The Trojans advanced with clamor like cranes flying over Ocean’s streams, crying as rain and winter drive them on, carrying death to the Pygmy men. The Achaeans advanced in silence, breathing strength and eager to defend one another. Dust rose beneath both armies like mist the South Wind pours over mountain peaks. Bad for shepherds, better than night for thieves. So a man could scarcely see farther than a stone’s throw.
Alexandros strode out before the Trojans, wearing a leopard skin, carrying curved bow, sword, and two bronze-headed spears, challenging the best Argives. Menelaus saw him and rejoiced like a hungry lion finding a deer or wild goat; he leapt from his chariot with his armor.
Alexandros saw Menelaus and his heart was struck. He slipped back into the Trojan crowd like a man who sees a snake in a mountain glen and springs away pale with fear. Hector saw and abused him hard: evil-hearted Paris, fair to look on, woman-mad, deceiver — better you had never been born, or died unwed, than live a disgrace. The Achaeans laugh and say a champion was put forward for looks alone. Were you such a man when you sailed over the sea, mixed with foreigners, and brought back a beautiful woman from a far land. Grief to father, city, and people, joy to enemies, shame to yourself? Will you not stand against Menelaus and learn what kind of man holds the wife you have? Your lyre, your hair, and Aphrodite’s gifts will not help when you lie in the dust. The Trojans are soft; otherwise you would already wear a stone tunic for the evils you have done.
Paris answered that Hector’s rebuke was just and not beyond measure. His heart was forever unyielding, like an axe that shapes timber under a shipwright’s hand. Yet the gifts of golden Aphrodite were not to be thrown away. A man does not take the gods’ gifts of his own will. He offered a settlement: set him and Menelaus between the armies to fight for Helen and all the possessions. The winner would take woman and goods. The rest would cut friendship and faithful oaths, Trojans staying in deep-soiled Troy and Achaeans returning to horse-pasturing Argos and Achaea of the fair women.