BOOK III
When severally thus were they
beneath their leaders marshall'd,
1
The Troian ranks, like flocks of fowl,
mov'd on with noise and clatter;
As verily the scream of cranes
across the sky is carried,
Who, scar'd by storm ineffable,
and by the scowl of winter,
Soar on the pinion clamouring
toward the streams of Ocean,
5
Unto the men of Pygmy breed
murder and ruin bearing,
And at the early morning, set
dire controversy forward.
But yon Achaians, breathing might,
march'd all of them in silence,
Each for his comrade resolute
some feat of arms to venture.
And as, along a mountain's tops,
mist from the South wind gathers,
10
To shepherds hateful, but to thief
than shades of night more friendly,
And so far as one casts a stone,
may each man see before him;
1
2
Sothen the dustwave wreath'd in storm
was rais'd beneath their tramping,
As on they went: and speedily
the breadth of plain travers'd they.
When both to shorter distance came,
advancing each on other,
15
Foremost among the ranks of Troy
stood godlike Alexander,
With panther skin and bending bow
slung loosely from his shoulder
And cutlass; but in double hand
two brazen-pointed lances
He brandish'd, and loud challenge
made to all the Argive bravest,
In battle's perilous debate
with adverse force to combat.
20
When Menelas, by Ares lov'd,
descried his foe advancing
With long and lofty stride, before
the common crowd of Troians;
His joy was as a lion's joy,
on some large game alighting,
Whether an antler-bearing stag
or roebuck meet his clutches;
For he in hungry mood, I ween,
doth greedily devour it,
25
Though hard upon his traces press
swift hounds and lusty callants.
So Meneläus joy'd to meet
the godlike Alexander
Beneath his eyes; for he, in sooth,
thought to repay the guilty;
And straightway from his chariot
leapt to the ground in armour.
But when the godlike Alexander
him discover'd sudden
30
Appearing in the foremost ranks,
his tender heart was smitten;
And back he to his comrade-troop,
avoiding fate, retreated.
As when a startled man, within
the thickets of a mountain,
Hath sudden met a serpent's eye,
his limbs are seiz'd with tremor,
And helplessly recoileth he,
and o'er his cheek is paleness;
35
So then, in fear of Atreus' son,
did godlike Alexander
Shrink timorously back, within
the crowd of haughty Troians.
But Hector saw, and bitterly
with words of scorn address'd him:
"Ill omen'd Paris! fair of face!
seducer! woman-frenzied!
Oh that thou never birth hadst known,
or hadst unwedded perish'd!
40
For this would I prefer for thee,
and far more gainful were it,
Than thus to be a contumely
and mark of hate for others.
Troth! loud and scornfully do laugh
the streaming-hair'd Achaians,
Who say, that with a face so fair
thy prowess in the battle
3
Must needs excel: but thou in soul
nor force nor vigour bearest.
45
Didst thou, with such a heart as that,
belov'd companions gather,
And o'er the briny waters sail
in the sea-coursing galleys,
And, mix'd with men of foreign soil,
bear off a beauteous woman,
A bride of chieftain warriours,
from out the land of Apis;
A mighty torment to thy sire,
the town, and all the country;
50
A triumph to thy enemies
but to thyself dishonour?
In sooth 'twas wiser, not to wait
for warlike Menelaüs,
Or put the might of him to proof
whose bloomingspouse thou holdest.
For not thy harp would succour thee,
nor gifts of Aphrodite,
Nor tresses nor fair features, when
thou wouldst in dust be mingled.
55
But very cravens are the folk;
or thou, long since, in guerdon
For all the mischief thou hast wrought,
wouldst wear a stony tunic."
But thus responsively to him
spake godlike Alexander:
"With right, and not beyond the right,
hast thou reproach'd me, Hector!
Ever thy heart unworn doth last,
like edge of axe unblunted,
60
Which by the arm of him, whose skill
a galley's timber shapeth,
Grides through a plank, and mightily
the force of man increaseth:
So in thy bosom undismay'd
abideth aye thy purpose.
