and the other to that of the Trojans； 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 honour 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； roasting 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 honour。 As soon as they had had
enough to cat 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 comes that we should cease fighting； we will
then wheel our dead together with oxen and mules and burn them not far
from the ships； that when we sail hence we may take the bones of our
comrades home to their children。 Hard by the funeral pyre we will
build a barrow that shall be raised from the plain for all in
common； near this let us set about building a high wall； to shelter
ourselves and our ships； and let it have well…made gates that there
may be a way through them for our chariots。 Close outside we will
dig a deep trench all round it to keep off both horse and foot； that
the Trojan chieftains may not bear hard upon us。〃
Thus he spoke； and the princess shouted in applause。 Meanwhile the
Trojans held a council； angry and full of discord； on the acropolis by
the gates of King Priam's palace； and wise Antenor spoke。 〃Hear me
he said； 〃Trojans； Dardanians； and allies； that I may speak even as
I am minded。 Let us give up Argive Helen and her wealth to the sons of
Atreus； for we are now fighting in 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 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 Trojans 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 victory 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 doom of the Trojans
is at hand。〃
The sons of the Achaeans shouted applause at the words that Diomed
had spoken； and thereon King Agamemnon 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 covenant。〃
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 delivered 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 risen 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 silently on the
pyre； and having burned them went back to their ships。
Now in the twilight when it was not yet dawn； chosen bands of the
Achaeans were gathered round the pyre and built one barrow that was
raised in common for all； and hard by this they built a high wall to
shelter themselves and their ships； they gave it strong gates that
there might be a way through them for their chariots； and close
outside it they dug a trench deep and wide； and they planted it within
with stakes。
Thus did the Achaeans toil； and the gods； seated by the side of Jove
the lord of lightning； marvelled at their great work； but Neptune；
lord of the earthquake； spoke； saying； 〃Father Jove； what mortal in
the whole world will again take the gods into his counsel？ See you not
how the Achaeans have built a wall about their ships and driven a
trench all round it； without offering hecatombs to the gods？ The The
fame of this wall will reach as far as dawn itself； and men will no
longer think anything of the one which Phoebus Apollo and myself built
with so much labour for Laomedon。〃
Jove was displeased and answered； 〃What； O shaker of the earth；
are you talking about？ A god less powerful than yourself might be
alarmed at what they are doing； but your fame reaches as far as dawn
itself。 Surely when the Achaeans have gone home with their ships；
you can shatter their wall and Ring it into the sea； you can cover the
beach with sand again； and the great wall of the Achaeans will then be
utterly effaced。〃
Thus did they converse； and by sunset the work of the Achaeans was
completed； they then slaughtered oxen at their tents and got their
supper。 Many ships had come with wine from Lemnos； sent by Euneus
the son of Jason； born to him by Hypsipyle。 The son of Jason freighted
them with ten thousand measures of wine； which he sent specially to
the sons of Atreus； Agamemnon and Menelaus。 From this supply the
Achaeans bought their wine； some with bronze； some with iron； some
with hides； some with whole heifers； and some again with captives。
They spread a goodly banquet and feasted the whole night through； as
also did the Trojans and their allies in the city。 But all the time
Jove boded them ill and roared with his portentous thunder。 Pale
fear got hold upon them； and they spilled the wine from their cups
on to the ground； nor did any dare drink till he had made offerings to
the most mighty son of Saturn。 Then they laid themselves down to
rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep。
BOOK VIII
NOW when Morning； clad in her robe of saffron； had begun to suffuse
light over the earth； Jove called the gods in council on the topmost
crest of serrated Olympus。 Then he spoke and all the other gods gave
ear。 〃Hear me；〃 said he； 〃gods and goddesses； that I may speak even as
I am minded。 Let none of you neither goddess nor god try to cross
me； but obey me every one of you that I may bring this matter to an
end。 If I see anyone acting apart and helping either Trojans or
Danaans； he shall be beaten inordinately ere he come back again to
Olympus；