tales of troy-第14章

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Meanwhile　the　swift　ship　of　Ulysses　had　swept　through　the　sea　to
Scyros；　and　to　the　palace　of　King　Lycomedes。　　There　they　found
Neoptolemus；　the　son　of　Achilles；　in　the　court　before　the　doors。
He　was　as　tall　as　his　father；　and　very　like　him　in　face　and　shape；
and　he　was　practising　the　throwing　of　the　spear　at　a　mark。　　Right
glad　were　Ulysses　and　Diomede　to　behold　him；　and　Ulysses　told
Neoptolemus　who　they　were；　and　why　they　came；　and　implored　him　to
take　pity　on　the　Greeks　and　help　them。

〃My　friend　is　Diomede；　Prince　of　Argos；〃　said　Ulysses；　〃and　I　am
Ulysses　of　Ithaca。　　Come　with　us；　and　we　Greeks　will　give　you
countless　gifts；　and　I　myself　will　present　you　with　the　armour　of
your　father；　such　as　it　is　not　lawful　for　any　other　mortal　man　to
wear；　seeing　that　it　is　golden；　and　wrought　by　the　hands　of　a　God。
Moreover；　when　we　have　taken　Troy；　and　gone　home；　Menelaus　will
give　you　his　daughter；　the　beautiful　Hermione；　to　be　your　wife；
with　gold　in　great　plenty。〃

Then　Neoptolemus　answered：　　〃It　is　enough　that　the　Greeks　need　my
sword。　　To…morrow　we　shall　sail　for　Troy。〃　　He　led　them　into　the
palace　to　dine；　and　there　they　found　his　mother；　beautiful
Deidamia；　in　mourning　raiment；　and　she　wept　when　she　heard　that
they　had　come　to　take　her　son　away。　　But　Neoptolemus　comforted　her；
promising　to　return　safely　with　the　spoils　of　Troy；　〃or；　even　if　I
fall；〃　he　said；　〃it　will　be　after　doing　deeds　worthy　of　my　father's
name。〃　　So　next　day　they　sailed；　leaving　Deidamia　mournful；　like　a
swallow　whose　nest　a　serpent　has　found；　and　has　killed　her　young
ones；　even　so　she　wailed；　and　went　up　and　down　in　the　house。　　But
the　ship　ran　swiftly　on　her　way；　cleaving　the　dark　waves　till
Ulysses　showed　Neoptolemus　the　far　off　snowy　crest　of　Mount　Ida；
and　Tenedos；　the　island　near　Troy；　and　they　passed　the　plain　where
the　tomb　of　Achilles　stands；　but　Ulysses　did　not　tell　the　son　that
it　was　his　father's　tomb。

Now　all　this　time　the　Greeks；　shut　up　within　their　wall　and
fighting　from　their　towers；　were　looking　back　across　the　sea；　eager
to　spy　the　ship　of　Ulysses；　like　men　wrecked　on　a　desert　island；
who　keep　watch　every　day　for　a　sail　afar　off；　hoping　that　the
seamen　will　touch　at　their　isle　and　have　pity　upon　them；　and　carry
them　home；　so　the　Greeks　kept　watch　for　the　ship　bearing
Neoptolemus。

Diomede；　too；　had　been　watching　the　shore；　and　when　they　came　in
sight　of　the　ships　of　the　Greeks；　he　saw　that　they　were　being
besieged　by　the　Trojans；　and　that　all　the　Greek　army　was　penned　up
within　the　wall；　and　was　fighting　from　the　towers。　　Then　he　cried
aloud　to　Ulysses　and　Neoptolemus；　〃Make　haste；　friends；　let　us　arm
before　we　land；　for　some　great　evil　has　fallen　upon　the　Greeks。
The　Trojans　are　attacking　our　wall；　and　soon　they　will　burn　our
ships；　and　for　us　there　will　be　no　return。〃

Then　all　the　men　on　the　ship　of　Ulysses　armed　themselves；　and
Neoptolemus；　in　the　splendid　armour　of　his　father；　was　the　first　to
leap　ashore。　　The　Greeks　could　not　come　from　the　wall　to　welcome
him；　for　they　were　fighting　hard　and　hand…to…hand　with　Eurypylus
and　his　men。　　But　they　glanced　back　over　their　shoulders　and　it
seemed　to　them　that　they　saw　Achilles　himself；　spear　and　sword　in
hand；　rushing　to　help　them。　　They　raised　a　great　battle…cry；　and；
when　Neoptolemus　reached　the　battlements；　he　and　Ulysses；　and
Diomede　leaped　down　to　the　plain；　the　Greeks　following　them；　and
they　all　charged　at　once　on　the　men　of　Eurypylus；　with　levelled
spears；　and　drove　them　from　the　wall。

