tales of troy-第6章

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slaying　the　princes　of　the　Greeks。

The　battle　raged　till　nightfall；　and　in　the　night　the　Greeks　and
Trojans　burned　their　dead；　and　the　Greeks　made　a　trench　and　wall
round　their　camp；　which　they　needed　for　safety　now　that　the　Trojans
came　from　their　town　and　fought　in　the　open　plain。

Next　day　the　Trojans　were　so　successful　that　they　did　not　retreat
behind　their　walls　at　night；　but　lit　great　fires　on　the　plain：　　a
thousand　fires；　with　fifty　men　taking　supper　round　each　of　them；
and　drinking　their　wine　to　the　music　of　flutes。　　But　the　Greeks
were　much　discouraged；　and　Agamemnon　called　the　whole　army
together；　and　proposed　that　they　should　launch　their　ships　in　the
night　and　sail　away　home。　　Then　Diomede　stood　up；　and　said：　　〃You
called　me　a　coward　lately。　　You　are　the　coward！　　Sail　away　if　you
are　afraid　to　remain　here；　but　all　the　rest　of　us　will　fight　till
we　take　Troy　town。〃

Then　all　shouted　in　praise　of　Diomede；　and　Nestor　advised　them　to
send　five　hundred　young　men；　under　his　own　son；　Thrasymedes；　to
watch　the　Trojans；　and　guard　the　new　wall　and　the　ditch；　in　case
the　Trojans　attacked　them　in　the　darkness。　　Next　Nestor　counselled
Agamemnon　to　send　Ulysses　and　Aias　to　Achilles；　and　promise　to　give
back　Briseis；　and　rich　presents　of　gold；　and　beg　pardon　for　his
insolence。　　If　Achilles　would　be　friends　again　with　Agamemnon；　and
fight　as　he　used　to　fight；　the　Trojans　would　soon　be　driven　back
into　the　town。

Agamemnon　was　very　ready　to　beg　pardon；　for　he　feared　that　the
whole　army　would　be　defeated；　and　cut　off　from　their　ships；　and
killed　or　kept　as　slaves。　　So　Ulysses　and　Aias　and　the　old　tutor　of
Achilles；　Phoenix；　went　to　Achilles　and　argued　with　him；　praying
him　to　accept　the　rich　presents；　and　help　the　Greeks。　　But　Achilles
answered　that　he　did　not　believe　a　word　that　Agamemnon　said；
Agamemnon　had　always　hated　him；　and　always　would　hate　him。　　No；　he
would　not　cease　to　be　angry；　he　would　sail　away　next　day　with　all
his　men；　and　he　advised　the　rest　to　come　with　him。　　〃Why　be　so
fierce？〃　said　tall　Aias；　who　seldom　spoke。　　〃Why　make　so　much
trouble　about　one　girl？　　We　offer　you　seven　girls；　and　plenty　of
other　gifts。〃

Then　Achilles　said　that　he　would　not　sail　away　next　day；　but　he
would　not　fight　till　the　Trojans　tried　to　burn　his　own　ships；　and
there　he　thought　that　Hector　would　find　work　enough　to　do。　　This
was　the　most　that　Achilles　would　promise；　and　all　the　Greeks　were
silent　when　Ulysses　delivered　his　message。　　But　Diomede　arose　and
said　that；　with　or　without　Achilles；　fight　they　must；　and　all　men；
heavy　at　heart；　went　to　sleep　in　their　huts　or　in　the　open　air　at
their　doors。

Agamemnon　was　much　too　anxious　to　sleep。　　He　saw　the　glow　of　the
thousand　fires　of　the　Trojans　in　the　dark；　and　heard　their　merry
flutes；　and　he　groaned　and　pulled　out　his　long　hair　by　handfuls。
When　he　was　tired　of　crying　and　groaning　and　tearing　his　hair；　he
thought　that　he　would　go　for　advice　to　old　Nestor。　　He　threw　a　lion
skin；　the　coverlet　of　his　bed；　over　his　shoulder；　took　his　spear；
went　out　and　met　Menelausfor　he；　too；　could　not　sleepand
Menelaus　proposed　to　send　a　spy　among　the　Trojans；　if　any　man　were
brave　enough　to　go；　for　the　Trojan　camp　was　all　alight　with　fires；
and　the　adventure　was　dangerous。　　Therefore　the　two　wakened　Nestor
and　the　other　chiefs；　who　came　just　as　they　were；　wrapped　in　the
fur　coverlets　of　their　beds；　without　any　armour。　　First　they
visited　the　five　hundred　young　men　set　to　watch　the　wall；　and　then
they　crossed　the　ditch　and　sat　down　outside　and　considered　what
might　be　done。　　〃Will　nobody　go　as　a　spy　among　the　Trojans？〃　said
Nestor；　he　meant　would　none　of　the　young　men　go。　　Diomede　said　that
he　would　take　the　risk　if　any　other　man　would　share　it　with　him；
and；　if　he　might　choose　a　companion；　he　would　take　Ulysses。

〃Come；　then；　let　us　be　going；〃　said　Ulysses；　〃for　the　night　is
late；　and　the　dawn　is　near。〃　　As　these　two　chiefs　had　no　armour　on；
they　borrowed　shields　and　leather　caps　from　the　young　men　of　the
guard；　for　leather　would　not　shine　as　bronze　helmets　shine　in　the
firelight。　　The　cap　lent　to　Ulysses　was　strengthened　outside　with
rows　of　boars'　tusks。　　Many　of　these　tusks；　shaped　for　this
purpose；　have　been　found；　with　swords　and　armour；　in　a　tomb　in
Mycenae；　the　town　of　Agamemnon。　　This　cap　which　was　lent　to　Ulysses
had　once　been　stolen　by　his　grandfather；　Autolycus；　who　was　a
Master　Thief；　and　he　gave　it　as　a　present　to　a　friend；　and　so；
through　several　hands；　it　had　come　to　young　Meriones　of　Crete；　one
of　the　five　hundred　guards；　who　now　lent　it　to　Ulysses。　　So　the　two
princes　set　forth　in　the　dark；　so　dark　it　was　that　though　they
heard　a　heron　cry；　they　could　not　see　it　as　it　flew　away。

While　Ulysses　and　Diomede　stole　through　the　night　silently；　like
two　wolves　among　the　bodies　of　dead　men；　the　Trojan　leaders　met　and
considered　what　they　ought　to　do。　　They　did　not　know　whether　the
Greeks　had　set　sentinels　and　outposts；　as　usual；　to　give　warning　if
the　enemy　were　approaching；　or　whether　they　were　too　weary　to　keep
a　good　watch；　or　whether　perhaps　they　were　getting　ready　their
ships　to　sail　homewards　in　the　dawn。　　So　Hector　offered　a　reward　to
any　man　who　would　creep　through　the　night　and　spy　on　the　Greeks；　he
said　he　would　give　the　spy　the　two　best　horses　in　the　Greek　camp。

Now　among　the　Trojans　there　was　a　young　man　named　Dolon；　the　son　of
a　rich　father；　and　he　was　the　only　boy　in　a　family　of　five　sisters。
He　was　ugly；　but　a　very　swift　runner；　and　he　cared　for　horses　more
than　for　anything　else　in　the　world。　　Dolon　arose　and　said；　〃If　you
will　swear　to　give　me　the　horses　and　chariot　of　Achilles；　son　of
Peleus；　I　will　steal　to　the　hut　of　Agamemnon　and　listen　and　find
out　whether　the　Greeks　mean　to　fight　or　flee。〃　　Hector　swore　to
give　these　horses；　which　were　the　best　in　the　world；　to　Dolon；　so
he　took　his　bow　and　threw　a　grey　wolf's　hide　over　his　shoulders；
and　ran　towards　the　ships　of　the　Greeks。

Now　Ulysses　saw　Dolon　as　he　came；　and　said　to　Diomede；　〃Let　us
suffer　him　to　pass　us；　and　then　do　you　keep　driving　him　with　your
spear　towards　the　ships；　and　away　from　Troy。〃　　So　Ulysses　and
Diomede　lay　down　among　the　dead　men　who　had　fallen　in　the　battle；
and　Dolon　ran　on　past　them　towards　the　Greeks。　　Then　they　rose　and
chased　him　as　two　greyhounds　course　a　hare；　and；　when　Dolon　was
near　the　sentinels；　Diomede　cried　〃Stand；　or　I　will　slay　you　with
my　spear！〃　and　he　threw　his　spear　just　over　Dolon's　shoulder。　　So
Dolon　stood　still；　green　with　fear；　and　with　his　teeth　chattering。
When　the　two　came　up；　he　cried；　and　said　that　his　father　was　a　rich
man；　who　would　pay　much　gold；　and　bronze；　and　iron　for　his　ransom。

Ulysses　said；　〃Take　heart；　and　put　death　out　of　your　mind；　and　tell
us　what　you　are　doing　here。〃　　Dolon　said　that　Hector　had　promised
him　the　horses　of　Achilles　if　he　would　go　and　spy　on　the　Greeks。
〃You　set　your　hopes　high；〃　said　Ulysses；　〃for　the　horses　of
Achilles　are　not　earthly　steeds；　but　divine；　a　gift　of　the　Gods；
and　Achilles　alone　can　drive　them。　　But；　tell　me；　do　the　Trojans
keep　good　watch；　and　where　is　Hector　with　his　horses？〃　for　Ulysses
thought　that　it　would　be　a　great　adventure　to　drive　away　the　horses
of　Hector。

