Book VII
  
     With these words Hector passed through the gates, and his brother
     Alexandrus with him, both eager for the fray. As when heaven sends a
     breeze to sailors who have long looked for one in vain, and have
     laboured at their oars till they are faint with toil, even so
     welcome was the sight of these two heroes to the Trojans. 
     
     Thereon Alexandrus killed Menesthius the son of Areithous; he lived
     in Ame, and was son of Areithous the Mace-man, and of Phylomedusa.
     Hector threw a spear at Eioneus and struck him dead with a wound in
     the neck under the bronze rim of his helmet. Glaucus, moreover, son
     of Hippolochus, captain of the Lycians, in hard hand-to-hand fight
     smote Iphinous son of Dexius on the shoulder, as he was springing on
     to his chariot behind his fleet mares; so he fell to earth from the
     car, and there was no life left in him. 
     
     When, therefore, Minerva saw these men making havoc of the Argives,
     she darted down to Ilius from the summits of Olympus, and Apollo,
     who was looking on from Pergamus, went out to meet her; for he
     wanted the Trojans to be victorious. The pair met by the oak tree,
     and King Apollo son of Jove was first to speak. "What would you have
     said he, "daughter of great Jove, that your proud spirit has sent
     you hither from Olympus? Have you no pity upon the Trojans, and
     would you incline the scales of victory in favour of the Danaans?
     Let me persuade you- for it will be better thus- stay the combat for
     to-day, but let them renew the fight hereafter till they compass the
     doom of Ilius, since you goddesses have made up your minds to
     destroy the city." 
     
     And Minerva answered, "So be it, Far-Darter; it was in this mind
     that I came down from Olympus to the Trojans and Achaeans. Tell me,
     then, how do you propose to end this present fighting?" 
     
     Apollo, son of Jove, replied, "Let us incite great Hector to
     challenge some one of the Danaans in single combat; on this the
     Achaeans will be shamed into finding a man who will fight him." 
     
     Minerva assented, and Helenus son of Priam divined the counsel of
     the gods; he therefore went up to Hector and said, "Hector son of
     Priam, peer of gods in counsel, I am your brother, let me then
     persuade you. Bid the other Trojans and Achaeans all of them take
     their seats, and challenge the best man among the Achaeans to meet
     you in single combat. I have heard the voice of the ever-living
     gods, and the hour of your doom is not yet come." 
     
     Hector was glad when he heard this saying, and went in among the
     Trojans, grasping his spear by the middle to hold them back, and
     they all sat down. Agamemnon also bade the Achaeans be seated. But
     Minerva and Apollo, in the likeness of vultures, perched on father
     Jove's high oak tree, proud of their men; and the ranks sat close
     ranged together, bristling with shield and helmet and spear. As when
     the rising west wind furs the face of the sea and the waters grow
     dark beneath it, so sat the companies of Trojans and Achaeans upon
     the plain. And Hector spoke thus:- 
     
     "Hear me, Trojans and Achaeans, that I may speak even as I am
     minded; Jove on his high throne has brought our oaths and covenants
     to nothing, and foreshadows ill for both of us, till you either take
     the towers of Troy, or are yourselves vanquished at your ships. The
     princes of the Achaeans are here present in the midst of you; let
     him, then, that will fight me stand forward as your champion against
     Hector. Thus I say, and may Jove be witness between us. If your
     champion slay me, let him strip me of my armour and take it to your
     ships, but let him send my body home that the Trojans and their
     wives may give me my dues of fire when I am dead. In like manner, if
     Apollo vouchsafe me glory and I slay your champion, I will strip him
     of his armour and take it to the city of Ilius, where I will hang it
     in the temple of Apollo, but I will give up his body, that the
     Achaeans may bury him at their ships, and the build him a mound by
     the wide waters of the Hellespont. Then will one say hereafter as he
     sails his ship over the sea, 'This is the monument of one who died
     long since a champion who was slain by mighty Hector.' Thus will one
     say, and my fame shall not be lost." 
     
     Thus did he speak, but they all held their peace, ashamed to decline
     the challenge, yet fearing to accept it, till at last Menelaus rose
     and rebuked them, for he was angry. "Alas," he cried, "vain
     braggarts, women forsooth not men, double-dyed indeed will be the
     stain upon us if no man of the Danaans will now face Hector. May you
     be turned every man of you into earth and water as you sit
     spiritless and inglorious in your places. I will myself go out
     against this man, but the upshot of the fight will be from on high
     in the hands of the immortal gods." 
     
     With these words he put on his armour; and then, O Menelaus, your
     life would have come to an end at the hands of hands of Hector, for
     he was far better the man, had not the princes of the Achaeans
     sprung upon you and checked you. King Agamemnon caught him by the
     right hand and said, "Menelaus, you are mad; a truce to this folly.
     Be patient in spite of passion, do not think of fighting a man so
     much stronger than yourself as Hector son of Priam, who is feared by
     many another as well as you. Even Achilles, who is far more doughty
     than you are, shrank from meeting him in battle. Sit down your own
     people, and the Achaeans will send some other champion to fight
     Hector; fearless and fond of battle though he be, I ween his knees
     will bend gladly under him if he comes out alive from the
     hurly-burly of this fight." 
     
     With these words of reasonable counsel he persuaded his brother,
     whereon his squires gladly stripped the armour from off his
     shoulders. Then Nestor rose and spoke, "Of a truth," said he, "the
     Achaean land is fallen upon evil times. The old knight Peleus,
     counsellor and orator among the Myrmidons, loved when I was in his
     house to question me concerning the race and lineage of all the
     Argives. How would it not grieve him could he hear of them as now
     quailing before Hector? Many a time would he lift his hands in
     prayer that his soul might leave his body and go down within the
     house of Hades. Would, by father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, that I
     were still young and strong as when the Pylians and Arcadians were
     gathered in fight by the rapid river Celadon under the walls of
     Pheia, and round about the waters of the river Iardanus. The godlike
     hero Ereuthalion stood forward as their champion, with the armour of
     King Areithous upon his shoulders- Areithous whom men and women had
     surnamed 'the Mace-man,' because he fought neither with bow nor
     spear, but broke the battalions of the foe with his iron mace.
     Lycurgus killed him, not in fair fight, but by entrapping him in a
     narrow way where his mace served him in no stead; for Lycurgus was
     too quick for him and speared him through the middle, so he fell to
     earth on his back. Lycurgus then spoiled him of the armour which
     Mars had given him, and bore it in battle thenceforward; but when he
     grew old and stayed at home, he gave it to his faithful squire
     Ereuthalion, who in this same armour challenged the foremost men
     among us. The others quaked and quailed, but my high spirit bade me
     fight him though none other would venture; I was the youngest man of
     them all; but when I fought him Minerva vouchsafed me victory. He
     was the biggest and strongest man that ever I killed, and covered
     much ground as he lay sprawling upon the earth. Would that I were
     still young and strong as I then was, for the son of Priam would
     then soon find one who would face him. But you, foremost among the
     whole host though you be, have none of you any stomach for fighting
     Hector." 
     
     Thus did the old man rebuke them, and forthwith nine men started to
     their feet. Foremost of all uprose King Agamemnon, and after him
     brave Diomed the son of Tydeus. Next were the two Ajaxes, men
     clothed in valour as with a garment, and then Idomeneus, and
     Meriones his brother in arms. After these Eurypylus son of Euaemon,
     Thoas the son of Andraemon, and Ulysses also rose. Then Nestor
     knight of Gerene again spoke, saying: "Cast lots among you to see
     who shall be chosen. If he come alive out of this fight he will have
     done good service alike to his own soul and to the Achaeans." 
     
     Thus he spoke, and when each of them had marked his lot, and had
     thrown it into the helmet of Agamemnon son of Atreus, the people
     lifted their hands in prayer, and thus would one of them say as he
     looked into the vault of heaven, "Father Jove, grant that the lot
     fall on Ajax, or on the son of Tydeus, or upon the king of rich
     Mycene himself." 
     
     As they were speaking, Nestor knight of Gerene shook the helmet, and
     from it there fell the very lot which they wanted- the lot of Ajax.
     The herald bore it about and showed it to all the chieftains of the
     Achaeans, going from left to right; but they none of of them owned
     it. When, however, in due course he reached the man who had written
     upon it and had put it into the helmet, brave Ajax held out his
     hand, and the herald gave him the lot. When Ajax saw him mark he
     knew it and was glad; he threw it to the ground and said, "My
     friends, the lot is mine, and I rejoice, for I shall vanquish
     Hector. I will put on my armour; meanwhile, pray to King Jove in
     silence among yourselves that the Trojans may not hear you- or aloud
     if you will, for we fear no man. None shall overcome me, neither by
     force nor cunning, for I was born and bred in Salamis, and can hold
     my own in all things." 
     
