Page:The story of Greece told to boys and girls.djvu/72

 should befall Paris, and he hastened within the gates of the city that he might not watch the combat. 'I can in no wise bear to behold with mine eyes my dear son fighting with Menelaus,' he said. 'But Zeus knoweth, and all the immortal gods, for whether of the twain the doom of death is appointed.'

Then Menelaus and Paris drew their swords, and Menelaus cried to Zeus to grant him his aid, so that hereafter men 'may shudder to wrong his host that hath shown him kindness.'

But it seemed that Zeus heard not, for when Menelaus flung his ponderous spear, although it passed close to Paris, rending his tunic, yet did it not wound him, and when he dealt a mighty blow with his sword upon the helmet of his enemy, lo, his sword broke into pieces in his hand.

Then in his wrath, Menelaus reproached the god: 'Father Zeus,' he cried, 'surely none of the gods is crueller than thou. My sword breaketh in my hand, and my spear sped from my grasp in vain, and I have not smitten my enemy.'

Yet even if Zeus denied his help, Menelaus determined to slay his foe. So he sprang forward and seized Paris by the strap of his helmet. But the goddess Aphrodite flew to the aid of the prince, and the strap broke in the hand of Menelaus. Before the king could again reach his enemy, a mist sent by the goddess concealed the combatants one from the other. Then, unseen by all, Aphrodite caught up Paris, 'very easily as a goddess may,' and hid him in the city within his own house.

In vain did Menelaus search for his foe, yet well did he know that no Trojan had given him shelter. For Paris was 'hated of all even as black death,' because it was through his base deed that Troy had been besieged for nine long years.