It suits not to defile a day auspiciousWith ill-announcing speech: distinct each god’s due:And when a messenger with gloomy visageTo a city bears a fall’n host’s woes— God ward off! —One popular wound that happens to the city,And many sacrificed from many households —Men, scourged by that two-thonged whip Ares loves so,Double spear-headed curse, bloody yoke-couple, —Of woes like these, doubtless, whoe’er comes weighted,Him does it suit to sing the Erinues’ paian.But who, of matters saved a glad-news-bringer,Comes to a city in good estate rejoicing. ...How shall I mix good things with evil, tellingOf storm against the Achaioi, urged by gods’ wrath?For they swore league, being arch-foes before that,Fire and the sea: and plighted troth approved they,Destroying the unhappy Argeian army.At night began the bad-wave-outbreak evils;For, ships against each other Threkian breezesShattered: and these, butted at in a fury