tales of troy-第1章

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Tales　of　Troy

by　Andrew　Lang






TALES　OF　TROY：　ULYSSES　THE　SACKER　OF　CITIES




Contents：

The　Boyhood　and　Parents　of　Ulysses
How　People　Lived　in　the　Time　of　Ulysses
The　Wooing　of　Helen　of　the　Fair　Hands
The　Stealing　of　Helen
Trojan　Victories
Battle　at　the　Ships
The　Slaying　and　Avenging　of　Patroclus
The　Cruelty　of　Achilles；　and　the　Ransoming　of　Hector
How　Ulysses　Stole　the　Luck　of　Troy
The　Battles　with　the　Amazons　and　Memnonthe　Death　of　Achilles
Ulysses　Sails　to　seek　the　Son　of　Achilles。The　Valour　of　Eurypylus
The　Slaying　of　Paris
How　Ulysses　Invented　the　Device　of　the　Horse　of　Tree
The　End　of　Troy　and　the　Saving　of　Helen




THE　BOYHOOD　AND　PARENTS　OF　ULYSSES



Long　ago；　in　a　little　island　called　Ithaca；　on　the　west　coast　of
Greece；　there　lived　a　king　named　Laertes。　　His　kingdom　was　small
and　mountainous。　　People　used　to　say　that　Ithaca　〃lay　like　a　shield
upon　the　sea；〃　which　sounds　as　if　it　were　a　flat　country。　　But　in
those　times　shields　were　very　large；　and　rose　at　the　middle　into
two　peaks　with　a　hollow　between　them；　so　that　Ithaca；　seen　far　off
in　the　sea；　with　her　two　chief　mountain　peaks；　and　a　cloven　valley
between　them；　looked　exactly　like　a　shield。　　The　country　was　so
rough　that　men　kept　no　horses；　for；　at　that　time；　people　drove；
standing　up　in　little　light　chariots　with　two　horses；　they　never
rode；　and　there　was　no　cavalry　in　battle：　　men　fought　from
chariots。　　When　Ulysses；　the　son　of　Laertes；　King　of　Ithaca　grew
up；　he　never　fought　from　a　chariot；　for　he　had　none；　but　always　on
foot。

If　there　were　no　horses　in　Ithaca；　there　was　plenty　of　cattle。　　The
father　of　Ulysses　had　flocks　of　sheep；　and　herds　of　swine；　and　wild
goats；　deer；　and　hares　lived　in　the　hills　and　in　the　plains。　　The
sea　was　full　of　fish　of　many　sorts；　which　men　caught　with　nets；　and
with　rod　and　line　and　hook。

Thus　Ithaca　was　a　good　island　to　live　in。　　The　summer　was　long；　and
there　was　hardly　any　winter；　only　a　few　cold　weeks；　and　then　the
swallows　came　back；　and　the　plains　were　like　a　garden；　all　covered
with　wild　flowersviolets；　lilies；　narcissus；　and　roses。　　With　the
blue　sky　and　the　blue　sea；　the　island　was　beautiful。　　White　temples
stood　on　the　shores；　and　the　Nymphs；　a　sort　of　fairies；　had　their
little　shrines　built　of　stone；　with　wild　rose…bushes　hanging　over
them。

Other　islands　lay　within　sight；　crowned　with　mountains；　stretching
away；　one　behind　the　other；　into　the　sunset。　　Ulysses　in　the　course
of　his　life　saw　many　rich　countries；　and　great　cities　of　men；　but；
wherever　he　was；　his　heart　was　always　in　the　little　isle　of　Ithaca；
where　he　had　learned　how　to　row；　and　how　to　sail　a　boat；　and　how　to
shoot　with　bow　and　arrow；　and　to　hunt　boars　and　stags；　and　manage
his　hounds。

The　mother　of　Ulysses　was　called　Anticleia：　　she　was　the　daughter
of　King　Autolycus；　who　lived　near　Parnassus；　a　mountain　on　the
mainland。　　This　King　Autolycus　was　the　most　cunning　of　men。　　He　was
a　Master　Thief；　and　could　steal　a　man's　pillow　from　under　his　head；
but　he　does　not　seem　to　have　been　thought　worse　of　for　this。　　The
Greeks　had　a　God　of　Thieves；　named　Hermes；　whom　Autolycus
worshipped；　and　people　thought　more　good　of　his　cunning　tricks　than
harm　of　his　dishonesty。　　Perhaps　these　tricks　of　his　were　only
practised　for　amusement；　however　that　may　be；　Ulysses　became　as
artful　as　his　grandfather；　he　was　both　the　bravest　and　the　most
cunning　of　men；　but　Ulysses　never　stole　things；　except　once；　as　we
shall　hear；　from　the　enemy　in　time　of　war。　　He　showed　his　cunning
in　stratagems　of　war；　and　in　many　strange　escapes　from　giants　and
man…eaters。

