, the son of Atreus, but is broader to behold
in shoulders and breast. His arms lie up on the fertile earth, but he
himself, like a ram, goes round the ranks of the men. I for my part
compare him to a thick-fleeced ram, which wanders through a great flock
of snowy sheep."

[Footnote 157: This whole passage may be compared with the
similar enumeration and description of the seven Argive
chieftains in Eurip. Phoen. 119, sqq.]

[Footnote 158: Not "a head less" in height; for line 169 would
then mean that Agamemnon was a head less than others, and
consequently Ulysses would be two heads under the ordinary size.
Anthon has adopted this common mistake, although Wolf had pointed
it out.]

But him Helen, sprung from Jove, answered: "Now, this one again is the
son of Laertes, much-scheming Ulysses, who was bred in the country of
Ithaca, rugged though it be, skilled in all kinds of stratagems and
prudent counsels."

Her then the sage Antenor addressed in reply: "O lady, assuredly hast
thou spoken this word very truly: for already in former times divine
Ulysses came hither also, on an embassy concerning thee, with
Mars-beloved Menelaus. I received them as guests, and entertained them
in my palace, and became acquainted with the genius of both, and their
prudent counsels; but when they were mingled with the assembled Trojans,
Menelaus indeed overtopped him, as they stood by his broad shoulders;
but when both were sitting, Ulysses was more majestic.[159] But when
they began to weave words and counsels for all, Menelaus, on his part,
would harangue very fluently; a few [words] indeed, but very sweetly,
since he was not loquacious, nor a random talker, though he was younger
in age. But when much-counselling Ulysses arose, he stood and looked
down, fixing his eyes on the earth, but he neither moved his sceptre
backwards nor forwards, but held it unmoved like an unskilful 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 wintry flakes of snow, no longer then would another
mortal contend with Ulysses. And beholding, we then marvelled not so
much at the aspect of Ulysses, [as at his words]."

[Footnote 159: Observe the Attic construction, where the genitive
would have been expected. So Od. M. 73. Il. ii 317. Compared by
Lesbonax, [Greek: peri schem]. p. 183, sq. ed. Valck. See, also