Rhapsōdia Gamma- Book III
Argument:
On one side, the Trojans came on with a terrible din and a cry like birds,
Yea, a terrible din as cranes make as they take flight heavenward,
As when from winter they flee and from measureless rainstorms,
Yea, these birds with a terrible din fly upon the waters of Okeanos' stream 5
Where to the Pygmaioi men bring they slaughter and death,
For it is in the early morn that they offer them foul fighting.
On the other side came on in silence the Akhaioi breathing wrath,
Eager at heart each man was to be a bulwark to his comrade-at-arms.
Just as when Notos doth o'er mountain peaks pour out a mist, 10
Which is ne'er by the shepherd loved, but is to the thief better than night,
And a man can see only so far as a stone he can cast --
Just so from the soldiers' feet riseth the dust cloud in a whirlwind
As they marched, and great was their speed as they sped across the plain.
And when they were hard by, one side coming at the other, 15
Among the Trojans stood forth combat-ready Alexandros the god-seeming.
A leopard-skin upon his shoulders he bore, and a curved bow,
And sword as well, and finally two spears tipped with bronze
He brandished and challenged all the best of the Akhaioi
To face him in a fight, face dread death in battle. 20
And when he came 'ware of him, he favored by Ares, he Menelaos,
He came forward from the throng, taking long strides,
Just as a lion rejoiceth when lights he upon a great carcass,
Finding for himself a horned stag or a wild goat lying in a plain,
And feasts at his utmost hunger; for greedily doth he devour, even though 25
Upon him may fall swift dogs and cocky youths lusting for the kill.
Just so rejoiceth Menelaos as upon Alexandros the god-seeming
He with his eyes a-lighted. For said he that he would pay back this sinner,
And thereupon from his car he full-armored leapt groundward.
And when he came 'ware of him, he Alexandros the god-seeming, 30
As the man appeared among the champions, smitten was his dear heart,
And from his comrades he shrank, back into the throng, a-frighted by the spirits of death.
Just as when a man, upon seeing a serpent deep in a mountain glen
Doth slowly backwards take his steps, and a trembling takes his knees from under him
As back he starts up, and a wanness takes a-hold of his cheeks -- 35
Just so back into the throng of Trojans shrank their lord,
For he feared Atreus' son, much afraid was Alexandros the god-seeming.
And him did Hektor chide when he saw him, and spake shaming words:
"Ill-starred Paris, prettiest to look upon, woman-mad, deceiver!
Wouldst thou had been unborn or had stayed unwed, or been destroyed, 40
Yea, this I would fain have happened, for it would be a far better gain for us
Than as thou art now, our ruination, to be looked upon by others with scorn.
Verily methinks that they shall laugh uproariously, they the long-haired Akhaioi,
If it seemeth our best champion be so on account of his good looks,
How he appears on the outside, while yet there is no violence in his heart, no strength. 45
Or was it strength such as that which thou hadst on thy sea-faring ships,
When the open sea thou plied with thy picked and chosen companions,
And, having introduced thyself to foreign folk, a beauteous woman thou didst take away,
From her far-off land, a daughter and bride of spear-wielding fighters?
Grievous is the bane to thy father, to thy city, and to all thy house thou hast brought -- 50
If what thou hast done bringeth joy to our foes, ought it not be a shame to thee?
Yea, willst thou not stay and abide him who is favored by Ares, he Menelaos?
Mayhaps thou might know what sort of wight be he whose full-bosomed wife thou hast.
Not then to thee shall thy kithara be an aid, nor thy gifts from Aphrodite,
Nor even thy hair, nor still thy face when thou art mingling with the dust. 55
Ah, well -- very much are the Trojans cowards, else verily yea,
Wouldst thou be wearing a khiton made of stone-throws for the ill thou hast worked."
And him in answer spake Alexandros the god-seeming:
"Hektor, since duly thou hast chid me, and not overly so,
I will respond: ever is the heart in thee like unto an ax unyielding 60
Which goes through a beam of wood when wielded by a man whose skill
It is to cut timber for a ship, and the cleaving gives strength to his heft.
Just so, fearless is the resolve of the heart in thy breast.
Throw not in my teeth the lovely gifts of gold'n Aphrodite --
Not so are cast aside thy gifts given by the gods, skills of far-reaching fame, 65
Yea those gifts which they give thee, which no man may take of his own choice.