Then　the　Trojans　trembled；　for　they　knew　the　shields　of　Diomede　and
Ulysses；　and　they　thought　that　the　tall　chief　in　the　armour　of
Achilles　was　Achilles　himself；　come　back　from　the　land　of　the　dead
to　take　vengeance　for　Antilochus。　　The　Trojans　fled；　and　gathered
round　Eurypylus；　as　in　a　thunderstorm　little　children；　afraid　of
the　lightning　and　the　noise；　run　and　cluster　round　their　father；
and　hide　their　faces　on　his　knees。

But　Neoptolemus　was　spearing　the　Trojans；　as　a　man　who　carries　at
night　a　beacon　of　fire　in　his　boat　on　the　sea　spears　the　fishes
that　flock　around；　drawn　by　the　blaze　of　the　flame。　　Cruelly　he
avenged　his　father's　death　on　many　a　Trojan；　and　the　men　whom
Achilles　had　led　followed　Achilles'　son；　slaying　to　right　and　left；
and　smiting　the　Trojans；　as　they　ran；　between　the　shoulders　with
the　spear。　　Thus　they　fought　and　followed　while　daylight　lasted；
but　when　night　fell；　they　led　Neoptolemus　to　his　father's　hut；
where　the　women　washed　him　in　the　bath；　and　then　he　was　taken　to
feast　with　Agamemnon　and　Menelaus　and　the　princes。　　They　all
welcomed　him；　and　gave　him　glorious　gifts；　swords　with　silver
hilts；　and　cups　of　gold　and　silver；　and　they　were　glad；　for　they
had　driven　the　Trojans　from　their　wall；　and　hoped　that　to…morrow
they　would　slay　Eurypylus；　and　take　Troy　town。

But　their　hope　was　not　to　be　fulfilled；　for　though　next　day
Eurypylus　met　Neoptolemus　in　the　battle；　and　was　slain　by　him；　when
the　Greeks　chased　the　Trojans　into　their　city　so　great　a　storm　of
lightning　and　thunder　and　rain　fell　upon　them　that　they　retreated
again　to　their　camp。　　They　believed　that　Zeus；　the　chief　of　the
Gods；　was　angry　with　them；　and　the　days　went　by；　and　Troy　still
stood　unconquered。



THE　SLAYING　OF　PARIS



When　the　Greeks　were　disheartened；　as　they　often　were；　they
consulted　Calchas　the　prophet。　　He　usually　found　that　they　must　do
something；　or　send　for　somebody；　and　in　doing　so　they　diverted
their　minds　from　their　many　misfortunes。　　Now；　as　the　Trojans　were
fighting　more　bravely　than　before；　under　Deiphobus；　a　brother　of
Hector；　the　Greeks　went　to　Calchas　for　advice；　and　he　told　them
that　they　must　send　Ulysses　and　Diomede　to　bring　Philoctetes　the
bowman　from　the　isle　of　Lemnos。　　This　was　an　unhappy　deserted
island；　in　which　the　married　women；　some　years　before；　had　murdered
all　their　husbands；　out　of　jealousy；　in　a　single　night。　　The　Greeks
had　landed　in　Lemnos；　on　their　way　to　Troy；　and　there　Philoctetes
had　shot　an　arrow　at　a　great　water　dragon　which　lived　in　a　well
within　a　cave　in　the　lonely　hills。　　But　when　he　entered　the　cave
the　dragon　bit　him；　and；　though　he　killed　it　at　last；　its　poisonous
teeth　wounded　his　foot。　　The　wound　never　healed；　but　dripped　with
venom；　and　Philoctetes；　in　terrible　pain；　kept　all　the　camp　awake
at　night　by　his　cries。

The　Greeks　were　sorry　for　him；　but　he　was　not　a　pleasant　companion；
shrieking　as　he　did；　and　exuding　poison　wherever　he　came。　　So　they
left　him　on　the　lonely　island；　and　did　not　know　whether　he　was
alive　or　dead。　　Calchas　ought　to　have　told　the　Greeks　not　to　desert
Philoctetes　at　the　time；　if　he　was　so　important　that　Troy；　as　the
prophet　now　said；　could　not　be　taken　without　him。　　But　now；　as　he
must　give　some　advice；　Calchas　said　that　Philoctetes　must　be
brought　back；　so　Ulysses　and　Diomede　went　to　bring　him。　　They
sailed　to　Lemnos；　a　melancholy　place　they　found　it；　with　no　smoke
rising　from　the　ruinous　houses　along　the　shore。　　As　they　were
landing　they　learned　that　Philoctetes　was　not　dead；　for　his　dismal
old　cries　of　pain；　ototototoi；　ai；　ai；　pheu；　pheu；　ototototoi；　came
echoing　from　a　cave　on　the　beach。　　To　this　cave　the　princes　went；
and　found　a　terrible…looking　man；　with　long；　dirty；　dry　hair　and
beard；　he　was　worn　to　a　skeleton；　with　hollow　eyes；　and　lay　moaning
in　a　mass　of　the　feathers　of　sea　birds。　　His　great　bow　and　his
arrows　lay　ready　to　his　hand：　　with　these　he　used　to　shoot　the　sea
birds；　which　were　all　that　he　had　to　eat；　and　their　feathers
littered　all　the　floor　of　his　cave；　and　they　were　none　the　better
for　the　poison　that　dripped　from　his　wounded　foot。

