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take the woman and all she has； to bear them to his home； but let
the rest swear to a solemn covenant of peace whereby you Trojans
shall stay here in Troy； while the others go home to Argos and
the land of the Achaeans。〃
When Hector heard this he was glad； and went about among the
Trojan ranks holding his spear by the middle to keep them back；
and they all sat down at his bidding： but the Achaeans still
aimed at him with stones and arrows； till Agamemnon shouted to
them saying； 〃Hold； Argives； shoot not； sons of the Achaeans；
Hector desires to speak。〃
They ceased taking aim and were still； whereon Hector spoke。
〃Hear from my mouth；〃 said he； 〃Trojans and Achaeans； the saying
of Alexandrus； through whom this quarrel has e about。 He bids
the Trojans and Achaeans lay their armour upon the ground； while
he and Menelaus fight in the midst of you for Helen and all her
wealth。 Let him who shall be victorious and prove to be the
better man take the woman and all she has； to bear them to his
own home； but let the rest swear to a solemn covenant of peace。〃
Thus he spoke； and they all held their peace； till Menelaus of
the loud battle…cry addressed them。 〃And now；〃 he said； 〃hear me
too； for it is I who am the most aggrieved。 I deem that the
parting of Achaeans and Trojans is at hand； as well it may be；
seeing how much have suffered for my quarrel with Alexandrus and
the wrong he did me。 Let him who shall die； die； and let the
others fight no more。 Bring； then； two lambs； a white ram and a
black ewe； for Earth and Sun； and we will bring a third for Jove。
Moreover； you shall bid Priam e； that he may swear to the
covenant himself； for his sons are high…handed and ill to trust；
and the oaths of Jove must not be transgressed or taken in vain。
Young men's minds are light as air； but when an old man es he
looks before and after； deeming that which shall be fairest upon
both sides。〃
The Trojans and Achaeans were glad when they heard this； for they
thought that they should now have rest。 They backed their
chariots toward the ranks； got out of them； and put off their
armour； laying it down upon the ground； and the hosts were near
to one another with a little space between them。 Hector sent two
messengers to the city to bring the lambs and to bid Priam e；
while Agamemnon told Talthybius to fetch the other lamb from the
ships； and he did as Agamemnon had said。
Meanwhile Iris went to Helen in the form of her sister…in…law；
wife of the son of Antenor； for Helicaon； son of Antenor； had
married Laodice； the fairest of Priam's daughters。 She found her
in her own room； working at a great web of purple linen； on which
she was embroidering the battles between Trojans and Achaeans；
that Mars had made them fight for her sake。 Iris then came close
up to her and said； 〃e hither； child； and see the strange
doings of the Trojans and Achaeans。 Till now they have been
warring upon the plain； mad with lust of battle； but now they
have left off fighting； and are leaning upon their shields；
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 grea