§3.198ὅς τʼ οἰῶν μέγα πῶϋ διέρχεται ἀργεννάων. §3.199τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειθʼ Ἑλένη Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα· §3.200οὗτος δʼ αὖ Λαερτιάδης πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς, §3.201ὃς τράφη ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης κραναῆς περ ἐούσης §3.202εἰδὼς παντοίους τε δόλους καὶ μήδεα πυκνά. §3.203τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντήνωρ πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα· §3.204ὦ γύναι ἦ μάλα τοῦτο ἔπος νημερτὲς ἔειπες· §3.205ἤδη γὰρ καὶ δεῦρό ποτʼ ἤλυθε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς §3.206σεῦ ἕνεκʼ ἀγγελίης σὺν ἀρηϊφίλῳ Μενελάῳ· §3.207τοὺς δʼ ἐγὼ ἐξείνισσα καὶ ἐν μεγάροισι φίλησα, §3.208ἀμφοτέρων δὲ φυὴν ἐδάην καὶ μήδεα πυκνά.
"who passes through a great flock of white sheep." Then Helen, born of Zeus, answered him: "This one furthermore is the son of Laertes, very wise Odysseus, who was reared in the land of Ithaca, though it is rugged, knowing all kinds of wiles and close counsels." To her in turn the wise Antenor spoke in reply: "O lady, truly indeed you have spoken this word unerringly; for already also hither once came noble Odysseus on an embassy concerning you, with Menelaus, dear to Ares; and I entertained them and welcomed them in my halls, and of both I learned the stature and close counsels.
§3.209ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Τρώεσσιν ἐν ἀγρομένοισιν ἔμιχθεν §3.210στάντων μὲν Μενέλαος ὑπείρεχεν εὐρέας ὤμους, §3.211ἄμφω δʼ ἑζομένω γεραρώτερος ἦεν Ὀδυσσεύς· §3.212ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μύθους καὶ μήδεα πᾶσιν ὕφαινον §3.213ἤτοι μὲν Μενέλαος ἐπιτροχάδην ἀγόρευε, §3.214παῦρα μὲν ἀλλὰ μάλα λιγέως, ἐπεὶ οὐ πολύμυθος §3.215οὐδʼ ἀφαμαρτοεπής· ἦ καὶ γένει ὕστερος ἦεν.
But when indeed they mingled among the assembled Trojans, when they stood, Menelaus surpassed him with his broad shoulders, but when both sat, Odysseus was more majestic; but when indeed they wove words and counsels for all, Menelaus indeed spoke fluently, few words indeed, but very clearly, since he was not of many words nor missed his words, even though he was younger in birth.
§3.216ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πολύμητις ἀναΐξειεν Ὀδυσσεὺς §3.217στάσκεν, ὑπαὶ δὲ ἴδεσκε κατὰ χθονὸς ὄμματα πήξας, §3.218σκῆπτρον δʼ οὔτʼ ὀπίσω οὔτε προπρηνὲς ἐνώμα, §3.219ἀλλʼ ἀστεμφὲς ἔχεσκεν ἀΐδρεϊ φωτὶ ἐοικώς· §3.220φαίης κε ζάκοτόν τέ τινʼ ἔμμεναι ἄφρονά τʼ αὔτως.
But when indeed very wise Odysseus would rise, he would stand, and look down, casting his eyes upon the ground, and his staff he would move neither backward nor forward, but would hold it unmoved, like a man without knowledge; you would say he was both somewhat angry and foolish just the same.
§3.221ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ὄπα τε μεγάλην ἐκ στήθεος εἵη §3.222καὶ ἔπεα νιφάδεσσιν ἐοικότα χειμερίῃσιν, §3.223οὐκ ἂν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆΐ γʼ ἐρίσσειε βροτὸς ἄλλος· §3.224οὐ τότε γʼ ὧδʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀγασσάμεθʼ εἶδος ἰδόντες. §3.225τὸ τρίτον αὖτʼ Αἴαντα ἰδὼν ἐρέεινʼ ὃ γεραιός· §3.226τίς τὰρ ὅδʼ ἄλλος Ἀχαιὸς ἀνὴρ ἠΰς τε μέγας τε §3.227ἔξοχος Ἀργείων κεφαλήν τε καὶ εὐρέας ὤμους; §3.228τὸν δʼ Ἑλένη τανύπεπλος ἀμείβετο δῖα γυναικῶν· §3.229οὗτος δʼ Αἴας ἐστὶ πελώριος ἕρκος Ἀχαιῶν· §3.230Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐνὶ Κρήτεσσι θεὸς ὣς §3.231ἕστηκʼ, ἀμφὶ δέ μιν Κρητῶν ἀγοὶ ἠγερέθονται.
But when indeed he sent forth his great voice from his chest, and words like winter snowflakes, not then could any other mortal contend with Odysseus; not then did we so much marvel at the appearance of Odysseus, seeing him." Thirdly furthermore, seeing Ajax, the old man asked: "Who then is this other Achaean man, noble and great, outstanding among the Argives in head and broad shoulders?" And Helen of the long robe, noble among women, answered him: "This is mighty Ajax, the bulwark of the Achaeans; and Idomeneus on the other side among the Cretans like a god stands, and around him the leaders of the Cretans are gathered.
