So spake he, and glad were the shouts of the Greeks as they heard the words of their king.
CHAPTER IV
HOW MENELAUS WAS WOUNDED; AND
THE BRAVE DEEDS OF DIOMEDES
While Menelaus made search for Paris, Hera and Athene plotted together, wrathfully planning how best to bring harm upon Paris and the men of Troy.
No wish had they that the grievous war should be ended, and Paris, whom they hated, allowed to go unpunished.
Like a shooting-star that flashes through the sky, even so did Athene haste down to the earth from Olympus.
In the guise of a man she sought Pandarus, a gallant warrior and a mighty archer.
‘Hearken to me, wise Pandarus,’ said the goddess. ‘Shoot now a swift arrow at Menelaus, that thou may’st slay him. So shalt thou win fame and glory before all the Trojans, and gain from Paris kingly gifts.’
And to her words foolish Pandarus lent willing ears.
He unsheathed his polished bow, made from the horn of a wild ibex that he himself had shot in the mountains. Sixteen palms long were its horns, and these a skilled workman had polished well and joined cunningly together, and tipped with gold. Well did Pandarus string his bow, and from his quiver he chose an arrow, sharp and new. Then did he pull back the bowstring to his breast until the great bow was bent into a round. The horn twanged and the bowstring sang, and the keen arrow sped fiercely on its way. Straight to the heart of Menelaus would it have sped, but Athene made it glance aside, so that it smote against the golden buckles of the belt of his breastplate. Yet even then did it graze his flesh, and the black blood gushed forth from the wound.
When Agamemnon saw the blood flowing, sorely grieved was he.