Just as the armies are on the point of engaging, Paris proposes a
single combat, but, on Menelaus advancing, retires in affright. Being
rebuked by Hector, he consents to engage Menelaus, and a treaty is
arranged. Paris is vanquished, but is brought back safe to Ilium by
Venus, who appeases the anger of Helen. Menelaus, as conqueror, calls
upon the Trojans to fulfil the conditions of the challenge.
But after they had each been marshalled along with their leaders, the
Trojans, on the one hand, moved along with both clamour and
battle-shout, like birds; just as is the noise of cranes forth under
heaven, which, after they have escaped the winter and immeasurable 144
shower, with a clamour do these wing their way towards the streams of
the ocean, bearing slaughter and fate to the Pygmæan men; and they then
at early dawn bring fatal strife. But the Greeks, on the other hand,
breathing might, 145 advanced in silence, anxious in mind to aid one
another.
Footnote 144: (return) See Alberti on Hesych. s. v., t. i. p. 126;
lit. “what even a god would not say.”—Buttm. Lexil. p. 359.
Footnote 145: (return) Par. Lost, i. 559:
“——thus they,
Breathing united force with fixed thought,
Moved on in silence.”
As when the south wind sheds a mist over the top of a mountain, by no
means friendly to the shepherds, but more serviceable even than night
to the robber, and one can see [only] so far as he hurls a stone. So
under the feet of them proceeding an eddying dust kept rising: and very
speedily they traversed the plain.
But when they now were near, approaching each other, godlike Alexander
advanced in front of the Trojans, having a panther’s skin on his
shoulders, and his crooked bow, and a sword; but he brandishing two
spears tipped with brass, challenged all the bravest of the Greeks to
fight against him in grievous conflict.
But when Mars-beloved Menelaus perceived him advancing before the host,
taking long strides, as a hungering lion exults, when happening on a
carcase of large size, having found either a horned stag or a wild
goat. For he greedily devours it, although swift hounds and vigorous
youths pursue him. Thus Menelaus rejoiced, having beheld with his eyes
godlike Alexander. For he thought he would be revenged upon the guilty
wretch: forthwith, therefore, with his arms he leaped from his chariot
to the earth.
But when, therefore, godlike Alexander perceived him appearing among
the foremost warriors, he was smitten in his heart, and gave way back
into the band of his companions, avoiding death. And as when any one
having seen a serpent in the thickets of a mountain, has started back,
and tremor has seized his limbs under him, and he has retired
backwards, and paleness seizes his cheeks: thus godlike Alexander
shrank back into the band of the haughty Trojans, dreading the son of
Atreus.
But Hector having seen him, upbraided him with opprobrious words:
“Cursed Paris, 146 most excellent in form, thou woman-raving seducer,
would that thou hadst either not been born, or that thou hadst perished
unmarried. This, indeed, I would wish, and indeed it would be much
better, than that thou shouldst thus be a disgrace and scandal to
others. In truth the long-haired Achæans may laugh, having suspected
that thou wast a noble champion, because a fine person belongs [to
thee]; but there is not strength in thy soul, nor any nerve. Didst
thou, being such a one, having sailed over the ocean in sea-traversing
ships, having collected congenial associates, and mingled with
foreigners, take away a beauteous lady, from the Apian land, the spouse
of martial men, a great detriment to thy father, to the city, and to
all the people; a joy indeed to our enemies, but a disgrace to thyself?
Couldst thou not have awaited warlike Menelaus? Then shouldst thou have
known of how brave a man thou dost possess the blooming spouse. Nor
will thy harp, and the gifts of Venus, and thy hair, and thy figure
avail thee, when thou shalt be mingled with the dust. 147 But the
Trojans are very pusillanimous; else wouldst thou have been arrayed in
a garment of stone, on account of the evils which thou hast done.” 148
Him then godlike Alexander in turn addressed: “Hector, since thou hast
reproached me justly, and not unjustly, [I will submit]. Ever is thy
spirit unwearied, like an axe, which penetrates the wood, [driven] by
the man who with art cuts out the naval plank, and it increases the
force of the man: so in thy breast is there an intrepid heart. Reproach
me not with the lovely gifts of golden Venus: the distinguished gifts
of the gods are by no means to be rejected, whatever indeed they give;
for no one can choose them at his own pleasure. Now, however, if thou
desirest me to wage war and to fight, cause the other Trojans and all
the Greeks to sit down, but match me and Mars-beloved Menelaus to
contend in the midst for Helen and all the treasures. And whichever of
us shall conquer, and shall be superior, having received all the
treasures without reserve, and the woman, let him conduct them home.
But let the rest of you, striking a friendship and faithful league,
inhabit fertile Troy; and let them return to the steed-nourishing
Argos, and fair-damed Achaia.”
Footnote 146: (return) Δὑς here denotes the evils which fatally
resulted to Paris and his friends (so δυσελένας, “baleful Helen,” Eur.
Or. 1388. Cf. Æsch. Ag. 689, sqq.) in consequence of his having been
preserved, despite the omens attending his birth. See Hygin. Fab. xci.
Hence the Schol. on Il. x. i. 96, derive his name of Paris, ὅτι τὸν
μόνον παοῆλθεν.