Often Menelaus, dear to Ares, entertained him in our house, whenever he came from Crete.
§3.234νῦν δʼ ἄλλους μὲν πάντας ὁρῶ ἑλίκωπας Ἀχαιούς, §3.235οὕς κεν ἐῢ γνοίην καί τʼ οὔνομα μυθησαίμην· §3.236δοιὼ δʼ οὐ δύναμαι ἰδέειν κοσμήτορε λαῶν §3.237Κάστορά θʼ ἱππόδαμον καὶ πὺξ ἀγαθὸν Πολυδεύκεα §3.238αὐτοκασιγνήτω, τώ μοι μία γείνατο μήτηρ.
But now I see all the other quick-glancing Achaeans, whom I could well recognize and tell their names; but two leaders of the people I cannot see, Castor, tamer of horses, and Polydeuces, good in boxing, my own brothers, whom one mother bore with me.
§3.239ἢ οὐχ ἑσπέσθην Λακεδαίμονος ἐξ ἐρατεινῆς, §3.240ἢ δεύρω μὲν ἕποντο νέεσσʼ ἔνι ποντοπόροισι, §3.241νῦν αὖτʼ οὐκ ἐθέλουσι μάχην καταδύμεναι ἀνδρῶν §3.242αἴσχεα δειδιότες καὶ ὀνείδεα πόλλʼ ἅ μοί ἐστιν. §3.243ὣς φάτο, τοὺς δʼ ἤδη κάτεχεν φυσίζοος αἶα §3.244ἐν Λακεδαίμονι αὖθι φίλῃ ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ.
Either they did not follow from lovely Lacedaemon, or they followed hither in the seafaring ships, but now they do not wish to enter the battle of men, fearing the shame and many reproaches which are mine." So she spoke, but them already the life-giving earth held fast there in Lacedaemon, in their dear fatherland.
§3.245κήρυκες δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ θεῶν φέρον ὅρκια πιστὰ §3.246ἄρνε δύω καὶ οἶνον ἐΰφρονα καρπὸν ἀρούρης §3.247ἀσκῷ ἐν αἰγείῳ· φέρε δὲ κρητῆρα φαεινὸν §3.248κῆρυξ Ἰδαῖος ἠδὲ χρύσεια κύπελλα· §3.249ὄτρυνεν δὲ γέροντα παριστάμενος ἐπέεσσιν· §3.250ὄρσεο Λαομεδοντιάδη, καλέουσιν ἄριστοι §3.251Τρώων θʼ ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων §3.252ἐς πεδίον καταβῆναι ἵνʼ ὅρκια πιστὰ τάμητε· §3.253αὐτὰρ Ἀλέξανδρος καὶ ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος §3.254μακρῇς ἐγχείῃσι μαχήσοντʼ ἀμφὶ γυναικί· §3.255τῷ δέ κε νικήσαντι γυνὴ καὶ κτήμαθʼ ἕποιτο· §3.256οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι φιλότητα καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες §3.257ναίοιμεν Τροίην ἐριβώλακα, τοὶ δὲ νέονται §3.258Ἄργος ἐς ἱππόβοτον καὶ Ἀχαιΐδα καλλιγύναικα. §3.259ὣς φάτο ῥίγησεν δʼ ὃ γέρων, ἐκέλευσε δʼ ἑταίρους §3.260ἵππους ζευγνύμεναι· τοὶ δʼ ὀτραλέως ἐπίθοντο.
And heralds through the city were carrying the trustworthy oaths of the gods, two lambs and cheering wine, the fruit of the earth, in a goat-skin bottle; and a shining mixing-bowl carried the herald Idaeus, and golden cups; and he urged the old man, standing beside him with words: "Rise, son of Laomedon, the chiefs call you, both of the horse-taming Trojans and of the bronze-clad Achaeans, to go down into the plain, so that you may strike a trustworthy oath; but Alexander and Menelaus, dear to Ares, will fight with long spears for the woman; and to the winner the woman and the possessions will follow; and the others, having struck friendship and trustworthy oaths, may we dwell in fertile Troy, and they return to horse-pasturing Argos and Achaea of fair women." So he spoke, and the old man shuddered, and ordered his companions to yoke the horses; and they quickly obeyed.
§3.261ἂν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔβη Πρίαμος, κατὰ δʼ ἡνία τεῖνεν ὀπίσσω· §3.262πὰρ δέ οἱ Ἀντήνωρ περικαλλέα βήσετο δίφρον· §3.263τὼ δὲ διὰ Σκαιῶν πεδίον δʼ ἔχον ὠκέας ἵππους.
Priam then mounted and drew back the reins; and beside him Antenor mounted the very beautiful chariot; and the two through the Scaean gates held their swift horses toward the plain.