〃Hector　is　with　the　chiefs；　holding　council　at　the　tomb　of　Ilus；〃
said　Dolon；　〃but　no　regular　guard　is　set。　　The　people　of　Troy；
indeed；　are　round　their　watch　fires；　for　they　have　to　think　of　the
safety　of　their　wives　and　children；　but　the　allies　from　far　lands
keep　no　watch；　for　their　wives　and　children　are　safe　at　home。〃
Then　he　told　where　all　the　different　peoples　who　fought　for　Priam
had　their　stations；　but；　said　he；　〃if　you　want　to　steal　horses；　the
best　are　those　of　Rhesus；　King　of　the　Thracians；　who　has　only
joined　us　to…night。　　He　and　his　men　are　asleep　at　the　furthest　end
of　the　line；　and　his　horses　are　the　best　and　greatest　that　ever　I
saw：　　tall；　white　as　snow；　and　swift　as　the　wind；　and　his　chariot
is　adorned　with　gold　and　silver；　and　golden　is　his　armour。　　Now
take　me　prisoner　to　the　ships；　or　bind　me　and　leave　me　here　while
you　go　and　try　whether　I　have　told　you　truth　or　lies。〃

〃No；〃　said　Diomede；　〃if　I　spare　your　life　you　may　come　spying
again；〃　and　he　drew　his　sword　and　smote　off　the　head　of　Dolon。
They　hid　his　cap　and　bow　and　spear　where　they　could　find　them
easily；　and　marked　the　spot；　and　went　through　the　night　to　the　dark
camp　of　King　Rhesus；　who　had　no　watch…fire　and　no　guards。　　Then
Diomede　silently　stabbed　each　sleeping　man　to　the　heart；　and
Ulysses　seized　the　dead　by　the　feet　and　threw　them　aside　lest　they
should　frighten　the　horses；　which　had　never　been　in　battle；　and
would　shy　if　they　were　led　over　the　bodies　of　dead　men。　　Last　of
all　Diomede　killed　King　Rhesus；　and　Ulysses　led　forth　his　horses；
beating　them　with　his　bow；　for　he　had　forgotten　to　take　the　whip
from　the　chariot。　　Then　Ulysses　and　Diomede　leaped　on　the　backs　of
the　horses；　as　they　had　not　time　to　bring　away　the　chariot；　and
they　galloped　to　the　ships；　stopping　to　pick　up　the　spear；　and　bow；
and　cap　of　Dolon。　　They　rode　to　the　princes；　who　welcomed　them；　and
all　laughed　for　glee　when　they　saw　the　white　horses　and　heard　that
King　Rhesus　was　dead；　for　they　guessed　that　all　his　army　would　now
go　home　to　Thrace。　　This　they　must　have　done；　for　we　never　hear　of
them　in　the　battles　that　followed；　so　Ulysses　and　Diomede　deprived
the　Trojans　of　thousands　of　men。　　The　other　princes　went　to　bed　in
good　spirits；　but　Ulysses　and　Diomede　took　a　swim　in　the　sea；　and
then　went　into　hot　baths；　and　so　to　breakfast；　for　rosy…fingered
Dawn　was　coming　up　the　sky。



BATTLE　AT　THE　SHIPS



With　dawn　Agamemnon　awoke；　and　fear　had　gone　out　of　his　heart。　　He
put　on　his　armour；　and　arrayed　the　chiefs　on　foot　in　front　of　their
chariots；　and　behind　them　came　the　spearmen；　with　the　bowmen　and
slingers　on　the　wings　of　the　army。　　Then　a　great　black　cloud　spread
over　the　sky；　and　red　was　the　rain　that　fell　from　it。　　The　Trojans
gathered　on　a　height　in　the　plain；　and　Hector；　shining　in　armour；
went　here　and　there；　in　front　and　rear；　like　a　star　that　now　gleams
forth　and　now　is　hidden　in　a　cloud。

The　armies　rushed　on　each　other　and　hewed　each　other　down；　as
reapers　cut　their　way　through　a　field　of　tall　corn。　　Neither　side
gave　ground；　though　the　helmets　of　the　bravest　Trojans　might　be
seen　deep　in　the　ranks　of　the　Greeks；　and　the　swords　of　the　bravest
Greeks　rose　and　fell　in　the　ranks　of　the　Trojans；　and　all　the　while
the　arrows　showered　like　rain。　　But　at　noon…day；　when　the　weary
woodman　rests　from　cutting　trees；　and　takes　his　dinner　in　the　quiet
hills；　the　Greeks　of　the　first　line　made　a　charge；　Agamemnon
running　in　front　of　them；　and　he　speared　two　Trojans；　and　took
their　breastplates；　which　he　laid　in　his　chariot；　and　then　he
speared　one　brother　of　Hector　and　struck　another　down　with　his
sword；　and　killed　two　more　who　vainly　asked　to　be　made　prisoners　of
war。　　Footmen　slew　footmen；　and　chariot　men　slew　chariot　men；　and
they　broke　into　the　Trojan　line　as　fire　falls　on　a　forest　in　a
windy　day；　leaping　and　roaring　and　racing　through　the　trees。　　Many
an　empty　chariot　did　the　horses　hurry　madly　through　the　field；　for
the　charioteers　were