Page 135 - the-iliad

and Trojans, ‘They fought with might and main, but were
reconciled and parted in friendship.’’
On this he gave Ajax a silver-studded sword with its
sheath and leathern baldric, and in return Ajax gave him a
girdle dyed with purple. Thus they parted, the one going to
the host of the Achaeans, and the other to that of the Tro-
jans, who rejoiced when they saw their hero come to them
safe and unharmed from the strong hands of mighty Ajax.
They led him, therefore, to the city as one that had been
saved beyond their hopes. On the other side the Achaeans
brought Ajax elated with victory to Agamemnon.
When they reached the quarters of the son of Atreus,
Agamemnon sacrificed for them a five-year-old bull in hon-
our of Jove the son of Saturn. They flayed the carcass, made
it ready, and divided it into joints; these they cut carefully
up into smaller pieces, putting them on the spits, roast-
ing them sufficiently, and then drawing them off. When
they had done all this and had prepared the feast, they ate
it, and every man had his full and equal share, so that all
were satisfied, and King Agamemnon gave Ajax some slices
cut lengthways down the loin, as a mark of special hon-
our. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, old
Nestor whose counsel was ever truest began to speak; with
all sincerity and goodwill, therefore, he addressed them
thus:—
‘Son of Atreus, and other chieftains, inasmuch as many
of the Achaeans are now dead, whose blood Mars has shed
by the banks of the Scamander, and their souls have gone
down to the house of Hades, it will be well when morning

1 The Iliad