“Why hast thou, daughter of imperial Jove, Thus left Olympus in thine eager haste? Seek’st thou to turn in favor of the Greeks War’s wavering chances?—for I know too well Thou hast no pity when the men of Troy Are perishing. But, if thou wilt give ear To me, I shall propose a better way. Cause we the conflict for this day to cease, And be it afterward renewed until An end be made of Troy, since it hath pleased You, goddesses, to lay the city waste.”
And blue-eyed Pallas answered: “Be it so, O mighty Archer. With a like intent I left Olympus for this battle-field Of Greeks and Trojans. But by what device Think’st thou to bring the combat to a pause?”
Then spake the king Apollo, son of Jove, In turn to Pallas: “Let us seek to rouse The fiery spirit of the Trojan knight Hector, that he may challenge in the field Some Greek to meet him, singly and alone, In mortal combat. Then the well-armed Greeks, Stung by the bold defiance, will send forth A champion against Priam’s noble son.”
He spake. The blue-eyed goddess gave assent And straightway Helenus, beloved son Of Priam, in his secret mind perceived The purpose of the gods consulting thus, And came and stood by Hector’s side and said:—
“O Hector, son of Priam, and like Jove In council, wilt thou hearken to my words Who am thy brother? Cause the Trojans all And all the Greeks to sit, while thou shall stand Proclaiming challenge to the bravest man Among the Achaians to contend with thee In mortal combat. It is not thy fate To fall and perish yet, for thus have said The ever-living gods, whose voice I heard.”
He spake; and Hector, hearing him, rejoiced, And went between the hosts. He bore his spear, Holding it in the middle, and pressed back The ranks of Trojans, and they all sat down. And Agamemnon caused the well-armed Greeks To sit down also. Meantime Pallas sat, With Phoebus of the silver bow, in shape Like vultures, on the boughs of the tall