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diff --git a/43982.txt b/43982.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 69bc2a7..0000000 --- a/43982.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,11003 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Stories of the Old world, by Alfred John Church - -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/license - - -Title: Stories of the Old world - -Author: Alfred John Church - -Release Date: October 19, 2013 [EBook #43982] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF THE OLD WORLD *** - - - - -Produced by sp1nd, Charlie Howard, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - Classics for Children. - - - STORIES OF THE OLD WORLD. - - BY THE - - REV. ALFRED J. CHURCH, M.A., - - AUTHOR OF "STORIES FROM HOMER," "STORIES FROM VIRGIL," "STORIES - FROM LIVY," ETC. - - - BOSTON: - PUBLISHED BY GINN & COMPANY. - 1885. - - - - - Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1884, by - GINN, HEATH, & CO., - in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. - - - J. S. CUSHING & CO., PRINTERS, 115 HIGH STREET, BOSTON. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - THE STORY OF THE ARGO. - - PAGE - CHAPTER I. 7 - CHAPTER II. 19 - CHAPTER III. 30 - - - THE STORY OF THEBES. - - CHAPTER I. 47 - CHAPTER II. 57 - - - THE STORY OF TROY. - - CHAPTER I. 69 - CHAPTER II. 86 - CHAPTER III. 109 - CHAPTER IV. 128 - CHAPTER V. 147 - CHAPTER VI. 156 - CHAPTER VII. 171 - - THE ADVENTURES OF ULYSSES. - - CHAPTER VIII. 182 - CHAPTER IX. 204 - CHAPTER X. 210 - CHAPTER XI. 220 - CHAPTER XII. 229 - CHAPTER XIII. 237 - CHAPTER XIV. 242 - - - THE ADVENTURES OF AENEAS. - - CHAPTER I. 247 - CHAPTER II. 265 - CHAPTER III. 291 - CHAPTER IV. 307 - CHAPTER V. 331 - CHAPTER VI. 342 - - -NOTE. - - In "The Adventures of AEneas" the names of the gods are of the - Latin form. As the story is taken from Virgil, this could not - be avoided. The following table sets forth the correspondence - of the Greek and Latin names:-- - - GREEK. LATIN. - - Zeus Jupiter. - Here Juno. - Aphrodite Venus. - Ares Mars. - Hermes Mercury. - Poseidon Neptune. - Artemis Diana. - - - - -THE - -STORY OF THE ARGO. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - -The son of Cretheus, AEson, bequeathed the kingdom of Thessaly to his -brother Pelias, to keep for Jason, his son, whom he had sent to be -taught by Chiron, the wise Centaur. Now when Jason was returning from -Chiron he came to Anaurus, which is a river of Thessaly, and would -have crossed it; but there was an old woman on the river bank, and she -entreated of Jason that he would carry her over the river, for she -feared herself, she said, to cross it. But the old woman was in truth -the goddess Here, who had taken upon herself the likeness of an old -woman to try the young man's heart. Jason therefore carried her over, -but in crossing he lost one of his sandals, for it cleaved to the sand -that was in the river; and so he came to the dwelling of King Pelias, -where they were preparing a great sacrifice and feast to Poseidon and -the other gods. Now there had come an oracle aforetime to Pelias, -saying, "Beware of him who shall come to thee with one sandal only, for -it is thy doom to die by his means." Therefore, when Pelias saw Jason -come in this plight, he was afraid; also he would fain keep the kingdom -for himself. He dared not slay him; but he set him a task from which he -might win great renown, hoping that he should never return therefrom; -and the task was this: to fetch the fleece of gold from the land of the -Colchians. - -Now the story of the fleece is this: To Athamas, that was brother to -Cretheus, were born two children of Nephele, his wife, and the names of -these two were Phrixus and Helle. But Ino, whom Athamas had taken to -wife when Nephele was dead, laid a plot against the children to cause -them to be put to death, and the plot was this. She persuaded the women -of the land to parch with fire the seed of the corn that their husbands -sowed in the earth. And when the seed bare no increase, King Athamas -sent to inquire of the oracle at Delphi what the cause might be. But -Ino persuaded the messengers that they should bring back this message, -as though it were the answer of the god, "Sacrifice the two children, -Phrixus and Helle, if ye would be rid of this barrenness." So Athamas, -being persuaded, brought the children to the altar to sacrifice them; -but the gods had pity on them, and sent a winged ram with a fleece of -gold to carry them away. So the ram carried them away; but Helle fell -from it and was drowned (for which cause the sea in those parts is -called the Sea of Helle to this day), but Phrixus came safe to the land -of the Colchians. There he sacrificed the ram as a thankoffering to -Zeus, and afterwards married the daughter of the king of that land, and -then died. And now Pelias would have Jason fetch the fleece of gold as -belonging of right to his own house. To this Jason consented, and he -sent messengers through the land of Greece to gather the heroes, that -they might be his companions in this labor; and the heroes hearkened to -his word. - -First there came Orpheus, the great singer of Thrace, who could cause -rocks to move from their places, and rivers to stay their course, and -trees to follow him, so sweetly he sang; and Polyphemus, who in his -youth had fought with the Lapithae against the Centaurs, and though his -limbs were burdened with many years, he bare a brave heart within him; -and Admetus of Thessaly, for whom his wife Alcestis was willing to -die; and the two sons of AEacus of AEgina, Telamon and Peleus, of whom -Telamon dwelt in Salamis, and Peleus in Phthia, for they had fled from -AEgina, having slain Phocus, their brother, unwittingly. But Theseus, -the bravest of the sons of Attica, came not, being imprisoned with -Pirithoues in the dwellings of the dead. Also there came Tiphys, who was -the most skilful of men to foresee when the waves would rise, and the -winds blow, and to guide a ship by sun and stars; and Hercules, who -was newly come to Argos from Arcadia, whence he had brought alive the -great Erymanthian boar, and put him down in the market-place of Mycenae; -and the twin brethren, Castor, the tamer of horses, and Pollux, the -mighty boxer; and Lynceus, who was keener of sight than all other men, -so that he could see even the things below the earth. With these came -also two brethren, sons of Boreas, Prince of Thrace, whom men call also -the North Wind. Wings had these two upon their feet,--a wonder to see, -black, shining with scales of gold,--and their hair streamed behind -them on either side as they ran. These, and many more heroes whom it -needs not name, did Jason gather together. - -As for the ship _Argo_, the goddess Athene devised it, but the hands of -Argus, the son of Arestor, builded it. - -Great was the wonder among the people to see such a gathering of -heroes. "Surely," they said, "they will burn the house of AEaetes with -fire if he withhold from them the fleece." But the women lifted up -their hands and prayed for a safe return; also they wept one to -another, no one more bitterly than Alcimede, the mother of Jason, -casting her arms about her son, and bewailing the day when Pelias had -sent him on this errand, seeing that he was her only son, and she would -be left desolate and alone. But Jason comforted her, saying that Athene -would help him in his quest, and that Apollo had prophesied good things -for him; only he bade her abide within the house, lest she should speak -some word of ill omen at their departure. - -When the heroes were gathered together at the ship, Jason stood up -in the midst, and spake: "My friends, seeing that all things are now -ready for the voyage, and that there is nothing to hinder us from -sailing, the wind being favorable, let us choose for our leader him -whom we judge to be the best among us, for our going and our returning -concerneth us all." Then the young men cast their eyes on Hercules, and -cried out with one voice that he should be their leader. But the hero -stretched forth his right hand from where he sat, and cried, "Not so; -let no man seek to give me this honor, for I will not receive it. Let -him that hath gathered us be also our leader." So spake Hercules, and -they all were obedient to his word, and chose Jason to be their leader. -Then said Jason, "First let us make a feast and a sacrifice to Apollo. -But while the slaves fetch the oxen, let us drag down the ship to the -sea, and when we have put all her tackling into her, let us cast lots -for the benches whereon we shall sit." Then the heroes undergirded the -ship with ropes, that she might be the stronger against the waves; and -afterwards, standing on either side, pushed her with all their might; -but Tiphys stood in the midst and gave the word, that they might do it -with one heart and at one time. Quickly ran the _Argo_ on the slips, -and the heroes shouted as she ran. Then they fastened the oars in the -rowlocks, and put a mast in the ship, and sails well woven. After this -they divided the heroes among the benches, two heroes to a bench; and -in the hindmost bench they set Hercules and Ancaeus of Tegea, by choice -and not by lot, considering the stature of the heroes, for there the -ship was deepest. But for helmsman they chose Tiphys by common consent. - -After this they built an altar of stones upon the shore. Then Jason -prayed to Apollo, "O king, bring us again safe to Greece; so will -we offer young bullocks on thy altars, both at Delphi and in Delos. -And now let us raise our cable in peace, and give us favorable winds -and a calm sea." Then Hercules smote one of the oxen with his fist -between the horns and felled him to the earth; and Ancaeus slew the -other, smiting him on the neck with an axe. And the young men cut them -in pieces, and they covered the thighs with fat, and burned them in -the fire. But when Idmon, the seer, saw the blue smoke, how it arose -in circles above the flames, he cried, by the inspiration of Apollo, -"Truly ye shall come hither again, and bring the fleece of gold with -you; but as for me, I must die far from my home in the land of Asia. -This, indeed, I knew before, yet am I with you to-day, that I may -share the glory of this voyage." And now the sun was setting, and the -heroes sat in order on the shore, and drank the wine out of great -cups, talking with each other as men are wont to talk at the banquet. -But Jason sat apart, busy with many thoughts, which, when the hero -Idas saw, he said, "What fearest thou, son of AEson? By this spear I -swear--and in truth my spear helpeth me more than Zeus--thou shalt -fail in nought if only Idas be with thee." And as he spake he raised -with both his hands a mighty bowl of wine, and drenched his lips and -bearded cheeks. Then the heroes murmured against him; but Idmon, the -seer, spake aloud, "These are evil words that thou speakest against -thyself. Hath the wine so wrought with thee that thou revilest the -gods? Remember the sons of Aloeus, how mighty they were; but when they -spake against the gods, Apollo slew them with his darts." Then Idas -laughed aloud, and cried, "Thinkest thou, then, that the gods will slay -me as Apollo slew the sons of Aloeus? Only take heed to thyself if thou -shalt be found to have prophesied falsely concerning me." But Jason -stayed them, that they should not strive together any more. - -After this Orpheus took his harp and sang. He sang how the earth and -heaven and sky, having had but one form before, were divided from -each other; and how the stars are fixed in heaven; and of the moon -and the courses of the sun. Also he sang how the mountains arose, and -the rivers flowed; and how of old Chronos reigned in Olympus, ruling -the Titan gods, while Zeus was yet a child, dwelling in the caves of -Ida, before the Cyclopes had armed his hand with the thunderbolt. Then -Orpheus ended his song; but the heroes sat awhile, after that he had -ceased, with their heads bent forwards, so mighty was the spell upon -them. After this they burnt the tongues of the beasts with fire, and -poured wine upon them, and so lay down to sleep. - -But when the morning shone on the top of Pelion, Tiphys first woke -out of sleep, and roused the heroes, bidding them embark and prepare -for rowing. But before they departed came Chiron down from the hills, -and his wife with him, carrying in her arms the little Achilles, that -Peleus, his father, might embrace him. And Chiron prayed aloud to the -gods that the heroes might have a safe return. - -Thus did the ship _Argo_ depart upon her voyage. The heroes smote the -sea with their oars in time to the music of Orpheus, and drave her -on her course with a marvellous quickness. The tackling of the ship -glistened like gold in the sun, and the waves were parted, foaming on -either side of the prow, and their way was white behind them, plain to -see as the path upon a meadow. - -So soon as they were clear of the harbor's winding ways--and well did -Tiphys guide them, holding the polished tiller in his hands--they -set up the great mast in its socket, fastening it by ropes on either -side; and upon the mast they spread out the sail, setting it duly with -pulleys and sheets. Then, with the wind blowing fair behind them, they -sped forward; and Orpheus sang the while of Artemis; and the fishes -followed, leaping out of the sea about the ship, even as sheep when -they are fed to the full follow back the shepherd to the sheepfold as -he goes before them, making sweet music on his oaten pipe. Past the -rocks of Pelion they sped, and Sciathos and Magnessa; and when they -came to the tomb of Dolops, they drave their ship to the shore and did -sacrifice by the tomb. There they abode for two days, for the sea was -stormy; but on the third day they launched their ship and hoisted the -great sail. Whereupon to this day they call this place "The Launching -of the _Argo_." Then as they sailed they saw the valleys of Ossa and -Olympus; all night the wind carried them on, and the next day there -appeared Athos, the great mountain of Thrace; so great is it that its -shadow falls on Myrina in Lemnos, though it be a half-day's journey for -a fleet ship. - -Then they came to Lemnos. There, but a year before, had been wrought a -dreadful deed; for the women had slain their husbands, aye, and every -male throughout the land, lest the children, being grown to manhood, -should avenge their fathers. Only Hypsipyle had spared the old man -Thoas, her father, hiding him in a cave by the sea, that she might -send him away alive. And now the women ploughed the fields, and donned -the armor of men; nevertheless, they watched ever in fear lest the -Thracians that dwelt on the shore over against them should come upon -them. And now, when they saw the _Argo_ and the band of heroes, they -sallied forth from their city, duly armed, with Hypsipyle their Queen -for their leader; for they thought that now indeed the Thracians were -come. Speechless they were for fear, for all their brave show of war. -But the heroes sent their herald to tell who they were, and whence they -had come, and whither they went. For that day, therefore, they abode on -the shore. But the Queen called the women to council; and when these -were gathered together, she rose in the midst, and said: "Let us give -gifts to these strangers, food and wine; but let them abide without the -walls, for we have done a dreadful deed, and it is not well that they -should know it. But if anyone have some better counsel, let her speak." -Then Polyxo, that was nurse to the Queen, stood forth. Very old she -was; she halted upon her feet, she leant upon her staff; and four young -maidens, with long yellow hair, held her up. Yet could she scarce lift -up her head, so bowed she was with age; nevertheless, age had not tamed -her tongue. Thus she spake: "It is well, as saith the Queen, to send -gifts to these strangers. Yet, bethink you, my daughters, what will ye -do in the time to come? How will it fare with you, if these Thracians -come, or other enemies? When ye are old, how will ye live? Will the -oxen yoke themselves to the plough, or the harvests come without toil? -As for me, though hitherto the Fates have passed me by, I shall surely -die this year or the next, and escape from the evil to come. But what -will ye do, my daughters? Wherefore my counsel is that ye make these -men the partners of all that ye have." And the whole assembly gave -their consent, and they sent Iphinoe as their herald to the heroes. And -when these had heard the words of the daughter of Lemnos, the thing -pleased them. - -Then indeed had they dwelt in Lemnos to the end of their days, but -Hercules called them apart and said: "Did ye come hither, my friends, -to marry wives? Are there not maidens fair enough whom ye may wed at -home? Will ye be content to plough and sow and reap in Lemnos? Think -you that some god will put this fleece of gold into your hands while ye -tarry here?" So did he rebuke them; but they answered him not again, -nor dared so much as to lift their eyes from the ground. But the next -day they climbed into their ship, and ranged themselves in order on the -benches, and so departed. And after a while, the south wind blowing, -they entered the Hellespont, and passing through it, came to the sea -which men call the Propontis, and to a certain city of which Cyzicus -was king, and now men call it by his name. Here were they entertained -with all hospitality; for the King had been warned that if a ship of -strangers should come, he should deal kindly with them, if haply he -might so escape his fate. For his fate was this, that he should die by -the hands of a stranger. Wherefore he gave them great store of flesh -and wine. Now the next day some would climb the hill Dindymus, that -they might behold the sea on which they should sail; and some rowed the -_Argo_ to a more convenient haven. But there were in an island hard by -certain giants, of monstrous shape. Six hands had each of them,--two -such as other men have, and four strangely growing from their sides. -These sallied forth against the heroes, and would have blocked the -mouth of the haven with rocks, as men block a wild beast in a cavern. -But Hercules drew his bow against them, and slew many with arrows. And -the heroes, when they saw what had befallen, left their journey and -came to the help of their companions, and pursued the giants till they -had destroyed them. But Queen Here had reared these giants that they -might do some harm to Hercules. After this the heroes set sail, and -all that day they sped onward on their course; but at nightfall the -wind blew contrary, and carried them back to the city of Cyzicus. Yet -they knew not whither they were come; neither did any of the men of -Cyzicus know the heroes for the darkness. Therefore they joined battle -as though they had been enemies; and Jason smote King Cyzicus on the -breast and slew him. Thus was his doom fulfilled. Many others also -were slain; and the men of Cyzicus fled before the heroes, and shut -themselves into their city. But when it was morning the heroes knew -what they had done in their ignorance, and lamented. Also they set up a -great tomb for the slain, and circled it thrice, clad in their armor, -and celebrated funeral games in the meadow hard by. But Clite, that was -the wife of Cyzicus, when she knew that her husband was dead, hanged -herself; and the gods changed her tears into a fountain which is yet -called Clite, after her name. - -For twelve days the heroes tarried in this land, so stormy were the -winds; but in the twelfth night a kingfisher flew with a shrill cry -over the head of Jason as he slept; and Mopsus the seer knew what the -kingfisher said, and cried, "Let us build an altar to Cybele, the -mother of the gods, and do sacrifice to her. So shall we have an end of -these stormy winds." - -This therefore they did; and the next morning they departed. Quickly -they sped, so that not even the chariot of Poseidon could have -outstripped them. But towards the evening the wind blew more strongly, -and the waves arose. Then indeed did Hercules, as he toiled with all -his might in rowing, break his oar in the middle. One half he held in -his hands and fell therewith, but the other half the sea carried with -it. But when they were come to the land the people of Mysia entertained -them with hospitality. And the next day Hercules went into the woods, -seeking a pine-tree for an oar. And when he had found one that had but -few branches or leaves upon it, but was tall and straight as a poplar, -he laid his bow and his arrows and his lion-skin also on the ground, -and first he smote the pine-tree with his club and loosened it, and -then put his hands about the stem, and tare it by the roots from the -earth, and so went back to the ship bearing it on his shoulders. - -But in the meanwhile the youth Hylas had gone forth with his pitcher to -fetch water from a spring; for he was page to Hercules, and would have -all things ready for him against his coming back. Now all the Nymphs of -the land, whether they dwelt in the water or on the hills, were wont to -assemble at this fountain. And one of these saw the youth, how fair he -was, for the moon was at her full and shone upon him as he went, and -she loved him in her heart. And when the youth dipped his pitcher into -the spring to fill it, she threw her arms about his neck and drew him -down, and he fell into the fountain, but called aloud on Hercules as he -fell. Now one of the heroes heard the cry of the youth, and hastened to -the place, but found nothing. But as he returned from out of the wood, -for he feared lest some wild beast or enemy should assail him, he met -Hercules, and spake, saying, "These are sad tidings that I bring thee. -For Hylas is gone to the spring and hath not returned, and either some -beast hath slain him, or robbers have carried him away." So all that -night Hercules wandered through the wood seeking for the youth, even as -a bull which some gad-fly stings rusheth over the fields nor resteth -anywhere. So Hercules hastened hither and thither, seeking for the -youth, and calling him by his name, but found him not. - -When it was now day, Tiphys, the helmsman, bade them depart, for that -the wind favored them. But after a while they found that they had left -the best of their company behind them unwittingly; and then arose great -strife and contention among them. Then spake Telamon in his wrath: -"Truly this is well, that we have left our bravest behind us! Thine -is this counsel, O Jason, that thy glory might not be shadowed by his -glory in the land of Greece, if so be that the gods shall bring us -back." And he would have leapt on Tiphys, the helmsman, only the two -sons of Boreas held him back; for which deed they suffered afterwards, -seeing that Hercules slew them both as they returned from the funeral -games of Pelias, because they had hindered the heroes from seeking for -him. But in the midst of their anger there appeared to them the sea-god -Glaucus. From the midst of the waves he lifted his shaggy head and -breast, and laid hold of the ship, and spake: "Why do ye seek to take -Hercules to the land of the Colchians against the will of Zeus? For it -is his doom that he should fulfil his previous toils for Eurystheus, -and afterwards be numbered with the gods. And as for Polyphemus, it is -his fate to build a city in the land of the Mysians. Neither mourn ye -for Hylas, seeing that the Nymph of the fountain hath taken him for her -husband." And when the god had so spoken he sank again into the sea, -and was hidden from their sight. Then said Telamon to Jason, clasping -him by the hand, "Pardon me, son of AEson, if I have wronged thee, and -be not wroth for my hasty words. For indeed a great sorrow drave me to -speak, and now let us be friends as before." To him answered Jason, -"Thy words indeed were harsh when thou saidst that I had betrayed my -friend, yet I bear no anger for them. For thy wrath was not for cattle -or gold, but for a man whom thou lovest. And, indeed, I would have thee -contend with me yet again for a like cause, if such should arise." So -Telamon and Jason were made friends. And all that day and all that -night the wind blew strong; but in the morning there was a calm; yet -the heroes plied their oars, and at sunset they drave their ship on to -the shore. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -Now the land whereunto they were come was the land of the Bebryces, -whose King was one Amycus, the son of Poseidon. No man was more -arrogant than he, for he made it a law that no stranger should depart -from the land before he had made trial of him in boxing; and thus had -he slain many. And coming down to the ship, when he had inquired of -them the cause of their journey, he spake, saying, "Hearken to me, -ye wanderers of the sea; no man cometh to the land of the Bebryces -but he must stand up against me in a fight of boxers. Choose me out, -therefore, the best of your company, and set him to fight with me -here; and if not, I will compel you." But the heroes were very wroth -when they heard these words, and Pollux more than all. Wherefore -he stood forth before his fellows, and said, "Talk not to us of -compulsion. We will follow this custom of thine. Lo, I will meet thee -myself." Then Amycus glared at him, even as a lion upon the hill glares -at the man that wounded him at the first, caring not for the others -that gird him about. Then Pollux laid aside his mantle, which one of -the daughters of Lemnos had given him; and Amycus also stripped off -his cloak, and put aside the great shepherd's crook made of a wild -olive tree, that he bare. Very diverse were they to behold, for the -King was like to Typhoeus, or one of the giants, the sons of Earth; but -Pollux was like a star of Heaven, so fair he was. And he tried his -hands, whether they were supple as of old, or haply were grown stiff -with toiling at the oar. But Amycus stood still, looking upon Pollux -as thirsting for his blood. Then Lycoreus, the King's companion, threw -down at Pollux's feet two pair of gauntlets covered with blood, and -stiff, and marvellously hard. And Amycus said, "Take which thou wilt, -stranger, that thou blame me not hereafter, and fit them to thine -hands. So haply shalt thou learn that I can fell an ox or wound a man's -cheek to bleeding." But Pollux answered him nothing, but smiled and -took the gauntlets that lay nearest. Then came Castor and Talaus, and -bound the gauntlets upon him, and bade him be of good courage. But -Aretus and Orniptus bound them for King Amycus, and knew not that they -should never bind them for him any more. Then the two stood up against -each other. And Amycus came on as a wave of the sea comes upon a ship; -which yet, by the skilful handling of the pilot, escapes from its -might. Then did the King follow hard after Pollux, suffering him not to -rest; but he, so skilful was he, escaped ever without a wound, for he -knew wherein lay the strength of the King, and wherein also he failed. -So the two strove together, and the sounds of their strokes was as the -sound of shipwrights that build a ship. And after awhile they rested, -wiping the sweat from their faces. Then they joined battle again, as -bulls that fight for the mastery. But at the last Amycus, rising as -one that fells an ox, smote with all his might. But Pollux leapt from -under the blow, turning his head aside; yet did the King's arm graze -his shoulder. Then he reached forward with his knee by the knee of the -King, and smote him with all his might under the ear; and the giant -fell to the earth with a groan, and all the heroes set up a shout when -they saw it. - -But the Bebryces were wroth to see that their King was slain, and they -set themselves with their clubs and hunting-spears against Pollux; but -the heroes drew their swords and stood by him. Then the battle waxed -fierce, and many of the Bebryces were slain, and of the heroes certain -were wounded; but at the last Ancaeus and the two sons of AEacus and -Jason rushed upon the enemy and scattered them. After this they feasted -on the shore; and the next day they put into their ships so much of the -spoil of the land as they would, and so departed; and on the morrow -they came to the land of Phineus, the son of Agenor. Now Phineus, being -skilled in divination beyond all other men, revealed to men all that -Zeus prepared to do; for which reason the god smote him with old age -and with blindness, and also sent the plague of the Harpies upon him, -which, coming down suddenly upon him as he sat at the banquet, snatched -away the meat from the table. And if they left somewhat, it stank so -foully that a man might not touch it. - -When Phineus heard that the heroes were come, he was glad, and came -forth to meet them. Very feeble was he with old age and hunger; and -when he saw them he said, "Welcome, ye heroes! Right glad I am to see -you, for I know by the inspiration of Apollo that there shall come -to this land the two sons of Boreas, who shall deliver me from this -plague that I endure." And he told them what things he suffered from -the Harpies. Then Zetes laid hold of the old man's hand, and said, "We -pity thee, son of Agenor, and will help thee if it may be; but first -thou must swear that we shall not anger the gods thereby; for, as thou -knowest, these evils have come upon thee because thou hast revealed -their will to men too plainly." And the old man swore that the thing -was pleasing to the gods. Then they prepared a banquet for him, and as -soon as the old man had reached his hand to the food, of a sudden the -Harpies flew down, as lightning cometh out of the clouds, and carried -off the meat. But the two sons of Boreas followed hard after them, and -Zeus gave them strength; otherwise of a truth they had not caught them, -for the winds themselves were not more fleet. And when they had caught -them they would have slain them, only Iris, the messenger of Zeus, came -down and said, "Slay not the Harpies, that are the hounds of Zeus. I -will swear to you that they shall not come any more to the dwelling of -Phineus, the son of Agenor." So they stayed from slaying them. After -this Phineus and the heroes feasted together, and the King said, "I -will expound to you things to come, yet so much only as the gods will -have me tell; for they will not that men should know all things, but -that they should yet need counsel and help. When ye have departed -from this land ye shall see certain rocks, between the which ye must -needs pass. Do ye therefore first send a dove before you, and if she -pass through safely then may ye also follow. And row with all your -might, for your hands rather than your prayers shall deliver you. But -if the dove perish, then do ye go back, for it is not the will of the -gods that ye should go further. After this ye shall see many places, -as Helica, and the river of Halys, and the land of the Chalybes, the -workers of iron, and at the last shall come to the river of Phasis, -whereby ye shall see the town of AEaetes and the grove of AEa, where the -fleece of gold hangeth even on the top of a beech tree, and the dragon, -a terrible monster to behold, watcheth it with eyes that turn every -way." Then were the heroes much dismayed; but when Jason would have -questioned him further, he said, "Seek ye for the help of Aphrodite, -for the victory will be of her. And now ask me no more." And when he -had ended his words, the two sons of Boreas came back, panting from -their course, and told what things they had done. And the next morning -many were gathered together to hear from him of things to come, among -whom was a certain Paroebius, whom the King had delivered from great -trouble; for the man's father had cut down an oak upon the mountains, -not heeding the prayers of the Nymph that dwelt therein that he should -spare it, for which reason the Nymph sent all manner of evil upon him -and his children after him. Nor did they know the cause till Phineus -expounded it to them. - -After this they departed, and forgot not to take with them a dove, -which Euphemus held bound to his hand by a cord; and Athene helped -them on their way. And when they came to the rocks whereof Phineus had -spoken, Euphemus let fly the dove, and it passed through, yet did the -rocks, clashing together, touch the last feather of her tail. Then -Tiphys shouted to them that they should row with all their might, for -the rocks had parted again; but as they rowed a great terror came upon -them, for they saw destruction hanging over them; and a great wave, -like to a mountain, rose up against them. And when they saw it they -turned their heads away, thinking it must overwhelm them; but Tiphys -turned the helm, and the wave passed under the keel, lifting up the -_Argo_ to the top of the rocks. Then said Euphemus, "Row ye with all -your might." And the heroes rowed till the stout oars were bent as -bows. Athene, also, with one hand kept the ship from the rocks, and -with the other drave it forward; and the rocks clashed together behind -it, nor were divided any more; for it was the will of the gods that -this should be so when the ship should pass through safely. But the -heroes breathed again, being delivered from death. And Tiphys cried, -"Fear not, son of AEson, for surely Athene hath delivered us, and now -all things will be easy to thee, and thou wilt accomplish the command -of the King." But Jason spoke, "Nay, my friend. Would that I had died -before I took this task in hand, for there are perils by sea and perils -by land, and I have no rest day or night. For myself I fear not, but -for these, my companions, lest I should not take them back in safety." -This he said, for he would try the temper of the heroes; and when they -cried out that they feared not, he was glad at heart. - -So the heroes passed on their way till they came to the land of the -Mariandyni, of whom one Lycus was king. Here his doom came upon Idmon, -the seer, that he should perish; for though he was a prophet, yet his -prophecy availed him not against fate. Now there chanced to be in the -marsh a great boar, that lay wallowing in the mud. Great white tusks -had he, and even the Nymphs feared him. And as Idmon walked by the -river side, the boar rushed on him of a sudden out of the reeds, and -smote him on the thigh with his tusk, making a great wound. The hero -fell not, indeed, but shouted aloud; and his companions ran thither at -his voice. And first Peleus cast his javelin at the beast, but missed -his aim; and afterwards Idas smote him, and he gnashed his teeth upon -the spear. Then the heroes carried back their companion to the ship, -but he died even as they carried him. Then they abode in that place for -three days, and on the fourth they made a great funeral for him; and -Lycus and his people came also to do honor to the dead man. But while -they mourned for him it befell that Tiphys, the pilot, died also; for -he could not endure his great sorrow for his companion. So they buried -Tiphys also; and for each they built a great tomb, to be a memorial to -them who should come after. - -Sore dismayed were the heroes that their helmsman was dead, and they -sat a long time in silence, and neither ate nor drank. Then Here put -courage into the heart of Ancaeus, and he spake to Peleus, saying, "Is -it well, son of AEacus, to abide here in the land of strangers? Here am -I that know more of seamanship than of war, and others also as skilful; -nor should we suffer loss if we set one of them at the helm." Then -spake Peleus in the midst of the heroes, "Why waste we time in sorrow, -my friends? There are skilful helmsmen; many are in this company, of -whom let us choose us out the best." But Jason answered, "If there be -such, why sit they here with the rest lamenting? I fear me much that we -shall neither see the city of AEaetes nor yet the land of Greece." But -Ancaeus stood forth, saying that he would be their helmsman; so also did -Euphemus and other two; but the heroes chose Ancaeus. - -So on the morning of the twelfth day they set sail, and a strong -west wind blew from behind and carried them quickly over the sea. -But when they came to the tomb of Sthenelus they beheld a marvellous -sight. Now this Sthenelus was companion to Hercules in battling with -the Amazons, and had been wounded with an arrow, and so died. And he -besought Persephone, that is Queen of the dead, that he might look upon -the heroes; and when she consented, he stood upon the top of his tomb -equipped as one that went forth to battle, with a fair four-crested -helmet on his head. Much did the heroes marvel to behold him. But -Mopsus, the seer, bade them tarry and make offerings to the dead. -Wherefore they landed and built an altar, and offered sacrifices, and -Orpheus also dedicated his harp for a gift. After this they departed, -and sailed by the river of Parthenius, which is by interpretation the -Virgin River; so men call it, because Artemis the Virgin, the daughter -of Latona, is wont to bathe therein when she is weary with hunting. -Also they passed the river of Thermodon, and tarried not, for such was -the will of Zeus, that they might not join battle with the Amazons -who dwelt in these parts, a fierce race and delighting in war. Surely -not without much bloodshed and damage to both such battle had been. -The next day they came to the land of the Chalybes. These care not to -plough the land with oxen, or to plant seed or to reap harvests; nor -have they flocks or herds; but they dig iron out of the earth, and -change it with other men for food. Never doth morning come, but it -seeth them at their toil, where they labor without ceasing in the midst -of reek and smoke. But after the Chalybes they came to the Mossyni, a -strange folk that are contrary to other men, doing abroad what others -do at home, and at home what others do abroad. Their king also sitteth -all day on his throne, and judgeth his people; nor, indeed, is he to -be envied for all his royal state, seeing that if he err at all in -his judgment the people shut him in prison till he die of hunger. -Next they came to the island of Aretias, wherefrom as they sailed in -the twilight there came a great bird flying over them, and shooting a -sharp-pointed feather from its wing. And the feather struck Oileus on -his left shoulder and wounded him, so that he dropped the oar from his -hand. After this came other like birds also; and though the heroes shot -at them with arrows and slew certain of them, yet could they not drive -them away. Then said Amphidamas to his companions: "We are come to the -island of Aretias, and I judge that we shall not prevail over these -birds with our arrows. For Hercules prevailed not thus over the birds -of the Lake Stymphalus, as I saw with my own eyes. Do ye, therefore, -as I bid you. Put ye on your helmets, and let some of you row with the -oars, and let the rest so order their spears and their shields that -they may be a covering to the ship. Shout also with all your might; and -when ye shall be come nigh unto the island, beat upon your shields, and -make all the noise that ye may." And the heroes did so, and covered the -ship, even as a house is covered from the rain by its roof; and they -shouted and beat upon their shields; nor did they suffer further damage -from the birds. - -Now it chanced in these days that the sons of Phrixus sailed from the -land of King AEaetes to the city of Orchomenus, that they might get for -themselves the possessions of their father. And coming near to this -same island of Aretias, a mighty wind from the north brake their ship; -and the men, being four in number, laid hold of a beam, and so were -driven about by the waves, being in great peril of death, till, at the -last, they were cast upon the shore of the island. Therefore, when the -_Argo_ came near, one of them spake to the heroes, saying, "We entreat -you, whosoever ye be, to help us, seeing that the waves have broken our -ship. Give us, I pray you, some clothing and a morsel of food." Then -said Jason, "Tell us who you are, and whence ye are come, and whither -ye go." Then the man made answer, "Doubtless ye have heard how Phrixus -came to the city of King AEaetes on a ram with the fleece of gold, and -how the fleece hangeth to this day on a tree near to the city; how -the King gave to this Phrixus his daughter Chalciope in marriage; and -we are the children of these two. And our father being newly dead, we -sailed to Orchomenus that we might get for ourselves the possessions of -Athamas, our grandfather; for so Phrixus, our father, commanded us." - -The heroes were right glad of this meeting, and Jason made answer, -"Ye are my kinsmen, for Cretheus and Athamas were brothers, and I am -grandson to Cretheus; and I sail with these my comrades to the city of -King AEaetes. But of these things we will talk hereafter. But now we will -give you what ye need." So he gave them clothing, and afterwards they -did sacrifice in the Temple of Ares that was hard by, and there feasted -together. And after the feast Jason spake, saying, "It is manifest that -Zeus hath a care both for you and for us; for us he hath brought safely -through many perils to this place, and you he suffered not to perish in -the sea. Ye shall sail hereafter in this ship whithersoever ye will; -but now do ye help us in our quest, for we are come from the land of -Greece seeking the fleece of gold, and we would gladly have you for our -guides." - -But the men were sore dismayed to hear these words, knowing what -manner of man King AEaetes was. And he who had spoken at the first made -answer, "O my friends, ye shall have such help as we can give you. But -know that AEaetes is fierce and savage beyond all other men, and that -your voyage is perilous. Men say that he is of the race of the Sun, and -he is mighty in battle as Ares himself. Nor will it be an easy thing to -carry away the fleece, for a dragon watcheth it continually, and this -dragon cannot be slain, and it sleepeth not." Then many of the heroes, -when they heard these words, grew pale. But Peleus spake out boldly: -"Fear not, my friend; we lack not strength to meet King AEaetes in -battle, if need be, for we are well used to war, and are, for the most -part, of the race of the gods. Wherefore, if the King yield us not the -fleece peaceably, I judge that his Colchians shall not help him." - -After this the heroes slept. And the next day they departed, and -sailing with a favorable wind, came near to the further end of the -Euxine Sea; thence they could see the mountains of Caucasus, whereto -the Titan Prometheus is bound. And indeed in the evening they beheld -the great vulture which feedeth on his liver flying above their ship; -and after a while they heard the Titan groaning with the bitterness of -his pain, and then again the vulture returning by the same way when -his feast was ended. That night, by skilful guidance of the sons of -Phrixus, they came to the river of Phasis, and straightway they lowered -the sails and the yardarms, and afterwards the mast, and so entered the -river. And on their left hand was the mountain of Caucasus and the city -of AEaetes, and on the right the oak grove wherein the dragon watched -continually the fleece of gold. And Jason poured a libation of wine -from a cup of gold into the river, praying to the gods of the land and -to the spirits of the dead heroes that they should help them in their -quest. And when their prayers were ended they fastened the ship with -anchors under cover of a wood that was hard by, and so slept. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -But while the heroes lay hidden among the reeds of the river, Here -and Athene sought a chamber where they might hold counsel apart from -the other gods. And Here first spake, saying, "Come now, daughter of -Zeus, consider by what craft or device we may bring it to pass that the -heroes may carry back the fleece of gold to the land of Greece." Then -Athene made answer, "That which thou askest, O Here, I had already in -my thoughts; but though I have weighed many counsels, yet have I not -found one that would serve this purpose." Then said Here, "Come, let -us go to Aphrodite, and when we have found her let us persuade her to -command her son, if only he will hearken to her words, that he smite -the daughter of King AEaetes with an arrow, that she may love Prince -Jason, for she is skilful in magic and drugs." This counsel pleased -Athene mightily, and she said, "I know not anything of these matters, -nor can I say what may work love in a maiden's heart. Yet thy counsel -pleaseth me; only when we are come to Aphrodite do thou speak for us -both." - -So the two departed, and came to the palace of Aphrodite, which her -husband, the halting god, had wrought for her when he first took her -to wife, and they stood in the porch. Now Hephaestes was gone to his -workshop, and the goddess sat alone over against the door; and she -was combing her hair with a comb of gold, and weaving her tresses. But -when she saw the two she rose from her seat, and gave them welcome, and -spake, saying, "What is your errand, that ye are come now after these -many years?" - -To her Here made answer, "We are in trouble, O Queen, for Jason and -they that are with him are come to the river of Phasis, seeking the -fleece of gold; and I fear for him. Yet would I serve him with all my -strength, on whatever errand he might go, for he hath always honored -me with sacrifices; and besides he did me good service at the river -of Anaurus. For the mountains were white with snow, and the streams -came down from the heights, and the river was swollen. And Jason came -from his hunting, and when he saw me he had pity on me, for I had made -myself like to an old woman, and he carried me over the river." - -Then said Aphrodite, "It were ill done of me were I to deny such help -as these weak hands can give." - -And Here spake again, "We want no help of hands, be they weak or -strong. Only bid thy son smite with his arrows the daughter of King -AEaetes, for surely if she be willing to help him he will easily carry -away the fleece of gold, and so come safe to Iolcos." - -But Aphrodite made answer, "Surely he will hearken to you rather than -to me. For to you, shameless though he be, he must needs pay some -reverence; but me he heedeth not at all. I had well-nigh broken in my -wrath his arrows and his bows." - -And when the goddesses laughed, she spake again, saying, "Yea, I know -that others laugh at my sorrows. But if ye are urgent for this thing, I -will persuade him, and I doubt not but that he will hearken to me." - -So the three went together to the halls of Olympus. And they found -Eros playing at dice with Ganymede, that was the cupbearer of Zeus; -and he laughed aloud, for he had won at his playing, but the other was -angry, having lost. And when Aphrodite saw him, she said, "Hast thou -defrauded him, after thy wont, that thou laughest? But come, do now -what I shall tell thee, and thou shalt have a fair plaything of Zeus -that his nurse Adrastea made for him, a ball with two bands of gold -about it; and none can see the seams of it; and when thou throwest it -it will glitter like a star. And the thing is this: that thou make the -maiden daughter of King AEaetes to love Jason; and this thou must do -without delay, or it profiteth nothing." - -Then cried Eros, "Give me the ball straightway." But she caught him in -her arms and kissed him, and said, "I will not deceive thee, only do my -bidding." Then he took up his bow and passed his quiver on his back, -and went his way to the land of Colchis. - -Meanwhile Jason spoke to the heroes, "Hearken now, and I will unfold -my counsel. I will go to the hall of AEaetes, and the sons of Phrixus -with me, and two heroes besides; and first I will make trial of him, -whether he will yield the fleece of gold willingly, for it would be ill -to seek to take it by force till we have seen what words can do." To -this the heroes agreed; wherefore Jason departed, taking with him the -sons of Phrixus, and Telamon and Augeas; and as they went Here threw a -mist about them till they had passed through the city, but when they -came to the palace of the King, then was the mist scattered; and they -stood in the porch marvelling at the things which they saw, even the -mighty gates, and the walls set with pillars, and the cornice of brass -above them. Round about the threshold grew great vines, and under the -vines four fountains that ceased not to flow, whereof one was of milk, -and one of wine, and one of sweet-smelling olive-oil, and of water the -fourth; and the water was hot in the wintertide, and as cold as ice in -the summer. In the midst stood the hall, with chambers on either side, -two chambers being loftier than the rest, in one whereof dwelt the King -and his wife, and in the other Absyrtus his son, whom the Colchians -also called Phaeton, because he excelled all his equals of age. Now -two of the chambers were of the King's daughters, Chalciope and Medea; -and it chanced that Medea was now going to the chamber of her sister. -Meanwhile came Eros unseen through the air, and stood behind a pillar -in the porch, and bent his bow, fitting to it an arrow, the sharpest -of all his quiver. And he came lightly into the hall, following close -upon Jason, and drew his bow with both his hands, and shot the arrow -at Medea, and smote her under the heart. And when he had so done he -laughed, and departed from the palace. Then the servants prepared a -meal for the sons of Phrixus and for Jason. And when they had bathed -they sat down, and ate, and drank, and were merry. - -Jason and the sons of Phrixus having eaten well, the King inquired -of his grandsons, saying, "What brings you back? Did some misfortune -overtake you on your journey? Surely it was not of my bidding that ye -went; for I knew how perilous was the way, having seen it from the -chariot of the Sun, my father, when he took Circe, my sister, to the -land of Hesperia. But tell me now what befell you, and who are these -your companions?" Then Argus made answer, "Our ship was broken and -we scarcely were saved; and as for these men, they gave us food and -raiment, treating us kindly when they heard thy name and the name of -Phrixus our father; and they are come for the fleece of gold, for they -say that the wrath of Zeus may not be turned away from the land of -Greece till this be brought back. Never was such ship as theirs, for -Athene built it; neither can storm break it, and it is swift alike -with sails or with oars; and for a crew it hath all the heroes of the -land of Greece. But their chief thinketh not to take the fleece by -force, but will make thee due return, subduing under thee thy enemies, -the Sauromatae. And if thou wouldst hear his name, know that it is -Jason, grandson to King Cretheus, whose brother was Athamas, father to -Phrixus, and they that are with him are Augeas and Telamon." - -But the King was very wroth when he heard these words, and cried, "Get -you out of my sight! Ye are not come for the fleece, but to spy out the -land, that ye may possess my kingdom. Surely, had ye not eaten at my -table, I had cut out your tongues and lopped your hands." - -Then Telamon was minded to give the King a fierce answer, but Jason -held him back, and spake softly, "'Tis not as thou thinkest, O King; we -do not desire thy kingdom, but are coming at the bidding of the gods. -Also for what we seek we will make thee due recompense, subduing under -thee the Sauromatae, or whomsoever thou wilt." - -Then the King doubted awhile whether he should not fall on them -straightway with the sword, but afterwards spake again, "If ye be in -truth of the race of the gods, I will give you the fleece, for I grudge -nothing to brave men. But first I must make trial of your strength. -There feed in the plain of Ares two bulls, having hoofs of brass and -breathing fire from their nostrils. With these I plough the field of -Ares, four acres and more; and, having ploughed it, I sow it with -seed--not, indeed, with the seed of corn, but with the teeth of a -serpent; and when these have sprung up into armed men, I slay the men -and so finish my harvest. In the morning I yoke the bulls, and in the -evening I rest from my reaping. And if ye will do this, ye shall have -the fleece of gold; but if not, ye shall not have it." - -Then the heroes stood for a while, with their eyes cast upon the -ground, speechless, for they knew not what they should say. But -afterwards Jason spake, "I will do this thing, even if I die for it." -And the King answered, "If ye hold back from the ploughing or the -reaping it shall be the worse for you." Then Jason and his companions -departed from the palace; and Medea looked upon Jason, as he went, -from behind her veil, and loved him. And when he was gone she thought -to herself of his face, and of the garments wherewith he was clothed, -and of the words which he had spoken. But when the heroes were now -without the city, Argus spake to Jason saying, "There is a maiden, -the priestess of Hecate, that is skilled in all manner of witchcraft; -and, if she be willing to help you, ye need not fear this task. Only I -doubt me much whether I shall prevail with her. Nevertheless, if thou -art willing, I will speak with my mother, who is her sister, of the -matter." And Jason said, "Speak to thy mother, if thou wilt; but, if -we must trust in women, there is little hope of our return." Then they -went back to the ship to the rest of the heroes, and told to them the -words of the King. And for a while they sat speechless and sad, for -the thing seemed greater than they could do. But then rose up Peleus, -and cried, "If thou wilt give thyself to this task, son of AEson, it -is well; but if not, and if there be none other of this company that -will adventure upon it, yet will I not shrink from it, for a man can -but die." And Telamon and the