"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 we are willing to desist from dreadful-sounding war, until we shall burn the dead: afterward 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 among 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 inpend over the Trojans."
Thus he said, and all the sons of the Greeks shouted, admiring the words of horse-breaking Diomede: and then Agamemnon, king of men, thus addressed Idæus:
"Idæus, thou thyself hearest, indeed, the sentiments of the Greeks, how they answer thee; and such also pleases me. But concerning the dead, I grudge not that [you] should burn them; for there is no grudge toward the dead bodies, when they are dead, hastily to perform their obsequies with fire:[1] but let loud-resounding Jove, the husband of Juno, be witness of the treaties."
Thus having said, he raised his scepter to all the gods. But Idæus returned to sacred Ilium. And the Trojans and Dardanians all sat assembled in council, expecting when Idæus might return. He came, and declared his message, standing in the midst of them. But they prepared themselves very speedily for both purposes, some to carry away the bodies, and others to gather wood. The Greeks also on the other side hastened from their well-benched ships, some to carry away the bodies, and others to collect wood.
Then, indeed, the sun freshly struck the fields [with its rays], ascending heaven from the calmly-flowing, deep-moving ocean. But they met one another. Then was it difficult to distinguish each man [among the slain]; but washing off with water the bloody gore, and pouring over them warm
- ↑ Literally, "to appease [the dead]."
