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This he flung to his rades 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； 〃e 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 e 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 e 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 slavebut 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 e 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 e 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； then； and challenge him againbut I should
advise you not to do so； for if you are foolish enough to meet
him in single bat； you will soon fall 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。 e； let us lie down together and make
friends。 Never yet was I so passionately enamoured of you as at
this momentnot even when I first carried you off from
Lacedaemon and sailed away with younot 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
A quarrel in OlympusMinerva goes down and persuades Fandarus
to violate the oaths by wounding Menelaus with an arrow
Agamemnon makes a speech and sends for MachaonHe then
goes about among his captains and upbraids Ulysses and
Sthenelus； who each of them retort fiercelyDiomed checks
Sthenelus； and the two hosts then engage； with great slaughter
on either side。
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 Alalene； 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 himfor 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
bee 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 r