Page 137 - the-iliad

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 Agamem-
non 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 way 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 saying of Alexandrus
through whom this quarrel has come about, if so be that you
may find it acceptable. All the treasure he took with him in
his ships to Troy—would that he had sooner perished—he
will restore, and will add yet further of his own, but he will
not give up the wedded wife of Menelaus, though the Tro-
jans would have him do so. Priam bade me inquire further
if you will cease fighting till we burn our dead; hereafter we
will fight anew, till heaven decide between us and give vic-
tory to one or to the other.’
They all held their peace, but presently Diomed of the
loud war-cry spoke, saying, ‘Let there be no taking, neither
treasure, nor yet Helen, for even a child may see that the

1 The Iliad