tales of troy-第5章

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Troy；　but；　when　he　woke；　he　seems　not　to　have　been　nearly　so
confident；　for　in　place　of　putting　on　his　armour；　and　bidding　the
Greeks　arm　themselves；　he　merely　dressed　in　his　robe　and　mantle；
took　his　sceptre；　and　went　and　told　the　chiefs　about　his　dream。
They　did　not　feel　much　encouraged；　so　he　said　that　he　would　try　the
temper　of　the　army。　　He　would　call　them　together；　and　propose　to
return　to　Greece；　but；　if　the　soldiers　took　him　at　his　word；　the
other　chiefs　were　to　stop　them。　　This　was　a　foolish　plan；　for　the
soldiers　were　wearying　for　beautiful　Greece；　and　their　homes；　and
wives　and　children。　　Therefore；　when　Agamemnon　did　as　he　had　said；
the　whole　army　rose；　like　the　sea　under　the　west　wind；　and；　with　a
shout；　they　rushed　to　the　ships；　while　the　dust　blew　in　clouds　from
under　their　feet。　　Then　they　began　to　launch　their　ships；　and　it
seems　that　the　princes　were　carried　away　in　the　rush；　and　were　as
eager　as　the　rest　to　go　home。

But　Ulysses　only　stood　in　sorrow　and　anger　beside　his　ship；　and
never　put　hand　to　it；　for　he　felt　how　disgraceful　it　was　to　run
away。　　At　last　he　threw　down　his　mantle；　which　his　herald　Eurybates
of　Ithaca；　a　round…shouldered；　brown；　curly…haired　man；　picked　up；
and　he　ran　to　find　Agamemnon；　and　took　his　sceptre；　a　gold…studded
staff；　like　a　marshal's　baton；　and　he　gently　told　the　chiefs　whom
he　met　that　they　were　doing　a　shameful　thing；　but　he　drove　the
common　soldiers　back　to　the　place　of　meeting　with　the　sceptre。
They　all　returned；　puzzled　and　chattering；　but　one　lame；　bandy…
legged；　bald；　round…shouldered；　impudent　fellow；　named　Thersites；
jumped　up　and　made　an　insolent　speech；　insulting　the　princes；　and
advising　the　army　to　run　away。　　Then　Ulysses　took　him　and　beat　him
till　the　blood　came；　and　he　sat　down；　wiping　away　his　tears；　and
looking　so　foolish　that　the　whole　army　laughed　at　him；　and　cheered
Ulysses　when　he　and　Nestor　bade　them　arm　and　fight。　　Agamemnon
still　believed　a　good　deal　in　his　dream；　and　prayed　that　he　might
take　Troy　that　very　day；　and　kill　Hector。　　Thus　Ulysses　alone　saved
the　army　from　a　cowardly　retreat；　but　for　him　the　ships　would　have
been　launched　in　an　hour。　　But　the　Greeks　armed　and　advanced　in
full　force；　all　except　Achilles　and　his　friend　Patroclus　with　their
two　or　three　thousand　men。　　The　Trojans　also　took　heart；　knowing
that　Achilles　would　not　fight；　and　the　armies　approached　each
other。　　Paris　himself；　with　two　spears　and　a　bow；　and　without
armour；　walked　into　the　space　between　the　hosts；　and　challenged　any
Greek　prince　to　single　combat。　　Menelaus；　whose　wife　Paris　had
carried　away；　was　as　glad　as　a　hungry　lion　when　he　finds　a　stag　or
a　goat；　and　leaped　in　armour　from　his　chariot；　but　Paris　turned　and
slunk　away；　like　a　man　when　he　meets　a　great　serpent　on　a　narrow
path　in　the　hills。　　Then　Hector　rebuked　Paris　for　his　cowardice；
and　Paris　was　ashamed　and　offered　to　end　the　war　by　fighting
Menelaus。　　If　he　himself　fell；　the　Trojans　must　give　up　Helen　and
all　her　jewels；　if　Menelaus　fell；　the　Greeks　were　to　return　without
fair　Helen。　　The　Greeks　accepted　this　plan；　and　both　sides　disarmed
themselves　to　look　on　at　the　fight　in　comfort；　and　they　meant　to
take　the　most　solemn　oaths　to　keep　peace　till　the　combat　was　lost
and　won；　and　the　quarrel　settled。　　Hector　sent　into　Troy　for　two
lambs；　which　were　to　be　sacrificed　when　the　oaths　were　taken。

In　the　meantime　Helen　of　the　fair　hands　was　at　home　working　at　a
great　purple　tapestry　on　which　she　embroidered　the　battles　of　the
Greeks　and　Trojans。　　It　was　just　like　the　tapestry　at　Bayeux　on
which　Norman　ladies　embroidered　the　battles　in　the　Norman　Conquest
of　England。　　Helen　was　very　fond　of　embroidering；　like　poor　Mary；
Queen　of　Scots；　when　a　prisoner　in　Loch　Leven　Castle。　　Probably　the
work　kept　both　Helen　and　Mary　from　thinking　of　their　past　lives　and
their　sorrows。

When　Helen　heard　that　her　husband　was　to　fight　Paris；　she　wept；　and
threw　a　shining　veil　over　her　head；　and　with　her　two　bower　maidens
went　to　the　roof　of　the　gate　tower；　where　king　Priam　was　sitting
with　the　old　Trojan　chiefs。　　They　saw　her　and　said　that　it　was
small　blame　to　fight　for　so　beautiful　a　lady；　and　Priam　called　her
〃dear　child；〃　and　said；　〃I　do　not　blame　you；　I　blame　the　Gods　who
brought　about　this　war。〃　　But　Helen　said　that　she　wished　she　had
died　before　she　left　her　little　daughter　and　her　husband；　and　her
home：　　〃Alas！　shameless　me！〃　　Then　she　told　Priam　the　names　of　the
chief　Greek　warriors；　and　of　Ulysses；　who　was　shorter　by　a　head
than　Agamemnon；　but　broader　in　chest　and　shoulders。　　She　wondered
that　she　could　not　see　her　own　two　brothers；　Castor　and　Polydeuces；
and　thought　that　they　kept　aloof　in　shame　for　her　sin；　but　the
green　grass　covered　their　graves；　for　they　had　both　died　in　battle；
far　away　in　Lacedaemon；　their　own　country。

Then　the　lambs　were　sacrificed；　and　the　oaths　were　taken；　and　Paris
put　on　his　brother's　armour；　helmet；　breastplate；　shield；　and　leg…
armour。　　Lots　were　drawn　to　decide　whether　Paris　or　Menelaus　should
throw　his　spear　first；　and；　as　Paris　won；　he　threw　his　spear；　but
the　point　was　blunted　against　the　shield　of　Menelaus。　　But　when
Menelaus　threw　his　spear　it　went　clean　through　the　shield　of　Paris；
and　through　the　side　of　his　breastplate；　but　only　grazed　his　robe。
Menelaus　drew　his　sword；　and　rushed　in；　and　smote　at　the　crest　of
the　helmet　of　Paris；　but　his　bronze　blade　broke　into　four　pieces。
Menelaus　caught　Paris　by　the　horsehair　crest　of　his　helmet；　and
dragged　him　towards　the　Greeks；　but　the　chin…strap　broke；　and
Menelaus　turning　round　threw　the　helmet　into　the　ranks　of　the
Greeks。　　But　when　Menelaus　looked　again　for　Paris；　with　a　spear　in
his　hand；　he　could　see　him　nowhere！　　The　Greeks　believed　that　the
beautiful　goddess　Aphrodite；　whom　the　Romans　called　Venus；　hid　him
in　a　thick　cloud　of　darkness　and　carried　him　to　his　own　house；
where　Helen　of　the　fair　hands　found　him　and　said　to　him；　〃Would
that　thou　hadst　perished；　conquered　by　that　great　warrior　who　was
my　lord！　　Go　forth　again　and　challenge　him　to　fight　thee　face　to
face。〃　　But　Paris　had　no　more　desire　to　fight；　and　the　Goddess
threatened　Helen；　and　compelled　her　to　remain　with　him　in　Troy；
coward　as　he　had　proved　himself。　　Yet　on　other　days　Paris　fought
well；　it　seems　that　he　was　afraid　of　Menelaus　because；　in　his
heart；　he　was　ashamed　of　himself。

Meanwhile　Menelaus　was　seeking　for　Paris　everywhere；　and　the
Trojans；　who　hated　him；　would　have　shown　his　hiding　place。　　But
they　knew　not　where　he　was；　and　the　Greeks　claimed　the　victory；　and
thought　that；　as　Paris　had　the　worst　of　the　fight；　Helen　would　be
restored　to　them；　and　they　would　all　sail　home。



TROJAN　VICTORIES



The　war　might　now　have　ended；　but　an　evil　and　foolish　thought　came
to　Pandarus；　a　prince　of　Ida；　who　fought　for　the　Trojans。　　He　chose
to　shoot　an　arrow　at　Menelaus；　contrary　to　the　sworn　vows　of　peace；
and　the　arrow　pierced　the　breastplate　of　Menelaus　through　the　place
where　the　clasped　plates　meet；　and　drew　his　blood。　　Then　Agamemnon；
who　loved　his　brother　dearly；　began　to　lament；　saying　that　if　he
died；　the　army　would　all　go　home　and　Trojans　would　dance　on　the
grave　of　Menelaus。　　〃Do　not　alarm　all　our　army；〃　said　Menelaus；
〃the　arrow　has　done　me　little　harm；〃　and　so　it　proved；　for　the
surgeon　easily　drew　the　arrow　out　of　the　wound。

Then　Agamemnon　hastened　here　and　there；　bidding　the　Greeks　arm　and
attack　the　Trojans；　who　would　certainly　be　defeated；　for　they　had
broken　the　oaths　of　peace。　　But　with　his　usual　insolence　he　chose
to　accuse　Ulysses　and　Diomede　of　cowardice；　though　Diomede　was　as
brave　as　any　man；　and　Ulysses　had　just　prevented　the　whole　army
from　launching　their　ships　and　going　home。　　Ulysses　answered　him
with　spirit；　but　Diomede　said　nothing　at　the　moment；　later　he　spoke
his　mind。　　He　leaped　from　his　chariot；　and　all　the　chiefs　leaped
down　and　advanced　in　line；　the　chariots　following　them；　while　the
spearmen　and　bowmen　followed　the　chariots。　　The　Trojan　army
advanced；　all　shouting　in　their　different　languages；　but　the　Greeks
came　on　silently。　　Then　the　two　front　lines　clashed；　shield　against
shield；　and　the　noise　was　like　the　roaring　of　many　flooded　torrents
among　the　hills。　　When　a　man　fell　he　who　had　slain　him　tried　to
strip　off　his　armour；　and　his　friends　fought　over　his　body　to　save
the　dead　from　this　dishonour。

Ulysses　fought　above　a　wounded　friend；　and　drove　his　spear　through
head　and　helmet　of　a　Trojan　prince；　and　everywhere　men　were　falling
beneath　spears　and　arrows　and　heavy　stones　which　the　warriors
threw。　　Here　Menelaus　speared　the　man　who　built　the　ships　with
which　Paris　had　sailed　to　Greece；　and　the　dust　rose　like　a　cloud；
and　a　mist　went　up　from　the　fighting　men；　while　Diomede　stormed
across　the　plain　like　a　river　in　flood；　leaving　dead　bodies　behind
him　as　the　river　leaves　boughs　of　trees　and　grass　to　mark　its
course。　　Pandarus　wounded　Diomede　with　an　arrow；　but　Diomede　slew
him；　and　the　Trojans　were　being　driven　in　flight；　when　Sarpedon　and
Hector　turned　and　hurled　themselves　on　the　Greeks；　and　even　Diomede
shuddered　when　Hector　came　on；　and　charged　at　Ulysses；　who　was
slaying　Trojans　as　he　went；　and　the　battle　swayed　this　way　and
that；　and　the　arrows　fell　like　rain。

But　Hector　was　sent　into　the　city　to　bid　the　women　pray　to　the
goddess　Athene　for　help；　and　he　went　to　the　house　of　Paris；　whom
Helen　was　imploring　to　go　and　fight　like　a　man；　saying：　　〃Would
that　the　winds　had　wafted　me　away；　and　the　tides　drowned　me；
shameless　that　I　am；　before　these　things　came　to　pass！〃

Then　Hector　went　to　see　his　dear　wife；　Andromache；　whose　father　had
been　slain　by　Achilles　early　in　the　siege；　and　he　found　her　and　her
nurse　carrying　her　little　boy；　Hector's　son；　and　like　a　star　upon
her　bosom　lay　his　beautiful　and　shining　golden　head。　　Now；　while
Helen　urged　Paris　to　go　into　the　fight；　Andromache　prayed　Hector　to
stay　with　her　in　the　town；　and　fight　no　more　lest　he　should　be
slain　and　leave　her　a　widow；　and　the　boy　an　orphan；　with　none　to
protect　him。　　The　army　she　said；　should　come　back　within　the　walls；
where　they　had　so　long　been　safe；　not　fight　in　the　open　plain。　　But
Hector　answered　that　he　would　never　shrink　from　battle；　〃yet　I　know
this　in　my　heart；　the　day　shall　come　for　holy　Troy　to　be　laid　low；
and　Priam　and　the　people　of　Priam。　　But　this　and　my　own　death　do
not　trouble　me　so　much　as　the　thought　of　you；　when　you　shall　be
carried　as　a　slave　to　Greece；　to　spin　at　another　woman's　bidding；
and　bear　water　from　a　Grecian　well。　　May　the　heaped　up　earth　of　my
tomb　cover　me　ere　I　hear　thy　cries　and　the　tale　of　thy　captivity。〃

Then　Hector　stretched　out　his　hands　to　his　little　boy；　but　the
child　was　afraid　when　he　saw　the　great　glittering　helmet　of　his
father　and　the　nodding　horsehair　crest。　　So　Hector　laid　his　helmet
on　the　ground　and　dandled　the　child　in　his　arms；　and　tried　to
comfort　his　wife；　and　said　good…bye　for　the　last　time；　for　he　never
came　back　to　Troy　alive。　　He　went　on　his　way　back　to　the　battle；
and　Paris　went　with　him；　in　glorious　armour；　and　soon　they　were
slaying　the　princes　of　the　Greeks。

The　battle　raged　till　nightfall；　and　in　the　night　the　Greeks　and
Trojans　burned