'Twas he who chief
Seduc'd by Paris' gold and splendid gifts
Advis'd the restitution to refuse
Of Helen to her lord.
It is esteemed just among men to distribute to each according to his worth. This principle concerns especially reverencing the gods, and honoring parents and relations. Piety toward the gods he teaches in many passages, introducing the heroes sacrificing, praying, offering gifts to the gods, and celebrating them in hymns, and as a reward for their piety they receive from the gods.
Honor to parents he shows especially, in the character of Telemachus, and in his praise of Orestes (O. i. 298):—-
Or hast thou not heard what renown the goodly Orestes got
among all men in that he slew the slayer of his father?
For parents to be cared for in their old age by their children is just by nature and a debt of retribution; this he showed in one passage where he says (I. xvii. 302):—
Not destin'd he his parents to repay their early care.
The good will and good faith of brothers to one another he shows in Agamemnon and Menelaus, of friends in Achilles and Patroclus, prudence and wifely love in Penelope, the longing of a man for his wife in Odysseus.
How we should act toward our country he showed especially in these words (I. xii. 243):—
The best of omens is our country's cause.
And how citizens should share a common friendship (I. ix. 63):—