sons of Tyndarus, and Meleager the son -of OEneus, said that they would follow him. Then said Argus, "This can -ye do, my friends, if there be no other way. But hearken to me: abide -ye yet in your ship, for there is a maiden in the palace of the King -whom Hecate hath taught to use all the drugs that are in the earth, so -that she can quench fire, and stay winds, and turn the stars from their -courses. Maybe my mother will persuade her that she help you. If this -counsel please you, I will go to her straightway." - -And as he spake, the birds gave a favorable sign, for a dove that fled -from a hawk fell into the bosom of Jason; and the hawk fell upon the -hinder part of the ship. And when Mopsus saw it he prophesied saying, -"Ye must make your supplication to the maiden. Nor do I doubt that she -will hearken to you; for did not Phrixus prophesy that our help should -be in Aphrodite? And did ye not see how the dove that is her bird hath -escaped from death?" And all the heroes gave heed to his words; but -Idas was very wroth, and cried with a terrible voice, "Will ye look at -doves and hawks, and turn back from battle? Out on you, that ye think -to cheat maidens with words, rather than to trust in your spears!" But -Jason said, "We will send Argus as he hath said. Only we will not lie -hidden here, as if we were afraid, but will go forth." So the heroes -brought forth the ship. - -Meanwhile, King AEaetes held a council of the Colchians, to whom he said, -"So soon as the oxen have killed, as surely they will kill, the man -who shall seek to yoke them, then will I burn these fellows with their -ship. For, verily, I had not received Phrixus with hospitality, but -for the commands of Zeus; but as for these robbers, they shall not go -unpunished." - -But while he yet spake, Argus went to the palace to his mother -Chalciope, and besought her that she should persuade her sister Medea -to help the heroes. And this the woman had herself thought to do; only -she feared the anger of her father. And as they talked, it befell that -Medea dreamed a dream, for she had fallen asleep for weariness. And in -her dream she yoked the bulls right easily; but her father would not -fulfil his promise, saying that he had given this task not to maidens -but to men; and hereupon there arose great strife; but she took part -with the strangers, and her parents cried shame upon her. After this -she awoke, and leapt in great fear from her bed, saying to herself, "I -fear me much lest this coming of the heroes should be the beginning of -great sorrows. As for this Jason, let him wed a maiden of his own race; -but I will keep my unmarried state, and abide in my father's house; -yet, if my sister need help for her sons, I will not stand aloof." Then -she made as if she would seek her sister, standing barefoot on the -threshold of her chamber, yet went not, for shame. Thrice she essayed -to go, and thrice she returned, for love drove her on, as shame kept -her back; but one of her maidens spied her, and told the thing to her -sister Chalciope. And Chalciope came to her and took her by the hand, -saying, "Why weepest thou, Medea? Dost thou fear the wrath of thy -father? As for me, would that I had perished before I saw this day!" -And after long silence Medea made answer, speaking craftily, for love -so taught her to speak, "My sister, I am troubled for thy sons, lest -thy father slay them with these strangers; for, verily, I have seen -terrible dreams in my sleep." So she spake, for she would have her -sister pray to her for help for her sons. And when Chalciope heard -these words she cried aloud, "O my sister, I beseech thee by the gods, -and by thy father and mother, that thou help us in our strait. For, -verily, if thou help us not, I will haunt thee as a Fury." Then the two -lifted up their voices together and wept. But at the last Chalciope -said, "Wilt thou not, for my children's sake, give help to this -stranger? Verily, my son Argus is come to beg this thing of me, and he -is even now in my chamber." When Medea heard these words she was glad -at heart, and said, "My sister, I will surely help thy sons, for they -are as brothers to me, and thou as my mother. Wherefore, so soon as it -is dark, I will carry to the temple of Hecate such drugs as shall tame -these oxen." Then Chalciope went to her chamber, and told the tidings -to her son that Medea would help them; but Medea sat alone and lamented -over herself, because she was minded to betray her father to do service -to a stranger. Nor did she sleep when night came and all the world was -at rest, doubting whether she should do this thing or no, and crying, -"Would that Artemis had slain me with her arrows before this stranger -came to the land!" And she rose from her bed, and looked into the chest -wherein her drugs were stored, some being good and some evil. And now -she was minded to take from it some deadly thing that she might end -herewith her troubles, but there came upon her a great horror at death, -for she thought of all the joys that the living possess, but the dead -lose forever; and also, when she regarded her face in the glass, she -seemed to herself fairer to look upon than before. - -But in the morning she arose and adorned herself, and put a white veil -about her head. Then she bade her maidens--twelve she had of like -age with herself--to yoke the mules to her chariot, that she might -go to the temple of Hecate. And while they yoked them, she took from -the chest the medicine that is called the _Medicine of Prometheus_, -wherewith if a man anoint himself, water shall not hurt him, nor fire -burn. This cometh, men say, from a certain flower which grew from the -blood of Prometheus when it dropped from the vulture's beak, and the -flower is of the color saffron, having a root like to flesh that is -newly cut, but the juice of the root is black. Then she climbed into -the chariot, and a maiden stood on either side, but she took the reins -and the whip, and drove the horses through the city, and the other -maidens ran behind, laying their hands on the chariot; and the people -made way before them as they went. - -And when they were come to the temple, Medea said to her maidens, -"Argus and his brethren have besought me to help this stranger in his -task, and I made as if I hearkened to their words. But the thing that I -am minded to do is this: I will give him some medicine indeed, but it -shall not be that which he needs, and we will divide his gifts between -us. And now he cometh to have speech with me; do ye, therefore, depart, -and leave us alone." And the counsel pleased the maidens well. - -Now when Jason went his way to the temple, Argus and Mopsus, the -soothsayer, were with him; and as they went Mopsus heard the speech of -a raven that said, "Verily the prophet is a fool; if he knew what all -men know, will a maid speak kind words to a youth if his companions -be with us?" And Mopsus laughed when he heard it, and spake to Jason -saying, "Go now to the temple of Hecate, and Aphrodite will help thee, -but go alone; and I and Argus will abide where we are." So Jason went -forward, and Medea saw him as he came, very beautiful and bright to -behold, even as the star Sirius, when it riseth from the sea. But when -she saw him her eyes were darkened with fear, and her cheeks burned -with a blush, and her knees failed under her. But when Jason saw how -she was troubled, he spake softly to her: "Fear me not, lady, for I am -not of those who speak the thing that is false; but listen to my words, -and give me this medicine that shall strengthen me for my work, as thou -hast promised to Chalciope, thy sister. Verily thou shalt not miss thy -reward. For thou shalt be famous in the land of Greece; and all the -heroes shall tell of thee, and their wives and mothers, who now sit -lamenting upon the shore for those who are far away. Did not Ariadne -help King Theseus, and the gods loved her for her kindness, making her -a star in the heavens? So shalt thou be loved of the gods, if thou wilt -save this famous company of heroes. And, indeed, thou seemest to be -both wise and of a kindly heart." - -And when the maiden heard these words, she took the medicine from her -bosom and gave it to Jason, who took it with great gladness of heart. -Then spake Medea: "Hear, now, O Prince, what thou must do, so soon as -my father shall give thee the serpent's teeth to sow. Wait till it be -midnight; but have no companion with thee. Then dig a trench that shall -be round of form; and build in it a pile of wood, and slay on it a ewe -sheep, and pour over the sheep a libation of honey to Queen Hecate. -After this, depart from the place, and turn not at any sound, or the -barking of dogs. But in the morning thou shalt anoint thyself with the -medicine; and it shall give thee the strength of the gods. Anoint also -thy spear and thy shield. So the spears of the giants shall not harm -thee, nor the fire that the bulls shall breathe. But remember that -this strength endureth for the day only; wherefore slack not thy hand, -but finish thy work. And I will tell thee another thing that shall be -for thy help. So soon as the giants shall begin to spring up from the -furrows wherein thou shalt have sown the teeth, throw secretly among -them a great stone; and it shall come to pass that they will fall upon -each other and perish by their own hands. So wilt thou carry away the -fleece of gold to the land of Greece, departing when it shall please -thee to go." And when she had spoken these words she wept, thinking -how he would depart and leave her. Then she spake again: "When thou -art come to thy home, remember, I pray thee, Medea, even as I shall -remember thee; and tell me whither thou art minded to go." - -Then Jason made answer, "Surely, lady, I shall not cease to think of -thee if only I return safe to my native country. And if thou wouldst -fain hear what manner of land it is, know that it is girded about -with the hills and feedeth many sheep. The name of him that founded -the kingdom is Deucalion, and the name of the city is Iolcos." And -Medea said, "I would that where thou shalt be there could come some -tidings of thee by bird of the air or the like; or that the winds could -carry me thither, that I may know for a certainty that thou hast not -forgotten me." Then Jason said, "O lady, if thou wilt come to that -land, surely all shall honor thee, and thou shalt be my wife, neither -shall anything but death only divide us twain." And when the maiden -heard these words she stood divided between fear and love. But Jason -said, "Surely now the sun is setting, and it is time to go back, lest -some stranger come upon us." So Medea went back to the city, and Jason -to the heroes, to whom he showed the medicine that the maiden had given -him. And they all rejoiced, save Idas only, who sat apart in great -anger. - -The next day Jason sent Telamon and another to fetch from the King the -serpent's teeth; and the King gave them gladly, for he thought that if -Jason should yoke the oxen, yet he should not overcome the giants in -battle. And when the heroes slept, Jason went alone and did as Medea -had commanded him. And when he had finished the sacrifice he departed; -and Queen Hecate came, and there was a great shaking of the earth and a -barking of dogs. But Jason looked not behind him, but departed to the -heroes. - -On the morrow King AEaetes armed him for the battle, giving him a -breastplate which Ares had given to him, and a helmet of gold with -four crests, and a shield of bull's hide, many folds thick, and a -spear such as none of the others but Hercules only could have borne. -And Jason anointed them with the medicine; which when he had done, all -the heroes made trial of the arms, but did them no damage; and when -Idas smote with his sword on the butt of the spear, it bounded back as -from an anvil. After this he anointed himself with the medicine, and -it was as if his strength had been multiplied tenfold. Afterwards he -took to himself a helmet and a sword, and so went forth to his labor. -And there lay ready to his hand a brazen yoke of the bulls, and a great -plough of iron. Then he fixed his spear in the earth, and laid down his -helmet, but he himself went on with his shield. But when the bulls saw -him, they ran forth from their stalls, and all the heroes trembled to -behold them; but Jason stood firm, holding his shield before him. And -the bulls drave their horns against the shield, but harmed him not. -And though they breathed fire from their nostrils, for all this the -medicine of Medea kept him safe. Then he took hold of the right-hand -bull by the horns, and dragged it down to the yoke, and, kicking its -hoof from under it, so brought it to the ground; and in like manner -dealt with the other. And the King marvelled at his strength. Then the -heroes helped him with the fastening of the bulls to the plough, for so -much was permitted to him. Then he put his shield upon his shoulders -and took the serpent's teeth, a helmet full, and drave the bulls before -him, which went with a horrible bellowing; and as he made the furrow he -threw the teeth into it. Now when the day was a third part spent he had -finished the ploughing; and he loosed the bulls and went back to the -ship, for as yet there had sprung nothing from the furrows. And he took -of the water of the river in his helmet and drank, and while he drank -the giants sprang up from the furrows. - -Then Jason remembered the words of Medea, and took from the earth a -great round stone--of such bigness it was that four youths could not -lift it--and cast it into the midst of the giants. And straightway they -fell upon each other with great rage, and Jason sat behind his shield -and watched. But when they had been now fighting among themselves for a -long while, and many were wounded and many dead, Jason drew his sword -and ran among them till he had slain them all. So he finished his work -that day; but the King and his people returned, sad at heart, to the -city. - -All that night the King sat with his nobles, meditating harm against -Jason and the heroes; for he knew that the thing had been done by -craft, and also that his daughter was concerned in the matter. And -Medea also sat grievously troubled in her chamber, fearing the wrath of -her father; and ofttime she thought that she had best kill herself with -poison. But at last Here put it into her heart that she should flee, -taking the sons of Phrixus for companions. Then she arose from her bed, -and took the medicines that she had from their chest, and hid them in -her bosom. - -And she kissed her bed and the posts of her chamber doors and the -walls. Also she cut off a long lock of her hair, to be a memorial -of her to her mother. And when she had done this, she cried with a -lamentable voice, "Farewell, my mother, and thou, Chalciope, my sister! -Would that this stranger had perished before he came to the land of the -Colchians!" Then she went out from the house, the great gates opening -before her of their own accord, for she had anointed them with a mighty -drug; and, being come into the street, she ran very swiftly, holding -her robe over her head, till she saw the light of the fires where the -heroes sat feasting all the night in the joy of the victory that Jason -had won. Then she came near, and, lifting up her voice, cried to the -youngest of the sons of Phrixus, whose name was Phrontis. And Phrontis -heard her, and knew the voice that it was the voice of Medea, and told -the thing to Jason. Then Jason bade the heroes be silent; and they -listened. Thrice she cried, and thrice did Phrontis answer her. And the -heroes loosed the ship and rowed it across the river; but ere ever it -came to the other shore, Jason and the sons of Phrixus leapt from the -deck on to the land. - -And when Medea saw the brothers, she ran to them, and caught them by -the knees, and cried to them, "Save me now from King AEaetes! yea, and -save yourselves also, for all things are now known to him. Let us -fly hence in the ship, before he come upon us with a great army. But -first I will give the fleece into your hands, having laid to sleep the -dragon that guardeth it. But do thou, Prince Jason, do as thou didst -promise, calling the gods to witness." And Jason was glad when he saw -her, and took her by the hand, and lifted her up, and spake kindly to -her, saying, "Dearest of women, now may Zeus and Here his wife, that -is the goddess of marriage, be my witnesses that I will take thee to -wife as soon as we shall have returned to the land of Greece." Then he -bade the heroes row the ship to the sacred grove, for he was minded -to take away the fleece that very night, before the King should know -of the matter. Then the heroes rowed; and the _Argo_ passed quickly -over the waves till they came to the grove. Then Medea and Jason went -forth from the ship, and followed the path, seeking for the great bush -whereon the fleece was hung. And in no long space they found it; for -it was like a cloud which the shining of the sun makes bright when he -riseth in the East. But before the tree there lay a great serpent, with -eyes that slept not night nor day. Horribly did it hiss as they came. -But Medea cried aloud to Sleep, that is mightiest among the servants -of the gods, that he should help her. Also she called to the Queen of -Night, that their undertaking might prosper in their hands. And now the -great serpent, being wrought upon by her charms, began to unloose his -folds; yet his head was lifted up against them, and his dreadful jaws -were opened. Therefore Medea took a bough that she had newly cut from a -juniper tree, and put a mighty medicine upon it, and dropped the drops -of the medicine into his mouth, singing her charms all the while. Then -sleep came upon the beast, and he dropped his head upon the ground. -When Jason saw this, he snatched the fleece of gold from the tree, for -Medea had bidden him do it and delay not; but she stood the while and -put the medicine on the head of the beast, fearing lest perchance he -should awake. After this they both departed from the grove; and Jason -carried the fleece with great gladness of heart. A mighty fleece -it was, hanging down from his shoulders even to his feet. And as he -went the day dawned. And when he was come near to the ship the heroes -marvelled to behold him, for the fleece was very bright to look upon. -But when they would have touched it, Jason hindered them, and covered -it with a covering which he had prepared for it. - -Then Jason said to his companions, "Come now, my friends; we have -accomplished this thing for the which we came to this land. Let us -think, therefore, of our return. As to this maiden, I will take her -to be my wife in the land of Greece. But do you remember that she has -saved all our lives this day. Row, therefore, with all your might, -the half of you; and let half hold forth your shields to be a defence -against the spears of our enemies, if they should come upon us. For as -ye shall quit yourselves this day, so shall it be whether or no we see -again our native country and our homes." Then he cut with his sword the -cable of the ship; bidding the maiden sit by the helmsman Ancaeus. Then -the heroes rowed with all their might, and were far away before the -King had knowledge of their going. - -Many things they suffered in their journey, and many lands they -visited, for the gods suffered them not to return by the way by which -they went, and some of them perished; but at the last they brought back -the ship _Argo_ to the land of Greece, and the Fleece of Gold for which -Pelias had sent them. And when they were returned, Prince Jason took -Medea to be his wife. - - - - -THE - -STORY OF THEBES. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - -It befell in times past that the Gods, being angry with the inhabitants -of Thebes, sent into their land a very noisome beast which men called -the Sphinx. Now this beast had the face and breast of a very fair -woman, but the feet and claws of a lion; and it was wont to ask a -riddle of such as encountered it; and such as answered not aright it -would tear and devour. Now when it had laid waste the land many days, -there chanced to come to Thebes one OEdipus, who had fled from the city -of Corinth that he might escape the doom which the Gods had spoken -against him. And the men of the place told him of the Sphinx, how she -cruelly devoured the people, and that he who should deliver them from -her should have the kingdom. So OEdipus, being very bold, and also ready -of wit, went forth to meet the monster. And when she saw him she spake, -saying:-- - - "Read me this riddle right, or die: - What liveth there beneath the sky, - Four-footed creature that doth choose - Now three feet and now twain to use. - And still more feebly o'er the plain - Walketh with three feet than with twain?" - -And OEdipus made reply:-- - - "'Tis man, who in life's early day - Four-footed crawleth on his way; - When time hath made his strength complete, - Upright his form and twain his feet; - When age hath bowed him to the ground, - A third foot in his staff is found." - -And when the Sphinx found that her riddle was answered, she cast -herself from a high rock and perished. Now for a while OEdipus reigned -in great power and glory; but afterwards his doom came upon him, so -that in his madness he put out his own eyes. Then his two sons cast him -into prison, and took his kingdom, making agreement between themselves -that each should reign for the space of one year. And the elder of the -two, whose name was Eteocles, first had the kingdom; but when his year -was come to an end, he would not abide by his promise, but kept that -which he should have given up, and drave out his younger brother from -the city. Then the younger, whose name was Polynices, fled to Argos, to -King Adrastus. And after a while he married the daughter of the King, -who made a covenant with him that he would bring him back with a high -hand to Thebes, and set him on the throne of his father. Then the King -sent messengers to certain of the princes of Greece, entreating that -they would help in this matter. And of these some would not, but others -hearkened to his words, so that a great army was gathered together, -and followed the King and Polynices to make war against Thebes. So -they came and pitched their camp over against the city. And after that -they had fought against it many days, and yet had prevailed nothing, -Adrastus held a council of the chiefs, and it was agreed that next day, -early in the morning, they should assault the city with all their -might. And when the morning was come the chiefs were gathered together, -being seven in number. And first of all they slew a bull, and caught -the blood of the beast in the hollow of a shield, into which they -dipped their hands, and sware a great oath that they would take the -city of Thebes or die. And having sworn, they hung upon the chariot of -Adrastus what should be memorials of them, each for his own father and -mother, all weeping the while. After this they cast lots for the places -which they should take, for there were seven gates to the city, that -each chief might assault a gate. - -But their purpose was known to the King, Eteocles, for he had heard the -whole matter from Tiresias, the wise seer, who told beforehand all that -should come to pass, discovering it from the voice of birds; for, being -blind he could not judge from their flight, or from the tokens of fire, -as other soothsayers are wont. Wherefore the King gathered together -all that could bear arms, even youths not grown, and old men that were -waxed feeble with age, and bade them fight for the land, for "she," he -said, "gave you birth and reared you, and now asketh that ye help her -in this her need. And though hitherto we have fared well in this war, -know ye for certain, for Tiresias the soothsayer hath said it, that -there cometh a great danger this day upon the city. Wherefore haste ye -to the battlements, and to the towers that are upon the walls, and take -your stand in the gates, and be of good courage, and quit you like men." - -And as he made an end of speaking there ran in one who declared that -even now the enemy was about to assault the city. And after him came a -troop of maidens of Thebes, crying out that the enemy had come forth -from the camp, and that they heard the tramp of many feet upon the -earth, and the rattling of shields, and the noise of many spears. And -they lifted up their voices to the Gods that they should help the -city, to Ares, the God of the Golden Helmet, that he should defend the -land which in truth was his from old time, and to Father Zeus, and to -Pallas, who was the daughter of Zeus, and to Poseidon, the great ruler -of the sea, and to Aphrodite the Fair, for that she was the mother -of their race, and to Apollo, the Wolf-king, that he would be as a -devouring wolf to the enemy, and to Artemis, that she should bend her -bow against them, and to Here, the Queen of Heaven, even to all the -dwellers in Olympus, that they should defend the city, and save it. - -But the King was very wroth when he heard this outcry, and cried, -"Think ye to make bold the hearts of our men by these lamentations? -Now may the Gods save me from this race of women; for if they be bold -no man can endure their insolence, and if they be afraid they vex -both their home and their country. Even so now do ye help them that -are without and trouble your own people. But hearken to this. He that -heareth not my command, be he man or woman, the people shall stone him. -Speak I plainly?" - -"But, O son of OEdipus," the maidens made reply, "we hear the rolling of -the chariot wheels, and the rattling of the axles, and the jingling of -the bridle reins." - -"What then?" said the King, "if the ship labor in the sea, and the -helmsman leave the helm and fly to the prow that he may pray before the -image, doeth he well?" - -"Nay, blame us not that we came to beseech the Gods when we heard the -hailstorm of war rattling on the gates." - -"'Tis well," cried the King, "yet men say that the Gods leave the city -that is at the point to fall. And mark ye this, that safety is the -child of obedience. But as for duty, 'tis for men to do sacrifice to -the Gods, and for women to keep silence and to abide at home." - -But the maidens made reply, "'Tis the Gods who keep this city, nor do -they transgress who reverence them." - -"Yea, but let them reverence them in due order. And now hearken to me. -Keep ye silence. And when I have made my prayer, raise ye a joyful -shout that shall gladden the hearts of our friends and put away all -fear from them. And to the Gods that keep this city I vow that if they -give us victory in this war I will sacrifice to them sheep and oxen, -and will hang up in their houses the spoils of the enemy. And now, ye -maidens, do ye also make your prayers, but not with vain clamor. And -I will choose seven men, being myself the seventh, who shall meet the -seven that come against the gates of our city." - -Then the King departed, and the maidens made their prayer after this -fashion: "My heart feareth as a dove feareth the serpent for her young -ones, so cruelly doth the enemy come about this city to destroy it! -Shall ye find elsewhere as fair a land, ye Gods, if ye suffer this to -be laid waste, or streams as sweet? Help us then, for indeed it is a -grievous thing when men take a city; for the women, old and young, are -dragged by the hair, and the men are slain with the sword, and there -is slaughter and burning, while they that plunder cry each man to his -comrade, and the fruits of the earth are wasted upon the ground; nor is -there any hope but in death." - -And as they made an end, the King came back, and at the same time a -messenger bringing tidings of the battle, how the seven chiefs had -ranged themselves each against a gate of the city. And the man's story -was this. - -"First Tydeus, the AEtolian, standeth in great fury at the gate of -Proetus. Very wroth is he because the soothsayer, Amphiaraues, suffereth -him not to cross the Ismenus, for that the omens promise not victory. -A triple crest he hath, and there are bells of bronze under his shield -which ring terribly. And on his shield he hath this device: the heaven -studded with stars, and in the midst the mightiest of the stars, the -eye of night, even the moon. Whom, O King, wilt thou set against this -man?" - -Then the King made reply, "I tremble not at any man's adorning, and a -device woundeth not. And, indeed, as for the night that thou tellest -to be on his shield, haply it signifieth the night of death that shall -fall upon his eyes. Over against him will I set the son of Astacus, a -brave man and a modest. Also he is of the race of the Dragon's Teeth, -and men call him Melanippus." - -And the messenger said, "Heaven send him good fortune! At the gate of -Electra standeth Capaneus, a man of great stature, and his boastings -are above all measure, for he crieth out that he will destroy this city -whether the Gods will or no, and that Zeus with his thunder shall not -stay him, for that the thunder is but as the sun at noon. And on his -shield he hath a man bearing a torch, and these words, 'I WILL BURN -THIS CITY.' Who now shall stand against this boaster and fear not?" - -Then the King said, "His boastings I heed not. They shall turn to his -own destruction. For as he sendeth out swelling words against Zeus, -so shall Zeus send against him the thunder, smiting him, but not of a -truth as the sun smiteth. Him shall Polyphantus encounter, a valiant -man and dear to Queen Artemis." - -"He that is set against the gate of Neis is called Eteoclus by name. He -driveth a chariot with four horses, in whose nostrils are pipes making -a whistling noise, after the fashion of barbarians. And on his shield -he hath this device: a man mounting a ladder that is set against a -tower upon a wall, and with it these words, 'NOT ARES' SELF SHALL DRIVE -ME HENCE.' See that thou set a fit warrior against him." - -"Megarius, son of Creon, of the race of the Dragon, shall fight against -him, who will not leave the gate for any whistling noise of horses; for -either he will die as a brave man dieth for his country, or will take a -double spoil, even this boaster and him also that he beareth upon his -shield." - -"At the next gate to this, even the gate of Athene, standeth -Hippomedon. A great shield and a terrible he hath, and on it this -device, which no mean workman hath wrought: Typhon breathing out a -great blast of black smoke, and all about it serpents twined together. -And the man also is terrible as his shield, and seemeth to be inspired -of Ares. Whom wilt thou set against this man, O King?" - -"First shall Pallas stand against him and drive him from this city, -even as bird driveth a snake from her young ones. And next I have set -Hyperbius, son of OEneus, to encounter him, being inferior neither in -form nor courage, nor yet in skill of arms, and also dear to Hermes. -Enemies shall they be, bearing also on their shields gods that are -enemies, for Hippomedon hath Typhon, but Hyperbius hath Zeus; and even -as Zeus prevailed over Typhon, so also shall Hyperbius prevail over -this man." - -"So be it, O King. Know also that at the north gate is set Parthenopaeus -the Arcadian. Very young is he, and fair also to behold, and his mother -was the huntress Atalanta. This man sweareth by his spear, which he -holdeth to be better than all the gods whatsoever, that he will lay -waste this city. And on his shield he beareth a device, the Sphinx, -which holdeth in her claws one of the sons of Cadmus." - -"Against this Arcadian will I set Actor, brother to Hyperbius, no -boaster but a man of deeds, who will not let this hateful monster, the -Sphinx, pass thus into the city; but will rather make it ill content to -have come hither, so many and fierce blows shall he deal it." - -"Hear now of the sixth among the chiefs, the wise soothsayer, -Amphiaraues. Ill pleased is he with these things, for against Tydeus he -uttereth many reproaches, that he is an evil counsellor to Argos and -to King Adrastus, stirring up strife and slaughter. And to thy brother -also he speaketh in like fashion, saying, 'Is this a thing that the -Gods love, and that men shall praise in the days to come, that thou -bringest a host of strangers to lay waste the city of thy fathers? -Shall this land, if thou subduest it by the spear of the enemy, ever -make alliance with thee? As for me I shall fall in this land, for am I -not a seer? Be it so. I shall not die without honor!' No device hath -this man on his shield, for he seeketh not to seem, but to be in very -deed most excellent. Thou must need send some wise man to stand against -him." - -"It is an ill fate that bringeth a just man into company with the -wicked. And of a truth there is not a worse thing upon the earth than -ill companionship, wherein the sowing is madness and the harvest is -death. For thus a godfearing man being on shipboard with godless -companions perisheth with them; and one that is righteous, if he dwell -in one city with the wicked, is destroyed with the same destruction. -So shall it fare with this Amphiaraues; for though he be a good man -and righteous, and that feareth God, yet shall he perish because he -beareth these boasters company. And I think that he will not come near -to the gates, so well knoweth he what shall befall him. Yet have I set -Lasthenes to stand against him, young in years but old in counsel, -very keen of eye, and swift of hand to cast his javelin from under his -shield." - -"And now, O King, hear how thy brother beareth himself, for he it is -who standeth yonder at the seventh gate. For he crieth aloud that he -will climb upon the wall and slay thee, even though he die with thee, -or drive thee forth into banishment, even as thou, he saith, hast -driven him. And on his shield there is this device: a woman leading an -armed man, and while she leadeth him she saith, 'I AM JUSTICE, AND I -WILL BRING BACK THIS MAN TO THE KINGDOM WHICH IS HIS OF RIGHT.'" - -But when the King heard this he brake forth in much fury, "Now will -the curse of this house be fulfilled to the uttermost. Yet must I not -bewail myself, lest there should fall upon us an evil that is yet -greater than this. And as for this Polynices, thinketh he that signs -and devices will give him that which he coveteth? Thinketh he that -Justice is on his side? Nay, but from the day that he came forth from -the womb he hath had no converse with her, neither will she stand by -him this day. I will fight against him. Who more fit than I? Bring -forth my armor that I may make ready." - -And though the maidens entreated with many words that he would not do -this thing, but leave the place to some other of the chiefs, saying -that there was no healing or remedy for a brother's blood shed in such -fashion, he would not hearken, but armed himself and went forth to the -battle. Thus ever doth the madness of men work out to the full the -curses of the Gods. - -Then the battle grew fierce about the wall, and the men of Thebes -prevailed. For when Parthenopaeus the Arcadian fell like a whirlwind -upon the gate that was over against him, Actor the Theban smote him -on the head with a great stone, and brake his head, so that he fell -dead upon the ground. And when Capaneus assaulted the city, crying -that not even the Gods should stay him, there came upon him the wrath -which he defied; for when he had mounted the ladder and was now about -to leap upon the battlements, Zeus smote him with the thunderbolt, -and there was no life left in him, so fierce was the burning heat of -the lightning. But the chiefest fight was between the two brothers; -and this, indeed, the two armies stood apart to see. For the two came -together in an open space before the gates; and first Polynices prayed -to Here, for she was the goddess of the great city of Argos, which -had helped him in this enterprise, and Eteocles prayed to Pallas of -the Golden Shield, whose temple stood hard by. Then they crouched, -each covered with his shield, and holding his spear in his hand, if by -chance his enemy should give occasion to smite him; and if one showed -so much as an eye above the rim of his shield the other would strike -at him. But after a while King Eteocles slipped upon a stone that was -under his foot, and uncovered his leg, at which straightway Polynices -took aim with his spear, piercing the skin. And the men of Argos -shouted to see it. But so doing he laid his own shoulder bare, and King -Eteocles gave him a wound in the breast; and then the men of Thebes -shouted for joy. But he brake his spear in striking, and would have -fared ill but that with a great stone he smote the spear of Polynices, -and brake this also in the middle. And now were the two equal, for -each had lost his spear. So they drew their swords and came yet -closer together. But Eteocles used a device which he had learnt in the -land of Thessaly; for he drew his left foot back, as if he would have -ceased from the battle, and then of a sudden moved the right forward; -and so smiting sideways, drave his sword right through the body of -Polynices. But when, thinking that he had slain him, he set his weapons -in the earth, and began to spoil him of his arms, the other, for he -yet breathed a little, laid his hand upon his sword, and though he had -scarce strength to smite, yet gave the King a mortal blow, so that the -two lay dead together on the plain. And the men of Thebes lifted up the -bodies of the dead, and bare them both into the city. - -So was the doom of the house of OEdipus accomplished; and yet not all, -as shall now be told. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -When the two brothers, the sons of King OEdipus, had fallen each by the -hand of the other, the kingdom fell to Creon their uncle. For not only -was he the next of kin to the dead, but also the people held him in -great honor because his son Menoeceus had offered himself with a willing -heart that he might deliver his city from captivity. Now when Creon -was come to the throne, he made a proclamation about the two Princes, -commanding that they should bury Eteocles with all honor, seeing that -he died as beseemed a good man and a brave, doing battle for his -country, that it should not be delivered into the hands of the enemy; -but as for Polynices he bade them leave his body to be devoured by the -fowls of the air and the beasts of the field, because he had joined -himself to the enemy, and would have beaten down the walls of the -city, and burned the temples of the Gods with fire, and led the people -captive. Also he commanded that if any man should break this decree he -should suffer death by stoning. - -Now Antigone, who was sister to the two Princes, heard that the decree -had gone forth, and chancing to meet her sister Ismene before the gates -of the palace, spake to her, saying, "O my sister, hast thou heard this -decree that the King hath put forth concerning our brethren that are -dead?" - -Then Ismene made answer, "I have heard nothing, my sister, only that we -are bereaved of both of our brethren in one day, and that the army of -the Argives is departed in this night that is now past. So much I know, -but no more." - -"Hearken then. King Creon hath made a proclamation that they shall bury -Eteocles with all honor; but that Polynices shall lie unburied, that -the birds of the air and the beasts of the field may devour him, and -that whosoever shall break this decree shall suffer death by stoning." - -"But if it be so, my sister, how can we avail to change it?" - -"Think whether or no thou wilt share with me the doing of this deed." - -"What deed? What meanest thou?" - -"To pay due honor to this dead corpse." - -"What? Wilt thou bury him when the King hath forbidden it?" - -"Yea, for he is my brother and also thine, though perchance thou -wouldst not have it so. And I will not play him false." - -"O my sister, wilt thou do this when Creon hath forbidden it?" - -"Why should he stand between me and mine?" - -"But think now what sorrows are come upon our house. For our father -perished miserably, having first put out his own eyes; and our mother -hanged herself with her own hands; and our two brothers fell in one -day, each by the other's spear; and now we two only are left. And shall -we not fall into a worse destruction than any if we transgress these -commands of the King. Think, too, that we are women and not men, and -must of necessity obey them that are stronger. Wherefore, as for me, I -will pray the dead to pardon me, seeing that I am thus constrained; but -I will obey them that rule." - -"I advise thee not, and if thou thinkest thus I would not have thee for -helper. But know that I will bury my brother, nor could I better die -than for doing such a deed. For as he loved me, so also do I love him -greatly. And shall not I do pleasure to the dead rather than to the -living, seeing that I shall abide with the dead forever? But thou, if -thou wilt, do dishonor to the laws of the Gods." - -"I dishonor them not. Only I cannot set myself against the powers that -be." - -"So be it: but I will bury my brother." - -"O my sister, how I fear for thee!" - -"Fear for thyself. Thine own lot needeth all thy care." - -"Thou wilt at least keep thy counsel, nor tell the thing to any man." - -"Not so: hide it not. I shall scorn thee more if thou proclaim it not -aloud to all." - -So Antigone departed; and after a while came to the same place King -Creon, clad in his royal robes, and with his sceptre in his hand, -and set forth his counsel to the elders who were assembled, how he -had dealt with the two Princes according to their deserving, giving -all honor to him that loved his country, and casting forth the other -unburied. And he bade them take care that this decree should be kept, -saying that he had also appointed certain men to watch the dead body. - -But he had scarcely left speaking when there came one of these same -watchers and said, "I have not come hither in haste, O King; nay, I -doubted much while I was yet on the way whether I should not turn -again. For now I thought, 'Fool, why goest thou where thou shalt -suffer for it;' and then again, 'Fool, the King will hear the matter -elsewhere, and then how wilt thou fare?' But at the last I came as I -had purposed, for I know that nothing may happen to me contrary to -fate." - -"But say," said the King, "what troubles thee so much?" - -"First hear my case. I did not the thing, and know not who did it, and -it were a grievous wrong should I fall into trouble for such a cause." - -"Thou makest a long preface excusing thyself, but yet hast, as I judge, -something to tell." - -"Fear, my lord, ever causeth delay." - -"Wilt thou not speak out thy news and then begone?" - -"I will speak it. Know then that some man hath thrown dust upon this -dead corpse, and done besides such things as are needful." - -"What sayest thou? Who hath dared to do this deed?" - -"That I know not, for there was no mark as of spade or pickaxe; nor was -the earth broken, nor had wagon passed thereon. We were sore dismayed -when the watchman showed the thing to us; for the body we could not -see. Buried indeed it was not, but rather covered with dust. Nor was -there any sign as of wild beast or of dog that had torn it. Then there -arose a contention among us, each blaming the other, and accusing his -fellows, and himself denying that he had done the deed or was privy -to it. And doubtless we had fallen to blows but that one spake a word -which made us all tremble for fear, knowing that it must be as he said. -For he said that the thing must be told to thee, and in no wise hidden. -So we drew lots, and by evil chance the lot fell upon me. Wherefore -I am here, not willingly, for no man loveth him that bringeth ill -tidings." - -Then said the chief of the old men, "Consider, O King, for haply this -thing is from the Gods." - -But the King cried, "Thinkest thou that the Gods care for such an one -as this dead man, who would have burnt their temples with fire, and -laid waste the land which they love, and set at naught the laws? Not -so. But there are men in this city who have long time had ill will to -me, not bowing their necks to my yoke; and they have persuaded these -fellows with money to do this thing. Surely there never was so evil a -thing as money, which maketh cities into ruinous heaps, and banisheth -men from their houses, and turneth their thoughts from good unto evil. -But as for them that have done this deed for hire, of a truth they -shall not escape, for I say to thee, fellow, if ye bring not here -before my eyes the man that did this thing, I will hang you up alive. -So shall ye learn that ill gains bring no profit to a man." - -So the guard departed; but as he went he said to himself, "Now may the -Gods grant the man be found; but however this may be, thou shalt not -see me come again on such errand as this, for even now have I escaped -beyond all hope." Notwithstanding, after a space he came back with one -of his fellows; and they brought with them the maiden Antigone, with -her hands bound together. And it chanced that at the same time King -Creon came forth from the palace. Then the guard set forth the thing -to him, saying, "We cleared away the dust from the dead body, and sat -watching it. And when it was now noon, and the sun was at his height, -there came a whirlwind over the plain, driving a great cloud of dust. -And when this had passed, we looked, and lo! this maiden whom we have -brought hither stood by the dead corpse. And when she saw that it lay -bare as before, she sent up an exceeding bitter cry, even as a bird -whose young ones have been taken from the nest. Then she cursed them -that had done this deed; and brought dust and sprinkled it upon the -dead man, and poured water upon him three times. Then we ran and laid -hold upon her, and accused her that she had done this deed; and she -denied it not. But as for me, 'tis well to have escaped from death, -but it is ill to bring friends into the same. Yet I hold that there is -nothing dearer to a man than his life." - -Then said the King to Antigone, "Tell me in a word, didst thou know my -decree?" - -"I knew it. Was it not plainly declared?" - -"How daredst thou to transgress the laws?" - -"Zeus made not such laws, nor Justice that dwelleth with the Gods -below. I judged not that thy decrees had such authority that a man -should transgress for them the unwritten sure commandments of the Gods. -For these, indeed, are not of to-day or yesterday, but they live for -ever, and their beginning no man knoweth. Should I, for fear of thee, -be found guilty against them? That I should die I knew. Why not? All -men must die. And if I die before my time, what loss? He who liveth -among many sorrows, even as I have lived, counteth it gain to die. But -had I left my own mother's son unburied, this had been loss indeed." - -Then said the King, "Such stubborn thoughts have a speedy fall, and -are shivered even as the iron that hath been made hard in the furnace. -And as for this woman and her sister,--for I judge her sister to have -had a part in this matter,--though they were nearer to me than all my -kindred, yet shall they not escape the doom of death. Wherefore let -some one bring the other woman hither." - -And while they went to fetch the maiden Ismene, Antigone said to the -King, "Is it not enough for thee to slay me? What need to say more? For -thy words please me not nor mine thee. Yet what nobler thing could I -have done than to bury my own mother's son? And so would all men say -but fear shutteth their mouths." - -"Nay," said the King, "none of the children of Cadmus thinketh thus, -but thou only. But, hold, was not he that fell in battle with this man -thy brother also?" - -"Yes, truly, my brother he was." - -"And dost thou not dishonor him when thou honorest his enemy?" - -"The dead man would not say it, could he speak." - -"Shall then the wicked have like honor with the good?" - -"How knowest thou but that such honor pleaseth the Gods below?" - -"I have no love for them I hate, though they be dead." - -"Of hating I know nothing; 'tis enough for me to love." - -"If thou wilt love, go love the dead. But while I live no woman shall -rule me." - -Then those that had been sent to fetch the maiden Ismene brought her -forth from the palace. And when the King accused her that she had been -privy to the deed, she denied not, but would have shared one lot with -her sister. But Antigone turned from her, saying, "Not so; thou hast no -part or lot in the matter. For thou hast chosen life, and I have chosen -death; and even so shall it be." And when Ismene saw that she prevailed -nothing with her sister, she turned to the King and said, "Wilt thou -slay the bride of thy son?" - -"Aye," said he, "there are other brides to win!" - -"But none," she made reply, "that accord so well with him." - -"I will have no evil wives for my sons," said the King. - -Then cried Antigone, "O Haemon, whom I love, how thy father wrongeth -thee!" - -Then the King bade the guards lead the two into the palace. But -scarcely had they gone when there came to the palace the Prince Haemon, -the King's son, who was betrothed to the maiden Antigone. And when the -King saw him, he said, "Art thou content, my son, with thy father's -judgment?" - -And the young man answered, "My father, I would follow thy counsels in -all things." - -Then said the King, "'Tis well spoken, my son. This is a thing to -be desired, that a man should have obedient children. But if it be -otherwise with a man, he hath gotten great trouble for himself, and -maketh sport for them that hate him. And now as to this matter. There -is nought worse than an evil wife. Wherefore I say, let this damsel -wed a bridegroom among the dead. For since I have found her, alone of -all this people, breaking my decree, surely she shall die. Nor shall -it profit her to claim kinship with me, for he that would rule a city -must first deal justly with his own kindred. And as for obedience, -this it is that maketh a city to stand both in peace and in war!" - -To this the Prince Haemon made answer, "What thou sayest, my father, -I do not judge. Yet bethink thee, that I see and hear on thy behalf -what is hidden from thee. For common men cannot abide thy look if they -say that which pleaseth thee not. Yet do I hear it in secret. Know -then that all the city mourneth for this maiden, saying that she dieth -wrongfully for a very noble deed, in that she buried her brother. And -'tis well, my father, not to be wholly set on thy own thoughts, but -listen to the counsels of others." - -"Nay," said the King; "shall I be taught by such an one as thou?" - -"I pray thee regard my words, if they be well, and not my years." - -"Can it be well to honor them that transgress? And hath not this woman -transgressed?" - -"The people of this city judgeth not so." - -"The people, sayest thou! Is it for them to rule, or for me?" - -"No city is the possession of one man only." - -So the two answered one the other, and their anger waxed hot. And at -the last the King cried, "Bring this accursed woman, and slay her -before his eyes." - -And the Prince answered, "That thou shalt never do. And know this also, -that thou shalt never see my face again." - -So he went away in a rage; and the old men would have appeased the -King's wrath, but he would not hearken to them, but said that the two -maidens should die. "Wilt thou then slay them both?" said the old men. - -"'Tis well said," the King made answer. "Her that meddled not with the -matter I harm not." - -"And how wilt thou deal with the other?" - -"There is a desolate place, and there I will shut her up alive in a -sepulchre; yet giving her so much of food as shall quit us of guilt -in the matter, for I would not have the city defiled. There let her -persuade Death, whom she loveth so much, that he harm her not." - -So the guards led Antigone away to shut her up alive in the sepulchre. -But scarcely had they departed when there came the old prophet -Tiresias, seeking the King. Blind he was, so that a boy led him by the -hand; but the Gods had given him to see things to come. And when the -King saw him he asked, "What seekest thou, wisest of men?" - -Then the prophet answered, "Hearken, O King, and I will tell thee. I -sat in my seat, after my custom, in the place whither all manner of -birds resort. And as I sat I heard a cry of birds that I knew not, -very strange and full of wrath. And I knew that they tare and slew -each other, for I heard the fierce flapping of their wings. And being -afraid, I made inquiry about the fire, how it burned upon the altars. -And this boy, for as I am a guide to others so he guideth me, told -me that it shone not at all, but smouldered and was dull, and that -the flesh which was burnt upon the altar spluttered in the flame, and -wasted away into corruption and filthiness. And now I tell thee, O -King, that the city is troubled by thy ill counsels. For the dogs and -the birds of the air tear the flesh of this dead son of OEdipus, whom -thou sufferest not to have due burial, and carry it to the altars, -polluting them therewith. Wherefore the Gods receive not from us prayer -or sacrifice; and the cry of the birds hath an evil sound, for they -are full of the flesh of a man. Therefore I bid thee be wise in time. -For all men may err; but he that keepeth not his folly, but repenteth, -doeth well; but stubbornness cometh to great trouble." - -Then the King answered, "Old man, I know the race of prophets full -well, how ye sell your art for gold. But, make thy trade as thou wilt, -this man shall not have burial; yea, though the eagles of Zeus carry -his flesh to their master's throne in heaven, he shall not have it." - -And when the prophet spake again, entreating him, and warning, the -King answered him after the same fashion, that he spake not honestly, -but had sold his art for money. But at the last the prophet spake in -great wrath, saying, "Know, O King, that before many days shall pass, -thou shalt pay a life for a life, even one of thine own children, for -them with whom thou hast dealt unrighteously, shutting up the living -with the dead, and keeping the dead from them to whom they belong. -Therefore the Furies lie in wait for thee, and thou shalt see whether -or no I speak these things for money. For there shall be mourning and -lamentation in thine own house; and against thy people shall be stirred -up all the cities, whose sons thou hast made to lie unburied. And now, -my child, lead me home, and let this man rage against them that are -younger than I." - -So the prophet departed, and the old men were sore afraid, and said, -"He hath spoken terrible things, O King; nor ever since these gray -hairs were black have we known him say that which was false." - -"Even so," said the King, "and I am troubled in heart, and yet am loath -to depart from my purpose." - -"King Creon," said the old men, "thou needest good counsel." - -"What, then, would ye have done?" - -"Set free the maiden from the sepulchre, and give this dead man burial." - -Then the King cried to his people that they should bring bars wherewith -to loosen the doors of the sepulchre, and hasted with them to the -place. But coming on their way to the body of Prince Polynices, they -took it up, and washed it, and buried that which remained of it, and -raised over the ashes a great mound of earth. And this being done, they -drew near to the place of the sepulchre; and as they approached, the -King heard within a very piteous voice, and knew it for the voice of -his son. Then he bade his attendants loose the door with all speed; and -when they had loosed it, they beheld within a very piteous sight. For -the maiden Antigone had hanged herself by the girdle of linen which -she wore, and the young man Prince Haemon stood with his arms about her -dead corpse, embracing it. And when the King saw him, he cried to him -to come forth; but the Prince glared fiercely upon him, and answered -him not a word, but drew his two-edged sword. Then the King, thinking -that his son was minded in his madness to slay him, leapt back, but -the Prince drave the sword into his own heart, and fell forward on the -earth, still holding the dead maiden in his arms. And when they brought -the tidings of these things to Queen Eurydice, that was the wife of -King Creon and mother to the Prince, she could not endure the grief, -being thus bereaved of her children, but laid hold of a sword, and slew -herself therewith. - -So the house of King Creon was left desolate unto him that day, because -he despised the ordinances of the Gods. - - - - -THE - -STORY OF TROY. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - -Prince Paris that was son to Priam, King of Troy, carried away the -Fair Helen, wife of Menelaues, King of Sparta. Now all the kings and -princes of Greece had bound themselves by an oath that they would -avenge Menelaues on any man that should rob him of his wife. But first -of all they sent ambassadors to Troy, who should demand the Fair Helen -of Priam and his people. So the ambassadors came and made their demand; -and the King himself was willing that she should be given back, and the -wisest of the princes gave like counsel. But there stood up certain -evil men, whom Paris had persuaded with his gold, and said, "Fear not, -men of Troy, to suffer Prince Paris to keep the Fair Helen for his -wife. For verily these words of the ambassadors, that the Greeks will -come with an army and fetch her away, are but idle talk. Think ye that -they will indeed journey so far and endure such trouble for the sake of -a woman? Not so. It standeth not to reason. And if indeed they come, -how shall they take the city? Were not these walls builded of gods, and -shall any man that is born of a woman avail to overthrow them?" And the -men of Troy gave ear to this counsel, and sent away the ambassadors -empty, for the Gods would destroy them. - -Then King Agamemnon, that was brother to Menelaues, being the greatest -lord in the land of Greece, gathered together an army, not without -great pains and trouble, because many of the princes were loath to -go. Thus the wise Ulysses feigned that he was mad, and, for proof of -his madness, ploughed the sand upon the sea-shore. But when a certain -counsellor of the King put his son, being an infant of a few days -old, before the plough, Ulysses turned away his plough lest he should -hurt him, and so betrayed himself. Also Thetis, that was mother to -Achilles, knowing that if her son should go to the land of Troy he -would die before his time, put upon him women's garments and hid him in -the palace of the King of Scyros. Then Ulysses disguised himself as a -merchant and journeyed to Scyros. And when he was come into the hall of -the palace, he opened his wares, goodly robes of purple, and earrings, -and necklaces, and divers other ornaments, both of jewels and gold. And -when the maidens gathered about him, and chose such things as women -love, then of a sudden he opened another bale in which were a hand -spear, and a sword, and a shield. And when Achilles saw them, he sprang -forth and laid his hands upon them with great joy. So he also betrayed -himself. - -Thus King Agamemnon at the last gathered his army of the Greeks -together, and sailed to the land of Troy. For nine years and more he -besieged the city and pressed it hard, so that they that were within -scarce dared to go without their walls. And doubtless he had taken it -without more delay, but that there arose a deadly quarrel between him -and Achilles, who was the bravest and most valiant man of all the host. -Now the strife chanced in this wise. - -The Greeks, having been away from home now many years, were in great -want of things needful. Wherefore it was their custom to leave a part -of their army to watch the city, and to send a part to spoil such -towns in the country round about as they knew to be friendly to the -men of Troy, or as they thought to contain good store of provision or -treasure. "Are not all these," they were wont to say, "towns of the -barbarians, and therefore lawful prey to men that are Greeks?" Now -among the towns with which they dealt in this fashion was Chrysa, which -was sacred to Apollo, who had a great temple therein and a priest. The -temple and the priest the Greeks, fearing the anger of the god, had -not harmed; but they had carried off with other prisoners the priest's -daughter, Chryseis by name. These and the rest of the spoil they -divided among the kings, of whom there were many in the army, ruling -each his own people. Now King Agamemnon, as being sovereign lord, went -not commonly with the army at such times, but rather stayed behind, -having charge of the siege that it should not be neglected. Yet did -he always receive, as indeed was fitting, a share of the spoil. This -time the Greeks gave him, with other things, the maiden Chryseis. But -there came to the camp next day the priest Chryses, wishing to ransom -his daughter. Much gold he brought with him, and he had on his head -the priest's crown, that all men might reverence him the more. He went -to all the chiefs, making his prayer that they would take the gold and -give him back his daughter. And they all 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 the fat of many bullocks and rams, hear me, and avenge me -on these Greeks!" - -And Apollo heard him. Wroth he was 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 presence was -as the night coming 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. - -On the tenth day Achilles, who was the bravest and strongest of all -the Greeks, called the people to an assembly. 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 the 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 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 prophet took heart and spake. "It is on behalf of his priest -that Apollo is wroth, for he came to ransom his daughter, but Agamemnon -would not let the maiden go. Now, then, ye must send her back to Chrysa -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 therein, 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 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. But I have been fighting in thy cause, and that of -thy brother Menalaues. 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. Small booty wilt thou get then, methinks!" - -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. I hate thee, with thy savage, bloodthirsty ways. -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 Here, who loved both this chieftain and that, -had sent her), and caught him by the long locks of his yellow hair. -But Achilles marvelled much to feel the mighty grasp, and turned, and -looked, and knew the goddess, but no one else in the assembly might see -her. Then his eyes flashed with fire, and 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 to stay thy wrath. Use bitter -words, if thou wilt, but put up thy sword in its sheath, and strike him -not. 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." - -Then Achilles answered, "I shall abide by thy command, for it is ever -better for a man to obey the immortal gods." 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. "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 puny race thou -rulest, or this had been thy last wrong. And as for me, here is this -sceptre: once it was the branch of a tree, but a cunning craftsman -bound it with bronze to be the sign of the lordship which Zeus gives to -kings; 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 to think -that thou hast wronged the bravest of thy host." - -And as he spake he dashed his sceptre on 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 counselled 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, and 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 the plague was stayed. - -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 sea-shore they -walked, till they came to where, amidst the Myrmidons, were the tents -of Achilles. There they found him sitting, but stood silent in awe and -fear. But Achilles spied them, 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 host from destruction. Fool that he is, who thinks not of the -past nor of the future, 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 sea-shore, falling into a great passion of tears, and stretching -out his hands with loud prayer to his mother, who indeed was a goddess -of the sea, Thetis by name. She heard him where she sat in the depths -by her father, the old god of the sea, and rose--you would have thought -it a mist rising--from the waves, and came to where he sat 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 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! Thy -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 comes back I will entreat and persuade him. And -do thou sit still, nor go forth to battle." - -When the twelve days were past Thetis went to the top of Olympus, to -the palace of Zeus, and made her prayer to him. He was loath to grant -it, for he knew it would anger his wife, Here who loved the Greeks and -hated the sons of Troy. Yet he could not refuse her, but promised that -it should be as she wished. And to make his word the surer, he nodded -his awful head, and with the nod all Olympus was shaken. - -That night Zeus took counsel with himself how he might best work his -will. And he called to him a dream, and said, "Dream, go to the tent of -Agamemnon, and tell him to set his army in array against Troy, for that -the gods are now of one mind, and the day of doom is come for the city, -so that he shall take it, and gain eternal glory for himself." - -So the dream went to the tent of Agamemnon, and it took the shape of -Nestor, the old chief, whom the king honored more than all beside. - -Then the false Nestor spake: "Sleepest thou, Agamemnon? It is not for -kings to sleep all through the night, for they must take thought for -many, and have many cares. Listen now to the words of Zeus: 'Set the -battle in array against Troy, for the gods are now of one mind, and -the day of doom is come for the city, and thou shall take it, and gain -eternal glory for thyself.'" - -And Agamemnon believed the dream, and knew not the purpose of Zeus -in bidding him go forth to battle, how that the Trojans should win -the day, and great shame should come to himself, but great honor to -Achilles, when all the Greeks should pray him to deliver them from -death. So he rose from his bed and donned his tunic, and over it a -great cloak, and fastened the sandals on his feet, and hung from his -shoulders his mighty silver-studded sword, and took in his right hand -the great sceptre of his house, which was the token of his sovereignty -over all the Greeks. Then he went forth, and first took counsel with -the chiefs, and afterwards called the people to the assembly. And after -the assembly the shrill-voiced heralds called the host to the battle. -As is the flare of a great fire when a wood is burning on a hill-top, -so was the flash of their arms and their armor as they thronged to the -field. And as the countless flocks of wild geese or cranes or swans now -wheel and now settle in the great Asian fen by the stream of Cayster, -or as the bees swarm in the spring, when the milk-pails are full, so -thick the Greeks thronged to the battle in the great plain by the banks -of the Scamander. Many nations were there, and many chiefs. But the -most famous among them were these: Agamemnon, King of Mycenae, and his -brother, the yellow-haired Menelaues, King of Sparta, and husband of the -beautiful Helen; Ajax Oileus, or, as men called him, the lesser Ajax, -King of the Locri, swiftest of foot among the Greeks after the great -Achilles; Ajax Telamon, from Salamis; Diomed, son of Tydeus, King of -Argos, and with him Sthenelus; Nestor, King of Pylos, oldest and wisest -among the Greeks; Ulysses, King of Ithaca, than whom there was no one -more crafty in counsel; Idomeneus, grandson of the great judge Minos, -King of Crete, and with him Meriones; Tlepolemus, son of Hercules, -from Rhodes; Eumelus from Pherae, son of that Alcestis who died for her -husband and was brought back from death by Hercules. All these were -there that day, and many more; and the bravest and strongest of all was -Ajax, son of Telamon, and the best horses were the horses of Eumelus; -but there was none that could compare with Achilles and the horses of -Achilles, bravest man and swiftest steeds. Only Achilles sat apart, and -would not go to the battle. - -And on the other side the sons of Troy and their allies came forth from -the gates of the city and set themselves in array. The most famous of -their chiefs were these: Hector, son of King Priam, bravest and best -of all; AEneas, son of Anchises and the goddess Aphrodite; Pandarus, -from Mount Ida, with the bow which Apollo gave him; Asius, the son -of Hyrtacus, who came from the broad salt river, the Hellespont; -Pylaemenes, King of Paphlagonia; and Sarpedon from Lycia, whom men -affirmed to be the son of Zeus himself, and with him Glaucus. - -So the battle was set in array, and the two hosts stood over against -each other. - -They were now about to fight, when from the ranks of the Trojans Paris -rushed forth. He had a panther's skin over his shoulders, and a bow and -a sword, and in either hand a spear, and he called aloud to the Greeks -that they should send forth their bravest to fight with him. But when -Menelaues saw him he was glad, for he said that now he should avenge -himself on the man who had done him such wrong. So a lion is glad when, -being sorely hungered, he finds a stag or a wild goat; he devours it, -and will not be driven from it by dogs or hunters. He leapt from his -chariot and rushed to meet his enemy; but Paris, having done evil, and -being therefore a coward in his heart, was afraid when he saw Menelaues, -and fled back into the ranks of his comrades, just as a man steps back -in haste when unawares in a mountain glen he comes upon a snake. But -Hector saw him and rebuked him. "Fair art thou to look upon, Paris, -but nothing worth. Surely the Greeks will scorn us if they think that -thou art our bravest warrior, because thou art of stately presence. But -thou art a coward; and yet thou daredst to go across the sea and carry -off the fair Helen. Why dost thou not stand and abide the onset of her -husband, and see what manner of man he is? Little, I ween, would thy -harp and thy long locks and thy fair face avail when thou wert lying in -the dust! A craven race are the sons of Troy, or they would have stoned -thee ere this." - -Then Paris answered, "Thou speakest well, Hector, and thy rebuke is -just. As for thee, thy heart is like iron, ever set on battle; yet are -beauty and love also the gifts of the gods, and not to be despised. But -now set Menelaues and me in the midst, and let us fight, man to man, for -the fair Helen and for all her possessions. And if he prevail over me, -let him take her and them and depart, and the Greeks with him, but ye -shall dwell in peace; but if I prevail they shall depart without her." - -Then Hector was glad, and going before the Trojan ranks, holding his -spear by the middle, he kept them back. But the Greeks would have -thrown spears and stones at him, only Agamemnon cried aloud and said, -"Hold: Hector has somewhat to say to us." - -Then Hector said, "Hear, Trojans and Greeks, what Paris saith: Let all -besides lay their arms upon the ground, and let Menelaues and me fight -for the fair Helen and all her wealth. And let him that is the better -keep her and them, but the rest shall dwell in peace." - -Then Menelaues said, "The word pleaseth me well; let us fight together, -and let us make agreement with oath and sacrifice. And because the sons -of Priam are men of fraud and violence, let Priam himself come." - -So they sent a herald to King Priam, but he sat on the wall with the -old men. And as they talked, the fair Helen came near, and they said, -"What wonder that men should suffer much for such a woman, for indeed -she is divinely fair. Yet let her depart in the ships, nor bring a -curse on us and our children." - -But Priam called to her, "Come near, my daughter; tell me about these -old friends of thine. For 'tis not thou, 'tis the gods who have brought -about all this trouble. But tell me, who is this warrior that I see, so -fair and strong? There are others even a head taller than he, but none -of such majesty." - -And Helen answered, "Ah, my father! would that I had died before I left -husband and child to follow thy son. But as for this warrior, he is -Agamemnon, a good king and brave soldier, and my brother-in-law in the -old days." - -"Happy Agamemnon," said Priam, "to rule over so many! Never saw I such -an army gathered together, not even when I went to help the Phrygians -when they were assembled on the banks of the Sangarus against the -Amazons. But who is this that I see, not so tall as Agamemnon, but of -broader shoulders? His arms lie upon the ground, and he is walking -through the ranks of his men just as some great ram walks through a -flock of sheep." - -"This," said Helen, "is Ulysses of Ithaca, who is better in craft and -counsel than all other men." - -"'Tis well spoken, lady," said Antenor. "Well I remember Ulysses when -he came hither on an embassy about thee with the brave Menelaues. My -guests they were, and I knew them well. And I remember how, in the -assembly of the Trojans, when both were standing, Menelaues was the -taller, but when they sat, Ulysses was the more majestic to behold. And -when they rose to speak, Menelaues said few words, but said them wisely -and well; and Ulysses--you had thought him a fool, so stiffly he held -his sceptre and so downcast were his eyes; but as soon as he began, oh! -the mighty voice, and the words thick as the falling snow!" - -Then Priam said, "Who is that stalwart hero, so tall and strong, -overtopping all by head and shoulders?" - -"That," said Helen, "is mighty Ajax, the bulwark of the Greeks. And -next to him is Idomeneus. Often has Menelaues had him as his guest in -the old days, when he came from Crete. As for the other chiefs, I see -and could name them all. But I miss my own dear brothers, Castor, tamer -of horses, and Pollux, the mighty boxer. Either they came not from -Sparta, or, having come, shun the meeting of men for shame of me." - -So she spake, and knew not that they were sleeping their last sleep far -away in their dear fatherland. And when they had ended talking, the -heralds came and told King Priam how that the armies called for him. So -he went, and Antenor with him. And he on the one side, for the Trojans, -and King Agamemnon for the Greeks, made a covenant with sacrifice that -Paris and Menelaues should fight together, and that the fair Helen, -with all her treasures, should go with him who should prevail. And -afterwards Hector and Ulysses marked out a space for the fight, and -Hector shook two pebbles in a helmet, looking away as he shook them, -that he whose pebble leapt forth the first should be the first to throw -his spear. And it so befell that the lot of Paris leapt forth first. -Then the two warriors armed themselves and came forth into the space, -and stood over against each other, brandishing their spears, with hate -in their eyes. Then Paris threw his spear. It struck the shield of -Menelaues, but pierced it not, for the spear-point was bent back. Then -Menelaues prayed to Zeus, "Grant, father Zeus, that I may avenge myself -on Paris, who has done me this wrong: so shall men in after time fear -to do wrong to their host." So speaking, he cast his long-shafted -spear. It struck the shield of Paris and pierced it through, and passed -through the corselet, and through the tunic, close to the loin; but -Paris shrank aside, and the spear wounded him not. Then Menelaues drew -his silver-studded sword and struck a mighty blow on the top of the -helmet of Paris, but the sword broke in four pieces in his hand. Then -he cried in his wrath, "O Zeus, most mischief-loving of the gods, my -spear I cast in vain, and now my sword is broken." Then he rushed -forward and seized Paris by the helmet, and dragged him towards the -host of the Greeks. And truly he had taken him, but Aphrodite loosed -the strap that was beneath the chin, and the helmet came off in his -hand. And Menelaues whirled it among the Greeks and charged with another -spear in his hand. But Aphrodite snatched Paris away, covering him with -a mist, and put him down in his chamber in Troy. Then Menelaues looked -for him everywhere, but no one could tell him where he might be. No son -of Troy would have hidden him out of kindness, for all hated him as -death. - -Then King Agamemnon said, "Now, ye sons of Troy, it is for you to give -back the fair Helen and her wealth, and to pay me besides so much as -may be fitting for all my cost and trouble." - -But it was not the will of the gods that the sons of Troy should -do this thing, but rather that their city should perish. So Athene -took upon herself the shape of Laodocus, son of Antenor, and went -to Pandarus, son of Lycaon, where he stood among his men. Then the -false Laodocus said, "Pandarus, darest thou aim an arrow at Menelaues? -Truly the Trojans would love thee well, and Paris best of all, if -they could see Menelaues slain by an arrow from thy bow. Aim then, but -first pray to Apollo, and vow that thou wilt offer a hundred beasts -when thou returnest to thy city, Zeleia." Now Pandarus had a bow made -of the horns of a wild goat which he had slain; sixteen palms long -they were, and a cunning workman had made them smooth, and put a tip -of gold whereon to fasten the bowstring. And Pandarus strung his bow, -his comrades hiding him with their shields. Then he took an arrow from -his quiver, and laid it on the bow-string, and drew the string to his -breast, till the arrow-head touched the bow, and let fly. Right well -aimed was the dart, but it was not the will of heaven that it should -slay Menelaues. It struck him, indeed, and passed through the belt and -through the corselet and through the girdle, and pierced the skin. -Then the red blood rushed out and stained the white skin, even as some -Lycian or Carian woman stains the white ivory with red to adorn the -war-horse of a king. - -Sore dismayed was King Agamemnon to see the blood; sore dismayed also -was the brave Menelaues till he spied the barb of the arrow, and knew -that the wound was not deep. But Agamemnon cried,-- - -"It was in an evil hour for thee, my brother, that I made a covenant -with these false sons of Troy. Right well, indeed, I know that oath -and sacrifice are not in vain, but will have vengeance at the last. -Troy shall fall; but woe is me if thou shouldst die, Menelaues. For -the Greeks will straight go back to their fatherland, and the fair -Helen will be left a boast to the sons of Troy, and I shall have great -shame when one of them shall say, as he leaps on the tomb of the brave -Menelaues, 'Surely the great Agamemnon has avenged himself well; for -he brought an army hither, but now is gone back to his home, but left -Menelaues here.' May the earth swallow me up before that day!" - -"Nay," said Menelaues, "fear not, for the arrow has but grazed the skin." - -Then King Agamemnon bade fetch the physician. So the herald fetched -Machaon, the physician. And Machaon came, and drew forth the arrow, and -when he had wiped away the blood he put healing drugs upon the wound, -which Chiron, the wise healer, had given to his father. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -But while this was doing, King Agamemnon went throughout the host, -and if he saw anyone stirring himself to get ready for the battle he -praised him and gave him good encouragement; but whomsoever he saw -halting and lingering and slothful, him he blamed and rebuked whether -he were common man or chief. The last that he came to was Diomed, son -of Tydeus, with Sthenelus, son of Capaneus, standing by his side. And -Agamemnon spake, "How is this, son of Tydeus? Shrinkest thou from the -battle? This was not thy father's wont. I never saw him indeed, but -I have heard that he was braver than all other men. Once he came to -Mycenae with great Polynices to gather allies against Thebes. And the -men of Mycenae would have sent them, only Zeus showed evil signs from -heaven and forbade them. Then the Greeks sent Tydeus on an embassy -to Thebes, where he found many of the sons of Cadmus feasting in the -palace of Eteocles; but Tydeus was not afraid, though he was but one -among many. He challenged them to contend with him in sport, and in -everything he prevailed. But the sons of Cadmus bare it ill, and -they laid an ambush for Tydeus as he went back, fifty men with two -leaders--Maeon and Lycophon. But Tydeus slew them all, leaving only -Maeon alive, that he might carry back the tidings to Thebes. Such was -thy father; but his son is worse in battle, but better, it may be, in -speech." - -Nothing said Diomed, for he reverenced the king; but Sthenelus cried -out, "Why speakest thou false, King Agamemnon, knowing the truth? We -are not worse but better than our fathers. Did not we take Thebes, -though we had fewer men than they, who indeed took it not?" But Diomed -frowned and said, "Be silent, friend. I blame not King Agamemnon that -he rouses the Greeks to battle. Great glory will it be to him if they -take the city, and great loss if they be worsted. But it is for us to -be valiant." - -So he passed through all the host. And the Greeks went forward to the -battle, as the waves that curl themselves and then dash upon the shore, -throwing high the foam. In order they went after their chiefs; you had -thought them dumb, so silent were they. But the Trojans were like a -flock of ewes which wait to be milked, and bleat hearing the voice of -their lambs, so confused a cry went out from their army, for there -were men of many tongues gathered together. And on either side the gods -urged them on, but chiefly Athene the Greeks, and Ares the sons of -Troy. Then, as two streams in flood meet in some chasm, so the armies -dashed together, shield on shield and spear on spear. - -Antilochus, son of Nestor, was the first to slay a man of Troy, -Echepolus by name, smiting him through the helmet into the forehead. -Like a tower he fell, and Elphenor the Euban sought to drag him away -that he might strip him of his arms. But Agenor smote him with his -spear as he stooped, so baring his side to a wound. Dreadful was the -fight around his body. Like wolves the Trojans and the Greeks rushed -upon each other. And Ajax Telamon slew Simoisius (so they called him, -because he was born on the banks of Simois). He fell as a poplar falls, -and Antiphon, son of King Priam, aimed at Ajax, but, missing him, slew -Leucus, the valiant comrade of Ulysses. And Ulysses, in great anger, -stalked through the foremost fighters, brandishing his spear, and the -sons of Troy gave way, and when he hurled it he slew Democooen, a son of -Priam. Then Hector and the foremost ranks of Troy were borne backward, -till Apollo cried from the heights of Pergamos, "On, Trojans! The flesh -of these Greeks is not stone or iron, that ye cannot pierce it. Know, -too, that the mighty Achilles does not fight to-day." But on the other -side Athene urged on the Greeks to battle. Then Peiros the Thracian -slew Diores, first striking him to the ground with a huge stone, and -then piercing him with his spear; and him in turn Thoas of AEtolia slew, -but could not spoil of his arms, so strongly did the men of Thrace -defend the body. Then Athene roused Diomed to battle, making a fire -shine from his helmet, bright as Orion shines in the vintage time. -First there met him two warriors, sons of Dares, priest of Hephaestus, -Phegeus and Idaeus, the one fighting on foot and the other from his -chariot. First Phegeus threw his spear and missed his aim; but Diomed -missed not, smiting him through the breast. And Idaeus, when he saw his -brother fall, fled, Hephaestus saving him, lest the old man should be -altogether bereaved. And each of the chiefs slew a foe; but there was -none like Diomed, who raged through the battle so furiously that you -could not tell with which host he was, whether with the Greeks or with -the sons of Troy. Then Pandarus aimed an arrow at him, and smote him -in the right shoulder as he was rushing forward, and cried aloud, "On, -great-hearted sons of Troy, the bravest of the Greeks is wounded! Soon, -methinks, will his strength fail him, unless Apollo has deceived me." - -But Diomed cared not for the arrow. Only he leapt down from the chariot -and spake to Sthenelus, his charioteer, "Come down and draw this arrow -from my shoulder." Then Sthenelus drew it, and the blood spirted out -from the wound. And Diomed prayed to Athene, "O goddess, if ever thou -hast helped me, be with me now, and grant me to slay this boaster whose -arrow has wounded me!" So speaking, he rushed into the ranks of the -Trojans, slaying a man at every stroke. AEneas saw him, and thought how -he might stay him in his course. So he passed through the host till he -found Pandarus. "Pandarus," he said, "where are thy bow and arrows? See -how this man deals death through the ranks. Send a shaft at him, first -making thy prayer to Zeus." - -Then Pandarus answered,-- - -"This man, methinks, is Diomed. The shield and the helmet and the -horses are his. And yet I know not whether he is not a god. Some god, -at least, stands by him and guards him. But now I sent an arrow at him -and smote him on the shoulder, right through the corselet, and thought -that I had slain him; but lo! I have harmed him not at all. And now -I know not what to do, for here I have no chariot. Eleven, indeed, -there are at home, in the house of my father Lycaon, and the old man -was earnest with me that I should bring one of them; but I would not, -fearing for my horses, lest they should not have provender enough. So -I came, trusting in my bow, and lo! it has failed me these two times. -Two of the chiefs I have hit, Menelaues and Diomed, and from each have -seen the red blood flow, yet have I not harmed them. Surely, if ever I -return safe to my home, I will break this useless bow." - -"Nay," said AEneas, "talk not thus. Climb into my chariot, and see what -horses we have in Troy. They will carry us safe to the city, even -should Diomed prevail against us. But take the rein and the whip, and I -will fight; or, if thou wilt, fight thou, and I will drive." - -"Nay," said Pandarus, "let the horses have the driver whom they know. -It might lose us both, should we turn to flee, and they linger or start -aside, missing their master's voice." - -So Pandarus mounted the chariot and they drove together against Diomed. -And Sthenelus saw them coming, and said to his comrades--"I see two -mighty warriors, Lycaon and AEneas. It would be well that we should go -back to our chariot." - -But Diomed frowned and said, "Talk not of going back. Thou wilt talk -in vain to me. As for my chariot, I care not for it. As I am will I -go against these men. Both shall not return safe, even if one should -escape. But do thou stay my chariot where it is, tying the reins to the -rail; and if I slay these men, mount the chariot of AEneas and drive -into the hosts of the Greeks. There are no horses under the sun such as -these, for they are of the breed which Zeus himself gave to King Tros." - -Meanwhile Pandarus and AEneas were coming near, and Pandarus cast his -spear. Right through the shield of Diomed it passed, and reached the -corselet, and Pandarus cried,-- - -"Thou art hit in the loin. This, methinks, will lay thee low." - -"Nay," said Diomed, "thou hast missed and not hit at all." - -And as he spake he threw his spear. Through nose and teeth and tongue -it passed, and stood out below the chin. Headlong from the chariot he -fell, and his armor clashed about him. Straightway AEneas leapt off -with spear and shield to guard the body of his friend, and stood as a -lion stands over a carcase. But Diomed lifted a great stone, such as -two men of our day could scarcely carry, and cast it. It struck AEneas -on the hip, crushing the bone. The hero stooped on his knee, clutching -the ground with his hand, and darkness covered his eyes. That hour he -had perished, but his mother Aphrodite caught him in her white arms and -threw her veil about him. But even so Diomed was loath to let his foe -escape, and knowing that the goddess was not of those who mingle in the -battle, he rushed on her and wounded her on the wrist, and the blood -gushed out--such blood (they call it _ichor_) as flows in the veins of -the immortal gods, who eat not the meat and drink not the drink of men. -With a loud shriek she dropped her son, but Apollo caught him up and -covered him with a dark mist, lest perchance one of the Greeks should -spy him and slay him. And still Diomed pursued. Thrice he rushed on, -and thrice Apollo pushed back his shining shield; but the fourth time -the god cried to him,-- - -"Be wise, son of Tydeus, and give way, nor think to match the gods." - -And Diomed gave way, fearing the wrath of the far-shooting bow. But -Apollo carried AEneas out of the battle, and laid him down in his own -temple in the citadel of Troy, and there Artemis and Latona healed -him of his wound. And all the while the Trojans and the Greeks were -fighting, as they thought, about his body, for Apollo had made a -likeness of the hero and thrown it down in their midst. Then Sarpedon -the Lycian spake to Hector with bitter words,-- - -"Where are thy boasts, Hector? Thou saidst that thou couldst guard thy -city, without thy people or thy allies, thou alone, with thy brothers -and thy brothers-in-law. But I cannot see even one of them. They go -and hide themselves, as dogs before a lion. It is we, your allies, who -maintain the battle. I have come from far to help thy people,--from -Lycia, where I left wife and child and wealth,--nor do I shrink from -the fight, but thou shouldst do thy part." - -And the words stung Hector to the heart. He leapt from his chariot and -went through the host, urging them to the battle. And on the other side -the Greeks strengthened themselves. But Ares brought back AEneas whole -from his wound, and gave him courage and might. Right glad were his -comrades to see him, nor did they ask him any question; scant leisure -was there for questions that day. Then were done many valiant deeds, -nor did any bear himself more bravely than AEneas. Two chieftains of -the Greeks he slew, Crethon and Orsilochus, who came from the banks of -Alpheues. Sore vexed was Menelaues to see them fall, and he rushed to -avenge them, Ares urging him on, for he hoped that AEneas would slay -him. But Antilochus, Nestor's son, saw him go, and hasted to his side -that he might help him. So they went and slew Pylaemenes, King of the -Paphlagonians, and Medon, his charioteer. Then Hector rushed to the -front, and Ares was by his side. Diomed saw him, and the god also, for -his eyes were opened that day, and he fell back a space and cried,-- - -"O my friends! here Hector comes; nor he alone, but Ares is with him in -the shape of a mortal man. Let us give place, still keeping our faces -to the foe, for men must not fight with gods." - -Then drew near to each other Sarpedon the Lycian and Tlepolemus, the -son of Hercules, the one a son and the other a grandson of Zeus. First -Tlepolemus spake,-- - -"What art thou doing here, Sarpedon? Surely 'tis a false report that -thou art a son of Zeus. The sons of Zeus in the old days were better -men than thou art, such as my father Hercules, who came to this city -when Laomedon would not give him the horses which he had promised, and -brake down the walls and wasted the streets. No help, methinks, wilt -thou be to the sons of Troy, slain here by my hands." - -But Sarpedon answered, "He indeed spoiled Troy, for Laomedon did him -grievous wrong. But thou shalt not fare so, but rather meet with thy -death." - -Then they both hurled their spears, aiming truly, both of them. For -Sarpedon smote Tlepolemus in the neck, piercing it through so that he -fell dead, and Tlepolemus smote Sarpedon in the left thigh, driving the -spear close to the bone, but slaying him not, his father Zeus warding -off the doom of death. And his comrades carried him out of the battle, -sorely burdened with the spear, which no one had thought to take out of -the wound. And as he was borne along, Hector passed by, and Sarpedon -rejoiced to see him, and cried,-- - -"Son of Priam, suffer me not to become a prey to the Greeks; let me -at least die in your city, for Lycia I may see no more, nor wife, nor -child." - -But Hector heeded him not, so eager was he for the battle. So his -comrades carried him to the great beech-tree and laid him down, and -one of them drew the spear out of his thigh. When it was drawn out he -fainted, but the cool north wind blew and revived him, and he breathed -again. - -But all the while Hector, with Ares at his side, dealt death and -destruction through the ranks of the Greeks. Here and Athene saw him -where they sat on the top of Olympus, and were wroth. So they went to -Father Zeus and prayed that it might be lawful to them to stop him in -his fury. And Zeus said, "Be it as you will." So they yoked the horses -to the chariot of Here and passed down to earth, the horses flying at -every stride over so much space as a man sees who sits upon a cliff -and looks across the sea to where it meets the sky. They alighted on -the spot where the two rivers Simois and Scamander join their streams. -There they loosed the horses from the yoke, and then sped like doves -to where the bravest of the Greeks stood round King Diomed. There Here -took the shape of Stentor with the lungs of bronze, whose voice was as -the voice of fifty men, and cried, "Shame, men of Greece! When Achilles -went to the battle, the men of Troy came not beyond the gates, but now -they fight far from the city, even by the ships." But Athene went -to Diomed where he stood wiping away the blood from the wound where -Pandarus had struck him with the arrow. And she spake, "Surely the son -of Tydeus is little like to his sire. Small of stature was he, but a -keen fighter. But thou--whether it be weariness or fear that keeps thee -back I know not--canst scarcely be a true son of Tydeus." - -But Diomed answered, "Nay, great goddess, for I know thee who thou art, -daughter of Zeus, it is not weariness or fear that keeps me back. 'Tis -thy own command that I heed. Thou didst bid me fight with none other -of the immortal gods but only with Aphrodite, should she come to the -battle. Therefore I give place, for I see Ares lording it through the -ranks of war." - -"Heed not Ares; drive thy chariot at him, and smite him with the spear. -This very morning he promised that he would help the Greeks, and now he -hath changed his purpose." - -And as she spake she pushed Sthenelus, who drove the chariot, so that -he leapt out upon the ground, and she mounted herself and caught the -reins and lashed the horses. So the two went together, and they found -Ares where he had just slain Periphas the AEtolian. But Athene had -donned the helmet of Hades, which whosoever puts on straightway becomes -invisible, for she would not that Ares should see her who she was. The -god saw Diomed come near, and left Periphas, and cast his spear over -the yoke of the chariot, eager to slay the hero. But Athene caught the -spear in her hand, and turned it aside, so that it flew vainly through -the air. Then Diomed in turn thrust forward his spear, and Athene -leant upon it, so that it pierced the loin of Ares where his girdle -was clasped. And Ares shouted with the pain, loud as a host of men, -thousands nine or ten, shouts when it joins in battle. And the Greeks -and Trojans trembled as they heard. And Diomed saw the god go up to -Olympus as a thunder-cloud goes up when the wind of the south blows hot. - -But when Ares had departed the Greeks prevailed again, slaying many of -the sons of Troy and of their allies. But at last Helenus, the wise -seer, spake to Hector and AEneas,-- - -"Cause the army to draw back to the walls, and go through the ranks and -give them such strength and courage as ye may. And do thou, Hector, -when thou hast so done, pass into the city, and bid thy mother go with -the daughters of Troy, and take the costliest robe that she hath, -and lay it on the knees of Athene in her temple, vowing therewith to -sacrifice twelve heifers, if perchance she may have pity upon us, and -keep this Diomed from our walls. Surely there is no Greek so strong as -he; we did not fear even Achilles' self so much as we fear this man -to-day, so dreadful is he and fierce. Go, and we will make such stand -meanwhile as we can." - -Then Hector passed through the ranks, bidding them be of good heart, -and so departed to the city. - -But when he was gone, Glaucus the Lycian and Diomed met in the space -between the two hosts. And Diomed said,-- - -"Who art thou that meetest me thus? for never have I seen thee before. -If thou art a man, know that luckless are the fathers whose sons meet -my spear. But if thou art a god, I will not fight with thee. It fares -ill with them that fight with gods." - -Then Glaucus answered, "Diomed, why askest thou of my race? The races -of men are as the leaves of the forest which the wind blows to the -earth, and lo! in the spring they shoot forth again. Yet, if thou -wouldst know it, hearken to my words. There is a city Ephyra in the -land of Argos, where Sisyphus dwelt, who was the craftiest of men; -and Sisyphus begat Glaucus, and Glaucus, Bellerophon. Now Bellerophon -was the fairest and most valiant of men. And Queen Antea accused him -falsely to her husband, King Proetus. Whereupon the king sent him to his -father-in-law, who was king of Lycia, and gave him a tablet, whereon -were written letters of death, so that the king having read them should -cause him to be slain. So Bellerophon came to Lycia. And for nine days -the king feasted him, but on the tenth he asked for the tablet. And -when he had read it, he sought how he might slay him. For first he sent -him to subdue the Chimaera. Now the Chimaera was a marvellous thing, -having the forepart of a lion, and the body of a goat, and the tail of -a snake. And afterwards he sent him against the Solymi, who are the -fiercest warriors of all that dwell on the earth. And his third labor -was that he slew the Amazons. And as he was returning the king set -an ambush for him, yet harmed him not, for Bellerophon slew all the -men that lay in wait for him. Then the king knew him to be a good man -and of the race of the gods. Wherefore he kept him, and gave him his -daughter to wife, and with her the half of his kingdom; and the Lycians -gave him a fair domain of orchard and plough-land. Now Bellerophon had -three children--Laodamia, who bare Sarpedon to Zeus; and Isander, whom -Ares slew in battle against the Solymi; and Hippolochus, my father, who -sent me hither, bidding me ever bear myself bravely, nor shame the race -of my fathers." - -This Diomed was right glad to hear, and cried, "Nay, but thou art a -friend by inheritance. For in former times OEneus, my grandfather, -feasted Bellerophon for twenty days, and gave him a belt broidered with -purple, and Bellerophon gave him a great cup with two mouths, which -indeed I left behind me when I came hither. And now let us two make -agreement that we fight not with each other, for there are Trojans -enough whom I may slay, and there are Greeks enough for thee. And let -us also exchange our armor, that these men may know us to be friends by -inheritance." - -So they leapt down from their chariots and exchanged their armor. And -Zeus took away all wise counsel from the heart of Glaucus, so that he -gave golden armor for armor of bronze, the worth of a hundred oxen for -the worth of nine. - -Hector came into the city by the Scaean gates, and as he went wives and -mothers crowded about him, asking how it had fared with their husbands -and sons. But he said nought, save to bid them pray; and indeed there -was sore news for many if he had told that which he knew. Then he came -to the palace of King Priam, and there he saw Hecuba, his mother, and -with her Laodice, fairest of her daughters. She caught him by the hand -and said,-- - -"Why hast thou come from the battle, my son? Do the Greeks press thee -hard, and art thou minded to pray to Father Zeus from the citadel? Let -me bring thee honey-sweet wine, that thou mayest pour out before him, -aye, and that thou mayest drink thyself, and gladden thy heart." - -But Hector said, "Give me not wine, my mother, lest thou weaken my -knees and make me forget my courage. Nor must I pour out an offering -with Zeus thus, with unwashed hands. But do thou gather the mothers of -Troy together, and go to the temple of Athene, and take a robe, the -one that is the most precious and beautiful in thy stores, and lay it -on the knees of the goddess, and pray her to keep this dreadful Diomed -from the walls of Troy; and forget not to vow therewith twelve heifers -as a sacrifice. As for me, I will go and seek Paris, if perchance he -will come with me to the war. Would that the earth might open and -swallow him up, for of a truth he is a curse to King Priam and to Troy." - -So Queen Hecuba and the mothers of Troy did as Hector had bidden them. -But when they laid the robe on the knees of the goddess she would not -hear them. - -And Hector went to the house of Paris, where it stood on the citadel, -near to his own dwelling and the dwelling of Priam. He found him busy -with his arms, and the fair Helen sat near him and gave their tasks to -her maidens. - -But Hector spake: "Be not wroth, my brother. The people perish about -the wall, and the war burns hot round the city, and all for thy sake. -Rouse thee, lest it be consumed." - -And Paris answered, "Brother, thou hast spoken well. It was not in -wrath that I sat here. I was vexed at my sore defeat. But now my wife -has urged me to join the battle, and truly it is well, for victory -comes now to one and now to another. Wait thou, then, till I don my -arms, or if thou wouldst depart, I will overtake thee." - -So Hector departed and went to his own home, seeking his wife -Andromache, but found her not, for she was on a tower of the wall with -her child and her child's nurse, weeping sore for fear. And Hector -spake to the maids,-- - -"Tell me, whither went the white-armed Andromache; to see some -sister-in-law, or to the temple of Athene with the mothers of Troy?" - -"Nay," said an aged woman, keeper of the house. "She went to one of -the towers of the wall, for she had heard that the Greeks were pressing -our people hard. She hasted like as she were mad, and the nurse carried -the child." - -So Hector ran through the city to the Scaean gates, and there Andromache -spied him, and hasted to meet him--Andromache, daughter of King Eetion, -of Thebe-under-Placus. And with her was the nurse, bearing the young -child on her bosom--Hector's only child, beautiful, headed as a star. -His father called him Scamandrius, after the river, but the sons of -Troy called him Astyanax, the "City-King," because it was his father -who saved the city. Silently he smiled when he saw the child, but -Andromache clasped his hand and wept, and said,-- - -"O Hector, thy courage will bring thee to death. Thou hast no pity on -thy wife and child, but sparest not thyself, and all the Greeks will -rush on thee and slay thee. It were better for me, losing thee, to die; -for I have no comfort but thee. My father is dead, for Achilles slew -him in Thebe--slew him but spoiled him not, so much he reverenced him. -With his arms he burnt him, and the mountain-nymphs planted poplars -about his grave. Seven brethren I had, and lo! they all fell in one day -by the hand of the great Achilles. And my mother, she is dead, for when -she had been ransomed, Artemis smote her with an arrow in her father's -house. But thou art father to me, and mother and brother and husband -also. Have pity, then, and stay here upon the wall, lest thou leave me -a widow and thy child an orphan. And set the people here in array by -this fig-tree, where the city is easiest to be taken; for there come -the bravest of the Greeks, Ajax the Greater, and Ajax the Less, and -Idomeneus, and the two sons of Atreus, and the son of Tydeus." - -But Hector said, "Nay, let these things be my care. I would not that -any son or daughter of Troy should see me skulking from the war. And -my own heart loathes the thought, and bids me fight in the front. Well -I know, indeed, that Priam, and the people of Priam, and holy Troy, -will perish. Yet it is not for Troy, or for the people, or even for my -father or my mother that I care so much, as for thee in the day when -some Greek shall carry thee away captive, and thou shalt ply the loom -or carry the pitcher in the land of Greece. And some one shall say when -he sees thee, 'This was Hector's wife, who was the bravest of the sons -of Troy.' May the earth cover me before that day!" - -Then Hector stretched out his arms to his child. But the child drew -back into the bosom of his nurse with a loud cry, fearing the shining -bronze and the horse-hair plume which nodded awfully from his helmet -top. Then father and mother laughed aloud. And Hector took the helmet -from his head and laid it on the ground, and caught his child in his -hands, and kissed him and dandled him, praying aloud to Father Zeus and -all the gods. - -"Grant, Father Zeus and all ye gods, that this child may be as I am, -great among the sons of Troy; and may they say some day, when they see -him carrying home the bloody spoils from the war, 'A better man than -his father, this,' and his mother shall be glad at heart." - -Then he gave the child to his mother, and she clasped him to her breast -and smiled a tearful smile. And her husband had pity on her, and -stroked her with his hand, and spake,-- - -"Be not troubled over much. No man shall slay me against the ordering -of fate; but as for fate, that, I trow, no man may escape, be he coward -or brave. But go, ply thy tasks, the shuttle and the loom, and give -their tasks to thy maidens, and let men take thought for the battle." - -Then Hector took up his helmet from the ground, and Andromache went -her way to her home, oft turning back her eyes. And when she was come, -she and all her maidens wailed for the living Hector as though he were -dead, for she thought that she should never see him any more returning -safe from the battle. - -And as Hector went his way, Paris came running, clad in shining arms, -like to some proud steed which has been fed high in his stall, and now -scours the plain with head aloft and mane streaming over his shoulders. -And he spake to Hector,-- - -"I have kept thee, I fear, when thou wast in haste, nor came at thy -bidding." - -But Hector answered, "No man can blame thy courage, only thou wilfully -heldest back from the battle. Therefore do the sons of Troy speak shame -of thee. But now let us go to the war." - -So they went together out of the gates, and fell upon the hosts of the -Greeks and slew many chiefs of fame, and Glaucus the Lycian went with -them. - -Now when Athene saw that the Greeks were perishing by the hand of -Hector and his companions, it grieved her sore. So she came down from -the heights of Olympus, if haply she might help them. And Apollo met -her and said,-- - -"Art thou come, Athene, to help the Greeks whom thou lovest? Well, let -us stay the battle for this day; hereafter they shall fight till the -doom of Troy be accomplished." - -But Athene answered, "How shall we stay it?" - -And Apollo said, "We will set on Hector to challenge the bravest of -the Greeks to fight with him, man to man." - -So they two put the matter into the mind of Helenus the seer. Then -Helenus