Resolved Question: Is investment in Jomtien (thailand) condos among very good investment options in Asia ?

I am exploring investment in Jomtien (Pattaya, Thailand) condos. I like to know if Jomtien is possibly among the very good real estate investment destination and can i expect 30% appreciation per annum. I hear them some of the Thailand's highest towers are being built in jomtien beach. I would like someone to also list top 3-4 condos schemes for investment in 2008, and some websites that give comparison of multiple schemes and most updated information.

9 May 2008, 12:36 am | click here for answers

Resolved Question: They walk among us....Part 2?

This is a series to make you grin... Sandy :O) STAR AND PASS THEM ON!! One day I was walking down the beach with some friends when one Of them shouted, "Look at that dead bird!" Someone looked up at the sky and said, "Where?" They Walk Among Us! =================== While looking at a home, my brother asked the real estate agent which direction was north because, he explained, he didn't want the sun waking him up every morning. She asked, "Does the sun rise in the north?" When my brother explained that the sun rises in the east, and has for sometime, she shook her head and said, "Oh I don't keep up with that stuff." They Walk Among Us!!

9 Apr 2008, 10:57 am | click here for answers

Resolved Question: Real Estate Lease option - Opt out?

My husband and I have decided to opt out of our lease option on the home that we are living in. The owner is supposed to pay for every material for every work that we have put into the home. The total is about 50k as of now, she is saying that there is some work that she would never have done so she doesnt want to pay for it? What should we do? Do we need to consult a lawyer? Does anyone know of a lawyer that would work contingency in long beach, ca? We are moving out of this home in two weeks so we need to do something quick. This is a 102 year old home that was on the verge of being condemed, we have made it model material and restored it back to look like the original victorian it was. This home is in a historic district in Long Beach, California with lots of upgrades, nothing standard.

8 May 2008, 6:01 pm | click here for answers

Resolved Question: I want to live by the beach?

When my husband finishes school in 5 years, I really want to move somewhere by the beach! He is in school for plumbing/pipe-fitting/welding. He is in the union and he says as long as the pay wherever we go is good, he doesn't care. Anyway, my question is what is a good place to live where I could be like 5 - 10 minutes from the beach at least? I would adore to live on the beach, but I know that's insanely expensive!! I just want to take into account cost of living... property taxes, real estate, and the area.... you know, every that stuff. We have an 8 month old, so I guess a place that doesn't have too much crime. I live in New Orleans right now, so it's not like I'm looking for a perfect little town. I care about the schools, but any other state will have better schools than LA, lol, so that's not really a concern.

7 Jun 2008, 4:00 pm | click here for answers

Resolved Question: I am a US citizen considering moving to the Carribean. Which islands offers the best deals in real estate?

My husband and I currently live in the UK but will be leaving next year or 2010. Some islands such as Turks and Caicos offer affordable housing (our budget is around $600K) but they they have a stamp duty of 10%! We are trying to find a place to live that won't cost us an arm and a leg in government fees, etc. Any suggestions? We just want to live on the beach!

6 Jul 2008, 9:11 am | click here for answers

Resolved Question: Looking for real estate in Florida. Need Help?

Ok so i will making a move to Florida in the beginning of '09 and im in search of some websites (with photos and details) where i can take a look at my options out there looking for place in South beach, Miami, or ft. lauderdale no more than 600k and no less than 1400sq. ft.

5 May 2008, 3:29 pm | click here for answers

Resolved Question: Is Selling Your Personal Real Estate Property Considered Earned Income?

In 1999, my husband and I sold a personal condo we owned at the beach. I did not diclosure this as earned income since I thought the commission check was issued to my husband. This was reported on our 1999 IRS forms. If you understand the question I am as However, I received a letter from the Social Security Office says that they received an anmoyous phone that that I earned income that years. I am not aware of receiving any knid of money on that property but would or could the sale of your possess personal property be considered as "earned income" just because we sold our personal property and the fact we both have a real estate license. I thought it had to be earned income" and selling our property was not earning anything. It was just the sale of personal property. Now just because I have a real estate license they have me listed as as' Independant Contractor' which is what they consider a realtor. But, I still have not earned any income. Please email ms_sunshine1998@yahoo.com If you understand my question as to the problem with what is earned income on personal property, please email me and talk to me. Thanks

5 Apr 2008, 6:55 pm | click here for answers

Resolved Question: ¡¡Soy Española!! commotion in spain for a monster case of Josef Fitzl,?

" Conmocción desde España "The case of Josef Fitzl, the Austrian retired electrician who has kept locked in a basement for 24 years for her daughter and three kids he had with her has shocked world public opinion. These are the 50 keys of what happened,'' August 1984. Josef Fritzlar, an electrician in Austria 50 years, holds her daughter Elisabeth, 18, in the basement of his home in Amstetten, Austria. 2. Amstetten. Locality Austrian located northeast of the country, in Lower Austria, with about 22,600 German-speaking inhabitants. Birthplace of Josef Fritzlar, 73 years ago. At a nearby gas station, on the motorway from Vienna to Salzburg, he worked Elisabeth in the early 80. 3. APRIL 2008. Kristen, a girl aged 19, was taken to hospital with symptoms of being seriously sick. It is one of the daughters Elisabeth, now 42 years. Kristen is unconscious, but it has a note in which his mom asks for help for the young. Doctors seeking unsuccessfully history of the patient. Notice to the Police and history arrive to light: Josef Fritzlar has remained closed to Elisabeth for 24 years and has had seven kids with her. Three of them (the very Kerstin; Stephan, 18, and Felix, 5) have shared captivity with the mom, another died, and the remaining three (Lisa, 15 years; Monika, 14, and Alexander, 13) lived with Josef and his wife, Rosemarie (Elisabeth's mom), on top of one's possess home. Rosemarie ensures that knew nothing. 4. Arrests. On April 27, police announced the arrest of Fritzlar, accused of unlawful restraint and sexual abuse. Shortly before, Josef had released her daughter and their kids-grandchildren. The detainee confessed the whole. Then, decides to remain silent until the trial. 5. DNA. Two days later, police confirmed that DNA tests conducted to confirm that Fritzlar is the dad of the kids of Elisabeth. 6. Abuse. Elisabeth suffered the first sexual abuse of his dad in 1977, when she was eleven years. Since then she was raped and beaten systematically. He spent the first nine years of his confinement in a single stay of the basement (not until 1993 his dad organized other spaces). kids born at that time witnessed continuing violations. Fritzlar kept handcuffed the first two days of captivity, and during the six or nine months remained tied. Police ruled that Josef Fritzlar had abused their kids. 7. Background. Fritzlar was jailed for 18 months in 1967 for sexually abusing a young lady in Linz (Austria). He was also subsequently arrested for attempted rape and exhibitionism. In addition, the Police is investigating its connection with the murder, still unsolved, a lady, Martina Posch, 22 years ago. B 8. Search. When Elisabeth was locked up in 1984 his mom reported his disappearance, but, being older, the police thought that he had left home on his possess will and no longer look it up. In fact, Elisabeth was locked up by his dad after returning to his home after an initial escape attempt. 9. Babies. The three kids who lived with Josef and Rosemarie were left on the door of the home shortly after birth (in 1993, 1994 and 1997). They were legally adopted by his grandparents. C 10. Carter. Fritzlar forced his daughter to write letters to keep the secret safe, especially any suspicions of Rosemarie. In the first, 1984, Elisabeth said she was going home and who did not seek. The three kids who were appearing at the door of the home later iban accompanied by letters from Elisabeth in which ensured that he could not take care of them. 11. Wedge. Christine R., sister-in-law of Fritzlar and sister Rosemarie, says he always humbled his sister and mistreated their kids. It also noted that Josef fell to the basement every morning, "supposedly to draw maps of some machines that wanted to sell." "Sometimes spent every night there. Now you know why," he added. 12. Dungeon. The dungeon built in the basement of his home by Fritzlar has about 80 square meters, and stretched below the garden of the home. It is accessed through a sliding door concrete than 300 kilos of weight, hidden behind a bookcase. There was a staircase entrance, a laundry room, two bedrooms, 3 square metres and a tiny kitchen next to a bathroom. Some parts of zulo had no more than 1.70 meters high. Ventilation came from a tube. 13. Code. The door of the basement could only be opened using a secret code known only by Fritzlar. The code shareholders an engine electronically. Fritzlar had activated a mechanism so that the door is opened only if he disappeared. 14. Construction. Fritzlar planned and built the dungeon one year before locking her daughter there, and after seeking permission to reform the building. The plans were approved, but did not include rooms in the basement. 15. Food. Josef was responsible for supplying food and clothing to locked. When was travelling left them food reserve. 16. CIEN. Police intended to interrogate hundred people who went through the home during these 24 years (Fritzlar rented rooms at the top). The investigation could go on for at least two months. Researchers can only work in the zulo followed for half an hour due to lack of oxygen. 17. Damn. Fritzlar, in custody, faces a possible sentence of at least 15 years in prison if found guilty of the charge of rape, the most serious of his alleged crimes, according to Austrian law. 18. Complications. The evidence analyzed so far ruled that no family member acting as an accomplice. Although the police insisted that Fritzlar acted alone, the head of the investigation stated that "someone in the family should know something." In this regard, the German magazine Brigitte said that one of the kids living in the upper home had a copy of the key that gave the basement. Dubanovsky Alfred, a man who was 12 years renting a room in the home of Fritzlar, said that he saw another man fell next to his home in the basement. He added that this man was a plumber, and it drew attention because he was trying to enter prohibited in that part of the home. D 19. Drugs. Fritzlar told police he had locked her daughter to "protect and keep away from drugs". 20. Damage. Encerrado without natural light and isolated from the world throughout his life, the kids of Fritzlar have developed various phobias and fears. They feel panic before the blue tones of mobile phones, traffic in the city ... In addition, they talk with gruñidos (communicate among themselves with a language itself) and prefer to crawl. The tiny, five-year, is "joyful and vital", and was fascinated to sit for the first time in a car. The two biggest need at least eight years of therapy. Experts have advised that for the moment, live in a home without windows. The three, like her mom, have skin problems. Kristen has lost almost every their teeth. 21. Fainting. Kristen was transferred to hospital after suffering a fainting, a result of illness endured. According to some sources, his condition is typical of the evils that can guide to having kids at an incestuous relationship. Other media point to an infection. E 22. Ageing. Elisabeth looks 20 years over which it has. It has very white hair and skin almost transparent due to lack of sunlight. F 23. Pictures. Despite that have been disclosed both photographs of Josef Fritzlar as Elisabeth, the Austrian authorities have warned that any media to publish pictures or intimate details of the victims could be fined up to 20,000 euros. The authorities are studying the possibility of changing the name to protect the victims. G 24. GAS. Police investigating whether Fritzlar built a device to the zulo be filled gas in the event that something will happen to him. Threats to the gas locked in the dungeon if they tried to break free, which could partly explain why Elisabeth would not have never tried to attack you. H 25. Daughter. Elisabeth took their seven kids in the course of 14 years. The conditions below which took place deliveries are still being investigated. The first, Kristen, was born in 1988, and Stephan was born in 1990. Lisa and Monika 'appeared' on the door of the home when they were nine and ten months old. In 1996 twins were born. One of them died within three days and the other, Alexander, 'appeared' also 15 months later at the door of the home. The last, Felix, was born in 2003. According to police, Fritzlar chose the kids who took on his health status and its "inclination to mourn." I 26. Incineration. According said Elisabeth, the sister of the dead body was cremated by Josef in the garden. 27. Social impact. The case of Josef Fritzlar has shocked both the town of Amstetten, besieged these days by hundreds of journalists, as the entire Austrian society, especially when it happened barely two years after it was known the case of Natascha Kampusch, the young man who was kidnapped close Vienna for eight years. Some local media also have questioned one type of society in which there may be cases like this one: "Everything should be ashamed Amstetten.'s Neighbors closed their eyes" (Österreich), "The entire community must ask itself what is happening" (Der Standard). Some 200 people gathered in the main square of Amstetten carrying candles to express their "anger" and "deep sorrow" for what happened. "Every day spent in front of the home; should have done something," said one of the assistants. 28. Ignorance. Elisabeth has exculpado his mom from captivity and abuse he suffered, making sure that she knew nothing. "He never had anything to do," he said. J 29. JUDGE. "every the procedures were tough, the pieces were consistent," said Josef Schluegl judge, who granted in their day-to Fritzlar custody of a child, not knowing that it was actually his son, after reading a letter in which Elisabeth asked their parents to take care of tiny and not try to look it up. "Impossible to imagine that he was kidnapped and forced him to write," he added. K 30. KAMPUSCH, Natascha. The young Austrian 20-year-old Natascha Kampusch, who reappeared in 2006 after spending eight years sequestered, announced the donation of 25,000 euros for victims of Fritzlar. He also made an international appeal to lift money for the family. L 31. Lynchings. Fritzlar has been isolated in prison Sankt Polten before the danger that other prisoners might lynched. "The murderers and rapists of minors are seen as the lowest scale and deplorable, so often suffer attacks extremes," said Günter Mörwald, director of the prison. M 32. Monster. Most of the Spanish press has dubbed Josef Fritzlar as "The Monster of Amstetten." The French daily Le Figaro spoke of "the dad of darkness". 33. May, RUDOLPH. It's lawyer Fritzlar. Counsel famous in Austria, Der Spiegel assured that their work is "to show Josef Fritzlar as a human being" after being presented as "a horrible monster and a tyrant sex." "When I saw him for the first time I seemed like a patriarch with good and bad sides, broken, very emotionally affected," he said. N 34. Nazis. The clinic where he recovered Elisabeth and their kids, in the town of Mauer, also has its possess dark past. During World War II, hundreds of people died here victims of euthanasia practices carried out by the Nazis between 1941 and 1944. Or 35. Other cases. We discovered in Amstetten has brought to mind other similar events, apart from the mentioned Natascha Kampusch. Gouardo Lydia, a French 45 year said they had been raped and tortured for 28 years by his dad, with whom she had six kids between 1982 and 1993, has shown its desire to meet Elisabeth. Moreover, the Austrian police reopen the case of 64 missing kids in the country, five of which are missing from their homes for more than 10 years. P 36. Posch, Martin. He was murdered 22 years ago, when he was 17. His body was found in Lake Mondsee and so far the case has not yet been resolved. Fritzlar's wife then had a restaurant on the banks of the lake, not far from Amstetten. 37. Properties. Fritzlar enjoyed a comfortable financial position. He was registered as sole owner of six real estate, spread over several localities of Lower Austria. The list includes the family home, three buildings with many apartments and commercial premises, another home and a plot, with an estimated value of about 2.2 million. In one of these solar acquired by Fritzlar just three years ago, had moved tens of cubic meters of earth. 38. Imprisonment. In prison Sankt Polten, Fritzlar occupies a cell with a tiny window by which natural light enters, overlooking a garden. It has radio and television and can go for a walk once a day. 39. Profile. Joseph Fritzlar, 74-year-old retired electrician, has been described by police as a "very intelligent". His neighbors considered him a figure respectable within the community. His sister-in-law, however, he now qualifies for "despot". His neighbours claim that always tried to appear tan, flirting with women and that drew attention for the way he had exaggerated care of your garden. Others noted that ruled his home "as a lieutenant general," and that it was very jealous of their privacy. A former co-worker noted that "was always well dressed, as a diplomat." It belonged to the club's fishing Amstetten. Q 40. Complaint. Some of the tenants of Fritzlar complained that often disappeared as the refrigerator of the home. One of them said not understand because Fritzlar "seemed to like a good economic situation." R 41. Reunification. Each child of Elisabeth (except Kristen, who remained hospitalized) and her mom met for the first time last April 27, at the clinic where they are receiving treatment. The centre's director described as "astonishing" and "exciting" the "ease with which came together", both boys among themselves, as with his mom Elisabeth. Rosemarie told her daughter that it felt and that he had no "no idea". S 42. Suicide. In prison, Fritzlar remains below surveillance 24 hours to avoid dealing with kill himself. 43. Sect. Fritzlar maintained every these years version of her daughter Elisabeth had been picked up by a sect, which obliged him to receive rid of their kids. The Chief of Police of Lower Austria noted that "this man did not leave any place without tying in order to deceive his family, his wife, their relatives, kids and the world around him." T 44. Thailand. The German tabloid newspaper Bild Zeitung reported in a video that appears Fritzlar during a holiday in Thailand. It was recorded by a German pal who traveled with the Asian country. In the video you can look how Fritzlar, swimwear, receives a massage from a lady on the beach. In another scene, is preparing to eat a piece of meat and it looks very good mood. 45. Tourism. The Austrian authorities have shown their concern about the effect of tourism in cases like that of Fritzlar or Kampusch. Franz Grossglockner, head of the department of Tourism of Austria, told the AP agency: "Who will want to visit this country? For every wonderful summit snowfall or every cathedral we also have begun a world war, or pick to admit as xenophobes rulers, rapists and incestuous psychopaths in the headlines ...". U 46. Usurpation of staff. In at least one occasion, Fritzlar was going through his daughter Elisabeth to announce by telephone that his wife had left one of the babies at the door of the home. V 47. Summer. Fritzlar had planned to end the confinement this summer, according to British newspaper Daily Mail. Apparently, "no longer endure" his daughter, and was "sleepy of his dual life" and therefore had decided to return to Elisabeth of the alleged sect which allegedly had ido 24 years ago. W 48. WEB. Internet is the medium that is giving more complete and updated case. In www.20minutos.es there is continuous renewal with photos and videos. X 49. X. The case of 'monster Amstetten "is full of questions and unknowns still to be resolved: How is it possible that no member of the family, especially his wife of Fritzlar, suspected nothing, nor neighbours and acquaintances of the couple? Who Caring for Fritzlar was locked when traveling? How were the births in that zulo what happened when one of the kids, especially infants being, fell seriously sick How justified Fritzlar before his wife extra expenditure on food, clothing , Etc.? Z 50. Zul. The basements like the one used as Fritzlar zulo received grants from the Austrian government during the icy War to be used as shelters before a possible nuclear attack Related articles A tenant who lived in the home of Fritzlar says he knew he raped his daughter (04/05/08) Fritzlar threatened their victims to die gas in the basement (01/05/08) Austria called to testify to the neighbors of Fritzlar (30/04/08) Josef Fritzlar built the dungeon for her daughter a year before encerrado (03/05/08) Elisabeth Fritzlar his acquittal mom of his captivity and abuse (03/05/08) Danger of lynching for the kidnapper and rapist of his daughter, Elizabeth Fritzlar (02/05/08) One witness says that he saw another person arrive in zulo Josef Fritzlar (02/05/08) -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Send to: Reddit Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Yahoo Fresqui Note: You must be registered in these services to record the contenidoAhora at home ... 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4 May 2008, 8:15 am | click here for answers

