Chapter 18 18

According to Nestor's advice, the Greeks were all organized into families and tribes and prepared for battle.At this time, smoke and dust rose from behind the walls of the Trojans, and it turned out that they had begun to advance.The Greeks also pushed forward.The two armies approached and were about to start a battle.At this time, Prince Paris jumped out from the Trojan team.Wearing a colorful leopard-skin battle robe, with a strong bow on his shoulders, a sword by his side, and two spears in his hands, he shouted loudly to challenge the bravest of the Greeks alone.When Menelaus saw him, he was as excited as a hungry lion discovers a gazelle and a doe.He was fully armed, jumped out of the chariot, and rushed over to deal with the thief who had robbed his wife.

Seeing his opponent's murderous aura, Paris felt timid and retreated involuntarily.Seeing him shrinking back, Hector cried out angrily: "Brother, don't you have the appearance of a hero, but you are as cowardly as a woman in your heart? Don't you see how the Greeks laugh at you?You have nothing but the ability to abduct women.For a person like you, even if you are injured and lying on the ground struggling, rolling, and your hair is covered with dirt and dust, I will not sympathize with you. " Paris replied: "Hector, you are of great courage and determination. You are not unreasonable in blaming me. But you should not laugh at my beauty, because it is given by the gods. If you want me to fight , then all the Trojans and Greeks lay down their arms. I am willing to fight Menelaus alone for Helen and her wealth. Whoever wins will go back with Helen and her treasure. However, we must order a treaty. Then you may cultivate the land of the Trojans in peace, and the Greeks may sail back to Argos."

Hector was surprised to hear his brother's words, and jumped joyfully from the ranks to the front, blocking the advance of the Trojans.When the Greeks saw him, they threw stones, arrows, and darts at him.Agamemnon hurriedly shouted to the Greek soldiers: "Soldiers of Argos, stop! Hector wants to tell us something!" The Greek stopped shooting and waited quietly. Hector loudly announces his brother Paris' proposal.After hearing his words, the Greek was silent.Finally, Menelaus said: "Listen to me! I hope that the Argives and the Trojans will finally be reconciled. This strife was started by Paris. We have suffered a lot on both sides. I Fight to the death with the decision that he must obey the gods of fate. The rest of the soldiers, whether Greeks or Trojans, may go back in peace. Let us sacrifice, and swear, and begin this inevitable duel!"

The soldiers on both sides were very happy to hear this.They want to end this unfortunate war.The drivers on both sides reined in their horses, and the heroes jumped out, took off their armor, and put them on the ground.Hector sent two messengers back to Troy to fetch the sacrificed sheep, and at the same time asked King Priam to come to the battlefield.King Agamemnon also sent an envoy Taltypios back to the ship to bring a live sheep.Iris, the messenger of the gods, became Laodick, the daughter of King Priam, and rushed to Troy immediately to tell Helen the news.Helen was weaving a gorgeous purple robe in front of the loom.The pattern above shows the scene of the battle between the Trojans and the Greeks. "Come out, come out," Iris called to her, "and you will see a wonderful thing! The Trojans and the Greeks, who were at odds with each other just now, have stopped fighting. Leaning on their shields, they held their spears Put it on the ground, the war is over. Only your two husbands, Paris and Menelaus, will fight, and whoever wins will take you back!"

As the goddess spoke, Helen couldn't help but feel nostalgic for her hometown, her former husband Menelaus and her other friends.She immediately put on a silver-white veil to cover her tearful eyes, and brought her maids Etra and Clymene to the central city gate.King Priam sat behind the battlements with several venerable Trojans.They were too old to fight in person, but their opinions at state councils carried weight.Seeing Helen approaching, the old people were immediately overwhelmed by her beauty, and whispered to each other: "No wonder the Greeks and Trojans have been fighting for this woman for many years. She looks like an immortal goddess! However, no matter how much she Beautiful, let her return to the ship of the Dane'a, so that our children and grandchildren will not be harmed by her again."

Priam greets Helen kindly. "Come here," he said, "my dear daughter, come sit beside me! I will show your first husband, your relatives and friends, and let them know how much you feel about this suffering. There is no responsibility for this war. The gods have wrought it upon us. Now tell me, who is that majestic man? He is tall and strong, and I have never seen such a mighty king." Helen replied respectfully: "Dear father, looking back on the past, I would really like to suffer a tragic death. I left my hometown, my daughter and friends, and came here with your son. Thinking of this, I really want to drown in tears!" But now you ask me this question, well, the man you want to know is Agamemnon, noble king, brave warrior, who used to be my brother-in-law."

The old king asked again: "Who is that man over there? He is not as tall as Atreus' son, but he is born with a strong back." "This is the son of Laertes," replied Helen, "the cunning Odysseus. His homeland is in Ita, an island full of strange rocks." Hearing the answer, Antenor couldn't help saying: "Princess, you are right. I know him and Menelaus. They have been to my house as peace envoys, and I have received them. The two of them When people stand together, Menelaus is taller than Odysseus, but when sitting, Odysseus appears more majestic. Menelaus rarely speaks, but what he says is very weighty and full of wisdom But when Odysseus spoke, his eyes were on the ground, he was leaning on a cane in his hand, and he looked very disturbed. It was hard to guess whether he was stiff or stupid. If he insisted on one thing, then he spoke like a bell , eloquent, no one is better at eloquence than him."

