Book XVI - Telemachus refuses to divide the lands of the vanquished Daunians, and lets them choose a good king from their own numbers

Summary

Adrastus being dead, the Daunians offer their hands to the allies, to signify their inclination to peace, and desire them to allow them to choose a king from their own nation. Nestor, being inconsolable for the loss of his son, does not come to the assembly of the chiefs – in which several give it as their opinion that the lands of the conquered ought to be divided, and the territory of Arpi given to Telemachus. Far from accepting this offer, Telemachus makes it appear to be the common interest of the allies to choose Polydamus king of the Daunians, and to leave them in possession of their lands. He afterwards prevails upon that people to give the country of Arpi to Diomedes, who then happened to arrive in the camp. The troubles being thus solved, the several nations separate, in order to return home.

Next day the chiefs of the army assembled to grant a king to the Daunians. It gave them great pleasure to observe the two camps united by so unexpected a friendship, and the two armies which were now only one. The sage Nestor could not assist at the council, his heart being quite broken -with grief and old age; as a flower, which at the dawn of day was the ornament and glory of the green fields, in the evening is overwhelmed, and languishes beneath the beating rain.