     With this they fell praying to King Jove the son of Saturn, and thus
     would one of them say as he looked into the vault of heaven, "Father
     Jove that rulest from Ida, most glorious in power, vouchsafe victory
     to Ajax, and let him win great glory: but if you wish well to Hector
     also and would protect him, grant to each of them equal fame and
     prowess. 
     
     Thus they prayed, and Ajax armed himself in his suit of gleaming
     bronze. When he was in full array he sprang forward as monstrous
     Mars when he takes part among men whom Jove has set fighting with
     one another- even so did huge Ajax, bulwark of the Achaeans, spring
     forward with a grim smile on his face as he brandished his long
     spear and strode onward. The Argives were elated as they beheld him,
     but the Trojans trembled in every limb, and the heart even of Hector
     beat quickly, but he could not now retreat and withdraw into the
     ranks behind him, for he had been the challenger. Ajax came up
     bearing his shield in front of him like a wall- a shield of bronze
     with seven folds of oxhide- the work of Tychius, who lived in Hyle
     and was by far the best worker in leather. He had made it with the
     hides of seven full-fed bulls, and over these he had set an eighth
     layer of bronze. Holding this shield before him, Ajax son of Telamon
     came close up to Hector, and menaced him saying, "Hector, you shall
     now learn, man to man, what kind of champions the Danaans have among
     them even besides lion-hearted Achilles cleaver of the ranks of men.
     He now abides at the ships in anger with Agamemnon shepherd of his
     people, but there are many of us who are well able to face you;
     therefore begin the fight." 
     
     And Hector answered, "Noble Ajax, son of Telamon, captain of the
     host, treat me not as though I were some puny boy or woman that
     cannot fight. I have been long used to the blood and butcheries of
     battle. I am quick to turn my leathern shield either to right or
     left, for this I deem the main thing in battle. I can charge among
     the chariots and horsemen, and in hand to hand fighting can delight
     the heart of Mars; howbeit I would not take such a man as you are
     off his guard- but I will smite you openly if I can." 
     
     He poised his spear as he spoke, and hurled it from him. It struck
     the sevenfold shield in its outermost layer- the eighth, which was
     of bronze- and went through six of the layers but in the seventh
     hide it stayed. Then Ajax threw in his turn, and struck the round
     shield of the son of Priam. The terrible spear went through his
     gleaming shield, and pressed onward through his cuirass of cunning
     workmanship; it pierced the shirt against his side, but he swerved
     and thus saved his life. They then each of them drew out the spear
     from his shield, and fell on one another like savage lions or wild
     boars of great strength and endurance: the son of Priam struck the
     middle of Ajax's shield, but the bronze did not break, and the point
     of his dart was turned. Ajax then sprang forward and pierced the
     shield of Hector; the spear went through it and staggered him as he
     was springing forward to attack; it gashed his neck and the blood
     came pouring from the wound, but even so Hector did not cease
     fighting; he gave ground, and with his brawny hand seized a stone,
     rugged and huge, that was lying upon the plain; with this he struck
     the shield of Ajax on the boss that was in its middle, so that the
     bronze rang again. But Ajax in turn caught up a far larger stone,
     swung it aloft, and hurled it with prodigious force. This millstone
     of a rock broke Hector's shield inwards and threw him down on his
     back with the shield crushing him under it, but Apollo raised him at
     once. Thereon they would have hacked at one another in close combat
     with their swords, had not heralds, messengers of gods and men, come
     forward, one from the Trojans and the other from the Achaeans-
     Talthybius and Idaeus both of them honourable men; these parted them
     with their staves, and the good herald Idaeus said, "My sons, fight
     no longer, you are both of you valiant, and both are dear to Jove;
     we know this; but night is now falling, and the behests of night may
     not be well gainsaid." 
     
     Ajax son of Telamon answered, "Idaeus, bid Hector say so, for it was
     he that challenged our princes. Let him speak first and I will
     accept his saying." 
     
