nd beside him Antenor mounted the
beautiful chariot. So they guided their fleet steeds through the Scaean
gates, towards the plain.

But when they had now come between the Trojans and the Greeks,
descending from their steeds to the fruitful earth, they advanced into
the midst of the Trojans and Greeks. Then Agamemnon, king of heroes,
immediately arose, and much-counselling Ulysses arose. But the
illustrious heralds collected together the faithful pledges of the gods,
and mixed wine in a bowl, and poured water upon the hands of the kings.
And the son of Atreus, drawing with his hands his dagger, which was
always suspended at the huge sheath of his sword, cut off hairs from the
heads of the lambs: and then the heralds distributed them to the chiefs
of the Trojans and the Greeks. Amongst them the son of Atreus prayed
earnestly, having stretched forth his hands:

"O father Jove, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most mighty,--and thou,
O sun, who beholdest all things, and nearest all things--and ye rivers,
and thou earth, and ye below who punish men deceased, whosoever swears
with perjury, be ye witnesses and preserve the faithful league. If, on
the one hand, Alexander should slay Menelaus, let him thenceforth retain
Helen and all her possessions; but let us return in our sea-traversing
ships. But if, on the contrary, yellow-haired Menelaus slay Alexander,
let the Trojans then restore Helen and all her treasures, and pay a fine
to the Argives such as is just, and which may be [recorded] amongst
posterity. But if Priam and the sons of Priam will not pay me the fine,
on Alexander falling, then will I afterwards fight on account of the
fine, remaining here till I find an end of the war."

He spoke, and cut the throats of the lambs with the cruel steel, and he
laid them on the earth panting, wanting life; for the brass had taken
away their [vital] strength. Then having drawn wine from the goblet,
they poured it into the cups, and prayed to the immortal gods. But thus
some one of the Greeks and Trojans said:

"O Jove, most glorious, most mighty, and ye other immortal gods, whoever
first shall offend against the leagues, so let the brain of themselves
and of their children stream upon the ground like this wine, and let
their wives be mingled with other men."

Thus they said, nor yet did the son of Saturn ratify [their vows]. Then
Priam, the son of Dardanus, addressed them:

"Hear me, ye Trojans, and ye well-greaved Greeks: I,