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diff --git a/old/14752.txt b/old/14752.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..55d752b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14752.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12785 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Children's Hour, Volume 3 (of 10), by +Various, Edited by Eva March Tappan + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Children's Hour, Volume 3 (of 10) + +Author: Various + +Release Date: January 21, 2005 [eBook #14752] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, VOLUME 3 (OF +10)*** + + +E-text prepared by Bill Tozier, Barbara Tozier, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 14752-h.htm or 14752-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/5/14752/14752-h/14752-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/5/14752/14752-h.zip) + + + + + +THE CHILDREN'S HOUR + +In Ten Volumes + +Illustrated + +VOLUME III + +STORIES FROM THE CLASSICS + +Selected & Arranged by + +EVA MARCH TAPPAN + +Houghton Mifflin Company + +1907 + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "_It is strange that they let that dog lie there_"] + + + + +Between the dark and the daylight, when the night is beginning to lower +comes a pause in the days occupations, that is known as the Children's +Hour. + + + + +NOTE + + +All rights in stories in this volume are reserved by the holders of the +copyrights. The publishers and others named in the subjoined list are the +proprietors, either in their own right or as agents for the authors, of +the stories taken from the works enumerated, of which the ownership is +hereby acknowledged. The editor takes this opportunity to thank both +authors and publishers for the ready generosity with which they have +allowed her to include these stories in "The Children's Hour." + +"The Wonder-Book," and "Tanglewood Tales," by Nathaniel Hawthorne; +published by Houghton, Mifflin & Company. + +"Old Greek Folk Stories," by Josephine Preston Peabody; published by +Houghton, Mifflin & Company. + +"The Odyssey of Homer," English prose version by George Herbert Palmer; +published by Houghton, Mifflin & Company. + + + + + +CONTENTS + + + TO THE CHILDREN + + STORIES FROM HERODOTUS + LADRONIUS, THE PRINCE OF THIEVES + Retold by G. H. Boden and W. Barrington d'Almeida + ARION AND THE DOLPHIN + Retold by G. H. Boden and W. Barrington d'Almeida + + STORIES FROM LIVY + ROMULUS, FOUNDER OF ROME Alfred J. Church + HOW HORATIUS HELD THE BRIDGE Alfred J. Church + HOW CINCINNATUS SAVED ROME Alfred J. Church + THE STORY OF VIRGINIA Alfred J. Church + THE SACRIFICE OF MARCUS CURTIUS Alfred J. Church + + STORIES FROM OVID + THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER Nathaniel Hawthorne + THE GOLDEN TOUCH Nathaniel Hawthorne + THE POMEGRANATE SEEDS Nathaniel Hawthorne + + OLD GREEK FOLK-STORIES + ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE Josephine Preston Peabody + ICARUS AND DAEDALUS Josephine Preston Peabody + PHAETHON Josephine Preston Peabody + NIOBE Josephine Preston Peabody + PYRAMUS AND THISBE Josephine Preston Peabody + + STORIES OF THE TROJAN WAR + THE APPLE OF DISCORD Josephine Preston Peabody + THE QUARREL BETWEEN AGAMEMNON AND ACHILLES Alfred J. Church + THE FIGHT BETWEEN PARIS AND MENELAUS Walter C. Perry + THE DUEL BETWEEN HECTOR AND AJAX Walter C. Perry + THE DEATH OF PATROCLUS AND THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER + Alfred J. Church + VULCAN MAKES ARMOR FOR ACHILLES Walter C. Perry + THE SLAYING OF HECTOR Walter C. Perry + THE FUNERAL GAMES IN HONOR OF PATROCLUS Walter C. Perry + THE WOODEN HORSE AND THE FALL OF TROY Josephine Preston Peabody + + THE WANDERINGS OF ULYSSES + AN ADVENTURE WITH THE CYCLOPS Alfred J. Church + CIRCE'S PALACE Nathaniel Hawthorne + THE SIRENS--SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS + Translated by George Herbert Palmer + + ULYSSES IN ITHACA + ULYSSES LANDS ON THE SHORE OF ITHACA + F. S. Marvin, R. J. C. Mayor, and F. M. Stowell + ULYSSES AT THE HOUSE OF THE SWINEHERD + F. S. Marvin, R. J. C. Mayor, and F. M. Stowell + THE VENGEANCE OF ULYSSES + A. HIS RECEPTION AT THE PALACE + F. S. Marvin, R. J. C. Mayor, and F. M. Stowell + B. THE TRIAL OF THE BOW + Translated by George Herbert Palmer + C. THE SLAYING OF THE SUITORS + F. S. Marvin, R. J. C. Mayor, and F. M. Stowell + D. PENELOPE RECOGNIZES ULYSSES + Translated by George Herbert Palmer + + THE WANDERINGS OF THE TROJAN AENEAS + THE FLIGHT OF AENEAS FROM THE RUINS OF TROY Alfred J. Church + AENEAS'S ADVENTURE WITH THE HARPIES Charles Henry Hanson + AENEAS IN THE LAND OF THE CYCLOPS Charles Henry Hanson + AENEAS AND QUEEN DIDO Alfred J. Church + THE FUNERAL GAMES OF ANCHISES Charles Henry Hanson + AENEAS'S VISIT TO THE LOWER WORLD Charles Henry Hanson + AENEAS'S FIRST GREAT BATTLE WITH THE LATINS Charles Henry Hanson + AENEAS FINALLY CONQUERS THE LATINS Alfred J. Church + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + "IT IS STRANGE THAT THEY LET THAT DOG LIE THERE" + L.F. Schutzenberger + + "I AM AFRAID THERE WILL NOT BE HALF ENOUGH SUPPER" Walter Crane + + THEY LEAPED OUT OF THE BOTTOMLESS HOLE George Wharton Edwards + + TO HIM AT LAST THE THREE GODDESSES INTRUSTED THE JUDGMENT + AND THE GOLDEN APPLE Giulio Romano + + FIERCE WAS THE FIGHT ABOUT THE BODY OF PATROCLUS Giulio Romano + + A GREAT IMAGE OF A HORSE Franz Cleyn + + THE CYCLOPS IN HIS WRATH BRAKE OFF THE TOP OF A GREAT HILL + L.F. Schutzenberger + + "DEAR SON, HAVE YOU COME HOME AT LAST?" G. Truffault + + THE FLIGHT FROM TROY Franz Cleyn + + THE VICTORY OF EURYALUS Franz Cleyn + + + + +TO THE CHILDREN + + +The greater part of this book is made up of stories from the poems of +Homer and Virgil. Homer is thought to have lived in Greece about three +thousand years ago, and yet his poems never seem old-fashioned and people +do not tire of reading them. Boys and girls almost always like them, +because they are so full of stories. If you want to read about giants or +mermaids or shipwrecks or athletic contests or enchanters or furious +battles or the capture of cities or voyages to strange countries, all you +have to do is to open the Iliad and the Odyssey, and you will find stories +on all of these subjects. Homer can describe a foot-race or the throwing +of a discus so that you hold your breath to see who will win; and he can +picture a battle so vividly that you almost try to dodge the arrows and +spears. He can make the tears come into your eyes by telling you of the +grief of the warrior's wife when he leaves her and their baby son to go to +battle; and he can almost make you shout, "Hurrah for the brave champion!" +when he tells you what wonderful deeds of prowess have been done. He can +describe a shield so minutely that you could make one like it; and he can +paint a scene of feasting so perfectly that you feel as if you had been in +the very room. + +How is it that Homer makes his stories seem so real? There are several +reasons, but one of the strongest is because he tells the little things +that writers often forget to put in. When he describes the welcome given +to two strangers at the house of the lost Ulysses, by Telemachus, son of +the wanderer, he begins, "When they were come within the lofty hall, he +carried the spear to a tall pillar and set it in a well-worn rack." That +one word, "well-worn," gives us the feeling that Homer is not making up a +story, but that he has really seen the rack and noticed how it looked. The +same sentence shows why it is that people do not tire of reading Homer. It +ends, "where also stood many a spear of hardy Ulysses." This reminds the +reader that in spite of the hero's long years of absence, no one has been +allowed to remove his weapons from their old place. From this one phrase, +then, we can realize how much his wife and son love him, and how they have +mourned for him. Telemachus welcomes the strangers, but we can feel how +eager he is for them to be made comfortable as soon as possible so he can +talk of his father and learn whether they have chanced to meet him in +their wanderings. Homer's poems are full of such sentences as these; and, +no matter how many times one reads them, some thought, unnoticed before, +is ever coming to light. That is why they are always fresh and new and +interesting. + +There is a tradition that Homer was blind, and that he wandered about from +one place to another, singing or reciting his poems; but this is only +tradition, and there is little hope that we shall ever be able to find out +whether it is true or not. + +Homer's great poem, the Iliad, is the account of the Trojan War. His +Odyssey relates the adventures of the hero Ulysses, or Odysseus, as the +Greeks called him, in many years of wandering at the close of the war +before his enemies among the Gods would permit him to return to his home. +There were Trojan heroes, however, as well as Greek, and AEneas was one of +them. Virgil, the Latin poet, has told in the AEneid the story of his +troubles and adventures. AEneas, too, was driven over the waters, for the +Gods had told him it was the will of Jupiter, or Zeus, as it is in Greek, +for him to seek Italy and there found a city. Part of his journey is the +same as that of Ulysses. He, too, stops at the country of the one-eyed +giants and has to row as fast as he can to escape the rocks that they +throw at his vessel. He, too, hears the thunders of Mount AEtna and sees +the flashing of the fires of the volcano. His sailors point to it in fear +and whisper to one another, "That is the giant Enceladus. He rebelled +against the Gods and they piled the mountain on top of him. The fires of +Jupiter burn him, and he breathes out glowing flames. When he tosses from +one side to the other, the whole island of Sicily is shaken with a mighty +earthquake." + +Virgil was no homeless singer; he was one of the great literary men of +Rome, and he read his poems aloud to the Emperor Augustus. He had a +handsome villa and a troop of friends. He enjoyed everything that was +beautiful and seemed as happy when a friend had written a good poem as if +he had composed it himself. He was never satisfied with his verse till he +had made every line as perfect as possible. When he was ill and knew that +he could not recover, he made a will, and in it he ordered the AEneid to be +burned, because it was not so polished as he wished. "I meant to spend +three years more on it," he said. Fortunately for all the people who enjoy +a great poem, the Emperor forbade that this part of the will should be +carried out. He gave the manuscript to three friends of Virgil, all of +them poets, with orders to strike out every phrase that they believed +Virgil would have struck out on revision, but not to add one word. This is +the way that the AEneid was saved for us. If it had been destroyed, we +should have lost the work of one of the best storytellers that have ever +lived. + +Livy, too, was a friend of the Emperor Augustus, He lived in Rome, +enjoying his companions, the libraries of the city, and, most of all, his +independence. Even Virgil was ready to insert a few lines here and there +in a poem to gratify his friends, or to choose a subject that he knew +would please the Emperor; but Livy wrote on the subject that pleased him +and treated it just as he believed to be best. His great work was his +history, and this he begins with a little preface, as independent as it is +graceful. "Whether I shall gain any share of glory," he says, "by writing +a history of the Roman people, I do not know. The work, however, will be a +pleasure to me; and even if any fame that might otherwise be mine should +be hidden by the success of other writers, I shall console myself by +thinking of their excellence and greatness." No such thing happened, +however, for the kindly historian was so praised and his work so fully +appreciated that he said he had all the fame he could wish. + +Herodotus was a Greek who liked to travel. The world was very small in his +day, for little of it was known except some of the lands bordering on the +Mediterranean. To visit Tyre, Babylon, Egypt, Palestine, and the islands +of the eastern Mediterranean, as he did, made a man a great traveler five +centuries before Christ. Herodotus enjoyed all these wanderings, but they +also "meant business" to him. Whenever he came to a place of historical +interest, he stayed awhile. He explored the country thereabouts, he +measured the important buildings, he talked with the people who knew most +about the place. Then, when he came to write of its history, he did not +write like a man who had read an article or two in an encyclopaedia and was +trying to recite what he had learned, but like one who knew the place +which he was describing and liked to talk about it, and about what had +happened there. It is no wonder that his history has always been a +favorite; and to be a favorite author for twenty centuries is no small +glory. + +Ovid was a Latin poet who knew how to tell a story. He could not only +invent a tale, but he could tell it so well that the reader feels as if it +must be true. His most interesting stories, however, he did not invent, +for they are a rewriting of the old mythological tales. In one respect he +is like Homer; he never forgets the little things, and he tells so many +details that we can hardly believe he is imagining them. In his story of +Baucis and Philemon, for instance, Ovid does not forget to say that the +cottage door was so low that the two gods had to stoop to pass through it; +that Baucis hurried to brighten the fire with dry leaves and bits of bark; +that one leg of the table was too short and had to be propped up with a +piece of tile. He tells us that the kindhearted couple tried to catch +their one goose so as to cook it for the supper of their guests; but that +they were so old, and the goose so nimble of wing, that he escaped them +and flew to the Gods for refuge. We are so accustomed to think of Latin as +a grave, dignified language that almost every line of Ovid's +"Metamorphoses" is a pleasant surprise. The stories that he tells, "The +Miraculous Pitcher", "The Golden Touch", "The Pomegranate Seeds", and +others, retold by Hawthorne, are favorites among the boys and girls of +to-day, and they must have been liked just as well by the Roman children. +In Rome the children read the great poets in school, and I fancy that they +were always glad when the hour came to read the "Metamorphoses." + + + + +STORIES FROM HERODOTUS + + +LADRONIUS, THE PRINCE OF THIEVES + +Retold by G. H. Boden and W. Barrington d'Almeida + + +Many hundreds of years ago, not long after the Greeks returned from the +famous siege of Troy, there lived a king of Egypt, whose name was +Rhampsinitus. So great a king was he, that he kept a small army constantly +employed in supplying the royal household with food, and another small +army was required to keep the gardens of the palace in order. And had any +one been bold enough to doubt the greatness of the king, he need only have +looked at his magnificent dress to set all doubts at rest forever. Upon +the neck of the king was a heavy necklace, glittering with priceless +jewels, and on his arms were massive bracelets of pure gold. A golden +serpent, the symbol of royalty, gleamed from his forehead, and his golden +breastplate showed the sacred beetle worked in precious stones, to protect +him from evil spirits. Whenever he appeared in the streets of his capital, +he was borne in the royal chair on the shoulders of eight of his +courtiers, while on each side walked a great noble carrying a fan, shaped +like a palm leaf, with a long, straight stem. In front marched the +bodyguard of Sardinians, men with fair skins and blue eyes, who looked +very much out of place among the swarthy Egyptians; and last of all came +the grim, black guards from Ethiopia, with their sabres flashing in the +sun. And all the people fell on their faces and kissed the dust before +their royal master. Moreover, King Rhampsinitus erected several enormous +statues of himself, as well as many fine palaces and a beautiful temple, +bearing inscriptions which related all his great and glorious deeds, so +that the people who lived after him might know how great a king he had +been. + +But, in spite of all his greatness, there was one thing that prevented +King Rhampsinitus from being a happy man. He had so many treasures--masses +of silver, nuggets of gold, and bags of gold-dust, jewelry, precious +stones, and carvings in ivory--that he lived in constant fear of being +robbed. He had all his treasures packed in large jars and strong chests, +which were securely fastened, sealed up, and stowed away in a strong room +of the palace; but even then he did not feel comfortable, for might not +the palace be broken into by a clever thief and part of his treasure +stolen, while he slept? Besides, there was so much treasure packed away +already, that it was difficult to find a safe place for any more. His +anxiety made the king so unhappy, and caused him so many sleepless nights, +that he determined at last to build a large chamber of stone, with walls +too thick for any thief to break through. He sent for his chief architect, +who collected a great multitude of workmen and set to work building the +chamber without delay. Whole villages were compelled to join in the work; +even the old men and children were employed in carrying away rubbish, +bringing water and clay, and doing other work that was not too hard for +them. The stronger and more skillful workmen hewed great blocks of +granite, which were dragged to the place on wooden sledges; and, as they +had no cranes to lift the stones into their places on the walls, they were +obliged to build mounds of sand and rough bricks, and roll up each stone +gradually with wooden levers, until they got it into its proper place. It +was terribly hard work, but there were so many workmen, and the foremen +used their whips so unmercifully, that the walls rose very rapidly. + +Now the architect was a cunning man, and guessed what the chamber was +intended to hold. He therefore fitted one stone in such a way that it +would slide down and leave a hole just large enough for a man to crawl +through; and yet, when you looked at the wall, there was no sign at all by +which the secret could be discovered. Nor did the architect think it +necessary to mention the secret opening to his majesty, when he showed the +chamber to him and told him that it was as strong as he could make it. + +Rhampsinitus lost no time in moving his treasures into the new +treasure-chamber. The key he kept with him night and day, so that at last +he could sleep peacefully, knowing that any one who wished to pass the +solid, brass-bound door, must first prevail upon him to unlock it. + +For some time all went well. The king went to the treasury every morning, +and found everything in its place. Evidently he had been too clever for +the thieves. + +In the mean time the architect was lying ill in bed, and day by day he +grew weaker and weaker; until at length he knew that his end was +approaching, and, calling his two sons to his bedside, he told them of the +secret way into the treasure-chamber. + +"I have little of my own to leave you, my sons," he said, "and I have but +little influence at court; but by the aid of this secret, which I devised +for your sake, you may become rich men, and hold the office of king's +treasurers for life." + +The young men were delighted at his words, and so impatient were they to +enjoy their good fortune, that on the very night of their father's funeral +they stole away quietly to the place where the treasure-house stood. They +found the sliding stone exactly as their father had described it. The +younger and slimmer of the two brothers crawled through the opening and +found himself in a dark chamber, surrounded by heavy chests and jars with +sealed covers. Breaking open one of the latter, he put in his hand and +drew out a handful of gold, which sparkled and twinkled at him even in the +faint light which came through the hole in the wall. Handful after handful +he drew out and passed to his brother, at the same time filling the bags +he had brought with him, until both had as much as they could conveniently +carry. Then they replaced the stone, and returned to lay the treasure +before their mother; for in those days stealing was considered rather a +clever trick, and even the thief's mother did not scold him, so long as he +was not so clumsy as to be caught. + +Imagine the consternation of King Rhampsinitus when he visited the chamber +the following morning! Everything seemed as secure as ever, and yet, when +he opened the door, there lay one of the great jars turned over and empty, +while the lid of one of the chests was broken open and part of the +contents scattered on the floor. He examined every nook and cranny of the +chamber from floor to ceiling, and there was no sign of any one's having +forced an entrance. The fastenings of the door were firm, and the lock was +one which it was perfectly impossible to pick. For greater security, +however, Rhampsinitus sent at once for a locksmith, and commanded him to +fit the door with a second lock, the key of which he kept with the other. + +Notwithstanding this precaution, the treasure-chamber was robbed again on +the next night, and this time the thieves had broken open a great many of +the chests, and carried away some of the most valuable jewels. On the +following night a sentinel was posted, and still the treasury was robbed. +The sentinel vowed that he had stood with his back to the door all night, +and there is little doubt that he spoke the truth, though the poor fellow +was accused of sleeping at his post, and punished for his negligence. + +Then the king took counsel of the fan-bearer on the right hand, who was +also prime minister. He made a long speech, beginning with his regret that +his majesty had not thought fit to consult him earlier, and concluding +with a learned discourse on the habits of rats. + +"This is all very interesting," said Rhampsinitus, "but I do not see that +it helps very much to protect my treasure." + +"I crave your majesty's pardon," the prime minister answered. "I was about +to observe that the best way to catch a rat is first to study the habits +and tastes of the rat, and next to apply the knowledge so gained in +setting a trap." + +From which one may see that the prime minister was a very learned man, and +could not be expected to come to the point all at once. The king thanked +him for his valuable advice, and procured two or three powerful man-traps, +which he placed within his treasure-chamber. + +Night came on, and the two thieves set to work as before, but no sooner +had the younger brother disappeared through the hole in the wall than he +began to utter loud cries of agony. + +"Peace, brother! You will rouse the guard," said the elder. "What can have +befallen you?" + +The other controlled himself, and said with a groan, "Ladronius, we are +ruined. I am held fast in a trap, and I think my leg is broken. O Horus, +Lord of Life, deliver me!" + +With some difficulty Ladronius crawled through the opening to aid his +brother, for, though a thief, he was no coward. + +"Go back, Ladronius, go back!" cried his brother. "Leave me to my fate! I +think I hear the cries of the guard. No, brother, waste no more time!" he +entreated, as Ladronius tugged in vain at the cruel teeth of the trap. +"One thing remains to be done. Cut off my head, and take it away with you, +that I may not be recognized and so we both perish! I hear the footsteps +of men approaching. Do not rob our mother of both her sons!" + +And Ladronius, seeing that there was nothing else to be done, drew his +sword, cut off his brother's head, and escaped through the opening, not +forgetting to replace the stone behind him. He was only just in time, for +scarcely had he gained the cover of a clump of trees, when the soldiers of +the guard came running to the place and began to belabor the door. To +their surprise they found everything quiet and nothing displaced. They +examined the outside of the building thoroughly, and then, supposing that +they had been roused by a false alarm, they returned to the palace. + +In the morning, Rhampsinitus paid his daily visit to the chamber, and +discovered the headless body in the trap. He was more puzzled than ever. +He examined the fastenings of the door and the whole of the chamber over +and over again, and no hole nor crevice could he find. + +"Nevertheless," said he, "I have now bait for my trap. What can I do +better than set a thief to catch a thief?" + +So he ordered the body to be hung from the outer wall of the chamber, and +placed sentinels to guard it, strictly charging them to bring before him +any one who showed pity or sorrow for the dead. + +When the mother heard of her son's death and how the body had been +treated, she reproached Ladronius bitterly for his cowardice, and implored +him with many tears to bring back the body for proper burial. For the +Egyptians thought that unless a man's body were properly embalmed and +buried whole, he could have no life in the next world; so that it would be +a terrible misfortune if the head and the body were buried separately. +Ladronius attempted to comfort his mother, but did not dare to carry off +his brother's body so long as the sentinels were watching. In vain his +mother wept and entreated him, until at last her grief was turned to +anger, and she vowed that, if he did not obey her, she would go to the +king and tell him the whole story. Then Ladronius, seeing her so +determined, promised to do as she wished, and set his wits to work to +invent some means of carrying off the body without being caught by the +sentinels. At last he thought of a plan, which seemed to have some chance +of success. He hired two donkeys, and having bought some wineskins, which +were used in the place of bottles, he filled them with strong wine and +placed them on the donkeys' backs. + +Thus equipped, and dressed up to look like an old merchant, he set out for +the place where his brother's body was suspended. When he drew near to the +sentinels, he secretly loosened some of the strings which fastened the +necks of the wineskins, and then whipping the donkeys and letting them run +on a little way in front, he pursued them with loud cries. + +"Oh, miserable wretch that I am!" he cried, beating his head and looking +the very picture of despair. "All my good wine wasted on the ground! What +shall I do? Oh, what shall I do? Stop, most ungrateful of donkeys, +children of Set, that devour my substance and waste my wine as if it were +water! May Tefnet plague you with gadflies, and Renenutet poison the +thistles! Oh dear! oh dear! I am a ruined man." + +The soldiers, supposing it to be a genuine accident, laughed loudly at the +fellow's distress, and while some chased and caught the donkeys, the +others brought bowls and pitchers and began to drink the wine, as it ran +out of the skins. + +"Never mind, worthy sir!" they said to Ladronius. "The wine is serving a +very good purpose. Here is to our future friendship and your excellency's +very good health!" + +Ladronius pretended to fly into a great passion, and called them thieves +and monsters of iniquity for robbing a poor man of his wine. + +"Ay, laugh away!" he cried. "But a day of reckoning will come for your +wickedness. See how the law treats robbers!" And he pointed to his +brother's body hanging on the wall. + +"Now, by Anubis, the fellow speaks truth," said one of the soldiers. "We +are but sorry fellows to drink away a poor man's living, and if this were +to come to the ears of the king, we should be in evil case for leaving our +duty." + +The others laughed good-humoredly, as they tied up some of the skins, and +did their best to put the merchant into a good temper. Ladronius, after a +little more grumbling, appeared to be pacified, and, as a sign of +good-will, presented a wineskin to the soldier who had first spoken in his +favor. + +"May you never want a young friend to speak for you in your old age," said +he, "and may you meet with no worse companions than these; for though they +seem to be somewhat headstrong, yet I perceive that I spoke hard words in +my anger." + +The soldiers, who by this time had sat down on the grass and were passing +the wineskin from one to another, declared that the merchant was a +good-hearted old fellow and invited him to come and drink their health. + +"Nay, my masters," said Ladronius, pretending to adjust the straps on the +donkeys' backs. "I have far to go, and I am but a little way on my +journey." + +But, as they pressed him, he consented to drink one cup with them before +he went. "Though in truth," he added, "if I mistake not, the skin is +emptied already. I see that you would force me to part with another, +before I set out." + +As he spoke, he produced another wineskin, and the soldiers, who were +growing merry, greeted him with a shout of delight, and insisted on his +sitting down with them. Ladronius, still declaring that he could stay only +long enough to drink one cup with them, allowed himself to be placed in +the midst, where he presently proved himself so good a companion and told +so many merry tales that the soldiers would not hear of his departure. +They drank more and more heavily, until at length a third skin was opened, +and one by one the sentinels were overpowered by the strong wine, and all +lay asleep on the ground. + +By this time it had grown dark, and Ladronius, who had pretended to be as +drunk as the rest, cautiously raised his head, and finding that all the +sentinels were snoring, he took down his brother's body and carried it +off. But, before he went, he shaved the right side of the head of each of +the sentinels, to show his contempt for the king's precautions. + +The king was furious when he discovered the failure of his plan and the +insult offered to his guards, all of whom were beheaded for their +disobedience to his orders. He was more determined than ever to catch the +thief, and after taking counsel once more with his prime minister, he +decided upon another plan. He caused a proclamation to be made, in which +he promised the hand of his daughter to the man whom she should consider +the cleverest and most wicked of all men. He commanded the princess to sit +on a throne in the temple of Ra, the sun-god, and to speak to all who came +to pay their homage to her, asking them what was the cleverest and most +wicked deed they had done. But secretly Rhampsinitus told her that, if any +one related the story of the robbing of the treasury, she was to seize him +by the hand, and hold him till the guards came and secured him. + +The moment Ladronius heard the proclamation, he saw that it was another +trick to catch him, but he was so daring and so fond of adventure that he +could not resist the temptation to outdo the king in cunning once more. He +determined actually to put his head in the lion's mouth--in other words, +to go boldly to the temple and talk to the princess. He took with him +under his cloak the strangest of presents, an arm cut from a dead man's +body. + +When he entered the temple, he beheld the princess seated on her throne, +looking very beautiful in her royal robes, with her dark curls flowing +over her shoulders, and the golden vulture of Egypt spreading his wings +over her head. She looked a little pale and weary too, for she had talked +with many scores of suitors, all of whom had told her tales which were +very much alike and nothing at all to do with her father's +treasure-chamber. And when the princess looked up and saw Ladronius +standing there, with his bold, handsome face, and resolute eyes, she had a +suspicion that this was the robber of the treasury. At the same time she +felt some pity for the young man, whom she was to be the means of +punishing for his bravery. However, she could only obey her father, and +motioning to Ladronius to approach, she addressed him with great courtesy, +saying, "You seem, sir, by your bearing, to be a man of some strength and +courage. Tell me now, what is the most wicked thing, and what the +cleverest, you ever did in your life?" + +And Ladronius looked her straight in the face and answered, "Most gracious +princess, the most wicked thing I ever did in my life was to cut off my +brother's head in His Majesty's treasure-house, and the cleverest was when +I made the sentinels drunk and carried off my brother's body." + +Scarcely were the words out of his mouth, when the princess jumped up and +caught him, as she supposed, by the arm, at the same time crying out for +the guards, who were concealed behind the throne. But, to her dismay, the +arm seemed to part company with the rest of the body, and she was left +with the cloak of Ladronius and the arm of the dead man, while Ladronius +himself was out of the temple before she had recovered from her surprise; +nor could the guards find any trace of him outside. + +The princess went back to her father in fear and trembling, and related +how Ladronius had escaped once more; but the king was so amazed at the +daring and skill of the young man, that he quite forgot to be angry. + +The picture of the princess holding the arm that had no body attached to +it, and gazing blankly after the departing figure of Ladronius, so took +his fancy, that he lay back on his couch, and laughed till his sides +ached. + +"Bast!" he cried at length. "If the youth is really as clever as this, I +would rather have him my friend than my enemy. Such a man should be +rewarded and not punished for his genius. So he made you a present of his +cloak too, did he?" And the king collapsed once more. + +"And what manner of youth is he?" he asked the princess; the princess +answered, with a blush, that he looked like a brave young man. + +"That I am sure he is," said the king. "I have learnt it to my cost. And +he is not ill-looking?" + +"No," said the princess; she would not describe him as ill-looking. + +"Ah! well," said the king dryly, "we must see whether we cannot find some +means of securing his friendship." + +So King Rhampsinitus ordered another proclamation to be made, promising +that if the robber would present himself to the king and confess how he +had broken into the treasury, the king would grant him a free pardon and a +great reward beside. + +Ladronius was not long in making up his mind. He knew that kings were not +always above treachery, but he had survived so many dangers that he +determined to risk this also. He arrayed himself, therefore, in his best +attire, and boldly presented himself to the king, who was delighted with +his courage and bade him relate the whole story fearlessly. And when +Rhampsinitus heard of the secret way into his treasury, he would not rest +until he had seen the sliding stone and moved it for himself. He laughed +heartily when he remembered how he had put another lock on the door, and +how he had posted a sentinel in the one place where he could see nothing +of the thieves. Then he returned to the palace, and sent for the princess, +his daughter. Presently she entered with her train of maidens, and +Ladronius was so overcome by her fresh, girlish beauty, that he could +hardly find voice enough to reply to the king's questions. The king rose +and embraced his daughter, and then, addressing Ladronius before the +assembled courtiers, he said, "Ladronius, the Egyptians are the most +cunning of all nations on the face of the earth, and you have proved +yourself more cunning than all the Egyptians. And now, after robbing me of +so many treasures, you are about to rob me of the best and most priceless +of all." + +So saying, he took his daughter by the hand, and led her to Ladronius. + +"Take her, my son!" he said. "A good and obedient daughter should make a +faithful and loving wife." + +The princess stood with her eyes cast down, blushing very prettily, and +Ladronius looked very handsome as he knelt and kissed her hand. Then the +trumpets began to blare, the drums rattled, the cymbals clashed, and the +courtiers shouted, "Long live our gracious princess! Long live +Rhampsinitus and his son-in-law Ladronius!" The royal minstrel brought his +harp and sang a solemn chant, all about the beauty of the princess and the +bravery of Ladronius; and the maids of honor performed a graceful dance to +the music, winding wreaths of lotus flowers about the bride and +bridegroom. As the music ceased, the venerable High Priest of Ra, a tall +old man with his head clean-shaven, came forward to bless and anoint them, +and to tell how he had foreseen it all from the beginning. + +So Ladronius and the beautiful princess were married, and, though it is +not in the story, there can be no doubt that they lived very happily for +the rest of their lives. + + + + +ARION AND THE DOLPHIN + +Retold by G. H. Boden and W. Barrington d'Almeida + + +It happened once upon a time, in the olden days, that a young man, +Periander of Corinth, started from a port in the south of Greece to sail +to Miletus. Being caught in a storm, the boat was carried out of her +course as far as the island of Lesbos, where she stayed for several days, +in order that the damage caused by the storm might be repaired. In the +mean time Periander landed, and occupied himself in wandering about the +island and watching the inhabitants. In his wanderings, he came one +evening upon a group of men and women, the sight of whom made him pause +with a longing to join them. They had been working hard all day, gathering +the grapes, and pressing them in big, wooden vats, to extract the wine for +which Lesbos was famous; and now, in the beautiful autumn evening, they +were making merry after their labors. + +No wonder Periander stayed to watch them, for they made a very pretty +picture,--the handsome youths, with their bronzed faces and strong, fine +limbs; the women with their gay dresses and bare feet, that seemed to have +been made for dancing; the vine-clad hill at the back, and, over it all, +the glow of the setting sun. In the centre of the dancers sat a boy, +playing upon a small lute with seven strings. To this accompaniment the +dancers chanted a song in praise of Dionysus, the god of the vine. +Gradually the music went faster and faster; and faster and faster the feet +of the dancers sped over the ground, until they were all out of breath, +and lay laughing on the grass. + +Then, as the boy struck another chord, all laughter was hushed, and he +began to sing; it was a simple, plaintive little song, but there was a +magic in his voice which held the listeners spellbound. The last rays of +the setting sun played about his golden curls, and lit up his sweet, +childish face, as he sang:-- + + "Why should you grieve for me, my love, + When I am laid to rest? + Our lives are shaped by the gods above, + And they know best. + What though I stand on the farther shore, + Others have crossed the stream before-- + Why weep in vain? + Life is but a drop in the deep, + Soon we wake from the last, lone sleep, + And meet again." + +As the last note died away, a sigh came from the listeners; some of the +women turned away their faces, and the young men began to talk hastily, as +if to hide their emotion. + +Periander waited until the group began to break up. Then he stepped +forward and laid his hand on the boy's shoulder. The boy looked up with a +smile. + +"What is your name, my fair minstrel?" asked Periander. + +"My name is Arion," answered the boy, as if he were used to being +questioned. "I come from Methymna beyond the hills, where I used to tend +the goats." And he told Periander that his mother and father died before +he could remember, and that he was brought up by an old goat-herd; until a +traveling minstrel, who happened one day to hear him singing on the hills, +took charge of him and taught him to play the lute. + +"That was one of his own songs I was singing," said Arion. "He always +liked me to sing his songs; but, when I am a man, I shall make my own +songs, and sing them in the great cities over the sea." + +"And so you shall," said Periander. "Now, listen to me, Arion! Some day, +perhaps, I also may be a great man, able to help you to become a great +singer. Remember, when you have need of a friend, that Periander of +Corinth will help you, if he can!" + +And, when he departed, Periander left a sum of money with a worthy old +couple, who promised to look after the boy, and see that he wanted +nothing. + +After some years, Periander became king of Corinth, and having a love of +everything beautiful, he soon gathered about him a little band of poets, +artists, and musicians. One day, when he was listening to one of the court +musicians, something--it might have been a chord in the music--reminded +him of the little Lesbian Arion. He seemed to see once more the boy with +the golden light on his curls, and the upturned faces of the peasants +grouped around him; and the very words of the song ran in his head. + +"By Apollo!" he cried, so suddenly that the musician nearly fell off his +seat. "We will have the little Lesbian at court, and make a famous singer +of him. Where is Glaucus? Ho, there! Bid Glaucus attend the king!" + +When Glaucus appeared, the king bade him take a boat and sail for Lesbos. +"There you will make search for one Arion, a singer," he said. "And when +you have found him, say, 'Periander of Corinth has need of his friend +Arion.' And see that you bring him safely to Corinth!" + +Glaucus did as he was bidden, and in due time found Arion, now grown into +a tall, graceful youth. Arion, when he heard the message, consented to +accompany Glaucus to Corinth, where he was greeted with great kindness by +Periander. He very soon became a great favorite among the Corinthians, and +all the musicians envied him his beautiful voice and his skill in playing +on the lute. No one had such power to soothe the king in his black moods; +nor was it at court alone that his fame as a singer was known, for he was +ever ready to sing to the people, who idolized him and called him the son +of Apollo. Among other things he taught them the song and dance of the +Lesbians in honor of Dionysus and the vine; it afterwards became one of +the most famous songs of Greece. + +Many years Arion stayed with Periander, who held him in high honor and +loaded him with costly presents. His fame spread as far as Italy and +Sicily, and he had many requests that he would go over and sing to the +people there. At length, he determined to make the journey, not only from +curiosity to see new countries, but also because he had heard of the songs +sung by the Sicilian shepherds, and had a great desire to study them. +Periander tried to dissuade him, but, finding him resolved, he assisted +him in his preparations, and on his departure exacted from him a promise +that he would return to Corinth. + +Arion traveled about Italy and Sicily for a long time, and made a great +fortune by his singing. But growing tired at last of the wandering life, +he went to Tarentum to find a ship which would take him back to Corinth. +There were two or three ships ready to make the journey, among them one +named the Nausicaa, which was manned by a crew of Corinthians. This he +chose, being somewhat nervous about the large sum of money he was +carrying, and thinking that he could trust the Corinthians, whom he knew, +better than a crew of foreigners. + +The Nausicaa was a strange-looking vessel, with a single sail, and long +oars pulled by men who sat on benches along the side. The prow, which was +carved to represent the maiden Nausicaa, stood well out of the water, and +the bulwarks descended in a graceful curve to rise again at the stern, +where the captain stood and shaped his course by means of a broad paddle, +which was hung over the side. + +The voyage began happily enough, the wind being favorable, and the captain +and crew all deference and politeness. But when they were well out to sea, +the behavior of the crew changed; they answered Arion's questions with +scant politeness, and held many whispered consultations, which, from the +black glances cast at him, made him uneasy as to his safety. On the second +evening, waking out of a light sleep, he heard them conspiring to throw +him overboard and divide his wealth among them. Arion started up and +implored them not to carry out their evil purpose, offering to hand over +all his wealth, if they would spare his life. His entreaties and promises +were all in vain. + +"We give you a fair choice," said the captain brutally. "Either leap into +the sea at once, or kill yourself in some other way, and we will bury you +decently on shore." + +Abandoning his vain appeals for mercy, Arion begged them, as a last favor, +to let him sing once more before he died. + +"That we will not refuse," the captain answered; "though, if you think to +move us by your wailing, let me tell you that you waste your breath!" In +reality, he was not displeased to have an opportunity of hearing the most +famous singer in the world. + +Arion put on his sacred robes, in which he used to sing in the temple of +Apollo, and taking his lute he stepped firmly to the prow of the vessel. +There he stood, pale and calm, in the silvery light of the moon, his fair +hair playing with the wind, while the little waves lifted themselves to +look at him, and then ran playfully into the shadow of the boat, to dash +their heads against the beams and be broken into spray. The sailors were +awed in spite of themselves, as that beautiful voice rose on the breeze. +He sang the old song which he had sung in the Lesbian vineyards when +Periander saw him first. And when he came to the last lines,-- + + "Life is but a drop in the deep, + Soon we wake from the last, lone sleep, + And meet again," + +Arion leapt over the side of the vessel, just as he was. + +The captain, fearing that some of the crew might be moved to lend him +assistance, gave the order to make all speed ahead. Had he waited, he +might have seen a most wonderful sight. For, as Arion fell into the sea, +the water seemed to become alive beneath him, and he felt it lifting him +up, and carrying him rapidly away from the ship. Then he discovered that +he was seated astride on a great, black fish, which was swimming very +rapidly on the top of the water, and he knew it must be a dolphin, which +had been attracted by his singing; for the dolphins, unlike most things +that live in the sea, have sharp ears, and are very fond of music. He +touched his lute, to see if the strings had suffered from the water, and, +as he did so, the great back quivered beneath him. Finding, therefore, +that the dolphin liked the music, and thinking that he owed it some return +for saving his life, Arion began to sing, and sang song after song; +whenever he stopped, the dolphin ceased from swimming, as if to inquire +the reason; and when Arion began again, the dolphin bounded through the +water with great strokes of his broad tail. A strange sight it must have +been, had there been any one there to see! But the dolphin went straight +across the open sea, where no ships were to be seen; for the sailors of +that day did not care to lose sight of the coast, but would sail all the +way round a large bay rather than straight across it. So it was that Arion +came to Taenarus in Greece, without having been seen by any man. The +dolphin took him close to the shore, where he bade it good-by, and watched +it swim away disconsolately. + +From Taenarus he made his way on foot to Corinth. Periander was overjoyed +to see him once more; and when he marveled at the strange costume in which +Arion had traveled, Arion related the whole story. + +Periander listened attentively, and, when it was finished, remarked +gravely, "Are you then so little satisfied with your victories over the +musicians, Arion, that you have determined to be king of story-tellers +also?" + +"Does your majesty intend to throw doubt on my story?" asked Arion. + +"Far be it from me!" answered Periander. "The story pleases me well, and +if you will tell me another such, I will take pains to believe that also." + +"Then Zeus be my witness! I will find means to prove it," cried Arion. + +"Have I not said that I doubted not?" asked Periander. "Yet I would gladly +see the proof. My crown to your lute upon the issue!" + +"So be it!" said Arion. "But first I must ask your majesty that none may +speak of my return; and when the ship _Nausicaa_ comes to port, let the +seamen be dealt with as I shall appoint!" + +The king assented laughing, for he deemed the tale impossible. After some +days, however, it was announced that the ship _Nausicaa_ was in the +harbor. Periander summoned the captain and all the crew to the palace, and +asked them whether they had brought any news of his minstrel Arion. The +captain replied that men said at Tarentum that Arion was still in Italy, +traveling from place to place, and received everywhere with great honor. +The rest of the sailors confirmed the story, and one of them added that +Arion was said to prefer Italy to Greece, nor had he any intention of +returning to Corinth. + +At that moment a curtain was drawn and disclosed Arion, standing in his +sacred robes and holding his lute, just as they had seen him last in the +prow of the ship. The sailors, supposing that they beheld his spirit, were +seized with terror, and fell at the king's feet, confessing all their +wickedness and begging for mercy. But Periander was filled with +indignation, and spurned them angrily. Arion interposed, urging the king +to be merciful, now that the seamen had seen their wickedness, and were +willing to make restitution. Periander, however, would not hear of mercy. + +"Your compassion bears witness to your noble spirit, Arion," he replied. +"But these men have planned a most cruel and cowardly murder, and cruelly +shall they suffer for it. Seize me these men, guards, and bind them!" + +The guards came forward and began to lead away the trembling wretches. + +"Stay!" cried Arion. "It is I who am king. Did not your majesty stake your +crown against my lute, and can the royal word be broken? Back, guards! I +claim my wager." + +Periander could not refrain from laughter, but confessed himself beaten by +this piece of strategy. "The wit of Arion," he said, "is stronger than the +tears of repentance. Release the prisoners!" + +"That being so," said Arion, "and seeing that I find myself more easy with +the lute, I will restore the royal crown to Periander." + +So the men were set at liberty, after having restored the property of +Arion, and departed full of gratitude, invoking blessings on his head. + +And lest any man should doubt the truth of the story in time to come, +Arion erected at Taenarus a statue in bronze, representing a man riding on +a dolphin's back. + + + + +STORIES FROM LIVY + + +ROMULUS, FOUNDER OF ROME + +Adapted by Alfred J. Church + + +AEneas of Troy, coming to the land of Italy, took to wife Lavinia, daughter +of King Latinus, and built him a city, which he called Lavinium, after the +name of his wife. And, after thirty years, his son Ascanius went forth +from Lavinium with much people, and built him a new city, which he called +Alba. In this city reigned kings of the house and lineage of AEneas for +twelve generations. Of these kings the eleventh in descent was one Procas, +who, having two sons, Numitor and Amulius, left his kingdom, according to +the custom, to Numitor, the elder. But Amulius drove out his brother, and +reigned in his stead. Nor was he content with this wickedness, but slew +all the male children of his brother. And the daughter of his brother, +that was named Rhea Silvia, he chose to be a priestess of Vesta, making as +though he would do the maiden honor, but his thought was that the name of +his brother should perish, for they that serve Vesta are vowed to +perpetual virginity. + +But it came to pass that Rhea bare twin sons, whose father, it was said, +was the god Mars. Very wroth was Amulius when he heard this thing; Rhea he +made fast in prison, and the children he gave to certain of his servants +that they should cast them into the river. Now it chanced that at this +season Tiber had overflowed his banks, neither could the servants come +near to the stream of the river; nevertheless they did not doubt that the +children would perish, for all that the overflowing of the water was +neither deep nor of a swift current. Thinking, then, that they had duly +performed the commandment of the king, they set down the babes in the +flood and departed. But after a while the flood abated, and left the +basket wherein the children had been laid on dry ground. And a she-wolf, +coming down from the hill to drink at the river (for the country in those +days was desert and abounding in wild beasts), heard the crying of the +children and ran to them. Nor did she devour them, but gave them suck; +nay, so gentle was she that Faustulus, the king's shepherd, chancing to go +by, saw that she licked them with her tongue. This Faustulus took the +children and gave them to his wife to rear; and these, when they were of +age to go by themselves, were not willing to abide with the flocks and +herds, but were hunters, wandering through the forests that were in those +parts. And afterward, being now come to full strength, they were not +content to slay wild beasts only, but would assail troops of robbers, as +these were returning laden with their booty, and would divide the spoils +among the shepherds. Now there was held in those days, on the hill that is +now called the Palatine, a yearly festival to the god Pan. This festival +King Evander first ordained, having come from Arcadia, in which land, +being a land of shepherds, Pan, that is the god of shepherds, is greatly +honored. And when the young men and their company (for they had gathered a +great company of shepherds about them, and led them in all matters both of +business and of sport) were busy with the festival, there came upon them +certain robbers that had made an ambush in the place, being very wroth by +reason of the booty which they had lost. These laid hands on Remus, but +Romulus they could not take, so fiercely did he fight against them. Remus, +therefore, they delivered up to King Amulius, accusing him of many things, +and chiefly of this, that he and his companions had invaded the land of +Numitor, dealing with them in the fashion of an enemy and carrying off +much spoil. To Numitor, therefore, did the king deliver Remus, that he +might put him to death. Now Faustulus had believed from the beginning that +the children were of the royal house, for he knew that the babes had been +cast into the river by the king's command, and the time also of his +finding them agreed thereto. Nevertheless he had not judged it expedient +to open the matter before due time, but waited till occasion or necessity +should arise. But now, there being such necessity, he opened the matter to +Romulus. Numitor also, when he had the young man Remus in his custody, +knowing that he and his brother were twins, and that the time agreed, and +seeing that they were of a high spirit, bethought him of his grandsons; +and, indeed, having asked many questions of Remus, was come nigh to +knowing of what race he was. And now also Romulus was ready to help his +brother. To come openly with his whole company he dared not, for he was +not a match for the power of King Amulius; but he bade sundry shepherds +make their way to the palace, each as best he could, appointing to them a +time at which they should meet. And now came Remus also, with a troop of +youths gathered together from the household of Numitor. Then did Romulus +and Remus slay King Amulius. In the meanwhile Numitor gathered the youth +of Alba to the citadel, crying out that they must make the place safe, for +that the enemy was upon them; but when he perceived that the young men had +done the deed, forthwith he called an assembly of the citizens, and set +forth to them the wickedness which his brother had wrought against him, +and how his grandsons had been born and bred and made known to him, and +then, in order, how the tyrant had been slain, himself having counseled +the deed. When he had so spoken the young men came with their company into +the midst of the assembly, and saluted him as king; to which thing the +whole multitude agreeing with one consent, Numitor was established upon +the throne. + +After this Romulus and his brother conceived this purpose, that, leaving +their grandfather to be king at Alba, they should build for themselves a +new city in the place where, having been at the first left to die, they +had been brought up by Faustulus the shepherd. And to this purpose many +agreed both of the men of Alba and of the Latins, and also of the +shepherds that had followed them from the first, holding it for certain +all of them that Alba and Lavinium would be of small account in comparison +of this new city which they should build together. But while the brothers +were busy with these things, there sprang up afresh the same evil thing +which had before wrought such trouble in their house, even the lust of +power. For though the beginnings of the strife between them were peaceful, +yet did it end in great wickedness. The matter fell out in this wise. +Seeing that the brothers were twins, and that neither could claim to have +the preference to the other in respect of his age, it was agreed between +them that the gods that were the guardians of that country should make +known by means of augury which of the two they chose to give his name to +the new city. Then Romulus stood on the Palatine hill, and when there had +been marked out for him a certain region of the sky, watched therein for a +sign; and Remus watched in like manner, standing on the Aventine. And to +Remus first came a sign, six vultures; but so soon as the sign had been +proclaimed there came another to Romulus, even twelve vultures. Then they +that favored Remus clamored that the gods had chosen him for king, because +he had first seen the birds; and they that favored Romulus answered that +he was to be preferred because he had seen more in number. This dispute +waxed so hot that they fell to fighting; and in the fight it chanced that +Remus was slain. But some say that when Romulus had marked out the borders +of the town which he would build, and had caused a wall to be built round +it, Remus leapt over the wall, scorning it because it was mean and low; +and that Romulus slew him, crying out, "Thus shall every man perish that +shall dare to leap over my walls." Only others will have it that though he +perished for this cause Romulus slew him not, but a certain Celer. This +much is certain, that Romulus gained the whole kingdom for himself, and +called the city after his own name. + +And now, having first done sacrifice to the Gods, he called a general +assembly of the people, that he might give them laws, knowing that without +laws no city can endure. And judging that these would be the better kept +of his subjects if he should himself bear something of the show of royal +majesty, he took certain signs of dignity, and especially twelve men that +should continually attend him, bearing bundles of rods, and in the midst +of the rods an axe; these men they called _lictors_. Meanwhile the city +increased, for the king and his people enlarged their borders, looking +rather to the greatness for which they hoped than to that which they had. +And that this increase might not be altogether empty walls without men, +Romulus set up a sanctuary, to which were gathered a great multitude of +men from the nations round about. All that were discontented and lovers of +novelty came to him. Nor did he take any account of their condition, +whether they were bond or free, but received them all. Thus was there +added to the city great strength. And the king, when he judged that there +was strength sufficient, was minded to add to the strength counsel. +Wherefore he chose a hundred men for counselors. A hundred he chose, +either because he held that number to be sufficient, or because there were +no more that were fit to bear this dignity and be called Fathers, for this +was the name of these counselors. + +After this the people bethought themselves how they should get for +themselves wives, for there were no women in the place. Wherefore Romulus +sent ambassadors to the nations round about, praying that they should give +their daughters to his people for wives. "Cities," he said, "have humble +beginnings even as all other things. Nevertheless they that have the Gods +and their own valor to help become great. Now that the gods are with us, +as ye know, be assured also that valor shall not be wanting." But the +nations round about would not hearken to him, thinking scorn of this +gathering of robbers and slaves and runaways, so that they said, "Why do +ye not open a sanctuary for women also that so ye may find fit wives for +your people?" Also they feared for themselves and their children what this +new city might grow to. Now when the ambassadors brought back this answer +the Romans were greatly wroth, and would take by force that which their +neighbors would not give of their free will. And to the end that they +might do this more easily, King Romulus appointed certain days whereon he +and his people would hold a festival with games to Neptune; and to this +festival he called all them that dwelt in the cities round about. But when +many were gathered together (for they were fain to see what this new city +might be), and were now wholly bent on the spectacle of the games, the +young men of the Romans ran in upon them, and carried off all such as were +unwedded among the women. To these King Romulus spake kindly, saying, "The +fault is not with us but with your fathers, who dealt proudly with us, and +would not give you to us in marriage. But now ye shall be held in all +honor as our wives, and shall have your portion of all that we possess. +Put away therefore your anger, for ye shall find us so much the better +husbands than other men, as we must be to you not for husbands only but +parents also and native country." + +In the meanwhile the parents of them that had been carried off put on +sackcloth, and went about through the cities crying out for vengeance upon +the Romans. And chiefly they sought for help from Titus Tatius, that was +king of the Sabines in those days, and of great power and renown. But when +the Sabines seemed to be tardy in the matter, the men of Caere first +gathered together their army and marched into the country of the Romans. +Against these King Romulus led forth his men and put them to flight +without much ado, having first slain their king with his own hand. Then, +after returning to Rome, he carried the arms which he had taken from the +body of the king to the hill of the Capitol, and laid them down at the +shepherds' oak that stood thereon in those days. And when he had measured +out the length and breadth of a temple that he would build to Jupiter upon +the hill, he said, "O Jupiter, I, King Romulus, offer to thee these arms +of a king, and dedicate therewith a temple in this place, in which temple +they that come after me shall offer to thee like spoils in like manner, +when it shall chance that the leader of our host shall himself slay with +his own hands the leader of the host of the enemy." And this was the first +temple that was dedicated in Rome. And in all the time to come two only +offered in this manner, to wit, Cornelius Cossus that slew Lars Tolumnius, +king of Veii, and Claudius Marcellus that slew Britomarus, king of the +Gauls. + +After this, King Tatius and the Sabines came up against Rome with a great +army. And first of all they gained the citadel by treachery in this +manner. One Tarpeius was governor of the citadel, whose daughter, Tarpeia +by name, going forth from the walls to fetch water for a sacrifice, took +money from the king that she should receive certain of the soldiers within +the citadel; but when they had been so received, the men cast their +shields upon her, slaying her with the weight of them. This they did +either that they might be thought to have taken the place by force, or +that they judged it to be well that no faith should be kept with traitors. +Some also tell this tale, that the Sabines wore great bracelets of gold on +their left arms, and on their left hands fair rings with precious stones +therein, and that when the maiden covenanted with them that she should +have for a reward that which they carried in their left hands, they cast +their shields upon her. And others say that she asked for their shields +having the purpose to betray them, and for this cause was slain. + +Thus the Sabines had possession of the citadel; and the next day King +Romulus set the battle in array on the plain that lay between the hill of +the Capitol and the hill of the Palatine. And first the Romans were very +eager to recover the citadel, a certain Hostilius being their leader. But +when this man, fighting in the forefront of the battle, was slain, the +Romans turned their backs and fled before the Sabines, even unto the gate +of the Palatine. Then King Romulus (for he himself had been carried away +by the crowd of them that fled) held up his sword and his spear to the +heavens, and cried aloud, "O Jupiter, here in the Palatine didst thou +first, by the tokens which thou sentest me, lay the foundations of my +city. And lo! the Sabines have taken the citadel by wicked craft, and have +crossed the valley, and are come up even hither. But if thou sufferest +them so far, do thou at the least defend this place against them, and stay +this shameful flight of my people. So will I build a temple for thee in +this place, even a temple of Jupiter the Stayer, that may be a memorial to +after generations of how thou didst this day save this city." And when he +had so spoken, even as though he knew that the prayer had been heard, he +cried, "Ye men of Rome, Jupiter bids you stand fast in this place and +renew the battle." And when the men of Rome heard these words, it was as +if a voice from heaven had spoken to them, and they stood fast, and the +king himself went forward and stood among the foremost. Now the leader of +the Sabines was one Curtius. This man, as he drave the Romans before him, +cried out to his comrades, "See, we have conquered these men, false hosts +and feeble foes that they are! Surely now they know that it is one thing +to carry off maidens and another to fight with men." But whilst he boasted +himself thus, King Romulus and a company of the youth rushed upon him. Now +Curtius was fighting on horseback, and being thus assailed he fled, +plunging into a certain pool which lay between the Palatine hill and the +Capitol. Thus did he barely escape with his life, and the lake was called +thereafter Curtius' pool. And now the Sabines began to give way to the +Romans, when suddenly the women for whose sake they fought, having their +hair loosened and their garments rent, ran in between them that fought, +crying out, "Shed ye not each other's blood, ye that are fathers-in-law +and sons-in-law to each other. But if ye break this bond that is between +you, slay us that are the cause of this trouble. And surely it were better +for us to die than to live if we be bereaved of our fathers or of our +husbands." With these words they stirred the hearts both of the chiefs and +of the people, so that there was suddenly made a great silence. And +afterward the leaders came forth to make a covenant; and these indeed so +ordered matters that there was not peace only, but one state where there +had been two. For the Sabines came to Rome and dwelt there; and King +Romulus and King Tatius reigned together. Only, after a while, certain men +of Lanuvium slew King Tatius as he was sacrificing to the Gods at +Lavinium; and thereafter Romulus only was king as before. + +When he had reigned thirty and seven years there befell the thing that +shall now be told. On a certain day he called the people together on the +field of Mars, and held a review of his army. But while he did this there +arose suddenly a great storm, with loud thunderings and very thick clouds, +so that the king was hidden away from the eyes of all the people. Nor +indeed was he ever again seen upon the earth. And when men were recovered +of their fear they were in great trouble, because they had lost their +king, though indeed the Fathers would have it that he had been carried by +a whirlwind into heaven. Yet after a while they began to worship him as +being now a god; and when nevertheless some doubted, and would even +whisper among themselves that Romulus had been torn in pieces by the +Fathers, there came forward a certain Proculus, who spake after this +manner: "Ye men of Rome, this day, in the early morning, I saw Romulus, +the father of this city, come down from heaven and stand before me. And +when great fear came upon me, I prayed that it might be lawful for me to +look upon him face to face. Then said he to me, 'Go thy way, tell the men +of Rome that it is the will of them that dwell in heaven that Rome should +be the chiefest city in the world. Bid them therefore be diligent in war; +and let them know for themselves and tell their children after them that +there is no power on earth so great that it shall be able to stand against +them.' And when he had thus spoken, he departed from me, going up into +heaven." All men believed Proculus when he thus spake, and the people +ceased from their sorrow when they knew that King Romulus had been taken +up into heaven. + + + + +HOW HORATIUS HELD THE BRIDGE + +Adapted by Alfred J. Church + + + [King Tarquin had been driven from Rome because of his tyranny.] + + +King Tarquin and his son Lucius (for he only remained to him of the three) +fled to Lars Porsenna, king of Clusium, and besought him that he would +help them. "Suffer not," they said, "that we, who are Tuscans by birth, +should remain any more in poverty and exile. And take heed also to thyself +and thine own kingdom if thou permit this new fashion of driving forth +kings to go unpunished. For surely there is that in freedom which men +greatly desire, and if they that be kings defend not their dignity as +stoutly as others seek to overthrow it, then shall the highest be made +even as the lowest, and there shall be an end of kingship, than which +there is nothing more honorable under heaven." With these words they +persuaded King Porsenna, who judging it well for the Etrurians that there +should be a king at Rome, and that king an Etrurian by birth, gathered +together a great army and came up against Rome. But when men heard of his +coming, so mighty a city was Clusium in those days, and so great the fame +of King Porsenna, there was such fear as had never been before. +Nevertheless they were steadfastly purposed to hold out. And first all +that were in the country fled into the city, and round about the city they +set guards to keep it, part thereof being defended by walls, and part, for +so it seemed, being made safe by the river. But here a great peril had +well-nigh overtaken the city; for there was a wooden bridge on the river +by which the enemy had crossed but for the courage of a certain Horatius +Cocles. The matter fell out in this wise. + +There was a certain hill which men called Janiculum on the side of the +river, and this hill King Porsenna took by a sudden attack. Which when +Horatius saw (for he chanced to have been set to guard the bridge, and saw +also how the enemy were running at full speed to the place, and how the +Romans were fleeing in confusion and threw away their arms as they ran), +he cried with a loud voice, "Men of Rome, it is to no purpose that ye thus +leave your post and flee, for if ye leave this bridge behind you for men +to pass over, ye shall soon find that ye have more enemies in your city +than in Janiculum. Do ye therefore break it down with axe and fire as best +ye can. In the meanwhile I, so far as one man may do, will stay the +enemy." And as he spake he ran forward to the farther end of the bridge +and made ready to keep the way against the enemy. Nevertheless there stood +two with him, Lartius and Herminius by name, men of noble birth both of +them and of great renown in arms. So these three for a while stayed the +first onset of the enemy; and the men of Rome meanwhile brake down the +bridge. And when there was but a small part remaining, and they that brake +it down called to the three that they should come back, Horatius bade +Lartius and Herminius return, but he himself remained on the farther side, +turning his eyes full of wrath in threatening fashion on the princes of +the Etrurians, and crying, "Dare ye now to fight with me? or why are ye +thus come at the bidding of your master, King Porsenna, to rob others of +the freedom that ye care not to have for yourselves?" For a while they +delayed, looking each man to his neighbor, who should first deal with this +champion of the Romans. Then, for very shame, they all ran forward, and +raising a great shout, threw their javelins at him. These all he took upon +his shield, nor stood the less firmly in his place on the bridge, from +which when they would have thrust him by force, of a sudden the men of +Rome raised a great shout, for the bridge was now altogether broken down, +and fell with a great crash into the river. And as the enemy stayed a +while for fear, Horatius turned him to the river and said, "O Father +Tiber, I beseech thee this day with all reverence that thou kindly receive +this soldier and his arms." And as he spake he leapt with all his arms +into the river and swam across to his own people, and though many javelins +of the enemy fell about him, he was not one whit hurt. Nor did such valor +fail to receive due honor from the city. For the citizens set up a statue +of Horatius in the market-place; and they gave him of the public land so +much as he could plough about in one day. Also there was this honor paid +him, that each citizen took somewhat of his own store and gave it to him, +for food was scarce in the city by reason of the siege. + + + + +HOW CINCINNATUS SAVED ROME + +Adapted by Alfred J. Church + + +It came to pass that the AEquians brake the treaty of peace which they had +made with Rome, and, taking one Gracchus Cloelius for their leader, +marched into the land of Tusculum; and when they had plundered the country +thereabouts, and had gathered together much booty, they pitched their camp +on Mount AEgidus. To them the Romans sent three ambassadors, who should +complain of the wrong done, and seek redress. But when they would have +fulfilled their errand, Gracchus the AEquian spake, saying, "If ye have any +message from the Senate of Rome, tell it to this oak, for I have other +business to do;" for it chanced that there was a great oak that stood hard +by, and made a shadow over the general's tent. Then one of the +ambassadors, as he turned to depart, made reply, "Yes, let this sacred oak +and all the gods that are in heaven hear how ye have wrongfully broken the +treaty of peace; and let them that hear help us also in the day of battle, +when we shall avenge on you the laws both of gods and of men that ye have +set at nought." + +When the ambassadors had returned to Rome the Senate commanded that there +should be levied two armies; and that Minucius the Consul should march +with the one against the AEquians on Mount AEgidus, and that the other +should hinder the enemy from their plundering. This levying the tribunes +of the Commons sought to hinder; and perchance had done so, but there also +came well-nigh to the walls of the city a great host of the Sabines +plundering all the country. Thereupon the people willingly offered +themselves, and there were levied forthwith two great armies. Nevertheless +when the Consul Minucius had marched to Mount AEgidus, and had pitched his +camp not far from the AEquians, he did nought for fear of the enemy, but +kept himself within his entrenchments. And when the enemy perceived that +he was afraid, growing the bolder for his lack of courage, they drew lines +about him, keeping him in on every side. Yet before that he was altogether +shut up there escaped from his camp five horsemen, that bare tidings to +Rome how that the Consul, together with his army, was besieged. The people +were sorely dismayed to hear such tidings; nor, when they cast about for +help, saw they any man that might be sufficient for such peril, save only +Cincinnatus. By common consent, therefore, he was made Dictator for six +months, a thing that may well be noted by those who hold that nothing is +to be accounted of in comparison of riches, and that no man may win great +honor or show forth singular virtue unless he be well furnished with +wealth. For here in this great peril of the Roman people there was no hope +of safety but in one who was cultivating with his own hand a little plot +of scarcely three acres of ground. For when the messengers of the people +came to him they found him ploughing, or, as some say, digging a ditch. +When they had greeted each the other, the messengers said, "May the Gods +prosper this thing to the Roman people and to thee. Put on thy robe and +hear the words of the people." Then said Cincinnatus, being not a little +astonished, "Is all well?" and at the same time he called to his wife +Racilia that she should bring forth his robe from the cottage. So she +brought it forth, and the man wiped from him the dust and the sweat, and +clad himself in his robe, and stood before the messengers. These said to +him, "The people of Rome make thee Dictator, and bid thee come forthwith +to the city." And at the same time they told how the Consul and his army +were besieged by the AEquians. So Cincinnatus departed to Rome; and when he +came to the other side of the Tiber there met him first his three sons, +and next many of his kinsfolk and friends, and after them a numerous +company of the nobles. These all conducted him to his house, the lictors, +four and twenty in number, marching before him. There was also assembled a +very great concourse of the people, fearing much how the Dictator might +deal with them, for they knew what manner of man he was, and that there +was no limit to his power, nor any appeal from him. + +The next day before dawn the Dictator came into the market-place, and +appointed one Lucius Tarquinius to be Master of the Horse. This Tarquinius +was held by common consent to excel all other men in exercises of war; +only, though, being a noble by birth, he should have been among the +horsemen, he had served, for lack of means, as a foot soldier. This done +he called an assembly of the people and commanded that all the shops in +the city should be shut; that no man should concern himself with any +private business, but all that were of an age to go to the war should be +present before sunset in the Field of Mars, each man having with him +provisions of cooked food for five days, and twelve stakes. As for them +that were past the age, they should prepare the food while the young men +made ready their arms and sought for the stakes. These last they took as +they found them, no man hindering them; and when the time appointed by the +Dictator was come, all were assembled, ready, as occasion might serve, +either to march or to give battle. Forthwith they set out, the Dictator +leading the foot soldiers by their legions, and Tarquinius the horsemen, +and each bidding them that followed make all haste. "We must needs come," +they said, "to our journey's end while it is yet night. Remember that the +Consul and his army have been besieged now for three days, and that no man +knows what a day or a night may bring forth." The soldiers themselves also +were zealous to obey, crying out to the standard-bearers that they should +quicken their steps, and to their fellows that they should not lag behind. +Thus they came at midnight to Mount AEgidus, and when they perceived that +the enemy was at hand they halted the standards. Then the Dictator rode +forward to see, so far as the darkness would suffer him, how great was the +camp of the AEquians and after what fashion it was pitched. This done he +commanded that the baggage should be gathered together into a heap, and +that the soldiers should stand every man in his own place. After this he +compassed about the whole army of the enemy with his own army, and +commanded that at a set signal every man should shout, and when they had +shouted should dig a trench and set up therein the stakes. This the +soldiers did, and the noise of the shouting passed over the camp of the +enemy and came into the city, causing therein great joy, even as it caused +great fear in the camp. For the Romans cried, "These be our countrymen, +and they bring us help." Then said the Consul, "We must make no delay. By +that shout is signified, not that they are come only, but that they are +already dealing with the enemy. Doubtless the camp of the AEquians is even +now assailed from without. Take ye your arms and follow me." So the legion +went forth, it being yet night, to the battle, and as they went they +shouted, that the Dictator might be aware. Now the AEquians had set +themselves to hinder the making of a ditch and rampart which should shut +them in; but when the Romans from the camp fell upon them, fearing lest +these should make their way through the midst of their camp, they left +them that were with Cincinnatus to finish their entrenching, and fought +with the Consul. And when it was now light, lo! they were already shut in, +and the Romans, having finished their entrenching, began to trouble them. +And when the AEquians perceived that the battle was now on either side of +them, they could withstand no longer, but sent ambassadors praying for +peace, and saying, "Ye have prevailed; slay us not, but rather permit us +to depart, leaving our arms behind us." Then said the Dictator, "I care +not to have the blood of the AEquians. Ye may depart, but ye shall depart +passing under the yoke, that ye may thus acknowledge to all men that ye +are indeed vanquished." Now the yoke is thus made. There are set up in the +ground two spears, and over them is bound by ropes a third spear. So the +AEquians passed under the yoke. + +In the camp of the enemy there was found abundance of spoil. This the +Dictator gave wholly to his own soldiers. "Ye were well-nigh a spoil to +the enemy," said he to the army of the Consul, "therefore ye shall have no +share in the spoiling of them. As for thee, Minucius, be thou a lieutenant +only till thou hast learnt how to bear thyself as a consul." Meanwhile at +Rome there was held a meeting of the Senate, at which it was commanded +that Cincinnatus should enter the city in triumph, his soldiers following +him in order of march. Before his chariot there were led the generals of +the enemy; also the standards were carried in the front; and after these +came the army, every man laden with spoil. That day there was great +rejoicing in the city, every man setting forth a banquet before his doors +in the street. + +After this, Virginius, that had borne false witness against Caeso, was +found guilty of perjury, and went into exile. And when Cincinnatus saw +that justice had been done to this evil-doer, he resigned his +dictatorship, having held it for sixteen days only. + + + + +THE STORY OF VIRGINIA + +Adapted by Alfred J. Church + + +It was agreed between the nobles and the commons that, to make an end of +disputing about the laws, ambassadors should be sent into Greece, and +especially to Athens (which city and its lawgiver, Solon, were held in +high repute in those days), to learn what manner of laws and customs they +had, and to bring back a report of them. And when the ambassadors had +brought back their report, it seemed good to the people that in the +following year there should be appointed neither consuls nor any other +magistrate, but decemvirs only; that is to say, ten men, who should set in +order the laws of Rome. Thus it came to pass in the ninety and first year +from the driving out of the kings, that decemvirs were appointed in the +stead of consuls, Appius Claudius being the chief of the ten. + +For a while these pleased the people well, doing justice equally between +man and man. And the custom was that each day one of the ten sat as judge +with the twelve lictors about him, the nine others sitting with one +minister only. Also they busied themselves with the ordering of the laws; +and at last set forth ten tables on which these were written. At the same +time they called the people together to an assembly, and spake to them +thus: "The Gods grant that this undertaking may turn to the credit of the +state, and of you, and of your children. Go, therefore, and read these +laws which we have set forth; for though we have done what ten men could +do to provide laws that should be just to all, whether they be high or +low, yet the understandings of many men may yet change many things for the +better. Consider therefore all these matters in your own minds, and debate +them among yourselves. For we will that the Roman people should be bound +by such laws only as they shall have agreed together to establish." + +The ten tables were therefore set forth, and when these had been +sufficiently considered, and such corrections made therein as seemed good, +a regular assembly of the people was called, and the laws were duly +established. But now there was spread abroad a report that two tables were +yet wanting, and that when these should have been added the whole would be +complete; and thence there arose a desire that the Ten should be appointed +to hold office a second year. This indeed was done; but Appius Claudius so +ordered matters that there were elected together with him none of the +chief men of the state, but only such as were of an inferior condition and +fortune. + +After this the Ten began more and more to set aside all law and right. +Thus whereas at the first one only on each day was followed by the twelve +lictors, each of the Ten came daily into the market-place so attended, and +whereas before the lictors carried bundles of rods only, now there was +bound up with the rods an axe; whereby was signified the power of life and +death. Their actions also agreed with this show, for they and their +ministers plundered the goods and chattels of the people. Some also they +scourged, and some they beheaded. And when they had so put a man to death, +they would divide his substance among those that waited upon them to do +their pleasure. + +Among their misdeeds two were especially notable. There was a certain +Sicinius in the host, a man of singular strength and courage, who took it +ill that the Ten should thus set themselves above all law, and was wont to +say to his comrades that the commons should depart from the city as they +had done in time past, or should at the least make them tribunes to be +their champions as of old. This Sicinius the Ten sent on before the army, +there being then war with the Sabines, to search out a place for a camp; +and with him they sent certain others, bidding them slay him when they +should have come to some convenient place. This they did, but not without +suffering much loss; for the man fought for his life and defended himself, +slaying many of his enemies. Then they that escaped ran into the camp, +saying that Sicinius had fallen into an ambuscade, and had died along with +certain others of the soldiers. At the first, indeed, this story was +believed; but afterward, when, by permission of the Ten, there went some +to bury the dead, they found that none of the dead bodies had been +spoiled, and that Sicinius lay with his arms in the midst, the others +having their faces toward him; also that there was no dead body of an +enemy in the place, nor any track as of them that had gone from the place; +for which reasons they brought back tidings that Sicinius had certainly +been slain by his own comrades. At this there was great wrath in the camp; +and the soldiers were ready to carry the body of Sicinius to Rome, but +that the Ten made a military funeral for him at the public cost. So they +buried Sicinius with great lamentation; but the Ten were thereafter in +very ill repute among the soldiers. + +Again, there was a certain centurion, Lucius Virginius by name, an upright +man and of good credit both at home and abroad. This Virginius had a +daughter, Virginia, a very fair and virtuous maiden, whom he had espoused +to a certain Icilius that had once been a tribune of the commons. On this +maiden Appius Claudius, the chief of the Ten, sought to lay hands, and for +this end gave commandment to one Marcus Claudius, who was one of the +clients of his house, that he should claim the girl for a slave. On the +morrow therefore, as Virginia passed across the market-place, being on her +way to school (for the schools in those days were held in the +market-place), this Claudius seized her, affirming that she was born of a +woman that was a slave, and was therefore by right a slave herself. The +maiden standing still for fear, the nurse that attended her set up a great +cry and called the citizens to help. Straightway there was a great +concourse, for many knew the maiden's father Virginius, and Icilius to +whom she was betrothed. Then said Claudius, seeing that he could not take +her by force, "There is no need of tumult or of gathering a crowd. I would +proceed by law, not by force." Thereupon he summoned the girl before the +judge. When they came to the judgment-seat of Appius the man told a tale +that had already been agreed upon between the two. "This girl," he said, +"was born in my house, and was thence secretly taken to the house of +Virginius, and passed off on the man as his daughter. Of this I will bring +proof sufficient, such as will convince Virginius himself, who doubtless +has received the chief wrong in this matter. But in the meanwhile it is +reasonable that the slave should remain in the house of her master." To +this the friends of the girl made answer, "Virginius is absent on the +service of the state, and will be here within the space of two days, if +tidings of this matter be sent to him. Now it is manifestly wrong that +judgment concerning a man's children should be given while he is himself +absent. Let the cause, therefore, be postponed till he come. Meanwhile let +the maiden have her freedom, according to the law which Appius and his +fellows have themselves established." + +Appius gave sentence in these words: "That I am a favorer of freedom is +manifest from this law of which ye make mention. Yet this law must be +observed in all cases and without respect of persons; and as to this girl, +there is none but her father only to whom her owner may yield the custody +of her. Let her father therefore be sent for; but in the meanwhile +Claudius must have custody of her, as is his right, only giving security +that he will produce her on the morrow." + +At this decree, so manifestly