Then Menelaus, great In battle, smote the hand of Helenus That held the polished bow; the brazen spear Passed through the hand, and reached the bow, and there Stood fixed, while Helenus, avoiding death, Drew back among his comrades, with his hand Held low, and trailing still the ashen stem. Magnanimous Agenor from the wound Drew forth the blade, and wrapped the hand in wool, Carefully twisted, taken from a sling Carried by an attendant of the chief.
To meet the glorious Menelaus sprang Pisander, led by his unhappy fate To perish, Menelaus! by thy hand In that fierce conflict. When the two were near, Advancing toward each other, Atreus’ son Took aim amiss; his spear flew far aside. Pisander smote the buckler on the arm Of mighty Menelaus, yet drave not The weapon through. The broad shield stopped its force, And broke it at the neck; yet hoped he still For victory, and exulted. Then the son Of Atreus drew his silver-studded sword And sprang upon his foe, who from beneath His buckler took a brazen battle-axe, With a long stem of polished olive-wood. Both struck at once. Pisander hewed away, Below the crest, the plumèd helmet-cone Of Atreus’ son, who smote, above the nose, Pisander’s forehead, crashing through the bones. Both bleeding eyes dropped to the ground amid The dust; he fell; he writhed; the conqueror, Advancing, set his heel upon his breast, And stripped the armor off, and, boasting, said:—
“Thus shall ye leave unharmed the fleet that brought The knights of Greece, ye treaty-breaking sons Of Ilium, never satisfied with war! Yet lack ye not still other guilt and shame— Wrong done to me, ye dogs! Ye have not feared The wrath of Hospitable Jove, who flings The thunder, and will yet destroy your town, With all its towers—ye who, without a cause, Bore off my youthful bride, and heaps of wealth, When she had given you welcome as our guests. And now ye seek to burn with fire the fleet With which we cross the ocean, and to slay The Grecian heroes. Ye shall yet be forced, Eager for battle as ye are, to pause. O Father Jupiter, who hast the praise Of highest wisdom among gods and men! All this is