But now if thou wouldst fain me join war and make battle,
First make them sit down, they the other Trojans and all the Akhaioi;
Then throw me against him who is favored by Ares, he Menelaos,
And in the center we shall fight for Helene and for all her possessions. 70
And whosoever of us twain should win and prove himself the better,
Let him take all of the plunder and the woman, and homeward let him go.
And ye others upon sacrifices swear oaths most friendly and binding,
That dwell ye here in Troy the clod-filled, while let ye them depart
For horse-pastured Argos, to Akhaia, land of beautiful women." 75
Thus spake he, and Hektor in turn was glad at heart at hearing the proud words,
And so into the middle he went, and kept he back the battle-ranks of the Trojans,
Grasping his spear at its middle -- and yea, they took their seats, every man.
But at him they took aim, they the long-haired Akhaioi,
With their arrow-shafts, and had they at the ready stones to cast -- 80
But then loudly cried out the lord of men, Agamemnon:
"Hold your volley, Argeioi! Cast not your stones, sons of the Akhaioi!
For maketh he a sign to speak a word or two, he Hektor of the glancing helm!"
Thus spake he, and they restrained themselves from battle, but impetuously so.
And then Hektor betwixt the two hosts spake unto them both: 85
"Harken unto me, ye Trojans and Akhaioi of the well-fitting greaves!
Harken unto the words of Alexandros, on account of whom this strife hath arisen:
Ye others he biddeth, ye Trojans and all ye Akhaioi,
To set your fair weapons upon the all-nourishing earth,
And then he himself in the middle will face Menelaos, favored by Ares, 90
To do combat for the hand of Helen and for all her plunder.
And whosoever of the twain should win and prove himself the better,
Let him take all of the plunder and the woman, and homeward let him go.
And let us all upon sacrifices swear oaths most friendly and binding!" 95
Thus spake he, and thereupon all kept their tongues in silence.
But then unto them shouted Menelaos, good at the war-cry:
"Harken now unto me! For above all others doth this grief enter
Mine own heart, and I am minded, yea indeed, to send apart
The Argeioi and the Trojans, since ye all have gotten many ills
On account of my quarrel and because of what Alexandros begun. 100
So for him of us whom Death and Fate hath appointed his time,
Let him there lie dead! But then all the rest keep from each other with all haste!
Ye shall bear lambs, one milk-white, the other tar-black --
This one for Mother Earth, the other for the Sun, and we two shall bear another for Zeus.
Then lead ye out mighty Priamos, so that he may seal this oath by the sacrifice 105
With his own hand, since his sons are overweening and faithless,
Lest any by his misstep do wrong to any oaths made to Zeus.
Ever do the minds of younger men turn with ev'ry gust of air,
While an older man standing among them would both forwards and backwards
Glance, so that far the best shall the outcome come out for either side." 110
Thus spake he, and were gladdened both the Akhaioi and the Trojans,
Hoping that they had put an end to their woeful war.
And therefore their horses they kept checked in their ranks, while they themselves stepped forth,
And they stripped off their gear, laying them down upon the earth,
Hard-by each other, so little around was the space on the ground. 115
Hektor to the city did then two heralds send,
To with haste fetch the lambs and call upon Priamos.
And it was Talthybios lord Agamemnon did send forth
To go upon the hollowed ships and bid them bring a lamb --
And thereupon he did not disobey godlike Agamemnon. 120
And Iris as a messenger came to white-armed Helene,
Seeming as unto her lover's sister, the wife to Antenor's son,
For yea, like unto her whom Antenor's son, lord Helikaon, took to wife,
Iris appeared as Laodike, loveliest of Priamos' daughters.
And Helene she found in the great hall where she wove at a great loom, 125
A purple cloak, folded double, and upon it many battles she embroidered,
Waged by the horse-lording Trojans and the bronze-greaved Akhaioi,
Who both because of her were suffering at the hand of Ares.
And standing hard by, her she addressed, she swift of foot, Iris:
"Hither come, young girl, so the god-wrought deeds thou mayest behold, 130
Waged by the horse-lording Trojans and the bronze-greaved Akhaioi,
Who upon each other were beforehand bearing many-teared Ares,
But are now in the plain yearning still for baneful war.
Yea, now they sit in silence, for the war hath come to a stop,
Leaning on their shields, beside them long spears punched in the earth. 135
But yet Alexandros and he favored by Ares, he Menelaos,
Shall with their great spears do battle o'er possession of thee,
For to him who shall win thou shalt be called his wife."
Thus having spoken, the goddess put sweet yearning into her heart
For the man who was once her husband and, yea, for her father's city. 140
And forthwith in a gown of white linen she covered herself,
Running from her bedchamber while letting soft tears fall down her face.
But not alone she went, for with her two handmaids followed,
Aithra, Pittheus' daughter, and ox-eyed Klymene,
And on a sudden they came where stood the Skaian Gates of Troy. 145
And there around Priamos and Panthoos were yea Thymoites,
And Lampos, and Klytios, and Hiketaon, scion of Ares,
And Oukalegon and Antenor, men of wisdom both,
As leaders of the people all sat they upon the Skaian Gates.
Because of hoary old age they had withdrawn from war, but as speakers 150
They were apt, like unto cicadas they seemed, which dwell in a forest
And sit upon the trees, pouring forth their smooth and clear voices --
Suchwise did the chieftains of the Trojans sit upon the battlements.
And upon seeing Helene coming upon the battlements,
They softly to each other uttered winged words suchlike: 155
"It is no cause for anger that the Trojans and the Akhaioi of well-fitting greaves
Should on behalf of a woman such as she suffer grief for so long,
For terrifying is her face, like unto the deathless goddess she;
But e'en one such as her, let her go upon the ships,
Let her not stay as a bane to us and our children hereafter." 160
Just so they spoke, and Priamos to Helene called out aloud:
"Hither beside me come, dear child, and take thy seat,
So that thou mayest behold thy former husband and kinsmen and beloved --
In no wise art thou to blame in mine eyes -- it is the gods methinks who are to blame.
It is they who have inflicted upon me a many-teared war with the Akhaioi -- 165
Couldst thou name for me this mighty hero before me,
Who is this Akhaian lord, so noble and so tall?
For yea, others may be by a head taller than he,
But so fair I have never before beheld with mine own eyes,
N'er one so fitting for the purple, for like a king of men he seemeth." 170
And to him Helene in reply made answer, she a goddess among women:
"Revered art thou in mine eyes, dear lord, and terrible too.
Would that cruel death had been my pleasure when hither I came,
Following thy son, and my marriage bed and kin I abandoned,
And my precious daughter and lovely girlhood companions. 175
But such was not to be -- and wherefore I waste away in my wailing.
But this I shall tell thee this thing thou ask'st of and inquire'st:
For that is the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon,
Both a king, a worthy one, and a mighty spear-fighter.
Once brother-in-law to me, bitch as I am, if ever he once was." 180
Thus spake she, and the old man was amazed and cried aloud:
"O, blessed son of Atreus, thou are beloved by Fate and hast drawn a good lot,
For many are at present the sons of the Akhaioi o'er whom thou hast sway!
For yea, far into Phrygia the vine-rich have I traveled,
And there I saw the great host of Phrygians, swift-steeded warriors they, 185
And the people of Otreus and Mygdon, who was equal to the gods,
Who made encampment along the banks of the river Sangarios.
For I also was among their allies and was counted amidst their number,
On that day when the Amazons came, women equal to men.
But not were they so numbered as the youthful, bright-eyed Akhaioi." 190
And again gazing out he saw Odysseus, and then inquired the old man:
"Come, tell me who that is, dear child, who is that man there?"
He is shorter by a head than Agamemnon, Atreus' son,
But lo! wider he is in the shoulders, and see how broad his chest!
Though whilst his gear lieth upon the all-nourishing earth, 195
He himself doth range like an obedient sheepdog through the ranks,
Or like a thick-fleeced ram he seemeth to me to be,
Who strolls through a great flock of white-fleeced ewes."
And him she answered then, Helene, begotten of Zeus:
"Yea this man is the son of Laertes, many-wiled Odysseus, 200
Who was reared in the land of Ithaka, rugged though it may be,
And knoweth he all manner of trickery and intricate wiles."
And to her then did Antenor the wise speak in reply:
"O lady, verily art thou unerring when thou speak'st this word,
For yea, once hither did he come, he godlike Odysseus, 205
On account of thee, a messenger alongside Menelaos, favored by Ares.
Both of them I received and into my great hall I welcomed,
To learn from the both of them their stature and their intricate wiles.
When they mixed among the Trojans gathered there,
While Menelaos towered o'er those about him with his shoulders broad, 210
Yet when down sat the twain, more kingly seemed Odysseus.
When words they had woven and wiles they had spun for all,
Then Menelaos glibly addressed the gathered crowd,
A few words, but very clearly spoken, since not is he long-winded,
Nor an aimless chatterer, though he was younger in years. 215
But when then sprang up many-wiled Odysseus,
He stood there, and kept looking down, his eyes fixed on the earth,
And his scepter he held neither backwards nor forwards,
But un-moving he held it, just like an idiot might --
You would have said he was surly or even out of his mind -- 220
Yet when came his great voice from his breast,
And his words soft like unto wintry snowflakes.
And ne'er then did any mortal man vie with Odysseus,
Nor any longer did we marvel at seeing Odysseus' appearance."
And for a third time gazing out he saw Aias, and then inquired the old man: 225
"But who is this other Akhaian fellow, so noble and so great,
Who standeth taller than the Argeioi by a head and his shoulders broad?"
And to him flowing-robed Helene made answer, she a goddess among women:
"He is Aias, the mighty bulwark of the Akhaioi.
And Idonemeus beside him, a god amidst the Kretes 230
Stands, and about him are gathered the captain of Kretes.
Oft him did my husband, Menelaos favored by Ares, receive him as a guest
In our house whene'er he visited from Krete.
But now I see all the other youthful, bright-eyed Akhaioi,
Whom I might well recognize and recite to thee their names -- 235
Yet twain I am not able to see, the marshalers of men,
Kastor, tamer of horses, and the goodly boxer, Polydeukes,
My very own brothers, both whom my same mother bore.
Either not did the twins follow from lovely Lakedaimon,
Or hither they did follow in their sea-faring ships, 240
But now wish not to enter the battle of the warriors
Fearing the shame and great disgrace I have wrought."
Thus she spoke, but the twins the life-nourishing earth held fast
In Lakedaimon, there in their dear father's land. 245
And then heralds up to the city came bearing the sacrificial oaths,
The two lambs and gladdening wine, the fruit of tillage,
In a goatskin. And a shining krater did the herald Idaios
Carry, and yea goblets made of gold as well.
He roused the old man as he came beside him with these words:
"Rise thou, son of Laomedon, for the best captains of the Trojans, 250
Horse-tamers all, and the bronze-clad Akhaioi,
Summon thee to go down to the plain and make sacrificial oaths.
For Alexandros and Menelaos, he favored by Ares,
Are about to do battle with long spears for the sake of the woman.
For to the winner shall the woman and all her plunder go, 255
And ye others upon sacrifices swear oaths most friendly and binding,
That dwell we here in Troy the clod-filled, while they depart
For horse-pastured Argos, to Akhaia, land of beautiful women."
Thus spake he, and a shudder ran through the old man, yet bid his companions
To yoke his team -- and yea, speedily they obeyed. 260
Then up mounted Priamos, and back he drew the reins,
As Antenor alongside him stepped into the beauteous car.
Then the twain through the Skaian gates drove their horses to the plain.
And when they were come to the Trojans and the Akhaioi,
From the chariot they stepped off and onto the all-nourishing earth, 265
Into the midst of the Troes and the Akhaioi they strode.
And then rose up the lord of men, Agamemnon,
And up rose Odysseus of many wiles. And the illustrious heralds
Brought together the sacrificial oaths of the gods, and the wine in the krater
They mixed, and then o'er the hands of the kings they poured out water. 270
And Atreus' son, drawing forth with his hands the dirk
Which e'er he had beside his sword's great scabbard,
And from the heads of the lambs he cut a lock of hair. And then,
The heralds of the Troes and the Akhaioi divided all amongst the best of them.
And among them Atreus' son held up his great hands and prayed: 275
"O Zeus the Father, Guardian of Ida's mount, most glorious, most great,
O Helios, who observe'st all things and hear'st all things,
And ye, O Rivers, and thou, Gaia, and ye who below the earth
Do punish men who suffer there, men who swore false oaths --
All of ye are witnesses, and guard ye these sacrificial oaths: 280
If Alexandros should indeed slay Menelaos,
And then let him keep Helene and all of her plunder,
And we shall go upon our sea-faring ships.
But should fair-haired Menelaos kill Alexandros,
Then let the Troes give back Helene and her plunder 285
And prizes upon the Argeioi may they repay, whate'er beseemeth,
Such that shall live in on men's minds who live hereafter.
And if to me repayment doth Priamos and Priamos' children
Not wish to deal out when falleth Alexandros,
Then I shall fight on for this blood-stained ransom, 290
Abiding hereafter, 'til I come to the end of the war."
Thus spake he, and the throats of the lambs he cut with pitiless bronze.
And he placed them upon the ground panting
As they gasped for breath, for the bronze stole their life away.
And wine they drew forth from the krater and into the goblets 295
They poured, and yea, they prayed to the gods who live forever.
And thusly spake each of the Akhaioi and the Troes:
"O Zeus, most glorious and most great, and all ye other deathless gods,
Whosoever before the other shall do harm despite the oaths here sworn,
May run their brains upon the ground just as floweth this wine, 300
Their own and their children, and their wives be made slaves to other."
Thus spake they, but not then did Kronos' son grant it to come to pass.
In their midst after this speech then spoke Dardanus' grandson, Priamos:
"Harken unto me, ye Troes, and ye Akhaioi of well-fitting greaves:
Yea, I shall go back now to Ilion the windy, 305
Since not yet shall I suffer to see with mine own eyes
My dear son fighting with Menelaos favored by Ares.
But Zeus knows this, as well as the other deathless gods,
For which of the twain the doom of death hath been ordained."
And then upon his chariot the godlike man set the lambs, 310
Then up mounted the man himself, and back he drew the reins,
As Antenor alongside him stepped into the beauteous car.
So then the twain of them departed and made their way back to Ilion.
And Hektor, son of Priamos, and godlike Odysseus
First measured out a space, and then indeed 315
Lots they took and in a bronze-wrought helmet they shook about,
To see which of the twain would cast his bronze spear first.
And the people prayed, and to the gods held up their hands,
And thusly would one of the Akhaioi and the Troes say:
And the people prayed, and to the gods held up their hands,
And thusly would one of the Akhaioi and the Troes say:
"O Zeus the Father, Guardian of Ida's mount, most glorious, most great, 320
Whichsoever of the two hath worked these ills upon the other's people,
Mayest thou grant that he die and fall down to the house of Haides,
While there be for us oaths most friendly and binding."
Thus they spoke, and stood ready great shining-helmed Hektor,
His head turned away, and the lot of Paris nimbly jumped forth. 325
And so, everyone else then sat down in their lines where each belonged,
And where their hoof-clicking horses and dappled gear were set.
Then, about his shoulders he donned beauteous gear,
He godlike Alexandros, lover of lovely-tressed Helene.
Firstly a pair of greaves he did tie about both his legs, 330
Beautifully-wrought armor, well-fitted with silver ankle-guards.
Next, a corselet about his chest he donned,
The one belonging to his brother, Lykaon, and tied it about himself.
And then about his shoulders went the belt holding his silver-studded sword
Wrought of bronze, and then he picked up his shield, strong and sturdy. 335
And about his mighty head he placed a well-crafted helm
With a crest of horse-hair -- and terribly did it wave from above.
Grasped he a sturdy spear, and fitted he it to the palm of his hand.
Just so did Menelaos, disciple of Ares, don his own armor.
And when they had on either side of the throng strapped on their armor, 340
Into the middle of the Troes and the Akhaioi they strode together,
Glaring terribly. And amazement took hold of those who beheld them,
Both the Troes, tamers of horses, and the Akhaioi who wear well-fitting greaves.
And hard-by the twain stood in the space measured out,
Each brandishing at the other his spears as he blazed in wrath. 345
And first Alexandros cast forth his long-shadowing spear,
Hurling it at the well-balanced shield of Atreus son,
But not did the bronze shatter the shield, but turned aside was the point
In the mighty shield. And then in turn rushed forth with his bronze spear-tip
The son of Atreus, Menelaos, praying to Zeus the father: 350
"O Zeus, grant that I may pay back him who worked evil upon me first,
Alexandros the god-seeming! Break him under my hands,
So that any man who liveth hereafter may shudder in remembrance
And not do evil to a host who hath shown him a friend's kindness!"
So praying, he darted ahead and cast forth his long-shadowing spear, 355
Hurling it at the well-balanced shield of Priamos' son,
And though the shining shield went the mighty spear,
And through the richly-wrought breastplate found its mark,
For straight on alongside the flank did the spear rend his tunic --
But he turned away and thus escaped the dark doom of death. 360
And then the son of Atreus, drawing forth his silver-studded sword,
Raised high up the blade and smote the crest of his helm -- but about him
In three -- nay, even four -- pieces his shattered sword fell from his hand.
And Atreus' son let out a bitter wail with a glance towards wide heaven, and so spake:
"O Zeus the father, none more than thee of the gods art more deadly! 365
I asked that Alexandros pay me back for the foul things he hath done,
But now in mine own hands doth my sword break, and from my palms
My spear hath made a worthless cast, and not did I hit him!"
Into the middle of the Troes and the Akhaioi they strode together,
Glaring terribly. And amazement took hold of those who beheld them,
Both the Troes, tamers of horses, and the Akhaioi who wear well-fitting greaves.
And hard-by the twain stood in the space measured out,
Each brandishing at the other his spears as he blazed in wrath. 345
And first Alexandros cast forth his long-shadowing spear,
Hurling it at the well-balanced shield of Atreus son,
But not did the bronze shatter the shield, but turned aside was the point
In the mighty shield. And then in turn rushed forth with his bronze spear-tip
The son of Atreus, Menelaos, praying to Zeus the father: 350
"O Zeus, grant that I may pay back him who worked evil upon me first,
Alexandros the god-seeming! Break him under my hands,
So that any man who liveth hereafter may shudder in remembrance
And not do evil to a host who hath shown him a friend's kindness!"
So praying, he darted ahead and cast forth his long-shadowing spear, 355
Hurling it at the well-balanced shield of Priamos' son,
And though the shining shield went the mighty spear,
And through the richly-wrought breastplate found its mark,
For straight on alongside the flank did the spear rend his tunic --
But he turned away and thus escaped the dark doom of death. 360
And then the son of Atreus, drawing forth his silver-studded sword,
Raised high up the blade and smote the crest of his helm -- but about him
In three -- nay, even four -- pieces his shattered sword fell from his hand.
And Atreus' son let out a bitter wail with a glance towards wide heaven, and so spake:
"O Zeus the father, none more than thee of the gods art more deadly! 365
I asked that Alexandros pay me back for the foul things he hath done,
But now in mine own hands doth my sword break, and from my palms
My spear hath made a worthless cast, and not did I hit him!"
Thus spake he, and forward he lunged and seized the helm's horse-hair crest,
Turned about, and dragged his foe in tow towards the Akhaioi of well-fitting greaves. 370
Turned about, and dragged his foe in tow towards the Akhaioi of well-fitting greaves. 370
And strangling him was the much-embroidered strap at his throat,
The clasp of the helm which was drawn taut beneath his chin.
And now would he have dragged him way and won unceasing glory,
If not had keenly noticed Zeus' daughter, Aphrodite,
Who then cut in twain the strip, the hide of a slaughtered ox -- 375
The clasp of the helm which was drawn taut beneath his chin.
And now would he have dragged him way and won unceasing glory,
If not had keenly noticed Zeus' daughter, Aphrodite,
Who then cut in twain the strip, the hide of a slaughtered ox -- 375
And empty came away the helm in his mighty hand.
This the hero into the midst of the Akhaioi wearing well-fitting greaves
Whirled about and tossed, and then his trusty companions carried the prize away.
Meanwhile back he himself sprang, longing to slay his foe
With his second bronze spear. But his foe did Aphrodite snatch away, 380
As deftly as a goddess can, and hid him within a hazy mist,
And whisked him away, setting him in his perfumed bedroom.
This the hero into the midst of the Akhaioi wearing well-fitting greaves
Whirled about and tossed, and then his trusty companions carried the prize away.
Meanwhile back he himself sprang, longing to slay his foe
With his second bronze spear. But his foe did Aphrodite snatch away, 380
As deftly as a goddess can, and hid him within a hazy mist,
And whisked him away, setting him in his perfumed bedroom.
And then off she went calling for Helene, and upon her she lighted
In a lofty tower, and around her a throng of Trojan women stood.