Soon　after　Ulysses　was　born；　his　grandfather　came　to　see　his　mother
and　father　in　Ithaca。　　He　was　sitting　at　supper　when　the　nurse　of
Ulysses；　whose　name　was　Eurycleia；　brought　in　the　baby；　and　set　him
on　the　knees　of　Autolycus；　saying；　〃Find　a　name　for　your　grandson；
for　he　is　a　child　of　many　prayers。〃

〃I　am　very　angry　with　many　men　and　women　in　the　world；〃　said
Autolycus；　〃so　let　the　child's　name　be　A　MAN　OF　WRATH；〃　which；　in
Greek；　was　Odysseus。　　So　the　child　was　called　Odysseus　by　his　own
people；　but　the　name　was　changed　into　Ulysses；　and　we　shall　call
him　Ulysses。

We　do　not　know　much　about　Ulysses　when　he　was　a　little　boy；　except
that　he　used　to　run　about　the　garden　with　his　father；　asking
questions；　and　begging　that　he　might　have　fruit　trees　〃for　his　very
own。〃　　He　was　a　great　pet；　for　his　parents　had　no　other　son；　so　his
father　gave　him　thirteen　pear　trees；　and　forty　fig　trees；　and
promised　him　fifty　rows　of　vines；　all　covered　with　grapes；　which　he
could　eat　when　he　liked；　without　asking　leave　of　the　gardener。　　So
he　was　not　tempted　to　steal　fruit；　like　his　grandfather。

When　Autolycus　gave　Ulysses　his　name；　he　said　that　he　must　come　to
stay　with　him；　when　he　was　a　big　boy；　and　he　would　get　splendid
presents。　　Ulysses　was　told　about　this；　so；　when　he　was　a　tall　lad；
he　crossed　the　sea　and　drove　in　his　chariot　to　the　old　man's　house
on　Mount　Parnassus。　　Everybody　welcomed　him；　and　next　day　his
uncles　and　cousins　and　he　went　out　to　hunt　a　fierce　wild　boar；
early　in　the　morning。　　Probably　Ulysses　took　his　own　dog；　named
Argos；　the　best　of　hounds；　of　which　we　shall　hear　again；　long
afterwards；　for　the　dog　lived　to　be　very　old。　　Soon　the　hounds　came
on　the　scent　of　a　wild　boar；　and　after　them　the　men　went；　with
spears　in　their　hands；　and　Ulysses　ran　foremost；　for　he　was　already
the　swiftest　runner　in　Greece。

He　came　on　a　great　boar　lying　in　a　tangled　thicket　of　boughs　and
bracken；　a　dark　place　where　the　sun　never　shone；　nor　could　the　rain
pierce　through。　　Then　the　noise　of　the　men's　shouts　and　the　barking
of　the　dogs　awakened　the　boar；　and　up　he　sprang；　bristling　all　over
his　back；　and　with　fire　shining　from　his　eyes。　　In　rushed　Ulysses
first　of　all；　with　his　spear　raised　to　strike；　but　the　boar　was　too
quick　for　him；　and　ran　in；　and　drove　his　sharp　tusk　sideways；
ripping　up　the　thigh　of　Ulysses。　　But　the　boar's　tusk　missed　the
bone；　and　Ulysses　sent　his　sharp　spear　into　the　beast's　right
shoulder；　and　the　spear　went　clean　through；　and　the　boar　fell　dead；
with　a　loud　cry。　　The　uncles　of　Ulysses　bound　up　his　wound
carefully；　and　sang　a　magical　song　over　it；　as　the　French　soldiers
wanted　to　do　to　Joan　of　Arc　when　the　arrow　pierced　her　shoulder　at
the　siege　of　Orleans。　　Then　the　blood　ceased　to　flow；　and　soon
Ulysses　was　quite　healed　of　his　wound。　　They　thought　that　he　would
be　a　good　warrior；　and　gave　him　splendid　presents；　and　when　he　went
home　again　he　told　all　that　had　happened　to　his　father　and　mother；
and　his　nurse；　Eurycleia。　　But　there　was　always　a　long　white　mark
or　scar　above　his　left　knee；　and　about　that　scar　we　shall　hear
again；　many　years　afterwards。



