THE DUEL OF PARIS AND MENELAUS
So now the hosts drew near to battle. With many a cry the men of
Troy came on, clamorous as a flock of cranes when they fly southward
from the winter and the rain. But the Greeks marched in silence,
resolute to stand by one another in the battle; and beneath their
feet rose up a great cloud of dust, thick as the mist which the south
wind brings over the mountain-tops.
They were now about to fight, when from the ranks of the Trojans
Paris rushed forth. He had a panther's skin over his shoulders, and
a bow and a sword, and in either hand a spear, and he called aloud to
the Greeks that they should send forth their bravest to fight with
him. But when Menelaus saw him he was glad, for he said that now he
should avenge himself on the man who had done him such wrong. He
leapt from his chariot and rushed to meet his enemy; but Paris was
afraid when he saw Menelaus, and fled back into the ranks of his
comrades, just as a man steps back in haste when unawares in a
mountain glen he comes upon a snake. But Hector saw him, and rebuked
him: "Fair art thou to look upon, Paris, but nothing worth. Surely
the Greeks will scorn us if they think that thou art our bravest
warrior, because thou art of stately presence. But thou art a
coward; and yet thou daredst to go across the sea and carry off the
fair Helen. Why dost thou not stand and abide the onset of her
husband, and see what manner of man he is? Little would thy harp and
thy long locks and thy fair face avail when thou wert lying in the
dust! A craven race are the sons of Troy, or they would have stoned
thee ere this."
Then Paris answered: "Thou speakest well, Hector, and thy rebuke is
just. As for thee, thy heart is like iron, ever set on battle; yet
are beauty and love also the gifts of the gods, and not to be
despised. But now set Menelaus and me in the midst, and let us
fight, man to man, for the fair Helen and for all her possessions.
And if he prevail over me, let him take her and them and depart, and
the Greeks with him, leaving you to dwell in peace; but if I prevail
they shall depart without her."
Then Hector was glad, and going before the Trojan ranks, holding his
spear by the middle, he kept them back. But the Greeks would have
shot at him with arrows and slung stones, only Agamemnon cried aloud
and said, "Hold, Hector has somewhat to say to us."
Then Hector said: "Hear, Trojans and Greeks, what Paris saith, Paris
who hath bred this quarrel between us: 'Let all lay their arms upon
the ground, and let Menelaus and me fight for the fair Helen, and all
her wealth. And let him that is the better keep her and them, but
the rest shall swear faith and friendship.'"
Then Menelaus stood up and spake: "Listen to me, for this trouble
toucheth me nearer than you all. The Greeks and the men of Troy
would fain be at peace, for they have suffered grievous things
because of my quarrel and of the wrong that Paris did. Therefore we
two will fight together, and let him perish who is doomed to die.
Bring two sheep, ye men of Troy, a white wether for the sun, and a
black ewe for the earth, and we will bring another for Zeus. And let
Priam himself come, and do sacrifice, and take the oath. Young men
are ever changeable; but when an old man is among them, he taketh
thought for all."
So spake Menelaus; and both the armies were glad, hoping to see an
end of the war.
Then Hector sent a herald to the city, to summon Priam to the
sacrifice and to fetch the sheep. And while he went, Iris, in the
guise of Laodice, fairest of the daughters of Priam, came to Helen,
where she sat in her hall, weaving a great web of double breadth and
dyed with purple, whereon she had wrought many battles of the Greeks
and the men of Troy, Iris came near and said:
La-o'-di-ce.
"Come, dear sister, and behold this marvel. Heretofore the Greeks
and the men of Troy have fought together on the plain, but now they
sit in peace, and the war is stayed; for Paris and Menelaus are to
fight for thee, and thou shalt be the wife of him that shall prevail."
So spake the goddess, and roused in Helen sweet longing for her
former husband, and her city, and her parents. So she wrapped
herself in white apparel, and went forth from her chamber.
Meanwhile Priam sat on the wall with the old men. They had ceased
from war, but in speech they were to be admired; they were like to
the crickets that sit upon a tree in the wood, and send forth a thin,
sweet voice. And as they talked, the fair Helen came near, and they
said: "What wonder that men should suffer much for such a woman, for
indeed she is divinely fair! Yet let her depart in the ships, nor
bring a curse on us and our children."
But Priam called to her: "Come near, my daughter, that thou mayest
see him that was thy husband, and thy friends and kinsmen. I find no
fault with thee, for 'tis not thou, 'tis the gods who have brought
about all this trouble. But tell me, who is this warrior that I see,
so fair and strong? There are others even a head taller than he, but
none of such majesty."
