οἱ δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν ἑκάτερθεν ὁμίλου θωρήχθησαν:
ἐς μέσσον Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν ἐστι χόωντο
δεινὸν δερκόμενοι. θάμβος δ' έχεν εἰσορόωντας
Τρῶάς θ' ἱπποδάμους καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς:
καί ῥ' ἐγγὺς στήτην διαμετρητῷ ἐνι χώρῳ
σείοντ' ἐγχείας: ἀλλήλοισιν κοτέοντε:
πρόσθε δ' Ἀλέξανδρος προ ἵ̈ει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος:
καὶ βάλεν Ἀτρείδαο κατ' ἀσπίδα πάντοσε ἴσην:
οὐδ' έρρηξεν χαλκὸς: ἀνεγνάμφθη δέ οἱ αἰχμὴ
ἀσπίδι ἐν κρατερῇ: ὁ δὲ δεύτερος ὤρνυτο χαλκῷ
Ἀτρείδης Μενέλαος: ἐπευξάμενος Διῒ πατρί:
Ζεῦ ἄνα. δὸς τίσασθαι ὅ με πρότερος κακ' ἔοργε
δῖον Ἀλέξανδρον: καὶ ἐμῇς ὑπο χερσὶ δάμασσον.
ὄφρα τις ἐρρίγῃσι καὶ ὀψιγόνων ἀνθρώπων
ξεινοδόκον κακὰ ῥέξαι: ὅ κεν φιλότητα παράσχῃ:
But when they had armed themselves on either side of the throng, they strode into the space between the Trojans and Achaeans, glaring terribly; and amazement came upon them that beheld, both the Trojans, tamers of horses, and the well-greaved Achaeans; and the twain took their stand near together in the measured space, brandishing their spears in wrath one at the other. First Alexander hurled his far-shadowing spear, and smote upon the son of Atreus' shield that was well balanced on every side ; howbeit the bronze brake not through but its point was turned in the stout shield. Next Atreus' son, Menelaus, rushed upon him with his spear, and made prayer to father Zeus: "Zeus, our king, grant that I may avenge me on him that was first to do me wrong, even on goodly Alexander, and subdue thou him beneath my hands; that many a one even of men yet to be may shudder to work evil to his host, that hath shown him friendship."
