Nor so; for holy Tellus’ womb inclos’d those worthy men In Sparta, their belovéd soil. The voiceful heralds then The firm agreement of the Gods through all the city ring; Two lambs, and spirit-refreshing wine (the fruit of earth) they bring, Within a goat-skin bottle clos’d; Idæus also brought A massy glitt’ring bowl, and cups, that all of gold were wrought; Which bearing to the king, they cried: “Son of Laomedon Rise, for the well-rode peers of Troy, and brass-arm’d Greeks, in one, Send to thee to descend the field, that they firm vows may make; For Paris, and the Spartan king, must fight for Helen’s sake, With long-arm’d lances; and the man that proves victorious, The woman, and the wealth she brought, shall follow to his house; The rest knit friendship, and firm leagues; we safe in Troy shall dwell, In Argos and Achaia they, that do in dames excel.” He said; and Priam’s aged joints with chilled fear did shake, Yet instantly he bade his men his chariot ready make. Which soon they did, and he ascends. He takes the reins, and guide Antenor calls; who instantly mounts to his royal side, And, through the Scæan ports to field, the swift-foot horse they drive. And when at them of Troy and Greece the aged lords arrive, From horse, on Troy’s well-feeding soil, ’twixt both the hosts they go. When straight up-rose the king of men, up-rose Ulysses too, The heralds in their richest coats repeat (as was the guise) The true vows of the Gods (term’d theirs, since made before their eyes) Then in a cup of gold they mix the wine that each side brings, And next pour water on the hands of both the kings of kings. Which done, Atrides drew his knife, that evermore he put Within the large sheath of his sword; with which away he cut The wool from both fronts of the lambs, which (as a rite in use Of execration to their heads, that brake the plighted truce) The heralds of both hosts did give the peers of both; and then, With hands and voice advanc’d to heav’n, thus pray’d the king of men: