“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:⁠—