On the roof of King Agamemnon’s palace in Argos a watchman sat watching.  So had he sat night after night, through a whole year, nor was there one of the stars of heaven which he had not seen to rise and set.  And as he watched, his eyes were fixed ever on the north, looking for the signal of fire which should bring good tidings to the Queen and to all Argos.  For now the great city of Troy was tottering to its fall, and the ten years’ toil was coming to an end.

And lo! even as it drew towards morning, there was a light in the sky that was not the light of the sun, and the man cried aloud, “Now blessed be this light that I have watched for, seeing that it bringeth good tidings to this land.  I will straightway to the Queen that she send the news about the city.  And may the Gods grant that I join hand to hand with my master when he cometh back to his home, wherein if there be aught that is ill-ordered, who am I that I should speak thereof?  Let the walls cry out, if they will, only I will keep silence.”

Then he made haste and told the Queen, who sent messengers throughout Argos, bidding that men should burn thank-offerings of incense on every altar.  Also she would that the old men, who were the chiefs and counsellors of the city, should be gathered together to the palace, that they might know the truth of the matter.  And while they waited for the Queen, they talked much of what had been in days gone by, in the beginning of the ten years’ war, when King Agamemnon, with King Menelaues, who was his brother, sailed from that very land of Argos, seeking vengeance for Queen Helen.  And one said, “Remember ye not what we saw when the army set forth from the city? how upon the right hand as they marched there appeared two eagles, one black altogether and the other with feathers of white in him, that devoured a hare big with young ones? and how Calchas, the soothsayer, interpreted the thing, saying, ’The eagles are the two kings; and as these have devoured the hare, so shall the kings devour the city of Troy together with her children!  Only we must needs pray that there come not wrath upon the army.  For Queen Artemis loveth not these winged dogs of her father Zeus, even the eagles.  And if her anger be kindled against us, we shall not turn it away save by an evil sacrifice, from which also shall spring great wrath in the time to come.  Therefore may Apollo help us, who is the healer of all evils,’ So spake Calchas, the soothsayer, knowing indeed that Queen Artemis was wroth with King Agamemnon, for that he had hunted and slain, even in her own grove, a beautiful hart which she loved.”