Print
Word
PDFleave a curse to us, and to our sons.
So they among themselves; but Priam call’d
Fair Helen to his side.[12] My daughter dear! Come, sit beside me. Thou shalt hence discern Thy former Lord, thy kindred and thy friends. 190 I charge no blame on thee. The Gods have caused, Not thou, this lamentable war to Troy.[13] Name to me yon Achaian Chief for bulk Conspicuous, and for port. Taller indeed I may perceive than he; but with these eyes 195 Saw never yet such dignity, and grace. Declare his name. Some royal Chief he seems.
To whom thus Helen, loveliest of her sex,
My other Sire! by me for ever held In reverence, and with filial fear beloved! 200 Oh that some cruel death had been my choice, Rather than to abandon, as I did, All joys domestic, matrimonial bliss, Brethren, dear daughter, and companions dear, A wanderer with thy son. Yet I alas! 205 Died not, and therefore now, live but to weep. But I resolve thee. Thou behold’st the son Of Atreus, Agamemnon, mighty king, In arms heroic, gracious in the throne, And, (though it shame me now to call him such,) 210 By nuptial ties a brother once to me.
Then him the ancient King-admiring, said.
Oh blest Atrides, happy was thy birth, And thy lot glorious, whom this gallant host So numerous, of the sons of Greece obey! 215 To vine-famed Phrygia, in my days of youth, I journey’d; many Phrygians there I saw, Brave horsemen, and expert; they were the powers Of Otreus and of Mygdon, godlike Chief, And on the banks of Sangar’s stream encamp’d. 220 I march’d among them, chosen in that war Ally of Phrygia, and it was her day Of conflict with the man-defying race, The Amazons; yet multitudes like these Thy bright-eyed Greeks, I saw not even there. 225
The venerable King observing next
Ulysses, thus inquired. My child, declare Him also. Shorter by the head he seems Than Agamemnon, Atreus’ mighty son, But shoulder’d broader, and of ampler chest; 230 He hath disposed his armor on the plain, But like a ram, himself the warrior ranks Ranges majestic; like a ram full-fleeced By numerous sheep encompass’d snowy-white.
To whom Jove’s daughter Helen thus replied. 235
In him the son of old Laertes know, Ulysses; born in Ithaca the rude, But of a piercing wit, and deeply wise.
Then answer thus, Antenor sage return’d.
Princess thou hast described him: hither once 240 The noble Ithacan, on thy behalf Ambassador with Menelaus, came: Beneath my roof, with hospitable fare Friendly I entertained them. Seeing then Occasion opportune, I closely mark’d 245 The genius and the talents of the Chiefs, And this I noted well; that when they stood Amid the assembled counsellors of Troy, Then Menelaus his advantage show’d, Who by the shoulders overtopp’d his friend.
So they among themselves; but Priam call’d
Fair Helen to his side.[12] My daughter dear! Come, sit beside me. Thou shalt hence discern Thy former Lord, thy kindred and thy friends. 190 I charge no blame on thee. The Gods have caused, Not thou, this lamentable war to Troy.[13] Name to me yon Achaian Chief for bulk Conspicuous, and for port. Taller indeed I may perceive than he; but with these eyes 195 Saw never yet such dignity, and grace. Declare his name. Some royal Chief he seems.
To whom thus Helen, loveliest of her sex,
My other Sire! by me for ever held In reverence, and with filial fear beloved! 200 Oh that some cruel death had been my choice, Rather than to abandon, as I did, All joys domestic, matrimonial bliss, Brethren, dear daughter, and companions dear, A wanderer with thy son. Yet I alas! 205 Died not, and therefore now, live but to weep. But I resolve thee. Thou behold’st the son Of Atreus, Agamemnon, mighty king, In arms heroic, gracious in the throne, And, (though it shame me now to call him such,) 210 By nuptial ties a brother once to me.
Then him the ancient King-admiring, said.
Oh blest Atrides, happy was thy birth, And thy lot glorious, whom this gallant host So numerous, of the sons of Greece obey! 215 To vine-famed Phrygia, in my days of youth, I journey’d; many Phrygians there I saw, Brave horsemen, and expert; they were the powers Of Otreus and of Mygdon, godlike Chief, And on the banks of Sangar’s stream encamp’d. 220 I march’d among them, chosen in that war Ally of Phrygia, and it was her day Of conflict with the man-defying race, The Amazons; yet multitudes like these Thy bright-eyed Greeks, I saw not even there. 225
The venerable King observing next
Ulysses, thus inquired. My child, declare Him also. Shorter by the head he seems Than Agamemnon, Atreus’ mighty son, But shoulder’d broader, and of ampler chest; 230 He hath disposed his armor on the plain, But like a ram, himself the warrior ranks Ranges majestic; like a ram full-fleeced By numerous sheep encompass’d snowy-white.
To whom Jove’s daughter Helen thus replied. 235
In him the son of old Laertes know, Ulysses; born in Ithaca the rude, But of a piercing wit, and deeply wise.
Then answer thus, Antenor sage return’d.
Princess thou hast described him: hither once 240 The noble Ithacan, on thy behalf Ambassador with Menelaus, came: Beneath my roof, with hospitable fare Friendly I entertained them. Seeing then Occasion opportune, I closely mark’d 245 The genius and the talents of the Chiefs, And this I noted well; that when they stood Amid the assembled counsellors of Troy, Then Menelaus his advantage show’d, Who by the shoulders overtopp’d his friend.
