BOOK III.

ARGUMENT.

THE DUEL OF MENELAUS AND PARIS.

The armies being ready to engage, a single combat is agreed upon between

Menelaus and Paris (by the intervention of Hector) for the determination

of the war. Iris is sent to call Helen to behold the fight. She leads her

to the walls of Troy, where Priam sat with his counsellers observing the

Grecian leaders on the plain below, to whom Helen gives an account of the

chief of them. The kings on either part take the solemn oath for the

conditions of the combat. The duel ensues; wherein Paris being overcome,

he is snatched away in a cloud by Venus, and transported to his apartment.

She then calls Helen from the walls, and brings the lovers together.

Agamemnon, on the part of the Grecians, demands the restoration of Helen,

and the performance of the articles.

The three-and-twentieth day still continues throughout this book. The

scene is sometimes in the fields before Troy, and sometimes in Troy

itself.

Thus by their leaders' care each martial band

Moves into ranks, and stretches o'er the land.

With shouts the Trojans, rushing from afar,

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The Iliad of Homer