went near to Hector:-- - -"Listen to me, for I am thy brother. Cause the rest of the sons of Troy -and of the Greeks to sit down, and do thou challenge the bravest of the -Greeks to fight with thee, man to man. And be sure thou shalt not fall -in the battle, for the will of the immortal gods is so." - -Then Hector greatly rejoiced, and passed to the front of the army, -holding his spear by the middle, and kept back the sons of Troy; and -King Agamemnon did likewise with his own people. Then Hector spake:-- - -"Hear me, sons of Troy, and ye men of Greece. The covenant that we made -one with another hath been broken, for Zeus would have it so, purposing -evil to both, till either you shall take our high-walled city, or we -shall conquer you by your ships. But let one of you who call yourselves -champions of the Greeks come forth and fight with me, man to man. And -let it be so that if he vanquish me he shall spoil me of my arms but -give my body to my people, that they may burn it with fire; and if I -vanquish him, I will spoil him of his arms but give his body to the -Greeks, that they may bury him and raise a great mound above him by the -broad salt river of Hellespont. And so men of after days shall see it, -sailing by, and say, 'This is the tomb of the bravest of the Greeks, -whom Hector slew.' So shall my name live for ever." - -But all the Greeks kept silence, fearing to meet him in battle, but -shamed to hold back. Then at last Menelaues leapt forward and spake:-- - -"Surely now ye are women and not men. Foul shame it were should there -be no man to stand up against this Hector. Lo! I will fight with him -my own self, for the issues of battle are with the immortal gods." - -So he spake in his rage rashly, courting death, for Hector was much -stronger than he. Then King Agamemnon answered:-- - -"Nay, but this is folly, my brother. Seek not in thy anger to fight -with one that is stronger than thou; for as for this Hector, even -Achilles was loath to meet him. Sit thou down among thy comrades, and -the Greeks will find some champion who shall fight with him." - -And Menelaues hearkened to his brother's words, and sat down. Then -Nestor rose in the midst and spake:-- - -"Woe is me to-day for Greece! How would the old Peleus grieve to hear -such a tale! Well I remember how he rejoiced when I told him of the -house and lineage of all the chieftains of the Greeks, and now he would -hear that they cower before Hector, and are sore afraid when he calls -them to the battle. Surely he would pray this day that he might die! -Oh that I were such as I was in the old days, when the men of Pylos -fought with the Arcadians by the stream of Iardanus! Now the leader of -the Arcadians was Ereuthalion, and he wore the arms of Areithous, whom -men called 'Areithous of the club,' because he fought not with bow or -spear, but with a club of iron. Him Lycurgus slew, not by might but by -craft, taking him in a narrow place where his club of iron availed him -not, and smiting him with his spear. He slew him, and took his arms. -And when Lycurgus grew old he gave the arms to Ereuthalion to wear. So -Ereuthalion wore them, and challenged the men of Pylos to fight with -him. But they feared him. Only I, who was the youngest of all, stood -forth, and Athene gave me glory that day, for I slew him, though he was -the strongest and tallest among the sons of men. Would that I were -such to-day! Right soon would I meet this mighty Hector." - -Then rose up nine chiefs of fame. First of all, King Agamemnon, lord -of many nations, and next to him Diomed, son of Tydeus, and Ajax the -Greater and Ajax the Less, and then Idomeneus and Meriones, who was his -companion in arms, and Eurypylus, and Thoas, son of Andraemon, and the -wise Ulysses. - -Then Nestor said, "Let us cast lots who shall do battle with the mighty -Hector." - -So they threw the lots into the helmet of King Agamemnon, a lot for -each. And the people prayed, "Grant, ye gods, that the lot of Ajax -the Greater may leap forth, or the lot of Diomed, or the lot of King -Agamemnon." Then Nestor shook the lots in the helmet, and the one which -they most wished leapt forth. For the herald took it through the ranks -and showed it to the chiefs, but none knew it for his own till he came -to where Ajax the Greater stood among his comrades. But Ajax had marked -it with his mark, and put forth his hand for it, and claimed it, right -glad at heart. On the ground by his feet he threw it, and said,-- - -"Mine is the lot, my friends, and right glad I am, for I think that I -shall prevail over the mighty Hector. But come, let me don my arms; and -pray ye to Zeus, but silently, lest the Trojans hear, or aloud, if ye -will, for no fear have we. Not by force or craft shall any one vanquish -me, for not such are the men that Salamis breeds." - -So he armed himself and moved forwards, dreadful as Ares, smiling with -grim face. With mighty strides he came, brandishing his long-shafted -spear. And all the Greeks were glad to behold him, but the knees of the -Trojans were loosened with fear, and great Hector's heart beat fast; -but he trembled not, nor gave place, seeing that he had himself called -him to battle. So Ajax came near, holding before the great shield, -like a wall, which Tychius, best of craftsmen, had made for him. Seven -folds of bull's hide it had, and an eighth of bronze. Threateningly he -spake:-- - -"Now shalt thou know, Hector, what manner of men there are yet among -our chiefs, though Achilles the lion-hearted is far away, sitting idly -in his tent, in great wrath with King Agamemnon. Do thou, then, begin -the battle." - -"Speak not to me, Zeus-descended Ajax," said Hector, "as though I were -a woman or a child, knowing nothing of war. Well I know all the arts of -battle, to ply my shield this way and that, to guide my car through the -tumult of steeds, and to stand fighting hand to hand. But I would not -smite so stout a foe by stealth, but openly, if it so befall." - -And as he spake he hurled his long shafted spear, and smote the great -shield on the rim of the eighth fold, that was of bronze. Through six -folds it passed, but in the seventh it was stayed. Then Ajax hurled his -spear, striking Hector's shield. Through shield it passed and corselet, -and cut the tunic close against the loin; but Hector shrank away and -escaped the doom of death. Then, each with a fresh spear, they rushed -together like lions or wild boars of the wood. First Hector smote the -middle of the shield of Ajax, but pierced it not, for the spear-point -was bent back; then Ajax, with a great bound, drove his spear at -Hector's shield and pierced it, forcing him back, and grazing his neck -so that the black blood welled out. Yet did not Hector cease from the -combat. A great stone and rough he caught up from the ground, and -hurled it at the boss of the seven-fold shield. Loud rang the bronze, -but the shield brake not. Then Ajax took a stone heavier by far, and -threw it with all his might. It brake the shield of Hector, and bore -him backwards, so that he fell at length with his shield above him. But -Apollo raised him up. Then did both draw their swords; but ere they -could join in close battle came the heralds, and held their sceptres -between them, and Idaeus, the herald of Troy, spake:-- - -"Fight no more, my sons; Zeus loves you both, and ye are both mighty -warriors. That we all know right well. But now the night bids you -cease, and it is well to heed its bidding." - -Then said Ajax, "Nay, Idaeus, but it is for Hector to speak, for he -called the bravest of the Greeks to battle. And as he wills it, so will -I." - -And Hector said, "O Ajax, the gods have given thee stature and strength -and skill, nor is there any better warrior among the Greeks. Let us -cease then from the battle; we may yet meet again, till the gods give -the victory to me or thee. And now let us give gifts the one to the -other, so that Trojans and Greeks may say--Hector and Ajax met in -fierce fight and parted in friendship." - -So Hector gave to Ajax a silver-studded sword with the scabbard and the -sword-belt, and Ajax gave to Hector a buckler splendid with purple. -So they parted. Right glad were the sons of Troy when they saw Hector -returning safe. Glad also were the Greeks, as they led Ajax rejoicing -in his victory to King Agamemnon. Whereupon the king called the chiefs -to banquet together, and bade slay an ox of five years old, and Ajax -he honored most of all, giving him the chine. And when the feast was -ended, Nestor said,-- - -"It were well that we should cease awhile from war and burn the dead, -for many, in truth, are fallen. And we will build a great wall, and -dig a trench about it, and we will make gates, wide that a chariot may -pass through, so that our ships may be safe, if the sons of Troy should -press us hard." - -But the next morning came a herald from Troy to the chiefs, as they sat -in council by the ship of King Agamemnon, and said,-- - -"This is the word of Priam and the men of Troy: Paris will give back -all the treasures of the fair Helen, and many more besides; but the -fair Helen herself he will not give. But if this please you not, grant -us a truce that we may bury our dead." - -Then Diomed spake, "Nay, we will not take the fair Helen's self, for a -man may know, even though he be a fool, that the doom of Troy is come." - -And King Agamemnon said, "Herald, thou hast heard the word of the -Greeks, but as for the truce, be it as you will." - -So the next day they burnt their dead, and the Greeks made a wall with -gates and dug a trench about it. And when it was finished, even at -sunset, they made ready a meal, and lo! there came ships from Lemnos -bringing wine, and Greeks bought thereof, some with bronze, and some -with iron, and some with shields of ox hide. All night they feasted -right joyously. The sons of Troy also feasted in their city. But the -dreadful thunder rolled through the night, for Zeus was counselling -evil against them. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE WOUNDING OF THE CHIEFS. - - -The next day the battle was set in array as before. And all the morning -the armies fought without advantage to the one or the other; but at -noon, at the hour when one who cuts wood upon the hills sits down -to his meal, the Greeks prevailed and drove back the sons of Troy. -Nor was there one of all the chiefs who fought so bravely as King -Agamemnon. Many valiant men he slew, and among them the two sons of -Antimachus. These, indeed, he took alive in their chariot, for they -had dropped the reins, and stood helpless before him, crying out that -he should spare them and take ransom, for that Antimachus their father -had much gold and bronze and iron in his house, and would gladly buy -them back alive. Now Antimachus had taken a bribe from Prince Paris, -and had given counsel to the Trojans that they should not give back -the fair Helen. So when King Agamemnon heard them, he said, "Nay, but -if ye be sons of Antimachus, who counselled the men of Troy that they -should slay Menelaues when he came an ambassador to their city, ye -shall die for your father's sin." So he slew them both, and leaving -them he still rushed on, driving back the Trojans even to the walls -of their city. Nor did Hector himself dare to meet him, for Zeus had -sent him a message saying that he should hold himself back till King -Agamemnon should chance to be wounded. And indeed this chance happened -presently, for the king had slain Iphidamas, son to Antenor, and Cooen, -his brother, the eldest born, was very wroth to see it. So standing -sideways he aimed with his spear, Agamemnon not knowing, and smote -the king in the hand near the wrist. Then he seized the body of his -brother, and shouted to his comrades that they should help him; but -Agamemnon dealt him a deadly blow underneath his shield. So he fell; -and for a while, while the wound was warm, the king fought as before; -but when it grew cold and stiff great pain came upon him, and he leapt -into his chariot and bade the charioteer drive him to the ships, for -that he could fight no more. - -Then again the battle went for the Trojans, though Diomed and Ulysses, -who fought very valiantly, stayed it awhile, Diomed coming very near to -slay Hector. But Paris, who was in hiding behind the pillar on the tomb -of Ilus, drew his bow, and smote him with an arrow through the ankle of -the right foot. Loud he boasted of his aim. "Only," he said, "I would -that I had pierced thee in the loin; then hadst thou troubled the sons -of Troy no more." - -But Diomed answered, "Small good were thy bow to thee, cowardly archer, -if thou shouldst dare to meet me face to face. And as for this graze on -my foot, I care no more than if a woman or child had smitten me. Not -such the wounds I deal; as for those that meet my spear in the battle, -I trow that they are dearer to the fowls of the air than to women in -the chamber." - -Then Ulysses stood before him while he drew the arrow out of his foot. -Grievous was the smart of the wound, for all his brave words. Wherefore -he leapt into his chariot, and bade drive in haste to the ships. So -Ulysses was left alone, and the Trojans came about him as men with dogs -come about a wild boar who stands at bay gnashing his white teeth. -Fiercely he stood at bay, and slew five chiefs of fame. But one of -them, Socus by name, before he fell, wounded him on the side, scraping -the flesh from the ribs. High spurted the blood from the wound, and the -Trojans shouted to see it. Then Ulysses shouted for help; three times -he shouted, and Menelaues heard him and called to Ajax that it was the -voice of Ulysses, and that they should help him. So they went together -and made head awhile against the Trojans. But soon Paris wounded with -an arrow another brave chieftain, even the physician Machaon. Then -Ajax himself was affrighted and gave way, but slowly, and sore against -his will. Just so a lion is driven off from a herd of oxen by dogs and -men. Loath he is to go, so hungry is he, but the spears and the burning -torches affright him. So Ajax gave way. Now he would turn and face the -sons of Troy, and now he would flee, and they sought how to slay him, -but harmed him not. Then once more Paris loosed his bow and wounded a -chief, Eurypylus, striking him on the right thigh. So the battle went -sorely against the Greeks. - -Now Achilles was standing on the stern of his ship, looking at the war, -and he saw Nestor carrying Machaon in his chariot to the ships. Then he -called to Patroclus, and Patroclus, who was in the tent, came forth; -but it was an evil hour for him. Then said Achilles,-- - -"Now will the Greeks soon come, methinks, praying for help, for their -need is sore. But go and see who is this whom Nestor is taking to the -ships. His shoulders are the shoulders of Machaon, but I saw not his -face, so swift the horses passed me by." - -Then Patroclus ran. And as he stood in the tent door, old Nestor saw -him, and went and took him by the hand, and would have had him sit -down. But Patroclus would not, saying,-- - -"Stay me not. I came but to see who is this that thou hast brought -wounded from the battle. And now I see that it is Machaon. Therefore I -will return, for thou knowest what manner of man is Achilles, that he -is hasty and swift to blame." - -Then said Nestor, "But what cares Achilles for the Greeks? or why does -he ask who are wounded? But, O Patroclus, dost thou mind the day when -I and Ulysses came to the house of Peleus, and how thy father Menaetius -was there, and how we feasted in the hall; and when the feast was -finished told our errand, for we were gathering the heroes for the war -against the sons of Troy? Right willing were ye two to come, and many -counsels did the old men give you. Then to Achilles Peleus said that he -should always be foremost in the host, but to thee thy father Menaetius -spake, 'Achilles is nobler born than thou, and stronger far; but thou -art older. Do thou therefore counsel him well, when there is need.' But -this thou forgettest, Patroclus. Hear, then, what I say. It may be that -Achilles will not go forth to the battle. But let him send thee forth, -and the Myrmidons with thee, and let him put his arms upon thee, so -that the sons of Troy be affrighted, thinking that he is in the battle, -and we shall have breathing space." - -Then Patroclus turned to run to Achilles, but as he ran he met -Eurypylus, who spake to him,-- - -"Small hope is there now for the Greeks, seeing that all their bravest -chiefs lie wounded at the ships. But do thou help me, for thou knowest -all the secrets of healing, seeing that the wise Chiron himself taught -thee." - -Then Patroclus answered, "I am even now on my way to tell these things -to Achilles, but thee I may not leave in thy trouble." - -So he took him to his tent, and cut out the arrow from his thigh, -washing the wound with water, and putting on it a bitter healing root, -so that the pain was stayed and the blood stanched. - -Now by this time the Trojans were close upon the trench. But the horses -stood on the brink, fearing to leap it, for it was broad and deep, and -the Greeks had put great stakes therein. Thus said Polydamas,-- - -"Surely, Hector, this is madness that we strive to cross the trench -in our chariots, for it is broad and deep, and there are great stakes -therein. Look, too, at this: even if we should be able to cross it, how -will the matter stand? If indeed it be the pleasure of Zeus that the -Greeks should perish utterly,--it will be well. But if they turn upon -us and pursue us, driving us back from the ships, then shall we not -be able to return. Wherefore let us leave our chariots here upon the -brink, and go on foot against the wall." - -So they went in five companies, of whom Hector led that which was -bravest and largest, and with him were Polydamas and Cebriones. And -the next Paris commanded. And of the third Helenus and Deiphobus were -leaders, and with them was Asius, the son of Hyrtacus, from Arisbe. -And the fourth followed AEneas, the valiant son of Anchises. But of -the allies Sarpedon was the leader, and with him were Glaucus and -Asteropaeus. And in each company they joined shield to shield, and so -went against the Greeks. Nor was there one of them but hearkened to -the counsel of Polydamas when he bade them leave their chariots by the -trench, save Asius only. But Asius drove his chariot right up to that -gate which was on the left hand in the wall. Now the gates chanced to -be open, for the warders had opened them, if so any of the Greeks that -fled might save themselves within them. Now the warders were two mighty -heroes of the race of the Lapithae, Polypoetes and Leonteus; and these, -when they saw Asius and his company coming, went without and stood in -front of the gates, just as two wild boars stand at bay against a crowd -of men and dogs. And all the while they that stood on the wall threw -heavy stones which fell, thick as the snow-flakes fall in the winter, -on the men of Troy, and loud rang the helmets and the shields. And many -fell wounded to the death, nor could Asius, for all his fury, win his -way into the walls. But where, at another of the gates, Hector led the -way, there appeared a strange marvel in the skies, for an eagle was -bearing in his claws a great snake, which it had taken as a prey. But -the snake fought fiercely for its life, and writhed itself about, even -till it bit the eagle on the breast. Whereupon the eagle dropped it -into the midst of the host, and fled with a loud cry. Then Polydamas, -the wise counsellor, came near to Hector, and said,-- - -"Now it will be well that we should not follow these Greeks to their -ships. For I take that this marvel that we have seen is a sign to us. -For as this eagle had caught in his claws a snake, but held it not, -dropping it before it could bear it to her young, so shall it fare with -us. For we shall drive the Greeks to their ships, but shall not subdue -them, but shall return in disorder by the way that we came, leaving -full many of our comrades behind us." - -But Hector frowned and answered, "Nay, but this is ill counsel, -Polydamas. For if thou sayest this from thy heart, surely the gods -have changed thy wisdom into foolishness. Dost thou bid me forget the -command of Zeus the Thunderer, and take heed to birds, how they fly? -Little care I whether they go to the east or to the west, to the right -or to the left. Surely there is but one sign for a brave man, that he -is fighting for his fatherland. Wherefore take thou heed; for if thou -holdest back from the war, or holdest back any other, lo! I will smite -thee with my spear." - -Then he sprang forward, and the men of Troy followed him with a shout. -And Zeus sent down from Ida a great blast of wind which bore the dust -of the plain straight to the ships, troubling the hearts of the Greeks. -Then the Trojans sought to drag down the battlements from the wall, and -to wrench up the posts which had been set to strengthen it. Nor did -the Greeks give way, but they joined shield to shield and fought for -the wall. And foremost among them were Ajax the Greater and Ajax the -Less. Just as the snow falls in mid-winter, when the winds are hushed, -and the mountain-tops are covered, and the plains and the dwellings of -men and the very shores of the sea, up to the waves' edge, so thickly -fell the stones which the Greeks showered from the wall against the -men of Troy, and which these again threw upon the Greeks. But still -Hector and his men availed not to break through the gate. But at the -last Zeus stirred up the heart of his own son, Sarpedon. Holding his -shield before him he went, and he shook in either hand a spear. As -goes a lion, when hunger presses him sore, against a stall of oxen or -a sheepfold, and cares not though he find men and dogs keeping watch -against him, so Sarpedon went against the wall. And first he spake to -stout Glaucus, his comrade,-- - -"Tell me, Glaucus, why is it that men honor us at home with the chief -rooms at feasts, and with fat portions of flesh and with sweet wine, -and that we have a great domain of orchard and plough land by the banks -of Xanthus? Surely it is that we may fight in the front rank. Then -shall some one who may behold us say, 'Of a truth these are honorable -men, these princes of Lycia, and not without good right do they eat -the fat and drink the sweet, for they fight ever in the front.' Now, -indeed, if we might live for ever, nor know old age nor death, neither -would I fight among the first, nor would I bid thee arm thyself for the -battle. But seeing that there are ten thousand fates above us which no -man may avoid, let us see whether we shall win glory from another, or -another shall take it from us." - -And Glaucus listened to his words and charged at his side, and the -great host of the Lycians followed them. Sore dismayed was Menestheus -the Athenian when he saw them. All along the wall of the Greeks he -looked, spying out for help; and he saw Ajax the Greater and Ajax the -Less, and with them Teucer, who had just come forth from his tent. -Close to him they were, but it was of no avail to shout, so loud was -the clash and din of arms, of shield and helmets, and the thundering at -the gates, for each one of these did the men of Troy assail. - -Wherefore he called to him Thoas, the herald, and said, "Run, Thoas, -and call Ajax hither,--both of the name if that may be,--for the end -is close upon us in this place, so mightily press on the chiefs of the -Lycians, who were ever fiery fighters. But if there is trouble there -also, let at the least Ajax the Greater come, and with him Teucer of -the bow." - -Then the herald ran, and said as he had been bidden. - -And Ajax Telamon spake to the son of Oileus: "Stand thou here with -Lycomedes and stay the enemy. But I will go thither, and come again -when I have finished my work." - -So he went, and Teucer his brother went with him, with Pandion -carrying his bow. And even as they went the Lycians came up like a -tempest on the wall. But Ajax slew Epicles, a comrade of Sarpedon, -smiting him on the head with a mighty stone, and crushing all the bones -of his head. And Teucer smote Glaucus on the shoulder and wounded him -sore. Silently did Glaucus leap down from the wall, for he would not -that any of the Greeks should see that he was wounded. But Sarpedon -saw that he had departed, and it grieved him. Nevertheless, he ceased -not from the battle, but first slew Alcmaon, the son of Mestor, and -next caught one of the battlements in his hands and dragged it down. So -the wall was laid open, and a way was made for the Trojans to enter. -Then did both Ajax and Teucer aim at him together. And Teucer smote -the strap of the shield, but harmed him not, and Ajax drove his spear -through his shield and stayed him, so that he fell back a space from -the battlement, yet would not cease from the fight. Loud he shouted to -the Lycians that they should follow him, and they came crowding about -their king. Then fierce and long was the fight, for the Lycians could -not break down the wall of the Greeks and make a way to the ships, and -the Greeks could not drive away the Lycians from the wall where they -stood. Just so two men contend for the boundary in some common field. -Small is the space, and they stand close together. So close stood the -Lycians and the Greeks, on this side of the battlement, and on that, -and all the wall was red with blood. But not to Sarpedon and the men of -Lycia, but to Hector, did Zeus give the glory that day. Now, in front -of the gate there lay a great stone, broad at the base and sharp at the -top. Scarce could two men of the strongest, such as are men in these -days, move it with levers on to a wagon; but Hector lifted it easily, -easily as a shepherd carries in one hand the fleece of a sheep. Two -folding doors there were in the gates, held by bolts and a key, and at -these he hurled the great stone, planting his feet apart, that his aim -might be the surer and stronger. With a mighty crash it came against -the gates, and the bolts held not against it, and the hinges were -broken, so that the folding doors flew back. Then Hector leapt into the -space, holding a spear in either hand, and his eyes flashed as fire. -And the men of Troy came after him, some mounting the wall, and some -pouring through the gates. - -Now Poseidon was watching the battle from the wooded height of -Samothrace, whence he could see Ida and Troy and the ships. And he -pitied the Greeks when he saw how they fled before Hector, and purposed -in his heart to help them. So he left the height of Samothrace, and -came with four strides to AEgae, where his palace was in the depths of -the sea. There he harnessed the horses to his chariot and rode, passing -over the waves, and the great beasts of the sea gambolled about him -as he went, knowing their king. But when he came to the camp of the -Greeks, he took upon him the shape of Calchas, the herald, and went -through the host strengthening the heroes for the battle--Ajax the -Greater, and Ajax the Less, and others also--so that they turned their -faces again to the enemy. But not the less did the men of Troy press -on, Hector leading the way. - -Then first of all Teucer slew a Trojan, Imbrius by name, wounding him -under the ear. He fell as some tall poplar falls which a woodman fells -with axe of bronze. Then Teucer rushed to seize his arms, but Hector -cast his spear. Teucer it struck not, missing him by a little, but -Amphimachus it smote on the breast so that he fell dead. Then Hector -seized the dead man's helmet, seeking to drag the body among the sons -of Troy. But Ajax stretched forth his great spear against him, and -struck the boss of his shield mightily, driving him backwards, so that -he loosed hold of the helmet of Amphimachus. And him his comrades bore -to the rear of the host, and the body of Imbrius also they carried off. -Then did Idomeneus the Cretan, son of Minos, the wise judge, perform -many valiant deeds, going to the left-hand of the battle-line, for he -said,-- - -"The Greeks have stay enough where the great Ajax is. No man that eats -bread is better than he; no, not Achilles' self, were the two to stand -man to man, but Achilles indeed is swifter of foot." - -And first of all he slew Othryoneus, who had but newly come, hearing -the fame of the war. For Cassandra's sake he had come, that he might -have her to wife, vowing that he would drive the Greeks from Troy, and -Priam had promised him the maiden. But now Idomeneus slew him, and -cried over him,-- - -"This was a great thing that thou didst promise to Priam, for which -he was to give thee his daughter. Thou shouldst have come to us, and -we would have given thee the fairest of the daughters of Agamemnon, -bringing her from Argos, if thou wouldst have engaged to help us to -take this city of Troy. But come now with me to the ships, that we may -treat about this marriage: thou wilt find that we have open hands." - -So he spake, mocking the dead. Then King Asius charged, coming on -foot with his chariot behind him. But ere he could throw his spear, -Idomeneus smote him that he fell, as falls an oak, or an alder, or a -pine, which men fell upon the hills. And the driver of his chariot -stood dismayed, nor thought to turn his horses and flee, so that -Antilochus, the son of Nestor, struck him down, and took the chariot -and horses for his own. Then Deiphobus in great wrath came near to -Idomeneus, and would have slain him with a spear, but could not, for he -covered himself with his shield, and the spear passed over his head. -Yet did it not fly in vain, for it lighted on Hypsenor, striking him on -the right side. And as he fell, Deiphobus cried aloud,-- - -"Now is Asius avenged; and though he go down to that strong porter who -keeps the gates of hell, yet will he be glad, for I have sent him a -companion." - -But scarce had he spoken when Idomeneus the Cretan slew another of the -chiefs of Troy, Alcathoues, son-in-law of old Anchises. And having slain -him, he cried,-- - -"Small reason hast thou to boast, Deiphobus, for we have slain three -for one. But come thou and meet me in battle, that thou mayest know me -who I am, son of Deucalion, who was the son of Minos, who was the son -of Zeus." - -Then Deiphobus thought within himself, should he meet this man alone, -or should he take some brave comrade with him? And it seemed to him -better that he should take a brave comrade with him. Wherefore he went -for AEneas, and found him in the rear of the battle, vexed at heart -because King Priam did not honor him among the princes of Troy. Then -said he,-- - -"Come hither, AEneas, to fight for Alcathoues, who was wont to care for -thee when thou wast young, and now he lies dead under the spear of -Idomeneus." - -So they two went together; and Idomeneus saw them, but yielded not -from his place, only called to his comrades that they should gather -themselves together and help him. And on the other side AEneas called -to Deiphobus, and Paris, and Agenor. So they fought about the body of -Alcathoues. Then did AEneas cast his spear at Idomeneus, but struck him -not; but Idomeneus slew OEnomaues, only when he would have spoiled him of -his arms he could not, for the men of Troy pressed him hard, so that -perforce he gave way. And as he turned, Deiphobus sought to slay him -with his spear, but smote in his stead Ascalaphus, son of Ares. But -when he would have spoiled him of his arms, Meriones struck him through -the wrist with a spear. Straightway he dropped the helmet which he had -seized, and Polites, his brother, led him out of the battle. And he -climbed into his chariot and went back to the city. But the rest stayed -not their hands from fighting, and many valiant heroes fell, both on -this side and on that. For on the left the sons of Greece prevailed, -so fiercely fought Idomeneus the Cretan, and Meriones, his comrade, -and Antilochus, the son of Nestor, and Menelaues; but on the right the -Locrians and the Boeotians and the men of Athens could scarce keep -Hector from the ships. Yet here for a while the battle went with them, -for the Locrians, who were mighty archers, bent their bows against the -men of Troy and dismayed them, so thick flew the arrows, dealing wounds -and death. Then said Polydamas to Hector,-- - -"O Hector, thou art ever loath to hear counsel from others. Yet think -not that because thou art stronger than other men, therefore Zeus hath -also made thee wiser. For truly he gives diverse gifts to diverse -men--strength to one and counsel to another. Hear, then, my words. Thou -seest that the Trojans keep not all together, for some stand aloof, -while some fight, being few against many. Do thou therefore call the -bravest together. Then shall we see whether we shall burn the ships, -or, it may be, win our way back without harm to Troy; for indeed I -forget not that there is a warrior here whom no man may match, nor will -he, I trow, always keep aloof from the battle." - -And the saying pleased Hector. So he went through the host looking for -the chiefs--for Deiphobus, and Helenus, and Asius, and Acamas, son of -Asius, and others, who were the bravest among the Trojans and allies. -And some he found, and some he found not, for they had fallen in the -battle, or had gone sorely wounded to the city. But at last he spied -Paris, where he stood strengthening the hearts of his comrades. - -"O Paris, fair of face, cheater of the hearts of women, where is -Deiphobus, and Helenus, and Asius, and Acamas, son of Asius?" - -But Paris answered him, "Some of these are dead, and some are sorely -wounded. But we who are left fight on. Only do thou lead us against the -Greeks, nor wilt thou say that we are slow to follow." - -So Hector went along the front of the battle, leading the men of Troy. -Nor did the Greeks give way when they saw him, but Ajax the Greater -cried,-- - -"Friend, come near, nor fear the men of Greece. Thou thinkest in thine -heart to spoil the ships, but we have hands to keep them, and ere they -perish Troy itself shall fall before us. Soon, I trow, wilt thou wish -that thy horses were swifter than hawks, when they bear thee fleeing -before us across the plain to the city." - -But Hector answered, "Nay, thou braggart Ajax, what words are these? -I would that I were as surely one of the Immortals as this day shall -surely bring woe to the Greeks. And thou, if thou darest to meet my -spear, shalt be slain among the rest, and feed with thy flesh the -beasts of the field and the fowls of the air." - -So he spake, and from this side and from that there went up a great cry -of battle. - -So loud was the cry that it roused old Nestor where he sat in his tent, -tending the wounded Machaon. Whereupon he said, "Sit thou here and -drink the red wine till the fair Hecamede shall have got ready the bath -to wash the blood from thy wound, but I will ask how things fare in the -battle." - -So he went forth from the tent, seeking King Agamemnon. And lo! as -he went the king met him, and with him were Diomed and Ulysses, who -also had been wounded that day. So they held counsel together. And -Agamemnon--for it troubled him sore that the people were slain--would -that they should draw down the ships into the sea, and should flee -homewards, as soon as the darkness should cover them, and the Trojans -should cease from the battle. - -But Ulysses would have none of such counsel, saying, "Now, surely, -son of Atreus, thou art not worthy to rule over us, who have been men -of war from our youth. Wilt thou leave this city, for the taking of -which we have suffered so much? That may not be; let not any one of the -Greeks hear thee say such words. And what is this, that thou wouldst -have us launch our ships now, whilst the hosts are fighting? Surely, so -doing, we should perish altogether, for the Greeks would not fight any -more, seeing that the ships were being launched, and the men of Troy -would slay us altogether." - -Then King Agamemnon said, "Thou speakest well." And he went through -the host, bidding the men bear themselves bravely, and all the while -Poseidon put courage and strength into their hearts. Then Hector cast -his spear against Ajax Telamon. The shield kept it not off, for it -passed beneath, but the two belts, of the shield and of the sword, -stayed it, so that it wounded not his body. Then Hector in wrath and -fear went back into the ranks of his comrades; but as he went Ajax took -a great stone--now were there many such which they had as props for the -ships--and smote him above the rim of his shield, on the neck. As an -oak falls, stricken by the thunder of Zeus, so he fell, and the Greeks -rushed with a great cry to drag him to them, but could not, for all the -bravest of the sons of Troy held their shields before him--Polydamas, -and AEneas, and Sarpedon, and Glaucus. Then they carried him to the -Xanthus, and poured water upon him. And after a while he sat up, and -then again his spirit left him, for the blow had been very grievous. -But when the Greeks saw that Hector had been carried out of the battle, -they pressed on the more, slaying the men of Troy, and driving them -back even out of the camp and across the trench. But when they came -to their chariots, where they had left them on the other side of the -trench, there they stood trembling and pale with fear. But Apollo, at -the bidding of Zeus, went to Hector, where he lay, and healed him of -his wound, pouring strength and courage into his heart, so that he -went back to the battle whole and sound. Then great fear came upon the -Greeks when they saw him, and Thoas the AEtolian spake, saying,-- - -"Surely this is a great marvel that I see with mine eyes. For we -thought that Hector had been slain by the hand of Ajax, son of Telamon, -and now, behold! he is come back to the battle. Many Greeks have fallen -before him, and many, I trow, will fall, for of a truth some god has -raised him up and helps him. But come, let all the bravest stand -together. So, mighty though he be, he shall fear to enter our array." - -And all the bravest gathered together and stood in the front, but the -multitude made for the ships. But Hector came on, and Apollo before -him, with his shoulders wrapped in cloud and the aegis shield in his -hand. And many of the Greeks fell slain before the sons of Troy, as -Iaesus of Athens, and Arcesilaues the Boeotian, and Medon, who was brother -to Ajax the Less, and many more. Thus the battle turned again, and came -near to the trench; and now Apollo made it easy for the men of Troy to -pass, so that they left not their chariots, as before, upon the brink, -but drave them across. - -Meanwhile Patroclus sat in the tent of Eurypylus dressing his wound and -talking with him. But when he saw what had chanced, he struck his thigh -with his hand and cried,-- - -"Now must I leave thee, Eurypylus, for I must haste to Achilles, so -dreadful is now the battle. Perchance I may persuade him that he go -forth to the fight." - -So he ran to the tent of Achilles. And now the men of Troy were at the -ships. And Hector and Ajax were fighting for one of them, and Ajax -could not drive him back, and Hector could not burn the ship with fire. -Then sprang forward Caletor with a torch in his hand, and Ajax smote -him on the heart with a sword, so that he fell close by the ship. Then -Hector cried,-- - -"Come now, Trojans and allies, and fight for Caletor, that the Greeks -spoil him not of his arms." - -So saying he cast his spear at Ajax. Him he struck not, but Cytherius, -his comrade, he slew. Then was Ajax sore dismayed, and spake to Teucer -his brother,-- - -"See now, Cytherius, our dear comrade, is dead, slain by Hector. But -where are thy arrows and thy bow?" - -So Teucer took his bow and laid an arrow on the string, and smote -Clitus, who was charioteer to Polydamas. And then he aimed an arrow -at Hector's self; but ere he could loose it, the bowstring was broken -in his hands, and the arrow went far astray, for Zeus would not that -Hector should so fall. Then Teucer cried aloud to his brother,-- - -"Surely some god confounds our counsels, breaking my bowstring, which -this very day I tied new upon my bow." - -But Ajax said, "Let be thy bow, if it please not the gods, but take -spear and shield and fight with the men of Troy. For though they master -us to-day, they shall not take our ships for nought." - -So Teucer armed himself afresh for the battle. But Hector, when he saw -the broken bow, cried out,-- - -"Come on, ye men of Troy, for Zeus is with us. Even now he broke the -bow of Teucer, the great archer. And they whom Zeus helps prevail, and -they whom he favors grow not weak. Come on; for even though a man fall, -it is well that he fall fighting for his fatherland; and his wife and -his children are safe, nor shall his glory cease, if so be that we -drive the Greeks in their ships across the sea." - -And on the other side Ajax, the son of Telamon, called to the Greeks, -and bade them quit themselves like men. Then the battle grew yet -fiercer, for Hector slew Schedius, who led the men of Phocis, and Ajax -slew Laodamas, son of Antenor, and Polydamas Otus of Cyllene. Then -Meges thought to slay Polydamas; but his spear went astray, smiting -down Craesmus; and Dolops, who was grandson to Laomedon, cast his spear -at Meges, but the corselet stayed the point, though it pierced the -shield. But Dolops' self Menelaues smote through the shoulder, but could -not spoil him of his arms, for Hector and his brothers hindered him. -So they fought, slaying one another; but Hector still waxed greater -and greater in the battle, and still the men of Troy came on, and -still the Greeks gave way. So they came again, these pushing forward -and these yielding ground, to the ships. And Hector caught hold of one -of them, even the ship of Protesilaues: him indeed it had brought from -Troy, but it took him not back, for he had fallen, slain by the hand -of Hector, as he leapt, first of all the Greeks, upon the shore of -Troy. This Hector caught, and the battle raged like fire about it; for -the men of Troy and the Greeks were gathered round, and none fought -with arrows or javelins from afar, but man to man, with battle-axe and -sword and great spears pointed at either end. And many a fair weapon -lay shattered on the ground, and the earth flowed with blood as with a -river. But still Hector held the stem of the ship with his hand, and -called to the men of Troy that they should bring fire, for that Zeus -had given them the victory that day. Then even Ajax himself gave way, -so did the spears of the Trojans press him; for now he stood no longer -upon the stern deck, but on the rowers' bench, thrusting thence with -his spear at any one who sought to set fire to the ship. And ever he -cried to the Greeks with a terrible voice,-- - -"O ye Greeks, now must ye quit yourselves like men. For have ye any -helpers behind? or have ye any walls to shelter you? No city is here, -with well-built battlements, wherein ye might be safe, while the people -should fight for you. For we are here in the plain of Troy, and the sea -is close behind us, and we are far from our country. Wherefore all our -hope is in valor, and not in shrinking back from the battle." - -And still he thrust with his spear, if any of the men of Troy, at -Hector's bidding, sought to bring fire against the ship. Full twelve he -wounded where he stood. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE DEEDS AND DEATH OF PATROCLUS. - - -Patroclus stood by Achilles, weeping bitterly. 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 the 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 that 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 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 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 them 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 hand, 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 when Patroclus with the Myrmidons had come to where the battle was -raging about the ship of Protesilaues, 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 -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 skilful 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 horsehair 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 Panthoues, 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? May be 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 horses 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, and first of them all Euphorbus, who, -indeed, had wounded him. For as he came near to strip the dead man of -his arms, Menelaues slew him with his spear. He slew him, but took not -his arms, for Hector came through the battle; nor did Menelaues dare to -abide his coming, but went back into the ranks of his own people. Then -did Hector strip off the arms of Patroclus, the arms which the great -Achilles had given him to wear. Then he laid hold of the body, and -would have dragged it into the host of the Trojans, but Ajax Telamon -came forth, and put his broad shield before it, as a lion stands before -its cubs when the hunters meet it in the woods, drawing down over its -eyes its shaggy brows. Then Hector gave place, but Glaucus saw him and -said,-- - -"Now is this a shame to thee, that thou darest not to stand against -Ajax. How wilt thou and thy countrymen save the city of Troy? For -surely no more will thy allies fight for it. Small profit have they -of thee. Did not Sarpedon fall, and didst thou not leave him to be a -prey to the dogs? And now, if thou hadst stood firm and carried off -Patroclus, we might have made exchange, and gained from the Greeks -Sarpedon and his arms. But it may not be, for thou fearest Ajax, and -fleest before him." - -But Hector said, "I fear him not, nor any man. Only Zeus gives victory -now to one man and now to another. But wait thou here, and see whether -I be a coward, as thou sayest." - -Now he had sent the armor of Patroclus to the city. But now he ran -after those that were carrying it, and overtook them, and put on the -armor himself (but Zeus saw him doing it, and liked it not), and came -back to the battle; and all who saw him thought that it had been the -great Achilles himself. Then they all charged together, and fiercer -grew the battle and fiercer as the day went on. For the Greeks said -one to another, "Now had the earth better yawn and swallow us up -alive, than we should let the men of Troy carry off Patroclus to their -city"; and the Trojans said, "Now if we must all fall by the body of -this man, be it so, but we will not yield." But the horses of Achilles -stood apart from the battle, when they knew that Patroclus was dead, -and wept. Nor could Automedon move them with the lash, nor with gentle -words, nor with threats. They would not return to the ships, nor would -they go into the battle; but as a pillar stands on the tomb of some -dead man, so they stood, with their heads drooped to the ground, with -the big tears dropping to the earth, and their long manes trailing in -the dust. - -But Father Zeus beheld them, and pitied them, and said,-- - -"It was not well that we gave you, immortal as ye are, to a mortal man; -for of all things that move on earth, mortal man is the fullest of -sorrow. But Hector shall not possess you. It is enough for him, yea, -and too much, that he has the arms of Achilles." - -Then did the horses move from their place and obey their charioteer as -before. Nor could Hector take them, though he desired them very much. -And all the while the battle raged about the dead Patroclus. And at -last Ajax said to Menelaues (now these two had borne themselves more -bravely in the fight than all others),-- - -"See if thou canst find Antilochus, Nestor's son, that he may carry the -tidings to Achilles, how that Patroclus is dead." - -So Menelaues went and found Antilochus on the left of the battle, and -said to him, "I have ill news for thee. Thou seest, I trow, that the -men of Troy have the victory to-day. And also Patroclus lies dead. Run, -therefore, to Achilles, and tell him, if haply he may save the body; -but as for the arms, Hector has them already." - -Sore dismayed was Antilochus to hear such tidings, and his eyes were -filled with tears and his voice was choked. Yet did he give heed to the -words of Menelaues, and ran to tell Achilles of what had chanced. But -Menelaues went back to Ajax, where he had left him by Patroclus, and -said,-- - -"Antilochus, indeed, bears the tidings to Achilles. Yet I doubt whether -he will come, for all his wrath against Hector, seeing that he has no -armor to cover him. Let us think, then, how we may best carry Patroclus -away from the men of Troy." - -Then said Ajax, "Do thou and Meriones run forward and raise the body in -your arms, and I and the son of Oileus will keep off meanwhile the men -of Troy." - -So Menelaues and Meriones ran forward and lifted up the body. And the -Trojans ran forward with a great shout when they saw them, as dogs run -barking before the hunters when they chase a wild boar; but when the -beast turns to bay, lo! they flee this way and that. So did the men -of Troy flee when Ajax the Greater and Ajax the Less turned to give -battle. But still the Greeks gave way, and still the Trojans came on, -and ever in the front were Hector, the son of Priam, and AEneas, the son -of Anchises. But in the meantime Antilochus came near to Achilles, who, -indeed, seeing that the Greeks fled and the men of Troy pursued, was -already sore afraid. And he said, weeping as he spake,-- - -"I bring ill news,--Patroclus lies low. The Greeks fight for his body, -but Hector has his arms." - -Then Achilles took of the dust of the plain in his hands, 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 lo! 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 Hephaestus, 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 besieged. 