ἤδη γὰρ καὶ φέγγος ἐδύετο , δαιμονίη δὲ
Ἴλιον αἰπεινὴν ὀλεσίπτολις ἀμφέβαλεν νύξ .
Ἀργείῃ δ᾿ Ἑλένῃ πολιὸν δέμας ἀσκήσασα

ἦλθε δολοφρονέουσα πολυφράδμων Ἀφροδίτη ,
ἐκ δὲ καλεσσαμένη προσέφη πειθήμονι φωνῇ ·
νύμφα φίλη , καλέει σε πόσις Μενέλαος ἀγήνωρ
ἵππῳ δουρατέῳ κεκαλυμμένος , ἀμφὶ δ᾿ Ἀχαιῶν
ἡγεμόνες λοχόωσι τεῶν μνηστῆρες ἀέθλων .

ἀλλ᾿ ἴθι , μηδ᾿ ἔτι τοι μελέτω Πριάμοιο γέροντος
μήτ᾿ ἄλλων Τρώων μήτ᾿ αὐτοῦ Δηιφόβοιο ·
ἤδη γάρ σε δίδωμι πολυτλήτῳ Μενελάῳ .
ὣς φαμένη θεὸς αὖθις ἀνέδραμεν · ἡ δὲ δόλοισι
θελγομένη κραδίην θάλαμον λίπε κηώεντα ,

καί οἱ Δηίφοβος πόσις εἵπετο · τὴν δὲ κιοῦσαν
Τρῳάδες ἑλκεχίτωνες ἐθηήσαντο γυναῖκες .
ἡ δ᾿ ὁπόθ᾿ ὑψιμέλαθρον ἐς ἱερὸν ἦλθεν Ἀθήνης ,
ἔστη παπταίνουσα φυὴν εὐήνορος ἵππου .
τρὶς δὲ περιστείχουσα καὶ Ἀργείους ἐρέθουσα

πάσας ἠυκόμους ἀλόχους ὀνόμαζεν Ἀχαιῶν
φωνῇ λεπταλέῃ · τοὶ δ᾿ ἔνδοθι θυμὸν ἄμυσσον
ἀλγεινοὶ κατέχοντες ἐεργμένα δάκρυα σιγῇ .
ἔστενε μὲν Μενέλαος , ἐπεὶ κλύε Τυνδαρεώνης ,
κλαῖε δὲ Τυδείδης μεμνημένος Αἰγιαλείης ,

οὔνομα δ᾿ ἐπτοίησεν Ὀδυσσέα Πηνελοπείης .
Ἄντικλος δ᾿ ὅτε κέντρον ἐδέξατο Λαοδαμείης ,
μοῦνος ἀμοιβαίην ἀνεβάλλετο γῆρυν ἀνοίξας ·
ἀλλ᾿ Ὀδυσεὺς κατέπαλτο καὶ ἀμφοτέρῃς παλάμῃσιν
ἀμφιπεσὼν ἐπίεζεν ἐπειγόμενον στόμα λῦσαι .

μάστακα δ᾿ ἀρρήκτοισιν ἀλυκτοπέδῃσι μεμαρπὼς
εἶχεν ἐπικρατέως · ὁ δ᾿ ἐπάλλετο χερσὶ πιεσθείς ,
φεύγων ἀνδροφόνοιο πελώρια δεσμὰ σιωπῆς .
καὶ τὸν μὲν λίπεν ἆσθμα φερέσβιον · οἱ δέ μιν ἄλλοι
δάκρυσι λαθριδίοισι κατακλαύσαντες Ἀχαιοὶ

κοῖλον ἀποκρύψαντες ἐς ἰσχίον ἔνθεσαν ἵππου
καὶ χλαῖναν μελέεσσιν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι βαλόντες .
καί νύ κεν ἄλλον ἔθελγε γυνὴ δολόμητις Ἀχαιῶν ,
εἰ μή οἱ βλοσυρῶπις ἀπ᾿ αἰθέρος ἀντήσασα
Παλλὰς ἐπηπείλησε , φίλου δ᾿ ἐξήγαγε νηοῦ

μούνῃ φαινομένη , στερεῇ δ᾿ ἀπεπέμψατο φωνῇ ·
δειλαίη , τέο μέχρις ἀλιτροσύναι σε φέρουσι
καὶ πόθος ἀλλοτρίων λεχέων καὶ Κύπριδος ἄτη ;
οὔποτε δ᾿ οἰκτείρεις πρότερον πόσιν οὐδὲ θύγατρα
Ἑρμιόνην ποθέεις ; ἔτι δὲ Τρώεσσιν ἀρήγεις ;

χάζεο καὶ θαλάμων ὑπερώιον εἰσαναβᾶσα
σὺν πυρὶ μειλιχίῳ ποτιδέχνυσο νῆας Ἀχαιῶν .
ὣς φαμένη κενεὴν ἀπάτην ἐκέδασσε γυναικός .
καὶ τὴν μὲν θαλαμόνδε πόδες φέρον · οἱ δὲ χοροῖο
παυσάμενοι καμάτῳ ἀδδηκότες ἤριπον ὕπνῳ .

