The Iliad of Homer. Homer

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      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.

       075 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 076 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.

      First, Hector and Ulysses, noble Chief,

       Measured the ground; then taking lots for proof

       Who of the combatants should foremost hurl

       His spear, they shook them in a brazen casque;375

       Meantime the people raised their hands on high,

       And many a Grecian thus and Trojan prayed.

      Jove, Father, who on Ida seated, seest

       And rulest all below, glorious in power!

       Of these two champions, to the drear abodes380

       Of Ades him appoint who furnish'd first

       The cause of strife between them, and let peace

       Oath-bound, and amity unite the rest!

      So spake the hosts; then Hector shook the lots,

       Majestic Chief, turning his face aside.385

       Forth sprang the lot of Paris. They in ranks

       Sat all, where stood the fiery steeds of each,

       And where his radiant arms lay on the field.

       Illustrious Alexander his bright arms

       077 Put on, fair Helen's paramour. [17]He clasp'd390 His polish'd greaves with silver studs secured; His brother's corselet to his breast he bound, Lycaon's, apt to his own shape and size, And slung athwart his shoulders, bright emboss'd, His brazen sword; his massy buckler broad395 He took, and to his graceful head his casque СКАЧАТЬ