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 Ares gives -the victory now to one man and now to another." - -So he spake, and all the people applauded, foolish, not knowing what -the morrow should bring forth. - -Meanwhile in the camp of the Greeks they mourned for Patroclus. And -Achilles stood among his Myrmidons and said,-- - -"Vain was the promise that I made to Menoetius that I would bring back -his son with his portion of the spoils of Troy. But Zeus fulfils not -the thoughts of man. For he lies dead, nor shall I return to the house -of Peleus, my father, for I, too, must die in this land. But thee, O -Patroclus, I will not bury till I bring hither the head and the arms of -Hector, and twelve men of Troy to slay at thy funeral pile." - -So they washed the body of Patroclus and anointed it, putting ointment -into the wounds, and laid it on a bed, and covered it with a veil from -the head to the feet. - -Then went Thetis to the palace of Hephaestus, to pray him that he would -make arms for her son. And the lady his wife, whose name was Grace, -bade her welcome, and said,-- - -"Why comest thou, Thetis? for thou art not wont to come hither, though -thou art dear to us." - -Then she called to her husband that Thetis sought him, and he answered -from his forge where he wrought,-- - -"Dear is Thetis to me, for she saved me in the old time, when my mother -would have put me away because that I was lame. Greet her therefore -for me; right willingly will I pay her what she deserves at my hands." -Then he came from his forge and sat down by the goddess, and asked her, -"What wantest thou?" - -Then did Thetis tell him of her son Achilles, and of the wrong that had -been done to him, and of his wrath, and of how Patroclus was dead, and -the arms that he had had were lost. - -Then said Hephaestus, "Be of good cheer: I will make what thou askest. -Would that I could as easily keep from him the doom of death." - -Then Hephaestus wrought at his forge. And first of all he made a mighty -shield. On it he wrought the earth, and the sky, and the sea, and the -sun, and the moon, and all the stars. He wrought also two cities. In -the one there was peace, and about the other there was war. For in the -first they led a bride to her home with music and dancing, and the -women stood in the doors to see the show, and in the market-place the -judges judged about one that had been slain, and one man said that he -had paid the price of blood, and the other denied. But about the other -city there sat an army besieging it, and the men of the city stood upon -the wall, defending it. These had also set an ambush by a river where -the herds were wont to drink. And when the herds came down, they rose -up and took them, and slew the herdsmen. But the army of the besiegers -heard the cry, and came swiftly on horses, and fought by the bank of -the river. Also he wrought one field where many men drove the plough, -and another where reapers reaped the corn, and boys gathered it in -their arms to bind into sheaves, while the lord stood glad at heart -beholding them. Also he wrought a vineyard, wherein was a path, and -youths and maidens bearing baskets of grapes, and in the midst a boy -played on a harp of gold and sang a pleasant song. Also he made a herd -of oxen going from the stables to the pastures, and herdsmen and dogs, -and in the front two lions had caught a mighty bull and were devouring -it, while the dogs stood far off and barked. Also he made a sheepfold; -also a marvellous dance of men and maidens, and these had coronets -of gold, and those daggers of gold hanging from belts of silver. And -round about the shield he wrought the great river of ocean. Besides the -shield, he also made a corselet brighter than fire, and a great helmet -with a crest of gold, and greaves of tin. - -But all the while Achilles sat mourning for Patroclus, and his comrades -wept about him. And at dawn Thetis brought him the arms and laid them -before him. Loud they rattled on the ground, and all the Myrmidons -trembled to hear; but when Achilles saw them his eyes blazed with fire, -and he rejoiced in his heart. Only he said to his mother that he feared -lest the body should decay, but she answered,-- - -"Be not troubled about this, for I will see to it. Make thy peace with -Agamemnon, and go to the battle." - -Then Achilles went along the shore and called the Greeks to an -assembly, shouting mightily; and all, even those who were wont to -abide in the ships, listened to his voice and came. So the assembly -was gathered, and Achilles stood up in the midst, saying that he had -put away his wrath; and King Agamemnon, sitting on his throne (for his -wound hindered him from standing), said that he repented him of the -wrong which he had done, only that Zeus had turned his thoughts to -folly; but now he would give to Achilles all that Ulysses had promised -on his behalf. And Achilles would have led the Greeks straightway to -battle, but the wise Ulysses hindered him, saying that it was not well -that he should send them to the fight fasting. Then did Agamemnon send -to the tents of Achilles all the gifts that he had promised, and with -them the maiden Briseis. But she, when she came and saw Patroclus, -beat her breast and her fair neck and face, and wailed aloud, for he -had been gentle and good, she said. And all the women wailed with her, -thinking each of her own sorrows. - -Then the chiefs would have Achilles feast with them; but he hearkened -not, for he would neither eat nor drink till he had had vengeance for -the dead. And he spake, saying,-- - -"Often, Patroclus, hast thou ordered the feast when we were hastening -to the war. And now thou liest slain, and for grief for thee I cannot -eat nor drink. For greater sorrow could not have come to me, not though -Peleus himself were dead, or my young son Neoptolemus. Often did I -think that I only should perish here, but that thou shouldst return and -show him all that was mine--goods and servants and palace." - -And as he wept the old men wept with him, thinking each of what he had -left at home. - -But after this the Greeks were gathered to the battle, and Achilles -shone in the midst with the arms of Hephaestus upon him, and he flashed -like fire. Then he spake to his horses,-- - -"Take heed, Bayard and Piebald, that you save your driver to-day, nor -leave him dead on the field, as you left Patroclus." - -Then Here gave to the horse Bayard a voice, so that he spake: "Surely -we will save thee, great Achilles; yet, for all that, doom is near to -thee, nor are we the cause, but the gods and mastering Fate. Nor was it -of us that Patroclus died, but Apollo slew him, and gave the glory to -Hector. So shalt thou, too, die by the hands of a god and of a mortal -man." - -And Achilles said, "What need to tell me of my doom? Right well I know -it. Yet will I not cease till I have made the Trojans weary of battle." - -Then with a shout he rushed to the battle. And first there met him -AEneas. Now Achilles cared not to fight with him, but bade him go back -to his comrades. But AEneas would not, but told him of his race, how -that he came from Zeus on his father's side, and how that his mother -was Aphrodite, and that he held himself a match for any mortal man. -Then he cast his spear, which 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 Poseidon 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 marvelled to see it, crying,-- - -"This is a great wonder that I see with mine eyes. For, lo! the spear -is 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. But 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." But they fought not -then, for when Hector cast his spear, Athene turned it aside, and when -Achilles charged, Apollo bore Hector away. - -Then Achilles turned to the others, and slew multitudes of them, so -that they fled, part across the plain, and part to the river, the -eddying Xanthus. And these leapt into the water as locusts leap into a -river when the 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. Nor was there but one who dared to stand -up against him, and 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 stayed it, and the other grazed the right hand -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. - -But Priam stood on a tower of the wall and saw the people. Sore -troubled was he, and he hastened down to the gates and said to the -keepers, "Keep the wicket-gates in your hands open, that the people -may enter in, for they fly before Achilles." So the keepers held the -wicket-gates in their hands, and the people hastened in, wearied -with toil and thirst, and covered with dust, and Achilles followed -close upon them. And that hour would the Greeks have taken the city -of Troy, but that Apollo saved it. For he put courage into the heart -of Antenor's son Agenor, standing also by him, that he should not be -slain. Therefore Agenor stood, thinking within himself,-- - -"Shall I now flee with these others? Nay, for not the less will -Achilles take me and slay me, and I shall die as a coward dies. Or -shall I flee across the plain to Ida, and hide me in the thickets, -and come back at nightfall to the city? Yet should he see me he will -overtake me and smite me, so swift of foot is he and strong. But what -if I stand to meet him before the gates? Well, he, too, is a mortal -man, and his flesh may be pierced by the spear." - -Therefore he stood till Achilles should come near. And when he came he -cast his spear, striking the leg below the knee, but the greave turned -off the spear, so strong was it. But when Achilles would have slain -him, lo! Apollo lifted him up and set him within the city. And that the -men of Troy might have space to enter, he took upon him Agenor's shape. -And the false Agenor fled, and Achilles pursued. But meanwhile the men -of Troy flocked into the city, nor did they stay to ask who was safe -and who was dead, in such haste and fear did they flee. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE DEATH OF HECTOR. - - -The Trojans were now safe in the city, refreshing themselves after all -their grievous toil. Only Hector remained outside the walls, standing -in front of the great Scaean gates. But all the while Achilles was -fiercely pursuing the false Agenor, till at last Apollo turned and -spake to him,-- - -"Why dost thou pursue me, swift-footed Achilles? Hast thou not yet -found out that I am a god, and that all thy fury is in vain? And now -all the sons of Troy are safe in their city, and thou art here, far out -of the way, seeking to slay me, who cannot die." - -In great wrath Achilles answered him, "Thou hast done me wrong in so -drawing me away from the wall, great archer, most mischief-loving of -all the gods that are. Had it not been for this, many a Trojan more had -bitten the ground. Thou hast robbed me of great glory, and saved thy -favorites. O that I had the power to take vengeance on thee! Thou hadst -paid dearly for thy cheat!" - -Then he turned and rushed towards the city, swift as a racehorse whirls -a chariot across the plain. Old Priam spied him from the walls, with -his glittering armor, bright as that brightest of the stars--men call -it Orion's dog--which shines at vintage-time, a baleful light, bringing -the fevers of autumn to men. And the old man groaned aloud when he saw -him, and stretching out his hands, cried to his son Hector, where he -stood before the gates, eager to do battle with this dread warrior,-- - -"Wait not for this man, dear son, wait not for him, lest thou die -beneath his hand, for indeed he is stronger than thou. Wretch that he -is! I would that the gods bare such love to him as I bear! Right soon -would the dogs and vultures eat him. Of many brave sons has he bereaved -me. Two I miss to-day--Polydorus and Lycaon. May be they are yet alive -in the host of the Greeks, and I shall buy them back with gold, of -which I have yet great store in my house. And if they are dead, sore -grief will it be to me and to the mother who bare them; but little will -care the other sons of Troy, so that thou fall not beneath the hand of -Achilles. Come within the walls, dear child; come to save the sons and -daughters of Troy; come in pity for me, thy father, for whom, in my old -age, an evil fate is in store, to see sons slain with the sword, and -daughters carried into captivity, and babes dashed upon the ground. Ay, -and last of all, the dogs which I have reared in my palace will devour -me, lapping my blood and tearing my flesh as I lie on the threshold of -my home. That a young man should fall in battle and suffer such lot -as happens to the slain, this is to be borne; but that such dishonor -should be done to the white hair and white beard of the old, mortal -eyes can see no fouler sight than this." - -Thus old Priam spake, but could not turn the heart of his son. And -from the wall on the other side of the gate his mother called to him, -weeping sore, and if perchance she might thus move his pity, she bared -her bosom in his sight, and said,-- - -"Pity me, my son; think of the breast which I gave thee in the old -days, and stilled thy cries. Come within the walls; wait not for this -man, nor stand in battle against him. If he slay thee, nor I, nor thy -wife, shall pay thee the last honors of the dead, but far away by the -ships of the Greeks the dogs and vultures will devour thee." - -So father and mother besought their son, but all in vain. He was still -minded to abide the coming of Achilles. Just as in the mountains a -great snake at its hole abides the coming of a man: fierce glare its -eyes, and it coils its tail about its hole: so Hector waited for -Achilles; and as he waited he thought thus within himself,-- - -"Woe is me if I go within the walls! Polydamas will be the first to -reproach me, for he advised me to bring back the sons of Troy to the -city before the night when Achilles roused himself to war. But I would -not listen to him. Would that I had! it had been much better for us; -but now I have destroyed the people by my folly. I fear the sons and -daughters of Troy, what they may say; I fear lest some coward reproach -me; 'Hector trusted in his strength, and lo! he has destroyed the -people.' Better were it for me either to slay Achilles or to fall by -his hand with honor here before the walls. Or, stay: shall I put down -my shield, and lay aside my helmet, and lean my spear against the wall -and go to meet the great Achilles, and promise that we will give back -the fair Helen, and all the wealth that Paris carried off with her; -ay, and render up all the wealth that there is in the city, that the -Greeks may divide it among themselves, binding the sons of Troy with -an oath that they keep nothing back? But this is idle talk: he will -have no shame or pity, but will slay me while I stand without arms or -armor before him. It is not for us to talk as a youth and a maiden talk -together. It is better to meet in arms, and see whether the ruler of -Olympus will give victory to him or to me." - -Thus he thought in his heart; and Achilles came near, brandishing over -his right shoulder the great Pelian spear, and the flash of his arms -was as the flame of fire or as the rising sun. And Hector trembled -when he saw him, nor dared to abide his coming. Fast he fled from the -gates, and fast Achilles pursued him, as a hawk, fastest of all the -birds of air, pursues a dove upon the mountains. Past the watch-tower -they ran, past the wind-blown fig-tree, along the wagon-road which went -about the walls, and they came to the fair-flowing fountain where from -two springs rises the stream of eddying Scamander. Hot is one spring, -and a steam ever goes up from it, as from a burning fire; and cold is -the other, cold, even in the summer heats, as hail or snow or ice. -There are fair basins of stone where the wives and fair daughters of -Troy were wont to wash their garments, but that was in the old days of -peace, or ever the Greeks came to the land. Past the springs they ran, -one flying, the other pursuing: brave was he that fled, braver he that -pursued; it was no sheep for sacrifice or shield of ox-hide for which -they ran, but for the life of Hector, the tamer of horses. Thrice they -ran round the city, and all the gods looked on. - -And Zeus said, "This is a piteous sight that I behold. My heart is -grieved for Hector--Hector, who has ever worshipped me with sacrifice, -now on the heights of Ida, and now in the citadel of Troy; and now the -great Achilles is pursuing him round the city of Priam. Come, ye gods, -let us take counsel together. Shall we save him from death, or let him -fall beneath the hand of Achilles?" - -Then Athene said, "What is this that thou sayest, great sire?--to -rescue a man whom fate has appointed to die? Do it, if it be thy will; -but we, the other gods, approve it not." - -Zeus answered her, "My heart is loath; yet I would do thee pleasure. Be -it as thou wilt." - -Then Athene came down in haste from the top of Olympus, and still -Hector fled and Achilles pursued, just as a dog pursues a fawn upon the -hills. And ever Hector made for the gates, or to get shelter beneath -the towers, if haply those that stood upon them might defend him with -their spears; and ever Achilles would get before him, and drive him -towards the plain. So they ran, one making for the city, and the other -driving him to the plain. Just as in a dream, when one seems to fly and -another seems to pursue, and the one cannot escape and the other cannot -overtake, so these two ran together. But as for Hector, Apollo even yet -helped him, and gave him strength and nimble knees, else could he not -have held out against Achilles, who was swiftest of foot among the sons -of men. - -Now Achilles had beckoned to the Greeks that no man should throw his -spear at Hector, lest, perchance, he should be robbed of his glory. And -when the two came in their running for the fourth time to the springs -of Scamander, Zeus held out the great balance of doom, and in one scale -he put the fate of Achilles, and in the other the fate of Hector; and -lo! the scale of Hector sank down to the realms of death, and Apollo -left him. - -Then Athene lighted down from the air close to Achilles and said, -"This, great Achilles, is our day of glory, for we shall slay Hector, -mighty warrior though he be. For it is his doom to die, and not -Apollo's self shall save him. But stand thou still and take breath, and -I will give this man heart to meet thee in battle." - -So Achilles stood, leaning upon his spear. And Athene took the shape of -Deiphobus, and came near to Hector and said,-- - -"Achilles presses thee hard, my brother, pursuing thee thus round the -city of Priam. Come, let us make a stand and encounter him." - -Then Hector answered him, "Deiphobus, I always loved thee best of all -my brothers; but now I love thee yet more, for that thou alone, while -all others remained within, hast ventured forth to stand by my side." - -But the false Deiphobus said, "Much did father and mother and all my -comrades beseech me to remain. But my heart was sore troubled for thee, -and I could not stay. But let us stand and fight this man, not stinting -our spears, and see whether he shall carry our spoil to the ships or we -shall slay him here." - -Then the two chiefs came near to each other, and Hector with the waving -plume spake first and said, "Thrice, great Achilles, hast thou pursued -me round the walls of Troy, and I dared not stand up against thee; but -now I fear thee no more. Only let us make this covenant between us: if -Zeus give me the victory, I will do no dishonor to thy body; thy arms -and armor will I take, and give back thy body to the Greeks; and do -thou promise to do likewise." - -But Achilles scowled at him and said, "Hector, talk not of covenants to -me. Men and lions make no oaths between each other, neither is there -any agreement between wolves and sheep. So there shall be no covenant -between me and thee. One of us two shall fall; and now is the time for -thee to show thyself a warrior, for of a truth Athene will slay thee by -my spear, and thou shalt pay the penalty for all my comrades whom thou -hast slain." - -Then he threw the mighty spear, but Hector saw it coming and avoided -it, crouching on the ground, so that the mighty spear flew above his -head and fixed itself in the earth. But Athene snatched it from the -ground and gave it back to Achilles, Hector not perceiving. - -Then Hector spake to Achilles: "Thou hast missed thy aim, great -Achilles. It was no word of Zeus that thou spakest, prophesying my -doom, but thou soughtest to cheat me, terrifying me by thy words. Thou -shalt not drive thy steel into my back, but here into my breast, if the -gods will it so. But now look out for my spear. Would it might bury -itself in thy flesh. The battle would be easier for the men of Troy -were thou only out of the way." - -And as he spake he threw his long-shafted spear. True aim he took, -for the spear struck the very middle of Achilles' shield. It struck, -but pierced it not, but bounded far away, for the shield was not of -mortal make. And Hector stood dismayed, for he had not another spear, -and when he called to Deiphobus that he should give him another, lo! -Deiphobus was gone. Then Hector knew that his end was come, and he said -to himself, "Now have the gods called me to my doom. I thought that -Deiphobus was near; but he is within the walls, and the help which he -promised me was but a cheat with which Athene cheated me. Zeus and -Apollo are with me no more; but, if I must die, let me at least die in -such a deed as men of after time may hear of." - -So he spake, and drew the mighty sword that hung by his side; then, as -an eagle rushes through the clouds to pounce on a leveret or a lamb, -rushed on the great Achilles. But he dealt never a blow; for Achilles -charged to meet him, his shield before his breast, his helmet bent -forward as he ran, with the long plumes streaming behind, and the gleam -of his spear-point was as the gleam of the evening star, which is the -fairest of all the stars in heaven. One moment he thought where he -should drive it home, for the armor which Hector had won from Patroclus -guarded him well; but one spot there was, where by the collar-bone the -neck joins the shoulder (and nowhere is the stroke of sword or spear -more deadly). There he drave in the spear, and the point stood out -behind the neck, and Hector fell in the dust. - -Then Achilles cried aloud, "Hector, thou thoughtest in the day when -thou didst spoil Patroclus of his arms that thou wouldst be safe from -vengeance, taking, forsooth, no account of me. And lo! thou art fallen -before me, and now the dogs and vultures shall devour thee, but to him -all the Greeks shall give due burial." - -But Hector, growing faint, spake to him, "Nay, great Achilles, by thy -life, and by thy knees, and by thy parents dear, I pray thee, let not -the dogs of the Greeks devour me. Take rather the ransom, gold and -bronze, that my father and mother shall pay thee, and let the sons and -daughters of Troy give me burial rites." - -But Achilles scowled at him, and cried, "Dog, seek not to entreat me! -I could mince that flesh of thine and devour it raw, such grief hast -thou wrought me. Surely the dogs shall devour thee, nor shall any man -hinder. No ransom, though it were ten times told, should buy thee back; -no, not though Priam should offer thy weight in gold." - -Then Hector, who was now at the point to die, spake to him. "I know -thee well, what manner of man thou art, that the heart in thy breast is -iron only. Only beware lest some vengeance from the gods come upon thee -in the day when Paris and Apollo shall slay thee, for all thy valor, by -the Scaean gates." - -So speaking, he died. But Achilles said, "Die, hound; but my fate I -meet when Zeus and the other gods decree." - -Then he drew his spear out of the corpse and stripped off the arms; and -all the Greeks came about the dead man, marvelling at his stature and -beauty, and no man came but wounded the dead corpse. And one would say -to another, "Surely this Hector is less dreadful now than in the day -when he would burn our ships with fire." - -Then Achilles devised a ruthless thing in his heart. He pierced the -ankle-bones of Hector, and so bound the body with thongs of ox-hide to -the chariot, letting the head drag behind, the head that once was so -fair, and now was so disfigured in the dust. So he dragged Hector to -the ships. And Priam saw him from the walls, and scarce could his sons -keep him back, but that he should go forth and beg the body of his dear -son from him who had slain him. And Hecuba his mother also bewailed -him, but Andromache knew not as yet of what had befallen. For she sat -in her dwelling, wearing a great purple mantle broidered with flowers. -And she bade her maidens make ready a bath for Hector, when he should -come back from the battle, nor knew that he should never need it more. -But the voice of wailing from the town came to her, and she rose up -hastily in great fear, and dropped the shuttle from her hand and called -to her maidens,-- - -"Come with me, ye maidens, that I may see what has befallen, for I -heard the voice of Queen Hecuba, and I fear me much that some evil has -come to the children of Priam. For it may be that Achilles has run -between Hector and the city, and is pursuing him to the plain, for -never will Hector abide with the army, but will fight in the front, so -bold is he." - -Then she hasted through the city like as she were mad. And when she -came to the wall she stood and looked; and lo! the horses of Achilles -were dragging Hector to the ships. Then did darkness come on her, and -she fell back fainting, and from her fair head dropped the net and the -wreath and the diadem which golden Aphrodite gave her on the day when -Hector of the waving plume took her from the house of Eetion to be his -wife. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - -Although Hector, that was the chief stay of Troy was dead, yet could -not King Agamemnon take the city. And when it came to pass that -Achilles was slain, being smitten by Paris with an arrow (but some -say that Apollo slew him), then did he well-nigh despair. But the -soothsayers said, "Send, O King, for Philoctetes, and thou shalt have -thy desire." - -Now Philoctetes had been companion to Hercules in many of his labors, -and also had been with him when he died upon Mount AEta. For which cause -Hercules gave him the bow and the arrows which he bare, having received -them at the first from Apollo. A very mighty bow it was, shooting -arrows so as none other could do, and the arrows were sure dealers of -death, for they had been dipped in the blood of the great dragon of -Lerna, and the wounds which they made no physician might heal. But -it chanced that the Prince, being on his voyage to Troy, landed at -the island of Chrysa, where there was an altar of Athene, the goddess -of the place, and, desiring to show the altar to his companions, he -approached it too nearly; whereupon the serpent that guarded it, lest -it should be profaned, bit him in the foot. The wound was very sore -and could not be healed, but tormented him day and night with grievous -pains, making him groan and cry aloud. And when men were troubled -with his complainings, and also with the noisome stench of his wound, -the chiefs took counsel together, and it seemed good to the sons of -Atreus, King Agamemnon and King Menelaues, who were the leaders of -the host, that he should be left alone on the island of Lemnos. This -matter they committed to Ulysses, who did according to their bidding. -Now, therefore, the king took counsel with his chiefs; and they chose -Ulysses, who was crafty beyond all other men, to accomplish this -matter, and with him they sent Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, who -excelled in strength, even as his father had done. - -Now when these two were landed upon the island, Ulysses led the way to -the place where in time past he had left Philoctetes. A cave it was -in the cliff, with two mouths to it, of which the one looked to the -east and the other to the west, so that in winter time a man might see -the sun and be warm, but in summer the wind blew through it, bringing -coolness and sleep, and a little below was a spring of fair water to -drink. Then said Ulysses to Neoptolemus, "Go and spy out the place, and -see whether or no the man be there." - -And the Prince went up and looked into the cave, and found that it -was empty, but that there were signs of one who dwelt there, a bed of -leaves, and a cup of wood, very rudely fashioned, and pieces of wood -for kindling fires, and also, a very piteous sight, the rags wherewith -the sick man was wont to dress his wound. And when he had told what he -saw, Ulysses said, "That the man dwelleth here is manifest; nor can he -be far away, for how can one that is wounded travel far? Doubtless he -is gone to some place whither the birds resort to slay them, or, haply, -to find some herb wherewith to assuage his pain. But do thou set one -who will wait for his coming, for it would fare ill with me should he -find me." - -And when the watch had been set Ulysses said again, "I will tell what -it is needful for thee to say and do. Only thou must be bold, son of -Achilles, and that not only with thy hand, but in heart also, if what I -shall now unfold to thee shall seem new or strange. Hearken then: when -the man shall ask thee who thou art, and whence thou comest, thou shalt -answer him that thou art the son of Achilles, and that thou hast left -the host of the Greeks, because they had done thee great wrong, for -that, having prayed thee to come as not being able to take the great -city of Troy without thee, yet they would not deliver to thee the arms -of thy father Achilles, but gave them to Ulysses. And here thou mayest -speak against me all kinds of evil, for such words will not trouble me, -but if thou accomplish not this thing thou wilt trouble the whole host -of the Greeks. For know that without this man's bow thou canst not take -the city of Troy; know also that thou only canst approach him without -peril, not being of the number of those who sailed with him at the -first. And if it please thee not to get the bow by stealth, for this -indeed thou must do--and I know thee to be one that loveth not to speak -falsely or to contrive deceit--yet bethink thee that victory is sweet. -Be thou bold to-day, and we will be righteous to-morrow." - -Then the Prince made reply, "'Tis not in me, son of Laertes, to work by -craft and guile, neither was it in my father before me. I am ready to -carry off this man with a strong arm; and how, being a cripple, shall -he stand against us? but deceit I will not use. And though I should be -loath to fail thee in this our common enterprise, yet were this better -than to prevail by fraud." - -Then said Ulysses, "And I, too, in my youth would do all things by the -hand and not by the tongue; but now I know that the tongue hath alone -the mastery." - -And the Prince replied, "But thou biddedst me speak the thing that is -false." - -"I bid thee prevail over Philoctetes by craft." - -"But why may I not persuade him, or even constrain him by force?" - -"To persuasion he will not hearken, and force thou mayest not use, for -he hath arrows that deal death without escape." - -"But is it not a base thing for a man to lie?" - -"Surely not, if a lie save him." - -"Tell me what is the gain to me if this man come to Troy." - -"Without this bow and these arrows Troy falleth not. For though it is -the pleasure of the Gods that thou take the city, yet canst not thou -take it without these, nor indeed these without thee." - -And when the Prince had mused a while, he said, "If this be so with the -arms, I must needs get them." - -Then Ulysses said, "Do this, and thou shalt gain a double honor." - -And the Prince said, "What meanest thou by thy 'double honor'? Tell me, -and I refuse no more." - -"The praise of wisdom and of courage also." - -"Be it so: I will do this deed, nor count it shame." - -"'Tis well," said Ulysses, "and now I will despatch this watcher to the -ship, whom I will send again in pilot's disguise if thou desire, and -it seems needful. Also I myself will depart, and may Hermes, the god of -craft, and Athene, who ever is with me, cause us to prevail." - -After a while Philoctetes came up the path to the cave, very slowly, -and with many groans. And when he saw the strangers (for now some of -the ship's crew were with Prince Neoptolemus) he cried, "Who are ye -that are come to this inhospitable land? Greeks I know you to be by -your garb; but tell me more." - -And when the Prince had told his name and lineage, and that he was -sailing from Troy, Philoctetes cried, "Sayest thou from Troy? Yet -surely thou didst not sail with us in the beginning." - -"What?" cried the Prince. "Hadst thou then a share in this matter of -Troy?" - -And Philoctetes made reply, "Knowest thou not whom thou seest? Hast -thou not heard the story of my sorrows?" And when he heard that the -young man knew nothing of these things: "Surely this is sorrow upon -sorrow if no report of my state hath come to the land of Greece, and I -lie here alone, and my disease groweth upon me, but my enemies laugh -and keep silence!" And then he told his name and fortunes, and how the -Greeks had left him on the shore while he slept, and how it was the -tenth year of his sojourning in the island. "For know," he said, "that -it is without haven or anchorage, and no man cometh hither of his free -will; and if any come unwilling, as indeed it doth sometimes chance, -they speak soft words to me and give me, haply, some meat; but when I -make suit to them that they carry me to my home, they will not. And -this wrong the sons of Atreus and Ulysses have worked against me; for -which may the gods who dwell in Olympus make them equal recompense." - -"And I," said the Prince, "am no lover of these men. For when Achilles -was dead----" - -"How sayest thou? Is the son of Peleus dead?" - -"Yea; but it was the hand of a god and not of a man that slew him." - -"A mighty warrior slain by a mighty foe! But say on." - -"Ulysses, and Phoenix who was my sire's foster-father, came in a ship to -fetch me; and when I was come to the camp they even greeted me kindly, -and sware that it was Achilles' self they saw, so like was I to my -sire. And, my mourning ended, I sought the sons of Atreus and asked of -them the arms of my father, but they made answer that they had given -them to Ulysses; and Ulysses, chancing to be there, affirmed that they -had done well, seeing that he had saved them from the enemy. And when I -could prevail nothing, I sailed away in great wrath." - -"'Tis even," Philoctetes made reply, "as I should have judged of them. -But I marvel that the Greater Ajax endured to see such doings." - -"Ah! but he was already dead." - -"This is grievous news. And how fares old Nestor of Pylos?" - -"But ill, for his eldest born, Antilochus, is dead." - -"I could have spared any rather than these two, Ajax and Antilochus. -But Patroclus, where was he when thy father died?" - -"He was already slain. For 'tis ever thus that war taketh the true man -and leaveth the false. But of these things I have had enough and more -than enough. Henceforth my island of Scyros, though it be rocky and -small, shall content me. And now, Prince Philoctetes, I go, for the -wind favors us, and we must take the occasion which the gods give us." - -And when Philoctetes knew that Neoptolemus was about to depart, he -besought him with many prayers that he would take him also on his ship; -for the voyage, he said, would not be of more than a single day. "Put -me," he said, "where thou wilt, in forecastle, or hold, or stern, and -set me on shore even as it may seem best to thee. Only take me from -this place." And the sailors also made entreaty to the Prince that he -would do so; and he, after a while, made as if he consented to their -prayers. - -But while Philoctetes was yet thanking him and his companions, there -came two men to the cave, of whom one was a sailor in the Prince's -ship, and the other a merchant. And the merchant said that he was -sailing from Troy to his home, and that chancing to come to the island, -and knowing that the Prince was there, he judged it well to tell him -his news; 'twas briefly this, that Phoenix and the sons of Theseus had -sailed, having orders from the sons of Atreus that they should bring -the Prince back; and also that Ulysses and Diomed were gone on another -errand, even to fetch some one of whom the rulers had need. And when -the Prince would know who he might be, the merchant bade him say who it -was standing near; and when he heard that it was Philoctetes, he cried, -"Haste thee to thy ship, son of Achilles, for this is the very man whom -the two are coming to fetch. Haply thou hast not heard what befell -at Troy. There is a certain Helenus, son of King Priam, and a famous -soothsayer. Him Ulysses, the man of craft, took a prisoner, and brought -into the assembly of Greeks; and the man prophesied to them that they -should never take the city of Troy, unless they should bring thither -the Prince Philoctetes from the island whereon he dwelt. And Ulysses -said, 'If I bring not the man, whether willing or unwilling, then cut -off my head.'" - -And when Philoctetes heard this his anger was very great, and he became -yet more eager to depart. But first he must go into the cave and fetch -such things as he needed, herbs with which he was wont to soothe the -pains of his wounds, and all the furniture of his bow. And when he -spake of the bow, the Prince asked whether it was indeed the famous bow -of Hercules that he carried in his hand, and would fain, he said, touch -it, if only it were lawful so to do. And Philoctetes answered, "Yes, -thou shalt touch it and handle it, which, indeed, no other man hath -ever done, for thou hast done a good deed to me, and it was for a good -deed that I myself also received it." - -But when they would have gone towards the ship, the pangs of his wound -came upon Philoctetes. And then at first he cried, saying that it was -well with him; but at the last he could endure no more, and cried to -the Prince that he should draw his sword and smite off the foot, nor -heed if he should slay him; only he would be rid of the pain. And then -he bade him take the bow and keep it for him while he slept, for that -sleep came ever upon him after these great pains. Only he must keep -it well, especially if those two, Ulysses and Diomed, should chance -to come in the meanwhile. And when the Prince had promised this, -Philoctetes gave him the bow, saying, "Take it, my son, and pray to the -jealous gods that it bring not sorrow to thee as it hath brought sorrow -to me, and to him that was its master before me." - -And after a while the sick man slept. And the Prince, with the sailors -that were his companions, watched by him the while. - -But when the sailors would have had the Prince depart, seeing that he -had now the great bow and the arrows, for whose sake he had come, he -would not, for they would be of no avail, he said, without the archer -himself. And in no long space of time the sick man woke. Right glad -was he to see that the strangers had not departed, for, indeed, he had -scarce hoped that this might be. Therefore commending the young man -much for his courage and loving kindness, he would have him help him -straightway to the ship, that his pain having now ceased awhile, they -might be ready to depart without delay. So they went, but the Prince -was sorely troubled in his mind and cried, "Now what shall I do?" and -"now am I at my wits' end, so that even words fail me." At which words, -indeed, Philoctetes was grieved, thinking that it repented the Prince -of his purpose, so that he said, "Doth the trouble of my disease then -hinder thee from taking me in thy ship?" - -Then said the Prince, "All is trouble when a man leaveth his nature to -do things that are not fitting." - -And Philoctetes made answer, "Nay, is not this a fitting thing, seeing -of what sire thou art the son, to help a brave man in his trouble?" - -"Can I endure to be so base," said the Prince, "hiding that which -I should declare, and speaking the thing that is false?" And while -Philoctetes still doubted whether he repented not of his purpose, he -cried aloud, "I will hide the thing no longer. Thou shalt sail with me -to Troy." - -"What sayest thou?" - -"I say that thou shalt be delivered from these pains, and shalt prevail -together with me over the great city of Troy." - -"What treachery is this? What hast thou done to me? Give me back the -bow." - -"Nay, that I cannot do, for I am under authority, and must needs obey." - -And when Philoctetes heard these words, he cried with a very piteous -voice, "What a marvel of wickedness thou art that hast done this thing. -Art thou not ashamed to work such wrong to a suppliant? Give me my bow, -for it is my life. But I speak in vain, for he goeth away and heedeth -me not. Hear me then, ye waters and cliffs, and ye beasts of the field, -who have been long time my wonted company, for I have none else to -hearken to me. Hear what the son of Achilles hath done to me. For he -sware that he would carry me to my home, and lo! he taketh me to Troy. -And he gave me the right hand of fellowship, and now he robbeth me of -the bow, the sacred bow of Hercules. Nay,--for I will make trial of -him once more,--give back this thing to me and be thy true self. What -sayest thou? Nothing? Then am I undone. O cavern of the rock wherein I -have dwelt, behold how desolate I am! Never more shall I slay with my -arrows bird of the air or beast of the field; but that which I hunted -shall pursue me, and that on which I fed shall devour me." - -And the Prince was cut to the heart when he heard these words, hating -the thing which he had done, and cursing the day on which he had come -from Scyros to the plains of Troy. Then turning himself to the sailors, -he asked what he should do, and was even about to give back the bow, -when Ulysses, who was close at hand, watching what should be done, ran -forth crying that he should hold his hand. - -Then said Philoctetes, "Is this Ulysses that I see? Then am I undone." - -"'Tis even so: and as for what thou asketh of this youth, that he -should give back the bow, he shall not do it; but rather thou shalt -sail with us to Troy; and if thou art not willing, these that stand by -shall take thee by force." - -"Lord of fire, that rulest this land of Lemnos, hearest thou this?" - -"Nay, 'tis Zeus that is master here, and Zeus hath commanded this deed." - -"What lies are these? Thou makest the gods false as thyself." - -"Not so. They are true and I also. But this journey thou must take." - -"Methinks I am a slave, and not freeborn, that thou talkest thus." - -"Thou art peer to the bravest, and with them shalt take the great city -of Troy." - -"Never; I had sooner cast myself down from this cliff." - -Then Ulysses cried to the men that they should lay hold on him; and -this they straightway did. Then Philoctetes in many words reproached -him with all the wrongs that he had done; how at the first he had -caused him to be left on this island, and now had stolen his arms, not -with his own hands, indeed, but with craft and deceit, serving himself -of a simple youth, who knew not but to do as he was bidden. And he -prayed to the gods that they would avenge him on all that had done him -wrong, and chiefly on this man Ulysses. - -Then Ulysses made reply, "I can be all things as occasion serveth; such -as thou sayest, if need be; and yet no man more pious if the time call -for goodness and justice. One thing only I must needs do, and that is -to prevail. Yet here I will yield to thee. Thou wilt not go; so be it. -Loose him! We need thee not, having these arms of thine. Teucer is with -us, an archer not one whit less skilful than thou. And now I leave -thee to this Lemnos of thine. May be this bow shall bring me the honor -which thou refusest." - -When he had thus spoken he departed, and the Prince Neoptolemus with -him. Only the Prince gave permission to the sailors that they should -tarry with the sick man till it was time to make ready for the voyage. - -Then Philoctetes bewailed himself, crying to his bow, "O my bow, -my beloved, that they have wrested from my hands, surely, if thou -knowest aught, thou grievest to see that the man who was the comrade -of Hercules will never hold thee more, but that base hands will grasp -thee, mixing thee with all manner of deceit." And then again he called -to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field, that they should -not fly from him any more, seeing that he had now no help against -them, but should come and avenge themselves upon him and devour him. -And still the sailors would have comforted him. Also they sought to -persuade him that he should listen to the chiefs; but he would not, -crying that the lightning should smite him before he would go to Troy -and help them that had done him such wrong. And at the last he cried -that they should give him a spear or a sword, that he might be rid of -his life. - -But while they thus talked together, the Prince came back like one that -is in haste, with Ulysses following him, who cried, "Wherefore turnest -thou back?" - -"To undo what I did amiss." - -"How sayest thou? When didst thou thus?" - -"When I listened to thee, and used deceit to a brave man." - -"What wilt thou then? (I fear me much what this fool may do.)" - -"I will give back this bow and these arrows to him from whom I took -them by craft." - -"That shalt thou not do." - -"But who shall hinder me?" - -"That will I, and all the sons of the Greeks with me." - -"This is idle talk for a wise man as thou art." - -"Seest thou this sword whereto I lay my hand?" - -"If thou talkest of swords, thou shalt see right soon that I also have -a sword." - -"Well--I let thee alone. To the host will I tell this matter; they -shall judge thee." - -"Now thou speakest well; be ever as wise; so shalt thou keep thy foot -out of trouble." - -Then the Prince called to Philoctetes, who, being loosed by the -sailors, had hidden himself in the cave, and asked of him again whether -he were willing to sail with him, or were resolved to abide in the -island. - -And when the man had denied that he would go, and had begun again to -call down a curse on the sons of Atreus, and on Ulysses, and on the -Prince himself, then the Prince bade him stay his speech, and gave him -back the bow and the arrows. - -And when Ulysses, seeing this deed, was very wroth, and threatened -vengeance, Philoctetes put an arrow to the string, and drew the bow to -the full, and would have shot at the man, but the Prince stayed his -hand. - -And then the Prince was urgent with him that he should cease from his -anger, and should sail with him to Troy, saying that there he should be -healed by the great physician, the son of Asclepius, and should also -win great glory by taking the city, and that right soon; for that the -soothsayer Helenus had declared that it was the will of the gods that -the city of Troy should be taken that same summer. - -But for all this he prevailed nothing; for Philoctetes was obstinate -that he would not go to Troy, nor do any pleasure to the chiefs who had -done him such wrong. But he would that the Prince should fulfil the -promise which he had made, that he would carry him in his ship to his -own country. And this the Prince said that he would do. - -And now the two were about to depart to the ship, when lo! there -appeared in the air above their heads the great Hercules. Very -wonderful was he to behold, with bright raiment, and a great glory -shining from his face, even as the everlasting gods beheld him with -whom he dwelt in the palace of Olympus. And Hercules spake, saying,-- - -"Go not yet, son of Poeas, before thou hearest what I shall say to thee. -For 'tis Hercules whom thou seest and hearest; and I am come from my -dwelling in heaven to declare to thee the will of Zeus. Know then that -even as I attained to this blessedness after much toil, so shall it -be with thee. For thou shalt go to the land of Troy; and first thou -shalt be healed of thy grievous sickness, and afterwards thou shalt -slay Paris with thine arrows, and shalt take the city of Troy, whereof -thou shalt carry the spoils to thy home, even to Poeas thy father, -having received from thy fellows the foremost prize for valor. But -remember that all that thou winnest in this warfare thou must take -as an offering to my tomb. And to thee, son of Achilles, I say; thou -canst not take the city of Troy without this man, nor he without thee. -Whereof, as two lions that consort together, guard ye each other. And -I will send Asclepius to heal him of his sickness; for it is the will -of the gods that Troy should yet again be taken by my bow. And remember -this, when ye lay waste the land, to have the gods and that which -belongeth to them in reverence." - -Then said Philoctetes, "O my master, whom I have long desired to hear -and see, I will do as thou sayest." - -And the Prince also gave his consent. - -Then Philoctetes bade farewell to the island in these words:-- - - "Home that hast watched with me, farewell! - And nymphs that haunt the springs or dwell - In seaward meadows, and the roar - Of waves that break upon the shore; - Where often, through the cavern's mouth, - The drifting of the rainy South - Hath coldly drenched me as I lay; - And Hermes' hill, whence many a day, - When anguish seized me, to my cry - Hoarse-sounding echo made reply. - O fountains of the land, and thou, - Pool of the Wolf, I leave you now; - Beyond all hope I leave thy strand, - O Lemnos, sea-encircled land! - Grant me with favoring winds to go - Whither the mighty Fates command, - And this dear company of friends, - And mastering Powers who shape our ends - To issues fairer than we know." - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - -It fell out that at the last Troy was taken by a stratagem. Now the -stratagem was this: The Greeks made a great Horse of wood, feigning it -to be a peace-offering to the gods, that they might have a safe return -to their homes. - -In the belly of this there hid themselves certain of the bravest of the -chiefs, as Menelaues, and Ulysses, and Thoas the AEtolian, and Machaon, -the great physician, and Pyrrhus, son of Achilles (but Achilles himself -was dead, slain by Paris, Apollo helping, even as he was about to take -the city), and others also, and with them Epeius himself. But the rest -of the people made as if they had departed to their homes; only they -went not further than Tenedos, which was an island near to the coast. - -Great joy was there in Troy when it was noised abroad that the men of -Greece had departed. The gates were opened, and the people went forth -to see the plain and the camp. And one said to another, as they went, -"Here they set the battle in array, and there were the tents of the -fierce Achilles, and there lay the ships." And some stood and marvelled -at the great peace-offering to Minerva, even the Horse of wood. And -Thymoetes, who was one of the elders of the city, was the first who -advised that it should be brought within the walls and set in the -citadel. Now whether he gave this counsel out of a false heart, or -because the gods would have it so, no man knows. But Capys, and others -with him, said that it should be drowned in water, or burned with fire, -or that men should pierce it and see whether there were aught within. -And the people were divided, some crying one thing and some another. -Then came forward the priest Laocooen, and a great company with him, -crying, "What madness is this? Think ye that the men of Greece are -indeed departed, or that there is any profit in their gifts? Surely, -there are armed men in this mighty Horse; or haply they have made it -that they may look down upon our walls. Touch it not, for as for these -men of Greece, I fear them, even though they bring gifts in their -hands." - -And as he spake he cast his great spear at the Horse, so that it -sounded again. But the gods would not that Troy should be saved. - -Meanwhile there came certain shepherds, dragging with them one whose -hands were bound behind his back. He had come forth to them, they said, -of his own accord, when they were in the field. And first the young men -gathered about him mocking him, but when he cried aloud, "What place is -left for me, for the Greeks suffer me not to live, and the men of Troy -cry for vengeance upon me?" they rather pitied him, and bade him speak, -and say whence he came and what he had to tell. - -Then the man spake, turning to King Priam: "I will speak the truth, -whatever befall me. My name is Sinon, and I deny not that I am a Greek. -Haply thou hast heard the name of Palamedes, whom the Greeks slew, but -now, being dead, lament; and the cause was that, because he counselled -peace, men falsely accused him of treason. Now, of this Palamedes I was -a poor kinsman, and followed him to Troy. And when he was dead, through -the false witness of Ulysses, I lived in great grief and trouble, nor -could I hold my peace, but sware that if ever I came back to Argos I -would avenge me of him that had done this deed. Then did Ulysses seek -occasion against me, whispering evil things, nor rested till at the -last, Calchas the soothsayer helping him--but what profit it that I -should tell these things? For doubtless ye hold one Greek to be even -as another. Wherefore slay me, and doubtless ye will do a pleasure to -Ulysses and the sons of Atreus." - -Then they bade him tell on, and he said,-- - -"Often would the Greeks have fled to their homes, being weary of the -war, but still the stormy sea hindered them. And when this Horse that -ye see had been built, most of all did the dreadful thunder roll from -the one end of the heaven to the other. Then the Greeks sent one -who should inquire of Apollo; and Apollo answered them thus: 'Men -of Greece, even as ye appeased the winds with blood when ye came to -Troy, so must ye appease them with blood now that ye would go from -thence.' Then did men tremble to think on whom the doom should fall, -and Ulysses, with much clamor, drew forth Calchas the soothsayer -into the midst, and bade him say who it was that the gods would -have as a sacrifice. Then did many forebode evil for me. Ten days -did the soothsayer keep silence, saying that he would not give any -man to death. But then, for in truth the two had planned the matter -beforehand, he spake, appointing me to die. And to this thing they all -agreed, each being glad to turn to another that which he feared for -himself. But when the day was come, and all things were ready, the -salted meal for the sacrifice and the garlands, lo! I burst my bonds -and fled, and hid myself in the sedges of a pool, waiting till they -should have set sail, if haply that might be. But never shall I see -country, or father, or children again. For doubtless on these will they -take vengeance for my flight. Only do thou, O king, have pity on me, -who have suffered many things, not having harmed any man." - -And King Priam had pity on him, and bade them loose his bonds, saying, -"Whoever thou art, forget now thy country. Henceforth thou art one of -us. But tell me true: why made they this huge Horse? Who contrived it? -What seek they by it,--to please the gods or to further their siege?" - -Then said Sinon, and as he spake he stretched his hands to the sky, -"I call you to witness, ye everlasting fires of heaven, that with -good right I now break my oath of fealty and reveal the secrets of my -countrymen. Listen then, O king. All our hope has ever been in the help -of Minerva. But, from the day when Diomed and Ulysses dared, having -bloody hands, to snatch her image from her holy place in Troy, her -face was turned from us. Well do I remember how the eyes of the image, -well-nigh before they had set it in the camp, blazed with wrath, and -how the salt sweat stood upon its limbs, aye, and how it thrice leapt -from the ground, shaking shield and spear. Then Calchas told us that we -must cross the seas again, and seek at home fresh omens for our war. -And this, indeed, they are doing even now, and will return anon. Also -the soothsayer said, 'Meanwhile ye must make the likeness of a Horse, -to be a peace-offering to Minerva. And take heed that ye make it huge -of bulk, so that the men of Troy may not receive it into their gates, -nor bring it within their walls, and get safety for themselves thereby. -For if,' he said, 'the men of Troy harm this image at all, they shall -surely perish; but if they bring it into their city, then shall Asia -lay siege hereafter to the city of Pelops, and our children shall -suffer the doom which we would fain have brought on Troy.'" - -These words wrought much on the men of Troy, and as they pondered on -them, lo! the gods sent another marvel to deceive them. For while -Laocooen, the priest of Neptune was slaying a bull at the altar of -his god, there came two serpents across the sea from Tenedos, whose -heads and necks, whereon were thick manes of hair, were high above the -waves, and many scaly coils trailed behind in the waters. And when they -reached the land they still sped forward. Their eyes were red as blood -and blazed with fire, and their forked tongues hissed loud for rage. -Then all the men of Troy grew pale with fear and fled away, but these -turned not aside this way or that, seeking Laocooen where he stood. -And first they wrapped themselves about his little sons, one serpent -about each, and began to devour them. And when the father would have -given help to his children, having a sword in his hand, they seized -upon himself, and bound him fast with their folds. Twice they compassed -about his body, and twice his neck, lifting their heads far above him. -And all the while he strove to tear them away with his hands, his -priest's garlands dripping with blood. Nor did he cease to cry horribly -aloud, even as a bull bellows when after an ill stroke of