but
the treasures, whatever I have brought home from Argos, all these I am
willing to give, and even to add others from my own home."

Thus having spoken, he sat down; but to them arose Priam, son of
Dardanus, a counsellor equal to the gods; who thus wisely harangued
them, and said:

"Hear me, ye Trojans, and Dardanians, and allies, that I may tell you
what the soul in my breast commands. Now take repast through the army,
as heretofore, and be attentive to the watch, and let each be mindful of
guard. But in the morning let Idaeus proceed to the hollow ships, to
announce to the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus, the resolution
of Alexander, on whose account the contention has arisen; and let him
add this prudent request also, whether they wish to desist from
horrid-sounding war, until we burn the dead; afterwards will we fight
again till fate separate us, and give the victory to one or other of
us."

Thus he said: but they heard him very attentively, and obeyed. Then they
took their repast throughout the city, by companies. In the morning
Idaeus went to the hollow ships. He found the Greeks, the servants of
Mars, in council, at the stern of[262] Agamemnon's ship: and the
clear-voiced herald, standing in the midst of them, spoke thus:

"Ye sons of Atreus, and ye other chiefs of all the Greeks, Priam and the
other illustrious Trojans command me to tell you, if it be agreeable and
pleasing to you, the determination of Alexander, on whose account this
contention has arisen."

[Footnote 262: Dative for genitive, by the Schema Colophonium.
See Lesbonax, p. 181, ed. Valck.]

"Whatever treasures Alexander brought in the hollow ships to Troy, (would
that he first had perished,) all these is he willing to give up, and
even to add others from his own home: but he says that he will not
restore the wedded spouse of glorious Menelaus: certainly the Trojans,
at least, advise him. They also order me to make this proposal, to wit,
whether ye are willing to desist from dreadful-sounding war, until we
shall burn the dead: afterwards we shall fight again, till fate separate
us, and give the victory to one of us."

Thus he said, but they all became mute in silence. At length Diomede,
brave in the din of war, spoke thus amongst them:

"Let none now receive the treasures of Alexander, nor Helen: for it is
plain, even [to him] who is a mere infant, that the issues of
destruction impend over the Trojans."

Thus he said, a