Resolved Question: Where can I find real estate listings with Jamaican prices?

My husband and I are moving to Jamaica in a couple of months with our 4 youngest kids. We have a modest income that will arrive with us along with some cash from liquidating our belongings here. We have a close pal who is Jamaican living here in US. She shared alot of helpful information with us. Her son just bought her a beautiful home close the beach for $20,000 USD. She said that there is a Jamiacan price and an American price. And that most Jamaicans are very warm, hospitable people and that if you have a pal there that they can help you receive the best prices. We want to lift our family in Jamiaca, in a beautiful place with beautiful people. We need help in finding a nice place that we can pay cash for in a nice area. Can anyone help or give advice???

4 May 2008, 12:52 pm | click here for answers

Resolved Question: What would it cost to live on the coast (say Florida) in a travel trailer versus in a house?

I have an idea of what it costs to rent a space for a travel trailer in state parks on the beach. I'm curious how that compares to living in a tiny home in similar real estate. I think the travel trailer is much cheaper, but I have no idea how much cheaper. paw paw I'm planning to retire in a travel trailer and travel around the country. I'm just curious how the cost for staying on the beach for a week or a month compares to owning beach-front property. I won't buy that real estate anyway. Just curious. Steve

31 May 2008, 5:41 pm | click here for answers

Resolved Question: Women: What do you think of this...?

"Single mom selling Fla. home and heart on Internet" " PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - She's tried night clubs and online dating sites, but now a 42-year-old single mom is looking for adore where everyone else's heart is breaking — the real estate market. After a year of trying to sell her four-bedroom home and eight years of singledom, Deven Trabosh is offering her South Florida home and a shot at marrying her on the Internet." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080627/ap_on_fe_st/heart_for_sale http://florence.en.craigslist.it/vac/725787925.html

30 Jun 2008, 10:23 am | click here for answers

Resolved Question: How does one become a real estate agent?

I'm finishing up my junior year of college next week (thank God lol). My major is interior design. I adore it! But I also know it's difficult to receive jobs and make decent money unless you live in a big city (I have school loans to pay off!). I have no desire to live anywhere bigger than Myrtle Beach. And being that that area is already saturated with designers, thanks to HGTV, and due to the fact that for some reason, most southerners tend to decorate their possess homes beautifully (or at least think they can), I'm at a loss. IDS requires that for someone to be a licensed interior designer, they have to receive a bachelor's degree at an accredited college, complete one year and a half of "design experience" and pass a licensing exam. The real estate business has always interested me as well. I would like to know what needs to be done in order for someone with my bkgd to become an agent (we currently live in VA but want to move to SC). Thanks!

30 Apr 2008, 9:26 am | click here for answers

Resolved Question: When someone you contact on a personals site asks you "what is it about my profile that intrigued you?

does that person arrive across as a little too "into themselves"? I dont' find myself intrigued by too many people especially not a personals site. Intrigue to me means something mysterious and special not what the average person says about liking to dine out, walk on the beach, ride motorcycles, etc I think that gets to be cliche after awhile. I answer those who contact me to be polite, either thanking them but saying I don't think we are compatible or if I am interested I contact them to find out more about them, not intigued by them though. Gee people need to receive over themselves. Nothing too intriguing about a guy who works real estate, likes cars, barbecues, etc. sorry I don't know how this got in polls and surveys, it supposed to be in the singles catagory

29 Mar 2008, 1:04 pm | click here for answers

Resolved Question: Commercial Real Estate Classes/Workshops?

Does anyone know of any Real estate classes, (preferably dealing with commercial real estate) being offered in the next 4 days, in or around the Long Beach,CA area?

28 May 2008, 2:13 am | click here for answers

Resolved Question: If you are in India, especially Goa, and you are familiar with the real estate business...?

If you are in Goa and familiar with the real estate business, you may be able to do two things for me, please: I am looking for a good property there on the beach and want to deal with good agents. Secondly I am looking for a pal and wonder if you can help me find him. He is Jose Menezes, an architect from Mombasa, who has acquired a property to retire there, probably on the beach. Are either of both these possible to do?

28 Mar 2008, 4:34 am | click here for answers

Voting Question: How do I go about job shadowing for a real estate agent?

im 16 and im doing this graduation project for school. Im really interested in being a real estate agent after college (preferrably beach houses) So for my project I was thinking about job shadowing for a realtor. I live in montgomery county Pa and I was wondering if anyone had a clue of where I could go to shadow. and any details or anything about being a real estate agent or job shadowing for it or anything like that would be chilly too. thanks :)

28 Mar 2008, 1:21 pm | click here for answers

Voting Question: What is the cheapest real estate on a beach on the east coast?

27 May 2008, 10:45 am | click here for answers

Resolved Question: Selling House...AND WIFE?!?

Did anybody hear about the real estate agent in West Palm Beach FLA!? She's selling herhouse with herself as a wife in it? Does anybody know where I can find her add? I wanna look it! lol Her name is Deven Traboscia

27 Jun 2008, 12:48 pm | click here for answers

Voting Question: What is a good short term real estate website?

I'm trying to find a home or a nice hotel in either the hamptons, mantauk, flame island, pretty much anywhere out east on long island (close a beach) or manhattan for after prom. It's just going to be 6 people so we want 2-3 bedrooms...

27 Apr 2008, 12:13 am | click here for answers

Resolved Question: Is Myrtle Beach South Carolina Really a good investment opportunity for real estate?

26 May 2008, 10:44 am | click here for answers

Resolved Question: Real estate/ Economics quick question.....any scholars out there?

I'm trying to remember a term I learned in one of my economics classes that you would use to decribe an object outside your home that is ugly or obstructs your view and thus it actually brings the value of your property down(i.e. living next to a skyrise that blocks your view of the beach, or living next to a landfill dump, etc. ). Anyone know?