Blame not in me the lovely gifts
of golden Aphrodite;
For not to be rejected are
the glorious gifts of heaven,
65
Which, at their pleasure, gods bestow,
and none at will may seize them.
But now, if still thou wishest me
to enter war and combat,
Cause all the rest to sit at ease,
Achaïans and Troians,
But Menelas, by Ares lov'd,
match thou with me together,
For Helen and for all her gear
in feats of war to bargain.
70
And whichsoe'er may victor be
and mightier in prowess,
Let him the woman have at home
and all her gear around her.
And ye the rest, well reconcil'd
in faithful oaths and friendship,
Dwell o'er the loamy fields of Troy;
but yonder host may voyage
To courser-feeding Argos and
Achaia, fair with women.
75
He spake: and great was Hector's joy,
to hear his brother's errand.
Along the Troian front he mov'd,
and check'd their close battalions,
Grasping his spear midway; but all
stood motionless in order.
Then many an arrowshot at him
the streaming-hair'd Achaians
Sent eagerly, and many a stone
and javelin they darted:
80
But Agamemnon, prince of men,
perceiv'd and shouted loudly:
"Hold, hold, Achaians! dart not, shoot
not, warriours of Argos!
For Hector, of the motley helm,
some word to speak engageth."
Thus when he spake, they paus'd from
fight, and quick were hush'd in silence,
To listen: then mid both the hosts
spake motleyhelmed Hector.
85
"Hear me, ye Troians! hear me too,
ye dapper-greav'd Achaians;
In Alexander's name I speak,
for whom this strife hath risen.
He biddeth that the rest of us,
Achaïans and Troians,
Upon the many-feeding earth
put off our beauteous armour;
But twixt the armies he himself
and warlike Menelaüs,
90
For Helen and for all her gear,
alone in fight will bargain:
And whichsoe'er may victor be
and mightier in prowess,
Let him the woman have at home
and duly take her dowry,
And us the rest be reconcil'd
in faithful oaths and friendship."
He ended: and on either side
they all were dumb in silence.
95
Then Menelaüs, good at need,
thus spake his word among them.
"To me too listen, all of you!
for sense of wrong and outrage
Me chiefly reacheth: now at length
I trust to part the combat
Of Argive and of Troïan;
sith many a woe hath pierc'd you
Out of my quarrel, and on score
of Alexander's frenzy.
100
But of us two whichever be
to fate and slaughter destin'd,
Die let him; so to you the rest
be combat quickly parted.
Twin lambs of adverse sex bring ye-
one white, the other dusky,
For Earth and heavenly Sun: but we
for Jove will bring another.
And fetch ye noble Priam's self,
to ratify the treaties
105
In person;-sith his children are
outrageous and faithless;-
Lest Jove's high treaties damag'd be
by aught of rash transgression.
For younger men's intentions float
unstable and untrusty:
But if an old man interpose,
forward at once and backward
Glanceth his thought, how either side
may best arrange the future."
110
He spake; and gladden'd by his
word both Troians and Achaians,
With hope that war's calamities
their destin'd end were reaching.
So drew they up their steeds in line,
and from their cars dismounted,
And from their sides the armour stript
and on the earth reclin'd it,
Each army to the other near,
with scanty space betwixt them.
115
Then to the city heralds twain
right speedily did Hector
Forward dispatch, two lambs to fetch,
and bear the call to Priam.
But royal Agamemnon sent
Talthybius on errand
The smoothly-hollow ships to seek,
and bring for the Achaians
One lamb; nor he unfaithful was
to godlike Agamemnon.
120
Iris meanwhile as messenger
arriv'd to white-arm'd Helen,
In form like to Laodice,
whom royal Helicaon
Antenor's son, in marriage held,
—old Priam's fairest daughter.
Helen within her hall she found;
but she a mighty tissue
125
Was working,-purple, double web, -
and many a toil embroider'd
Of courser-taming Troians
and brazen-cloak'd Achaians,
Which for her sake they still endur'd
beneath the hands of Ares.
