tales of troy-第4章

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greatest　of　traders　and　sailors；　and　stealers　of　slaves。　　They
carried　cargoes　of　beautiful　cloths；　and　embroideries；　and　jewels
of　gold；　and　necklaces　of　amber；　and　sold　these　everywhere　about
the　shores　of　Greece　and　the　islands。

Ulysses　then　dressed　himself　like　a　Phoenician　pedlar；　with　his
pack　on　his　back：　　he　only　took　a　stick　in　his　hand；　his　long　hair
was　turned　up；　and　hidden　under　a　red　sailor's　cap；　and　in　this
figure　he　came；　stooping　beneath　his　pack；　into　the　courtyard　of
King　Lycomedes。　　The　girls　heard　that　a　pedlar　had　come；　and　out
they　all　ran；　Achilles　with　the　rest　to　watch　the　pedlar　undo　his
pack。　　Each　chose　what　she　liked　best：　　one　took　a　wreath　of　gold；
another　a　necklace　of　gold　and　amber；　another　earrings；　a　fourth　a
set　of　brooches；　another　a　dress　of　embroidered　scarlet　cloth；
another　a　veil；　another　a　pair　of　bracelets；　but　at　the　bottom　of
the　pack　lay　a　great　sword　of　bronze；　the　hilt　studded　with　golden
nails。　　Achilles　seized　the　sword。　　〃This　is　for　me！〃　he　said；　and
drew　the　sword　from　the　gilded　sheath；　and　made　it　whistle　round
his　head。

〃You　are　Achilles；　Peleus'　son！〃　said　Ulysses；　〃and　you　are　to　be
the　chief　warrior　of　the　Achaeans；〃　for　the　Greeks　then　called
themselves　Achaeans。　　Achilles　was　only　too　glad　to　hear　these
words；　for　he　was　quite　tired　of　living　among　maidens。　　Ulysses　led
him　into　the　hall　where　the　chiefs　were　sitting　at　their　wine；　and
Achilles　was　blushing　like　any　girl。

〃Here　is　the　Queen　of　the　Amazons；〃　said　Ulyssesfor　the　Amazons
were　a　race　of　warlike　maidens〃or　rather　here　is　Achilles；
Peleus'　son；　with　sword　in　hand。〃　　Then　they　all　took　his　hand；　and
welcomed　him；　and　he　was　clothed　in　man's　dress；　with　the　sword　by
his　side；　and　presently　they　sent　him　back　with　ten　ships　to　his
home。　　There　his　mother；　Thetis；　of　the　silver　feet；　the　goddess　of
the　sea；　wept　over　him；　saying；　〃My　child；　thou　hast　the　choice　of
a　long　and　happy　and　peaceful　life　here　with　me；　or　of　a　brief　time
of　war　and　undying　renown。　　Never　shall　I　see　thee　again　in　Argos
if　thy　choice　is　for　war。〃　　But　Achilles　chose　to　die　young；　and　to
be　famous　as　long　as　the　world　stands。　　So　his　father　gave　him
fifty　ships；　with　Patroclus；　who　was　older　than　he；　to　be　his
friend；　and　with　an　old　man；　Phoenix；　to　advise　him；　and　his　mother
gave　him　the　glorious　armour　that　the　God　had　made　for　his　father；
and　the　heavy　ashen　spear　that　none　but　he　could　wield；　and　he
sailed　to　join　the　host　of　the　Achaeans；　who　all　praised　and
thanked　Ulysses　that　had　found　for　them　such　a　prince。　　For
Achilles　was　the　fiercest　fighter　of　them　all；　and　the　swiftest…
footed　man；　and　the　most　courteous　prince；　and　the　gentlest　with
women　and　children；　but　he　was　proud　and　high　of　heart；　and　when　he
was　angered　his　anger　was　terrible。

The　Trojans　would　have　had　no　chance　against　the　Greeks　if　only　the
men　of　the　city　of　Troy　had　fought　to　keep　Helen　of　the　fair　hands。
But　they　had　allies；　who　spoke　different　languages；　and　came　to
fight　for　them　both　from　Europe　and　from　Asia。　　On　the　Trojan　as
well　as　on　the　Greek　side　were　people　called　Pelasgians；　who　seem
to　have　lived　on　both　shores　of　the　sea。　　There　were　Thracians；
too；　who　dwelt　much　further　north　than　Achilles；　in　Europe　and
beside　the　strait　of　Hellespont；　where　the　narrow　sea　runs　like　a
river。　　There　were　warriors　of　Lycia；　led　by　Sarpedon　and　Glaucus；
there　were　Carians；　who　spoke　in　a　strange　tongue；　there　were
Mysians　and　men　from　Alybe；　which　was　called　〃the　birthplace　of
silver；〃　and　many　other　peoples　sent　their　armies；　so　that　the　war
was　between　Eastern　Europe；　on　one　side；　and　Western　Asia　Minor　on
the　other。　　The　people　of　Egypt　took　no　part　in　the　war：　　the
Greeks　and　Islesmen　used　to　come　down　in　their　ships　and　attack　the
Egyptians　as　the　Danes　used　to　invade　England。　　You　may　see　the
warriors　from　the　islands；　with　their　horned　helmets；　in　old
Egyptian　pictures。

The　commander…in…chief；　as　we　say　now；　of　the　Trojans　was　Hector；
the　son　of　Priam。　　He　was　thought　a　match　for　any　one　of　the
Greeks；　and　was　brave　and　good。　　His　brothers　also　were　leaders；
but　Paris　preferred　to　fight　from　a　distance　with　bow　and　arrows。
He　and　Pandarus；　who　dwelt　on　the　slopes　of　Mount　Ida；　were　the
best　archers　in　the　Trojan　army。　　The　princes　usually　fought　with
heavy　spears；　which　they　threw　at　each　other；　and　with　swords；
leaving　archery　to　the　common　soldiers　who　had　no　armour　of　bronze。
But　Teucer；　Meriones；　and　Ulysses　were　the　best　archers　of　the
Achaeans。　　People　called　Dardanians　were　led　by　Aeneas；　who　was
said　to　be　the　son　of　the　most　beautiful　of　the　goddesses。　　These；
with　Sarpedon　and　Glaucus；　were　the　most　famous　of　the　men　who
fought　for　Troy。

Troy　was　a　strong　town　on　a　hill。　　Mount　Ida　lay　behind　it；　and　in
front　was　a　plain　sloping　to　the　sea　shore。　　Through　this　plain　ran
two　beautiful　clear　rivers；　and　there　were　scattered　here　and　there
what　you　would　have　taken　for　steep　knolls；　but　they　were　really
mounds　piled　up　over　the　ashes　of　warriors　who　had　died　long　ago。
On　these　mounds　sentinels　used　to　stand　and　look　across　the　water
to　give　warning　if　the　Greek　fleet　drew　near；　for　the　Trojans　had
heard　that　it　was　on　its　way。　　At　last　the　fleet　came　in　view；　and
the　sea　was　black　with　ships；　the　oarsmen　pulling　with　all　their
might　for　the　honour　of　being　the　first　to　land。　　The　race　was　won
by　the　ship　of　the　prince　Protesilaus；　who　was　first　of　all　to　leap
on　shore；　but　as　he　leaped　he　was　struck　to　the　heart　by　an　arrow
from　the　bow　of　Paris。　　This　must　have　seemed　a　good　omen　to　the
Trojans；　and　to　the　Greeks　evil；　but　we　do　not　hear　that　the
landing　was　resisted　in　great　force；　any　more　than　that　of　Norman
William　was；　when　he　invaded　England。

The　Greeks　drew　up　all　their　ships　on　shore；　and　the　men　camped　in
huts　built　in　front　of　the　ships。　　There　was　thus　a　long　row　of
huts　with　the　ships　behind　them；　and　in　these　huts　the　Greeks　lived
all　through　the　ten　years　that　the　siege　of　Troy　lasted。　　In　these
days　they　do　not　seem　to　have　understood　how　to　conduct　a　siege。
You　would　have　expected　the　Greeks　to　build　towers　and　dig　trenches
all　round　Troy；　and　from　the　towers　watch　the　roads；　so　that
provisions　might　not　be　brought　in　from　the　country。　　This　is
called　〃investing〃　a　town；　but　the　Greeks　never　invested　Troy。
Perhaps　they　had　not　men　enough；　at　all　events　the　place　remained
open；　and　cattle　could　always　be　driven　in　to　feed　the　warriors　and
the　women　and　children。

Moreover；　the　Greeks　for　long　never　seem　to　have　tried　to　break
down　one　of　the　gates；　nor　to　scale　the　walls；　which　were　very
high；　with　ladders。　　On　the　other　hand；　the　Trojans　and　allies
never　ventured　to　drive　the　Greeks　into　the　sea；　they　commonly
remained　within　the　walls　or　skirmished　just　beneath　them。　　The
older　men　insisted　on　this　way　of　fighting；　in　spite　of　Hector；　who
always　wished　to　attack　and　storm　the　camp　of　the　Greeks。　　Neither
side　had　machines　for　throwing　heavy　stones；　such　as　the　Romans
used　later；　and　the　most　that　the　Greeks　did　was　to　follow　Achilles
and　capture　small　neighbouring　cities；　and　take　the　women　for
slaves；　and　drive　the　cattle。　　They　got　provisions　and　wine　from
the　Phoenicians；　who　came　in　ships；　and　made　much　profit　out　of　the
war。