unrighteous was it, there was much +murmuring, yet none dared to oppose it, till Numitorius, the girl's uncle, +and Icilius came forth from the crowd. The lictor cried, "Sentence has +been given," and bade Icilius give place. Then Icilius turned to Appius, +saying, "Appius, thou must drive me hence with the sword before thou canst +have thy will in this matter. This maiden is my espoused wife; and verily, +though thou call hither all thy lictors and the lictors of thy colleagues, +she shall not remain in any house save the house of her father." + +To this Appius, seeing that the multitude was greatly moved and were ready +to break forth into open violence, made this reply: "Icilius cares not for +Virginia, but being a lover of sedition and tumult, seeks an occasion for +strife. Such occasion I will not give him to-day. But that he may know +that I yield not to his insolence, but have regard to the rights of a +father, I pronounce no sentence. I ask of Marcus Claudius that he will +concede something of his right, and suffer surety to be given for the girl +against the morrow. But if on the morrow the father be not present here, +then I tell Icilius and his fellows that he who is the author of this law +will not fail to execute it. Neither will I call in the lictors of my +colleague to put down them that raise a tumult. For this my own lictors +shall suffice." + +So much time being thus gained, it seemed good to the friends of the +maiden that the son of Numitorius and the brother of Icilius, young men +both of them and active, should hasten with all speed to the camp, and +bring Virginius thence as quickly as might be. So the two set out, and +putting their horses to their full speed, carried tidings of the matter to +the father. As for Appius, he sat awhile on the judgment-seat, waiting for +other business to be brought before him, for he would not have it seem +that he had come for this cause only; but finding that there was none, and +indeed the people were wholly intent on the matter of Virginia, he +departed to his own house. Thence he sent an epistle to his colleagues +that were at the camp, saying, "Grant no leave of absence to Virginius, +but keep him in safe custody with you." But this availed nothing, for +already, before ever the epistle was brought to the camp, at the very +first watch of the night, Virginius had set forth. + +When Virginius was come to the city, it being then early dawn, he put on +mean apparel, as was the custom with such as were in danger of life or +liberty, and carried about his daughter, who was clad in like manner, +praying all that he met to help and succor him. "Remember," said he, "that +day by day I stand fighting for you and for your children against your +enemies. But what shall this profit you or me if this city being safe, +nevertheless our children stand in peril of slavery and shame?" Icilius +spake in like manner, and the women (for a company of matrons followed +Virginia) wept silently, stirring greatly the hearts of all that looked +upon them. But Appius, so set was his heart on evil, heeded none of these +things; but so soon as he had sat him down on the seat of judgment, and he +that claimed the girl had said a few words complaining that right had not +been done to him, he gave his sentence, suffering not Virginius to speak. +What pretense of reason he gave can scarce be imagined, but the sentence +(for this only is certain) was that the girl should be in the custody of +Claudius till the matter should be decided by law. But when Claudius came +to take the maiden, her friends and all the women that bare her company +thrust him back. Then said Appius, "I have sure proof, and this not from +the violence only of Icilius, but from what is told to me of gatherings by +night in the city, that there is a purpose in certain men to stir up +sedition. Knowing this I have come hither with armed men; not to trouble +quiet citizens, but to punish such as would break the peace of the state. +Such as be wise, therefore, will keep themselves quiet. Lictor, remove +this crowd, and make room for the master that he may take his slave." +These words he thundered forth in great anger; and the people, when they +heard them, fell back in fear, so that the maiden stood without defense. +Then Virginius, seeing that there were none to help him, said to Appius, +"I pray thee, Appius, if I have said aught that was harsh to thee, that +thou wilt pardon it, knowing how a father must needs suffer in such a +case. But now suffer me to inquire somewhat of this woman that is the +girl's nurse, that I may know what is the truth of the matter. For if I +have been deceived in the matter, and am not in truth father to the girl, +I shall be more content." Then, Appius giving permission, he led his +daughter and her nurse a little space aside, to the shops that are by the +temple of Cloacina, and snatching a knife from a butcher's, said, "My +daughter, there is but this one way that I can make thee free," and he +drave the knife into her breast. Then he looked back to the judgment-seat +and cried, "With this blood, Appius, I devote thee and thy life to +perdition." There went up a great cry from all that stood there when they +saw so dreadful a deed, and Appius commanded that they should seize him. +But no man laid hands on him, for he made a way for himself with the knife +that he carried in his hand, and they that followed defended him, till he +came to the gate of the city. Then Icilius and Numitorius took up the dead +body of the maiden and showed it to the people, saying much of the +wickedness of him who had driven a father to do such a deed, and much also +of the liberty which had been taken from them, and which, if they would +only use this occasion, they might now recover. As for Appius, he cried +out to his lictors that they should lay hands on Icilius, and when the +crowd suffered not the lictors to approach, would himself have made a way +to him, by the help of the young nobles that stood by him. But now the +crowd had leaders, themselves also nobles, Valerius and Horatius. These +said, "If Appius would deal with Icilius according to law we will be +securities for him; if he mean to use violence, we are ready to meet him." +And when the lictor would have laid hands on these two the multitude brake +his rods to pieces. Then Appius would have spoken to the people, but they +clamored against him, so that at last, losing all courage and fearing for +his life, he covered his head and fled secretly to his own house. + +Meanwhile Virginius had made his way to the camp, which was now on Mount +Vecilius, and stirred up the army yet more than he had stirred the city. +"Lay not to my charge," he said, "that which is in truth the wickedness of +Appius; neither turn from me as from the murderer of my daughter. Her +indeed I slew, thinking that death was better than slavery and shame; nor +indeed had I survived her but that I hoped to avenge her death by the help +of my comrades." Others also that had come from the city persuaded the +soldiers; some saying that the power of the Ten was overthrown, and others +that Appius had gone of his own accord into banishment. These words so +prevailed with the soldiers that, without any bidding from their generals, +they took up their arms, and, with their standards carried before them, +came to Rome and pitched their camp on the Aventine. + +Nevertheless, the Ten were still obstinate, affirming that they would not +resign their authority till they had finished the work for which they had +been appointed, namely, the drawing up of the twelve tables of the laws. +And when the army perceived this they marched from the Aventine and took +up their abode on the Sacred Hill, all the commons following them, so that +there was not left in the city a single man that had ability to move; nor +did the women and children stay behind, but all, as many as could move, +bare them company; for Duilius, that had been tribune, said, "Unless the +Senate see the city deserted, they will take no heed of your complaints." +And indeed, when these perceived what had taken place, they were more +urgent than before that the Ten should resign their office. And these at +last consented. "Only," said they, "do not suffer us to perish from the +rage of the commons. It will be an ill day for the nobles when the people +shall learn to take vengeance on them." And the Senate so wrought that +though at the first the commons in their great fury demanded that the Ten +should be burned alive, yet they were persuaded to yield, it being agreed +that each man should be judged by the law according to his deserts. +Appius, therefore, was accused by Virginius, and being cast into prison, +slew himself before the day appointed for the trial. Oppius also, another +of the Ten, whom the commons hated for his misdeeds next after Appius, was +accused and died in like manner. As for Claudius, that had claimed +Virginia for his slave, he was condemned to be banished. And thus at the +last, the guilty having been punished, the spirit of Virginia had rest. + + + + +THE SACRIFICE OF MARCUS CURTIUS + +Adapted by Alfred J. Church + + +In the three hundred and ninety-third year after the building of the city +there was seen suddenly to open in the market-place a great gulf of a +deepness that no man could measure. And this gulf could not be filled up, +though all the people brought earth and stones and the like to cast into +it. But at the last there was sent a message from the Gods that the Romans +must inquire what was that by which more than all things the state was +made strong. "For," said the soothsayer, "this thing must be dedicated to +the Gods in this place if the commonwealth of Rome is to stand fast +forever." And while they doubted, one Marcus Curtius, a youth that had won +great renown in war, rebuked them, saying, "Can ye doubt that Rome hath +nothing better than arms and valor?" + +Then all the people stood silent; and Curtius, first beholding the temples +of the immortal Gods that hung over the market-place and the Capitol, and +afterward stretching forth his hands both to heaven above and to this gulf +that opened its mouth to the very pit, as it were, of hell, devoted +himself for his country; and so--being clothed in armor and with arms in +his hand, and having his horse arrayed as sumptuously as might be--he +leapt into the gulf; and the multitude, both of men and women, threw in +gifts and offerings of the fruits of the earth, and afterward the earth +closed together. + + + + +STORIES FROM OVID + + +THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER + +By Nathaniel Hawthorne + + +One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat +at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset. They had +already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour +or two before bedtime. So they talked together about their garden, and +their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the +cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple. But +the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the +village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was +hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak. + +"Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveler is seeking +hospitality among our neighbors yonder, and, instead of giving him food +and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!" + +"Well-a-day!" answered old Baucis, "I do wish our neighbors felt a little +more kindness for their fellow-creatures. And only think of bringing up +their children in this naughty way, and patting them on the head when they +fling stones at strangers!" + +"Those children will never come to any good," said Philemon, shaking his +white head. "To tell you the truth, wife, I should not wonder if some +terrible thing were to happen to all the people in the village, unless +they mend their manners. But, as for you and me, so long as Providence +affords us a crust of bread, let us be ready to give half to any poor, +homeless stranger that may come along and need it." + +"That's right, husband!" said Baucis. "So we will!" + +These old folks, you must know, were quite poor, and had to work pretty +hard for a living. Old Philemon toiled diligently in his garden, while +Baucis was always busy with her distaff, or making a little butter and +cheese with their cow's milk, or doing one thing and another about the +cottage. Their food was seldom anything but bread, milk, and vegetables, +with sometimes a portion of honey from their beehive, and now and then a +bunch of grapes, that had ripened against the cottage wall. But they were +two of the kindest old people in the world, and would cheerfully have gone +without their dinners, any day, rather than refuse a slice of their brown +loaf, a cup of new milk, and a spoonful of honey, to the weary traveler +who might pause before their door. They felt as if such guests had a sort +of holiness, and that they ought, therefore, to treat them better and more +bountifully than their own selves. + +Their cottage stood on a rising ground, at some short distance from a +village, which lay in a hollow valley, that was about half a mile in +breadth. This valley, in past ages, when the world was new, had probably +been the bed of a lake. There fishes had glided to and fro in the depths, +and water-weeds had grown along the margin, and trees and hills had seen +their reflected images in the broad and peaceful mirror. But, as the +waters subsided, men had cultivated the soil, and built houses on it, so +that it was now a fertile spot, and bore no traces of the ancient lake, +except a very small brook, which meandered through the midst of the +village, and supplied the inhabitants with water. The valley had been dry +land so long that oaks had sprung up, and grown great and high, and +perished with old age, and been succeeded by others, as tall and stately +as the first. Never was there a prettier or more fruitful valley. The very +sight of the plenty around them should have made the inhabitants kind and +gentle, and ready to show their gratitude to Providence by doing good to +their fellow-creatures. + +But, we are sorry to say, the people of this lovely village were not +worthy to dwell in a spot on which Heaven had smiled so beneficently. They +were a very selfish and hard-hearted people, and had no pity for the poor, +nor sympathy with the homeless. They would only have laughed, had anybody +told them that human beings owe a debt of love to one another, because +there is no other method of paying the debt of love and care which all of +us owe to Providence. You will hardly believe what I am going to tell you. +These naughty people taught their children to be no better than +themselves, and used to clap their hands, by way of encouragement, when +they saw the little boys and girls run after some poor stranger, shouting +at his heels, and pelting him with stones. They kept large and fierce +dogs, and whenever a traveler ventured to show himself in the village +street, this pack of disagreeable curs scampered to meet him, barking, +snarling, and showing their teeth. Then they would seize him by his leg, +or by his clothes, just as it happened; and if he were ragged when he +came, he was generally a pitiable object before he had time to run away. +This was a very terrible thing to poor travelers, as you may suppose, +especially when they chanced to be sick, or feeble, or lame, or old. Such +persons (if they once knew how badly these unkind people, and their unkind +children and curs, were in the habit of behaving) would go miles and miles +out of their way, rather than try to pass through the village again. + +What made the matter seem worse, if possible, was that when rich persons +came in their chariots, or riding on beautiful horses, with their servants +in rich liveries attending on them, nobody could be more civil and +obsequious than the inhabitants of the village. They would take off their +hats, and make the humblest bows you ever saw. If the children were rude, +they were pretty certain to get their ears boxed; and as for the dogs, if +a single cur in the pack presumed to yelp, his master instantly beat him +with a club, and tied him up without any supper. This would have been all +very well, only it proved that the villagers cared much about the money +that a stranger had in his pocket, and nothing whatever for the human +soul, which lives equally in the beggar and the prince. + +So now you can understand why old Philemon spoke so sorrowfully, when he +heard the shouts of the children and the barking of the dogs, at the +farther extremity of the village street. There was a confused din, which +lasted a good while, and seemed to pass quite through the breadth of the +valley. + +"I never heard the dogs so loud!" observed the good old man. + +"Nor the children so rude!" answered his good old wife. + +They sat shaking their heads, one to the other, while the noise came +nearer and nearer; until, at the foot of the little eminence on which +their cottage stood, they saw two travelers approaching on foot. Close +behind them came the fierce dogs, snarling at their very heels. A little +farther off ran a crowd of children, who sent up shrill cries, and flung +stones at the two strangers, with all their might. Once or twice, the +younger of the two men (he was a slender and very active figure) turned +about and drove back the dogs with a staff which he carried in his hand. +His companion, who was a very tall person, walked calmly along as if +disdaining to notice either the naughty children or the pack of curs, +whose manners the children seemed to imitate. + +Both of the travelers were very humbly clad, and looked as if they might +not have money enough in their pockets to pay for a night's lodging. And +this, I am afraid, was the reason why the villagers had allowed their +children and dogs to treat them so rudely. + +"Come, wife," said Philemon to Baucis, "let us go and meet these poor +people. No doubt, they feel almost too heavy-hearted to climb the hill." + +"Go you and meet them," answered Baucis, "while I make haste within doors, +and see whether we can get them anything for supper. A comfortable bowl of +bread and milk would do wonders towards raising their spirits." + +Accordingly, she hastened into the cottage. Philemon, on his part, went +forward, and extended his hand with so hospitable an aspect that there was +no need of saying what nevertheless he did say, in the heartiest tone +imaginable,-- + +"Welcome, strangers! welcome!" + +"Thank you!" replied the younger of the two, in a lively kind of way, +notwithstanding his weariness and trouble. "This is quite another greeting +than we have met with yonder in the village. Pray, why do you live in such +a bad neighborhood?" + +"Ah!" observed old Philemon, with a quiet and benign smile, "Providence +put me here, I hope, among other reasons, in order that I may make you +what amends I can for the inhospitality of my neighbors." + +"Well said, old father!" cried the traveler, laughing; "and, if the truth +must be told, my companion and myself need some amends. Those children +(the little rascals!) have bespattered us finely with their mud-balls; and +one of the curs has torn my cloak, which was ragged enough already. But I +took him across the muzzle with my staff; and I think you may have heard +him yelp, even thus far off." + +Philemon was glad to see him in such good spirits; nor, indeed, would you +have fancied, by the traveler's look and manner, that he was weary with a +long day's journey, besides being disheartened by rough treatment at the +end of it. He was dressed in rather an odd way, with a sort of cap on his +head, the brim of which stuck out over both ears. Though it was a summer +evening, he wore a cloak, which he kept wrapt closely about him, perhaps +because his under garments were shabby. Philemon perceived, too, that he +had on a singular pair of shoes; but, as it was now growing dusk, and as +the old man's eyesight was none the sharpest, he could not precisely tell +in what the strangeness consisted. One thing, certainly, seemed queer. The +traveler was so wonderfully light and active, that it appeared as if his +feet sometimes rose from the ground of their own accord, or could only be +kept down by an effort. + +"I used to be light-footed, in my youth," said Philemon to the traveler. +"But I always found my feet grow heavier towards nightfall." + +"There is nothing like a good staff to help one along," answered the +stranger; "and I happen to have an excellent one, as you see." + +This staff, in fact, was the oddest-looking staff that Philemon had ever +beheld. It was made of olive-wood, and had something like a little pair of +wings near the top. Two snakes, carved in the wood, were represented as +twining themselves about the staff, and were so very skillfully executed +that old Philemon (whose eyes, you know, were getting rather dim) almost +thought them alive, and that he could see them wriggling and twisting. + +"A curious piece of work, sure enough!" said he. "A staff with wings! It +would be an excellent kind of stick for a little boy to ride astride of!" + +By this time Philemon and his two guests had reached the cottage door. + +"Friends," said the old man, "sit down and rest yourselves here on this +bench. My good wife Baucis has gone to see what you can have for supper. +We are poor folks; but you shall be welcome to whatever we have in the +cupboard." + +The younger stranger threw himself carelessly on the bench, letting his +staff fall, as he did so. And here happened something rather marvelous, +though trifling enough, too. The staff seemed to get up from the ground of +its own accord, and, spreading its little pair of wings, it half hopped, +half flew, and leaned itself against the wall of the cottage. There it +stood quite still, except that the snakes continued to wriggle. But, in my +private opinion, old Philemon's eyesight had been playing him tricks +again. + +Before he could ask any questions, the elder stranger drew his attention +from the wonderful staff, by speaking to him. + +"Was there not," asked the stranger, in a remarkably deep tone of voice, +"a lake, in very ancient times, covering the spot where now stands yonder +village?" + +"Not in my day, friend," answered Philemon; "and yet I am an old man, as +you see. There were always the fields and meadows, just as they are now, +and the old trees, and the little stream murmuring through the midst of +the valley. My father, nor his father before him, ever saw it otherwise, +so far as I know; and doubtless it will still be the same, when old +Philemon shall be gone and forgotten!" + +"That is more than can be safely foretold," observed the stranger; and +there was something very stern in his deep voice. He shook his head, too, +so that his dark and heavy curls were shaken with the movement. "Since the +inhabitants of yonder village have forgotten the affections and sympathies +of their nature, it were better that the lake should be rippling over +their dwellings again!" + +The traveler looked so stern that Philemon was really almost frightened; +the more so, that, at his frown, the twilight seemed suddenly to grow +darker, and that, when he shook his head, there was a roll as of thunder +in the air. + +But, in a moment afterwards, the stranger's face became so kindly and mild +that the old man quite forgot his terror. Nevertheless, he could not help +feeling that this elder traveler must be no ordinary personage, although +he happened now to be attired so humbly and to be journeying on foot. Not +that Philemon fancied him a prince in disguise, or any character of that +sort; but rather some exceedingly wise man, who went about the world in +this poor garb, despising wealth and all worldly objects, and seeking +everywhere to add a mite to his wisdom. This idea appeared the more +probable, because, when Philemon raised his eyes to the stranger's face, +he seemed to see more thought there, in one look, than he could have +studied out in a lifetime. + +While Baucis was getting the supper, the travelers both began to talk very +sociably with Philemon. The younger, indeed, was extremely loquacious, and +made such shrewd and witty remarks that the good old man continually burst +out a-laughing, and pronounced him the merriest fellow whom he had seen +for many a day. + +"Pray, my young friend," said he, as they grew familiar together, "what +may I call your name?" + +"Why, I am very nimble, as you see," answered the traveler. "So, if you +call me Quicksilver, the name will fit tolerably well." + +"Quicksilver? Quicksilver?" repeated Philemon, looking in the traveler's +face, to see if he were making fun of him. "It is a very odd name! And +your companion there? Has he as strange a one?" + +"You must ask the thunder to tell it you!" replied Quicksilver, putting on +a mysterious look. "No other voice is loud enough." + +This remark, whether it were serious or in jest, might have caused +Philemon to conceive a very great awe of the elder stranger, if, on +venturing to gaze at him, he had not beheld so much beneficence in his +visage. But undoubtedly here was the grandest figure that ever sat so +humbly beside a cottage door. When the stranger conversed, it was with +gravity, and in such a way that Philemon felt irresistibly moved to tell +him everything which he had most at heart. This is always the feeling that +people have when they meet with any one wise enough to comprehend all +their good and evil, and to despise not a tittle of it. + +But Philemon, simple and kind-hearted old man that he was, had not many +secrets to disclose. He talked, however, quite garrulously, about the +events of his past life, in the whole course of which he had never been a +score of miles from this very spot. His wife Baucis and himself had dwelt +in the cottage from their youth upward, earning their bread by honest +labor, always poor, but still contented. He told what excellent butter and +cheese Baucis made, and how nice were the vegetables which he raised in +his garden. He said, too, that, because they loved one another so very +much, it was the wish of both that death might not separate them, but that +they should die, as they had lived, together. + +As the stranger listened, a smile beamed over his countenance, and made +its expression as sweet as it was grand. + +"You are a good old man," said he to Philemon, "and you have a good old +wife to be your helpmeet. It is fit that your wish be granted." + +And it seemed to Philemon, just then, as if the sunset clouds threw up a +bright flash from the west, and kindled a sudden light in the sky. + +Baucis had now got supper ready, and, coming to the door, began to make +apologies for the poor fare which she was forced to set before her guests. + +"Had we known you were coming," said she, "my good man and myself would +have gone without a morsel, rather than you should lack a better supper. +But I took the most part of to-day's milk to make cheese; and our last +loaf is already half eaten. Ah me! I never feel the sorrow of being poor, +save when a poor traveler knocks at our door." + +"All will be very well; do not trouble yourself, my good dame," replied +the elder stranger kindly. "An honest, hearty welcome to a guest works +miracles with the fare, and is capable of turning the coarsest food to +nectar and ambrosia." + +"A welcome you shall have," cried Baucis, "and likewise a little honey +that we happen to have left, and a bunch of purple grapes besides." + +"Why, Mother Baucis, it is a feast!" exclaimed Quicksilver, laughing; "an +absolute feast! and you shall see how bravely I will play my part at it! I +think I never felt hungrier in my life." + +"Mercy on us!" whispered Baucis to her husband. "If the young man has such +a terrible appetite, I am afraid there will not be half enough supper!" + +[Illustration: "I AM AFRAID THERE WILL NOT BE HALF ENOUGH SUPPER"] + +They all went into the cottage. + +And now, my little auditors, shall I tell you something that will make you +open your eyes very wide? It is really one of the oddest circumstances in +the whole story. Quicksilver's staff, you recollect, had set itself up +against the wall of the cottage. Well, when its master entered the door, +leaving this wonderful staff behind, what should it do but immediately +spread its little wings, and go hopping and fluttering up the doorsteps! +Tap, tap, went the staff, on the kitchen floor; nor did it rest until it +had stood itself on end, with the greatest gravity and decorum, beside +Quicksilver's chair. Old Philemon, however, as well as his wife, was so +taken up in attending to their guests that no notice was given to what the +staff had been about. + +As Baucis had said, there was but a scanty supper for two hungry +travelers. In the middle of the table was the remnant of a brown loaf, +with a piece of cheese on one side of it, and a dish of honeycomb on the +other. There was a pretty good bunch of grapes for each of the guests. A +moderately sized earthen pitcher, nearly full of milk, stood at a corner +of the board; and when Baucis had filled two bowls, and set them before +the strangers, only a little milk remained in the bottom of the pitcher. +Alas! it is a very sad business, when a bountiful heart finds itself +pinched and squeezed among narrow circumstances. Poor Baucis kept wishing +that she might starve for a week to come, if it were possible, by so +doing, to provide these hungry folks a more plentiful supper. + +And, since the supper was so exceedingly small, she could not help wishing +that their appetites had not been quite so large. Why, at their very first +sitting down, the travelers both drank off all the milk in their two +bowls, at a draught. + +"A little more milk, kind Mother Baucis, if you please," said Quicksilver. +"The day has been hot, and I am very much athirst." + +"Now, my dear people," answered Baucis, in great confusion, "I am so sorry +and ashamed! But the truth is, there is hardly a drop more milk in the +pitcher. O husband, husband, why didn't we go without our supper?" + +"Why, it appears to me," cried Quicksilver, starting up from table and +taking the pitcher by the handle, "it really appears to me that matters +are not quite so bad as you represent them. Here is certainly more milk in +the pitcher." + +So saying, and to the vast astonishment of Baucis, he proceeded to fill, +not only his own bowl, but his companion's likewise, from the pitcher that +was supposed to be almost empty. The good woman could scarcely believe her +eyes. She had certainly poured out nearly all the milk, and had peeped in +afterwards, and seen the bottom of the pitcher, as she set it down upon +the table. + +"But I am old," thought Baucis to herself, "and apt to be forgetful. I +suppose I must have made a mistake. At all events, the pitcher cannot help +being empty now, after filling the bowls twice over." + +"What excellent milk!" observed Quicksilver, after quaffing the contents +of the second bowl. "Excuse me, my kind hostess, but I must really ask you +for a little more." + +Now Baucis had seen, as plainly as she could see anything, that +Quicksilver had turned the pitcher upside down, and consequently had +poured out every drop of milk, in filling the last bowl. Of course, there +could not possibly be any left. However, in order to let him know +precisely how the case was, she lifted the pitcher, and made a gesture as +if pouring milk into Quicksilver's bowl, but without the remotest idea +that any milk would stream forth. What was her surprise, therefore, when +such an abundant cascade fell bubbling into the bowl, that it was +immediately filled to the brim, and overflowed upon the table! The two +snakes that were twisted about Quicksilver's staff (but neither Baucis nor +Philemon happened to observe this circumstance) stretched out their heads, +and began to lap up the spilt milk. + +And then what a delicious fragrance the milk had! It seemed as if +Philemon's only cow must have pastured, that day, on the richest herbage +that could be found anywhere in the world. I only wish that each of you, +my beloved little souls, could have a bowl of such nice milk, at +supper-time! + +"And now a slice of your brown loaf, Mother Baucis," said Quicksilver, +"and a little of that honey!" + +Baucis cut him a slice accordingly; and though the loaf, when she and her +husband ate of it, had been rather too dry and crusty to be palatable, it +was now as light and moist as if but a few hours out of the oven. Tasting +a crumb, which had fallen on the table, she found it more delicious than +bread ever was before, and could hardly believe that it was a loaf of her +own kneading and baking. Yet, what other loaf could it possibly be? + +But oh, the honey! I may just as well let it alone, without trying to +describe how exquisitely it smelt and looked. Its color was that of the +purest and most transparent gold; and it had the odor of a thousand +flowers; but of such flowers as never grew in an earthly garden, and to +seek which the bees must have flown high above the clouds. The wonder is, +that, after alighting on a flower-bed of so delicious fragrance and +immortal bloom, they should have been content to fly down again to their +hive in Philemon's garden. Never was such honey tasted, seen, or smelt. +The perfume floated around the kitchen, and made it so delightful, that, +had you closed your eyes, you would instantly have forgotten the low +ceiling and smoky walls, and have fancied yourself in an arbor, with +celestial honeysuckles creeping over it. + +Although good Mother Baucis was a simple old dame, she could not but think +that there was something rather out of the common way in all that had been +going on. So, after helping the guests to bread and honey, and laying a +bunch of grapes by each of their plates, she sat down by Philemon, and +told him what she had seen, in a whisper. + +"Did you ever hear the like?" asked she. + +"No, I never did," answered Philemon, with a smile. "And I rather think, +my dear old wife, you have been walking about in a sort of a dream. If I +had poured out the milk, I should have seen through the business at once. +There happened to be a little more in the pitcher than you thought,--that +is all." + +"Ah, husband," said Baucis, "say what you will, these are very uncommon +people." + +"Well, well," replied Philemon, still smiling, "perhaps they are. They +certainly do look as if they had seen better days; and I am heartily glad +to see them making so comfortable a supper." + +Each of the guests had now taken his bunch of grapes upon his plate. +Baucis (who rubbed her eyes, in order to see the more clearly) was of +opinion that the clusters had grown larger and richer, and that each +separate grape seemed to be on the point of bursting with ripe juice. It +was entirely a mystery to her how such grapes could ever have been +produced from the old stunted vine that climbed against the cottage wall. + +"Very admirable grapes these!" observed Quicksilver, as he swallowed one +after another, without apparently diminishing his cluster. "Pray, my good +host, whence did you gather them?" + +"From my own vine," answered Philemon. "You may see one of its branches +twisting across the window, yonder. But wife and I never thought the +grapes very fine ones." + +"I never tasted better," said the guest. "Another cup of this delicious +milk, if you please, and I shall then have supped better than a prince." + +This time, old Philemon bestirred himself, and took up the pitcher; for he +was curious to discover whether there was any reality in the marvels which +Baucis had whispered to him. He knew that his good old wife was incapable +of falsehood, and that she was seldom mistaken in what she supposed to be +true; but this was so very singular a case, that he wanted to see into it +with his own eyes. On taking up the pitcher, therefore, he slyly peeped +into it, and was fully satisfied that it contained not so much as a single +drop. All at once, however, he beheld a little white fountain, which +gushed up from the bottom of the pitcher, and speedily filled it to the +brim with foaming and deliciously fragrant milk. It was lucky that +Philemon, in his surprise, did not drop the miraculous pitcher from his +hand. + +"Who are ye, wonder-working strangers!" cried he, even more bewildered +than his wife had been. + +"Your guests, my good Philemon, and your friends," replied the elder +traveler, in his mild, deep voice, that had something at once sweet and +awe-inspiring in it. "Give me likewise a cup of the milk; and may your +pitcher never be empty for kind Baucis and yourself, any more than for the +needy wayfarer!" + +The supper being now over, the strangers requested to be shown to their +place of repose. The old people would gladly have talked with them a +little longer, and have expressed the wonder which they felt, and their +delight at finding the poor and meagre supper prove so much better and +more abundant than they hoped. But the elder traveler had inspired them +with such reverence that they dared not ask him any questions. And when +Philemon drew Quicksilver aside, and inquired how under the sun a fountain +of milk could have got into an old earthen pitcher, this latter personage +pointed to his staff. + +"There is the whole mystery of the affair," quoth Quicksilver; "and if you +can make it out, I'll thank you to let me know. I can't tell what to make +of my staff. It is always playing such odd tricks as this; sometimes +getting me a supper, and, quite as often, stealing it away. If I had any +faith in such nonsense, I should say the stick was bewitched!" + +He said no more, but looked so slyly in their faces, that they rather +fancied he was laughing at them. The magic staff went hopping at his +heels, as Quicksilver quitted the room. When left alone, the good old +couple spent some little time in conversation about the events of the +evening, and then lay down on the floor, and fell fast asleep. They had +given up their sleeping-room to the guests, and had no other bed for +themselves, save these planks, which I wish had been as soft as their own +hearts. + +The old man and his wife were stirring, betimes, in the morning, and the +strangers likewise arose with the sun, and made their preparations to +depart. Philemon hospitably entreated them to remain a little longer, +until Baucis could milk the cow, and bake a cake upon the hearth, and, +perhaps, find them a few fresh eggs, for breakfast. The guests, however, +seemed to think it better to accomplish a good part of their journey +before the heat of the day should come on. They, therefore, persisted in +setting out immediately, but asked Philemon and Baucis to walk forth with +them a short distance, and show them the road which they were to take. + +So they all four issued from the cottage, chatting together like old +friends. It was very remarkable, indeed, how familiar the old couple +insensibly grew with the elder traveler, and how their good and simple +spirits melted into his, even as two drops of water would melt into the +illimitable ocean. And as for Quicksilver, with his keen, quick, laughing +wits, he appeared to discover every little thought that but peeped into +their minds, before they suspected it themselves. They sometimes wished, +it is true, that he had not been quite so quick-witted, and also that he +would fling away his staff, which looked so mysteriously mischievous, with +the snakes always writhing about it. But then, again, Quicksilver showed +himself so very good-humored, that they would have been rejoiced to keep +him in their cottage, staff, snakes, and all, every day, and the whole day +long. + +"Ah me! Well-a-day!" exclaimed Philemon, when they had walked a little way +from their door. "If our neighbors only knew what a blessed thing it is to +show hospitality to strangers, they would tie up all their dogs, and never +allow their children to fling another stone." + +"It is a sin and shame for them to behave so,--that it is!" cried good old +Baucis vehemently. "And I mean to go this very day, and tell some of them +what naughty people they are!" + +"I fear," remarked Quicksilver; slyly smiling, "that you will find none of +them at home." + +The elder traveler's brow, just then, assumed such a grave, stern, and +awful grandeur, yet serene withal, that neither Baucis nor Philemon dared +to speak a word. They gazed reverently into his face, as if they had been +gazing at the sky. + +"When men do not feel towards the humblest stranger as if he were a +brother," said the traveler, in tones so deep that they sounded like those +of an organ, "they are unworthy to exist on earth, which was created as +the abode of a great human brotherhood!" + +"And, by the by, my dear old people," cried Quicksilver, with the +liveliest look of fun and mischief in his eyes, "where is this same +village that you talk about? On which side of us does it lie? Methinks I +do not see it hereabouts." + +Philemon and his wife turned towards the valley, where, at sunset, only +the day before, they had seen the meadows, the houses, the gardens, the +clumps of trees, the wide, green-margined street, with children playing in +it, and all the tokens of business, enjoyment, and prosperity. But what +was their astonishment! There was no longer any appearance of a village! +Even the fertile vale, in the hollow of which it lay, had ceased to have +existence. In its stead, they beheld the broad, blue surface of a lake, +which filled the great basin of the valley from brim to brim, and +reflected the surrounding hills in its bosom with as tranquil an image as +if it had been there ever since the creation of the world. For an instant, +the lake remained perfectly smooth. Then a little breeze sprang up, and +caused the water to dance, glitter, and sparkle in the early sunbeams, and +to dash, with a pleasant rippling murmur, against the hither shore. + +The lake seemed so strangely familiar, that the old couple were greatly +perplexed, and felt as if they could only have been dreaming about a +village having lain there. But, the next moment, they remembered the +vanished dwellings, and the faces and characters of the inhabitants, far +too distinctly for a dream. The village had been there yesterday, and now +was gone! + +"Alas!" cried these kind-hearted old people, "what has become of our poor +neighbors?" + +"They no longer exist as men and women," said the elder traveler, in his +grand and deep voice, while a roll of thunder seemed to echo it at a +distance. "There was neither use nor beauty in such a life as theirs; for +they never softened or sweetened the hard lot of mortality by the exercise +of kindly affections between man and man. They retained no image of the +better life in their bosoms; therefore, the lake, that was of old, has +spread itself forth again, to reflect the sky!" + +"And as for those foolish people," said Quicksilver, with his mischievous +smile, "they are all transformed to fishes. There needed but little +change, for they were already a scaly set of rascals, and the +coldest-blooded beings in existence. So, kind Mother Baucis, whenever you +or your husband have an appetite for a dish of broiled trout, he can throw +in a line, and pull out half a dozen of your old neighbors!" + +"Ah," cried Baucis shuddering, "I would not, for the world, put one of +them on the gridiron!" + +"No," added Philemon, making a wry face, "we could never relish them!" + +"As for you, good Philemon," continued the elder traveler,--"and you, kind +Baucis,--you, with your scanty means, have mingled so much heartfelt +hospitality with your entertainment of the homeless stranger, that the +milk became an inexhaustible fount of nectar, and the brown loaf and the +honey were ambrosia. Thus, the divinities have feasted, at your board, off +the same viands that supply their banquets on Olympus. You have done well, +my dear old friends. Wherefore, request whatever favor you have most at +heart, and it is granted." + +Philemon and Baucis looked at one another, and then--I know not which of +the two it was who spoke, but that one uttered the desire of both their +hearts. + +"Let us live together, while we live, and leave the world at the same +instant, when we die! For we have always loved one another!" + +"Be it so!" replied the stranger, with majestic kindness. "Now, look +towards your cottage!" + +They did so. But what was their surprise on beholding a tall edifice of +white marble, with a wide-open portal, occupying the spot where their +humble residence had so lately stood! + +"There is your home," said the stranger, beneficently smiling on them +both. "Exercise your hospitality in yonder palace as freely as in the poor +hovel to which you welcomed us last evening." + +The old folks fell on their knees to thank him; but, behold! neither he +nor Quicksilver was there. + +So Philemon and Baucis took up their residence in the marble palace, and +spent their time, with vast satisfaction to themselves, in making +everybody jolly and comfortable who happened to pass that way. The +milk-pitcher, I must not forget to say, retained its marvelous quality of +being never empty, when it was desirable to have it full. Whenever an +honest, good-humored, and free-hearted guest took a draught from this +pitcher, he invariably found it the sweetest and most invigorating fluid +that ever ran down his throat. But, if a cross and disagreeable curmudgeon +happened to sip, he was pretty certain to twist his visage into a hard +knot, and pronounce it a pitcher of sour milk! + +Thus the old couple lived in their palace a great, great while, and grew +older and older, and very old indeed. At length, however, there came a +summer morning when Philemon and Baucis failed to make their appearance, +as on other mornings, with one hospitable smile overspreading both their +pleasant faces, to invite the guests of over-night to breakfast. The +guests searched everywhere, from top to bottom of the spacious palace, and +all to no purpose. But, after a great deal of perplexity, they espied, in +front of the portal, two venerable trees, which nobody could remember to +have seen there the day before. Yet there they stood, with their roots +fastened deep into the soil, and a huge breadth of foliage overshadowing +the whole front of the edifice. One was an oak, and the other a +linden-tree. Their boughs--it was strange and beautiful to see--were +intertwined together, and embraced one another, so that each tree seemed +to live in the other tree's bosom much more than in its own. + +While the guests were marveling how these trees, that must have required +at least a century to grow, could have come to be so tall and venerable in +a single night, a breeze sprang up, and set their intermingled boughs +astir. And then there was a deep, broad murmur in the air, as if the two +mysterious trees were speaking. + +"I am old Philemon!" murmured the oak. + +"I am old Baucis!" murmured the linden-tree. + +But, as the breeze grew stronger, the trees both spoke at +once,--"Philemon! Baucis! Baucis! Philemon!"--as if one were both and both +were one, and talking together in the depths of their mutual heart. It was +plain enough to perceive that the good old couple had renewed their age, +and were now to spend a quiet and delightful hundred years or so, Philemon +as an oak, and Baucis as a linden-tree. And oh, what a hospitable shade +did they fling around them! Whenever a wayfarer paused beneath it, he +heard a pleasant whisper of the leaves above his head, and wondered how +the sound should so much resemble words like these:-- + +"Welcome, welcome, dear traveler, welcome!" + +And some kind soul, that knew what would have pleased old Baucis and old +Philemon best, built a circular seat around both their trunks, where, for +a great while afterwards, the weary, and the hungry, and the thirsty used +to repose themselves, and quaff milk abundantly from the miraculous +pitcher. + +And I wish, for all our sakes, that we had the pitcher here now! + + + + +THE GOLDEN TOUCH + +By Nathaniel Hawthorne + + +Once upon a time, there lived a very rich man, and a king besides, whose +name was Midas; and he had a little daughter, whom nobody but myself ever +heard of, and whose name I either never knew or have entirely forgotten. +So, because I love odd names for little girls, I choose to call her +Marygold. + +This King Midas was fonder of gold than of anything else in the world. He +valued his royal crown chiefly because it was composed of that precious +metal. If he loved anything better, or half so well, it was the one little +maiden who played so merrily around her father's footstool. But the more +Midas loved his daughter, the more did he desire and seek for wealth. He +thought, foolish man! that the best thing he could possibly do for this +dear child would be to bequeath her the immensest pile of yellow, +glistening coin, that had ever been heaped together since the world was +made. Thus, he gave all his thoughts and all his time to this one purpose. +If ever he happened to gaze for an instant at the gold-tinted clouds of +sunset, he wished that they were real gold, and that they could be +squeezed safely into his strong box. When little Marygold ran to meet him +with a bunch of buttercups and dandelions, he used to say, "Poh, poh, +child! If these flowers were as golden as they look, they would be worth +the plucking!" + +And yet, in his earlier days, before he was so entirely possessed of this +insane desire for riches, King Midas had shown a great taste for flowers. +He had planted a garden, in which grew the biggest and beautifulest and +sweetest roses that any mortal ever saw or smelt. These roses were still +growing in the garden, as large, as lovely, and as fragrant as when Midas +used to pass whole hours in gazing at them and inhaling their perfume. But +now, if he looked at them at all, it was only to calculate how much the +garden would be worth if each of the innumerable rose-petals were a thin +plate of gold. And though he once was fond of music (in spite of an idle +story about his ears, which were said to resemble those of an ass), the +only music for poor Midas, now, was the chink of one coin against another. + +At length (as people always grow more and more foolish, unless they take +care to grow wiser and wiser), Midas had got to be so exceedingly +unreasonable, that he could scarcely bear to see or touch any object that +was not gold. He made it his custom, therefore, to pass a large portion of +every day in a dark and dreary apartment, under ground, at the basement of +his palace. It was here that he kept his wealth. To this dismal hole--for +it was little better than a dungeon--Midas betook himself, whenever he +wanted to be particularly happy. Here, after carefully locking the door, +he would take a bag of gold coin, or a gold cup as big as a washbowl, or a +heavy golden bar, or a peck-measure of gold-dust, and bring them from the +obscure corners of the room into the one bright and narrow sunbeam that +fell from the dungeon-like window. He valued the sunbeam for no other +reason but that his treasure would not shine without its help. And then +would he reckon over the coins in the bag; toss up the bar, and catch it +as it came down; sift the gold-dust through his fingers; look at the funny +image of his own face, as reflected in the burnished circumference of the +cup; and whisper to himself, "O Midas, rich King Midas, what a happy man +art thou!" But it was laughable to see how the image of his face kept +grinning at him, out of the polished surface of the cup. It seemed to be +aware of his foolish behavior, and to have a naughty inclination to make +fun of him. + +Midas called himself a happy man, but felt that he was not yet quite so +happy as he might be. The very tiptop of enjoyment would never be reached, +unless the whole world were to become his treasure-room, and be filled +with yellow metal which should be all his own. + +Now, I need hardly remind such wise little people as you are, that in the +old, old times, when King Midas was alive, a great many things came to +pass, which we should consider wonderful if they were to happen in our own +day and country. And, on the other hand, a great many things take place +nowadays, which seem not only wonderful to us, but at which the people of +old times would have stared their eyes out. On the whole, I regard our own +times as the strangest of the two; but, however that may be, I must go on +with my story. + +Midas was enjoying himself in his treasure-room, one day, as usual, when +he perceived a shadow fall over the heaps of gold; and, looking suddenly +up, what should he behold but the figure of a stranger, standing in the +bright and narrow sunbeam! It was a young man, with a cheerful and ruddy +face. Whether it was that the imagination of King Midas threw a yellow +tinge over everything, or whatever the cause might be, he could not help +fancying that the smile with which the stranger regarded him had a kind of +golden radiance in it. Certainly, although his figure intercepted the +sunshine, there was now a brighter gleam upon all the piled-up treasures +than before. Even the remotest corners had their share of it, and were +lighted up, when the stranger smiled, as with tips of flame and sparkles +of fire. As Midas knew that he had carefully turned the key in the lock, +and that no mortal strength could possibly break into his treasure-room, +he, of course, concluded that his visitor must be something more than +mortal. It is no matter about telling you who he was. In those days, when +the earth was comparatively a new affair, it was supposed to be often the +resort of beings endowed with supernatural power, and who used to interest +themselves in the joys and sorrows of men, women, and children, half +playfully and half seriously. Midas had met such beings before now, and +was not sorry to meet one of them again. The stranger's aspect, indeed, +was so good-humored and kindly, if not beneficent, that it would have been +unreasonable to suspect him of intending any mischief. It was far more +probable that he came to do Midas a favor. And what could that favor be, +unless to multiply his heaps of treasure? + +The stranger gazed about the room; and when his lustrous smile had +glistened upon all the golden objects that were there, he turned again to +Midas. + +"You are a wealthy man, friend Midas!" he observed. "I doubt whether any +other four walls, on earth, contain so much gold as you have contrived to +pile up in this room." + +"I have done pretty well,--pretty well," answered Midas, in a discontented +tone. "But, after all, it is but a trifle, when you consider that it has +taken me my whole life to get it together. If one could live a thousand +years, he might have time to grow rich!" + +"What!" exclaimed the stranger. "Then you are not satisfied?" + +Midas shook his head. + +"And pray what would satisfy you?" asked the stranger. "Merely for the +curiosity of the thing, I should be glad to know." + +Midas paused and meditated. He felt a presentiment that this stranger, +with such a golden lustre in his good-humored smile, had come hither with +both the power and the purpose of gratifying his utmost wishes. Now, +therefore, was the fortunate moment, when he had but to speak, and obtain +whatever possible, or seemingly impossible thing, it might come into his +head to ask. So he thought, and thought, and thought, and heaped up one +golden mountain upon another, in his imagination, without being able to +imagine them big enough. At last, a bright idea occurred to King Midas. It +seemed really as bright as the glistening metal which he loved so much. + +Raising his head, he looked the lustrous stranger in the face. + +"Well, Midas," observed his visitor, "I see that you have at length hit +upon something that will satisfy you. Tell me your wish." + +"It is only this," replied Midas. "I am weary of collecting my treasures +with so much trouble, and beholding the heap so diminutive, after I have +done my best. I wish everything that I touch to be changed to gold!" + +The stranger's smile grew so very broad, that it seemed to fill the room +like an outburst of the sun, gleaming into a shadowy dell where the yellow +autumnal leaves--for so looked the lumps and particles of gold--lie strewn +in the glow of light. + +"The Golden Touch!" exclaimed he. "You certainly deserve credit, friend +Midas, for striking out so brilliant a conception. But are you quite sure +that this will satisfy you?" + +"How could it fail?" said Midas. + +"And will you never regret the possession of it?" + +"What could induce me?" asked Midas. "I ask nothing else, to render me +perfectly happy." + +"Be it as you wish, then," replied the stranger, waving his hand in token +of farewell. "To-morrow, at sunrise, you will find yourself gifted with +the Golden Touch." + +The figure of the stranger then became exceedingly bright, and Midas +involuntarily closed his eyes. On opening them again, he beheld only one +yellow sunbeam in the room, and, all around him, the glistening of the +precious metal which he had spent his life in hoarding up. + +Whether Midas slept as usual that night, the story does not say. Asleep or +awake, however, his mind was probably in the state of a child's, to whom a +beautiful new plaything has been promised in the morning. At any rate, day +had hardly peeped over the hills, when King Midas was broad awake, and, +stretching his arms out of bed, began to touch the objects that were +within reach. He was anxious to prove whether the Golden Touch had really +come, according to the stranger's promise. So he laid his finger on a +chair by the bedside, and on various other things, but was grievously +disappointed to perceive that they remained of exactly the same substance +as before. Indeed, he felt very much afraid that he had only dreamed about +the lustrous stranger, or else that the latter had been making game of +him. And what a miserable affair would it be, if, after all his hopes, +Midas must content himself with what little gold he could scrape together +by ordinary means, instead of creating it by a touch! + +All this while it was only the gray of the morning, with but a streak of +brightness along the edge of the sky, where Midas could not see it. He lay +in a very disconsolate mood, regretting the downfall of his hopes, and +kept growing sadder and sadder, until the earliest sunbeam shone through +the window, and gilded the ceiling over his head. It seemed to Midas that +this bright yellow sunbeam was reflected in rather a singular way on the +white covering of the bed. Looking more closely, what was his astonishment +and delight, when he found that this linen fabric had been transmuted to +what seemed a woven texture of the purest and brightest gold! The Golden +Touch had come to him with the first sunbeam! + +Midas started up, in a kind of joyful frenzy, and ran about the room, +grasping at everything that happened to be in his way. He seized one of +the bed-posts, and it became immediately a fluted golden pillar. He pulled +aside a window-curtain, in order to admit a clear spectacle of the wonders +which he was performing; and the tassel grew heavy in his hand,--a mass of +gold. He took up a book from the table. At his first touch, it assumed the +appearance of such a splendidly bound and gilt-edged volume as one often +meets with, nowadays; but, on running his fingers through the leaves, +behold! it was a bundle of thin golden plates, in which all the wisdom of +the book had grown illegible. He hurriedly put on his clothes, and was +enraptured to see himself in a magnificent suit of gold cloth, which +retained its flexibility and softness, although it burdened him a little +with its weight. He drew out his handkerchief, which little Marygold had +hemmed for him. That was likewise gold, with the dear child's neat and +pretty stitches running all along the border, in gold thread! + +Somehow or other, this last transformation did not quite please King +Midas. He would rather that his little daughter's handiwork should have +remained just the same as when she climbed his knee and put it into his +hand. + +But it was not worth while to vex himself about a trifle. Midas now took +his spectacles from his pocket, and put them on his nose, in order that he +might see more distinctly what he was about. In those days, spectacles for +common people had not been invented, but were already worn by kings; else, +how could Midas have had any? To his great perplexity, however, excellent +as the glasses were, he discovered that he could not possibly see through +them. But this was the most natural thing in the world; for on taking them +off, the transparent crystals turned out to be plates of yellow metal, +and, of course, were worthless as spectacles, though valuable as gold. It +struck Midas as rather inconvenient that, with all his wealth, he could +never again be rich enough to own a pair of serviceable spectacles. + +"It is no great matter, nevertheless," said he to himself, very +philosophically. "We cannot expect any great good, without its being +accompanied with some small inconvenience. The Golden Touch is worth the +sacrifice of a pair of spectacles, at least, if not of one's very +eyesight. My own eyes will serve for ordinary purposes, and little +Marygold will soon be old enough to read to me." + +Wise King Midas was so exalted by his good fortune that the palace seemed +not sufficiently spacious to contain him. He therefore went downstairs, +and smiled, on observing that the balustrade of the staircase became a bar +of burnished gold, as his hand passed over it in his descent. He lifted +the door-latch (it was brass only a moment ago, but golden when his +fingers quitted it), and emerged into the garden. Here, as it happened, he +found a great number of beautiful roses in full bloom, and others in all +the stages of lovely bud and blossom. Very delicious was their fragrance +in the morning breeze. Their delicate blush was one of the fairest sights +in the world; so gentle, so modest, and so full of sweet tranquillity did +these roses seem to be. + +But Midas knew a way to make them far more precious, according to his way +of thinking, than roses had ever been before. So he took great pains in +going from bush to bush, and exercised his magic touch most indefatigably; +until every individual flower and bud, and even the worms at the heart of +some of them, were changed to gold. By the time this good work was +completed, King Midas was summoned to breakfast; and as the morning air +had given him an excellent appetite, he made haste back to the palace. + +What was usually a king's breakfast in the days of Midas, I really do not +know, and cannot stop now to investigate. To the best of my belief, +however, on this particular morning, the breakfast consisted of hot cakes, +some nice little brook trout, roasted potatoes, fresh boiled eggs, and +coffee, for King Midas himself, and a bowl of bread and milk for his +daughter Marygold. At all events, this is a breakfast fit to set before a +king; and, whether he had it or not, King Midas could not have had a +better. + +Little Marygold had not yet made her appearance. Her father ordered her to +be called, and, seating himself at table, awaited the child's coming, in +order to begin his own breakfast. To do Midas justice, he really loved his +daughter, and loved her so much the more this morning, on account of the +good fortune which had befallen him. It was not a great while before he +heard her coming along the passage-way crying bitterly. This circumstance +surprised him, because Marygold was one of the cheerfullest little people +whom you would see in a summer's day, and hardly shed a thimbleful of +tears in a twelvemonth. When Midas heard her sobs, he determined to put +little Marygold into better spirits, by an agreeable surprise; so, leaning +across the table, he touched his daughter's bowl (which was a China one, +with pretty figures all around it), and transmuted it to gleaming gold. + +Meanwhile, Marygold slowly and disconsolately opened the door, and showed +herself with her apron at her eyes, still sobbing as if her heart would +break. + +"How now, my little lady!" cried Midas. "Pray what is the matter with you, +this bright morning?" + +Marygold, without taking the apron from her eyes, held out her hand, in +which was one of the roses which Midas had so recently transmuted. + +"Beautiful!" exclaimed her father. "And what is there in this magnificent +golden rose to make you cry?" + +"Ah, dear father!" answered the child, as well as her sobs would let her; +"it is not beautiful, but the ugliest flower that ever grew! As soon as I +was dressed I ran into the garden to gather some roses for you; because I +know you like them, and like them the better when gathered by your little +daughter. But, oh dear, dear me! What do you think has happened? Such a +misfortune! All the beautiful roses, that smelled so sweet and had so many +lovely blushes, are blighted and spoilt! They are grown quite yellow, as +you see this one, and have no longer any fragrance! What can have been the +matter with them?" + +"Poh, my dear little girl,--pray don't cry about it!" said Midas, who was +ashamed to confess that he himself had wrought the change which so greatly +afflicted her. "Sit down and eat your bread and milk! You will find it +easy enough to exchange a golden rose like that (which will last hundreds +of years) for an ordinary one which would wither in a day." + +"I don't care for such roses as this!" cried Marygold, tossing it +contemptuously away. "It has no smell, and the hard petals prick my nose!" + +The child now sat down to table, but was so occupied with her grief for +the blighted roses that she did not even notice the wonderful +transmutation of her China bowl. Perhaps this was all the better; for +Marygold was accustomed to take pleasure in looking at the queer figures, +and strange trees and houses, that were painted on the circumference of +the bowl; and these ornaments were now entirely lost in the yellow hue of +the metal. + +Midas, meanwhile, had poured out a cup of coffee, and, as a matter of +course, the coffee-pot, whatever metal it may have been when he took it +up, was gold when he set it down. He thought to himself, that it was +rather an extravagant style of splendor, in a king of his simple habits, +to breakfast off a service of gold, and began to be puzzled with the +difficulty of keeping his treasures safe. The cupboard and the kitchen +would no longer be a secure place of deposit for articles so valuable as +golden bowls and coffee-pots. + +Amid these thoughts, he lifted a spoonful of coffee to his lips, and, +sipping it, was astonished to perceive that the instant his lips touched +the liquid, it became molten gold, and the next moment, hardened into a +lump! + +"Ha!" exclaimed Midas, rather aghast. + +"What is the matter, father?" asked little Marygold, gazing at him, with +the tears still standing in her eyes. + +"Nothing, child, nothing!" said Midas. "Eat your milk, before it gets +quite cold." + +He took one of the nice little trouts on his plate, and, by way of +experiment, touched its tail with his finger. To his horror, it was +immediately transmuted from an admirably fried brook trout into a +gold-fish, though not one of those gold-fishes which people often keep in +glass globes, as ornaments for the parlor. No; but it was really a +metallic fish, and looked as if it had been very cunningly made by the +nicest goldsmith in the world. Its little bones were now golden wires; its +fins and tail were thin plates of gold; and there were the marks of the +fork in it, and all the delicate, frothy appearance of a nicely fried +fish, exactly imitated in metal. A very pretty piece of work, as you may +suppose; only King Midas, just at that moment, would much rather have had +a real trout in his dish than this elaborate and valuable imitation of +one. + +"I don't quite see," thought he to himself, "how I am to get any +breakfast!" + +He took one of the smoking-hot cakes, and had scarcely broken it, when, to +his cruel mortification, though, a moment before, it had been of the +whitest wheat, it assumed the yellow hue of Indian meal. To say the truth, +if it had really been a hot Indian cake, Midas would have prized it a good +deal more than he now did, when its solidity and increased weight made him +too bitterly sensible that it was gold. Almost in despair, he helped +himself to a boiled egg, which immediately underwent a change similar to +those of the trout and the cake. The egg, indeed, might have been mistaken +for one of those which the famous goose, in the story-book, was in the +habit of laying; but King Midas was the only goose that had had anything +to do with the matter. + +"Well, this is a quandary!" thought he, leaning back in his chair, and +looking quite enviously at little Marygold, who was now eating her bread +and milk with great satisfaction. "Such a costly breakfast before me, and +nothing that can be eaten!" + +Hoping that, by dint of great dispatch, he might avoid what he now felt to +be a considerable inconvenience, King Midas next snatched a hot potato, +and attempted to cram it into his mouth, and swallow it in a hurry. But +the Golden Touch was too nimble for him. He found his mouth full, not of +mealy potato, but of solid metal, which so burnt his tongue that he roared +aloud, and, jumping up from the table, began to dance and stamp about the +room, both with pain and affright. + +"Father, dear father!" cried little Marygold, who was a very affectionate +child, "pray what is the matter? Have you burnt your mouth?" + +"Ah, dear child," groaned Midas dolefully, "I don't know what is to become +of your poor father!" + +And, truly, my dear little folks, did you ever hear of such a pitiable +case in all your lives? Here was literally the richest breakfast that +could be set before a king, and its very richness made it absolutely good +for nothing. The poorest laborer, sitting down to his crust of bread and +cup of water, was far better off than King Midas, whose delicate food was +really worth its weight in gold. And what was to be done? Already, at +breakfast, Midas was excessively hungry. Would he be less so by +dinner-time? And how ravenous would be his appetite for supper, which must +undoubtedly consist of the same sort of indigestible dishes as those now +before him! How many days, think you, would he survive a continuance of +this rich fare? + +These reflections so troubled wise King Midas, that he began to doubt +whether, after all, riches are the one desirable thing in the world, or +even the most desirable. But this was only a passing thought. So +fascinated was Midas with the glitter of the yellow metal, that he would +still have refused to give up the Golden Touch for so paltry a +consideration as a breakfast. Just imagine what a price for one meal's +victuals! It would have been the same as paying millions and millions of +money (and as many millions more as would take forever to reckon up) for +some fried trout, an egg, a potato, a hot cake, and a cup of coffee! + +"It would be quite too dear," thought Midas. + +Nevertheless, so great was his hunger, and the perplexity of his +situation, that he again groaned aloud, and very grievously too. Our +pretty Marygold could endure it no longer. She sat, a moment, gazing at +her father, and trying with all the might of her little wits to find out +what was the matter with him. Then, with a sweet and sorrowful impulse to +comfort him, she started from her chair, and, running to Midas, threw her +arms affectionately about his knees. He bent down and kissed her. He felt +that his little daughter's love was worth a thousand times more than he +had gained by the Golden Touch. + +"My precious, precious Marygold!" cried he. + +But Marygold made no answer. + +Alas, what had he done? How fatal was the gift which the stranger +bestowed! The moment the lips of Midas touched Marygold's forehead, a +change had taken place. Her sweet, rosy face, so full of affection as it +had been, assumed a glittering yellow color, with yellow teardrops +congealing on her cheeks. Her beautiful brown ringlets took the same tint. +Her soft and tender little form grew hard and inflexible within her +father's encircling arms. Oh, terrible misfortune! The victim of his +insatiable desire for wealth, little Marygold was a human child no longer, +but a golden statue! + +Yes, there she was, with the questioning look of love, grief, and pity, +hardened into her face. It was the prettiest and most woeful sight that +ever mortal saw. All the features and tokens of Marygold were there; even +the beloved little dimple remained in her golden chin. But the more +perfect was the resemblance, the greater was the father's agony at +beholding this golden image, which was all that was left him of a +daughter. It had been a favorite phrase of Midas, whenever he felt +particularly fond of the child, to say that she was worth her weight in +gold. And now the phrase had become literally true. And now, at last, when +it was too late, he felt how infinitely a warm and tender heart, that +loved him, exceeded in value all the wealth that could be piled up betwixt +the earth and sky! + +It would be too sad a story, if I were to tell you how Midas, in the +fullness of all his gratified desires, began to wring his hands and bemoan +himself; and how he could neither bear to look at Marygold, nor yet to +look away from her. Except when his eyes were fixed on the image, he could +not possibly believe that she was changed to gold. But stealing another +glance, there was the precious little figure, with a yellow tear-drop on +its yellow cheek, and a look so piteous and tender that it seemed as if +that very expression must needs soften the gold, and make it flesh again. +This, however, could not be. So Midas had only to wring his hands, and to +wish that he were the poorest man in the wide world, if the loss of all +his wealth might bring back the faintest rose-color to his dear child's +face. + +While he was in this tumult of despair, he suddenly beheld a stranger +standing near the door. Midas bent down his head, without speaking; for he +recognized the same figure which had appeared to him, the day before, in +the treasure-room, and had bestowed on him this disastrous faculty of the +Golden Touch. The stranger's countenance still wore a smile, which seemed +to shed a yellow lustre all about the room, and gleamed on little +Marygold's image, and on the other objects that had been transmuted by the +touch of Midas. + +"Well, friend Midas," said the stranger, "pray how do you succeed with the +Golden Touch?" + +Midas shook his head. + +"I am very miserable," said he. + +"Very miserable, indeed!" exclaimed the stranger. "And how happens that? +Have I not faithfully kept my promise with you? Have you not everything +that your heart desired?" + +"Gold is not everything," answered Midas. "And I have lost all that my +heart really cared for." + +"Ah! So you have made a discovery, since yesterday?" observed the +stranger. "Let us see, then. Which of these two things do you think is +really worth the most,--the gift of the Golden Touch, or one cup of clear +cold water?" + +"O blessed water!" exclaimed Midas. "It will never moisten my parched +throat again!" + +"The Golden Touch," continued the stranger, "or a crust of bread?" + +"A piece of bread," answered Midas, "is worth all the gold on earth!" + +"The Golden Touch," asked the stranger, "or your own little Marygold, +warm, soft, and loving as she was an hour ago?" + +"Oh, my child, my dear child!" cried poor Midas, wringing his hands. "I +would not have given that one small dimple in her chin for the power of +changing this whole big earth into a solid lump of gold!" + +"You are wiser than you were, King Midas!" said the stranger, looking +seriously at him. "Your own heart, I perceive, has not been entirely +changed from flesh to gold. Were it so, your case would indeed be +desperate. But you appear to be still capable of understanding that the +commonest things, such as lie within everybody's grasp, are more valuable +than the riches which so many mortals sigh and struggle after. Tell me, +now, do you sincerely desire to rid yourself of this Golden Touch?" + +"It is hateful to me!" replied Midas. + +A fly settled on his nose, but immediately fell to the floor; for it, too, +had become gold. Midas shuddered. + +"Go, then," said the stranger, "and plunge into the river that glides past +the bottom of your garden. Take likewise a vase of the same water, and +sprinkle it over any object that you may desire to change back again from +gold into its former substance. If you do this in earnestness and +sincerity, it may possibly repair the mischief which your avarice has +occasioned." + +King Midas bowed low; and when he lifted his head, the lustrous stranger +had vanished. + +You will easily believe that Midas lost no time in snatching up a great +earthen pitcher (but, alas me! it was no longer earthen after he touched +it), and hastening to the riverside. As he scampered along, and forced his +way through the shrubbery, it was positively marvelous to see how the +foliage turned yellow behind him, as if the autumn had been there, and +nowhere else. On reaching the river's brink, he plunged headlong in, +without waiting so much as to pull off his shoes. + +"Poof! poof! poof!" snorted King Midas, as his head emerged out of the +water. "Well; this is really a refreshing bath, and I think it must have +quite washed away the Golden Touch. And now for filling my pitcher!" + +As he dipped the pitcher into the water, it gladdened his very heart to +see it change from gold into the same good, honest earthen vessel which it +had been before he touched it. He was conscious, also, of a change within +himself. A cold, hard, and heavy weight seemed to have gone out of his +bosom. No doubt his heart had been gradually losing its human substance, +and transmuting itself into insensible metal, but had now softened back +again into flesh. Perceiving a violet, that grew on the bank of the river, +Midas touched it with his finger, and was overjoyed to find that the +delicate flower retained its purple hue, instead of undergoing a yellow +blight. The curse of the Golden Touch had therefore really been removed +from him. + +King Midas hastened back to the palace; and I suppose the servants knew +not what to make of it when they saw their royal master so carefully +bringing home an earthen pitcher of water. But that water, which was to +undo all the mischief that his folly had wrought, was more precious to +Midas, than an ocean of molten gold could have been. The first thing he +did, as you need hardly be told, was to sprinkle it by handfuls over the +golden figure of little Marygold. + +No sooner did it fall on her than you would have laughed to see how the +rosy color came back to the dear child's cheek! and how she began to +sneeze and sputter!--and how astonished she was to find herself dripping +wet, and her father still throwing more water over her! + +"Pray do not, dear father!" cried she. "See how you have wet my nice +frock, which I put on only this morning!" + +For Marygold did not know that she had been a little golden statue; nor +could she remember anything that had happened since the moment when she +ran with outstretched arms to comfort poor King Midas. + +Her father did not think it necessary to tell his beloved child how very +foolish he had been, but contented himself with showing how much wiser he +had now grown. For this purpose he led little Marygold into the garden, +where he sprinkled all the remainder of the water over the rose-bushes, +and with such good effect that above five thousand roses recovered their +beautiful bloom. There were two circumstances, however, which, as long as +he lived, used to put King Midas in mind of the Golden Touch. One was, +that the sands of the river sparkled like gold; the other, that little +Marygold's hair had now a golden tinge, which he had never observed in it +before she had been transmuted by the effect of his kiss. This change of +hue was really an improvement, and made Marygold's hair richer than in her +babyhood. + +When King Midas had grown quite an old man, and used to trot Marygold's +children on his knee, he was fond of telling them this marvelous story, +pretty much as I have now told it to you. And then would he stroke their +glossy ringlets, and tell them that their hair, likewise, had a rich shade +of gold, which they had inherited from their mother. + +"And to tell you the truth, my precious little folks," quoth King Midas, +diligently trotting the children all the while, "ever since that morning, +I have hated the very sight of all other gold, save this!" + + + + +THE POMEGRANATE SEEDS + +By Nathaniel Hawthorne + + +Mother Ceres was exceedingly fond of her daughter Proserpina, and seldom +let her go alone into the fields. But, just at the time when my story +begins, the good lady was very busy, because she had the care of the +wheat, and the Indian corn, and the rye and barley, and, in short, of the +crops of every kind, all over the earth; and as the season had thus far +been uncommonly backward, it was necessary to make the harvest ripen more +speedily than usual. So she put on her turban, made of poppies (a kind of +flower which she was always noted for wearing), and got into her car drawn +by a pair of winged dragons, and was just ready to set off. + +"Dear mother," said Proserpina, "I shall be very lonely while you are +away. May I not run down to the shore, and ask some of the sea-nymphs to +come up out of the waves and play with me?" + +"Yes, child," answered Mother Ceres. "The sea-nymphs are good creatures, +and will never lead you into any harm. But you must take care not to stray +away from them, nor go wandering about the fields by yourself. Young +girls, without their mothers to take care of them, are very apt to get +into mischief." + +The child promised to be as prudent as if she were a grown-up woman, and, +by the time the winged dragons had whirled the car out of sight, she was +already on the shore, calling to the sea-nymphs to come and play with her. +They knew Proserpina's voice, and were not long in showing their +glistening faces and sea-green hair above the water, at the bottom of +which was their home. They brought along with them a great many beautiful +shells; and, sitting down on the moist sand, where the surf wave broke +over them, they busied themselves in making a necklace, which they hung +round Proserpina's neck. By way of showing her gratitude, the child +besought them to go with her a little way into the fields, so that they +might gather abundance of flowers, with which she would make each of her +kind playmates a wreath. + +"Oh, no, dear Proserpina," cried the sea-nymphs; "we dare not go with you +upon the dry land. We are apt to grow faint, unless at every breath we can +snuff up the salt breeze of the ocean. And don't you see how careful we +are to let the surf wave break over us every moment or two, so as to keep +ourselves comfortably moist? If it were not for that, we should soon look +like bunches of uprooted sea-weed dried in the sun." + +"It is a great pity," said Proserpina, "but do you wait for me here, and I +will run and gather my apron full of flowers, and be back again before the +surf wave has broken ten times over you. I long to make you some wreaths +that shall be as lovely as this necklace of many-colored shells." + +"We will wait, then," answered the sea-nymphs. "But while you are gone, we +may as well lie down on a bank of soft sponge, under the water. The air +to-day is a little too dry for our comfort. But we will pop up our heads +every few minutes to see if you are coming." + +The young Proserpina ran quickly to a spot where, only the day before, she +had seen a great many flowers. These, however, were now a little past +their bloom; and wishing to give her friends the freshest and loveliest +blossoms, she strayed farther into the fields, and found some that made +her scream with delight. Never had she met with such exquisite flowers +before,--violets, so large and fragrant,--roses, with so rich and delicate +a blush,--such superb hyacinths and such aromatic pinks,--and many others, +some of which seemed to be of new shapes and colors. Two or three times, +moreover, she could not help thinking that a tuft of most splendid flowers +had suddenly sprouted out of the earth before her very eyes, as if on +purpose to tempt her a few steps farther. Proserpina's apron was soon +filled and brimming over with delightful blossoms. She was on the point of +turning back in order to rejoin the sea-nymphs, and sit with them on the +moist sands, all twining wreaths together. But, a little farther on, what +should she behold? It was a large shrub, completely covered with the most +magnificent flowers in the world. + +"The darlings!" cried Proserpina; and then she thought to herself, "I was +looking at that spot only a moment ago. How strange it is that I did not +see the flowers!" + +The nearer she approached the shrub, the more attractive it looked, until +she came quite close to it; and then, although its beauty was richer than +words can tell, she hardly knew whether to like it or not. It bore above a +hundred flowers of the most brilliant hues, and each different from the +others, but all having a kind of resemblance among themselves, which +showed them to be sister blossoms. But there was a deep, glossy lustre on +the leaves of the shrub, and on the petals of the flowers, that made +Proserpina doubt whether they might not be poisonous. To tell you the +truth, foolish as it may seem, she was half inclined to turn round and run +away. + +"What a silly child I am!" thought she, taking courage. "It is really the +most beautiful shrub that ever sprang out of the earth. I will pull it up +by the roots, and carry it home, and plant it in my mother's garden." + +Holding up her apron full of flowers with her left hand, Proserpina seized +the large shrub with the other, and pulled and pulled, but was hardly able +to loosen the soil about its roots. What a deep-rooted plant it was! Again +the girl pulled with all her might, and observed that the earth began to +stir and crack to some distance around the stem. She gave another pull, +but relaxed her hold, fancying that there was a rumbling sound right +beneath her feet. Did the roots extend down into some enchanted cavern? +Then, laughing at herself for so childish a notion, she made another +effort; up came the shrub, and Proserpina staggered back, holding the stem +triumphantly in her hand, and gazing at the deep hole which its roots had +left in the soil. + +Much to her astonishment this hole kept spreading wider and wider, and +growing deeper and deeper, until it really seemed to have no bottom; and +all the while, there came a rumbling noise out of its depths, louder and +louder, and nearer and nearer, and sounding like the tramp of horses' +hoofs and the rattling of wheels. Too much frightened to run away, she +stood straining her eyes into this wonderful cavity, and soon saw a team +of four sable horses, snorting smoke out of their nostrils, and tearing +their way out of the earth with a splendid golden chariot whirling at +their heels. They leaped out of the bottomless hole, chariot and all; and +there they were, tossing their black manes, flourishing their black tails, +and curvetting with every one of their hoofs off the ground at once, close +by the spot where Proserpina stood. In the chariot sat the figure of a +man, richly dressed, with a crown on his head, all flaming with diamonds. +He was of a noble aspect, and rather handsome, but looked sullen and +discontented; and he kept rubbing his eyes and shading them with his hand, +as if he did not live enough in the sunshine to be very fond of its light. + +[Illustration: THEY LEAPED OUT OF THE BOTTOMLESS HOLE, CHARIOT AND ALL; +AND THERE THEY WERE TOSSING THEIR BLACK TAILS, AND CURVETTING WITH EVERY +ONE OF THEIR HOOFS OFF THE GROUND AT ONCE, CLOSE BY THE SPOT WHERE +PROSERPINA STOOD. IN THE CHARIOT SAT THE FIGURE OF A MAN] + +As soon as this personage saw the affrighted Proserpina, he beckoned her +to come a little nearer. + +"Do not be afraid," said he, with as cheerful a smile as he knew how to +put on. "Come! Will not you like to ride a little way with me, in my +beautiful chariot?" + +But Proserpina was so alarmed that she wished for nothing but to get out +of his reach. And no wonder. The stranger did not look remarkably +good-natured, in spite of his smile; and as for his voice, its tones were +deep and stern, and sounded as much like the rumbling of an earthquake +under ground as anything else. As is always the case with children in +trouble, Proserpina's first thought was to call for her mother. + +"Mother, Mother Ceres!" cried she, all in a tremble. "Come quickly and +save me." + +But her voice was too faint for her mother to hear. Indeed, it is most +probable that Ceres was then a thousand miles off, making the corn grow in +some far-distant country. Nor could it have availed her poor daughter, +even had she been within hearing; for no sooner did Proserpina begin to +cry out, than the stranger leaped to the ground, caught the child in his +arms, and again mounting the chariot, shook the reins, and shouted to the +four black horses to set off. They immediately broke into so swift a +gallop that it seemed rather like flying through the air than running +along the earth. In a moment, Proserpina lost sight of the pleasant vale +of Enna, in which she had always dwelt. Another instant, and even the +summit of Mount AEtna had become so blue in the distance that she could +scarcely distinguish it from the smoke that gushed out of its crater. But +still the poor child screamed, and scattered her apron full of flowers +along the way, and left a long cry trailing behind the chariot; and many +mothers, to whose ears it came, ran quickly to see if any mischief had +befallen their children. But Mother Ceres was a great way off, and could +not hear the cry. + +As they rode on, the stranger did his best to soothe her. + +"Why should you be so frightened, my pretty child?" said he, trying to +soften his rough voice. "I promise not to do you any harm. What! You have +been gathering flowers? Wait till we come to my palace, and I will give +you a garden full of prettier flowers than those, all made of pearls, and +diamonds, and rubies. Can you guess who I am? They call my name Pluto, and +I am the king of diamonds and all other precious stones. Every atom of the +gold and silver that lies under the earth belongs to me, to say nothing of +the copper and iron, and of the coal-mines, which supply me with abundance +of fuel. Do you see this splendid crown upon my head? You may have it for +a plaything. Oh, we shall be very good friends, and you will find me more +agreeable than you expect, when once we get out of this troublesome +sunshine." + +"Let me go home!" cried Proserpina. "Let me go home!" + +"My home is better than your mother's," answered King Pluto "It is a +palace, all made of gold, with crystal windows; and because there is +little or no sunshine thereabouts, the apartments are illuminated with +diamond lamps. You never saw anything half so magnificent as my throne. If +you like, you may sit down on it, and be my little queen, and I will sit +on the footstool." + +"I don't care for golden palaces and thrones," sobbed Proserpina. "Oh, my +mother, my mother! Carry me back to my mother!" + +But King Pluto, as he called himself, only shouted to his steeds to go +faster. + +"Pray do not be foolish, Proserpina," said he, in rather a sullen tone. "I +offer you my palace and my crown, and all the riches that are under the +earth; and you treat me as if I were doing you an injury. The one thing +which my palace needs is a merry little maid, to run upstairs and down, +and cheer up the rooms with her smile. And this is what you must do for +King Pluto." + +"Never!" answered Proserpina, looking as miserable as she could. "I shall +never smile again till you set me down at my mother's door." + +But she might just as well have talked to the wind that whistled past +them; for Pluto urged on his horses, and went faster than ever. Proserpina +continued to cry out, and screamed so long and so loudly, that her poor +little voice was almost screamed away; and when it was nothing but a +whisper, she happened to cast her eyes over a great, broad field of waving +grain--and whom do you think she saw? Who, but Mother Ceres, making the +corn grow, and too busy to notice the golden chariot as it went rattling +along. The child mustered all her strength, and gave one more scream, but +was out of sight before Ceres had time to turn her head. + +King Pluto had taken a road which now began to grow excessively gloomy. It +was bordered on each side with rocks and precipices, between which the +rumbling of the chariot-wheels was reverberated with a noise like rolling +thunder. The trees and bushes that grew in the crevices of the rocks had +very dismal foliage; and by and by, although it was hardly noon, the air +became obscured with a gray twilight. The black horses had rushed along so +swiftly, that they were already beyond the limits of the sunshine. But the +duskier it grew, the more did Pluto's visage assume an air of +satisfaction. After all, he was not an ill-looking person, especially when +he left off twisting his features into a smile that did not belong to +them. Proserpina peeped at his face through the gathering dusk, and hoped +that he might not be so very wicked as she at first thought him. + +"Ah, this twilight is truly refreshing," said King Pluto, "after being so +tormented with that ugly and impertinent glare of the sun. How much more +agreeable is lamplight or torchlight, more particularly when reflected +from diamonds! It will be a magnificent sight when we get to my palace." + +"Is it much farther?" asked Proserpina. "And will you carry me back when I +have seen it?" + +"We will talk of that by and by," answered Pluto. "We are just entering my +dominions. Do you see that tall gateway before us? When we pass those +gates, we are at home. And there lies my faithful mastiff at the +threshold. Cerberus! Cerberus! Come hither, my good dog!" + +So saying, Pluto pulled at the reins, and stopped the chariot right +between the tall, massive pillars of the gateway. The mastiff of which he +had spoken got up from the threshold, and stood on his hinder legs, so as +to put his forepaws on the chariot-wheel. But, my stars, what a strange +dog it was! Why, he was a big, rough, ugly-looking monster, with three +separate heads, and each of them fiercer than the two others; but, fierce +as they were, King Pluto patted them all. He seemed as fond of his +three-headed dog as if it had been a sweet little spaniel, with silken +ears and curly hair. Cerberus, on the other hand, was evidently rejoiced +to see his master, and expressed his attachment, as other dogs do, by +wagging his tail at a great rate. Proserpina's eyes being drawn to it by +its brisk motion, she saw that this tail was neither more nor less than a +live dragon, with fiery eyes, and fangs that had a very poisonous aspect. +And while the three-headed Cerberus was fawning so lovingly on King Pluto, +there was the dragon tail wagging against its will, and looking as cross +and ill-natured as you can imagine, on its own separate account. + +"Will the dog bite me?" asked Proserpina, shrinking closer to Pluto. "What +an ugly creature he is!" + +"Oh, never fear," answered her companion. "He never harms people unless +they try to enter my dominions without being sent for, or to get away when +I wish to keep them here. Down, Cerberus! Now, my pretty Proserpina, we +will drive on." + +On went the chariot, and King Pluto seemed greatly pleased to find himself +once more in his own kingdom. He drew Proserpina's attention to the rich +veins of gold that were to be seen among the rocks, and pointed to several +places where one stroke of a pick-axe would loosen a bushel of diamonds. +All along the road, indeed, there were sparkling gems, which would have +been of inestimable value above ground, but which were here reckoned of +the meaner sort, and hardly worth a beggar's stooping for. + +Not far from the gateway, they came to a bridge, which seemed to be built +of iron. Pluto stopped the chariot, and bade Proserpina look at the stream +which was gliding so lazily beneath it. Never in her life had she beheld +so torpid, so black, so muddy-looking a stream: its waters reflected no +images of anything that was on the banks, and it moved as sluggishly as if +it had quite forgotten which way it ought to flow, and had rather stagnate +than flow either one way or the other. + +"This is the river Lethe," observed King Pluto. "Is it not a very pleasant +stream?" "I think it a very dismal one," said Proserpina. "It suits my +taste, however," answered Pluto, who was apt to be sullen when anybody +disagreed with him. "At all events, its water has one very excellent +quality; for a single draught of it makes people forget every care and +sorrow that has hitherto tormented them. Only sip a little of it, my dear +Proserpina, and you will instantly cease to grieve for your mother, and +will have nothing in your memory that can prevent your being perfectly +happy in my palace. I will send for some, in a golden goblet, the moment +we arrive." + +"Oh, no, no, no!" cried Proserpina, weeping afresh. "I had a thousand +times rather be miserable with remembering my mother than be happy in +forgetting her. That dear, dear mother! I never, never will forget her." + +"We shall see," said King Pluto. "You do not know what fine times we will +have in my palace. Here we are just at the portal. These pillars are solid +gold, I assure you." + +He alighted from the chariot, and taking Proserpina in his arms, carried +her up a lofty flight of steps into the great hall of the palace. It was +splendidly illuminated by means of large precious stones, of various hues, +which seemed to burn like so many lamps, and glowed with a hundred-fold +radiance all through the vast apartment. And yet there was a kind of gloom +in the midst of this enchanted light; nor was there a single object in the +hall that was really agreeable to behold, except the little Proserpina +herself, a lovely child, with one earthly flower which she had not let +fall from her hand. It is my opinion that even King Pluto had never been +happy in his palace, and that this was the true reason why he had stolen +away Proserpina, in order that he might have something to love, instead of +cheating his heart any longer with this tiresome magnificence. And, though +he pretended to dislike the sunshine of the upper world, yet the effect of +the child's presence, bedimmed as she was by her tears, was as if a faint +and watery sunbeam had somehow or other found its way into the enchanted +hall. + +Pluto now summoned his domestics, and bade them lose no time in preparing +a most sumptuous banquet, and above all things, not to fail of setting a +golden beaker of the water of Lethe by Proserpina's plate. + +"I will neither drink that nor anything else," said Proserpina. "Nor will +I taste a morsel of food, even if you keep me forever in your palace." on +the seashore, she hastened thither as fast as she could, and there beheld +the wet faces of the poor sea-nymphs peeping over a wave. All this while, +the good creatures had been waiting on the bank of sponge, and once every +half-minute or so, had popped up their four heads above water, to see if +their playmate were yet coming back. When they saw Mother Ceres, they sat +down on the crest of the surf wave, and let it toss them ashore at her +feet. + +"Where is Proserpina?" cried Ceres. "Where is my child? Tell me, you +naughty sea-nymphs, have you enticed her under the sea?" + +"Oh, no, good Mother Ceres," said the innocent sea-nymphs, tossing back +their green ringlets, and looking her in the face. "We never should dream +of such a thing. Proserpina has been at play with us, it is true; but she +left us a long while ago, meaning only to run a little way upon the dry +land, and gather some flowers for a wreath. This was early in the day, and +we have seen nothing of her since." + +Ceres scarcely waited to hear what the nymphs had to say, before she +hurried off to make inquiries all through the neighborhood. But nobody +told her anything that could enable the poor mother to guess what had +become of Proserpina. A fisherman, it is true, had noticed her little +footprints in the sand, as he went homeward along the beach with a basket +of fish; a rustic had seen the child stooping to gather flowers; several +persons had heard either the rattling of chariot-wheels or the rumbling of +distant thunder; and one old woman, while plucking vervain and catnip, had +heard a scream, but supposed it to be some childish nonsense, and +therefore did not take the trouble to look up. The stupid people! It took +them such a tedious while to tell the nothing that they knew, that it was +dark night before Mother Ceres found out that she must seek her daughter +elsewhere. So she lighted a torch, and set forth, resolving never to come +back until Proserpina was discovered. + +In her haste and trouble of mind, she quite forgot her car and the winged +dragons; or, it may be, she thought that she could follow up the search +more thoroughly on foot. At all events, this was the way in which she +began her sorrowful journey, holding her torch before her, and looking +carefully at every object along the path. And as it happened, she had not +gone far before she found one of the magnificent flowers which grew on the +shrub that Proserpina had pulled up. + +"Ha!" thought Mother Ceres, examining it by torchlight. "Here is mischief +in this flower! The earth did not produce it by any help of mine, nor of +its own accord. It is the work of enchantment, and is therefore poisonous; +and perhaps it has poisoned my poor child." + +But she put the poisonous flower in her bosom, not knowing whether she +might ever find any other memorial of Proserpina. + +All night long, at the door of every cottage and farmhouse, Ceres knocked, +and called up the weary laborers to inquire if they had seen her child; +and they stood, gaping and half asleep, at the threshold, and answered her +pityingly, and besought her to come in and rest. At the portal of every +palace, too, she made so loud a summons that the menials hurried to throw +open the gate, thinking that it must be some great king or queen, who +would demand a banquet for supper and a stately chamber to repose in. And +when they saw only a sad and anxious woman, with a torch in her hand and a +wreath of withered poppies on her head, they spoke rudely, and sometimes +threatened to set the dogs upon her. But nobody had seen Proserpina, nor +could give Mother Ceres the least hint which way to seek her. Thus passed +the night; and still she continued her search without sitting down to +rest, or stopping to take food, or even remembering to put down the torch; +although first the rosy dawn, and then the glad light of the morning sun, +made its red flame look thin and pale. But I wonder what sort of stuff +this torch was made of; for it burned dimly through the day, and at night +was as bright as ever, and never was extinguished by the rain or wind, in +all the weary days and nights while Ceres was seeking for Proserpina. + +It was not merely of human beings that she asked tidings of her daughter. +In the woods and by the streams, she met creatures of another nature, who +used, in those old times, to haunt the pleasant and solitary places, and +were very sociable with persons who understood their language and customs, +as Mother Ceres did. Sometimes, for instance, she tapped with her finger +against the knotted trunk of a majestic oak; and immediately its rude bark +would cleave asunder, and forth would step a beautiful maiden, who was the +hamadryad of the oak, dwelling inside of it, and sharing its long life, +and rejoicing when its green leaves sported with the breeze. But not one +of these leafy damsels had seen Proserpina. Then, going a little farther, +Ceres would, perhaps, come to a fountain, gushing out of a pebbly hollow +in the earth, and would dabble with her hand in the water. Behold, up +through its sandy and pebbly bed, along with the fountain's gush, a young +woman with dripping hair would arise, and stand gazing at Mother Ceres, +half out of the water, and undulating up and down with its ever-restless +motion. But when the mother asked whether her poor lost child had stopped +to drink out of the fountain, the naiad, with weeping eyes (for these +water-nymphs had tears to spare for everybody's grief), would answer, +"No!" in a murmuring voice, which was just like the murmur of the stream. + +Often, likewise, she encountered fauns, who looked like sunburnt country +people, except that they had hairy ears, and little horns upon their +foreheads, and the hinder legs of goats, on which they gamboled merrily +about the woods and fields. They were a frolicsome kind of creature, but +grew as sad as their cheerful dispositions would allow when Ceres inquired +for her daughter, and they had no good news to tell. But sometimes she +came suddenly upon a rude gang of satyrs, who had faces like monkeys and +horses' tails behind them, and who were generally dancing in a very +boisterous manner, with shouts of noisy laughter. When she stopped to +question them, they would only laugh the louder, and make new merriment +out of the lone woman's distress. How unkind of those ugly satyrs! And +once, while crossing a solitary sheep pasture, she saw a personage named +Pan, seated at the foot of a tall rock. And making music on a shepherd's +flute. He, too, had horns and hairy ears, and goat's feet; but being +acquainted with Mother Ceres, he answered her question as civilly as he +knew how, and invited her to taste some milk and honey out of a wooden +bowl. But neither could Pan tell her what had become of Proserpina, any +better than the rest of these wild people. + +And thus Mother Ceres went wandering about for nine long days and nights, +finding no trace of Proserpina, unless it were now and then a withered +flower; and these, she picked up and put in her bosom, because she fancied +that they might have fallen from her poor child's hand. All day she +traveled onward through the hot sun; and at night, again, the flame of the +torch would redden and gleam along the pathway, and she continued her +search by its light, without ever sitting down to rest. + +On the tenth day, she chanced to espy the mouth of a cavern, within which +(though it was bright noon everywhere else) there would have been only a +dusky twilight: but it so happened that a torch was burning there. It +flickered and struggled with the duskiness, but could not half light up +the gloomy cavern with all its melancholy glimmer. Ceres was resolved to +leave no spot without a search; so she peeped into the entrance of the +cave, and lighted it up a little more by holding her own torch before her. +In so doing, she caught a glimpse of what seemed to be a woman, sitting on +the brown leaves of the last autumn, a great heap of which had been swept +into the cave by the wind. This woman (if woman it were) was by no means +so beautiful as many of her sex: for her head, they tell me, was shaped +very much like a dog's, and, by way of ornament, she wore a wreath of +snakes around it. But Mother Ceres, the moment she saw her, knew that this +was an odd kind of a person, who put all her enjoyment in being miserable, +and never would have a word to say to other people, unless they were as +melancholy and wretched as she herself delighted to be. + +"I am wretched enough now," thought poor Ceres, "to talk with this +melancholy Hecate, were she ten times sadder than ever she was yet." + +So she stepped into the cave, and sat down, on the withered leaves by the +dog-headed woman's side. In all the world, since her daughter's loss, she +had found no other companion. + +"O Hecate." said she, "if ever you lose a daughter, you will know what +sorrow is. Tell me, for pity's sake, have you seen my poor child +Proserpina pass by the mouth of your cavern?" + +"No." answered Hecate, in a cracked voice, and sighing betwixt every word +or two.--"no. Mother Ceres, I have seen nothing of your daughter. But my +ears, you must know, are made in such a way that all cries of distress and +affright, all over the world, are pretty sure to find their way to them: +and nine days ago, as I sat in my cave, making myself very miserable. I +heard the voice of a young girl, shrieking as if in great distress. +Something terrible has happened to the child, you may rest assured. As +well as I could judge, a dragon, or some other cruel monster, was carrying +her away." + +"You kill me by saying so," cried Ceres, almost ready to faint. "Where was +the sound, and which way did it seem to go?" + +"It passed very swiftly along," said Hecate, "and, at the same time, there +was a heavy rumbling of wheels towards the eastward. I can tell you +nothing more, except that, in my honest opinion, you will never see your +daughter again. The best advice I can give you is to take up your abode in +this cavern, where we will be the two most wretched women in the world." + +"Not yet, dark Hecate." replied Ceres, "But do you first come with your +torch, and help me to seek for my lost child. And when there shall be no +more hope of finding her (if that black day is ordained to come), then, if +you will give me room to fling myself down, either on these withered +leaves or on the naked rock, I will show you what it is to be miserable. +But until I know that she has perished from the face of the earth, I will +not allow myself space even to grieve." + +The dismal Hecate did not much like the idea of going abroad into the +sunny world. But then she reflected that the sorrow of the disconsolate +Ceres would be like a gloomy twilight round about them both, let the sun +shine ever so brightly, and that therefore she might enjoy her bad spirits +quite as well as if she were to stay in the cave. So she finally consented +to go, and they set out together, both carrying torches, although it was +broad daylight and clear sunshine. The torchlight seemed to make a gloom; +so that the people whom they met along the road could not very distinctly +see their figures; and, indeed, if they once caught a glimpse of Hecate, +with the wreath of snakes round her forehead, they generally thought it +prudent to run away, without waiting for a second glance. + +As the pair traveled along in this woebegone manner, a thought struck +Ceres. + +"There is one person." she exclaimed, "who must have seen my poor child, +and can doubtless tell what has become of her. Why did not I think of him +before? It is Phoebus." + +"What," said Hecate, "the young man that always sits in the sunshine? Oh, +pray do not think of going near him. He is a gay, light, frivolous young +fellow, and will only smile in your face. And besides, there is such a +glare of the sun about him, that he will quite blind my poor eyes, which I +have almost wept away already." + +"You have promised to be my companion," answered Ceres. "Come, let us make +haste, or the sunshine will be gone, and Phoebus along with it." + +Accordingly, they went along in quest of Phoebus, both of them, sighing +grievously, and Hecate, to say the truth, making a great deal worse +lamentation than Ceres; for all the pleasure she had, you know, lay in +being miserable, and therefore she made the most of it. By and by, after a +pretty long journey, they arrived at the sunniest spot in the whole world. +There they beheld a beautiful young man, with long, curling ringlets, +which seemed to be made of golden sunbeams; his garments were like light +summer clouds; and the expression of his face was so exceedingly vivid, +that Hecate held her hands before her eyes, muttering that he ought to +wear a black veil. Phoebus (for this was the very person whom they were +seeking) had a lyre in his hands, and was making its chords tremble with +sweet music; at the same time singing a most exquisite song, which he had +recently composed. For besides a great many other accomplishments, this +young man was renowned for his admirable poetry. + +As Ceres and her dismal companion approached him, Phoebus smiled on them +so cheerfully that Hecate's wreath of snakes gave a spiteful hiss, and +Hecate heartily wished herself back in her cave. But as for Ceres, she was +too earnest in her grief either to know or care whether Phoebus smiled or +frowned. + +"Phoebus!" exclaimed she, "I am in great trouble, and have come to you for +assistance. Can you tell me what has become of my dear child Proserpina?" + +"Proserpina! Proserpina, did you call her name?" answered Phoebus, +endeavoring to recollect; for there was such a continual flow of pleasant +ideas in his mind that he was apt to forget what had happened no longer +ago than yesterday. "Ah, yes, I remember her now. A very lovely child, +indeed. I am happy to tell you, my dear madam, that I did see the little +Proserpina not many days ago. You may make yourself perfectly easy about +her. She is safe, and in excellent hands." + +"Oh, where is my dear child?" cried Ceres, clasping her hands and flinging +herself at his feet. + +"Why," said Phoebus,--and as he spoke, he kept touching his lyre so as to +make a thread of music run in and out among his words,--"as the little +damsel was gathering flowers (and she has really a very exquisite taste +for flowers) she was suddenly snatched up by King Pluto, and carried off +to his dominions. I have never been in that part of the universe; but the +royal palace, I am told, is built in a very noble style of architecture, +and of the most splendid and costly materials. Gold, diamonds, pearls, and +all manner of precious stones will be your daughter's ordinary playthings. +I recommend to you, my dear lady, to give yourself no uneasiness. +Proserpina's sense of beauty will be duly gratified, and, even in spite of +the lack of sunshine, she will lead a very enviable life." + +"Hush! Say not such a word!" answered Ceres indignantly. "What is there to +gratify her heart? What are all the splendors you speak of, without +affection? I must have her back again. Will you go with me, Phoebus, to +demand my daughter of this wicked Pluto?" + +"Pray excuse me," replied Phoebus, with an elegant obeisance. "I certainly +wish you success, and regret that my own affairs are so immediately +pressing that I cannot have the pleasure of attending you. Besides, I am +not upon the best of terms with King Pluto. To tell you the truth, his +three-headed mastiff would never let me pass the gateway; for I should be +compelled to take a sheaf of sunbeams along with me, and those, you know, +are forbidden things in Pluto's kingdom." + +"Ah, Phoebus," said Ceres, with bitter meaning in her words, "you have a +harp instead of a heart. Farewell." + +"Will not you stay a moment," asked Phoebus, "and hear me turn the pretty +and touching story of Proserpina into extemporary verses?" + +But Ceres shook her head, and hastened away, along with Hecate. Phoebus +(who, as I have told you, was an exquisite poet) forthwith began to make +an ode about the poor mother's grief; and, if we were to judge of his +sensibility by this beautiful production, he must have been endowed with a +very tender heart. But when a poet gets into the habit of using his +heartstrings to make chords for his lyre, he may thrum upon them as much +as he will, without any great pain to himself. Accordingly, though Phoebus +sang a very sad song, he was as merry all the while as were the sunbeams +amid which he dwelt. + +Poor Mother Ceres had now found out what had become of her daughter, but +was not a whit happier than before. Her case, on the contrary, looked more +desperate than ever. As long as Proserpina was above ground there might +have been hopes of regaining her. But now that the poor child was shut up +within the iron gates of the king of the mines, at the threshold of which +lay the three-headed Cerberus, there seemed no possibility of her ever +making her escape. The dismal Hecate, who loved to take the darkest view +of things, told Ceres that she had better come with her to the cavern, and +spend the rest of her life in being miserable. Ceres answered that Hecate +was welcome to go back thither herself, but that, for her part, she would +wander about the earth in quest of the entrance to King Pluto's dominions. +And Hecate took her at her word, and hurried back to her beloved cave, +frightening a great many little children with a glimpse of her dog's face, +as she went. + +Poor Mother Ceres! It is melancholy to think of her, pursuing her toilsome +way all alone, and holding up that never-dying torch, the flame of which +seemed an emblem of the grief and hope that burned together in her heart. +So much did she suffer, that, though her aspect had been quite youthful +when her troubles began, she grew to look like an elderly person in a very +brief time. She cared not how she was dressed, nor had she ever thought of +flinging away the wreath of withered poppies, which she put on the very +morning of Proserpina's disappearance. She roamed about in so wild a way, +and with her hair so dishevelled, that people took her for some distracted +creature, and never dreamed that this was Mother Ceres, who had the +oversight of every seed which the husbandman planted. Nowadays, however, +she gave herself no trouble about seed-time nor harvest, but left the +farmers to take care of their own affairs, and the crops to fade or +flourish, as the case might be. There was nothing, now, in which Ceres +seemed to feel an interest, unless when she saw children at play or +gathering flowers along the wayside. Then, indeed, she would stand and +gaze at them with tears in her eyes. The children, too, appeared to have a +sympathy with her grief, and would cluster themselves in a little group +about her knees, and look up wistfully in her face; and Ceres, after +giving them a kiss all around, would lead them to their homes, and advise +their mothers never to let them stray out of sight. + +"For if you do," said she, "it may happen to you, as it has to me, that +the iron-hearted King Pluto will take a liking to your darlings, and +snatch them up in his chariot, and carry them away." + +One day, during her pilgrimage in quest of the entrance to Pluto's +kingdom, she came to the palace of King Celeus, who reigned at Eleusis. +Ascending a lofty flight of steps, she entered the portal, and found the +royal household in very great alarm about the queen's baby. The infant, it +seems, was sickly (being troubled with its teeth, I suppose), and would +take no food, and was all the time moaning with pain. The queen--her name +was Metanira--was desirous of finding a nurse; and when she beheld a woman +of matronly aspect coming up the palace steps, she thought, in her own +mind that here was the very person whom she needed. So Queen Metanira ran +to the door, with the poor wailing baby in her arms, and besought Ceres to +take charge of it, or, at least, to tell her what would do it good." + +"Will you trust the child entirely to me?" asked Ceres. + +"Yes, and gladly too," answered the queen, "if you will devote all your +time to him. For I can see that you have been a mother." + +"You are right," said Ceres. "I once had a child of my own. Well, I will +be the nurse of this poor, sickly boy. But beware, I warn you, that you do +not interfere with any kind of treatment which I may judge proper for him. +If you do so, the poor infant must suffer for his mother's folly." + +Then she kissed the child, and it seemed to do him good, for he smiled and +nestled closely into her bosom. + +So Mother Ceres set her torch in a corner (where it kept burning all the +while), and took up her abode in the palace of King Celeus, as nurse to +the little Prince Demophoeon. She treated him as if he were her own child, +and allowed neither the king nor the queen to say whether he should be +bathed in warm or cold water, or what he should eat, or how often he +should take the air, or when he should be put to bed. You would hardly +believe me, if I were to tell how quickly the baby prince got rid of his +ailments, and grew fat, and rosy, and strong, and how he had two rows of +ivory teeth in less time than any other little fellow, before or since. +Instead of the palest, and wretchedest, and puniest imp in the world (as +his own mother confessed him to be when Ceres first took him in charge), +he was now a strapping baby, crowing, laughing, kicking up his heels, and +rolling from one end of the room to the other. All the good women of the +neighborhood crowded to the palace, and held up their hands, in +unutterable amazement, at the beauty and wholesomeness of this darling +little prince. Their wonder was the greater, because he was never seen to +taste any food,--not even so much as a cup of milk. + +"Pray, nurse," the queen kept saying, "how is it that you make the child +thrive so?" + +"I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own +child, I know what other children need." + +But Queen Metanira, as was very natural, had a great curiosity to know +precisely what the nurse did to her child. One night, therefore, she hid +herself in the chamber where Ceres and the little prince were accustomed +to sleep. There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into +great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze +flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the +walls. Ceres sat before the hearth with the child in her lap, and the +firelight making her shadow dance upon the ceiling overhead. She undressed +the little prince, and bathed him all over with some fragrant liquid out +of a vase. The next thing she did was to rake back the red embers, and +make a hollow place among them, just where the backlog had been. At last, +while the baby was crowing and clapping its fat little hands, and laughing +in the nurse's face (just as you may have seen your little brother or +sister do before going into its warm bath), Ceres suddenly laid him, all +naked as he was, in the hollow, among the red-hot embers. She then raked +the ashes over him, and turned quietly away. + +You may imagine, if you can, how Queen Metanira shrieked, thinking nothing +less than that her dear child would be burned to a cinder. She burst forth +from her hiding-place, and running to the hearth, raked open the fire, and +snatched up poor little Prince Demophoeon out of his bed of live coals, one +of which he was griping in each of his fists. He immediately set up a +grievous cry, as babies are apt to do when rudely startled out of a sound +sleep. To the queen's astonishment and joy, she could perceive no token of +the child's being injured by the hot fire in which he had lain. She now +turned to Mother Ceres, and asked her to explain the mystery. + +"Foolish woman," answered Ceres, "did you not promise to intrust this poor +infant entirely to me? You little know the mischief you have done him. Had +you left him to my care, he would have grown up like a child of celestial +birth, endowed with superhuman strength and intelligence, and would have +lived forever. Do you imagine that earthly children are to become immortal +without being tempered to it in the fiercest heat of the fire? But you +have ruined your own son. For though he will be a strong man and a hero in +his day, yet, on account of your folly, he will grow old, and finally die, +like the sons of other women. The weak tenderness of his mother has cost +the poor boy an immortality. Farewell." + +Saying these words, she kissed the little prince Demophoeon, and sighed to +think what he had lost, and took her departure without heeding Queen +Metanira, who entreated her to remain, and cover up the child among the +hot embers as often as she pleased. Poor baby! He never slept so warmly +again. + +While she dwelt in the king's palace, Mother Ceres had been so continually +occupied with taking care of the young prince, that her heart was a little +lightened of its grief for Proserpina. But now, having nothing else to +busy herself about, she became just as wretched as before. At length, in +her despair, she came to the dreadful resolution that not a stalk of +grain, nor a blade of grass, not a potato, nor a turnip, nor any other +vegetable that was good for man or beast to eat, should be suffered to +grow until her daughter were restored. She even forbade the flowers to +bloom, lest somebody's heart should be cheered by their beauty. + +Now, as not so much as a head of asparagus ever presumed to poke itself +out of the ground, without the especial permission of Ceres, you may +conceive what a terrible calamity had here fallen upon the earth. The +husbandmen ploughed and planted as usual; but there lay the rich black +furrows, all as barren as a desert of sand. The pastures looked as brown +in the sweet month of June as ever they did in chill November. The rich +man's broad acres and the cottager's small garden-patch were equally +blighted. Every little girl's flower-bed showed nothing but dry stalks. +The old people shook their white heads, and said that the earth had grown +aged like themselves, and was no longer capable of wearing the warm smile +of summer on its face. It was really piteous to see the poor starving +cattle and sheep, how they followed behind Ceres, lowing and bleating, as +if their instinct taught them to expect help from her; and everybody that +was acquainted with her power besought her to have mercy on the human +race, and, at all events, to let the grass grow. But Mother Ceres, though +naturally of an affectionate disposition, was now inexorable. + +"Never," said she. "If the earth is ever again to see any verdure, it must +first grow along the path which my daughter will tread in coming back to +me." + +Finally, as there seemed to be no other remedy, our old friend Quicksilver +was sent post haste to King Pluto, in hopes that he might be persuaded to +undo the mischief he had done, and to set everything right again, by +giving up Proserpina. Quicksilver accordingly made the best of his way to +the great gate, took a flying leap right over the three-headed mastiff, +and stood at the door of the palace in an inconceivably short time. The +servants knew him both by his face and garb; for his short cloak and his +winged cap and shoes and his snaky staff had often been seen thereabouts +in times gone by. He requested to be shown immediately into the king's +presence; and Pluto, who heard his voice from the top of the stairs, and +who loved to recreate himself with Quicksilver's merry talk, called out to +him to come up. And while they settle their business together, we must +inquire what Proserpina has been doing ever since we saw her last. + +The child had declared, as you may remember, that she would not taste a +mouthful of food as long as she should be compelled to remain in King +Pluto's palace. How she contrived to maintain her resolution, and at the +same time to keep herself tolerably plump and rosy, is more than I can +explain; but some young ladies, I am given to understand, possess the +faculty of living on air, and Proserpina seems to have possessed it too. +At any rate, it was now six months since she left the outside of the +earth; and not a morsel, so far as the attendants were able to testify, +had yet passed between her teeth. This was the more creditable to +Proserpina, inasmuch as King Pluto had caused her to be tempted day after +day, with all manner of sweetmeats, and richly preserved fruits, and +delicacies of every sort, such as young people are generally most fond of. +But her good mother had often told her of the hurtfulness of these things; +and for that reason alone, if there had been no other, she would have +resolutely refused to taste them. + +All this time, being of a cheerful and active disposition, the little +damsel was not quite so unhappy as you may have supposed. The immense +palace had a thousand rooms, and was full of beautiful and wonderful +objects. There was a never-ceasing gloom, it is true, which half hid +itself among the innumerable pillars, gliding before the child as she +wandered among them, and treading stealthily behind her in the echo of her +footsteps. Neither was all the dazzle of the precious stones, which flamed +with their own light, worth one gleam of natural sunshine; nor could the +most brilliant of the many-colored gems which Proserpina had for +playthings vie with the simple beauty of the flowers she used to gather. +But still, wherever the girl went, among those gilded halls and chambers, +it seemed as if she carried nature and sunshine along with her, and as if +she scattered dewy blossoms on her right hand and on her left. After +Proserpina came, the palace was no longer the same abode of stately +artifice and dismal magnificence that it had before been. The inhabitants +all felt this, and King Pluto more than any of them. + +"My own little Proserpina," he used to say, "I wish you could like me a +little better. We gloomy and cloudy-natured persons have often as warm +hearts at bottom as those of a more cheerful character. If you would only +stay with me of your own accord, it would make me happier than the +possession of a hundred such palaces as this." + +"Ah," said Proserpina, "you should have tried to make me like you before +carrying me off. And the best thing you can do now is to let me go again. +Then I might remember you sometimes, and think that you were as kind as +you knew how to be. Perhaps, too, one day or other, I might come back, and +pay you a visit." + +"No, no," answered Pluto, with his gloomy smile, "I will not trust you for +that. You are too fond of living in the broad daylight, and gathering +flowers. What an idle and childish taste that is! Are not these gems, +which I have ordered to be dug for you, and which are richer than any in +my crown,--are they not prettier than a violet?" + +"Not half so pretty," said Proserpina, snatching the gems from Pluto's +hand, and flinging them to the other end of the hall. "Oh, my sweet +violets, shall I never see you again?" + +And then she burst into tears. But young people's tears have very little +saltness or acidity in them, and do not inflame the eyes so much as those +of grown persons; so that it is not to be wondered at if, a few moments +afterwards, Proserpina was sporting through the hall almost as merrily as +she and the four sea-nymphs had sported along the edge of the surf wave, +King Pluto gazed after her, and wished that he, too was a child. And +little Proserpina, when she turned about, and beheld this great king +standing in his splendid hall, and looking so grand, and so melancholy, +and so lonesome, was smitten with a kind of pity. She ran back to him, +and, for the first time in all her life, put her small, soft hand in his. + +"I love you a little," whispered she, looking up in his face. + +"Do you, indeed, my dear child?" cried Pluto, bending his dark face down +to kiss her; but Proserpina shrank away from the kiss, for though his +features were noble, they were very dusky and grim. "Well, I have not +deserved it of you, after keeping you a prisoner for so many months, and +starving you, besides. Are you not terribly hungry? Is there nothing which +I can get you to eat?" + +In asking this question, the king of the mines had a very cunning purpose; +for, you will recollect, if Proserpina tasted a morsel of food in his +dominions, she would never afterwards be at liberty to quit them. + +"No, indeed," said Proserpina. "Your head cook is always baking, and +stewing, and roasting, and rolling out paste, and contriving one dish or +another, which he imagines may be to my liking. But he might just as well +save himself the trouble, poor, fat little man that he is. I have no +appetite for anything in the world, unless it were a slice of bread of my +mother's own baking, or a little fruit out of her garden." + +When Pluto heard this, he began to see that he had mistaken the best +method of tempting Proserpina to eat. The cook's made dishes and +artificial dainties were not half so delicious, in the good child's +opinion, as the simple fare to which Mother Ceres had accustomed her. +Wondering that he had never thought of it before, the king now sent one of +his trusty attendants, with a large basket, to get some of the finest and +juiciest pears, peaches, and plums which could anywhere be found in the +upper world. Unfortunately, however, this was during the time when Ceres +had forbidden any fruits or vegetables to grow; and, after seeking all +over the earth, King Pluto's servants found only a single pomegranate, and +that so dried up as to be not worth eating. Nevertheless, since there was +no better to be had, he brought this dry, old, withered pomegranate home +to the palace, put it on a magnificent golden salver, and carried it up to +Proserpina. Now it happened, curiously enough, that, just as the servant +was bringing the pomegranate into the back door of the palace, our friend +Quicksilver had gone up the front steps, on his errand to get Proserpina +away from King Pluto. + +As soon as Proserpina saw the pomegranate on the golden salver, she told +the servant he had better take it away again. + +"I shall not touch it, I assure you," said she. "If I were ever so hungry, +I should never think of eating such a miserable, dry pomegranate as that." + +"It is the only one in the world," said the servant. + +He set down the golden salver, with the wizened pomegranate upon it, and +left the room. When he was gone, Proserpina could not help coming close to +the table, and looking at this poor specimen of dried fruit with a great +deal of eagerness; for, to say the truth, on seeing something that suited +her taste, she felt all the six months' appetite taking possession of her +at once. To be sure, it was a very wretched-looking pomegranate, and +seemed to have no more juice in it than an oyster-shell. But there was no +choice of such things in King Pluto's palace. This was the first fruit she +had seen there, and the last she was ever likely to see; and unless she +ate it up immediately, it would grow drier than it already was, and be +wholly unfit to eat. + +"At least, I may smell it," thought Proserpina. + +So she took up the pomegranate, and applied it to her nose; and, somehow +or other, being in such close neighborhood to her mouth, the fruit found +its way into that little red cave. Dear me! what an everlasting pity! +Before Proserpina knew what she was about, her teeth had actually bitten +it, of their own accord. Just as this fatal deed was done, the door of the +apartment opened, and in came King Pluto, followed by Quicksilver, who had +been urging him to let his little prisoner go. At the first noise of their +entrance, Proserpina withdrew the pomegranate from her mouth. But +Quicksilver (whose eyes were very keen, and his wits the sharpest that +ever anybody had) perceived that the child was a little confused; and +seeing the empty salver, he suspected that she had been taking a sly +nibble of something or other. As for honest Pluto, he never guessed at the +secret. + +"My little Proserpina," said the king, sitting down, and affectionately +drawing her between his knees, "here is Quicksilver, who tells me that a +great many misfortunes have befallen innocent people on account of my +detaining you in my dominions. To confess the truth, I myself had already +reflected that it was an unjustifiable act to take you away from your good +mother. But, then, you must consider, my dear child, that this vast palace +is apt to be gloomy (although the precious stones certainly shine very +bright), and that I am not of the most cheerful disposition, and that +therefore it was a natural thing enough to seek for the society of some +merrier creature than myself. I hoped you would take my crown for a +plaything, and me--ah, you laugh, naughty Proserpina--me, grim as I am, +for a playmate. It was a silly expectation." + +"Not so extremely silly," whispered Proserpina. "You have really amused me +very much, sometimes." + +"Thank you," said King Pluto, rather dryly. "But I can see, plainly +enough, that you think my palace a dusky prison, and me the iron-hearted +keeper of it. And an iron heart I should surely have, if I could detain +you here any longer, my poor child, when it is now six months since you +tasted food. I give you your liberty. Go with Quicksilver. Hasten home to +your dear mother." + +Now, although you may not have supposed it, Proserpina found it impossible +to take leave of poor King Pluto without some regrets, and a good deal of +compunction for not telling him about the pomegranate. She even shed a +tear or two, thinking how lonely and cheerless the great palace would seem +to him, with all its ugly glare of artificial light, after she +herself,--his one little ray of natural sunshine, whom he had stolen, to +be sure, but only because he valued her so much,--after she should have +departed. I know not how many kind things she might have said to the +disconsolate king of the mines, had not Quicksilver hurried her away. + +"Come along quickly," whispered he in her ear, "or his majesty may change +his royal mind. And take care, above all things, that you say nothing of +what was brought you on the golden salver." + +In a very short time, they had passed the great gateway (leaving the +three-headed Cerberus, barking and yelping, and growling, with threefold +din, behind them), and emerged upon the surface of the earth. It was +delightful to behold, as Proserpina hastened along, how the path grew +verdant behind and on either side of her. Wherever she set her blessed +foot, there was at once a dewy flower. The violets gushed up along the +wayside. The grass and the grain began to sprout with tenfold vigor and +luxuriance, to make up for the dreary months that had been wasted in +barrenness. The starved cattle immediately set to work grazing, after +their long fast, and ate enormously all day, and got up at midnight to eat +more. But I can assure you it was a busy time of year with the farmers, +when they found the summer coming upon them with such a rush. Nor must I +forget to say that all the birds in the whole world hopped about upon the +newly blossoming trees, and sang together in a prodigious ecstasy of joy. + +Mother Ceres had returned to her deserted home, and was sitting +disconsolately on the doorstep, with her torch burning in her hand. She +had been idly watching the flame for some moments past, when, all at once, +it flickered and went out. + +"What does this mean?" thought she. "It was an enchanted torch, and should +have kept burning till my child came back." + +Lifting her eyes, she was surprised to see a sudden verdure flashing over +the brown and barren fields, exactly as you may have observed a golden hue +gleaming far and wide across the landscape, from the just risen sun. + +"Does the earth disobey me?" exclaimed Mother Ceres indignantly. "Does it +presume to be green, when I have bidden it be barren until my daughter +shall be restored to my arms?" + +"Then open your arms, dear mother," cried a well-known voice, "and take +your little daughter into them." + +And Proserpina came running, and flung herself upon her mother's bosom. +Their mutual transport is not to be described. The grief of their +separation had caused both of them to shed a great many tears; and now +they shed a great many more, because their joy could not so well express +itself in any other way. + +When their hearts had grown a little more quiet, Mother Ceres looked +anxiously at Proserpina. + +"My child," said she, "did you taste any food while you were in King +Pluto's palace?" + +"Dearest mother," answered Proserpina. "I will tell you the whole truth. +Until this very morning, not a morsel of food had passed my lips. But +to-day, they brought me a pomegranate (a very dry one it was, and all +shriveled up, till there was little left of it but seeds and skin), and +having seen no fruit for so long a time, and being faint with hunger, I +was tempted just to bite it. The instant I tasted it, King Pluto and +Quicksilver came into the room. I had not swallowed a morsel; but--dear +mother, I hope it was no harm--but six of the pomegranate seeds, I am +afraid, remained in my mouth." + +"Ah, unfortunate child, and miserable me!" exclaimed Ceres. "For each of +those six pomegranate seeds you must spend one month of each year in King +Pluto's palace. You are but half restored to your mother. Only six months +with me, and six with that good-for-nothing King of Darkness!" + +"Do not speak so harshly of poor King Pluto," said Proserpina, kissing her +mother. "He has some very good qualities, and I really think I can bear to +spend six months in his palace, if he will only let me spend the other six +with you. He certainly did very wrong to carry me off; but then, as he +says, it was but a dismal sort of life for him, to live in that great +gloomy place, all alone; and it has made a wonderful change in his spirits +to have a little girl to run up stairs and down. There is some comfort in +making him so happy; and so, upon the whole, dearest mother, let us be +thankful that he is not to keep me the whole year round." + + + + +OLD GREEK FOLK-STORIES + + +ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE + +By Josephine Preston Peabody + + +When gods and shepherds piped and the stars sang, that was the day of +musicians! But the triumph of Phoebus Apollo himself was not so wonderful +as the triumph of a mortal man who lived on earth, though some say that he +came of divine lineage. This was Orpheus, that best of harpers, who went +with the Grecian heroes of the great ship Argo in search of the Golden +Fleece. + +After his return from the quest, he won Eurydice for his wife, and they +were as happy as people can be who love each other and every one else. The +very wild beasts loved them, and the trees clustered about their home as +if they were watered with music. But even the gods themselves were not +always free from sorrow, and one day misfortune came upon that harper +Orpheus whom all men loved to honor. + +Eurydice, his lovely wife, as she was wandering with the nymphs, +unwittingly trod upon a serpent in the grass. Surely, if Orpheus had been +with her, playing upon his lyre, no creature could have harmed her. But +Orpheus came too late. She died of the sting, and was lost to him in the +Underworld. + +For days he wandered from his home, singing the story of his loss and his +despair to the helpless passers-by. His grief moved the very stones in the +wilderness, and roused a dumb distress in the hearts of savage beasts. +Even the gods on Mount Olympus gave ear, but they held no power over the +darkness of Hades. + +Wherever Orpheus wandered with his lyre, no one had the will to forbid him +entrance; and at length he found unguarded that very cave that leads to +the Underworld, where Pluto rules the spirits of the dead. He went down +without fear. The fire in his living heart found him a way through the +gloom of that place. He crossed the Styx, the black river that the Gods +name as their most sacred oath. Charon, the harsh old ferryman who takes +the shades across, forgot to ask of him the coin that every soul must pay. +For Orpheus sang. There in the Underworld the song of Apollo would not +have moved the poor ghosts so much. It would have amazed them, like a star +far off that no one understands. But here was a human singer, and he sang +of things that grow in every human heart, youth and love and death, the +sweetness of the Earth, and the bitterness of losing aught that is dear to +us. + +Now the dead, when they go to the Underworld, drink of the pool of Lethe; +and forgetfulness of all that has passed comes upon them like a sleep, and +they lose their longing for the world, they lose their memory of pain, and +live content with that cool twilight. But not the pool of Lethe itself +could withstand the song of Orpheus; and in the hearts of the shades all +the old dreams awoke wondering. They remembered once more the life of men +on earth, the glory of the sun and moon, the sweetness of new grass, the +warmth of their homes, all the old joy and grief that they had known. And +they wept. + +Even the Furies were moved to pity. Those, too, who were suffering +punishment for evil deeds ceased to be tormented for themselves, and +grieved only for the innocent Orpheus who had lost Eurydice. Sisyphus, +that fraudulent king (who is doomed to roll a monstrous boulder uphill +forever), stopped to listen. The daughters of Danaus left off their task +of drawing water in a sieve. Tantalus forgot hunger and thirst, though +before his eyes hung magical fruits that were wont to vanish out of his +grasp, and just beyond reach bubbled the water that was a torment to his +ears; he did not hear it while Orpheus sang. + +So, among a crowd of eager ghosts, Orpheus came, singing with all his +heart, before the king and queen of Hades. And the queen Proserpina wept +as she listened and grew homesick, remembering the fields of Enna and the +growing of the wheat, and her own beautiful mother, Demeter. Then Pluto +gave way. + +They called Eurydice and she came, like a young guest unused to the +darkness of the Underworld. She was to return with Orpheus, but on one +condition. If he turned to look at her once before they reached the upper +air, he must lose her again and go back to the world alone. + +Rapt with joy, the happy Orpheus hastened on the way, thinking only of +Eurydice, who was following him. Past Lethe, across the Styx they went, he +and his lovely wife, still silent as a shade. But the place was full of +gloom, the silence weighed upon him, he had not seen her for so long; her +footsteps made no sound; and he could hardly believe the miracle, for +Pluto seldom relents. When the first gleam of upper daylight broke through +the cleft to the dismal world, he forgot all, save that he must know if +she still followed. He turned to see her face, and the promise was broken! + +She smiled at him forgivingly, but it was too late. He stretched out his +arms to take her, but she faded from them, as the bright snow, that none +may keep, melts in our very hands. A murmur of farewell came to his +ears,--no more. She was gone. + +He would have followed, but Charon, now on guard, drove him back. Seven +days he lingered there between the worlds of life and death, but after the +broken promise Hades would not listen to his song. Back to the earth he +wandered, though it was sweet to him no longer. He died young, singing to +the last, and round about the place where his body rested, nightingales +nested in the trees. His lyre was set among the stars; and he himself went +down to join Eurydice, unforbidden. + +Those two had no need of Lethe, for their life on earth had been wholly +fair, and now that they are together they no longer own a sorrow. + + + + +ICARUS AND DAEDALUS + +By Josephine Preston Peabody + + +Among all those mortals who grew so wise that they learned the secrets of +the gods, none was more cunning than Daedalus. + +He once built, for King Minos of Crete, a wonderful Labyrinth of winding +ways so cunningly tangled up and twisted around that, once inside, you +could never find your way out again without a magic clue. But the king's +favor veered with the wind, and one day he had his master architect +imprisoned in a tower. Daedalus managed to escape from his cell; but it +seemed impossible to leave the island, since every ship that came or went +was well guarded by order of the king. + +At length, watching the sea-gulls in the air,--the only creatures that +were sure of liberty,--he thought of a plan for himself and his young son +Icarus, who was captive with him. + +Little by little, he gathered a store of feathers great and small. He +fastened these together with thread, moulded them in with wax, and so +fashioned two great wings like those of a bird. When they were done, +Daedalus fitted them to his own shoulders, and after one or two efforts, he +found that by waving his arms he could winnow the air and cleave it, as a +swimmer does the sea. He held himself aloft, wavered this way and that, +with the wind, and at last, like a great fledgling, he learned to fly. + +Without delay, he fell to work on a pair of wings for the boy Icarus, and +taught him carefully how to use them, bidding him beware of rash +adventures among the stars. "Remember," said the father, "never to fly +very low or very high, for the fogs about the earth would weigh you down, +but the blaze of the sun will surely melt your feathers apart if you go +too near." + +For Icarus, these cautions went in at one ear and out by the other. Who +could remember to be careful when he was to fly for the first time? Are +birds careful? Not they! And not an idea remained in the boy's head but +the one joy of escape. + +The day came, and the fair wind that was to set them free. The father bird +put on his wings, and, while the light urged them to be gone, he waited to +see that all was well with Icarus, for the two could not fly hand in hand. +Up they rose, the boy after his father. The hateful ground of Crete sank +beneath them; and the country folk, who caught a glimpse of them when they +were high above the tree-tops, took it for a vision of the gods,--Apollo, +perhaps, with Cupid after him. + +At first there was a terror in the joy. The wide vacancy of the air dazed +them,--a glance downward made their brains reel. But when a great wind +filled their wings, and Icarus felt himself sustained, like a halcyon-bird +in the hollow of a wave, like a child uplifted by his mother, he forgot +everything in the world but joy. He forgot Crete and the other islands +that he had passed over: he saw but vaguely that winged thing in the +distance before him that was his father Daedalus. He longed for one draught +of flight to quench the thirst of his captivity: he stretched out his arms +to the sky and made towards the highest heavens. + +Alas for him! Warmer and warmer grew the air. Those arms, that had seemed +to uphold him, relaxed. His wings wavered, drooped. He fluttered his young +hands vainly,--he was falling,--and in that terror he remembered. The heat +of the sun had melted the wax from his wings; the feathers were falling, +one by one, like snowflakes; and there was none to help. + +He fell like a leaf tossed down the wind, down, down, with one cry that +overtook Daedalus far away. When he returned, and sought high and low for +the poor boy, he saw nothing but the bird-like feathers afloat on the +water, and he knew that Icarus was drowned. + +The nearest island he named Icaria, in memory of the child; but he, in +heavy grief, went to the temple of Apollo in Sicily, and there hung up his +wings as an offering. Never again did he attempt to fly. + + + + +PHAETHON + +By Josephine Preston Peabody + + +Once upon a time, the reckless whim of a lad came near to destroying the +Earth and robbing the spheres of their wits. + +There were two playmates, said to be of heavenly parentage. One was +Epaphus, who claimed Zeus as a father; and one was Phaethon, the earthly +child of Phoebus Apollo (or Helios, as some name the sun-god). One day +they were boasting together, each of his own father, and Epaphus, angry at +the other's fine story, dared him to go prove his kinship with the Sun. + +Full of rage and humiliation, Phaethon went to his mother, Clymene, where +she sat with his young sisters, the Heliades. + +"It is true, my child," she said, "I swear it in the light of yonder Sun. +If you have any doubt, go to the land whence he rises at morning and ask +of him any gift you will; he is your father, and he cannot refuse you." + +As soon as might be, Phaethon set out for the country of sunrise. He +journeyed by day and by night far into the east, till he came to the +palace of the Sun. It towered high as the clouds, glorious with gold and +all manner of gems that looked like frozen fire, if that might be. The +mighty walls were wrought with images of earth and sea and sky. Vulcan, +the smith of the Gods, had made them in his workshop (for Mount AEtna is +one of his forges, and he has the central fires of the earth to help him +fashion gold and iron, as men do glass). On the doors blazed the twelve +signs of the Zodiac, in silver that shone like snow in the sunlight. +Phaethon was dazzled with the sight, but when he entered the palace hall +he could hardly bear the radiance. + +In one glimpse through his half-shut eyes, he beheld a glorious being, +none other than Phoebus himself, seated upon a throne. He was clothed in +purple raiment, and round his head there shone a blinding light, that +enveloped even his courtiers upon the right and upon the left,--the +Seasons with their emblems, Day, Month, Year, and the beautiful young +Hours in a row. In one glance of those all-seeing eyes, the sun-god knew +his child; but in order to try him he asked the boy his errand. + +"O my father," stammered Phaethon, "if you are my father indeed"--and then +he took courage; for the god came down from his throne, put off the +glorious halo that hurt mortal eyes, and embraced him tenderly. + +"Indeed, thou art my son," said he. "Ask any gift of me, and it shall be +thine; I call the Styx to witness." + +"Ah!" cried Phaethon rapturously. "Let me drive thy chariot for one day!" + +For an instant the Sun's looks clouded. "Choose again, my child," said he. +"Thou art only a mortal, and this task is mine alone of all the Gods. Not +Zeus himself dare drive the chariot of the Sun. The way is full of +terrors, both for the horses and for all the stars along the roadside, and +for the Earth, who has all blessings from me. Listen, and choose again." +And therewith he warned Phaethon of all the dangers that beset the +way,--the great steep that the steeds must climb, the numbing dizziness of +the height, the fierce constellations that breathe out fire, and that +descent in the west where the Sun seems to go headlong. + +But these counsels only made the reckless boy more eager to win honor of +such a high enterprise. + +"I will take care; only let me go," he begged. + +Now Phoebus had sworn by the black river Styx, an oath that none of the +Gods dare break, and he was forced to keep his promise. + +Already Aurora, goddess of dawn, had thrown open the gates of the east, +and the stars were beginning to wane. The Hours came forth to harness the +four horses, and Phaethon looked with exultation at the splendid +creatures, whose lord he was for a day. Wild, immortal steeds they were, +fed with ambrosia, untamed as the winds; their very pet names signified +flame, and all that flame can do,--Pyrois, Eoues, AEthon, Phlegon. + +As the lad stood by, watching, Phoebus anointed his face with a philter +that should make him strong to endure the terrible heat and light, then +set the halo upon his head, with a last word of counsel. + +"Follow the road," said he, "and never turn aside. Go not too high or too +low, for the sake of heavens and earth; else men and Gods will suffer. The +Fates alone know whether evil is to come of this. Yet if your heart fails +you, as I hope, abide here and I will make the journey, as I am wont to +do." + +But Phaethon held to his choice and bade his father farewell. He took his +place in the chariot, gathered up the reins, and the horses sprang away, +eager for the road. + +As they went, they bent their splendid necks to see the meaning of the +strange hand upon the reins,--the slender weight in the chariot. They +turned their wild eyes upon Phaethon, to his secret foreboding, and +neighed one to another. This was no master charioteer, but a mere lad, a +feather riding the wind. It was holiday for the horses of the Sun, and +away they went. + +Grasping the reins that dragged him after, like an enemy, Phaethon looked +down from the fearful ascent and saw the Earth far beneath him, dim and +fair. He was blind with dizziness and bewilderment. His hold slackened and +the horses redoubled their speed, wild with new liberty. They left the old +tracks. Before he knew where he was, they had startled the constellations +and well-nigh grazed the Serpent, so that it woke from its torpor and +hissed. + +The steeds took fright. This way and that they went, terrified by the +monsters they had never encountered before, shaking out of their silver +quiet the cool stars towards the north, then fleeing as far to the south +among new wonders. The heavens were full of terror. + +Up, far above the clouds, they went, and down again, towards the +defenseless Earth, that could not flee from the chariot of the Sun. Great +rivers hid themselves in the ground, and mountains were consumed. Harvests +perished like a moth that is singed in a candle-flame. + +In vain did Phaethon call to the horses and pull upon the reins. As in a +hideous dream, he saw his own Earth, his beautiful home and the home of +all men, his kindred, parched by the fires of this mad chariot, and +blackening beneath him. The ground cracked open and the sea shrank. +Heedless water-nymphs, who had lingered in the shallows, were left gasping +like bright fishes. The dryads shrank, and tried to cover themselves from +the scorching heat. The poor Earth lifted her withered face in a last +prayer to Zeus to save her if he might. + +Then Zeus, calling all the Gods to witness that there was no other means +of safety, hurled his thunderbolt; and Phaethon knew no more. + +His body fell through the heavens, aflame like a shooting star; and the +horses of the Sun dashed homeward with the empty chariot. + +Poor Clymene grieved sore over the boy's death; but the young Heliades, +daughters of the Sun, refused all comfort. Day and night they wept +together about their brother's grave by the river, until the Gods took +pity and changed them all into poplar-trees. And ever after that they wept +sweet tears of amber, clear as sunlight. + + + + +NIOBE + +By Josephine Preston Peabody + + +There are so many tales of the vanity of kings and queens that the half of +them cannot be told. + +There was Cassiopaeia, queen of AEthiopia, who boasted that her beauty +outshone the beauty of all the sea-nymphs, so that in anger they sent a +horrible sea-serpent to ravage the coast. The king prayed of an oracle to +know how the monster might be appeased, and learned that he must offer up +his own daughter, Andromeda. The maiden was therefore chained to a rock by +the sea-side, and left to her fate. But who should come to rescue her but +a certain young hero, Perseus, who was hastening homeward after a perilous +adventure with the snaky-haired Gorgons. Filled with pity at the story of +Andromeda, he waited for the dragon, met and slew him, and set the maiden +free. As for the boastful queen, the Gods forgave her, and at her death +she was set among the stars. That story ended well. + +But there was once a queen of Thebes, Niobe, fortunate above all women, +and yet arrogant in the face of the gods. Very beautiful she was, and +nobly born, but above all things she boasted of her children, for she had +seven sons and seven daughters. + +Now there came the day when the people were wont to celebrate the feast of +Latona, mother of Apollo and Diana; and Niobe, as she stood looking upon +the worshipers on their way to the temple, was filled with overweening +pride. + +"Why do you worship Latona before me?" she cried out. "What does she +possess that I have not in greater abundance? She has but two children, +while I have seven sons and as many daughters. Nay, if she robbed me out +of envy, I should still be rich. Go back to your houses; you have not eyes +to know the rightful goddess." + +Such impiety was enough to frighten any one, and her subjects returned to +their daily work, awestruck and silent. + +But Apollo and Diana were filled with wrath at this insult to their divine +mother. Not only was she a great goddess and a power in the heavens, but +during her life on earth she had suffered many hardships for their sake. +The serpent Python had been sent to torment her; and, driven from land to +land, under an evil spell, beset with dangers, she had found no +resting-place but the island of Delos, held sacred ever after to her and +her children. Once she had even been refused water by some churlish +peasants, who could not believe in a goddess if she appeared in humble +guise and travel-worn. But these men were all changed into frogs. + +It needed no word from Latona herself to rouse her children to vengeance. +Swift as a thought, the two immortal archers, brother and sister, stood in +Thebes, upon the towers of the citadel. Near by, the youth were pursuing +their sports, while the feast of Latona went neglected. The sons of Queen +Niobe were there, and against them Apollo bent his golden bow. An arrow +crossed the air like a sunbeam, and without a word the eldest prince fell +from his horse. One by one his brothers died by the same hand, so swiftly +that they knew not what had befallen them, till all the sons of the royal +house lay slain. Only the people of Thebes, stricken with terror, bore the +news to Queen Niobe, where she sat with her seven daughters. She would not +believe in such a sorrow. + +"Savage Latona," she cried, lifting her arms against the heavens, "never +think that you have conquered. I am still the greater." + +At that moment one of her daughters sank beside her. Diana had sped an +arrow from her bow that is like the crescent moon. Without a cry, nay, +even as they murmured words of comfort, the sisters died, one by one. It +was all as swift and soundless as snowfall. + +Only the guilty mother was left, transfixed with grief. Tears flowed from +her eyes, but she spoke not a word, her heart never softened; and at last +she turned to stone, and the tears flowed down her cold face forever. + + + + +PYRAMUS AND THISBE + +By Josephine Preston Peabody + + +Venus did not always befriend true lovers, as she had befriended +Hippomenes, with her three golden apples. Sometimes, in the enchanted +island of Cyprus, she forgot her worshipers far away, and they called on +her in vain. + +So it was in the sad story of Hero and Leander, who lived on opposite +borders of the Hellespont. Hero dwelt at Sestos, where she served as a +priestess, in the very temple of Venus; and Leander's home was in Abydos, +a town on the opposite shore. But every night this lover would swim across +the water to see Hero, guided by the light which she was wont to set in +her tower. Even such loyalty could not conquer fate. There came a great +storm, one night, that put out the beacon, and washed Leander's body up +with the waves to Hero, and she sprang into the water to rejoin him, and +so perished. + +Not wholly unlike this was the fate of Halcyone, a queen of Thessaly, who +dreamed that her husband Ceyx had been drowned, and on waking hastened to +the shore to look for him. There she saw her dream come true,--his +lifeless body floating towards her on the tide; and as she flung herself +after him, mad with grief, the air upheld her and she seemed to fly. +Husband and wife were changed into birds; and there on the very water, at +certain seasons, they build a nest that floats unhurt,--a portent of calm +for many days and safe voyage for the ships. So it is that seamen love +these birds and look for halcyon weather. + +But there once lived in Babylonia two lovers named Pyramus and Thisbe, who +were parted by a strange mischance. For they lived in adjoining houses; +and although their parents had forbidden them to marry, these two had +found a means of talking together through a crevice in the wall. + +Here, again and again, Pyramus on his side of the wall and Thisbe on hers, +they would meet to tell each other all that had happened during the day, +and to complain of their cruel parents. At length they decided that they +would endure it no longer, but that they would leave their homes and be +married, come what might. They planned to meet, on a certain evening, by a +mulberry-tree near the tomb of King Ninus, outside the city gates. Once +safely met, they were resolved to brave fortune together. + +So far all went well. At the appointed time, Thisbe, heavily veiled, +managed to escape from home unnoticed, and after a stealthy journey +through the streets of Babylon, she came to the grove of mulberries near +the tomb of Ninus. The place was deserted, and once there she put off the +veil from her face to see if Pyramus waited anywhere among the shadows. +She heard the sound of a footfall and turned to behold--not Pyramus, but a +creature unwelcome to any tryst--none other than a lioness crouching to +drink from the pool hard by. + +Without a cry, Thisbe fled, dropping her veil as she ran. She found a +hiding-place among the rocks at some distance, and there she waited, not +knowing what else to do. + +The lioness, having quenched her thirst (after some ferocious meal), +turned from the spring and, coming upon the veil, sniffed at it curiously, +tore and tossed it with her reddened jaws,--as she would have done with +Thisbe herself,--then dropped the plaything and crept away to the forest +once more. + +It was but a little after this that Pyramus came hurrying to the +meeting-place, breathless with eagerness to find Thisbe and tell her what +had delayed him. He found no Thisbe there. For a moment he was confounded. +Then he looked about for some signs of her, some footprint by the pool. +There was the trail of a wild beast in the grass, and near by a woman's +veil, torn and stained with blood; he caught it up and knew it for +Thisbe's. + +So she had come at the appointed hour, true to her word; she had waited +there for him alone and defenseless, and she had fallen a prey to some +beast from the jungle! As these thoughts rushed upon the young man's mind, +he could endure no more. + +"Was it to meet me, Thisbe, that you came to such a death!" cried he. "And +I followed all too late. But I will atone. Even now I come lagging, but by +no will of mine!" + +So saying, the poor youth drew his sword and fell upon it, there at the +foot of that mulberry-tree which he had named as the trysting-place, and +his life-blood ran about the roots. + +During these very moments, Thisbe, hearing no sound and a little +reassured, had stolen from her hiding-place and was come to the edge of +the grove. She saw that the lioness had left the spring, and, eager to +show her lover that she had dared all things to keep faith, she came +slowly, little by little, back to the mulberry-tree. + +She found Pyramus there, according to his promise. His own sword was in +his heart, the empty scabbard by his side, and in his hand he held her +veil still clasped. Thisbe saw these things as in a dream, and suddenly +the truth awoke her. She saw the piteous mischance of all; and when the +dying Pyramus opened his eyes and fixed them upon her, her heart broke. +With the same sword she stabbed herself, and the lovers died together. + +There the parents found them, after a weary search, and they were buried +together in the same tomb. But the berries of the mulberry-tree turned red +that day, and red they have remained ever since. + + + + +STORIES OF THE TROJAN WAR + + +THE APPLE OF DISCORD + +By Josephine Preston Peabody + + +There was once a war so great that the sound of it has come ringing down +the centuries from singer to singer, and will never die. + +The rivalries of men and gods brought about many calamities, but none so +heavy as this; and it would never have come to pass, they say, if it had +not been for jealousy among the immortals,--all because of a golden apple! +But Destiny has nurtured ominous plants from little seeds; and this is how +one evil grew great enough to overshadow heaven and earth. + +The sea-nymph Thetis (whom Zeus himself had once desired for his wife) was +given in marriage to a mortal, Peleus, and there was a great wedding-feast +in heaven. Thither all the immortals were bidden, save one, Eris, the +goddess of Discord, ever an unwelcome guest. But she came unbidden. While +the wedding-guests sat at feast, she broke in upon their mirth, flung +among them a golden apple, and departed with looks that boded ill. Some +one picked up the strange missile and read its inscription, "For the +Fairest;" and at once discussion arose among the goddesses. They were all +eager to claim the prize, but only three persisted. + +Venus, the very goddess of beauty, said that it was hers by right; but +Juno could not endure to own herself less fair than another, and even +Athene coveted the palm of beauty as well as of wisdom, and would not give +it up! Discord had indeed come to the wedding-feast. Not one of the Gods +dared to decide so dangerous a question,--not Zeus himself,--and the three +rivals were forced to choose a judge among mortals. + +Now there lived on Mount Ida, near the city of Troy, a certain young +shepherd by the name of Paris. He was as comely as Ganymede himself,--that +Trojan youth whom Zeus, in the shape of an eagle, seized and bore away to +Olympus, to be a cup-bearer to the gods. Paris, too, was a Trojan of royal +birth, but like Oedipus, he had been left on the mountain in his infancy, +because the oracle had foretold that he would be the death of his kindred +and the ruin of his country. Destiny saved and nurtured him to fulfill +that prophecy. He grew up as a shepherd and tended his flocks on the +mountain, but his beauty held the favor of all the wood-folk there and won +the heart of the nymph Oenone. + +To him, at last, the three goddesses intrusted the judgment and the golden +apple. Juno first stood before him in all her glory as queen of Gods and +men, and attended by her favorite peacocks as gorgeous to see as royal +fan-bearers. + +[Illustration: TO HIM, AT LAST, THE THREE GODDESSES INTRUSTED THE JUDGMENT +AND THE GOLDEN APPLE] + +"Use but the judgment of a prince, Paris," she said, "and I will give thee +wealth and kingly power." + +Such majesty and such promises would have moved the heart of any man; but +the eager Paris had at least to hear the claims of the other rivals. +Athene rose before him, a vision welcome as daylight, with her sea-gray +eyes and golden hair beneath a golden helmet. + +"Be wise in honoring me, Paris," she said, "and I will give thee wisdom +that shall last forever, great glory among men, and renown in war." + +Last of all, Venus shone upon him, beautiful as none can ever hope to be. +If she had come, unnamed, as any country maid, her loveliness would have +dazzled him like sea-foam in the sun; but she was girt with her magical +Cestus, a spell of beauty that no one can resist. + +Without a bribe she might have conquered, and she smiled upon his dumb +amazement, saying, "Paris, thou shalt yet have for wife the fairest woman +in the world." + +At these words, the happy shepherd fell on his knees and offered her the +golden apple. He took no heed of the slighted goddesses, who vanished in a +cloud that boded storm. + +From that hour he sought only the counsel of Venus, and only cared to find +the highway to his new fortunes. From her he learned that he was the son +of King Priam of Troy, and with her assistance he deserted the nymph +Oenone, whom he had married, and went in search of his royal kindred. + +For it chanced at that time that Priam proclaimed a contest of strength +between his sons and certain other princes, and promised as prize the most +splendid bull that could be found among the herds of Mount Ida. Thither +came the herdsmen to choose, and when they led away the pride of Paris's +heart, he followed to Troy, thinking that he would try his fortune and +perhaps win back his own. + +The games took place before Priam and Hecuba and all their children, +including those noble princes Hector and Helenus, and the young Cassandra, +their sister. This poor maiden had a sad story, in spite of her royalty; +for, because she had once disdained Apollo, she was fated to foresee all +things, and ever to have her prophecies disbelieved. On this fateful day, +she alone was oppressed with strange forebodings. + +But if he who was to be the ruin of his country had returned, he had come +victoriously. Paris won the contest. At the very moment of his honor, poor +Cassandra saw him with her prophetic eyes; and seeing as well all the +guilt and misery that he was to bring upon them, she broke into bitter +lamentations, and would have warned her kindred against the evil to come. +But the Trojans gave little heed; they were wont to look upon her visions +as spells of madness. Paris had come back to them a glorious youth and a +victor; and when he made known the secret of his birth, they cast the +words of the oracle to the winds, and received the shepherd as a long-lost +prince. + +Thus far all went happily. But Venus, whose promise had not yet been +fulfilled, bade Paris procure a ship and go in search of his destined +bride. The prince said nothing of this quest, but urged his kindred to let +him go; and giving out a rumor that he was to find his father's lost +sister Hesione, he set sail for Greece, and finally landed at Sparta. + +There he was kindly received by Menelaus, the king, and his wife, Fair +Helen. + +This queen had been reared as the daughter of Tyndarus and Queen Leda, but +some say that she was the child of an enchanted swan, and there was indeed +a strange spell about her. All the greatest heroes of Greece had wooed her +before she left her father's palace to be the wife of King Menelaus, and +Tyndarus, fearing for her peace, had bound her many suitors by an oath. +According to this pledge, they were to respect her choice, and to go to +the aid of her husband if ever she should be stolen away from him. For in +all Greece there was nothing so beautiful as the beauty of Helen. She was +the fairest woman in the world. + +Now thus did Venus fulfill her promise and the shepherd win his reward +with dishonor. Paris dwelt at the court of Menelaus for a long time, +treated with a royal courtesy which he ill repaid. For at length, while +the king was absent on a journey to Crete, his guest won the heart of Fair +Helen, and persuaded her to forsake her husband and sail away to Troy, or +Ilium. + +King Menelaus returned to find the nest empty of the swan. Paris and the +fairest woman in the world were well across the sea. + +When this treachery came to light, all Greece took fire with indignation. +The heroes remembered their pledge, and wrath came upon them at the wrong +done to Menelaus. But they were less angered with Fair Helen than with +Paris, for they felt assured that the queen had been lured from her +country and out of her own senses by some spell of enchantment. So they +took counsel how they might bring back Fair Helen to her home and husband. + +Years had come and gone since that wedding-feast when Eris had flung the +apple of discord, like a firebrand, among the guests. But the spark of +dissension that had smouldered so long burst into flame now, and, fanned +by the enmities of men and the rivalries of the Gods, it seemed like to +fire heaven and earth. + +A few of the heroes answered the call to arms unwillingly. Time had +reconciled them to the loss of Fair Helen, and they were loath to leave +home and happiness for war, even in her cause. + +One of these was Odysseus, or Ulysses, king of Ithaca, who had married +Penelope, and was quite content with his kingdom and his little son +Telemachus. Indeed, he was so unwilling to leave them that he feigned +madness in order to escape service, appeared to forget his own kindred, +and went ploughing the seashore and sowing salt in the furrows. But a +messenger, Palamedes, who came with the summons to war, suspected that +this sudden madness might be a stratagem, for the king was far famed as a +man of many devices. He therefore stood by, one day (while Ulysses, +pretending to take no heed of him, went ploughing the sand) and he laid +the baby Telemachus directly in the way of the ploughshare. For once the +wise man's craft deserted him. Ulysses turned the plough sharply, caught +up the little prince, and there his fatherly wits were manifest! After +this he could no longer play madman. He had to take leave of his beloved +wife Penelope and set out to join the heroes, little dreaming that he was +not to return for twenty years. Once embarked, however, he set himself to +work in the common cause of the heroes, and was soon as ingenious as +Palamedes in rousing laggard warriors. + +There remained one who was destined to be the greatest warrior of all. +This was Achilles, the son of Thetis,--foretold in the day of Prometheus +as a man who should far outstrip his own father in glory and greatness. +Years had passed since the marriage of Thetis to King Peleus, and their +son Achilles was now grown to manhood, a wonder of strength indeed, and, +moreover, invulnerable. For his mother, forewarned of his death in the +Trojan War, had dipped him in the sacred river Styx when he was a baby, so +that he could take no hurt from any weapon. From head to foot she had +plunged him in, only forgetting the little heel that she held him by, and +this alone could be wounded by any chance. But even with such precautions +Thetis was not content. Fearful at the rumors of war to be, she had her +son brought up, in woman's dress, among the daughters of King Lycomedes of +Scyros, that he might escape the notice of men and cheat his destiny. + +To this very palace, however, came Ulysses in the guise of a merchant, and +he spread his wares before the royal household,--jewels and ivory, fine +fabrics, and curiously wrought weapons. The king's daughters chose girdles +and veils and such things as women delight in; but Achilles, heedless of +the like, sought out the weapons, and handled them with such manly +pleasure that his nature stood revealed. So he, too, yielded to his +destiny and set out to join the heroes. + +Everywhere men were banded together, building the ships and gathering +supplies. The allied forces of Greece (the Achaians, as they called +themselves) chose Agamemnon for their commander-in-chief. He was a mighty +man, king of Mycenae and Argos, and the brother of the wronged Menelaus. +Second to Achilles in strength was the giant Ajax; after him Diomedes, +then wise Ulysses, and Nestor, held in great reverence because of his +experienced age and fame. These were the chief heroes. After two years of +busy preparation, they reached the port of Aulis, whence they were to sail +for Troy. + +But here delay held them. Agamemnon had chanced to kill a stag which was +sacred to Diana, and the army was visited by pestilence, while a great +calm kept the ships imprisoned. At length the oracle made known the reason +of this misfortune and demanded for atonement the maiden Iphigenia, +Agamemnon's own daughter. In helpless grief the king consented to offer +her up as a victim, and the maiden was brought, ready for sacrifice. But +at the last moment Diana caught her away in a cloud, leaving a white hind +in her place, and carried her to Tauris in Scythia, there to serve as a +priestess in the temple. In the mean time, her kinsfolk, who were at a +loss to understand how she had disappeared, mourned her as dead. But Diana +had accepted their child as an offering, and healing came to the army, and +the winds blew again. So the ships set sail. + +Meanwhile, in Troy across the sea, the aged Priam and Hecuba gave shelter +to their son Paris and his stolen bride. They were not without misgivings +as to these guests, but they made ready to defend their kindred and the +citadel. + +There were many heroes among the Trojans and their allies, brave and +upright men, who little deserved that such reproach should be brought upon +them by the guilt of Prince Paris. There were AEneas and Deiphobus, Glaucus +and Sarpedon, and Priam's most noble son Hector, chief of all the forces, +and the very bulwark of Troy. These and many more were bitterly to regret +the day that had brought Paris back to his home. But he had taken refuge +with his own people, and the Trojans had to take up his cause against the +hostile fleet that was coming across the sea. + +Even the Gods took sides. Juno and Athene, who had never forgiven the +judgment of Paris, condemned all Troy with him and favored the Greeks, as +did also Neptune, god of the sea. But Venus, true to her favorite, +furthered the interests of the Trojans with all her power, and persuaded +the warlike Mars to do likewise. Zeus and Apollo strove to be impartial, +but they were yet to aid now one side, now another, according to the +fortunes of the heroes whom they loved. + +Over the sea came the great embassy of ships, sped hither safely by the +god Neptune; and the heroes made their camp on the plain before Troy. +First of all Ulysses and King Menelaus himself went into the city and +demanded that Fair Helen should be given back to her rightful husband. +This the Trojans refused, and so began the siege of Troy. + + + + +THE QUARREL BETWEEN AGAMEMNON AND ACHILLES + +By Alfred J. Church + + +The Greeks sacked the city of Chryse, where was a temple of Apollo, and a +priest that served the temple. And when they divided the spoil, they gave +to King Agamemnon with other gifts, the priest's daughter, Chryseis. +Thereupon there came to the camp Chryses, the priest, wishing to ransom +his daughter. Much gold he brought with him, and on his staff of gold he +carried the holy garland, that men might reverence him the more. He went +to all the chiefs, and to the sons of Atreus first of all, saying,-- +"Loose, I pray you, my dear daughter, and take the ransom for her; so may +the gods that dwell in Olympus grant you to take the city of Troy, and to +have safe return to your homes." + +Then all the others spake him fair, and would have done what he wished. +Only Agamemnon would not have it so. + +"Get thee out, graybeard!" he cried in great wrath. "Let me not find thee +lingering now by the ships, neither coming hither again, or it shall be +the worse for thee, for all thy priesthood. And as for thy daughter, I +shall carry her away to Argos, when I shall have taken this city of Troy." + +Then the old man went out hastily in great fear and trouble. And he walked +in his sorrow by the shore of the sounding sea, and prayed to his god +Apollo. + +"Hear me, god of the silver bow! If I have built thee a temple, and +offered thee fat of many bullocks and rams, hear me, and avenge my tears +on the Greeks with thine arrows!" + +And Apollo heard him. Wroth was he that men had so dishonored his priest, +and he came down from the top of Olympus, where he dwelt. Dreadful was the +rattle of his arrows as he went, and his coming was as the night when it +cometh over the sky. Then he shot the arrows of death, first on the dogs +and the mules, and then on the men; and soon all along the shore rolled +the black smoke from the piles of wood on which they burnt the bodies of +the dead. + +For nine days the shafts of the god went throughout the host; but on the +tenth day Achilles called the people to an assembly. So Juno bade him, for +she loved the Greeks, and grieved to see them die. When they were gathered +together he stood up among them, and spake to Agamemnon:-- + +"Surely it were better to return home, than that we should all perish here +by war or plague. But come, let us ask some prophet or priest or dreamer +of dreams why it is that Apollo is so wroth with us." + +Then stood up Calchas, best of seers, who knew what had been, and what +was, and what was to come, and spake:-- + +"Achilles, thou biddest me tell the people why Apollo is wroth with them. +Lo! I will tell thee, but thou must first swear to stand by me, for I know +that what I shall say will anger King Agamemnon, and it goes ill with +common men when kings are angry." + +"Speak out, thou wise man!" cried Achilles; "for I swear by Apollo that +while I live no one shall lay hands on thee, no, not Agamemnon's self, +though he be sovereign lord of the Greeks." + +Then the blameless seer took heart, and spake: "It is not for vow or +offering that Apollo is wroth; it is for his servant the priest, for he +came to ransom his daughter, but Agamemnon scorned him, and would not let +the maiden go. Now, then, ye must send her back to Chryse without ransom, +and with her a hundred beasts for sacrifice, so that the plague may be +stayed." + +Then Agamemnon stood up in a fury, his eyes blazing like fire. + +"Never," he cried, "hast thou spoken good concerning me, ill prophet that +thou art, and now thou tellest me to give up this maiden! I will do it, +for I would not that the people should perish. Only take care, ye Greeks, +that there be a share of the spoil for me, for it would ill beseem the +lord of all the host that he alone should be without his share." + +"Nay, my lord Agamemnon," cried Achilles, "thou art too eager for gain. We +have no treasures out of which we may make up thy loss, for what we got +out of the towns we have either sold or divided; nor would it be fitting +that the people should give back what has been given to them. Give up the +maiden, then, without conditions, and when we shall have taken this city +of Troy, we will repay thee three and four fold." + +"Nay, great Achilles," said Agamemnon, "thou shalt not cheat me thus. If +the Greeks will give me such a share as I should have, well and good. But +if not, I will take one for myself, whether it be from thee or from Ajax +or from Ulysses; for my share I will have. But of this hereafter. Now let +us see that this maiden be sent back. Let them get ready a ship, and put +her herein, and with her a hundred victims, and let some chief go with the +ship, and see that all things be rightly done." + +Then cried Achilles, and his face was as black as a thunder-storm: "Surely +thou art altogether shameless and greedy, and, in truth, an ill ruler of +men. No quarrel have I with the Trojans. They never harried oxen or sheep +of mine in fertile Phthia, for many murky mountains lie between, and a +great breadth of roaring sea. But I have been fighting in thy cause, and +that of thy brother Menelaus. Naught carest thou for that. Thou leavest me +to fight, and sittest in thy tent at ease. But when the spoil is divided, +thine is always the lion's share. Small, indeed, is my part,--'a little +thing, but dear.' And this, forsooth, thou wilt take away! Now am I +resolved to go home. I have no mind to heap up goods and gold for thee, +and be myself dishonored." + +And King Agamemnon answered, "Go, and thy Myrmidons with thee! I have +other chieftains as good as thou art, and ready, as thou art not, to pay +me due respect; and Zeus, the god of council, is with me. I hate thee, for +thou always lovest war and strife. And as for the matter of the spoil, +know that I will take thy share, the girl Briseis, and fetch her myself, +if need be, that all may know that I am sovereign lord here in the host of +the Greeks." + +Then Achilles was mad with anger, and he thought in his heart, "Shall I +arise and slay this caitiff, or shall I keep down the wrath in my breast?" +And as he thought he laid his hand on his sword-hilt, and had half-drawn +his sword from the scabbard, when lo! the goddess Athene stood behind him +(for Juno, who loved both this chieftain and that, had sent her), and +caught him by the long locks of his yellow hair. But Achilles marveled +much to feel the mighty grasp, and turned and looked, and knew the +goddess, but no one else in the assembly might see her. Terrible was the +flash of his eyes as he cried, "Art thou come, child of Zeus, to see the +insolence of Agamemnon? Of a truth, I think that he will perish for his +folly." + +But Athene said, "Nay, but I am come from heaven to abate thy wrath, if +thou wilt hear me; white-armed Juno sent me, for she loveth and cherisheth +you both alike. Draw not thy sword; but use bitter words, even as thou +wilt. Of a truth, I tell thee that for this insolence of to-day he will +bring thee hereafter splendid gifts, threefold and fourfold for all that +he may take away. Only refrain thyself and do my bidding." + +Then Achilles answered, "I will abide by thy command for all my wrath, for +the man who hearkens to the immortal gods is also heard of them." And as +he spake he laid his heavy hand upon the hilt, and thrust back the sword +into the scabbard, and Athene went her way to Olympus. + +Then he turned him to King Agamemnon, and spake again, for his anger was +not spent. "Drunkard, with the eyes of a dog and the heart of a deer! +never fighting in the front of the battle, nor daring to lie in the +ambush! 'Tis a race of dastards that thou rulest, or this had been thy +last wrong. But this I tell thee, and confirm my words with a mighty +oath--by this sceptre do I swear. Once it was the branch of a tree, but +now the sons of the Greeks bear it in their hands, even they who maintain +the laws of Zeus; as surely as it shall never again have bark, or leaves, +or shoot, so surely shall the Greeks one day miss Achilles, when they fall +in heaps before the dreadful Hector; and thou shalt eat thy heart for +rage, to think that thou hast wronged the bravest of thy host." + +And as he spake he dashed the sceptre, all embossed with studs of gold, +upon the ground, and sat down. And on the other side Agamemnon sat in +furious anger. Then Nestor rose, an old man of a hundred years and more, +and counseled peace. Let them listen, he said, to his counsel. Great +chiefs in the old days, with whom no man now alive would dare to fight, +had listened. Let not Agamemnon take away from the bravest of the Greeks +the prize of war; let not Achilles, though he was mightier in battle than +all other men, contend with Agamemnon, who was sovereign lord of all the +hosts of Greece. But he spake in vain. For Agamemnon answered,-- + +"Nestor, thou speakest well, and peace is good. But this fellow would lord +it over all; yet there are some, methinks, who will not obey him. For if +the immortal Gods have made him a great warrior, do they therefore grant +him leave to speak lawless words? Verily he must be taught that there is +one here, at least, who is better than he." + +And Achilles said, "I were a slave and a coward if I owned thee as my +lord. Not so; play the master over others, but think not to master me. As +for the prize which the Greeks gave me, let them do as they will. They +gave it; let them take it away. But if thou darest to touch aught that is +mine own, that hour thy life-blood shall redden on my spear." + +Then the assembly was dismissed. Chryseis was sent to her home with due +offerings to the god, the wise Ulysses going with her. And all the people +purified themselves, and offered offerings to the Gods; and the sweet +savor went up to heaven in the wreathing smoke. + +But King Agamemnon would not go back from his purpose. So he called to him +the heralds, Talthybius and Eurybates, and said,-- + +"Heralds, go to the tents of Achilles, and fetch the maiden Briseis. But +if he will not let her go, say that I will come myself with many others to +fetch her; so will it be the worse for him." + +Sorely against their will the heralds went. Along the seashore they +walked, till they came to where, amidst the Myrmidons, were the tents of +Achilles. There they found him, sitting between his tent and his ship. He +did not rejoice to see them, and they stood in great terror and shame. But +he knew in his heart wherefore they had come, and cried aloud, "Come near, +ye heralds, messengers of Gods and men. 'Tis no fault of yours that ye are +come on such an errand." + +Then he turned to Patroclus (now Patroclus was his dearest friend) and +said,-- + +"Bring the maiden from her tent, and let the heralds lead her away. But +let them be witnesses, before gods and men, and before this evil-minded +king, against the day when he shall have sore need of me to save his hosts +from destruction. Fool that he is, who knoweth not to look back and to +look forward, that his people may be safe!" + +Then Patroclus brought forth the maiden from her tent, and gave her to the +heralds. And they led her away; but it was sorely against her will that +she went. But Achilles went apart from his comrades, and sat upon the +seashore, falling into a great passion of tears, and stretching out his +hands with loud prayer to his mother, Thetis, daughter of the sea. She +heard him where she sat in the depths by her father, the old god of the +sea, and rose from the gray sea, as a vapor rises, and came to where he +was weeping, and stroked him with her hand, and called him by his name. + +"What ails thee, my son?" she said. + +Then he told her the story of his wrong, and when he had ended he said,-- + +"Go, I pray thee, to the top of Olympus, to the palace of Zeus. Often have +I heard thee in my father's hall boast how, long ago, thou didst help him +when the other gods would have bound him, fetching Briareus of the hundred +hands, who sat by him in his strength, so that the Gods feared to touch +him. Go now, and call these things to his mind, and pray him that he help +the sons of Troy, and give them victory in the battle, so that the Greeks, +as they flee before them, may have joy of this king of theirs, who has +done such wrong to the bravest of his host." + +And his mother answered him, "Surely thine is an evil lot, my son. This +life is short, and it should of right be without tears and full of joy; +but now it seems to me to be both short and sad. But I will go as thou +sayest to Olympus, to the palace of Zeus; but not now, for he has gone, +and the other Gods with him, to a twelve days' feast with the pious +Ethiopians. But when he cometh back I will entreat and persuade him. And +do thou sit still, nor go forth to battle." + +Meanwhile Ulysses drew near to Chryse with the holy offerings. And when +they were come within the haven, they furled the sail, and laid it in the +ship, and lowered the mast, and rowed the ship to her moorings. They cast +out the anchor stones, and made fast the cables from the stern. After that +they landed, taking with them the offerings and the maid Chryseis. To the +altar they brought the maid, and gave her into the arms of her father, and +the wise Ulysses said, "See now; Agamemnon, King of men, sends back thy +daughter, and with her a hundred beasts for sacrifice, that we may appease +the god who hath smitten the Greeks in his wrath." + +Then the priest received his daughter right gladly, and when they had +ranged the beasts about the altar, and poured out the water of +purification, and taken up handfuls of bruised barley, then the priest +prayed, "Hear me, God of the silver bow! If before thou didst hearken to +my prayer, and grievously afflict the Greeks, so hear me now, and stay +this plague which is come upon them." + +So prayed he, and the god gave ear. + +Then they cast the barley on the heads of the cattle, and slew them, and +flayed them, and they cut out the thigh-bones and wrapped them up in folds +of fat, and laid raw morsels on them. These the priest burned on fagots, +pouring on sparkling wine; and the young men stood by, having the +five-pronged forks in their hands. And when the thighs were consumed, then +they cut up the rest, and broiled the pieces carefully on spits. This +being done, they made their meal, nor did any one lack his share. And when +the meal was ended, then they poured a little wine into the cups to serve +for libations to the Gods. After that they sat till sunset, singing a hymn +to the Archer God, and making merry; and he heard their voice and was +pleased. + +When the sun went down, they slept beside the stern-cables; and when the +dawn appeared, then they embarked, raising the mast and spreading the +sail; and Apollo sent them a favoring wind, and the dark blue wave hissed +about the stem of the ship as she went: so they came to the camp of the +Greeks. + +But all the time Achilles sat in wrath beside his ships; he went not to +the war, nor yet to the assembly, but sat fretting in his heart, because +he longed for the cry of the battle. + + + + +THE FIGHT BETWEEN PARIS AND MENELAUS + +By Walter C. Perry + + +In obedience to the summons of their leaders, the great host of the +Achaians assembled on the plain of the flowing river Scamander, +innumerable as the leaves and flowers in the season of spring. And in the +midst of them stood the great ruler, Agamemnon: his head and eyes like +those of Loud-thundering Zeus; his waist like that of the Man-slaying +Mars; and with a breast like that of Neptune, the Ruler of the Sea. As the +mail-clad Argives marched on, and rushed across the plain, the earth +groaned beneath them. + +Now AEgis-bearing Zeus sent his messenger, Iris, to the assembly of the +Trojans, with the voice of Polites, son of Priam, their sentinel at +Priam's gate, and spake thus to Hector: "This is no time for idle words, +for stern war is already upon you. But to thee, O Hector, do I especially +speak; and do thou obey my voice! As thou hast many allies, of diverse +nations and tongues, let each chief marshal and command his own people, +and lead them forth to war." + +And the glorious Hector knew the voice of the messenger, and hastened to +obey. He straightway dissolved the assembly. The gates of Troy were then +thrown open, and the Trojan host rushed forth, with a mighty din. The +blameless Hector, with his glancing helmet, was foremost of all, and led +the bravest and strongest of the men; AEneas, son of the goddess Aphrodite, +or Venus, born amidst the peaks of Ida, led the Dardans; and of the other +leaders of the allies, the most famous were Sarpedon, son of Zeus, and +blameless Glaucus, who led the Lycians, from distant Lycia, by the +swift-eddying Xanthus. + +And, as the countless hosts advanced, to meet each other in deadly +conflict, the Trojans marched with noisy shouts, like the clamor of the +cranes, when they fly to the streams of Oceanus, in the early morning, +screaming, and bringing death and destruction to the Pigmy men; but the +Achaieans came on in silence, breathing dauntless courage. + +But when they came near to each other, the goodly Paris went before the +front rank of the Trojans, and brandished his spear, and challenged all +the Argive chiefs to single combat. When the warlike Menelaus, whom Paris +had so deeply wronged by carrying off his wife, the beautiful Helen, saw +Paris there, he was glad, thinking that he should now punish the false +traitor for his wickedness. So he leaped from his chariot, in his clanging +armor, and advanced to meet the challenger. And Paris saw him; and pale +fear got hold of him, like to a man who has trodden on a serpent, in a +wooded valley among the mountains; and he shrank back among the lordly +Trojans. + +His brother Hector saw him, and reproached him with scornful words. "Base +deceiver of women, beautiful in appearance and favor, but coward at heart! +would that thou hadst never been born, or that thou hadst died unwedded! +Now thou seest what kind of man is he, whose lovely wife thou hast carried +off by stealth. Of no avail will be thy sounding lyre, thy beauteous face +and curling hair, or all the gifts of golden Venus, when thou liest +groveling in the dust." + +And the goodly Paris answered him, "Hector, thou rightly chidest me, and +not more than I deserve. _Thy_ heart is ever undaunted, and keen as the +axe, which cutteth the strong oak, in the hands of a skillful shipwright. +But reproach me not for the lovely gifts of golden Aphrodite; for no man +can obtain them by wishing for them, for they are among the precious gifts +of the blessed Gods. But if thou desirest that I should do battle with the +valiant Menelaus, make the Trojans and the Achaians sit down; and set me +and Menelaus in the midst, to fight for Helen and for all the treasures +which were taken away with her. And whichever of us twain shall be the +victor, let him bear away the woman and the treasure, and take them home." + +So spake he, and they all kept silence; but Menelaus of the loud war-cry +stood forward amongst the Greeks and made harangue, "Hearken now to me, +for my heart hath endured the greatest grief. Whosoever of us twain shall +fall, there let him lie. But now bring a goodly sacrifice, a white ram and +a black ewe, for the Earth and for the Sun; and another for +Loud-thundering Zeus; and summon hither the great King Priam, that he may +take the pledge; for his sons are reckless and faithless; young men's +hearts are too frivolous and fickle, but an old man looketh to the future +and the past." + +And Hector sent heralds to the city, to fetch two lambs, and to summon +Priam; while Agamemnon sent Talthybius for a ram. Now Iris, in Troy, came +to Helen, in the semblance of Laodice, Paris's sister, fairest of Priam's +daughters, wife of Helicaon, the son of Antenor. She found Helen weaving a +great purple web, on which she was embroidering the battles of the Argives +and the Trojans. The swift-footed Iris came near her, and said, "Come +hither, dear lady, come with me, to see the wondrous deeds of the +horse-taming Trojans and the mail-clad Argives; for now the battle is +suspended, while Paris, and Menelaus, dear to Mars, will fight alone with +their spears, for _thee_; and thou wilt be the fair wife of the victor." +So Iris spoke, and put into Helen's bosom a longing for her former +husband, and for her darling daughter. Then Helen veiled her face, and +went straightway to the Scaean Gate, letting fall a tear; and her two +handmaidens, AEthre and Clymene, followed her. + +On the tower above the Scaean Gate, she found the Trojan elders. These, on +account of their age, had ceased from war, but were still good orators, +with voices like the grasshoppers which sit upon a tree, and send forth +their lily-like voice; so sat the elders of the Trojans on the Tower. When +those ancient sages saw the fair Helen coming to them, they were +astounded, and whispered one to another, "No wonder that the Trojans and +the Achaians have suffered so many things for such a glorious woman! But, +fair as she is, let her sail away, and not stay here to trouble us and our +children after us." + +But the aged King Priam addressed her kindly. "Dear Daughter! come hither, +and see thy former husband and kinsmen! I do not blame _thee_, but the +Gods, and especially Venus, by whom this sad war has been brought upon us. +But tell me who is that huge Achaian warrior? Many are taller than he, but +I have never seen a man so stately and royal." And the fair Helen, the +daughter of Zeus, replied, "O venerable Father of my lord! would that +death had been my lot, when I followed thy son to Troy, and left my home +and husband, and my dear young daughter, and all the loved companions of +my girlhood! But that was not to be, and therefore I mourn and weep. The +man of whom thou speakest is Atreides, the wide-ruling monarch Agamemnon, +who is both a stately king and a doughty warrior; he is the brother of +Menelaus my husband--shameless thing that I am!" + +Then the aged Priam asked her about the other Achaian chiefs,--Ulysses, +and the gigantic Ajax, the bulwark of the host, and the godlike Idomeneus; +and the lovely Helen told him all, and said, "I see all the other +bright-eyed Achaians, and could tell their names; but two I see not, even +mine own brothers, horse-taming Castor and the boxer Pollux; peradventure +they came not with the Achaians; or if they came, they fight not, for fear +of the revilings which men heap on me--shameless that I am!" She knew not +that the earth already covered them, in Lacedaemon, their dear native land. +Now the aged Priam drove out through the Scaean Gate, with Antenor by his +side; and, when he had come to the Achaians and the Trojans, he descended +from his chariot, and stood on the Earth, the bounteous grain-giver. Then +Agamemnon, the king of men, and Ulysses, the man of many devices, rose up; +and the stately heralds brought the holy oath-offerings to the gods, and +mixed the ruddy wine in the mixing-bowl, from which they gave portions to +the Achaian and the Trojan chiefs. Agamemnon raised his hands to heaven +and prayed, "O Father Zeus, most great and glorious! O Sun, who seest and +hearest all things! O ye Rivers, and thou, Mother Earth! be ye all +witnesses to our oaths! If Paris shall kill Menelaus, then let him keep +Helen and all her possessions; but if the yellow-haired Menelaus slay +Paris, then let the Trojans give back Helen and her treasures!" + +Then the lordly Agamemnon slew the lambs, and prayed again to Zeus. But +Priam spake unto the Achaians and the Trojans. "I verily will return to +breezy Ilium; for I cannot bear to see my own son engaged in deadly +conflict with the war-loving Menelaus." + +Then the goodly Paris, lord of the fair-haired Helen, put on his beautiful +armor. First he set the splendid greaves upon his legs, fastened round the +ankles with silver clasps; then he donned the corslet, which he had +borrowed from his brother Lycaon; and he threw over his shoulders the +silver-studded sword-belt with his sword, and took up his mighty shield; +and upon his beauteous head he placed the helmet, with a horsehair crest, +and the plume nodded terribly; and he took a strong spear in his hand. + +Then he and Menelaus stood face to face, on the ground which Hector and +Ulysses had meted out; and they brandished their spears, with wrath +against each other. Paris drew the lot to be the first to cast his +long-shafted spear; he threw it, and it struck the round shield of +Atreides Menelaus, but did not pierce it; for the point of the spear was +turned. + +Then Menelaus, poising his lance, prayed to Zeus, "O Father Zeus! grant me +to take vengeance on goodly Paris, who did me such foul wrong--_me_, who +had shown him so much kindness!" He said, and hurled his strong spear, +which struck the bright shield of the son of Priam; and the sharp point +passed through it, and through his breastplate, and rent the tunic, close +to the side of his body; but Paris swerved from it, and shunned the black +fate of death. Then Menelaus drew his sword from the silver-studded +sheath, and smote on the helmet of Paris, but the sword was shattered, and +fell in pieces from his hand. Then he looked up to heaven, and exclaimed, +"O Father Zeus! thou art the most cruel of all the Gods!" + +So saying, he caught Paris by his horse-hair crest, and dragged him +towards the well-greaved Achaians, and the embroidered strap of the helmet +went nigh to strangle him. But Venus, daughter of great Zeus, who loved +the beauteous Paris, drew near him, and tore the strap of leather; and the +helmet came away, empty, in the strong hand of the son of Atreus. Full of +wrath, he hurled it towards his trusty companions, and they took it up. He +then rushed back again, to slay his enemy; but golden-haired Venus, being +a goddess, easily caught up Paris, and hid him in thick darkness, and +carried him into Troy, to his high and fragrant chamber. + +Venus, the golden Goddess of Love, then went to summon Helen, in the +likeness of an old woman, a wool-comber, who had worked for Helen in +Lacedaemon, and whom she greatly loved. She found the white-armed Helen on +the high tower, and spake: "Come hither to Paris, who sends for thee; he +is there in the fragrant chamber, shining in beauty-- + + "Not like a warrior parted from the foe, + But some fair dancer from the public show." + (Pope's Translation of the _Iliad_.) + +But Helen's heart was greatly moved; she knew the golden Venus, saw her +fair neck and sparkling eyes, and called her by her name. "O thou strange +Goddess! wouldst thou again deceive me? Now Menelaus hath conquered Paris, +and will carry me home--accursed as I am! And now do _thou_ no more return +to Olympus, but leave the dwelling of the Gods, and go and sit by Paris, +till he make _thee_ his wife--or perchance, his slave. But _I_ will not go +to him; for all the Trojan women would justly blame me hereafter; I have +innumerable griefs within my heart." + +Then was the bright goddess sore displeased, and spake harshly to her. +"Beware! thou foolish woman! lest in my wrath I leave thee, and henceforth +hate thee, as I have loved thee until now!" Venus spake, and Helen, +daughter of great Zeus, trembled and obeyed, wrapping her beautiful +garments about her; and the goddess led her to the fragrant chamber in the +palace, and set her on a chair before the goodly Paris. + +But Helen looked askance at her lord, and chode him with bitter words. +"Would that thou hadst never come back from the fight, but hadst perished +by the arm of the warrior who was once my husband! Thou didst boast +thyself to be a better man than Menelaus! Go then, and challenge him +again, to meet thee face to face once more!" + +Yet Helen, though she could not but despise Paris, soon became reconciled +to him, partly from a remnant of her former love for him, and partly from +her fear of Venus. + +In the meantime, Menelaus was raging through the field in search of him. +Nor could any of the Trojans find him, or they would have given him up; +for they hated him like death, as the cause of all their sufferings. + +And King Agamemnon said to the Trojans, "Now that the Mars-loving Menelaus +hath conquered Paris do ye give back to us Helen and all her treasures!" +But this was not to be. + + + + +THE DUEL BETWEEN HECTOR AND AJAX + +By Walter C. Perry + + +And now we must speak of Hector, the noble Trojan prince, who, after +Achilles, was the most famous warrior of the two hostile armies. Achilles, +indeed, was the son of a goddess, even silver-footed Thetis; while +Hector's mother, Hecuba, was a mortal woman. + +Well knowing the dangers to which he was exposed, and how soon he might +fall in battle, Hector now bethought him of his lovely wife, Andromache, +and his little boy Astyanax. When he came to the Scaean Gate, the Trojan +women came running to him, with eager questions about their husbands, +sons, and brothers; and sorrow filled their hearts. Among them came his +fond and generous mother, Hecuba, leading by the hand the fairest of her +daughters, Laodice, and she called him by his name, and spoke: "Dear Son! +why hast thou left the field? Do the Achaians press thee hard? Dost thou +come to make prayers to Father Zeus, from the Citadel? But come, I will +bring thee honey-sweet wine, that thou mayest pour out a libation to +Almighty Zeus, the Son of Cronos, and refresh thyself with a draught." + +But Hector answered her, "Bring me no luscious wine, dear mother! lest +thou rob me of my strength and courage. Nor dare I make a libation to +Zeus, with hands unwashen and soiled with blood. But go thou to the Temple +of Athene, driver of the spoil; and lay the finest robe, the most precious +to thyself, upon her knees; and vow to sacrifice twelve fat kine to her; +and beg her to have mercy on the Trojans, and on their wives and little +children! So, perhaps, she will hold back the terrible warrior, Tydides, +from sacred Ilium. And I will go and seek out Paris; would that the earth +would swallow him up! for Zeus hath cherished him to be the bane of his +country, and of his father Priam." + +Then Hecuba went to her ambrosial chamber, and took the finest of her +embroidered robes, the work of Sidonian women, which shone like a star; +and went, with other aged women, to the temple of Athene. And the +fair-cheeked Theano, daughter of Kisseus, the priestess, wife of Antenor, +opened the temple gates, and took the shining robe, and laid it upon +Athene's knees, and prayed to the great daughter of Zeus. But the goddess +did not grant her prayer. + +But Hector went his way to the fair palace of Paris, and found him in his +chamber, polishing his beautiful armor, and proving his curved bow. Then, +when Hector saw him, he reproached him with bitter words. "O thou strange +man! thou dost not well to nurse thy spite against the Trojans, who are +now perishing before the city, and all for thy sake! Rise, then, now, lest +the city be burned with fire!" + +And the goodly Paris answered, "It is not so much by reason of my wrath +against the Trojans, but I would fain indulge my sorrow. My wife, too, +hath urged me to the battle. Tarry then awhile, and I will don my armor; +or go thou before, and I will follow." + +Then the divine Helen, daughter of great Zeus, came and spoke gently to +Hector, and said, "O brother! brother of vile _me_, who am a dog--would +that, when my mother bare me, the storm-wind had snatched me away to a +mountain, or a billow of the loud-roaring sea had swept me away, before +all these evil things had befallen me! Would that I had been mated with a +better man than Paris, whose heart is not sound, and never will be. But +come, my brother, and sit by me; for thou verily hast suffered most for +me, who am a dog, and for the grievous sin of Paris, upon whom, surely, +Zeus is bringing evil days; he will be, hereafter, a song of scorn in the +mouths of future men, through all time to come." + +But noble Hector answered her, "If thou lovest me, dear Helen, bid me not +stay; for I go to succor my friends, who long for me in my absence. But do +thou try and rouse this husband of thine, and bid him overtake me. As for +me, I shall first go to my home, and to my wife and my little son; for who +knoweth whether I shall ever return to them again?" + +So spake the glorious Hector, and went his way to his own well-furnished +house; but he found not Andromache there; for she had gone to the tower, +with her fair-robed nurse and with her boy, all bathed in tears. Hector +asked the servants whither the white-armed Andromache was gone; and the +busy matron of the house replied, "She is gone to the tower of holy Troy; +for she heard that the Trojans were defeated, and the Achaians +victorious." Then Hector returned, by the same way, down the wide streets, +and came to the Scaean Gate. + +And his peerless wife, even Andromache, daughter of the high-minded +Eetion, king of Cilicia--she whom he had won by countless gifts--came +running to meet him. And with her came the handmaid, the nurse, bearing in +her arms Hector's tender boy, Astyanax, beautiful as the morning star. And +Hector smiled, and looked on his darling boy, while Andromache stood +beside him weeping. And she clasped his hand, and called him by his name. +"O my dear lord, thy dauntless courage will destroy thee! Hast thou no +pity for thy infant child, and for thy hapless wife, who soon will be a +widow? It were far better for me to die, if I lose _thee_; for nevermore +can I know comfort, but only pain and sorrow. For I shall be utterly +alone. I have neither father nor mother; for Eetion, my royal sire, was +slain by great Achilles. And all my seven brothers went down to Hades on +the selfsame day! they too were slain by swift-footed Pelides. But my +mother was smitten in her father's halls, by the gentle arrows of the +archer Artemis. Lo! now, _thou_ art all in all to me, father, mother, +brother, and dearly loved husband! Come, then, take pity on us, and abide +in the tower, and make not thy boy an orphan, and thy wife a widow!" + +And the glorious Hector of the glancing helm answered her, and said, "Dear +Wife! I too think of all these things. But how can I shun the battle, like +a coward, to be the mock of the Trojans, and of the Trojan dames with +trailing robes? I, who have always fought in the van of battle, and won +glory for my father and myself? I know that the day will come, when sacred +Ilium shall be leveled with the ground, and Priam and the people of Priam +shall perish. But it is not so much the fate of Priam, and of my mother, +Hecuba, and of my brethren, which fills my soul with anguish; but it is +_thy_ misery, dear one, in the day when some Achaian warrior shall bear +thee away, weeping, and rob thee of thy freedom. Thou, alas! wilt abide in +Argos, and ply the loom, the slave of another woman; or bear water from +the Hypereian fount, being harshly treated! And one will say, as he +looketh upon thee, 'This was the wife of Hector, the foremost of the +horse-taming Trojans in the war round Ilium.' But may the deep earth cover +_me_, ere I hear thee crying in the day of thy captivity." + +So spake he, and held out his arms to take his darling boy. But the child +shrank crying, and nestled in the bosom of his well-girdled nurse; for he +feared the horsehair crest, nodding terribly from the brazen helmet. Then +the fond parents laughed; and Hector doffed his helmet, and laid it on the +ground. And he kissed his dear child, and fondled him, and prayed thus to +Zeus:-- + +"O Zeus! and all ye Gods! grant that this, my son, may like me be foremost +to fight among the Trojans, and rule as a king in Ilium; so that men may +say, 'He is far better than his father'!" + +Thus speaking, he laid the child in the fragrant bosom of his dear wife +Andromache; and he pitied her, and caressed her with his hand, and called +her by her name. "Dear one! be not thus utterly cast down. No man can slay +me till my hour of destiny is come. But no man, when once he hath been +born, can escape his fate, be he a brave man or a coward. Go thou to thy +house, to the distaff and the loom, and make thy maidens ply their labors. +But _men_ shall engage in war, and I the first of all in Troy." + +So spake Hector of the glancing helmet, and went his way. And his dear +wife went to her home, looking back at him as she went, shedding bitter +tears. And she found her maidens there, and with them she bewailed her +lord, while yet he lived; for they feared that he would never again return +from battle. + +And the goodly Paris donned his beautiful armor, and hastened after his +brother, whom he overtook, and he made excuse for his long tarrying. And +Hector answered him, "No man can justly speak lightly of thy deeds, for +thou art strong; but thou art slack and careless, and I am grieved when I +hear shameful things said of thee by the Trojans, who for thee bear so +much toil. But let us be going." + +So the twain brothers, the glorious Hector and the goodly Paris, went +forth to the battle. And Paris slew Menesthius, of Arne, son of Areithous; +and Hector smote noble Eioneus in the neck, and relaxed his limbs in +death. And Glaucus, captain of the Lycian allies, cast his spear at +Iphinous, and pierced his shoulder; and he fell from his chariot, and his +limbs were loosened. + +But when the fierce-eyed Athene saw the Trojans making havoc of the +Achaians, she rushed down from the peaks of Olympus, to sacred Ilium. And +Apollo, who favored the Trojans, saw her from Pergamus, and hastened to +meet her; and they met by the beech-tree, and Apollo of the Silver Bow +addressed her: "Why dost thou come, O Daughter of the Loud-Thunderer? Is +it to bring victory to the Greeks? for thou hast no pity on the Trojans. +But hearken unto me, and let us stop the battle for this day--hereafter +they shall fight again." + +And the fierce-eyed goddess answered him, "Be it so, Far-Darter! for this +was my purpose when I came from high Olympus. But how thinkest thou to +make the war to cease?" + +Then King Apollo spake. "Let us rouse the valiant spirit of horse-taming +Hector, to challenge one of the Greeks to deadly single combat." And the +fierce-eyed Maid assented to his words. + +And the dear son of royal Priam, Helenus, the wise augur, who knew the +counsel of the Gods, drew near to Hector, and spake thus to him: "Dear +brother, who art peer of Zeus in counsel, wouldst thou listen to me? Make +the Trojans and the Achaians sit down; and do thou challenge the bravest +of the Achaians to meet thee in single combat. I hear the voice of the +deathless Gods, that it is not yet thy lot to die." + +And the great Hector rejoiced at his words; and going into the throng, he +held back the companies of the Trojans with his spear, holding it in the +middle, and made them all sit down. And Agamemnon made the well-greaved +Achaians sit down. And Athene and Apollo, in the form of vultures, sat on +a lofty tree, and watched the hosts. And Hector stood between the two +armies, and spake: "Hear me, ye Trojans and Achaians! Amongst you are the +great chiefs of the Achaians. Now let one of these be your champion, to +fight with me, Hector: and I call Zeus to witness, that if he slay me, you +shall let him carry off my armor, but give my body to the Trojans, that +they may render to me the honor of the funeral pyre. But if the Far-Darter +shall grant me glory, that I may slay _him_, then will I strip him of his +armor, and hang it in the Temple of Apollo; but his lifeless body I will +give back to the long-haired Achaians, that they may bury him, and build +him a barrow by the Hellespont." + +Thus spake the glorious Hector; but all were silent; for they were afraid +to meet him. Then, at last, Menelaus, groaning deeply, reproached the +Achaians, and said, "O ye women of Achaia, no longer _men!_ surely this +will be an everlasting shame to us, if none of the Greeks dare to fight +with the noble Hector! But I myself will arm me; for the issues of victory +are with the Gods." + +And he began to put on his dazzling armor. And now wouldst thou, Menelaus, +have yielded up thy life at the hands of Hector; but the great ruler, +Agamemnon, rose up and stayed thee. "Art thou mad, O foster-son of Zeus? +Draw back, though with grief and pain; and think not to fight with Hector, +the man-slaying son of Priam; for he is a far better man than thou, even +godlike Achilles feareth to meet this man in battle. Go then and sit down; +and we will choose another champion." + +And the fair-haired Menelaus obeyed his brother's words, and his henchmen +gladly took off his bright armor. And the wise Nestor arose, and upbraided +all the Achaian chiefs: "Fie on us! Shame and lamentation have come upon +us all. Surely the aged Peleus, the goodly king of the Myrmidons, would +deeply groan, if he heard that we are all cowering before great Hector; he +would pray that his soul might leave his body and go down to Hades. Would +to Zeus, and to Athene and Apollo, that I were young, as when the Pylians +met the Arcadians in battle, and Ereuthalion, the squire of King Lycurgus +of Arcadia, wearing the divine armor of Areithous, of the iron mace, +before the walls of Pheia, by the waters of Iardanus, challenged all our +host; and they were afraid and trembled. Then I, the youngest of all, +stood up and fought with him, and Athene gave me great glory; for he was +the tallest man, and of the greatest bulk, that I have ever slain. Would +that I were still so young and strong! But of you, leaders of the +Achaians, not one has heart enough to meet great Hector." + +The wise old man's reproaches filled the Achaian chiefs with shame; and +nine of them rose up, ready to fight; namely, Agamemnon, king of men; and +the stalwart Diomedes; and Idomeneus, and his brother in arms, Meriones, +equal in fight to murderous Mars; and Eurypylus, and Thaus, and the wily +Ulysses, and two others. Then Nestor spake again. "Now cast lots for him +that shall be champion." Then each man marked his lot, and threw it into +Agamemnon's helmet; and all men prayed that the lot might fall on Ajax or +Diomedes, or the king of rich Mycenae. Then Nestor shook the helmet, and +the lot of Ajax leapt out; and the herald placed it in the hand of mighty +Ajax, and he was glad; for he said, "I think that I shall vanquish goodly +Hector." And they all prayed to the Son of Cronos, to give victory to +Ajax, or to grant unto each of them equal glory and renown. + +Then huge Ajax donned his bright armor of bronze, and came forth like the +war-god Mars when he goeth to battle. The Achaians were glad, but the +Trojans trembled; and even the brave Hector felt his heart beat quicker in +his breast. But he would not shrink from the combat, seeing that he had +himself challenged all the Achaians. And Ajax came on, bearing a mighty +shield, like a tower, which Tychius, the cunning leather-worker, had made +for him, of sevenfold hides of lusty bulls, all overlaid with bronze. And +he stood near godlike Hector, and spake: "Now shalt thou see what manner +of men the Greeks have among them, even now when Achilles, the +lion-hearted, hath left us in his wrath. But do thou begin the fight!" + +And Hector answered him, "Great Ajax, son of Telamon, sprung from Zeus! +speak not to me as if I were a poor weak boy, or a woman! for I too have +knowledge of war and slaughter. I know how to charge into the midst of the +chariots, or, at close quarters, to join in the wild dance of Mars." He +said, and hurled his long-shafted spear, and struck the sevenfold shield +of Ajax; it passed through six folds, but was stopped by the seventh. + +Then Ajax, sprung from Zeus, threw his ponderous lance at the shield of +mighty Priam's son. It passed right through the bright shield, and through +the well-wrought corselet, and rent his tunic; but he swerved aside, and +escaped gloomy death. Then the two fell upon each other, like ravening +lions or wild boars; and Hector smote the shield of Ajax with his spear, +but the sharp point was turned by the stout buckler. Then Ajax leapt upon +him, and drove his spear at Hector's neck, making a wound from which the +dark blood flowed. + +But Hector, undismayed, took up a great stone from the ground, and with it +smote the boss of Ajax's shield. And Ajax heaved up a far bigger stone and +threw it on the buckler of Hector, and it fell on him like a huge +millstone, and stretched him on his back! But Apollo raised him, and set +him on his legs again. + +Then they would have furiously attacked each other with their swords, had +not the Achaian herald, Talthybius, and the Trojan herald, Idaius, +intervened and stopped the fight, holding their staves of office between +the godlike warriors; and Idaius spake to them: "Fight no longer, brave +youths; for Zeus loveth you both; and we know well what gallant warriors +ye are. Night is upon us, whose commands it behooveth us to obey." + +And the Telamonian Ajax answered, "Let Hector say those words; for it was +he who challenged us." + +And Hector of the shining helmet said, "Ajax, since thou hast received +strength and wisdom from the Gods, and dost excel all the Achaians in the +fight, let us now cease from battle for the day, and hereafter we will +fight again, until the Gods shall give victory to one of us. Go now, and +rejoice thy friends and kinsmen by the ships, and I will gladden the +hearts of Trojan men and long-robed dames in the holy city of King Priam. +But now let us exchange costly gifts, that Trojans and Achaians may say of +us that we, having met in this heart-gnawing strife, have parted like good +friends." He spake, and gave to Ajax a silver-studded sword; and Ajax gave +him a purple belt. So they parted, and went their way; the one to the +ships of the Achaians, and the other to the holy city of Troy. And the +Trojans rejoiced that Hector had escaped unhurt from the unapproachable +hands of mighty Ajax. + + + + +THE DEATH OF PATROCLUS AND THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER + +By Alfred J. Church + + +Patroclus came and stood by the side of Achilles weeping. Then said +Achilles, "What ails thee, Patroclus, that thou weepest like a girl-child +that runs along by her mother's side, and would be taken up, holding her +gown, and looking at her with tearful eyes till she lift her in her arms? +Hast thou heard evil news from Phthia? Menoetius yet lives, they say, and +Peleus. Or art thou weeping for the Greeks, because they perish for their +folly?" + +Then said Patroclus, "Be not wroth with me, great Achilles, for indeed the +Greeks are in grievous straits, and all their bravest are wounded, and +still thou cherishest thy wrath. Surely Peleus was not thy father, nor +Thetis thy mother; but the rocks begat thee, and the sea brought thee +forth. Or if thou goest not to battle, fearing some warning from the Gods, +yet let me go, and thy Myrmidons with me. And let me put thy armor on me; +so shall the Greeks have breathing-space from the war." + +So he spake, entreating, nor knew that for his own doom he entreated. And +Achilles made reply,-- + +"It is no warning that I heed, that I keep back from the war. But these +men took from me my prize, which I won with my own hands. But let the past +be past. I said I would not rise up till the battle should come nigh to my +own ships. But thou mayest put my armor upon thee, and lead my Myrmidons +to the fight. For in truth the men of Troy are gathered as a dark cloud +about the ships, and the Greeks have scarce standing-ground between them +and the sea. For they see not the gleam of my helmet. And Diomed is not +there with his spear; nor do I hear the voice of Agamemnon, but only the +voice of Hector as he calls the men of Troy to the battle. Go, therefore, +Patroclus, and drive the fire from the ships. And then come thou back, nor +fight any more with the Trojans, lest thou take my glory from me. And go +not near, in the delight of the battle, to the walls of Troy, lest one of +the Gods meet thee to thy hurt; and, of a truth, the keen Archer Apollo +loves the Trojans well." + +But as they talked the one to the other, Ajax could hold out no longer. +For swords and javelins came thick upon him, and clattered on his helmet, +and his shoulder was weary with the great shield which he held; and he +breathed heavily and hard, and the great drops of sweat fell upon the +ground. Then at the last Hector came near and smote his spear with a great +sword, so that the head fell off. Then was Ajax sore afraid, and gave way, +and the men of Troy set torches to the ship's stem, and a great flame shot +up to the sky. And Achilles saw it, and smote his thigh and spake:-- + +"Haste thee, Patroclus, for I see the fire rising up from the ships. Put +thou on the armor, and I will call my people to the war." So Patroclus put +on the armor--corselet, and shield, and helmet--and bound upon his +shoulder the silver-studded sword, and took a mighty spear in his hand. +But the great Pelian spear he took not, for that no man but Achilles might +wield. Then Automedon yoked the horses to the chariot, Bayard and Piebald, +and with them in the side harness, Pedasus; and they two were deathless +steeds, but he was mortal. + +Meanwhile Achilles had called the Myrmidons to battle. Fifty ships had he +brought to Troy, and in each there were fifty men. Five leaders they had, +and the bravest of the five was Pisander. + +Then Achilles said, "Forget not, ye Myrmidons, the bold words that ye +spake against the men of Troy during the days of my wrath, making +complaint that I kept you from the battle against your will. Now, +therefore, ye have that which you desired." + +So the Myrmidons went to the battle in close array, helmet to helmet, and +shield to shield, close as the stones with which a builder builds a wall. +And in front went Patroclus, and Automedon in the chariot beside him. Then +Achilles went to his tent and took a great cup from the chest, which +Thetis his mother had given him. Now no man drank of that cup but he only, +nor did he pour out of it libations to any of the Gods, but only to Zeus. +This first he cleansed with sulphur, and then with water from the spring. +And after this he washed his hands, and stood in the midst of the space +before his tent, and poured out of it to Zeus, saying, "O Zeus, I send my +comrade to this battle; make him strong and bold, and give him glory, and +bring him home safe to the ships, and my people with him." + +So he prayed, and Father Zeus heard him, and part he granted and part +denied. + +But now Patroclus with the Myrmidons had come to where the battle was +raging about the ship of Protesilaus, and when the men of Troy beheld him +they thought that Achilles had forgotten his wrath and was come forth to +the war. And first Patroclus slew Pyraechmes, who was the chief of the +Paeonians who live on the banks of the broad Axius. Then the men of Troy +turned to flee, and many chiefs of fame fell by the spears of the Greeks. +So the battle rolled back to the trench, and in the trench many chariots +of the Trojans were broken, but the horses of Achilles went across it at a +stride, so nimble were they and strong. And the heart of Patroclus was set +to slay Hector; but he could not overtake him, so swift were his horses. +Then did Patroclus turn his chariot, and keep back those that fled, that +they should not go to the city, and rushed hither and thither, still +slaying as he went. + +But Sarpedon, when he saw the Lycians dismayed and scattered, called to +them that they should be of good courage, saying that he would himself +make trial of this great warrior. So he leapt down from his chariot, and +Patroclus also leapt down, and they rushed at each other as two eagles +rush together. Then first Patroclus struck down Thrasymelus, who was the +comrade of Sarpedon; and Sarpedon, who had a spear in either hand, with +the one struck the horse Pedasus, which was of mortal breed, on the right +shoulder, and with the other missed his aim, sending it over the left +shoulder of Patroclus. But Patroclus missed not his aim, driving his spear +into Sarpedon's heart. Then fell the great Lycian chief, as an oak, or a +poplar, or a pine falls upon the hills before the axe. But he called to +Glaucus, his companion, saying, "Now must thou show thyself a good +warrior, Glaucus. First call the men of Lycia to fight for me, and do thou +fight thyself, for it would be foul shame to thee, all thy days, if the +Greeks should spoil me of my arms." + +Then he died. But Glaucus was sore troubled, for he could not help him, so +grievous was the wound where Teucer had wounded him. Therefore he prayed +to Apollo, and Apollo helped him and made him whole. Then he went first to +the Lycians, bidding them fight for their king, and then to the chiefs of +the Trojans, that they should save the body of Sarpedon. And to Hector he +said, "Little carest thou for thy allies. Lo! Sarpedon is dead, slain by +Patroclus. Suffer not the Myrmidons to carry him off and do dishonor to +his body." + +But Hector was troubled to hear such news, and so were all the sons of +Troy, for Sarpedon was the bravest of the allies, and led most people to +the battle. So with a great shout they charged, and drove the Greeks back +a space from the body; and then again the Greeks did the like. And so the +battle raged, till no one would have known the great Sarpedon, so covered +was he with spears and blood and dust. But at the last the Greeks drave +back the men of Troy from the body, and stripped the arms, but the body +itself they harmed not. For Apollo came down at the bidding of Zeus, and +carried it out of the midst of the battle, and washed it with water, and +anointed it with ambrosia, and wrapped it in garments of the Gods. And +then he gave it to Sleep and Death, and these two carried it to Lycia, his +fatherland. + +Then did Patroclus forget the word which Achilles had spoken to him, that +he should not go near to Troy, for he pursued the men of the city even to +the wall. Thrice he mounted on the angle of the wall, and thrice Apollo +himself drove him back, pushing his shining shield. But the fourth time +the god said, "Go thou back, Patroclus. It is not for thee to take the +city of Troy; no, nor for Achilles, who is far better than thou art." + +So Patroclus went back, fearing the wrath of the archer god. Then Apollo +stirred up the spirit of Hector, that he should go against Patroclus. +Therefore he went, with his brother Cebriones for driver of his chariot. +But when they came near, Patroclus cast a great stone which he had in his +hand, and smote Cebriones on the forehead, crushing it in, so that he fell +headlong from the chariot. And Patroclus mocked him, saying,-- + +"How nimble is this man! how lightly he dives! What spoil he would take of +oysters, diving from a ship, even in a stormy sea! Who would have thought +that there were such skillful divers in Troy!" + +Then again the battle waxed hot about the body of Cebriones, and this too, +at the last, the Greeks drew unto themselves, and spoiled it of the arms. +And this being accomplished, Patroclus rushed against the men of Troy. +Thrice he rushed, and each time he slew nine chiefs of fame. But the +fourth time Apollo stood behind him and struck him on the head and +shoulders, so that his eyes were darkened. And the helmet fell from off +his head, so that the horse-hair plumes were soiled with dust. Never +before had it touched the ground, for it was the helmet of Achilles. And +also the god brake the spear in his hand, and struck the shield from his +arms, and loosed his corselet. All amazed he stood, and then Euphorbus, +son of Panthous, smote him on the back with his spear, but slew him not. +Then Patroclus sought to flee to the ranks of his comrades. But Hector saw +him, and thrust at him with his spear, smiting him in the groin, so that +he fell. And when the Greeks saw him fall, they sent up a terrible cry. +Then Hector stood over him and cried,-- + +"Didst thou think to spoil our city, Patroclus, and to carry away our +wives and daughters in the ships? But lo! I have slain thee, and the fowls +of the air shall eat thy flesh; nor shall the great Achilles help thee at +all,--Achilles, who bade thee, I trow, strip the tunic from my breast, and +thou thoughtest in thy folly to do it." + +But Patroclus answered, "Thou boasteth much, Hector. Yet _thou_ didst not +slay me, but Apollo, who took from me my arms, for had twenty such as thou +met me, I had slain them all. And mark thou this: death and fate are close +to thee by the hand of the great Achilles." + +And Hector answered, but Patroclus was dead already, "Why dost thou +prophesy death to me? Maybe the great Achilles himself shall fall by my +hand." Then he drew his spear from the wound, and went after Automedon, to +slay him, but the swift horse of Achilles carried him away. + +Fierce was the fight about the body of Patroclus, and many heroes fell, +both on this side and on that. + +[Illustration: FIERCE WAS THE FIGHT ABOUT THE BODY OF PATROCLUS AND MANY +HEROES FELL] + +Meanwhile Antilochus, son of Nestor, ran to Achilles and said, "I bring +ill news; Patroclus lies low. The Greeks fight for his body, but Hector +hath his arms." + +Then Achilles took of the dust of the plain in his hand, and poured it on +his head, and lay at his length upon the ground, and tare his hair. And +all the women wailed. And Antilochus sat weeping; but ever he held the +hands of Achilles, lest he should slay himself in his great grief. + +Then came his mother, hearing his cry, from where she sat in the depths of +the sea, and laid her hand on him and said,-- + +"Why weepest thou, my son? Hide not the matter from me, but tell me." + +And Achilles answered, "All that Zeus promised thee for me he hath +fulfilled. But what profit have I, for my friend Patroclus is dead, and +Hector has the arms which I gave him to wear. And as for me, I care not to +live, except I can avenge me upon him." + +Then said Thetis, "Nay, my son, speak not thus. For when Hector dieth, thy +doom also is near." + +And Achilles spake in great wrath: "Would that I might die this hour, +seeing that I could not help my friend, but am a burden on the earth,--I, +who am better in battle than all the Greeks besides. Cursed be the wrath +that sets men to strive the one with the other, even as it set me to +strive with King Agamemnon! But let the past be past. And as for my +fate--let it come when it may, so that I first avenge myself on Hector. +Wherefore, seek not to keep me back from the battle." + +Then Thetis said, "Be it so; only thou canst not go without thy arms which +Hector hath. But to-morrow will I go to Vulcan, that he may furnish thee +anew." + +But while they talked the men of Troy pressed the Greeks more and more, +and the two heroes, Ajax the Greater and Ajax the Less, could no longer +keep Hector back, but that he should lay hold of the body of Patroclus. +And indeed he would have taken it, but that Zeus sent Iris to Achilles, +who said,-- + +"Rouse thee, son of Peleus, or Patroclus will be a prey for the dogs of +Troy." + +But Achilles said, "How shall I go?--for arms have I none, nor know I +whose I might wear. Haply I could shift with the shield of Ajax, son of +Telamon, but he, I know, is carrying it in the front of the battle." + +Then answered Iris, "Go only to the trench and show thyself; so shall the +men of Troy tremble and cease from the battle, and the Greeks shall have +breathing-space." + +So he went, and Athene put her aegis about his mighty shoulders, and a +golden halo about his head, making it shine as a flame of fire, even as +the watch-fires shine at night from some city that is beseiged. Then went +he to the trench; with the battle he mingled not, heeding his mother's +commands, but he shouted aloud, and his voice was as the sound of a +trumpet. And when the men of Troy heard, they were stricken with fear, and +the horses backed with the chariots, and the drivers were astonished when +they saw the flaming fire above his head which Athene had kindled. Thrice +across the trench the great Achilles shouted, and thrice the men of Troy +fell back. And that hour there perished twelve chiefs of fame, wounded by +their own spears or trampled by their own steeds, so great was the terror +among the men of Troy. + +Right gladly did the Greeks take Patroclus out of the press. Then they +laid him on a bier, and carried him to the tent, Achilles walking with +many tears by his side. + +But on the other side the men of Troy held an assembly. Standing they held +it, for none dared to sit, lest Achilles should be upon them. + +Then spake Polydamas: "Let us not wait here for the morning. It was well +for us to fight at the ships while Achilles yet kept his wrath against +Agamemnon. But now it is not so, for to-morrow he will come against us in +his anger, and many will fall before him. Wherefore, let us go back to the +city, for high are the walls and strong the gates, and he will perish +before he pass them." + +Then said Hector, "This is ill counsel, Polydamas. Shall we shut ourselves +up in the city, where all our goods are wasted already, buying meat for +the people? Nay, let us watch to-night, and to-morrow will we fight with +the Greeks. And if Achilles be indeed come forth from his tent, be it so. +I will not shun to meet him, for Mars gives the victory now to one man and +now to another." + +So he spake, and all the people applauded, not knowing what the morrow +should bring forth. + +Thus did it come to pass that Achilles went again into the battle, eager +above all things to meet with Hector and to slay him. + +But Apollo stood by AEneas, and spake to him: "AEneas, where are now thy +boastings that thou wouldst meet Achilles face to face?" + +Then AEneas answered, "Nay, I have stood up against him in the day when he +took the town of Lyrnessus. But I fled before him, and only my nimble feet +saved me from falling by his spear. Surely a god is ever with him, making +his spear to fly aright." + +Him Apollo answered again, "Thou, too, art the son of a goddess, and thy +mother is greater than his, for she is but a daughter of the sea. Drive +straight at him with thy spear, and let not his threats dismay thee." + +Then AEneas stood out from the press to meet Achilles and Achilles said, +"Fightest thou with me because thou hopest to reign over the men of Troy, +or have they given thee a choice portion of ground, ploughland and +orchard, to be thine when thou hast slain me? Thou wilt not find it easy. +Dost thou not remember how thou fleddest before me in the day that I took +Lyrnessus?" + +Then AEneas answered, "Think not to terrify me with words, son of Peleus, +for I, too, am the son of a goddess. Let us make a trial one of the +other." + +Then he cast his spear, and it struck the shield of Achilles with so +dreadful a sound that the hero feared lest it should pierce it through, +knowing not that the gifts of the Gods are not easy for mortal man to +vanquish. Two folds, indeed, it pierced, that were of bronze, but in the +gold it was stayed, and there were yet two of tin within. Then Achilles +cast his spear. Through the shield of AEneas it passed, and though it +wounded him not, yet was he sore dismayed, so near it came. Then Achilles +drew his sword, and rushed on AEneas, and AEneas caught up a great stone to +cast at him. But it was not the will of the Gods that AEneas should perish, +seeing that he and his sons after him should rule over the men of Troy in +the ages to come. Therefore Neptune lifted him up, and bore him over the +ranks of men to the left of the battle, but first he drew the spear out of +the shield, and laid it at the feet of Achilles. Much the hero marveled to +see it, crying, "This is a great wonder that I behold with mine eyes. For +I see my spear before me, but the man whom I sought to slay, I see not. Of +a truth AEneas spake truth, saying that he was dear to the immortal Gods." + +Then he rushed into the battle, slaying as he went. And Hector would have +met him, but Apollo stood by him and said, "Fight not with Achilles, lest +he slay thee." Therefore he went back among the men of Troy. Many did +Achilles slay, and among them Polydorus, son of Priam, who, because he was +the youngest and very dear, his father suffered not to go to the battle. +Yet he went, in his folly, and being very swift of foot, he trusted in his +speed, running through the foremost of the fighters. But as he ran +Achilles smote him and wounded him to the death. When Hector saw it, he +could not bear any more to stand apart. Therefore he rushed at Achilles, +and Achilles rejoiced to see him, saying, "This is the man who slew my +comrade;" and to Hector he cried, "Come hither, and taste of death." + +And Hector made answer, "Son of Peleus, seek not to make me afraid with +words. For though I be weaker than thou, yet victory lieth on the knees of +the Gods, and I, too, bear a spear." + +Then he cast his spear, but Athene turned it aside with her breath, and +laid it again at his feet. And when Achilles leapt upon Hector with a +shout, Apollo snatched him away. Three times did Achilles leap upon him, +and three times he struck only the mist. But the fourth time he cried with +a terrible voice, "Dog, thou hast escaped from death, Apollo helping thee; +but I shall meet thee again, and make an end of thee." + +Then Achilles turned to the others, and slew multitudes of them, so that +they fled, some across the plain, and some to the river, the eddying +Xanthus. And these leapt into the water as locusts leap into a river when +a fire which men light drives them from the fields. And all the river was +full of horses and men. Then Achilles leapt into the stream, leaving his +spear on the bank, resting on the tamarisk trees. Only his sword had he, +and with this he slew many; and they were as fishes which fly from some +great dolphin in the sea. In all the bays of a harbor they hide +themselves, for the great beast devours them apace. So did the Trojans +hide themselves under the banks of the river. And when Achilles was weary +of slaying, he took twelve alive, whom he would slay on the tomb of +Patroclus. + +Yet there was one man who dared to stand up against him, while the others +fled. This was Asteropaeus, who was the grandson of the river-god Axius, +and led the men of Paeonia. And Achilles wondered to see him, and said, +"Who art thou that standest against me?" + +And he said, "I am the grandson of the river-god Axius, fairest of all the +streams on the earth, and I lead the men of Paeonia." + +And as he spake he cast two spears, one with each hand, for he could use +either alike; and the one struck the shield, nor pierced it through, for +the gold staved it, and the other grazed the right hand of Achilles so +that the blood spurted forth. Then did Achilles cast his spear, but missed +his aim, and the great spear stood fast in the bank. And thrice Asteropaeus +strove to draw it forth. Thrice he strove in vain, and the fourth time he +strove to break the spear. But as he strove Achilles smote him that he +died. Yet had he some glory, for that he wounded the great Achilles. + +When the River saw that Asteropaeus was dead, and that Achilles was slaying +many of the Paeonians--for these were troubled, their chief being dead--he +took upon him the shape of a man, and spake to Achilles, saying, "Truly, +Achilles, thou excellest all other men in might and deeds of blood, for +the Gods themselves protect thee. It may be that Zeus hath given thee to +slay all the sons of Troy; nevertheless, depart from me and work thy will +upon the plain; for my stream is choked with the multitude of corpses, nor +can I pass to the sea. Do thou, therefore, cease from troubling me." + +To him Achilles made answer, "This shall be as thou wilt, O Scamander. But +the Trojans I will not cease from slaying till I have driven them into +their city and have made trial of Hector, whether I shall vanquish him or +he shall vanquish me." + +And as he spake he sped on, pursuing the Trojans. Then the River cried to +Apollo, "Little thou doest the will of thy father, thou of the Silver Bow, +who bade thee stand by the men of Troy and help them till darkness should +cover the land." And he rushed on with a great wave, stirring together all +his streams. The dead bodies he threw upon the shore, roaring as a bull +roareth; and them that lived he hid in the depths of his eddies. And all +about Achilles rose up the flood, beating full upon his shield, so that he +could not stand fast upon his feet. Then Achilles laid hold of a +lime-tree, fair and tall, that grew upon the bank; but the tree brake +therefrom with all its roots, and tare down the bank, and lay across the +River, staying its flood, for it had many branches. Thereupon Achilles +leapt out of the water and sped across the plain, being sore afraid. But +the River ceased not from pursuing him, that he might stay him from +slaughter and save the sons of Troy. So far as a man may throw a spear, so +far did Achilles leap; strong as an eagle was he, the hunting-bird that is +the strongest and swiftest of all birds. And still as he fled the River +pursued after him with a great roar. Even as it is with a man that would +water his garden, bringing a stream from a fountain; he has a pick-axe in +his hand to break down all that would stay the water; and the stream runs +on, rolling the pebbles along with it, and overtakes him that guides it. +Even so did the River overtake Achilles, for all that he was swift of +foot, for indeed the Gods are mightier than men. And when Achilles would +have stood against the River, seeking to know whether indeed all the Gods +were against him, then the great wave smote upon his shoulders; and when +he leapt into the air, it bowed his knees beneath him and devoured the +ground from under his feet. Then Achilles looked up to heaven and groaned, +crying out, "O Zeus, will none of the Gods pity me, and save me from the +River? I care not what else may befall me. Truly my mother hath deceived +me, saying that I should perish under the walls of Troy by the arrows of +Apollo. Surely it had been better that Hector should slay me, for he is +the bravest of the men of Troy, but now I shall perish miserably in the +River, as some herd-boy perisheth whom a torrent sweeps away in a storm." + +So he spake; but Poseidon and Athene stood by him, having taken upon them +the shape of men, and took him by the hand and strengthened him with +comforting words, for Poseidon spake, saying, "Son of Peleus, tremble not, +neither be afraid. It is not thy fate to be mastered by the River. He +shall soon cease from troubling thee. And do thou heed what we say. Stay +not thy hands from the battle, till thou shalt have driven all the sons of +Troy that escape thee within the walls of the city. And when thou shalt +have slain Hector, go back to the ships; for this day is the day of thy +glory." + +Then the two departed from him. Now all the plain was covered with water, +wherein floated much fair armor and many dead bodies. But Achilles went on +even against the stream, nor could the River hold him back; for Athene put +great might into his heart. Yet did not Scamander cease from his wrath, +but lifted his waves yet higher, and cried aloud to Simois, "Dear brother, +let us two stay the fury of this man, or else of a surety he will destroy +the city of Priam. Come now, fill all thy streams and rouse thy torrents +against him, and lift up against him a mighty wave with a great concourse +of tree-trunks and stones, that we may stay this wild man from his +fighting. Very high thoughts hath he, even as a god; yet shall neither his +might nor his beauty nor his fair form profit him; for they shall be +covered with much mud; and over himself will I heap abundance of sand +beyond all counting. Neither shall the Greeks be able to gather his bones +together, with such a heap will I hide them. Surely a great tomb will I +build for him; nor will his people have need to make a mound over him when +they would bury him." + +Then he rushed again upon Achilles, swelling high with foam and blood and +dead bodies of men. Very dark was the wave as it rose, and was like to +have overwhelmed the man, so that Juno greatly feared for him, lest the +River should sweep him away. And she cried to Vulcan, her son, saying, +"Rouse thee, Haltfoot, my son! I thought that thou wouldst have been a +match for Scamander in battle. But come, help us, and bring much fire with +thee; and I will call the west wind and the south wind from the sea, with +such a storm as shall consume the sons of Troy, both them and their arms. +And do thou burn the trees that are by the banks of Xanthus, yea, and the +River himself. And let him not turn thee from thy purpose by fury or by +craft; but burn till I shall bid thee cease." + +Then Vulcan lit a great fire. First he burned the dead bodies that lay +upon the plain, and it dried all the plain, as the north wind in the +autumn time dries a field, to the joy of him that tills it. After this it +laid hold of the River. The lime-trees and the willows and the tamarisks +it burned; also the plants that grew in the streams. And the eels and the +fishes were sore distressed, twisting hither and thither in the water, +being troubled by the breath of Vulcan. So the might of the River was +subdued, and he cried aloud, "O Vulcan, no one of the Gods can match +himself with thee. Cease now from consuming me; and Achilles may drive the +men of Troy from their city if he will. What have I to do with the strife +and sorrow of men?" + +So he spake, for all his streams were boiling--as a cauldron boils with a +great fire beneath it, when a man would melt the fat of a great hog; nor +could he flow any longer to the sea, so sorely did the breath of the +Fire-god trouble him. Then he cried aloud to Juno, entreating her: "O +Juno, why doth thy son torment me only among all? Why should I be blamed +more than others that help the men of Troy? Verily, I will cease from +helping them, if he also will cease. Nay, I will swear a great oath that I +will keep no more the day of doom from the sons of Troy; no, not when all +the city shall be consumed with fire." + +And Queen Juno heard him, and called to Vulcan, saying, "Cease, my son; it +doth not beseem thee to work such damage to a god for the sake of a mortal +man." + +So Vulcan quenched his fire, and the River flowed as he flowed before. + + + + +VULCAN MAKES ARMOR FOR ACHILLES + +By Walter C. Perry + + +On high Olympus, the Loud-thundering Zeus spake mockingly to his consort, +Juno, and said, "At length, thou hast what thou desirest, and hast roused +Achilles to fight against the Trojans. Surely, the long-haired Achaians +must be thine own children, since thou lovest them so dearly!" + +And the ox-eyed queen replied, "Dread son of Cronos! what words are these +which have passed the barrier of thy teeth? Even a mortal man doth what he +can to help another; and shall not I, the chief of goddesses by birth and +as thy wife--O thou king of the deathless Gods!--shall not _I_ avenge +myself upon the men of Troy?" + +Thus these two strove with one another. + +Meantime, the silver-footed Thetis came to the splendid palace of Vulcan, +bright and immortal, which shone like a star among the mansions of the +Gods. She found him at his bellows, sweating from his mighty toil; for he +was forging twenty tripods, to stand round the walls of his well-built +mansion. Beneath each of them he placed wheels of gold; and they move, of +themselves, into the assembly of the Gods, and so return. + +While he was thus employed, the silver-footed Thetis approached the house. +And Charis, of the shining veil, the wedded wife of Vulcan (whose first +wife had been Aphrodite or Venus), came forth to meet her, and took her by +the hand, and called her by her name. "O long-robed Thetis! dear and +honored as thou art! not oft, I ween, dost thou come to visit us. But +follow me, that I may show thee due hospitality." + +Then she led the way in, and seated Thetis on a lofty chair with silver +studs, beautiful, and cunningly wrought, and placed a footstool beneath +her shining feet. And she called to Vulcan, the divine artificer, "Come +hither, Vulcan! for the silver-footed Thetis seeketh thine aid." + +And the glorious lame god answered, "Revered and dear to me is she; for +she saved me, when my shameless mother threw me down from heaven; and I +should have suffered dire anguish had not Eurynome, daughter of Oceanos, +and Thetis taken me to their hearts and comforted me. Nine years I spent +with them, and fashioned all kinds of curious work of bronze--clasps, and +spiral bracelets, and ear-rings, like the calyx of a flower, and +necklaces--in the hollow grot, while all around me roared the streams of +great Oceanus. And none of the other Gods knew where I was, but only +Thetis and Eurynome. And now that she is come, a welcome guest, to my +house, I will repay the fair-haired nymph in every way, for saving my +life." + +So saying, he raised his mighty bulk from the block, and, limping on his +slender legs, moved quickly; and he put away his bellows, and placed his +tools in a silver chest, and sponged his face and hands, his strong neck +and hairy breast; then he donned his tunic, and leaning on a staff, he +limped along. And golden handmaids, in the form of living maidens, came to +help their lord; these have intelligent minds, and human voices, and skill +from the deathless Gods. And he went with halting gait, and seated himself +on a shining throne, near the silver-footed Thetis; and he took her by the +hand, and said to her, "O dear and honored Thetis of the flowing robes! +why comest thou to our house, thou, an infrequent guest?" + +Then the silver-footed goddess answered him, "O Vulcan! hath Zeus, the son +of Cronos, laid on any other goddess in Olympus such grievous woes as on +_me_, unhappy that I am? He chose out me, from all the sea nymphs, to +endure marriage with a mortal. A son I bare, the greatest of heroes. I +brought him up, like a young tree in a fruitful soil, and sent him in a +high-peaked ship to war against the Trojans; but never again will he +return to me, in the halls of his aged father Peleus. And even while I yet +see him, and he beholdeth the light of the sun, he is full of grief, and I +cannot help him. For King Agamemnon took away his prize, the dearly loved +maiden Briseis. For the loss of her, he pined and wept; nor would he allow +his Myrmidons to join in the battle, though the Achaians were hard pressed +and driven to their ships. The chiefs of the Argives came to him with +prayers and tears, and many costly gifts. And though he refused himself to +rescue them, he suffered Patroclus to put on his divine armor, and sent +many of the Myrmidons with him to the battle. And the son of Menoetius +performed high deeds of valor, and went near to sack the city. But the +Far-Darting Apollo and glorious Hector slew him, and gained immortal +glory. And now, I come as a suppliant, to clasp thy knees, and to pray +that thou wouldst give my short-lived son a shield, a helmet, a +breastplate, and goodly greaves." + +Then the lame god, the famous artificer, replied, "Be of good cheer, O +silver-footed Queen, and be not troubled about these things! Would that I +could as surely save him from mournful death, as that I will supply him +with goodly armor, a wonder to behold!" + +And he returned to his workshop, and bade his bellows--there were twenty +of them--blow the blasts on the fire and prepare the earthen moulds; and +as Vulcan willed, the work was done. He melted the tough bronze and tin, +the gold and silver, with the fire; and placed an anvil and took a strong +hammer in one hand, and tongs in the other, and with these he worked. + +First, he made the shield, broad and strong, with many decorations. Around +it he placed a triple bright rim, and a silver strap depended from it. The +shield itself was formed with five zones, in each of which he fashioned +many curious works. + +Therein he fashioned the Earth, the Sky, the Sea, the unwearied Sun, the +Moon at the full, and all the bright luminaries which crown the azure +firmament: the Pleiades, daughters of Atlas, the Hyades, the mighty Orion, +and, turning about to watch Orion, the Bear, which alone of all the stars +bathes not in the streams of Oceanus. + +Also, on the shield, he sculptured two fair cities of articulate-speaking +men. In one of these were wedding-festivals; and, with a blaze of +torchlight, the brides were conducted from their chambers along the +streets; while the hymeneal song was loud, and the youths whirled round +and round in the giddy dance, to the music of flute and harp; while the +women stood at their doors, watching and admiring. In that city he also +fashioned an assembly of the people, in which a contention had arisen, +about the blood-fine or "were-geld" for a murdered man; the people, with +noisy shouts, cheered, on either side; but the heralds stilled the tumult, +holding their staves of office in their hands; and then the judges rose +up, to pronounce their verdict. + +Around the other city lay two armies besieging it, with flashing arms. Two +plans were considered: either to destroy the town, or to divide the wealth +thereof with its citizens. But the beleaguered garrison had not yet +yielded, but armed themselves and set an ambush. Their dear wives and +children, and the old men, stood on the walls to defend it, while the +strong men went forth to fight. And they were led by Mars and Athene, +whose forms were fashioned in gold, with golden raiment; and, as gods, he +made them larger and more beautiful than the mortals around them. + +The men in ambush set upon the herdsmen who were driving oxen to the +watering-place of the army, and making music with their pipes. They +carried off the cattle; but the besiegers, as they sat before the rostra, +heard the lowing of the oxen and drove up, with their high-stepping +horses, to repel the raid. Then a fierce conflict arose; and in it were +seen Strife, and Uproar, and Dire Fate; like living warriors, they rushed +on one another, and haled away the dead whom they slew. + +In another part of the shield, he represented a rich, deep-soiled, fallow +field, thrice ploughed; and when the ploughers came to the end of the +furrow, a man would give to each of them a goblet of sweet wine. And the +ploughed ground grew black behind them, like real soil, although it was of +gold. Then there, too, was a rich field of corn, where reapers were +cutting the harvest with their sickles and it fell in rows; and others +were binding it with bands of straw; while the lord looked on, and was +glad at heart. And under a spreading oak a feast was being made ready for +the reapers. + +And he fashioned therein a vineyard, rich with clusters of black grapes, +which the youths and maidens, in their glee, carried in baskets; while a +boy, in their midst, made sweet music on a clear-sounding harp; and he +sang the "Song of Linos," and the rest kept time with their feet. + +And there was a herd of straight-horned oxen, all of gold and tin, +hurrying to the pasture beside the gently murmuring stream and the waving +rushes. Four herdsmen, of gold, followed them, and nine fleet dogs. And +two terrible lions seized a bellowing bull. The herdsmen followed, but +they could not set on their dogs to bite the lions, for the dogs shrank +back, barking and whining, and turned away. + +And therein the glorious divine artist placed a wide pasture full of white +sheep, with folds and tents and huts. And he made a dancing-ground, like +that which Daedalus wrought at Gnosos for lovely fair-haired Ariadne. +There, lusty youths in shining tunics glistening with oil, danced with +fair maidens of costly wooing. The maidens had wreaths of flowers upon +their heads; and the youths wore daggers banging from silver sword-belts. +They whirled round, with lightly tripping feet, swift as the potter's +wheel, holding each other by the wrist; and then they ran, in lines, to +meet each other. A crowd of friends stood round and joyfully watched the +dance, and a divine minstrel made sweet music with his harp, while a pair +of tumblers diverted the crowd. + +Lastly, around the margin of the shield, Vulcan made the stream of the +mighty river Oceanus, which encircleth the earth. + +And when he had finished this strong and splendid shield, he wrought the +breastplate, glowing with blazing fire; and he made a heavy helmet for the +head, beautiful, and adorned with curious art; upon it was a crest of +gold. But the goodly greaves he made of flexible tin. When he had +completed the whole suit of glorious armor, he laid it before the +silver-footed Thetis, the mother of Achilles; and she darted, swift as a +hawk, from snowy Olympus, bearing the brightly glittering arms to her dear +son. + + + + +THE SLAYING OF HECTOR + +By Walter C. Perry + + +Meantime, Achilles went on slaughtering the Trojans; and the aged Priam +stood on the sacred tower, and saw the son of Peleus driving the Trojans +before him. And he shouted aloud to the brave warders of the gates, "Open +the gates, that the fugitives may enter!" And the Far-Darter went to the +front, to save the Trojans who were fleeing to the sheltering walls, with +Achilles behind them in hot pursuit. + +Then would the Achaians have stormed the lofty gates of Troy, had not +Phoebus Apollo roused Agenor, a brave and noble prince, son of Antenor. +Apollo stood by this man's side, leaning on an oak, and shrouded in mist, +and put courage into his heart, that he might ward off fate from the +Trojans. And when Agenor saw Achilles, he stood irresolute, and said to +his mighty heart, "If I too flee before Achilles, he will catch me and +slay me as a coward. Or shall I fly by another way, and hide me in the +spurs of Ida? How, then, if I go forth to meet him? for his flesh, too, +may surely be pierced by the keen bronze, and he has but one life, like +other mortals." + +And his heart grew strong within him, to stay and fight. And he cried out +aloud to Achilles, "Surely, thou thinkest this very day to sack the proud +city of Troy? Fool! many terrible things will happen before _that_; for +there are many of us--many and brave--to protect our dear parents and +wives and little children, and to guard holy Ilium. Thou, too, perhaps, +mighty as thou art, mayest here meet death." + +He spake and hurled a spear at Achilles with his strong hand. And it smote +him below the knee, and the tin-wrought greave rang loudly; but the stout +spear bounded off, for it could not pierce the work of Vulcan. + +Then Achilles rushed on godlike Agenor; but him Apollo caught in a mist, +and carried him safely out of the fray. And the god took the form of +Agenor, and ran a little way before Achilles, towards the deep-flowing +Scamander. And while Apollo thus deceived the mighty son of Peleus, the +routed Trojans ran, well pleased, to their stronghold, and the great city +was filled with their multitude. + +Then as he ran before Achilles, the mighty Far-Darter addressed him, and +spake: "O son of Peleus! why dost thou, being a mortal man, pursue _me_ +with thy swift feet, who am a deathless god?" Then, in wrath, the son of +Peleus answered him: "Thou hast blinded me, most mischievous of all the +Gods! and lured me away from the walls; else would many a Trojan have +fallen, or ever he had reached the city." He then went towards the city, +with a proud heart, like a war-horse victorious in a chariot race; and the +aged Priam saw him, blazing like the star in autumn brightest of all, +which men call "Orion's Dog," that bringeth fever upon wretched mortals. + +And the old man cried aloud, in his agony, and beat his head with his +fists, and called in a piercing voice to his dear son Hector. For the +brave hero, when all the others had escaped into the city, remained alone +at the Scaean Gate eager to fight with Achilles. And his wretched father +stretched forth his withered hands, and pleaded piteously to his son:-- + +"Hector! dear Hector! do not meet this terrible man alone, for he is far +mightier than thou, and knoweth no pity. Already hath he robbed me of many +a brave son; and now I no longer see two of my children, Lycaon and the +goodly Polydorus, whom Laothoe, princess among women, bare to me. But the +death of others will cause us briefer grief, if thou, dear Hector, art not +slain. Come, then, within the walls, and save the men and women of Troy! +And have pity on me, too, to whom the son of Cronos hath allotted a +terrible doom in my old age--to see my brave sons dragged away, and my +fair daughters carried off, as captives, by the cruel hands of the +Achaians. Last of all, I too shall be torn, on my own threshold, by +ravenous dogs--even the dogs which I myself have reared with food from my +table, to guard my house. They will tear my flesh and drink my blood! It +may well become a _young_ man to lie slain on the field, for he is highly +honored in his death; but when dogs defile an old man's head and beard, +this is the most lamentable thing that befalleth wretched mortals." + +And the old man tore his hair in his sore agony; but even he prevailed not +with the soul of Hector. And then his dear mother, Hecuba, took up the +plaint and spake through her piteous tears. + +"Hector! my child! have respect to the mother who bare thee and nursed +thee on this bosom! Pity _me_! and fight the foe from this side of the +wall! For if he slay thee, not on a funeral bed shall I, and thy dear +wife, won by so many gifts, deplore thee; but the swift dogs shall devour +thee, far away from us, by the black ships of the Argives." + +Thus wailed they over their glorious son, beseeching him; but they could +not prevail, for honor held him fast. Meanwhile, Achilles drew nigh, in +strength like a giant; but Hector awaited him undismayed, leaning his +shield against the tower. And he communed thus with his brave soul: "Alas, +if I go through the gates, Polydamas will justly blame me; for he gave me +good advice--that I should lead the host into the city on that fatal +night, when the noble Achilles returned to the war. And I would not +hearken to him, although he counseled well. And now that I have brought +this evil on the city by my folly, I am ashamed to appear before the men, +and the proud dames with trailing robes, lest some one should taunt me and +say, 'Hector in his pride hath ruined us.' Better then would it be for me +to meet Achilles, and either slay him or fall with glory before the city. +Or how would it be if I should lay aside all my arms, and go to meet the +son of Peleus, and offer to restore Argive Helen and all her possessions +to Menelaus and Agamemnon, and to divide the wealth of Troy with the +Achaians? But no! I might come to him unarmed, but he is merciless, and +would slay me on the spot, as if I were a woman. But why do I hesitate? +This is no time to hold dalliance with him, from oak or rock, like youths +and maidens. Better to fight at once, and see to whom Olympian Zeus will +give the victory!" + +While he thus pondered, Achilles, peer of Mars, came on, poising his +terrible spear of Pelian ash; and his divine armor, the work of a god, +blazed like fire or the rising sun. And when Hector saw him he was seized +with panic, and he fled from the gates in terror. + +But Achilles, swift of foot, rushed after him. As a falcon, swiftest of +all birds, swoops upon the trembling dove, and takes no heed of her +piteous screaming, so Achilles flew straight at Hector. And pursuer and +pursued passed by the guard and the wild fig-tree, the sport of the winds, +and came to the two springs of water, which feed the deep-whirling +Scamander. Brave was he who fled, but mightier far was he who chased him +on his swift feet; and they