NowthemercenariesofPharaohforcedapassageontherightandthitherwentmanyofthebarbarianswhowatchedthegate，thattheymightdrivethemback。
ThentheWandererbadementakeoutthepolesofchariotsandfollowhimandbeatdownthegateswiththepoles。Thiswithmuchtoilandlosstheydid，forthearcherspouredtheirarrowsontheassailantsofthegate。Nowatlengththegatesweredown，andtheWandererrushedthroughthemwithhischariot。ButevenashepassedthemercenariesofPharaohweredrivenoutfromthecampontheright，andthosewholedtheleftattackfledalso。ThesoldierswhoshouldhavefollowedtheWanderersawandwaveredalittlemoment，andwhiletheywaveredthecompaniesofthebarbarianspouredintothegatewayandhelditsothatnonemightpass。NowtheWandererwasleftalonewithinthecamp，andbackhemightnotgo。Butfearcamenotnighhim，nay，thejoyofbattlefilledhismightyheart。Hecasthisshielduponthebrazenfloorofthechariot，andcriedaloudtothecharioteer，asheloosenedthelonggreyshaftsinhisquiver。
“Driveon，thoucharioteer！Driveon！Thejackalsleavethelioninthetoils。Driveon！Driveon！andwinagloriousdeath，forthusshouldOdysseusdie。“
Sothecharioteer，prayingtohisGods，lashedthehorseswithhisscourge，andtheysprangforwardmadlyamongthefoe。Andastheyrushed，thegreatbowrangandsangtheswallowstring——rungthebowandsungthestring，andtheleanshaftdrankthebloodofaleaderofmen。Againthestringsang，againtheshaftspedforth，andabarbariankingfellfromhischariotasadiverplungesintothesea，andhisteethbitthesand。
“Divedeep，thousea-thief！“criedtheWanderer，“thoumayestfindtreasuresthere！Driveon，thoucharioteer，soshouldlionsdiewhilejackalswatch。“
NowthebarbarianslookedontheWandererandwereamazed。Foreverhischariotrushedtoandfro，acrossthemusteringgroundofthecamp，andeverhisgreyshaftscarrieddeathbeforethem，andeverthefoemen’sarrowsfellbluntedfromhisgoldenharness。Theylookedonhimamazed，theycriedaloudthatthiswastheGodofWarcomedowntodobattleforKhem，thatitwasSutektheSplendid，thatitwasBaalinhisstrength；theyfledamainbeforehisgloryandhismight。FortheWandererragedamongthemlikegreatRamesesMiamunamongthetribesoftheKhita；likeMonthu，theLordofBattles，andlo！theyfledbeforehim，theirkneesgaveway，theirheartswereturnedtowater，hedrovethemasaherdsmandrivestheyearlingcalves。
Butnowatlengthastonefromaslingsmotethecharioteerwhodirectedthechariot，andsunkinbetweenhiseyes，sothathefelldowndeadfromthechariot。Thenthereinsflewwide，andthehorsesrushedthiswayandthat，havingnomaster。Andnowaspearpiercedtheheartofthehorseontheright，sothathefell，andthepoleofthechariotsnappedintwo。Thenthebarbarianstookheartandturned，andsomeofthemsetontoseizethebodyofthecharioteer，andspoilhisarms。ButtheWandererleapeddownandbestrodethecorpsewithshieldupandspearaloft。
Nowamongthepressofthebarbarianstherewasastir，asofonethrustinghiswaythroughthemtothefront。AndabovetheplumesoftheirhelmetsandthetossingoftheirshieldstheWanderersawthegoldenhead，unhelmeted，ofaman，tallerthanthetallesttherefromtheshouldersupwards。Unhelmetedhecameandunshielded，withnobodyarmour。Hisfleshwasveryfairandwhite，andonitwerefiguresprickedinblue，figuresofmenandhorses，snakesandsea-beasts。Theskinofawhitebearwasbuckledabovehisshoulderwithagoldenclasp，fashionedinthesemblanceofaboar。Hiseyeswereblue，fierceandshining，andinhishandheheldforaweaponthetrunkofayoungpine-tree，inwhichwashaftedaweightyaxe-headofroughunpolishedstone。
“Giveway！“hecried。“Giveplace，yeduskydwarfs，andletamanseethischampion！“