26 Jun 2008, 12:40 pm | click here for answers

Resolved Question: My wife and I are relocating to Charleston, SC?

We are planning on renting for 6 months to 1 yr to receive to know the area before we purchase a home. Any ideas out there on the best place to store around for a home if we are trying to spend $250000 or less on our first Charleston home. We adore the beach, like partaking in an adult beverage or two, and are completly open to new or pre loved real estate.

25 May 2008, 2:15 am | click here for answers

Resolved Question: Poll: Did you like The Oddysey or The Iliad better?

I liked the Iliad better. This was my favorite part: Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures, for so were the counsels of Jove fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles, first fell out with one another. And which of the gods was it that set them on to quarrel? It was the son of Jove and Leto; for he was mad with the king and sent a pestilence upon the host to plague the people, because the son of Atreus had dishonoured Chryses his priest. Now Chryses had arrive to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter, and had brought with him a great ransom: moreover he bore in his hand the sceptre of Apollo wreathed with a suppliant's wreath and he besought the Achaeans, but most of every the two sons of Atreus, who were their chiefs. "Sons of Atreus," he cried, "and every other Achaeans, may the gods who dwell in Olympus grant you to bag the city of Priam, and to reach your homes in safety; but free my daughter, and accept a ransom for her, in reverence to Apollo, son of Jove." On this the relax of the Achaeans with one voice were for respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered; but not so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly away. "Old man," said he, "let me not find you tarrying about our ships, nor yet coming hereafter. Your sceptre of the god and your wreath shall profit you nothing. I will not free her. She shall grow old in my home at Argos far from her possess home, busying herself with her loom and visiting my sofa; so go, and do not provoke me or it shall be the worse for you." The old man feared him and obeyed. Not a word he spoke, but went by the shore of the sounding sea and prayed apart to King Apollo whom lovely Leto had borne. "Hear me," he cried, "O god of the silver bow, that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla and rulest Tenedos with thy might, hear me oh thou of Sminthe. If I have ever decked your temple with garlands, or burned your thigh-bones in fat of bulls or goats, grant my prayer, and let your arrows avenge these my tears upon the Danaans." Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer. He came down furious from the summits of Olympus, with his bow and his quiver upon his shoulder, and the arrows rattled on his back with the rage that trembled within him. He sat himself down away from the ships with a face as dark as night, and his silver bow rang death as he shot his arrow in the midst of them. First he smote their mules and their hounds, but presently he aimed his shafts at the people themselves, and every day long the pyres of the dead were burning. For nine whole days he shot his arrows among the people, but upon the tenth day Achilles called them in assembly- moved thereto by Juno, who saw the Achaeans in their death-throes and had compassion upon them. Then, when they were got together, he rose and spoke among them. "Son of Atreus," said he, "I deem that we should now turn roving home if we would escape destruction, for we are being clip down by war and pestilence at once. Let us ask some priest or prophet, or some reader of dreams (for dreams, too, are of Jove) who can tell us why Phoebus Apollo is so mad, and say whether it is for some vow that we have broken, or hecatomb that we have not offered, and whether he will accept the savour of lambs and goats without blemish, so as to take away the plague from us." With these words he sat down, and Calchas son of Thestor, wisest of augurs, who knew things past gift and to arrive, rose to talk. He it was who had guided the Achaeans with their fleet to Ilius, through the prophesyings with which Phoebus Apollo had inspired him. With every sincerity and goodwill he addressed them thus:- "Achilles, loved of heaven, you bid me tell you about the anger of King Apollo, I will therefore do so; but consider first and swear that you will stand by me heartily in word and deed, for I know that I shall offend one who rules the Argives with might, to whom every the Achaeans are in subjection. A plain man cannot stand against the anger of a king, who if he swallow his displeasure now, will yet nurse revenge till he has wreaked it. Consider, therefore, whether or no you will protect me." And Achilles answered, "Fear not, but talk as it is borne in upon you from heaven, for by Apollo, Calchas, to whom you pray, and whose oracles you reveal to us, not a Danaan at our ships shall lay his hand upon you, while I yet live to look upon the face of the earth- no, not though you name Agamemnon himself, who is by far the foremost of the Achaeans." Thereon the seer spoke boldly. "The god," he said, "is mad neither about vow nor hecatomb, but for his priest's sake, whom Agamemnon has dishonoured, in that he would not free his daughter nor take a ransom for her; therefore has he sent these evils upon us, and will yet send others. He will not deliver the Danaans from this pestilence till Agamemnon has restored the girl without fee or ransom to her dad, and has sent a holy hecatomb to Chryse. Thus we may perhaps appease him." With these words he sat down, and Agamemnon rose in anger. His heart was black with rage, and his eyes flashed flame as he scowled on Calchas and said, "Seer of bad, you never yet prophesied smooth things concerning me, but have ever loved to foretell that which was bad. You have brought me neither comfort nor performance; and now you arrive seeing among Danaans, and saying that Apollo has plagued us because I would not take a ransom for this girl, the daughter of Chryses. I have set my heart on keeping her in my possess home, for I adore her better even than my possess wife Clytemnestra, whose peer she is same in form and feature, in understanding and accomplishments. Still I will give her up if I must, for I would have the people live, not die; but you must find me a prize instead, or I alone among the Argives shall be without one. This is not well; for you behold, every of you, that my prize is to go elsewhither." And Achilles answered, "Most noble son of Atreus, covetous beyond every mankind, how shall the Achaeans find you another prize? We have no common store from which to take one. Those we took from the cities have been awarded; we cannot disallow the awards that have been made already. Give this girl, therefore, to the god, and if ever Jove grants us to bag the city of Troy we will requite you three and fourfold." Then Agamemnon said, "Achilles, valiant though you be, you shall not thus outwit me. You shall not overreach and you shall not persuade me. Are you to keep your possess prize, while I sit tamely below my loss and give up the girl at your bidding? Let the Achaeans find me a prize in fair exchange to my liking, or I will arrive and take your possess, or that of Ajax or of Ulysses; and he to whomsoever I may arrive shall rue my coming. But of this we will take thought hereafter; for the gift, let us draw a boat into the sea, and find a crew for her expressly; let us put a hecatomb on board, and let us send Chryseis also; further, let some chief man among us be in command, either Ajax, or Idomeneus, or yourself, son of Peleus, mighty warrior that you are, that we may offer sacrifice and appease the the anger of the god." Achilles scowled at him and answered, "You are steeped in insolence and lust of gain. With what heart can any of the Achaeans do your bidding, either on foray or in open fighting? I came not warring here for any sick the Trojans had done me. I have no quarrel with them. They have not raided my cattle nor my horses, nor clip down my harvests on the wealthy plains of Phthia; for between me and them there is a great space, both mountain and sounding sea. We have followed you, Sir Insolence! for your pleasure, not ours- to gain satisfaction from the Trojans for your shameless self and for Menelaus. You forget this, and threaten to rob me of the prize for which I have toiled, and which the sons of the Achaeans have given me. Never when the Achaeans bag any wealthy city of the Trojans do I receive so good a prize as you do, though it is my hands that do the better part of the fighting. When the sharing comes, your share is far the largest, and I, forsooth, must go back to my ships, take what I can receive and be thankful, when my labour of fighting is done. Now, therefore, I shall go back to Phthia; it will be much better for me to return home with my ships, for I will not stay here dishonoured to gather gold and substance for you." And Agamemnon answered, "Fly if you will, I shall make you no prayers to stay you. I have others here who will do me honour, and over every Jove, the lord of counsel. There is no king here so hateful to me as you are, for you are ever quarrelsome and sick affected. What though you be brave? Was it not heaven that made you so? Go home, then, with your ships and comrades to lord it over the Myrmidons. I care neither for you nor for your anger; and thus will I do: since Phoebus Apollo is taking Chryseis from me, I shall send her with my boat and my followers, but I shall arrive to your tent and take your possess prize Briseis, that you may learn how much stronger I am than you are, and that another may fear to set himself up as equal or comparable with me." The son of Peleus was furious, and his heart within his shaggy breast was divided whether to draw his sword, push the others aside, and kill the son of Atreus, or to restrain himself and check his anger. While he was thus in two minds, and was drawing his mighty sword from its scabbard, Minerva came down from heaven (for Juno had sent her in the adore she bore to them both), and seized the son of Peleus by his yellow hair, visible to him alone, for of the others no man could look her. Achilles turned in amaze, and by the flame that flashed from her eyes at once knew that she was Minerva. "Why are you here," said he, "daughter of aegis-bearing Jove? To look the pride of Agamemnon, son of Atreus? Let me tell you- and it shall surely be- he shall pay for this insolence with his life." And Minerva said, "I arrive from heaven, if you will hear me, to bid you stay your anger. Juno has sent me, who cares for both of you same. Cease, then, this brawling, and do not draw your sword; rail at him if you will, and your railing will not be vain, for I tell you- and it shall surely be- that you shall hereafter receive gifts three times as splendid by reason of this gift insult. Hold, therefore, and obey." "Goddess," answered Achilles, "however mad a man may be, he must do as you two command him. This will be best, for the gods ever hear the prayers of him who has obeyed them." He stayed his hand on the silver hilt of his sword, and thrust it back into the scabbard as Minerva bade him. Then she went back to Olympus among the other gods, and to the home of aegis-bearing Jove. But the son of Peleus again began railing at the son of Atreus, for he was still in a rage. "Wine-bibber," he cried, "with the face of a dog and the heart of a hind, you never dare to go out with the host in battle, nor yet with our chosen men in ambuscade. You shun this as you do death itself. You had rather go round and rob his prizes from any man who contradicts you. You devour your people, for you are king over a feeble folk; otherwise, son of Atreus, henceforward you would insult no man. Therefore I say, and swear it with a great oath- nay, by this my sceptre which shalt sprout neither leaf nor shoot, nor bud anew from the day on which it left its parent stem upon the mountains- for the axe stripped it of leaf and bark, and now the sons of the Achaeans bear it as judges and guardians of the decrees of heaven- so surely and solemnly do I swear that hereafter they shall look fondly for Achilles and shall not find him. In the day of your distress, when your men fall dying by the murderous hand of Hector, you shall not know how to help them, and shall rend your heart with rage for the hour when you offered insult to the bravest of the Achaeans." With this the son of Peleus dashed his gold-bestudded sceptre on the ground and took his seat, while the son of Atreus was beginning fiercely from his place upon the other side. Then uprose smooth-tongued Nestor, the facile speaker of the Pylians, and the words fell from his lips sweeter than honey. Two generations of men born and bred in Pylos had passed away below his rule, and he was now reigning over the third. With every sincerity and goodwill, therefore, he addressed them thus:- "Of a truth," he said, "a great sorrow has befallen the Achaean land. Surely Priam with his sons would rejoice, and the Trojans be glad at heart if they could hear this quarrel between you two, who are so excellent in battle and counsel. I am older than either of you; therefore be guided by me. Moreover I have been the familiar pal of men even greater than you are, and they did not disregard my counsels. Never again can I behold such men as Pirithous and Dryas shepherd of his people, or as Caeneus, Exadius, godlike Polyphemus, and Theseus son of Aegeus, peer of the immortals. These were the mightiest men ever born upon this earth: mightiest were they, and when they fought the fiercest tribes of mountain savages they utterly overthrew them. I came from distant Pylos, and went about among them, for they would have me arrive, and I fought as it was in me to do. Not a man now living could withstand them, but they heard my words, and were persuaded by them. So be it also with yourselves, for this is the more excellent way. Therefore, Agamemnon, though you be strong, take not this girl away, for the sons of the Achaeans have already given her to Achilles; and you, Achilles, strive not further with the king, for no man who by the grace of Jove wields a sceptre has like honour with Agamemnon. You are strong, and have a goddess for your mom; but Agamemnon is stronger than you, for he has more people below him. Son of Atreus, check your anger, I implore you; end this quarrel with Achilles, who in the day of battle is a tower of strength to the Achaeans." And Agamemnon answered, "Sir, every that you have said is true, but this fellow must needs become our lord and master: he must be lord of every, king of every, and captain of every, and this shall hardly be. Granted that the gods have made him