were racing not for some prize in the games, +but for the life of the noble horse-taming Hector. And like horses in the +race for a great prize--a tripod or a woman--so the twain ran thrice round +the sacred city of King Priam; and all the Gods were looking on. + +And Zeus, the great father of Gods and men, spake first: "Alas! I see a +man whom I love above all others chased round the walls of Troy. Come now, +let us take some counsel, whether to save him or leave him to be slain by +the son of Peleus." + +And the fierce-eyed Athene answered him, "O thou great Lord of the +Lightning, Cloud-girt King! what a word hast thou spoken! Wouldst thou +indeed save a mortal long ago doomed by Fate? Do as thou pleasest; but we +Gods shall not praise thee." + +And her great father, the Cloud-Gatherer, answered with gentle words, "O +Trito-born, my dear child! be of good cheer. I spake not in earnest, and +would fain please thee. Do as seemeth good to thee." And Athene, full of +joy, sped down from high Olympus. + +Achilles, with all speed, was chasing the noble Hector, as the dogs hunt +the fawn of a deer through dale and woodland; and though the fawn hideth +behind a bush, they follow by the scent until they find it; so Hector +could not escape from the swift-footed son of Peleus. Often did Hector +rush along the strong walls, in hopes that the Trojans within might succor +him from above with their arrows. But Achilles gained on him and turned +him into the plain again. + +And so, though Hector failed in his flight and Achilles in his pursuit, +yet might Hector have escaped his doom, had not this been the last time +that Apollo the Far-Darter came nigh to him, to nerve his heart and his +swift knees. Achilles had made a sign to his comrades, and forbade them to +launch their darts against the noble Hector, lest one of them should gain +high honor, and he come only second. And when they had, for the fourth +time, run round the walls and reached the springs, then Zeus, the Great +Father, raised his golden scales, and placed in each the lot of gloomy +death,--one for Hector, and the other for Achilles. And he held the scales +by the middle, and poised them; and the noble Hector's scale sank down to +Hades; and Phoebus Apollo left him. + +But the fierce-eyed goddess Athene came near to Achilles and spake winged +words: "Now, at last, O godlike Achilles! shall we twain carry off great +glory to the Achaian ships! He cannot now escape us, though the Far-Darter +should grovel at the feet of Zeus with fruitless prayers. But do thou stay +and recover thy breath; and I will go and persuade Hector to stand up +against thee in fight." And he gladly obeyed her voice, and stood leaning +on his ashen spear. + +And she, Athene, came to noble Hector in the likeness of his brother +Deiphobus, and spake to him: "Dear Lord and elder Brother, surely the +fleet-footed son of Peleus hath done great violence against thee, chasing +thee round the walls! But let us twain make a stand against him!" + +And the great Hector answered, "Deiphobus, thou wert ever the dearest of +my brothers; now I honor thee still more, because thou hast dared to come +out from behind the walls to aid me, while others skulk within." + +The fierce-eyed goddess, as Deiphobus, spake again: "It is true that my +father, and my queenly mother, and all my comrades, besought me to stay +with them, so greatly do they fear the mighty son of Peleus; but my heart +was sore for thee, dear brother! But let us fight amain, and see whether +he will carry our spoils to his ships, or fall beneath thy spear!" And so, +with her cunning words, she led him on to death. + +And when he and Achilles were come near to each other, the noble Hector +spake: "O mighty Achilles, thrice did I flee before thee round the great +city of Priam, and dared not await thy onslaught. But now I will stand up +against thee, to slay or to be slain. But come, let us make a covenant +with one another, and call the Gods, the best guardians of oaths, to +witness. If Zeus grant me to take thy life, and despoil thee of thy divine +armor, then will I give back thy body to the warlike Achaians; and do thou +the same by me!" + +And Achilles, with a malignant scowl, replied, "Speak not to me of +covenants! There is no covenant between men and lions, or between wolves +and sheep, but only eternal war. And there can be no pledge of faith +between us twain, until one of us hath sated the murderous Mars with his +blood. Therefore, show thyself a good spearman and a brave man of war! +There is no escape for thee; for Pallas Athene hath delivered thee into my +hands." + +He spake, and cast his long-shafted spear at Hector. But Hector stooped, +and the strong bronze spear flew over his head; but Athene picked it up, +unknown to Hector, and gave it back to Achilles. Then Hector, rejoicing, +spake to the son of Peleus: "Thou hast missed! Nor dost thou surely know +the day of my doom, as thou pretendest. Thou shalt not plant thy spear in +my back, as I flee before thee; but in my breast, if the Gods allow it. +But now, in thy turn, avoid _my_ spear!" So spake he, and smote the middle +of Achilles' shield with his long-shafted spear, but it bounded back from +the shield. Then Hector was dismayed, for he had no second spear to throw. +And he called aloud to his brother, Deiphobus; but no answer came, for +_he_ was far away. Then Hector knew that he was betrayed, and that Athene +had deceived him, in the likeness of his brother. "Now," he cried, "is +Death come near me, and there is no way of escape! This is the will of +Zeus and of the Far-Darter, who once were wont to succor me. But I will +not die ingloriously, but yet perform some notable deed of arms." + +He said, and, with his sharp sword, swooped down upon Achilles. But +Achilles rushed at him, wild with fury, brandishing his spear, with evil +intent against noble Hector, and eyed him over, to see where he might +pierce his flesh most easily. The rest of Hector's body was protected by +the splendid armor which he had stripped from the body of Patroclus; but +there was one chink, between the collar-bone and the throat, through which +Achilles thrust his spear. Yet it cut not the windpipe; and Hector was +able to speak faint words to his insulting foe, after he had fallen to the +ground. + +Achilles triumphed over him: "Ah, Hector! when thou wert stripping +Patroclus of my goodly armor, thou caredst nothing for me, who was far +away! I, his friend and avenger, was left among the black ships--even I, a +mightier man than he! Thee shall the dogs and birds devour; but he shall +have honorable burial." + +Then, with his last breath, the noble Hector of the bright helm addressed +his pitiless foe: "Achilles! I pray thee, by thy soul, and by thy parents' +heads, let not Achaian dogs devour me by the ships! but accept great store +of gold and bronze from my father and my queenly mother, and restore my +body to them, that the Trojans may deck my funeral pyre with all due +honor!" + +And Achilles, with a grim scowl, replied, "Clasp not my knees, vile dog! +nor speak to me of parents! Such evil hast thou done me, that I could +devour thee raw! Not for thy weight in gold would I give thee to thy +queenly mother, to mourn over thee; but dogs and birds shall batten on thy +flesh!" + +Then the dying Hector uttered his last words: "Thou iron-hearted man! now +I know thee; nor did I think to prevail upon thee. But beware of the wrath +of the Gods, when Paris and the Far-Darter slay thee, at the Scaean Gate, +brave though thou art!" + +He spake; and Death overshadowed him; and his soul went down to Hades, +wailing to leave beauty, youth, and vigor. + +And Achilles spake again to the dead Hector: "Lie thou there! And as for +me, I will die when it seemeth good to the deathless Gods!" + +And the Achaians ran up, and looked with wonder at the noble stature and +beauty of the Trojan hero. And they all inflicted wounds upon him, as he +lay, saying, "He is easier to deal with now than when he was burning our +ships with flames of fire." + +And when the son of Peleus had stripped him of his armor, he stood up, and +spake to the Achaians:-- + +"Great chiefs and counselors of the Argives! at last the Gods have granted +us to slay this man, whose single arm hath wrought more evil to us than +all the rest together. Let us now approach the city, and learn the purpose +of the Trojans; whether they will now surrender the citadel or go on +fighting, though great Hector is no more. But why do I thus ponder in my +mind? Patroclus is lying unburied and unwept by the ships. Never can I +forget him, while I live; and even in the House of Hades, I will remember +my dearest friend. Come, then! let us raise the chant of victory, and bear +our deadliest foe to the black ships!" + +Then he foully outraged the dead body of glorious Hector; slitting the +sinews of both feet, from heel to ankle, he passed ox-hide straps through +them, and fastened them to his chariot, leaving the goodly head to trail +upon the ground. Then he laid the armor on the chariot; and mounting it, +lashed his willing horses to full speed. And in the dust lay the once +beautiful head, with its flowing hair; for Zeus had now given Hector up to +his enemies, to be foully used in his own native land. + +And when his dear mother, Hecuba, saw her much-loved son dragged along, +begrimed with dust, she tore her hair, and shrieked aloud, and tossed far +away her glistening veil. And his father, King Priam, wailed and mourned; +and with him all the men and women in the city, as if the beetling towers +of Ilium were already smouldering in fire. Hardly could they keep the aged +father from rushing through the gates; for he threw himself in the dust +and supplicated each man by name: "O friend, forbear! and if you love me, +let me go to the ships of the Achaians, and pray to this arrogant, this +fearful man!" Thus wailed old Priam; and the men wailed with him. And +Queen Hecuba led the loud lamentations of the women. "Why," she cried, +"should I yet live, when thou, my son, my boast, my glory, art dead? the +pride and blessing of all, both men and women of the city, who honored +thee as a god; for in thy life thou wert an honor to them all!" Thus +mourned his unhappy mother. + +But to his wife, the noble, beautiful, tender-hearted Andromache, no +messenger had brought the fearful tidings that Hector had remained without +the gates. All unconscious, she was sitting in the inner chamber of her +lofty palace, weaving a purple web of double woof, and embroidering it +with many flowers. And she was ordering her handmaids to prepare a warm +bath for her dear husband, when he should return from the battle; poor +child! little knowing that the fierce-eyed Athene had treacherously slain +him, by the hand of Achilles! But when she heard shrieks and lamentations +from the walls, she reeled, and the shuttle dropped from her hands. And +she spake again to her fair-haired maidens: "Surely, that was the cry of +Hector's noble mother! Some terrible thing must have befallen my godlike +husband! Come, then, follow me, that I may learn what has happened; I +greatly fear that he has been cut off from the city by Achilles; for he +would never retreat among the throng, or yield to any man, in his high +courage." + +And she rushed, all frantic, through the house, followed by her maidens, +and came to the walls, and saw Hector dragged through the dust, towards +the black ships of the Achaians. Then darkness shrouded her fair eyes, and +she fell backwards in a swoon. And when roused, she tore from her head the +net, the fillet, and the nuptial veil which golden Venus had given her, +when noble Hector of the shining helm led her forth, from King Eetion's +palace, as his bride. And the sisters-in-law of her dear husband gathered +round her, and raised her from the ground, all distracted as she was and +nigh unto death. When she had recovered from her swoon, she sobbed and +wailed, crying, "O Hector! to the same evil fate were we twain born, thou +in Troy, and I in Thebes, where my great father, Eetion, reared me as a +little child. Would that I had never been born, since thou leavest me a +hapless widow! And our son, thine and mine, ill-fated one! is but a little +child; and thou canst no more profit him, nor he be a joy to thee, since +thou art dead! A helpless orphan, he is cut off from his playmates; and if +he pluck the robe of his father's friends, one may, in pity, just hold the +cup to his lips, but give him not to satisfy his hunger and his thirst; +while other children, whose parents still live, will drive him from their +feast, with taunts and blows, saying, 'Away with thee! thou hast no father +at our table!' Then will he come back to me, his lonely mother; he, who so +lately sat on his father's knee, and fed on the choicest of food! and when +sleep fell upon him, tired with his childish play, he nestled in a soft +bed in his nurse's arms. But now that his father is no more, he shall +suffer untold griefs, even he whom the Trojans called 'Astyanax,' king of +the city, because thou, O my beloved lord! wert the sole defense and glory +of their lofty walls." Thus wailed the fair Andromache; and the women +moaned around her. + + + + +THE FUNERAL GAMES IN HONOR OF PATROCLUS + +By Walter C. Perry + + +The noble Achilles could not do enough in honor of his lost friend, +Patroclus, and he had determined to hold games, of every kind, in which +the mail-clad Achaians might compete for prizes; and to this end he had +brought goodly treasures from his ships,--tripods, and caldrons, horses, +mules, and oxen, well-girdled women, and hoary iron. The first and most +important contest was a chariot race, for which he offered a woman skilled +in needlework, and a two-handled tripod, holding two-and-twenty +measures--these, for the best man of all; the second prize was a mare, six +years old, with a mule foal; the third prize was a fair new caldron, of +four measures; the fourth was two talents of bright gold; the fifth was a +two-handled vase, untarnished by the fire. + +And Achilles addressed the chiefs, and said, "If the race were in honor of +some other warrior, then should I enter the lists, and bear away the +prize; for ye know that my horses are immortal, and by far the best; +Neptune, the Earth-Girdler, gave them to my father, and he to me. But I +and they will stand aside; for they have lost a noble and gentle driver, +who oft-times washed them with clear water and then poured soft oil upon +their goodly manes! And now they stand with sorrow in their breasts, and +their full long manes are trailing on the earth. But now, let whoever of +you trusteth in his horses and his strong chariot take his place in the +lists!" + +And first came forward Eumelus, son of Admetus; next came the mighty +Diomedes, with the famous horses of Tros, which he had taken from AEneas; +then arose Menelaus,--the fair-haired, godlike Menelaus, with Aithe, +Agamemnon's mare, and his own horse, Podargus; and the fourth was +Antilochus, son of the wise Nestor, who yoked swift Pylian horses to his +chariot. + +His father Nestor, son of Neleus, stood by Antilochus, and gave him good +advice, although he himself was wise. "Antilochus, my son," he said, +"though thou art young, yet Zeus and Neptune have loved thee, and made +thee a perfect horseman; and there is little need for me to teach thee. +But the other horses are better than thine; and I fear that much trouble +is in store for thee. But skill and cunning are better than force, and so +one charioteer defeats another. Look well to the posts at either end, and +run closely by them. Now I will tell thee another thing. Some six feet +above the ground, there stands the withered stump of a tree, with two +white stones, on either side; this is the mark fixed by the swift-footed +Achilles. Do thou drive thy horses hard by this, and lean slightly to the +left, and lash the off horse and give him rein; but let the near horse so +closely skirt the post that the nave of the wheel of thy car may seem to +graze the stone; but beware of touching it!" + +Next, Meriones made ready his chariot; and so did the others. Then they +mounted their cars, and drew lots for their places. Great Diomedes drew +the best. Achilles ranged them all side by side, and pointed to the +turning-post, in the plain, near which he posted old Phoenix, as umpire. + +Then, at a signal from the son of Peleus, they raised their long whips, +together, standing upright, and lashed their horses, and encouraged them +by hand and voice. And the chariots now ran evenly on the ground, and now +bounded high in air. But when they entered the last part of the course, +driving towards the sea, the fleet mares of Eumelus, grandson of Pheres, +rushed to the front; and next came Diomedes, with the stallions of Tros, +so near that they seemed to be mounting the car of Eumelus, and with their +hot breath covered his back and shoulders. Then Tydides would either have +gained a victory, or it would have been at least a dead heat; but Phoebus +Apollo was angry with him, and dashed his shining whip from his hand. He +shed hot tears of fury, when he saw that the mares of Eumelus were still +at their utmost speed, while his own horses slackened their speed, no +longer feeling the lash. But, luckily for Diomedes, his constant friend +Athene marked the trick of Apollo; and, speeding after Diomedes, she gave +him back the scourge, and put fresh mettle into his steeds. She then +pursued Eumelus, and brake the yoke of his horses; they bolted from the +course, and he was hurled off his car into the dust. Meanwhile, Tydides +rushed on before the others, for Athene was shedding glory on his head. + +Next to him ran the horses of Menelaus, son of Atreus. Then came +Antilochus, son of Nestor, who spake thus to his father's Pylian horses: +"I do not ask you to contend with Tydides, whose horses Athene herself is +speeding; but I pray you to catch up the chariot of Atrides; and be not +beaten by Aithe, lest she, who is only a mare, pour ridicule upon you." +Thus spake Antilochus, and his horses were afraid, and sped on more +swiftly. But Antilochus noted a narrow gully, where the rain had collected +and had carried away a part of the course. There Menelaus was driving, +when Antilochus turned his horses out of the way, and followed him at one +side. Then Menelaus, fearing a collision, shouted loudly to the son of +Nestor: "Antilochus, hold in thy horses! and drive not so recklessly! +close ahead there is a wider space, where we can pass one another!" But +Antilochus, as if he heard him not, drove on more madly than ever and +plied the lash; and the golden-haired son of Atreus called again to him, +reproving him: "Antilochus, there is no man more spiteful than thou; away +with thee! wrongly have we called thee _wise_!" Then he called on his +horses, and they increased their speed, fearing the anger of their lord, +and quickly overtook the others. + +Now the Argive chiefs sat together, watching the race as the chariots flew +along the course. The first to see them coming was Idomeneus, the Cretan +prince, the son of Deucalion; he was sitting apart from the rest on the +highest place, and he could distinguish the voices of the drivers. He +noticed a chestnut horse, with a white star on his forehead, round like +the full moon; and he stood up and spake: "Friends and Counselors of the +Argives! can ye see the horses as I do? To me, there appeareth a new +chariot and horses; and the mares which led at the start I can no longer +see." + +Then the son of Oileus, Ajax, rebuked him in boorish fashion: "Idomeneus, +why chatterest thou before the time? Thou art not one of the youngest, nor +are thine eyes of the sharpest. The same mares of Eumelus are still +leading, and he is standing up in the chariot." + +And the great chief, Idomeneus, answered in great wrath, "Ajax, ever ready +to abuse, inconsiderate slanderer! thou art in all respects inferior to +the other Argives, for thy mind is rude." + +Thus spoke the Cretan hero. And the son of Oileus rose again, to reply +with scornful words; but Achilles himself stood forward and said, "No +longer, Idomeneus and Ajax, bandy insulting words with one another; for it +is not meet! Sit ye still, and watch; and soon will ye know which horses +are leading." He spake; and straightway Tydides came driving up in his +fair chariot, overlaid with gold and tin, which ran lightly behind the +horses, and scarcely left a trace in the fine dust of the plain. Checking +his horses in the middle of the crowd, he leapt to the ground and claimed +the splendid prize; and the gallant Sthenelus made no delay, but gave to +his victorious comrade the woman and the tripod to bear away. + +Next to Diomedes came the son of Nestor, Antilochus, who had passed by +Menelaus by a clever stratagem, though his horses were inferior; but even +so, Menelaus had pressed him hard, and was behind him only so far as a +horse is from the wheel of the chariot which he draweth. + +But Meriones, the brave charioteer of Idomeneus, came in about the cast of +a lance behind Menelaus; for his horses were the slowest, and he was +himself but a sluggish driver. Last of all came Eumelus, the son of +Admetus, dragging his broken chariot. The swift-footed Achilles, son of +Peleus, pitied him, and spake winged words to the chiefs: "Lo! the best +man of all comes last; but let us give him a prize--the second! And let +Tydides bear away the first!" + +All the Achaians heard him, and shouted applause; and the noble Achilles +would have given him the mare had not Antilochus, son of the wise and +glorious Nestor, stood up in defense of his claim: "O Achilles!" he said, +"justly shall I be wroth with thee, if thou takest away the prize which I +have fairly won. Thou thinkest only of the unlucky chance which hath +befallen Eumelus and his horses; but he ought to have made prayer to the +deathless Gods, and then he would not have come in last of all. If thou +pitiest him, there is much treasure in thy house,--gold, and bronze, and +sheep, and handmaids, and horses. Give him, if it pleaseth thee and the +Achaians, a still richer prize. But I will not give up the mare; for she +is _mine_." + +And Achilles smiled on his comrade Antilochus, whom he dearly loved, and +answered him, "Antilochus, I will do as thou sayest: I will give him the +bronze cuirass, edged with shining tin, which I took from Asteropaeus." + +But the great Menelaus arose, filled with insatiable wrath against +Antilochus. The herald placed a sceptre in his hand, and called for +silence. Then the godlike king made harangue, and said, "Antilochus! thou +who wert once accounted wise--what is this that thou hast done? Thou hast +disgraced my skill, and discomfited my horses, by thrusting thine, which +are far worse, in front of them. Come then, great chiefs of the Argives! +give judgment, without favor, between him and me! That no one may say +hereafter, that ye favored me for my power and rank, I will myself set the +issue before you; so that no one may reproach me. Stand forth, Antilochus, +before thy chariot; and take thy whip, and lay thy hand upon thy horses, +and swear by the great Girdler and Shaker of the Earth, that thou didst +not, by set purpose and malice, hinder my chariot in the course!" + +Then Antilochus made prudent answer, "Be patient with me, King Menelaus! +for I am younger, and thou art in all respects my better. Bear with me, +then: and I will myself give thee the mare, my prize, rather than lose my +place in thy heart, O thou beloved of Zeus!" Thus spake the noble-minded +son of Nestor; and he gave the mare to Menelaus, king of men. + +And the heart of the son of Atreus rejoiced, as the ripe ears of corn, +when the dew descendeth upon them, in the glistening cornfield. And he +spake kindly to Antilochus, and said, "Lo! at once do I put away my anger; +for of old thou wert never rash or light-minded; but now thy reason was +overborne by the impetuosity of youth. Therefore I grant thy prayer, and +will even give thee the mare; for I am in no wise covetous or +unforgiving." + +He spake, and gave the mare to Noemon, the comrade of Antilochus, to lead +away; but he took the bright caldron to himself. And Meriones, who came in +fourth, took the two talents of gold. But the fifth prize, a vase with two +handles, was not obtained; and the noble Achilles gave this to Nestor, +and, standing by him, uttered winged words:-- + +"Let this, O Father! be for thee an heirloom, and a memorial of Patroclus' +funeral games--of him, whom thou wilt never see again! I give it to thee +since thou mayest not contend in boxing, nor in wrestling, nor in throwing +the lance, nor in the foot-race; for rueful old age weigheth heavily upon +thee." + +Nestor gladly received the splendid gift, and spake: "True and fitting are +thy words, dear friend! My limbs are no longer sound, nor do my arms move +easily from my shoulders; and I must make way for younger men. But I +accept thy free gift with joy, and rejoice that thou dost remember our old +friendship." + +Then Pelides brought forward the prizes for the rough, fierce +boxing-match: a six-year-old unbroken mule for the winner; and a +two-handled goblet for the loser. Then quickly rose the famous boxer +Epeius, and laid his hand on the stubborn mule, and boasted aloud: "Let +who will bear away the goblet; but the mule is mine! for no one will beat +me with his fists!" They all kept silence, and feared. Only one came +forward, even Euryalus, the gallant son of King Mecistus. The famous +warrior Tydides made him ready for the fight, and bade him God speed. The +twain went into the ring, and fell to work; and terrible was the gnashing +of their teeth, and the sweat ran down from their limbs. Epeius came on +fiercely, and struck Euryalus on the cheek, and that was enough; for all +his limbs were loosened. As a fish on a weedy beach, in the ripple caused +by Boreas, leapeth high in air, so Euryalus leapt up in his anguish. But +the generous Epeius raised him again to his feet, and his comrades led him +away, with dragging feet and drooping head, and spitting out black blood. + +Next came the terrible wrestling match; and for this the glorious Achilles +brought out two costly prizes: for the winner, a fireproof tripod, worth +twelve oxen; and for the loser, a woman skilled in handiwork, valued at +four oxen. And he cried aloud to the Achaians, "Stand forward all ye who +will enter into this contest!" + +Then rose Telamonian Ajax and the crafty Ulysses, and faced each other. +And they entered the ring, and grasped each other with their strong hands, +like the rafters of a house, joined by some skillful builder to withstand +the wind. Their backbones grated and creaked beneath the strain; the sweat +poured down from their limbs, and bloody weals streaked their sides and +shoulders, as they struggled for the well-wrought tripod. But neither +could Ulysses throw the burly Ajax, nor Ajax him. And when the Achaians +grew tired of the futile contest, Ajax spake to Ulysses: "O thou offspring +of the Gods, Laertes' son! do thou lift me, or I will lift thee, and the +issue will be on the lap of Zeus!" + +So saying, he raised Ulysses. But the Wily One did not forget his craft. +From behind, he struck the hollow of Ajax's knee, and threw him on his +back; and Ulysses fell upon him; and the people marveled. Then, in his +turn, Ulysses tried to lift huge Ajax, but could not; so he thrust his +crooked knee into the hollow of the other's; and they again both fell to +the ground, covered with dust. When they rose for a third bout, Achilles +restrained them. "No longer wear ye one another out, with toil and pain! +Ye both have won and shall receive equal prizes!" And they cleansed +themselves, and put on their doublets. + +Then the noble son of Peleus offered prizes for the foot-race; the first, +a silver krater holding six measures, curiously chased by Sidonian +artists--by far the most beautiful mixing-cup in the whole world. For the +second he offered a stalled ox; and for the third, half a talent of gold. +The wondrous krater Phoenicians had brought by sea, and given it to Thoas, +the ruler of Lemnos; and Euneus, son of Jason, inherited it from Jason, +who received it from Thoas, his father-in-law; and Euneus gave it to the +hero Patroclus, as a ransom for Lycaon, son of Priam; this splendid goblet +was offered to the swiftest of foot. + +Then three valiant heroes arose: Ajax, son of Oileus; Ulysses, the wily +one; and Antilochus, the best runner of the youths. Achilles ranged them +side by side, and showed them the goal. All started at full speed; but +Ajax soon took the lead; and Ulysses came close behind him, near as the +shuttle to the breast of a fair-girdled woman when she is weaving,--so +near that his breath was warm on the back of Ajax. But as they neared the +goal, the wily Ulysses prayed to the fierce-eyed Athene, "O goddess, come +and help my feet!" And Athene heard her favorite, and strengthened all his +limbs. But just as they were about to pounce upon the prize, Ajax slipped +in the blood of the slaughtered oxen, and fell; his mouth and nostrils +were filled with dirt and gore. So the patient Ulysses took the priceless +krater, and Ajax the fatted ox. But Ajax, holding his prize by the horn, +and spitting the filth from his mouth, spake to the Achaians: "O fie upon +it! it was the goddess who betrayed me; she who is ever near to Ulysses, +as a mother to her child." And the Achaians laughed merrily, to see him in +such a sorry plight. + +Antilochus, smiling, took the last prize, half a talent of gold; and he +too spake winged words to the Argives: "My friends, ye too will agree with +me that the deathless Gods show favor to the older men. Ajax is a little +older than I; but Ulysses is of a former generation. It were not easy for +any one, except Achilles, fleet of foot, to outrun _him_." + +Achilles was pleased at the honor done to his swiftness. "Not unrewarded," +he said, "shall the praise be which thou hast bestowed on me: I give thee +another half-talent of gold." Antilochus received it gladly. Then the +assembly was dissolved, and the Achaians dispersed, each to his own ship. + + + + +THE WOODEN HORSE AND THE FALL OF TROY + +By Josephine Preston Peabody + + +Nine years the Greeks laid siege to Troy, and Troy held out against every +device. On both sides the lives of many heroes were spent, and they were +forced to acknowledge each other enemies of great valor. + +Sometimes the chief warriors fought in single combat, while the armies +looked on, and the old men of Troy, with the women, came out to watch afar +off from the city walls. King Priam and Queen Hecuba would come, and +Cassandra, sad with foreknowledge of their doom, and Andromache, the +lovely young wife of Hector, with her little son, whom the people called +the city's king. Sometimes fair Helen came to look across the plain to the +fellow-countrymen whom she had forsaken; and although she was the cause of +all this war, the Trojans half forgave her when she passed by, because her +beauty was like a spell, and warmed hard hearts as the sunshine mellows +apples. So for nine years the Greeks plundered the neighboring towns, but +the city Troy stood fast, and the Grecian ships waited with folded wings. + +In the tenth year of the war the Greeks, who could not take the city by +force, pondered how they might take it by craft. At length, with the aid +of Ulysses, they devised a plan. + +A portion of the Grecian host broke up camp and set sail as if they were +homeward bound; but, once out of sight, they anchored their ships behind a +neighboring island. The rest of the army then fell to work upon a great +image of a horse. They built it of wood, fitted and carved, and with a +door so cunningly concealed that none might notice it. When it was +finished the horse looked like a prodigious idol; but it was hollow, +skillfully pierced here and there, and so spacious that a band of men +could lie hidden within and take no harm. Into this hiding-place went +Ulysses, Menelaus, and the other chiefs, fully armed, and when the door +was shut upon them, the rest of the Grecian army broke camp and went away. + +[Illustration: A GREAT IMAGE OF A HORSE. THEY BUILT IT OF WOOD, FITTED AND +CARVED, AND WITH A DOOR SO CUNNINGLY CONCEALED THAT NONE MIGHT NOTICE IT. +WHEN IT WAS FINISHED THE HORSE LOOKED LIKE A PRODIGIOUS IDOL, BUT IT WAS +HOLLOW, SKILLFULLY PIERCED HERE AND THERE] + +Meanwhile, in Troy, the people had seen the departure of the ships, and +the news had spread like wildfire. The great enemy had lost heart,--after +ten years of war! Part of the army had gone,--the rest were going. Already +the last of the ships had set sail, and the camp was deserted. The tents +that had whitened the plain were gone like a frost before the sun. The war +was over! + +The whole city went wild with joy. Like one who has been a prisoner for +many years, it flung off all restraint, and the people rose as a single +man to test the truth of new liberty. The gates were thrown wide, and the +Trojans--men, women, and children--thronged over the plain and into the +empty camp of the enemy. There stood the Wooden Horse. + +No one knew what it could be. Fearful at first, they gathered around it, +as children gather around a live horse; they marveled at its wondrous +height and girth, and were for moving it into the city as a trophy of war. + +At this, one man interposed,--Laocooen, a priest of Neptune. "Take heed, +citizens," said he. "Beware of all that comes from the Greeks. Have you +fought them for ten years without learning their devices? This is some +piece of treachery." + +But there was another outcry in the crowd, and at that moment certain of +the Trojans dragged forward a wretched man who wore the garments of a +Greek. He seemed the sole remnant of the Grecian army, and as such they +consented to spare his life, if he would tell them the truth. + +Sinon, for this was the spy's name, said that he had been left behind by +the malice of Ulysses, and he told them that the Greeks had built the +Wooden Horse as an offering to Athene, and that they had made it so huge +in order to keep it from being moved out of the camp, since it was +destined to bring triumph to its possessors. + +At this the joy of the Trojans was redoubled, and they set their wits to +find out how they might soonest drag the great horse across the plain and +into the city to insure victory. While they stood talking, two immense +serpents rose out of the sea and made towards the camp. Some of the people +took flight, others were transfixed with terror; but all, near and far, +watched this new omen. Rearing their crests, the sea-serpents crossed the +shore, swift, shining, terrible as a risen water-flood that descends upon +a helpless little town. Straight through the crowd they swept, and seized +the priest Laocooen where he stood, with his two sons, and wrapped them all +round and round in fearful coils. There was no chance of escape. Father +and sons perished together; and when the monsters had devoured the three +men, into the sea they slipped again, leaving no trace of the horror. + +The terrified Trojans saw an omen in this. To their minds punishment had +come upon Laocooen for his words against the Wooden Horse. Surely, it was +sacred to the Gods; he had spoken blasphemy, and had perished before their +eyes. They flung his warning to the winds. They wreathed the horse with +garlands, amid great acclaim; and then, all lending a hand, they dragged +it, little by little, out of the camp and into the city of Troy. With the +close of that victorious day, they gave up every memory of danger and made +merry after ten years of privation. + +That very night Sinon the spy opened the hidden door of the Wooden Horse, +and in the darkness, Ulysses, Menelaus, and the other chiefs who had lain +hidden there crept out and gave the signal to the Grecian army. For, under +cover of night, those ships that had been moored behind the island had +sailed back again, and the Greeks were come upon Troy. + +Not a Trojan was on guard. The whole city was at feast when the enemy rose +in its midst, and the warning of Laocooen was fulfilled. + +Priam and his warriors fell by the sword, and their kingdom was plundered +of all its fair possessions, women and children and treasure. Last of all, +the city itself was burned to its very foundations. + +Homeward sailed the Greeks, taking as royal captives poor Cassandra and +Andromache and many another Trojan. And home at last went fair Helen, the +cause of all this sorrow, eager to be forgiven by her husband, King +Menelaus. For she had awakened from the enchantment of Venus, and even +before the death of Paris she had secretly longed for her home and +kindred. Home to Sparta she came with the king after a long and stormy +voyage, and there she lived and died the fairest of women. + +But the kingdom of Troy was fallen. Nothing remained of all its glory but +the glory of its dead heroes and fair women, and the ruins of its citadel +by the river Scamander. There even now, beneath the foundations of later +homes that were built and burned, built and burned, in the wars of a +thousand years after, the ruins of ancient Troy lie hidden, like mouldered +leaves deep under the new grass. And there, to this very day, men who love +the story are delving after the dead city as you might search for a buried +treasure. + + + + +THE WANDERINGS OF ULYSSES + + +AN ADVENTURE WITH THE CYCLOPS + +By Alfred J. Church + + + [After the fall of Troy the Greeks set out for home, but many of + them had troubles and dangers to meet before they saw again the + shores of their native land. The one who suffered most was + Ulysses, and the following is his story of his adventure with the + one-eyed giant, the Cyclops.] + + +The wind that bore me from Troy brought me to Ismarus, a city of the +Ciconians. This I sacked, slaying the people that dwelt therein. Much +spoil did we take out of the city, dividing it among the people, so that +each man had his share. And when we had done this, I commanded my men that +they should depart with all speed; but they, in their folly, would not +hear me. For there was much wine to drink, and sheep and kine to slay; +therefore they sat on the shore and feasted. Meanwhile the people of the +city fetched others, their kinsmen that dwelt in the mountains, and were +more in number and more valiant than they, and skillful in all manner of +fighting. In the early morning they assembled themselves together, thick +as the flowers and the leaves that grow in the springtime, and set the +battle in array. Then we fought with them; while the day waxed we +prevailed over them, and beat them back, though they were more in number +than we; but when the sun was descending in the heavens, then the Cicones +overcame us, and drave us to our ships. Six from each ship perished, but +the remnant of us escaped from death. + +On the tenth day after this we came to the land where the lotus grows--a +wondrous fruit of which whosoever eats cares not to see country or wife or +children again. Now the Lotus-Eaters, for they so called the people of the +land, were a kindly folk, and gave of the fruit to some of the sailors, +not meaning them any harm, but thinking it to be the best that they had to +give. These, when they had eaten, said that they would not sail any more +over the sea; which, when I heard, I bade their comrades bind them and +carry them, sadly complaining, to the ships. + +Then, the wind having abated, we took to our oars, and rowed for many days +till we came to the country where the Cyclops dwell. Now, a mile or so +from the shore there was an island, very fair and fertile, but no man +dwells there or tills the soil, and in the island a harbor where a ship +may be safe from all winds, and at the head of the harbor a stream falling +from a rock, and whispering alders all about it. Into this the ships +passed safely, and were hauled up on the beach, and the crews slept by +them, waiting for the morning. + +When the dawn appeared, then we wandered through the island; and the +nymphs of the land started the wild goats that my company might have food +to eat. Thereupon we took our bows and our spears from the ships, and shot +at the goats; and the Gods gave us plenty of prey. Twelve ships I had in +my company, and each ship had nine goats for its share, and my own portion +was ten. + +Then all the day we sat and feasted, drinking the sweet wine which we had +taken from the city of the Cicones, and eating the flesh of the goats; and +as we sat we looked across to the land of the Cyclops, seeing the smoke +and hearing the voices of the men and of the sheep and of the goats. And +when the sun set and darkness came over the land, we lay down upon the +seashore and slept. + +The next day I gathered my men together, and said, "Abide ye here, dear +friends; I with my own ship and my own company will go and make trial of +the folk that dwell in yonder island, whether they are just or unjust." + +So I climbed into my ship, and bade my company follow me; so we came to +the land of the Cyclops. Close to the shore was a cave, with laurels round +about the mouth. This was the dwelling of the Cyclops. Alone he dwelt, a +creature without law. Nor was he like to mortal men, but rather to some +wooded peak of the hills that stands out apart from all the rest. + +Then I bade the rest of my comrades abide by the ship, and keep it, but I +took twelve men, the bravest that there were in the crew, and went forth. +I had with me a goat-skin full of the wine, dark red, and sweet, which the +priest of Apollo at Ismarus had given me. Because we kept him and his wife +and child from harm when we sacked the city, reverencing the god, +therefore did he give it me. Three things did he give me,--seven talents +of gold, and a mixing-bowl of silver, and of wine twelve jars. So precious +was it that none in his house knew of it saving himself and his wife and +one dame that kept the house. When they drank of it they mixed twenty +measures of water with one of wine, and the smell that went up from it was +wondrous sweet. No man could easily refrain from drinking it. With this +wine I filled a great skin and bore it with me; also I bare corn in a +wallet, for my heart within me boded that I should need it. + +So we entered the cave, and judged that it was the dwelling of some rich +and skillful shepherd. For within there were pens for the young of the +sheep and of the goats, divided all according to their age, and there were +baskets full of cheeses, and full milkpails ranged along the wall. But the +Cyclops himself was away in the pastures. Then my companions besought me +that I would depart, taking with me, if I would, a store of cheeses and +sundry of the lambs and of the kids. But I would not, for I wished to see, +after my wont, what manner of host this strange shepherd might be, and, if +it might be, to take a gift from his hand, such as is the due of +strangers. Verily, his coming was not to be a joy to my company. + +It was evening when the Cyclops came home,--a mighty giant, very tall of +stature, and when we saw him we fled into the sacred place of the cave in +great fear. On his shoulder he bore a vast bundle of pine logs for his +fire, and threw them down outside the cave with a great crash, and drove +the flocks within, and closed the entrance with a huge rock, which twenty +wagons and more could not bear. Then he milked the ewes and all the +she-goats, and half of the milk he curdled for cheese, and half he set +ready for himself, when he should sup. Next he kindled a fire with the +pine logs, and the flame lighted up all the cave, showing to him both me +and my comrades. + +"Who are ye?" cried Polyphemus, for that was the giant's name. "Are ye +traders, or, haply, pirates?" + +I shuddered at the dreadful voice and shape, but bare me bravely, and +answered, "We are no pirates, mighty sir, but Greeks sailing back from +Troy, and subjects of the great King Agamemnon, whose fame is spread from +one end of heaven to the other. And we are come to beg hospitality of thee +in the name of Zeus, who rewards or punishes hosts and guests, according +as they be faithful the one to the other, or no." + +"Nay," said the giant; "it is but idle talk to tell me of Zeus and the +other Gods. We Cyclops take no account of gods, holding ourselves to be +much better and stronger than they. But come, tell me, where have you left +your ship?" + +But I saw his thought when he asked about the ship, how he was minded to +break it, and take from us all hope of flight. Therefore I answered him +craftily,-- + +"Ship have we none, for that which was ours King Neptune brake, driving it +on a jutting rock on this coast, and we whom thou seest are all that are +escaped from the waves." + +Polyphemus answered nothing, but without more ado caught up two of the +men, as a man might catch up the whelps of a dog, and dashed them on the +ground, and tare them limb from limb, and devoured them, with huge +draughts of milk between, leaving not a morsel, not even the very bones. +But we that were left, when we saw the dreadful deed, could only weep and +pray to Zeus for help. And when the giant had filled his maw with human +flesh and with the milk of the flocks, he lay down among his sheep and +slept. + +Then I questioned much in my heart whether I should slay the monster as he +slept, for I doubted not that my good sword would pierce to the giant's +heart, mighty as he was. But my second thought kept me back, for I +remembered that, should I slay him, I and my comrades would yet perish +miserably. For who should move away the great rock that lay against the +door of the cave? So we waited till the morning, with grief in our hearts. +And the monster woke, and milked his flocks, and afterwards, seizing two +men, devoured them for his meal. Then he went to the pastures, but put the +great rock on the mouth of the cave, just as a man puts down the lid upon +his quiver. + +All that day I was thinking what I might best do to save myself and my +companions, and the end of my thinking was this: there was a mighty pole +in the cave, green wood of an olive-tree, big as a ship's mast, which +Polyphemus purposed to use, when the smoke should have dried it, as a +walking-staff. Of this I cut off a fathom's length, and my comrades +sharpened it and hardened it in the fire, and then hid it away. At evening +the giant came back, and drove his sheep into the cave, nor left the rams +outside, as he had been wont to do before, but shut them in. And having +duly done his shepherd's work, he took, as before, two of my comrades, and +devoured them. And when he had finished his supper, I came forward, +holding the wineskin in my hand, and said,-- + +"Drink, Cyclops, now that thou hast feasted. Drink, and see what precious +things we had in our ship. But no one hereafter will come to thee with +such like, if thou dealest with strangers as cruelly as thou hast dealt +with us." + +Then the Cyclops drank, and was mightily pleased, and said, "Give me again +to drink, and tell me thy name, stranger, and I will give thee a gift such +as a host should give. In good truth this is a rare liquor. We, too, have +vines, but they bear not wine like this, which, indeed, must be such as +the Gods drink in heaven." + +Then I gave him the cup again, and he drank. Thrice I gave it to him, and +thrice he drank, not knowing what it was, and how it would work within his +brain. + +Then I spake to him: "Thou didst ask my name, Cyclops. My name is No Man. +And now that thou knowest my name, thou shouldst give me thy gift." + +And he said, "My gift shall be that I will eat thee last of all thy +company." + +And as he spake, he fell back in a drunken sleep. Then I bade my comrades +be of good courage, for the time was come when they should be delivered. +And they thrust the stake of olive-wood into the fire till it was ready, +green as it was, to burst into flame, and they thrust it into the +monster's eye; for he had but one eye, and that in the midst of his +forehead, with the eyebrow below it. And I, standing above, leant with all +my force upon the stake, and turned it about, as a man bores the timber of +a ship with a drill. And the burning wood hissed in the eye, just as the +red-hot iron hisses in the water when a man seeks to temper steel for a +sword. + +Then the giant leapt up, and tore away the stake, and cried aloud, so that +all the Cyclops who dwelt on the mountain-side heard him and came about +his cave, asking him, "What aileth thee, Polyphemus, that thou makest this +uproar in the peaceful night, driving away sleep? Is any one robbing thee +of thy sheep, or seeking to slay thee by craft or force?" + +And the giant answered, "No Man slays me by craft." + +"Nay, but," they said, "if no man does thee wrong we cannot help thee. The +sickness which great Zeus may send, who can avoid? Pray to our father, +Neptune, for help." + +So they spake, and I laughed in my heart when I saw how I had beguiled +them by the name that I had given. + +But the Cyclops rolled away the great stone from the door of the cave, and +sat in the midst, stretching out his hands, to feel whether perchance the +men within the cave would seek to go out among the sheep. + +Long did I think how I and my comrades should best escape. At last I +lighted upon a device that seemed better than all the rest, and much I +thanked Zeus for that this once the giant had driven the rams with the +other sheep into the cave. For, these being great and strong, I fastened +my comrades under the bellies of the beasts, tying them with osier twigs, +of which the giant made his bed. One ram I took, and fastened a man +beneath it, and two rams I set, one on either side. So I did with the six, +for but six were left out of the twelve who had ventured with me from the +ship. And there was one mighty ram far larger than all the others, and to +this I clung, grasping the fleece tight with both my hands. So we all +waited for the morning. And when the morning came, the rams rushed forth +to the pasture; but the giant sat in the door and felt the back of each as +it went by, nor thought to try what might be underneath. Last of all went +the great ram. And the Cyclops knew him as he passed, and said,-- + +"How is this, thou who art the leader of the flock? Thou art not wont thus +to lag behind. Thou hast always been the first to run to the pastures and +streams in the morning, and the first to come back to the fold when +evening fell; and now thou art last of all. Perhaps thou art troubled +about thy master's eye, which some wretch--No Man, they call him--has +destroyed, having first mastered me with wine. He has not escaped, I ween. +I would that thou couldst speak, and tell me where he is lurking. Of a +truth, I would dash out his brains upon the ground, and avenge me of this +No Man." + +So speaking, he let the ram pass out of the cave. But when we were now out +of reach of the giant, I loosed my hold of the ram, and then unbound my +comrades. And we hastened to our ship, not forgetting to drive the sheep +before us, and often looking back till we came to the seashore. Right glad +were those that had abode by the ship to see us. Nor did they lament for +those that had died, though we were fain to do so, for I forbade, fearing +lest the noise of their weeping should betray us to the giant, where we +were. Then we all climbed into the ship, and sitting well in order on the +benches smote the sea with our oars, laying to right lustily, that we +might the sooner get away from the accursed land. And when we had rowed a +hundred yards or so, so that a man's voice could yet be heard by one who +stood upon the shore, I stood up in the ship and shouted,-- + +"He was no coward, O Cyclops, whose comrades thou didst so foully slay in +thy den. Justly art thou punished, monster, that devourest thy guests in +thy dwelling. May the Gods make thee suffer worse things than these!" + +Then the Cyclops in his wrath brake off the top of a great hill, a mighty +rock, and hurled it where he had heard the voice. Right in front of the +ship's bow it fell, and a great wave rose as it sank, and washed the ship +back to the shore. But I seized a long pole with both hands, and pushed +the ship from the land, and bade my comrades ply their oars, nodding with +my head, for I would not speak, lest the Cyclops should know where we +were. Then they rowed with all their might and main. + +[Illustration: THE CYCLOPS IN HIS WRATH BRAKE OFF THE TOP OF A GREAT HILL] + +And when we had gotten twice as far as before I made as if I would speak +again; but my comrades sought to hinder me, saying, "Nay, my lord, anger +not the giant any more. Surely we thought we were lost before, when he +threw the great rock, and washed our ship back to the shore. And if he +hear thee now, he may crush our ship and us, for the man throws a mighty +bolt, and throws it far." + +But I would not be persuaded, but stood up and said, "Hear, Cyclops! If +any man ask who blinded thee, say that it was the warrior Ulysses, son of +Laertes, dwelling in Ithaca." + + + + +CIRCE'S PALACE + +By Nathaniel Hawthorne + + +At one time in the course of Ulysses' weary voyage, he arrived at an +island that looked very green and pleasant, but the name of which was +unknown to him. For, only a little while before he came thither, he had +met with a terrible hurricane, or rather a great many hurricanes at once, +which drove his fleet of vessels into a strange part of the sea, where +neither himself nor any of his mariners had ever sailed. This misfortune +was entirely owing to the foolish curiosity of his shipmates, who, while +Ulysses lay asleep, had untied some very bulky leathern bags, in which +they supposed a valuable treasure to be concealed. But in each of these +stout bags, King AEolus, the ruler of the winds, had tied up a tempest, and +had given it to Ulysses to keep, in order that he might be sure of a +favorable passage homeward to Ithaca; and when the strings were loosened, +forth rushed the whistling blasts, like air out of a blown bladder, +whitening the sea with foam, and scattering the vessels nobody could tell +whither. + +Immediately after escaping from this peril, a still greater one had +befallen him. Scudding before the hurricane, he reached a place which, as +he afterwards found, was called Laestrygonia, where some monstrous giants +had eaten up many of his companions, and had sunk every one of his +vessels, except that in which he himself sailed, by flinging great masses +of rock at them, from the cliffs along the shore. After going through such +troubles as these, you cannot wonder that King Ulysses was glad to moor +his tempest-beaten bark in a quiet cove of the green island, which I began +with telling you about. But he had encountered so many dangers from +giants, and one-eyed Cyclops, and monsters of the sea and land, that he +could not help dreading some mischief, even in this pleasant and seemingly +solitary spot. For two days, therefore, the poor weather-worn voyagers +kept quiet, and either stayed on board of their vessel or merely crept +along under cliffs that bordered the shore; and to keep themselves alive, +they dug shell-fish out of the sand, and sought for any little rill of +fresh water that might be running towards the sea. + +Before the two days were spent, they grew very weary of this kind of life; +for the followers of King Ulysses, as you will find it important to +remember, were terrible gormandizers, and pretty sure to grumble if they +missed their regular meals, and their irregular ones besides. Their stock +of provisions was quite exhausted, and even the shell-fish began to get +scarce, so that they had now to choose between starving to death or +venturing into the interior of the island, where, perhaps, some huge +three-headed dragon or other horrible monster had his den. Such misshapen +creatures were very numerous in those days; and nobody ever expected to +make a voyage or take a journey without running more or less risk of being +devoured by them. + +But King Ulysses was a bold man as well as a prudent one; and on the third +morning he determined to discover what sort of a place the island was, and +whether it were possible to obtain a supply of food for the hungry mouths +of his companions. So, taking a spear in his hand, he clambered to the +summit of a cliff, and gazed round about him. At a distance, towards the +centre of the island, he beheld the stately towers of what seemed to be a +palace, built of snow-white marble, and rising in the midst of a grove of +lofty trees. The thick branches of these trees stretched across the front +of the edifice, and more than half concealed it, although, from the +portion which he saw, Ulysses judged it to be spacious and exceedingly +beautiful, and probably the residence of some great nobleman or prince. A +blue smoke went curling up from the chimney, and was almost the +pleasantest part of the spectacle to Ulysses. For, from the abundance of +this smoke, it was reasonable to conclude that there was a good fire in +the kitchen, and that, at dinnertime, a plentiful banquet would be served +up to the inhabitants of the palace, and to whatever guests might happen +to drop in. + +With so agreeable a prospect before him, Ulysses fancied that he could not +do better than to go straight to the palace gate, and tell the master of +it that there was a crew of poor shipwrecked mariners, not far off, who +had eaten nothing for a day or two save a few clams and oysters, and would +therefore be thankful for a little food. And the prince or nobleman must +be a very stingy curmudgeon, to be sure, if, at least, when his own dinner +was over, he would not bid them welcome to the broken victuals from the +table. + +Pleasing himself with this idea, King Ulysses had made a few steps in the +direction of the palace, when there was a great twittering and chirping +from the branch of a neighboring tree. A moment afterwards, a bird came +flying towards him, and hovered in the air, so as almost to brush his face +with its wings. It was a very pretty little bird, with purple wings and +body, and yellow legs, and a circle of golden feathers round its neck, and +on its head a golden tuft, which looked like a king's crown in miniature. +Ulysses tried to catch the bird. But it fluttered nimbly out of his reach, +still chirping in a piteous tone, as if it could have told a lamentable +story, had it only been gifted with human language. And when he attempted +to drive it away, the bird flew no farther than the bough of the next +tree, and again came fluttering about his head, with its doleful chirp, as +soon as he showed a purpose of going forward. + +"Have you anything to tell me, little bird?" asked Ulysses. + +And he was ready to listen attentively to whatever the bird might +communicate; for at the siege of Troy and elsewhere he had known such odd +things to happen that he would not have considered it much out of the +common run had this little feathered creature talked as plainly as +himself. + +"Peep!" said the bird. "Peep, peep, pe--weep!" And nothing else would it +say, but only, "Peep, peep, pe--weep!" in a melancholy cadence, and over +and over and over again. As often as Ulysses moved forward, however, the +bird showed the greatest alarm, and did its best to drive him back, with +the anxious flutter of its purple wings. Its unaccountable behavior made +him conclude, at last, that the bird knew of some danger that awaited him, +and which must needs be very terrible, beyond all question, since it moved +even a little fowl to feel compassion for a human being. So he resolved, +for the present, to return to the vessel, and tell his companions what he +had seen. + +This appeared to satisfy the bird. As soon as Ulysses turned back, it ran +up the trunk of a tree, and began to pick insects out of the bark with its +long, sharp bill; for it was a kind of woodpecker, you must know, and had +to get its living in the same manner as other birds of that species. But +every little while, as it pecked at the bark of the tree, the purple bird +bethought itself of some secret sorrow, and repeated its plaintive note of +"Peep, peep, pe--weep!" + +On his way to the shore, Ulysses had the good luck to kill a large stag by +thrusting his spear into its back. Taking it on his shoulders (for he was +a remarkably strong man), he lugged it along with him, and flung it down +before his hungry companions. I have already hinted to you what +gormandizers some of the comrades of King Ulysses were. From what is +related of them, I reckon that their favorite diet was pork, and that they +had lived upon it until a good part of their physical substance was +swine's flesh, and their tempers and dispositions were very much akin to +the hog. A dish of venison, however, was no unacceptable meal to them, +especially after feeding so long on oysters and clams. So, beholding the +dead stag, they felt of its ribs in a knowing way, and lost no time in +kindling a fire, of drift-wood, to cook it. The rest of the day was spent +in feasting; and if these enormous eaters got up from table at sunset, it +was only because they could not scrape another morsel off the poor +animal's bones. + +The next morning their appetites were as sharp as ever. They looked at +Ulysses, as if they expected him to clamber up the cliff again, and come +back with another fat deer upon his shoulders. Instead of setting out, +however, he summoned the whole crew together, and told them it was in vain +to hope that he could kill a stag every day for their dinner, and +therefore it was advisable to think of some other mode of satisfying their +hunger. + +"Now," said he, "when I was on the cliff yesterday, I discovered that this +island is inhabited. At a considerable distance from the shore stood a +marble palace, which appeared to be very spacious, and had a great deal of +smoke curling out of one of its chimneys." + +"Aha!" muttered some of his companions, smacking their lips. "That smoke +must have come from the kitchen fire. There was a good dinner on the spit; +and no doubt there will be as good a one to-day." + +"But," continued the wise Ulysses, "you must remember, my good friends, +our misadventure in the cavern of one-eyed Polyphemus, the Cyclops! +Instead of his ordinary milk diet, did he not eat up two of our comrades +for his supper, and a couple more for breakfast, and two at his supper +again? Methinks I see him yet, the hideous monster, scanning us with that +great red eye, in the middle of his forehead, to single out the fattest. +And then again, only a few days ago, did we not fall into the hands of the +king of the Laestrygons, and those other horrible giants, his subjects, who +devoured a great many more of us than are now left? To tell you the truth, +if we go to yonder palace, there can be no question that we shall make our +appearance at the dinner-table; but whether seated as guests or served up +as food, is a point to be seriously considered." + +"Either way," murmured some of the hungriest of the crew, "it will be +better than starvation; particularly if one could be sure of being well +fattened beforehand and daintily cooked afterwards." + +"That is a matter of taste," said King Ulysses, "and, for my own part, +neither the most careful fattening nor the daintiest of cookery would +reconcile me to being dished at last. My proposal is, therefore, that we +divide ourselves into two equal parties, and ascertain, by drawing lots, +which of the two shall go to the palace, and beg for food and assistance. +If these can be obtained, all is well. If not, and if the inhabitants +prove as inhospitable as Polyphemus or the Laestrygons, then there will but +half of us perish, and the remainder may set sail and escape." + +As nobody objected to this scheme, Ulysses proceeded to count the whole +band, and found that there were forty-six men, including himself. He then +numbered off twenty-two of them, and put Eurylochus (who was one of his +chief officers, and second only to himself in sagacity) at their head. +Ulysses took command of the remaining twenty-two men, in person. Then, +taking off his helmet, he put two shells into it, on one of which was +written, "Go," and on the other, "Stay." Another person now held the +helmet, while Ulysses and Eurylochus drew out each a shell; and the word +"Go" was found written on that which Eurylochus had drawn. In this manner +it was decided that Ulysses and his twenty-two men were to remain at the +seaside until the other party should have found out what sort of treatment +they might expect at the mysterious palace. As there was no help for it, +Eurylochus immediately set forth at the head of his twenty-two followers, +who went off in a very melancholy state of mind, leaving their friends in +hardly better spirits than themselves. + +No sooner had they clambered up the cliff, than they discerned the tall +marble towers of the palace, ascending, as white as snow, out of the +lovely green shadow of the trees which surrounded it. A gush of smoke came +from a chimney in the rear of the edifice. This vapor rose high in the +air, and meeting with a breeze, was wafted seaward, and made to pass over +the heads of the hungry mariners. When people's appetites are keen, they +have a very quick scent for anything savory in the wind. + +"That smoke comes from the kitchen!" cried one of them, turning up his +nose as high as he could, and snuffing eagerly. "And, as sure as I'm a +half-starved vagabond, I smell roast meat in it." + +"Pig, roast pig!" said another. "Ah, the dainty little porker! My mouth +waters for him." + +"Let us make haste," cried the others, "or we shall be too late for the +good cheer!" + +But scarcely had they made half a dozen steps from the edge of the cliff, +when a bird came fluttering to meet them. It was the same pretty little +bird, with the purple wings and body, the yellow legs, the golden collar +round its neck, and the crown-like tuft upon its head, whose behavior had +so much surprised Ulysses. It hovered about Eurylochus, and almost brushed +his face with its wings. + +"Peep, peep, pe--weep!" chirped the bird. + +So plaintively intelligent was the sound, that it seemed as if the little +creature were going to break its heart with some mighty secret that it had +to tell, and only this one poor note to tell it with. + +"My pretty bird," said Eurylochus,--for he was a wary person, and let no +token of harm escape his notice,--"my pretty bird, who sent you hither? +And what is the message which you bring?" + +"Peep, peep, pe--weep!" replied the bird, very sorrowfully. + +Then it flew towards the edge of the cliff, and looked round at them, as +if exceedingly anxious that they should return whence they came. +Eurylochus and a few of the others were inclined to turn back. They could +not help suspecting that the purple bird must be aware of something +mischievous that would befall them at the palace, and the knowledge of +which affected its airy spirit with a human sympathy and sorrow. But the +rest of the voyagers, snuffing up the smoke from the palace kitchen, +ridiculed the idea of returning to the vessel. One of them (more brutal +than his fellows, and the most notorious gormandizer in the whole crew) +said such a cruel and wicked thing, that I wonder the mere thought did not +turn him into a wild beast in shape, as he already was in his nature. + +"This troublesome and impertinent little fowl," said he, "would make a +delicate titbit to begin dinner with. Just one plump morsel, melting away +between the teeth. If he comes within my reach, I'll catch him, and give +him to the palace cook to be roasted on a skewer." + +The words were hardly out of his mouth, before the purple bird flew away, +crying, "Peep, peep, pe--weep," more dolorously than ever. + +"That bird," remarked Eurylochus, "knows more than we do about what awaits +us at the palace." + +"Come on, then," cried his comrades, "and we'll soon know as much as he +does." + +The party, accordingly, went onward through the green and pleasant wood. +Every little while they caught new glimpses of the marble palace, which +looked more and more beautiful the nearer they approached it. They soon +entered a broad pathway, which seemed to be very neatly kept, and which +went winding along with streaks of sunshine falling across it, and specks +of light quivering among the deepest shadows that fell from the lofty +trees. It was bordered, too, with a great many sweet-smelling flowers, +such as the mariners had never seen before. So rich and beautiful they +were that, if the shrubs grew wild here and were native in the soil, then +this island was surely the flower-garden of the whole earth; or, if +transplanted from some other clime, it must have been from the Happy +Islands that lay towards the golden sunset. + +"There has been a great deal of pains foolishly wasted on these flowers," +observed one of the company; and I tell you what he said, that you may +keep in mind what gormandizers they were. "For my part, if I were the +owner of the palace, I would bid my gardener cultivate nothing but savory +potherbs to make a stuffing for roast meat, or to flavor a stew with." + +"Well said!" cried the others. "But I'll warrant you there's a kitchen +garden in the rear of the palace." + +At one place they came to a crystal spring, and paused to drink at it for +want of liquor which they liked better. Looking into its bosom, they +beheld their own faces dimly reflected, but so extravagantly distorted by +the gush and motion of the water, that each one of them appeared to be +laughing at himself and all his companions. So ridiculous were these +images of themselves, indeed, that they did really laugh aloud, and could +hardly be grave again as soon as they wished. And after they had drunk, +they grew still merrier than before. + +"It has a twang of the wine-cask in it," said one, smacking his lips. + +"Make haste!" cried his fellows; "we'll find the wine-cask itself at the +palace; and that will be better than a hundred crystal fountains." + +Then they quickened their pace, and capered for joy at the thought of the +savory banquet at which they hoped to be guests. But Eurylochus told them +that he felt as if he were walking in a dream. + +"If I am really awake," continued he, "then, in my opinion, we are on the +point of meeting with some stranger adventure than any that befell us in +the cave of Polyphemus, or among the gigantic man-eating Laestrygons, or in +the windy palace of King AEolus, which stands on a brazen-walled island. +This kind of dreamy feeling always comes over me before any wonderful +occurrence. If you take my advice, you will turn back." + +"No, no," answered his comrades, snuffing the air, in which the scent from +the palace kitchen was now very perceptible. "We would not turn back, +though we were certain that the king of the Laestrygons, as big as a +mountain, would sit at the head of the table, and huge Polyphemus, the +one-eyed Cyclops, at its foot." + +At length they came within full sight of the palace, which proved to be +very large and lofty, with a great number of airy pinnacles upon its roof. +Though it was now midday, and the sun shone brightly over the marble +front, yet its snowy whiteness and its fantastic style of architecture +made it look unreal, like the frostwork on a window-pane, or like the +shapes of castles which one sees among the clouds by moonlight. But just +then a puff of wind brought down the smoke of the kitchen chimney among +them, and caused each man to smell the odor of the dish that he liked +best; and, after scenting it, they thought everything else moonshine, and +nothing real save this palace, and save the banquet that was evidently +ready to be served up in it. + +So they hastened their steps towards the portal, but had not got half-way +across the wide lawn, when a pack of lions, tigers, and wolves came +bounding to meet them. The terrified mariners started back, expecting no +better fate than to be torn to pieces and devoured. To their surprise and +joy, however, these wild beasts merely capered around them, wagging their +tails, offering their heads to be stroked and patted, and behaving just +like so many well-bred house-dogs, when they wish to express their delight +at meeting their master or their master's friends. The biggest lion licked +the feet of Eurylochus; and every other lion, and every wolf and tiger, +singled out one of his two and twenty followers, whom the beast fondled as +if he loved him better than a beef-bone. + +But, for all that, Eurylochus imagined that he saw something fierce and +savage in their eyes; nor would he have been surprised, at any moment, to +feel the big lion's terrible claws, or to see each of the tigers make a +deadly spring, or each wolf leap at the throat of the man whom he had +fondled. Their mildness seemed unreal, and a mere freak; but their savage +nature was as true as their teeth and claws. + +Nevertheless, the men went safely across the lawn with the wild beasts +frisking about them, and doing no manner of harm; although, as they +mounted the steps of the palace, you might possibly have heard a low +growl, particularly from the wolves, as if they thought it a pity, after +all, to let the strangers pass without so much as tasting what they were +made of. + +Eurylochus and his followers now passed under a lofty portal, and looked +through the open doorway into the interior of the palace. The first thing +that they saw was a spacious hall, and a fountain in the middle of it, +gushing up towards the ceiling out of a marble basin, and falling back +into it with a continual plash. The water of this fountain, as it spouted +upward, was constantly taking new shapes, not very distinctly, but plainly +enough for a nimble fancy to recognize what they were. Now it was the +shape of a man in a long robe, the fleecy whiteness of which was made out +of the fountain's spray; now it was a lion, or a tiger, or a wolf, or an +ass, or, as often as anything else, a hog, wallowing in the marble basin +as if it were his sty. It was either magic or some very curious machinery +that caused the gushing waterspout to assume all these forms. But, before +the strangers had time to look closely at this wonderful sight, their +attention was drawn off by a very sweet and agreeable sound. A woman's +voice was singing melodiously in another room of the palace, and with her +voice was mingled the noise of a loom, at which she was probably seated, +weaving a rich texture of cloth, and intertwining the high and low +sweetness of her voice into a rich tissue of harmony. + +By and by the song came to an end; and then, all at once, there were +several feminine voices, talking airily and cheerfully, with now and then +a merry burst of laughter, such as you may always hear when three or four +young women sit at work together. + +"What a sweet song that was!" exclaimed one of the voyagers. + +"Too sweet, indeed," answered Eurylochus, shaking his head. "Yet it was +not so sweet as the song of the Sirens, those birdlike damsels who wanted +to tempt us on the rocks, so that our vessel might be wrecked, and our +bones left whitening along the shore." + +"But just listen to the pleasant voices of those maidens, and that buzz of +the loom, as the shuttle passes to and fro," said another comrade. "What a +domestic, household, homelike sound it is! Ah, before that weary siege of +Troy, I used to hear the buzzing loom and the women's voices under my own +roof. Shall I never hear them again? nor taste those nice little savory +dishes which my dearest wife knew how to serve up?" + +"Tush! we shall fare better here," said another. "But how innocently those +women are babbling together, without guessing that we overhear them! And +mark that richest voice of all, so pleasant and familiar, but which yet +seems to have the authority of a mistress among them. Let us show +ourselves at once. What harm can the lady of the palace and her maidens do +to mariners and warriors like us?" + +"Remember," said Eurylochus, "that it was a young maiden who beguiled +three of our friends into the palace of the king of the Laestrygons, who +ate up one of them in the twinkling of an eye." + +No warning or persuasion, however, had any effect on his companions. They +went up to a pair of folding-doors at the farther end of the hall, and, +throwing them wide open, passed into the next room. Eurylochus, meanwhile, +had stepped behind a pillar. In the short moment while the folding-doors +opened and closed again, he caught a glimpse of a very beautiful woman +rising from the loom and coming to meet the poor weather-beaten wanderers, +with a hospitable smile and her hand stretched out in welcome. There were +four other young women, who joined their hands and danced merrily forward, +making gestures of obeisance to the strangers. They were only less +beautiful than the lady who seemed to be their mistress. Yet Eurylochus +fancied that one of them had sea-green hair, and that the close-fitting +bodice of a second looked like the bark of a tree, and that both the +others had something odd in their aspect, although he could not quite +determine what it was, in the little while that he had to examine them. + +The folding-doors swung quickly back, and left him standing behind the +pillar, in the solitude of the outer hall. There Eurylochus waited until +he was quite weary, and listened eagerly to every sound, but without +hearing anything that could help him to guess what had become of his +friends. Footsteps, it is true, seemed to be passing and repassing in +other parts of the palace. Then there was a clatter of silver dishes, or +golden ones, which made him imagine a rich feast in a splendid +banqueting-hall. But by and by he heard a tremendous grunting and +squealing, and then a sudden scampering, like that of small, hard hoofs +over a marble floor, while the voices of the mistress and her four +handmaidens were screaming all together, in tones of anger and derision. +Eurylochus could not conceive what had happened, unless a drove of swine +had broken into the palace, attracted by the smell of the feast. Chancing +to cast his eyes at the fountain, he saw that it did not shift its shape, +as formerly, nor looked either like a long-robed man, or a lion, a tiger, +a wolf, or an ass. It looked like nothing but a hog, which lay wallowing +in the marble basin, and filled it from brim to brim. + +But we must leave the prudent Eurylochus waiting in the outer hall, and +follow his friends into the inner secrecy of the palace. As soon as the +beautiful woman saw them, she arose from the loom, as I have told you, and +came forward, smiling, and stretching out her hand. She took the hand of +the foremost among them, and bade him and the whole party welcome. + +"You have been long expected, my good friends," said she. "I and my +maidens are well acquainted with you, although you do not appear to +recognize us. Look at this piece of tapestry, and judge if your faces must +not have been familiar to us." + +So the voyagers examined the web of cloth which the beautiful woman had +been weaving in her loom; and to their vast astonishment they saw their +own figures perfectly represented in different colored threads. It was a +lifelike picture of their recent adventures, showing them in the cave of +Polyphemus, and how they had put out his one great moony eye; while in +another part of the tapestry they were untying the leathern bags, puffed +out with contrary winds; and farther on, they beheld themselves scampering +away from the gigantic king of the Laestrygons, who had caught one of them +by the leg. Lastly, there they were, sitting on the desolate shore of this +very island, hungry and downcast, and looking ruefully at the bare bones +of the stag which they devoured yesterday. This was as far as the work had +yet proceeded; but when the beautiful woman should again sit down at her +loom, she would probably make a picture of what had since happened to the +strangers, and of what was now going to happen. + +"You see," she said, "that I know all about your troubles; and you cannot +doubt that I desire to make you happy for as long a time as you may remain +with me. For this purpose, my honored guests, I have ordered a banquet to +be prepared. Fish, fowl, and flesh, roasted, and in luscious stews, and +seasoned, I trust, to all your tastes, are ready to be served up. If your +appetites tell you it is dinner-time, then come with me to the festal +saloon." + +At this kind invitation, the hungry mariners were quite overjoyed; and one +of them, taking upon himself to be spokesman, assured their hospitable +hostess that any hour of the day was dinner-time with them, whenever they +could get flesh to put in the pot, and fire to boil it with. So the +beautiful woman led the way; and the four maidens (one of them had +sea-green hair, another a bodice of oak-bark, a third sprinkled a shower +of water-drops from her fingers' ends, and the fourth had some other +oddity, which I have forgotten), all these followed behind, and hurried +the guests along, until they entered a magnificent saloon. It was built in +a perfect oval, and lighted from a crystal dome above. Around the walls +were ranged two and twenty thrones, overhung by canopies of crimson and +gold, and provided with the softest of cushions, which were tasseled and +fringed with gold cord. Each of the strangers was invited to sit down; and +there they were, two and twenty storm-beaten mariners, in worn and +tattered garb, sitting on two and twenty cushioned and canopied thrones, +so rich and gorgeous that the proudest monarch had nothing more splendid +in his stateliest hall. + +Then you might have seen the guests nodding, winking with one eye, and +leaning from one throne to another, to communicate their satisfaction in +hoarse whispers. + +"Our good hostess has made kings of us all," said one. "Ha! do you smell +the feast? I'll engage it will be fit to set before two-and-twenty kings." + +"I hope," said another, "it will be, mainly, good substantial joints, +sirloins, spareribs, and hinder quarters, without too many kickshaws. If I +thought the good lady would not take it amiss, I should call for a fat +slice of fried bacon to begin with." + +Ah, the gluttons and gormandizers! You see how it was with them. In the +loftiest seats of dignity, on royal thrones, they could think of nothing +but their greedy appetite, which was the portion of their nature that they +shared with wolves and swine; so that they resembled those vilest of +animals far more than they did kings,--if, indeed, kings were what they +ought to be. + +But the beautiful woman now clapped her hands; and immediately there +entered a train of two and twenty serving-men, bringing dishes of the +richest food, all hot from the kitchen fire, and sending up such a steam +that it hung like a cloud below the crystal dome of the saloon. An equal +number of attendants brought great flagons of wine, of various kinds, some +of which sparkled as it was poured out, and went bubbling down the throat; +while, of other sorts, the purple liquor was so clear that you could see +the wrought figures at the bottom of the goblet. While the servants +supplied the two and twenty guests with food and drink, the hostess and +her four maidens went from one throne to another, exhorting them to eat +their fill, and to quaff wine abundantly, and thus to recompense +themselves, at this one banquet, for the many days when they had gone +without a dinner. But, whenever the mariners were not looking at them +(which was pretty often, as they looked chiefly into the basins and +platters), the beautiful woman and her damsels turned aside and laughed. +Even the servants, as they knelt down to present the dishes, might be seen +to grin and sneer, while the guests were helping themselves to the offered +dainties. + +And once in a while the strangers seemed to taste something that they did +not like. + +"Here is an odd kind of a spice in this dish," said one. "I can't say it +quite suits my palate. Down it goes, however." + +"Send a good draught of wine down your throat," said his comrade on the +next throne. "That is the stuff to make this sort of cookery relish well. +Though I must needs say, the wine has a queer taste too. But the more I +drink of it the better I like the flavor." + +Whatever little fault they might find with the dishes, they sat at dinner +a prodigiously long while; and it would really have made you ashamed to +see how they swilled down the liquor and gobbled up the food. They sat, on +golden thrones, to be sure; but they behaved like pigs in a sty, and, if +they had had their wits about them, they might have guessed that this was +the opinion of their beautiful hostess and her maidens. It brings a blush +into my face to reckon up, in my own mind, what mountains of meat and +pudding, and what gallons of wine, these two and twenty guzzlers and +gormandizers ate and drank. They forgot all about their homes, and their +wives, and children, and all about Ulysses, and everything else, except +this banquet, at which they wanted to keep feasting forever. But at length +they began to give over, from mere incapacity to hold any more. + +"That last bit of fat is too much for me," said one. + +"And I have not room for another morsel," said his next neighbor, heaving +a sigh. "What a pity! My appetite is as sharp as ever." + +In short, they all left off eating, and leaned back on their thrones, with +such a stupid and helpless aspect as made them ridiculous to behold. When +their hostess saw this, she laughed aloud; so did her four damsels; so did +the two-and-twenty serving men that bore the dishes, and their +two-and-twenty fellows that poured out the wine. And the louder they all +laughed, the more stupid and helpless did the two-and-twenty gormandizers +look. Then the beautiful woman took her stand in the middle of the saloon, +and stretching out a slender rod (it had been all the while in her hand, +although they never noticed it till this moment), she turned it from one +guest to another, until each had felt it pointed at himself. Beautiful as +her face was, and though there was a smile on it, it looked just as wicked +and mischievous as the ugliest serpent that ever was seen; and fat-witted +as the voyagers had made themselves, they began to suspect that they had +fallen into the power of an evil-minded enchantress. + +"Wretches," cried she, "you have abused a lady's hospitality; and in this +princely saloon your behavior has been suited to a hogpen. You are already +swine in everything but the human form, which you disgrace, and which I +myself should be ashamed to keep a moment longer, were you to share it +with me. But it will require only the slightest exercise of magic to make +the exterior conform to the hoggish disposition. Assume your proper +shapes, gormandizers, and begone to the sty!" + +Uttering these last words, she waved her wand; and stamping her foot +imperiously, each of the guests was struck aghast at beholding, instead of +his comrades in human shape, one and twenty hogs sitting on the same +number of golden thrones. Each man (as he still supposed himself to be) +essayed to give a cry of surprise, but found that he could merely grunt, +and that, in a word, he was just such another beast as his companions. It +looked so intolerably absurd to see hogs on cushioned thrones, that they +made haste to wallow down upon all fours, like other swine. They tried to +groan and beg for mercy, but forthwith emitted the most awful grunting and +squealing that ever came out of swinish throats. They would have wrung +their hands in despair, but, attempting to do so, grew all the more +desperate for seeing themselves squatted on their hams, and pawing the air +with their fore trotters. Dear me! what pendulous ears they had! what +little red eyes, half buried in fat! and what long snouts, instead of +Grecian noses! + +But brutes as they certainly were, they yet had enough of human nature in +them to be shocked at their own hideousness; and still intending to groan, +they uttered a viler grunt and squeal than before. So harsh and +ear-piercing it was, that you would have fancied a butcher was sticking +his knife into each of their throats, or, at the very least, that somebody +was pulling every hog by his funny little twist of a tail. + +"Begone to your sty!" cried the enchantress, giving them some smart +strokes with her wand; and then she turned to the serving-men. "Drive out +these swine, and throw down some acorns for them to eat." + +The door of the saloon being flung open, the drove of hogs ran in all +directions save the right one, in accordance with their hoggish +perversity, but were finally driven into the back yard of the palace. It +was a sight to bring tears into one's eyes (and I hope none of you will be +cruel enough to laugh at it) to see the poor creatures go snuffing along, +picking up here a cabbage leaf and there a turnip-top, and rooting their +noses in the earth for whatever they could find. In their sty, moreover, +they behaved more piggishly than the pigs that had been born so; for they +bit and snorted at one another, put their feet in the trough, and gobbled +up their victuals in a ridiculous hurry; and, when there was nothing more +to be had, they made a great pile of themselves among some unclean straw +and fell fast asleep. If they had any human reason left, it was just +enough to keep them wondering when they should be slaughtered, and what +quality of bacon they should make. + +Meantime, as I told you before, Eurylochus had waited, and waited, and +waited, in the entrance-hall of the palace, without being able to +comprehend what had befallen his friends. At last, when the swinish uproar +resounded through the palace, and when he saw the image of a hog in the +marble basin, he thought it best to hasten back to the vessel, and inform +the wise Ulysses of these marvelous occurrences. So he ran as fast as he +could down the steps, and never stopped to draw breath till he reached the +shore. + +"Why do you come alone?" asked King Ulysses, as soon as he saw him. "Where +are your two and twenty comrades?" + +At these questions Eurylochus burst into tears. + +"Alas!" cried he, "I greatly fear that we shall never see one of their +faces again." + +Then he told Ulysses all that had happened, as far as he knew it, and +added that he suspected the beautiful woman to be a vile enchantress, and +the marble palace, magnificent as it looked, to be only a dismal cavern in +reality. As for his companions, he could not imagine what had become of +them, unless they had been given to the swine to be devoured alive. At +this intelligence all the voyagers were greatly affrighted. But Ulysses +lost no time in girding on his sword, and hanging his bow and quiver over +his shoulders, and taking a spear in his right hand. When his followers +saw their wise leader making these preparations, they inquired whither he +was going, and earnestly besought him not to leave them. + +"You are our king," cried they; "and what is more, you are the wisest man +in the whole world, and nothing but your wisdom and courage can get us out +of this danger. If you desert us, and go to the enchanted palace, you will +suffer the same fate as our poor companions, and not a soul of us will +ever see our dear Ithaca again." + +"As I am your king," answered Ulysses, "and wiser than any of you, it is +therefore the more my duty to see what has befallen our comrades, and +whether anything can yet be done to rescue them. Wait for me here until +to-morrow. If I do not then return, you must hoist sail, and endeavor to +find your way to our native land. For my part, I am answerable for the +fate of these poor mariners, who have stood by my side in battle, and been +so often drenched to the skin, along with me, by the same tempestuous +surges. I will either bring them back with me or perish." + +Had his followers dared, they would have detained him by force. But King +Ulysses frowned sternly on them, and shook his spear, and bade them stop +him at their peril. Seeing him so determined, they let him go, and sat +down on the sand, as disconsolate a set of people as could be, waiting and +praying for his return. + +It happened to Ulysses, just as before, that, when he had gone a few steps +from the edge of the cliff, the purple bird came fluttering towards him, +crying, "Peep, peep, pe--weep!" and using all the art it could to persuade +him to go no farther. + +"What mean you, little bird?" cried Ulysses. "You are arrayed like a king +in purple and gold, and wear a golden crown upon your head. Is it because +I too am a king that you desire so earnestly to speak with me? If you can +talk in human language, say what you would have me do." + +"Peep!" answered the purple bird, very dolorously. "Peep, peep, +pe--we--ep!" + +Certainly there lay some heavy anguish at the little bird's heart; and it +was a sorrowful predicament that he could not, at least, have the +consolation of telling what it was. But Ulysses had no time to waste in +trying to get at the mystery. He therefore quickened his pace, and had +gone a good way along the pleasant wood-path, when there met him a young +man of very brisk and intelligent aspect, and clad in a rather singular +garb. He wore a short cloak, and a sort of cap that seemed to be furnished +with a pair of wings; and from the lightness of his step, you would have +supposed that there might likewise be wings on his feet. To enable him to +walk still better (for he was always on one journey or another), he +carried a winged staff, around which two serpents were wriggling and +twisting. In short, I have said enough to make you guess that it was +Quicksilver; and Ulysses (who knew him of old, and had learned a great +deal of his wisdom from him) recognized him in a moment. + +"Whither are you going in such a hurry, wise Ulysses?" asked Quicksilver. +"Do you not know that this island is enchanted? The wicked enchantress +(whose name is Circe, the sister of King AEetes) dwells in the marble +palace which you see yonder among the trees. By her magic arts, she +changes every human being into the brute, beast, or fowl whom he happens +most to resemble." + +"That little bird which met me at the edge of the cliff," exclaimed +Ulysses; "was he a human being once?" + +"Yes," answered Quicksilver. "He was once a king, named Picus, and a +pretty good sort of a king too, only rather too proud of his purple robe, +and his crown, and the golden chain about his neck; so he was forced to +take the shape of a gaudy-feathered bird. The lions, and wolves, and +tigers who will come running to meet you, in front of the palace, were +formerly fierce and cruel men, resembling in their dispositions the wild +beasts whose forms they now rightfully wear." + +"And my poor companions," said Ulysses. "Have they undergone a similar +change, through the arts of this wicked Circe?" + +"You well know what gormandizers they were," replied Quicksilver; and, +rogue that he was, he could not help laughing at the joke. "So you will +not be surprised to hear that they have all taken the shapes of swine! If +Circe had never done anything worse, I really should not think her so very +much to blame." + +"But can I do nothing to help them?" inquired Ulysses. + +"It will require all your wisdom," said Quicksilver, "and a little of my +own into the bargain, to keep your royal and sagacious self from being +transformed into a fox. But do as I bid you, and the matter may end better +than it has begun." + +While he was speaking, Quicksilver seemed to be in search of something; he +went stooping along the ground, and soon laid his hand on a little plant +with a snow-white flower, which he plucked and smelt of. Ulysses had been +looking at that very spot only just before; and it appeared to him that +the plant had burst into full flower the instant when Quicksilver touched +it with his fingers. + +"Take this flower, King Ulysses," said he. "Guard it as you do your +eyesight; for I can assure you it is exceedingly rare and precious, and +you might seek the whole earth over without ever finding another like it. +Keep it in your hand, and smell of it frequently after you enter the +palace, and while you are talking with the enchantress. Especially when +she offers you food, or a draught of wine out of her goblet, be careful to +fill your nostrils with the flower's fragrance. Follow these directions, +and you may defy her magic arts to change you into a fox." + +Quicksilver then gave him some further advice how to behave, and, bidding +him be bold and prudent, again assured him that, powerful as Circe was, he +would have a fair prospect of coming safely out of her enchanted palace. +After listening attentively, Ulysses thanked his good friend, and resumed +his way. But he had taken only a few steps, when, recollecting some other +questions which he wished to ask, he turned round again, and beheld nobody +on the spot where Quicksilver had stood; for that winged cap of his, and +those winged shoes with the help of the winged staff, had carried him +quickly out of sight. + +When Ulysses reached the lawn in front of the palace, the lions and other +savage animals came bounding to meet him, and would have fawned upon him +and licked his feet. But the wise king struck at them with his long spear, +and sternly bade them begone out of his path; for he knew that they had +once been bloodthirsty men, and would now tear him limb from limb, instead +of fawning upon him, could they do the mischief that was in their hearts. +The wild beasts yelped and glared at him, and stood at a distance while he +ascended the palace steps. + +On entering the hall, Ulysses saw the magic fountain in the centre of it. +The up-gushing water had now again taken the shape of a man in a long, +white, fleecy robe, who appeared to be making gestures of welcome. The +king likewise heard the noise of the shuttle in the loom, and the sweet +melody of the beautiful woman's song, and then the pleasant voices of +herself and the four maidens talking together, with peals of merry +laughter intermixed. But Ulysses did not waste much time in listening to +the laughter or the song. He leaned his spear against one of the pillars +of the hall, and then, after loosening his sword in the scabbard, stepped +boldly forward, and threw the folding-doors wide open. The moment she +beheld his stately figure standing in the doorway, the beautiful woman +rose from the loom, and ran to meet him with a glad smile throwing its +sunshine over her face, and both her hands extended. + +"Welcome, brave stranger!" cried she. "We were expecting you." + +And the nymph with the sea-green hair made a courtesy down to the ground, +and likewise bade him welcome; so did her sister with the bodice of oaken +bark, and she that sprinkled dew-drops from her fingers' ends, and the +fourth one with some oddity which I cannot remember. And Circe, as the +beautiful enchantress was called (who had deluded so many persons that she +did not doubt of being able to delude Ulysses, not imagining how wise he +was), again addressed him. + +"Your companions," said she, "have already been received into my palace, +and have enjoyed the hospitable treatment to which the propriety of their +behavior so well entitles them. If such be your pleasure, you shall first +take some refreshment, and then join them in the elegant apartments which +they now occupy. See, I and my maidens have been weaving their figures +into this piece of tapestry." + +She pointed to the web of beautifully woven cloth in the loom. Circe and +the four nymphs must have been very diligently at work since the arrival +of the mariners; for a great many yards of tapestry had now been wrought, +in addition to what I before described. In this new part, Ulysses saw his +two and twenty friends represented as sitting on cushioned and canopied +thrones, greedily devouring dainties and quaffing deep draughts of wine. +The work had not yet gone any further. Oh, no, indeed! The enchantress was +far too cunning to let Ulysses see the mischief which her magic arts had +since brought upon the gormandizers. + +"As for yourself, valiant sir," said Circe, "judging by the dignity of +your aspect, I take you to be nothing less than a king. Deign to follow +me, and you shall be treated as befits your rank." + +So Ulysses followed her into the oval saloon, where his two and twenty +comrades had devoured the banquet which ended so disastrously for +themselves. But all this while he had held the snow-white flower in his +hand, and had constantly smelt of it while Circe was speaking; and as he +crossed the threshold of the saloon, he took good care to inhale several +long and deep snuffs of its fragrance. Instead of two and twenty thrones, +which had before been ranged around the wall, there was now only a single +throne, in the centre of the apartment. But this was surely the most +magnificent seat that ever a king or an emperor reposed himself upon, all +made of chased gold, studded with precious stones, with a cushion that +looked like a soft heap of living roses, and overhung by a canopy of +sunlight which Circe knew how to weave into drapery. The enchantress took +Ulysses by the hand, and made him sit down upon this dazzling throne. +Then, clapping her hands, she summoned the chief butler. + +"Bring hither," said she, "the goblet that is set apart for kings to drink +out of. And fill it with the same delicious wine which my royal brother, +King AEetes, praised so highly, when he visited me with my fair daughter +Medea. That good and amiable child! Were she now here, it would delight +her to see me offering this wine to my honored guest." + +But Ulysses, while the butler was gone for the wine, held the snow-white +flower to his nose. + +"Is it a wholesome wine?" he asked. + +At this the four maidens tittered; whereupon the enchantress looked round +at them, with an aspect of severity. + +"It is the wholesomest juice that ever was squeezed out of the grape," +said she; "for, instead of disguising a man, as other liquor is apt to do, +it brings him to his true self, and shows him as he ought to be." + +The chief butler liked nothing better than to see people turned into +swine, or making any kind of a beast of themselves; so he made haste to +bring the royal goblet, filled with a liquid as bright as gold, and which +kept sparkling upward, and throwing a sunny spray over the brim. But, +delightfully as the wine looked, it was mingled with the most potent +enchantments that Circe knew how to concoct. For every drop of the pure +grape-juice there were two drops of the pure mischief; and the danger of +the thing was, that the mischief made it taste all the better. The mere +smell of the bubbles, which effervesced at the brim, was enough to turn a +man's beard into pig's bristles, or make a lion's claws grow out of his +fingers, or a fox's brush behind him. + +"Drink, my noble guest," said Circe, smiling as she presented him with the +goblet. "You will find in this draught a solace for all your troubles." + +King Ulysses took the goblet with his right hand, while with his left he +held the snow-white flower to his nostrils, and drew in so long a breath +that his lungs were quite filled with its pure and simple fragrance. Then, +drinking off all the wine, he looked the enchantress calmly in the face. + +"Wretch," cried Circe, giving him a smart stroke with her wand, "how dare +you keep your human shape a moment longer? Take the form of the brute whom +you most resemble. If a hog, go join your fellow swine in the sty; if a +lion, a wolf, a tiger, go howl with the wild beasts on the lawn; if a fox, +go exercise your craft in stealing poultry. Thou hast quaffed off my wine, +and canst be man no longer." + +But, such was the virtue of the snow-white flower, instead of wallowing +down from his throne in swinish shape or taking any other brutal form, +Ulysses looked even more manly and kinglike than before. He gave the magic +goblet a toss, and sent it clashing over the marble floor, to the farthest +end of the saloon. Then, drawing his sword, he seized the enchantress by +her beautiful ringlets, and made a gesture as if he meant to strike off +her head at one blow. + +"Wicked Circe," cried he, in a terrible voice, "this sword shall put an +end to thy enchantments. Thou shalt die, vile wretch, and do no more +mischief in the world, by tempting human beings into the vices which make +beasts of them." + +The tone and countenance of Ulysses were so awful, and his sword gleamed +so brightly and seemed to have so intolerably keen an edge, that Circe was +almost killed by the mere fright, without waiting for a blow. The chief +butler scrambled out of the saloon, picking up the golden goblet as he +went; and the enchantress and the four maidens fell on their knees, +wringing their hands and screaming for mercy. + +"Spare me!" cried Circe,--"spare me, royal and wise Ulysses. For now I +know that thou art he of whom Quicksilver forewarned me, the most prudent +of mortals, against whom no enchantments can prevail. Thou only couldst +have conquered Circe. Spare me, wisest of men. I will show thee true +hospitality, and even give myself to be thy slave, and this magnificent +palace to be henceforth thy home." + +The four nymphs, meanwhile, were making a most piteous ado; and especially +the ocean nymph, with the sea-green hair, wept a great deal of salt water, +and the fountain nymph, besides scattering dewdrops from her fingers' +ends, nearly melted away into tears. But Ulysses would not be pacified +until Circe had taken a solemn oath to change back his companions, and as +many others as he should direct, from their present forms of beast or bird +into their former shapes of men. + +"On these conditions," said he, "I consent to spare your life. Otherwise +you must die upon the spot." + +With a drawn sword hanging over her, the enchantress would readily have +consented to do as much good as she had hitherto done mischief, however +little she might like such employment. She therefore led Ulysses out of +the back entrance of the palace, and showed him the swine in their sty. +There were about fifty of these unclean beasts in the whole herd; and +though the greater part were hogs by birth and education, there was +wonderfully little difference to be seen betwixt them and their new +brethren who had so recently worn the human shape. To speak critically, +indeed, the latter rather carried the thing to excess, and seemed to make +it a point to wallow in the miriest part of the sty, and otherwise to +outdo the original swine in their own natural vocation. When men once turn +to brutes, the trifle of man's wit that remains in them adds tenfold to +their brutality. + +The comrades of Ulysses, however, had not quite lost the remembrance of +having formerly stood erect. When he approached the sty, two and twenty +enormous swine separated themselves from the herd, and scampered towards +him, with such a chorus of horrible squealing as made him clap both hands +to his ears. And yet they did not seem to know what they wanted, nor +whether they were merely hungry or miserable from some other cause. It was +curious, in the midst of their distress, to observe them thrusting their +noses into the mire, in quest of something to eat. The nymph with the +bodice of oaken bark (she was the hamadryad of an oak) threw a handful of +acorns among them; and the two and twenty hogs scrambled and fought for +the prize, as if they had tasted not so much as a noggin of sour milk for +a twelvemonth. + +"These must certainly be my comrades," said Ulysses. "I recognize their +dispositions. They are hardly worth the trouble of changing them into the +human form again. Nevertheless, we will have it done, lest their bad +example should corrupt the other hogs. Let them take their original +shapes, therefore, Dame Circe, if your skill is equal to the task. It will +require greater magic, I trow, than it did to make swine of them." + +So Circe waved her wand again, and repeated a few magic words, at the +sound of which the two and twenty hogs pricked up their pendulous ears. It +was a wonder to behold how their snouts grew shorter and shorter, and +their mouths (which they seemed to be sorry for, because they could not +gobble so expeditiously) smaller and smaller, and how one and another +began to stand upon his hind legs, and scratch his nose with his fore +trotters. At first the spectators hardly knew whether to call them hogs or +men, but by and by came to the conclusion that they rather resembled the +latter. Finally, there stood the twenty-two comrades of Ulysses, looking +pretty much the same as when they left the vessel. + +You must not imagine, however, that the swinish quality had entirely gone +out of them. When once it fastens itself into a person's character, it is +very difficult getting rid of it. This was proved by the hamadryad, who, +being exceedingly fond of mischief, threw another handful of acorns before +the twenty-two newly restored people; whereupon down they wallowed, in a +moment, and gobbled them up in a very shameful way. Then, recollecting +themselves, they scrambled to their feet, and looked more than commonly +foolish. + +"Thanks, noble Ulysses!" they cried. "From brute beasts you have restored +us to the condition of men again." + +"Do not put yourselves to the trouble of thanking me," said the wise king. +"I fear I have done but little for you." + +To say the truth, there was a suspicious kind of a grunt in their voices, +and for a long time afterwards they spoke gruffly, and were apt to set up +a squeal. + +"It must depend on your own future behavior," added Ulysses, "whether you +do not find your way back to the sty." + +At this moment, the note of a bird sounded from the branch of a +neighboring tree. + +"Peep, peep, pe--wee--ep!" + +It was the purple bird, who, all this while, had been sitting over their +heads, watching what was going forward, and hoping that Ulysses would +remember how he had done his utmost to keep him and his followers out of +harm's way. Ulysses ordered Circe instantly to make a king of this good +little fowl, and leave him exactly as she found him. Hardly were the words +spoken, and before the bird had time to utter another "Pe--weep," King +Picus leaped down from the bough of the tree, as majestic a sovereign as +any in the world, dressed in a long purple robe and gorgeous yellow +stockings, with a splendidly wrought collar about his neck, and a golden +crown upon his head. He and King Ulysses exchanged with one another the +courtesies which belonged to their elevated rank. But from that time +forth, King Picus was no longer proud of his crown and his trappings of +royalty, nor of the fact of his being a king; he felt himself merely the +upper servant of his people, and that it must be his lifelong labor to +make them better and happier. + +As for the lions, tigers, and wolves (though Circe would have restored +them to their former shapes at his slightest word), Ulysses thought it +advisable that they should remain as they now were, and thus give warning +of their cruel dispositions, instead of going about under the guise of +men, and pretending to human sympathies, while their hearts had the +blood-thirstiness of wild beasts. So he let them howl as much as they +liked, but never troubled his head about them. And, when everything was +settled according to his pleasure, he sent to summon the remainder of his +comrades, whom he had left at the seashore. These being arrived, with the +prudent Eurylochus at their head, they all made themselves comfortable in +Circe's enchanted palace until quite rested and refreshed from the toils +and hardships of their voyage. + + + + +THE SIRENS--SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS + +Translated by George Herbert Palmer + + +I turned me toward my ship, and called my crew to come on board and loose +the cables. Quickly they came, took places at the pins, and sitting in +order smote the foaming water with their oars. And for our aid behind our +dark-bowed ship came a fair wind to fill our sail, a welcome comrade, sent +us by fair-haired Circe, the mighty goddess, human of speech. When we had +done our work at the several ropes about the ship, we sat us down, while +wind and helmsman kept her steady. + +Now to my men, with aching heart, I said, "My friends, it is not right for +only one or two to know the oracles which Circe told, that heavenly +goddess. Therefore I speak, that, knowing all, we so may die, or fleeing +death and doom, we may escape. She warns us first against the marvelous +Sirens, and bids us flee their voice and flowery meadow. Only myself she +bade to hear their song; but bind me with galling cords, to hold me firm, +upright upon the mast-block,--round it let the rope be wound. And if I +should entreat you, and bid you set me free, thereat with still more +fetters bind me fast." + +Thus I, relating all my tale, talked with my comrades. Meanwhile our +stanch ship swiftly neared the Sirens' island; a fair wind swept her on. +On a sudden the wind ceased; there came a breathless calm; Heaven hushed +the waves. My comrades, rising, furled the sail, stowed it on board the +hollow ship, then sitting at their oars whitened the water with the +polished blades. But I with my sharp sword cut a great cake of wax into +small bits, which I then kneaded in my sturdy hands. Soon the wax warmed, +forced by the powerful pressure and by the rays of the exalted sun, the +lord of all. Then one by one I stopped the ears of all my crew; and on the +deck they bound me hand and foot, upright upon the mast-block, round which +they wound the rope; and sitting down they smote the foaming water with +their oars. But when we were as far away as one can call, and driving +swiftly onward, our speeding ship, as it drew near, did not escape the +Sirens, and thus they lifted up their penetrating voice:-- + +"Come hither, come, Ulysses, whom all praise! great glory to the Achaians! +Bring on your ship, and listen to our song. For none has ever passed us in +a black-hulled ship till from our lips he heard ecstatic song, then went +his way rejoicing and with larger knowledge. For we know all that on the +plain of Troy Argives and Trojans suffered at the Gods' behest; we know +whatever happens on the bounteous earth." + +So spoke they, sending forth their glorious song, and my heart longed to +listen. Knitting my brows, I signed my men to set me free; but bending +forward, on they rowed. And straightway Perimedes and Eurylochus arose and +laid upon me still more cords, and drew them tighter. Then, after passing +by, when we could hear no more the Sirens' voice nor any singing, quickly +my trusty crew removed the wax with which I stopped their ears, and set me +free from bondage. + +Soon after we left the island, I observed a smoke, I saw high waves and +heard a plunging sound. From the hands of my frightened men down fell the +oars, and splashed against the current. There the ship stayed, for they +worked the tapering oars no more. Along the ship I passed, inspiriting my +men with cheering words, standing by each in turn:-- + +"Friends, hitherto we have not been untried in danger. Here is no greater +danger than when the Cyclops penned us with brutal might in the deep cave. +Yet out of that, through energy of mine, through will and wisdom, we +escaped. These dangers, too, I think some day we shall remember. Come +then, and what I say let us all follow. You with your oars strike the deep +breakers of the sea, while sitting at the pins, and see if Zeus will set +us free from present death and let us go in safety. And, helmsman, these +are my commands for you; lay them to heart, for you control the rudders of +our hollow ship: keep the ship off that smoke and surf and hug the crags, +or else, before you know it, she may veer off that way, and you will bring +us into danger." + +So I spoke, and my words they quickly heeded. But Scylla I did not +name,--that hopeless horror,--for fear through fright my men might cease +to row, and huddle all together in the hold. I disregarded too the hard +behest of Circe, when she had said I must by no means arm. Putting on my +glittering armor and taking in my hands my two long spears, I went upon +the ship's fore-deck, for thence I looked for the first sight of Scylla of +the rocks, who brought my men disaster. Nowhere could I descry her; I +tried my eyes with searching up and down the dusky cliff. + +So up the strait we sailed in sadness; for here lay Scylla, and there +divine Charybdis fearfully sucked the salt sea-water down. Whenever she +belched it forth, like a kettle in fierce flame all would foam swirling +up, and overhead spray fell upon the tops of both the crags. But when she +gulped the salt sea-water down, then all within seemed in a whirl; the +rock around roared fearfully, and down below the bottom showed, dark with +the sand. Pale terror seized my men; on her we looked and feared to die. + +And now it was that Scylla snatched from the hollow ship six of my +comrades who were best in skill and strength. Turning my eyes toward my +swift ship to seek my men, I saw their feet and hands already in the air +as they were carried up. They screamed aloud and called my name for the +last time, in agony of heart. As when a fisher, on a jutting rock, with +long rod throws a bait to lure the little fishes, casting into the deep +the horn of stall-fed ox; then, catching a fish, flings it ashore +writhing,--even so were these drawn writhing up the rocks. There at her +door she ate them, loudly shrieking and stretching forth their hands in +mortal pangs toward me. That was the saddest sight my eyes have ever seen, +in all my toils, searching the ocean pathways. + + + + +ULYSSES IN ITHACA + + +ULYSSES LANDS ON THE SHORE OF ITHACA + +By F. S. Marvin, R. J. C. Mayor, and F. M. Stowell + + + [For ten years Ulysses was driven hither and thither over the + water, seeking for his homeland, Ithaca. At length he was + shipwrecked on the shores of Phoeacia. The king, Alcinous, + entertained him most hospitably, and Ulysses related to him the + story of his wanderings.] + + +When Ulysses had finished his story, there was silence in the hall till +Alcinous said, "Ulysses, now that you have come to my house after all +these troubles, you shall return without more wandering to your home." And +then he bade the princes go home for the night and meet again in the +morning to bring their gifts. + +So next day the Sea-kings went down to the ship and put their gifts on +board and then returned to the palace and sacrificed an ox to Zeus. And +then they feasted and drank their good wine and waited till the sun went +down. And the minstrel sang to them, but Ulysses kept looking at the sun +impatiently, like a hungry ploughman tired out at the close of day. At +last the time arrived, and then Ulysses said, "Alcinous, let me go now, +and fare you well. My escort and my gifts are all prepared, and I could +wish no more. May I but find my wife and my dear ones all safe and sound +at home! And may Heaven grant you, too, happy homes and every blessing and +no distress among your people!" And to Queen Arete he said, "Lady, may you +live happily with your husband and children, and all this people, till old +age comes to you and death, which must come to all!" + +Then the herald led the way and Ulysses followed to the ship, and the +queen sent her servants with him to carry warm clothing for the voyage and +food and drink. And when they had stored the ship he lay down silently in +the stern, and the rowers took their places in the benches and plied their +oars, while a deep, sweet sleep fell upon him, like the sleep of death. +Then the wonderful ship leapt forward on her way, like a team of chariot +horses plunging beneath the whip, and the great dark wave roared round the +stern. No hawk could fly so quickly as that ship flew through the waves, +and the hawk is the swiftest of all birds. And as she sped, the man who +had suffered so much and was as wise as the Gods lay peacefully asleep, +and forgot his sufferings. + +But when the bright star rose that tells of the approach of day, the ship +drew near the island of Ithaca. There is a haven there between two steep +headlands which break the waves, so that ships can ride in safety without +a mooring rope, and at the head of it an olive-tree, and a shadowy cave +where the water fairies come and tend their bees and weave their sea-blue +garments on the hanging looms and mix their wine in bowls and jars of +stone. There are springs of water in the cave, and two ways into it, one +to the north for men to enter, and one to the south where none but the +Gods may pass. + +The Sea-kings knew this harbor and rowed straight into it and ran their +ship half a keel's length ashore. Then they lifted Ulysses out of the +stern, wrapt in the rugs and coverlet, and laid him still asleep upon the +sand. And the gifts they placed in a heap by the trunk of the olive-tree, +a little out of the road, so that no passer-by might rob him as he slept. + +Then they sailed away; and after they were gone Ulysses awoke, but he +could not recognize the land where he lay, for Athene had cast a mist +about him so that everything looked strange, though he was the lord of it +all. There were the mountain paths and the sheltering creeks, the high, +steep rocks and the trees in bloom; but he could not see it aright, and +started up and smote his hands upon his thighs and cried aloud,-- + +"What land have I come to now? And what can I do with all this treasure? +If the Sea-kings did not really mean to send me back to Ithaca they should +have conveyed me to some other people who would have sent me home." And +then he counted the gifts over, the golden vessels, and the beautiful +garments, and found nothing missing, but they gave him no pleasure; and he +turned sadly to walk along the shore and dream of home, when a young +herdsman met him, of noble figure, with a javelin in his hand and a fine +mantle in double folds upon his shoulders. Ulysses was glad to greet him, +and asked what country he had reached. It was Athene in disguise, and she +answered, "Truly, stranger, you must have come from far indeed. For this +is a famous island that all men know, whether they live in the east or in +the west. It is a rugged land, and no place for horses and chariots, but +though it is narrow, it is not so poor; for there are stores of corn and +wine, plenty of water for the cattle and plenty of wood. Its name is +Ithaca, and some men have heard of it even at Troy, which they say is a +long way off." + +Then brave Ulysses rejoiced in his heart to hear that it was his native +land; but he would not tell the herdsman who he was, and made up a cunning +story that he had escaped as an outlaw from Crete and had been left upon +the island by a Phoenician crew. And the goddess smiled to hear him, and +stood forth in her own true form, a wise and noble woman, tall and fair, +and put her hand upon his shoulder, and said,-- + +"Come, let us practice no more craft on one another, Ulysses, for we are +both famous for our wit and wiles, you among mortals and I among the Gods. +I am Pallas Athene, daughter of Zeus, and I have stood beside you and +protected you in all your wanderings and toil. And now I have come here to +tell you of the troubles that await you in your house, and to help you +with my counsel. But you must still endure in silence, and tell no one +that Ulysses has returned." + +And Ulysses made answer, "It is hard, goddess, for a mortal to know you, +wise though he may be, for you come in many shapes. Truly I have known +your kindness from of old in Troy, but when we went on board the ships, I +never saw you at my side again. Tell me, I pray you, if this is Ithaca +indeed, my native land." + +Then the goddess answered, "I see, Ulysses, that you keep your ready wit +and steadfast mind. I could not show myself your friend before for fear of +angering Neptune, my own father's brother. But come now, and I will show +you Ithaca; there is the haven and the olive with its slender leaves, and +the cave where you once made many an offering to the water nymphs." + +And then she rolled away the mist, and the long-suffering hero rejoiced to +see his native land again. He kissed the kindly earth, and vowed to the +nymphs that he would bring them offerings as of old if he lived to see his +dear son a man. + +Then the goddess bade him be of good cheer, and showed him a hiding-place +in the cavern for the gifts. And then they sat down by the trunk of the +olive-tree, and Athene told him all the misdeeds of the suitors, and how +his wife had beguiled them and kept them waiting till his return, and how +he must avenge himself and her. + +Then Ulysses said, "Truly, I should have perished in my own halls, like +Agamemnon, if you had not warned me. Help me, therefore, with your wisdom, +and stand beside me again and put strength and courage within me as in the +days of Troy. For with you by my side I could fight against three hundred +men." + +And Pallas Athene made answer, "I will be with you, Ulysses, when the hour +of the conflict is come, and the blood of the suitors who eat up your +substance shall be shed at last. But now I will change you into a poor +beggar, so old and so wretched that no one will know you, and in that +guise you must go and stay with the herdsman Eumaeus, who tends your swine, +until I have brought your son Telemachus from Sparta, where he has gone to +seek tidings of you." + +Then she touched him with her magic wand, and the fair flesh withered on +his limbs, and the golden locks fell from his head, and he was changed +into an old man. His skin was shriveled and his bright eyes dimmed, and +for his covering she gave him a tattered wrap, begrimed with smoke, and a +worn deerskin on his shoulder, and a wallet and a staff in his hand. + +Then she vanished, and left him to take his way alone across the hills. + + + + +ULYSSES AT THE HOUSE OF THE SWINEHERD + +By F. S. Marvin, R. J. C. Mayor, and F. M. Stowell + + +Ulysses went up along the rough mountain path, through the forest and over +the hills, till he came to the house where his faithful steward lived. It +stood in an open space, and there was a large courtyard in front with a +wall of heavy stones and hawthorn boughs and a stout oak palisade. Inside +the yard there were twelve sties for the pigs, and the swineherd kept four +watch-dogs to guard the place, great beasts and fierce as wolves, that he +had reared himself. Ulysses found him at home, sitting in the porch alone, +and cutting himself a pair of sandals from a brown oxhide. + +The dogs caught sight of the king as soon as he came up and flew at him, +barking, but he had the wit to let go his staff and sit down at once on +the ground. Still it might have gone hard with him there in front of his +own servant's house had not Eumaeus rushed out of the porch, dropping the +leather in his haste, and scolded the dogs, driving them off with a volley +of stones. + +Then he said to Ulysses, "A little more, old man, and the dogs would have +torn you in pieces, and disgraced me forever. And I have my full share of +trouble as it is, for I have lost the best master in all the world and +must sit here to mourn for him and fatten his swine for other men, while +he is wandering somewhere in foreign lands, hungry and thirsty perhaps, if +he is still alive at all. But now come in yourself, and let me give you +food and drink and tell me your own tale." + +So he took Ulysses into the house and made a seat for him with a pile of +brushwood boughs and a great thick shaggy goat-skin which he used for his +own bed, and all with so kind a welcome that it warmed the king's heart +and made him pray the Gods to bless him for his goodness. But Eumaeus only +said, "How could I neglect a stranger, though he were a worse man than +you? All strangers and beggars are sent to us by Zeus. Take my gift and +welcome, though it is little enough I have to give, a servant such as I, +with new masters to lord it over him. For we have lost the king who would +have loved me and given me house and lands and all that a faithful servant +ought to have, whose work is blest by the Gods and prospers, as mine does +here. Alas! he is dead and gone! he went away with Agamemnon to fight at +Troy and never came home again." + +So saying, the good swineherd rose and fetched what meat and wine he had, +and set it before Ulysses, grieving that he had nothing better for him +because the shameless suitors plundered everything. + +But Ulysses ate and drank eagerly, and when his strength had come again he +asked Eumaeus, "My friend, who is this master of yours you tell me of? Did +you not say he was lost for Agamemnon's sake? Perhaps I may have seen him, +for I have traveled far." + +But the swineherd answered, "Old man, his wife and son will believe no +traveler's tale. They have heard too many such. Every wandering beggar who +comes to Ithaca goes to my mistress with some empty story to get a meal +for himself, and she welcomes him and treats him kindly and asks him about +it all, with the tears running down her cheeks in a woman's way. Yes, even +you, old man, might learn to weave such tales if you thought they would +get you a cloak or a vest. No, he is dead, and dogs and birds have eaten +him, or else he has fed the fishes and his bones lie somewhere on the +seashore, buried in the sand. And he has left us all to grieve for him, +but no one more than me, who can never have so kind a master again, not +though I had my heart's desire and went back to my native land and saw my +father and mother, and the dear home where I was born. It is Ulysses above +all whom I long to see once more. There, stranger, I have called him by +his name, and that I should not do; for he is still my dear master though +he is far away." + +Then Ulysses said, "My friend, your hope has gone and you will never +believe me. But I tell you this and seal it with an oath: Ulysses will +return! Poor as I am, I will take no reward for my news till he comes to +his own again, but you shall give me a new vest and cloak that day, and I +will wear them." + +But the swineherd answered, "Ah, my friend, I shall never need to pay you +that reward. He will never come back again. But now drink your wine in +peace, and let us talk of something else, and do not call to mind the +sorrow that almost breaks my heart. Tell me of yourself and your own +troubles and who you are, and what ship brought you here, for you will not +say you came afoot." + +Then Ulysses pretended he was a Cretan and had fought at Troy, and told +Eumaeus a long tale of adventures and how he had been wrecked at last on +the coast of Epirus. The king of the country, he said, had rescued him, +and he had learned that Ulysses had been there a little while before, and +was already on his way to Ithaca. + +The swineherd listened eagerly to it all, but when Ulysses had finished he +said, "Poor friend, my heart aches to hear of all your sufferings. But +there is one thing you should not have said, one thing I can never +believe, and that is that Ulysses will return. And why need you lie to +please me? I can see for myself that you are old and unhappy, a wanderer +whom the Gods have sent to me. It is not for such a tale I will show you +the kindness that you need, but because I pity you myself and reverence +the law of Zeus." + +"If I lie," Ulysses answered, "you may have me thrown from the cliff as a +warning to other cheats. I swear it, and call the Gods to witness." + +But the true-hearted swineherd only said, "I should get a good name by +that, my friend, if I took you into nay house and had you for my guest, +and then murdered you brutally! Do you think I could pray to Zeus after +that without a fear? But now it is supper-time, and my men will be coming +home." While they spoke, the herdsmen came up with the swine, and the sows +were driven into the pens, grunting and squealing noisily as they settled +in for the night. Then Eumaeus called out, "Bring in the fattest boar, and +let us make a sacrifice in honor of our guest, and get some reward +ourselves for all the trouble we have spent upon the drove,--trouble lost, +since strangers take the fruit of it all." + +So they brought in a big fat white-tusked boar, while Eumaeus split the +wood for the fire. And he did not forget the Immortals, for he had a pious +heart: he made the due offerings first and prayed for his master's return, +and then he stood up at the board to carve, and gave each man his share +and a special slice for his guest from the whole length of the chine. +Ulysses took it and thanked him with all his heart:-- + +"May Father Zeus be your friend, Eumaeus, and give you what I would give +you for your kindness to a poor old man like me." + +But the swineherd said, "Take it, my good friend, take it and enjoy it. +Zeus will give or withhold as it may please him, for he can do all +things." + +So they sat down to the feast, and after they had had their fill the +swineherd's servant cleared everything away, and then they made ready for +sleep. The evening closed in black and stormy, and a west wind sprang up +bringing the rain with it, and blew hard all the night; so Eumaeus made up +a bed of fleeces for Ulysses by the fire and gave him a great thick cloak +as well, that he kept for the roughest weather. But he could not bring +himself to stay there too, away from his herd of pigs, and he wrapped +himself up warmly and went out to sleep beside them in the open. Ulysses +saw, and smiled to see, what care he took of everything, while he thought +his master was far away. + +[On the following morning] Ulysses and the swineherd were already +preparing their breakfast when Telemachus came up. The dogs knew him and +played round him lovingly. "Eumaeus," said Ulysses, "some friend of yours +is coming, for I hear footsteps, and the dogs are pleased and do not +bark." + +He had hardly finished speaking when his own dear son stood in the +doorway. The swineherd started up and dropped the vessels in which he was +mixing the wine. He went to meet his young master and fell on his neck and +kissed him as a father would kiss an only son escaped from death. "Light +of my eyes, dear son, have you come home at last? When you sailed away to +Pylos, I never thought to see you again. But come in and let me feast my +eyes upon you; for you do not often visit us, but are kept at home in the +town, watching that crowd of ruinous suitors." + +And Telemachus answered, "Gladly, good father; I have come to see you, and +to hear tidings of my mother." + +Then the swineherd told him that his mother still waited patiently at +home, and spent her days and nights in weeping. + +[Illustration: "DEAR SON, HAVE YOU COME HOME AT LAST? WHEN YOU SAILED AWAY +TO PYLOS, I NEVER THOUGHT TO SEE YOU AGAIN. BUT COME IN AND LET ME FEAST +MY EYES UPON YOU; FOR YOU DO NOT OFTEN VISIT US, BUT ARE KEPT AT HOME IN +THE TOWN, WATCHING THAT CROWD OF RUINOUS SUITORS." AND TELEMACHUS +ANSWERED, "GLADLY, GOOD FATHER; I HAVE COME TO SEE YOU, AND TO HEAR +TIDINGS OF MY MOTHER." THEN THE SWINEHERD TOLD HIM THAT HIS MOTHER STILL +WAITED PATIENTLY AT HOME.] + +Then Telemachus went into the house, and as he came up Ulysses rose to +give him his seat, but he would not take it, and said, "Keep your seat, +stranger, this man shall make up another for me." So Ulysses sat down +again, and the swineherd made a seat for Telemachus of the green brushwood +and put a fleece upon it. Then he set food before them, and when they had +eaten, Telemachus asked who the stranger was, and how he had come to +Ithaca. And Eumaeus told him Ulysses's own story and begged him to protect +the wanderer. But Telemachus thought of the suitors and did not wish to +take him to the palace. + +"I will give him a coat and a vest," he said, "and shoes for his feet, and +a two-edged sword, and I will send him on his way. But I cannot take him +into the house, where the suitors would mock at him and use him ill. One +man cannot restrain them, and he so young as I." + +Then Ulysses said, "Sir, if I may speak, I would say foul wrong is done +you in your house, and my heart burns at the thought. Do your people hate +you, or will your brothers give you no support? Would that I were as young +as you are, and were Ulysses's son or Ulysses himself. I would go to the +palace and fall upon all the throng, and die there, one man against a +hundred, sooner than see the shameful deeds that are done in that glorious +house." + +And Telemachus answered, "Hear me, stranger, and I will tell you all. My +people do not hate me, and I have no quarrel with them. But I have no +brothers to stand by me, for Zeus has never given more than one son to +each generation of our line. And there are many foemen in the house, all +the princes of the islands, and they too woo my mother and threaten my +life, and I cannot see how it will end." + +Then he said to Eumaeus, "Go up to the house, old father, as quickly as you +can, and tell my mother that I am come back safe from Pylos, and I will +wait for you here." + +And Eumaeus answered, "I hear, master, and understand. But shall I not go +to Laertes on my way and tell him too? For since you set sail for Pylos, +they say he has not eaten or drunk or gone about his work, but sits in his +house sorrowing and wasting away with grief." + +But Telemachus bade him go straight to the palace and return at once, and +let the queen send word to Laertes by one of the maids. So Eumaeus went +forth, and when Athene saw him go, she drew near, and came and stood by +the gateway and showed herself to Ulysses, a tall and beautiful woman, +with wisdom in her look. The dogs saw her too and were afraid, and shrank +away whining into the corner of the yard, but Telemachus could not see +her. Then the goddess nodded to Ulysses, and he went out and stood before +her, and she said, "Noble Ulysses, now is the time to reveal yourself to +your son, and go forth with him to the town, with death and doom for the +suitors. I shall be near you in the battle and eager to fight." + +Then she touched him with her golden wand and gave him his beauty and +stature once more, and his old bronzed color came back and his beard grew +thick and his garments shone bright again: and so she sent him to the hut. +And when Telemachus saw him, he marveled and turned away his eyes, for he +thought it must be a god. + +"Stranger," he said, "you are changed since a moment ago; your color is +not the same, nor your garments. If you are one of the Immortals, be +gracious to us, and let us offer you gifts and sacrifice." + +Then Ulysses cried out, "I am no god, but your own dear father, for whose +sake you are suffering cruel wrongs and the spite of men." And then he +kissed his son and let his tears take their way at last. + +But Telemachus could not believe it, and said, "You cannot be my father, +but a god come down to deceive me and make me grieve still more. No mortal +could do what you have done, for a moment since you were old and wretched, +and poorly clad, and now you seem like one of the heavenly Gods." + +Then his father answered, "My son, no other Ulysses will ever come back to +you. Athene has done this wonder, for she is a goddess and can make men +what she will, now poor, now rich, now old, now young; such power have the +lords of heaven to exalt us or bring us low." + +Then Telemachus fell on his neck, and they wept aloud together. And they +would have wept out their hearts till evening, had not Telemachus asked +his father how he had come to Ithaca at last; and Ulysses told him that +the sea-kings had brought him and put him on shore asleep, and that Athene +had sent him to the swineherd's hut. "But now tell me of the suitors. How +many are they and what manner of men? Can the two of us make head against +the throng?" + +"Father," he answered, "I know well your fame, mighty and wise in war. But +this we could never dare, two men against a host. They are a hundred and +twenty in all, the best fighting men from Ithaca and the islands round. +Think, if you can, of some champion who would befriend us and give us +help." + +And Ulysses made answer, "What think you, if Father Zeus and the goddess +Athene stood by our side? Should we still need other help?" + +"Truly they are the best of champions," said Telemachus, "though they sit +on high among the clouds; and they rule both men and Gods." "And they will +be with us," said his father, "when we come to the trial of war. Now at +daybreak you must go home and mix with the suitors, and later on the +swineherd will bring me to the town, disguised again as the old +beggar-man; and if they ill-treat me or even strike me or drag me out of +the house, you must look on and bear it. You may check them by speaking, +but they will not listen, for the day of their doom is at hand. And tell +no one that Ulysses has come home, not even Laertes nor the swineherd nor +Penelope herself; we must keep the secret until we are sure of our +friends." + +Then Telemachus said that his father might trust him, and so they talked +on together. Meanwhile Eumaeus had reached the palace with the tidings that +Telemachus had returned; and the suitors who were in the hall heard it and +were dismayed, for they saw that their plot had failed. They went out of +the palace and sat down before the gates, and were talking of sending word +to their ship that was lying in wait for Telemachus, when the ship itself +came into the harbor, with the other princes on board. So they all went up +together to the public square and debated what to do, and they resolved to +murder Telemachus as soon as they found another chance. Then they went +back and sat down again on the polished seats in the hall. + +Now Medon the herald had heard them plotting together in the square, and +went and told Penelope all they had said, and how they had purposed +putting her son to death. She went down at once to the hall with her +women, and stood in the doorway with her bright veil before her face and +spoke to Antinous and said, "Wicked and insolent man, can it be that they +call you in Ithaca one of their wisest men? No, it is a fool's work you +are doing, plotting to kill my son. He is helpless before you now, but +Zeus is the friend of the helpless and avenges their wrongs. Impious and +ungrateful too! Did not Ulysses once shield your father from his enemies +and save his life? Yet you waste his substance and would murder his son?" + +Then Eurymachus spoke and tried to soothe her. No one, he said, should +injure Telemachus while he was alive, for he loved him more than any man +on earth. Eurymachus's words were fair, and Penelope could say no more; +yet all the while he was planning the death of her son. + +In the evening the swineherd reached his hut again, and found Ulysses +changed to the old beggar-man once more, preparing supper with Telemachus. + +"What news, good Eumaeus?" said the young man. "Have the proud lords come +home from their ambush, or are they still waiting out yonder to take me as +I return?" And Eumaeus replied, "I did not stay, master, to go through the +town and find out the news, for when I had given my message I wanted to be +at home. But one thing I saw from the brow of the hill as I came along. A +swift ship was entering the harbor, full of armor and armed men. They may +have been the princes, but I cannot say." + +As he heard this, Telemachus looked at his father and smiled, but he took +good care that the swineherd should not see. + + + + +THE VENGEANCE OF ULYSSES + + +A. HIS RECEPTION AT THE PALACE. + +By F. S. Marvin, R. J. C. Mayor, and F. M. Stowell + + +Early next morning, when the rosy-fingered dawn was in the sky, Telemachus +bound on his sandals and took his stout spear in his hand, and said to the +swineherd, "Old friend, I must now be off to the city and let my mother +see me, for I know she will weep and sigh until I am there myself. And as +for this poor stranger, I would have you take him to the town and let him +beg for bite and sup from door to door, and those who choose can give. For +I cannot be host to every wanderer with all the trouble I have to bear. +And if that makes him angry--well! it is only the worse for him; I am a +man that speaks his mind." + +Then Ulysses answered readily, "Sir, I do not ask to stay here myself; a +beggar should not beg in the fields. Nor am I young enough to work on a +farm at a master's beck and call. So go your ways, and your man shall take +me with him to the town. But I will wait till the sun is high, for I am +afraid of the morning frost with these threadbare rags of mine." + +So Telemachus strode away until he reached the palace, and went into the +hall. The old nurse Eurycleia was there with the maids, spreading fleeces +on the inlaid stools and chairs; and she saw him at once and went up to +him with tears in her eyes, and then all the women gathered round and +kissed him and welcomed him home again. And Penelope came down from her +chamber and flung her arms round her son, and kissed his head and both his +eyes, and said to him tearfully, "You have come home, Telemachus, light of +my eyes! I thought I should never see you again, when you sailed away to +Pylos secretly, against my will, to get tidings of your father. And now +tell me all you heard." + +But Telemachus said to her, "Mother, why make me think of trouble now, +when I have just escaped from death? Rather put on your fairest robes, and +go and pray the Gods to grant us a day of vengeance. But I must be off to +the public square to meet a guest of mine whom I brought here in my ship. +I sent him on before me with the crew, and bade one of them take him to +his house until I came myself." + +So Penelope went away and prayed to the Gods, while the prince went down +to the public square and found Theoclymenus and brought him back to the +palace, and they sat down together in the hall. Then one of the old +servants brought up a polished table and spread it for them with good +things for their meal, and Penelope came and sat beside the door, spinning +her fine soft yarn. She did not speak till they had finished, but then she +said to her son, "Telemachus, I see I must go up to my room and lie down +on my bed, the bed I have watered with my tears ever since Ulysses went +away to Troy; for you are determined not to talk to me and tell me the +news of your father before the suitors come into the hall!" + +Then Telemachus said, "Mother, I will tell you all I know. We reached +Pylos and found Nestor there, and he took me into his splendid house, and +welcomed me as lovingly as though I had been a long-lost son of his own. +But he could tell me nothing of my father, not even if he were alive or +dead, and so he sent me on to Sparta, to the house of Menelaus. There I +saw Helen, the fairest of women, for whom the Greeks and Trojans fought +and suffered so long. Menelaus asked me why I came and I told him about +the suitors and all the wrong they did. Then he cried, 'Curse on them! The +dastards in the hero's place! Oh, that Ulysses would return! They would +soon have cause enough to hate this suit of theirs!' And then he told me +how he had heard tidings of my father from Proteus, the wizard of the sea. +He was living still, so the wizard said, on an island far away, in the +cave of a wood nymph called Calypso, who kept him there against his will, +and he had no ship to carry him over the broad sea. That was all Menelaus +could tell me; and when I had done my errand I came away, and the Gods +have brought me home in safety." + +And as Penelope listened her heart filled with sorrow; but Theoclymenus, +the seer, said to her, "Listen to me, wife of Ulysses, and I will prophesy +to you; for your son has heard nothing certain, but I have seen omens that +are sure. I swear by Zeus, the ruler of the Gods, and by the board and the +hearth of Ulysses himself where I am standing now, he is already here in +Ithaca, he knows of all this wickedness, and is waiting to punish the +suitors as they deserve." + +At that moment the princes came in from their sport and flung their cloaks +aside, and set about slaughtering the sheep and the fatted goats and the +swine for their feast. + +Meanwhile Ulysses was starting for the town, with the swineherd to show +him the way. He had slung the tattered wallet across his shoulder, and +Eumaeus had given him a staff, and every one who met them would have taken +the king for a poor old beggar-man, hobbling along with his crutch. + +So they went down the rocky path till they reached a running spring by the +wayside where the townsfolk got their water. There was a grove of tall +poplars round it, and the cool stream bubbled down from the rock overhead, +and above the fountain there was an altar to the nymphs where the +passers-by laid their offerings. + +There they chanced to meet Melanthius, the king's goatherd, driving his +fattest goats to the town for the suitors' feast. He was a favorite of +theirs, and did all he could to please them. Now as soon as he saw the two +he broke out into scoffs and gibes, till the heart of Ulysses grew hot +with anger. + +"Look there!" he shouted, "one rascal leading another! Trust a man to find +his mate! A plague on you, swineherd, where are you taking that pitiful +wretch? Another beggar, I suppose, to hang about the doors and cringe for +the scraps and spoil our feasts? Now if you would only let me have him to +watch my farm and sweep out my stalls and fetch fodder for my kids, he +could drink as much whey as he liked and get some flesh on his bones. But +no! His tricks have spoilt him for any honest work!" + +So he jeered at them in his folly, and as he passed he kicked Ulysses on +the thigh, but the king stood firm, and took the blow in silence, though +he could have found it in his heart to strike the man dead on the spot. +But Eumaeus turned round fiercely, and cried to the Gods for vengeance. + +"Nymphs of the spring," he prayed, "if ever my master honored you, hear my +prayer, and send him home again! He would make a sweep of all your +insolence, you good-for-nothing wretch, loitering here in the city while +your flocks are left to ruin!" + +"Oho!" cried Melanthius. "Listen to the foul-mouthed dog! I must put him +on board a ship and sell him in a foreign land, and make some use of him +that way! Why, Ulysses will never see the day of his return! He is dead +and gone; I wish his son would follow him!" + +With that he turned on his heel and hastened away to the palace hall, +where he sat down with the suitors at their feast. And the other two +followed slowly until they reached the gate. There they paused, and +Ulysses caught the swineherd by the hand, and cried,-- + +"Eumaeus, this must be the palace of the king! No one could mistake it. +See, there is room after room, and a spacious courtyard with a wall and +coping-stones and solid double doors to make it safe. And I am sure that a +great company is seated there at the banquet, for I can smell the roasted +meat and hear the sound of the lyre." + +Then Eumaeus said, "Your wits are quick enough; it is the very place. And +now tell me: would you rather go in alone and face the princes while I +wait here, or will you stay behind and let me go in first? But if you wait +here, you must not wait too long, for some one might catch sight of you +and strike you and drive you from the gate." + +Then the hero said to him, "I understand; I knew what I had to meet. Do +you go first and I will wait behind. For I have some knowledge of thrusts +and blows, and my heart has learned to endure; for I have suffered much in +storm and battle, and I can bear this like the rest." + +But while they were talking, a dog who was lying there lifted his head and +pricked his ears. It was the hound Argus, whom Ulysses had reared himself +long ago before the war, but had to leave behind when he went away to +Troy. Once he used to follow the hunters to the chase, but no one cared +for him now when his master was away, and he lay there covered with +vermin, on a dung-heap in front of the gates. Yet even so, when he felt +that Ulysses was near him, he wagged his tail and dropped his ears; but he +had not strength enough to drag himself up to his master. And when Ulysses +saw it, he turned away his face so that Eumaeus should not see the tears in +his eyes, and said, "Eumaeus, it is strange that they let that dog lie +there in the dung. He looks a noble creature, but perhaps he has never +been swift enough for the chase, and they have only kept him for his +beauty." + +"Ah, yes!" Eumaeus answered, "it is easy to see that he has no master now. +If you had been here when Ulysses went to Troy, you would have wondered at +the creature's pace and strength. In the thickest depth of the forest no +quarry could escape him, and no hound was ever keener-scented. But now he +is old and wretched and his lord has perished far away, and the heedless +women take no care of him. Slaves can do nothing as they ought when the +master is not there, for a man loses half his manhood when he falls into +slavery." + +Then Eumaeus went on into the palace and up to the hall where the suitors +were. But Argus had seen his master again at last, and when he had seen +him, he died. + +As soon as the swineherd came in, Telemachus caught sight of him, and +beckoned him to a stool at his side, and gave him his share of the feast. +After a little while Ulysses came up too, and sat down on the threshold +like a poor old beggar-man. Then his son sent him meat and bread by the +swineherd, and said that a beggar should be bold, and he ought to go among +the princes and ask each man for a dole. So he went round from one to the +other, stretching out his hand for a morsel in the true beggar's way. And +every one else felt some pity and gave him an alms, but Antinous mocked at +them all and told them they were ready enough to be generous with +another's wealth. And at last he grew angry and cursed Ulysses for a +whining rascal, and hurled a footstool at his head, bidding him begone and +trouble them no more. The stool struck Ulysses on the shoulder, but he +stood like a rock, motionless and silent, with black thoughts in his +heart. Then he went back straight to the threshold and sat down and spoke +to all the company:-- + +"Listen to me, my lords! No man bears any rancor for a blow in open war, +but Antinous has struck me because I am a beggar and know the curse of +hunger. If there be any gods who avenge the poor man's cause, I pray that +he may die before his marriage day!" + +At that the others felt shame, and told Antinous he did wrong to strike +the homeless wanderer. + +"Who knows?" they said. "He might be one of the heavenly Gods, and woe to +you if he were! For sometimes the Immortals take upon themselves the +likeness of strangers, and enter our cities, and go about among men, +watching the good and evil that they do." + +Thus they warned him, but he cared little for all they said. And +Telemachus sat there full of rage and grief to see his father struck, but +he kept back the tears and held his peace. + +Now Penelope was sitting in her room behind the hall, and she saw what had +happened, and was angry with Antinous, and called the swineherd to her +side. + +"Go, good Eumaeus, and tell the stranger to come here. And I will ask him +if he has ever heard of Ulysses, for he looks like a man who has wandered +far." + +And the swineherd said, "Yes, he is a Cretan, and has had all kinds of +adventures before he was driven here, and he could tell you stories that +would charm you like a minstrel's sweetest song, and you would never tire +of listening. And he says that he has heard of Ulysses, near home, in the +rich land of Epirus, and that he is already on his way to us, bringing a +store of treasures with him." + +Then Penelope said, "Quick, bring the stranger here at once, and let him +speak with me face to face. And if I see that he tells the truth I will +give him a vest and a cloak for himself." + +So the swineherd hurried back with the message; but Ulysses said he dared +not face the princes a second time and it would be better to speak with +Penelope later in the evening, alone by the fireside; and when the queen +heard this, she said that the stranger was right. By this time it was +afternoon, and Eumaeus went up to Telemachus and whispered that he must be +off to his work again. Telemachus said he might go, but bade him have +supper first and told him to come back next morning without fail. So the +swineherd took his food in the hall, and then started home for his farm, +to look after his pigs and everything that he had charge of there. + + + + +B. THE TRIAL OF THE BOW + +Translated by George Herbert Palmer + + +And now the goddess, clear-eyed Athene, put in the mind of Icarius's +daughter, heedful Penelope, to offer to the suitors in the hall the bow +and the gray steel, as means of sport and harbingers of death. She mounted +the long stairway of her house, holding a crooked key in her firm hand,--a +goodly key of bronze, having an ivory handle,--and hastened with her +damsels to a far-off room where her lord's treasure lay, bronze, gold, and +well-wrought steel. Here also lay his curved bow and the quiver for his +arrows,--and many grievous shafts were in it still,--gifts which a friend +had given Ulysses when he met him once in Lacedaemon,--Iphitus, son of +Eurytus, a man like the Immortals. At Messene the two met, in the house of +wise Orsilochus. Ulysses had come hither to claim a debt, which the whole +district owed him; for upon ships of many oars Messenians carried off from +Ithaca three hundred sheep together with their herdsmen. In the long quest +for these, Ulysses took the journey when he was but a youth; for his +father and the other elders sent him forth. Iphitus, on the other hand, +was seeking horses; for twelve mares had been lost, which had as foals +twelve hardy mules. These afterwards became the death and doom of Iphitus +when he met the stalwart son of Zeus, the hero Hercules, who well knew +deeds of daring; for Hercules slew Iphitus in his own house, although his +guest, and recklessly did not regard the anger of the Gods nor yet the +proffered table, but slew the man and kept at his own hall the +strong-hoofed mares. It was when seeking these that Iphitus had met +Ulysses and given the bow which in old days great Eurytus was wont to +bear, and which on dying in his lofty hall he left his son. To Iphitus +Ulysses gave a sharp-edged sword and a stout spear, as the beginning of a +loving friendship. They never sat, however, at one another's table; ere +that could be, the son of Zeus slew godlike Iphitus, the son of Eurytus, +who gave the bow. Royal Ulysses, when going off to war in the black ships, +would never take this bow. It always stood in its own place at home, as a +memorial of his honored friend. In his own land he bore it. + +Now when the royal lady reached this room and stood on the oaken +threshold,--which long ago the carpenter had smoothed with skill and +leveled to the line, fitting the posts thereto and setting the shining +doors,--then quickly from its ring she loosed the strap, thrust in the +key, and with a careful aim shot back the door-bolts. As a bull roars when +feeding in the field, so roared the goodly door touched by the key, and +open flew before her. She stepped to a raised dais where stood some chests +in which lay fragrant garments. Thence reaching up, she took from its peg +the bow in the glittering case which held it. And now she sat her down and +laid the case upon her lap, and loudly weeping drew her lord's bow forth. +But when she had had her fill of tears and sighs, she hastened to the hall +to meet the lordly suitors, bearing in hand the curved bow and the quiver +for the arrows, and many grievous shafts were in it still. Beside her, +damsels bore a box in which lay many a piece of steel and bronze, +implements of her lord's for games like these. And when the royal lady +reached the suitors, she stood beside a column of the strong-built roof, +holding before her face her delicate wimple, the while a faithful damsel +stood on either hand. And straightway she addressed the suitors, speaking +thus:-- + +"Hearken, you haughty suitors who beset this house, eating and drinking +ever, now my husband is long gone; no word of excuse can you suggest +except your wish to marry me and win me for your wife. Well then, my +suitors,--since before you stands your prize,--I offer you the mighty bow +of prince Ulysses; and whoever with his hands shall lightliest bend the +bow and shoot through all twelve axes, him will I follow and forsake this +home, this bridal home, so very beautiful and full of wealth, a place I +think I ever shall remember, even in my dreams." + +So saying, she bade Eumaeus, the noble swineherd, deliver to the suitors +the bow and the gray steel. With tears Eumaeus took the arms and laid them +down before them. Near by, the neatherd also wept to see his master's bow. +But Antinous rebuked them, and spoke to them and said,-- + +"You stupid boors, who only mind the passing minute, wretched pair, what +do you mean by shedding tears, troubling this lady's heart, when already +her heart is prostrated with grief at losing her dear husband? Sit down +and eat in silence, or else go forth and weep, but leave the bow behind, a +dread ordeal for the suitors; for I am sure this polished bow will not be +bent with ease. There is not a man of all now here so powerful as Ulysses. +I saw him once myself, and well recall him, though I was then a child." + +He spoke, but in his breast his heart was hoping to draw the string and +send an arrow through the steel; yet he was to be the first to taste the +shaft of good Ulysses, whom he now wronged though seated in his hall, +while to like outrage he encouraged all his comrades. To these now spoke +revered Telemachus:-- + +"Ha! Zeus the son of Cronos has made me play the fool! My mother--and wise +she is--says she will follow some strange man and quit this house; and I +but laugh and in my silly soul am glad. Come then, you suitors, since +before you stands your prize, a lady whose like cannot be found throughout +Achaian land, in sacred Pylos, Argos, or Mycenae, in Ithaca itself, or the +dark mainland, as you yourselves well know,--what needs my mother +praise?--come then, delay not with excuse nor longer hesitate to bend the +bow, but let us learn what is to be. I too might try the bow. And if I +stretch it and send an arrow through the steel, then with no shame to me +my honored mother may forsake this house and follow some one else, leaving +me here behind; for I shall then be able to wield my father's arms." + +He spoke, and flung his red cloak from his shoulders, rising full height, +and put away the sharp sword also from his shoulder. First then he set the +axes, marking one long furrow for them all, aligned by cord. The earth on +the two sides he stamped down flat. Surprise filled all beholders to see +how properly he set them, though he had never seen the game before. Then +he went and stood upon the threshold and began to try the bow. Three times +he made it tremble as he sought to make it bend. Three times he slacked +his strain, still hoping in his heart to draw the string and send an arrow +through the steel. And now he might have drawn it by force of a fourth +tug, had not Ulysses shaken his head and stayed the eager boy. So to the +suitors once more spoke revered Telemachus:-- + +"Fie! Shall I ever be a coward and a weakling, or am I still but young and +cannot trust my arm to right me with the man who wrongs me first? But +come, you who are stronger men than I, come try the bow and end the +contest." + +So saying, he laid by the bow and stood it on the ground, leaning it on +the firm-set polished door. The swift shaft, too, he likewise leaned +against the bow's fair knob, and once more took the seat from which he +first arose. Then said to them Antinous, Eupeithes' son,-- + +"Rise up in order all, from left to right, beginning where the cupbearer +begins to pour the wine." + +So said Antinous, and his saying pleased them. Then first arose Leiodes, +son of Oenops, who was their soothsayer and had his place beside the +goodly mixer, farthest along the hall. To him alone their lawlessness was +hateful; he abhorred the suitor crowd. He it was now who first took up the +bow and the swift shaft; and going to the threshold, he stood and tried +the bow. He could not bend it. Tugging the string wearied his hands,--his +soft, unhorny hands,--and to the suitors thus he spoke:-- + +"No, friends, I cannot bend it. Let some other take the bow. Ah, many +chiefs this bow shall rob of life and breath! Yet better far to die than +live and still to fail in that for which we constantly are gathered, +waiting expectantly from day to day! Now each man hopes and purposes at +heart to win Penelope, Ulysses' wife. But when he shall have tried the bow +and seen his failure, then to some other fair-robed woman of Achaia let +each go, and offer her his suit and woo her with his gifts. So may +Penelope marry the man who gives her most and comes with fate to favor!" + +When he had spoken, he laid by the bow, leaning it on the firm-set +polished door. The swift shaft, too, he likewise leaned against the bow's +fair knob, and once more took the seat from which he first arose. But +Antinous rebuked him, and spoke to him, and said,-- + +"Leiodes, what words have passed the barrier of your teeth? Strange words +and harsh! Vexatious words to hear! As if this bow must rob our chiefs of +life and breath because you cannot bend it! Why, your good mother did not +bear you for a brandisher of bows and arrows. But others among the lordly +suitors will bend it by and by." + +So saying, he gave an order to Melanthius, the goatherd: "Hasten, +Melanthius, and light a fire in the hall and set a long bench near, with +fleeces on it; then bring me the large cake of fat which lies inside the +door, that after we have warmed the bow and greased it well, we young men +may try the bow and end the contest." + +He spoke, and straightway Melanthius kindled a steady fire, and set a +bench beside it with a fleece thereon, and brought out the large cake of +fat which lay inside the door, and so the young men warmed the bow and +made their trial. But yet they could not bend it; they fell far short of +power. Antinous, however, still held back, and prince Eurymachus, who were +the suitors' leaders; for they in manly excellence were quite the best of +all. + +Meanwhile out of the house at the same moment came two men, princely +Ulysses' herdsmen of the oxen and the swine; and after them came royal +Ulysses also from the house. And when they were outside the gate, beyond +the yard, speaking in gentle words Ulysses said,-- + +"Neatherd, and you too, swineherd, may I tell a certain tale, or shall I +hide it still? My heart bids me speak. How ready would you be to aid +Ulysses if he should come from somewhere, thus, on a sudden, and a god +should bring him home? Would you support the suitors or Ulysses? Speak +freely, as your heart and spirit bid you speak." + +Then said to him the herdsman of the cattle, "O father Zeus, grant this my +prayer! May he return and Heaven be his guide! Then shall you know what +might is mine and how my hands obey." + +So prayed Eumaeus too to all the Gods, that wise Ulysses might return to +his own home. So when he knew with certainty the heart of each, finding +his words once more Ulysses said,-- + +"Lo, it is I, through many grievous toils now in the twentieth year come +to my native land! And yet I know that of my servants none but you desire +my coming. From all the rest I have not heard one prayer that I return. To +you then I will truly tell what shall hereafter be. If God by me subdues +the lordly suitors, I will obtain you wives and give you wealth and homes +established near my own; and henceforth in my eyes you shall be friends +and brethren of Telemachus. Come, then, and I will show you too a very +trusty sign,--that you may know me certainly and be assured in heart,--the +scar the boar dealt long ago with his white tusk, when I once journeyed to +Parnassus with Autolycus's sons." + +So saying, he drew aside his rags from the great scar. And when the two +beheld and understood it all, their tears burst forth; they threw their +arms round wise Ulysses, and passionately kissed his face and neck. So +likewise did Ulysses kiss their heads and hands. And daylight had gone +down upon their weeping had not Ulysses stayed their tears and said,-- + +"Have done with grief and wailing, or somebody in coming from the hall may +see, and tell the tale indoors. Nay, go in one by one, not all together. I +will go first, you after. And let this be agreed: the rest within, the +lordly suitors, will not allow me to receive the bow and quiver. But, +noble Eumaeus, bring the bow along the room and lay it in my hands. Then +tell the women to lock the hall's close-fitting doors; and if from their +inner room they hear a moaning or a strife within our walls, let no one +venture forth, but stay in silence at her work. And noble Philoetius, in +your care I put the courtyard gates. Bolt with the bar and quickly lash +the fastening." + +So saying, Ulysses made his way into the stately house, and went and took +the seat from which he first arose. And soon the serving-men of princely +Ulysses entered too. + +Now Eurymachus held the bow and turned it up and down, trying to heat it +at the glowing fire. But still, with all his pains, he could not bend it; +his proud soul groaned aloud. Then bitterly he spoke; these were the words +he said,-- + +"Ah! here is woe for me and woe for all! Not that I so much mourn missing +the marriage, though vexed I am at that. Still, there are enough more +women of Achaia, both here in sea-girt Ithaca and in the other cities. But +if in strength we fall so short of princely Ulysses that we cannot bend +his bow--oh, the disgrace for future times to know!" + +Then said Antinous, Eupeithes' son, "Not so, Eurymachus, and you yourself +know better. To-day throughout the land is the archer-god's high feast. +Who then could bend a bow? Nay, quietly lay it by; and for the axes, what +if we leave them standing? Nobody. I am sure, will carry one away and +trespass on the house of Laertes' son, Ulysses. Come then, and let the +wine-pourer give pious portions to our cups, that after a libation we may +lay aside curved bows. To-morrow morning tell Melanthius, the goatherd, to +drive us here the choicest goats of all his flock; and we will set the +thighs before the archer-god, Apollo, then try the bow and end the +contest." + +So said Antinous, and his saying pleased them. Pages poured water on their +hands; young men brimmed bowls with drink and served to all, with a first +pious portion for the cups. And after they had poured and drunk as their +hearts would, then in his subtlety said wise Ulysses,-- + +"Hearken, you suitors of the illustrious queen, and let me tell you what +the heart within me bids. I beg a special favor of Eurymachus, and great +Antinous too; for his advice was wise, that you now drop the bow and leave +the matter with the Gods, and in the morning God shall grant the power to +whom he may. But give me now the polished bow, and let me in your presence +prove my skill and power and see if I have yet such vigor left as once +there was within my supple limbs, or whether wanderings and neglect have +ruined all." + +At these his words all were exceeding wroth, fearing that he might bend +the polished bow. But Antinous rebuked him, and spoke to him and said, +"You scurvy stranger, with not a whit of sense, are you not satisfied to +eat in peace with us, your betters, unstinted in your food and hearing all +we say? Nobody else, stranger or beggar, hears our talk. 