To Paris opposite, the Queen of smiles Herself disposed; but with averted eyes She sat before him, and him keen reproach’d.505 Thou hast escaped.—Ah would that thou hadst died By that heroic arm, mine husband’s erst! Thou once didst vaunt thee in address and strength Superior. Go then—challenge yet again The warlike Menelaüs forth in fight.510 But hold. The hero of the amber locks Provoke no more so rashly, lest the point Of his victorious spear soon stretch thee dead. She ended, to whom Paris thus replied. Ah Helen, wound me not with taunt severe!515 Me, Menelaüs, by Minerva’s aid, Hath vanquish’d now, who may hereafter, him. We also have our Gods. But let us love. For never since the day when thee I bore From pleasant Lacedæmon o’er the waves520 To Cranäe’s fair isle, and first enjoy’d Thy beauty, loved I as I love thee now, Or felt such sweetness of intense desire. He spake, and sought his bed, whom follow’d soon Jove’s daughter, reconciled to his embrace.525 But Menelaüs like a lion ranged The multitude, inquiring far and near For Paris lost. Yet neither Trojan him Nor friend of Troy could show, whom, else, through love None had conceal’d, for him as death itself530 All hated, but his going none had seen. Amidst them all then spake the King of men. Trojans, and Dardans, and allies of Troy! The warlike Menelaüs hath prevailed, As is most plain. Now therefore bring ye forth535 Helen with all her treasures, also bring Such large amercement as is meet, a sum To be remember’d in all future times. So spake Atrides, and Achaia’s host With loud applause confirm’d the monarch’s claim.540 BOOK IV. ARGUMENT OF THE FOURTH BOOK. In a Council of the Gods, a dispute arises between Jupiter and Juno, which is at last compromised, Jove consenting to dispatch Minerva with a charge to incite some Trojan to a violation of the truce. Minerva descends for that purpose, and in the form of Laodocus, a son of Priam, exhorts Pandarus to shoot at Menelaus, and succeeds. Menelaus is wounded, and Agamemnon having consigned him to the care of Machaon, goes forth to perform the duties of commander-in-chief, in the encouragement of his host to battle. The battle begins. BOOK IV.