Then Iris swift of foot drew near,
and stood, and spake her message:
"Lady beloved, hither come,
the wondrous deeds to witness
130
Of courser-taming Troians
and brazen-cloak'd Achaians;
Who formerly, across the plain,
with thirst of deadly contest,
Each upon other bare the rage
of tear-abounding Ares:
But lo! in silence sit they now,
and respite have from battle,
Leaning upon their shields; and near,
are fix'd their lengthy lances.
135
But Meneläus, lov'd by Ares,
he and Alexander
In single combat shall for thee
with lengthy lances bargain.
And whoso winneth, him shalt thou
as consort dear acknowledge."
Thus spake the goddess, and within
the heart of Helen wafted
Sweet longings for her ancient lord,
her city, and her parents.
140
And instantly with limbs enwrapt
in folds of gauzy splendour,
Forth from the bower hurried she,
a tender tear distilling,
But not alone: as retinue
beside her, two companions
Attended,-large-ey'd Clymene
and Aethre, Pittheus' daughter.
Quickly above the gates of Troy,
—the Skæan gates-arriv'd they;
145
Where, at the royal Priam's side,
Panthöus and Thymoetes
And Hiketaon, branch of Ares,
Clytius and Lampus,
Antenor and Ucalegon,
aged alike and prudent,
Over the Skæan gates of Troy,
high aldermen, were sitting:
Who verily through age were slack
for battle; but in council
150
Laborious, to crickets like,
which, mid the dewy forest,
Perch'd on a bush, unceasingly
their tiny treble quaver:
4
Such then upon the tower sat
the leaders of the Troians.
And when they Helen now beheld
on to the tower coming,
In winged accents softly one
made whisper to another:
155
" For such a woman, none can
blame, if dapper-greav'd Achaians
Against the Troians many a year
choose bitter woe to suffer.
Unto the deathless goddesses
her face hath awful likeness.
Still let her, e'en though such she is,
hie homeward in her galleys,
Nor here be left a pestilence
for us and for our children.
160
While thus they whisper'd, Priam spake,
and call'd the name of Helen:
"Hither advance thee, dearest child,
and take thy seat before me,
To see thy former lord amid
his kinsman and his comrades:
Not upon thee the blame I cast:
the gods it is, that grieve me,
Who from the Achaians visit me
with tear-abounding battle.
165
But come; declare to me by name
this man of bulk majestic,
Whoso among Achaian men
thus comely is and stately.
For others verily there are
of head and stature taller;
But nowhere yet so noble form
my eyes have e'er encounter'd,
Nor so magnificent: in troth,
a royal man he seemeth."
170
To him with words responsive spake
Helen, divine of women:
"Dear marriage-father! thou to
me art reverend and awful.
Would that I had contented been
with evil death, when hither
Companion to thy son I came,
abandoning my bower,
My kinsfolk and my darling girl,
and lovely friends of childhood.
175
But such a fate befell me not;
so now I pine with weeping.
But as for that thou askest me,
that shortly will I tell thee:
This is the elder son of Atreus,
princely Agamemnon,
At once a wisely-ruling king,
and eke a doughty spearman.
To me the vixen-fac'd he once,
methinks, was husband's brother."
180
As thus she spake, the aged man
broke forth in words admiring:
"Oh blessed son of Atreus, born
with favoring gods and fortune,
How many a bold Achaian youth
bows humbly to thy sceptre!
Once into vine-clad Phrygia
in distant days I enter'd,
Where men with motley steeds I saw,
the many bands of Otreus
185
And Mygdon, who with gods might cope:
such were the Phrygian levies,
Along the banks of Sangarus
encamp'd in close battalions:
For I, to their alliance join'd,
among their ranks was counted,
When Amazons, a match for men,
invaded them with battle.
Nor yet were these so many, as
the curling-ey'd Achaians."
190
Next, the old man Ulysses saw,
and spake, anew inquiring:
"Come, dearest daughter; name to me,
who is this second hero.
Shorter is he in stature, than
Atrides Agamemnon,
But broader to the sight, across
his mighty chest and shoulders.
Upon the many-feeding earth
his armour lies; and boldly,
195
Amid the flashing rows of war,
like some tame pet, he bustles.
Unto a ram with solid wool
I verily compare him,
Who through a vast and dazzling flock
backward and forward paceth."
