Phorcys, again, and noble Ascanius led the Phrygians from the far country of Ascania, and both WHEN THE COMPANIES were thus arrayed, each un-were eager for the fray.
der its own captain, the Trojans advanced as a flight Mesthles and Antiphus commanded the of wild fowl or cranes that scream overhead when Meonians, sons of Talæmenes, born to him of the rain and winter drive them over the flowing waters Gygæan lake. These led the Meonians, who dwelt of Oceanus to bring death and destruction on the under Mt. Tmolus.
Pygmies, and they wrangle in the air as they fly; Nastes led the Carians, men of a strange speech.
but the Achæans marched silently, in high heart, These held Miletus and the wooded mountain of and minded to stand by one another.
Phthires, with the water of the river Mæander and As when the south wind spreads a curtain of mist 39
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upon the mountain tops, bad for shepherds but his men. As one who starts back affrighted, trem-better than night for thieves, and a man can see no bling and pale, when he comes suddenly upon a further than he can throw a stone, even so rose the serpent in some mountain glade, even so did dust from under their feet as they made all speed Alexandrus plunge into the throng of Trojan war-over the plain.
riors, terror-stricken at the sight of the son Atreus.
When they were close up with one another, Then Hector upbraided him. “Paris,” said he, “evil-Alexandrus came forward as champion on the Tro-hearted Paris, fair to see, but woman-mad, and false jan side. On his shoulders he bore the skin of a of tongue, would that you had never been born, or panther, his bow, and his sword, and he brandished that you had died unwed. Better so, than live to be two spears shod with bronze as a challenge to the disgraced and looked askance at. Will not the bravest of the Achæans to meet him in single fight.
Achæans mock at us and say that we have sent one Menelaus saw him thus stride out before the ranks, to champion us who is fair to see but who has nei-and was glad as a hungry lion that lights on the ther wit nor courage? Did you not, such as you are, carcase of some goat or horned stag, and devours it get your following together and sail beyond the seas?
there and then, though dogs and youths set upon Did you not from your a far country carry off a him. Even thus was Menelaus glad when his eyes lovely woman wedded among a people of warriors—
caught sight of Alexandrus, for he deemed that now to bring sorrow upon your father, your city, and he should be revenged. He sprang, therefore, from your whole country, but joy to your enemies, and his chariot, clad in his suit of armour.
hang-dog shamefacedness to yourself? And now can Alexandrus quailed as he saw Menelaus come for-you not dare face Menelaus and learn what man-ward, and shrank in fear of his life under cover of ner of man he is whose wife you have stolen? Where 40
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indeed would be your lyre and your love-tricks, your the others go home to Argos and the land of the comely locks and your fair favour, when you were Achæans.”
lying in the dust before him? The Trojans are a weak-When Hector heard this he was glad, and went kneed people, or ere this you would have had a shirt about among the Trojan ranks holding his spear by of stones for the wrongs you have done them.” the middle to keep them back, and they all sat down And Alexandrus answered, “Hector, your rebuke at his bidding: but the Achæans still aimed at him is just. You are hard as the axe which a shipwright with stones and arrows, till Agamemnon shouted wields at his work, and cleaves the timber to his to them saying, “Hold, Argives, shoot not, sons of liking. As the axe in his hand, so keen is the edge of the Achæans; Hector desires to speak.” your scorn. Still, taunt me not with the gifts that They ceased taking aim and were still, whereon golden Venus has given me; they are precious; let Hector spoke. “Hear from my mouth,” said he, not a man disdain them, for the gods give them
“Trojans and Achæans, the saying of Alexandrus, where they are minded, and none can have them through whom this quarrel has come about. He bids for the asking. If you would have me do battle with the Trojans and Achæans lay their armour upon Menelaus, bid the Trojans and Achæans take their the ground, while he and Menelaus fight in the seats, while he and I fight in their midst for Helen midst of you for Helen and all her wealth. Let him and all her wealth. Let him who shall be victorious who shall be victorious and prove to be the better and prove to be the better man take the woman man take the woman and all she has, to bear them and all she has, to bear them to his home, but let to his own home, but let the rest swear to a solemn the rest swear to a solemn covenant of peace covenant of peace.”
whereby you Trojans shall stay here in Troy, while Thus he spoke, and they all held their peace, till 41
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Menelaus of the loud battle-cry addressed them.
near to one another with a little space between them.