And with her hand the goddess tugged at the woman's nektar-smelling robe, 385
And, taking hold of it in the guise of an old woman full of years, she spake,
Appearing as a woman who carded wool in Lakedaimon,
Who combed beautiful wool and was much loved by her:
"Hither come! Alexandros calls for thee to come to his room, 390
And there lieth he in his chamber on his inlaid bedspread,
With beauty he shines radiant in his robes, and not wouldst thou say
That he hath just come from combat with a man, but more rather to a dance
He is about to go, or he is taking his rest after finishing a recent dance!" 395
Thus spake she, and then the heart in the woman's breast she stirred.
And thereupon the woman recognized the very beautiful throat of the goddess,
And her lovely breasts, and her flashing twin eyes,
And in her amazement she spake and called the goddess by name:
"Divine one, why dost thou long to deceive me in such ways?
Willst thou drive me elsewhere, to some further well-dwelt city 400
Of either Phrygia or even of Meionia the lovely,
If there should reside some sweet-talking man dear to thee?
For now hath Menelaos defeated Alexandros the god-seeming,
And wisheth he to homeward take me, his wretched wife.
Is it for this that thou hast come by my side with deceit in thy heart? 405
Go and sit thou thyself beside that loser! Abandon the walks of the gods!
No longer haunt thou Olympos with thy footsteps,
But ever hereafter weep thou o'er him and pamper him thyself.
Either a wife he can make out of thee, or at least a slave.
For my part, there I shall not go. It would be shameful indeed, 410
For me to share his bed again. And the Troian women all
Would find fault with me. And I have unceasing pain in my heart."
And waxing wroth with her, address the woman did the goddess Aphrodite:
"Provoke me not, headstrong girl, lest I grow angry and abandon thee,
And thee I shall hate as deeply as I love thee now! 415
For I shall contrive for thee a baneful enmity amongst both
Troes and Danaoi alike, and thou shalt suffer a terrible end."
Thus spake she, and feared her did Helene, begotten of Zeus;
So off she went, and, clutching fast her radiant and shining robe,
In silence and unseen by Troian women, away the goddess led her. 420
And when they were come to the very lovely chambers of Alexandros,
While the handmaids turned to busy nimbly about their tasks,
The lady went into the high-vaulted bedroom, she a goddess among women.
Then for her a simple seat did laughter-loving Aphrodite take up,
Bear it to face Alexandros, and there the goddess set it.
Upon it sat Helene, the daughter of aigis-bearing Zeus,
Her two eyes turned down, and then she chid her lover:
"Thou hast come from war -- and shouldst have died there on the spot,
Beaten by a mighty man, a man who was once my husband.
Yea verily, beforehand thou wouldst boast that in might and hand and spear
That thou wert better than Menelaos, favored by Ares.
But come now! Cry loud, call out for Menelaos favored by Ares,
To fight him face-to-face anew! But for myself, I do urge thee
To cease at once, and war not against fair-haired Menelaos,
Meet him not face-to-face in battle, nor challenge him to combat
Recklessly, so that thou shalt not be so quickly beaten beneath his spear."
And to her Paris responded with words and spake:
"Upbraid me not, woman, with thy harsh rebukes!
For though Menelaos hath at present defeated me with Athene's aid,
Another time shall I beat him -- for there are gods on our side too.
But come, let us off to bed, to couple together in sweet love!
For ne'er before in such a way hath desire enveloped my mind
Not even when I snatched thee from Lakedaimon the lovely,
And took to the waves in my sea-faring ship,
And on the isle of Kranae I had thee on a bed of pleasure --
Just so do I lust for thee now, and sweet longing takes me."
Thus spake he, and so led the way to the bed, his bedfellow in tow.
So while the twain of them were couched upon the inlaid bedspread,
The son of Atreus went like a wild beast to and fro about the throng,
If he could anywhere find Alexandros the god-seeming.
But none of the Troes nor their renowned allies were able to
Point out Alexandros to Menelaos, who is favored by Ares.
For it was not out of love that any would look to hide him,
As he was hated by all of them, just as they hate dark death.
And in their midst shouted loud the lord of men, Agamemnon:
"Hearken unto me, ye Troes and yea, ye Dardanoi, and their allies:
The victory verily seemeth to rest with Menelaos, favored by Ares,
And so give up now Helene of Argos and her plunder with her,
And recompense all of ye shall repay, whate'er beseemeth,
Such that shall live in on men's minds who live hereafter!"
Thus spake Atreus' son, and yelled in consent the other Akhaioi.
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