Meantime into her wardrobe incense-fumed, Herself descended; there her treasures lay, Works of Sidonian women,[21] whom her son The godlike Paris, when he cross’d the seas355 With Jove-begotten Helen, brought to Troy. The most magnificent, and varied most With colors radiant, from the rest she chose For Pallas; vivid as a star it shone, And lowest lay of all. Then forth she went,360 The Trojan matrons all following her steps. But when the long procession reach’d the fane Of Pallas in the heights of Troy, to them The fair Theano ope’d the portals wide, Daughter of Cisseus, brave Antenor’s spouse,365 And by appointment public, at that time, Priestess of Pallas. All with lifted hands[22] In presence of Minerva wept aloud. Beauteous Theano on the Goddess’ lap Then spread the robe, and to the daughter fair370 Of Jove omnipotent her suit address’d. Goddess[23] of Goddesses, our city’s shield, Adored Minerva, hear! oh! break the lance Of Diomede, and give himself to fall Prone in the dust before the Scæan gate.375 So will we offer to thee at thy shrine, This day twelve heifers of the year, untouch’d By yoke or goad, if thou wilt pity show To Troy, and save our children and our wives. Such prayer the priestess offer’d, and such prayer380 All present; whom Minerva heard averse. But Hector to the palace sped meantime Of Alexander, which himself had built, Aided by every architect of name Illustrious then in Troy. Chamber it had,385 Wide hall, proud dome, and on the heights of Troy Near-neighboring Hector’s house and Priam’s stood. There enter’d Hector, Jove-beloved, a spear Its length eleven cubits in his hand, Its glittering head bound with a ring of gold.390 He found within his chamber whom he sought, Polishing with exactest care his arms Resplendent, shield and hauberk fingering o’er With curious touch, and tampering with his bow.[24] Helen of Argos with her female train395 Sat occupied, the while, to each in turn Some splendid task assigning. Hector fix’d His eyes on Paris, and him stern rebuked. Thy sullen humors, Paris, are ill-timed. The people perish at our lofty walls;400 The flames of war have compass’d Troy around And thou hast kindled them; who yet thyself That slackness show’st which in another seen Thou would’st resent to death. Haste, seek the field This moment, lest, the next, all Ilium blaze.405 To whom thus Paris, graceful as a God. Since, Hector, thou hast charged me with a fault, And not unjustly, I will answer make, And give thou special heed. That here I sit, The cause is sorrow, which I wish’d to soothe410 In secret, not displeasure or revenge. I tell thee also, that even now my wife Was urgent with me in most soothing terms That I would forth to battle; and myself, Aware that victory oft changes sides,415 That course prefer. Wait, therefore, thou awhile, Till I shall dress me for the fight, or go Thou first, and I will overtake thee soon. He ceased, to whom brave Hector answer none Return’d, when Helen him with lenient speech420