     Then Hector said, "Ajax, heaven has vouchsafed you stature and
     strength, and judgement; and in wielding the spear you excel all
     others of the Achaeans. Let us for this day cease fighting;
     hereafter we will fight anew till heaven decide between us, and give
     victory to one or to the other; night is now falling, and the
     behests of night may not be well gainsaid. Gladden, then, the hearts
     of the Achaeans at your ships, and more especially those of your own
     followers and clansmen, while I, in the great city of King Priam,
     bring comfort to the Trojans and their women, who vie with one
     another in their prayers on my behalf. Let us, moreover, exchange
     presents that it may be said among the Achaeans and Trojans, 'They
     fought with might and main, but were reconciled and parted in
     friendship.' 
     
     On this he gave Ajax a silver-studded sword with its sheath and
     leathern baldric, and in return Ajax gave him a girdle dyed with
     purple. Thus they parted, the one going to the host of the Achaeans,
     and the other to that of the Trojans, who rejoiced when they saw
     their hero come to them safe and unharmed from the strong hands of
     mighty Ajax. They led him, therefore, to the city as one that had
     been saved beyond their hopes. On the other side the Achaeans
     brought Ajax elated with victory to Agamemnon. 
     
     When they reached the quarters of the son of Atreus, Agamemnon
     sacrificed for them a five-year-old bull in honour of Jove the son
     of Saturn. They flayed the carcass, made it ready, and divided it
     into joints; these they cut carefully up into smaller pieces,
     putting them on the spits, roasting them sufficiently, and then
     drawing them off. When they had done all this and had prepared the
     feast, they ate it, and every man had his full and equal share, so
     that all were satisfied, and King Agamemnon gave Ajax some slices
     cut lengthways down the loin, as a mark of special honour. As soon
     as they had had enough to cat and drink, old Nestor whose counsel
     was ever truest began to speak; with all sincerity and goodwill,
     therefore, he addressed them thus:- 
     
     "Son of Atreus, and other chieftains, inasmuch as many of the
     Achaeans are now dead, whose blood Mars has shed by the banks of the
     Scamander, and their souls have gone down to the house of Hades, it
     will be well when morning comes that we should cease fighting; we
     will then wheel our dead together with oxen and mules and burn them
     not far from the ships, that when we sail hence we may take the
     bones of our comrades home to their children. Hard by the funeral
     pyre we will build a barrow that shall be raised from the plain for
     all in common; near this let us set about building a high wall, to
     shelter ourselves and our ships, and let it have well-made gates
     that there may be a way through them for our chariots. Close outside
     we will dig a deep trench all round it to keep off both horse and
     foot, that the Trojan chieftains may not bear hard upon us." 
     
     Thus he spoke, and the princess shouted in applause. Meanwhile the
     Trojans held a council, angry and full of discord, on the acropolis
     by the gates of King Priam's palace; and wise Antenor spoke. "Hear
     me he said, "Trojans, Dardanians, and allies, that I may speak even
     as I am minded. Let us give up Argive Helen and her wealth to the
     sons of Atreus, for we are now fighting in violation of our solemn
     covenants, and shall not prosper till we have done as I say." 
     
     He then sat down and Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen rose to
     speak. "Antenor," said he, "your words are not to my liking; you can
     find a better saying than this if you will; if, however, you have
     spoken in good earnest, then indeed has heaven robbed you of your
     reason. I will speak plainly, and hereby notify to the Trojans that
     I will not give up the woman; but the wealth that I brought home
     with her from Argos I will restore, and will add yet further of my
     own." 
     
     On this, when Paris had spoken and taken his seat, Priam of the race
     of Dardanus, peer of gods in council, rose and with all sincerity
     and goodwill addressed them thus: "Hear me, Trojans, Dardanians, and
     allies, that I may speak even as I am minded. Get your suppers now
     as hitherto throughout the city, but keep your watches and be
     wakeful. At daybreak let Idaeus go to the ships, and tell Agamemnon
     and Menelaus sons of Atreus the saying of Alexandrus through whom
     this quarrel has come about; and let him also be instant with them
     that they now cease fighting till we burn our dead; hereafter we
     will fight anew, till heaven decide between us and give victory to
     one or to the other." 
     
     Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. They took
     supper in their companies and at daybreak Idaeus went his wa to the
     ships. He found the Danaans, servants of Mars, in council at the
     stern of Agamemnon's ship, and took his place in the midst of them.
     "Son of Atreus," he said, "and princes of the Achaean host, Priam
     and the other noble Trojans have sent me to tell you the saying of
     Alexandrus through whom this quarrel has come about, if so be that
     you may find it acceptable. All the treasure he took with him in his
     ships to Troy- would that he had sooner perished- he will restore,
     and will add yet further of his own, but he will not give up the
     wedded wife of Menelaus, though the Trojans would have him do so.
     Priam bade me inquire further if you will cease fighting till we
     burn our dead; hereafter we will fight anew, till heaven decide
     between us and give victory to one or to the other." 
     
     They all held their peace, but presently Diomed of the loud war-cry
     spoke, saying, "Let there be no taking, neither treasure, nor yet
     Helen, for even a child may see that the doom of the Trojans is at
     hand." 
     
     The sons of the Achaeans shouted applause at the words that Diomed
     had spoken, and thereon King Agamemnon said to Idaeus, "Idaeus, you
     have heard the answer the Achaeans make you-and I with them. But as
     concerning the dead, I give you leave to burn them, for when men are
     once dead there should be no grudging them the rites of fire. Let
     Jove the mighty husband of Juno be witness to this covenant." 
     
     As he spoke he upheld his sceptre in the sight of all the gods, and
     Idaeus went back to the strong city of Ilius. The Trojans and
     Dardanians were gathered in council waiting his return; when he
     came, he stood in their midst and delivered his message. As soon as
     they heard it they set about their twofold labour, some to gather
     the corpses, and others to bring in wood. The Argives on their part
     also hastened from their ships, some to gather the corpses, and
     others to bring in wood. 
     
     The sun was beginning to beat upon the fields, fresh risen into the
     vault of heaven from the slow still currents of deep Oceanus, when
     the two armies met. They could hardly recognise their dead, but they
     washed the clotted gore from off them, shed tears over them, and
     lifted them upon their waggons. Priam had forbidden the Trojans to
     wail aloud, so they heaped their dead sadly and silently upon the
     pyre, and having burned them went back to the city of Ilius. The
     Achaeans in like manner heaped their dead sadly and silently on the
     pyre, and having burned them went back to their ships. 
     
     Now in the twilight when it was not yet dawn, chosen bands of the
     Achaeans were gathered round the pyre and built one barrow that was
     raised in common for all, and hard by this they built a high wall to
     shelter themselves and their ships; they gave it strong gates that
     there might be a way through them for their chariots, and close
     outside it they dug a trench deep and wide, and they planted it
     within with stakes. 
     
     Thus did the Achaeans toil, and the gods, seated by the side of Jove
     the lord of lightning, marvelled at their great work; but Neptune,
     lord of the earthquake, spoke, saying, "Father Jove, what mortal in
     the whole world will again take the gods into his counsel? See you
     not how the Achaeans have built a wall about their ships and driven
     a trench all round it, without offering hecatombs to the gods? The
     The fame of this wall will reach as far as dawn itself, and men will
     no longer think anything of the one which Phoebus Apollo and myself
     built with so much labour for Laomedon." 
     
     Jove was displeased and answered, "What, O shaker of the earth, are
     you talking about? A god less powerful than yourself might be
     alarmed at what they are doing, but your fame reaches as far as dawn
     itself. Surely when the Achaeans have gone home with their ships,
     you can shatter their wall and Ring it into the sea; you can cover
     the beach with sand again, and the great wall of the Achaeans will
     then be utterly effaced." 
     
     Thus did they converse, and by sunset the work of the Achaeans was
     completed; they then slaughtered oxen at their tents and got their
     supper. Many ships had come with wine from Lemnos, sent by Euneus
     the son of Jason, born to him by Hypsipyle. The son of Jason
     freighted them with ten thousand measures of wine, which he sent
     specially to the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus. From this
     supply the Achaeans bought their wine, some with bronze, some with
     iron, some with hides, some with whole heifers, and some again with
     captives. They spread a goodly banquet and feasted the whole night
     through, as also did the Trojans and their allies in the city. But
     all the time Jove boded them ill and roared with his portentous
     thunder. Pale fear got hold upon them, and they spilled the wine
     from their cups on to the ground, nor did any dare drink till he had
     made offerings to the most mighty son of Saturn. Then they laid
     themselves down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep.