"Why hast thou, daughter of imperial Jove,

Thus left Olympus in thine eager haste?
Seek'st thou to turn in favor of the Greeks
War's wavering chances? -- for I know too well
Thou hast no pity when the men of Troy
Are perishing. But, if thou wilt give ear
To me, I shall propose a better way.
Cause we the conflict for this day to cease,
And be it afterward renewed until
An end be made of Troy, since it hath pleased
You, goddesses, to lay the city waste."

And blue-eyed Pallas answered: "Be it so,
O mighty Archer. With a like intent
I left Olympus for this battle-field
Of Greeks and Trojans. But by what device
Think'st thou to bring the combat to a pause?"

Then spake the king Apollo, son of Jove,
In turn to Pallas: "Let us seek to rouse
The fiery spirit of the Trojan knight
Hector, that he may challenge in the field
Some Greek to meet him, singly and alone,
In mortal combat. Then the well-armed Greeks,
Stung by the bold defiance, will send forth
A champion against Priam's noble son."

He spake. The blue-eyed goddess gave assent:
And straightway Helenus, beloved son
Of Priam, in his secret mind perceived
The purpose of the gods consulting thus,
And came and stood by Hector's side and said: --

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