'Tis wine that +goads you, honeyed wine, a thing that has brought others trouble, when +taken greedily and drunk without due measure. Wine crazed the Centaur, +famed Eurytion, at the house of bold Peirithous, on his visit to the +Lapithae. And when his wits were crazed with wine, he madly wrought foul +outrage on the household of Peirithous. So indignation seized the heroes. +Through the porch and out of doors they rushed, dragging Eurytion forth, +shorn by the pitiless sword of ears and nose. Crazed in his wits, he went +his way, bearing in his bewildered heart the burden of his guilt. And +hence arose a feud between the Centaurs and mankind; but the beginning of +the woe he himself caused by wine. Even so I prophesy great harm to you, +if you shall bend the bow. No kindness will you meet from any in our land, +but we will send you by black ship straight to King Echetus, the bane of +all mankind, out of whose hands you never shall come clear. Be quiet, +then, and take your drink! Do not presume to vie with younger men!" + +Then said to him heedful Penelope, "Antinous, it is neither honorable nor +fitting to worry strangers who may reach this palace of Telemachus. Do you +suppose the stranger, if he bends the great bow of Ulysses, confident in +his skill and strength of arm, will lead me home and take me for his wife? +He in his inmost soul imagines no such thing. Let none of you sit at the +table disturbed by such a thought; for that could never, never, be!" + +Then answered her Eurymachus, the son of Polybus, "Daughter of Icarius, +heedful Penelope, we do not think the man will marry you. Of course that +could not be. And yet we dread the talk of men and women, and fear that +one of the baser sort of the Achaians say,'Men far inferior sue for a good +man's wife, and cannot bend his polished bow. But somebody else--a +wandering beggar--came, and easily bent the bow and sent an arrow through +the steel.' This they will say, to us a shame indeed." + +Then said to him heedful Penelope, "Eurymachus, men cannot be in honor in +the land and rudely rob the household of their prince. Why, then, count +this a shame? The stranger is right tall, and well-knit too, and calls +himself the son of a good father. Give him the polished bow, and let us +see. For this I tell you, and it shall be done: if he shall bend it and +Apollo grants his prayer, I will clothe him in a coat and tunic, goodly +garments, give him a pointed spear to keep off dogs and men, a two-edged +sword, and sandals for his feet, and I will send him where his heart and +soul may bid him go." + +Then answered her discreet Telemachus, "My mother, no Achaian has better +right than I to give or to refuse the bow to any as I will. And out of all +who rule in rocky Ithaca, or in the islands off toward grazing Elis, none +may oppose my will, even if I wished to put the bows into the stranger's +hands and let him take them once for all away. Then seek your chamber and +attend to matters of your own,--the loom, the distaff,--and bid the women +ply their tasks. Bows are for men, for all, especially for me; for power +within this house rests here." + +Amazed, she turned to her own room again, for the wise saying of her son +she laid to heart. And coming to the upper chamber with her maids, she +there bewailed Ulysses, her dear husband, till on her lids clear-eyed +Athene caused a sweet sleep to fall. + +Meanwhile the noble swineherd, taking the curved bow, was bearing it away. +But the suitors all broke into uproar in the hall, and a rude youth would +say, "Where are you carrying the curved bow, you miserable swineherd? +Crazy fool! Soon out among the swine, away from men, swift dogs shall eat +you,--dogs you yourself have bred,--will but Apollo and the other +deathless Gods be gracious!" At these their words the bearer of the bow +laid it down where he stood, frightened because the crowd within the hall +cried out upon him. But from the other side Telemachus called threatening +aloud, "Nay, father! Carry on the bow! You cannot well heed all. Take +care, or I, a nimbler man than you, will drive you to the fields with +pelting stones. Superior in strength I am to you. Ah, would I were as much +beyond the others in the house, beyond these suitors, in my skill and +strength of arm! Then would I soon send somebody away in sorrow from my +house; for men work evil here." + +He spoke, and all burst into merry laughter and laid aside their bitter +anger with Telemachus. And so the swineherd, bearing the bow along the +hall, drew near to wise Ulysses and put it in his hands; then calling +aside nurse Eurycleia, thus he said,-- + +"Telemachus bids you, heedful Eurycleia, to lock the hall's close-fitting +doors; and if a woman from the inner room hears moaning or a strife within +our walls, let her not venture forth, but stay in silence at her work." + +Such were his words; unwinged, they rested with her. She locked the doors +of the stately hall. Then silently from the house Philoetius stole forth +and straightway barred the gates of the fenced court. Beneath the portico +there lay a curved ship's cable, made of biblus plant. With this he lashed +the gates, then passed indoors himself, and went and took the seat from +which he first arose, eyeing Ulysses. Now Ulysses already held the bow and +turned it round and round, trying it here and there to see if worms had +gnawed the horn while its lord was far away. And glancing at his neighbor +one would say,-- + +"A sort of fancier and a trickster with the bow this fellow is. No doubt +at home he has himself a bow like that, or means to make one like it. See +how he turns it in his hands this way and that, ready for +mischief,--rascal!" + +Then would another rude youth answer thus: "Oh, may he always meet with +luck as good as when he is unable now to bend the bow!" + +So talked the suitors. Meantime wise Ulysses, when he had handled the +great bow and scanned it closely,--even as one well skilled to play the +lyre and sing stretches with ease round its new peg a string, securing at +each end the twisted sheep-gut, so without effort did Ulysses string the +mighty bow. Holding it now with his right hand, he tried its cord; and +clear to the touch it sang, voiced like the swallow. Great consternation +came upon the suitors. All faces then changed color. Zeus thundered loud +for signal. And glad was long-tried royal Ulysses to think the son of +crafty Cronos had sent an omen. He picked up a swift shaft which lay +beside him on the table, drawn. Within the hollow quiver still remained +the rest, which the Achaians soon should prove. Then laying the arrow on +the arch, he drew the string and arrow notches, and forth from the bench +on which he sat let fly the shaft, with careful aim, and did not miss an +axe's ring from first to last, but clean through all sped on the +bronze-tipped arrow; and to Telemachus he said,-- + +"Telemachus, the guest now sitting in your hall brings you no shame. I did +not miss my mark, nor in the bending of the bow make a long labor. My +strength is sound as ever, not what the mocking suitors here despised. But +it is time for the Achaians to make supper ready, while it is daylight +still; and then for us in other ways to make them sport,--with dance and +lyre; for these attend a feast." + +He spoke and frowned the sign. His sharp sword then Telemachus girt on, +the son of princely Ulysses clasped his right hand around his spear, and +close beside his father's seat he took his stand, armed with the gleaming +bronze. + + + + +C. THE SLAYING OF THE SUITORS + +By F. S. Marvin, R. J. C. Mayor, and F. M. Stowell + + +Ulysses sprang to the great threshold with the bow and quiver in his hand. +He poured out the arrows at his feet, and shouted to the princes, "So ends +the game you could not play! Now for another mark which no man has ever +hit before!" + +With that he shot at Antinous. He, as it chanced, was just lifting a +golden cup from the board, never dreaming that death would meet him there +with all his comrades round him at the feast. But before the wine touched +his lips the arrow struck him in the throat, and the cup dropped from his +hand, and he fell dying to the floor. The princes sprang to their feet +when they saw their comrade fallen, and looked round the walls for armor, +but there was not a spear or shield to be found. Then they turned in fury +on Ulysses: "Madman, are you shooting at men? You have slain the noblest +youth in Ithaca, and you shall not live to draw bow again." + +But Ulysses faced them sternly and said, "Dogs, you thought that I should +never return. You have rioted in my home, and outraged the women of my +household, and you have wooed my own wife while I was yet a living man. +You took no thought for the Gods who rule in heaven, nor for the +indignation of men in days hereafter. Now your time is come." + +All grew pale as he spoke, and Eurymachus alone found words: "If you are +in truth King Ulysses, your words are just; there have been many shameful +deeds done upon your lands and in your house. But Antinous, who was the +cause of all, lies dead; it was he who lead us on, hoping that he might +take your kingdom for himself. Spare us now that he has met his doom, for +we are your own people; and we will make you full atonement for all that +has been eaten and drunk in your halls." + +"Eurymachus, you might give me all you have, but even then I would not +hold my hands until I had taken vengeance for every wrong. You have your +choice. Fight, or fly, if you think that flight can save you." + +At that their knees shook beneath them, but Eurymachus cried, "Comrades, +this man will have no mercy. He has got the bow in his hands, and he will +shoot us down from the threshold, so long as there is one of us left +alive. Draw your swords, and guard yourselves, with the tables; and let us +all set upon him at once and drive him from the doorway. If we can reach +the city, we are safe." + +As he spoke he drew his sword and sprang forward with a cry; and at the +same moment Ulysses shot. The arrow struck him in the breast, and he +dropped forward over the table, while the mist of death sank upon his +eyes. Then Amphinomus made a rush on the doorway. But Telemachus was too +quick for him; he hurled his spear and struck him from behind between the +shoulders, and he fell crashing on the floor. Telemachus sprang back, +leaving the spear, for he dared not wait to draw it out. He darted to his +father's side. "Father, we ought to have armor; I will go and get weapons +for us." + +"Run and bring them," said. Ulysses, "while I have arrows left; when these +are gone I cannot hold the doorway against them all." + +So Telemachus ran to the armory and hurried back with helmets and shields +and spears; and he armed himself and made the two servants do the same, +and they took their stand beside the king. While the arrows lasted, +Ulysses shot, and struck down the wooers man by man. And then he leant the +bow against the doorpost, and slung the shield about him and put on the +helmet and took two spears in his hand. + +Now there was a postern in the hall, close beside the great doorway and +opening on the corridor. Ulysses had put the swineherd to guard it, and +now the boldest of the suitors said to the rest, "Could not some of us +force a passage there and raise the cry for rescue?" + +"Little use in that," said Melanthius, "the great doorway is too close, +and one brave man might stop us all before we reached the court. I have a +better plan. Ulysses and his son have stowed away the weapons, and I think +I know where they are. I will go and fetch you what you need." + +With these words he clambered up through the lights of the hall and got +into the armory, and fetched out twelve shields and as many spears and +helmets, and brought them to the princes. The heart of Ulysses misgave him +when he saw the armor and the long spears in their hands; and he felt that +the fight would go hard, and said to Telemachus, "Melanthius or one of the +women has betrayed us." + +"Father, it was my fault," said Telemachus; "I left the door of the armory +open, and one of them must have kept sharper watch than I did. Go, Eumaeus, +make fast the door, and see whether this is the doing of Melanthius, as I +guess." + +While they spoke, Melanthius went again to fetch more armor, and the +swineherd spied him and said, "There is the villain going to the armory, +as we thought; tell me, shall I kill him, if I can master him, or shall I +bring him here to suffer for his sins?" "Telemachus and I will guard the +doorway here," said Ulysses, "and you and the shepherd shall bind him hand +and foot and leave him in the chamber to wait his doom." + +So the two went up to the armory, and stood in wait on either side of the +door; and as Melanthius came out, they leapt upon him and dragged him back +by the hair and flung him on the ground and bound him tightly to a pillar +hand and foot. "Lie there," said Eumaeus, "and take your ease: the dawn +will not find you sleeping, when it is time for you to rise and drive out +your goats." With that they went back to join Ulysses, and the four stood +together at the threshold,--four men against a host. + +Then Athene came among them in the likeness of Mentor, and Ulysses knew +her and rejoiced. "Mentor," he shouted, "help me in my need, for we are +comrades from of old." And the wooers sent up another shout, "Do not +listen to him, Mentor; or your turn will come when he is slain." But +Athene taunted Ulysses and spurred him to the fight: "Have you lost your +strength and courage, Ulysses? It was not thus you did battle for Helen in +the ten years' war at Troy. Is it so hard to face the suitors in your own +house and home? Come, stand by me, and see if Mentor forgets old +friendship." Yet she left the victory still uncertain, that she might +prove his courage to the full. She turned herself into a swallow and flew +up into the roof and perched on a blackened rafter overhead. + +Then the wooers took courage, when they saw that Mentor was gone, and that +the four stood alone in the doorway. And one of them said to the rest, +"Let six of us hurl our spears together at Ulysses. If once he falls, +there will be little trouble with the rest." So they flung their spears as +he bade them; but all of them missed the mark. Then Ulysses gave the word +to his men, and they all took steady aim and threw, and each one killed +his man; and the wooers fell back into the farther end of the hall, while +the four dashed on together and drew out their spears from the bodies of +the slain. Once more the suitors hurled, and Telemachus and the swineherd +were wounded; but the other spears fell wide. Then at last Athene lifted +her shield of war high overhead,--the shield that brings death to +men,--and panic seized the wooers, and they fled through the hall like a +drove of cattle when the gadfly stings them. But the four leapt on them +like vultures swooping from the clouds; and they fled left and right +through the hall, but there was no escape. + +Only Phemius, the minstrel, whom the wooers had forced to sing before +them, sprang forward and clasped the knees of Ulysses and said, "Have +mercy on me, Ulysses: you would not slay a minstrel, who gladdens the +hearts of Gods and men? The princes forced me here against my will." + +And Telemachus heard and said to his father, "Do not hurt him, for he is +not to blame: and let us save the herald too, if he is yet alive, for he +took care of me when I was a child." + +Now the herald had hidden himself under a stool and pulled an ox-hide over +him, and when he heard this he crept out and clasped the knees of +Telemachus and begged that he would plead for him. "Have no fear," said +Ulysses; "my son has saved your life. Go out, you and the minstrel, and +wait in the courtyard, for I have other work to do within." So the two +went out into the courtyard, and sat down beside the altar, looking for +their death each moment. + +Then Ulysses searched through the hall, to see if any one was yet lurking +alive. But they all lay round him fallen in the dust and blood, heaped +upon each other like fishes on a sunny beach when the fisherman has drawn +his net to land. Then he told Telemachus to call out the old nurse +Eurycleia. She came and found Ulysses standing among the bodies of the +slain, with his hands and feet all stained with blood, and she was ready +to shout aloud for triumph when she saw the great work accomplished. But +Ulysses checked her cry and said, "Keep your joy unspoken, old nurse; +there should be no shout of triumph over the slain. It is the judgment of +Heaven that has repaid them for the evil deeds they did." + +Then he gave orders that the bodies of the dead should be carried out and +that the blood should be washed away. And when this was done he turned to +Eurycleia and said, "Bring fire and sulphur now and I will purify the +hall. Then bid Penelope meet me here." + +"Yes, my child," said the old nurse, "I will obey you. But let me bring +you a mantle first: it is not fitting that you should stand here with only +your rags to cover you." But Ulysses said that she must do his bidding at +once. So she brought sulphur and lit a fire, and Ulysses purified the +hall. + + + + +D. PENELOPE RECOGNIZES ULYSSES + +Translated by George Herbert Palmer + + +The old woman, full of glee, went to the upper chamber to tell her +mistress her dear lord was in the house. Her knees grew strong; her feet +outran themselves. By Penelope's head she paused, and thus she spoke:-- + +"Awake, Penelope, dear child, to see with your own eyes what you have +hoped to see this many a day! Ulysses is here! He has come home at last, +and slain the haughty suitors, the men who vexed his house, devoured his +substance, and oppressed his son." + +Then heedful Penelope said to her, "Dear nurse, the Gods have crazed you. +They can befool one who is very wise, and often they have set the simple +in the paths of prudence. They have confused you; you were sober-minded +heretofore. Why mock me when my heart is full of sorrow, telling wild +tales like these? And why arouse me from the sleep that sweetly bound me +and kept my eyelids closed? I have not slept so soundly since Ulysses went +away to see accursed Ilium,--name never to be named. Nay then, go down, +back to the hall. If any other of my maids had come and told me this and +waked me out of sleep, I would soon have sent her off in sorry wise into +the hall once more. This time age serves you well." + +Then said to her the good nurse Eurycleia, "Dear child, I do not mock you. +In very truth it is Ulysses; he is come, as I have said. He is the +stranger whom everybody in the hall has set at naught. Telemachus knew +long ago that he was here, but out of prudence hid his knowledge of his +father till he should have revenge from those bold men for wicked deeds." + +So spoke she; and Penelope was glad, and, springing from her bed, fell on +the woman's neck, and let the tears burst from her eyes; and, speaking in +winged words, she said,-- + +"Nay, tell me, then, dear nurse, and tell me truly; if he is really come +as you declare, how was it he laid hands upon the shameless suitors, being +alone, while they were always here together?" + +Then answered her the good nurse Eurycleia, "I did not see; I did not ask; +I only heard the groans of dying men. In a corner of our protected chamber +we sat and trembled,--the doors were tightly closed,--until your son +Telemachus called to me from the hall; for his father bade him call. And +there among the bodies of the slain I found Ulysses standing. All around, +covering the trodden floor, they lay, one on another. It would have warmed +your heart to see him, like a lion, dabbled with blood and gore. Now all +the bodies are collected at the courtyard gate, while he is fumigating the +fair house by lighting a great fire. He sent me here to call you. Follow +me, then, that you may come to gladness in your true hearts together, for +sorely have you suffered. Now the long hope has been at last fulfilled. He +has come back alive to his own hearth, and found you still, you and his +son, within his hall; and upon those who did him wrong, the suitors, on +all of them here in his home he has obtained revenge." + +Then heedful Penelope said to her, "Dear nurse, be not too boastful yet, +nor filled with glee. You know how welcome here the sight of him would be +to all, and most to me and to the son we had. But this is no true tale you +tell. Nay, rather some immortal slew the lordly suitors, in anger at their +galling insolence and wicked deeds; for they respected nobody on earth, +bad man or good, who came among them. So for their sins they suffered. But +Ulysses, far from Achaia, lost the hope of coming home; nay, he himself +was lost." + +Then answered her the good nurse Eurycleia, "My child, what word has +passed the barrier of your teeth, to say your husband, who is now beside +your hearth, will never come! Your heart is always doubting. Come, then, +and let me name another sign most sure,--the scar the boar dealt long ago +with his white tusk. I found it as I washed him, and I would have told you +then; but he laid his hand upon my mouth, and in his watchful wisdom would +not let me speak. But follow me. I stake my very life; if I deceive you, +slay me by the vilest death." + +Then heedful Penelope answered her, "Dear nurse, 'tis hard for you to +trace the counsels of the everlasting Gods, however wise you are. +Nevertheless, let us go down to meet my son, and see the suitors who are +dead, and him who slew them." + +So saying, she went from her chamber to the hall, and much her heart +debated whether aloof to question her dear husband, or to draw near and +kiss his face and take his hand. But when she entered, crossing the stone +threshold, she sat down opposite Ulysses, in the firelight, beside the +farther wall. He sat by a tall pillar, looking down, waiting to hear if +his stately wife would speak when she should look his way. But she sat +silent long; amazement filled her heart. Now she would gaze with a long +look upon his face, and now she would not know him for the mean clothes +that he wore. But Telemachus rebuked her, and spoke to her and said,-- + +"Mother, hard mother, of ungentle heart, why do you hold aloof so from my +father, and do not sit beside him, plying him with words and questions? +There is no other woman of such stubborn spirit to stand off from the +husband who, after many grievous toils, comes in the twentieth year home +to his native land. Your heart is always harder than a stone!" + +Then said to him heedful Penelope, "My child, my soul within is dazed with +wonder. I cannot speak to him, nor ask a question, nor look him in the +face. But if this indeed is Ulysses, come at last, we certainly shall know +each other better than others know; for we have signs which we two +understand,--signs hidden from the rest." + +As she, long tried, spoke thus, royal Ulysses smiled, and said to +Telemachus forthwith in winged words, "Telemachus, leave your mother in +the hall to try my truth. She soon will know me better. Now, because I am +foul and dressed in sorry clothes, she holds me in dishonor, and says I am +not he. But you and I have yet to plan how all may turn out well. For +whoso kills one man among a tribe, though the man leaves few champions +behind, becomes an exile, quitting kin and country. We have destroyed the +pillars of the state, the very noblest youths of Ithaca. Form, then, a +plan, I pray." + +Then answered him discreet Telemachus, "Look you to that, dear father. +Your wisdom is, they say, the best among mankind. No mortal man can rival +you. Zealously will we follow, and not fail, I think, in daring, so far as +power is ours." + +Then wise Ulysses answered him and said, "Then I will tell you what seems +best to me. First wash and put on tunics, and bid the maids about the +house array themselves. Then let the sacred bard with tuneful lyre lead us +in sportive dancing, that men may say, hearing us from without, 'It is a +wedding,' whether such men be passers-by or neighboring folk; and so broad +rumor may not reach the town about the suitors' murder till we are gone to +our well-wooded farm. There will we plan as the Olympian shall grant us +wisdom." + +So he spoke, and willingly they heeded and obeyed. For first they washed +themselves and put on tunics, and the women also put on their attire. And +then the noble bard took up his hollow lyre, and in them stirred desire +for merry music and the gallant dance; and the great house resounded to +the tread of lusty men and gay-girt women. And one who heard the dancing +from without would say, "Well, well! some man has married the long-courted +queen. Hard-hearted! For the husband of her youth she would not guard her +great house to the end, till he should come." So they would say, but knew +not how things were. + +Meanwhile within the house Eurynome, the housekeeper, bathed resolute +Ulysses and anointed him with oil, and on him put a goodly robe and tunic. +Upon his face Athene cast great beauty; she made him taller than before, +and stouter to behold, and made the curling locks to fall round his head +as on the hyacinth flower. As when a man lays gold on silver,--some +skillful man whom Vulcan and Pallas Athene have trained in every art, and +he fashions graceful work, so did she cast a grace upon his head and +shoulders. Forth from the bath he came, in bearing like the Immortals, and +once more took the seat from which he first arose, facing his wife, and +spoke to her these words:-- + +"Lady, a heart impenetrable beyond the sex of women the dwellers on +Olympus gave to you. There is no other woman of such stubborn spirit to +stand off from the husband who, after many grievous toils, comes in the +twentieth year home to his native land. Come, then, good nurse, and make +my bed, that I may lie alone. For certainly of iron is the heart within +her breast." + +Then said to him heedful Penelope, "Nay, sir, I am not proud, nor +contemptuous of you, nor too much dazed with wonder. I very well remember +what you were when you went upon your long-oared ship away from Ithaca. +However, Eurycleia, make up his massive bed outside that stately chamber +which he himself once built. Move the massive frame out there, and throw +the bedding on,--the fleeces, robes, and bright-hued rugs." + +She said this in the hope to prove her husband, but Ulysses spoke in anger +to his faithful wife: "Woman, these are bitter words which you have said! +Who set my bed elsewhere? A hard task that would be for one, however +skilled,--unless a god should come and by his will set it with ease upon +some other spot; but among men no living being, even in his prime, could +lightly shift it; for a great token is inwrought into its curious frame. I +built it; no one else. There grew a thick-leaved olive shrub inside the +yard, full-grown and vigorous, in girth much like a pillar. Round this I +formed my chamber, and I worked till it was done, building it out of +close-set stones, and roofing it over well. Framed and tight-fitting doors +I added to it. Then I lopped the thick-leaved olive's crest, cutting the +stem high up above the roots, neatly and skillfully smoothed with my axe +the sides, and to the line I kept all true to shape my post, and with an +auger I bored it all along. Starting with this, I fashioned me the bed +till it was finished, and I inlaid it well with gold, with silver, and +with ivory. On it I stretched a thong of ox-hide, gay with purple. This is +the token I now tell. I do not know whether the bed still stands there, +wife, or whether somebody has set it elsewhere, cutting the olive trunk." + +As he spoke thus, her knees grew feeble and her very soul, when she +recognized the tokens which Ulysses exactly told. Then bursting into +tears, she ran straight toward him, threw her arms round Ulysses' neck and +kissed his face, and said,-- + +"Ulysses, do not scorn me! Ever before, you were the wisest of mankind. +The Gods have sent us sorrow, and grudged our staying side by side to +share the joys of youth and reach the threshold of old age. But do not be +angry with me now, nor take it ill that then when I first saw you I did +not greet you thus; for the heart within my breast was always trembling. I +feared some man might come and cheat me with his tale. Many a man makes +wicked schemes for gain. Nay, Argive Helen, the daughter of Zeus, would +not have given herself to love a stranger if she had known how warrior +sons of the Achaians would bring her home again, back to her native land. +And yet it was a god prompted her deed of shame. Before, she did not +cherish in her heart such sin, such grievous sin, from which began the woe +which stretched to us. But now, when you have clearly told the tokens of +our bed, which no one else has seen, but only you and I and the single +servant, Actoris, whom my father gave me on my coming here to keep the +door of our closed chamber,--you make even my ungentle heart believe." + +So she spoke, and stirred still more his yearning after tears; and he +began to weep, holding his loved and faithful wife. As when the welcome +land appears to swimmers, whose sturdy ship Neptune wrecked at sea, +confounded by the winds and solid waters; a few escape the foaming sea and +swim ashore; thick salt foam crusts their flesh; they climb the welcome +land, and are escaped from danger; so welcome to her gazing eyes appeared +her husband. From round his neck she never let her white arms go. And +rosy-fingered dawn had found them weeping, but a different plan the +goddess formed, clear-eyed Athene. She checked the long night in its +passage, and at the ocean-stream she stayed the gold-throned dawn, and did +not suffer it to yoke the swift-paced horses which carry light to men, +Lampus and Phaethon, which bear the dawn. And now to his wife said wise +Ulysses,-- + +"O wife, we have not reached the end of all our trials yet. Hereafter +comes a task immeasurable, long and severe, which I must needs fulfill; +for so the spirit of Tiresias told me, that day when I descended to the +house of Hades to learn about the journey of my comrades and myself. But +come, my wife, let us to bed, that there at last we may refresh ourselves +with pleasant sleep." + +Then said to him heedful Penelope, "The bed shall be prepared whenever +your heart wills, now that the Gods have let you reach your stately house +and native land. But since you speak of this, and God inspires your heart, +come, tell that trial. In time to come, I know, I shall experience it. To +learn about it now, makes it no worse." + +Then wise Ulysses answered her and said, "Lady, why urge me so insistently +to tell? Well, I will speak it out; I will not hide it. Yet your heart +will feel no joy; I have no joy myself; for Tiresias bade me go to many a +peopled town, bearing in hand a shapely oar, till I should reach the men +that know no sea and do not eat food mixed with salt. These, therefore, +have no knowledge of the red-cheeked ships, nor of the shapely oars which +are the wings of ships. And this was the sign, he said, easy to be +observed. I will not hide it from you. When another traveler, meeting me, +should say I had a winnowing-fan on my white shoulder, there in the ground +he bade me fix my oar and make fit offerings to lord Neptune,--a ram, a +bull, and the sow's mate, a boar,--and, turning homeward, to offer sacred +hecatombs to the immortal gods who hold the open sky, all in the order +due. And on myself death from the sea shall very gently come and cut me +off, bowed down with hale old age. Round me shall be a prosperous people. +All this, he said, should be fulfilled." + +Then said to him heedful Penelope, "If gods can make old age the better +time, then there is hope there will be rest from trouble." + +So they conversed together. Meanwhile, Eurynome and the nurse prepared +their bed with clothing soft, under the light of blazing torches. And +after they had spread the comfortable bed, with busy speed, the old woman +departed to her room to rest; while the chamber-servant, Eurynome, with +torch in hand, walked on before, as they two came to bed. She brought them +to their chamber, and then she went her way. So they came gladly to their +old bed's rites. And now Telemachus, the neatherd, and the swineherd +stayed their feet from dancing, and bade the women stay, and all betook +themselves to rest throughout the dusky halls. + +So when the pair had joyed in happy love, they joyed in talking too, each +one relating; she, the royal lady, what she endured at home, watching the +wasteful throng of suitors, who, making excuse of her, slew many cattle, +beeves, and sturdy sheep, and stores of wine were drained from out the +casks; he, high-born Ulysses, what miseries he brought on other men and +what he bore himself in anguish,--all he told, and she was glad to listen. +No sleep fell on her eyelids till he had told her all. + +He began with how at first he conquered the Ciconians, and came thereafter +to the fruitful land of Lotus-Eaters; then what the Cyclops did, and how +he took revenge for the brave comrades whom the Cyclops ate, and never +pitied; then how he came to AEolus, who gave him hearty welcome and sent +him on his way; but it was fated that he should not reach his dear land +yet, for a sweeping storm bore him once more along the swarming sea, +loudly lamenting; how he came to Telepylus in Laestrygonia, where the men +destroyed his ships and his mailed comrades, all of them; Ulysses fled in +his black ship alone. He told of Circe, too, and all her crafty guile; and +how on a ship of many oars he came to the mouldering house of Hades, there +to consult the spirit of Teiresias of Thebes, and looked on all his +comrades, and on the mother who had borne him and cared for him when +little; how he had heard the full-voiced Sirens' song; how he came to the +Wandering Rocks, to dire Charybdis and to Scylla, past whom none goes +unharmed; how then his crew slew the Sun's kine; how Zeus with a blazing +bolt smote his swift ship,--Zeus, thundering from on high,--and his good +comrades perished, utterly, all, while he escaped their evil doom; how he +came to the island of Ogygia and to the nymph Calypso, who held him in her +hollow grotto, wishing him to be her husband, cherishing him, and saying +she would make him an immortal, young forever, but she never beguiled the +heart within his breast; then how he came through many toils to the +Phaeacians, who honored him exceedingly, as if he were a god, and brought +him on his way to his native land, giving him stores of bronze and gold +and clothing. This was the latest tale he told, when pleasant sleep fell +on him, easing his limbs and from his heart removing care. + + + + +THE WANDERINGS OF THE TROJAN AENEAS + + +THE FLIGHT OF AENEAS FROM THE RUINS OF TROY + +By Alfred J. Church + + +AEneas, a famous Trojan warrior, fought bravely as long as the city stood; +but when it had fallen, he bethought himself of his father Anchises, and +his wife Creusa, and of his little son Ascanius, and how he had left them +without defense at home. But as he turned to seek them, the night being +now, by reason of many fires, as clear as the day, he espied Helen sitting +in the temple of Vesta, where she had sought sanctuary; for she feared the +men of Troy, to whom she had brought ruin and destruction, and not less +her own husband, whom she had deceived. Then was his wrath kindled, and he +spake to himself, "Shall this evil woman return safe to Sparta? Shall she +see again her home and her children, with Trojan women forsooth to be her +handmaidens? Shall Troy be burnt and King Priam be slain, and she take no +harm? Not so; for though there be no glory to be won from such a deed, yet +shall I satisfy myself, taking vengeance upon her for my kinsmen and my +countrymen." But while he thought these things in his heart, lo! there +appeared unto him Venus, his mother, made manifest as he had never seen +her before, as fair and as tall as the dwellers in heaven behold her. Then +Venus spake thus: "What meaneth all this rage, my son? Hast thou no care +for me? Hast thou forgotten thy father Anchises, and thy wife, and thy +little son? Of a surety the fire and the sword had consumed them long +since but that I cared for them and saved them. It is not Helen, no, nor +Paris, that hath laid low this great city of Troy, but the wrath of the +Gods. See now, for I will take away the mist that covers thine eyes; see +how Neptune with his trident is overthrowing the walls and rooting up the +city from its foundations; and how Juno stands with spear and shield in +the Scaean Gate and calls fresh hosts from the ships; and how Pallas sits +on the height with the storm-cloud about her and her Gorgon shield; and +how Father Jupiter himself stirs up the enemy against Troy. Fly, +therefore, my son. I will not leave thee till thou shalt reach thy +father's house." And as she spake she vanished in the darkness. + +Then did AEneas see dreadful forms and gods who were enemies of Troy, and +before his eyes the whole city seemed to sink down into the fire. Even as +a mountain oak upon the hills on which the woodmen ply their axes bows its +head while all its boughs shake about it, till at last, as blow comes +after blow, with a mighty groan it falls crashing down from the height, +even so the city seemed to fall. Then did AEneas pass on his way, the +goddess leading him, and the flames gave place to him, and the javelins +harmed him not. + +But when he was come to his house he bethought him first of the old man +his father; but when he would have carried him to the hills, Anchises +would not, being loath to live in some strange country when Troy had +perished. "Nay," said he, "fly ye who are strong and in the flower of your +days. But as for me, if the Gods had willed that I should live, they had +saved this dwelling for me. Enough it is, yea, and more than enough, that +once I have seen this city taken, and lived. Bid me, then, farewell as +though I were dead. Death will I find for myself. And truly I have long +lingered here a useless stock and hated of the Gods, since Jupiter smote +me with the blast of his thunder." + +Nor could the old man be moved from his purpose, though his son and his +son's wife, and even the child Ascanius, besought him with many tears that +he should not make yet heavier the doom that was upon them. Then was AEneas +minded to go back to the battle and die. For what hope was left? +"Thoughtest thou, my father," he cried, "that I should flee and leave thee +behind? What evil word is this that has fallen from thy lips? If the Gods +will have it that nought of Troy should be left, and thou be minded that +thou and thine should perish with the city, be it so. The way is easy; +soon will Pyrrhus be here: Pyrrhus, red with Priam's blood; Pyrrhus, who +slays the son before the face of the father, and the father at the altar. +Was it for this, kind Mother Venus, that thou broughtest me safe through +fire and sword, to see the enemy in my home, and my father and my wife and +my son lying slaughtered together? Comrades, give me my arms, and take me +back to the battle. At the least I will die avenged." + +But as he girded on his arms and would have departed from the house, his +wife Creusa caught his feet upon the threshold, staying him, and held out +the little Ascanius, saying, "If thou goest to thy death, take wife and +child with thee; but if thou hopest aught from arms, guard first the house +where thou hast father and wife and child." + +And lo! as she spake there befell a mighty marvel, for before the face of +father and mother there was seen to shine a light on the head of the boy +Ascanius, and to play upon his waving hair and glitter on his temples. And +when they feared to see this thing, and would have stifled the flame or +quenched it with water, the old man Anchises in great joy raised his eyes +to heaven, and cried aloud, "O Father Jupiter, if prayer move thee at all, +give thine aid and make this omen sure." And even as he spake the thunder +rolled on his left hand, and a star shot through the skies, leaving a long +trail of light behind, and passed over the house-tops till it was hidden +in the woods of Ida. Then the old man lifted himself up and did obeisance +to the star, and said, "I delay no more: whithersoever ye lead I will +follow. Gods of my country, save my house and my grandson. This omen is of +you. And now, my son, I refuse not to go." + +Then said AEneas, and as he spake the fire came nearer, and the light was +clearer to see, and the heat more fierce, "Climb, dear father, on my +shoulders; I will bear thee, nor grow weary with the weight. We will be +saved or perish together. The little Ascanius shall go with me, and my +wife follow behind, not over near. And ye, servants of my house, hearken +to me; ye mind how that to one who passes out of the city there is a tomb +and a temple of Ceres in a lonely place, and an ancient cypress-tree hard +by. There will we gather by divers ways. And do thou, my father, take the +holy images in thy hands, for as for me, who have but newly come from +battle, I may not touch them till I have washed me in the running stream." + +And as he spake he put a cloak of lion's skin upon his shoulders, and the +old man sat thereon. Ascanius also laid hold of his hand, and Creusa +followed behind. So he went in much dread and trembling. For indeed before +sword and spear of the enemy he had not feared, but now he feared for them +that were with him. But when he was come nigh unto the gates, and the +journey was well-nigh finished, there befell a grievous mischance, for +there was heard a sound as of many feet through the darkness; and the old +man cried to him, "Fly, my son, fly; they are coming. I see the flashing +of shields and swords." But as AEneas hasted to go, Creusa his wife was +severed from him. But whether she wandered from the way or sat down in +weariness, no man may say. Only he saw her no more, nor knew her to be +lost, till all his company being met at the temple of Ceres, she only was +found wanting. Very grievous did the thing seem to him, nor did he cease +to cry out in his wrath against Gods and men. Also he bade his comrades +have a care of his father and his son, and of the household gods, and +girded him again with arms, and so passed into the city. And first he went +to the wall and to the gate by which he had come forth, and then to his +house, if haply she had returned thither. But there indeed the men of +Greece were come, and the fire had well-nigh mastered it. And after that +he went to the citadel and to the palace of King Priam. And lo! in the +porch of Juno's temple, Phoenix and Ulysses were keeping guard over the +spoil, even the treasure of the temples, tables of the Gods, and solid +cups of gold, and raiment, and a long array of them that had been taken +captive, children and women. But not the less did he seek his wife through +all the streets of the city, yea, and called her aloud by name. But lo! as +he called, the image of her whom he sought seemed to stand before him, +only greater than she had been while she was yet alive. And the spirit +spake, saying, "Why art thou vainly troubled? These things have not +befallen us against the pleasure of the Gods. The ruler of Olympus willeth +not that Creusa should bear thee company in thy journey. For thou hast a +long journey to take, and many seas to cross, till thou come to the +Hesperian shore, where Lydian Tiber flows softly through a good land and a +fertile. There shalt thou have great prosperity, and take to thyself a +wife of royal race. Weep not, then, for Creusa, whom thou lovest, nor +think that I shall be carried away to be a bond-slave to some Grecian +woman. Such fate befits not a daughter of Dardanus and daughter-in-law of +Venus. The mighty mother of the Gods keepeth me in this land to serve her. +And now, farewell, and love the young Ascanius, even thy son and mine." + +[Illustration: AND AS HE SPAKE HE PUT A CLOAK OF LION'S SKIN UPON HIS +SHOULDERS, AND THE OLD MAN SAT THEREON. ASCANIUS ALSO LAID HOLD OF HIS +HAND, AND CREUSA FOLLOWED BEHIND. SO HE WENT IN MUCH DREAD AND TREMBLING, +FOR INDEED BEFORE SWORD AND SPEAR OF THE ENEMY HE HAD NOT FEARED, BUT NOW +HE FEARED MUCH FOR THEM THAT WERE WITH HIM] + +So spake the spirit, and when AEneas wept and would have spoken, vanished +out of his sight. Thrice he would have cast his arms about her neck, and +thrice the image mocked him, being thin as air and fleeting as a dream. +Then, the night being now spent, he sought his comrades, and found with +much joy and wonder that a great company of men and women were gathered +together, and were willing, all of them, to follow him whithersoever he +went. And now the morning star rose over Mount Ida, and AEneas, seeing that +the Greeks held the city, and that there was no longer any hope of succor, +went his way to the mountains, taking with him his father. + + + + +AENEAS'S ADVENTURE WITH THE HARPIES + +By Charles Henry Hanson + + + [For three days the vessels of AEneas were tossed about by terrible + storm winds.] + + +At last, on the fourth day, the fury of the storm abated, and they came in +sight of land,--at first lofty mountains, and afterwards, as they drew +nearer, rich grassy plains, on which the wanderers saw herds of cattle and +flocks of goats grazing without a keeper. As soon as the storm-beaten +vessels could be brought to the shore, the Trojans hastened to land, and +slaughtered some of the cattle, preparing a luxurious banquet. But this +they were not destined to enjoy in peace; for scarcely had they stretched +themselves on the couches they had hurriedly prepared beside the food when +there was a sudden rushing of wings, and three ghastly creatures swooped +down upon the feast, devoured a large part of it, and so defiled the rest +with their loathsome touch that very little was eatable. These were the +Harpies, and by their appearance AEneas knew that he and his companions had +arrived at the Strophades, two islands in the Ionian Sea which for many +years had been given up to the monsters. They were fearful of aspect: down +to the breast they resembled women, with scanty black hair and glaring +red-rimmed eyes, and on their faces ever a famine-stricken look; but they +had wings instead of arms, and their bodies and lower limbs were those of +huge birds, foul and uncleanly. These hateful creatures had long before +been sent by the Gods to plague Pheneus the Blind, king of Thrace, who had +cruelly treated his sons. Whenever a meal was spread for the king, the +Harpies used to descend and devour it. At last some brave warriors, who +were passing through Thrace, were persuaded by the promise of rewards from +Pheneus to rid him of the monsters, and drove them to the far Strophades, +where they had ever since dwelt. + +Irritated at the loss of their feast, AEneas and his companions prepared +more food, and determined, if necessary, to defend it with their swords. +They accordingly concealed their weapons in the grass, and stationed one +of their number on the watch, to give notice with the sound of a trumpet +when the Harpies were approaching. This was done accordingly, and the +obscene creatures, when they again swooped down to seize on the cooked +meats, which they relished more than any other food, were driven off, +though not without difficulty. But one of them, perching on a high rock, +croaked forth to the astonished mariners this dismal prophecy:-- + +"Woe to you, Trojans! Do you dare to make war upon us after having slain +our oxen, and to banish the innocent Harpies from the kingdom which is +theirs by right? Fix, then, in your minds these words, which the father of +Gods and men revealed to Phoebus Apollo, and Apollo to me. Italy is the +land you seek, and Italy you shall reach at last, after many perils; but +you shall not build up the walls of your new-founded city until dire +famine and suffering, visiting you because you have injured us, shall +compel you to devour your tables as well as the food that is upon them." + +The gloomy prediction terrified most of the wanderers, and they urged +AEneas to endeavor to propitiate the unclean monsters with invocations and +sacrifices. But Anchises, after imploring Jupiter to ward off the +threatened calamities, commanded that the expedition should at once quit +that melancholy shore. After passing the rugged cliffs of Ithaca, and +uttering maledictions on the land that bred Ulysses, the most cunning +enemy of Troy, the exiles arrived in safety at the harbor of Leucadia, +where the ships were anchored, and the travelers landed to rest awhile +after the fatigues of the voyage. Here they celebrated the games of their +country; and AEneas hung on the door-posts of an ancient and famous temple +of Apollo a suit of armor, which he had taken from a Greek warrior slain +before Troy, placing above it an inscription, "These arms AEneas won from +the victorious Greeks." + + + + +AENEAS IN THE LAND OF THE CYCLOPS + +By Charles Henry Hanson + + +A day's sail over the blue Mediterranean brought AEneas and his followers +in sight of the southeastern shores of Italy; and as they saw the swelling +hills and grassy plains of the promised land, they broke into cries of +joy. The ships were run into a secure harbor, and sacrifices offered up +for the propitiation of Minerva and of Juno; after which, mindful of the +injunctions of Helenus to avoid those parts of Italy which lay nearest to +Greece, the adventurers resumed their voyage. Keeping near the coast, they +passed the Bay of Tarentum and the lofty promontories of Calabria. Now +came in sight the immense bulk of Etna, lifting its fire-crowned head into +the clouds; and the roaring of the terrible Charybdis could be distinctly +heard. Remembering the warnings of Helenus, they hastily turned to the +left, and avoided the perilous strait, but sought refuge in a place +scarcely less dangerous; for they landed in the country of the Cyclops, +where, only a little while before, Ulysses had been with his comrades, and +had endured great sufferings at the hands of the giant Polyphemus. The +Cyclops, it will be remembered, were a race of savage shepherds, of +immense stature, having each but one eye in the middle of his forehead. +They dwelt in caves, and kept great flocks and herds. Polyphemus was the +largest and fiercest of them all; and when Ulysses and his companions +entered his cave he kept them prisoners, and devoured several of them. The +hero himself and the rest of his followers had escaped him by making him +drunk with wine they had brought on shore from their ships, and then +putting out his eye with a sharpened stake, the point of which they had +hardened in the fire. The knowledge of this adventure came to AEneas and +his Trojans in a strange fashion. On the morning after their arrival in +the country of the Cyclops, they were on the shore, when they were +surprised to see a man emerge from the woods, and approach them with +suppliant gestures. His appearance was wild and emaciated, his beard +overgrown, his garments ragged; but nevertheless it was easy to perceive +that he was a Greek. When he saw that the voyagers wore Trojan dress and +arms, he paused in fear, but the next moment he hurried toward them with +tears and entreaties. + +"I conjure you," he cried, "by the stars, by the powers above, by the +light of heaven, ye Trojans, take me hence. Carry me where you will, do +with me what you will, I shall be content. I confess that I was one who +bore arms against Troy; if you deem that a crime, put me to death for it. +At least I shall have the satisfaction of dying by the hands of men." + +AEneas and Anchises received the stranger kindly, assured him of his +safety, and asked him who he was, and how he came to be in that desolate +country. He answered that he was an Ithacan, his name Achaemenides, and +that he had been one of the companions of Ulysses in his wanderings. He +related the adventures of the Ithacan hero in the cave of Polyphemus, and +told how he himself, having been by accident left behind when his comrades +escaped, had since led a wretched existence in the woods, living on wild +berries and roots, and continually in dread lest he should be seen by the +Cyclops. He advised AEneas to lose no time in quitting the country, lest +the ferocious shepherds should discover and destroy them. Even as +Achaemenides spoke, Polyphemus was seen accompanying his flock to their +pasture. So tall was he of stature that he carried the trunk of a +pine-tree as a staff to guide his footsteps. Reaching the sea he stepped +into it, and bent down to bathe the wound inflicted by Ulysses. The +Trojans hastened to cut their cables, and rowed out to sea. The giant +heard the sound of their oars, and turned to follow them; but in his +blindness he dared not follow far, and therefore he called on his brethren +with a cry so loud that the very sea was shaken in its depths. Forthwith +the huge Cyclops came trooping to the shore, like a wood of lofty trees +endued with life and motion; but by this time the Trojan vessels had got +beyond their reach. + + + + +AENEAS AND QUEEN DIDO + +By Alfred J. Church + + + [AEneas was driven by a storm upon the shores of Carthage.] + + +Now it came to pass on the next day that AEneas, having first hidden his +ships in a bay that was well covered with trees, went forth to spy out the +new land whither he was come, and Achates only went with him. And AEneas +had in each hand a broad-pointed spear. And as he went there met him in +the middle of the wood his mother, but habited as a Spartan virgin, for +she had hung a bow from her shoulders after the fashion of a huntress, and +her hair was loose, and her tunic short to the knees, and her garments +gathered in a knot upon her breast. Then first the false huntress spake: +"If perchance ye have seen one of my sisters wandering hereabouts, make +known to me the place. She is girded with a quiver, and is clothed with +the skin of a spotted lynx, or, maybe, she hunts a wild boar with horn and +hound." + +To whom AEneas, "I have not seen nor heard sister of thine, O virgin--for +what shall I call thee? for, of a surety, neither is thy look as of a +mortal woman, nor yet thy voice. A goddess certainly thou art, sister of +Phoebus, or, haply, one of the nymphs. But whosoever thou art, look +favorably upon us and help us. Tell us in what land we be, for the winds +have driven us hither, and we know not aught of place or people." + +And Venus said, "Nay, stranger, I am not such as ye think. We virgins of +Tyre are wont to carry a quiver and to wear a buskin of purple. For indeed +it is a Tyrian city that is hard by, though the land be Libya. And of this +city Dido is queen, having come hither from Tyre, flying from the +wrong-doing of her brother. And indeed the story of the thing is long, but +I will recount the chief matter thereof to thee. The husband of this Dido +was one Sichaeus, richest among all the men of Phoenicia, and greatly +beloved of his wife, whom he married from a virgin. Now the brother of +this Sichaeus was Pygmalion, the king of the country, and he exceeded all +men in wickedness. And when there arose a quarrel between them, the king, +being exceedingly mad after gold, took him unaware, even as he did +sacrifice at the altar, and slew him. And the king hid the matter many +days from Dido, and cheated her with false hopes. But at the last there +came to her in her dreams the likeness of the dead man, baring his wounds +and showing the wickedness which had been done. Also he bade her make +haste and fly from that land, and, that she might do this the more easily, +told her of great treasure, gold and silver, that was hidden in the earth. +And Dido, being much moved by these things, made ready for flight; also +she sought for companions, and there came together to her as many as hated +the king or feared him. Then did they seize ships that chanced to be ready +and laded them with gold, even the treasure of King Pygmalion, and so fled +across the sea. And in all this was a woman the leader. Then came they to +this place, where thou seest the walls and citadel of Carthage, and bought +so much land as they could cover with a bull's hide. And now do ye answer +me this, Whence come ye, and whither do ye go?" + +Then answered AEneas, "Should I tell the whole story of our wanderings, and +thou have leisure to hear, evening would come ere I could make an end. We +are men of Troy, who, having journeyed over many seas, have now been +driven by storms to this shore of Libya. And as for me, men call me Prince +AEneas. The land I seek is Italy, and my race is from Jupiter himself. With +twenty ships did I set sail, going in the way whereon the Gods sent me. +And of these scarce seven are left. And now, seeing that Europe and Asia +endure me not, I wander over the desert places of Africa." + +But Venus suffered him not to speak more, but said, "Whoever thou art, +stranger, that art come to this Tyrian city, thou art surely beloved by +the Gods. And now go, show thyself to the queen. And as for thy ships and +thy companions, I tell thee that they are safe in the haven, if I have not +learnt augury in vain. See those twenty swans, how joyously they fly! And +now there cometh an eagle swooping down from the sky, putting them to +confusion, but now again they move in due order, and some are settling on +the earth and some are preparing to settle. Even so doth it fare with thy +ships, for either are they already in the haven or enter thereinto with +sails full set." + +And as she spoke she turned away, and there shone a rosy light from her +neck, also there came from her hair a sweet savor as of ambrosia, and her +garments grew under her feet; and AEneas perceived that she was his mother, +and cried aloud,-- + +"O my mother, why dost thou mock me so often with false shows, nor +sufferest me to join my hand unto thy hand, and to speak with thee face to +face?" + +And he went towards the walls of the city. But Venus covered him and his +companions with a mist, that no man might see them, or hinder them, or +inquire of their business, and then departed to Paphos, where was her +temple and also many altars of incense. Then the men hastened on their +way, and mounting a hill which hung over the city, marveled to behold it, +for indeed it was very great and noble, with mighty gates and streets, and +a multitude that walked therein. For some built the walls and the citadel, +rolling great stones with their hands, and others marked out places for +houses. Also they chose those that should give judgment and bear rule in +the city. Some, too, digged out harbors, and others laid the foundations +of a theatre, and cut out great pillars of stone. Like to bees they were, +when, the summer being newly come, the young swarms go forth, or when they +labor filling the cells with honey, and some receive the burdens of those +that return from the fields, and others keep off the drones from the hive. +Even so labored the men of Tyre. And when AEneas beheld them he cried, +"Happy ye, who even now have a city to dwell in!" And being yet hidden by +the mist, he went in at the gate and mingled with the men, being seen of +none. + +Now in the midst of the city was a wood, very thick with trees, and here +the men of Carthage, first come to the land from their voyage, had digged +out of the ground that which Juno had said should be a sign to them, even +a horse's head; for that, finding this, their city would be mighty in war, +and full of riches. Here, then, Dido was building a temple to Juno, very +splendid, with threshold of bronze, and many steps thereunto; of bronze +also were the door-posts and the gates. And here befell a thing which gave +much comfort and courage to AEneas; for as he stood and regarded the place, +waiting also for the queen, he saw set forth in order upon the walls the +battles that had been fought at Troy, the sons of Atreus also, and King +Priam, and fierce Achilles. Then said he, not without tears, "Is there any +land, O Achates, that is not filled with our sorrows? Seest thou Priam? +Yet withal there is a reward for virtue here also, and tears and pity for +the troubles of men. Fear not, therefore. Surely the fame of these things +shall profit us." + +Then he looked, satisfying his soul with the paintings on the walls. For +there was the city of Troy. In this part of the field the Greeks fled and +the youth of Troy pursued them, and in that the men of Troy fled, and +Achilles followed hard upon them in his chariot. Also he saw the white +tents of Rhesus, king of Thrace, whom the fierce Diomed slew in his sleep, +when he was newly come to Troy, and drave his horses to the camp before +they ate of the grass of the fields of Troy or drank the waters of +Nanthus. There also Troilus was pictured, ill matched in battle with +Achilles. His horses bare him along; but he lay on his back in the +chariot, yet holding the reins, and his neck and head were dragged upon +the earth, and the spear-point made a trail in the dust. And in another +place the women of Troy went suppliant-wise to the temple of Minerva, +bearing a great and beautiful robe, sad and beating their breasts, and +with hair unbound; but the goddess regarded them not. Also Achilles +dragged the body of Hector three times round the walls of Troy, and was +selling it for gold. And AEneas groaned when he saw the man whom he loved, +and the old man Priam reaching out helpless hands. Also he knew himself, +fighting in the midst of the Grecian chiefs; black Memnon also he knew, +and the hosts of the East; and Penthesilea leading the army of the Amazons +with shields shaped as the moon. Fierce she was to see, with one breast +bared for battle, and a golden girdle beneath it, a damsel daring to fight +with men. + +But while AEneas marveled to see these things, lo! there came, with a great +throng of youths behind her, Dido, most beautiful of women, fair as Diana, +when, on the banks of Eurotas or on the hills of Cynthus, she leads the +dance with a thousand nymphs of the mountains about her. On her shoulder +she bears a quiver, and overtops them all, and her mother, even Latona, +silently rejoices to behold her. So fair and seemly to see was Dido as she +bare herself right nobly in the midst, being busy in the work of her +kingdom. Then she sat herself down on a lofty throne in the gate of the +temple, with many armed men about her. And she did justice between man and +man; also she divided the work of the city, sharing it equally or parting +by lot. + +Then of a sudden AEneas heard a great clamor, and saw a company of men come +quickly to the place, among whom were Antheus and Sergestus and Cloanthus, +and others of the men of Troy that had been parted from him in the storm. +Right glad was he to behold them, yet was not without fear; and though he +would fain have come forth and caught them by the hand, yet did he tarry, +waiting to hear how the men had fared, where they had left their ships, +and wherefore they were come. + +Then Ilioneus, leave being now given that he should speak, thus began: "O +Queen, whom Jupiter permits to build a new city in these lands, we men of +Troy, whom the winds have carried over many seas, pray thee that thou save +our ships from fire, and spare a people that serveth the Gods. For, +indeed, we are not come to waste the dwellings of this land, or to carry +off spoils to our ships. For, of a truth, they who have suffered so much +think not of such deeds. There is a land which the Greeks call Hesperia, +but the people themselves Italy, after the name of their chief; an ancient +land, mighty in arms and fertile of corn. Hither, were we journeying, when +a storm arising scattered our ships, and only these few that thou seest +escaped to the land. And can there be nation so savage that it receiveth +not shipwrecked men on its shore, but beareth arms against them, and +forbiddeth them to land? Nay, but if ye care not for men, yet regard the +Gods, who forget neither them that do righteously nor them that +transgress. We had a king, AEneas, than whom there lived not a man more +dutiful to Gods and men, and greater in war. If indeed he be yet alive, +then we fear not at all. For of a truth it will not repent thee to have +helped us. And if not, other friends have we, as Acestes of Sicily. Grant +us, therefore, to shelter our ships from the wind; also to fit them with +fresh timber from the woods, and to make ready oars for rowing, so that, +finding again our king and our companions, we may gain the land of Italy. +But if he be dead, and Ascanius his son lost also, then there is a +dwelling ready for us in the land of Sicily, with Acestes, who is our +friend." + +Then Dido, her eyes bent on the ground, thus spake: "Fear not, men of +Troy. If we have seemed to deal harshly with you, pardon us, seeing that, +being newly settled in this land, we must keep watch and ward over our +coasts. But as for the men of Troy, and their deeds in arms, who knows +them not? Think not that we in Carthage are so dull of heart, or dwell so +remote from man, that we are ignorant of these things. Whether, therefore, +ye will journey to Italy or rather return to Sicily and King Acestes, know +that I will give you all help, and protect you; or, if ye will, settle in +this land of ours. Yours is this city which I am building. I will make no +difference between man of Troy and man of Tyre. Would that your king also +were here! Surely I will send those that shall seek him in all parts of +Libya, lest haply he should be gone astray in any forest or strange city +of the land." + +And when AEneas and Achates heard these things they were glad, and would +have come forth from the cloud, and Achates said, "What thinkest thou? Lo, +thy comrades are safe, saving him whom we saw with our own eyes drowned in +the waves; and all other things are according as thy mother said." + +And even as he spake the cloud parted from about them, and AEneas stood +forth, very bright to behold, with face and breast as of a god, for his +mother had given to him hair beautiful to see, and cast about him the +purple light of youth, even as a workman sets ivory in some fair ornament, +or compasseth about silver or marble of Paros with gold. Then spake he to +the queen: "Lo! I am he whom ye seek, even AEneas of Troy, scarcely saved +from the waters of the sea. And as for thee, O Queen, seeing that thou +only hast been found to pity the unspeakable sorrows of Troy, and biddest +us, though we be but poor exiles and lacking all things, to share thy city +and thy home, may the Gods do so to thee as thou deservest. And, of a +truth, so long as the rivers run to the seas, and the shadows fall on the +hollows of the hills, so long will thy name and thy glory survive, +whatever be the land to which the Gods shall bring me." Then gave he his +right hand to Ilioneus, and his left hand to Sergestus, and greeted them +with great joy. + +And Dido, hearing these things, was silent for a while, but at the last +she spake. "What ill fortune brings thee into perils so great? what power +drave thee to these savage shores? Well do I mind me how in days gone by +there came to Sidon one Teucer, who, having been banished from his +country, sought help from Belus that he might find a kingdom for himself. +And it chanced that in those days Belus, my father, had newly conquered +the land of Cyprus. From that day did I know the tale of Troy, and thy +name also, and the chiefs of Greece. Also I remember that Teucer spake +honorably of the men of Troy, saying that he was himself sprung of the old +Teucrian stock. Come ye, therefore to my palace. I too have wandered far, +even as you, and so have come to this land, and having suffered much, have +learnt to succor them that suffer." + +So saying she led AEneas into her palace; also she sent to his companions +in the ships great store of provisions, even twenty oxen and a hundred +bristly swine and a hundred ewe sheep with their lambs. But in the palace +a great feast was set forth, couches covered with broidered purple and +silver vessels without end, and cups of gold, whereon were embossed the +mighty deeds of the men of old time. + +And in the mean time AEneas sent Achates in haste to the ships, that he +might fetch Ascanius to the feast. Also he bade that the boy should bring +with him gifts of such things as they had saved from the ruins of Troy,--a +mantle stiff with broidery of gold and a veil bordered with yellow +acanthus, which the fair Helen had taken with her, flying from her home; +but Leda, her mother, had given them to Helen; a sceptre likewise which +Ilione, first-born of the daughters of Priam, had carried, and a necklace +of pearls and a double crown of jewels and gold. + +But Venus was troubled in heart, fearing evil to her son should the men of +Tyre be treacherous, after their wont, and Juno remember her wrath. +Wherefore, taking counsel with herself, she called to the winged boy, even +Love, that was her son, and spake: "My son, who art all my power and +strength, who laughest at the thunders of Jupiter, thou knowest how Juno, +being exceedingly wroth against thy brother AEneas, causeth him to wander +out of the way over all lands. This day Dido hath him in her palace, and +speaketh him fair; but I fear me much how these things may end. Wherefore +hear thou that which I purpose. Thy brother hath even now sent for the boy +Ascanius, that he may come to the palace, bringing with him gifts of such +things as they saved from the ruins of Troy. Him will I cause to fall into +a deep sleep and hide in Cythera or Idalium, and do thou for one night +take upon thee his likeness. And when Queen Dido at the feast shall hold +thee in her lap, and kiss and embrace thee, do thou breathe by stealth thy +fire into her heart." + +Then did Love as his mother bade him, and put off his wings, and took upon +him the shape of Ascanius, but on the boy Venus caused there to fall a +deep sleep, and carried him to the woods of Idalium, and lapped him in +sweet-smelling flowers. And in his stead Love carried the gifts to the +queen. And when he was come they sat down to the feast, the queen being in +the midst under a canopy. AEneas also and the men of Troy lay on coverlets +of purple, to whom serving-men brought water and bread in baskets and +napkins; and within fifty handmaids were ready to replenish the store of +victual and to fan the fire; and a hundred others, with pages as many, +loaded the tables with dishes and drinking-cups. Many men of Tyre also +were bidden to the feast. Much they marveled at the gifts of AEneas, and +much at the false Ascanius. Dido also could not satisfy herself with +looking on him, nor knew what trouble he was preparing for her in the time +to come. And he, having first embraced the father who was not his father, +and clung about his neck, addressed himself to Queen Dido, and she ever +followed him with her eyes, and sometimes would hold him on her lap. And +still he worked upon her that she should forget the dead Sichaeus and +conceive a new love in her heart. + +But when they first paused from the feast, lo! men set great bowls upon +the table and filled them to the brim with wine. Then did the queen call +for a great vessel of gold, with many jewels upon it, from which Belus, +and all the kings from Belus, had drunk, and called for wine, and having +filled it she cried, "O Jupiter, whom they call the god of hosts and +guests, cause that this be a day of joy for the men of Troy and for them +of Tyre, and that our children remember it forever. Also Bacchus, giver of +joy, be present, and kindly Juno." And when she had touched the wine with +her lips, she handed the great cup to Prince Bitias, who drank thereout a +mighty draught, and the other princes after him. Then the minstrel Iopas, +whom Atlas himself had taught, sang to the harp, of the moon, how she goes +on her way, and of the sun, how his light is darkened. He sang also of +men, and of the beasts of the field, whence they come; and of the stars, +Arcturus, and the Greater Bear and the Less, and the Hyades; and of the +winter sun, why he hastens to dip himself in the ocean; and of the winter +nights, why they tarry so long. The queen also talked much of the story of +Troy, of Priam, and of Hector, asking many things, as of the arms of +Memnon, and of the horses of Diomed, and of Achilles, how great he was. +And at last she said to AEneas, "Tell us now thy story, how Troy was taken, +and thy wanderings over land and sea." And AEneas made answer, "Nay, O +Queen, but thou biddest me renew a sorrow unspeakable. Yet, if thou art +minded to hear these things, hearken." And he told her all that had +befallen him, even to the day when his father Anchises died. + +Much was Queen Dido moved by the story, and much did she marvel at him +that told it, and scarce could sleep for thinking of him. And the next day +she spake to Anna, her sister, "O my sister, I have been troubled this +night with ill dreams, and my heart is disquieted within me. What a man is +this stranger that hath come to our shores! How noble of mien! How bold in +war! Sure I am that he is of the sons of the Gods. What fortunes have been +his! Of what wars he told us! Surely were I not steadfastly purposed that +I would not yoke me again in marriage, this were the man to whom I might +yield. Only he--for I will tell thee the truth, my sister--only he, since +the day when Sichaeus died by our brother's hand, hath moved my heart. But +may the earth swallow me up, or the almighty Father strike me with +lightning, ere I stoop to such baseness. The husband of my youth hath +carried with him my love, and he shall keep it in his grave." + +So she spake, with many tears. And her sister made answer, "Why wilt thou +waste thy youth in sorrow, without child or husband? Thinkest thou that +there is care or remembrance of such things in the grave? No suitors +indeed have pleased thee here or in Tyre, but wilt thou also contend with +a love that is after thine own heart? Think too of the nations among whom +thou dwellest, how fierce they are, and of thy brother at Tyre, what he +threatens against thee. Surely it was by the will of the Gods, and of Juno +chiefly, that the ships of Troy came hither. And this city, which thou +buildest, to what greatness will it grow if only thou wilt make for +thyself such alliance! How great will be the glory of Carthage if the +strength of Troy be joined unto her! Only do thou pray to the Gods and +offer sacrifices; and, for the present, seeing that the time of sailing is +now past, make excuse that these strangers tarry with thee awhile." + +Thus did Anna comfort her sister and encourage her. And first the two +offered sacrifice to the Gods, chiefly to Juno, who careth for the bond of +marriage. Also, examining the entrails of slain beasts, they sought to +learn the things that should happen thereafter. And ever Dido would +company with AEneas, leading him about the walls of the city which she +builded. And often she would begin to speak and stay in the midst of her +words. And when even was come, she would hear again and again at the +banquet the tale of Troy, and while others slept would watch, and while he +was far away would seem to see him and to hear him. Ascanius, too, she +would embrace for love of his father, if so she might cheat her own heart. +But the work of the city was stayed meanwhile; nor did the towers rise in +their places, nor the youth practice themselves in arms. + +Then Juno, seeing how it fared with the queen, spake to Venus: "Are ye +satisfied with your victory, thou and thy son, that ye have vanquished, +the two of you, one woman? Well I knew that thou fearedst lest this +Carthage should harm thy favorite. But why should there be war between us? +Thou hast what thou seekest. Let us make alliance. Let Dido obey a +Phrygian husband, and bring the men of Tyre as her dowry." + +But Venus knew that she spake with ill intent, to the end that the men of +Troy should not reign in the land of Italy. Nevertheless she dissembled +with her tongue, and spake: "Who would not rather have peace with thee +than war? Only I doubt whether this thing shall be to the pleasure of +Jupiter. This thou must learn, seeing that thou art his wife, and where +thou leadest I will follow." + +So the two, taking counsel together, ordered things in this wise. The next +day a great hunting was prepared. For as soon as ever the sun was risen +upon the earth, the youth of the city assembled, with nets and hunting +spears and dogs that ran by scent. And the princes of Carthage waited for +the queen at the palace door, where her horse stood champing the bit, with +trappings of purple and gold. And after a while she came forth, with many +following her. And she had upon her a Sidonian mantle, with a border +wrought with divers colors; of gold was her quiver, and of gold the knot +of her hair, and of gold the clasp to her mantle. AEneas likewise came +forth, beautiful as is Apollo when he leaveth Lydia and the stream of +Xanthus, coming to Delos, and hath about his hair a wreath of bay-leaves +and a circlet of gold. So fair was AEneas to see. And when the hunters came +to the hills they found great store of goats and stags, which they chased. +And of all the company Ascanius was the foremost, thinking scorn of such +hunting, and wishing that a wild boar or a lion out of the hills would +come forth to be his prey. + +And now befell a great storm, with much thunder and hail, from which the +hunters sought shelter. But AEneas and the queen, being left of all their +company, came together to the same cave. And there they plighted their +troth one to the other. Nor did the queen after that make secret of her +love, but called AEneas her husband. + +Straightway went Rumor and told these things through the cities of Libya. +Now Rumor, men say, is the youngest daughter of Earth, a marvelous +creature, moving very swiftly with feet and wings, and having many +feathers upon her, and under every feather an eye and a tongue and a mouth +and an ear. In the night she flieth between heaven and earth, and sleepeth +not; and in the day she sitteth on some housetop or lofty tower, or +spreadeth fear over mighty cities; and she loveth that which is false even +as she loveth that which is true. So now she went telling through Libya +how AEneas of Troy was come, and Dido was wedded to him, and how they lived +careless and at ease, and thinking not of the work to which they were +called. + +And first of all she went to Prince Iarbas, who himself had sought Dido in +marriage. And Iarbas was very wroth when he heard it, and, coming to the +temple of Jupiter, spread his grief before the Gods, how that he had given +a place on his coasts to this Dido, and would have taken her to wife, but +that she had married a stranger from Phrygia, another Paris, whose dress +and adornments were of a woman rather than of a man. + +And Jupiter saw that this was so, and he said to Mercury, who was his +messenger, "Go speak to AEneas these words: 'Thus saith the king of Gods +and men. Is this what thy mother promised of thee, twice saving thee from +the spear of the Greeks? Art thou he that shall rule Italy and its mighty +men of war, and spread thy dominion to the ends of the world? If thou +thyself forgettest these things, dost thou grudge to thy son the citadels +of Rome? What doest thou here? Why lookest thou not to Italy? Depart and +tarry not.'" + +Then Mercury fitted the winged sandals to his feet, and took the wand with +which he driveth the spirits of the dead, and came right soon to Mount +Atlas, which standeth bearing the heaven on his head, and having always +clouds about his top, and snow upon his shoulders, and a beard that is +stiff with ice. There Mercury stood awhile; then, as a bird which seeks +its prey in the sea, shot headlong down, and came to AEneas where he stood, +with a yellow jasper in his sword-hilt, and a cloak of purple shot with +gold about his shoulders, and spake: "Buildest thou Carthage, forgetting +thine own work? The Almighty Father saith to thee, 'What meanest thou? Why +tarriest thou here? If thou carest not for thyself, yet think of thy son, +and that the Fates have given to him Italy and Rome.'" + +And AEneas saw him no more. And he stood stricken with fear and doubt. Fain +would he obey the voice, and go as the Gods commanded. But how should he +tell this purpose to the queen? But at the last it seemed good to him to +call certain of the chiefs, as Mnestheus, and Sergestus, and Antheus, and +bid them make ready the ships in silence, and gather together the people, +but dissemble the cause, and he himself would watch a fitting time to +speak and unfold the matter to the queen. + +Yet was not Dido deceived, for love is keen of sight. Rumor also told her +that they made ready the ships for sailing. Then, flying through the city, +even as one on whom has come the frenzy of Bacchus flies by night over +Mount Cithaeron, she came upon AEneas, and spake: "Thoughtest thou to hide +thy crime, and to depart in silence from this land? Carest thou not for +her whom thou leavest to die? And hast thou no fear of winter storms that +vex the sea? By all that I have done for thee and given thee, if there be +yet any place for repentance, repent thee of this purpose. For thy sake I +suffer the wrath of the princes of Libya and of my own people; and if thou +leavest me, for what should I live?--till my brother overthrow my city, or +Iarbas carry me away captive? If but I had a little AEneas to play in my +halls I should not seem so altogether desolate." + +But AEneas, fearing the words of Jupiter, stood with eyes that relented +not. At the last he spake: "I deny not, O Queen, the benefits that thou +hast done unto me, nor ever, while I live, shall I forget Dido. I sought +not to fly by stealth; yet did I never promise that I would abide in this +place. Could I have chosen according to my will I had built again the city +of Troy where it stood; but the Gods command that I should seek Italy. +Thou hast thy Carthage; why dost thou grudge Italy to us? Nor may I tarry. +Night after night have I seen my father Anchises warning me in dreams. +Also even now the messenger of Jupiter came to me--with these ears I heard +him--and bade me depart." + +Then, in great wrath, with eyes askance, did Dido break forth upon him: +"Surely no goddess was thy mother, nor art thou come of the race of +Dardanus. The rocks of Caucasus brought thee forth, and an Hyrcanian +tigress gave thee suck. For why should I dissemble? Was he moved at all my +tears? Did he pity my love? Nay, the very Gods are against me. This man I +took to myself when he was shipwrecked and ready to perish. I brought back +his ships, his companions from destruction. And now forsooth comes the +messenger of Jupiter with dreadful commands from the Gods. As for thee, I +keep thee not. Go, seek thy Italy across the seas: only, if there is any +vengeance in heaven, thou wilt pay the penalty for this wrong, being +wrecked on some rock in their midst. Then wilt thou call on Dido in vain. +Aye, and where-ever thou shalt go I will haunt thee, and rejoice in the +dwellings below to hear thy doom." + +Then she turned, and hasted to go into the house. But her spirit left her, +so that her maidens bare her to her chamber and laid her on her bed. + +Then AEneas, though indeed he was much troubled in heart, and would fain +have comforted the queen, was obedient to the heavenly word, and departed +to his ships. And the men of Troy busied themselves in making them ready +for the voyage. Even as the ants spoil a great heap of corn and store it +in their dwellings against winter, moving in a black line across the +field, and some carry the great grains, and some chide those that linger, +even so did the Trojans swarm along the ways and labor at the work. + +But when Dido saw it she called to Anna her sister and said, "Seest thou +how they hasten the work along the shore? Even now the sails are ready for +the winds, and the sailors have wreathed the ships with garlands, as if +for departure. Go thou--the deceiver always trusted thee, and thou knowest +how best to move him--go and entreat him. I harmed not him nor his people; +let him then grant me this only. Let him wait for a fairer time for his +journey. I ask not that he give up his purpose; only that he grant me a +short breathing space, till I may learn how to bear this sorrow." + +And Anna hearkened to her sister, and took the message to AEneas, yet +profited nothing, for the Gods shut his ears that he should not hear. Even +as the oak stands firm when the north wind would root it up from the +earth,--its leaves are scattered all around, yet doth it remain firm, for +its roots go down to the regions below, even as far as its branches reach +to heaven,--so stood AEneas firm, and, though he wept many tears, changed +not his purpose. + +Then did Dido grow weary of her life. For when she did sacrifice, the pure +water would grow black and the wine be changed to blood. Also from the +shrine of her husband, which was in the midst of her palace, was heard a +voice calling her, and the owl cried aloud from the house-top. And in her +dreams the cruel AEneas seemed to drive her before him; or she seemed to be +going a long way with none to bear her company, and be seeking her own +people in a land that was desert. Therefore, hiding the thing that was in +her heart, she spake to her sister, saying, "I have found a way, my +sister, that shall bring him back to me or set me free from him. Near the +shore of the Great Sea, where the AEthiopians dwell, is a priestess, who +guards the temple of the daughters of Hesperus, being wont to feed the +dragons that kept the apples of gold. She is able by her charms to loose +the heart from care or to bind it, and to stay rivers also, and to turn +the courses of the stars, and to call up the spirits of the dead. Do thou, +therefore--for this is what the priestess commands--build a pile in the +open court, and put thereon the sword which he left hanging in our +chamber, and the garments he wore, and the couch on which he lay, even all +that was his, so that they may perish together." + +And when these things were done--for Anna knew not of her purpose--and +also an image of AEneas was laid upon the pile, the priestess, with her +hair unbound, called upon all the gods that dwell below, sprinkling +thereon water that was drawn, she said, from the lake of Avernus, and +scattering evil herbs that had been cut at the full moon with a sickle of +bronze. Dido also, with one foot bare and her garments loosened, threw +meal upon the fire and called upon the gods, if haply there be any, that +look upon those that love and suffer wrong. + +In the mean time AEneas lay asleep in the hind part of his ship, when there +appeared to him in a dream the god Mercury, even as he had seen him when +he brought the commandment of Jupiter. And Mercury spake, saying, "Son of +Venus, canst thou sleep? seest thou not what perils surround thee, nor +hearest how the favorable west wind calls? The queen purposes evil against +thee. If thou lingerest till the morning come thou wilt see the shore +covered with them that wish thee harm. Fly, then, and tarry not; for a +woman is ever of many minds." + +Then did AEneas in great fear start from his sleep, and call his +companions, saying, "Wake, and sit on the benches, and loose the sails. +'Tis a god thus bids us fly." And even as he spake he cut the cable with +his sword. And all hasted to follow him, and sped over the sea. + +And now it was morning, and Queen Dido, from her watch-tower, saw the +ships upon the sea. Then she smote upon her breast and tore her hair, and +cried, "Shall this stranger mock us thus? Hasten to follow him. Bring down +the ships from the docks, make ready sword and fire. And this was the man +who bare upon his shoulders his aged father. Why did I not tear him to +pieces, and slay his companions with the sword, and serve up the young +Ascanius at his meal? And if I had perished, what then? for I die to-day. +O Sun, that regardest all the earth, and Juno, that carest for marriage +bonds, and Hecate, Queen of the dead, and ye Furies that take vengeance on +evil-doers, hear me. If it be ordered that he reach that land, yet grant +that he suffer many things from his enemies, and be driven from his city, +and beg for help from strangers, and see his people cruelly slain with the +sword; and, when he shall have made peace on ill conditions, that he enjoy +not long his kingdoms, but die before his day, and lie unburied on the +plain. And ye, men of Tyre, hate his children and his people forever. Let +there be no love or peace between you. And may some avenger arise from my +grave who shall persecute the race of Dardanus with fire and sword. So +shall there be war forever between him and me." + +Then she spake to old Barce, who had been nurse to her husband Sichaeus, +"Bid my sister bathe herself in water, and bring with her beasts for +sacrifice. And do thou also put a garland about thy head, for I am minded +to finish this sacrifice which I have begun, and to burn the image of the +man of Troy." + +And when the old woman made haste to do her bidding, Queen Dido ran to the +court where the pile was made for the burning, and mounted on the pile, +and drew the sword of AEneas from the scabbard. Then did she throw herself +upon the bed, and cry, + +"Now do I yield up my life. I have finished my course. I have built a +mighty city. I have avenged my husband on him that slew him. Happy had I +been, yea, too happy! had the ships of Troy never come to this land." Then +she kissed the bed and cried, "Shall I die unavenged? Nevertheless let me +die. The man of Troy shall see this fire from the sea whereon he journeys, +and carry with him an augury of death." + +And when her maidens looked, lo! she had fallen upon the sword, and the +blood was upon her hands. And a great cry went up through the palace, +exceeding loud and bitter, even as if the enemy had taken Carthage or +ancient Tyre, and the fire were mounting over the dwellings of men and of +Gods. And Anna her sister heard it, and rushing through the midst called +her by name: "O my sister, was this thy purpose? Were the pile and the +sword and the fire for this? Why wouldst thou not suffer that I should die +with thee? For surely, my sister, thou hast slain thyself, and me, and thy +people, and thy city. But give me water, ye maidens, that I may wash her +wounds, and if there be any breath left in her, we may yet stay it." + +Then she climbed on to the pile, and caught her sister in her arms, and +sought to staunch the blood with her garments. Three times did Dido strive +to raise her eyes; three times did her spirit leave her. Three times she +would have raised herself upon her elbow; three times she fell back upon +the bed, looking with wandering eyes for the light, and groaning that she +yet beheld it. + +Then Juno, looking down from heaven, saw that her pain was long, and +pitied her, and sent down Iris, her messenger, that she might loose the +soul that struggled to be free. For, seeing that she died not by nature, +nor yet by the hand of man, but before her time and of her own madness, +Queen Proserpine had not shred the ringlet from her head which she shreds +from them that die. Wherefore Iris, flying down with dewy wings from +heaven, with a thousand colors about her from the light of the sun, stood +about her head and said, "I give thee to death, even as I am bidden, and +loose thee from thy body." Then she shred the lock, and Queen Dido gave up +the ghost. + + + + +THE FUNERAL GAMES OF ANCHISES + +By Charles Henry Hanson + + +AEneas called together all his followers, and reminded minded them that a +year had now passed since the death of his father. Not of their own +purpose, but doubtless by the will of the Gods, they had now returned to +the friendly land where his bones had been laid. It was therefore his +intention to celebrate funeral games. For eight days there should be +feasting, for which Acestes had generously provided two oxen for each +ship; and on the ninth day he would give prizes to be contested in the +foot-race, in shooting with the bow, and in boxing with the cestus. + +Having thus spoken, the hero, according to the custom of that time, placed +a wreath of myrtle upon his head and proceeded to the tomb of his father, +where he poured out, as a libation to the Gods, two bowls of wine, two of +new milk, and two of sacred blood. Then he scattered flowers over the +tomb, and offered up a prayer to his father's shade. Immediately there +came forth from the tomb a huge snake with glittering scales of blue and +gold, which, after tasting of what had been poured out, retired again to +the recesses of the vault. Believing this creature to be an attendant on +his father's spirit, AEneas offered rich sacrifices--ewes, sows, and +bullocks--and his companions followed his example. The eight days of +feasting passed pleasantly enough, and the morning appointed for the +funeral games dawned bright and serene. A joyous crowd assembled on the +shore, some to take part in the contests, and others to watch them. The +first of the games was a race between galleys, and four ships had been +entered to take part in it. The first was the Pristis, or Shark, of which +Mnestheus was the captain. The Chimera, a vessel of immense size, was +commanded by Gyas. The other vessels were the Centaur and the Scylla,--the +first commanded by Sergestus, and the second by Cloanthus. Some way out in +the sea, opposite to the starting-point, a rock rose amid the restless +waters. The galleys were to round this rock, on which AEneas had planted an +oak-tree as a mark, and then return to the shore. The vessels were +assigned their places by lot, and the captain of each took his place on +the poop; while the rowers, stripped to the waist, their shoulders +glistening with oil, sat with their arms stretched to the oars, eager for +the signal. At the blast of a trumpet all the oars struck the sea at once, +and beat it into foam, and the vessels shot forward amid the loud shouts +of the multitude. The Chimera, under Gyas's skillful guidance, took the +lead; next followed the Scylla, whose rowers were more efficient, but were +unable to make such progress, because the vessel was naturally slower. +Behind the Shark and the Centaur followed close together, and first the +one and then the other gained a slight advantage. The two leading vessels +were rapidly nearing the rock when Gyas perceived that his helmsman, +Menoetes, was keeping a course too far to the right, in fear of some +hidden crags, and was thus losing the advantage that had been gained. He +urged him to steer more to the left, nor to care even if the oars grazed +the rock; but Menoetes was afraid to obey the command. And now Cloanthus +in the Scylla, taking the very course Gyas had wished to follow, ran +boldly between the Chimera and the rock, and so got round the goal in +front of his antagonist. When Gyas beheld this he was full of wrath. +Rushing to the helm, he seized the over-cautious Menoetes and hurled him +into the sea; then he himself took the helm, and at once guided his ship +and issued commands and cries of encouragement to his oarsmen. The +luckless Menoetes with difficulty contrived to scramble out of the sea +onto the rock, and sat there in his dripping garments, while the +spectators roared with laughter at his misadventure. But now Mnestheus in +the Shark and Sergestus in the Centaur pushed forward with redoubled zeal +in the hope of obtaining the lead. Sergestus got a little in front of his +competitor, but Mnestheus, walking among his rowers, urged them to put +forth their utmost strength, and at least not to suffer the disgrace of +being last. In response to his appeal they bent to the oar with new vigor; +the ship trembled under their strokes and the water seemed to fly from +beneath her keel. Suddenly, while the Centaur, in full career, was +pressing close to the rock to prevent the Shark from passing on the inner +side, she ran upon a jutting point where she remained fast, while the oars +were shattered against the hard rocks. In a moment the Shark shot past, +and having rounded the goal, dashed on the homeward way. Ere long +Mnestheus had overtaken the Chimera, which had lost ground because she was +deprived of her steersman. Cloanthus in the Scylla was now alone in front +of the Shark; and though the race was nearly over, the frantic efforts of +Mnestheus' crew might have gained him the victory, but that Cloanthus +poured forth passionate prayers to the marine deities, and promised them +ample offerings if the first prize became his. They heard his vows, and +gathering underneath his vessel, pushed it forward, so that it entered the +harbor just in front of the Shark. Then AEneas proclaimed Cloanthus the +victor, and gave him a mantle embroidered with gold and ornamented with a +thick fringe of the costly Meliboean purple. On Mnestheus, who had so +gallantly gained the second place, he bestowed a ponderous coat of mail +worked in gold and brass, which he had himself taken from a famous Greek +warrior, Demoleus, whom he had slain before Troy. Gyas received two +caldrons of brass, and some silver bowls ornamented with rich carvings. +Lastly, when Sergestus had slowly brought back to port his crippled +galley, his chief bestowed on him, in reward for having rescued the vessel +from her perilous position, a Cretan female slave with her two children. + +Thus ended the galley race; and the assembled multitude now proceeded to a +grassy plain a little way inland, where thrones were placed for Acestes, +AEneas, and the other leaders. Here the remaining games were to be +celebrated, and first of all a foot race. Among the competitors in this +were Euryalus, a Trojan youth distinguished for his personal beauty; +Nisus, a brave warrior, who was his constant friend and companion; Diores, +Salius, and Patron, three other Trojans; and two Sicilian youths famous +for their speed, named Elymus and Panopes. AEneas announced that he would +give two Cretan javelins of bright steel and a carved battle-axe of silver +to each who took part in the race, and to the three who came in first +other rich prizes: to the first a war-horse with costly trappings; to the +second a quiver full of Thracian arrows, with a gold belt and jeweled +buckle; and to the third a Grecian helmet. The runners having been placed +in proper order, the signal was given, and they darted forward like a +tempest. Nisus led the way, Salius coming second, and Euryalus third, with +the rest following close behind. Already Nisus was near the goal, when +unluckily his foot slipped at a spot where some victims had been +sacrificed for the altar, and the blood soaking into the grass had made it +slippery. Down he fell into the puddle, and in a moment his chance of +victory had disappeared. But even then, in spite of his disappointment, he +was mindful of his affection for Euryalus, and resolved that since he +could not win the race, his friend should do so. He rose to his feet just +as Salius was coming up, and contrived to stand in his way so as to +overturn him. Euryalus, who had still kept the third place, now sprang +forward, and was easily victorious amid the applause of the crowd. Elymus +came in next, and close behind him Diores. But Salius loudly demanded that +the first prize of right belonged to him, because he had been deprived of +the victory by unfair means. The spectators, however, favored the claim of +Euryalus because of his youth and beauty; and Diores vehemently took the +same side, since, if Salius were adjudged the victory, he would not +receive a prize at all. AEneas speedily silenced all contention by +declaring that the promised rewards should go to the three who had arrived +first at the winning-post; but he added that he would show his sympathy +for the disaster which had befallen Salius, and therefore bestowed on him +the shaggy hide of a Getulian lion, still retaining the claws, which had +been gilt. Upon this, Nisus also merrily asked for some consolation, since +but for an accident the first prize would have been his, and he showed his +face and limbs all besmeared with mud. His chief entered into the jest, +and gave him a buckler, finely carved, which had once hung on the walls of +Neptune's temple at Troy. + +[Illustration: HE ROSE TO HIS FEET JUST AT THE MOMENT THAT SALIUS WAS +COMING UP, AND CONTRIVED TO STAND IN HIS WAY SO AS TO OVERTURN HIM. +EURYALUS, WHO HAD STILL KEPT THE THIRD PLACE, NOW SPRANG FORWARD, AND WAS +EASILY VICTORIOUS AMID THE APPLAUSE OF THE CROWD. ELYMUS CAME IN NEXT, AND +CLOSE BEHIND HIM DIORES. BUT SALIUS LOUDLY DEMANDED THAT THE FIRST PRIZE +OF RIGHT BELONGED TO HIM.] + +The next contest was that with the cestus, the boxing-glove of the +ancients, a formidable implement, intended not to soften the blows dealt +by the boxers, but to make them more painful, for it was composed of +strips of hardened oxhide. To the competitors in this sport--if