Page:Iliad Buckley.djvu/66

54 delicate voice; such leaders of the Trojans at that time were sitting on the tower. But when they saw Helen coming to the tower, in low tone they addressed to each other winged words:

"It is not a subject for indignation, that Trojans and well-greaved Greeks endure hardships for a long time on account of such a woman. In countenance she is wondrous like unto the immortal goddesses, but even so, although being such, let her return in the ships, nor be left a destruction to us and to our children hereafter."

Thus they spoke. But Priam called Helen,—"Coming hither before us, dear daughter, sit by me, that thou mayst see thy former husband, thy kindred, and thy friends—(thou art not at all in fault toward me; the gods, in truth, are in fault toward me, who have sent against me the lamentable war of the Greeks)—that thou mayest name for me this mighty man, who is this gallant and tall Grecian hero. Certainly there are others taller in height; but so graceful a man have I never yet beheld with my eyes, nor so venerable; for he is like unto a kingly man."

But him Helen, one of the divine women, answered in [these] words: "Revered art thou and feared by me, dear father-in-law; would that an evil death had pleased me, when I followed thy son hither, having left my marriage-bed, my brothers, my darling daughter, and the congenial company of my equals. But these things were not done: therefore I pine away with weeping. But this will I tell thee, which thou seekest of me and inquirest. This is wide-ruling Agamemnon, son of Atreus, in both characters, a good king and a brave warrior. He was the brother-in-law, moreover, of shameless me, if ever indeed he was."

Thus he spoke. But him the old man admired, and said: "O blessed son of Atreus, happy-born, fortunate, truly indeed were many Achæan youths made subject to thee. Before now I entered vine-bearing Phrygia, where I beheld many