Agamemnon cut the lambs’ throats and laid them gasping on the ground, for the bronze had taken their strength. Both peoples poured wine from the mixing-bowl into cups and prayed that whoever first violated the oaths would have their brains poured out like the wine, theirs and their children’s. And their wives mastered by others. But Zeus son of Cronus would not yet fulfill the prayer. Priam said he would go back to windy Ilios. He dared not watch with his own eyes his dear son fighting Menelaus. Zeus and the other deathless gods knew which of the two was appointed the end of death. He returned with Antenor and the lambs.
Hector and Odysseus measured the ground. Lots were shaken in a bronze helmet, and Paris’s lot leapt out. Paris armed in greaves, corselet, sword, shield, horsehair helmet, and spear; Menelaus armed on the other side. They stepped into the middle with terrible looks.
Paris cast first and struck Menelaus’s round shield, but the bronze point bent back in the strong shield. Menelaus prayed to Father Zeus for revenge on the man who wronged him first, so even men yet to be would shudder to do evil to a host who offered friendship. He hurled; the spear pierced shield, corselet, and tunic by the flank, but Paris twisted aside and escaped black death. Menelaus struck with his silver-studded sword, but it shattered on the helmet into three or four pieces and fell from his hand. Groaning to Zeus that no other god was more malicious, he seized Paris by the horsehair crest and dragged him toward the Achaeans, the oxhide strap choking under his soft throat.
Aphrodite saw and broke the oxhide strap beneath Paris’s throat. The empty helmet came away in Menelaus’s hand. He threw it to his companions and sprang back with his spear, but Aphrodite snatched Paris away in mist and set him in his fragrant chamber.