being covered in the horse; for the Trojans themselves had drawn it into the citadel. Thus it stood;[1] and they sitting about it spoke many undecided things; and counsel pleased them three ways, either to cut through the hollow wood with the hard brass, or having dragged it to a summit, to cast it down the rocks, or to permit the great image to be a propitiation of the gods, as it was even afterwards about to be brought to pass. For it was fated that it should perish, when the city should cover around[2] a great wooden horse, where all the best of the Argives sat, bearing slaughter and Fate to the Trojans. And he sang how the sons of the Greeks destroyed the city, being poured forth from the horse, having left the hollow ambush. He sang that one laid waste[3] the lofty city in one way, and another in another; but that Ulysses, like Mars, went to the house of Deiphobus with godlike Menelaus. There indeed he said, that he, having dared a very fierce battle, conquered afterwards by means of strong-hearted Minerva. These things, then, the very famous bard sang; but Ulysses was melted, and a tear moistened his cheeks under his eyelids. And as a woman weeps falling about her dear husband, who falls before his own city and people, warding off the fatal day from his town and children; she indeed, gazing on him dying and gasping, spread about him laments shrilly; but they behind smiting her with spears on the back and the shoulders, lead her into captivity, to have both toil and calamity, and with most piteous grief her cheeks fade. So Ulysses poured a piteous tear from under his eye-brows. Then indeed he escaped the notice of all the others, pouring forth tears, but Alcinous alone observed and perceived him, sitting near him, and heard him mourning heavily; and immediately addressed the oar-loving Phæacians:
"Hear, ye leaders and rulers over the Phæacians, and let Demodocus now stop his clear-toned harp; for somehow he does not sing these things gratifying to all. From the time when we were supping, and the divine bard began, from this time the stranger has not by any means ceased from mournful grief; some great sorrow surrounds his mind; but come, let him stop, that we may all alike be delighted, hosts and guest; since
- ↑ Compare Virg. Æn. ii. 31, sqq. Petron. Arb. § 123. Eurip. Troad. 540, sqq. Tryphiodor. 238, sqq.
- ↑ i. e. contain.
- ↑ Literally, "lopped, cropped down.