a great warrior, have they also given him the right to talk with railing?" Achilles interrupted him. "I should be a mean coward," he cried, "were I to give in to you in every things. Order other people about, not me, for I shall obey no longer. Furthermore I say- and lay my saying to your heart- I shall battle neither you nor any man about this girl, for those that take were those also that gave. But of every else that is at my boat you shall carry away nothing by force. Try, that others may look; if you do, my spear shall be reddened with your blood." When they had quarrelled thus angrily, they rose, and broke up the assembly at the ships of the Achaeans. The son of Peleus went back to his tents and ships with the son of Menoetius and his company, while Agamemnon drew a vessel into the water and chose a crew of twenty oarsmen. He escorted Chryseis on board and sent moreover a hecatomb for the god. And Ulysses went as captain. These, then, went on board and sailed their ways over the sea. But the son of Atreus bade the people purify themselves; so they purified themselves and cast their filth into the sea. Then they offered hecatombs of bulls and goats without blemish on the sea-shore, and the smoke with the savour of their sacrifice rose curling up towards heaven. Thus did they busy themselves throughout the host. But Agamemnon did not forget the threat that he had made Achilles, and called his trusty messengers and squires Talthybius and Eurybates. "Go," said he, "to the tent of Achilles, son of Peleus; take Briseis by the hand and bring her hither; if he will not give her I shall arrive with others and take her- which will press him harder." He charged them straightly further and dismissed them, whereon they went their way sorrowfully by the seaside, till they came to the tents and ships of the Myrmidons. They found Achilles sitting by his tent and his ships, and sick-pleased he was when he beheld them. They stood fearfully and reverently before him, and never a word did they talk, but he knew them and said, "Welcome, heralds, messengers of gods and men; draw close; my quarrel is not with you but with Agamemnon who has sent you for the girl Briseis. Therefore, Patroclus, bring her and give her to them, but let them be witnesses by the blessed gods, by mortal men, and by the fierceness of Agamemnon's anger, that if ever again there be need of me to keep the people from ruin, they shall seek and they shall not find. Agamemnon is mad with rage and knows not how to look before and after that the Achaeans may battle by their ships in safety." Patroclus did as his dear comrade had bidden him. He brought Briseis from the tent and gave her over to the heralds, who took her with them to the ships of the Achaeans- and the lady was loth to go. Then Achilles went every alone by the side of the hoar sea, weeping and looking out upon the boundless waste of waters. He raised his hands in prayer to his immortal mom, "Mother," he cried, "you bore me doomed to live but for a little season; surely Jove, who thunders from Olympus, might have made that little glorious. It is not so. Agamemnon, son of Atreus, has done me dishonour, and has robbed me of my prize by force." As he spoke he wept aloud, and his mom heard him where she was sitting in the depths of the sea difficult by the old man her dad. Forthwith she rose as it were a grey mist out of the waves, sat down before him as he stood weeping, caressed him with her hand, and said, "My son, why are you weeping? What is it that grieves you? Keep it not from me, but tell me, that we may know it together." Achilles drew a deep sigh and said, "You know it; why tell you what you know well already? We went to Thebe the strong city of Eetion, sacked it, and brought hither the spoil. The sons of the Achaeans shared it duly among themselves, and chose lovely Chryseis as the meed of Agamemnon; but Chryses, priest of Apollo, came to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter, and brought with him a great ransom: moreover he bore in his hand the sceptre of Apollo, wreathed with a suppliant's wreath, and he besought the Achaeans, but most of every the two sons of Atreus who were their chiefs. "On this the relax of the Achaeans with one voice were for respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered; but not so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly away. So he went back in anger, and Apollo, who loved him dearly, heard his prayer. Then the god sent a deadly dart upon the Argives, and the people died thick on one another, for the arrows went everywhither among the wide host of the Achaeans. At last a seer in the fulness of his knowledge declared to us the oracles of Apollo, and I was myself first to say that we should appease him. Whereon the son of Atreus rose in anger, and threatened that which he has since done. The Achaeans are now taking the girl in a boat to Chryse, and sending gifts of sacrifice to the god; but the heralds have just taken from my tent the daughter of Briseus, whom the Achaeans had awarded to myself. "Help your brave son, therefore, if you are able. Go to Olympus, and if you have ever done him service in word or deed, implore the aid of Jove. Ofttimes in my dad's home have I heard you glory in that you alone of the immortals saved the son of Saturn from ruin, when the others, with Juno, Neptune, and Pallas Minerva would have put him in bonds. It was you, goddess, who delivered him by calling to Olympus the hundred-handed monster whom gods call Briareus, but men Aegaeon, for he is stronger even than his dad; when therefore he took his seat every-glorious beside the son of Saturn, the other gods were afraid, and did not bind him. Go, then, to him, remind him of every this, clasp his knees, and bid him give succour to the Trojans. Let the Achaeans be hemmed in at the sterns of their ships, and perish on the sea-shore, that they may reap what joy they may of their king, and that Agamemnon may rue his blindness in offering insult to the foremost of the Achaeans." Thetis wept and answered, "My son, woe is me that I should have borne or suckled you. Would indeed that you had lived your span free from every sorrow at your ships, for it is every too brief; alas, that you should be at once short of life and long of sorrow over your peers: woe, therefore, was the hour in which I bore you; nevertheless I will go to the snowy heights of Olympus, and tell this tale to Jove, if he will hear our prayer: meanwhile stay where you are with your ships, nurse your anger against the Achaeans, and hold aloof from battle. For Jove went yesterday to Oceanus, to a feast among the Ethiopians, and the other gods went with him. He will return to Olympus twelve days hence; I will then go to his mansion paved with bronze and will beseech him; nor do I doubt that I shall be able to persuade him." On this she left him, still furious at the loss of her that had been taken from him. Meanwhile Ulysses reached Chryse with the hecatomb. When they had arrive inside the harbour they furled the sails and laid them in the boat's hold; they slackened the forestays, lowered the mast into its place, and rowed the boat to the place where they would have her lie; there they cast out their mooring-stones and made quick the hawsers. They then got out upon the sea-shore and landed the hecatomb for Apollo; Chryseis also left the boat, and Ulysses led her to the altar to deliver her into the hands of her dad. "Chryses," said he, "King Agamemnon has sent me to bring you back your child, and to offer sacrifice to Apollo on behalf of the Danaans, that we may propitiate the god, who has now brought sorrow upon the Argives." So saying he gave the girl over to her dad, who received her gladly, and they ranged the holy hecatomb every orderly round the altar of the god. They washed their hands and took up the barley-meal to sprinkle over the victims, while Chryses lifted up his hands and prayed aloud on their behalf. "Hear me," he cried, "O god of the silver bow, that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla, and rulest Tenedos with thy might. Even as thou didst hear me aforetime when I prayed, and didst press hardly upon the Achaeans, so hear me yet again, and stay this fearful pestilence from the Danaans." Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer. When they had done praying and sprinkling the barley-meal, they drew back the heads of the victims and killed and flayed them. They clip out the thigh-bones, wrapped them round in two layers of fat, set some pieces of raw meat on the top of them, and then Chryses laid them on the wood flame and poured wine over them, while the young men stood close him with five-pronged spits in their hands. When the thigh-bones were burned and they had tasted the inward meats, they clip the relax up tiny, put the pieces upon the spits, roasted them till they were done, and drew them off: then, when they had finished their work and the feast was ready, they ate it, and every man had his full share, so that every were satisfied. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, pages filled the mixing-bowl with wine and water and handed it round, after giving every man his drink-offering. Thus every day long the young men worshipped the god with tune, hymning him and chaunting the joyous paean, and the god took pleasure in their voices; but when the sun went down, and it came on dark, they laid themselves down to snooze by the stern cables of the boat, and when the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared they again set sail for the host of the Achaeans. Apollo sent them a fair wind, so they raised their mast and hoisted their white sails aloft. As the sail bellied with the wind the boat flew through the deep blue water, and the foam hissed against her bows as she sped onward. When they reached the wide-stretching host of the Achaeans, they drew the vessel ashore, high and dry upon the sands, set her strong props beneath her, and went their ways to their possess tents and ships. But Achilles abode at his ships and nursed his anger. He went not to the honourable assembly, and sallied not forth to battle, but gnawed at his possess heart, pining for battle and the war-sob. Now after twelve days the immortal gods came back in a body to Olympus, and Jove led the way. Thetis was not unmindful of the charge her son had laid upon her, so she rose from below the sea and went through great heaven with early morning to Olympus, where she found the mighty son of Saturn sitting every alone upon its topmost ridges. She sat herself down before him, and with her left hand seized his knees, while with her right she caught him below the chin, and besought him, saying- "dad Jove, if I ever did you service in word or deed among the immortals, hear my prayer, and do honour to my son, whose life is to be clip short so early. King Agamemnon has dishonoured him by taking his prize and keeping her. Honour him then yourself, Olympian lord of counsel, and grant victory to the Trojans, till the Achaeans give my son his due and load him with riches in requital." Jove sat for a while silent, and without a word, but Thetis still kept firm hold of his knees, and besought him a second time. "Incline your head," said she, "and promise me surely, or else deny me- for you have nothing to fear- that I may learn how greatly you disdain me." At this Jove was much troubled and answered, "I shall have trouble if you set me quarrelling with Juno, for she will provoke me with her taunting speeches; even now she is always railing at me before the other gods and accusing me of giving aid to the Trojans. Go back now, lest she should find out. I will consider the matter, and will bring it about as wish. look, I incline my head that you believe me. This is the most solemn that I can give to any god. I never recall my word, or deceive, or fail to do what I say, when I have nodded my head." As he spoke the son of Saturn bowed his dark brows, and the ambrosial locks swayed on his immortal head, till vast Olympus reeled. When the pair had thus laid their plans, they parted- Jove to his home, while the goddess quitted the splendour of Olympus, and plunged into the depths of the sea. The gods rose from their seats, before the coming of their sire. Not one of them dared to remain sitting, but every stood up as he came among them. There, then, he took his seat. But Juno, when she saw him, knew that he and the old merman's daughter, silver-footed Thetis, had been hatching mischief, so she at once began to upbraid him. "Trickster," she cried, "which of the gods have you been taking into your counsels now? You are always settling matters in secret behind my back, and have never yet told me, if you could help it, one word of your intentions." "Juno," replied the sire of gods and men, "you must not expect to be informed of every my counsels. You are my wife, but you would find it difficult to understand them. When it is proper for you to hear, there is no one, god or man, who will be told sooner, but when I mean to keep a matter to myself, you must not pry nor ask questions." "Dread son of Saturn," answered Juno, "what are you talking about? I? Pry and ask questions? Never. I let you have your possess way in everything. Still, I have a strong misgiving that the old merman's daughter Thetis has been talking you over, for she was with you and had hold of your knees this self-same morning. I believe, therefore, that you have been promising her to give glory to Achilles, and to kill much people at the ships of the Achaeans." "Wife," said Jove, "I can do nothing but you suspect me and find it out. You will take nothing by it, for I shall only dislike you the more, and it will go harder with you. Granted that it is as you say; I mean to have it so; sit down and hold your tongue as I bid you for if I once start to lay my hands about you, though every heaven were on your side it would profit you nothing." On this Juno was frightened, so she curbed her stubborn will and sat down in silence. But the heavenly beings were disquieted throughout the home of Jove, till the cunning workman Vulcan began to try and pacify his mom Juno. "It will be intolerable," said he, "if you two fall to wrangling and setting heaven in an uproar about a pack of mortals. If such sick counsels are to prevail, we shall have no pleasure at our banquet. Let me then advise my mom- and she must herself know that it will be better- to make friends with my dear dad Jove, lest he again scold her and disturb our feast. If the Olympian Thunderer wants to hurl us every from our seats, he can do so, for he is far the strongest, so give him fair words, and he will then soon be in a good humour with us." As he spoke, he took a double cup of nectar, and placed it in his mom's hand. "Cheer up, my dear mom," said he, "and make