Her then the sage Antenor addressed, when she spake of Ulysses: “Lady, in truth thou hast uttered these words; for once, I remember, Hither the noble Ulysses came with the brave Menelaus, (Thou wast the cause of his coming) and I was their host in my palace, And of both the heroes I learned the genius and wisdom. When they met in the Council, with Trojan heroes assembled, Standing, Ulysses was less by a head than the brave Menelaus-- Sitting, more honour was due to the thoughtful brow of Ulysses. And when they wove, for the general ear, their thoughts into language, Menelaus harangued very freely and briefly, and clearly, Never missing his words, nor misapplying their meaning, Though, as to years, not yet was he reckoned among the elders. But when Ulysses arose, with his head full of wariest measures, Standing, he fixed his eyes on the ground, and kept looking downwards, Moving his sceptre nor backwards nor forwards, but holding it firmly, Looking like one not wise; and those who beheld him might fancy That he was deeply enraged, and thus bereft of his reason. But when, as I have seen, he sent his great voice from his bosom, Words that came thick and fast, like the flakes of the snow in the winter, Then he that listened would say, no man might compete with Ulysse; Then we forgot how he looked as the words of Ulysses enchained us.” Thirdly, on seeing Ajax, the old King of Helen demanded: “Who, so stately and tall, is this other chief of the Grecians, Rising as high o’er the rest as the height of his head and broad shoulders?” And thus the comely-robed Helen, the fairest of women, responded: “He thou beholdest is Ajax, gigantic--to Grecians a bulwark! And over there, like a god, Idomeneus stands ’mong the Cretans, While around him the chiefs of the Cretan army are gathered. Many a time has the brave Menelaus bidden him welcome, When to our Spartan home he came from the land of the Cretans. But while I see all around, the rest of the dark-eyed Achæeans, Whom I well know, and whose names I could tell, two captains I see not-- Castor, tamer of steeds, and Pollux, skilful in boxing-- Both own brothers of mine: we three were nursed by one mother. Either they have not come with the forces from far Lacedæmon, Or having come, it may be, to this place, in sea-traversing vessels, Do not desire, after all to enter the battle of heroes, Fearing the shame and reproach the crime of their sister would cause them.” So she spake; but them the life-giving earth was embracing In the dear land of their fathers over the sea, Lacedæmon! SONG OF THE TROJAN CAPTIVE. (_Euripidis Hecuba_, 905.) I.