And Helen answered: "Ah, my father! I owe thee much reverence; yet
would that I had died before I left husband and child to follow thy
son. But as for this warrior, he is Agamemnon, a good king and brave
soldier, and my brother-in-law in the old days."
"Happy Agamemnon," said Priam, "to rule over so many! Never saw I
such an army gathered together. But who is this that I see, not so
tall as Agamemnon, but of broader shoulders? His arms lie upon the
ground, and he is walking through the ranks of his men just as some
great ram walks through a flock of sheep."
"This," said Helen, "is Ulysses of Ithaca, who is better in craft and
counsel than all other men."
"'Tis well spoken, lady," said Antenor. "Well I remember Ulysses
when he came hither on an embassy about thee with the brave Menelaus.
My guests they were, and I knew them well. And I remember how, in
the assembly of the Trojans, when both were standing, Menelaus was
the taller, but when they sat, Ulysses was the more majestic to
behold. And when they rose to speak, Menelaus said few words, but
said them wisely and well; and Ulysses--you had thought him a fool,
so stiffly he held his sceptre and so downcast were his eyes; but as
soon as he began, oh! the mighty voice, and the words thick as the
falling snow!"
An-te'-nor.
Then Priam said, "Who is that stalwart hero, so tall and strong,
overtopping all by head and shoulders?"
"That," said Helen, "is mighty Ajax, the bulwark of the Greeks. And
next to him is Idomeneus. Often has Menelaus had him as his guest in
the old days, when he came from Crete. As for the other chiefs, I
see and could name them all. But I miss my own dear brothers,
Castor, tamer of horses, and Pollux, the mighty boxer. Either they
came not from Sparta, or, having come, shun the meeting of men for
shame of me."
So she spake, and knew not that they were sleeping their last sleep
far away in their dear fatherland.
Meanwhile the heralds were bringing the sheep from the town, and wine
in a goatskin; and Idæus, the herald, carried a bowl and golden cups.
He came near to King Priam, and told him how the armies called for
him. So he went, and he, on the one side, for the Trojans, and King
Agamemnon for the Greeks, made a covenant with sacrifice that Paris
and Menelaus should fight together, and that the fair Helen, with all
her treasures, should go with him who should prevail.
I-dæ'-us.
And when the sacrifice and the prayers were ended, King Priam said:
"I will go back to Troy, for I could not endure to see my son
fighting with Menelaus. But which of the two is doomed to death,
Zeus and the immortal gods only know."
So he spake and climbed into his chariot and took the reins; so he
went back to Troy even as he came.
And afterwards Hector and Ulysses marked out a space for the fight,
and Hector shook two pebbles in a helmet, looking away as he shook
them, that he whose pebble leapt forth the first should be the first
to throw his spear. And so it befell that the lot of Paris leapt
forth first. Then the two warriors armed themselves, and came forth
into the space, and stood over against each other, brandishing their
spears, with hate in their eyes. Then Paris threw his spear. It
struck the shield of Menelaus, but pierced it not, for the spear
point was bent back. Then Menelaus prayed to Zeus: "Grant, Father
Zeus, that I may avenge myself on Paris, who has done me this wrong;
so shall men in after time fear to do wrong to their host." So
speaking, he cast his long-shafted spear. It struck the shield of
Paris and pierced it through, and passed through the corselet, and
through the tunic; but Paris shrank aside, and the spear wounded him
not. Then Menelaus drew his silver-studded sword and struck a mighty
blow on the top of the helmet of Paris, but the sword broke in four
pieces in his hand. Then he cried in his wrath, "O Zeus, most
mischief-loving of the gods, my spear I cast in vain, and now my
sword is broken." Then he rushed forward and seized Paris by the
helmet, and dragged him towards the hosts of the Greeks, for he was
choked by the band of the helmet. And truly he had taken him, but
Aphrodite loosed the strap that was beneath the chin, and the helmet
came off in his hand. And Menelaus whirled it among the Greeks and
charged with another spear in his hand. But Aphrodite snatched Paris
away, covering him with a mist, and put him down in his chamber in
Troy. Then Menelaus looked for him everywhere, but no one could tell
him where he might be. No son of Troy would have hidden him out of
kindness, for all hated him as death.
Aph-ro-di'-te.
Then King Agamemnon said, "Now, ye sons of Troy, it is for you to
give back the fair Helen and her wealth, and to pay me, besides, so
much as may be fitting for all my cost and trouble."
So spake King Agamemnon, and the Greeks applauded.