tales of troy-第15章

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stood　in　the　doorway　of　the　dark　cave；　white　against　the　darkness；
and　the　bearers　laid　Paris　on　the　litter　at　the　feet　of　OEnone；　and
he　stretched　forth　his　hands　to　touch　her　knees；　as　was　the　manner
of　suppliants。　　But　she　drew　back　and　gathered　her　robe　about　her；
that　he　might　not　touch　it　with　his　hands。

Then　he　said：　　〃Lady；　despise　me　not；　and　hate　me　not；　for　my　pain
is　more　than　I　can　bear。　　Truly　it　was　by　no　will　of　mine　that　I
left　you　lonely　here；　for　the　Fates　that　no　man　may　escape　led　me
to　Helen。　　Would　that　I　had　died　in　your　arms　before　I　saw　her
face！　　But　now　I　beseech　you　in　the　name　of　the　Gods；　and　for　the
memory　of　our　love；　that　you　will　have　pity　on　me　and　heal　my　hurt；
and　not　refuse　your　grace　and　let　me　die　here　at　your　feet。〃

Then　OEnone　answered　scornfully：　　〃Why　have　you　come　here　to　me？
Surely　for　years　you　have　not　come　this　way；　where　the　path　was
once　worn　with　your　feet。　　But　long　ago　you　left　me　lonely　and
lamenting；　for　the　love　of　Helen　of　the　fair　hands。　　Surely　she　is
much　more　beautiful　than　the　love　of　your　youth；　and　far　more　able
to　help　you；　for　men　say　that　she　can　never　know　old　age　and　death。
Go　home　to　Helen　and　let　her　take　away　your　pain。〃

Thus　OEnone　spoke；　and　went　within　the　cave；　where　she　threw
herself　down　among　the　ashes　of　the　hearth　and　sobbed　for　anger　and
sorrow。　　In　a　little　while　she　rose　and　went　to　the　door　of　the
cave；　thinking　that　Paris　had　not　been　borne　away　back　to　Troy；　but
she　found　him　not；　for　his　bearers　had　carried　him　by　another　path；
till　he　died　beneath　the　boughs　of　the　oak　trees。　　Then　his　bearers
carried　him　swiftly　down　to　Troy；　where　his　mother　bewailed　him；
and　Helen　sang　over　him　as　she　had　sung　over　Hector；　remembering
many　things；　and　fearing　to　think　of　what　her　own　end　might　be。
But　the　Trojans　hastily　built　a　great　pile　of　dry　wood；　and　thereon
laid　the　body　of　Paris　and　set　fire　to　it；　and　the　flame　went　up
through　the　darkness；　for　now　night　had　fallen。

But　OEnone　was　roaming　in　the　dark　woods；　crying　and　calling　after
Paris；　like　a　lioness　whose　cubs　the　hunters　have　carried　away。
The　moon　rose　to　give　her　light；　and　the　flame　of　the　funeral　fire
shone　against　the　sky；　and　then　OEnone　knew　that　Paris　had　died
beautiful　Parisand　that　the　Trojans　were　burning　his　body　on　the
plain　at　the　foot　of　Mount　Ida。　　Then　she　cried　that　now　Paris　was
all　her　own；　and　that　Helen　had　no　more　hold　on　him：　　〃And　though
when　he　was　living　he　left　me；　in　death　we　shall　not　be　divided；〃
she　said；　and　she　sped　down　the　hill；　and　through　the　thickets
where　the　wood　nymphs　were　wailing　for　Paris；　and　she　reached　the
plain；　and；　covering　her　head　with　her　veil　like　a　bride；　she
rushed　through　the　throng　of　Trojans。　　She　leaped　upon　the　burning
pile　of　wood；　she　clasped　the　body　of　Paris　in　her　arms；　and　the
flame　of　fire　consumed　the　bridegroom　and　the　bride；　and　their
ashes　mingled。　　No　man　could　divide　them　any　more；　and　the　ashes
were　placed　in　a　golden　cup；　within　a　chamber　of　stone；　and　the
earth　was　mounded　above　them。　　On　that　grave　the　wood　nymphs
planted　two　rose　trees；　and　their　branches　met　and　plaited
together。

This　was　the　end　of　Paris　and　OEnone。



HOW　ULYSSES　INVENTED　THE　DEVICE　OF　THE　HORSE　OF　TREE



After　Paris　died；　Helen　was　not　given　back　to　Menelaus。　　We　are
often　told　that　only　fear　of　the　anger　of　Paris　had　prevented　the
Trojans　from　surrendering　Helen　and　making　peace。　　Now　Paris　could
not　terrify　them；　yet　for　all　that　the　men　of　the　town　would　not
part　with　Helen；　whether　because　she　was　so　beautiful；　or　because
they　thought　it　dishonourable　to　yield　her　to　the　Greeks；　who　might
put　her　to　a　cruel　death。　　So　Helen　was　taken　by　Deiphobus；　the
brother　of　Paris；　to　live　in　his　own　house；　and　Deiphobus　was　at
this　time　the　best　warrior　and　the　chief　captain　of　the　men　of
Troy。

Meanwhile；　the　Greeks　made　an　assault　against　the　Trojan　walls　and
fought　long　and　hardily；　but；　being　safe　behind　the　battlements；
and　shooting　through　loopholes；　the　Trojans　drove　them　back　with
loss　of　many　of　their　men。　　It　was　in　vain　that　Philoctetes　shot
his　poisoned　arrows；　they　fell　back　from　the　stone　walls；　or　stuck
in　the　palisades　of　wood　above　the　walls；　and　the　Greeks　who　tried
to　climb　over　were　speared；　or　crushed　with　heavy　stones。　　When
night　fell；　they　retreated　to　the　ships　and　held　a　council；　and；　as
usual；　they　asked　the　advice　of　the　prophet　Calchas。　　It　was　the
business　of　Calchas　to　go　about　looking　at　birds；　and　taking　omens
from　what　he　saw　them　doing；　a　way　of　prophesying　which　the　Romans
also　used；　and　some　savages　do　the　same　to　this　day。　　Calchas　said
that　yesterday　he　had　seen　a　hawk　pursuing　a　dove；　which　hid
herself　in　a　hole　in　a　rocky　cliff。　　For　a　long　while　the　hawk
tried　to　find　the　hole；　and　follow　the　dove　into　it；　but　he　could
not　reach　her。　　So　he　flew　away　for　a　short　distance　and　hid
himself；　then　the　dove　fluttered　out　into　the　sunlight；　and　the
hawk　swooped　on　her　and　killed　her。

The　Greeks；　said　Calchas；　ought　to　learn　a　lesson　from　the　hawk；
and　take　Troy　by　cunning；　as　by　force　they　could　do　nothing。　　Then
Ulysses　stood　up　and　described　a　trick　which　it　is　not　easy　to
understand。　　The　Greeks；　he　said；　ought　to　make　an　enormous　hollow
horse　of　wood；　and　place　the　bravest　men　in　the　horse。　　Then　all
the　rest　of　the　Greeks　should　embark　in　their　ships　and　sail　to　the
Isle　of　Tenedos；　and　lie　hidden　behind　the　island。　　The　Trojans
would　then　come　out　of　the　city；　like　the　dove　out　of　her　hole　in
the　rock；　and　would　wander　about　the　Greek　camp；　and　wonder　why　the
great　horse　of　tree　had　been　made；　and　why　it　had　been　left　behind。
Lest　they　should　set　fire　to　the　horse；　when　they　would　soon　have
found　out　the　warriors　hidden　in　it；　a　cunning　Greek；　whom　the
Trojans　did　not　know　by　sight；　should　be　left　in　the　camp　or　near
it。　　He　would　tell　the　Trojans　that　the　Greeks　had　given　up　all
hope　and　gone　home；　and　he　was　to　say　that　they　feared　the　Goddess
Pallas　was　angry　with　them；　because　they　had　stolen　her　image　that
fell　from　heaven；　and　was　called　the　Luck　of　Troy。　　To　soothe
Pallas　and　prevent　her　from　sending　great　storms　against　the　ships；
the　Trojans　（so　the　man　was　to　say）　had　built　this　wooden　horse　as
an　offering　to　the　Goddess。　　The　Trojans；　believing　this　story；
would　drag　the　horse　into　Troy；　and；　in　the　night；　the　princes
would　come　out；　set　fire　to　the　city；　and　open　the　gates　to　the
army；　which　would　return　from　Tenedos　as　soon　as　darkness　came　on。

The　prophet　was　much　pleased　with　the　plan　of　Ulysses；　and；　as　two
birds　happened　to　fly　away　on　the　right　hand；　he　declared　that　the
stratagem　would　certainly　be　lucky。　　Neoptolemus；　on　the　other
hand；　voted　for　taking　Troy；　without　any　trick；　by　sheer　hard
fighting。　　Ulysses　replied　that　if　Achilles　could　not　do　that；　it
could　not　be　done　at　all；　and　that　Epeius；　a　famous　carpenter；　had
better　set　about　making　the　horse　at　once。

Next　day　half　the　army；　with　axes　in　their　hands；　were　sent　to　cut
down　trees　on　Mount　Ida；　and　thousands　of　planks　were　cut　from　the
trees　by　Epeius　and　his　workmen；　and　in　three　days　he　had　finished
the　horse。　　Ulysses　then　asked　the　best　of　the　Greeks　to　come
forward　and　go　inside　the　machine；　while　one；　whom　the　Greeks　did
not　know　by　sight；　should　volunteer　to　stay　behind　in　the　camp　and
deceive　the　Trojans。　　Then　a　young　man　called　Sinon　stood　up　and
said　that　he　would　risk　himself　and　take　the　chance　that　the
Trojans　might　disbelieve　him；　and　burn　him　alive。　　Certainly；　none
of　the　Greeks　did　anything　more　courageous；　yet　Sinon　had　not　been
considered　brave。

Had　he　fought　in　the　front　ranks；　the　Trojans　would　have　known　him；
but　there　were　many　brave　fighters　who　would　not　have　dared　to　do
what　Sinon　undertook。

Then　old　Nestor　was　the　first　that　volunteered　to　go　into　the
horse；　but　Neoptolemus　said　that；　brave　as　he　was；　he　was　too　old；
and　that　he　must　depart　with　the　army　to　Tenedos。　　Neoptolemus
himself　would　go　into　the　horse；　for　he　would　rather　die　than　turn
his　back　on　Troy。　　So　Neoptolemus　armed　himself　and　climbed　into
the　horse；　as　did　Menelaus；　Ulysses；　Diomede；　Thrasymedes　（Nestor's
son）；　Idomeneus；　Philoctetes；　Meriones；　and　all　the　best　men　except
Agamemnon；　while　Epeius　himself　entered　last　of　all。　　Agamemnon　was
not　allowed　by　the　other　Greeks　to　share　their　adventure；　as　he　was
to　command　the　army　when　they　returned　from　Tenedos。　　They
meanwhile　launched　their　ships　and　sailed　away。

But　first　Menelaus　had　led　Ulysses　apart；　and　told　him　that　if　they
took　Troy　（and　now　they　must　either　take　it　or　die　at　the　hands　of
the　Trojans）；　he　would　owe　to　Ulysses　the　glory。　　When　they　came
back　to　Greece；　he　wished　to　give　Ulysses　one　of　his　own　cities；
that　they　might　always　be　near　each　other。　　Ulysses　smiled　and
shook　his　head；　he　could　not　leave　Ithaca；　his　own　rough　island
kingdom。　　〃But　if　we　both　live　through　the　night　that　is　coming；〃
he　said；　〃I　may　ask　you　for　one　gift；　and　giving　it　will　make　you
none　the　poorer。〃　　Then　Menelaus　swore　by　the　splendour　of　Zeus
that　Ulysses　could　ask　him　for　no　gift　that　he　would　not　gladly
give；　so　they　embraced；　and　both　armed　themselves　and　went　up　into
the　horse。　　With　them　were　all　the　chiefs　except　Nestor；　whom　they
would　not　allow　to　come；　and　Agamemnon；　who；　as　chief　general；　had
to　command　the　army。　　They　swathed　themselves　and　their　arms　in
soft　silks；　that　they　might　not　ring　and　clash；　when　the　Trojans；
if　they　were　so　foolish；　dragged　the　horse　up　into　their　town；　and
there　they　sat　in　the　dark　waiting。　　Meanwhile；　the　army　burned
their　huts　and　launched　their　ships；　and　with　oars　and　sails　made
their　way　to　the　back　of　the　isle　of　Tenedos。



THE　END　OF　TROY　AND　THE　SAVING　OF　HELEN



From　the　walls　the　Trojans　saw　the　black　smoke　go　up　thick　into　the
sky；　and　the　whole　fleet　of　the　Greeks　sailing　out　to　sea。　　Never
were　men　so　glad；　and　they　armed　themselves　for　fear　of　an　ambush；
and　went　cautiously；　sending　forth　scouts　in　front　of　them；　down　to
the　seashore。　　Here　they　found　the　huts　burned　down　and　the　camp
deserted；　and　some　of　the　scouts　also　caught　Sinon；　who　had　hid
himself　in　a　place　where　he　was　likely　to　be　found。　　They　rushed　on
him　with　fierce　cries；　and　bound　his　hands　with　a　rope；　and　kicked
and　dragged　him　along　to　the　place　where　Priam　and　the　princes　were
wondering　at　the　great　horse　of　tree。　　Sinon　looked　round　upon
them；　while　some　were　saying　that　he　ought　to　be　tortured　with　fire
to　make　him　tell　all　the　truth　about　the　horse。　　The　chiefs　in　the
horse　must　have　trembled　for　fear　lest　torture　should　wring　the
truth　out　of　Sinon；　for　then　the　Trojans　would　simply　burn　the
machine　and　them　within　it。

But　Sinon　said：　　〃Miserable　man　that　I　am；　whom　the　Greeks　hate　and
the　Trojans　are　eager　to　slay！〃　　When　the　Trojans　heard　that　the
Greeks　hated　him；　they　were　curious；　and　asked　who　he　was；　and　how
he　came　to　be　there。　　〃I　will　tell　you　all；　oh　King！〃　he　answered
Priam。　　〃I　was　a　friend　and　squire　of　an　unhappy　chief；　Palamedes；
whom　the　wicked　Ulysses　hated　and　slew　secretly　one　day；　when　he
found　him　alone；　fishing　in　the　sea。　　I　was　angry；　and　in