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alone know which shall fall。〃
On this he laid the two lambs on his chariot and took his seat。
He gathered the reins in his hand； and Antenor sat beside him；
the two then went back to Ilius。 Hector and Ulysses measured the
ground； and cast lots from a helmet of bronze to see which should
take aim first。 Meanwhile the two hosts lifted up their hands and
prayed saying； 〃Father Jove； that rulest from Ida； most glorious
in power； grant that he who first brought about this war between
us may die； and enter the house of Hades； while we others remain
at peace and abide by our oaths。〃
Great Hector now turned his head aside while he shook the helmet；
and the lot of Paris flew out first。 The others took their
several stations； each by his horses and the place where his arms
were lying； while Alexandrus； husband of lovely Helen； put on his
goodly armour。 First he greaved his legs with greaves of good
make and fitted with ancle…clasps of silver； after this he donned
the cuirass of his brother Lycaon； and fitted it to his own body；
he hung his silver…studded sword of bronze about his shoulders；
and then his mighty shield。 On his ely head he set his helmet；
well…wrought； with a crest of horse…hair that nodded menacingly
above it； and he grasped a redoubtable spear that suited his
hands。 In like fashion Menelaus also put on his armour。
When they had thus armed； each amid his own people； they strode
fierce of aspect into the open space； and both Trojans and
Achaeans were struck with awe as they beheld them。 They stood
near one another on the measured ground； brandishing their
spears； and each furious against the other。 Alexandrus aimed
first； and struck the round shield of the son of Atreus； but the
spear did not pierce it； for the shield turned its point。
Menelaus next took aim； praying to Father Jove as he did so。
〃King Jove；〃 he said； 〃grant me revenge on Alexandrus who has
wronged me； subdue him under my hand that in ages yet to e a
man may shrink from doing ill deeds in the house of his host。〃
He poised his spear as he spoke； and hurled it at the shield of
Alexandrus。 Through shield and cuirass it went； and tore the
shirt by his flank； but Alexandrus swerved aside； and thus saved
his life。 Then the son of Atreus drew his sword； and drove at the
projecting part of his helmet； but the sword fell shivered in
three or four pieces from his hand； and he cried； looking towards
Heaven； 〃Father Jove； of all gods thou art the most despiteful； I
made sure of my revenge； but the sword has broken in my hand； my
spear has been hurled in vain； and I have not killed him。〃
With this he flew at Alexandrus； caught him by the horsehair
plume of his helmet； and began dragging him towards the Achaeans。
The strap of the helmet that went under his chin was choking him；
and Menelaus would have dragged him off to his own great glory
had not Jove's daughter Venus been quick to mark and to break the
strap of oxhide； so that the empty helmet came away in his hand。
This he flung to his rades among the Achaeans； and was again
springing upon Alexandrus to run him through with a spear； but
Venus snatched him up in a moment （as a god can do）； hid him
under a cloud of darkness； and conveyed him to his own
bedchamber。
Then she went to call Helen； and found her on a high tower with
the Trojan women crowding round her。 She took the form of an old
woman who used to dress wool for her when she was still in
Lacedaemon； and of whom she was very fond。 Thus disguised she
plucked her by perfumed robe and said； 〃e hither； Alexandrus
says you are to go to the house； he is on his bed in his own
room； radiant with beauty and dressed in gorgeous apparel。 No one
would think he had just e from fighting； but rather that he
was going to a dance； or had done dancing and was sitting down。〃
With these words she moved the heart of Helen to anger。 When she
marked the beautiful neck of the goddess； her lovely bosom； and
sparkling eyes； she marvelled at her and said； 〃Goddess； why do
you thus beguile me？ Are you going to send me afield still
further to some man whom you have taken up in Phrygia or fair
Meonia？ Menelaus has just vanquished Alexandrus； and is to take
my hateful self back with him。 You are e here to betray me。 Go
sit with Alexandrus yourself； henceforth be goddess no longer；
never let your feet carry you back to Olympus； worry about him
and look after him till he make you his wife； or； for the matter
of that； his slavebut me？ I shall not go； I can garnish his bed
no longer； I should be a by…word among all the women of Troy。
Besides； I have trouble on my mind。〃
Venus was very angry； and said； 〃Bold hussy； do not provoke me；
if you do； I shall leave you to your fate and hate you as much as
I have loved you。 I will stir up fierce hatred between Trojans
and Achaeans； and you shall e to a bad end。〃
At this Helen was frightened。 She wrapped her mantle about her
and went in silence； following the goddess and unnoticed by the
Trojan women。
When they came to the house of Alexandrus the maid…servants set
about their work； but Helen went into her own room； and the
laughter…loving goddess took a seat and set it for her facing
Alexandrus。 On this Helen； daughter of aegis…bearing Jove； sat
down； and with eyes askance began to upbraid her husband。
〃So you are e from the fight；〃 said she； 〃would that you had
fallen rather by the hand of that brave man who was my husband。
You used to brag that you were a better man with hands and spear
than Menelaus。 Go； then； and challenge him againbut I should
advise you not to do so； for if you are foolish enough to meet
him in single bat； you will soon fall by his spear。〃
And Paris answered； 〃Wife； do not vex me with your reproaches。
This time； with the help of Minerva； Menelaus has vanquished me；
another time I may myself be victor； for I too have gods that
will stand by me。 e； let us lie down together and make
friends。 Never yet was I so passionately enamoured of you as at
this momentnot even when I first carried you off from
Lacedaemon and sailed away with younot even when I had converse
with you upon the couch of love in the island of Cranae was I so
enthralled by desire of you as now。〃 On this he led her towards
the bed； and his wife went with him。
Thus they laid themselves on the bed together； but the son of
Atreus strode among the throng； looking everywhere for
Alexandrus； and no man； neither of the Trojans nor of the allies；
could find him。 If they had seen him they were in no mind to hide
him； for they all of them hated him as they did death itself。
Then Agamemnon； king of men； spoke； saying； 〃Hear me； Trojans；
Dardanians； and allies。 The victory has been with Menelaus；
therefore give back Helen with all her wealth； and pay such fine
as shall be agreed upon； in testimony among them that shall be
born hereafter。〃
Thus spoke the son of Atreus； and the Achaeans shouted in
applause。
BOOK IV
A quarrel in OlympusMinerva goes down and persuades Fandarus
to violate the oaths by wounding Menelaus with an arrow
Agamemnon makes a speech and sends for MachaonHe then
goes about among his captains and upbraids Ulysses and
Sthenelus； who each of them retort fiercelyDiomed checks
Sthenelus； and the two hosts then engage； with great slaughter
on either side。
Now the gods were sitting with Jove in council upon the golden
floor while Hebe went round pouring out nectar for them to drink；
and as they pledged one another in their cups of gold they looked
down upon the town of Troy。 The son of Saturn then began to tease
Juno； talking at her so as to provoke her。 〃Menelaus；〃 said he；
〃has two good friends among the goddesses； Juno of Argos； and
Minerva of Alalene； but they only sit still and look on； while
Venus keeps ever by Alexandrus' side to defend him in any danger；
indeed she has just rescued him when he made sure that it was all
over with himfor the victory really did lie with Menelaus。 We
must consider what we shall do about all this； shall we set them
fighting anew or make peace between them？ If you will agree to
this last Menelaus can take back Helen and the city of Priam may
remain still inh