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The companies were thus arrayed, each under its own captain.
The Trojans advanced as a flight of wild-fowl or cranes that scream overhead when rain and winter drive them over the flowing waters of Oceanus to bring death and destruction on the Pygmies.
They wrangle in the air as they fly.
But the Achaeans marched silently, in high heart, and minded to stand by one another.
When they were close up with one another, Alexandrus came forward as champion on the Trojan side.
He challenged the bravest of the Achaeans to meet him in single fight.
Menelaus sprang from his chariot, clad in his armour.
Alexandrus shrank in fear and went back into the throng of Trojan warriors.
Then Hector upbraided him.
Evil-hearted Paris, fair to see, but woman-mad, and false of tongue, would that you had never been born, or that you had died unwed.
Better so, than live to be disgraced and looked askance at. Will not the Achaeans mock at us and say that we have sent one to champion us who is fair to see but who has neither wit nor courage? Did you not, such as you are, get your following together and sail beyond the seas?
Did you not from your a far country carry off a lovely woman wedded among a people of warriors—to bring sorrow upon your father, your city, and your whole country, but joy to your enemies, and hang-dog shamefacedness to yourself?
Now you do not dare face Menelaus and learn what manner of man he is whose wife you have stolen?
Where would be your lyre and your love-tricks, your comely locks and your fair favour, when you were lying in the dust before him? The Trojans are a weak-kneed people, or ere this you would have had a shirt of stones for the wrongs you have done them.
Hector, your rebuke is just. You are hard as the axe which a shipwright wields at his work, and cleaves the timber to his liking. As the axe in his hand, so keen is the edge of your scorn. Still, taunt me not with the gifts that golden Venus has given me; they are precious; let not a man disdain them, for the gods give them where they are minded, and none can have them for the asking.
If you would have me do battle with Menelaus, bid the Trojans and Achaeans take their seats, while he and I fight in their midst for Helen and all her wealth.
Let him who shall be victorious and prove to be the better man take the woman and all she has, to bear them to his home, but let the rest swear to a solemn covenant of peace whereby you Trojans shall stay here in Troy, while the others go home to Argos and the land of the Achaeans.
So Hector went among the Trojan ranks holding his spear by the middle to keep them back. They all sat down at his bidding.
But the Achaeans still aimed at him with stones and arrows, till Agamemnon shouted to them saying:
“Hold, Argives, shoot not, sons of the Achaeans; Hector desires to speak.”
They ceased taking aim and were still.
Hear me too, for it is I who am the most aggrieved.
I deem that the parting of Achaeans and Trojans is at hand, as well it may be, seeing how much have suffered for my quarrel with Alexandrus and the wrong he did me. Let him who shall die, die, and let the others fight no more. Bring, then, two lambs, a white ram and a black ewe, for Earth and Sun, and we will bring a third for Jove.
Bid Priam come, that he may swear to the covenant himself; for his sons are high-handed and ill to trust, and the oaths of Jove must not be transgressed or taken in vain.
Young men’s minds are light as air, but when an old man comes he looks before and after, deeming that which shall be fairest upon both sides.
The Trojans and Achaeans were glad when they heard this, for they thought that they should now have rest.
They backed their chariots toward the ranks, got out of them, and put off their armour, laying it down upon the ground; and the hosts were near to one another with a little space between them. Hector sent two messengers to the city to bring the lambs and to bid Priam come, while Agamemnon told Talthybius to fetch the other lamb from the ships, and he did as Agamemnon had said.
Meanwhile Iris went to Helen in the form of her sister-in-law, wife of the son of Antenor, for Helicaon, son of Antenor, had married Laodice, the fairest of Priam’s daughters.
She found her in her own room, working at a great web of purple linen, on which she was embroidering the battles between Trojans and Achaeans, that Mars had made them fight for her sake.
Iris then came close up to her and said:
Come here, child. See the strange doings of the Trojans and Achaeans.
Till now they have been warring upon the plain, mad with lust of battle, but now they have left off fighting, and are leaning upon their shields, sitting still with their spears planted beside them.
Alexandrus and Menelaus are going to fight about yourself, and you are to be the wife of him who is the victor.
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