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armour； and bidding the Greeks arm themselves； he merely dressed in his
robe and mantle； took his sceptre； and went and told the chiefs about his
dream。 They did not feel much encouraged； so he said that he would try
the temper of the army。 He would call them together； and propose to
return to Greece； but； if the soldiers took him at his word； the other chiefs
were to stop them。 This was a foolish plan； for the soldiers were
wearying for beautiful Greece； and their homes； and wives and children。
Therefore； when Agamemnon did as he had said； the whole army rose； like
the sea under the west wind； and； with a shout； they rushed to the ships；
while the dust blew in clouds from under their feet。 Then they began to
launch their ships； and it seems that the princes were carried away in the
rush； and were as eager as the rest to go home。
But Ulysses only stood in sorrow and anger beside his ship； and never
put hand to it； for he felt how disgraceful it was to run away。 At last he
threw down his mantle； which his herald Eurybates of Ithaca； a round…
shouldered； brown； curly…haired man； picked up； and he ran to find
Agamemnon； and took his sceptre； a gold…studded staff； like a marshal's
baton； and he gently told the chiefs whom he met that they were doing a
shameful thing； but he drove the common soldiers back to the place of
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meeting with the sceptre。 They all returned； puzzled and chattering； but
one lame； bandy… legged； bald； round…shouldered； impudent fellow； named
Thersites； jumped up and made an insolent speech； insulting the princes；
and advising the army to run away。 Then Ulysses took him and beat him
till the blood came； and he sat down； wiping away his tears； and looking
so foolish that the whole army laughed at him； and cheered Ulysses when
he and Nestor bade them arm and fight。 Agamemnon still believed a
good deal in his dream； and prayed that he might take Troy that very day；
and kill Hector。 Thus Ulysses alone saved the army from a cowardly
retreat； but for him the ships would have been launched in an hour。 But
the Greeks armed and advanced in full force； all except Achilles and his
friend Patroclus with their two or three thousand men。 The Trojans also
took heart； knowing that Achilles would not fight； and the armies
approached each other。 Paris himself； with two spears and a bow； and
without armour； walked into the space between the hosts； and challenged
any Greek prince to single combat。 Menelaus； whose wife Paris had
carried away； was as glad as a hungry lion when he finds a stag or a goat；
and leaped in armour from his chariot； but Paris turned and slunk away；
like a man when he meets a great serpent on a narrow path in the hills。
Then Hector rebuked Paris for his cowardice； and Paris was ashamed and
offered to end the war by fighting Menelaus。 If he himself fell； the
Trojans must give up Helen and all her jewels； if Menelaus fell； the
Greeks were to return without fair Helen。 The Greeks accepted this plan；
and both sides disarmed themselves to look on at the fight in comfort； and
they meant to take the most solemn oaths to keep peace till the combat
was lost and won； and the quarrel settled。 Hector sent into Troy for two
lambs； which were to be sacrificed when the oaths were taken。
In the meantime Helen of the fair hands was at home working at a
great purple tapestry on which she embroidered the battles of the Greeks
and Trojans。 It was just like the tapestry at Bayeux on which Norman
ladies embroidered the battles in the Norman Conquest of England。
Helen was very fond of embroidering； like poor Mary； Queen of Scots；
when a prisoner in Loch Leven Castle。 Probably the work kept both
Helen and Mary from thinking of their past lives and their sorrows。
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When Helen heard that her husband was to fight Paris； she wept； and
threw a shining veil over her head； and with her two bower maidens went
to the roof of the gate tower； where king Priam was sitting with the old
Trojan chiefs。 They saw her and said that it was small blame to fight for
so beautiful a lady； and Priam called her 〃dear child；〃 and said； 〃I do not
blame you； I blame the Gods who brought about this war。〃 But Helen
said that she wished she had died before she left her little daughter and her
husband； and her home： 〃Alas！ shameless me！〃 Then she told Priam
the names of the chief Greek warriors； and of Ulysses； who was shorter by
a head than Agamemnon； but broader in chest and shoulders。 She
wondered that she could not see her own two brothers； Castor and
Polydeuces； and thought that they kept aloof in shame for her sin； but the
green grass covered their graves； for they had both died in battle； far away
in Lacedaemon； their own country。
Then the lambs were sacrificed； and the oaths were taken； and Paris
put on his brother's armour； helmet； breastplate； shield； and leg… armour。
Lots were drawn to decide whether Paris or Menelaus should throw his
spear first； and； as Paris won； he threw his spear； but the point was blunted
against the shield of Menelaus。 But when Menelaus threw his spear it
went clean through the shield of Paris； and through the side of his
breastplate； but only grazed his robe。 Menelaus drew his sword； and
rushed in； and smote at the crest of the helmet of Paris； but his bronze
blade broke into four pieces。 Menelaus caught Paris by the horsehair crest
of his helmet； and dragged him towards the Greeks； but the chin…strap
broke； and Menelaus turning round threw the helmet into the ranks of the
Greeks。 But when Menelaus looked again for Paris； with a spear in his
hand； he could see him nowhere！ The Greeks believed that the beautiful
goddess Aphrodite； whom the Romans called Venus； hid him in a thick
cloud of darkness and carried him to his own house； where Helen of the
fair hands found him and said to him； 〃Would that thou hadst perished；
conquered by that great warrior who was my lord！ Go forth again and
challenge him to fight thee face to face。〃 But Paris had no more desire to
fight； and the Goddess threatened Helen； and compelled her to remain
with him in Troy； coward as he had proved himself。 Yet on other days
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Paris fought well； it seems that he was afraid of Menelaus because； in his
heart； he was ashamed of himself。
Meanwhile Menelaus was seeking for Paris everywhere； and the
Trojans； who hated him； would have shown his hiding place。 But they
knew not where he was； and the Greeks claimed the victory； and thought
that； as Paris had the worst of the fight； Helen would be restored to them；
and they would all sail home。
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TROJAN VICTORIES
The war might now have ended； but an evil and foolish thought came
to Pandarus； a prince of Ida； who fought for the Trojans。 He chose to
shoot an arrow at Menelaus； contrary to the sworn vows of peace； and the
arrow pierced the breastplate of Menelaus through the place where the
clasped plates meet； and drew his blood。 Then Agamemnon； who loved
his brother dearly； began to lament； saying that if he died； the army would
all go home and Trojans would dance on the grave of Menelaus。 〃Do not
alarm all our army；〃 said Menelaus； 〃the arrow has done me little harm；〃
and so it proved； for the surge