It　was　not　till　the　tenth　year　that　the　war　began　in　real　earnest；
and　scarcely　any　of　the　chief　leaders　had　fallen。　　Fever　came　upon
the　Greeks；　and　all　day　the　camp　was　black　with　smoke；　and　all
night　shone　with　fire　from　the　great　piles　of　burning　wood；　on
which　the　Greeks　burned　their　dead；　whose　bones　they　then　buried
under　hillocks　of　earth。　　Many　of　these　hillocks　are　still　standing
on　the　plain　of　Troy。　　When　the　plague　had　raged　for　ten　days；
Achilles　called　an　assembly　of　the　whole　army；　to　try　to　find　out
why　the　Gods　were　angry。　　They　thought　that　the　beautiful　God
Apollo　（who　took　the　Trojan　side）　was　shooting　invisible　arrows　at
them　from　his　silver　bow；　though　fevers　in　armies　are　usually
caused　by　dirt　and　drinking　bad　water。　　The　great　heat　of　the　sun；
too；　may　have　helped　to　cause　the　disease；　but　we　must　tell　the
story　as　the　Greeks　told　it　themselves。　　So　Achilles　spoke　in　the
assembly；　and　proposed　to　ask　some　prophet　why　Apollo　was　angry。
The　chief　prophet　was　Calchas。　　He　rose　and　said　that　he　would
declare　the　truth　if　Achilles　would　promise　to　protect　him　from　the
anger　of　any　prince　whom　the　truth　might　offend。

Achilles　knew　well　whom　Calchas　meant。　　Ten　days　before；　a　priest
of　Apollo　had　come　to　the　camp　and　offered　ransom　for　his　daughter
Chryseis；　a　beautiful　girl；　whom　Achilles　had　taken　prisoner；　with
many　others；　when　he　captured　a　small　town。　　Chryseis　had　been
given　as　a　slave　to　Agamemnon；　who　always　got　the　best　of　the
plunder　because　he　was　chief　king；　whether　he　had　taken　part　in　the
fighting　or　not。　　As　a　rule　he　did　not。　　To　Achilles　had　been　given
another　girl；　Briseis；　of　whom　he　was　very　fond。　　Now　when　Achilles
had　promised　to　protect　Calchas；　the　prophet　spoke　out；　and　boldly
said；　what　all　men　knew　already；　that　Apollo　caused　the　plague
because　Agamemnon　would　not　return　Chryseis；　and　had　insulted　her
father；　the　priest　of　the　God。

On　hearing　this；　Agamemnon　was　very　angry。　　He　said　that　he　would
send　Chryseis　home；　but　that　he　would　take　Briseis　away　from
Achilles。　　Then　Achilles　was　drawing　his　great　sword　from　the
sheath　to　kill　Agamemnon；　but　even　in　his　anger　he　knew　that　this
was　wrong；　so　he　merely　called　Agamemnon　a　greedy　coward；　〃with
face　of　dog　and　heart　of　deer；〃　and　he　swore　that　he　and　his　men
would　fight　no　more　against　the　Trojans。　　Old　Nestor　tried　to　make
peace；　and　swords　were　not　drawn；　but　Briseis　was　taken　away　from
Achilles；　and　Ulysses　put　Chryseis　on　board　of　his　ship　and　sailed
away　with　her　to　her　father's　town；　and　gave　her　up　to　her　father。
Then　her　father　prayed　to　Apollo　that　the　plague　might　cease；　and
it　did　ceasewhen　the　Greeks　had　cleansed　their　camp；　and　purified
themselves　and　cast　their　filth　into　the　sea。

We　know　how　fierce　and　brave　Achilles　was；　and　we　may　wonder　that
he　did　not　challenge　Agamemnon　to　fight　a　duel。　　But　the　Greeks
never　fought　duels；　and　Agamemnon　was　believed　to　be　chief　king　by
right　divine。　　Achilles　went　alone　to　the　sea　shore　when　his　dear
Briseis　was　led　away；　and　he　wept；　and　called　to　his　mother；　the
silver…footed　lady　of　the　waters。　　Then　she　arose　from　the　grey
sea；　like　a　mist；　and　sat　down　beside　her　son；　and　stroked　his　hair
with　her　hand；　and　he　told　her　all　his　sorrows。　　So　she　said　that
she　would　go　up　to　the　dwelling　of　the　Gods；　and　pray　Zeus；　the
chief　of　them　all；　to　make　the　Trojans　win　a　great　battle；　so　that
Agamemnon　should　feel　his　need　of　Achilles；　and　make　amends　for　his
insolence；　and　do　him　honour。

Thetis　kept　her　promise；　and　Zeus　gave　his　word　that　the　Trojans
should　defeat　the　Greeks。　　That　night　Zeus　sent　a　deceitful　dream
to　Agamemnon。　　The　dream　took　the　shape　of　old　Nestor；　and　said
that　Zeus　would　give　him　victory　that　day。　　While　he　was　still
asleep；　Agamemnon　was　fun　of　hope　that　he　would　instantly　take
Troy；　but；　when　he　woke；　he　seems　not　to　have　been　nearly　so
confident；　f