the strong shield: but next Menelaus, son of Atreus, commenced
the attack with his brazen spear, praying to father Jove:

"O king Jove, grant [me] to avenge myself [on him] who first injured me,
and subdue impious Alexander under my hands, that every one, even of
future men, may shudder to offer injury to a guest who may have afforded
[him] an hospitable reception."

He spoke; and brandishing, he hurled his long-shadowed spear, and smote
the shield of the son of Priam, equal on all sides; and through the
glittering shield went the impetuous spear, and was stuck firmly into
the deftly-wrought corslet: and the spear pierced right through his soft
tunic beside the flank: but he bent sideways, and evaded black death.
Next the son of Atreus having drawn his silver-studded sword, raising
it, struck the cone[161] of his helmet, but it fell from his hand
shivered round about into three or four pieces. And the son of Atreus
groaned aloud, looking towards the wide heaven:

[Footnote 161: Buttmann, Lexil. p. 521, makes [Greek: phalos] to
be the same as [Greek: konos], a metal ridge in which the plume
was fixed.]

"O father Jove, none other of the gods is more baleful than thou.
Certainly I hoped to be revenged upon Alexander for his wickedness: but
now my sword has been broken in my hands, and my spear has been hurled
from my hand in vain, nor have I smote him."

He spoke; and rushing on, he seized him by the horse-hair tufted helmet,
and turning, began to drag him to the well-greaved Greeks: but the
richly-embroidered band under his tender throat was choking him, which
was drawn under his chin as the strap of his helmet. And now he had
dragged him away, and obtained infinite glory, had not Venus, the
daughter of Jove, quickly perceived it, who broke for him[162] the
thong, [made] from the hide of an ox slaughtered by violence: and
thereupon the empty helmet followed with his strong hand. It, then, the
hero whirling round, cast to the well-greaved Greeks, and his dear
companions took it up. And he [Menelaus] again rushed on, desiring to
slay him with his brazen spear: but him [Paris] Venus very easily, as
being a goddess, rescued, and covered him in a thick mist; then placed
him down in his fragrant chamber, exhaling perfumes.

[Footnote 162: _I.e._ Menelaus.--to his confusion.]

But she herself, on the other hand, went to call Helen, and she found
her on the lofty tower, and many Trojan dames around her. Then