Priam looked further afield. "Who is that giant over there?" he asked aloud. and near him, standing like a god in the ranks of the Cretans, is Idomeneus. I know him, whom Menelaus used to invite to his palace. I know nearly every hero If time permits, I can name them one by one. But why don't I see my brothers Castor and Polydeuces? Didn't they come? Or are they ashamed of their sisters? , you don’t want to appear on the battlefield?” Having said this, Helen became pensive and then fell silent.She didn't know that her two older brothers were long gone. At this time, two messengers came out of the city carrying the sacrifices.It was two sheep and a sheepskin bag of fine wine for the sacrifice.The third messenger, Iteus, followed with a gleaming jug and cup.They came to the central gate, and Iteus went up to Priam and said to him, "Stand up, king, lord of the Trojans and Greeks, and you are invited to go to the battlefield and swear a sacred treaty." .Paris and Menelaus decided to fight alone. Whoever wins can take Helen and her property back. The Daneans will withdraw their troops and return home, and we can cultivate the land of Troy peacefully.”

The king was surprised, but ordered the chariot to be harnessed for him anyway.Antenor got into the chariot with him.Priam himself took the reins, and they drove out of the city gates to the front of the two armies.The king dismounted from his chariot and led his retinue between the two armies.Agamemnon and Odysseus also came over immediately.The envoys carried the sacrifices, mixed wine in golden bowls, and sprinkled holy water on the two kings.The son of Atreus drew the sword from the scabbard on his body, cut the wool from the forehead of the sheep according to the usual sacrifice, and asked Zeus, the father of all gods, to bear witness to the covenant.Then he killed four sheep and put the sacrifices on the ground.While praying, the messengers poured fine wine from golden cups as offerings on the ground, chanting: "Zeus and all the immortal gods, please learn from me:

If any one of us breaks his oath, then his blood, the blood of his sons will be shed on the ground like wine from a cup! " After the oath was finished, Priam said: "Trojans and Greeks, I will return to the acropolis of Iliam, because I cannot watch my son fight Menelaus here. Only Zeus knows who will win and who will lose among them." The king ordered the messenger to load the sacrificial sheep onto the chariot, and then got into the chariot with his followers and drove towards the city. After the king had left, Hector and Odysseus began measuring the distance of the duel and drawing lots to decide which side would throw their spears at the other first.The sign with the name written on it was placed in the helmet, and Hector shook the helmet, and the sign with the name of Paris jumped out first.

Armed with armor, the two heroes strode out onto the arena, spears in hand.According to the result of the draw, Paris threw the spear first.He hurled his spear so hard that the point hit Menelaus' shield like a hook. When it was Menelaus' turn, he raised his spear and prayed loudly: "Zeus, in order that the world will never dare to repay kindness with kindness, please allow me to punish those who insult me!" Then he threw his spear , the point of the spear pierced Paris's shield, pierced his armor, and pierced his doublet.Heneraus drew his sword, took a step forward, and slashed at the opponent's helmet.With a bang, the sword broke in two. "Cruel Zeus, why don't you let me win?" Menelaus shouted and rushed towards the enemy. He seized Paris by the helmet, dragged him, turned and ran towards the Greek position.If the goddess Aphrodite had not come to help and secretly cut the belt, Paris would have been strangled to death by Menelaus.As a result, Menelaus only grabbed an empty helmet.He tossed his helmet aside, and was about to lunge at the opponent again.Aphrodite sent down a thick fog over Paris and brought him back to Troy.She herself turned into an old Spartan maid and approached Helen.Helen was sitting in the tower of the city wall with a group of Trojan women. Aphrodite pulled her skirt and said to her: "Come here, Paris calls you to go. He is dressed for a banquet and is in the palace Waiting for you in the room. He looks as if he went to a ball, and no one would believe that he just came back from the dueling field." Helen raised her eyes and saw the beautiful goddess Aphrodite suddenly disappearing in a divine light.Helen nodded knowingly, left quietly, returned to her palace, and saw her husband lying on the bed.Aphrodite had already dressed him up. Helen sat across from him and asked him mockingly, "Did you just come back like this? I would rather see you killed on the battlefield. You just boasted that you could fight with a spear or with your bare hands." Defeat him easily! Go ahead and challenge him again! Oh no, stay here anyway.If you go again, you will definitely be beaten to pieces by him! " "Please don't mock me with these words," Paris answered, "Menelaus won me because the goddess Athena helped him.I will defeat him next time, because the gods have not forgotten me. " Aphrodite touched Helen's heartstrings, causing her to have infinite affection for her husband.She looked at her husband lovingly and kissed him understandingly. On the battlefield, Menelaus is still looking for the missing Paris.But neither the Trojans nor the Greeks knew where he had gone.Finally, Agamemnon announced loudly: "Listen, Danae and Greeks! Menelaus is the victor. Now please hand over Helen and her treasure, and from then on, pay tribute to us forever!" The Argives cheered at this suggestion.But the Trojans were silent.