Then Helen, born of Jupiter,
to him alternate answer'd:
"This is the much-devising man,
Laertes' son, Ulysses,
200
Who on the stony ruggedness
of Ithaca was nurtur'd,
Well-skill'd in various enterprize
and craftiness of counsel."
Then straight to her responsive
spake the prudent-soul'd Antenor:
"Oh Lady! verily thy word
unerringly was utter'd.
For long ago, on sake of thee,
in public errand hither
205
With Meneläus lov'd by Ares
came divine Ulysses.
Them did I entertain as guests
and in my halls befriended,
And learn'd the features of them both,
and heard their prudent counsels.
Now when amid the gather'd crowd
of Troians they mingled,
While-as they stood, at shoulders'
breadth was Meneläus taller,
210
But of the twain, when down they sat,
Ulysses was the grander.
Whene'er, in full assembly, both
did speech and counsels ravel,
Then Menelaus runningly
with curt harangue proceeded.
Few were his words, but sweet and clear:
no windy talker was he,
Nor rambling from his argument,
though he in birth was younger.
215
But when Ulysses much-devising
sudden rose before us,
He stood, and downward cast his eyes,
with firm and vacant glances;
His sceptre he nor forward stretch'd,
nor backward did he wield it,
But rested on it motionless,
like to some empty fellow;
Some wild fanatic he might seem,
or simpleton all witless.
220
But when at length from out his chest
the mighty voice came gushing,
And words that hail'd incessantly,
like wintry snows exhaustless,
No longer then might other mortal
strive against Ulysses,
Nor longer did Ulysses' form
with admiration fill us.
A third time then the aged man
inquir'd, at sight of Ajax:
225
"What other of Achaian men
is that, so grand and goodly,
With lofty head and shoulders broad
preeminent of Argives?"
To him then Helen ample-rob'd,
divine of women, answer'd:
"This is the huge majestic Ajax,
bulwark of the Achaians;
And on one side Idomeneus
is seen amid the Cretans,
230
Like to some god; and round him, lo!
the Cretan leaders gather.
Him Menelaus lov'd by Ares
oftentime did welcome
Within our hospitable home,
whene'er from Crete he sallied.
Now all the rest distinguish I
of curling-ey'd Achaians,
Whom rightly I could recognize
and tell their names and titles.
235
Only my eye discerneth not
twin marshals of the people,
The courser-taming Castor, and
strong-fisted Polydeukes:
Own brothers both to me were they,
both children of my mother.
Did they perchance not join the host
from lovely Lacedæmon?
Or hither did they voyage take
in the sea-coursing galleys,
240
But now in fight of warriours
reluctant are to mingle,
Fearing the countless infamy
and mockings cast upon me?"
So fancied she: but them already
Earth life-teeming shelter'd
There, in their own beloved land,
their native Lacedæmon.
But, for the treaties of the gods,
heralds along the city
245
Carried the sacramental gear,
twin lambs, and wine propitious,
Fruit of the earth, in skin of goat;
while, chief of Troian heralds,
Idæus, a resplendent bowl
and golden goblets carried,
And standing by the aged prince,
thus urgently address'd him:
"Son of Laomedon, arise!
thee now the chieftains summon
250
Of courser-taming Troians
and brazen-cloak'd Achaians,
To join them on the plain below,
and strike a faithful treaty.
But Meneläus, lov'd by Ares,
shall with Alexander,
In single combat for their spouse,
with lengthy lances bargain.
And whoso winneth, him the wife
and all her gear shall follow.
255
Then too may we, well reconcil'd
in faithful oaths and friendship,
Dwell o'er the loamy fields of Troy;
and yonder host shall voyage
To courser-feeding Argos and
Achaia fair with women."
So spake he: but the aged man
shudder'd; and bade the attendants
His car to harness: busily
the king's command obey'd they.
260
Then on the seat did Priam mount,
and drew to him the bridles,
And on the car so beautiful
Antenor sat beside him:
Thus thro' the Skæans to the plain
held they the nimble coursers.