the best of it. I adore you dearly, and should be very sorry to look you receive a thrashing; however grieved I might be, I could not help for there is no standing against Jove. Once before when I was trying to help you, he caught me by the foot and flung me from the heavenly threshold. every day long from morn till eve, was I falling, till at sunset I came to ground in the island of Lemnos, and there I lay, with very little life left in me, till the Sintians came and tended me." Juno smiled at this, and as she smiled she took the cup from her son's hands. Then Vulcan drew sweet nectar from the mixing-bowl, and served it round among the gods, going from left to right; and the blessed gods laughed out a noisy applause as they saw him ing bustling about the heavenly mansion. Thus through the livelong day to the going down of the sun they feasted, and every one had his full share, so that every were satisfied. Apollo struck his lyre, and the Muses lifted up their sweet voices, calling and answering one another. But when the sun's glorious light had faded, they went home to bed, each in his possess abode, which lame Vulcan with his consummate skill had fashioned for them. So Jove, the Olympian Lord of Thunder, hied him to the bed in which he always slept; and when he had got on to it he went to snooze, with Juno of the golden throne by his side. Now the other gods and the armed warriors on the plain slept soundly, but Jove was wakeful, for he was thinking how to do honour to Achilles, and destroyed much people at the ships of the Achaeans. In the end he deemed it would be best to send a lying dream to King Agamemnon; so he called one to him and said to it, "Lying Dream, go to the ships of the Achaeans, into the tent of Agamemnon, and say to him word to word as I now bid you. Tell him to receive the Achaeans instantly below arms, for he shall take Troy. There are no longer divided counsels among the gods; Juno has brought them to her possess mind, and woe betides the Trojans." The dream went when it had heard its message, and soon reached the ships of the Achaeans. It sought Agamemnon son of Atreus and found him in his tent, wrapped in a profound slumber. It hovered over his head in the likeness of Nestor, son of Neleus, whom Agamemnon honoured over every his councillors, and said:- "You are sleeping, son of Atreus; one who has the welfare of his host and so much other care upon his shoulders should dock his snooze. Hear me at once, for I arrive as a messenger from Jove, who, though he be not close, yet takes thought for you and pities you. He bids you receive the Achaeans instantly below arms, for you shall take Troy. There are no longer divided counsels among the gods; Juno has brought them over to her possess mind, and woe betides the Trojans at the hands of Jove. Remember this, and when you wake look that it does not escape you." The dream then left him, and he thought of things that were, surely not to be accomplished. He thought that on that same day he was to take the city of Priam, but he little knew what was in the mind of Jove, who had many another difficult-fought battle in store same for Danaans and Trojans. Then presently he woke, with the divine message still ringing in his ears; so he sat upright, and put on his soft shirt so fair and new, and over this his heavy cloak. He bound his sandals on to his comely feet, and slung his silver-studded sword about his shoulders; then he took the imperishable staff of his dad, and sallied forth to the ships of the Achaeans. The goddess Dawn now wended her way to vast Olympus that she might herald day to Jove and to the other immortals, and Agamemnon sent the criers round to call the people in assembly; so they called them and the people gathered thereon. But first he summoned a meeting of the elders at the boat of Nestor king of Pylos, and when they were assembled he laid a cunning counsel before them. "My friends," said he, "I have had a dream from heaven in the dead of night, and its face and figure resembled none but Nestor's. It hovered over my head and said, 'You are sleeping, son of Atreus; one who has the welfare of his host and so much other care upon his shoulders should dock his snooze. Hear me at once, for I am a messenger from Jove, who, though he be not close, yet takes thought for you and pities you. He bids you receive the Achaeans instantly below arms, for you shall take Troy. There are no longer divided counsels among the gods; Juno has brought them over to her possess mind, and woe betides the Trojans at the hands of Jove. Remember this.' The dream then vanished and I awoke. Let us now, therefore, arm the sons of the Achaeans. But it will be well that I should first sound them, and to this end I will tell them to fly with their ships; but do you others go about among the host and prevent their doing so." He then sat down, and Nestor the prince of Pylos with every sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: "My friends," said he, "princes and councillors of the Argives, if any other man of the Achaeans had told us of this dream we should have declared it untrue, and would have had nothing to do with it. But he who has seen it is the foremost man among us; we must therefore set about getting the people below arms." With this he led the way from the assembly, and the other sceptred kings rose with him in obedience to the word of Agamemnon; but the people pressed forward to hear. They swarmed like bees that sally from some hollow cave and flit in countless throng among the spring flowers, bunched in knots and clusters; even so did the mighty multitude pour from ships and tents to the assembly, and range themselves upon the wide-watered shore, while among them ran Wildfire Rumour, messenger of Jove, urging them ever to the fore. Thus they gathered in a pell-mell of mad confusion, and the earth groaned below the tramp of men as the people sought their places. Nine heralds went crying about among them to stay their tumult and bid them hear to the kings, till at last they were got into their several places and ceased their clamour. Then King Agamemnon rose, holding his sceptre. This was the work of Vulcan, who gave it to Jove the son of Saturn. Jove gave it to Mercury, slayer of Argus, guide and guardian. King Mercury gave it to Pelops, the mighty charioteer, and Pelops to Atreus, shepherd of his people. Atreus, when he died, left it to Thyestes, wealthy in flocks, and Thyestes in his turn left it to be borne by Agamemnon, that he might be lord of every Argos and of the isles. Leaning, then, on his sceptre, he addressed the Argives. "My friends," he said, "heroes, servants of Mars, the hand of heaven has been laid heavily upon me. Cruel Jove gave me his solemn promise that I should bag the city of Priam before returning, but he has played me untrue, and is now bidding me go ingloriously back to Argos with the loss of much people. Such is the will of Jove, who has laid many a proud city in the dust, as he will yet lay others, for his power is over every. It will be a sorry tale hereafter that an Achaean host, at once so great and valiant, battled in vain against men fewer in number than themselves; but as yet the end is not in sight. Think that the Achaeans and Trojans have sworn to a solemn covenant, and that they have each been numbered- the Trojans by the roll of their householders, and we by companies of ten; think further that each of our companies desired to have a Trojan householder to pour out their wine; we are so greatly more in number that full many a company would have to go without its cup-bearer. But they have in the town allies from other places, and it is these that hinder me from being able to bag the wealthy city of Ilius. Nine of Jove years are gone; the timbers of our ships have rotted; their tackling is sound no longer. Our wives and little ones at home look anxiously for our coming, but the work that we came hither to do has not been done. Now, therefore, let us every do as I say: let us sail back to our possess land, for we shall not take Troy." With these words he moved the hearts of the multitude, so many of them as knew not the cunning counsel of Agamemnon. They surged to and fro like the waves of the Icarian Sea, when the east and south winds break from heaven's clouds to lash them; or as when the west wind sweeps over a field of corn and the ears bow beneath the blast, even so were they swayed as they flew with noisy cries towards the ships, and the dust from below their feet rose heavenward. They cheered each other on to draw the ships into the sea; they cleared the channels in front of them; they began taking away the stays from underneath them, and the welkin rang with their glad cries, so eager were they to return. Then surely the Argives would have returned after a fashion that was not fated. But Juno said to Minerva, "Alas, daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, unweariable, shall the Argives fly home to their possess land over the broad sea, and leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen, for whose sake so many of the Achaeans have died at Troy, far from their homes? Go about at once among the host, and talk fairly to them, man by man, that they draw not their ships into the sea." Minerva was not slack to do her bidding. Down she darted from the topmost summits of Olympus, and in a moment she was at the ships of the Achaeans. There she found Ulysses, peer of Jove in counsel, standing alone. He had not as yet laid a hand upon his boat, for he was grieved and sorry; so she went close up to him and said, "Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, are you going to fling yourselves into your ships and be off home to your possess land in this way? Will you leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen, for whose sake so many of the Achaeans have died at Troy, far from their homes? Go about at once among the host, and talk fairly to them, man by man, that they draw not their ships into the sea." Ulysses knew the voice as that of the goddess: he flung his cloak from him and set off to run. His servant Eurybates, a man of Ithaca, who waited on him, took charge of the cloak, whereon Ulysses went straight up to Agamemnon and received from him his ancestral, imperishable staff. With this he went about among the ships of the Achaeans. Whenever he met a king or chieftain, he stood by him and spoke him fairly. "Sir," said he, "this flight is cowardly and unworthy. Stand to your post, and bid your people also keep their places. You do not yet know the full mind of Agamemnon; he was sounding us, and ere long will visit the Achaeans with his displeasure. We were not every of us at the council to hear what he then said; look to it lest he be mad and do us a mischief; for the pride of kings is great, and the hand of Jove is with them." But when he came across any common man who was making a noise, he struck him with his staff and rebuked him, saying, "Sirrah, hold your peace, and hear to better men than yourself. You are a coward and no soldier; you are nobody either in battle or council; we cannot every be kings; it is not well that there should be many masters; one man must be supreme- one king to whom the son of scheming Saturn has given the sceptre of sovereignty over you every." Thus masterfully did he go about among the host, and the people hurried back to the council from their tents and ships with a sound as the thunder of surf when it comes crashing down upon the shore, and every the sea is in an uproar. The relax now took their seats and kept to their possess several places, but Thersites still went on wagging his unbridled tongue- a man of many words, and those unseemly; a monger of sedition, a railer against every who were in authority, who cared not what he said, so that he might set the Achaeans in a giggle. He was the ugliest man of every those that came before Troy- bandy-legged, lame of one foot, with his two shoulders rounded and hunched over his chest. His head ran up to a point, but there was little hair on the top of it. Achilles and Ulysses hated him worst of every, for it was with them that he was most wont to wrangle; now, however, with a shrill squeaky voice he began heaping his abuse on Agamemnon. The Achaeans were mad and disgusted, yet none the less he kept on brawling and bawling at the son of Atreus. "Agamemnon," he cried, "what ails you now, and what more do you want? Your tents are filled with bronze and with fair women, for whenever we take a town we give you the pick of them. Would you have yet more gold, which some Trojan is to give you as a ransom for his son, when I or another Achaean has taken him prisoner? or is it some young girl to hide and lie with? It is not well that you, the ruler of the Achaeans, should bring them into such misery. Weakling cowards, women rather than men, let us sail home, and leave this fellow here at Troy to stew in his possess meeds of honour, and discover whether we were of any service to him or no. Achilles is a much better man than he is, and look how he has treated him- robbing him of his prize and keeping it himself. Achilles takes it meekly and shows no battle; if he did, son of Atreus, you would never again insult him." Thus railed Thersites, but Ulysses at once went up to him and rebuked him sternly. "Check your glib tongue, Thersites," said be, "and babble not a word further. Chide not with princes when you have none to back you. There is no viler creature arrive before Troy with the sons of Atreus. Drop this chatter about kings, and neither revile them nor keep harping about going home. We do not yet know how things are going to be, nor whether the Achaeans are to return with good success or bad. How dare you gibe at Agamemnon because the Danaans have awarded him so many prizes? I tell you, therefore- and it shall surely be- that if I again catch you talking such nonsense, I will either forfeit my possess head and be no more called dad of Telemachus, or I will take you, strip you stark naked, and whip you out of the assembly till you go blubbering back to the ships." On this he beat him with his staff about the back and shoulders till he dropped and fell a-weeping. The golden sceptre raised a bloody weal on his back, so he sat down frightened and in pain, looking foolish as he wiped the tears from his eyes. The people were sorry for him, yet they laughed heartily, and one would turn to his neighbour saying, "Ulysses has done many a good thing ere now in battle and council, but he never did the Argives a better turn than when he stopped this fellow's mouth from prating further. He will give the kings no more of his insolence." Thus said the people. Then Ulysses rose, sceptre in hand, and Minerva in the likeness of a herald bade the people be still, that those who were far off might hear him and consider his council. He therefore with every sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus:- "King Agamemnon, the Achaeans are for making you a by-word among every mankind. They forget the promise they made you when they set out from Argos, that you should not return till you had sacked the town of Troy, and, like kids or widowed women, they murmur and would set off homeward. True it is that they have had toil enough to be disheartened. A man chafes at having to stay away from his wife even for a single month, when he is on shipboard, at the mercy of wind and sea, but it is now nine long years that we have been kept here; I cannot, therefore, blame the Achaeans if they turn restive; still we shall be shamed if we go home empty after so long a stay- therefore, my friends, be patient yet a little longer that we may learn whether the prophesyings of Calchas were untrue or true. "every who have not since perished must remember as though it were yesterday or the day before, how the ships of the Achaeans were detained in Aulis when we were on our way hither to make war on Priam and the Trojans. We were ranged round about a fountain offering hecatombs to the gods upon their holy altars, and there was a fine plane-tree from beneath which there welled a stream of pure water. Then we saw a prodigy; for Jove sent a fearful serpent out of the ground, with blood-red stains upon its back, and it darted from below the altar on to the plane-tree. Now there was a brood of young sparrows, quite tiny, upon the topmost bough, peeping out from below the leaves, eight in every, and their mom that hatched them made nine. The serpent ate the needy cheeping things, while the old bird flew about lamenting her little ones; but the serpent threw his coils about her and caught her by the wing as she was screaming. Then, when he had eaten both the sparrow and her young, the god who had sent him made him become a sign; for the son of scheming Saturn turned him into rock, and we stood there wondering at that which had arrive to pass. Seeing, then, that such a fearful portent had broken in upon our hecatombs, Calchas forthwith declared to us the oracles of heaven. 