Seba.Health

The Iliad 7.348–353

The Iliad 7.348–353
Come ye now, let us give Argive Helen and the treasure with her unto the sons of Atreus to take away. Now do we fight after proving false to our oaths of faith, wherefore have I no hope that aught will issue to our profit, if we do not thus.
κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι, ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει. δεῦτʼ ἄγετʼ Ἀργείην Ἑλένην καὶ κτήμαθʼ ἅμʼ αὐτῇ δώομεν Ἀτρεΐδῃσιν ἄγειν· νῦν δʼ ὅρκια πιστὰ ψευσάμενοι μαχόμεσθα· τὼ οὔ νύ τι κέρδιον ἡμῖν ἔλπομαι ἐκτελέεσθαι, ἵνα μὴ ῥέξομεν ὧδε.
Lattimore commentary
Another abrupt surprise: the proposal by Antenor to give back Helen sets up the forceful rejection by Paris, albeit with the concession that he is willing to return Menelaos’ treasures along with punitive damages.
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