Page:Iliad Buckley.djvu/68

56 Ulysses arose, he stood and looked down, fixing his eyes on the earth, but he neither moved his scepter backward nor forward, but held it unmoved like an unskillful man: you would say indeed that he was a very irritable man, as well as devoid of reason. But when he did send forth the mighty voice from his breast, and words like unto wintery flakes of snow, no longer then would another mortal contend with Ulysses. And beholding, we then marveled not so much at the aspect of Ulysses, [as at his words]." Then in the third place, having beheld Ajax, the old man asked: "Who is that other Achæan hero, valiant and great, out-topping the Argives by his head and broad shoulders?"

But him long-robed Helen answered, divine of women: "This indeed is mighty Ajax, the bulwark of the Achæans: on the other side, among the Cretans, stands Idomeneus like unto a god: but around him the leaders of the Cretans are collected. Often did Mars-beloved Menelaus entertain him in our palace, when he would come from Crete. But now I behold all the other rolling-eyed Greeks, whom I could easily recognize, and pronounce their names; but two leaders of the people I can not see: horse-taming Castor, and Pollux skilled in boxing, twin brothers, whom the same mother brought forth with me. Either they have not followed from pleasant Lacedæmon, or they indeed have followed hither in the sea-traversing ships, but now are reluctant to enter the fight of the heroes, fearing the disgrace, and the many reproaches which are mine."

Thus she spoke; but them the life-bestowing earth already possessed: there in Lacedæmon, in their dear native land. But heralds through the city were bearing the firm pledges of the gods, two lambs and joyous wine, the fruit of the earth, in a goat-skin flagon. But the herald Idaeus also brought a splendid goblet, and golden cups; and standing by him, incited the old man in these words:

"Arise, son of Laomedon; the chiefs of the horse-breaking Trojans, and of the brazen-mailed Greeks, call thee to descend into the plain, that thou mayest ratify a faithful