She said; but they already slept inhumed
In Lacedemon, in their native soil.
And now the heralds, through the streets of Troy
Charged with the lambs, and with a goat-skin filled
With heart-exhilarating wine prepared295
For that divine solemnity, return’d.
Idæus in his hand a beaker bore
Resplendent, with its fellow cups of gold,
And thus he summon’d ancient Priam forth.
Son of Laömedon, arise. The Chiefs300
Call thee, the Chiefs of Ilium and of Greece.
Descend into the plain. We strike a truce,
And need thine oath to bind it. Paris fights
With warlike Menelaüs for his spouse;
Their spears decide the strife. The conqueror wins305
Helen and all her treasures. We, thenceforth,
(Peace sworn and amity) shall dwell secure
In Troy, while they to Argos shall return
And to Achaia praised for women fair.
He spake, and Priam, shuddering, bade his train310
Prepare his steeds; they sedulous obey’d.
First, Priam mounting, backward stretch’d the reins;
Antenor, next, beside him sat, and through
The Scæan gate they drove into the plain.
Arriving at the hosts of Greece and Troy315
They left the chariot, and proceeded both
Into the interval between the hosts.
Then uprose Agamemnon, and uprose
All-wise Ulysses. Next, the heralds came
Conspicuous forward, expediting each320
The ceremonial; they the beaker fill’d
With wine, and to the hands of all the kings
Minister’d water. Agamemnon then
Drawing his dagger which he ever bore
Appendant to his heavy falchion’s sheath,325
Cut off the forelocks of the lambs,[15] of which
The heralds gave to every Grecian Chief
A portion, and to all the Chiefs of Troy.
Then Agamemnon raised his hands, and pray’d.
Jove, Father, who from Ida stretchest forth330
Thine arm omnipotent, o’erruling all,
And thou, all-seeing and all-hearing Sun,
Ye Rivers, and thou conscious Earth, and ye
Who under earth on human kind avenge
Severe, the guilt of violated oaths,335
Hear ye, and ratify what now we swear!
Should Paris slay the hero amber-hair’d,
My brother Menelaüs, Helen’s wealth
And Helen’s self are his, and all our host
Shall home return to Greece; but should it chance340
That Paris fall by Menelaüs’ hand,
Then Troy shall render back what she detains,
With such amercement as is meet, a sum
To be remember’d in all future times.
Which penalty should Priam and his sons345
Not pay, though Paris fall, then here in arms
I will contend for payment of the mulct
My due, till, satisfied, I close the war.
He said, and with his ruthless steel the lambs
Stretch’d panting all, but soon they ceased to pant,350
For mortal was the stroke.[16] Then drawing forth
Wine from the beaker, they with brimming cups
Hail’d the immortal Gods, and pray’d again,
And many a Grecian thus and Trojan spake.
All-glorious Jove, and ye the powers of heaven,355
Whoso shall violate this contract first,
So be the brains of them and of their sons
Pour’d out, as we this wine pour on the earth,
And may their wives bring forth to other men!
So they: but them Jove heard not. Then arose360
Priam, the son of Dardanus, and said,
Hear me, ye Trojans and ye Greeks well-arm’d.
Hence back to wind-swept Ilium I return,
Unable to sustain the sight, my son
With warlike Menelaüs match’d in arms.365
Jove knows, and the immortal Gods, to whom
Of both, this day is preordain’d the last.
So spake the godlike monarch, and disposed
Within the royal chariot all the lambs;
Then, mounting, check’d the reins; Antenor next370
Ascended, and to Ilium both return’d.