The Iliad of Homer. Homer

Gods, and pray'd again, And many a Grecian thus and Trojan spake.

      All-glorious Jove, and ye the powers of heaven,355

       Whoso shall violate this contract first,

       So be the brains of them and of their sons

       Pour'd out, as we this wine pour on the earth,

       And may their wives bring forth to other men!

      So they: but them Jove heard not. Then arose360

       Priam, the son of Dardanus, and said,

      Hear me, ye Trojans and ye Greeks well-arm'd.

       Hence back to wind-swept Ilium I return,

       Unable to sustain the sight, my son

       With warlike Menelaüs match'd in arms.365

       Jove knows, and the immortal Gods, to whom

       Of both, this day is preordain'd the last.

      So spake the godlike monarch, and disposed

       Within the royal chariot all the lambs;

       Then, mounting, check'd the reins; Antenor next370

       Ascended, and to Ilium both return'd.

      First, Hector and Ulysses, noble Chief,

       Measured the ground; then taking lots for proof

       Who of the combatants should foremost hurl

       His spear, they shook them in a brazen casque;375

       Meantime the people raised their hands on high,

       And many a Grecian thus and Trojan prayed.

      Jove, Father, who on Ida seated, seest

       And rulest all below, glorious in power!

       Of these two champions, to the drear abodes380

       Of Ades him appoint who furnish'd first

       The cause of strife between them, and let peace

       Oath-bound, and amity unite the rest!

      So spake the hosts; then Hector shook the lots,

       Majestic Chief, turning his face aside.385

       Forth sprang the lot of Paris. They in ranks

       Sat all, where stood the fiery steeds of each,

       And where his radiant arms lay on the field.

       Illustrious Alexander his bright arms

       077 Put on, fair Helen's paramour. [17]He clasp'd390 His polish'd greaves with silver studs secured; His brother's corselet to his breast he bound, Lycaon's, apt to his own shape and size, And slung athwart his shoulders, bright emboss'd, His brazen sword; his massy buckler broad395 He took, and to his graceful head his casque Adjusted elegant, which, as he moved, Its bushy crest waved dreadful; last he seized, Well fitted to his gripe, his ponderous spear. Meantime the hero Menelaüs made400 Like preparation, and his arms put on.

      When thus, from all the multitude apart,

       Both combatants had arm'd, with eyes that flash'd

       Defiance, to the middle space they strode,

       Trojans and Greeks between. Astonishment405

       Seized all beholders. On the measured ground

       Full near they stood, each brandishing on high

       His massy spear, and each was fiery wroth.

      First, Alexander his long-shadow'd spear

       Sent forth, and on his smooth shield's surface struck410

       The son of Atreus, but the brazen guard

       Pierced not, for at the disk, with blunted point

       Reflex, his ineffectual weapon stay'd.

       078 Then Menelaüs to the fight advanced

       Impetuous, after prayer offer'd to Jove.[18]415

      King over all! now grant me to avenge

       My wrongs on Alexander; now subdue

       The aggressor under me; that men unborn

       May shudder at the thought of faith abused,

       And hospitality with rape repaid.420

       He said, and brandishing his massy spear,

       Dismiss'd it. Through the burnish'd buckler broad

       Of Priam's son the stormy weapon flew,

       Transpierced his costly hauberk, and the vest

       Ripp'd on his flank; but with a sideward bend425

       He baffled it, and baulk'd the dreadful death.

      Then Menelaüs drawing his bright blade,

       Swung it aloft, and on the hairy crest

       Smote him; but shiver'd into fragments small

       The falchion at the stroke fell from his hand.430

       Vexation fill'd him; to the spacious heavens

       He look'd, and with a voice of wo exclaim'd—

      Jupiter! of all powers by man adored

       To me most adverse! Confident I hoped

       Revenge for Paris' treason, but my sword435

       Is shivered, and I sped my spear in vain.

      So saying, he sprang on him, and his long crest

       Seized fast; then, turning, drew him by that hold

       Toward the Grecian host. The broider'd band

       That underbraced his helmet at the chin,440

       Strain'd to his smooth neck with a ceaseless force,

       Chok'd him; and now had Menelaus won

       Deathless renown, dragging him off the field,

       But Venus, foam-sprung Goddess, feeling quick

       His peril imminent, snapp'd short the brace445

       Though stubborn, by a slaughter'd[19] ox supplied, And the void helmet follow'd as he pull'd. 079 That prize the Hero, whirling it aloft, Threw to his Greeks, who caught it and secured, Then with vindictive strides he rush'd again450 On Paris, spear in hand; but him involved In mist opaque Venus with ease divine Snatch'd thence, and in his chamber placed him, fill'd With scents odorous, spirit-soothing sweets. Nor stay'd the Goddess, but at once in quest455 Of Helen went; her on a lofty tower She found, where many a damsel stood of Troy, And twitch'd her fragrant robe. In form she seem'd An ancient matron, who, while Helen dwelt In Lacedæmon, her unsullied wool460 Dress'd for her, faithfullest of all her train. Like her disguised the Goddess thus began.

      Haste—Paris calls thee—on his sculptured couch,

       (Sparkling alike his looks and his attire)

       He waits thy wish'd return. Thou wouldst not dream465

       That he had fought; he rather seems prepared

       For dance, or after dance, for soft repose.

      So saying, she tumult raised in Helen's mind.

       Yet soon as by her symmetry of neck,

       By her love-kindling breasts and luminous eyes470

       She knew the Goddess, her she thus bespake.

      Ah whence, deceitful deity! thy wish

       Now to ensnare me? Wouldst thou lure me, say,

       To some fair city of Mæonian name

       Or Phrygian, more remote from Sparta still?475

       Hast thou some human favorite also there?

       Is it because Atrides hath prevailed

       To vanquish Paris, and would bear me home

       Unworthy as I am, that thou attempt'st

       Again to cheat me? Go thyself—sit