Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
violation of our solemn covenants, and shall not prosper till we
have done as I say.”
He then sat down and Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen rose to
speak. “Antenor,” said he, “your words are not to my liking; you
can find a better saying than this if you will; if, however, you have
spoken in good earnest, then indeed has heaven robbed you of
your reason. I will speak plainly, and hereby notify to the Trojans
that I will not give up the woman; but the wealth that I brought
home with her from Argos I will restore, and will add yet further of
my own.”
On this, when Paris had spoken and taken his seat, Priam of the
race of Dardanus, peer of gods in council, rose and with all
sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: “Hear me, Trojans,
Dardanians, and allies, that I may speak even as I am minded. Get
your suppers now as hitherto throughout the city, but keep your
watches and be wakeful. At daybreak let Idaeus go to the ships,
and tell Agamemnon and Menelaus sons of Atreus the saying of
Alexandrus through whom this quarrel has come about; and let
him also be instant with them that they now cease fighting till we
burn our dead; hereafter we will fight anew, till heaven decide
between us and give victory to one or to the other.”
Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. They took
supper in their companies and at daybreak Idaeus went his wa to
the ships. He found the Danaans, servants of Mars, in council at the
stern of Agamemnon’s ship, and took his place in the midst of
them. “Son of Atreus,” he said, “and princes of the Achaean host,
Priam and the other noble Trojans have sent me to tell you the
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