SothebarbariansmadeacircleabouttheWandererandthegiant，andstoodsilentlytowatchagreatfight。
“Whoartthou？“saidthemightymandisdainfully，“andwhence？Whereisthycity，andthyparentswhobegatthee？“
“NowIwillavowthatmencallmeOdysseus，SackerofCities，Laertes’
son，aPrinceoftheAch？ans，“saidtheWanderer。“Andwhoartthou，I
praythee，andwhereisthynativeplace，forcity，Iwot，thouhastnone？“
Thenthemightyman，swinginghisgreatstoneaxeinarhythmicmotion，begantochantarudelay，andthiswasthemannerofthesinging——
“LaestrygonsmenAndCimmerianscallusBornofthelandOfthesunlesswinter，BornofthelandOfthenightlesssummer:
Cityless，we，Beneathdarkpineboughs，BytheseaabidingSailo’ertheswan’sbath。
/Wolf/amIhight，ThesonofSigny，Sonofthewere-wolf。
SouthwardsIsailed，Sailedwiththeamber，Sailedwiththefoam-wealth。
Amongstrangepeoples，Winningmewave-flame，[*]
Winningmewar-fame，Winningmewomen。
SoonshallIslaythee，SackerofCities！“
[*]Gold。
Withthat，andwithacry，herushedontheWanderer，hisgreataxeswungaloft，tofellhimatablow。
Butwhilethegianthadbeensinging，theWandererhadshiftedhisplacealittle，sothattheredblazeofthesettingsunwasinhisface。Andasthemightymancameon，theWandererlifteduphisgoldenshieldandcaughtthesunlightonit，andflasheditfullinthegiant’seyes，sothathewasdazzled，andcouldnotseetostrike。
ThentheWanderersmoteathisnakedrightarm，andstruckitonthejointoftheelbow；withallhisforcehesmote，andtheshortswordofEuryalusbitdeep，andthearmfell，withtheaxeinthehand-grip。
Butsoterriblewasthestrokethatbronzemightnotabideit，andthebladewasshatteredfromtheivoryhandle。
“Didstthoufeelaught，thouMan-eater？“criedOdysseus，jeering，forheknewfromthesongofthegiantthathewasfacetofacewithawandererfromanevilrace，thatofoldhadsmittenhisshipsanddevouredhismen——theLaestrygonsofthelandoftheMidnightSun，theMan-eaters。
Butthegiantcaughtuphisclubofpine-treeinhislefthand，theseveredrightarmstillclingingtoit。Andhegnawedonthehandleofthestoneaxewithhisteeth，andbittheverystone，andhislipsfoamed，forafurycameuponhim。Roaringaloud，suddenlyhesmoteattheWanderer’shead，andbeatdownhisshield，andcrushedhisgoldenhelmsothathefellononeknee，andallwasdarknessaroundhim。Buthishandslitonagreatstone，fortheplacewheretheyfoughtwastheholyplaceofanancienttemple，oldandruinedbeforeKingMena’sday。Hegraspedthestonewithbothhands；itwasthebasaltheadofafallenstatueofaGodoraman，ofakinglongnameless，orofaforgottenGod。WithamightystraintheWandererlifteditasherose，itwasaweightofachariot’sburden，andpoisingit，hehurleditstraightatthebreastoftheLaestrygon，whohaddrawnback，whirlinghisaxe，beforehesmoteanotherblow。Butereeverthestrokefell，thehugestonestruckhimfullandbrokeinhisbreastbone，andhestaggeredlong，andfelllikeatree，andtheblackbloodcameupthroughhisbeardedlips，andhislifelefthim。
Thenthemultitudeofthebarbariansthatstoodgazingatthefraydrewyetfurtherbackinfear，andtheWandererlaughedlikeaGodatthatoldscorepaid，andatthelastgreatstrokeofthehandsoftheCity-sacker，Odysseus。
TheWandererlaughedlikeaGod，thoughhedeemedthattheendwasnear，andthefoeswithinthecampandthefriendswithoutlookedonhimandwondered。
“Slayhim！“criedthefoeswithin，speakinginmanytongues。“Slayhim！“theycried，andyettheyfearedthetask，butcircledroundlikehoundsaboutamightyboaratbay。
“Sparehim！“shoutedthehostoftheAch？ans，watchingthefrayfromfar，astheystoodbehindtheirinnerwall，forasyettheyhadnotmingledinthebattlebutstayedbytheirshipstoguardthem。
