Toss it with ease, so light Saturnian Jove
Made it to him! For, as a shepherd brings
In one hand joyfully a ram's rich fleece,
And feels but small the weight, so Hector bore
That rock enormous toward the lofty gates,
Strong-framed, with double valves, of panels thick,
Compact and firm; two iron bars within,
Transverse, secured them, fastened by a bolt.
He near them took his stand, with legs astride,
That not in vain that weapon should be thrown;
Then smote them in the midst with all his strength,
And broke both hinges. Thundering on, the stone,
With force overwhelming, fell within the wall.
Loud rang the yielding gates, asunder riven,
Nor could the bars retain them; flew the planks
In splintered fragments, scattered every way.
Into the pass illustrious Hector leaped;
Gloomy as night, with aspect stern and dread.
Arrayed in brazen panoply, he shone
Terrific; in his hands two javelins keen.
And surely no one could have checked him then,
Except the gods, when through those gates he sprang!
His eyes, tremendous, flashed with living fire;
And, turning to his host, he called them all
To pass the barrier. They that call obeyed.
Some clambered o'er the wall, while others through
The portals poured; and terror-struck, the Greeks
Fled to their hollow ships. Confusion dire,
And uproar wild and horrible ensued.
[From the Trojan towers, the battlefield is viewed by Priam and Helen.]
OW when the troops together with their captains
Were marshaled straight on either side in place,
The Trojans marched with screams and cries like birds,
But the Achaians-they, forsooth, in silence
Marched, breathing battle-rage, at heart full fain
To stand each one by other in the fray.
A cloud of dust raised up beneath the feet
Of them, as on they marched; and 'thwart the plain
Right swift they made their way. And when the hosts
Thus marching each against other now were near,
A champion on the Trojan side in front,
Came godlike Alexander; on his shoulder
A leopard-skin he wore, and crooked bow
And arrows, and a sword; and brandishing
Two brass-tipped spears, he challenged, face to face,
Any the best of the Argives, in grim battle
To fight against him. Soon as Menelaus
Noted him so striding big, right glad he was;
Straightway to the ground from off his chariot,
He leapt with all his armour on. Soon, howe'er,
As godlike Alexander noted him
Forth shining 'mongst the foremost, his dear heart
Was terror-stricken, and back again he shrank
Into his comrades' troop-so escaping death.
But Hector eyed him, and with words of shame
Rated him thus: "Wouldst thou, unlucky Paris,
Wouldst thou 'dst been unborn, or died unwedded!
Chuckling aloud are the Argives at thinking
How 'tis a champion prince! for that thou hast
A comely form about thee; but at heart
Is no strength nor any kind of courage!
Such, then, as this wast thou and didst gather
Right trusty mates, and in seafaring ships
Didst sail the deep, and mingle with foreigners,
And carry off from yonder far-away land
The shapely woman, Helen, the wedded fair
Allied by marriage to the warrior-chiefs.
Durst thou not stand and bide yon warrior,
Ares-loved Menelaus? To thy cost
Soon shouldst thou know, what manner of man is
He whose blooming wife thou'rt holding in possession.
Avail thee not, should all thy skill in harping;
Thy gifts of Aphrodite—when in dust were mingled.
Cowards, arrant cowards, are we Trojans."
Then answered him godlike Alexander:
"Hector! now sure thou chidest me with fitness,
And not o'erstepping fitness; for in thy breast
Undaunted is thy heart. Bring not against me
The lovely gifts of golden Aphrodite.
But if one thou wish to battle and fight,
Make all the rest sit down; then together
Put me and Menelaus, lord of Arro,
To fight for Helen and all her havings,
And whichsoever shall subdue the master,
Let him take all she has, and the woman,
And carry with him home; so ye may all
Make friendly peace, and dwell in Troy's fat land."
Right glad was Hector now; and before the lines
Midway he went, grasping a spear by its middle.
And the Argive host was made to sit. Anon
At him the long-haired Argives bent their bows,
But Agamemnon, he, the king of men,
Cries out aloud: "Hold! for some weighty words,
Does Hector of the glancing helm stand forth."
He spake, whereat all silent they became ;
And Hector thus outspoke betwixt both lines:
"Hear the speech of Alexander, Paris-
He asks all to lay aside their harness,
And that himself and your chief, Menelaus,
Should fight in single combat in the midst,
They alone, for Helen and all her havings."
Spake Menelaus bold in shout of battle:
"Now hear ye me! Now for parting issue
For this my quarrel am I minded.
Then fetch ye lambs, one white, a male, and one
A female, black; for Zeus we fetch a male.
Bring his mightiness, King Priam, that he
With solemn sacrifice may make the treaty."
And both Trojans and Achaians were glad
At the hope of an end of dreary war.
Hector despatched two heralds with all speed
To fetch the lambs, and call at once King Priam.
Iris came to white-robed Helen and said:
"Hither, dear bride, come hither and see the doings Wondrous of the Trojans and the Argives.
But now with lengthy spears to fight for thee
Are Alexander and the friend of Ares,
Prince Menelaus; and whiche'er shall beat,
His beloved consort shalt thou then be called."
Covering herself with a fine white linen veil,
As she let fall a tender tear, she hastened
From forth her chamber; then came to Priam.
Also were sitting at the Scaian gates.
The Elders of the people, both sage men.
Priam, meanwhile, aloud called Helen to him:
"Hither, dear child! by me now come and sit,
Whence mayest thou see thy former lord and friends."
Anon, the heralds through the town to Priam came,
Before the old King stopped, and aroused him.
The old man shuddered, and bade his comrades yoke his horses; Arrived, he cut the gullets of the lambs and laid them down.
Then drew they wine from forth the mixing bowl
Into the cups, and forthwith prayed the gods.
Then Hector, son of Priam, and Prince Odysseus
Measured out first the ground, and then took lots.
And shook them in a dog-skin, brass-fitted,
To learn which first should fling his brazen javelin.
The mighty Hector of the glancing helm,
Looking behind him cast the lots; and quickly
Forth leapt the lot of Paris. Then in the lines
They sat, each man beside his prancing horse.
Prince Alexander, fair-tressed Helen's lord,
Put on his goodly harness thwart his comely greaves,
Fitted with silver clasps above his ankles;
Next then about his chest he donned the corselet;
He slung his brazen silver-studded sword;
And then his buckler, strong at once and ample;
And on his mighty head he set his helm,
Fair wrought, bedecked with horse tail, and the crest
Down from the top thereof all grimly nodded;
Then his brave spear, that fitted well his grasp,
He took in hand. So, likewise, did the warrior,
Prince Menelaus, also don his harness.
Now when from forth each host they thus were armed,
Looking all grim, they strode in battle array,
In the midst 'twixt Trojans and fair-greaved Achaians,
Each bearing grudge at other, stood they twain,
And poised their spears, and moved them to and fro.
Now Alexander first launched his long spear,
And smote upon Atrides' gallant buckler,
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