Phrygians, heroes on fleet horses, the forces of Otreus and godlike Mygdon, who encamped there near the banks of the Sangarius. For I also, being an ally, was numbered with them on that day, when the man-opposing Amazons came. But not even these were so numerous as the black-eyed Greeks."
But next perceiving[1] Ulysses, the old man asked her: "Come, tell me of this one also, dear daughter, who he is? he is less indeed in height[2] than Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, but is broader to behold in shoulders and breast. His arms lie upon the fertile earth, but he himself, like a ram, goes round the ranks of the men. I for my part compare him to a thick-fleeced ram, which wanders through a great flock of snowy sheep."
But him Helen, sprung from Jove, answered: "Now, this one again is the son of Laertes, much-scheming Ulysses, who was bred in the country of Ithaca, rugged though it be, skilled in all kinds of stratagems and prudent counsels."
Her then the sage Antenor adressed in reply: "O lady, assuredly hast thou spoken this word very truly: for already in former times divine Ulysses came hither also, on an embassy concerning thee, with Mars-beloved Menelaus. I received them as guests, and entertained them in my palace, and became acquainted with the genius of both, and their prudent counsels; but when they were mingled with the assembled Trojans, Menelaus indeed overtopped him, as they stood by his broad shoulders; but when both were sitting, Ulysses was more majestic.[3] But when they began to weave words and counsels for all, Menelaus, on his part, would harangue very fluently; a few [words] indeed, but very sweetly, since he was not loquacious, nor a random talker, though he was younger in age. But when much-
- ↑ This whole passage may be compared with the similar enumeration and description of the seven Argive chieftians in Eurip. Phœn. 119, sqq.
- ↑ Not "a head less" in height; for line 169 would then mean that Agamemnon was a head less than others, and consequently Ulysses would be two heads under the ordinary size. Anthon has adopted this common mistake, although Wolf had pointed it out.
- ↑ Observe the Attic construction, where the genitive would have been expected. So Od. M. 73. Il. ii. 317. Compared by Lesbonax, περὶ σχημ. p. 183, sq. ed. Valck. See, also, my note on Æsch. Prom. p. 8; intpp. on Theocrit. i. 48.
