Aphrodite went to Helen on the high tower, disguised as an old wool-worker Helen had loved in Lacedaemon. And told her Paris called her home, shining on the inlaid bed as if fresh from a dance or just seated after leaving one. Helen recognized the goddess by her lovely neck, desirable breasts, and shining eyes and spoke bitterly: why still deceive her? Would Aphrodite lead her farther among peopled cities — to Phrygia or lovely Maeonia — if some other man were dear there? Since Menelaus had beaten Paris and wished to take hated her home, let the goddess go sit by him herself, leave the gods’ paths, suffer beside him. And become his wife or slave. Helen would not go share that man’s bed; the Trojan women would blame her afterward, and she had griefs without end in her heart.
Aphrodite answered in anger that Helen should not provoke her, or she might hate her as terribly as she had loved her and set bitter hatred between both peoples. Helen was afraid and followed in silence, wrapped in her veil, unnoticed by the Trojan women.
In Paris’s chamber Aphrodite set a chair facing him. Helen turned her eyes away and rebuked him: you have come from the fight. Would that you had fallen rather by the hand of that brave man who was my former husband. You used to boast you were better than Menelaus with hands and spear — go then, challenge warlike Menelaus again face to face. But I bid you stop, and not fight fair-haired Menelaus recklessly, or you may soon be beaten by his spear. Paris answered that Menelaus had won with Athena’s help and another time he might himself be victor, for he too had gods that would stand by him. Desire now mastered him more than when he first carried her from lovely Lacedaemon and lay with her on the island of Cranae. He led her to bed, and she went with him.
Menelaus ranged through the crowd like a wild beast, searching for Paris. No Trojan would show him, for they hated Paris like black death. Agamemnon declared the victory plain: Trojans must give back Argive Helen and her possessions and pay a fitting penalty. The Achaeans shouted approval.