But when arriv'd they were,
among Achaïans and Troians,
Upon the many-feeding earth
they from the car descended,
265
And station'd them in midmost
throng of Troians and Achaians.
But Agamemnon, prince of men,
uprais'd him on the instant;
And up the wise Ulysses rose.
Thereat, the stately heralds
Brought mutual the sacred gear;
wine in the bowl they mingled,
And on the hands of adverse kings
sprinkled the holy water.
270
But Atreus' son with ready hand
his hunting-knife unfasten'd,
Which by his sword's great scabbard hung,
companion never absent,
And shear'd from head of every lamb
the forelocks: these the heralds
Parted and bare among the chiefs
of Troians and Achaians.
For them Atrides loudly pray'd,
with hands to heaven lifted:
275
"Oh father Jove, from Ida ruling,
glorious and greatest,
And Sun, who overseest all,
and hearkenest to all things,
And River gods, and mother Earth,
and Ye Below, who punish
The men whose work is done,-whoe'er
a perjur'd oath has utter'd!
Be all of you our witnesses,
and guard our faithful treaties.
280
If Alexander win the fight
and slaughter Meneläus,
Then let him keep his foreign wife
and all her gear beside her;
And we the rest will homeward go
in our sea-coursing galleys.
But if the auburn Meneläus
slaughter Alexander,
Then let the Troians straight restore
Helen and all her dowry,
285
And let them pay to us beside
a forfeit that is seemly,
And which to folk as yet unborn
may tarry in possession.
But if, tho' Alexander fall,
Priam and Priam's children
Refuse the treaty to fulfil
and pay to me the forfeit,
Then I, abiding here, will still,
on score of that amercement,
290
In warfare persevere, until
I reach the end of battle."
He spake, and thro' the victims'throats
deep drove the keenedg'd weapon
Of brass unpitying; but they
upon the ground lay gasping,
Relax'd and helpless; for the knife
had all their vigour emptied:
The chiefs then dipping in the bowl
took up the wine in goblets,
295
And to the gods of birth eternal
pour'd with invocation.
And thus did one or other speak
of Troians and Achaians:
"Jove greatest and most glorious!
and all ye gods immortal!
Whichever side shall work annoy,
and first transgress the treaties,
As thus the wine on earth is spilt,
so may their brains be sprinkled,
300
Theirs and their children's; but their wives
a booty be to others!"
So prayed they; but Saturn's child
not yet the vow accomplish'd.
Then Priam, sprung from Dardanus,
thus spake his word among them:
"Hear me, ye Troians; hear me too,
ye dapper-greav'd Achaians!
Back now to windy Ilium
must I return: for never
305
Could father's eyes endure to see
his own beloved offspring
With Meneläus lov'd of Ares
join in deadly battle.
Haply 'tis known to Jupiter
and other gods immortal,
For which of these two combatants
the end of death is destin'd."
So spake the godlike man; and plac'd
upon his car the victims;
310
Then mounted he the seat himself,
and drew to him the bridles,
And on the car so beautiful
Antenor sat beside him:
Thus back to Ilium the twain
did sorrowfully travel.
Then with divine Ulysses' aid
Hector the son of Priam
First measur'd out the ground for fight;
thereafter, each producing
315
A lot for either chief, within
the brazen-plated helmet
Shuffled and shook to see which first
should hurl the brazen weapon.
Then all the peoples made their pray'r,
with hands to heaven lifted,
And thus did one or other speak
of Troians and Achaians:
"Oh father Jove, from Ida ruling,
glorious and greatest!
320
Whichever chieftain of the twain
hath put this work betwixt us,
Grant that his life its refuge make
within the house of Pluto,
And we the rest be reconcil'd
in faithful oaths and friendship."
So spake they; but with eyes revers'd
great motley-helmed Hector
Toss'd up the morion; and swift
out leapt the lot of Paris.
325
Then all in either host did take
their seat in comely order,
Where stood their nimblefooted steeds
and lay their curious armour.
But round his shoulders thereupon
the godlike Alexander,
Lord of the bright-hair'd Helen, plac'd
his all-resplendent harness.
