But when between th’ opposing ranks they came, Alighting from the car, they mov’d on foot Between the Trojan and the Grecian hosts. Uprose then Agamemnon, King of men, Uprose the sage Ulysses; to the front The heralds brought the off’rings to the Gods, And in the flagon mix’d the wine, and pour’d The hallowing water on the monarchs’ hands. His dagger then the son of Atreus drew, Suspended, as was wont, beside the hilt Of his great sword; and from the victim’s head He cut the sacred lock, which to the chiefs Of Troy and Greece the heralds portion’d out. Then with uplifted hands he pray’d aloud: “O Father Jove! who rul’st from Ida’s height, Most great! most glorious! and thou Sun, who see’st And hearest all things! Rivers! and thou Earth! And ye, who after death beneath the earth Your vengeance wreak on souls of men forsworn, Be witness ye, and this our cov’nant guard. If Menelaus fall by Paris’ hand, Let him retain both Helen and the spoil, While in our ships we take our homeward way; If Paris be by Menelaus slain, Troy shall surrender Helen and the spoil, With compensation due to Greece, that so A record may to future days remain. But, Paris slain, if Priam and his sons The promis’d compensation shall withhold, Then here, my rights in battle to assert, Will I remain, till I the end achieve.” Thus as he spoke, across the victims’ throats He drew the pitiless blade, and on the ground He laid them gasping, as the stream of life Pour’d forth, their vigour by the blade subdued. Then, from the flagon drawn, from out the cups The wine they pour’d; and to th’ eternal Gods They pray’d; and thus from Trojans and from Greeks Arose the joint petition; “Grant, O Jove! Most great! most glorious! grant, ye heav’nly pow’rs, That whosoe’er this solemn truce shall break, Ev’n as this wine we pour, their hearts’ best blood, Theirs and their children’s, on the earth be pour’d, And strangers in subjection take their wives!” Thus they; but Jove, unyielding, heard their pray’r. The rites perform’d, then aged Priam spoke: “Hear me, ye Trojans, and ye well-greav’d Greeks! To Ilium’s breezy heights I now withdraw, For that mine eyes will not endure the sight Of warlike Menelaus and my son Engag’d in deadly combat; of the two Which may be doom’d to death, is only known To Jove, and to th’ immortal pow’rs of Heav’n.” Thus spoke the godlike King; and on the car He plac’d the consecrated lambs; himself Ascending then, he gather’d up the reins, And with Antenor by his side, the twain To Ilium’s walls retrac’d their homeward way.