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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 city… two 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 come down on to the plain and swear to a solemn
covenant。 Alexandrus and Menelaus are to fight for Helen in single
combat； 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。
Aid 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 oaths… of them and their children…
may be shed upon the ground even as this wine； and let their wives
become 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 comely 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 come 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 comrades 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 crowdin