and　your　friends。　I　lay　no　blame　upon　you；　it　is　the　gods；　not　you　who
  are　to　blame。　It　is　they　that　have　brought　about　this　terrible　war
  with　the　Achaeans。　Tell　me；　then；　who　is　yonder　huge　hero　so　great　and
  goodly？　I　have　seen　men　taller　by　a　head；　but　none　so　comely　and　so
  royal。　Surely　he　must　be　a　king。〃
  〃Sir；〃　answered　Helen；　〃father　of　my　husband；　dear　and　reverend　in
  my　eyes；　would　that　I　had　chosen　death　rather　than　to　have　come　here
  with　your　son；　far　from　my　bridal　chamber；　my　friends；　my　darling
  daughter；　and　all　the　companions　of　my　girlhood。　But　it　was　not　to　be；
  and　my　lot　is　one　of　tears　and　sorrow。　As　for　your　question；　the
  hero　of　whom　you　ask　is　Agamemnon；　son　of　Atreus；　a　good　king　and　a
  brave　soldier；　brother…in…law　as　surely　as　that　he　lives；　to　my
  abhorred　and　miserable　self。〃
  The　old　man　marvelled　at　him　and　said；　〃Happy　son　of　Atreus；　child
  of　good　fortune。　I　see　that　the　Achaeans　are　subject　to　you　in　great
  multitudes。　When　I　was　in　Phrygia　I　saw　much　horsemen；　the　people　of
  Otreus　and　of　Mygdon；　who　were　camping　upon　the　banks　of　the　river
  Sangarius；　I　was　their　ally；　and　with　them　when　the　Amazons；　peers
  of　men；　came　up　against　them；　but　even　they　were　not　so　many　as　the
  Achaeans。〃
  The　old　man　next　looked　upon　Ulysses；　〃Tell　me；〃　he　said；　〃who　is
  that　other；　shorter　by　a　head　than　Agamemnon；　but　broader　across　the
  chest　and　shoulders？　His　armour　is　laid　upon　the　ground；　and　he　stalks
  in　front　of　the　ranks　as　it　were　some　great　woolly　ram　ordering　his
  ewes。〃
  And　Helen　answered；　〃He　is　Ulysses；　a　man　of　great　craft；　son　of
  Laertes。　He　was　born　in　rugged　Ithaca；　and　excels　in　all　manner　of
  stratagems　and　subtle　cunning。〃
  On　this　Antenor　said；　〃Madam；　you　have　spoken　truly。　Ulysses　once
  came　here　as　envoy　about　yourself；　and　Menelaus　with　him。　I　received
  them　in　my　own　house；　and　therefore　know　both　of　them　by　sight　and
  conversation。　When　they　stood　up　in　presence　of　the　assembled　Trojans；
  Menelaus　was　the　broader　shouldered；　but　when　both　were　seated　Ulysses
  had　the　more　royal　presence。　After　a　time　they　delivered　their
  message；　and　the　speech　of　Menelaus　ran　trippingly　on　the　tongue；　he
  did　not　say　much；　for　he　was　a　man　of　few　words；　but　he　spoke　very
  clearly　and　to　the　point；　though　he　was　the　younger　man　of　the　two；
  Ulysses；　on　the　other　hand；　when　he　rose　to　speak；　was　at　first　silent
  and　kept　his　eyes　fixed　upon　the　ground。　There　was　no　play　nor
  graceful　movement　of　his　sceptre；　he　kept　it　straight　and　stiff　like　a
  man　unpractised　in　oratory…　one　might　have　taken　him　for　a　mere
  churl　or　simpleton；　but　when　he　raised　his　voice；　and　the　words　came
  driving　from　his　deep　chest　like　winter　snow　before　the　wind；　then
  there　was　none　to　touch　him；　and　no　man　thought　further　of　what　he
  looked　like。〃
  Priam　then　caught　sight　of　Ajax　and　asked；　〃Who　is　that　great　and
  goodly　warrior　whose　head　and　broad　shoulders　tower　above　the　rest
  of　the　Argives？〃
  〃That；〃　answered　Helen；　〃is　huge　Ajax；　bulwark　of　the　Achaeans；
  and　on　the　other　side　of　him；　among　the　Cretans；　stands　Idomeneus
  looking　like　a　god；　and　with　the　captains　of　the　Cretans　round　him。
  Often　did　Menelaus　receive　him　as　a　guest　in　our　house　when　he　came
  visiting　us　from　Crete。　I　see；　moreover；　many　other　Achaeans　whose
  names　I　could　tell　you；　but　there　are　two　whom　I　can　nowhere　find；
  Castor；　breaker　of　horses；　and　Pollux　the　mighty　boxer；　they　are
  children　of　my　mother；　and　own　brothers　to　myself。　Either　they　have
