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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 come 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
come； 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 comes 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 come； 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；
〃Come 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 the 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 coming 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 comely 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 come here
with your son； far from my bridal chamber； my friends； my darling
daughter； and all the companions 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 oratory… one 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 capta