Trojans dwell in Troy."

Greatly did Hector rejoice at his brother's word. His spear grasped
by the middle, he went through the Trojan ranks and bid the warriors
hold back.

But as he went, the Greeks shot arrows at brave Hector and cast
stones.

"Hold! hold! ye Greeks," called Agamemnon. "Hector of the glancing
helm hath somewhat to say to us."

In silence, then, the two armies stood, while Hector told them the
words of Paris his brother.

When they had heard him, Menelaus spoke:

"Many ills have ye endured," he said, "for my sake and because of the
sins of Paris. Yet now, I think, the end of this long war hath come.
Let us fight, then, and death and fate shall decide which of us shall
die. Let us offer sacrifice now to Zeus, and call hither Priam, King
of Troy. I fear for the faith of his sons, Paris and Hector, but Priam
is an old man and will not break faith."

Then were the Greeks and the Trojans glad. They came down from their
chariots, and took off their arms, and laid them on the ground, while
heralds went to tell Priam and to fetch lambs and a ram for the
sacrifice.

While they went, Hera sent to Troy Iris, her messenger, in the guise
of the fairest daughter of Priam.

To the hall where Helen sat came lovely Iris. And there she found
Helen, fairest of women, her white arms swiftly moving back and
forward as she wove a great purple web of double wool, and wrought
thereon pictures of many battles of the Greeks and the men of Troy.

"Come hither, dear lady," said Iris, "and see a wondrous thing. For
they that so fiercely fought with each other, now sit in silence. The
battle is stayed; they lean upon their shields, and their tall spears
are thrust in the earth by their sides. But for thee are Menelaus and
Paris now going to fight, and thou shalt be the wife of the
conqueror."

So spake lovely Iris, and into the sleeping heart of Helen there came
remembrance, and a hungry longing for her old home, and for Menelaus,
and her father and mother, and for little Hermione, her child.

The tears rolled down her cheeks, but quickly she hid her face with a
veil of fair linen, and hastened out, with her two handmaidens, to the
place where the two armies lay.

At the Scaean gates sat Priam and other old warriors.

As Helen, in her fair white robes, drew near, the old men marveled at
her loveliness.

"Small wonder is it," said they, "that Trojans and Greeks should
suffer hardships and lay down their lives