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118—152. hand, king Agamemnon sent Talthybius to go to the hollow ships, and ordered him to bring a lamb. And he did not disobey noble Agamemnon.

And meantime came Iris a messenger to white-armed Helen, likening herself to her husband's sister, the wife of Antenor's son, most excelling in beauty of the daughters of Priam, Laodice, whom the son of Antenor, king Helicaon, possessed. But she found her in her palace, and she was weaving an ample web, a double [mantle], resplendent, and on it was working many labors both of the horse-taming Trojans and the brazen-mailed Greeks, which on her account they suffered at the hand of Mars. Standing near, the swift-footed Iris accosted her thus:

"Come hither, dear lady, that thou mayest view the wondrous deeds of the horse-taming Trojans, and of the brazen-mailed Greeks, who formerly against each other waged tearful war in the plain, eager for destructive battle. Now, however, they sit in silence (and the war has ceased), leaning on their shields, and near them their long spears are fixed. But Alexander and Mars-beloved Menelaus are about to fight for thy sake with their long spears, and thou shalt be called the dear wife of him who conquers."

Thus having spoken, the goddess infused a tender desire into her mind both of her former husband, and of her city, and her parents. And instantly vailing herself in white linen robes, she rushed from her chamber, shedding a tender tear: not alone, for two domestics accompanied her, Œthra, daughter of Pittheus, and large-eyed Clymene. Then they quickly came to where the Scæan gates were. But Priam and Panthous, and Thymœtes, Lampus, Clytius, Hicetaon, an offshoot of Mars, Ucalegon, and Antenor, both prudent, elders of the people, sat at the Scæan gates, long since desisting from war, through old age: but good orators, like unto the Cicadæ, which, in the woods, sitting on a tree, send forth a