"Come, give me the full tally of these suitors –
I must know their numbers, gauge their strength.
Then I’ll deploy this old tactician’s wits,
decide if the two of us can take them on,
alone, without allies,
or we should hunt reserves to back us up."
– Homer
The Odyssey, Book 16, lines 265-270. Odysseus discusses with his son Telemachus how they should enact their revenge on the suitors. He asks their numbers, so he can judge their strength. The experienced and veteran tactician intends to deploy his considerable guile to ensure the success of their mission. He is leaving nothing to chance in planning the slaughter of their enemies.