“And now,” he said, “hear me too, for it is I who am Hector sent two messengers to the city to bring the the most aggrieved. I deem that the parting of lambs and to bid Priam come, while Agamemnon Achæans and Trojans is at hand, as well it may be, told Talthybius to fetch the other lamb from the seeing how much have suffered for my quarrel with ships, and he did as Agamemnon had said.
Alexandrus and the wrong he did me. Let him who Meanwhile Iris went to Helen in the form of her shall die, die, and let the others fight no more. Bring, sister-in-law, wife of the son of Antenor, for Helicaon, then, two lambs, a white ram and a black ewe, for son of Antenor, had married Laodice, the fairest of Earth and Sun, and we will bring a third for Jove.
Priam’s daughters. She found her in her own room, Moreover, you shall bid Priam come, that he may working at a great web of purple linen, on which swear to the covenant himself; for his sons are high-she was embroidering the battles between Trojans handed and ill to trust, and the oaths of Jove must and Achæans, that Mars had made them fight for not be transgressed or taken in vain. Young men’s her sake. Iris then came close up to her and said, minds are light as air, but when an old man comes
“Come hither, child, and see the strange doings of he looks before and after, deeming that which shall the Trojans and Achæans till now they have been be fairest upon both sides.” warring upon the plain, mad with lust of battle, The Trojans and Achæans were glad when they but now they have left off fighting, and are leaning heard this, for they thought that they should now upon their shields, sitting still with their spears have rest. They backed their chariots toward the planted beside them. Alexandrus and Menelaus are ranks, got out of them, and put off their armour, going to fight about yourself, and you are to the laying it down upon the ground; and the hosts were the wife of him who is the victor.” 42
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Thus spoke the goddess, and Helen’s heart But Priam bade her draw nigh. “My child,” said yearned after her former husband, her city, and her he, “take your seat in front of me that you may see parents. She threw a white mantle over her head, your former husband, your kinsmen and your and hurried from her room, weeping as she went, friends. I lay no blame upon you, it is the gods, not not alone, but attended by two of her handmaids, you who are to blame. It is they that have brought Æthræ, daughter of Pittheus, and Clymene. And about this terrible war with the Achæans. Tell me, straightway they were at the Scæan gates.
then, who is yonder huge hero so great and goodly?
The two sages, Ucalegon and Antenor, elders of I have seen men taller by a head, but none so comely the people, were seated by the Scæan gates, with and so royal. Surely he must be a king.” Priam, Panthous, Thymoetes, Lampus, Clytius, and
“Sir,” answered Helen, “father of my husband, Hiketaon of the race of Mars. These were too old dear and reverend in my eyes, would that I had to fight, but they were fluent orators, and sat on chosen death rather than to have come here with the tower like cicales that chirrup delicately from your son, far from my bridal chamber, my friends, the boughs of some high tree in a wood. When they my darling daughter, and all the companions of my saw Helen coming towards the tower, they said softly girlhood. But it was not to be, and my lot is one of to one another, “Small wonder that Trojans and tears and sorrow. As for your question, the hero of Achæans should endure so much and so long, for whom you ask is Agamemnon, son of Atreus, a good the sake of a woman so marvellously and divinely king and a brave soldier, brother-in-law as surely as lovely. Still, fair though she be, let them take her that he lives, to my abhorred and miserable self.” and go, or she will breed sorrow for us and for our The old man marvelled at him and said, “Happy children after us.”
son of Atreus, child of good fortune. I see that the 43
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Achæans are subject to you in great multitudes.
