tales of troy-第13章

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just　judge　in　this　question；　for　some　men　will　love　Aias　better；
and　some　will　prefer　Ulysses；　and　thus　will　arise　disputes　among
ourselves。　　Lo！　have　we　not　here　among　us　many　Trojan　prisoners；
waiting　till　their　friends　pay　their　ransom　in　cattle　and　gold　and
bronze　and　iron？　　These　hate　all　the　Greeks　alike；　and　will　favour
neither　Aias　nor　Ulysses。　　Let　THEM　be　the　judges；　and　decide　who
is　the　best　of　the　Greeks；　and　the　man　who　has　done　most　harm　to
the　Trojans。〃

Agamemnon　said　that　Nestor　had　spoken　wisely。　　The　Trojans　were
then　made　to　sit　as　judges　in　the　midst　of　the　Assembly；　and　Aias
and　Ulysses　spoke；　and　told　the　stories　of　their　own　great　deeds；
of　which　we　have　heard　already；　but　Aias　spoke　roughly　and
discourteously；　calling　Ulysses　a　coward　and　a　weakling。　　〃Perhaps
the　Trojans　know；〃　said　Ulysses　quietly；　〃whether　they　think　that　I
deserve　what　Aias　has　said　about　me；　that　I　am　a　coward；　and
perhaps　Aias　may　remember　that　he　did　not　find　me　so　weak　when　we
wrestled　for　a　prize　at　the　funeral　of　Patroclus。〃

Then　the　Trojans　all　with　one　voice　said　that　Ulysses　was　the　best
man　among　the　Greeks；　and　the　most　feared　by　them；　both　for　his
courage　and　his　skill　in　stratagems　of　war。　　On　this；　the　blood　of
Aias　flew　into　his　face；　and　he　stood　silent　and　unmoving；　and
could　not　speak　a　word；　till　his　friends　came　round　him　and　led　him
away　to　his　hut；　and　there　he　sat　down　and　would　not　eat　or　drink；
and　the　night　fell。

Long　he　sat；　musing　in　his　mind；　and　then　rose　and　put　on　all　his
armour；　and　seized　a　sword　that　Hector　had　given　him　one　day　when
they　two　fought　in　a　gentle　passage　of　arms；　and　took　courteous
farewell　of　each　other；　and　Aias　had　given　Hector　a　broad　sword…
belt；　wrought　with　gold。　　This　sword；　Hector's　gift；　Aias　took；　and
went　towards　the　hut　of　Ulysses；　meaning　to　carve　him　limb　from
limb；　for　madness　had　come　upon　him　in　his　great　grief。　　Rushing
through　the　night　to　slay　Ulysses　he　fell　upon　the　flock　of　sheep
that　the　Greeks　kept　for　their　meat。　　And　up　and　down　among　them　he
went；　smiting　blindly　till　the　dawn　came；　and；　lo！　his　senses
returned　to　him；　and　he　saw　that　he　had　not　smitten　Ulysses；　but
stood　in　a　pool　of　blood　among　the　sheep　that　he　had　slain。　　He
could　not　endure　the　disgrace　of　his　madness；　and　he　fixed　the
sword；　Hector's　gift；　with　its　hilt　firmly　in　the　ground；　and　went
back　a　little　way；　and　ran　and　fell　upon　the　sword；　which　pierced
his　heart；　and　so　died　the　great　Aias；　choosing　death　before　a
dishonoured　life。



ULYSSES　SAILS　TO　SEEK　THE　SON　OF　ACHILLES。THE　VALOUR　OF　EURYPYLUS



When　the　Greeks　found　Aias　lying　dead；　slain　by　his　own　hand；　they
made　great　lament；　and　above　all　the　brother　of　Aias；　and　his　wife
Tecmessa　bewailed　him；　and　the　shores　of　the　sea　rang　with　their
sorrow。　　But　of　all　no　man　was　more　grieved　than　Ulysses；　and　he
stood　up　and　said：　　〃Would　that　the　sons　of　the　Trojans　had　never
awarded　to　me　the　arms　of　Achilles；　for　far　rather　would　I　have
given　them　to　Aias　than　that　this　loss　should　have　befallen　the
whole　army　of　the　Greeks。　　Let　no　man　blame　me；　or　be　angry　with
me；　for　I　have　not　sought　for　wealth；　to　enrich　myself；　but　for
honour　only；　and　to　win　a　name　that　will　be　remembered　among　men　in
times　to　come。〃　　Then　they　made　a　great　fire　of　wood；　and　burned
the　body　of　Aias；　lamenting　him　as　they　had　sorrowed　for　Achilles。

