There heifers graze, and labouring oxen toil;

Bold are the men, and generous is the soil;

There shall he reign, with power and justice crown'd,

And rule the tributary realms around.

All this I give, his vengeance to control,

And sure all this may move his mighty soul.

Pluto, the grisly god, who never spares,

Who feels no mercy, and who hears no prayers,

Lives dark and dreadful in deep hell's abodes,

And mortals hate him, as the worst of gods

Great though he be, it fits him to obey,

Since more than his my years, and more my sway."

The monarch thus. The reverend Nestor then:

"Great Agamemnon! glorious king of men!

Such are thy offers as a prince may take,

And such as fits a generous king to make.

Let chosen delegates this hour be sent

(

Myself will name them) to Pelides' tent.

Let Phoenix lead, revered for hoary age,

Great Ajax next, and Ithacus the sage.

Yet more to sanctify the word you send,

Let Hodius and Eurybates attend.

Now pray to Jove to grant what Greece demands;

Pray in deep silence,(205) and with purest hands."(206)

348

The Iliad of Homer