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sitting still with their spears planted beside them。 Alexandrus
and Menelaus are going to fight about yourself； and you are to be
the wife of him who is the victor。〃
Thus spoke the goddess； and Helen's heart yearned after her
former husband； her city； and her parents。 She threw a white
mantle over her head； and hurried from her room； weeping as she
went； not alone； but attended by two of her handmaids； Aethrae；
daughter of Pittheus； and Clymene。 And straightway they were at
the Scaean gates。
The two sages； Ucalegon and Antenor； elders of the people； were
seated by the Scaean gates； with Priam； Panthous； Thymoetes；
Lampus； Clytius； and Hiketaon of the race of Mars。 These were too
old to fight； but they were fluent orators； and sat on the tower
like cicales that chirrup delicately from the boughs of some high
tree in a wood。 When they saw Helen ing towards the tower；
they said softly to one another； 〃Small wonder that Trojans and
Achaeans should endure so much and so long； for the sake of a
woman so marvellously and divinely lovely。 Still； fair though she
be； let them take her and go； or she will breed sorrow for us and
for our children after us。〃
But Priam bade her draw nigh。 〃My child；〃 said he； 〃take your
seat in front of me that you may see your former husband； your
kinsmen and your friends。 I lay no blame upon you； it is the
gods； not you who are to blame。 It is they that have brought
about this terrible war with the Achaeans。 Tell me； then； who is
yonder huge hero so great and goodly？ I have seen men taller by a
head； but none so ely and so royal。 Surely he must be a king。〃
〃Sir；〃 answered Helen； 〃father of my husband； dear and reverend
in my eyes； would that I had chosen death rather than to have
e here with your son； far from my bridal chamber； my friends；
my darling daughter； and all the panions of my girlhood。 But
it was not to be； and my lot is one of tears and sorrow。 As for
your question； the hero of whom you ask is Agamemnon； son of
Atreus； a good king and a brave soldier； brother…in…law as surely
as that he lives； to my abhorred and miserable self。〃
The old man marvelled at him and said； 〃Happy son of Atreus；
child of good fortune。 I see that the Achaeans are subject to you
in great multitudes。 When I was in Phrygia I saw much horsemen；
the people of Otreus and of Mygdon； who were camping upon the
banks of the river Sangarius； I was their ally； and with them
when the Amazons； peers of men； came up against them； but even
they were not so many as the Achaeans。〃
The old man next looked upon Ulysses； 〃Tell me；〃 he said； 〃who is
that other； shorter by a head than Agamemnon； but broader across
the chest and shoulders？ His armour is laid upon the ground； and
he stalks in front of the ranks as it were some great woolly ram
ordering his ewes。〃
And Helen answered； 〃He is Ulysses； a man of great craft； son of
Laertes。 He was born in rugged Ithaca； and excels in all manner
of stratagems and subtle cunning。〃
On this Antenor said； 〃Madam； you have spoken truly。 Ulysses once
came here as envoy about yourself； and Menelaus with him。 I
received them in my own house； and therefore know both of them by
sight and conversation。 When they stood up in presence of the
assembled Trojans； Menelaus was the broader shouldered； but when
both were seated Ulysses had the more royal presence。 After a
time they delivered their message； and the speech of Menelaus ran
trippingly on the tongue； he did not say much； for he was a man
of few words； but he spoke very clearly and to the point； though
he was the younger man of the two； Ulysses； on the other hand；
when he rose to speak； was at first silent and kept his eyes
fixed upon the ground。 There was no play nor graceful movement of
his sceptre； he kept it straight and stiff like a man unpractised
in oratoryone might have taken him for a mere churl or
simpleton； but when he raised his voice； and the words came
driving from his deep chest like winter snow before the wind；
then there was none to touch him； and no man thought further of
what he looked like。〃
Priam then caught sight of Ajax and asked； 〃Who is that great and
goodly warrior whose head and broad shoulders tower above the
rest of the Argives？〃
〃That；〃 answered Helen； 〃is huge Ajax； bulwark of the Achaeans；
and on the other side of him； among the Cretans； stands Idomeneus
looking like a god； and with the captains of the Cretans round
him。 Often did Menelaus receive him as a guest in our house when
he came visiting us from Crete。 I see； moreover； many other
Achaeans whose names I could tell you； but there are two whom I
can nowhere find； Castor； breaker of horses； and Pollux the
mighty boxer； they are children of my mother； and own brothers to
myself。 Either they have not left Lacedaemon； or else； though
they have brought their ships； they will not show themselves in
battle for the shame and disgrace that I have brought upon them。〃
She knew not that both these heroes were already lying under the
earth in their own land of Lacedaemon。
Meanwhile the heralds were bringing the holy oath…offerings
through the citytwo lambs and a goatskin of wine； the gift of
earth； and Idaeus brought the mixing bowl and the cups of gold。
He went up to Priam and said； 〃Son of Laomedon； the princes of
the Trojans and Achaeans bid you e down on to the plain and
swear to a solemn covenant。 Alexandrus and Menelaus are to fight
for Helen in single bat； that she and all her wealth may go
with him who is the victor。 We are to swear to a solemn covenant
of peace whereby we others shall dwell here in Troy； while the
Achaeans return to Argos and the land of the Achaeans。〃
The old man trembled as he heard； but bade his followers yoke the
horses； and they made all haste to do so。 He mounted the chariot；
gathered the reins in his hand； and Antenor took his seat beside
him； they then drove through the Scaean gates on to the plain。
When they reached the ranks of the Trojans and Achaeans they left
the chariot； and with measured pace advanced into the space
between the hosts。
Agamemnon and Ulysses both rose to meet them。 The attendants
brought on the oath…offerings and mixed the wine in the
mixing…bowls； they poured water over the hands of the chieftains；
and the son of Atreus drew the dagger that hung by his sword； and
cut wool from the lambs' heads； this the men…servants gave about
among the Trojan and Achaean princes； and the son of Atreus
lifted up his hands in prayer。 〃Father Jove；〃 he cried； 〃that
rulest in Ida； most glorious in power； and thou oh Sun； that
seest and givest ear to all things； Earth and Rivers； and ye who
in the realms below chastise the soul of him that has broken his
oath； witness these rites and guard them； that they be not vain。
If Alexandrus kills Menelaus； let him keep Helen and all her
wealth； while we sail home with our ships； but if Menelaus kills
Alexandrus； let the Trojans give back Helen and all that she has；
let them moreover pay such fine to the Achaeans as shall be
agreed upon； in testimony among those that shall be born
hereafter。 And if Priam and his sons refuse such fine when
Alexandrus has fallen； then will I stay here and fight on till I
have got satisfaction。〃
As he spoke he drew his knife across the throats of the victims；
and laid them down gasping and dying upon the ground； for the
knife had reft them of their strength。 Then they poured wine from
the mixing…bowl into the cups； and prayed to the everlasting
gods； saying； Trojans and Achaeans among one another； 〃Jove； most
great and glorious； and ye other everlasting gods； grant that the
brains of them who shall first sin against their oathsof them
and their childrenmay be shed upon the ground even as this
wine； and let their wives bee the slaves of strangers。〃
Thus they prayed； but not as yet would Jove grant them their
prayer。 Then Priam； descendant of Dardanus； spoke； saying； 〃Hear
me； Trojans and Achaeans； I will now go back to the wind…beaten
city of Ilius： I dare not with my own eyes witness this fight
between my son and Menelaus； for Jove and the other immortals
alone know which shall fall。〃
On this he laid the two lambs on