Chapter 24 twenty four

The goddess Athena saw the two Hector brothers walking towards the battlefield from the holy mountain of Olympus, and she immediately descended to the city of Troy.Under the beech tree of Zeus, she met Apollo. "Vicious woman, what wind blows you down from the holy mountain of Olympus?" Apollo asked her, "Do you still insist on defeating the Trojans? I advise you not to let them fight today. If you, I mean you and Hera, are not reconciled and must turn the mighty city of Troy into ruins, then let them fight again next time! " Athena replied: "Yes, I came from the holy mountain of Olympus with this idea. But, tell me, how can we stop them from fighting?" Hector is more courageous," said Apollo, "let him challenge the Daneans alone."

The prophet Helenus heard the conversation between the two gods, and he hurried to Hector and said to him: "Son of wise Priam, will you follow my advice this time? I advise You go and demand a truce between the Trojans and the Greeks, but you yourself demand a decisive battle with one of the bravest heroes of the Argives. There is no danger of you doing this, because you are not destined to die." Hector was delighted to hear that.He told the Trojans to stop, and then, spear in hand, went to the front of the formation.When the soldiers on both sides saw his action, they stopped fighting, and Agamemnon also ordered the Greeks to stop advancing.Athena and Apollo turned into two goshawks, perched on the holy tree of Zeus, watching the chaotic scene here.At last everyone was quiet, and Hector began to speak: "Soldiers of Troy and Greece, listen to my heartfelt advice! The peace treaty we concluded not long ago was not approved by Zeus, who made our two peoples Confronting each other, the result is obvious, either to conquer Troy, or to destroy you and your ships under our blows. The bravest heroes in all Greece are in your barracks. Who dares to fight with me alone , let him step forward. My condition is simple, I ask Zeus to testify here: If my opponent slays me with his spear, he may strip me of my weapon as a spoil, but return my body to Troy, Let it be buried with honor at home; if Apollo honors me, and let my opponent die by my spear, I will strip him of his armor and hang him in the temple of Athena in Troy. Of course, you may transport the dead Go back to the warship, bury him solemnly, and build him a tomb in the bay of Hellippon, so that those who come after can pay their respects: Behold, here is a hero, he was killed by the god-like Hector!"

The Dane'a kept silent, because it was shameful to refuse the challenge, but life-threatening to accept the challenge.When they were in trouble, Menelaus stood up and scolded his compatriots: "You cowardly people are like women, not men at all. If no one dares to fight Hector , that really makes us ashamed! I am willing to fight, let the gods decide the fate!" As he spoke, he tightened his armor, but if the princes of Greece hadn't dragged him back in time, he would surely die this time.Agamemnon took his hand and said, "Brother, why do you think of fighting this formidable opponent? Are you crazy? You know, even Achilles would not have seen him on the battlefield." Don’t be reckless. We ask you to think twice.”

Menelaus obeyed him, and Nestor spoke a reprimand to his army, telling them the story of his decisive battle with Eroyuthalion the Arcadian. "If I had been young," he said in conclusion, "and as strong as I was then, Hector would have found his match in no time!" As soon as he finished speaking, nine princes jumped out of the army at the same time.The first was Agamemnon, then Diomedes, then the two Ajax, then Idomeneus, with his companions Myrionas, Eurypyrus, Thor Aspen and Odysseus.They all expressed their desire to fight Hector. "Let it be decided by lot," said Nestor. "Whoever is drawn, if he wins the duel, all the Greeks will be proud and happy for him." It goes into Agamemnon's helmet.Soldiers pray together.Nestor shook his helmet, and from it jumped out the lottery of Ajax son of Telamon.A herald showed the lot to the heroes.Ajax shouted happily: "Friends, this is mine. I am very happy, because I hope to defeat Hector. Pray for me while I am getting ready!"

The Greeks obeyed his will.So Ajax tightened his golden armor and strode towards the battlefield.He brandished his massive spear like a god of war, and a smile appeared on his serious face.The Daneans were delighted to see his mighty image, but the soldiers of Troy were terrified, and even the majestic Hector felt his heart beat faster.But he could not back down, because he had provoked the duel.Ajax walked up to Hector and said to him threateningly: "Hector, now you should know that there are other heroes among the Daneans besides the lion-heart son of Peleus. All right , let us begin the battle!"

Hector replied: "Mighty son of Telamon, do not tease me as a weak child. I have experienced many battles and have rich experience in combat. You are a brave man, I do not Will use tricks, I'll throw my spear in your face and see if it can hit you." As he spoke, he threw his spear hastily, and struck Ajax's shield, and the point pierced through six layers of ox-hide, but not the seventh.Now it was Telamon's son's turn to throw the spear, and it flew through the air, pierced Hector's shield, and pierced his armor.If Hector hadn't dodged in time, it would have pierced him in the stomach.Now the two sides are stabbing with spears.Hector aimed at the center of Ajax's shield, but the tip of the spear was bent and could not pierce the bronze shield.On the contrary, Ajax pierced the opponent's shield, cut his neck, and immediately bled.Hector took two steps back, firmly grabbed a stone with his right hand, and hit Ajax's shield with a loud bang.Ajax picked up a larger stone from the ground and threw it at Hector, piercing Hector's shield and hurting his knee.Hector couldn't help but staggered back a few steps, but he still held on to the shield.Apollo, who was hiding beside him, stretched out his hand and supported him.The two drew their swords again and charged at each other for the final decisive battle.At this time, the envoys from both sides hurried forward.The messenger of the Trojans was Iteus, and the messenger of the Greeks was Taltipios.They raised their sticks and separated the two fiercely engaged heroes. "Stop fighting,"

Iteus shouted, "Both of you are brave people, and you are both Zeus' favorite people. This is what we have all seen! It is too late now, please obey the order of the night to stop the war!" "With Speak, your countrymen!" Ajax answered him, "it is he who challenges the bravest Greek! If he agrees to a truce, then I agree!" Hector said to the other party: "Ajax , the gods gave you strength, strength, and the ability to throw spears. Let us stop fighting today, and we will fight again until the gods give victory to either of our two peoples! Now let us exchange This gift will give the Trojans and Greeks a reason to say in the future: 'You see, when they fight, they want to fight each other to the death, but when they part, they are very friendly!'" Hector said, holding the silver-handled sword , and the scabbard and the beautiful sword were presented to the other party, and Ajax untied his purple and gold belt and gave it to Hector.In the end, the two parties broke up separately.