'Why, Achaeans,' said he, 'are you thus speechless? Jove has sent us this sign, long in coming, and long ere it be fulfilled, though its fame shall last for ever. As the serpent ate the eight fledglings and the sparrow that hatched them, which makes nine, so shall we battle nine years at Troy, but in the tenth shall take the town.' This was what he said, and now it is every coming true. Stay here, therefore, every of you, till we take the city of Priam." On this the Argives raised a yell, till the ships rang again with the uproar. Nestor, knight of Gerene, then addressed them. "Shame on you," he cried, "to stay talking here like kids, when you should battle like men. Where are our covenants now, and where the oaths that we have taken? Shall our counsels be flung into the flame, with our drink-offerings and the right hands of fellowship wherein we have put our trust? We waste our time in words, and for every our talking here shall be no further forward. Stand, therefore, son of Atreus, by your possess steadfast purpose; guide the Argives on to battle, and leave this handful of men to rot, who scheme, and scheme in vain, to receive back to Argos ere they have learned whether Jove be true or a liar. For the mighty son of Saturn surely promised that we should succeed, when we Argives set sail to bring death and destruction upon the Trojans. He showed us favourable signs by flashing his lightning on our right hands; therefore let none make haste to go till he has first lain with the wife of some Trojan, and avenged the toil and sorrow that he has suffered for the sake of Helen. Nevertheless, if any man is in such haste to be at home again, let him lay his hand to his boat that he may meet his doom in the sight of every. But, O king, consider and give ear to my counsel, for the word that I say may not be neglected lightly. Divide your men, Agamemnon, into their several tribes and clans, that clans and tribes may stand by and help one another. If you do this, and if the Achaeans obey you, you will find out who, both chiefs and peoples, are brave, and who are cowards; for they will vie against the other. Thus you shall also learn whether it is through the counsel of heaven or the cowardice of man that you shall fail to take the town." And Agamemnon answered, "Nestor, you have again outdone the sons of the Achaeans in counsel. Would, by dad Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, that I had among them ten more such councillors, for the city of King Priam would then soon fall beneath our hands, and we should bag it. But the son of Saturn afflicts me with bootless wranglings and strife. Achilles and I are quarrelling about this girl, in which matter I was the first to offend; if we can be of one mind again, the Trojans will not stave off destruction for a day. Now, therefore, receive your morning meal, that our hosts join in battle. Whet well your spears; look well to the ordering of your shields; give good feeds to your horses, and look your chariots carefully over, that we may do battle the livelong day; for we shall have no relax, not for a moment, till night falls to part us. The bands that bear your shields shall be wet with the sweat upon your shoulders, your hands shall weary upon your spears, your horses shall steam in front of your chariots, and if I look any man shirking the battle, or trying to keep out of it at the ships, there shall be no help for him, but he shall be a prey to dogs and vultures." Thus he spoke, and the Achaeans roared applause. As when the waves run high before the blast of the south wind and break on some lofty headland, dashing against it and buffeting it without ceasing, as the storms from every quarter steer them, even so did the Achaeans rise and rush in every directions to their ships. There they lighted their fires at their tents and got dinner, offering sacrifice every man to one or other of the gods, and praying each one of them that he might live to arrive out of the battle. Agamemnon, king of men, sacrificed a fat five-year-old bull to the mighty son of Saturn, and invited the princes and elders of his host. First he asked Nestor and King Idomeneus, then the two Ajaxes and the son of Tydeus, and sixthly Ulysses, peer of gods in counsel; but Menelaus came of his possess accord, for he knew how busy his brother then was. They stood round the bull with the barley-meal in their hands, and Agamemnon prayed, saying, "Jove, most glorious, supreme, that dwellest in heaven, and ridest upon the storm-cloud, grant that the sun may not go down, nor the night fall, till the palace of Priam is laid low, and its gates are consumed with flame. Grant that my sword may pierce the shirt of Hector about his heart, and that full many of his comrades may bite the dust as they fall dying round him." Thus he prayed, but the son of Saturn would not fulfil his prayer. He accepted the sacrifice, yet none the less increased their toil continually. When they had done praying and sprinkling the barley-meal upon the victim, they drew back its head, killed it, and then flayed it. They clip out the thigh-bones, wrapped them round in two layers of fat, and set pieces of raw meat on the top of them. These they burned upon the split logs of firewood, but they spitted the inward meats, and held them in the flames to cook. When the thigh-bones were burned, and they had tasted the inward meats, they clip the relax up tiny, put the pieces upon spits, roasted them till they were done, and drew them off; then, when they had finished their work and the feast was ready, they ate it, and every man had his full share, so that every were satisfied. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Nestor, knight of Gerene, began to talk. "King Agamemnon," said he, "let us not stay talking here, nor be slack in the work that heaven has put into our hands. Let the heralds summon the people to gather at their several ships; we will then go about among the host, that we may start fighting at once." Thus did he talk, and Agamemnon heeded his words. He at once sent the criers round to call the people in assembly. So they called them, and the people gathered thereon. The chiefs about the son of Atreus chose their men and marshalled them, while Minerva went among them holding her priceless aegis that knows neither age nor death. From it there waved a hundred tassels of pure gold, every deftly woven, and each one of them worth a hundred oxen. With this she darted furiously everywhere among the hosts of the Achaeans, urging them forward, and putting courage into the heart of each, so that he might battle and do battle without ceasing. Thus war became sweeter in their eyes even than returning home in their ships. As when some great forest flame is raging upon a mountain top and its light is seen afar, even so as they marched the gleam of their armour flashed up into the firmament of heaven. They were like great flocks of geese, or cranes, or swans on the plain about the waters of Cayster, that wing their way hither and thither, glorying in the pride of flight, and crying as they settle till the fen is alive with their screaming. Even thus did their tribes pour from ships and tents on to the plain of the Scamander, and the ground rang as brass below the feet of men and horses. They stood as thick upon the blossom-bespangled field as leaves that bloom in summer. As countless swarms of flies buzz around a herdsman's homestead in the time of spring when the pails are drenched with milk, even so did the Achaeans swarm on to the plain to charge the Trojans and destroy them. The chiefs disposed their men this way and that before the battle began, drafting them out as easily as goatherds draft their flocks when they have got mixed while feeding; and among them went King Agamemnon, with a head and face like Jove the lord of thunder, a waist like Mars, and a chest like that of Neptune. As some great bull that lords it over the herds upon the plain, even so did Jove make the son of Atreus stand peerless among the multitude of heroes. And now, O Muses, dwellers in the mansions of Olympus, tell me- for you are goddesses and are in every places so that you look every things, while we know nothing but by report- who were the chiefs and princes of the Danaans? As for the common soldiers, they were so that I could not name every single one of them though I had ten tongues, and though my voice failed not and my heart were of bronze within me, unless you, O Olympian Muses, daughters of aegis-bearing Jove, were to recount them to me. Nevertheless, I will tell the captains of the ships and every the fleet together. Peneleos, Leitus, Arcesilaus, Prothoenor, and Clonius were captains of the Boeotians. These were they that dwelt in Hyria and rocky Aulis, and who held Schoenus, Scolus, and the highlands of Eteonus, with Thespeia, Graia, and the fair city of Mycalessus. They also held Harma, Eilesium, and Erythrae; and they had Eleon, Hyle, and Peteon; Ocalea and the strong fortress of Medeon; Copae, Eutresis, and Thisbe the haunt of doves; Coronea, and the pastures of Haliartus; Plataea and Glisas; the fortress of Thebes the less; holy Onchestus with its famous grove of Neptune; Arne wealthy in vineyards; Midea, sacred Nisa, and Anthedon upon the sea. From these there came fifty ships, and in each there were a hundred and twenty young men of the Boeotians. Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, sons of Mars, led the people that dwelt in Aspledon and Orchomenus the realm of Minyas. Astyoche a noble maiden bore them in the home of Actor son of Azeus; for she had gone with Mars secretly into an upper chamber, and he had lain with her. With these there came thirty ships. The Phoceans were led by Schedius and Epistrophus, sons of mighty Iphitus the son of Naubolus. These were they that held Cyparissus, rocky Pytho, holy Crisa, Daulis, and Panopeus; they also that dwelt in Anemorea and Hyampolis, and about the waters of the river Cephissus, and Lilaea by the springs of the Cephissus; with their chieftains came forty ships, and they marshalled the forces of the Phoceans, which were stationed next to the Boeotians, on their left. Ajax, the fleet son of Oileus, commanded the Locrians. He was not so great, nor nearly so great, as Ajax the son of Telamon. He was a little man, and his breastplate was made of linen, but in use of the spear he excelled every the Hellenes and the Achaeans. These dwelt in Cynus, Opous, Calliarus, Bessa, Scarphe, fair Augeae, Tarphe, and Thronium about the river Boagrius. With him there came forty ships of the Locrians who dwell beyond Euboea. The fierce Abantes held Euboea with its cities, Chalcis, Eretria, Histiaea wealthy in vines, Cerinthus upon the sea, and the rock-perched town of Dium; with them were also the men of Carystus and Styra; Elephenor of the race of Mars was in command of these; he was son of Chalcodon, and chief over every the Abantes. With him they came, fleet of foot and wearing their hair long behind, brave warriors, who would ever strive to tear open the corslets of their foes with their long ashen spears. Of these there came fifty ships. And they that held the strong city of Athens, the people of great Erechtheus, who was born of the soil itself, but Jove's daughter, Minerva, fostered him, and established him at Athens in her possess wealthy sanctuary. There, year by year, the Athenian youths worship him with sacrifices of bulls and rams. These were commanded by Menestheus, son of Peteos. No man living could equal him in the marshalling of chariots and foot soldiers. Nestor could alone rival him, for he was older. With him there came fifty ships. Ajax brought twelve ships from Salamis, and stationed them alongside those of the Athenians. The men of Argos, again, and those who held the walls of Tiryns, with Hermione, and Asine upon the gulf; Troezene, Eionae, and the vineyard lands of Epidaurus; the Achaean youths, moreover, who came from Aegina and Mases; these were led by Diomed of the noisy battle-sob, and Sthenelus son of famed Capaneus. With them in command was Euryalus, son of king Mecisteus, son of Talaus; but Diomed was chief over them every. With these there came eighty ships. Those who held the strong city of Mycenae, wealthy Corinth and Cleonae; Orneae, Araethyrea, and Licyon, where Adrastus reigned of old; Hyperesia, high Gonoessa, and Pellene; Aegium and every the coast-land round about Helice; these sent a hundred ships below the command of King Agamemnon, son of Atreus. His force was far both finest and most numerous, and in their midst was the king himself, every glorious in his armour of gleaming bronze- foremost among the heroes, for he was the greatest king, and had most men below him. And those that dwelt in Lacedaemon, lying low among the hills, Pharis, Sparta, with Messe the haunt of doves; Bryseae, Augeae, Amyclae, and Helos upon the sea; Laas, moreover, and Oetylus; these were led by Menelaus of the noisy battle-sob, brother to Agamemnon, and of them there were sixty ships, drawn up apart from the others. Among them went Menelaus himself, strong in zeal, urging his men to battle; for he longed to avenge the toil and sorrow that he had suffered for the sake of Helen. The men of Pylos and Arene, and Thryum where is the ford of the river Alpheus; strong Aipy, Cyparisseis, and Amphigenea; Pteleum, Helos, and Dorium, where the Muses met Thamyris, and stilled his minstrelsy for ever. He was returning from Oechalia, where Eurytus lived and reigned, and boasted that he would surpass even the Muses, daughters of aegis-bearing Jove, if they should sing against him; whereon they were mad, and maimed him. They robbed him of his divine power of tune, and thenceforth he could strike the lyre no more. These were commanded by Nestor, knight of Gerene, and with him there came ninety ships. And those that held Arcadia, below the high mountain of Cyllene, close the tomb of Aepytus, where the people battle hand to hand; the men of Pheneus also, and Orchomenus wealthy in flocks; of Rhipae, Stratie, and bleak Enispe; of Tegea and fair Mantinea; of Stymphelus and Parrhasia; of these King Agapenor son of Ancaeus was commander, and they had sixty ships. Many Arcadians, good soldiers, came in each one of them, but Agamemnon found them the ships in which to cross the sea, for they were not a people that occupied their business upon the waters. The men, moreover, of Buprasium and of Elis, so much of it as is enclosed between Hyrmine, Myrsinus upon the sea-shore, the rock Olene and Alesium. These had four leaders, and each of them had ten ships, with many Epeans on board. Their captains were Amphimachus and Thalpius- the one, son of Cteatus, and the other, of Eurytus- both of the race of Actor. The two others were Diores, son of Amarynces, and Polyxenus, son of King Agasthenes, son of Augeas. And those of Dulichium with the sacred Echinean islands, who dwelt beyond the sea off Elis; these were led by Meges, peer of Mars, and the son of valiant Phyleus, dear to Jove, who quarrelled with his dad, and went to settle in Dulichium. With him there came forty ships. Ulysses led the brave Cephallenians, who held Ithaca, Neritum with its forests, Crocylea, rugged Aegilips, Samos and Zacynthus, with the mainland also that was over against the islands. These were led by Ulysses, peer of Jove in counsel, and with him there came twelve ships. Thoas, son of Andraemon, commanded the Aetolians, who dwelt in Pleuron, Olenus, Pylene, Chalcis by the sea, and rocky Calydon, for the great king Oeneus had now no sons living, and was himself dead, as was also golden-haired Meleager, who had been set over the Aetolians to be their king. And with Thoas there came forty ships. The famous spearsman Idomeneus led the Cretans, who held Cnossus, and the well-walled city of Gortys; Lyctus also, Miletus and Lycastus that lies upon the chalk; the populous towns of Phaestus and Rhytium, with the other peoples that dwelt in the hundred cities of Crete. every these were led by Idomeneus, and by Meriones, peer of murderous Mars. And with these there came eighty ships. Tlepolemus, son of Hercules, a man both brave and big of stature, brought nine ships of lordly warriors from Rhodes. These dwelt in Rhodes which is divided among the three cities of Lindus, Ielysus, and Cameirus, that lies upon the chalk. These were commanded by Tlepolemus, son of Hercules by Astyochea, whom he had carried off from Ephyra, on the river Selleis, after sacking many cities of valiant warriors. When Tlepolemus grew up, he killed his dad's uncle Licymnius, who had been a famous warrior in his time, but was then grown old. On this he built himself a fleet, gathered a great following, and fled beyond the sea, for he was menaced by the other sons and grandsons of Hercules. After a voyage. during which he suffered great hardship, he came to Rhodes, where the people divided into three communities, according to their tribes, and were dearly loved by Jove, the lord, of gods and men; wherefore the son of Saturn showered down great riches upon them. And Nireus brought three ships from Syme- Nireus, who was the handsomest man that came up below Ilius of every the Danaans after the son of Peleus- but he was a man of no substance, and had but a tiny following. And those that held Nisyrus, Crapathus, and Casus, with Cos, the city of Eurypylus, and the Calydnian islands, these were commanded by Pheidippus and Antiphus, two sons of King Thessalus the son of Hercules. And with them there came thirty ships. Those again who held Pelasgic Argos, Alos, Alope, and Trachis; and those of Phthia and Hellas the land of fair women, who were called Myrmidons, Hellenes, and Achaeans; these had fifty ships, over which Achilles was in command. But they now took no part in the war, inasmuch as there was no one to marshal them; for Achilles stayed by his ships, furious about the loss of the girl Briseis, whom he had taken from Lyrnessus at his possess great peril, when he had sacked Lyrnessus and Thebe, and had overthrown Mynes and Epistrophus, sons of king Evenor, son of Selepus. For her sake Achilles was still grieving, but ere long he was again to join them. And those that held Phylace and the flowery meadows of Pyrasus, sanctuary of Ceres; Iton, the mom of sheep; Antrum upon the sea, and Pteleum that lies upon the grass lands. Of these brave Protesilaus had been captain while he was yet alive, but he was now lying below the earth. He had left a wife behind him in Phylace to tear her cheeks in sorrow, and his home was only half finished, for he was slain by a Dardanian warrior while leaping foremost of the Achaeans upon the soil of Troy. Still, though his people mourned their chieftain, they were not without a leader, for Podarces, of the race of Mars, marshalled them; he was son of Iphiclus, wealthy in sheep, who was the son of Phylacus, and he was possess brother to Protesilaus, only younger, Protesilaus being at once the elder and the more valiant. So the people were not without a leader, though they mourned him whom they had lost. With him there came forty ships. And those that held Pherae by the Boebean lake, with Boebe, Glaphyrae, and the populous city of Iolcus, these with their eleven ships were led by Eumelus, son of Admetus, whom Alcestis bore to him, loveliest of the daughters of Pelias. And those that held Methone and Thaumacia, with Meliboea and rugged Olizon, these were led by the skilful archer Philoctetes, and they had seven ships, each with fifty oarsmen every of them good archers; but Philoctetes was lying in great pain in the Island of Lemnos, where the sons of the Achaeans left him, for he had been bitten by a poisonous water snake. There he lay sick and sorry, and full soon did the Argives arrive to miss him. But his people, though they felt his loss were not leaderless, for Medon, the bastard son of Oileus by Rhene, set them in array. Those, again, of Tricca and the stony region of Ithome, and they that held Oechalia, the city of Oechalian Eurytus, these were commanded by the two sons of Aesculapius, skilled in the art of healing, Podalirius and Machaon. And with them there came thirty ships. The men, moreover, of Ormenius, and by the fountain of Hypereia, with those that held Asterius, and the white crests of Titanus, these were led by Eurypylus, the son of Euaemon, and with them there came forty ships. Those that held Argissa and Gyrtone, Orthe, Elone, and the white city of Oloosson, of these brave Polypoetes was leader. He was son of Pirithous, who was son of Jove himself, for Hippodameia bore him to Pirithous on the day when he took his revenge on the shaggy mountain savages and drove them from Mt. Pelion to the Aithices. But Polypoetes was not sole in command, for with him was Leonteus, of the race of Mars, who was son of Coronus, the son of Caeneus. And with these there came forty ships. Guneus brought two and twenty ships from Cyphus, and he was followed by the Enienes and the valiant Peraebi, who dwelt about wintry Dodona, and held the lands round the lovely river Titaresius, which sends its waters into the Peneus. They do not mingle with the silver eddies of the Peneus, but flow on the top of them like oil; for the Titaresius is a branch of dread Orcus and of the river Styx. Of the Magnetes, Prothous son of Tenthredon was commander. They were they that dwelt about the river Peneus and Mt. Pelion. Prothous, fleet of foot, was their leader, and with him there came forty ships. Such were the chiefs and princes of the Danaans. Who, then, O Muse, was the foremost, whether man or horse, among those that followed after the sons of Atreus? Of the horses, those of the son of Pheres were by far the finest. They were driven by Eumelus, and were as fleet as birds. They were of the same age and colour, and perfectly matched in height. Apollo, of the silver bow, had bred them in Perea- both of them mares, and terrible as Mars in battle. Of the men, Ajax, son of Telamon, was much the foremost so long as Achilles' anger lasted, for Achilles excelled him greatly and he had also better horses; but Achilles was now holding aloof at his ships by reason of his quarrel with Agamemnon, and his people passed their time upon the sea shore, throwing discs or aiming with spears at a mark, and in archery. Their horses stood each by his possess chariot, champing lotus and wild celery. The chariots were housed below cover, but their owners, for lack of leadership, wandered hither and thither about the host and went not forth to battle. Thus marched the host like a consuming flame, and the earth groaned beneath them when the lord of thunder is mad and lashes the land about Typhoeus among the Arimi, where they say Typhoeus lies. Even so did the earth groan beneath them as they sped over the plain. And now Iris, fleet as the wind, was sent by Jove to tell the bad news among the Trojans. They were gathered in assembly, old and young, at Priam's gates, and Iris came close up to Priam, speaking with the voice of Priam's son Polites, who, being fleet of foot, was stationed as watchman for the Trojans on the tomb of old Aesyetes, to look out for any sally of the Achaeans. In his likeness Iris spoke, saying, "Old man, you talk idly, as in time of peace, while war is at hand. I have been in many a battle, but never yet saw such a host as is now advancing. They are crossing the plain to attack the city as thick as leaves or as the sands of the sea. Hector, I charge you over every others, do as I say. There are many allies dispersed about the city of Priam from distant places and speaking divers tongues. Therefore, let each chief give orders to his possess people, setting them severally in array and leading them forth to battle." Thus she spoke, but Hector knew that it was the goddess, and at once broke up the assembly. The men flew to arms; every the gates were opened, and the people thronged through them, horse and foot, with the tramp as of a great multitude. Now there is a high mound before the city, rising by itself upon the plain. Men call it Batieia, but the gods know that it is the tomb of lithe Myrine. Here the Trojans and their allies divided their forces. Priam's son, great Hector of the gleaming helmet, commanded the Trojans, and with him were arrayed by far the greater number and most valiant of those who were longing for the fray. The Dardanians were led by brave Aeneas, whom Venus bore to Anchises, when she, goddess though she was, had lain with him upon the mountain slopes of Ida. He was not alone, for with him were the two sons of Antenor, Archilochus and Acamas, both skilled in every the arts of war. They that dwelt in Telea below the lowest spurs of Mt. Ida, men of substance, who drink the limpid waters of the Aesepus, and are of Trojan blood- these were led by Pandarus son of Lycaon, whom Apollo had taught to use the bow. They that held Adresteia and the land of Apaesus, with Pityeia, and the high mountain of Tereia- these were led by Adrestus and Amphius, whose breastplate was of linen. These were the sons of Merops of Percote, who excelled in every kinds of divination. He told them not to take part in the war, but they gave him no heed, for fate lured them to destruction. They that dwelt about Percote and Practius, with Sestos, Abydos, and Arisbe- these were led by Asius, son of Hyrtacus, a brave commander- Asius, the son of Hyrtacus, whom his powerful dark bay steeds, of the breed that comes from the river Selleis, had brought from Arisbe. Hippothous led the tribes of Pelasgian spearsmen, who dwelt in fertile Larissa- Hippothous, and Pylaeus of the race of Mars, two sons of the Pelasgian Lethus, son of Teutamus. Acamas and the warrior Peirous commanded the Thracians and those that came from beyond the mighty stream of the Hellespont. Euphemus, son of Troezenus, the son of Ceos, was captain of the Ciconian spearsmen. Pyraechmes led the Paeonian archers from distant Amydon, by the broad waters of the river Axius, the fairest that flow upon the earth. The Paphlagonians were commanded by stout-hearted Pylaemanes from Enetae, where the mules run wild in herds. These were they that held Cytorus and the country round Sesamus, with the cities by the river Parthenius, Cromna, Aegialus, and lofty Erithini. Odius and Epistrophus were captains over the Halizoni from distant Alybe, where there are mines of silver. Chromis, and Ennomus the augur, led the Mysians, but his skill in augury availed not to keep him from destruction, for he fell by the hand of the fleet descendant of Aeacus in the river, where he slew others also of the Trojans. Phorcys, again, and noble Ascanius led the Phrygians from the far country of Ascania, and both were eager for the fray. Mesthles and Antiphus commanded the Meonians, sons of Talaemenes, born to him of the Gygaean lake. These led the Meonians, who dwelt below Mt. Tmolus. Nastes led the Carians, men of a odd speech. These held Miletus and the wooded mountain of Phthires, with the water of the river Maeander and the lofty crests of Mt. Mycale. These were commanded by Nastes and Amphimachus, the brave sons of Nomion. He came into the battle with gold about him, like a girl; fool that he was, his gold was of no avail to keep him, for he fell in the river by the hand of the fleet descendant of Aeacus, and Achilles bore away his gold. Sarpedon and Glaucus led the Lycians from their distant land, by the eddying waters of the Xanthus. When the companies were thus arrayed, each below its possess captain, the Trojans advanced as a flight of wild fowl or