sight and conversation. When they stood up in pres-When I was in Phrygia I saw much horsemen, the ence of the assembled Trojans, Menelaus was the people of Otreus and of Mygdon, who were camp-broader shouldered, but when both were seated ing upon the banks of the river Sangarius; I was Ulysses had the more royal presence. After a time their ally, and with them when the Amazons, peers they delivered their message, and the speech of of men, came up against them, but even they were Menelaus ran trippingly on the tongue; he did not not so many as the Achæans.” say much, for he was a man of few words, but he The old man next looked upon Ulysses; “Tell me,” spoke very clearly and to the point, though he was he said, “who is that other, shorter by a head than the younger man of the two; Ulysses, on the other Agamemnon, but broader across the chest and shoul-hand, when he rose to speak, was at first silent and ders? His armour is laid upon the ground, and he kept his eyes fixed upon the ground. There was no stalks in front of the ranks as it were some great play nor graceful movement of his sceptre; he kept woolly ram ordering his ewes.” it straight and stiff like a man unpractised in ora-And Helen answered, “He is Ulysses, a man of tory—one might have taken him for a mere churl great craft, son of Lærtes. He was born in rugged or simpleton; but when he raised his voice, and the Ithaca, and excels in all manner of stratagems and words came driving from his deep chest like winter subtle cunning.”
snow before the wind, then there was none to touch On this Antenor said, “Madam, you have spoken him, and no man thought further of what he looked truly. Ulysses once came here as envoy about your-like.”
self, and Menelaus with him. I received them in my Priam then caught sight of Ajax and asked, “Who own house, and therefore know both of them by is that great and goodly warrior whose head and 44
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broad shoulders tower above the rest of the Argives?” goatskin of wine, the gift of earth; and Idæus
“That,” answered Helen, “is huge Ajax, bulwark brought the mixing bowl and the cups of gold. He of the Achæans, and on the other side of him, among went up to Priam and said, “Son of Laomedon, the the Cretans, stands Idomeneus looking like a god, princes of the Trojans and Achæans bid you come and with the captains of the Cretans round him.
down on to the plain and swear to a solemn cov-Often did Menelaus receive him as a guest in our enant. Alexandrus and Menelaus are to fight for house when he came visiting us from Crete. I see, Helen in single combat, that she and all her wealth moreover, many other Achæans whose names I may go with him who is the victor. We are to swear could tell you, but there are two whom I can no-to a solemn covenant of peace whereby we others where find, Castor, breaker of horses, and Pollux shall dwell here in Troy, while the Achæans return the mighty boxer; they are children of my mother, to Argos and the land of the Achæans.” and own brothers to myself. Either they have not The old man trembled as he heard, but bade his left Lacedæmon, or else, though they have brought followers yoke the horses, and they made all haste their ships, they will not show themselves in battle to do so. He mounted the chariot, gathered the reins for the shame and disgrace that I have brought upon in his hand, and Antenor took his seat beside him; them.”
they then drove through the Scæan gates on to the She knew not that both these heroes were already plain. When they reached the ranks of the Trojans lying under the earth in their own land of and Achæans they left the chariot, and with mea-Lacedæmon.
sured pace advanced into the space between the Meanwhile the heralds were bringing the holy hosts.
oath-offerings through the city—two lambs and a Agamemnon and Ulysses both rose to meet them.
45
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The attendants brought on the oath-offerings and on till I have got satisfaction.” mixed the wine in the mixing-bowls; they poured As he spoke he drew his knife across the throats water over the hands of the chieftains, and the son of the victims, and laid them down gasping and of Atreus drew the dagger that hung by his sword, dying upon the ground, for the knife had reft them and cut wool from the lambs’ heads; this the men-of their strength. Then they poured wine from the servants gave about among the Trojan and Achæan mixing-bowl into the cups, and prayed to the ever-princes, and the son of Atreus lifted up his hands in lasting gods, saying, Trojans and Achæans among prayer. “Father Jove,” he cried, “that rulest in Ida, one another, “Jove, most great and glorious, and ye most glorious in power, and thou oh Sun, that seest other everlasting gods, grant that the brains of them and givest ear to all things, Earth and Rivers, and who shall first sin against their oaths—of them and ye who in the realms below chastise the soul of him their children—may be shed upon the ground even that has broken his oath, witness these rites and as this wine, and let their wives become the slaves guard them, that they be not vain. If Alexandrus of strangers.”
kills Menelaus, let him keep Helen and all her Thus they prayed, but not as yet would Jove grant wealth, while we sail home with our ships; but if them their prayer. Then Priam, descendant of Menelaus kills Alexandrus, let the Trojans give back Dardanus, spoke, saying, “Hear me, Trojans and Helen and all that she has; let them moreover pay Achæans, I will now go back to the wind-beaten such fine to the Achæans as shall be agreed upon, city of Ilius: I dare not with my own eyes witness in testimony among those that shall be born here-this fight between my son and Menelaus, for Jove after. Aid if Priam and his sons refuse such fine when and the other immortals alone know which shall Alexandrus has fallen, then will I stay here and fight fall.”
