Nestor turns Diomed’s horses back through the thick of battle.
“So saying he turned the horses back through the thick of the battle”
Nestor invokes his greater age and promises to tell Diomed everything.
“nevertheless I am older than you and I will tell you everything”
Evidence records not already represented by a claim.
“smooth-tongued Nestor”
“Nestor, knight of Gerene”
“Nestor knight of Gerene alone stood firm”
“Nestor rose to speak”
“round Nestor and brave Idomeneus”
“great Nestor’s son”
“NESTOR was sitting over his wine”
“Nestor of Gerene, tower of strength to the Achaeans”
“for so Nestor had ordered”
“Ulysses, Nestor, Idomeneus”
“noble Nestor son of Neleus”