  not　left　Lacedaemon；　or　else；　though　they　have　brought　their　ships；
  they　will　not　show　themselves　in　battle　for　the　shame　and　disgrace
  that　I　have　brought　upon　them。〃
  She　knew　not　that　both　these　heroes　were　already　lying　under　the
  earth　in　their　own　land　of　Lacedaemon。
  Meanwhile　the　heralds　were　bringing　the　holy　oath…offerings
  through　the　city…　two　lambs　and　a　goatskin　of　wine；　the　gift　of　earth；
  and　Idaeus　brought　the　mixing　bowl　and　the　cups　of　gold。　He　went　up　to
  Priam　and　said；　〃Son　of　Laomedon；　the　princes　of　the　Trojans　and
  Achaeans　bid　you　come　down　on　to　the　plain　and　swear　to　a　solemn
  covenant。　Alexandrus　and　Menelaus　are　to　fight　for　Helen　in　single
  combat；　that　she　and　all　her　wealth　may　go　with　him　who　is　the　victor。
  We　are　to　swear　to　a　solemn　covenant　of　peace　whereby　we　others
  shall　dwell　here　in　Troy；　while　the　Achaeans　return　to　Argos　and　the
  land　of　the　Achaeans。〃
  The　old　man　trembled　as　he　heard；　but　bade　his　followers　yoke　the
  horses；　and　they　made　all　haste　to　do　so。　He　mounted　the　chariot；
  gathered　the　reins　in　his　hand；　and　Antenor　took　his　seat　beside
  him；　they　then　drove　through　the　Scaean　gates　on　to　the　plain。　When
  they　reached　the　ranks　of　the　Trojans　and　Achaeans　they　left　the
  chariot；　and　with　measured　pace　advanced　into　the　space　between　the
  hosts。
  Agamemnon　and　Ulysses　both　rose　to　meet　them。　The　attendants　brought
  on　the　oath…offerings　and　mixed　the　wine　in　the　mixing…bowls；　they
  poured　water　over　the　hands　of　the　chieftains；　and　the　son　of　Atreus
  drew　the　dagger　that　hung　by　his　sword；　and　cut　wool　from　the　lambs'
  heads；　this　the　men…servants　gave　about　among　the　Trojan　and　Achaean
  princes；　and　the　son　of　Atreus　lifted　up　his　hands　in　prayer。
  〃Father　Jove；〃　he　cried；　〃that　rulest　in　Ida；　most　glorious　in
  power；　and　thou　oh　Sun；　that　seest　and　givest　ear　to　all　things；　Earth
  and　Rivers；　and　ye　who　in　the　realms　below　chastise　the　soul　of　him
  that　has　broken　his　oath；　witness　these　rites　and　guard　them；　that
  they　be　not　vain。　If　Alexandrus　kills　Menelaus；　let　him　keep　Helen　and
  all　her　wealth；　while　we　sail　home　with　our　ships；　but　if　Menelaus
  kills　Alexandrus；　let　the　Trojans　give　back　Helen　and　all　that　she
  has；　let　them　moreover　pay　such　fine　to　the　Achaeans　as　shall　be
  agreed　upon；　in　testimony　among　those　that　shall　be　born　hereafter。
  Aid　if　Priam　and　his　sons　refuse　such　fine　when　Alexandrus　has　fallen；
  then　will　I　stay　here　and　fight　on　till　I　have　got　satisfaction。〃
  As　he　spoke　he　drew　his　knife　across　the　throats　of　the　victims；　and
  laid　them　down　gasping　and　dying　upon　the　ground；　for　the　knife　had
  reft　them　of　their　strength。　Then　they　poured　wine　from　the
  mixing…bowl　into　the　cups；　and　prayed　to　the　everlasting　gods；　saying；
  Trojans　and　Achaeans　among　one　another；　〃Jove；　most　great　and
  glorious；　and　ye　other　everlasting　gods；　grant　that　the　brains　of　them
  who　shall　first　sin　against　their　oaths…　of　them　and　their　children…
  may　be　shed　upon　the　ground　even　as　this　wine；　and　let　their　wives
  become　the　slaves　of　strangers。〃
  Thus　they　prayed；　but　not　as　yet　would　Jove　grant　them　their　prayer。
  Then　Priam；　descendant　of　Dardanus；　spoke；　saying；　〃Hear　me；　Trojans
  and　Achaeans；　I　will　now　go　back　to　the　wind…beaten　city　of　Ilius：　I
  dare　not　with　my　own　eyes　witness　this　fight　between　my　son　and
  Menelaus；　for　Jove　and　the　other　immortals　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　comely　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　come　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