τὼ μὲν ζευγνοίσθην ἐν δώμασιν ὑψηλοῖσι
κῆρυξ καὶ Πρίαμος. πυκινὰ φρεσὶ μήδε' ἔχοντες:
ἀγχίμολον δέ σφ' ἦλθ' Ἑκάβη τετιηότι θυμῷ.
οἶνον ἔχουσ' ἐν χειρὶ μελίφρονα δεξιτερῆφι
χρυσέῳ ἐν δέπαϊ. ὄφρα λείψαντε κιοίτην:
στῆ δ' ἵππων προπάροιθεν. ἔπος τ' ἔφατ', έκ τ' ὀνόμαζε:
τῆ, σπεῖσον Διῒ πατρὶ, καὶ εὔχεο οἴκαδ' ἱ̈κέσθαι
ὰψ' ἐκ δυσμενέων ἀνδρῶν: ἐπεὶ ἂρ σέ γε θυμὸς
ὀτρύνει ἐπὶ νῆας. ἐμεῖο μὲν οὐκ ἐθελούσης:
ἂλλ' εὔχεο σύ γ' ἔπειτα κελαινεφέϊ Κρονίωνι
Ἰδαίῳ: ὅς τε Τροίην κατα πᾶσαν ὁρᾶται:
αἴτει δ' οἰωνὸν ταχὺν ἄγγελον. ὅς τέ οἱ αὐτῷ
φίλτατος οἰωνῶν. καί, εὑ κράτος ἐστὶ μάλιστα:
δεξιὸν. ὄφρά μιν αὐτὸς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσι νοήσας:
τῷ πίσυνος. ἐπὶ νῆας ΐῃς Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων:
εἰ δέ τοι οὐ δώσει ἑὸν ἄγγελον εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς.
οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγέ σ' ἔπειτα ἐποτρύνουσα κελοίμην
νῆας ἐπ' Ἀργείων ϊέναι. μάλα περ μεμαῶτα:
Thus were the twain letting yoke their cars, in the high palace, even the herald and Priam, with thoughts of wisdom in their hearts, when nigh to them came Hecabe, her heart sore stricken, bearing in her right hand honey-hearted wine in a cup of gold, that they might make libation ere they went. And she stood before the horses, and spake, saying: "Take now, pour libation to father Zeus, and pray that thou mayest come back home from the midst of the foemen, seeing thy heart sendeth thee forth to the ships, albeit I am fain thou shouldst not go, Thereafter make thou prayer unto the son of Cronos, lord of the dark chouds, the god of Ida, that looketh down upon all the land of Troy, and ask of him a bird of omen, even the swift messenger that to himself is dearest of birds and is mightiest in strength; let him appear upon thy right hand, to the end that marking the sign with thine own eyes, thou mayest have trust therein, and go thy way to the ships of the Danaans of fleet steeds. But if so be Zeus whose voice is borne afar grant thee not his own messenger, then I of a surety should not urge thee on and bid thee go to the ships of the Argives, how eager soever thou be."
