He said, and took his seat, and in the midst Dardanian Priam rose, a counsellor Of godlike wisdom, and thus sagely spake:—
“Hear me, ye Trojans, Dardans, and allies! I speak the thought that rises in my breast. Take now, as ye are wont, your evening meal And set a watch and keep upon your guard; But let Idaeus to the hollow ships Repair at morning, and to Atreus’ sons— To Agamemnon and his brother king— Make known what Paris, author of this strife, Proposes, and with fairly ordered speech Ask further if they will consent to pause From cruel battle till we burn the dead: Then be the war renewed till fate shall part The hosts and give to one the victory.”
He spake. The assembly listened and obeyed; All through the camp in groups they took their meal. But with the morn Idaeus visited The hollow ships, and found the Achaian chiefs, Followers of Mars, in council near the prow Of Agamemnon’s barque; and, standing there, The loud-voiced herald spake his message thus:—
“Ye sons of Atreus, and ye other chiefs Of all the tribes of Greece, I come to you From Priam and the eminent men of Troy, To say, if it be pleasing to your ears, What Alexander, author of the war, Proposes. All the wealth which in his ships He brought to Troy—would he had perished first!— He will, with added treasures of his own, Freely restore; but her who was the wife Of gallant Menelaus he denies To render back, though all who dwell in Troy Join to demand it. I am furthermore Bidden to ask if you consent to pause From cruel battle till we burn our dead: Then be the war renewed till fate shall part The hosts and give to one the victory.”
He spake; and all were silent for a space. Then spake at length the valiant Diomed:—