Page 138 - the-iliad

doom of the Trojans is at hand.’
The sons of the Achaeans shouted applause at the words
that Diomed had spoken, and thereon King Agamem-
non said to Idaeus, ‘Idaeus, you have heard the answer the
Achaeans make you-and I with them. But as concerning the
dead, I give you leave to burn them, for when men are once
dead there should be no grudging them the rites of fire. Let
Jove the mighty husband of Juno be witness to this cove-
nant.’
As he spoke he upheld his sceptre in the sight of all the
gods, and Idaeus went back to the strong city of Ilius. The
Trojans and Dardanians were gathered in council waiting
his return; when he came, he stood in their midst and de-
livered his message. As soon as they heard it they set about
their twofold labour, some to gather the corpses, and others
to bring in wood. The Argives on their part also hastened
from their ships, some to gather the corpses, and others to
bring in wood.
The sun was beginning to beat upon the fields, fresh ris-
en into the vault of heaven from the slow still currents of
deep Oceanus, when the two armies met. They could hardly
recognise their dead, but they washed the clotted gore from
off them, shed tears over them, and lifted them upon their
waggons. Priam had forbidden the Trojans to wail aloud,
so they heaped their dead sadly and silently upon the pyre,
and having burned them went back to the city of Ilius. The
Achaeans in like manner heaped their dead sadly and si-
lently on the pyre, and having burned them went back to
their ships.

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