“Rescue！“criedtheCaptainsofPharaohwithout，butnonecameontoforcetheway。
Thenofasudden，asFatehungupontheturn，agreatcryoffearandwonderrosefromtheranksofPharaoh’shostbeyondthewall。Itswelledandswelledtillatlengththecrytookthesoundofaname——
thesoundofthenameof/Hathor/。
“TheHathor！theHathor！See，theHathorcomes！“
TheWandererturnedhisheadandlookedswiftly。Agoldenchariotspeddowntheslopeofsandtowardsthegateofthecamp。Themilk-whitehorseswerestainedwithsweatandsplashedwithblood。Theythunderedontowardsthegatedownthewaythatwasredwithblood，asthehorsesofthedawnrushthroughtheblood-redsky。Alittleman，witheredandold，drovethechariot，leaningforwardashedrove，andbyhissidestoodtheGoldenHelen。TheRedStarblazeduponherbreast，herhairandfilmyrobesfloatedonthewind。
Shelookedupandforth。Nowshesawhim，OdysseusofIthaca，herlove，alone，besetwithfoes，andacrybrokefromher。Shetoreawaytheveilthathidherface，andherbeautyflashedoutuponthesightofmenasthemoonflashesfromtheeveningmists。Shepointedtothegate，shestretchedoutherarmstowardsthehostofPharaoh，biddingthemlookuponherandfollowher。Thenashoutwentupfromthehost，andtheyrushedonwardsinthepathofthechariot，forwheretheHelenleadstheremenmustfollowthroughLifetoDeaththroughWartoPeace。
Onthechariotrushedtothecamp，andafteritthehostofPharaohfollowed。Theholdersofthegatesawthebeautyofherwhorodeinthechariot；theycriedaloudinmanytonguesthattheGoddessofLovehadcometosavetheGodofWar。Theyfledthiswayandthat，orstooddrunkenwiththesightofbeauty，andweredasheddownbythehorsesandcrushedofthechariotwheels。Nowshehadpassedthegates，andafterherpouredthehostofPharaoh。NowReireinedupthehorsesbythebrokenchariotoftheWanderer，andnowtheWanderer，withashoutofjoy，hadsprungintothechariotofHelen。
“Andartthoucometobewithmeinmylastbattle？“hewhisperedinherear。“ArtthouindeedthatArgiveHelenwhomIlove，oramIdrunkwiththebloodofmenandblindwiththesheenofspears，andisthisthevisionofamandoomedtodie？“
“Itisnovision，Odysseus，forIamHelen’sself，“sheansweredgently。“Ihavelearnedallthetruth，andknowingthyfault，countitbutalittlething。YetbecausethoudidstforgetthewordsoftheimmortalGoddess，who，beingmyfoenowandforever，setthiscunningsnareforthee，thedoomisonthee，thatHelenshallnotbethineinthisspaceoflife。Forthoufightestinthylastbattle，Odysseus。
On！seethyhostsclamourtobeled，andtherethefoehangsblackasstormandshootsoutthelightningofhisspears。On，Odysseus，on！
thatthedoommaybeaccomplished，andthewordoftheGhostfulfilled！“
ThentheWandererturnedandcalledtotheCaptains，andtheCaptainscalledtothesoldiersandsettheminarray，andfollowingtheblood-
redStartheyrolleddownuponthegatheredfoeasthetiderollsupontherockswhenthebreathofthegaleisstrong；andasthewatersleapandgathertilltherocksarelostinthesurge，sothehostofPharaohleaptuponthefoeandswallowedthemup。AndeverintheforefrontofthewarblazedtheRedStaronHelen’sbreast，andeverthesoundofhersingingpiercedthedinofdeath。
NowthehostoftheNine-bowbarbarianswasutterlydestroyed，andthehostofPharaohcameupagainstthewallthatwassetaboutthecampoftheAch？anstoguardtheirships，andatitsheadcamethegoldenchariotwhereinweretheWandererandHelen。TheCaptainsoftheAch？anslookedwonderingfromtheirwall，watchingtheslaughteroftheirallies。
“Now，whoisthis？“criedaCaptain，“whoisthiscladingoldenarmourfashionedlikeourown，wholeadsthehostofPharaohtovictory？“
Thenacertainagedleaderofmenlookedforthandanswered: