THE TAKING OF ILIOS 



upened his lips and essayed answering speech. But 

 Odysseus leapt upon him and fell about him with 

 both his hands and restrained him while he strove to 

 open his lips, and, seizing his mouth in escapeless 

 fetters unbreakable, held him masterfully. And he 

 writhed under the pressure of his hands, essa}ing to 

 escape the giant bonds of murderous silence. And 

 breath that gives men life forsook him ; and the 

 other Achaeans wept for him with secret tears and 

 hid him away in the hollow flank of the horse, and 

 cast a coverlet over his chilly limbs. And now would 

 the crafty woman have beguiled another of the 

 Achaeans, had not fierce-eyed Pallas met her from 

 the sky and threatened her and led her forth from 

 her dear temple, appearing unto her alone,* and sent 

 her away with stern voice : 



" Wretch, how far shall thy sinfulness carry thee 

 and thy passion for alien wedlock and the infatuation 

 of Cypris * ? And thou hast never any pity for thy 

 former husband nor any yearning for thy daughter 

 Hermione, but helpest still the Trojans ? With- 

 draw and go up into thy upper room in the house 

 and with kindly fire welcome the ships of the 

 Achaeans." 



So she spake and shattered the woman's empty 

 deceit. And Helen passed to her chamber, while they 

 ceased from the dance, filled with weariness, and fell 

 on sleep. The IjTe rested, the weary flute lay beside 

 the mixing-bowl, and many a cup fell from the 

 drooping hand and flowed of itself. Peace, the 

 companion of night, browsed about the city ; and no 

 baying of dogs was heard but perfect silence reigned, 

 inxiting slaughter-breathing battle. And now Zeus, 



• Cf. Horn. //. i. 198. » Aphrodite. 



617 



