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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 citytwo 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 e down on to the plain and
swear to a solemn covenant。 Alexandrus and Menelaus are to fight
for Helen in single bat； 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。 And 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 oathsof them
and their childrenmay be shed upon the ground even as this
wine； and let their wives bee 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 ely 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 e 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 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 rades among the Achaeans； and was again
springing upon Alexandrus to run him through with a spear； but