Now　it　seemed　that　though　the　Greeks　had　won　the　Luck　of　Troy　and
had　defeated　the　Amazons　and　the　army　of　Memnon；　they　were　no
nearer　taking　Troy　than　ever。　　They　had　slain　Hector；　indeed；　and
many　other　Trojans；　but　they　had　lost　the　great　Achilles；　and　Aias；
and　Patroclus；　and　Antilochus；　with　the　princes　whom　Penthesilea
and　Memnon　slew；　and　the　bands　of　the　dead　chiefs　were　weary　of
fighting；　and　eager　to　go　home。　　The　chiefs　met　in　council；　and
Menelaus　arose　and　said　that　his　heart　was　wasted　with　sorrow　for
the　death　of　so　many　brave　men　who　had　sailed　to　Troy　for　his　sake。
〃Would　that　death　had　come　upon　me　before　I　gathered　this　host；〃　he
said；　〃but　come；　let　the　rest　of　us　launch　our　swift　ships；　and
return　each　to　our　own　country。〃

He　spoke　thus　to　try　the　Greeks；　and　see　of　what　courage　they　were；
for　his　desire　was　still　to　burn　Troy　town　and　to　slay　Paris　with
his　own　hand。　　Then　up　rose　Diomede；　and　swore　that　never　would　the
Greeks　turn　cowards。　　No！　he　bade　them　sharpen　their　swords；　and
make　ready　for　battle。　　The　prophet　Calchas；　too；　arose　and
reminded　the　Greeks　how　he　had　always　foretold　that　they　would　take
Troy　in　the　tenth　year　of　the　siege；　and　how　the　tenth　year　had
come；　and　victory　was　almost　in　their　hands。　　Next　Ulysses　stood　up
and　said　that；　though　Achilles　was　dead；　and　there　was　no　prince　to
lead　his　men；　yet　a　son　had　been　born　to　Achilles；　while　he　was　in
the　isle　of　Scyros；　and　that　son　he　would　bring　to　fill　his
father's　place。

〃Surely　he　will　come；　and　for　a　token　I　will　carry　to　him　those
unhappy　arms　of　the　great　Achilles。　　Unworthy　am　I　to　wear　them；
and　they　bring　back　to　my　mind　our　sorrow　for　Aias。　　But　his　son
will　wear　them；　in　the　front　of　the　spearmen　of　Greece　and　in　the
thickest　ranks　of　Troy　shall　the　helmet　of　Achilles　shine；　as　it
was　wont　to　do；　for　always　he　fought　among　the　foremost。〃　　Thus
Ulysses　spoke；　and　he　and　Diomede；　with　fifty　oarsmen；　went　on
board　a　swift　ship；　and　sitting　all　in　order　on　the　benches　they
smote　the　grey　sea　into　foam；　and　Ulysses　held　the　helm　and　steered
them　towards　the　isle　of　Scyros。

Now　the　Trojans　had　rest　from　war　for　a　while；　and　Priam；　with　a
heavy　heart；　bade　men　take　his　chief　treasure；　the　great　golden
vine；　with　leaves　and　clusters　of　gold；　and　carry　it　to　the　mother
of　Eurypylus；　the　king　of　the　people　who　dwell　where　the　wide
marshlands　of　the　river　Cayster　clang　with　the　cries　of　the　cranes
and　herons　and　wild　swans。　　For　the　mother　of　Eurypylus　had　sworn
that　never　would　she　let　her　son　go　to　the　war　unless　Priam　sent
her　the　vine　of　gold；　a　gift　of　the　gods　to　an　ancient　King　of
Troy。

With　a　heavy　heart；　then；　Priam　sent　the　golden　vine；　but　Eurypylus
was　glad　when　he　saw　it；　and　bade　all　his　men　arm；　and　harness　the
horses　to　the　chariots；　and　glad　were　the　Trojans　when　the　long
line　of　the　new　army　wound　along　the　road　and　into　the　town。　　Then
Paris　welcomed　Eurypylus　who　was　his　nephew；　son　of　his　sister
Astyoche；　a　daughter　of　Priam；　but　the　grandfather　of　Eurypylus　was
the　famous　Heracles；　the　strongest　man　who　ever　lived　on　earth。　　So
Paris　brought　Eurypylus　to　his　house；　where　Helen　sat　working　at
her　embroideries　with　her　four　bower　maidens；　and　Eurypylus
marvelled　when　he　saw　her；　she　was　so　beautiful。　　But　the　Khita；
the　people　of　Eurypylus；　feasted　in　the　open　air　among　the　Trojans；
by　the　light　of　great　fires　burning；　and　to　the　music　of　pipes　and
flutes。　　The　Greeks　saw　the　fires；　and　heard　the　merry　music；　and
they　watched　all　night　lest　the　Trojans　should　attack　the　ships
before　the　dawn。　　But　in　the　dawn　Eurypylus　rose　from　sleep　and　put
on　his　armour；　and　hung　from　his　neck　by　the　belt　the　great　shield
on　which　were　fashioned；　in　gold　of　many　colours　and　in　silver；　the
Twelve　Adventures　of　Heracles；　his　grandfather；　strange　deeds　that
he　did；　fighting　with　monsters　and　giants　and　with　the　Hound　of
Hades；　who　guards　the　dwellings　of　the　dead。　　Then　Eurypylus　led　on
his　whole　army；　and　with　the　brothers　of　Hector　he　charged　against
the　Greeks；　who　were　led　by　Agamemnon。

