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229—265.
ILIAD. VI.
113

with my feet. And there are many Greeks in turn for thee to slay, whomsoever thou canst. But let us exchange arms with each other, that even these may know that we profess to be friends by our ancestors."

Thus then having spoken, leaping down from their steeds, they took each other's hand, and plighted faith. Then Saturnian Jove took away prudence from Glaucus, who exchanged armor with Diomede, the son of Tydeus, [giving] golden [arms] for brazen; the value of a hundred beeves[1] for the value of nine.

But when Hector arrived at the Scæan gates and the beech-tree, around him ran the Trojan wives and daughters inquiring for their sons, their brothers, their friends, and husbands. But he then ordered all in order to supplicate the gods, for evils were impending over many.

But when now he had arrived at the very beautiful dwelling of Priam, built with well-polished porticoes; but in it were fifty chambers[2] of polished marble, built near one another, where lay the sons of Priam with their lawful wives; and opposite, on the other side, within the hall, were the twelve roofed chambers of his daughters, of polished marble, built near to one another, where the sons-in-law of Priam slept with their chaste wives. There his fond mother met him, as she was going to Laodice, the most excellent in form of her daughters: and she hung upon his hand, and addressed him, and spoke:

"My son, why hast thou come, having left the bold fight? Certainly the abominable sons of the Greeks harass thee much, fighting around thy city: thy mind hath urged thee to come hither, to uplift thy hands to Jove from the lofty citadel. But wait till I bring thee genial wine, that first thou mayest make a libation to Jove, and to the other immortal gods, and then thou shalt refresh thyself, if thou wilt drink. For to wearied man wine greatly increases strength; since thou art wearied aiding thy kinsmen."

But her mighty crest-tossing Hector then answered: "Bring me not genial wine, venerable mother, lest thou enervate me, and I forget my might and valor. But I

  1. See Gellius, ii. 23. It must be remembered that in the ancient times, when there was no money, cattle formed the standard of barter.
  2. Cf. Virg. Æn. ii. 503; Eur. Hec. 421.