The three-and-twentieth day ends with the duel of Hector and Ajax; the next day the truce is agreed: another is taken up in the funeral rites of the slain; and one more in building the fortification before the ships; so that somewhat above three days is employed in this book. The scene lies wholly in the field. BOOK VII. Thus as he spoke, from out the city gates The noble Hector pass’d, and by his side His brother Paris; in the breast of both Burnt the fierce ardour of the battle-field. As when some God a fav’ring breeze bestows On seamen tugging at the well-worn oar, Faint with excess of toil, ev’n so appear’d Those brethren twain to Troy’s o’erlabour’d host. Then to their prowess fell, by Paris’ hand Menesthius, royal Areithous’ son, Whom to the King, in Arna, where he dwelt, The stag-ey’d dame Phylomedusa bore; While Hector smote, with well-directed spear, Beneath the brass-bound headpiece, through the throat, Eioneus, and slack’d his limbs in death; And Glaucus, leader of the Lycian bands, Son of Hippolochus, amid the fray Iphinous, son of Dexias, borne on high By two fleet mares upon a lofty car, Pierc’d through the shoulder; from the car he fell Prone to the earth, his limbs relax’d in death. But them when Pallas saw, amid the fray Dealing destruction on the hosts of Greece, From high Olympus to the walls of Troy She came in haste; Apollo there she found, As down he look’d from Ilium’s topmost tow’r, Devising vict’ry to the arms of Troy. Beside the oak they met; Apollo first, The son of Jove, the colloquy began: “Daughter of Jove, from great Olympus’ heights, Why com’st thou here, by angry passion led? Wouldst thou the vict’ry, swaying here and there, Give to the Greeks? since pitiless thou see’st The Trojans slaughter’d? Be advis’d by me, For so ’twere better; cause we for today The rage of battle and of war to cease; To-morrow morn shall see the fight renew’d, Until the close of Ilium’s destiny; For so ye Goddesses have wrought your will, That this fair city should in ruin fall.” To whom the blue-ey’d Goddess thus replied: “So be it, Archer-King; with like intent I from Olympus came; but say, what means Wilt thou devise to bid the conflict cease?” To whom Apollo, royal son of Jove: “The might of valiant Hector let us move To challenge to the combat, man to man, Some Grecian warrior; while the brass-clad Greeks Their champion urge the challenge to accept, And godlike Hector meet in single fight.” He said; nor did Minerva not assent; But Helenus, the son of Priam, knew The secret counsel by the Gods devis’d; And drawing near to Hector, thus he spoke: “Hector, thou son of Priam, sage as Jove In council, hearken to a brother’s words. Bid that the Greeks and Trojans all sit down, And thou defy the boldest of the Greeks With thee in single combat to contend; By revelation from th’ eternal Gods, I know that here thou shalt not meet thy fate.”