Sweeps first, the ocean blackens at the blast, Such seem’d the plain whereon the Achaians sat And Trojans, whom between thus Hector spake. Ye Trojans and Achaians brazen-greaved,75 Attend while I shall speak! Jove high-enthroned Hath not fulfill’d the truce, but evil plans Against both hosts, till either ye shall take Troy’s lofty towers, or shall yourselves in flight Fall vanquish’d at your billow-cleaving barks.80 With you is all the flower of Greece.[2] Let him Whose heart shall move him to encounter sole Illustrious Hector, from among you all Stand forth, and Jove be witness to us both. If he, with his long-pointed lance, of life85 Shall me bereave, my armor is his prize, Which he shall hence into your fleet convey; Not so my body; that he shall resign For burial to the men and wives of Troy. But if Apollo make the glory mine,90 And he fall vanquish’d, him will I despoil, And hence conveying into sacred Troy His arms, will in the temple hang them high[3] Of the bow-bender God, but I will send His body to the fleet, that him the Greeks95 May grace with rights funereal. On the banks Of wide-spread Hellespont ye shall upraise His tomb, and as they cleave with oary barks The sable deep, posterity shall say— “It is a warrior’s tomb; in ancient days100 The Hero died; him warlike Hector slew.” So men shall speak hereafter, and my fame Who slew him, and my praise, shall never die. He ceased, and all sat mute. His challenge bold None dared accept, which yet they blush’d to shun,105 Till Menelaus, at the last, arose Groaning profound, and thus reproach’d the Greeks. Ah boasters! henceforth women—men no more— Eternal shame, shame infinite is ours, If none of all the Grecians dares contend110 With Hector. Dastards—deaf to glory’s call— Rot where ye sit! I will myself take arms Against him, for the gods alone dispose, At their own pleasure, the events of war. He ended, and put on his radiant arms.115 Then, Menelaus, manifest appear’d Thy death approaching by the dreadful hands Of Hector, mightier far in arms than thou, But that the Chiefs of the Achaians all Upstarting stay’d thee, and himself the King,120 The son of Atreus, on thy better hand Seizing affectionate, thee thus address’d. Thou ravest, my royal brother! and art seized With needless frenzy. But, however chafed, Restrain thy wrath, nor covet to contend125 With Priameian Hector, whom in fight All dread, a warrior thy superior far. Not even Achilles, in the glorious field (Though stronger far than thou) this hero meets Undaunted. Go then, and thy seat resume130 In thy own band; the Achaians shall for him, Doubtless, some fitter champion furnish forth. Brave though he be, and with the toils of war Insatiable, he shall be willing yet, Seated on his bent knees, to breathe a while,135 Should he escape the arduous brunt severe. So saying, the hero by his counsel wise His brother’s purpose alter’d; he complied, And his glad servants eased him of his arms. Then Nestor thus the Argive host bespake.140