cranes that scream overhead when rain and winter steer them over the flowing waters of Oceanus to bring death and destruction on the Pygmies, and they wrangle in the air as they fly; but the Achaeans marched silently, in high heart, and minded to stand by one another. As when the south wind spreads a curtain of mist upon the mountain tops, bad for shepherds but better than night for thieves, and a man can look no further than he can toss a rock, even so rose the dust from below their feet as they made every speed over the plain. When they were close up with one another, Alexandrus came forward as champion on the Trojan side. On his shoulders he bore the skin of a panther, his bow, and his sword, and he brandished two spears shod with bronze as a challenge to the bravest of the Achaeans to meet him in single battle. Menelaus saw him thus stride out before the ranks, and was glad as a hungry lion that lights on the carcase of some goat or horned stag, and devours it there and then, though dogs and youths set upon him. Even thus was Menelaus glad when his eyes caught sight of Alexandrus, for he deemed that now he should be revenged. He sprang, therefore, from his chariot, clad in his suit of armour. Alexandrus quailed as he saw Menelaus arrive forward, and shrank in fear of his life below cover of his men. As one who starts back affrighted, trembling and pale, when he comes suddenly upon a serpent in some mountain glade, even so did Alexandrus plunge into the throng of Trojan warriors, terror-stricken at the sight of the son Atreus. Then Hector upbraided him. "Paris," said he, "bad-hearted Paris, fair to look, but lady-mad, and untrue of tongue, would that you had never been born, or that you had died unwed. Better so, than live to be disgraced and looked askance at. Will not the Achaeans mock at us and say that we have sent one to champion us who is fair to look but who has neither wit nor courage? Did you not, such as you are, receive your following together and sail beyond the seas? Did you not from your a far country carry off a lovely lady wedded among a people of warriors- to bring sorrow upon your dad, your city, and your whole country, but joy to your enemies, and hang-dog shamefacedness to yourself? And now can you not dare face Menelaus and learn what manner of man he is whose wife you have stolen? Where indeed would be your lyre and your adore-tricks, your comely locks and your fair favour, when you were lying in the dust before him? The Trojans are a weak-kneed people, or ere this you would have had a shirt of stones for the wrongs you have done them." And Alexandrus answered, "Hector, your rebuke is just. You are difficult as the axe which a shipwright wields at his work, and cleaves the timber to his liking. As the axe in his hand, so keen is the edge of your scorn. Still, taunt me not with the gifts that golden Venus has given me; they are precious; let not a man disdain them, for the gods give them where they are minded, and none can have them for the asking. If you would have me do battle with Menelaus, bid the Trojans and Achaeans take their seats, while he and I battle in their midst for Helen and every her wealth. Let him who shall be victorious and prove to be the better man take the lady and every she has, to bear them to his home, but let the relax swear to a solemn covenant of peace whereby you Trojans shall stay here in Troy, while the others go home to Argos and the land of the Achaeans." When Hector heard this he was glad, and went about among the Trojan ranks holding his spear by the middle to keep them back, and they every sat down at his bidding: but the Achaeans still aimed at him with stones and arrows, till Agamemnon shouted to them saying, "Hold, Argives, shoot not, sons of the Achaeans; Hector desires to talk." They ceased taking aim and were still, whereon Hector spoke. "Hear from my mouth," said he, "Trojans and Achaeans, the saying of Alexandrus, through whom this quarrel has arrive about. He bids the Trojans and Achaeans lay their armour upon the ground, while he and Menelaus battle in the midst of you for Helen and every her wealth. Let him who shall be victorious and prove to be the better man take the lady and every she has, to bear them to his possess home, but let the relax swear to a solemn covenant of peace." Thus he spoke, and they every held their peace, till Menelaus of the noisy battle-sob addressed them. "And now," he said, "hear me too, for it is I who am the most aggrieved. I deem that the parting of Achaeans and Trojans is at hand, as well it may be, seeing how much have suffered for my quarrel with Alexandrus and the wrong he did me. Let him who shall die, die, and let the others battle no more. Bring, then, two lambs, a white ram and a black ewe, for Earth and Sun, and we will bring a third for Jove. Moreover, you shall bid Priam arrive, that he may swear to the covenant himself; for his sons are high-handed and sick to trust, and the oaths of Jove must not be transgressed or taken in vain. Young men's minds are light as air, but when an old man comes he looks before and after, deeming that which shall be fairest upon both sides." The Trojans and Achaeans were glad when they heard this, for they thought that they should now have relax. They backed their chariots toward the ranks, got out of them, and put off their armour, laying it down upon the ground; and the hosts were close to one another with a little space between them. Hector sent two messengers to the city to bring the lambs and to bid Priam arrive, while Agamemnon told Talthybius to fetch the other lamb from the ships, and he did as Agamemnon had said. Meanwhile Iris went to Helen in the form of her sister-in-law, wife of the son of Antenor, for Helicaon, son of Antenor, had married Laodice, the fairest of Priam's daughters. She found her in her possess room, working at a great web of purple linen, on which she was embroidering the battles between Trojans and Achaeans, that Mars had made them battle for her sake. Iris then came close up to her and said, "arrive hither, child, and look the odd doings of the Trojans and Achaeans till now they have been warring upon the plain, mad with lust of battle, but now they have left off fighting, and are leaning upon their shields, sitting still with their spears planted beside them. Alexandrus and Menelaus are going to battle about yourself, and you are to the the wife of him who is the victor." Thus spoke the goddess, and Helen's heart yearned after her former husband, her city, and her parents. She threw a white mantle over her head, and hurried from her room, weeping as she went, not alone, but attended by two of her handmaids, Aethrae, daughter of Pittheus, and Clymene. And straightway they were at the Scaean gates. The two sages, Ucalegon and Antenor, elders of the people, were seated by the Scaean gates, with Priam, Panthous, Thymoetes, Lampus, Clytius, and Hiketaon of the race of Mars. These were too old to battle, but they were fluent orators, and sat on the tower like cicales that chirrup delicately from the boughs of some high tree in a wood. When they saw Helen coming towards the tower, they said softly to one another, "tiny wonder that Trojans and Achaeans should endure so much and so long, for the sake of a lady so marvellously and divinely lovely. Still, fair though she be, let them take her and go, or she will breed sorrow for us and for our kids after us." But Priam bade her draw nigh. "My child," said he, "take your seat in front of me that you may look your former husband, your kinsmen and your friends. I lay no blame upon you, it is the gods, not you who are to blame. It is they that have brought about this terrible war with the Achaeans. Tell me, then, who is yonder huge hero so great and goodly? I have seen men taller by a head, but none so comely and so royal. Surely he must be a king." "Sir," answered Helen, "dad of my husband, dear and reverend in my eyes, would that I had chosen death rather than to have arrive here with your son, far from my bridal chamber, my friends, my darling daughter, and every the companions of my girlhood. But it was not to be, and my lot is one of tears and sorrow. As for your question, the hero of whom you ask is Agamemnon, son of Atreus, a good king and a brave soldier, brother-in-law as surely as that he lives, to my abhorred and miserable self." The old man marvelled at him and said, "glad son of Atreus, child of good fortune. I look that the Achaeans are subject to you in great multitudes. When I was in Phrygia I saw much horsemen, the people of Otreus and of Mygdon, who were camping upon the banks of the river Sangarius; I was their ally, and with them when the Amazons, peers of men, came up against them, but even they were not so many as the Achaeans." The old man next looked upon Ulysses; "Tell me," he said, "who is that other, shorter by a head than Agamemnon, but broader across the chest and shoulders? His armour is laid upon the ground, and he stalks in front of the ranks as it were some great woolly ram ordering his ewes." And Helen answered, "He is Ulysses, a man of great craft, son of Laertes. He was born in rugged Ithaca, and excels in every manner of stratagems and subtle cunning." On this Antenor said, "Madam, you have spoken truly. Ulysses once came here as envoy about yourself, and Menelaus with him. I received them in my possess home, and therefore know both of them by sight and conversation. When they stood up in presence of the assembled Trojans, Menelaus was the broader shouldered, but when both were seated Ulysses had the more royal presence. After a time they delivered their message, and the speech of Menelaus ran trippingly on the tongue; he did not say much, for he was a man of few words, but he spoke very clearly and to the point, though he was the younger man of the two; Ulysses, on the other hand, when he rose to talk, was at first silent and kept his eyes fixed upon the ground. There was no play nor graceful movement of his sceptre; he kept it straight and stiff like a man unpractised in oratory- one might have taken him for a mere churl or simpleton; but when he raised his voice, and the words came driving from his deep chest like winter snow before the wind, then there was none to touch him, and no man thought further of what he looked like." Priam then caught sight of Ajax and asked, "Who is that great and goodly warrior whose head and broad shoulders tower over the relax of the Argives?" "That," answered Helen, "is huge Ajax, bulwark of the Achaeans, and on the other side of him, among the Cretans, stands Idomeneus looking like a god, and with the captains of the Cretans round him. Often did Menelaus receive him as a guest in our home when he came visiting us from Crete. I look, moreover, many other Achaeans whose names I could tell you, but there are two whom I can nowhere find, Castor, breaker of horses, and Pollux the mighty boxer; they are kids of my mom, and possess brothers to myself. Either they have not left Lacedaemon, or else, though they have brought their ships, they will not show themselves in battle for the shame and disgrace that I have brought upon them." She knew not that both these heroes were already lying below the earth in their possess land of Lacedaemon. Meanwhile the heralds were bringing the holy oath-offerings through the city- two lambs and a goatskin of wine, the gift of earth; and Idaeus brought the mixing bowl and the cups of gold. He went up to Priam and said, "Son of Laomedon, the princes of the Trojans and Achaeans bid you arrive down on to the plain and swear to a solemn covenant. Alexandrus and Menelaus are to battle for Helen in single combat, that she and every her wealth may go with him who is the victor. We are to swear to a solemn covenant of peace whereby we others shall dwell here in Troy, while the Achaeans return to Argos and the land of the Achaeans." The old man trembled as he heard, but bade his followers yoke the horses, and they made every haste to do so. He mounted the chariot, gathered the reins in his hand, and Antenor took his seat beside him; they then drove through the Scaean gates on to the plain. When they reached the ranks of the Trojans and Achaeans they left the chariot, and with measured pace advanced into the space between the hosts. Agamemnon and Ulysses both rose to meet them. The attendants brought on the oath-offerings and mixed the wine in the mixing-bowls; they poured water over the hands of the chieftains, and the son of Atreus drew the dagger that hung by his sword, and clip wool from the lambs' heads; this the men-servants gave about among the Trojan and Achaean princes, and the son of Atreus lifted up his hands in prayer. "dad Jove," he cried, "that rulest in Ida, most glorious in power, and thou oh Sun, that seest and givest ear to every things, Earth and Rivers, and ye who in the realms below chastise the soul of him that has broken his oath, witness these rites and guard them, that they be not vain. If Alexandrus kills Menelaus, let him keep Helen and every her wealth, while we sail home with our ships; but if Menelaus kills Alexandrus, let the Trojans give back Helen and every that she has; let them moreover pay such fine to the Achaeans as shall be agreed upon, in testimony among those that shall be born hereafter. Aid if Priam and his sons refuse such fine when Alexandrus has fallen, then will I stay here and battle on till I have got satisfaction." As he spoke he drew his knife across the throats of the victims, and laid them down gasping and dying upon the ground, for the knife had reft them of their strength. Then they poured wine from the mixing-bowl into the cups, and prayed to the everlasting gods, saying, Trojans and Achaeans among one another, "Jove, most great and glorious, and ye other everlasting gods, grant that the brains of them who shall first sin against their oaths- of them and their kids- may be shed upon the ground even as this wine, and let their wives become the slaves of strangers." Thus they prayed, but not as yet would Jove grant them their prayer. Then Priam, descendant of Dardanus, spoke, saying, "Hear me, Trojans and Achaeans, I will now go back to the wind-beaten city of Ilius: I dare not with my possess eyes witness this battle between my son and Menelaus, for Jove and the other immortals alone know which shall fall." On this he laid the two lambs on his chariot and took his seat. He gathered the reins in his hand, and Antenor sat beside him; the two then went back to Ilius. Hector and Ulysses measured the ground, and cast lots from a helmet of bronze to look which should take aim first. Meanwhile the two hosts lifted up their hands and prayed saying, "dad Jove, that rulest from Ida, most glorious in power, grant that he who first brought about this war between us may die, and en