First on his shins the dapper greaves,
with silver anklets clever,
330
He fasten'd; but, to guard his chest,
his brother dear, Lycaon,
Lent him a corslet of his own;
but him it fitted bravely.
About his shoulders next he slung
a sword with silver studded,
Brazen of edge; and after it
his buckler great and stubborn:
335
And on his gallant head he put
a leathern helm well-plated,
Bushy with horsetail; dreadfully
the crest above it nodded:
Last, pick'd he out a sturdy spear
unto his grasp adapted.
So warlike Meneläus too
equipp'd himself for battle.
When thus apart from either host
the twain were well accoutred,
340
In measur'd step their posts they
took mid Troians and Achaians,
With dreadful glances. Deep amazement
held the hearts of gazers,
Both courser-taming Troians
and dapper-greav'd Achaians.
There, at short distance, stood they both,
upon the ground appointed,
Their adverse lances brandishing,
indignant each at other.
345
First Alexander forward threw
the spear with lengthy shadow
And hit the shield of Atreus' son
which equal was on all sides;
Nor might the metal force its way,
but first the point was broken,
By the bluff shield resisted. Next,
Atrides Meneläus,
With pray'r to father Jupiter,
prepar'd to hurl his weapon.
350
"Grant vengeance, royal Jove!
to me, and neath my hands lay prostrate
The godlike Alexander, who
in injury was foremost:
That e'en in late posterity,
each may hereafter shudder,
Mischief to work against a host
who op'd his doors in friendship."
He spake; and poising, forward threw
the spear with lengthy shadow,
355
And hit the shield of Priam's son
which equal was on all sides.
Right thro' the shield's resplendency
hurtled the massy weapon,
And thro'the corslet's crafty work
with rush uncheck'd was planted:
Close to his side from front to back
it glided thro' the tunic,
Harmless; for quick the hero flinch'd
and gloomy fate avoided.
360
Thereat, the son of Atreus drew
his sword with silver studded,
And rising smote the helmet's ridge:
but instantly the weapon
Out of his hand all aidless dropt,
threefold and fourfold shiver'd.
Then gazing up to heaven high,
the son of Atreus groaned:
"Oh father Jove, of all the gods
none is, like thee, malignant.
365
For all his baseness, troth! I thought
to punish Alexander:
But now within my hands the sword
is broken; and the jav'lin
Was vainly darted from my arm,
nor have I hit my foeman."
He spake, and wildly rushing, seiz'd
the helmet thick with horsetail,
And twisting haul'd his foe toward
the dapper-greav'd Achaians.
370
But him, around his tender neck,
the embroider'd strap was choking,
Which to his triplecrested casque
beneath his chin was fasten'd.
Then surely had he dragged him off
and earn'd surpassing glory,
But that Jove's daughter Aphrodite
speedily perceiv'd it,
And burst in twain the leathern thong
of the bull stoutly slaughter'd,
375
And empty in his broad hand left
the triplecrested helmet.
The hero thereupon, amid
the dapper-greav'd Achaians,
Toss'd it with whirl indignant: but
his comrades dear regain'd it.
Then back again with brazen lance
against his helmless foeman
He rush'd, all eagerness to slay:
but him did Aphrodite
380
Rescue, as gods do, easily,
and wrapp'd in mist abundant,
And cradled him in fragrancy,
within his perfum'd bower.
Again then sallied she herself,
Helen to call: and found her
Upon a tower high; and round
were Troian women many.
The goddess seizing with her hand
the robe that breath'd of nectar,
385
Took
Shook it, beneath the semblance hid
of an eld-stricken woman,
Who, diligent of carding wool,
in beauteous tasks was skilful,
And greatly Helen lov'd, when she
dwelt yet in Lacedæmon.
In such similitude, to her
spake heav'nly Aphrodite.
"Come hither! Alexander calls:
at home he claims thy presence.
390
There in his bower tarries he,
upon his turned sofa,
With garb and beauty glistening:
and not from fight of heroes
Wouldst thou pronounce him fresh arriv'd,
but to the dance proceeding,
Or, haply! in the dance fatigu'd,
and resting from the labour."
Sne spake, and strongly did bestir
the woman's heart within her.
