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Achaeans； and the other to that of the Trojans； who rejoiced when
they saw their hero e to them safe and unharmed from the
strong hands of mighty Ajax。 They led him； therefore； to the city
as one that had been saved beyond their hopes。 On the other side
the Achaeans brought Ajax elated with victory to Agamemnon。
When they reached the quarters of the son of Atreus； Agamemnon
sacrificed for them a five…year…old bull in honour of Jove the
son of Saturn。 They flayed the carcass； made it ready； and
divided it into joints； these they cut carefully up into smaller
pieces； putting them on the spits； roasting them sufficiently；
and then drawing them off。 When they had done all this and had
prepared the feast； they ate it； and every man had his full and
equal share； so that all were satisfied； and King Agamemnon gave
Ajax some slices cut lengthways down the loin； as a mark of
special honour。 As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink；
old Nestor whose counsel was ever truest began to speak； with all
sincerity and goodwill； therefore； he addressed them thus：
〃Son of Atreus； and other chieftains； inasmuch as many of the
Achaeans are now dead； whose blood Mars has shed by the banks of
the Scamander； and their souls have gone down to the house of
Hades； it will be well when morning es 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 rades home to their
children。 Hard by the funeral pyre we will build a barrow that
shall be raised from the plain for all in mon； 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。〃
Thus he spoke； and the princess shouted in applause。 Meanwhile
the Trojans held a council； angry and full of discord； on the
acropolis by the gates of King Priam's palace； and wise Antenor
spoke。 〃Hear me；〃 he said； 〃Trojans； Dardanians； and allies； that
I may speak even as I am minded。 Let us give up Argive Helen and
her wealth to the sons of Atreus； for we are now fighting in
violation of our solemn covenants； and shall not prosper till we
have done as I say。〃
He then sat down and Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen rose to
speak。 〃Antenor；〃 said he； 〃your words are not to my liking； you
can find a better saying than this if you will； if； however； you
have spoken in good earnest； then indeed has heaven robbed you of
your reason。 I will speak plainly； and hereby notify to the
Trojans that I will not give up the woman； but the wealth that I
brought home with her from Argos I will restore； and will add yet
further of my own。〃
On this； when Paris had spoken and taken his seat； Priam of the
race of Dardanus； peer of gods in council； rose and with all
sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus： 〃Hear me； Trojans；
Dardanians； and allies； that I may speak even as I am minded。 Get
your suppers now as hitherto throughout the city； but keep your
watches and be wakeful。 At daybreak let Idaeus go to the ships；
and tell Agamemnon and Menelaus sons of Atreus the saying of
Alexandrus through whom this quarrel has e about； and let him
also be instant with them that they now cease fighting till we
burn our dead； hereafter we will fight anew； till heaven decide
between us and give victory to one or to the other。〃
Thus did he speak； and they did even as he had said。 They took
supper in their panies and at daybreak Idaeus went his way to
the ships。 He found the Danaans； servants of Mars； in council at
the stern of Agamemnon's ship； and took his place in the midst of
them。 〃Son of Atreus；〃 he said； 〃and princes of the Achaean host；
Priam and the other noble Trojans have sent me to tell you the
saying of Alexandrus through whom this quarrel has e about； if
so be that you may find it acceptable。 All the treasure he took
with him in his ships to Troywould that he had sooner
perishedhe will restore； and will add yet further of his own；
but he will not give up the wedded wife of Menelaus； though the
Trojans would have him do so。 Priam bade me inquire further if
you will cease fighting till we burn our dead； hereafter we will
fight anew； till heaven decide between us and give victory to one
or to the other。〃
They all held their peace； but presently Diomed of the loud
war…cry spoke； saying； 〃Let there be no taking； neither treasure；
nor yet Helen； for even a child may see that the doom of the
Trojans is at hand。〃
The sons of the Achaeans shouted applause at the words that
Diomed had spoken； and thereon King Agamemnon said to Idaeus；
〃Idaeus； you have heard the answer the Achaeans make you…and I
with them。 But as concerning the dead； I give you leave to burn
them； for when men are once dead there should be no grudging them
the rites of fire。 Let Jove the mighty husband of Juno be witness
to this covenant。〃
As he spoke he upheld his sceptre in the sight of all the gods；
and Idaeus went back to the strong city of Ilius。 The Trojans and
Dardanians were gathered in council waiting his return； when he
came； he stood in their midst and delivered his message。 As soon
as they heard it they set about their twofold labour； some to
gather the corpses； and others to bring in wood。 The Argives on
their part also hastened from their ships； some to gather the
corpses； and others to bring in wood。
The sun was beginning to beat upon the fields； fresh risen into
the vault of heaven from the slow still currents of deep Oceanus；
when the two armies met。 They could hardly recognise their dead；
but they washed the clotted gore from off them； shed tears over
them； and lifted them upon their waggons。 Priam had forbidden the
Trojans to wail aloud； so they heaped their dead sadly and
silently upon the pyre； and having burned them went back to the
city of Ilius。 The Achaeans in like manner heaped their dead
sadly and silently on the pyre； and having burned them went back
to their ships。
Now in the twilight when it was not yet dawn； chosen bands of the
Achaeans were gathered round the pyre and built one barrow that
was raised in mon for all； and hard by this they built a high
wall to shelter themselves and their ships； they gave it strong
gates that there might be a way through them for their chariots；
and close outside it they dug a trench deep and wide； and they
planted it within with stakes。
Thus did the Achaeans toil； and the gods； seated by the side of
Jove the lord of lightning； marvelled at their great work； but
Neptune； lord of the earthquake； spoke； saying； 〃Father Jove；
what mortal in the whole world will again take the gods into his
counsel？ See you not how the Achaeans have built a wall about
their ships and driven a trench all round it； without offering
hecatombs to the gods？ The fame of this wall will reach as far as
dawn itself； and men will no longer think anything of the one
which Phoebus Apollo and myself built with so much labour for
Laomedon。〃
Jove was displeased and answered； 〃What； O shaker of the earth；
are you talking about？ A god less powerful than yourself might be
alarmed at what they are doing； but your fame reaches as far as
dawn itself。 Surely when the Achaeans have gone home with their
ships； you can shatter their wall and fling it into the sea； you
can cover the beach with sand again； and the great wall of the
Achaeans will then be utterly effaced。〃
Thus did they converse； and by sunset the work of the Achaeans
was pleted； they then slaughtered oxen at their tents and got
their supper。 Many ships had e with wine from Lemnos； sent by
Euneus the son of Jason； born to him by Hypsipyle。 The son of
Jason freighted them with ten thousand measures of wine； which he
sent specially to the sons of Atreus； Agamemnon and Menelaus。
From this supply the Achaeans bought their wine； some with
bronze； some with iron； some with hides； some with whole heifers；
and some again with captives。 They spread a goodly banquet and
feasted the wh