LITERARY PAPERS 
39 6 
in verse and made his very own. The ethical life of the Greeks, 
their Gods, religion, belief in immortality, and thoughts on 
life and death he brought before us with remarkable clear¬ 
ness. 
In the earlier Greek writings, Homer, for example, the 
notion of Truth is not so exalted as in later Greek writings. 
Its applications are more generally to concrete objects, and 
Truth is used more in our sense of verity in relation to some 
particular situation, as when Sarpedon addresses Glaucus, 
“But now, for a truth ten thousand fates of death press upon 
us;” or in another passage, “Thine of a truth will shame 
and disgrace now be, O Menelaus, if the swift dogs tear the 
faithful companion of illustrious Hercules beneath the walls 
of the Trojans.” Hector interrogates the maids of the palace 
thus, “I pray you, maids, tell me truly whither went white¬ 
armed Andromache from the palace?” Him then the active 
housewife in turn addressed, “Hector, since thou biddest 
me to tell the truth, she has not gone to any of her husband’s 
sisters — but she went to the lofty tower of Ilium.” 
Very frequently similar passages occur in the Iliad and 
other Homeric writings. When the Gerenian Knight says, 
“Shall I speak falsely or say the truth?” doubtless his hesi¬ 
tation arose from fears lest his forebodings should dampen 
the courage of his companions. Nestor well comprehended 
the imperfections of our senses and the relativity of Truth 
depending upon the senses as its source, and the need of 
cooperation when resorting to such experience. He says, 
“Truly, my friend, thou hast spoken all these things aright,— 
for when two go together, the one perceives before the other 
how the advantage may be. But if one being alone should 
observe anything, his perception is more tardy and his judg¬ 
ment weak.” 
It was a Greek principle in warfare that stratagem, deceit, 
and cunning were legitimate means to employ in overcoming 
an enemy, although treaties with the enemy were concluded 
and ratified upon oath and were binding. Ulysses is openly 
addressed as “Jove-sprung son of Laertes, much-scheming 
Ulysses,” “Ulysses of many wiles,” “Cunning Ulysses,” and 
