cuts right through, Doubling the wielder’s force. Such tameless heart Dwells in thy bosom. Yet reproach me not With the fair gifts which golden Venus gave. Whatever in their grace the gods bestow Is not to be rejected: ’tis not ours To choose what they shall give us. But if thou Desirest to behold my prowess shown In combat, cause the Trojans and the Greeks To pause from battle, while, between the hosts, as I and the warlike Menelaus strive In single fight for Helen and her wealth. Whoever shall prevail and prove himself The better warrior, let him take with him The treasure and the woman, and depart; While all the other Trojans, having made A faithful league of amity, shall dwell On Ilium’s fertile plain, and all the Greeks Return to Argos, famed for noble steeds, And to Achaia, famed for lovely dames.”
He spake, and Hector, hearing him, rejoiced, And went between the hosts, and with his spear, Held by the middle, pressed the phalanxes Of Trojans back, and made them all sit down. The long-haired Greeks meanwhile, with bended bows, Took aim against him, just about to send Arrows and stones; but Agamemnon, king Of men, beheld, and thus he cried aloud:—
“Restrain yourselves, ye Argives; let not fly Your arrows, ye Achaians; Hector asks— He of the beamy helmet asks to speak.”
He spake, and they refrained, and all, at once, Were silent. Hector then stood forth and said:—
“Hearken, ye Trojans and ye nobly-armed Achaians, to what Paris says by me. He bids the Trojans and the Greeks lay down Their shining arms upon the teeming earth, And he and Menelaus, loved of Mars, Will strive in single combat, on the ground Between the hosts, for Helen and her wealth; And he who shall o’ercome, and prove himself The better warrior, to his home shall bear The treasure and the woman, while the rest Shall frame a solemn covenant of peace.”