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earth。
The Paphlagonians were manded by stout…hearted Pylaemanes from
Enetae； where the mules run wild in herds。 These were they that
held Cytorus and the country round Sesamus； with the cities by
the river Parthenius； Cromna； Aegialus； and lofty Erithini。
Odius and Epistrophus were captains over the Halizoni from
distant Alybe； where there are mines of silver。
Chromis； and Ennomus the augur； led the Mysians； but his skill in
augury availed not to save him from destruction； for he fell by
the hand of the fleet descendant of Aeacus in the river； where he
slew others also of the Trojans。
Phorcys； again； and noble Ascanius led the Phrygians from the far
country of Ascania； and both were eager for the fray。
Mesthles and Antiphus manded the Meonians； sons of Talaemenes；
born to him of the Gygaean lake。 These led the Meonians； who
dwelt under Mt。 Tmolus。
Nastes led the Carians； men of a strange speech。 These held
Miletus and the wooded mountain of Phthires； with the water of
the river Maeander and the lofty crests of Mt。 Mycale。 These were
manded by Nastes and Amphimachus； the brave sons of Nomion。 He
came into the fight with gold about him； like a girl； fool that
he was； his gold was of no avail to save him； for he fell in the
river by the hand of the fleet descendant of Aeacus； and Achilles
bore away his gold。
Sarpedon and Glaucus led the Lycians from their distant land； by
the eddying waters of the Xanthus。
BOOK III
Alexandria； also called Paris； challenges MenelausHelen and
Priam view the Achaeans from the wallThe covenantParis
and Menelaus fight； and Paris is worstedVenus carries him
off to save himScene between him and Helen。
When the panies were thus arrayed； each under its own captain；
the Trojans advanced as a flight of wild fowl or cranes that
scream overhead when rain and winter drive them over the flowing
waters of Oceanus to bring death and destruction on the Pygmies；
and they wrangle in the air as they fly； but the Achaeans marched
silently； in high heart； and minded to stand by one another。
As when the south wind spreads a curtain of mist upon the
mountain tops； bad for shepherds but better than night for
thieves； and a man can see no further than he can throw a stone；
even so rose the dust from under their feet as they made all
speed over the plain。
When they were close up with one another； Alexandrus came forward
as champion on the Trojan side。 On his shoulders he bore the skin
of a panther； his bow； and his sword； and he brandished two
spears shod with bronze as a challenge to the bravest of the
Achaeans to meet him in single fight。 Menelaus saw him thus
stride out before the ranks； and was glad as a hungry lion that
lights on the carcase of some goat or horned stag； and devours it
there and then； though dogs and youths set upon him。 Even thus
was Menelaus glad when his eyes caught sight of Alexandrus； for
he deemed that now he should be revenged。 He sprang； therefore；
from his chariot； clad in his suit of armour。
Alexandrus quailed as he saw Menelaus e forward； and shrank in
fear of his life under cover of his men。 As one who starts back
affrighted； trembling and pale； when he es suddenly upon a
serpent in some mountain glade； even so did Alexandrus plunge
into the throng of Trojan warriors； terror…stricken at the sight
of the son of Atreus。
Then Hector upbraided him。 〃Paris；〃 said he； 〃evil…hearted Paris；
fair to see； but woman…mad； and false of tongue； would that you
had never been born； or that you had died unwed。 Better so； than
live to be disgraced and looked askance at。 Will not the Achaeans
mock at us and say that we have sent one to champion us who is
fair to see but who has neither wit nor courage？ Did you not；
such as you are； get your following together and sail beyond the
seas？ Did you not from your a far country carry off a lovely
woman wedded among a people of warriorsto bring sorrow upon
your father； your city； and your whole country； but joy to your
enemies； and hang…dog shamefacedness to yourself？ And now can you
not dare face Menelaus and learn what manner of man he is whose
wife you have stolen？ Where indeed would be your lyre and your
love…tricks； your ely locks and your fair favour； when you
were lying in the dust before him？ The Trojans are a weak…kneed
people； or ere this you would have had a shirt of stones for the
wrongs you have done them。〃
And Alexandrus answered； 〃Hector； your rebuke is just。 You are
hard as the axe which a shipwright wields at his work； and
cleaves the timber to his liking。 As the axe in his hand； so keen
is the edge of your scorn。 Still； taunt me not with the gifts
that golden Venus has given me； they are precious； let not a man
disdain them； for the gods give them where they are minded； and
none can have them for the asking。 If you would have me do battle
with Menelaus； bid the Trojans and Achaeans take their seats；
while he and I fight in their midst for Helen and all her wealth。
Let him who shall be victorious and prove to be the better man
take the woman and all she has； to bear them to his home； but let
the rest swear to a solemn covenant of peace whereby you Trojans
shall stay here in Troy； while the others go home to Argos and
the land of the Achaeans。〃
When Hector heard this he was glad； and went about among the
Trojan ranks holding his spear by the middle to keep them back；
and they all sat down at his bidding： but the Achaeans still
aimed at him with stones and arrows； till Agamemnon shouted to
them saying； 〃Hold； Argives； shoot not； sons of the Achaeans；
Hector desires to speak。〃
They ceased taking aim and were still； whereon Hector spoke。
〃Hear from my mouth；〃 said he； 〃Trojans and Achaeans； the saying
of Alexandrus； through whom this quarrel has e about。 He bids
the Trojans and Achaeans lay their armour upon the ground； while
he and Menelaus fight in the midst of you for Helen and all her
wealth。 Let him who shall be victorious and prove to be the
better man take the woman and all she has； to bear them to his
own home； but let the rest swear to a solemn covenant of peace。〃
Thus he spoke； and they all held their peace； till Menelaus of
the loud battle…cry addressed them。 〃And now；〃 he said； 〃hear me
too； for it is I who am the most aggrieved。 I deem that the
parting of Achaeans and Trojans is at hand； as well it may be；
seeing how much have suffered for my quarrel with Alexandrus and
the wrong he did me。 Let him who shall die； die； and let the
others fight no more。 Bring； then； two lambs； a white ram and a
black ewe； for Earth and Sun； and we will bring a third for Jove。
Moreover； you shall bid Priam e； that he may swear to the
covenant himself； for his sons are high…handed and ill to trust；
and the oaths of Jove must not be transgressed or taken in vain。
Young men's minds are light as air； but when an old man es he
looks before and after； deeming that which shall be fairest upon
both sides。〃
The Trojans and Achaeans were glad when they heard this； for they
thought that they should now have rest。 They backed their
chariots toward the ranks； got out of them； and put off their
armour； laying it down upon the ground； and the hosts were near
to one another with a little space between them。 Hector sent two
messengers to the city to bring the lambs and to bid Priam e；
while Agamemnon told Talthybius to fetch the other lamb from the
ships； and he did as Agamemnon had said。
Meanwhile Iris went to Helen in the form of her sister…in…law；
wife of the son of Antenor； for Helicaon； son of Antenor； had
married Laodice； the fairest of Priam's daughters。 She found her
in her own room； working at a great web of purple linen； on which
she was embroidering the battles between Trojans and Achaeans；
that Mars had made them fight for her sake。 Iris then came close
up to her and said； 〃e hither； child； and see the strange
doings of the Trojans and Achaeans。 Till now they have been
warring upon the plain； mad with lust of battle； but now they
have left off fighting； and are leaning upon their shields；
sitting still with their spears planted beside them。 Alexandrus
and Menelaus are going to fight about