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　comrades　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；　〃Come　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　come
  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　come　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　slave…　but　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　come　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　come　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；　but　I　then；　an　challenge　him　again…　but　I　should
  advise　you　not　to　do　so；　for　if　you　are　foolish　enough　to　meet　him
  in　single　combat；　you　will　soon　all　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。　Come；　let　us　lie　down　together　and　make　friends。　Never
  yet　was　I　so　passionately　enamoured　of　you　as　at　this　moment…　not　even
  when　I　first　carried　you　off　from　Lacedaemon　and　sailed　away　with　you…
  not　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
  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
  Alalcomene；　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　him…
  for　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　inhabited。〃
  Minerva　and　Juno　muttered　their　discontent　as　they　sat　side　by
  side　hatching　mischief　for　the　Trojans。　Minerva　scowled　at　her　father；
  for　she　was　in　a　furious　passion　with　him；　and　said　nothing；　but
  Juno　could　not　contain　herself。　〃Dread　son　of　Saturn；〃　said　she；
  〃what；　pray；　is　the　meaning　of　all　this？　Is　my　trouble；　then；　to　go
  for　nothing；　and　the　sweat　that　I　have　sweated；　to　say　nothing　of　my
  horses；　while　getting　the　people　together　against　Priam　and　his
  children？　Do　as　you　will；　but　we　other　gods　shall　not　all　of　us
  approve　your　counsel。〃
  Jove　was　angry　and　answered；　〃My　dear；　what　harm　have　Priam　and
  his　sons　done　you　that　you　are　so　hotly　bent　on　sacking　the　city　of
  Ilius？　Will　nothing　do　for　you　but　you　must　within　their　walls　and　eat
  Priam　raw；　with　his　sons　and　all　the　other　Trojans　to　boot？　Have　it
  your　own　way　then；　for　I　would　not　have　this　matter　become　a　bone　of
  contention　between　us。　I　say　further；　and　lay　my　saying　to　your　heart；
  if　ever　I　want　to　sack　a　city　belonging　to　friends　of　yours；　you
  must　not　try　to　stop　me；　you　will　have　to　let　me　do　it；　for　I　am
  giving　in　to　you　sorely　against　my　will。　Of　all　inhabited　cities　under
  the　sun　and　stars　of　heaven；　there　was　none　that　I　so　much　respected
  as　Ilius　with　Priam　and　his　whole　people。　Equitable　feasts　were
  never　wanting　about　my　altar；　nor　the　savour　of　burning　fat；　which
  is　honour　due　to　ourselves。〃
  〃My　own　three　favourite　cities；〃　answered　Juno；　〃are　Argos；
  Sparta；　and　Mycenae。　Sack　them　whenever　you　may　be　displeased　with
  them。　I　shall　not　defend　them　and　I　shall　not　care。　Even　if　I　did；　and
  tried　to　stay　you；　I　should　take　nothing　by　it；　for　you　are　much
  stronger　than　I　am；　but　I　will　not　have　my　own　work　wasted。　I　too　am　a
  god　and　of　the　same　race　with　yourself。　I　am　Saturn's　eldest　daughter；
  and　am　honourable　not　on　this　ground　only；　but　also　because　I　am
  your　wife；　and　you　are　king　over　the　gods。　Let　it　be　a　case；　then；
  of　give…and…take　between　us；　and　the　rest　of　the　gods　will　follow
  our　lead。　Tell　Minerva　to　go　and　take　part　in　the　fight　at　once；　and
  let　her　contrive　that　the　Trojans　shall　be　the　first　to　break　their
  oaths　and　set　upon　the　Achaeans。〃
  The　sire　of　gods　and　men　heeded　her　words；　and　said　to　Minerva；
  〃Go　at　once　into　the　Trojan　and　Achaean　hosts；　and　contrive　that　the
  Trojans　shall　be　the　first　to　break　their　oaths　and　set　upon　the
  Achaeans。〃
  This　was　what　Minerva　was　already　eager　to　do；　so　down　she　darted
  from　the　topmost　summits　of　Olympus。　She　shot　through　the　sky　as
  some　brilliant　meteor　which　the　son　of　scheming　Saturn　has　sent　as　a
  sign　to　mariners　or　to　some　great　army；　and　a　fiery　train　of　light
  follows　in　its　wake。　The　Trojans　and　Achaeans　were　struck　with　awe
  as　they　beheld；　and　one　would　turn　to　his　neighbour；　saying；　〃Either
  we　shall　again　have　war　and　din　of　combat；　or　Jove　the　lord　of
  battle　will　now　make　peace　between　us。〃
  Thus　did　they　converse。　Then　Minerva　took　the　form　of　Laodocus；
  son　of　Antenor；　and　went　through　the　ranks　of　the　Trojans　to　find
  Pandarus；　the　redoubtable　son　of　Lycaon。　She　found　him　standing
  among　the　stalwart　heroes　who　had　followed　him　from　the　banks　of　the
  Aesopus；　so　she　went　close　up　to　him　and　said；　〃Brave　son　of　Lycaon；
  will　you　do　as　I　tell　you？　If　you　dare　send　an　arrow　at　Menelaus　you
  will　win　honour　and　thanks　from　all　the　Trojans；　and　especially　from
  prince　Alexandrus…　he　would　be　the　first　to　requite　you　very
  handsomely　if　he　could　see　Menelaus　mount　his　funeral　pyre；　slain　by
  an　arrow　from　your　hand。　Take　your　home　aim　then；　and　pray　to　Lycian
  Apollo；　the　famous　archer；　vow　that　when　you　ge