ng an eddying dust kept rising: and very
speedily they traversed the plain.

But when they now were near, approaching each other, godlike Alexander
advanced in front of the Trojans, having a panther's skin on his
shoulders, and his crooked bow, and a sword; but he brandishing two
spears tipped with brass, challenged all the bravest of the Greeks to
fight against him in grievous conflict.

But when Mars-beloved Menelaus perceived him advancing before the host,
taking long strides, as a hungering lion exults, when happening on a
carcase of large size, having found either a horned stag or a wild goat.
For he greedily devours it, although swift hounds and vigorous youths
pursue him. Thus Menelaus rejoiced, having beheld with his eyes godlike
Alexander. For he thought he would be revenged upon the guilty wretch:
forthwith, therefore, with his arms he leaped from his chariot to the
earth.

But when, therefore, godlike Alexander perceived him appearing among the
foremost warriors, he was smitten in his heart, and gave way back into
the band of his companions, avoiding death. And as when any one having
seen a serpent in the thickets of a mountain, has started back, and
tremor has seized his limbs under him, and he has retired backwards, and
paleness seizes his cheeks: thus godlike Alexander shrank back into the
band of the haughty Trojans, dreading the son of Atreus.

But Hector having seen him, upbraided him with opprobrious words:
"Cursed Paris,[146] most excellent in form, thou woman-raving seducer,
would that thou hadst either not been born, or that thou hadst perished
unmarried. This, indeed, I would wish, and indeed it would be much
better, than that thou shouldst thus be a disgrace and scandal to
others. In truth the long-haired Achaeans may laugh, having suspected
that thou wast a noble champion, because a fine person belongs [to
thee]; but there is not strength in thy soul, nor any nerve. Didst thou,
being such a one, having sailed over the ocean in sea-traversing ships,
having collected congenial associates, and mingled with foreigners, take
away a beauteous lady, from the Apian land, the spouse of martial men, a
great detriment to thy father, to the city, and to all the people; a joy
indeed to our enemies, but a disgrace to thyself? Couldst thou not have
awaited warlike Menelaus? Then shouldst thou have known of how brave a
man thou dost possess the blooming spouse. Nor will thy harp, and the
gifts of Venus, and