In　that　battle　Eurypylus　first　smote　Nireus；　who　was　the　most
beautiful　of　the　Greeks　now　that　Achilles　had　fallen。　　There　lay
Nireus；　like　an　apple　tree；　all　covered　with　blossoms　red　and
white；　that　the　wind　has　overthrown　in　a　rich　man's　orchard。　　Then
Eurypylus　would　have　stripped　off　his　armour；　but　Machaon　rushed
in；　Machaon　who　had　been　wounded　and　taken　to　the　tent　of　Nestor；
on　the　day　of　the　Valour　of　Hector；　when　he　brought　fire　against
the　ships。　　Machaon　drove　his　spear　through　the　left　shoulder　of
Eurypylus；　but　Eurypylus　struck　at　his　shoulder　with　his　sword；　and
the　blood　flowed；　nevertheless；　Machaon　stooped；　and　grasped　a
great　stone；　and　sent　it　against　the　helmet　of　Eurypylus。　　He　was
shaken；　but　he　did　not　fall；　he　drove　his　spear　through　breastplate
and　breast　of　Machaon；　who　fell　and　died。　　With　his　last　breath　he
said；　〃Thou；　too；　shalt　fall；〃　but　Eurypylus　made　answer；　〃So　let
it　be！　　Men　cannot　live　for　ever；　and　such　is　the　fortune　of　war。〃

Thus　the　battle　rang；　and　shone；　and　shifted；　till　few　of　the
Greeks　kept　steadfast；　except　those　with　Menelaus　and　Agamemnon；
for　Diomede　and　Ulysses　were　far　away　upon　the　sea；　bringing　from
Scyros　the　son　of　Achilles。　　But　Teucer　slew　Polydamas；　who　had
warned　Hector　to　come　within　the　walls　of　Troy；　and　Menelaus
wounded　Deiphobus；　the　bravest　of　the　sons　of　Priam　who　were　still
in　arms；　for　many　had　fallen；　and　Agamemnon　slew　certain　spearmen
of　the　Trojans。　　Round　Eurypylus　fought　Paris；　and　Aeneas；　who
wounded　Teucer　with　a　great　stone；　breaking　in　his　helmet；　but　he
drove　back　in　his　chariot　to　the　ships。　　Menelaus　and　Agamemnon
stood　alone　and　fought　in　the　crowd　of　Trojans；　like　two　wild　boars
that　a　circle　of　hunters　surrounds　with　spears；　so　fiercely　they
stood　at　bay。　　There　they　would　both　have　fallen；　but　Idomeneus；
and　Meriones　of　Crete；　and　Thrasymedes；　Nestor's　son；　ran　to　their
rescue；　and　fiercer　grew　the　fighting。　　Eurypylus　desired　to　slay
Agamemnon　and　Menelaus；　and　end　the　war；　but；　as　the　spears　of　the
Scots　encompassed　King　James　at　Flodden　Field　till　he　ran　forward；
and　fell　within　a　lance's　length　of　the　English　general；　so　the　men
of　Crete　and　Pylos　guarded　the　two　princes　with　their　spears。

There　Paris　was　wounded　in　the　thigh　with　a　spear；　and　he　retreated
a　little　way；　and　showered　his　arrows　among　the　Greeks；　and
Idomeneus　lifted　and　hurled　a　great　stone　at　Eurypylus　which　struck
his　spear　out　of　his　hand；　and　he　went　back　to　find　it；　and
Menelaus　and　Agamemnon　had　a　breathing　space　in　the　battle。　　But
soon　Eurypylus　returned；　crying　on　his　men；　and　they　drove　back
foot　by　foot　the　ring　of　spears　round　Agamemnon；　and　Aeneas　and
Paris　slew　men　of　Crete　and　of　Mycenae　till　the　Greeks　were　pushed
to　the　ditch　round　the　camp；　and　then　great　stones　and　spears　and
arrows　rained　down　on　the　Trojans　and　the　people　of　Eurypylus　from
the　battlements　and　towers　of　the　Grecian　wall。　　Now　night　fell；
and　Eurypylus　knew　that　he　could　not　win　the　wall　in　the　dark；　so
he　withdrew　his　men；　and　they　built　great　fires；　and　camped　upon
the　plain。

The　case　of　the　Greeks　was　now　like　that　of　the　Trojans　after　the
death　of　Hector。　　They　buried　Machaon　and　the　other　chiefs　who　had
fallen；　and　they　remained　within　their　ditch　and　their　wall；　for
they　dared　not　come　out　into　the　open　plain。　　They　knew　not　whether
Ulysses　and　Diomede　had　come　safely　to　Scyros；　or　whether　their
ship　had　been　wrecked　or　driven　into　unknown　seas。　　So　they　sent　a
herald　to　Eurypylus；　asking　for　a　truce；　that　they　might　gather
their　dead　and　burn　them；　and　the　Trojans　and　Khita　also　buried
their　dead。

Meanwhile　the　swift　ship　of　Ulysses　had　swept　through　the　sea　to
Scyros；　and　to　the　palace　of　King　Ly