Chapter 25 25

The princes of the Danes gathered in the tent of their supreme commander Agamemnon.They sacrificed a five-year-old bull to Zeus.During the banquet, everyone gave up the best steak to the victor Ajax.After they were drunk and full of food, Nestor proposed a truce tomorrow in order to collect the corpses of the Dannea people who died on the battlefield and transport them to the warship to cremate them, and then hand over the ashes to the dead when they returned home. child.His proposal was approved by everyone. The Trojans also held a meeting in the palace on the acropolis, and they were also confused and disappointed by the situation of the battle.The wise Antenor stood up and said: "Friend and ally of the Trojans! Pandarus has broken the sacred agreement, we have broken the promise, and it will do no good to our people if the war continues. Therefore I recommend Return Helen and her wealth to the son of Atreus."

Paris disagreed. He said: "Antenor, if you are serious about what you say, then the gods must have made you lose your mind. I declare clearly that I will never hand over Helen." .The jewels I brought back from Argos can be returned to them. And, if they ask for compensation, I will be happy to give them some more from my property!" After the speech of his son, the aged King Priam Say to everyone in a relieved tone: "We will not talk about other things today, friends, let the soldiers start dinner, and you too, please undress and disarm, and have a good rest. Our messenger Iteus will arrive at the Greeks tomorrow. Go to the ship and ask them if they will make a truce with us and let us cremate the dead. If we can't come to an agreement, we'll start the war again."

They did just that.Iteos came to the Greeks as a messenger the next morning, conveying the advice of Paris and the king.After hearing his words, the heroes of the Dane'a were silent for a long time.At last Diomedes broke the silence, saying: "Friends of the Greeks, think not only of treasures, even if you have Helen again. You should see from their advice that the Trojans feel threatened with doom! "Everyone cheered his speech. Agamemnon said to the messenger: "You have heard with your own ears the Greeks' reply to Paris' proposal, but we should give you time to cremate the dead.Zeus who is in charge of thunder can testify to my words! With that said, he raised his scepter to the sky.

Iteus returned to Troy and saw the Trojans were having a meeting to discuss.He reported the other party's reply.Then the whole city mobilized, some collected the corpses, and some gathered firewood.The Greek camp was equally busy.In the bright sunshine, men from the opposing sides came and went peacefully, each looking for fallen soldiers from the other's positions.With tears in their eyes, the Trojans cleaned the blood from the limbs of their fallen soldiers, silently carried the corpses onto the chariot, and sent them to the high pyre.The Greeks did the same with grief, and did not return to their ships until the flames were extinguished.They had been busy all day, and when it was time for dinner, Oyunnaos, the son of Jason and Hypersyborough, brought a great deal of wine from Lemnos by ship, for he was very friendly with the Greeks. .The gift came just in time, and the Greeks were overjoyed, and they drank freely and enjoyed a good meal.

The Trojans also wanted to take a break during the war, but Zeus would not let them be quiet.Throughout the night, thunder rumbled, and the Trojans had a premonition that they were facing a new disaster.With fear, they did not dare to put it to their mouths when they toasted, but first poured wine to the angry father of gods as a sacrifice.