Wherefore I think that nothing better will he brought to pass by unless we act thus."
He, having thus said, sat down; but to them arose divine Alexander, the husband of fair-haired Helen, who answering him spoke winged words:
"O Antenor, thou no longer speakest these things grateful to me. Thou knowest how to devise another counsel better than this; but if, in truth, thou speakest this seriously, the gods themselves have now deprived thee of thy senses. But I will declare my opinion amid the horse-subduing Trojans; I openly declare I will not give up my wife: but the treasures, whatever I have brought home from Argos, all these I am willing to give, and even to add others from my own home."
Thus having spoken, he sat down; but to them arose Priam, son of Dardanus, a counselor equal to the gods; who thus wisely harangued them, and said:
"Hear me, ye Trojans, and Dardanians, and allies, that I may tell you what the soul in my breast commands. Now take repast through the army, as heretofore, and be attentive to the watch, and let each be mindful of guard. But in the morning let Idæus proceed to the hollow ships, to announce to the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus, the resolution of Alexander, on whose account the contention has arisen; and let him add this prudent request also, whether they wish to desist from horrid-sounding war, until we burn the dead; afterward will we fight again till fate separate us, and give the victory to one or other of us."
Thus he said: but they heard him very attentively, and obeyed. Then they took their repast throughout the city, by companies. In the morning Idæus went to the hollow ships. He found the Greeks, the servants of Mars, in council at the stern of[1] Agamemnon's ship: and the clear-voiced herald, standing in the midst of them, spoke thus:
"Ye sons of Atreus, and ye other chiefs of all the Greeks, Priam and the other illustrious Trojans command me to tell you, if it be agreeable and pleasing to you, the determination of Alexander, on whose account this contention has arisen.
- ↑ Dative for genitive, by the Schema Colophonium. See Lesbonax, p. 181, ed. Valck.