395
Nor yet was Helen slow to mark
the eyes divinely sparkling,
And eke the neck so glorious,
and that immortal bosom:
She knew, and marvell'd at the sight,
and spake, her name pronouncing:
"Oh elf-possessed being! why
delightest to cajole me?
Dost haply, out at Phrygia
or beautiful Mæonia,
400
Within some thickly-peopled town,
desire to plant me further?
If, there too, thou some darling hast
of voice-dividing mortals.
And now, because that Menelas
to godlike Alexander
Hath prov'd in war superiour,
and homeward fain would carry
Me, hateful wight; dost therefore now
with cunning guile beset me?
405
Go then, and sit thee by his side;
the path of gods forsake thou,
Nor let thy feet their courses bend
hereafter to Olympus;
But toil for ever, him to serve;
keep sentinel around him,
Until he take thee for his wife,
or haply for his bondslave.
But I, not thither wend my way, -
for troth! it were a scandal, -
410
Around his bed to minister;
lest all the Troian women
Mock me hereafter: now, enough
of woes uncounted bear I."
But her, celestial Aphrodite
angrily accosted:
"Provoke me not, thou insolent!
lest I in wrath forsake thee,
And such be then my enmity,
as now my love is wondrous.
415
And lest against thee I devise,
in both, a bitter hatred,-
Both Troians and Danaï:
then vilely wouldst thou perish."
But Helen, born of Jupiter,
hearing such answer, trembled.
Wrapt in a veil of dazzling white,
proceeded she in silence,
By Troian women all unseen;
for why? the goddess led her.
420
But when, in Alexander's house
all gorgeous they enter'd,
Her two attendants actively
to diverse work betook them,
But she, divine of women, sought
her lofty-roofed chamber.
For her, the heavenly Queen of Smiles,
immortal Aphrodite,
Carried and plac'd a double chair
in front of Alexander.
425
Thereon did Helen, brilliant imp
of Jove the ægis-holder,
Sit, with her two eyes turn'd away,
and sharply chode her consort:
"Art come from battle? on the field
'twas thy desert to perish,
Slain by a mighty warriour,
in olden time my husband.
Oft was in former days thy boast
that thou, than Meneläus
430
By Ares lov'd, wast mightier
with sword and spear and prowess.
But, front to front, do thou again
a challenge send for combat
To Menelas, by Ares lov'd.
But no! in sooth I counsel
To check thy haughty fancies,
nor with auburn Menelaüs
In battle's perilous debate
with equal weapons venture,
435
Imprudently; lest haply soon
his javelin subdue thee."
To her with words reciprocal
spake princely Alexander:
"Oh lady! wound not thou my soul
with bitterness of insult.
5
Now, by Athene's aid, for once
hath Meneläus conquer'd';
Again shall I o'er him prevail:
for gods me also succour.
440
But come! in dear companionship
upon the couch repose we.
For never yet so much did love
my very soul encompass,-
Not even, when in early day
from lovely Lacedæmon
I snatch'd thee as my prize, and sail'd
in the sea-coursing galleys,
And on the isle of Cranäe
in bed and fondness held thee, -
445
As now the sweet desire of thee
hath ta'en my bosom captive."
Thus speaking, to the couch he
led, and with him went his consort;
So mid the perforated frames
the twain repos'd in secret.
But Atreus' son, amid the crowd,
like some wild beast was stalking,
If here he might, or there, espy
the godlike Alexander.
450
But no one of the Troians,
nor of the allies so famous,
To Menelas, by Ares lov'd,
might Paris then discover:
Tho' not from tenderness, I ween,
had any spar'd to show him;
For, like to black destruction,
abhorr'd was he by all men.
Then Agamemnon, prince of men,
thus spake his word among them:
455
"Troians and Dardans and allies!
unto my summons listen!
To Menelas, by Ares lov'd,
the victory hath fallen.
Do ye then Argive Helen yield
and all her gear around her,
Full speedily; and pay beside
a forfeit that is seemly,
And which to folk as yet unborn
may tarry in possession."
460
Atrides spake: and at his word
the Achaian army shouted.