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On this he laid the two lambs on his chariot and and then his mighty shield. On his comely head he took his seat. He gathered the reins in his hand, set his helmet, well-wrought, with a crest of horse-and Antenor sat beside him; the two then went back hair that nodded menacingly above it, and he to Ilius. Hector and Ulysses measured the ground, grasped a redoubtable spear that suited his hands.
and cast lots from a helmet of bronze to see which In like fashion Menelaus also put on his armour.
should take aim first. Meanwhile the two hosts lifted When they had thus armed, each amid his own up their hands and prayed saying, “Father Jove, that people, they strode fierce of aspect into the open rulest from Ida, most glorious in power, grant that space, and both Trojans and Achæans were struck he who first brought about this war between us may with awe as they beheld them. They stood near one die, and enter the house of Hades, while we others another on the measured ground, brandishing their remain at peace and abide by our oaths.” spears, and each furious against the other.
Great Hector now turned his head aside while he Alexandrus aimed first, and struck the round shield shook the helmet, and the lot of Paris flew out first.
of the son of Atreus, but the spear did not pierce it, The others took their several stations, each by his for the shield turned its point. Menelaus next took horses and the place where his arms were lying, while aim, praying to Father Jove as he did so. “King Jove,” Alexandrus, husband of lovely Helen, put on his he said, “grant me revenge on Alexandrus who has goodly armour. First he greaved his legs with greaves wronged me; subdue him under my hand that in of good make and fitted with ancle-clasps of silver; ages yet to come a man may shrink from doing ill after this he donned the cuirass of his brother deeds in the house of his host.” Lycaon, and fitted it to his own body; he hung his He poised his spear as he spoke, and hurled it at silver-studded sword of bronze about his shoulders, the shield of Alexandrus. Through shield and cui-47
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rass it went, and tore the shirt by his flank, but in a moment (as a god can do), hid him under a Alexandrus swerved aside, and thus saved his life.
cloud of darkness, and conveyed him to his own Then the son of Atreus drew his sword, and drove bedchamber.
at the projecting part of his helmet, but the sword Then she went to call Helen, and found her on a fell shivered in three or four pieces from his hand, high tower with the Trojan women crowding round and he cried, looking towards Heaven, “Father Jove, her. She took the form of an old woman who used of all gods thou art the most despiteful; I made sure to dress wool for her when she was still in of my revenge, but the sword has broken in my hand, Lacedæmon, and of whom she was very fond. Thus my spear has been hurled in vain, and I have not disguised she plucked her by perfumed robe and killed him.”
said, “Come hither; Alexandrus says you are to go With this he flew at Alexandrus, caught him by to the house; he is on his bed in his own room, the horsehair plume of his helmet, and began drag-radiant with beauty and dressed in gorgeous ap-ging him towards the Achæans. The strap of the parel. No one would think he had just come from helmet that went under his chin was choking him, fighting, but rather that he was going to a dance, or and Menelaus would have dragged him off to his had done dancing and was sitting down.” own great glory had not Jove’s daughter Venus been With these words she moved the heart of Helen quick to mark and to break the strap of oxhide, so to anger. When she marked the beautiful neck of that the empty helmet came away in his hand. This the goddess, her lovely bosom, and sparkling eyes, he flung to his comrades among the Achæans, and she marvelled at her and said, “Goddess, why do was again springing upon Alexandrus to run him you thus beguile me? Are you going to send me through with a spear, but Venus snatched him up afield still further to some man whom you have 48
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taken up in Phrygia or fair Meonia? Menelaus has dess took a seat and set it for her facing Alexandrus.
just vanquished Alexandrus, and is to take my hate-On this Helen, daughter of ægis-bearing Jove, sat ful self back with him. You are come here to betray down, and with eyes askance began to upbraid her me. Go sit with Alexandrus yourself; henceforth be husband.
goddess no longer; never let your feet carry you back
“So you are come from the fight,” said she; “would to Olympus; worry about him and look after him that you had fallen rather by the hand of that brave till he make you his wife, or, for the matter of that, man who was my husband. You used to brag that his slave—but me? I shall not go; I can garnish his you were a better man with hands and spear than bed no longer; I should be a by-word among all the Menelaus. go, but I then, an challenge him again—
women of Troy. Besides, I have trouble on my mind.” but I should advise you not to do so, for if you are Venus was very angry, and said, “Bold hussy, do foolish enough to meet him in single combat, you not provoke me; if you do, I shall leave you to your will soon all by his spear.” fate and hate you as much as I have loved you. I And Paris answered, “Wife, do not vex me with will stir up fierce hatred between Trojans and your reproaches. This time, with the help of Achæans, and you shall come to a bad end.” Minerva, Menelaus has vanquished me; another At this Helen was frightened. She wrapped her time I may myself be victor, for I too have gods that mantle about her and went in silence, following the will stand by me. Come, let us lie down together goddess and unnoticed by the Trojan women.
and make friends. Never yet was I so passionately When they came to the house of Alexandrus the enamoured of you as at this moment—not even maid-servants set about their work, but Helen went when I first carried you off from Lacedæmon and into her own room, and the laughter-loving god-sailed away with you—not even when I had con-49
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verse with you upon the couch of love in the island BOOK IV
of Cranæ was I so enthralled by desire of you as now.” On this he led her towards the bed, and his NOW THE GODS were sitting with Jove in council upon wife went with him.
the golden floor while Hebe went round pouring Thus they laid themselves on the bed together; out nectar for them to drink, and as they pledged but the son of Atreus strode among the throng, look-one another in their cups of gold they looked down ing everywhere for Alexandrus, and no man, nei-upon the town of Troy. The son of Saturn then bether of the Trojans nor of the allies, could find him.
gan to tease Juno, talking at her so as to provoke If they had seen him they were in no mind to hide her. “Menelaus,” said he, “has two good friends him, for they all of them hated him as they did among the goddesses, Juno of Argos, and Minerva death itself. Then Agamemnon, king of men, spoke, of Alalcomene, but they only sit still and look on, saying, “Hear me, Trojans, Dardanians, and allies.
while Venus keeps ever by Alexandrus’ side to de-The victory has been with Menelaus; therefore give fend him in any danger; indeed she has just rescued back Helen with all her wealth, and pay such fine him when he made sure that it was all over with as shall be agreed upon, in testimony among them him—for the victory really did lie with Menelaus.
that shall be born hereafter.” We must consider what we shall do about all this; Thus spoke the son of Atreus, and the Achæans shall we set them fighting anew or make peace be-shouted in applause.
tween them? If you will agree to this last Menelaus can take back Helen and the city of Priam may remain still inhabited.”
Minerva and Juno muttered their discontent as 50
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they sat side by side hatching mischief for the Tro-giving in to you sorely against my will. Of all inhab-jans. Minerva scowled at her father, for she was in a ited cities under the sun and stars of heaven, there furious passion with him, and said nothing, but Juno was none that I so much respected as Ilius with Priam could not contain herself. “Dread son of Saturn,” and his whole people. Equitable feasts were never said she, “what, pray, is the meaning of all this? Is wanting about my altar, nor the savour of burning my trouble, then, to go for nothing, and the sweat fat, which is honour due to ourselves.” that I have sweated, to say nothing of my horses,
“My own three favourite cities,” answered Juno, while getting the people together against Priam and
“are Argos, Sparta, and Mycenæ. Sack them when-his children? Do as you will, but we other gods shall ever you may be displeased with them. I shall not not all of us approve your counsel.” defend them and I shall not care. Even if I did, and Jove was angry and answered, “My dear, what tried to stay you, I should take nothing by it, for you harm have Priam and his sons done you that you are much stronger than I am, but I will not have my are so hotly bent on sacking the city of Ilius? Will own work wasted. I too am a god and of the same nothing do for you but you must within their walls race with yourself. I am Saturn’s eldest daughter, and and eat Priam raw, with his sons and all the other am honourable not on this ground only, but also Trojans to boot? Have it your own way then; for I because I am your wife, and you are king over the would not have this matter become a bone of con-gods. Let it be a case, then, of give-and-take between tention between us. I say further, and lay my say-us, and the rest of the gods will follow our lead. Tell ing to your heart, if ever I want to sack a city be-Minerva to go and take part in the fight at once, and longing to friends of yours, you must not try to let her contrive that the Trojans shall be the first to stop me; you will have to let me do it, for I am break their oaths and set upon the Achæans.” 51
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The sire of gods and men heeded her words, and from the banks of the Æsopus, so she went close up said to Minerva, “Go at once into the Trojan and to him and said, “Brave son of Lycaon, will you do Achæan hosts, and contrive that the Trojans shall as I tell you? If you dare send an arrow at Menelaus be the first to break their oaths and set upon the you will win honour and thanks from all the Tro-Achæans.”
jans, and especially from prince Alexandrus—he This was what Minerva was already eager to do, would be the first to requite you very handsomely so down she darted from the topmost summits of if he could see Menelaus mount his funeral pyre, Olympus. She shot through the sky as some bril-slain by an arrow from your hand. Take your home liant meteor which the son of scheming Saturn has aim then, and pray to Lycian Apollo, the famous sent as a sign to mariners or to some great army, archer; vow that when you get home to your strong and a fiery train of light follows in its wake. The city of Zelea you will offer a hecatomb of firstling Trojans and Achæans were struck with awe as they lambs in his honour.”
beheld, and one would turn to his neighbour, say-His fool’s heart was persuaded, and he took his ing, “Either we shall again have war and din of com-bow from its case. This bow was made from the bat, or Jove the lord of battle will now make peace horns of a wild ibex which he had killed as it was between us.”
bounding from a rock; he had stalked it, and it had Thus did they converse. Then Minerva took the fallen as the arrow struck it to the heart. Its horns form of Laodocus, son of Antenor, and went through were sixteen palms long, and a worker in horn had the ranks of the Trojans to find Pandarus, the re-made them into a bow, smoothing them well down, doubtable son of Lycaon. She found him standing and giving them tips of gold. When Pandarus had among the stalwart heroes who had followed him strung his bow he laid it carefully on the ground, 52
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and his brave followers held their shields before him the golden buckles of the belt that passed over his lest the Achæans should set upon him before he double cuirass were fastened, so the arrow struck had shot Menelaus. Then he opened the lid of his the belt that went tightly round him. It went right quiver and took out a winged arrow that had yet through this and through the cuirass of cunning been shot, fraught with the pangs of death. He laid workmanship; it also pierced the belt beneath it, the arrow on the string and prayed to Lycian Apollo, which he wore next his skin to keep out darts or the famous archer, vowing that when he got home arrows; it was this that served him in the best stead, to his strong city of Zelea he would offer a hecatomb nevertheless the arrow went through it and grazed of firstling lambs in his honour. He laid the notch the top of the skin, so that blood began flowing of the arrow on the oxhide bowstring, and drew both from the wound.
notch and string to his breast till the arrow-head As when some woman of Meonia or Caria strains was near the bow; then when the bow was arched purple dye on to a piece of ivory that is to be the into a half-circle he let fly, and the bow twanged, cheek-piece of a horse, and is to be laid up in a and the string sang as the arrow flew gladly on over treasure house—many a knight is fain to bear it, the heads of the throng.
but the king keeps it as an ornament of which both But the blessed gods did not forget thee, O
horse and driver may be proud—even so, O
Menelaus, and Jove’s daughter, driver of the spoil, Menelaus, were your shapely thighs and your legs was the first to stand before thee and ward off the down to your fair ancles stained with blood.
piercing arrow. She turned it from his skin as a When King Agamemnon saw the blood flowing mother whisks a fly from off her child when it is from the wound he was afraid, and so was brave sleeping sweetly; she guided it to the part where Menelaus himself till he saw that the barbs of the 53
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arrow and the thread that bound the arrow-head to by-word, for the Achæans will at once go home. We the shaft were still outside the wound. Then he took shall leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still heart, but Agamemnon heaved a deep sigh as he keeping Helen, and the earth will rot your bones as held Menelaus’s hand in his own, and his comrades you lie here at Troy with your purpose not fulfilled.
made moan in concert. “Dear brother, “he cried, “I Then shall some braggart Trojan leap upon your have been the death of you in pledging