HOW　PEOPLE　LIVED　IN　THE　TIME　OF　ULYSSES



When　Ulysses　was　a　young　man　he　wished　to　marry　a　princess　of　his
own　rank。　　Now　there　were　at　that　time　many　kings　in　Greece；　and
you　must　be　told　how　they　lived。　　Each　king　had　his　own　little
kingdom；　with　his　chief　town；　walled　with　huge　walls　of　enormous
stone。　　Many　of　these　walls　are　still　standing；　though　the　grass
has　grown　over　the　ruins　of　most　of　them；　and　in　later　years；　men
believed　that　those　walls　must　have　been　built　by　giants；　the
stones　are　so　enormous。　　Each　king　had　nobles　under　him；　rich　men；
and　all　had　their　palaces；　each　with　its　courtyard；　and　its　long
hall；　where　the　fire　burned　in　the　midst；　and　the　King　and　Queen
sat　beside　it　on　high　thrones；　between　the　four　chief　carved
pillars　that　held　up　the　roof。　　The　thrones　were　made　of　cedar　wood
and　ivory；　inlaid　with　gold；　and　there　were　many　other　chairs　and
small　tables　for　guests；　and　the　walls　and　doors　were　covered　with
bronze　plates；　and　gold　and　silver；　and　sheets　of　blue　glass。
Sometimes　they　were　painted　with　pictures　of　bull　hunts；　and　a　few
of　these　pictures　may　still　be　seen。　　At　night　torches　were　lit；
and　placed　in　the　hands　of　golden　figures　of　boys；　but　all　the
smoke　of　fire　and　torches　escaped　by　a　hole　in　the　roof；　and　made
the　ceiling　black。　　On　the　walls　hung　swords　and　spears　and　helmets
and　shields；　which　needed　to　be　often　cleaned　from　the　stains　of
the　smoke。　　The　minstrel　or　poet　sat　beside　the　King　and　Queen；
and；　after　supper　he　struck　his　harp；　and　sang　stories　of　old　wars。
At　night　the　King　and　Queen　slept　in　their　own　place；　and　the　women
in　their　own　rooms；　the　princesses　had　their　chambers　upstairs；　and
the　young　princes　had　each　his　room　built　separate　in　the
courtyard。

There　were　bath　rooms　with　polished　baths；　where　guests　were　taken
when　they　arrived　dirty　from　a　journey。　　The　guests　lay　at　night　on
beds　in　the　portico；　for　the　climate　was　warm。　　There　were　plenty
of　servants；　who　were　usually　slaves　taken　in　war；　but　they　were
very　kindly　treated；　and　were　friendly　with　their　masters。　　No
coined　money　was　used；　people　paid　for　things　in　cattle；　or　in
weighed　pieces　of　gold。　　Rich　men　had　plenty　of　gold　cups；　and
gold…hilted　swords；　and　bracelets；　and　brooches。　　The　kings　were
the　leaders　in　war　and　judges　in　peace；　and　did　sacrifices　to　the
Gods；　killing　cattle　and　swine　and　sheep；　on　which　they　afterwards
dined。

They　dressed　in　a　simple　way；　in　a　long　smock　of　linen　or　silk；
which　fell　almost　to　the　feet；　but　was　tucked　up　into　a　belt　round
the　waist；　and　worn　longer　or　shorter；　as　they　happened　to　choose。
Where　it　needed　fastening　at　the　throat；　golden　brooches　were　used；
beautifully　made；　with　safety　pins。　　This　garment　was　much　like　the
plaid　that　the　Highlanders　used　to　wear；　with　its　belt　and
brooches。　　Over　it　the　Greeks　wore　great　cloaks　of　woollen　cloth
when　the　weather　was　cold；　but　these　they　did　not　use　in　battle。
They　fastened　their　breastplates；　in　war；　over　their　smocks；　and
had　other　armour　covering　the　lower　parts　of　the　body；　and　leg
armour　called　〃greaves〃；　while　the　great　shield　which　guarded　the
whole　body　from　throat　to　ankles　was　carried　by　a　broad　belt　slung
round　the　neck。　　The　sword　was　worn　in　another　belt；　crossing　the
shield　belt。　　They　had　light　shoes　in　peace；　and　higher　and　heavier
boots　in　war；　or　for　walking　across　country。

The　women　wore　the　smock；　with　more　brooches　and　jewels　than　the
men；　and　had　head　coverings；　with　veils；　and　mantles　over　all；　and
necklaces　of　gold　and　amber；　earrings；　and　bracelets　of　gold　or　of
bronze。　　The　colours　of　their　dresses　were　various；　chiefly　white
and　purple；　and；　when　in　mourning；　they　wore　very　dark　blue；　not
black。　　All　the　armour；　and　the　sword　blades　and　spearheads　were
made；　not　of　steel　or　iron；　but　of　bronze；　a　mixture　of　copper　and
tin。　　The　shields　were　made　of　several　thicknesses　of　leather；　with
a　plating　of　bronze　above；　tools；　such　as　axes　and　ploughshares；
were　either　of　iron　or　bronze；　and　so　were　the　blades　of　knives　and
daggers。

To　us　the　houses　and　way　of　living　would　have　seemed　very　splendid；
and　also；　in　some　ways；　rather　rough。　　The　palace　floors；　at　least
in　the　house　of　Ulysses；　were　littered　with　bones　and　feet　of　the
oxen　slain　for　food；　but　this　happened　when　Ulysses　had　been　long
from　home。　　The　floor　of　the　hall　in　the　house　of　Ulysses　was　not
boarded　with　planks；　or　paved　with　stone：　　it　was　made