e:

"Venerable Minerva, guardian of the city, divine one of goddesses, break
now the spear of Diomede, and grant that he may fall prostrate before
the Scaean gates, that we may forthwith sacrifice to thee in thy temple
twelve yearling untamed heifers, if thou wilt pity the city, and the
wives of the Trojans, and their infant children."

So she spake in prayer, but Pallas Minerva refused. Thus they, on their
part, offered vows to the daughter of mighty Jove.

But Hector had gone to the beautiful halls of Alexander, which he
himself had built with the aid of men, who then were the most skilful
artificers in fruitful Troy: who made for him a chamber, a
dwelling-room, and hall, in the lofty citadel, near the palaces of Priam
and Hector. There Jove-beloved Hector entered, and in his hand he held a
spear of eleven cubits; the brazen point of the spear shone in front,
and a golden ring encircled it. But him he found in his chamber
preparing his very beauteous armour, his shield and corslet, and fitting
his curved bow. Argive Helen sat amongst her female servants, and
assigned their tasks to her maids of renowned work. But Hector, seeing,
reproached him with foul words:

"Infatuate; not befittingly hast thou conceived this rage in thy mind:
the people are perishing, fighting around the city and the lofty wall:
and on thy account the battle and war are blazing around the city. Truly
thou wouldst thyself reprove another, if ever thou sawest any person
remiss in the hateful battle. But arise, lest perchance the city should
quickly blaze with hostile fire."

But him godlike Alexander then addressed: "Hector, since thou hast with
reason reproved me, and not without reason, therefore will I tell thee;
but do thou attend and hear me. I was sitting in my chamber, neither so
much from anger nor indignation against the Trojans, but [because] I
wished to give way to grief. But now my wife, advising me with soothing
words, hath urged me to the battle, and to myself also it seems to be
better: for victory alternates to men. But come now, wait, let me put on
my martial arms; or go on, and I will follow, and I think that I shall
overtake thee."

Thus he said, but crest-tossing Hector did not answer him. But Helen
addressed him [Hector] with soothing words: "Brother-in-law of me,
shameless authoress of mischief-devising, fearful wretch, would that, on
the day when first my mother brought me forth, a destructive tempest of
wind had seize