When　this　horrible　creature　saw　Ulysses　and　Diomede　coming　near；　he
seized　his　bow　and　fitted　a　poisonous　arrow　to　the　string；　for　he
hated　the　Greeks；　because　they　had　left　him　in　the　desert　isle。
But　the　princes　held　up　their　hands　in　sign　of　peace；　and　cried　out
that　they　had　come　to　do　him　kindness；　so　he　laid　down　his　bow；　and
they　came　in　and　sat　on　the　rocks；　and　promised　that　his　wound
should　be　healed；　for　the　Greeks　were　very　much　ashamed　of　having
deserted　him。　　It　was　difficult　to　resist　Ulysses　when　he　wished　to
persuade　any　one；　and　at　last　Philoctetes　consented　to　sail　with
them　to　Troy。　　The　oarsmen　carried　him　down　to　the　ship　on　a
litter；　and　there　his　dreadful　wound　was　washed　with　warm　water；
and　oil　was　poured　into　it；　and　it　was　bound　up　with　soft　linen；　so
that　his　pain　grew　less　fierce；　and　they　gave　him　a　good　supper　and
wine　enough；　which　he　had　not　tasted　for　many　years。

Next　morning　they　sailed；　and　had　a　fair　west　wind；　so　that　they
soon　landed　among　the　Greeks　and　carried　Philoctetes　on　shore。
Here　Podaleirius；　the　brother　of　Machaon；　being　a　physician；　did
all　that　could　be　done　to　heal　the　wound；　and　the　pain　left
Philoctetes。　　He　was　taken　to　the　hut　of　Agamemnon；　who　welcomed
him；　and　said　that　the　Greeks　repented　of　their　cruelty。　　They　gave
him　seven　female　slaves　to　take　care　of　him；　and　twenty　swift
horses；　and　twelve　great　vessels　of　bronze；　and　told　him　that　he
was　always　to　live　with　the　greatest　chiefs　and　feed　at　their
table。　　So　he　was　bathed；　and　his　hair　was　cut　and　combed　and
anointed　with　oil；　and　soon　he　was　eager　and　ready　to　fight；　and　to
use　his　great　bow　and　poisoned　arrows　on　the　Trojans。　　The　use　of
poisoned　arrow…tips　was　thought　unfair；　but　Philoctetes　had　no
scruples。

Now　in　the　next　battle　Paris　was　shooting　down　the　Greeks　with　his
arrows；　when　Philoctetes　saw　him；　and　cried：　　〃Dog；　you　are　proud
of　your　archery　and　of　the　arrow　that　slew　the　great　Achilles。
But；　behold；　I　am　a　better　bowman　than　you；　by　far；　and　the　bow　in
my　hands　was　borne　by　the　strong　man　Heracles！〃　　So　he　cried　and
drew　the　bowstring　to　his　breast　and　the　poisoned　arrowhead　to　the
bow；　and　the　bowstring　rang；　and　the　arrow　flew；　and　did　but　graze
the　hand　of　Paris。　　Then　the　bitter　pain　of　the　poison　came　upon
him；　and　the　Trojans　carried　him　into　their　city；　where　the
physicians　tended　him　all　night。　　But　he　never　slept；　and　lay
tossing　in　agony　till　dawn；　when　he　said：　　〃There　is　but　one　hope。
Take　me　to　OEnone；　the　nymph　of　Mount　Ida！〃

〃Then　his　friends　laid　Paris　on　a　litter；　and　bore　him　up　the　steep
path　to　Mount　Ida。　　Often　had　he　climbed　it　swiftly；　when　he　was
young；　and　went　to　see　the　nymph　who　loved　him；　but　for　many　a　day
he　had　not　trod　the　path　where　he　was　now　carried　in　great　pain　and
fear；　for　the　poison　turned　his　blood　to　fire。　　Little　hope　he　had；
for　he　knew　how　cruelly　he　had　deserted　OEnone；　and　he　saw　that　all
the　birds　which　were　disturbed　in　the　wood　flew　away　to　the　left
hand；　an　omen　of　evil。

At　last　the　bearers　reached　the　cave　where　the　nymph　OEnone　lived；
and　they　smelled　the　sweet　fragrance　of　the　cedar　fire　that　burned
on　the　floor　of　the　cave；　and　they　heard　the　nymph　singing　a
melancholy　song。　　Then　Paris　called　to　her　in　the　voice　which　she
had　once　loved　to　hear；　and　she　grew　very　pale；　and　rose　up；　saying
to　herself；　〃The　day　has　come　for　which　I　have　prayed。　　He　is　sore
hurt；　and　has　come　to　bid　me　heal　his　wound。〃　　So　she　came　and
stood　in　the　doorway　of　the　dark　cave；　white　against　the　darkness；
and　the　bearers　laid