καὶ δή που φόρμιγξ ἀνεπαύσατο , κεῖτο δὲ κάμνων
αὐλὸς ἐπὶ κρητῆρι , κύπελλα δὲ πολλὰ χυθέντα
αὐτομάτως ῥείεσκε καθελκομένων ἀπὸ χειρῶν .
ἡσυχίη δὲ πόλιν κατεβόσκετο , νυκτὸς ἑταίρη ,
οὐδ᾿ ὑλακὴ σκυλάκων ἠκούετο , πᾶσα δὲ σιγὴ

εἱστήκει καλέουσα φόνον πνείουσαν ἀυτήν .
ἤδη δὲ Τρώεσσιν ὀλέθριον εἷλκε τάλαντον
Ζεὺς ταμίης πολέμοιο , μόγις1 δ᾿ ἐλέλιξεν Ἀχαιούς ·
χάζετο δ᾿ Ἰλιόθεν Λυκίης ἐπὶ πίονα νηὸν
ἀχνύμενος μεγάλοις ἐπὶ τείχεσι Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων .

αὐτίκα δ Ἀργείοισιν Ἀχιλλῆος παρὰ τύμβον
ἀγγελίην ἀνέφαινε Σίνων εὐφεγγέι δαλῷ .
παννυχίη δ᾿ ἑτάροισιν ὑπὲρ θαλάμοιο καὶ αὐτὴ
εὐειδὴς Ἑλένη χρυσέην ἐπεδείκνυτο πεύκην .

For now the light was descending , and divine
Night , destroyer of cities , encompassed lofty Ilium .
And to Argive Helen , came many - wiled Aphrodite ,

having shaped a hoary form , scheming deceit ,
and having beckoned her out , thus she persuasively bespoke :
" Dear bride , he calls for you , your husband , the honorable Menelaus ,
hidden within the wooden horse , surrounded by Achaean
leaders , wooers of your contests , lying in wait . "

" But go , and care no more for aged Priam ,
nor for the other Trojans , nor even for Deiphobus himself .
For now I return you to long-suffering Menelaus . "
So speaking , the goddess ran back again ; and Helen , her
heart beguiled by trickery , left the fragrant chamber ,

and her husband Deiphobus followed ; and as she went ,
the Trojan women with trailing robes gazed at her in wonder .
And when she came to the high-roofed temple of Athena ,
she stood , scanning the form of the noble horse .
Three times she walked around it , taunting the Argives ,

calling out the names of all the long-haired Achaean wives ,
in a delicate voice ; but they inwardly tore at their hearts ,
grief - stricken , holding back their silent tears .
Menelaus groaned , when he heard the daughter of Tyndareus ,
and the son of Tydeus wept , remembering Aegialeia ,

but the name of Penelope did not shake Odysseus .
But Anticlus , stirred by the call of Laodameia ,
alone lifted up a reply , opening his voice ,
but Odysseus leapt and with both hands
threw himself on him , pressing down on his mouth as he tried to speak .

Grabbing his jaws with unbreakable bonds of restraint ,
he held him firmly ; and Anticlus thrashed beneath the pressure of his hands ,
fleeing the deadly , monstrous bonds of silence .
And breath at last left him , wearying ; but the others
wept for him in secret tears , those Achaeans ,

hiding him deep in the hollow flank of the horse ,
and throwing a cloak over his lifeless limbs .
And now the scheming woman would have beguiled another of the Achaeans ,
had not grey - eyed Athena , descending from the heavens ,
threatened her and led her out of her beloved temple ,

appearing to her alone , and speaking with a firm voice :
" Wretched girl , how long will your crimes carry you ,
and your lust for another ' s bed and the delusion of Aphrodite ?
Do you never pity your former husband nor your daughter ,
Hermione , whom you long for ? Do you still aid the Trojans ?

Withdraw , and climbing to the upper room of the chambers
with gentle fire , await the ships of the Achaeans . "
So speaking , she scattered the woman ' s empty trickery .
And her feet carried her back to the chamber ; while the others from the dance ,
ceased in their weariness and fell into sleep , breathless .

And surely the lyre had fallen silent , and lay still ,
the flute atop the mixing bowl , and many cups , spilled ,
ran wine by themselves , dropped from relaxing hands .
Quiet reigns throughout the city , Night’s companion ,
not even the barking of dogs was heard — only stillness ,

standing firm , calling forth slaughter , breathing death itself .
And already Zeus , the steward of war , drew the deadly balance toward the Trojans ,
and with difficulty stirred the Achaeans .
And Phoebus Apollo withdrew from Ilium toward his rich temple in Lycia ,
grieving for the great walls .

Immediately then , for the Argives , by the tomb of Achilles ,
Sinon raised the signal : a bright - burning torch .
And even lovely Helen herself spent the all night long above
the chamber , displaying the golden pine torch to her companions .

till the Night was come ,
Big with the weight of Troy ' s impending doom .
' Twas then the Queen of love , with close design ,
Veil ' d in a borrow ' d shape the form divine ;

Disguis ' d in age to Argive Helen came ,
And artful thus address ' d the list ' ning Dame :
Haste , Helen , haste ; ' tis Heav ' n directs thy way ,
And Menelaus forbids a longer stay ;
Lock ' d in the Steed with Chiefs who came from far ,
Sworn in thy cause to wage the fatal war .

Let Ilion ' s race no more thy care engage ,
Nor young Deiphobus , nor Priam ' s age ;
Since Jove thus wills , and pitying Fates ordain ,
That Helen own her rightful Lord again .
The Goddeſs spoke ; and , parting , left impress ' d
Her fatal wiles on Helen ' s lab ' ring breast :
Swift to Minerva ' s Fane her steps she bends ,

With Her Deiphobus the Dome ascends ;
The Trojan Matrons view ' d her graceful mien ,
Admiring view ' d , and prais ' d the beauteous Queen .
The faithless Fair , when to the Steed she came ,
Stood fix ' d in wonder at the lofty frame :
Then thrice , low - whisp ' ring , round the Pile she goes ,

And speaks the name of ev ' ry Argive Spouse :
Each much-lov ' d name the latent Warriors hear ,
And not a Chief but drop ' d a silent tear .
The Spartan Prince , when Helen ' s voice he knew ,
Wip ' d from his moisten ' d cheeks the falling dew ;
Tydides and Ulyffes next she tried ,
And each in secret wept his absent Bride :

Not so the hapless Anticlus suppress ' d
The kindling passion in his tortur ' d breast :
Eager he rose , to own his am ' rous flame ,
Touch ' d at the found of Laodamia ' s name .
That instant , anxious for his Country ' s fate ,
The wife Ulysses started from his feat ;
Forceful he stop ' d each avenue of breath ,

And held him struggling in the arms of Death :
He pants , he heaves , he strives in vain to rife ,
Forc ' d by Ulysses ' hand the spirit flies ,
And sleep eternal seals his closing eyes .
His Corfe the Greeks , with inward anguish torn ,
In silence bury , and in silence mourn :

Breathless he lies , with cov ' ring vestures spread ,
Deep in the caverns of the spacious Steed .
Again had Helen trod the fatal round ,
And other Heroes answer ' d to the found ,
But Pallas stop ' d her way : The martial Maid
Shone fierce in dreadful majesty array ' d .
To none but Helen , of the Trojan crew ,
The heav ' nly Vision stood consess ' d in view .
Instant the Goddess led her from the shrine ,

And thus , incens ' d , was heard the voice divine .
How long shall Helen live her Sex ' s shame ?
How long , remorseless , own her impious flame ?
Still canst thou bear , unpitied , undeplor ' d ,
An absent Daughter , and an injur’d Lord ?
Shall Troy still boast , and Argos want thy aid ,
Thou faithless partner of a foreign bed ?

Go haste , persidious , haste in silence home ,
And from the summit of the lofty Dome
Lift high the blazing torch , and friendly guide
The Grecian Warriors o ' er the swelling tide .
She spoke : And Helen , from the sacred Tow ' r
( Her fraud defeated by the heav ' nly Pow ' r )
In haste withdrew . Asleep the Trojans lay ,
Tir ' d with the various revels of the day .
No more they lead the Dance , no more they sing ,

Dumb was each voice , and mute the tuneful string .
One , stretch ' d at ease , with weary ' d limbs was laid ,
While the round goblet prop ' d his sinking head ;
Others , while Sleep weigh ' d down the heavy foul ,
Drop ' d from their op ' ning hands the plenteous bowl .
Silence , Attendant of the Night ' s dark train ,
Had stretch ' d her empire o ' er the sons of men .
No voice was heard , no tumult shook the town ,
No Dog stood barking at the distant Moon .
While sacred Ilion , in the peaceful gloom ,

Calls for the Slaughter , and invites her doom .
Jove now , sole Arbiter of Peace and War ,
Held forth the fatal Balance from afar :
Each Hoft he weighs ; by turns they both prevail ,
Till Troy descending fix ' d the doubtful Scale .
This Phoebus view ' d : To Lycia ' s ample fane
Sorrowing he moves , and quits the Phrygian plain .

Lo ! at thy tomb , Pelides , Sinon stands ,
The promis ' d Signal blazing in his hands ;
And Argive Helen , from the lofty Tow ' r ,
Lights the glad Warriors to the Trojan shore .