Then Paris answered: "Thou speakest well, Hector, and thy rebuke is just. As for thee, thy heart is like iron, ever set on battle; yet are beauty and love also the gifts of the gods, and not to be despised. But now set Menelaus and me in the midst, and let us fight, man to man, for the fair Helen and for all her possessions. And if he prevail over me, let him take her and them and depart, and the Greeks with him, leaving you to dwell in peace; but if I prevail they shall depart without her." Then Hector was glad, and going before the Trojan ranks, holding his spear by the middle, he kept them back. But the Greeks would have shot at him with arrows and slung stones, only Agamemnon cried aloud and said, "Hold, Hector has somewhat to say to us." Then Hector said: "Hear, Trojans and Greeks, what Paris saith, Paris who hath bred this quarrel between us: 'Let all lay their arms upon the ground, and let Menelaus and me fight for the fair Helen, and all her wealth. And let him that is the better keep her and them, but the rest shall swear faith and friendship.'" Then Menelaus stood up and spake: "Listen to me, for this trouble toucheth me nearer than you all. The Greeks and the men of Troy would fain be at peace, for they have suffered grievous things because of my quarrel and of the wrong that Paris did. Therefore we two will fight together, and let him perish who is doomed to die. Bring two sheep, ye men of Troy, a white wether for the sun, and a black ewe for the earth, and we will bring another for Zeus. And let Priam himself come, and do sacrifice, and take the oath. Young men are ever changeable; but when an old man is among them, he taketh thought for all." So spake Menelaus; and both the armies were glad, hoping to see an end of the war. Then Hector sent a herald to the city, to summon Priam to the sacrifice and to fetch the sheep. And while he went, Iris, in the guise of Laodice, fairest of the daughters of Priam, came to Helen, where she sat in her hall, weaving a great web of double breadth and dyed with purple, whereon she had wrought many battles of the Greeks and the men of Troy, Iris came near and said: La-o'-di-ce. "Come, dear sister, and behold this marvel. Heretofore the Greeks and the men of Troy have fought together on the plain, but now they sit in peace, and the war is stayed; for Paris and Menelaus are to fight for thee, and thou shalt be the wife of him that shall prevail." So spake the goddess, and roused in Helen sweet longing for her former husband, and her city, and her parents. So she wrapped herself in white apparel, and went forth from her chamber.