such it +could be called--AEneas offered two prizes,--the first a bullock, decked +with gold and fillets, and the second a sword and a shining helmet. A +noted Trojan warrior named Dares, a man of immense strength and bulk, who +was also celebrated for his skill with the cestus, presented himself to +contest this prize. He brandished his huge fists in the air, and paced +vaingloriously backward and forward in the arena, challenging any one in +the assembly to meet him. But there was no response; his friends were too +well acquainted with his skill, and the Sicilians were awed by his +formidable appearance. At last, therefore, imagining that nobody would +venture to encounter him, he advanced to AEneas and asked that the prize +might be given up to him. It seemed, indeed, that this would have to be +done, when King Acestes turned to one of his elders, a venerable Sicilian +chief named Entellus, and asked how it was that he thus allowed such +splendid prizes to be taken before his eyes without striking a blow for +them. Entellus had, in his younger days, been a great champion with the +cestus, having been taught the use of the weapon by none other than Eryx, +at that time king of Sicily, and one of the most expert boxers in the +world. So confident had Eryx been in his powers, that when the mighty +Hercules passed through Sicily on his way from Spain, where he had slain +King Geryon and carried off his splendid cattle, the Sicilian monarch +ventured to challenge the hero to a combat with the cestus, staking his +kingdom against the cattle which Hercules was bearing away to Greece. +Hercules had accepted the challenge, and had slain Eryx in the encounter; +but the tradition of his skill had been preserved by his pupil Entellus. +The chief was now old, and disinclined for exertion; but when thus urged +by King Acestes, he slowly rose and threw into the arena the gauntlets +which King Eryx had been accustomed to use. Terrible weapons indeed +they-were, with heavy pieces of iron and lead sewn into them underneath +the oxhide. At the mere sight of them Dares shrank back appalled, and +refused to fight with such implements. "These," said Entellus, "were the +gauntlets with which my master Eryx encountered Hercules; and these, after +his death, I myself was accustomed to use. But if Dares likes not such +gloves, let AEneas provide others for both of us." With these words he +threw off his upper garments and bared his massive shoulders and sinewy +arms. The Trojan chief brought out two pairs of gauntlets of less +formidable make, with which the two champions armed themselves; and then +they stood face to face, and both raised their arms for the encounter. For +some time they stood parrying each other's blows and watching for an +opportunity. Presently, as they grew warmer, many heavy strokes were given +on each side, now on the head, now on the breast. Entellus stood stiff and +unmoved in the same firm posture, only bending to evade Dares's blows, and +always closely watching his antagonist, who, more active, wheeled round +him, trying first one method of attack, then another. At last Entellus +uplifted his right arm, thinking he saw an opportunity for delivering a +decisive stroke; but Dares with great agility slipped out of the way, and +as the arm of Entellus encountered no resistance save from the empty air, +he fell forward on the ground through the violence of his own effort. +Acclamations burst from all the onlookers, and Acestes himself stepped +forward to assist his old companion to his feet. But the mishap had only +aroused Entellus's anger; he no longer acted on the defensive, but rushed +upon his opponent with irresistible ardor, and smote blow after blow, +driving Dares headlong over the field, pouring down strokes as incessantly +as a shower of hail rattles upon the house-tops. AEneas now deemed it high +time to put a stop to the combat, and called upon Dares, who indeed was +quite overpowered, to yield. His comrades led the beaten champion to the +ships, with the blood flowing from his battered head and face, and on his +behalf they took away the helmet and sword, leaving the bull to the +conqueror. Entellus, proud of his victory, laid hold of the animal, and +exclaimed, "Behold, O chief, and you Trojans, from this what my strength +once was, and also from what death you have saved Dares." With these words +he smote the bull on the forehead with the cestus so mightily that the +skull was battered in and the brute sank dead at his feet. + +After this exciting competition came a more peaceful sport,--a trial of +skill with the bow. A mast was planted on a sward, and to the top of it a +living dove was secured by a cord. This was the mark, and four archers +came forward to contend for the prizes,--Hippocooen, the brother of Nisus +and one of AEneas's dearest friends; Mnestheus, the winner of the second +prize in the galley race; Eurytion, a brother of that Pandarus who was one +of the most skillful archers that fought in the Trojan war, and who, after +wounding Menelaus, was slain by Diomedes; and lastly, King Acestes +himself. Hippocooen shot first, and his arrow, whizzing past the fluttering +dove, pierced the pole to which she was fastened. This, though it did not +hit the mark, was an excellent shot, and it won loud applause from the +spectators. Mnestheus next discharged his dart, taking a long and steady +aim; but his arrow, instead of striking the bird, cut in two the cord by +which she was fastened, and, spreading her wings, the dove at once flew +away. Instantly, however, Eurytion raised his bow, and shot with so true +an aim that he struck the bird even in mid-flight, and brought her +lifeless to the earth. There was thus no longer a mark at which Acestes +could aim; but notwithstanding he drew his bow and discharged a shaft high +into the air. And now a strange prodigy happened; for the arrow, soaring +upward, took fire as it flew, and marked out a path of flame, till, being +quite consumed, it vanished into the air. This spectacle naturally excited +the wonder and reverence of the assembled multitude; and AEneas, embracing +Acestes, declared that the incident was an omen from the Gods awarding to +him the first prize. He therefore bestowed on him a splendid bowl, +embossed with figures, which had once belonged to Anchises, nor did the +other competitors dispute the justice of the decision. + +But the games were not yet ended. The Trojan chief had prepared a closing +spectacle as a surprise for the spectators. He sent a messenger to summon +Ascanius, and in the mean time ordered a large space of ground to be +cleared. Then suddenly his son entered on horseback at the head of a +numerous company,--all the youths of the expedition. They were attired +alike, with garlands on their heads and circles of gold about their necks; +and each carried two spears of cornel-wood, tipped with steel. The young +equestrians were divided into three companies; one was commanded by +Ascanius himself, mounted on a beautiful Sidonian steed which had been +given him by Queen Dido; a second by the youthful Priam, a son of that +Polites whom Pyrrhus slew at the fall of Troy; and the third by Atys, a +boy who was Ascanius' especial friend and companion. They went through a +series of evolutions, now advancing in line, again forming in different +bands and pretending to charge one another, and afterwards going through +many other intricate manoeuvres. The scene was a most picturesque one, and +gave great pleasure to those who witnessed it. + + + + +AENEAS'S VISIT TO THE LOWER WORLD + +By Charles Henry Hanson + + +Continuing his voyage, AEneas reached the shore of the country afterwards +named Campania, the modern province of Naples. Here the ships were +carefully moored, and the crews disembarked. Some busied themselves in +kindling fires and preparing a meal; others explored the country in search +of game. AEneas, however, hastened at once to seek the temple of Apollo and +the adjoining cave of the Cumaean Sibyl,--the most famous of all the +oracles of antiquity. The temple and cave were situated in a thick wood, +closely adjoining the gloomy lake of Avernus, a black pool of unknown +depth, hedged in by precipitous cliffs, and emitting gases so poisonous +that no bird was able to fly over it in safety. In the rocks at one side +of the lake there yawned a sombre cavern, which was believed in those days +to be the entrance to the kingdom of Pluto--the abode of the dead. + +AEneas was surveying the temple,--an edifice of great splendor, adorned +with pictures wrought in metal by the cunning hand of Daedalus,--when +Achates, whom he had sent before him to the Sibyl's cave, approached, +conducting the priestess. "O prince," she said, "this is not the time for +admiring the works of men. It will be more fitting for you to propitiate +the god with sacrifices, so that he may inspire me." With this mandate the +hero at once complied, and then the Sibyl summoned him and his followers +to the entrance of her cave,--a vast apartment carved out of the living +rock, whence issued a hundred corridors. Scarcely had the Trojans +approached the threshold when the virgin exclaimed, "Now is the time to +consult your fate! The god! lo, the god!" As she cried out thus her looks +suddenly changed, her color came and went, her hair fell in disorder over +her shoulders, her bosom heaved, and she was shaken by an uncontrollable +passion. Her very form seemed to dilate, and the tone of her voice was no +longer that of a mere mortal, since she was inspired by the influence of +the god. "Trojan AEneas!" she exclaimed, "delay no longer to offer thy +prayers for the knowledge which thou seekest; for not till then can I +reveal to thee the secrets of the future." + +Earnestly did AEneas implore pity and aid from Apollo; and of the Sibyl he +entreated that she should proclaim her revelations by word of mouth, and +not, as was her custom, write them on leaves of trees, lest they should +become the sport of the winds. At first the prophetess did not answer; she +was not yet fully possessed by the spirit of the god, and raved in wild +ecstasy in the cave, struggling, as it were, to resist the will of +Phoebus, who, on his part, wearied her foaming lips, subdued her fierce +heart, and moulded her to his will. Then all at once the hundred doors of +the cavern flew open of their own accord, and the Sibyl proclaimed the +divine response,-- + +"O thou who hast at length overpassed the perils of the ocean, yet more +terrible trials await thee on shore. Thou and thy Trojans shall indeed +reach the promised land--that is assured; but ye shall wish that ye had +never come thither. Wars, horrid wars, I foresee, and Tiber foaming with a +deluge of blood. Another Achilles awaits thee in Latium--he also the son +of a goddess. Nor shall the persecutions of Juno cease to follow the +Trojans wherever they may be; and in your distress you will humbly +supplicate all the surrounding Italian states for aid. Once more shall a +marriage with a foreign wife be a source of affliction to you. But yield +not under your sufferings; encounter them resolutely in the teeth of +adverse fortune, and when you least expect it, the means of deliverance +shall come to you from a Greek city." + +So, under the inspiration of Apollo, spoke the Sibyl. When she had ceased, +AEneas answered that no prospect of further trials could appall him, for he +was prepared to endure the worst that could befall. But he now entreated, +since it was said that the entrance to the shades was near, that the Sibyl +should conduct him into those dark regions, in order that he might obtain +an interview with the spectre of his father. It was Anchises' self, he +added, who had bidden him make this request; and filial devotion would +enable him to perform a task which Orpheus had achieved out of love for +his wife Eurydice, and Pollux through his attachment to his brother +Castor. + +"AEneas," replied the priestess, "easy is the descent into Hades: grim +Pluto's gate stands open night and day, but to retrace your steps and +escape to the upper regions will be a difficult task indeed, and one which +few have hitherto been able to accomplish. If, however, you are fixed in +the resolve to pursue so desperate an enterprise, learn what first is to +be done. There is in the dark woods which surround the Lake of Avernus a +certain tree, dense of foliage, on which grows a single bough of gold, +with leaves and twigs of the same precious metal, and no living mortal can +enter Hades unless he has first found and plucked this bough, which is +demanded by Proserpine, the consort of Pluto and queen of the infernal +realms, as her peculiar tribute. When the bough is torn off, another +always grows in its place. Therefore search for it diligently, and when +you have discovered it grasp it with your hand. If the Fates are +propitious to your enterprise, you will be able to pluck it easily; if +otherwise, your whole strength could not tear it from the tree, nor could +you ever sever it with your sword. In the mean time the body of one of +your friends lies lifeless, and demands the funeral rites. First bury him +with proper ceremonies, and then return to me with black cattle for the +sacrifices; and then you shall be able to visit the realms of Hades, to +which most living men are denied an entrance." + +With sorrowful thoughts AEneas, closely followed by Achates, now withdrew +from the shrine, and took the way to the shore. Both were greatly +perplexed to know what was the corpse needing burial of which the Sibyl +had spoken. But while they were wondering they came to the beach, and +there, before them, they saw lying the body of Misenus, who had come to a +lamentable end. Misenus was the most skilled among all the Trojans in the +art of blowing the trumpet. He had been, besides, a famous warrior, and +during the siege of Troy was accustomed to be the companion of Hector in +the field, and to fight by his side. When Hector fell, he attached himself +to AEneas, scorning to follow any less illustrious chief, and so had formed +one of the band which the hero was conducting to Latium. But he was +inordinately vain of his skill with the trumpet, and believed himself +superior even to the Tritons, the sea-deities whose especial province it +was to lull the seas at the command of Neptune by blowing upon instruments +made of shells. These Tritons Misenus had challenged to a trial of skill, +and by way of defiance had blown so loud a note that the deities were +afraid to respond to his challenge; but being full of jealousy, they had +now contrived to lure him into the sea and drown him. The discovery of his +lifeless body filled all his comrades with sadness. They gathered about +him with loud lamentations, and then prepared to erect his funeral pyre, +hastening with axes into the thick surrounding woods, and cutting down +huge oaks and pines and ash-trees. + +AEneas himself led the way in the performance of this task, and while he +was engaged in it he could not help exclaiming, as his glance surveyed the +wide forest, "Would that I could now perceive the golden bough which I +must find before entering Hades; for in this ample forest, how can I begin +to search for it?" Scarcely had he spoken when two pigeons suddenly +swooped down from the upper air and alighted at his feet. He guessed at +once that these doves, his mother's favorite birds, had been sent for his +guidance, and he entreated them to conduct him to the place where the +precious bough was growing. The doves, feeding and flying by turns, +advanced through the wood at such a speed that AEneas could easily keep +them in sight, and presently, having reached the very edge of Lake +Avernus, both rose at once into the air, and settled on a great tree of +very dense foliage. The hero hastened to the spot, and there indeed, on +one of the lower limbs of the tree, gleamed the bough, the rich yellow +lustre of its leaves and twigs contrasting vividly with the deep green of +the surrounding foliage. AEneas with delight grasped it, and plucked it +from its place, and, bearing it carefully in his hand, hastened to rejoin +his companions. + +They, in the mean time, had reared on the shore a vast pile of logs of +pine and oak, the sides of which they had interlaced with smaller boughs. +After having carefully washed and purified the body of Misenus, they first +made a couch upon the pyre, with the apparel of the dead man, and then, +with renewed cries of grief, placed the body upon it. His arms, too, they +laid beside him, and having poured incense and oil abundantly upon the +pile, they set it on fire. When only smouldering embers were left, these +were quenched with wine, and the ashes of the dead were carefully +collected and placed in a brazen urn. This urn was afterwards deposited in +a lofty tomb which AEneas erected on a promontory that henceforth bore the +name of Misenus. + +The funeral ceremonies having thus duly been performed, the hero proceeded +to the cave of the Sibyl, and called upon her to fulfill her promise, and +accompany him to the kingdom of the dead. She led him to the mouth of the +black cavern at the side of Lake Avernus, and there offered up sacrifices +of black cattle and sheep, uttering various invocations. Presently the +ground began to rumble beneath their feet; upon which the Sibyl ordered +those of AEneas's followers who had attended him to withdraw from the spot, +and exhorted the chief himself, drawing his sword from its sheath, to +march firmly forward. So saying she plunged into the cave, nor did he +hesitate to follow. + +At first they moved along through a region that was utterly waste, void, +and covered with an intense gloom, deep as that of a winter's night when +the moon is obscured by clouds. But this desolate tract was not wholly +untenanted, for AEneas saw flitting about certain hideous shadowy forms. +The spirits of Grief and Revenge and pale Disease, Fear and Famine and +deformed Indigence, had their abode in this vestibule of Hades; and so, +too, Death and Toil, and murderous War, and frantic Discord, her head +crowned with curling vipers and bound by a blood-dyed fillet. Here, also, +were the iron chambers in which dwelt the terrible Furies. In the midst +rose a gloomy elm, which was the haunt of vain Dreams, who dwelt under +every leaf. Beyond this tree were many huge and misshapen +monsters,--Centaurs, and double-formed Scyllas, and the great dragon of +the Lernaean lake, which, when it plagued the upper earth, was slain by +Hercules. Here, also, was the huge Chimaera, with its three heads vomiting +flames; Gorgons, Harpies, and other ghastly forms flitted about. At so +fearful a sight. AEneas was seized with sudden fear; he drew his sword, and +would have struck at the monsters, if the Sibyl had not restrained his +hand and reminded him that they were but disembodied shadows. + +The path now led them to a place where the three infernal rivers, Acheron, +Cocytus, and Styx, met in one deep, black, and boiling flood. Here there +kept guard the grim ferryman Charon, an infernal deity of fearful aspect. +A long gray beard fell all tangled and neglected from his chin; his filthy +and ragged garments were knotted over his shoulders; his eyes glittered +with baleful light. He sat on a great black barge, which he pushed to and +fro across the river with a pole. An immense crowd of shades was +incessantly pouring to the banks,--young and old, matrons and virgins, +warriors who had endured the toils of a long life and tender boys who had +died while yet under the care of their parents. All were eager to cross +the stream, and stretched their hands in earnest entreaty to Charon to +admit them into his boat. But the sullen ferryman only consented to +receive some; others he drove back with his pole, and would on no account +permit them to cross. + +AEneas was amazed at this scene, and asked the Sibyl to explain to him its +meaning. "You see before you," she replied, "the deep pools of Cocytus, +and the Stygian lake, by which the Gods are accustomed to swear when they +take an oath which they dare not violate. All that crowd which Charon will +not ferry across is composed of persons who after death received not the +rites of burial; those only are permitted to enter the boat who have been +interred with proper ceremonies. As for the others, they wander unquiet +about these shores for a hundred years before they are allowed to cross to +the regions beyond." + +When AEneas heard this he was filled with sadness, for among the spectres +of the unburied who crowded on the bank he saw many of his own comrades +who had perished during the storms he had had to encounter during his long +voyages. As he looked, there advanced, slow and mournful, the pilot +Palinurus, who had been thrown overboard by Somnus during the recent +voyage from Sicily. The hero accosted him, and asked him what god had torn +him from his post and overwhelmed him in the midst of the ocean. The +oracle of Apollo, he said, had assured him that Palinurus would be safe on +the sea, and would arrive on the Italian coast; and yet it would seem that +the oracle had been falsified. The shade of Palinurus, knowing nothing of +the enchantment which had been wrought on him by Somnus, replied that no +god had destroyed him, and that the oracle had spoken truly. He had fallen +into the sea through being overcome by slumber, and having kept afloat for +three days and nights, had on the fourth day reached the Italian shore +alive, but had been cruelly murdered by the savage people while clambering +up the cliffs. Now his body was tossing on the waves, sometimes thrown on +the shore and then washed off again. But he passionately entreated AEneas +either to find his corpse and inter it with proper solemnities, or else to +contrive some means of taking him as his companion across the black waters +of Styx, unburied as he was, that at last his soul might find rest. The +Sibyl, however, rebuked him for expressing so impious a desire, and for +hoping that the fixed decrees of the Gods could be violated for the +benefit of one insignificant mortal. But by way of consolation she +informed him that the people of the country where he had met with his +death, compelled by terrible plagues sent by Jupiter, would offer solemn +atonement to his remains, erect a tomb to his memory, and give his name to +the place where it stood. + +AEneas and the Sibyl now advanced toward the river; but when Charon saw +them approaching, he called out, "Whoever thou mayest be that art now +coming armed and in life to our rivers, say quickly on what errand thou +art coming. This is the region of ghosts and death; to waft over the +bodies of the living in my boat is not permitted. Nor was it joyful to me +to receive Hercules when he came, nor Theseus and Pirithous, though they +were descendants of the Gods and unconquerable in war. Hercules dared to +bind in chains Cerberus himself, the keeper of the gate of Tartarus, and +dragged him trembling from the very throne of Pluto. The others attempted +a feat scarcely less perilous, for they sought to carry off our queen +Proserpine." + +"Be not disturbed," answered the Sibyl; "we at least meditate no such +plots, nor does this mortal bring with him his arms for any purpose of +violence. He is AEneas of Troy, illustrious for piety and skill in arms, +and he penetrates these gloomy abodes to have converse with his father +Anchises. If your compassion is not moved by his filial devotion, at least +pay regard to this branch." And so saying, she produced the golden bough. +The surly ferryman, though filled with rage at being forced to obey, was +at once silenced. He brought his boat to the bank, and silently received +into it AEneas and his companion, driving back the ghosts that at the same +time eagerly strove to enter the vessel. It was old and leaky, and sank +deep in the black flood under the unaccustomed weight of living mortals; +but Charon ferried them safely across, and landed them on the farther +side, where, in a huge den at the gate of the infernal regions, lay +Cerberus, the terrible three-headed dog which was the guardian of the +place--a ferocious brute which only Hercules among living men had been +able to subdue. When AEneas approached he opened his huge jaws and made all +Hades resound with his barking; but the Sibyl threw to him a medicated +cake, which he at once devoured, and was thereby lulled into profound +sleep. The way was now safe; the Trojan chief and his companion passed +quickly through the open gate, and entered the dread region where Minos +and his fellow judges pronounced on the fate of each ghost that came +before them. + +The first place within the gate was assigned to the shades of infants, cut +off in the very beginning of life, who filled their allotted region with +loud wailings and weeping. Beyond these were placed persons who had been +put to death in consequence of false accusations. Not even the unjust +suffering which such persons had endured on earth could at once procure +for them a place among those happy spirits declared free of guilt. Here +they were doomed to wait till the inexorable Minos examined each case and +gave his award. Immediately adjoining was the place allotted to those who, +though unstained by crime, had become weary of life and had committed +self-destruction. Gladly, indeed, would they have now returned to the +upper world they had despised, but no such return was possible to them. + +AEneas and his companion next viewed a region named the Fields of +Mourning,--a wide tract, with shady paths and thick myrtle groves, +dedicated to those who had died through unrequited love, and were held to +have been emancipated by the miseries they had endured on earth from +suffering any punishment below. Here were to be seen, wandering +disconsolately, many women of whom AEneas had heard in old legends of +Greece and Troy. Among them he beheld, with sorrow and pity, the +ill-starred Queen of Carthage, the wound she had herself inflicted yet +gaping in her fair bosom. "Dido!" he exclaimed with tears, "was it then a +true rumor that reached me of your having died after my departure, and by +your own hand? If I have been the cause of your death, I am indeed +unhappy. By all I hold sacred, fair queen, I swear to you that it was +against my own will I quitted Carthage. The will of the Gods, which now +has brought me, while yet living, into these melancholy realms, drove me +from you; but I dreamt not that our separation would bring upon you such +extreme suffering. Why will you not speak to me? Why do you fly from me? +Never again will the Fates permit us to meet together." But all his +entreaties and his tears were vain. The spectre gazed upon him awhile with +eyes of inexorable hate, and then turned away, with a gesture of +unrelenting aversion, to a shady recess near by, where she was joined by +the ghost of her first lord, Sichaeus, who by the compassion of Pluto had +been permitted to bear her company. AEneas resumed his journey, pondering +sadly over the fate of the woman who but a little since had loved him so +ardently and to whom he had unwillingly brought such misfortunes. He and +his guide now came to a place dedicated to the shades of renowned +warriors. Here he saw numbers of those brave Trojans, once his companions +in arms, who had fallen before Troy. They eagerly crowded around him, +pressed his hands, and questioned him as to the circumstances which had +brought him, while yet alive, amongst them. There, too, were many Greeks +who had perished during the Trojan war; but when they beheld the hero in +the flesh, and wearing his gleaming armor, they fled from him in dismay. +As he passed on, after exchanging affectionate words with many of his old +comrades, he met Deiphobus, that son of Priam who, after the death of +Paris, became the husband of Helen. The spectre of the prince was cruelly +mutilated,--so that AEneas scarcely knew him. "Who, O Deiphobus," he +exclaimed, "could have inflicted such shameful wounds upon you? After I +had escaped from Troy a story was brought to me that you had indeed +perished, but honorably and in fair fight, having slain many of the enemy. +Then I erected in your honor an empty tomb on the shore under Mount Ida, +and offered proper funeral rites, for your body I was unable to find." + +"You, my friend," answered Deiphobus, "omitted no duty towards my corpse +that you could perform. But I owe my death and these infamous wounds to +the wickedness of Helen; they are the marks of her love. On the night +after the fatal horse was brought into Troy, I was lying asleep in my +chamber, enjoying needful repose. Then my faithless wife removed all the +arms from my palace, and even took away my sword from the side of my +couch. That done, she threw open the gates, and herself summoned her +former husband, Menelaus, and he and Ulysses burst into my apartment and +inflicted on me these wounds, for which I pray the Gods that they may be +requited." + +AEneas would have spent yet more time in conversing with the shades of his +former comrades; but the Sibyl reminded him that the hour was approaching +when he must return to the upper world. "Here," she said, "the path is +divided. To the right, past the palace of Pluto, lies our way to the +Elysian Fields; on the left is the way to Tartarus, the place of +punishment for the wicked." + +As they proceeded toward Elysium, AEneas looked around him, and beheld to +the left a vast prison, enclosed by mighty walls, at the foot of which ran +Phlegethon, the river of fire, whirling along great rocks in its furious +current. Across the stream, just opposite to where he was standing, was a +lofty gate, with columns of solid adamant. In an iron tower adjoining sat +Tisiphone, the eldest of the Furies, watching the gate. From within sounds +were heard--groans of pain, the sound of cruel lashes, and the clanking of +chains. AEneas asked his companion what punishments were being inflicted +within, and who were the sufferers. "This," replied the Sibyl, "is +Tartarus, whereinto no righteous person can enter. Here Rhadamanthus +presides: he searches into the deeds of all who are sent hither, obliges +them to confess all the crimes they have committed in the upper world, and +awards the punishment. As soon as the sentence is pronounced, Tisiphone +scourges the doomed one with a whip of scorpions, and then consigns him to +the fierce attendants of her sister Furies. Immediately the gates, +creaking on their hinges, fly open. Within, the entrance is guarded by a +hideous Hydra, with fifty black and gaping mouths. In the pit of Tartarus +beyond, the giants who waged war against the ruler of the Gods lie +prostrated by his thunderbolts. Beside them, enduring terrible tortures, +is Salmoneus. He was a king of Elis in Greece, and was so puffed up by +pride that he rode through his city on a high chariot drawn by four +prancing horses, waving in his hand a torch, and pretending to be Jupiter +himself, wielding his thunderbolts. The Almighty Sire punished his impiety +by hurling from Olympus a real thunderbolt, which deprived him of life; +and now he pays the penalty of his mad pride by eternal sufferings in +Tartarus. There also lies Tityus, the huge giant who, having insulted the +goddess Latona, was slain by the darts of her children, Apollo and Diana, +and whose writhing body now lies extended over nine acres of ground, while +insatiable vultures perpetually prey on his vitals, that are renewed as +fast as they are devoured. Beyond him is Ixion, bound to a wheel that +never ceases to revolve, while he is scourged by attendant Furies. He it +was who, being admitted to Olympus by the generosity of Jupiter himself, +dared to seek the love of the queen of the Gods. Not less dreadful is the +punishment allotted to Pirithous, who, along with Theseus, endeavored to +carry off the Queen of Hades, Proserpine, from the side of Pluto. Over his +head hangs a huge rock, which every moment seems about to fall and crush +him, but yet never actually descends; moreover, he is plagued with a +gnawing hunger, and a rich banquet is always before him, which yet he is +never able to reach. Myriads of other unhappy shades, whose course on +earth has been stained by detestable crime, here expiate the evil they +have done; but had I a hundred mouths and a hundred tongues, I could not +recount all their offenses and the varieties of their punishment. It is +necessary that we should go forward, since yonder stands the palace of +Pluto, where thou, O AEneas, must deposit the bough which has gained thee +admission here." + +Obedient to his guide, AEneas advanced to the vast portals of the palace +where Pluto, the brother of Jupiter and monarch of the infernal kingdom, +had his abode with his lovely queen Proserpine, the daughter of Ceres, +whom ages before he had carried off from the upper world. There he made +due reverence before the goddess, and deposited the golden bough at her +feet. Advancing beyond, AEneas and the Sibyl came at last to the Elysian +Fields,--the abode of joy assigned to those who during life had been +distinguished for piety, virtue, and heroic actions. Here were lovely +green fields and pleasant groves; the air was pure and balmy, the sky was +blue, and all was glowing-in the light of the blessed sun. Some of the +happy spirits who dwelt in this region were amusing themselves by +wrestling on the greensward, and other sports in which they had delighted +on earth, such as chariot-racing, exercises with the spear and the bow. +Others were dancing and singing to the delicious notes which Orpheus, the +most skillful of musicians, produced from his lyre. On the bank of the +river Eridanus, which pours its clear waters through Elysium over sands of +gold, were gathered a band whose heads were adorned with snow-white +fillets. These were priests who had kept unstained the purity and sanctity +of their office; poets who had sung the praises of the Gods in immortal +verse; and those who had made human life more happy by the invention of +useful arts. Among them the Sibyl sought out Musseus, the father of the +poets, and besought him to reveal in what retreat they should find +Anchises, on whose account she and her companion had traversed all the +regions of the shades. + +"None of us," answered the venerable shade, "have here any fixed abode. We +wander at our will among the shady groves and by the pleasant banks of the +river. But if you mount with me this little eminence, I will show you him +whom you seek." + +As he spoke, he led them to a spot where they could survey all the shining +plains around, and pointed to where Anchises, reclined in a secluded vale, +was surveying the souls of his descendants who were destined in future +times to visit the earth, and were enacting beforehand the achievements +they were fated to accomplish during life. As soon as he saw AEneas +advancing toward him, he rose with hands stretched out and joyful tears +pouring down his face. + +"Are you indeed," he exclaimed, "come to me at last, my son? Am I +permitted once more to see your face, and to listen to the tones of your +dear voice? Now indeed the hopes which I cherished are fulfilled. By how +many dangers have you been threatened since we parted! I was filled with +dread lest you should be prevented from accomplishing your task by the +temptations which beset you at Carthage." + +"Thy apparition, beloved father," answered AEneas, "continually appearing +to me in dreams, urged me forward even to these regions. Permit me now to +clasp thee in my arms, and do not withdraw from my embrace." Thrice did he +attempt to throw his arms about the shade, which being only composed of +thin air, was not perceptible to his touch. While the two conversed +together, AEneas observed at no great distance from them a stream, at which +prodigious numbers of ghosts were incessantly crowding to drink, swarming +like bees round their hive. Astonished at this spectacle, the hero +inquired of his father what that stream was, and why those spectres were +so eager to drink of it. "These," answered Anchises, "are souls destined +by fate to occupy other bodies in the upper world; and the stream is +Lethe, one draught of which is sufficient to destroy all recollection of +their former condition." + +"But surely," said AEneas, "it is not to be believed that any souls which +have tasted the delights of this abode will be desirous to return again to +the life of earth, with its uncertainties and its miseries. How comes it +that this impulse possesses them?" + +In reply to this question, Anchises entered into a long explanation, the +substance of which was that all the spirits of the departed had to endure +in the regions below a process of expiation for their earthly sins, longer +or shorter according to the nature of their transgressions. Those that +were not consigned to the pains of Tartarus entered the Elysian Fields, +where, after they had remained a thousand years, they were summoned to +drink of the waters of Lethe, and thus lose all recollection of their +former lives; after which, being purified from all stain, they were fitted +to return to the upper world and inhabit new bodies. Anchises added that +he would show to his son the forms of his own descendants in the Italian +kingdom he was destined to establish, and would trace for him their +achievements. Leading AEneas and the Sibyl onto a rising ground, in the +midst of the souls which were crowding about the magic stream of Lethe, he +pointed out to him a long array of future kings of Latium,--Silvius, who +was to be the son of AEneas's old age by his consort Lavinia; Procas, +Capys, and Numitor, destined to be monarchs of Alba Longa; and Romulus, +the future founder of the great city of Rome, which would extend over +seven hills, and would spread her dominion over the whole earth. Not far +from these were the souls of Romulus's successors in the' early days of +Rome,--Numa Pompilius, who first would give his country laws, and +encourage the arts of peace; Tullus Hostilius, who would wage victorious +wars, and extend the territories of Rome; Ancus Martius, not less +successful in the field; and Tarquin, destined to lose the throne through +his oppressive reign. Anchises proceeded to indicate to his wondering son +many of the patriots and generals who in future years were to contribute +to the glory and power of the Roman State,--more especially the great +Julius Caesar, the lineal descendant of AEneas himself; and Augustus, who +would once more establish the golden age in Latium, and whose empire would +extend to countries as yet unknown. The venerable shade concluded his +forecast of the future with a splendid description of the part which Rome +was destined to play in the world's history:-- + + "Let others better mould the running mass + Of metals, and inform the breathing brass, + And soften into flesh a marble face; + Plead better at the bar; describes the skies, + And when the stars descend, and when they rise: + But Rome! 'tis thine alone, with awful sway + To rule mankind, and make the world obey, + Disposing peace and war thy own majestic way; + To tame the proud, the fettered slave to free,-- + These are imperial arts, and worthy thee." + +Having thus inspired AEneas with renewed determination by showing him the +brilliant future that was awaiting his descendants, Anchises conducted him +over those parts of the Elysian Fields which he had not yet visited, and +showed him everything that was of peculiar interest. As they went, he +discoursed to him respecting the wars which he would have to wage in +Latium, and gave him counsel as to the means by which he should overcome +every difficulty. Then at last, having brought him to the ivory gate +whence the gods were accustomed to send false dreams to the upper world, +he bade him farewell. By that gate AEneas and the Sibyl quitted the abodes +of the dead, and ascended without difficulty or adventure to the cave of +the oracle, whence the hero hastened at once to his ships. Without loss of +time he ordered the sails to be spread, and the ships were steered along +the coast, drawing nearer ever hour to their final destination. + + + + +AENEAS'S FIRST GREAT BATTLE WITH THE LATINS + +By Charles Henry Hanson + + + [AEneas finally lands in Italy, the country promised him by the + Gods as a home for his race. The Italian king, Latinus, has been + warned by signs and omens that the hand of his daughter Lavinia + must not be given to an Italian prince, but to a stranger coming + from a far country. He believes that AEneas is the hero chosen by + the Fates as her husband, and greets him in most friendly manner. + Queen Amata, however, is influenced by the Trojan-hating Juno to + oppose this marriage. Turnus, chief of the Rutuli, a suitor of + Lavinia, is next aroused, and soon the whole kingdom is in a + turmoil. A fierce battle ensues.] + + +Turnus, having brought the bulk of his forces from before the beseiged +camp, hurled them against the army of AEneas before its ranks were properly +formed, and a furious conflict at once began to rage. The Trojan hero, +rejoicing to find himself once more on a field of battle, first +encountered the Latian warriors, who chanced to be in his front. Their +leader was Theron, a man of gigantic stature, who did not hesitate to +engage AEneas hand to hand; but he paid dearly for his rashness, for the +sword which Vulcan had forged--so keen was its edge, so excellent its +temper--pierced through his brazen buckler and his tunic stiffened by bars +of gold, and penetrating his side, drained the life-blood. Next the hero +struck down Lycas; and rushing onward, encountered two stalwart rustics, +Cisseus and Gyas, who were making havoc among the Trojans by beating them +down with ponderous clubs. On the divine armor the heavy blows of these +rude weapons fell harmless, while the spear of AEneas proved fatal to both +those who wielded them. An insolent warrior named Pharus was defying the +hero from a short distance with taunting speech, when he hurled a javelin, +which struck the boaster full in the mouth, and transfixing the throat, +silenced him forever. Now a band of seven brothers, the sons of Phorcus, +all at once attacked AEneas with darts, throwing them together. Some of the +weapons struck his helmet and shield, and rebounded; others, turned aside +by the care of Venus, grazed his skin. AEneas called to Achates to bring +him more spears, and snatching one as soon as it was offered, hurled it +against Maeon, one of the brothers, with such force that it penetrated his +shield and corselet, and inflicted a mortal wound in his breast. Another +brother, Alcanor, hurrying up to Maeon's assistance, he smote with a second +spear, just where the arm and shoulder join, leaving the arm hanging to +the body only by two or three shreds of skin and muscle. Seeing the +slaughter that AEneas was spreading around him, Halaesus and Messapus +hurried up with their bands to confront him, and so in that part of the +field the battle grew still more furious. + +In another part, where Pallas was fighting at the head of his Arcadian +horsemen, the ground had been rendered so uneven by the winter torrents +that they were obliged to dismount, and being unaccustomed to fight on +foot, they began to retreat before the fierce assault of the Rutulians. At +this sight their brave young leader was overwhelmed with shame and +mortification. "Whither," he cried, "my fellow countrymen, do you fly? I +implore you, by the memory of your gallant deeds in the past, by the name +of Evander, the king you love, by my own hopes of glory, not to flee. Your +way lies through your foes, not from them; with your swords must you cut a +passage where they crowd most densely. These are not gods who pursue us; +they are mortals, like ourselves, and they are not stronger or more +numerous than we. The ocean hems us in with an impassable barrier on the +one side; the enemy confronts us on the other, and separates us from our +friends. Whether shall we fly into the sea, or force our way toward the +Trojans?" So saying, he turned, and dashed into the midst of the hostile +ranks. Tagus was the first who fell a victim to his noble wrath; for as he +was stooping to pick up a heavy stone, the spear of Pallas struck him in +the middle of the back, and shattered the spine and ribs. As the young +hero was withdrawing the weapon, Hisbon rushed on and struck at him from +above; but the blow fell short, and before he could recover his guard +Pallas buried his sword deep in his body. Warrior after warrior he struck +down, restored the confidence of his followers, and spread confusion and +dismay in the opposite ranks, raging among them as the flames lit by the +husbandman in the autumn spread through the stubble, and destroy +everything in their path. But now the Auruncian chief, Halaesus, summoned +by some of his followers to their aid, opposed the advance of the +Arcadians. He was a tried and fierce warrior, and he slew five of the +bravest of Pallas's men before the young chief could confront him. Then, +however, the son of Evander hurled a spear with such skill and certainty +of aim that he pierced Halaesus's heart, and the grim leader of the Aurunci +sank lifeless on the field. His fall was a sore discouragement to the +troops of Turnus, which would have sought safety in flight, had not +Lausus, the gallant son of Mezentius,--noble and upright offspring of an +unworthy father,--suddenly come to their aid. First encountering Abas, +leader of the Populonians, he slew him with a single blow of his sword, +and followed up his success with a furious slaughter of Arcadians and +Etrurians. Thus the battle continued: on the one side Pallas impetuously +urged the attack; on the other Lausus not less obstinately maintained the +defense. They were equal in years, and in beauty and grace of form; and to +both alike the Fates had assigned a place among the victims of the war. +But the Gods had ordained that they should not encounter hand to hand; +each was destined to succumb to a superior foe. + +Turnus was leading his troops in another quarter of the field, when he was +summoned to hasten to the assistance of Lausus, who alone was bearing up +the battle against Pallas and his Arcadians. Quickly he turned his chariot +in that direction, and as soon as he reached the spot, called on his +warriors to withdraw from the conflict. "I alone," he said, "will +encounter Pallas; to me his life is given. Would to Heaven his father were +here to witness our combat." The Rutulians obeyed the command of their +king, and fell back; while Pallas, amazed at their retreat and the sudden +appearance of Turnus, gazed on his opponent. Then, in reply to his +vaunting speech, he said, "Now, either by carrying off thy spoils or by a +noble death at thy hands, I shall be rendered famous. My sire knows how to +bear either extremity of fortune. Cease thy threatenings and let us +engage." As he spoke, the hearts of the Arcadians, who loved him, were +filled with fear and sorrow. Turnus sprang from his chariot, and came +forward to the encounter on foot, advancing as a lion bounds toward his +prey. As soon as Pallas thought him within reach of his spear, he prepared +to throw it, and uttered this prayer to Hercules: "By my father's +hospitality, and that abode which thou, his guest, didst visit, O Alcides, +aid, I implore thee, my arduous attempt. May the dying eyes of Turnus +behold me strip him, expiring, of his bloody armor, and endure the sight +of a victorious foe." Hercules, from his place on Olympus, heard the +prayer, and knowing that the decree of Fate was otherwise, answered with +heavy groans and unavailing tears. These were not unseen by Jupiter, who +strove to console his immortal son. "To every one," he said, "his day is +fixed; a short and irretrievable term of life is given to all; but to +lengthen out fame by heroic deeds is the best that man can do. Under the +lofty walls of Troy many sons of gods themselves perished,--among them the +heroic Sarpedon, my own offspring, perished; Turnus, too, is summoned by +the Fates, and has nearly reached his term of life." He spoke, and turned +away his gaze from the battlefield, himself pitying the untimely death of +Pallas. + +And now the brave son of Evander with his utmost force hurled his spear, +and then hastened to draw his sword from its scabbard. The weapon struck +Turnus where the shoulder was protected by the corselet, and piercing +through the solid brass, slightly grazed the hero's body. Then Turnus, +poising a steel-tipped javelin, darted it at Pallas, exclaiming, "See +whether mine be not the more penetrating shaft." Cast with irresistible +might, it tore its way through the youth's shield, composed though it was +of thick plates of brass and iron, and through his cuirass, and inflicted +a ghastly wound in his breast. In vain he wrenched out the deadly missile +from his body; even as he withdrew it life deserted his quivering form, +and he fell to the ground. Bestriding the corpse, Turnus cried, "Ye +Arcadians, faithfully report to Evander this message,--I send him back his +Pallas in such a plight as he deserved. Whatever honor is in a tomb, +whatever solace in the performance of funeral rites, I freely grant him. +His league with the Trojan intruder shall cost him dear." So saying, he +pressed his foot on the body, and tore away a massive belt, adorned with +figures richly carved in gold. This spoil Turnus exultingly clasped around +his own body, little dreaming that the time would come when he would wish +that he had never taken it, and that he and Pallas had never met. But now +the lifeless corpse of the youth, stripped of its arms and still bleeding +from the fatal wound inflicted by the Rutulian chief, was laid on a shield +and borne away by his weeping followers. Thus the first day on which he +took a part in war saw also the young hero's death, though not, indeed, +before he had strewn the plain with Rutulian corpses. + +Speedily the news of this sad disaster, and of the consequent retreat of +his forces in that part of the field, was borne to AEneas. Rendered furious +by the event, he impetuously mowed with his sword a bloody passage through +the hostile ranks in search of Turnus, on whom he was eager to avenge the +death of his friend. The thought of the bright youth who had thus perished +in his cause, of the hoary father bereaved of all that made life dear to +him, filled his heart with sorrow as he recalled the kindness which both +had shown to him, and the pledges of enduring friendship he had exchanged +with them. Eight Rutulian warriors he struck down, and captured them +alive, destining them as victims to be offered to the shade of Pallas, and +to drench with their blood the flames of the hero's funeral pyre. Next, +AEneas having hurled a javelin at a Latian named Magus, the trembling +wretch evaded the dart by stooping, and as AEneas rushed upon him with +uplifted sword, he clasped his knees, and implored him to spare his life, +proffering a large ransom of silver and gold which lay concealed +underground in his house. Sternly the Trojan chief bade him keep his +treasures for his sons; as for showing mercy, that was forbidden to him +from the moment that Pallas fell by the hand of Turnus. Then grasping the +suppliant's helmet, and forcing back his head so as to expose the neck, +even as Magus renewed his petition he plunged the sword into his body to +the hilt. Near by, the luckless AEmonides, a priest of Apollo and Diana, +who wore a sacred fillet on his temples and shone in burnished armor, fell +a victim to his relentless spear, and the splendid arms he had worn were +carried off by Serestus as an offering to Mars. The Rutulians fled in +terror before the raging chief; but King Caeculus of Praeneste, and Umbro, +the leader of the Marsians, renewed the struggle. A huge warrior named +Tarquitus, the son of the nymph Dryope, dared to oppose himself to AEneas, +but his fate was soon decided. The hero first pierced his corselet with a +spear, and then, as he lay wounded and imploring mercy, smote off his head +with his sword. Spurning the bleeding trunk, he furiously cried, "Lie +there, haughty champion! Thee no tender mother shall lodge in the earth, +or place a tomb above thy body; to birds of prey thou shalt be left, or +cast in the sea to be devoured by fishes." Still insatiable of slaughter, +he drove into terrified flight Antaeus and Lycas, two of Turnus's bravest +followers. But now the fierce Lucagus approached in a chariot drawn by two +snow-white coursers. These were guided by his brother Liger, while he +himself flourished his sword in the air, and prepared to encounter AEneas, +who on his part rushed forward to meet them. "These," cried Liger, "are +not the steeds of Diomedes, nor this the plain of Troy. Here an end shall +be put at once to thy life and to the war." Against these insults AEneas +prepared to give an answer otherwise than in words, and as Lucagus bent +forward in readiness for the fight, the Trojan javelin whizzed through the +rim of his shield, smote him in the groin, and hurled him, quivering in +the pangs of death, out of the chariot. AEneas assailed his dying ears with +a bitter scoff: "It is not, O Lucagus, the slowness of thy steeds in +flight that hath lost thee thy chariot, but thou thyself, springing from +thy seat, hast abandoned it." So saying, he seized the chariot; and now +the miserable Liger, extending his hands in supplication, begged for his +life. "It was not in this fashion that thou spokest a little while since," +replied the relentless hero. "It would not be fitting that thou shouldst +desert thy brother. Die, therefore, and attend him to the shades." With +that he thrust the avenging sword through his heart, whence the trembling +soul fled with a shriek. + +So AEneas spread havoc amid the hostile ranks, and drove the forces of +Turnus back in headlong rout, so that Ascanius and those who had hitherto +been shut up in the fortifications were able to issue forth into the +field. Meanwhile Jupiter, watching from Olympus the fortunes of the day, +accosted his consort. "Thou art in the right, my cherished queen, in +alleging that Venus gives her aid to the Trojans; for without divine aid, +how would it be possible for any mortal to achieve such deeds as AEneas is +now accomplishing?" "Why," submissively answered Juno, "dost thou tease +me, who am already oppressed with anguish for the fate of the people I +befriend? Had I that share in your love which I once enjoyed, and which it +is fitting for me to possess, thou surely couldst not refuse me this much, +that I might have permission to rescue Turnus from the fate that threatens +him, and restore him safe to his father Daunus. But since that cannot be, +let him die, and glut the vengeance of the Trojan with his blood; yet his +origin is divine, and often has he piled thy altars with sacrifices." Not +unmoved, the ruler of the Gods replied, "If you plead for a respite from +immediate death, and a little breathing-time for the youth, I grant you to +bear him from the field, and for a short time to preserve him. So far I +will indulge you; but if you hope to gain any greater favor, and imagine +that the whole predetermined course of the war is to be altered at your +entreaty, you delude yourself with empty hopes." With tears Juno +responded, "What if thou shouldst grant in thy heart what in words thou +dost refuse, and continue the life of Turnus for its natural duration? I +fear much that a speedy end awaits the brave youth; but oh! I pray that I +may be misled by groundless alarms, and that thou, to whom all power +belongs, may alter thy purpose for the better." + +Not daring to say more, the queen of heaven hastily descended from Olympus +towards the contending armies. Then she devised an airy phantom, wearing +armor which exactly resembled that of AEneas, and imitating to the life his +walk and mien. This shadow she caused to flutter in the forefront of the +battle, full in the view of Turnus, and to provoke him with darts and +insolent words. The enraged Rutulian eagerly pressed upon it, and from a +distance hurled against it a spear. Immediately the spectre, wheeling +about, took to flight. Turnus, imagining that in very truth it was the +Trojan chief who feared to meet him, and filled with baseless exultation, +cried out, "AEneas, whither dost thou fly? Desert not thus thy promised +bride; with this right hand will I bestow upon thee the settled abode thou +hast sought in vain through so many lands and seas." Thus vociferating, he +madly pursued the deceitful phantom. It chanced that near the shore there +lay a vessel, joined to the land by a temporary bridge of planks. Hither +Juno led the shadow, and caused it in seeming fear to leap on board and +throw itself into a hiding-place. With not less speed Turnus followed, +bounded along the bridge, and mounted to the lofty prow of the ship in +search of the supposed fugitive. Instantly the goddess severed the cable, +and drove the vessel over the foaming waves. Then the phantom melted into +the air, and the Rutulian, utterly bewildered, gazed about him in despair, +nor did he feel at all thankful to the guardian deity for having thus +preserved him from the arms of AEneas. "Almighty Father," he cried, raising +his eyes and hands towards heaven, "why dost thou think me worthy of such +shame as this? What have I done to merit such a punishment? whither am I +borne? How shall I venture again to enter the walls of Laurentum or look +upon my camp? What will be said of me by the warriors who have followed me +into this war, and whom--unutterable shame!--I have abandoned to the +bloodthirsty Trojans! O winds! take pity on me, I entreat you; dash this +vessel on some rugged crag, and overwhelm me so that I can no longer be +conscious either of my humiliation or of the reproaches of my Rutulians." +While he thus lamented, he was uncertain whether he should put an end to +his own life with his sword or plunge into the sea and endeavor to regain +the land by swimming. Three times he attempted each expedient, and as +often Juno, full of pity, restrained him. Carried along by a favorable +wind, the ship bore him safely to the capital of his father, King Daunus. + +Meanwhile AEneas raged through the battle-field in search of the victim +whom the queen of the Gods had thus snatched from his conquering hands. +Under his leadership the Trojans and their allies, flushed with success, +pressed more eagerly on their discomfited foe; but Mezentius now advanced +to restore the courage of the Rutulians. The Etrurians, as soon as they +saw their expelled monarch, out of hostility to whom they had engaged in +the war, rushed upon him with shouts of rage; but he, as fearless as he +was wicked, stood as firmly against them as a great rock on the shore +meets all the fury of the winds and waves. Three warriors he overthrew in +quick succession: Hebrus he cut down with his sword, Latagus he slew by +hurling a great stone which battered in his face, and at Palmus he threw a +javelin which pierced his thigh and extended him helpless on the ground. +Then the raging king slew Evas the Phrygian, and a Trojan named Mimas, who +in former days had been the companion of Paris, having been born in Troy +on the same night that gave to the light the ill-starred son of Priam. +Paris now lay in eternal repose amid the ruins of his native city, while +to Mimas the sword of Mezentius assigned an unknown grave on the distant +shore of Italy. And just as when an old wild boar, chased from his retreat +amid the wooded Alps, stands at bay among the underwood, and the hunters, +afraid to approach him, ply him with darts from a distance, while he +gnashes his tusks with rage and faces them undaunted, so stood Mezentius; +while his former subjects, though filled with just anger against him, and +eager for his destruction, dare not come within reach of his dreaded +sword, but galled him with spears and useless clamor. It chanced that a +Greek from Corytus, named Acron, presented himself in the front, +conspicuous in nodding plumes, and in purple trappings that had been +worked for him by his betrothed wife. His gay attire caught the eye of +Mezentius, who rushed forward and smote down the luckless Greek; then, as +the others fell back, he cut off the retreat of an Etrurian chief, Orodes, +forced him to engage hand to hand, and speedily slew him. Pressing his +foot on the expiring warrior to draw out his lance from his body, +Mezentius cried to his followers, "Behold, friends! Orodes has fallen--not +the meanest of our foes." The Rutulians raised a joyful shout, but the +dying Orodes faintly answered, "Not long shall thou rejoice with impunity +over me; a similar fate awaits thyself, and soon shalt thou also be +stretched lifeless on this same field." Smiling scornfully, Mezentius +returned, "Die thou, and leave my fate to the Gods, in whose hands it +rests." His example inspired other of the Rutulians; they pressed fiercely +forward and drove back the troops of AEneas. Mezentius advanced at their +head, and as he strode along, the Trojan hero espied him, and hastened +towards him. Unawed by the prospect of an encounter even with so terrible +a foe, Mezentius stood firm, and poising a huge spear in his hand, +exclaimed,--for he was a contemner of the Gods, and never offered +invocations to them,--"Now let this right hand and this good dart be my +aid; and then I vow that my son, my dear Lausus, shall be clad in the +bright arms torn from the body of yon Trojan pirate." With these words he +drew the spear. Sent with a true aim, it struck the shield of AEneas, but +glanced from the hardened surface, and turning aside, pierced the side of +Antores, a faithful follower of Evander, who had come with Pallas to the +war. Thus died Antores, by a weapon never aimed at him, but he was +speedily avenged. AEneas, putting all his might into the cast, now in his +turn hurled his spear. It tore its way through the triple plates of +Mezentius' shield, through his corselet, and inflicted a severe wound in +his groin, though its force was so far spent that the injury was not +mortal. + +Overjoyed at the sight of his enemy's blood, AEneas drew his sword from its +sheath, and rushed upon Mezentius, who was as yet bewildered by the blow. +When Lausus saw his father in such peril he sprang forward and stood +before AEneas, while Mezentius fell back among his friends, the Trojan +lance still trailing in his armor. Lausus received the first stroke of +AEneas' sword on his buckler, while the Rutulians with loud shouts +applauded him, and poured on the Trojan hero a tempest of darts. Against +this he protected himself with his shield, and meanwhile, pitying the +youth and courage of Lausus, spoke to him in words of warning: "Why do you +thus rush on your own destruction, and attempt what is beyond your +strength? Your filial devotion blinds you to your danger." But Lausus, +resolute to defend his wounded sire, returned a haughty defiance. Then +AEneas could no longer control his wrath; he exerted all his strength, and +thrust his terrible sword up to the hilt through the body of the youth, +who sank lifeless on the blood-steeped ground. When AEneas saw the comely +young warrior stretched dead before him, his heart was filled with pity. +"Ill-fated youth!" he cried, "how can I testify my reverence for thy +filial piety and thy undaunted valor? Thou shalt at least retain those +arms which it was thy delight to wear, and thy body shall be given up +unspoiled to thy friends." With that he summoned the dismayed followers of +Lausus, and with his own hands raised from the ground the comely body, all +disfigured with blood and wounds. Meantime Mezentius had retreated to the +bank of the Tiber, where he took off his armor, and bathed his wound with +water. While he was thus resting from the fatigues of the battle, he was +full of anxiety for his son, and sent messenger after messenger to recall +him from the fight. But too soon a crowd of weeping warriors appeared, +carrying the corpse of Lausus in their arms. The sorrowing father divined +what had occurred from their lamentations, even before the body was +brought to him. He threw dust upon his head, he clasped the loved form in +his arms, and bedewed the pallid face with his tears. "O my son," he +exclaimed, "was I possessed with such a fond desire of life as to suffer +thee to offer thyself in my place to the relentless foe? Am I preserved at +the cost of these cruel wounds? Now, indeed, I feel the calamity of exile. +My crimes have cost thee not only thy paternal throne and sceptre, but thy +life also. It was I that owed expiation to my country, and should have +satisfied my people by a deserved death. And yet I live! yet I do not quit +the detested light! but I will quickly follow thee." Then he rose up, and +though crippled by the wound in his thigh, and suffering anguish from its +smart, he did not flinch, but ordered his attendants to bring his courser. +This was a horse famous for its speed and its prompt obedience to the +rein. When it was brought, he accosted it: "Long have we lived together, +Rhoebus, and many great deeds have we accomplished. To-day we shall either +bear away the head of AEneas and his arms all spattered with his blood, or +we shall perish together; for I am assured that thou wilt never condescend +to bear a Trojan lord." Then mounting the noble steed, he filled both +hands with darts, and dashed recklessly into the midst of the battle. His +heart swelling with rage and shame and grief, he thrice loudly summoned +AEneas to the combat. AEneas heard, and rejoiced at the challenge; and with +threatening spear advanced to meet his foe. "Barbarous wretch," cried +Mezentius, "thinkest thou to affright me with thy weapons, now that thou +hast robbed me of my son? That was the only means by which thou couldst +destroy me. I fear neither death nor the anger of any of your gods. +Forbear threats; now am I come hither to die, but first I bring you these +gifts." So saying, he rapidly hurled one dart after another at the hero, +whirling swiftly round him on his horse; but the shield framed by Vulcan's +hands received all the shafts and repelled them. Wearied at last of so +unequal a fight, in which he had to endure ceaseless attacks without +striking a blow, AEneas stepped forward, and hurled his spear against the +charger, piercing its skull betwixt the ears. The fiery horse reared +upward in the death agony, and then fell backward upon his rider, pressing +him to the earth. The spectators of this fierce combat uplifted their +voices in shouts, some in joy and others in sorrow, as AEneas rushed up to +the fallen warrior, and lifting his sword to deal the fatal blow, cried, +"Where is now the stern Mezentius?" The Etrurian, on the other hand, +replied, "Spiteful foe, why dost thou threaten and insult before thou +strikest? Thou wilt do me no wrong in slaying me. I sought thee expecting +nothing else, and neither I nor my son has asked mercy at thy hands. One +favor alone I implore of thee, that thou wilt give burial to my corpse. I +know well that the hate of my former subjects would pursue me after death. +Defend my remains, I entreat, from outrage, and grant me a grave along +with my son." He said no more, but extended his throat to receive the +fatal blow, which descended and drew forth his life as the blood poured +over his armor. + +The shades of night were now gathering, and as the Rutulians and Latins +had quitted the field in confusion, the conflicts of that sanguinary day +were at last, ended. + + + + +AENEAS FINALLY CONQUERS THE LATINS + +By Alfred J. Church + + +Prince Turnus was filled with rage. Even as a lion which a hunter hath +wounded breaketh the arrow wherewith he hath been stricken, and rouseth +himself to battle, shaking his mane and roaring, so Turnus arose. And +first he spake to King Latinus, saying, "I will meet this man face to +face, and slay him while ye look on; or, if the Gods will that he vanquish +me so, he shall rule over you, and have Lavinia to wife." + +But King Latinus made answer, "Yet think awhile, my son. Thou hast the +kingdom of thy father Daunus; and there are other noble virgins in Latium +whom thou mayest have to wife. Wilt thou not then be content? For to give +my daughter to any husband of this nation I was forbidden, as thou +knowest. Yet did I disobey, being moved by love of thee, my wife also +beseeching me with many tears. Thou seest what troubles I and my people, +and thou more than all, have suffered from that time. Twice have we fled +in the battle, and now the city only is left to us. If I must yield me to +these men, let me yield whilst thou art yet alive. For what doth it profit +me that thou shouldst die? Nay, but all men would cry shame on me if I +gave thee to death!" Now for a space Turnus spake not for wrath. Then he +said, "Be not troubled for me, my father. For I, too, can smite with the +spear; and as for this AEneas, his mother will not be at hand to snatch him +in a cloud from my sight." + +Then Amata cried to him, saying, "Fight not, I beseech thee, with these +men of Troy, my son; for surely what thou sufferest I also shall suffer. +Nor will I live to see AEneas my son-in-law." + +And Lavinia heard the voice of her mother, and wept. As a man stains ivory +with crimson, or as roses are seen mixed with lilies, even so the virgin's +face burned with crimson. And Turnus, regarding her, loved her +exceedingly, and made answer, "Trouble me not with tears or idle words, my +mother, for to this battle I must go. And do thou, Idmon the herald, say +to the Phrygian king, 'To-morrow, when the sun shall rise, let the people +have peace, but we two will fight together. And let him that prevaileth +have Lavinia to wife.'" + +Then first he went to the stalls of his horses. The wife of the North Wind +gave them to Pilumnus. Whiter than snow were they, and swifter than the +wind. Then he put the coat of mail about his shoulders, and fitted a +helmet on his head, and took the great sword which Vulcan had made for +Daunus his father, and had dipped it when it was white-hot in the river of +Styx. His spear also he took where it stood against a pillar, saying, +"Serve me well, my spear, that hast never failed me before, that I may lay +low this womanish robber of Phrygia, and soil with dust his curled and +perfumed hair." The next day the men of Italy and the men of Troy measured +out a space for the battle. And in the midst they builded an altar of +turf. And the two armies sat on the one side and on the other, having +fixed their spears in the earth and laid down their shields. Also the +women and the old men stood on the towers and roofs of the city, that they +might see the fight. + +But Queen Juno spake to Juturna, the sister of Turnus, saying, "Seest thou +how these two are now about to fight, face to face? And indeed Turnus +goeth to his death. As for me, I endure not to look upon this covenant or +this battle. But if thou canst do aught for thy brother, lo! the time is +at hand." And when the nymph wept and beat her breast, Juno said, "This is +no time for tears. Save thy brother, if thou canst, from death; or cause +that they break this covenant." + +After this came the kings, that they might make the covenant together. And +King Latinus rode in a chariot with four horses, and he had on his head a +crown with twelve rays of gold, for he was of the race of the sun; and +Turnus came in a chariot with two white horses, having a javelin in either +hand; and AEneas had donned the arms which Vulcan had made, and with him +was the young Iulus. And after due offering AEneas sware, calling on all +the Gods, "If the victory shall fall this day to Turnus, the men of Troy +shall depart to the city of Evander, nor trouble this land any more. But +if it fall to me, I will not that the Latins should serve the men of Troy. +Let the nations be equal one with the other. The gods that I bring we will +worship together, but King Latinus shall reign as before. A new city shall +the men of Troy build for me, and Lavinia shall call it after her own +name." + +Then King Latinus sware, calling on the gods that are above and the gods +that are below, saying, "This covenant shall stand forever, whatsoever may +befall. As sure as this sceptre which I bear--once it was a tree, but a +cunning workman closed it in bronze, to be the glory of the Latian +kings--shall never again bear twig or leaf, so surely shall this covenant +be kept." + +But the thing pleased not the Latins; for before, indeed, they judged that +the battle would not be equal between two; and now were they the more +assured, seeing them when they came together, and that Turnus walked with +eyes cast to the ground, and was pale and wan. Wherefore there arose a +murmuring among the people, which when Juturna perceived, she took upon +herself the likeness of Camertus, who was a prince and a great warrior +among them, and passed through the host saying, "Are ye not ashamed, men +of Italy, that one man should do battle for you all? For count these men; +surely they are scarce one against two. And if he be vanquished, what +shame for you! As for him, indeed, though he die, yet shall his glory +reach to the heavens; but ye shall suffer disgrace, serving these +strangers forever." + +And when she saw that the people were moved, she gave also a sign from +heaven. For lo! an eagle, that drave a crowd of sea-fowl before him, +swooped down to the water, and caught a great swan; and even while the +Italians looked, the birds that before had fled turned and pursued the +eagle, and drave him before them, so that he dropped the swan and fled +away. Which thing when the Italians perceived they shouted, and made them +ready for battle. And the augur Tolumnius cried, "This is the token that I +have looked for. For this eagle is the stranger, and ye are the birds, +which before, indeed, have fled, but shall now make him to flee." + +And he ran forward and cast his spear, smiting a man of Arcadia below the +belt, upon the groin. One of nine brothers was he, sons of a Tuscan +mother, but their father was a Greek; and they, when they saw him slain, +caught swords and spears, and ran forward. And straightway the battle was +begun. First they brake down the altars, that they might take firebrands +therefrom; and King Latinus fled from the place. Then did Messapus drive +his horses against King Aulestes of Mantua, who, being fain to fly, +stumbled upon the altar and fell headlong on the ground. And Messapus +smote him with a spear that was like a weaver's beam, saying, "This, of a +truth, is a worthier victim." After this Coryneus, the Arcadian, when +Ebysus would have smitten him, snatched a brand from the altar and set +fire to the beard of the man, and, before he came to himself, caught him +by the hair, and thrusting him to the ground, so slew him. And when +Podalirius pursued Alsus the shepherd, and now held his sword over him +ready to strike, the other turned, and with a battle-axe cleft the man's +head from forehead to chin. + +But all the while the righteous AEneas, having his head bare, and holding +neither spear nor sword, cried to the people, "What seek ye? what madness +is this? The covenant is established, and I only have the right to do +battle." But even while he spake an arrow smote him, wounding him. But who +let it fly no man knoweth; for who, of a truth, would boast that he had +wounded AEneas? And he departed from the battle. + +Now when Turnus saw that AEneas had departed from the battle he called for +his chariot. And when he had mounted thereon he drave it through the host +of the enemy, slaying many valiant heroes, as Sthenelus and Pholus, and +the two sons of Imbrasus the Lycian, Glaucus and Lades. Then he saw +Eumedes, son of that Dolon who would have spied out the camp of the +Greeks, asking as his reward the horses of Achilles (but Diomed slew him). +Him Turnus smote with a javelin from afar, and, when he fell, came near +and put his foot upon him, and taking his sword drave it into his neck, +saying, "Lo! now thou hast the land which thou soughtest. Lie there and +measure out Italy for thyself." Many others he slew, for the army fled +before him. Yet did one man, Phegeus by name, stand against him, and would +have stayed the chariot, clutching the bridles of the horses in his hand. +But as he clung to the yoke and was dragged along, Turnus broke his +cuirass with his spear, and wounded him. And when the man set his shield +before him, and made at Turnus with his sword, the wheels dashed him to +the ground, and Turnus struck him between the helmet and the breastplate +and smote off his head. + +But in the meanwhile Mnestheus and Achates and Iulus led AEneas to the +camp, leaning on his spear. Very wroth was he, and strove to draw forth +the arrow. And when he could not, he commanded that they should open the +wound with the knife, and so send him back to the battle. Iapis also, the +physician, ministered to him. Now this Iapis was dearer than all other men +to Apollo, and when the god would have given him all his arts, even +prophecy and music and archery, he chose rather to know the virtues of +herbs and the art of healing, that so he might prolong the life of his +father, who was even ready to die. This Iapis, then, having his garments +girt about him in healer's fashion, would have drawn forth the arrow with +the pincers, but could not. And while he strove, the battle came nearer, +and the sky was hidden by clouds of dust, and javelins fell thick into the +camp. But when Venus saw how grievously her son was troubled, she brought +from Ida, which is a mountain of Crete, the herb dittany. A hairy stalk it +hath and a purple flower. The wild goats know it well if so be that they +have been wounded by arrows. This, then, Venus, having hidden her face, +brought and dipped into the water, and sprinkled there with ambrosia and +sweet-smelling panacea. + +And Iapis, unawares, applied the water that had been healed; and lo! the +pain was stayed and the blood was staunched and the arrow came forth, +though no man drew it, and AEneas's strength came back to him as before. +Then said lapis, "Art of mine hath not healed thee, my son. The Gods call +thee to thy work." Then did AEneas arm himself again, and when he had +kissed Iulus and bidden him farewell, he went forth to the battle. And all +the chiefs went with him, and the men of Troy took courage and drave back +the Latins. Then befell a great slaughter, for Gyas slew Ufens, who was +the leader of the AEquians; also Tolumnius, the great augur, was slain, who +had first broken the covenant, slaying a man with his spear. But AEneas +deigned not to turn his hand against any man, seeking only for Turnus, +that he might fight with him. But when the nymph Juturna perceived this +she was sore afraid. Therefore she came near to the chariot of her +brother, and thrust out Metiscus, his charioteer, where he held the reins, +and herself stood in his room, having made herself like to him in shape +and voice. Then as a swallow flies through the halls and arcades of some +rich man's house, seeking food for its young, so Juturna drave the chariot +of her brother hither and thither. And ever AEneas followed behind, and +called to him that he should stay; but whenever he espied the man, and +would have overtaken him by running, then again did Juturna turn the +horses about and flee. And as he sped Messapus cast a spear at him. But +AEneas saw it coming, and put his shield over him, resting on his knee. Yet +did the spear smite him on the helmet-top and shear off the crest. Then +indeed was his wrath kindled, and he rushed into the army of the enemy, +slaying many as he went. + +Then was there a great slaughter made on this side and on that. But after +a while Venus put it into the heart of AEneas that he should lead his army +against the city. Therefore he called together the chiefs, and, standing +in the midst of them on a mound, spake, saying, "Hearken now to my words, +and delay not to fulfill them, for of a truth Jupiter is on our side. I am +purposed this day to lay this city of Latinus even with the ground, if +they still refuse to obey. For why should I wait for Turnus till it please +him to meet me in battle?" + +Then did the whole array make for the walls of the city. And some carried +firebrands, and some scaling-ladders, and some slew the warders at the +gates, and cast javelins at them who stood on the walls. And then there +arose a great strife in the city, for some would have opened the gates +that the men of Troy might enter, and others made haste to defend the +walls. Hither and thither did they run with much tumult, even as bees in a +hive in a rock which a shepherd hath filled with smoke, having first shut +all the doors thereof. + +Then also did other ill fortune befall the Latins, for when Queen Amata +saw from the roof of the palace that the enemy were come near to the +walls, and saw not anywhere the army of the Latins, she supposed Turnus to +have fallen in the battle. Whereupon, crying out that she was the cause of +all these woes, she made a noose of the purple garment wherewith she was +clad, and hanged herself from a beam of the roof. Then did lamentation go +through the city, for the women wailed and tore their hair, and King +Latinus rent his clothes and threw dust upon his head. + +But the cry that went up from the city came to the ears of Turnus where he +fought in the farthest part of the plain. And he caught the reins and +said, "What meaneth this sound of trouble and wailing that I hear?" And +the false Metiscus, who was in truth his sister, made answer, "Let us +fight, O Turnus, here where the Gods give us victory. There are enough to +defend the city." But Turnus spake, saying, "Nay, my sister, for who thou +art I have known even from the beginning; it must not be so. Why camest +thou down from heaven? Was it to see thy brother die? And now what shall I +do? Have I not seen Murranus die, and Ufens the AEquian? And shall I suffer +this city to be destroyed? Shall this land see Turnus flee before his +enemies? Be ye kind to me, O gods of the dead, seeing that the gods of +heaven hate me. I come down to you a righteous spirit, and not unworthy of +my fathers." + +And even as he spake came Saces, riding on a horse that was covered with +foam, and on his face was the wound of an arrow. And he cried, "O Turnus, +our last hopes are in thee. For AEneas is about to destroy the city, and +the firebrands are cast upon the roofs. And King Latinus is sore tried +with doubt, and the Queen hath laid hands upon herself and is dead. And +now only Messapus and Atinas maintain the battle, and the fight grows +fierce around them, whilst thou drivest thy chariot about these empty +fields." + +Then for a while Turnus stood speechless, and shame and grief and madness +were in his soul; and he looked to the city, and lo! the fire went up even +to the top of the tower which he himself had builded upon the walls to be +a defense against the enemy. And when he saw it, he cried, "It is enough, +my sister; I go whither the Gods call me. I will meet with AEneas face to +face, and endure my doom." + +And as he spake he leapt down from his chariot, and ran across the plain +till he came near to the city, even where the blood was deepest upon the +earth, and the arrows were thickest in the air. And he beckoned with the +hand and called to the Italians, saying, "Stay now your arrows. I am come +to fight this battle for you all." And when they heard it they left a +space in the midst. AEneas also, when he heard the name of Turnus, left +attacking the city, and came to meet him, mighty as Athos, or Eryx, or +Father Apenninus, that raiseth his snowy head to the heavens. And the men +of Troy and the Latins and King Latinus marveled to see them meet, so +mighty they were. + +First they cast their spears at each other, and then ran together, and +their shields struck one against the other with a crash that went up to +the sky. And Jupiter held the balance in heaven, weighing their doom. Then +Turnus, rising to the stroke, smote fiercely with his sword. And the men +of Troy and the Latins cried out when they saw him strike. But the +treacherous sword brake in the blow. And when he saw the empty hilt in his +hand he turned to flee. They say that when he mounted his chariot that day +to enter the battle, not heeding the matter in his haste, he left his +father's sword behind him, and took the sword of Metiscus, which, indeed, +served him well while the men of Troy fled before him, but brake, even as +ice breaks, when it came to the shield which Vulcan had made. Thereupon +Turnus fled, and AEneas, though the wound which the arrow had made hindered +him, pursued. Even as a hound follows a stag that is penned within some +narrow space, for the beast flees hither and thither, and the staunch +Umbrian hound follows close upon him, and almost holds him, and snaps his +teeth, yet bites him not, so did AEneas follow hard on Turnus. And still +Turnus cried out that some one should give him his sword, and AEneas +threatened that he would destroy the city if any should help him. Five +times about the space they ran; not for some prize they strove, but for +the life of Turnus. Now there stood in the plain the stump of a wild +olive-tree. The tree was sacred to Faunus, but the men of Troy had cut it, +and the stump only was left. Herein the spear of AEneas was fixed, and now +he would have drawn it forth that he might slay Turnus therewith, seeing +that he could not overtake him by running. Which when Turnus perceived, he +cried to Faunus, saying, "O Faunus, if I have kept holy for thee that +which the men of Troy have profaned, hold fast this spear." And the god +heard him; nor could AEneas draw it forth. But while he strove, Juturna, +taking again the form of Metiscus, ran and gave to Turnus his sword. And +Venus, perceiving it, wrenched forth the spear from the stump. So the two +stood again face to face. + +Then spake Jupiter to Juno, where she sat in a cloud watching the battle, +"How long wilt thou fight against fate? What purpose hast thou now in thy +heart? Was it well that Juturna--for what could she avail without thy +help?--should give back to Turnus his sword? Thou hast driven the men of +Troy over land and sea, and kindled a dreadful war, and mingled the song +of marriage with mourning. Further thou mayest not go." + +And Juno humbly made answer, "This is thy will, great Father; else had I +not sat here, but stood in the battle smiting the men of Troy. And indeed +I spake to Juturna that she should help her brother; but aught else I know +not. And now I yield. Yet grant me this. Suffer not that the Latins should +be called after the name of Troy, nor change their speech, nor their garb. +Let Rome rule the world, but let Troy perish forever." + +Then spake with a smile the Maker of all things, "Truly thou art a +daughter of Saturn, so fierce is the wrath of thy soul. And now what thou +prayest I give. The Italians shall not change name, nor speech, nor garb. +The men of Troy shall mingle with them, and I will give them a new +worship, and call them all Latins. Nor shall any race pay thee more honor +than they." + +Then Jupiter sent a fury from the pit. And she took the form of a bird, +even of an owl that sitteth by night on the roof of a desolate house, and +flew before the face of Turnus and flapped her wings against his shield. +Then was Turnus stricken with great fear, so that his hair stood up and +his tongue clave to the roof of his mouth. And when Juturna knew the sound +of the false bird what it was, she cried aloud for fear, and left her +brother and fled, hiding herself in the river of Tiber. + +But AEneas came on, shaking his spear that was like unto a tree, and said, +"Why delayest thou, O Turnus? Why drawest thou back? Fly now if thou canst +through the air, or hide thyself in the earth." And Turnus made answer, "I +fear not thy threats, but the Gods and Jupiter, that are against me this +day." And as he spake he saw-a great stone which lay hard by, the landmark +of a field. Scarce could twelve chosen men, such as men are now, lift it +on their shoulders. This he caught from the earth and cast it at his +enemy, running forward as he cast. But he knew not, so troubled was he in +his soul, that he ran or that he cast, for his knees tottered beneath him +and his blood grew cold with fear. And the stone fell short, nor reached +the mark. Even as in a dream, when dull sleep is on the eyes of a man, he +would fain run but cannot, for his strength faileth him, neither cometh +there any voice when he would speak; so it fared with Turnus. For he +looked to the Latins and to the city, and saw the dreadful spear approach, +nor knew how he might fly, neither how he might fight, and could not spy +anywhere his chariot or his sister. And all the while AEneas shook his +spear and waited that his aim should be sure. And at the last he threw it +with all his might. Even as a whirlwind it flew, and brake through the +seven folds of the shield and pierced the thigh. And Turnus dropped with +his knee bent to the ground. And all the Latins groaned aloud to see him +fall. Then he entreated AEneas, saying, "I have deserved my fate. Take thou +that which thou hast won. Yet perchance thou mayest have pity on the old +man, my father, even Daunus, for such an one was thy father Anchises, and +give me back to my own people, if it be but my body that thou givest. Yet +hast thou conquered, and the Latins have seen me beg my life of thee, and +Lavinia is thine. Therefore I pray thee, stay now thy wrath." Then for a +while AEneas stood doubting; aye, and might have spared the man, when lo! +he spied upon his shoulders the belt of Pallas, whom he had slain. And his +wrath was greatly kindled, and he cried with a dreadful voice, "Shalt thou +who art clothed with the spoils of my friends escape me? 'Tis Pallas +slays thee with this wound, and takes vengeance on thy accursed blood." +And as he spake he drave the steel into his breast. And with a groan the +wrathful spirit passed into darkness. + + * * * * * + +According to the old legends AEneas wedded the fair Lavinia, founded his +city of Lavinium, and ruled over it for three years. Then in a battle with +the Rutulians, or some other Italian people, he disappeared; and as his +body was not found after the conflict was over, it was believed that the +Gods had taken him up to heaven. His son Ascanius peacefully succeeded +him, and removed the capital of his kingdom to Alba Longa, which city +again, after the lapse of centuries, gave birth to mighty Rome. + + + + +END OF VOLUME III + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, VOLUME 3 (OF +10)*** + + +******* This file should be named 14752.txt or 14752.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/5/14752 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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