To the Atridae, hence to be convey’d,
  Helen of Greece with all that is her own. 
  For charged with violated oaths we fight,
  And hope I none conceive that aught by us
  Design’d shall prosper, unless so be done. 420
    He spake and sat; when from his seat arose
  Paris, fair Helen’s noble paramour,
  Who thus with speech impassion’d quick replied. 
    Antenor! me thy counsel hath not pleased;
  Thou could’st have framed far better; but if this 425
  Be thy deliberate judgment, then the Gods
  Make thy deliberate judgment nothing worth. 
  But I will speak myself.  Ye Chiefs of Troy,
  I tell you plain.  I will not yield my spouse. 
  But all her treasures to our house convey’d 430
  From Argos, those will I resign, and add
  Still other compensation from my own. 
    Thus Paris said and sat; when like the Gods
  Themselves in wisdom, from his seat uprose
  Dardanian Priam, who them thus address’d. 435
    Trojans, Dardanians, and allies of Troy! 
  I shall declare my sentence; hear ye me. 
  Now let the legions, as at other times,
  Take due refreshment; let the watch be set,
  And keep ye vigilant guard.  At early dawn 440
  We will dispatch Idaeus to the fleet,
  Who shall inform the Atridae of this last
  Resolve of Paris, author of the war. 
  Discreet Idaeus also shall propose
  A respite (if the Atridae so incline) 445
  From war’s dread clamor, while we burn the dead. 
  Then will we clash again, till heaven at length
  Shall part us, and the doubtful strife decide. 
    He ceased, whose voice the assembly pleased, obey’d. 
  Then, troop by troop, the army took repast, 450
  And at the dawn Idaeus sought the fleet. 
  He found the Danai, servants of Mars,
  Beside the stern of Agamemnon’s ship
  Consulting; and amid the assembled Chiefs
  Arrived, with utterance clear them thus address’d. 455
    Ye sons of Atreus, and ye Chiefs, the flower
  Of all Achaia!  Priam and the Chiefs
  Of Ilium, bade me to your ear impart
  (If chance such embassy might please your ear)
  The mind of Paris, author of the war. 460
  The treasures which on board his ships he brought
  From Argos home (oh, had he perish’d first!)
  He yields them with addition from his own. 
  Not so the consort of the glorious prince
  Brave Menelaus; her (although in Troy 465
  All counsel otherwise) he still detains. 
  Thus too I have in charge.  Are ye inclined
  That the dread sounding clamors of the field
  Be caused to cease till we shall burn the dead? 
  Then will we clash again, ’till heaven at length 470
  Shall part us, and the doubtful strife