"Rise, thou son of Laomedon. The chieftains of the horse-taming Trojans
and mail-clad Achaians call on thee to go down into the plain, that ye
may pledge a trusty oath. But Alexandros and Menelaos dear to Ares will
fight with their long spears for the lady's sake; and let lady and
treasure go with him that shall conquer. And may we that are left pledge
friendship and trusty oaths and dwell in deep-soiled Troy, and they
shall depart to Argos pasture-land of horses and Achaia home of fair
women."

So said he, and the old man shuddered and base his companions yoke the
horses; and they with speed obeyed. Then Priam mounted and drew back the
reins, and by his side Antenor mounted the splendid chariot. So the two
drave the fleet horses through the Skaian gates to the plain. And when
they had come even to the Trojans and Achaians, they went down from the
chariots upon the bounteous earth, and marched into the midst of Trojans
and Achaians. Then forthwith rose up Agamemnon king of men, and up rose
Odysseus the man of wiles; and the lordly heralds gathered together the
holy oath-offerings of the gods, and mingled the wine in a bowl, and
poured water over the princes' hands. And Atreides put forth his hand
and drew his knife that hung ever beside his sword's great sheath, and
cut the hair from off the lambs' heads; and then the heralds portioned
it among the chief of the Trojans and Achaians. Then in their midst
Atreus' son lifted up his hands and prayed aloud: "Father Zeus, that
rulest from Ida, most glorious, most great, and thou Sun that seest all
things and hearest all things, and ye Rivers and thou Earth, and ye that
in the underworld punish men outworn, whosoever sweareth falsely; be ye
witnesses, and watch over the faithful oath. If Alexandros slay
Menelaos, then let him have Helen to himself and all her possessions;
and we will depart on our seafaring ships. But if golden-haired Menelaos
slay Alexandros, then let the Trojans give back Helen and all her