the axe it -flees from the altar. But when their work was done, the two glided to -the citadel of Minerva, and hid themselves beneath the feet and the -shield of the goddess. And men said one to another, "Lo! the priest -Laocooen has been judged according to his deeds; for he cast his spear -against this holy thing, and now the gods have slain him." Then all -cried out together that the Horse of wood must be drawn to the citadel. -Whereupon they opened the Scaean Gate, and pulled down the wall that -was thereby, and put rollers under the feet of the Horse, and joined -ropes thereto. So, in much joy, they drew it into the city, youths and -maidens singing about it the while, and laying their hands to the ropes -with great gladness. And yet there wanted not signs and tokens of evil -to come. Four times it halted on the threshold of the gate, and men -might have heard a clashing of arms within. Cassandra also opened her -mouth, prophesying evil: but no man heeded her, for that was ever the -doom upon her, not to be believed speaking truth. So the men of Troy -drew the Horse into the city. And that night they kept a feast to all -the gods with great joy, not knowing that the last day of the great -city had come. - -But when night was now fully come, and the men of Troy lay asleep, lo! -from the ship of King Agamemnon there rose up a flame for a signal to -the Greeks; and these straightway manned their ships, and made across -the sea from Tenedos, there being a great calm, and the moon also -giving them light. Sinon likewise opened a secret door that was in the -great Horse, and the chiefs issued forth therefrom, and opened the -gates of the city, slaying those that kept watch. - -Meanwhile there came a vision to AEneas, who now, Hector being dead, was -the chief hope and stay of the men of Troy. It was Hector's self that -he seemed to see, but not such as he had seen him coming back rejoicing -with the arms of Achilles, or setting fire to the ships, but even as -he lay after that Achilles dragged him at his chariot wheels, covered -with dust and blood, his feet swollen and pierced through with thongs. -To him said AEneas, not knowing what he said, "Why hast thou tarried -so long? Much have we suffered waiting for thee! And what grief hath -marked thy face? and whence these wounds?" - -But to this the spirit answered nothing, but said, groaning the while, -"Fly, son of Venus, fly, and save thee from these flames. The enemy is -in the walls, and Troy hath utterly perished. If any hand could have -saved our city, this hand had done so. Thou art now the hope of Troy. -Take then her gods, and flee with them for company, seeking the city -that thou shalt one day build across the sea." - -And now the alarm of battle came nearer and nearer, and AEneas, waking -from sleep, climbed upon the roof, and looked on the city. As a -shepherd stands, and sees a fierce flame sweeping before the south wind -over the cornfields or a flood rushing down from the mountains, so he -stood. And as he looked, the great palace of Deiphobus sank down in -the fire, and the house of Ucalegon, that was hard by, blazed forth, -till the sea by Sigeuem shone with the light. Then, scarce knowing what -he sought, he girded on his armor, thinking, perchance, that he might -yet win some place of vantage, or, at the least, might avenge himself -on the enemy, or find honor in his death. But as he passed from out of -his house there met him Panthus, the priest of Apollo that was on the -citadel, who cried to him, "O AEneas, the glory is departed from Troy, -and the Greeks have the mastery in the city; for armed men are coming -forth from the great Horse of wood, and thousands also swarm in at the -gates, which Sinon hath treacherously opened." And as he spake others -came up under the light of the moon, as Hypanis, and Dymas, and young -Coroebus, who had but newly come to Troy, seeking Cassandra to be his -wife. To whom AEneas spake: - -"If ye are minded, my brethren, to follow me to the death, come on. -For how things fare this night ye see. The gods who were the stay of -this city have departed from it; nor is aught remaining to which we may -bring succor. Yet can we die as brave men in battle. And haply he that -counts his life to be lost may yet save it." Then, even as ravening -wolves hasten through the mist seeking for prey, so they went through -the city, doing dreadful deeds. And for a while the men of Greece fled -before them. - -First of all there met them Androgeos with a great company following -him, who, thinking them to be friends, said, "Haste, comrades, why are -ye so late? We are spoiling this city of Troy, and ye are but newly -come from the ships." But forthwith, for they answered him not as he -had looked for, he knew that he had fallen among enemies. Then even -as one who treads upon a snake unawares among thorns, and flies from -it when it rises angrily against him with swelling neck, so Androgeos -would have fled. But the men of Troy rushed on, and seeing that they -knew all the place, and that great fear was upon the Greeks, slew many -men. Then said Coroebus, "We have good luck in this matter, my friends. -Come now, let us change our shields, and put upon us the armor of these -Greeks. For whether we deal with our enemy by craft or by force, who -will ask?" Then he took to himself the helmet and shield of Androgeos, -and also girded the sword upon him. In like manner did the others, and -thus going disguised among the Greeks slew many, so that some again -fled to the ships and some were fain to climb into the Horse of wood. -But lo! men came dragging by the hair from the temple of Minerva the -virgin Cassandra, whom when Coroebus beheld, and how she lifted up her -eyes to heaven (but as for her hands, they were bound with iron), he -endured not the sight, but threw himself upon those that dragged her, -the others following him. Then did a grievous mischance befall them, -for the men of Troy that stood upon the roof of the temple cast spears -against them, judging them to be enemies. The Greeks also, being wroth -that the virgin should be taken from them, fought the more fiercely, -and many who had before been put to flight in the city came against -them, and prevailed, being indeed many against few. Then first of all -fell Coroebus, being slain by Peneleus the Boeotian, and Rhipeus also, -the most righteous of all the sons of Troy. But the gods dealt not with -him after his righteousness. Hypanis also was slain and Dymas, and -Panthus escaped not for all that more than other men he feared the gods -and was also the priest of Apollo. - -Then was AEneas severed from the rest, having with him two only, Iphitus -and Pelias, Iphitus being an old man and Pelias sorely wounded by -Ulysses. And these, hearing a great shouting, hastened to the palace -of King Priam, where the battle was fiercer than in any place beside. -For some of the Greeks were seeking to climb the walls, laying ladders -thereto, whereon they stood, holding forth their shields with their -left hands, and with their right grasping the roofs. And the men of -Troy, on the other hand, being in the last extremity, tore down the -battlements and the gilded beams wherewith the men of old had adorned -the palace. Then AEneas, knowing of a secret door whereby the unhappy -Andromache in past days had been wont to enter, bringing her son -Astyanax to his grandfather, climbed on to the roof, and joined himself -to those that fought therefrom. Now upon this roof there was a tower, -whence all Troy could be seen and the camp of the Greeks and the ships. -This the men of Troy loosened from its foundations with bars of iron, -and thrust it over, so that it fell upon the enemy, slaying many of -them. But not the less did others press forward, casting the while -stones and javelins and all that came to their hands. - -Meanwhile others sought to break down the gates of the palace, Pyrrhus, -son of Achilles, being foremost among them, clad in shining armor -of bronze. Like to a serpent was he, which sleeps indeed during the -winter, but in the spring comes forth into the light, full fed on evil -herbs, and, having cast his skin and renewed his youth, lifts his head -into the light of the sun and hisses with forked tongue. And with -Pyrrhus were tall Periphas, and Automedon, who had been armor-bearer to -his father Achilles, and following them the youth of Scyros, which was -the kingdom of his grandfather Lycomedes. With a great battle-axe he -hewed through the doors, breaking down also the door-posts, though they -were plated with bronze, making, as it were, a great window, through -which a man might see the palace within, the hall of King Priam and of -the kings who had reigned aforetime in Troy. But when they that were -within perceived it, there arose a great cry of women wailing aloud -and clinging to the doors and kissing them. But ever Pyrrhus pressed -on, fierce and strong as ever was his father Achilles, nor could aught -stand against him, either the doors or they that guarded them. Then, as -a river bursts its banks and overflows the plain, so did the sons of -Greece rush into the palace. - -But old Priam, when he saw the enemy in his hall, girded on him his -armor, which now by reason of old age he had long laid aside, and -took a spear in his hand, and would have gone against the adversary, -only Queen Hecuba called to him from where she sat. For she and her -daughters had fled to the great altar of the household gods, and sat -crowded about it like unto doves that are driven by a storm. Now the -altar stood in an open court that was in the midst of the palace, with -a great bay-tree above it. So when she saw Priam, how he had girded -himself with armor as a youth, she cried to him and said, "What hath -bewitched thee, that thou girdest thyself with armor? It is not the -sword that shall help us this day; no, not though my own Hector were -here, but rather the gods and their altars. Come hither to us, for here -thou wilt be safe, or at the least wilt die with us." - -So she made the old man sit down in the midst. But lo! there came -flying through the palace, Polites, his son, wounded to death by the -spear of Pyrrhus, and Pyrrhus close behind him. And he, even as he came -into the sight of his father and his mother, fell dead upon the ground. -But when King Priam saw it he contained not himself, but cried aloud, -"Now may the gods, if there be any justice in heaven, recompense thee -for this wickedness, seeing that thou hast not spared to slay the son -before his father's eyes. Great Achilles, whom thou falsely callest thy -sire, did not thus to Priam, though he was an enemy, but reverenced -right and truth, and gave the body of Hector for burial, and sent me -back to my city." - -And as he spake the old man cast a spear, but aimless and without -force, and that pierced not even the boss of the shield. Then said the -son of Achilles, "Go thou and tell my father of his unworthy son and -all these evil deeds. And that thou mayest tell him, die!" And as he -spake he caught in his left hand the old man's white hair, and dragged -him, slipping the while in the blood of his own son, to the altar, and -then, lifting his sword high for a blow, drave it to the hilt in the -old man's side. So King Priam, who had ruled mightily over many peoples -and countries in the land of Asia, was slain that night, having first -seen Troy burning about him, and his citadel laid even with the ground. -So was his carcase cast out upon the earth, headless, and without a -name. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -THE ADVENTURES OF ULYSSES. - - -When the great city of Troy was taken, all the chiefs who had fought -against it set sail for their homes. But there was wrath in heaven -against them, for indeed they had borne themselves haughtily and -cruelly in the day of their victory. Therefore they did not all find -a safe and happy return. For one was shipwrecked, and another was -shamefully slain by his false wife in his palace, and others found -all things at home troubled and changed, and were driven to seek new -dwellings elsewhere. And some, whose wives and friends and people had -been still true to them through those ten long years of absence, were -driven far and wide about the world before they saw their native land -again. And of all, the wise Ulysses was he who wandered farthest and -suffered most. - -He was well-nigh the last to sail, for he had tarried many days to do -pleasure to Agamemnon, lord of all the Greeks. Twelve ships he had -with him--twelve he had brought to Troy--and in each there were some -fifty men, being scarce half of those that had sailed in them in the -old days, so many valiant heroes slept the last sleep by Simois and -Scamander, and in the plain on the sea-shore, slain in battle or by the -shafts of Apollo. - -First they sailed north-west to the Thracian coast, where the Ciconians -dwelt, who had helped the men of Troy. Their city they took, and in it -much plunder, slaves and oxen, and jars of fragrant wine, and might -have escaped unhurt, but that they stayed to hold revel on the shore. -For the Ciconians gathered their neighbors, being men of the same -blood, and did battle with the invaders, and drove them to their ship. -And when Ulysses numbered his men, he found that he had lost six out of -each ship. - -Scarce had he set out again when the wind began to blow fiercely; so, -seeing a smooth sandy beach, they drave the ships ashore and dragged -them out of reach of the waves, and waited till the storm should abate. -And the third morning being fair, they sailed again, and journeyed -prosperously till they came to the very end of the great Peloponnesian -land, where Cape Malea looks out upon the southern sea. But contrary -currents baffled them, so that they could not round it, and the north -wind blew so strongly that they must fain drive before it. And on the -tenth day they 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 so they 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 the wise Ulysses heard, he bade -their comrades bind them and carry them, sadly complaining, to the -ships. - -Then, the wind having abated, they took to their oars, and rowed for -many days till they came to the country where the Cyclopes 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. And the next -day they hunted the wild goats, of which there was great store on the -island, and feasted right merrily on what they caught, with draughts of -red wine which they had carried off from the town of the Ciconians. - -But on the morrow, Ulysses, for he was ever fond of adventure, and -would know of every land to which he came what manner of men they were -that dwelt there, took one of his twelve ships and bade row to the -land. There was a great hill sloping to the shore, and there rose up -here and there a smoke from the caves where the Cyclopes dwelt apart, -holding no converse with each other, for they were a rude and savage -folk, but ruled each his own household, not caring for others. Now very -close to the shore was one of these caves, very huge and deep, with -laurels round about the mouth, and in front a fold with walls built -of rough stone, and shaded by tall oaks and pines. So Ulysses chose -out of the crew the twelve bravest, and bade the rest guard the ship, -and went to see what manner of dwelling this was, and who abode there. -He had his sword by his side, and on his shoulder a mighty skin of -wine, sweet-smelling and strong, with which he might win the heart of -some fierce savage, should he chance to meet with such, as indeed his -prudent heart forecasted that he might. - -So they entered the cave, and judged that it was the dwelling of some -rich and skilful 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 the -companions of Ulysses besought him that he would depart, taking with -him, if he would, a store of cheeses and sundry of the lambs and of -the kids. But he would not, for he wished to see, after his wont, what -manner of host this strange shepherd might be. And truly he saw it to -his cost! - -It was evening when the Cyclops came home, a mighty giant, twenty feet -in height, or more. 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 -him Ulysses and his comrades. - -"Who are ye?" cried Polyphemus, for that was the giant's name. "Are ye -traders, or, haply, pirates?" - -For in those days it was not counted shame to be called a pirate. - -Ulysses shuddered at the dreadful voice and shape, but bore him -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 Cyclopes 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 Ulysses saw his thought when he asked about the ship, how he was -minded to break it, and take from them all hope of flight. Therefore he -answered him craftily,-- - -"Ship have we none, for that which was ours King Poseidon 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 tore them limb from limb, and devoured them, with -huge draughts of milk between, leaving not a morsel, not even the very -bones. But the others, when they saw the dreadful deed, could only weep -and pray to Zeus for help. And when the giant had ended his foul meal, -he lay down among his sheep and slept. - -Then Ulysses questioned much in his heart whether he should slay the -monster as he slept, for he doubted not that his good sword would -pierce to the giant's heart, mighty as he was. But, being very wise, -he remembered that, should he slay him, he and his comrades would yet -perish miserably. For who should move away the great rock that lay -against the door of the cave? So they waited till the morning. 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 the wise Ulysses was thinking what he might best do to -save himself and his companions, and the end of his 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 he cut off a fathom's -length, and his 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 made his cruel feast as before. Then Ulysses came forward with the -wine-skin in his 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 Ulysses gave him the cup again, and he drank. Thrice he gave it -to him, and thrice he drank, not knowing what it was, and how it would -work within his brain. - -Then Ulysses spake to him. "Thou didst ask my name, Cyclops. Lo! 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 spoke he fell back in a drunken sleep. Then Ulysses bade his -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 Ulysses leant with all -his force upon the stake, and thrust it in with might and main. 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 Cyclopes 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, Poseidon, for help." - -Then they departed; and Ulysses was glad at heart for the good success -of his device, when he said that he was No Man. - -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 Ulysses think how he and his comrades should best escape. At -last he lighted upon a good device, and much he 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, he fastened his comrades under -the bellies of the beasts, tying them with osier twigs, of which the -giant made his bed. One ram he took, and fastened a man beneath it, -and two others he set, one on either side. So he did with the six, for -but six were left out of the twelve who had ventured with him from the -ship. And there was one mighty ram, far larger than all the others, -and to this Ulysses clung, grasping the fleece tight with both his -hands. So they 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 him pass out of the cave. But when they were out -of reach of the giant, Ulysses loosed his hold of the ram, and then -unbound his comrades. And they hastened to their ship, not forgetting -to drive before them a good store of the Cyclops' fat sheep. Right glad -were those that had abode by the ship to see them. Nor did they lament -for those that had died, though they were fain to do so, for Ulysses -forbade, fearing lest the noise of their weeping should betray them to -the giant, where they were. Then they all climbed into the ship, and -sitting well in order on the benches, smote the sea with their oars, -laying-to right lustily, that they might the sooner get away from the -accursed land. And when they had rowed a hundred yards or so, so that a -man's voice could yet be heard by one who stood upon the shore, Ulysses -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 yet worse things -than these!" - -Then the Cyclops, in his wrath, broke 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 Ulysses seized a long pole with both -hands and pushed the ship from the land, and bade his comrades ply -their oars, nodding with his head, for he was too wise to speak, lest -the Cyclops should know where they were. Then they rowed with all their -might and main. - -And when they had gotten twice as far as before, Ulysses made as if he -would speak again; but his comrades sought to hinder him, saying, "Nay, -my lord, anger not the giant any more. Surely we thought before we were -lost, 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 Ulysses 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." - -And the Cyclops answered with a groan, "Of a truth, the old oracles are -fulfilled, for long ago there came to this land one Telemus, a prophet, -and dwelt among us even to old age. This man foretold to me that one -Ulysses would rob me of my sight. But I looked for a great man and a -strong, who should subdue me by force, and now a weakling has done the -deed, having cheated me with wine. But come thou hither, Ulysses, and -I will be a host indeed to thee. Or, at least, may Poseidon give thee -such a voyage to thy home as I would wish thee to have. For know that -Poseidon is my sire. May be that he may heal me of my grievous wound." - -And Ulysses said, "Would to God I could send thee down to the abode of -the dead, where thou wouldst be past all healing, even from Poseidon's -self." - -Then Cyclops lifted up his hands to Poseidon and prayed,-- - -"Hear me, Poseidon, if I am indeed thy son and thou my father. May this -Ulysses never reach his home! or, if the Fates have ordered that he -should reach it, may he come alone, all his comrades lost, and come to -find sore trouble in his house!" - -And as he ended he hurled another mighty rock, which almost lighted on -the rudder's end, yet missed it as by a hair's breadth. So Ulysses and -his comrades escaped, and came to the island of the wild goats, where -they found their comrades, who indeed had waited long for them, in sore -fear lest they had perished. Then Ulysses divided amongst his company -all the sheep which they had taken from the Cyclops. And all, with one -consent, gave him for his share the great ram which had carried him -out of the cave, and he sacrificed it to Zeus. And all that day they -feasted right merrily on the flesh of sheep and on sweet wine, and when -the night was come, they lay down upon the shore and slept. - -After sailing awhile, they came to the island of AEolus, who is the king -of the winds, and who dwelt there with his children, six sons and six -daughters. Right well did AEolus entertain them, feasting them royally -for a whole month, while he heard from Ulysses the story of all that -had been done at Troy. And when Ulysses prayed him that he would help -him on his way homewards, AEolus hearkened to him, and gave him the skin -of an ox in which he had bound all contrary winds, so that they should -not hinder him. But he let a gentle west wind blow, that it might carry -him and his comrades to their home. For nine days it blew and now they -were near to Ithaca, their country, so that they saw lights burning -in it, it being night-time. But now, by an ill chance, Ulysses fell -asleep, being wholly wearied out, for he had held the helm for nine -days, nor trusted it to any of his comrades. And while he slept his -comrades, who had cast eyes of envy on the great ox-hide, said one to -another,-- - -"Strange it is how men love and honor this Ulysses whithersoever he -goes. And now he comes back from Troy with much spoil, but we with -empty hands. Let us see what it is that AEolus hath given, for doubtless -in this ox-hide is much silver and gold." - -So they loosed the great bag of ox-hide, and lo! all the winds rushed -out, and carried them far away from their country. But Ulysses, waking -with the tumult, doubted much whether he should not throw himself into -the sea and so die. But he endured, thinking it better to live. Only -he veiled his face and so sat, while the ships drave before the winds, -till they came once more to the island of AEolus. Then Ulysses went -to the palace of the king, and found him feasting with his wife and -children, and sat him down on the threshold. Much did they wonder to -see him, saying, "What evil power has hindered thee, that thou didst -not reach thy country and home?" - -Then he answered, "Blame not me, but the evil counsels of my comrades, -and sleep, which mastered me to my hurt. But do ye help me again." - -But they said, "Begone; we may not help him whom the gods hate; and -hated of them thou surely art." - -So AEolus sent him away. Then again they launched their ships and set -forth, toiling wearily at the oars, and sad at heart. - -Six days they rowed, nor rested at night, and on the seventh they came -to Lamos, which was a city of the Laestrygons, in whose land the night -is as the day, so that a man might earn double wage, if only he wanted -not sleep--shepherd by day and herdsman by night. There was a fair -haven with cliffs about it, and a narrow mouth with great rocks on -either side. And within are no waves, but always calm. - -Now Ulysses made fast his ship to the rocks, but the others entered -the haven. Then he sent two men and a herald with them, and these -came upon a smooth road by which waggons brought down wood from the -mountain to the city. Here they met a maiden, the stalwart daughter of -Antiphates, king of the land, and asked of her who was lord of that -country. Whereupon she showed them her father's lofty palace. And they, -entering this, saw the maiden's mother, big as a mountain, horrible -to behold, who straightway called to Antiphates, her husband. The -messengers, indeed, fled to the ships; but he made a great shout, and -the Laestrygons came flocking about him, giants, not men. And these -broke off great stones from the cliffs, each stone as much as a man -could carry, and cast them at the ships, so that they were broken. And -the men they speared, as if they were fishes, and devoured them. So it -happened to all the ships in the haven. Ulysses only escaped, for he -cut the hawser with his sword, and bade his men ply their oars, which -indeed they did right willingly. - -After a while they came to the island of AEaea, where Circe dwelt, who -was the daughter of the Sun. Two days and nights they lay upon the -shore in great trouble and sorrow. On the third, Ulysses took his spear -and sword and climbed a hill that there was, for he wished to see to -what manner of land they had come. And having climbed it, he saw the -smoke rising from the palace of Circe, where it stood in the midst of -a wood. Then he thought awhile: should he go straightway to the palace -that he saw, or first return to his comrades on the shore? And this -last seemed better; and it chanced that as he went he saw a great stag -which was going down to the river to drink, for indeed the sun was -now hot, and casting his spear at it he pierced it through. Then he -fastened together the feet with green withes and a fathom's length of -rope, and slinging the beast round his neck, so carried it to the ship, -leaning on his spear; for indeed it was heavy to bear, nor could any -man have carried it on the shoulder with one hand. And when he was come -to the ship, he cast down his burden. Now the men were sitting with -their faces muffled, so sad were they. But when he bade them be of good -cheer, they looked up and marvelled at the great stag. And all that day -they feasted on deer's flesh and sweet wine, and at night lay down to -sleep on the shore. But when morning was come, Ulysses called them all -together and spake,-- - -"I know not, friends, where we are. Only I know, having seen smoke -yesterday from the hill, that there is a dwelling in this island." - -It troubled the men much to hear this, for they thought of the Cyclops -and of the Laestrygons; and they wailed aloud, but there was no counsel -in them. Wherefore Ulysses divided them into two companies, setting -Eurylochus over the one and himself over the other, and shook lots -in a helmet who should go and search out the island, and the lot of -Eurylochus leapt out. So he went, and comrades twenty and two with him. -And in an open space in the wood they found the palace of Circe. All -about were wolves and lions; yet these harmed not the men, but stood up -on their hind legs, fawning upon them, as dogs fawn upon their master -when he comes from his meal. And the men were afraid. And they stood -in the porch and heard the voice of Circe as she sang with a lovely -voice and plied the loom. Then said Polites, who was dearest of all his -comrades to Ulysses,-- - -"Some one within plies a great loom, and sings with a loud voice. Some -goddess is she, or woman. Let us make haste and call." - -So they called to her, and she came out and beckoned to them that they -should follow. So they went, in their folly. And she bade them sit, and -mixed for them a mess, red wine, and in it barley-meal and cheese and -honey, and mighty drugs withal, of which, if a man drank, he forgot all -that he loved. And when they had drunk she smote them with her wand. -And lo! they had of a sudden the heads and the voices and the bristles -of swine, but the heart of a man was in them still. And Circe shut -them in sties, and gave them mast and acorns and cornel to eat. - -But Eurylochus fled back to the ship. And for a while he could not -speak, so full was his heart of grief, but at the last he told the tale -of what had befallen. Then Ulysses took his silver-studded sword and -his bow, and bade Eurylochus guide him by the way that he had gone. - -Nor would he hearken when Eurylochus would have hindered him, but said, -"Stay here by the ship, eating and drinking, if it be thy will, but I -must go, for necessity constrains me." - -And when he had come to the house, there met him Hermes of the golden -wand, in the shape of a fair youth, who said to him,-- - -"Art thou come to rescue thy comrades that are now swine in Circe's -house? Nay, but thou shalt never go back thyself. Yet, stay; I will -give thee such a drug as shall give thee power to resist all her -charms. For when she shall have mixed thee a mess, and smitten thee -with her wand, then do thou rush upon her with thy sword, making as if -thou wouldst slay her. And when she shall pray for peace, do thou make -her swear by the great oath that binds the gods that she will not harm -thee." - -Then Hermes showed Ulysses a certain herb, whose root was black, but -the flower white as milk. "Moly," the gods call it, and very hard it -is for mortal man to find. Then Ulysses went into the house, and all -befell as Hermes had told him. For Circe would have changed him as she -had changed his comrades. Then he rushed at her with his sword, and -made her swear the great oath which binds the gods that she would not -harm him. - -But afterwards, when they sat at meat together, the goddess perceived -that he was silent and ate not. Wherefore she said, "Why dost thou -sit, Ulysses, as though thou wert dumb? Fearest thou any craft of mine? -Nay, but that may not be, for have I not sworn the great oath that -binds the gods?" - -And Ulysses said, "Nay, but who could think of meat and drink when such -things had befallen his companions?" - -Then Circe led the way, holding her wand in her hand, and opened the -doors of the sties, and drove out the swine that had been men. Then she -rubbed on each another mighty drug, and the bristles fell from their -bodies and they became men, only younger and fairer than before. And -when they saw Ulysses they clung to him and wept for joy, and Circe -herself was moved with pity. - -Then said she, "Go, Ulysses, to thy ship, and put away all the goods -and tackling in the caves that are on the shore, but come again hither -thyself, and bring thy comrades with thee." - -Then Ulysses went. Right glad were they who had stayed to see him, -glad as are the calves who have been penned in the fold-yard when -their mothers come back in the evening. And when he told them what had -been, and would have them follow him, they were all willing, save only -Eurylochus, who said,-- - -"O ye fools, whither are we going? To the dwelling of Circe, who will -change us all into swine, or wolves, or lions, and keep us in prison, -even as the Cyclops did! For was it not this same foolhardy Ulysses -that lost our comrades there?" - -Then was Ulysses very wroth, and would have slain Eurylochus, though -near of kin to him. But his comrades hindered him, saying, "Let him -abide here and keep the ship, if he will. But we will go with thee to -the dwelling of Circe." - -Then Ulysses forbore. Nor did Eurylochus stay behind, but followed -with the rest. So they went to the dwelling of Circe, who feasted them -royally, so that they remained with her for a whole year, well content. - -But when the year was out they said to Ulysses, "It were well to -remember thy country, if it is indeed the will of the gods that thou -shouldst return thither." - -Then Ulysses besought Circe that she would send him on his way -homewards, as indeed she had promised to do. And she answered,-- - -"I would not have you abide in my house unwillingly. Yet must thou -first go another journey, even to the dwellings of the dead, there to -speak with the seer Tiresias." - -But Ulysses was sore troubled to hear such things, and wept aloud, -saying, "Who shall guide us in this journey?--for never yet did ship -make such a voyage as this." - -Then said Circe, "Seek no guide; only raise the mast of thy ship and -spread the white sails, and sit in peace. So shall the north wind -bear thee to the place on the ocean shore where are the groves of -Persephone, tall poplars and willows. There must thou beach thy ship. -And after that thou must go alone." - -Then she told him all that he must do if he would hold converse with -the dead seer Tiresias, and hear what should befall him. So the next -morning he roused his companions, telling them that they should now -return. But it chanced that one of them, Elpenor by name, was sleeping -on the roof, for the coolness, being heavy with wine. And when he heard -the stir of his comrades, he rose up, nor thought of the ladder, but -fell from the roof and brake his neck. And the rest being assembled, -Ulysses told them how they must take another journey first, even to the -dwellings of the dead. This they were much troubled to hear, yet they -made ready the ship and departed. - -So they came to the place of which Circe had told them. And when all -things had been rightly done, Ulysses saw spirits of the dead. First of -all came Elpenor, and he marvelled much to see him, saying,-- - -"How camest thou hither?--on foot or in the ship?" - -Then he answered, telling how he had died; and he said, "Now, as thou -wilt go back, I know, to the island of Circe, suffer me not to remain -unburied, but make above me a mound of earth, for men in aftertimes to -see, and put upon it my oar, with which I was wont to row while I yet -lived." - -These things Ulysses promised that he would do. Afterwards came the -spirit of Tiresias, holding a sceptre of gold in his hand. And when -Ulysses asked him of his return, he said,-- - -"Thy return shall be difficult, because of the anger of Poseidon, -whose son thou madest blind. Yet, when thou comest to the island of -the Three Capes, where feed the oxen of the Sun, if thou leave these -unhurt, thou and thy comrades shall return to Ithaca. But otherwise -they shall perish, and thou shalt return, after long time, in a ship -not thine own, and shalt find in thy palace, devouring thy goods, men -of violence, suitors of thy wife. These shalt thou slay, openly or by -craft. Nor yet shalt thou rest, but shalt go to a land where men know -not the sea, nor eat their meat with salt; and thou shalt carry thy -oar on thy shoulder. And this shall be a sign to thee, when another -wayfarer, meeting thee, shall ask whether it be a winnowing fan that -thou bearest on thy shoulder; then shalt thou fix thy oar in the earth, -and make a sacrifice to Poseidon, and so return. So shalt thou die at -last in peace." - -Then Tiresias departed. After this he saw his mother, and asked how it -fared with his home in Ithaca, and she told him all. And many others -he saw, wives and daughters of the heroes of old time. Also there came -King Agamemnon, who told him how AEgisthus, with Clytemnestra, his -wicked wife, had slain him in his own palace, being newly returned from -Troy. Fain would the King have heard how it fared with Orestes, his -son, but of this Ulysses could tell him nothing. Then came the spirit -of Achilles, and him Ulysses comforted, telling him how bravely and -wisely his son Neoptolemus had borne himself in Troy. - -Also he saw the spirit of Ajax, son of Telamon; but Ajax spake not to -him, having great wrath in his heart, because of the arms of Achilles. -For the two, Ajax and Ulysses, had contended for them, Achilles being -dead, before the assembly of the Greeks, and the Greeks had given them -to Ulysses, whereupon Ajax, being very wroth, had laid hands upon -himself. - -And having seen many other things, Ulysses went back to his ship, and -returned with his companions to the island of Circe. And being arrived -there, first they buried Elpenor, making a mound over him, and setting -up on it his oar, and afterwards Circe made them a feast. But while the -others slept she told to Ulysses all that should befall him, saying,-- - -"First thou wilt come to the island of the Sirens, who sing so sweetly, -that whosoever hears them straightway forgets wife and child and home. -In a meadow they sit, singing sweetly, but about them are bones of men. -Do thou, then, close with wax the ears of thy companions, and make them -bind thee to the mast, so that thou mayest hear the song and yet take -no hurt. And do thou bid them, when thou shalt pray to be loosed, not -to hearken, but rather to bind thee the more. And this peril being -past, there lie others in thy path, of which thou must take thy choice. -For either thou must pass between the rocks which the gods call the -Wanderers--and these close upon all that passes between them, even the -very doves in their flight, nor has any ship escaped them, save only -the ship _Argo_, which Here loved--or thou must go through the strait, -where there is a rock on either hand. In the one rock dwells Scylla, -in a cave so high above the sea that an archer could not reach it with -his arrow. A horrible monster is she. Twelve unshapely feet she hath, -and six long necks, and on each a head with three rows of teeth. In -the cave she lies, but her heads are without, fishing for sea-dogs and -dolphins, or even a great whale, if such should chance to go by. Think -not to escape her, Ulysses, for, of a truth, with each head will she -take one of thy companions. But the other rock is lower and more flat, -with a wild fig-tree on the top. There Charybdis thrice a day draws -in the dark water, and thrice a day sends it forth. Be not thou near -when she draws it in; not even Poseidon's self could save thee. Choose -rather to pass near to Scylla, for it is better to lose six of thy -companions than that all should perish." - -Then said Ulysses, "Can I not fight with this Scylla, and so save my -companions?" - -But Circe answered, "Nay, for she is not of mortal race. And if thou -linger to arm thyself, thou wilt but lose six others of thy companions. -Pass them with all the speed that may be, and call on Cratais, who is -the mother of Scylla, that she may keep her from coming the second -time. Then wilt thou come to the island of the Three Capes, where feed -the oxen of the Sun. Beware that thy companions harm them not." - -The next day they departed. Then Ulysses told his companions of the -Sirens, and how they should deal with him. And after a while, the -following wind that had blown ceased, and there was a great calm; so -they took down the sails and laid them in the ship, and put forth the -oars to row. Then Ulysses made great cakes of wax, kneading them (for -the sun was now hot), and put into the ears of his companions. And they -bound him to the mast and so rowed on. Then the Sirens sang,-- - - "Hither, Ulysses, great Achaian name, - Turn thy swift keel, and listen to our lay; - Since never pilgrim near these regions came, - In black ship on the azure fields astray, - But heard our sweet voice ere he sailed away, - And in his joy passed on with ampler mind. - We know what labors were in ancient day - Wrought in wide Troia, as the gods assigned; - We know from land to land all toils of all mankind."[1] - - [1] Worsley. - -Then Ulysses prayed that they would loose him, nodding his head, for -their ears were stopped; but they plied their oars, and Eurylochus and -Perimedes put new bonds upon him. - -After this they saw a smoke and surf, and heard a mighty roar, and -their oars dropped out of their hands for fear; but Ulysses bade them -be of good heart, for that by his counsel they had escaped other -dangers in past time. And the rowers he bade row as hard as they might. -But to the helmsman he said, "Steer the ship outside the smoke and the -surf, and steer close to the cliffs, lest the ship shoot off unawares -and lose us." But of Scylla he said nothing, fearing lest they should -lose heart and cease rowing altogether. Then he armed himself, and -stood in the prow waiting till Scylla should appear. - -But on the other side Charybdis was sucking in the water with a -horrible noise, and with eddies so deep that a man might see the sand -at the bottom. But while they looked trembling at this, Scylla caught -six of the men from the ship, and Ulysses heard them call him by his -name as the monster carried them away. And never, he said in after -days, did he see with his eyes so piteous a sight. - -But after this they came to the land where fed the oxen of the Sun. And -Ulysses said, "Let us pass by this island, for there shall we find the -greatest evil that we have yet suffered." But they would not hearken; -only they said that the next day they would sail again. - -Then spake Ulysses, "Ye constrain me, being many to one. Yet promise -me this, that ye will not take any of the sheep or oxen, for if ye do -great trouble will come to us." - -So they promised. But for a whole month the south wind blew and ceased -not. And their store of meat and drink being spent, they caught fishes -and birds, as they could, being sore pinched with hunger. And at the -last it chanced that Ulysses, being weary, fell asleep. And while he -slept, his companions, Eurylochus persuading them, took of the oxen of -the Sun, and slew them, for they said that their need was great, and -that when they came to their own land they would build a temple to the -Sun to make amends. But the Sun was very wroth with them. And a great -and dreadful thing happened, for the hides crept, and the meat on the -spits bellowed. - -Six days they feasted on the oxen, and on the seventh they set sail. -But when they were now out of sight of land, Zeus brought up a great -storm over the sea, and a mighty west wind blew, breaking both the -forestay and the backstay of the mast, so that it fell. And after this -a thunderbolt struck the ship, and all the men that were in it fell -overboard and died. But Ulysses lashed the keel to the mast with the -backstay, and on these he sat, borne by the winds across the sea. - -All night was he borne along, and in the morning he came to Charybdis. -And it chanced that Charybdis was then sucking in the water; but -Ulysses, springing up, clung to a wild fig-tree that grew from the -rock, but could find no rest for his feet, nor yet could climb into the -tree. All day long he clung, waiting till the raft should come forth -again; and at evening, at the time when a judge rises from his seat -after judging many causes, the raft came forth. Then he loosed his -hands and fell, so that he sat astride upon the raft. - -After this he was borne for nine days upon the sea, till he came to the -island Ogygia, where dwelt the goddess Calypso. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - - -For seven years Ulysses tarried in the island of Calypso. And in the -eighth year Zeus sent Hermes to the goddess, to bid her let Ulysses go. -So Hermes donned his golden sandals, and took his wand in his hand, -and came to the island of Ogygia, and to the cave where Calypso dwelt. -A fair place it was. In the cave was burning a fire of sweet-smelling -wood, and Calypso sat at her loom and sang with a lovely voice. And -round about the cave was a grove of alders and poplars and cypresses, -wherein many birds, falcons and owls and sea-crows, were wont to -roost; and all about the mouth of the cave was a vine with purple -clusters of grapes; and there were four fountains which streamed four -ways through meadows of parsley and violet. But Ulysses was not there, -for he sat, as was his wont, on the sea-shore, weeping and groaning -because he might not see wife and home and country. - -And Calypso spied Hermes, and bade him come within, and gave him meat -and drink, ambrosia and nectar, which are the food of the gods. And -when he had ended his meal, she asked him of his errand. So he told her -that he was come, at the bidding of Zeus, in the matter of Ulysses, -for that it was the pleasure of the gods that he should return to his -native country, and that she should not hinder him any more. It vexed -Calypso much to hear this, for she would fain have kept Ulysses with -her always, and she said,-- - -"Ye gods are always jealous when a goddess loves a mortal man. And as -for Ulysses, did not I save him when Zeus had smitten his ship with a -thunderbolt, and all his comrades had perished? And now let him go,--if -it pleases Zeus. Only I cannot send him, for I have neither ship nor -rowers. Yet will I willingly teach him how he may safely return." - -And Hermes said, "Do this thing speedily, lest Zeus be wroth with thee." - -So he departed. And Calypso went seeking Ulysses, and found him on the -shore of the sea, looking out over the waters, as was his wont, and -weeping, for he was weary of his life, so much did he desire to see -Ithaca again. She stood by him and said,-- - -"Weary not for thy native country, nor waste thyself with tears. If -thou wilt go, I will speed thee on thy way. Take therefore thine axe -and cut thee beams, and join them together, and make a deck upon them, -and I will give thee bread and water and wine, and clothe thee also, so -that thou mayest return safe to thy native country, for the gods will -have it so." - -"Nay," said Ulysses, "what is this that thou sayest? Shall I pass in a -raft over the dreadful sea, over which even ships go not without harm? -I will not go against thy will; but thou must swear the great oath of -the gods that thou plannest no evil against me." - -Then Calypso smiled and said, "These are strange words. By the Styx I -swear that I plan no harm against thee, but only such good as I would -ask myself, did I need it; for indeed my heart is not of iron, but -rather full of compassion." - -Then they two went to the cave and sat down to meat, and she set before -him food, such as mortal men eat, but she herself ate ambrosia and -drank nectar, as the gods are wont. And afterwards she said,-- - -"Why art thou so eager for thy home? Surely if thou knewest all the -trouble that awaits thee, thou wouldst not go, but wouldst rather dwell -with me. And though thou desirest all the day long to see thy wife, -surely I am not less fair than she." - -"Be not angry," Ulysses made reply. "The wise Penelope cannot indeed be -compared to thee, for she is a mortal woman and thou art a goddess. Yet -is my home dear to me, and I would fain see it again." - -The next day Calypso gave him an axe with a handle of olive wood, and -an adze, and took him to the end of the island, where there were great -trees, long ago sapless and dry, alder and poplar and pine. Of these he -felled twenty, and lopped them, and worked them by the line. Then the -goddess brought him a gimlet, and he made holes in the logs and joined -them with pegs. And he made decks and side-planking also; also a mast -and a yard, and a rudder wherewith to turn the raft. And he fenced it -about with a bulwark of osier against the waves. The sails, indeed, -Calypso wove, and Ulysses fitted them with braces and halyards and -sheets. And afterwards, with ropes, he moored the raft to the shore. - -On the fourth day all was finished, and on the fifth day he departed. -And Calypso gave him goodly garments, and a skin of wine, and a skin -of water, and a rich provender in a wallet of leather. She sent also -a fair wind blowing behind, and Ulysses set his sails and proceeded -joyfully on his way; nor did he sleep, but watched the sun and the -stars, still steering, as indeed Calypso had bidden, to the left. So he -sailed for seventeen days, and on the eighteenth he saw the hills of -Phaeacia and the land, which had the shape of a shield. - -But Poseidon spied him as he sailed, and was wroth to see him so near -to the end of his troubles. Wherefore he sent all the winds of heaven -down upon him. Sore troubled was Ulysses, and said to himself, "It was -truth that Calypso spake when she said how that I should suffer many -troubles returning to my home. Would that I had died that day when many -a spear was cast by the men of Troy over the dead Achilles. Then would -the Greeks have buried me; but now shall I perish miserably." - -And as he spake a great wave struck the raft and tossed him far away, -so that he dropped the rudder from his hand. Nor for a long time could -he rise, so deep was he sunk, and so heavy was the goodly clothing -which Calypso had given him. Yet at the last he rose, and spat the salt -water out of his mouth, and, so brave was he, sprang at the raft and -caught it and sat thereon, and was borne hither and thither by the -waves. But Ino saw him and pitied him--a woman she had been, and was -now a goddess of the sea--and came and sat upon the waves, saying,-- - -"Luckless mortal, why doth Poseidon hate thee so? He shall not slay -thee, though he fain would do it. Put off these garments and swim to -the land of Phaeacia, putting this veil under thy breast. And when thou -art come to the land, loose it from thee, and cast it into the sea; but -when thou castest it, look away." - -But Ulysses doubted what this might be, and thought that he would yet -stay on the raft while the timbers held together, for that the land -was far away. But as he thought, yet another great wave struck it, and -scattered the timbers. And he sat upon one of them, as a man sits upon -a horse; and then he stripped off the garments which Calypso had given -him, and so, leaping into the sea, made to swim to the land. - -And Poseidon saw him, and said, "Get to the shore if thou canst, but -even so thou art not come to the end of thy troubles." - -So for two days and two nights he swam, Athene helping him, for -otherwise he had perished. But on the third day there was a calm, -and he saw the land from the top of a great wave, for the waves were -yet high, close at hand. Dear as a father to his son, rising up from -grievous sickness, so dear was the land to Ulysses. But when he came -near he heard the waves breaking along the shore, for there was no -harbor there, but only cliffs and rugged rocks. And while he doubted -what he should do, a great wave bore him to the shore. Then would he -have perished, all his bones being broken; but Athene put it in his -heart to lay hold of a great rock till the wave had spent itself. And -even then had he died, for the ebb caught him and bore him far out to -sea; but he bethought him that he would swim along, if haply he might -see some landing-place. And at last he came to the mouth of a river, -where there were no rocks. Then at last he won his way to the land. His -knees were bent under him, and his hands dropped at his side, and the -salt water ran out of his mouth and nostrils. Breathless was he, and -speechless; but when he came to himself, he loosed the veil from under -his breast and cast it into the sea. - -Then he lay down on the rushes by the bank of the river and kissed the -earth, thinking within himself, "What now shall I do? for if I sleep -here by the river, I fear that the dew and the frost may slay me; for -indeed, in the morning-time the wind from the river blows cold. And if -I go up to the wood, to lay me down to sleep in the thicket, I fear -that some evil beast may devour me." - -But it seemed better to go to the wood. So he went. Now this was close -to the river, and he found two bushes, of wild olive one, and of -fruitful olive the other. So thickly grown together were they, that -the winds blew not through them, nor did the sun pierce them, nor yet -the rain. Thereunder crept Ulysses, and found great store of leaves, -shelter enough for two or three, even in a great storm. Then, even as -a man who dwells apart from others cherishes his fire, hiding it under -the ashes, so Ulysses cherished his life under the leaves. And Athene -sent down upon his eyelids deep sleep, that might ease him of his toil. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -NAUSICAA AND ALCINOUeS. - - -Now the king of Phaeacia was Alcinoues, and he had five sons and one -daughter, Nausicaa. To her, where she slept with her two maidens by -her, Athene went, taking the shape of her friend, the daughter of -Dymas, and said,-- - -"Why hath thy mother so idle a daughter, Nausicaa? Lo! thy garments lie -unwashed, and thy wedding must be near, seeing that many nobles in the -land are suitors to thee. Ask then thy father that he give thee the -wagon with the mules, for the laundries are far from the city, and I -will go with thee." - -And when the morning was come, Nausicaa awoke, marvelling at the -dream, and went seeking her parents. Her mother she found busy with -her maidens at the loom, and her father she met as he was going to the -council with the chiefs of the land. Then she said, "Give me, father, -the wagon with the mules, that I may take the garments to the river -to wash them. Thou shouldest always have clean robes when thou goest -to the council; and there are my five brothers also, who love to have -newly-washed garments at the dance." - -But of her own marriage she said nothing. And her father, knowing her -thoughts, said, "It is well. The men shall harness the wagon for thee." - -So they put the clothing into the wagon. And her mother put also food -and wine, and olive oil also, wherewith she and her maidens might -anoint themselves after the bath. So they climbed into the wagon and -went to the river. And then they washed the clothing, and spread it -out to dry on the rocks by the sea. And after that they had bathed and -anointed themselves, they sat down to eat and drink by the river side; -and after the meal they played at ball, singing as they played, and -Nausicaa, fair as Artemis when she hunts on Taygetus or Erymanthus wild -goats and stags, led the song. But when they had nearly ended their -play, the princess, throwing the ball to one of her maidens, cast it -so wide that it fell into the river. Whereupon they all cried aloud, -and Ulysses awoke. And he said to himself, "What is this land to which -I have come? Are they that dwell therein fierce or kind to strangers? -Just now I seemed to hear the voice of nymphs, or am I near the -dwellings of men?" - -Then he twisted leaves about his loins, and rose up and went towards -the maidens, who indeed were frighted to see him (for he was wild of -aspect), and fled hither and thither. But Nausicaa stood and fled not. -Then Ulysses thought within himself, should he go near and clasp her -knees, or, lest haply this should anger her, should he stand and speak? -And this he did, saying,-- - -"I am thy suppliant, O queen. Whether thou art a goddess, I know not. -But if thou art a mortal, happy thy father and mother, and happy thy -brothers, and happiest of all he who shall win thee in marriage. Never -have I seen man or woman so fair. Thou art like a young palm-tree that -but lately I saw in Delos, springing by the temple of the god. But as -for me, I have been cast on this shore, having come from the island -Ogygia. Pity me, then, and lead me to the city, and give me something, -a wrapper of this linen, maybe, to put about me. So may the gods give -thee all blessings!" - -And Nausicaa made answer, "Thou seemest, stranger, to be neither evil -nor foolish; and as for thy plight, the gods give good fortune or bad, -as they will. Thou shalt not lack clothing or food, or anything that a -suppliant should have. And I will take thee to the city. Know also that -this land is Phaeacia, and that I am daughter to Alcinoues, who is king -thereof." - -Then she called to her maidens, "What mean ye, to flee when ye see a -man? No enemy comes hither to harm us, for we are dear to the gods, and -we also live in an island of the sea, so that men may not approach to -work us wrong; but if one cometh here overborne by trouble, it is well -to succor him. Give this man, therefore, food and drink, and wash him -in the river, where there is shelter from the wind." - -So they brought him down to the river, and gave him a tunic and a cloak -to clothe himself withal, and also oil-olive in a flask of gold. Then, -at his bidding, they departed a little space, and he washed the salt -from his skin and out of his hair, and anointed himself, and put on the -clothing. And Athene made him taller and fairer to see, and caused the -hair to be thick on his head, in color as a hyacinth. Then he sat down -on the sea-shore, right beautiful to behold, and the maiden said,-- - -"Not without some bidding of the gods comes this man to our land. -Before, indeed, I deemed him uncomely, but now he seems like to the -gods. I should be well content to have such a man for a husband, and -maybe he might will to abide in this land. But give him, ye maidens, -food and drink." - -So they gave him, and he ate ravenously, having fasted long. Then -Nausicaa bade yoke the mules, and said to Ulysses,-- - -"Follow thou with the maidens, and I will lead the way in the wagon. -For I would not that the people should speak lightly of me. And I doubt -not that were thou with me, some one of the baser sort would say, -'Who is this stranger, tall and fair, that cometh with Nausicaa? Will -he be her husband? Perchance it is some god who has come down at her -prayer, or a man from far away; for of us men of Phaeacia she thinks -scorn,' It would be shame that such words should be spoken. And indeed -it is ill-done of a maiden who, father and mother unknowing, companies -with men. Do thou, then, follow behind, and when we are come to the -city, tarry in a poplar grove that thou shalt see ('tis the grove of -Athene) till I shall have come to my father's house. Then follow; and -for the house, that any one, even a child can show thee, for the other -Phaeacians dwell not in such. And when thou art come within the doors, -pass quickly through the hall to where my mother sits. Close to the -hearth is her seat, and my father's hard by, where he sits with the -wine-cup in his hand, as a god. Pass him by, and lay hold of her knees, -and pray her that she give thee safe return to thy country." - -It was evening when they came to the city. And Nausicaa drove the -wagon to the palace. Then her brothers came out to her, and loosed the -mules and carried in the clothing. Then she went to her chamber, where -Eurymedusa, who was her nurse, lighted a fire and prepared a meal. -Meanwhile Ulysses came from the grove, and, lest any one should see -him, Athene spread a mist about him; and when he had now reached the -city, she took the shape of a young maiden carrying a pitcher, and met -him. - -Then Ulysses asked her, "My child, canst thou tell me where dwells -Alcinoues? for I am a stranger in this place." - -And she answered, "I will show thee, for indeed he dwells nigh to my -own father. But be thou silent, for we Phaeacians love not strangers -over much." Then she led him to the palace. A wondrous place it was, -with walls of brass and doors of gold, hanging on posts of silver; -and on either side of the door were dogs of gold and silver, the work -of Hephaestus, and against the wall, all along from the threshold to -the inner chamber, were set seats, on which sat the chiefs of the -Phaeacians, feasting; and youths wrought in gold stood holding torches -in their hands, to give light in the darkness. Fifty women were in the -house grinding corn and weaving robes, for the women of the land are no -less skilled to weave than are the men to sail the sea. And round about -the house were gardens beautiful exceedingly, with orchards of fig and -apple and pear and pomegranate and olive. Drought hurts them not, nor -frost, and harvest comes after harvest without ceasing. Also there was -a vineyard; and some of the grapes were parching in the sun, and some -were being gathered, and some again were but just turning red. And -there were beds of all manner of flowers; and in the midst of all were -two fountains which never failed. - -These things Ulysses regarded for a space, and then passed into the -hall. And there the chiefs of Phaeacia were drinking their last cup to -Hermes. Quickly he passed through them, and put his hands on the knees -of Arete, and said,--and as he spake the mist cleared from about him, -and all that were in the hall beheld him,-- - -"I am a suppliant to thee, and to thy husband, and to thy guests. The -gods bless thee and them, and grant you to live in peace, and that your -children should come peacefully after you. Only do you send me home to -my native country." - -And he sat down in the ashes of the hearth. Then for a space all were -silent; but at the last spake Echeneues, who was the oldest man in the -land,-- - -"King Alcinoues, this ill becomes you that this man should sit in the -ashes of the hearth. Raise him and bid him sit upon a seat, and let us -pour out to Father Zeus, who is the friend of suppliants, and let the -keeper of the house give him meat and drink." - -And Alcinoues did so, bidding his eldest born, Laodamas, rise from his -seat. And an attendant poured water on his hands, and the keeper of -the house gave him meat and drink. Then, when all had poured out to -Father Zeus, King Alcinoues said that they would take counsel on the -morrow about sending this stranger to his home. And they answered that -it should be so, and went each to his home. Only Ulysses was left in -the hall, and Alcinoues and Arete with him. And Arete saw his cloak and -tunic, that she and her maidens had made them, and said,-- - -"Whence art thou, stranger? and who gave thee these garments?" - -So Ulysses told her how he had come from the island of Calypso, and -what he had suffered, and how Nausicaa had found him on the shore, and -had guided him to the city. - -But Alcinoues blamed the maiden that she had not herself brought him to -the house. "For thou wast her suppliant," he said. - -"Nay," said Ulysses; "she would have brought me, but I would not, -fearing thy wrath." For he would not have the maiden blamed. - -Then said Alcinoues, "I am not one to be angered for such cause. Gladly -would I have such a one as thou art to be my son-in-law, and I would -give him house and wealth. But no one would I stay against his will. -And as for sending thee to thy home, that is easy; for thou shalt -sleep, and they shall take thee meanwhile." - -And after this they slept. And the next day the King called the chiefs -to an assembly, and told them of his purpose, that he would send this -stranger to his home, for that it was their wont to show such kindness -to such as needed it. And he bade fifty and two of the younger men make -ready a ship, and that the elders should come to his house, and bring -Demodocus, the minstrel, with them, for that he was minded to make a -great feast for this stranger before he departed. So the youths made -ready the ship. And afterwards there were gathered together a great -multitude, so that the palace was filled from the one end to the other. -And Alcinoues slew for them twelve sheep and eight swine and two oxen. -And when they had feasted to the full, the minstrel sang to them of how -Achilles and Ulysses had striven together with fierce words at a feast, -and how King Agamemnon was glad, seeing that so the prophecy of Apollo -was fulfilled, saying that when valor and counsel should fall out, the -end of Troy should come. But when Ulysses heard the song, he wept, -holding his mantle before his face. - -This Alcinoues perceived, and said to the chiefs, "Now that we have -feasted and delighted ourselves with song, let us go forth, that this -stranger may see that we are skilful in boxing and wrestling and -running." - -So they went forth, a herald leading Demodocus by the hand, for the -minstrel was blind. Then stood up many Phaeacian youths, and the fairest -and strongest of them all was Laodamas, eldest son to the King, and -after him Euryalus. And next they ran a race, and Clytoneus was the -swiftest. And among the wrestlers Euryalus was the best; and of the -boxers, Laodamas. And in throwing the quoit Elatrius excelled; and in -leaping at the bar, Amphialus. - -Then Laodamas, Euryalus urging him, said to Ulysses, "Father, wilt -thou not try thy skill in some game, and put away the trouble from thy -heart?" - -But Ulysses answered, "Why askest thou this? I think of my troubles -rather than of sport, and sit among you, caring only that I may see -again my home." - -Then said Euryalus, "And in very truth, stranger, thou hast not the -look of a wrestler or boxer. Rather would one judge thee to be some -trader, who sails over the sea for gain." - -"Nay," answered Ulysses, "this is ill said. So true is it that the -gods give not all gifts to all men, beauty to one and sweet speech to -another. Fair of form art thou, no god could better thee; but thou -speakest idle words. I am not unskilled in these things, but stood -among the first in the old days; but since have I suffered much in -battle and shipwreck. Yet will I make trial of my strength, for thy -words have angered me." - -Whereupon he took a quoit, heavier far than such as the Phaeacians were -wont to throw, and sent it with a whirl. It hurtled through the air, so -that the brave Phaeacians crouched to the ground in fear, and fell far -beyond all the rest. - -Then said Ulysses, "Come now, I will contend in wrestling or boxing, -or even in the race, with any man in Phaeacia, save Laodamas only, for -he is my friend. I can shoot with the bow, and only Philoctetes could -surpass me; and I can cast a spear as far as other men can shoot an -arrow. But as for the race, it may be that some one might outrun me, -for I have suffered much on the sea." - -But they all were silent, till the King stood up and said, "Thou hast -spoken well. But we men of Phaeacia are not mighty to wrestle or to box; -only we are swift of foot, and skilful to sail upon the sea. And we -love feasts, and dances, and the harp, and gay clothing, and the bath. -In these things no man may surpass us." - -Then the King bade Demodocus the minstrel sing again. And when he had -done so, the King's two sons, Alius and Laodamas, danced together; and -afterwards they played with the ball, throwing it into the air, cloud -high, and catching it right skilfully. - -And afterwards the king said, "Let us each give this stranger a mantle -and a tunic and a talent of gold, and let Euryalus make his peace with -words and with a gift." - -And they all (now there were twelve princes, and Alcinoues the -thirteenth) said that it should be so; also Euryalus gave Ulysses a -sword with a hilt of silver and a scabbard of ivory. And after this -Ulysses went to the bath, and then they all sat down to the feast. But -as he went to the hall, Nausicaa, fair as a goddess, met him and said,-- - -"Hail, stranger; thou wilt remember me in thy native country, for thou -owest me thanks for thy life." - -And he answered, "Every day in my native country will I remember thee, -for indeed, fair maiden, thou didst save my life." - -And when they were set down to the feast, Ulysses sent a portion of the -chine, which the King had caused to be set before him, to the minstrel -Demodocus, with a message that he should sing to them of the Horse of -wood which Epeius made, Athene helping him, and how Ulysses brought it -into Troy, full of men of war who should destroy the city. - -Then the minstrel sang how that some of the Greeks sailed away, having -set fire to their tents, and some hid themselves in the horse with -Ulysses, and how the men of Troy sat around, taking counsel what they -should do with it, and some judged that they should rip it open, and -some that they should throw it from the hill-top, and others again that -they should leave it to be a peace-offering to the gods; and how the -Greeks issued forth from their lurking-place and spoiled the city, and -how Ulysses and Menelaues went to the house of Deiphobus. - -So he sang, and Ulysses wept to hear the tale. And when Alcinoues -perceived that he wept, he bade Demodocus cease from his song, for -that some that were there liked it not. And to Ulysses he said that he -should tell them who was his father and his mother, and from what land -he came, and what was his name. All these things Ulysses told them, and -all that he had done and suffered, down to the time when the Princess -Nausicaa found him on the river shore. And when he had ended, King -Alcinoues bade that the princes should give Ulysses yet other gifts; and -after that they went each man to his house to sleep. - -The next day King Alcinoues put all the gifts into the ship. And when -the evening was come, Ulysses bade farewell to the King and to the -Queen, and departed. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -ULYSSES AND THE SWINEHERD. - - -Now Ulysses slept while the ship was sailing to Ithaca. And when it -was come to the shore he yet slept. Wherefore the men lifted him out, -and put him on the shore with all his goods that the princes of the -Phaeacians had given him, and so left him. After a while he awoke, and -knew not the land, for there was a great mist about him, Athene having -contrived that it should be so, for good ends, as will be seen. Very -wroth was he with the men of Phaeacia, thinking that they had cheated -him; nor did it comfort him when he counted his goods to find that of -these he had lost nothing. - -But as he walked by the sea, lamenting his fate, Athene met him, having -the shape of a young shepherd, fair to look upon, such as are the sons -of kings; and Ulysses, when he saw him, was glad, and asked him how men -called the country wherein he was. - -And the false shepherd said, "Thou art foolish, or, may be, hast come -from very far, not to know this country. Many men know it, both in the -east and in the west. Rocky it is, not fit for horses, nor is it very -broad; but it is fertile land, and full of wine; nor does it want for -rain, and a good pasture it is for oxen and goats; and men call it -Ithaca. Even in Troy, which is very far, they say, from this land of -Greece, men have heard of Ithaca." - -This Ulysses was right glad to hear. Yet he was not minded to say who -he was, but rather to feign a tale. - -So he said, "Yes, of a truth, I heard of this Ithaca in Crete, from -which I am newly come with all this wealth, leaving also as much behind -for my children. For I slew Orsilochus, son of Idomeneus the king, -because he would have taken from me my spoil. Wherefore I slew him, -lying in wait for him by the way. Then made I covenant with certain -Phoenicians that they should take me to Pylos or to Elis; which thing -indeed they were minded to do, only the wind drave them hither, and -while I slept they put me upon the shore, and my possessions with me, -and departed to Sidon." - -This pleased Athene much, and she changed her shape, becoming like a -woman, tall and fair, and said to Ulysses,-- - -"Right cunning would he be who could cheat thee. Even now in thy native -country ceasest thou not from cunning words and deceits! But let these -things be; for thou, I trow, art the wisest of mortal men, and I excel -among the gods in council. For I am Athene, daughter of Zeus, who am -ever wont to stand by thee and help thee. And now we will hide these -possessions of thine; and thou must be silent, nor tell to any one who -thou art, and endure many things, so that thou mayest come to thine own -again." - -But still Ulysses doubted, and would have the goddess tell him whether -of a truth he had come back to his native land. And she, commending his -prudence, scattered the mist that was about him. - -Then Ulysses knew the land, and kissed the ground, and prayed to the -Nymphs that they would be favorable to him. And after this, Athene -guiding him, he hid away his possessions in a cave, and put a great -stone on the mouth. Then the two took counsel together. - -And Athene said, "Think, man of many devices, how thou wilt lay hands -on these men, suitors of thy wife, who for three years have sat in thy -house devouring thy substance. And she hath answered them craftily, -making many promises, but still waiting for thy coming." - -Then Ulysses said, "Truly I had perished, even as Agamemnon perished, -but for thee. But do thou help me, as of old in Troy, for with thee at -my side I would fight with three hundred men." - -Then said Athene, "Lo! I will cause that no man shall know thee, for -I will wither the fair flesh on thy limbs, and take the bright hair -from thy head, and make thine eyes dull. And the suitors shall take no -account of thee, neither shall thy wife nor thy son know thee. But go -to the swineherd Eumaeus, where he dwells by the fountain of Arethusa, -for he is faithful to thee and to thy house. And I will hasten to -Sparta, to the house of Menelaues, to fetch Telemachus, for he went -thither, seeking news of thee." - -Then Athene changed him into the shape of a beggar man. She caused his -skin to wither, and his hair to fall off, and his eyes to grow dim, and -put on him filthy rags, with a great stag's hide about his shoulders, -and in his hand a staff, and a wallet on his shoulder fastened by a -rope. - -Then she departed, and Ulysses went to the house of Eumaeus, the -swineherd. A great courtyard there was, and twelve sties for the sows, -and four watchdogs, big as wild beasts, for such did the swineherd -breed. He himself was shaping sandals, and of his men three were with -the swine in the fields, and one was driving a fat beast to the city, -to be meat for the suitors. But when Ulysses came near, the dogs ran -upon him, and he dropped his staff and sat down, and yet would have -suffered harm, even on his own threshold; but the swineherd ran forth -and drave away the dogs, and brought the old man in, and gave him a -seat of brushwood, with a great goat-skin over it. - -And Ulysses said, "Zeus and the other gods requite thee for this -kindness." - -Then the two talked of matters in Ithaca, and Eumaeus told how the -suitors of the Queen were devouring the substance of Ulysses. Then -the false beggar asked him of the King, saying that perchance, having -travelled far, he might know such an one. - -But Eumaeus said, "Nay, old man, thus do all wayfarers talk, yet we hear -no truth from them. Not a vagabond fellow comes to this land but our -Queen must see him, and ask him many things, weeping the while. And -thou, I doubt not, for a cloak or a tunic, would tell a wondrous tale. -But Ulysses, I know, is dead, and either the fowls of the air devour -him or the fishes of the sea." - -And when the false beggar would have comforted him, saying he knew of -a truth that Ulysses would yet return, he hearkened not. Moreover he -prophesied evil for Telemachus also, who had gone to seek news of his -father, but would surely be slain by the suitors, who were even now -lying in wait for him as he should return. And after this he asked the -stranger who he was and whence he had come. Then Ulysses answered him -craftily,-- - -"I am a Cretan, the son of one Castor, by a slave woman. Now my father, -while he lived, did by me as by his other sons. But when he died -they divided his goods, and gave me but a small portion, and took my -dwelling from me. Yet I won a rich wife for myself, for I was brave -and of good repute. No man would sooner go to battle or to ambush than -I, and I loved ships and spears and arrows, which some men hate, I -trow. Nine times did I lead my followers in ships against strangers, -and the tenth time I went with King Idomeneus to Troy. And when the -city of Priam had perished, I went back to my native country, and there -for the space of one month I tarried with my wife, and afterwards I -sailed with nine ships to Egypt. On the fifth day,--for the gods gave -us a prosperous voyage,--we came to the river of Egypt. There did my -comrades work much wrong to the people of the land, spoiling their -fields, and leading into captivity their wives and children; nor would -they hearken to me when I would have stayed them. Then the Egyptians -gathered an army, and came upon them, and slew some and took others. -And I, throwing down helmet and spear and shield, hasted to the king -of the land where he sat in his chariot, and prayed that he would have -mercy on me, which thing he did. And with him I dwelt for seven years, -gathering much wealth. But in the eighth year there came a trader of -Phoenicia, who beguiled me, that I went with him to his country. And -there I tarried for a year; and afterwards he carried me in his ship -to Libya, meaning to sell me as a slave; but Zeus brake the ship, so -that I only was left alive. Nine days did I float, keeping hold of the -mast, and on the tenth a wave cast me on the land of Thresprotia, where -King Pheidon kindly entreated me, giving me food and raiment. There did -I hear tell of Ulysses; yea, and saw the riches which he had gathered -together, which King Pheidon was keeping till he himself should come -back from Dodona, from the oracle of Zeus. Thence I sailed in a ship -for Dulichium, purposing to go to King Acastus, but the sailors -were minded to sell me for a slave. Therefore they left me bound in -the ship, but themselves took their supper on the shore. But in the -meanwhile I brake my bonds, the gods helping me, and leaping into the -sea, swam to the land, and hid myself in a wood that was near." - -All this tale did Ulysses tell; but Eumaeus doubted whether these things -were so, thinking rather that the beggar-man said these things to -please him. After this they talked much; and when the swineherd's men -were returned, they all feasted together. And the night being cold, and -there being much rain, Ulysses was minded to see whether one would lend -him a cloak; wherefore he told this tale:-- - -"Once upon a time there was laid an ambush near to the city of Troy. -And Menelaues and Ulysses and I were the leaders of it. In the reeds we -sat, and the night was cold, and the snow lay upon our shields. Now all -the others had cloaks, but I had left mine behind at the ships. So when -the night was three parts spent I spake to Ulysses, 'Here am I without -a cloak; soon, methinks, shall I perish with the cold.' Soon did he -bethink him of a remedy, for he was ever ready with counsel. Therefore -to me he said, 'Hush, lest some one hear thee,' and to the others, 'I -have been warned in a dream. We are very far from the ships and in -peril. Wherefore let some one run to the ships to King Agamemnon, that -he send more men to help.' Then Thoas, son of Andraemon, rose up and -ran, casting off his cloak, and this I took, and slept warmly therein. -Were I this night such as then I was, I should not lack such kindness -even now." - -Then said Eumaeus, "This is well spoken, old man. Thou shalt have a -cloak to cover thee. But in the morning thou must put on thy own rags -again. Yet perchance, when the son of Ulysses shall come, he will give -thee new garments." - -After this they slept, but Eumaeus tarried without, keeping watch over -the swine. - -It came to pass the next morning that Telemachus, that was son of King -Ulysses, came to the dwelling of Eumaeus, for he was newly returned from -Sparta, whither he had gone if haply he might hear some tidings of his -father. - -And Ulysses heard the steps of a man, and, as the dogs barked not, said -to Eumaeus, "Lo! there comes some comrade or friend, for the dogs bark -not." - -And as he spake, Telemachus stood in the doorway, and the swineherd let -fall from his hand the bowl in which he was mixing wine, and ran to him -and kissed his head and his eyes and his hands. As a father kisses his -only son coming back to him from a far country after ten years, so did -the swineherd kiss Telemachus. And when Telemachus came in, the false -beggar, though indeed he was his father, rose, and would have given -place to him; but Telemachus suffered him not. And when they had eaten -and drunk, Telemachus asked of the swineherd who this stranger might be. - -Then the swineherd told him as he had heard, and afterwards said, "I -hand him to thee; he is thy suppliant; do as thou wilt." - -But Telemachus answered, "Nay, Eumaeus. For am I master in my house? Do -not the suitors devour it? And does not my mother doubt whether she -will abide with me, remembering the great Ulysses, who was her husband, -or will follow some one of those who are suitors to her? I will give -this stranger, indeed, food and clothing and a sword, and will send -him whithersoever he will, but I would not that he should go among the -suitors, so haughty are they and violent." - -Then said Ulysses, "But why dost thou bear with these men? Do the -people hate thee, that thou canst not avenge thyself on them? and hast -thou not kinsmen to help thee? As for me, I would rather die than see -such shameful things done in house of mine." - -And Telemachus answered, "My people hate me not; but as for kinsmen, -I have none, for Acrisius had but one son, Laertes, and he again but -one, Ulysses, and Ulysses had none other but me. Therefore do these -men spoil my substance without let, and, it may be, will take my life -also. These things, however, the gods will order. But do thou, Eumaeus, -go to Penelope, and tell her that I am returned, but let no man know -thereof, for there are that counsel evil against me; but I will stay -here meanwhile." - -So Eumaeus departed. But when he had gone Athene came, like a woman tall -and fair; but Telemachus saw her not, for it is not given to all to -see the immortal gods; but Ulysses saw her, and the dogs saw her, and -whimpered for fear. She signed to Ulysses, and he went forth, and she -said,-- - -"Hide not the matter from thy son, but plan with him how ye may slay -the suitors, and lo! I am with you." - -Then she made his garments white and fair, and his body lusty and -strong, and his face swarthy, and his cheeks full, and his beard black. -And when he was returned to the house, Telemachus marvelled to see him, -and said,-- - -"Thou art not what thou wast. Surely thou art some god from heaven." - -But Ulysses made reply, "No god am I, only thy father, whom thou hast -so desired to see." - -And when Telemachus yet doubted, Ulysses told him how that Athene had -so changed him. Then Telemachus threw his arms about him, weeping, and -both wept together for a while. And afterwards Telemachus asked him of -his coming back. And Ulysses, when he had told him of this, asked him -how many were the suitors, and whether they two could fight with them -alone. - -Then said Telemachus, "Thou art, I know, a great warrior, my father, -and a wise, but this thing we cannot do; for these men are not ten, no, -nor twice ten, but from Dulichium come fifty and two, and from Samos -four and twenty, and from Zacynthus twenty, and from Ithaca twelve; and -they have Medon the herald, and a minstrel also, and attendants." - -Then said Ulysses, "Go thou home in the morning and mingle with the -suitors, and I will come as an old beggar; and if they entreat me -shamefully, endure to see it, yea, if they drag me to the door. Only, -if thou wilt, speak to them prudent words; but they will not heed -thee, for indeed their doom is near. Heed this also: when I give thee -the token, take all the arms from the dwelling and hide them in thy -chamber. And when they shall ask thee why thou doest thus, say that -thou takest them out of the smoke, for that they are not such as -Ulysses left behind him when he went to Troy, but that the smoke has -soiled them. Say, also, that haply they might stir up strife sitting at -their cups, and that it is not well that arms should be at hand, for -that the very steel draws on a man to fight. But keep two swords and -two spears and two shields,--these shall be for thee and me. Only let -no one know of my coming back--not Laertes, nor the swineherd, no, nor -Penelope herself." - -But after a while the swineherd came back from the city, having carried -his tidings to the Queen. And this she also had heard from the sailors -of the ships. Also the ship of the suitors which they had sent to lie -in wait for the young man was returned. And the suitors were in great -wrath and fear, because their purpose had failed, and also because -Penelope the queen knew what they had been minded to do, and hated them -because of it. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -ULYSSES IN HIS HOME. - - -The next day Telemachus went to the city. But before he went he said -to Eumaeus that he should bring the beggar-man to the city, for that it -was better to beg in the city than in the country. And the false beggar -also said that he wished this. And Telemachus, when he was arrived, -went to the palace and greeted the nurse Euryclea and his mother -Penelope, who was right glad to see him, but to whom he told nought -of what had happened. And after this he went to Piraeus, and bade him -keep the gifts which King Menelaues had given him till he should be in -peace in his own house; and if things should fall out otherwise, that -he should keep them for himself. And then he went to fetch the seer -Theoclymenus, that he might bring him to the palace. And the seer, when -he was come thither, prophesied good concerning Ulysses, how that he -would certainly return and take vengeance for all the wrong that had -been done to him. - -Now in the meanwhile Eumaeus and the false beggar were coming to the -city. And when they were now near to it, by the fountain which Ithacus -and his brethren had made, where was also an altar of the Nymphs, -Melanthius the goatherd met them, and spake evil to Eumaeus, rebuking -him that he brought this beggar to the city. And he came near and smote -Ulysses with his foot on the thigh, but moved him not from the path. -And Ulysses thought a while, should he smite him with his club and -slay him, or dash him on the ground. But it seemed to him better to -endure. - -But Eumaeus lifted up his hands and said, "Oh, now may the Nymphs of the -fountain fulfil this hope, that Ulysses may come back to his home, and -tear from thee this finery of thine, wherein thou comest to the city, -leaving thy flock for evil shepherds to devour!" - -So they went on to the palace. And at the door of the court there lay -the dog Argus, whom in the old days Ulysses had reared with his own -hand. But ere the dog grew to his full, Ulysses had sailed to Troy. -And, while he was strong, men used him in the chase, hunting wild goats -and roe-deer and hares. But now he lay on a dunghill, and the lice -swarmed upon him. Well he knew his master, and, for that he could not -come near to him, wagged his tail and drooped his ears. - -And Ulysses, when he saw him, wiped away a tear, and said, "Surely this -is strange, Eumaeus, that such a dog, being of so fine a breed, should -lie here upon a dunghill." - -And Eumaeus made reply, "He belongeth to a master who died far away. For -indeed, when Ulysses had him of old, he was the strongest and swiftest -of dogs; but now my dear lord has perished far away, and the careless -women tend him not. For when the master is away the slaves are careless -of their duty. Surely a man, when he is made a slave, loses half the -virtue of a man." - -And as he spake, the dog Argus died. Twenty years had he waited, and -saw his master at the last. - -After this the two entered the hall. And Telemachus, when he saw them, -took from the basket bread and meat, as much as his hands could hold, -and bade carry them to the beggar, and also to tell him that he might -go round among the suitors, asking alms. So he went, stretching -out his hand, as though he were wont to beg; and some gave, having -compassion upon him and marvelling at him, and some asked who he was. -But, of all, Antinoues was the most shameless. For when Ulysses came to -him and told him how he had had much riches and power in former days, -and how he had gone to Egypt, and had been sold a slave into Cyprus, -Antinoues mocked him, saying,-- - -"Get thee from my table, or thou shalt find a worse Egypt and a harder -Cyprus than before." - -Then Ulysses said, "Surely thy soul is evil though thy body is fair; -for though thou sittest at another man's feast, yet wilt thou give me -nothing." - -But Antinoues, in great wrath, took the stool on which he sat and cast -it at him, smiting his right shoulder. But Ulysses stirred not, but -stood as a rock. But in his heart he thought on revenge. So he went and -sat down at the door. And being there, he said,-- - -"Hear me, suitors of the Queen! There is no wrath if a man be smitten -fighting for that which is his own, but Antinoues has smitten me because -that I am poor. May the curse of the hungry light on him therefor, ere -he come to his marriage day." - -Also the other suitors blamed him that he had dealt so cruelly with -this stranger. Also the Queen was wroth when she heard it, as she sat -in the upper chamber with her maidens about her. - -But as the day passed on there came a beggar from the city, huge of -bulk, mighty to eat and drink, but his strength was not according to -his size. Arnaeus was his name, but the young men called him Irus, -because he was their messenger, after Iris, the messenger of Zeus. He -spake to Ulysses,-- - -"Give place, old man, lest I drag thee forth; the young men even now -would have it so, but I think it shame to strike such an one as thee." - -Then said Ulysses, "There is room for thee and for me; get what thou -canst, for I do not grudge thee aught, but beware lest thou anger me, -lest I harm thee, old though I am." - -But Irus would not hear words of peace, but still challenged him to -fight. - -And when Antinoues saw this he was glad, and said, "This is the -goodliest sport that I have seen in this house. These two beggars would -fight; let us haste and match them." - -And the saying pleased them; and Antinoues spake again: "Hear me, ye -suitors of the Queen! We have put aside these paunches of the goats -for our supper. Let us agree then that whosoever of these two shall -prevail, shall have choice of these, that which pleaseth him best, and -shall hereafter eat with us, and that no one else shall sit in his -place." - -Then said Ulysses, "It is hard for an old man to fight with a young. -Yet will I do it. Only do ye swear to me that no one shall strike me a -foul blow while I fight with this man." - -Then Telemachus said that this should be so, and they all consented to -his words. And after this Ulysses girded himself for the fight. And all -that were there saw his thighs, how great and strong they were, and -his shoulders, how broad, and his arms, how mighty. And they said one -to another, "There will be little of Irus left, so stalwart seems this -beggar-man." But as for Irus himself, he would have slunk out of sight, -but they that were set to gird him compelled him to come forth. - -Then said the Prince Antinoues, "How is this, thou braggart, that thou -fearest this old man, all woe-begone as he is? Harken thou to this. -If this man prevails against thee, thou shalt be cast into a ship and -taken to the land of King Echetus, who will cut off thy ears and thy -nose for his dogs to eat." - -So the two came together. And Ulysses thought whether he should strike -the fellow and slay him out of hand, or fell him to the ground. And -this last seemed the better of the two. So when Irus had dealt his -blow, he smote him on the jaw, and brake in the bone, so that he fell -howling on the ground, and the blood poured amain from his mouth. - -Then all the suitors laughed aloud. But Ulysses dragged him out of the -hall, and propped him by the wall of the courtyard, putting a staff -in his hand, and saying, "Sit there, and keep dogs and swine from the -door, but dare not hereafter to lord it over men, lest some worse thing -befall thee." - -Then Antinoues gave him a great paunch, and Amphinomus gave two -loaves, and pledged him in a cup, saying, "Good luck to thee, father, -hereafter, though now thou seemest to have evil fortune." - -And Ulysses made reply, "O Amphinomus, thou hast much wisdom, methinks, -and thy father, I know, is wise. Take heed, therefore. There is nought -feebler upon earth than man. For in the days of his prosperity he -thinketh nothing of trouble, but when the gods send evil to him, there -is no help in him. I also trusted once in myself and my kinsmen, and -now--behold me what I am! Let no man, therefore, do violence and wrong, -for Zeus shall requite such deeds at the last. And now these suitors -of the Queen are working evil to him who is absent. Yet will he return -some day and slay his enemies. Fly thou, therefore, while yet there is -time, nor meet him when he comes." - -So he spake, with kindly thought. - -But his doom was on Amphinomus that he should die. - -And that evening, the suitors having departed to their own dwellings, -Ulysses and Telemachus took the arms from the hall, as they had also -planned to do. And while they did so Telemachus said, "See, my father, -this marvellous brightness that is on the pillars and the ceiling. -Surely some god is with us." - -And Ulysses made reply, "I know it: be silent. And now go to thy -chamber and sleep, and leave me here, for I have somewhat to say to thy -mother and her maidens." - -And when the Queen and her maidens came into the hall (for it was their -work to cleanse it and make it ready for the morrow), Penelope asked -him of his family and his country. And at first he made as though he -would not answer, fearing, he said, lest he should trouble her with -the story of that which he had suffered. But afterwards, for she urged -him, telling him what she herself had suffered, her husband being lost -and her suitors troubling her without ceasing, he feigned a tale that -should satisfy her. For he told her how that he was a man of Crete, a -brother of King Idomeneus, and how he had given hospitality to Ulysses, -what time he was sailing to Troy with the sons of Atreus. - -And when the queen, seeking to know whether he spake the truth, asked -him of Ulysses what manner of man he was, and with what clothing he was -clothed, he answered her rightly, saying, "I remember me that he had a -mantle, twofold, woollen, of sea-purple, clasped with a brooch of gold, -whereon was a dog that held a fawn by the throat; marvellously wrought -they were, so hard held the one, so strove the other to be free. Also -he had a tunic, white and smooth, which the women much admired to see. -But whether some one had given him these things I know not, for indeed -many gave him gifts, and I also, even a sword and a tunic. Also he had -a herald with him, one Eurybates, older than him, dark-skinned, round -in the shoulders, with curly hair." - -And Penelope knowing these things to be true, wept aloud, crying that -she should see her husband no more. But the false beggar comforted her, -saying that Ulysses was in the land of the Thresprotians, having much -wealth with him, only that he had lost his ships and his comrades, yet -nevertheless would speedily return. - -Then Penelope bade her servants make ready a bed for the stranger of -soft mats and blankets, and also that one of them should bathe him. But -the mats and blankets he would not have, saying that he would sleep as -before; and for the bathing, he would only that some old woman, wise -and prudent, should do this. Wherefore the queen bade Euryclea, the -keeper of the house, do this thing for him, for that he had been the -comrade of her lord, and indeed was marvellously like to him in feet -and hands. - -And this the old woman was right willing to do, for love for her -master, "for never," she said, "of all strangers that had come to the -land, had come one so like to him." But when she had prepared the bath -for his feet, Ulysses sat by the fire, but as far in the shadow as he -might, lest the old woman should see a great scar that was upon his -leg, and know him thereby. - -Now the scar had chanced in this wise. He had come to see his -grandfather Autolycus, who was the most cunning of men, claiming -certain gifts which he had promised to him in the old days when, being -then newly born, he was set on his grandfather's knees in the halls of -Laertes, and his grandfather had given him this name. And on the day of -his coming there was a great feast, and on the day after a hunting on -Mount Parnassus. In this hunting, therefore, Ulysses came in the heart -of a wood upon a place where lay a great wild boar; and the beast, -being stirred by the noise, rose up, and Ulysses charged him with his -spear; but before he could slay the beast, it ripped a great wound just -above the knee. And afterwards Ulysses slew it, and the young men bound -up the wound, singing a charm to stanch the blood. - -By this scar, then, the old nurse knew that it was Ulysses himself, and -said, "O Ulysses, O my child, to think that I knew thee not!" - -And she looked towards the Queen, as meaning to tell the thing to her. -But Ulysses laid his hand on her throat, "Mother, wouldst thou kill me? -I am returned after twenty years; and none must know till I shall be -ready to take vengeance." - -And the old woman held her peace. And after this Penelope talked with -him again, telling him her dreams, how she had seen a flock of geese in -her palace, and how that an eagle had slain them; and when she mourned -for the geese, lo! a voice that said, "These geese are thy suitors, and -the eagle thy husband." - -And Ulysses said that the dream was well. And then she said that on -the morrow she must make her choice, for that she had promised to -bring forth the great bow that was Ulysses', and whosoever should draw -it most easily, and shoot an arrow best at a mark, he should be her -husband. - -And Ulysses made answer to her, "It is well, lady. Put not off this -trial of the bow, for before one of them shall draw the string the -great Ulysses shall come and duly shoot at the mark that shall be set." - -After this Penelope slept, but Ulysses watched. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -THE TRIAL OF THE BOW. - - -The next day many things cheered Ulysses for that which he had to do; -for first Athene had told him that she would stand at his side, and -next he heard the thunder of Zeus in a clear sky, and last it chanced -that a woman who sat at the mill grinding corn, being sore weary of her -task, and hating the suitors, said, "Grant, Father Zeus, that this be -the last meal which these men shall eat in the house of Ulysses!" - -And after a while the suitors came and sat down, as was their wont, to -the feast. And the servants bare to Ulysses, as Telemachus had bidden, -a full share with the others. And when Ctesippus, a prince of Samos, -saw this (he was a man heedless of right and of the gods), he said, "Is -it well that this fellow should fare even as we? Look now at the gift -that I shall give him." Whereupon he took a bullock's foot out of a -basket wherein it lay, and cast it at Ulysses. - -But he moved his head to the left and shunned it, and it flew on, -marking the wall. And Telemachus cried in great wrath,-- - -"It is well for thee, Ctesippus, that thou didst not strike this -stranger. For surely, hadst thou done this thing, my spear had pierced -thee through, and thy father had made good cheer, not for thy marriage, -but for thy burial." - -Then said Agelaues, "This is well said. Telemachus should not be -wronged, no, nor this stranger. But, on the other hand, he must bid -his mother choose out of the suitors whom she will, and marry him, nor -waste our time any more." - -And Telemachus said, "It is well. She shall marry whom she will. But -from my house I will never send her against her will." - -And the suitors laughed; but their laughter was not of mirth, and the -flesh which they ate dripped with blood, and their eyes were full -of tears. And the eyes of the seer Theoclymenus were opened, and he -cried,-- - -"What ails you, miserable ones? For your heads and your faces and -your knees are covered with darkness, and the voice of groaning comes -from you, and your cheeks are wet with tears. Also the walls and the -pillars are sprinkled with blood, and the porch and the hall are full -of shadows that move towards hell, and the sun has perished from the -heaven, and an evil mist is over all." - -But they laughed to hear him; and Eurymachus said, "This stranger is -mad; let us send him out of doors into the market-place, for it seems -that here it is dark." - -Also they scoffed at Telemachus, but he heeded them not, but sat -waiting till his father should give the sign. - -After this Penelope went to fetch the great bow of Ulysses which -Iphitus had given to him. From the peg on which it hung she took it -with its sheath, and sitting down, she laid it on her knees and wept -over it, and after this rose up and went to where the suitors sat -feasting in the hall. The bow she brought, and also the quiver full of -arrows, and standing by the pillar of the dome, spake thus,-- - -"Ye suitors who devour this house, making pretence that ye wish to wed -me, lo! here is a proof of your skill. Here is the bow of the great -Ulysses. Whoso shall bend it easiest in his hands, and shoot an arrow -most easily through the helve-holes of the twelve axes that Telemachus -shall set up, him will I follow, leaving this house, which I shall -remember only in my dreams." - -Then she bade Eumaeus bear the bow and the arrows to the suitors. And -the good swineherd wept to see his master's bow, and Philaetius, the -herdsman of the kine, wept also, for he was a good man, and loved the -house of Ulysses. - -Then Telemachus planted in due order the axes wherein were the -helve-holes, and was minded himself to draw the bow; and indeed would -have done the thing, but Ulysses signed to him that he should not. -Wherefore he said, "Methinks I am too weak and young; ye that are elder -should try the first." - -Then first Leiodes, the priest, who alone among the suitors hated their -evil ways, made trial of the bow. But he moved it not, but wearied his -hands with it, for they were tender, and unwont to toil. And he said, -"I cannot bend this bow; let some other try; but it shall be grief and -pain to many this day, I trow." - -And Antinoues was wroth to hear such words, and bade Melanthius bring -forth from the stores a roll of fat, that they might anoint the string -and soften it withal. So they softened the string with fat, but not -for that the more could they bend it, for they tried all of them in -vain, till only Antinoues and Eurymachus were left, who indeed were the -bravest and the strongest of them all. - -Now the swineherd and the herdsman of the kine had gone forth out of -the yard, and Ulysses came behind them and said, "What would ye do if -Ulysses were to come back to his home? Would ye fight for him, or for -the suitors?" - -And both said they would fight for him. - -And Ulysses said, "It is even I who am come back in the twentieth year, -and ye, I know, are glad at heart that I am come; nor know I of any -one besides. And if ye will help me as brave men to-day, wives shall -ye have, and possessions and houses near to mine own. And ye shall be -brothers and comrades to Telemachus. And for a sign, behold this scar, -which the wild boar made when I hunted with Autolycus." - -Then they wept for joy and kissed Ulysses, and he also kissed them. -And he said to Eumaeus that he should bring the bow to him when the -suitors had tried their fortune therewith; also that he should bid the -women keep within doors, nor stir out if they should hear the noise of -battle. And Philaetius he bade lock the doors of the hall, and fasten -them with a rope. - -After this he came back to the hall, and Eurymachus had the bow in his -hands, and sought to warm it at the fire. Then he essayed to draw it, -but could not. And he groaned aloud, saying, "Woe is me! not for loss -of this marriage only, for there are other women to be wooed in Greece, -but that we are so much weaker than the great Ulysses. This is indeed -shame to tell." - -Then said Antinoues, "Not so; to-day is a holy day of the God of -Archers; therefore we could not draw the bow. But to-morrow will we try -once more, after due sacrifice to Apollo." - -And this saying pleased them all; but Ulysses said, "Let me try this -bow, for I would fain know whether I have such strength as I had in -former days." - -At this all the suitors were wroth, and chiefly Antinoues, but Penelope -said that it should be so, and promised the man great gifts if he could -draw this bow. - -But Telemachus spake thus, "Mother, the bow is mine to give or to -refuse. And no man shall say me nay, if I will that this stranger make -trial of it. But do thou go to thy chamber with thy maidens, and let -men take thought for these things." - -And this he said, for that he would have her depart from the hall -forthwith, knowing what should happen therein. But she marvelled to -hear him speak with such authority, and answered not, but departed. And -when Eumaeus would have carried the bow to Ulysses, the suitors spake -roughly to him, but Telemachus constrained him to go. Therefore he -took the bow and gave it to his master. Then went he to Euryclea, and -bade her shut the door of the women's chambers and keep them within, -whatsoever they might hear. Also Philaetius shut the doors of the hall, -and fastened them with a rope. - -Then Ulysses handled the great bow, trying it, whether it had taken -any hurt; but the suitors thought scorn of him. Then when he had found -it to be without flaw, just as a minstrel fastens a string upon his -harp, and strains it to the pitch, so he strung the bow without toil; -and holding the string in his right hand, he tried its tone, and the -tone was sweet as the voice of a swallow. Then he took an arrow from -the quiver, and laid the notch upon the string and drew it, sitting as -he was, and the arrow passed through every ring, and stood in the wall -beyond. Then he said to Telemachus,-- - -"There is yet a feast to be held before the sun go down." - -And he nodded the sign to Telemachus. And forthwith the young man stood -by him, armed with spear and helmet and shield. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -THE SLAYING OF THE SUITORS. - - -Then spake he among the suitors, "This labor has been accomplished. Let -me try at yet another mark." - -And he aimed his arrow at Antinoues. But the man was just raising a cup -to his lips, thinking not of death, for who had thought that any man, -though mightiest of mortals, would venture on such a deed, being one -among many? Right through the neck passed the arrow-head, and the blood -gushed from his nostrils, and he dropped the cup and spurned the table -from him. - -And all the suitors, when they saw him fall, leapt from their seats; -but when they looked, there was neither spear nor shield upon the wall. -And they knew not whether it was by chance or of set purpose that -the stranger had smitten him. But Ulysses then declared who he was, -saying,-- - -"Dogs, ye thought that I should never come back. Therefore have ye -devoured my house, and made suit to my wife while I yet lived, and -feared not the gods nor regarded men. Therefore a sudden destruction is -come upon you all." - -Then, when all the others trembled for fear, Eurymachus said, "If -thou be indeed Ulysses of Ithaca, thou hast said well. Foul wrong has -been done to thee in the house and in the field. But lo! he who was -the mover of it all lies here, even Antinoues. Nor was it so much this -marriage that he sought, as to be king of this land, having destroyed -thy house. But we will pay thee back for all that we have devoured, -even twenty times as much." - -But Ulysses said, "Speak not of paying back. My hands shall not cease -from slaying till I have taken vengeance on you all." - -Then said Eurymachus to his comrades, "This man will not stay his -hands. He will smite us all with his arrows where he stands. But let us -win the door, and raise a cry in the city; soon then will this archer -have shot his last." - -And he rushed on, with his two-edged knife in his hand. But as he -rushed, Ulysses smote him on the breast with an arrow, and he fell -forwards. And when Amphinomus came on, Telemachus slew him with his -spear, but drew not the spear from the body, lest some one should smite -him unawares. - -Then he ran to his father and said, "Shall I fetch arms for us and our -helpers?" - -"Yea," said he, "and tarry not, lest my arrows be spent." - -So he fetched from the armory four shields and four helmets and -eight spears. And he and the servants, Eumaeus and Philaetius, armed -themselves. Also Ulysses, when his arrows were spent, donned helmet -and shield, and took a mighty spear in each hand. But Melanthius, the -goatherd, crept up to the armory and brought down therefrom twelve -helmets and shields, and spears as many. And when Ulysses saw that the -suitors were arming themselves, he feared greatly, and said to his -son,-- - -"There is treachery here. It is one of the women, or, it may be, -Melanthius, the goatherd." - -And Telemachus said, "This fault is mine, my father, for I left the -door of the chamber unfastened." - -And soon Eumaeus spied Melanthius stealing up to the chamber again, and -followed him, and Philaetius with him. There they caught him, even as -he took a helmet in one hand and a shield in the other, and bound his -feet and hands, and fastened him aloft by a rope to the beams of the -ceiling. - -Then these two went back to the hall, and there also came Athene having -the shape of Mentor. Still, for she would yet further try the courage -of Ulysses and his son, she helped them not as yet, but changing her -shape, sat on the roof-beam like unto a swallow. - -And then cried Agelaues, "Friends, Mentor is gone, and helps them not. -Let us not cast our spears at random, but let six come on together, if -perchance we may prevail against them." - -Then they cast their spears, but Athene turned them aside, one to the -pillar and another to the door and another to the wall. But Ulysses and -Telemachus and the two herdsmen slew each his man; and yet again they -did so, and again. Only Amphimedon wounded Telemachus, and Ctesippus -grazed the shoulder of Eumaeus. But Telemachus struck down Amphimedon, -and the herdsman of the kine slew Ctesippus, saying, "Take this, for -the ox foot which thou gavest to our guest." And all the while Athene -waved her flaming aegis-shield from above, and the suitors fell as birds -are scattered and torn by eagles. - -Then Leiodes, the priest, made supplication to Ulysses, saying, "I -never wrought evil in this house, and would have kept others from -it, but they would not. Nought have I done save serve at the altar; -wherefore slay me not." - -And Ulysses made reply, "That thou hast served at the altar of these -men is enough, and also that thou wouldest wed my wife." - -So he slew him; but Phemius, the minstrel, he spared, for he had sung -among the suitors in the hall of compulsion, and not of good will; and -also Medon, the herald, bidding them go into the yard without. There -they sat, holding by the altar and looking fearfully every way, for yet -they feared that they should die. - -So the slaughtering of the suitors was ended; and now Ulysses bade -cleanse the hall, and wash the benches and the tables with water, and -purify them with sulphur. And when this was done, that Euryclea, the -nurse, should go to Penelope and tell her that her husband was indeed -returned. So Euryclea went to her chamber and found the Queen newly -woke from slumber, and told her that her husband was returned, and how -that he had slain the suitors, and how that she had known him by the -scar where the wild boar had wounded him. - -And yet the Queen doubted, and said, "Let me go down and see my son, -and these men that are slain, and the man who slew them." - -So she went, and sat in the twilight by the other wall, and Ulysses -sat by a pillar, with his eyes cast down, waiting till his wife should -speak to him. But she was sore perplexed; for now she seemed to know -him, and now she knew him not, being in such evil case, for he had not -suffered that the women should put new robes upon him. - -And Telemachus said, "Mother, evil mother, sittest thou apart from my -father, and speakest not to him? Surely thy heart is harder than a -stone." - -But Ulysses said, "Let be Telemachus. Thy mother will know that which -is true in good time. But now let us hide this slaughter for a while, -lest the friends of these men seek vengeance against us. Wherefore let -there be music and dancing in the hall, so that men shall say, 'This is -the wedding of the Queen, and there is joy in the palace,' and know not -of the truth." - -So the minstrel played and the women danced. And meanwhile Ulysses went -to the bath, and clothed himself in bright apparel, and came back to -the hall, and Athene made him fair and young to see. Then he sat him -down as before, over against his wife, and said,-- - -"Surely, O lady, the gods have made thee harder of heart than all women -besides. Would other wife have kept away from her husband, coming back -now after twenty years?" - -And when she doubted yet, he spake again, "Hear thou this, Penelope, -and know that it is I myself, and not another. Dost thou remember how I -built up the bed in our chamber? In the court there grew an olive tree, -stout as a pillar, and round it I built a chamber of stone, and spanned -the chamber with a roof; and I hung also a door, and then I cut off the -leaves of the olive, and planed the trunk, to be smooth and round; and -the bed I inlaid with ivory and silver and gold, and stretched upon it -an ox-hide that was ornamented with silver." - -Then Penelope knew him, that he was her husband indeed, and ran to him, -and threw her arms about him, and kissed him, saying, "Pardon me, my -lord, if I was slow to know thee; for ever I feared, so many wiles have -men, that some one should deceive me, saying that he was my husband. -But now I know this, that thou art he and not another." - -And they wept over each other and kissed each other. So did Ulysses -come back to his home after twenty years. - - - - -THE - -ADVENTURES OF AENEAS. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - -When the fair city of Troy was taken and destroyed there appeared to -AEneas, who alone was left of all the great chiefs that had fought -against the Greeks, his mother Venus. And she spake to him, saying,-- - -"See now, for I will take away the mist that covers thine eyes; see -how Neptune with his trident is over throwing 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 the 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 is it, 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 Creuesa 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, harken 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 -Creuesa 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, Creuesa 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 Creuesa 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 Creuesa, 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." - -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. - -Now for what remained of that year (for it was the time of summer when -Troy was taken), AEneas, and they that were gathered to him, builded -themselves ships for the voyage, dwelling the while under Mount Ida; -and when the summer was well-nigh come again the work was finished, -and the old man Anchises commanded that they should tarry no longer. -Whereupon they sailed, taking also their gods with them. - -There was a certain land of Thrace, which the god Mars loved beyond -all other lands, whereof in time past the fierce Lycurgus, who would -have slain Bacchus, was king. Here, therefore, for the men of the land -were friendly, or, at the least, had been before evil days came upon -Troy, AEneas builded him a city, and called it after his own name. But, -after awhile, as he did sacrifice on a certain day to his mother, even -Venus, that he might have a blessing on his work, slaying also a white -bull to Jupiter, there befell a certain horrible thing. For hard by the -place where he did sacrifice there was a little hill, with much cornel -and myrtle upon it, whereto AEneas coming would have plucked wands -having leaves upon them, that he might cover therewith the altars. But -lo! when he plucked a wand there dropped drops of blood therefrom. -Whereupon great fear came on him, and wonder also. And when seeking to -know the cause of the thing he plucked other wands also, there dropped -blood even as before. Then, having prayed to the nymphs of the land and -to Father Mars that they would turn all evil from him, he essayed the -third time with all his might, setting his knee against the ground, to -pluck forth a wand. Whereupon there issued from the hill a lamentable -voice, saying, "AEneas, why doest thou me such cruel hurt, nor leavest -me in peace in my grave? For indeed I am no stranger to thee, nor -strange is this blood which thou seest. Fly, for the land is cruel, and -the shore greedy of gain. I am Polydorus. Here I was pierced through -with spears, which have grown into these wands that thou seest." - -But AEneas when he heard the voice was sore dismayed, and he remembered -him how King Priam, thinking that it might fare ill with him and the -great city of Troy, had sent his son, Polydorus, by stealth, and much -gold with him, to Polymestor, who was king of Thrace, and how the king, -when Troy had now perished, slew the boy, and took the gold to himself. -For of a truth the love of gold is the root of all evil. And AEneas told -the thing to his father and to the chiefs; and the sentence of all -was that they should depart from the evil land. But first they made a -great funeral for Polydorus, making a high mound of earth, and building -thereon an altar to the dead. This also they bound about with garlands -of sad-colored wool and cypress, and the women of Troy stood about -it with their hair loosened, as is the use of them that mourn. They -offered also bowls of warm milk and blood, and laid the spirit in the -tomb, bidding him farewell three times with a loud voice. - -After this, when the time for voyaging was come, and the south wind -blew softly, they launched the ships and set sail. And first they came -to the island of Delos, which, having been used to wander over the sea, -the Lord of the Silver Bow made fast, binding it to Myconos and Gyaros, -and found there quiet anchorage. And when they landed to worship, there -met them Anius, who was priest and king of the place, having a crown -of bay-leaves about his head, who knew Anchises for a friend in time -past, and used to them much hospitality. Then did they pray to the god -saying, "Give us, we beseech thee, a home where we may dwell, and a -name upon the earth, and a city that shall abide, even a second Troy -for them that have escaped from the hands of Achilles and the Greeks. -And do thou answer us, and incline our hearts that we may know." - -But when AEneas had ended these words, straightway the place was shaken, -even the gates of the temple and the bay-trees that were hard by. And -when they were all fallen to the ground there came a voice, saying, -"Son of Dardanus, the land that first bare you shall receive you again. -Seek, then, your ancient mother. Then shall the children of AEneas -bear rule over all lands, yea, and their children's children to many -generations." Which when they had heard, they greatly rejoiced, and -would fain know what was the city whither Phoebus would have them go, -that they might cease from their wanderings. Then Anchises, pondering -in his heart the things which he had learnt from the men of old time, -spake thus: "There lieth in mid-ocean a certain island of Crete, -wherein is a mountain, Ida. There was the first beginning of our -nation. Thence came Teucer, our first father, to the land of Troy. Let -us go, then, whither the gods would send us, first doing sacrifice to -the Winds; and, indeed, if but Jupiter help us, 'tis but a three days' -journey for our ships." - -So they offered sacrifice, a bull to Neptune and a bull to the -beautiful Apollo, and a black sheep to the Storm and a white sheep -to the West Wind. There came also a rumor that Idomeneus the Cretan -had fled from his father's kingdom, and that the land was ready for -him who should take it. Whereupon the men of Troy set sail with a -good heart, and passing among the islands that are called Cyclades, -the wind blowing favorably behind them, so came to Crete. There they -builded a city, and called its name Pergamea, after Pergama, which was -the citadel of Troy. And for a while they tilled the soil; also they -married and were given in marriage, as purposing to abide in the land. -But there came a wasting sickness on the men, and a blight also on the -trees and harvests, filling the year with death. The fields likewise -were parched with drought, and the staff of bread was broken. Then the -old Anchises bade them go yet again to the oracle at Delos, and inquire -of the god what end there should be of these troubles, whence they -should seek for help, and whither they should go. - -But as AEneas slept there appeared to him the household gods, which he -had carried out of the burning of Troy, very clear to see in the light -of the moon, which shone through the window of his chamber. And they -spake unto him, saying, "Apollo bids us tell thee here that which he -will tell thee if thou goest to Delos. We who have followed thee over -many seas, even we will bring thy children's children to great honor, -and make their city ruler over many nations. Faint not, therefore, at -thy long wandering. Thou must seek yet another home. For it was not in -Crete that Apollo bade thee dwell. There is a land which the Greeks -call Hesperia; an ancient land, whose inhabitants are mighty men of -valor; a land of vineyards and wheat. There is our proper home, and -thence came Dardanus our father. Do thou, therefore, tell these things -to the old man Anchises. Seek ye for the land of Hesperia, which men -also call Italy; but as for Crete, Jupiter willeth not that ye should -dwell there." - -And for a while AEneas lay in great fear, with a cold sweat upon him, -so clear was the vision of those whom he saw, nor in anywise like unto -a dream. Then he rose up from his bed, and after prayer and sacrifice -told the thing to Anchises. And the old man saw that he had been -deceived in this matter, and he said, "O my son, now do I remember how -Cassandra was wont to prophesy these things to me, and would speak of -Hesperia and of the land of Italy. But, indeed, no man thought in those -days that the men of Troy should voyage to Hesperia, nor did any take -account of the words of Cassandra. But now let us heed the oracle of -Apollo, and depart." - -So the men of Troy made their ships ready and departed. And after -a while, when they could no more see the land, there fell a great -storm upon them, with a strong wind and great rolling waves, and much -lightning also. Thus were they driven out of their course, and for -three days and nights saw neither the sun nor the stars. But on the -fourth day they came to a land where they saw hills, and smoke rising -therefrom. Then did the men ply their oars amain, and soon came to the -shore. Now this place they found to be one of certain islands which men -name the Strophades. And upon these islands dwell creatures which are -called Harpies, very evil indeed, having the countenances of women and -wings like unto the wings of birds, and long claws. Also their faces -are pale as with much hunger. Now when the men of Troy were come to -this land, they saw many herds of oxen and flocks of goats thereon, -nor any one to watch them. Of these they slew such as they needed, -and, not forgetting to give due share to the gods, made a great feast -upon the shore. But lo! even while they made merry, there came a great -rushing of wings, and the Harpies came upon them, making great havoc -of the meat and fouling all things most horribly. And when they had -departed, the men of Troy sought another place where they might do -sacrifice and eat their meat in peace. But when the Harpies had come -thither also and done in the same fashion, AEneas commanded that the -men should draw their swords and do battle with the beasts. Therefore, -the Harpies coming yet again, Misenus with his trumpet gave the sound -for battle. But lo! they fought as those that beat the air, seeing that -neither sword nor spear availed to wound the beasts. Then again these -departed, one only remaining, by name, Celaeno, who, sitting on a rock, -spake after this fashion: "Do ye purpose, sons of Laomedon, to fight -for these cattle that ye have wrongfully taken, or to drive the Harpies -from their kingdom and inheritance? Hear, therefore, my words, which -indeed the almighty Father told to Phoebus, and Phoebus told to me. Ye -journey to Italy, and to Italy shall ye come. Only ye shall not build -a city, and wall it about with walls, till dreadful hunger shall cause -you to eat the very tables whereon ye sup." - -So saying, she departed. But when great fear was fallen upon all, -Anchises lifted up his hands to heaven and prayed to the gods that they -would keep that evil from them. - -Then they set sail, and, the south wind blowing, passed by Zacynthus -and Dulichium, and also Ithaca, which they cursed as they passed, -because it was the land of the hateful Ulysses, and so came to Actium, -where they landed. There also they did sacrifice to the gods, and had -games of wrestling and others, rejoicing that they had passed safely -through so many cities of their enemies. And there they wintered, and -AEneas fixed on the doors of the temple of Apollo a shield of bronze -which he had won in battle from the valiant Abas, writing thereon these -words, "AENEAS DEDICATES THESE ARMS WON FROM THE VICTORIOUS GREEKS." - -But when the spring was come they set sail, and, leaving behind them -the land of Phaeacia, came to Buthrotum that is in Epirus. There indeed -they heard a marvellous thing, even that Helenus, the son of Priam, -was king in these parts, in the room of Pyrrhus, the son of Achilles, -having also to wife Andromache, who was the widow of Hector. And when -AEneas, wishing to know whether these things were so, journeyed towards -the city, lo! in a grove hard by, by a river which also was called -Simois, there stood this same Andromache, and made offerings to the -spirit of Hector not without many tears. And at the first when she saw -AEneas, and that he wore such arms as the men of Troy were used to wear, -she swooned with fear, but after a while spake thus: "Is this indeed a -real thing that I see? Art thou alive? or, if thou art dead, tell me, -where is my Hector?" So she cried and wept aloud. And AEneas answered -her: "Yes, lady, this is flesh and blood, and not a spirit, that thou -seest. But as for thee, what fortune has befallen thee? Art thou still -wedded to Pyrrhus?" - -And she, casting down her eyes, made answer, "O daughter of Priam, -happy beyond thy sisters in that thou wast slain at the tomb of -Achilles, nor wast taken to be a prey of the conqueror! But as for me I -was borne across the sea, to be slave to the haughty son of Achilles. -And when he took to wife Hermione, who was the daughter of Helen, he -gave me to Helenus, as a slave is given to a slave. But Pyrrhus, after -awhile, Orestes slew, taking him unawares, even by the altar of his -father. And when he was dead, part of his kingdom came to Helenus, -who hath called the land Chaonia, after Chaon of Troy, and hath also -builded a citadel, a new Pergama, upon the hills. But tell me, was it -some storm that drave thee hither, or chance, or, lastly, some sending -of the gods? And is Ascanius yet alive--the boy whom I remember? Doth -he yet think of his mother that is dead? And is he stout and of a good -courage, as befits the son of AEneas and sister's son to Hector?" - -And while she spake there came Helenus from the city with a great -company, and bade welcome to his friends with much joy. And AEneas -saw how that all things were ordered and named even as they had been -at Troy, only the things at Troy had been great, and these were very -small. And afterwards King Helenus made a feast to them in his house, -and they drank together and were merry. - -But after certain days were passed, AEneas, seeing that the wind favored -them, spake to Helenus, knowing him also to be a prophet of the gods: -"Tell me now, seeing that thou art wise in all manner of divination and -prophecy, how it will fare with us. For indeed all things have seemed -to favor us, and we go not on this journey against the will of the -gods, yet did the Harpy Celaeno prophesy evil things, that we should -endure great extremity of hunger. Say, then, of what things I should -most beware, and how I shall best prosper." - -Then Helenus, after due sacrifice, led AEneas to the temple of Phoebus. -And when they were come thither, and the god had breathed into the -seer, even into Helenus, the spirit of prophecy, he spake, saying, "Son -of Venus, that thou takest thy journey across the sea with favor of the -gods is manifest. Hearken, therefore, and I will inform thee of certain -things, though indeed they be few out of many, by which thou mayest -more safely cross unknown seas and get thee to thy haven in Italy. -Much indeed the Fates suffer me not to know, and much Juno forbids me -to speak. Know then, first of all, that Italy, which thou ignorantly -thinkest to be close at hand, is yet far away across many seas. And let -this be a sign to thee that thou art indeed come to the place where -thou wouldst be. When thou shalt see a white sow and thirty pigs at -her teats, then hast thou found the place of thy city that shall be. -And as to the devouring of thy tables for famine, heed it not: Apollo -will help thee at need. But seek not to find a dwelling-place on this -shore of Italy which is near at hand, seeing that it is inhabited by -the accursed sons of Greece. And when thou hast passed it by, and art -come to the land of Sicily, and shalt see the strait of Pelorus open -before thee, do thou keep to thy left hand and avoid the way that is -on thy right. For here in days past was the land rent asunder, so that -the waters of the sea flow between cities and fields that of old time -were joined together. And on the right hand is Scylla, and on the left -Charybdis the whirlpool. But Scylla dwelleth in her cave, a monster -dreadful to behold; for to the middle she is a fair woman, but a beast -of the sea below, even the belly of a dolphin, with heads as of a wolf. -Wherefore it will be better for thee to fetch a compass round the whole -land of Sicily than to come nigh these things, or to see them with -thine eyes. Do thou also remember this, at all places and times, before -all other gods to worship Juno, that thou mayest persuade her, and so -make thy way safely to Italy. And when thou art come thither, seek -the Sibyl that dwelleth at Cumae, the mad prophetess that writeth the -sayings of Fate upon the leaves of a tree. For these indeed at first -abide in their places, but, the gate being opened, the wind blows them -hither and thither. And when they are scattered she careth not to join -them again, so that they who would inquire of her depart without an -answer. Refuse not to tarry awhile, that thou mayest take counsel of -her, though all things seem to prosper thy journey, and thy comrades -chide thy delay. For she shall tell thee all that shall befall thee in -Italy,--what wars thou shalt wage, and what perils thou must endure, -and what avoid. So much, and no more, is it lawful for me to utter. Do -thou depart, and magnify our country of Troy even to the heaven." - -And when the seer had ended these sayings, he commanded his people that -they should carry to the ships gifts: gold, and carvings of ivory, and -much silver, and caldrons that had been wrought at Dodona; also a coat -of chain mail, and a helmet with a fair plume, which Pyrrhus had worn. -Also he gave gifts to the old man Anchises. Horses, too, he gave, and -guides for the journey, and tackling for the ships, and arms for the -whole company. Then did he bid farewell to the old Anchises. Andromache -also came, bringing broidered robes, and for Ascanius a Phrygian cloak, -and many like things, which she gave him, saying, "Take these works -of my hands, that they may witness to thee of the abiding love of her -that was once Hector's wife. For in truth thou art the very image of my -Astyanax, so like are thy eyes and face and hands. And indeed he would -now be of an age with thee." Then AEneas also said farewell, weeping the -while. "Be ye happy, whose wanderings are over and rest already won; ye -have no seas to cross, nor fields of Italy, still flying as we advance, -to seek. Rather ye have the likeness of Troy before your eyes. And be -sure that if ever I come to this land of Italy which I seek, there -shall be friendship between you and me, and between your children and -my children, forever." - -Then they set sail, and at eventide drew their ships to the land and -slept on the beach. But at midnight Palinurus, the pilot, rising from -his bed, took note of the winds and of the stars, even of Arcturus, and -the Greater Bear and the Less, and Orion with his belt of gold. Seeing -therefore that all things boded fair weather to come, he blew loud the -signal that they should depart; which they did forthwith. And when the -morning was now growing red in the east, behold a land with hills dimly -seen and shores lying low in the sea. And, first of all, the old man -Anchises cried, "Lo! there is Italy," and after him all the company. -Then took Anchises a mighty cup, and filled it with wine, and, standing -on the stern, said, "Gods of sea and land, and ye that have power of -the air, give us an easy journey, and send such winds as may favor -us." And even as he spake the wind blew more strongly behind. Also the -harbor mouth grew wider to behold, and on the hills was seen a temple -of Minerva. And lo! upon the shore four horses white as snow, which -the old man seeing, said, "Thou speakest of war, land of the stranger; -for the horse signifieth war, yet doth he also use himself to run in -the chariot, and to bear the bit in company; therefore also will we -hope for peace." Then did they sacrifice to Minerva, and to Juno also, -which rites the seer Helenus had chiefly commanded. And this being done -they trimmed their sails and departed from the shore, fearing lest -some enemy, the Greeks being in that place, should set upon them. So -did they pass by Tarentum, which Hercules builded, also the hills of -Caulon, and Scylacium, where many ships are broken. And from Scylacium -they beheld AEtna, and heard a great roaring of the sea, and saw also -the waves rising up to heaven. Then said Anchises, "Lo! this is that -Charybdis whereof the seer Helenus spake to us. Ply your oars, my -comrades, and let us fly therefrom." So they strove amain in rowing, -and Palinurus also steered to the left, all the other ships following -him. And many times the waves lifted them to the heaven, and many -times caused them to go down to the deep. But at the last, at setting -of the sun, they came to the land of the Cyclops. - -There, indeed, they lay in a harbor, well sheltered from all winds that -blow, but all the night AEtna thundered dreadfully, sending forth a -cloud with smoke of pitch, and ashes fiery hot, and also balls of fire, -and rocks withal that had been melted with heat. For indeed men say -that the giant Enceladus lieth under this mountain, being scorched with -the lightning of Jupiter, and that from him cometh forth this flame; -also that when, being weary, he turneth from one side to the other, the -whole land of the Three Capes is shaken. All that night they lay in -much fear, nor knew what the cause of this uproar might be, for indeed -the sky was cloudy, nor could the moon be seen. - -And when it was morning, lo! there came forth from the woods a -stranger, very miserable to behold, in filthy garments fastened with -thorns, and with beard unshaven, who stretched out to them his hands -as one who prayed. And the men of Troy knew him to be a Greek. But he, -seeing them, and knowing of what country they were, stood awhile in -great fear, but afterwards ran very swiftly towards them, and used to -them many prayers, weeping also the while. "I pray you, men of Troy, -by the stars and by the gods, and by this air which we breathe, to -take me away from this land, whithersoever ye will. And indeed I ask -not whither. That I am a Greek, I confess, and also that I bare arms -against Troy. Wherefore drown me, if ye will, in the sea. Only let me -die, if die I must, by the hands of men." - -And he clung to their knees. Then AEneas bade him tell who he was, -and how he came to be in this plight And the man made answer, "I am -a man of Ithaca, and a comrade of the unhappy Ulysses. My name is -Achaemenides, and my father was Adamastus. And when my comrades fled -from this accursed shore, they left me in the Cyclops' cave. Hideous is -he to see, and savage, and of exceeding great stature, and he feeds on -the flesh of men. I myself saw with these eyes how he lay and caught -two of my companions and brake them on the stone; aye, and I saw -their limbs quiver between his teeth. Yet did he not do such things -unpunished, for Ulysses endured not to behold these deeds, and when the -giant lay asleep, being overcome with wine, we, after prayer made to -the gods, and lots cast what each should do, bored out his eye, for one -eye he had, huge as a round shield of Argos, or as the circle of the -sun, and so did we avenge our comrades' death. Do ye then fly with all -the speed ye may. For know that as this shepherd Polyphemus--a shepherd -he is by trade--so are a hundred other Cyclopes, huge and savage as he, -who dwell on these shores and wander over the hills. And now for three -months have I dwelt in these woods, eating berries and cornels and -herbs of the field. And when I saw your ships, I hastened to meet them. -Do ye with me, therefore, as ye will, so that I flee from this accursed -race." - -And even while he spake the men of Troy saw the shepherd Polyphemus -among his flocks, and that he made as if he would come to the shore. -Horrible to behold was he, huge and shapeless and blind. And when he -came to the sea, he washed the blood from the wound, grinding his teeth -the while; and though he went far into the sea, yet did not the waves -touch his middle. And the men of Troy, having taken the suppliant on -board, fled with all their might; and he hearing their rowing would -have reached to them, but could not. Therefore did he shout aloud, and -the Cyclopes hearing him, hasted to the shore. Then did the men of Troy -behold them, a horrid company, tall as a grove of oaks or cypresses. -Nor knew they in their fear what they should do, seeing that on the -one hand was the land of the Cyclopes, and on the other Scylla and -Charybdis, of which the seer Helenus had bidden them beware. But while -they doubted, there blew a north wind from Pelorus, wherewith they -sailed onwards, and Achaemenides with them. So they came to Ortygia, -whither, as men say, the river Alpheues floweth under the sea from -the land of Pelops, and so mingleth with Arethusa; and afterwards -they passed the promontory of Pachynus, Camarina also, and Gela, and -other cities likewise, till they came to Lilybaeum, and so at last to -Drepanum. There the old man Anchises died, and was buried. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -Not many days after AEneas and his companions set sail. But scarce were -they out of sight of the land of Sicily when Juno espied them. Very -wroth was she that they should be now drawing near to the end of their -journey, and she said to herself, "Shall I be balked of my purpose -nor be able to keep these men of Troy from Italy? Minerva, indeed, -because one man sinned, even Ajax Oileus, burned the fleet of the -Greeks, and drowned the men in the sea. For the ships she smote with -the thunderbolts of Jupiter; and as for Ajax, him she caught up with a -whirlwind, and dashed him upon the rocks, piercing him through. Only -I, though I be both sister and wife to Jupiter, avail nothing against -this people. And who that heareth this in after time shall pay me due -honor and sacrifice?" - -Then she went, thinking these things in her heart, to the land of -AEolia, where King AEolus keepeth the winds under bolt and bar. Mightily -do they roar within the mountain, but their King restraineth them and -keepeth them in bounds, being indeed set to do this very thing, lest -they should carry both the heavens and the earth before them in their -great fury. To him said Juno, "O AEolus, whom Jupiter hath made king -of the winds, a nation which I hate is sailing over the Tuscan sea. -Loose now thy storms against them, and drown their ships in the sea. -And hearken what I will do for thee. Twelve maidens I have that wait -on me continually, who are passing fair, and the fairest of all, even -Deiopea, I will give thee to wife." - -To whom answered King AEolus, "It is for thee, O Queen, to order what -thou wilt, it being of thy gift that I hold this sovereignty and eat at -the table of the gods." - -So saying he drave in with his spear the folding-doors of the prison -of the winds, and these straightway in a great host rushed forth, -even all the winds together, and rolled great waves upon the shore. -And straightway there arose a great shouting of men and straining of -cables; nor could the sky nor the light of the day be seen any more, -but a darkness as of night came down upon the sea, and there were -thunders and lightnings over the whole heavens. - -Then did AEneas grow cold with fear; and stretching out his hands to -heaven, he cried, "Happy they who fell under the walls of Troy, before -their fathers' eyes! Would to the gods that thou hadst slain me, -Diomed, bravest of the Greeks, even as Hector fell by the spear of -Achilles, or tall Sarpedon, or all the brave warriors whose dead bodies -Simois rolled down to the sea!" - -But as he spake a blast of wind struck his sails from before, and -his ship was turned broad-side to the waves. Three others also were -tossed upon the rocks which men call the "Altars," and three into the -quicksands of the Syrtis. And another, in which sailed the men of -Lycia, with Orontes, their chief, was struck upon the stern by a great -sea and sunk. And when AEneas looked, lo! there were some swimming in -the waves, and broken planks also, and arms and treasures of Troy. -Others also were shattered by the waves, and those of Ilioneues and -Achates, and of Abas and the old man Alethes. - -But King Neptune was aware of the tumult where he sat at the bottom of -the sea, and raising his head above the waves, looked forth and saw how -the ships were scattered abroad and the men of Troy were in sore peril. -Also he knew his sister's wrath and her craft. Then he called to him -the winds and said, "What is this, ye winds, that ye trouble heaven and -earth without leave of me? Now will I--but I must first bid the waves -be still, only be sure that ye shall not thus escape hereafter. Begone, -and tell your King that the dominion over the sea belongeth unto me, -and bid him keep him to his rocks." - -Then he bade the waves be still; also he scattered the clouds and -brought back the sun. And Cymothea and Triton, gods of the sea, drew -the ships from the rocks, Neptune also lifting them with his trident. -Likewise he opened the quicksands, and delivered the ships that were -therein. And this being done he crossed the sea in his chariot, and -the waves beholding him sank to rest, even as it befalls when there is -sedition in the city, and the people are wroth, and men throw stones -and firebrands, till lo! of a sudden there cometh forth a reverend -sire, a good man and true, and all men are silent and hearken to him, -and the uproar is stayed. So was the sea stilled, beholding its King. - -Then AEneas and his companions, being sore wearied with the storm, made -for the nearest shore, even Africa, where they found a haven running -far into the land, into which the waves come not till their force be -spent. On either side thereof are cliffs very high, and shining woods -over them. Also at the harbor's head is a cave and a spring of sweet -water within, a dwelling-place of the Nymphs. Hither came AEneas, with -seven ships. Right glad were the men of Troy to stand upon the dry land -again. Then Achates struck a spark out of flint, and they lighted a -fire with leaves and the like; also they took of the wheat which had -been in the ships, and made ready to parch and to bruise it, that they -might eat. Meanwhile AEneas had climbed the cliff, if haply he might see -some of his companions' ships. These indeed he saw not, but he espied -three great stags upon the shore and a herd following them. Wherefore, -taking the arrows and the bow which Achates bare with him, he let fly, -slaying the leaders and others also, till he had gotten seven, one -for each ship. Then made he his way to the landing-place, and divided -the prey. Also he made distribution of the wine which Acestes, their -host in Sicily, had given them as they were about to depart, and spake -comfortable words to them, saying, "O my friends, be ye sure that there -will be an end to these troubles; and indeed ye have suffered worse -things before. Be ye of good cheer therefore. Haply ye shall one day -have pleasure in thinking of these things. For be sure that the gods -have prepared a dwelling-place for us in Italy, where we shall build a -new Troy, in great peace and happiness. Wherefore endure unto the day -of prosperity." - -Then they made ready the feast, and roasted of the meat upon spits, and -boiled other in water. Also they drank of the wine and were comforted. -And after supper they talked much of them that were absent, doubting -whether they were alive or dead. - -All these things did Jupiter behold; and even as he beheld them there -came to him Venus, having a sad countenance and her shining eyes dim -with tears, and spake: "O great Father, that rulest all things, what -have AEneas and the men of Troy sinned against thee, that the whole -world is shut against them? Didst not thou promise that they should -rule over land and sea? Why, then, art thou turned back from thy -purpose? With this I was wont to comfort myself for the evil fate of -Troy, but lo! this same fate follows them still, nor is there any end -to their troubles. And yet it was granted to Antenor, himself also a -man of Troy, that he should escape from the Greeks, and coming to the -Liburnian land, where Timavus flows with much noise into the sea, build -a city and find rest for himself. But we, who are thy children, are -kept far from the land which thou hast sworn to give us." - -Then her father kissed her once and again, and answered smiling, "Fear -not, my daughter, the fate of thy children changeth not. Thou shalt -see this city for which thou lookest, and shalt receive thy son, the -great-hearted AEneas, into the heavens. Hearken, therefore, and I will -tell thee things to come. AEneas shall war with the nations of Italy, -and shall subdue them, and build a city, and rule therein for three -years. And after the space of thirty years shall the boy Ascanius, who -shall hereafter be called Iuelus also, change the place of his throne -from Lavinium unto Alba; and for three hundred years shall there be -kings in Alba of the kindred of Hector. Then shall a priestess bear -to Mars twin sons, whom a she-wolf shall suckle; of whom the one, even -Romulus, shall build a city, dedicating it to Mars, and call it Rome, -after his own name. To which city have I given empire without bound or -end. And Juno also shall repent her of her wrath, and join counsel with -me, cherishing the men of Rome, so that they shall bear rule even over -Argos and Mycenae." - -And when he had said this, he sent down his messenger, even Mercury, to -turn the heart of Dido and her people, where they dwelt in the city of -Carthage, which they had builded, so that they should deal kindly with -the strangers. - -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, may be, 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 -Lybia. 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 all 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 Lybia. And as for me, men -call me the 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 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 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 spake 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 unto 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, marvelled 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 coming 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 Xanthus. There also Troilus was pictured, ill-matched in -battle with the great 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 marvelled 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 it 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 the 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 him with great joy. - -And Dido, hearing these things, was silent for a while, but at 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 broidered 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 remembered 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 marvelled 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 his -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 practise 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 seekedst. 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 should 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 another. 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 marvellous 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 god, 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 dost 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 I had but 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 wherever 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 bear her to her chamber and laid her on her -bed. - -Then AEneas, though he was much troubled in his 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 an 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 into 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 meantime 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 this 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 kingdom, -but die before his day, and lie unburied on the plain. And ye, men of -Tyre, hate his children and his people for ever. 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 for ever 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 her 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 above her head and said, "I will 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. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -From Carthage AEneas journeyed to Sicily, for the wind hindered him from -coming to Italy as he would fain have done. And in Sicily he held great -games in honor of his father Anchises. And when these were finished -he departed to Italy, leaving behind him all that were weak and -faint-hearted. - -The place whereunto he came was nigh unto Cumae, which was the -dwelling-place of the Sibyl. And the men turned the forepart of the -ships to the sea, and made them fast with anchors. Then they leapt -forth upon the shore, and kindled a fire; and some cut wood in the -forest, or fetched water from the stream. But AEneas went up to the -great cave of the Sibyl, where, by the inspiration of Apollo, she -foretelleth things to come. - -Now the temple was a marvellous place to look upon. For Daedalus, -when he fled from Minos, King of Crete, flying through the air upon -wings, came northwards to the land of Cumae, and tarried there. Also he -dedicated his wings in the temple. On the doors thereof was set forth, -graven in stone, the death of Androgeos, and the men of Attica choosing -by lot seven of their children who should be given as a ransom yearly; -and, rising from the sea upon the other side, the land of Crete. -Likewise the Labyrinth was there and its winding ways; but Icarus they -saw not, for when his father would have wrought the manner of his death -in gold his hands failed him: twice he strove and twice they failed. -And when AEneas would have looked further, the priestess said, "Linger -not with these things, but slay forthwith seven bullocks from the herd, -and seven sheep duly chosen out of the flock." And when they came to -the cave--now there are a hundred doors, and a voice cometh forth from -each--the Sibyl cried, "It is time. Lo! the god, the god!" And even -as she spake her look was changed and the color of her face; also her -hair was loosened, and her breast panted, and she waxed greater than is -the stature of a man. Then she cried, "Delayest thou to pray, AEneas of -Troy? delayest thou? for the doors open not but to prayer." Nor said -she more. Then AEneas prayed, saying, "O Phoebus, who didst always pity -the sorrows of Troy, and didst guide the arrow of Paris that it slew -the great Achilles, I have followed thy bidding, journeying over many -lands, and now I lay hold on this shore of Italy, which ever seemed to -fly before me. Grant thou that our ill fortune follow us no more. And -all ye gods and goddesses who loved not Troy, be merciful to us. And -thou, O Prophetess, give, if it may be, such answer as I would hear. -So will I and my people honor thee for ever. And write it not, I pray -thee, upon leaves, lest the winds carry them away, but speak with thy -voice." - -And for awhile the prophetess strove against the spirit; but at the -last it mastered her, and the doors flew open, and she spake, saying, -"The perils of the sea thou hast escaped, but there await thee yet -worse perils upon the land. The men of Troy shall come to the kingdom -of Lavinium. Fear not for that; yet will they fain not have come. I -see battles, and the Tiber foaming with blood, and a new Xanthus and -Simois, and another Achilles, himself also goddess-born. Juno also -shall be ever against thee. And thou shalt be a suppliant to many -cities. And the cause of all these woes shall be again a woman. Only -yield not thou, but go ever more boldly when occasion shall serve. -Little thinkest thou that thy first succor shall be from a city of the -Greeks." - -And when she had ended these words, AEneas made answer: "O Lady, no toil -or peril shall take me unawares; for I have thought over all things -in my heart. But one thing I ask of thee. Here is the door of the -dwellings of the dead. Fain would I pass thereby, that I may visit my -father. I carried him on my shoulders out of the fires of Troy, and -with me he endured many things by land and sea, more than befitted his -old age. Likewise he bade me ask this boon of thee. Do thou therefore -pity both father and son, for thou hast the power, if only thou wilt. -Did not Orpheus bring back his wife from the dead, having his harp -only? Also Pollux goeth many times this same path, redeeming his -brother from death. And why should I tell of Theseus and Hercules? And -I also am of the lineage of Jupiter." - -Then the Sibyl spake, saying, "Son of Anchises, it is easy to go down -to hell. The door is open day and night. But to return, and struggle -to the upper air, that is the labor. Few only have done it, and these -of the lineage of the gods and dear to Jupiter. Yet if thou wilt -attempt it, hearken unto me. There lieth hid in the forest a bough of -gold which is sacred to the Queen of hell. Nor may any man go on this -journey till he have plucked it, for the Queen will have it as a gift -for herself. And when the bough is plucked, there ever groweth another; -and if it be the pleasure of the gods that thou go, it will yield to -thy hand. But know that one of thy companions lieth dead upon the -shore. First must thou bury him, and after offer due sacrifice, even -black sheep. So shalt thou approach the dwellings of the dead." - -Then AEneas departed from the cave, and Achates went with him, and much -they wondered who it might be that was dead. And when they came to the -shore, lo! Misenus lay there, than whom no man was more skilful to -call men to battle with the voice of the trumpet. Hector's companion -he had been in old time, and then followed AEneas. And now, blowing his -trumpet on the shore, he had challenged the gods of the sea to compare -with him; wherefore a Triton caught him and plunged him into the sea, -so that he died. Then did AEneas and his companions prepare for the -burial, cutting ilex and oak and mountain-ash from the wood. But when -AEneas beheld the forest, how vast it was, he said, "Now may the gods -grant that in this great forest the bough of gold discover itself." -And as he spake, lo! two doves flew before his face, and settled on -the grass, and he knew them to be the birds of his mother, and cried, -saying, "Guide me now to the bough of gold, and thou, my mother, help -me as before." Then the birds flew so that he could still see them with -his eyes, and he followed after them. But when they came to the mouth -of Avernus, they sat both of them on a tree. And lo! the bough of gold -glittered among the branches and rustled in the wind. Right gladly did -AEneas break it off, and carry it to the dwelling of the Sibyl. - -In the meantime the men of Troy made a great burial for Misenus on the -shore, building a pile of wood, and washing and anointing the body. -Also they laid the body on a bier, and on it the garments which he had -worn being yet alive. Then others, with faces turned away, held a torch -to the wood, whereon also were burned incense and offerings of oil. -And when the burning was ended they quenched the ashes with wine. And -Corynaeus gathered the bones into an urn of bronze, and purified the -people, sprinkling them with water with a bough of an olive-tree. Then -AEneas made a great mound, and put thereon the trumpet of the man and -his bow; and the mountain is called Misenus, after him, to this day. - -But when the burial was ended he did as the Sibyl had commanded. A -great cavern there is, from which cometh so evil a stench that no bird -may fly across. There they brought four black oxen, and the priestess -poured wine upon their heads and cut hairs from between the horns. -And when they had burned these they slew the oxen, holding dishes for -the blood. And AEneas offered a black lamb to the Furies and a barren -heifer to the Queen of hell, smiting them with his sword. Then they -burned the entrails with fire, pouring oil upon them. Then did the -ground give a hollow sound beneath them, and the dogs howled, for the -goddess was at hand. And the priestess cried, "Go ye who may not take -part in this matter. And thou, AEneas, draw thy sword from its sheath -and follow. Now hast thou need of all thy strength and courage." Then -she plunged into the cave, and AEneas went with her. - -So they went together through the land of shadows, like unto men who -walk through a wood in a doubtful light, when the moon indeed hath -risen, but there are clouds over the sky. And first they came to where, -in front of the gates of hell, dwell Sorrow and Remorse, and pale -Disease and Fear, and Hunger that tempteth men to sin, and Want, and -Death, and Toil, and Slumber, that is Death's kinsman, and deadly War; -also they saw the chamber of the Furies, and Discord, whose hair is of -snakes that drip with blood. And in this region there is an ancient -elm, in the boughs whereof dwell all manner of dreams, and shapes of -evil monsters, as many as have been, such as were the Centaurs, half -man half horse, and Briareus with the hundred hands, and others also. -These AEneas, when he saw them, sought to slay, rushing upon them with -the sword, but his guide warned him that they were shadows only. - -After this they came to the river of hell, whereon plies the Boatman -Charon. A long white beard hath he and unkempt; and his eyes are fixed -in a fiery stare, and a scarf is knotted upon his shoulder, as is a -pilot's wont. An old man he seemeth to be, but hale and ruddy. Now -there was ever rushing to the bank a great crowd, wives and mothers, -and valiant men of war, boys, and girls dead before they were given in -marriage, and young men laid on the funeral pile before their parents' -eyes. Thick they were as the leaves that fall to the earth at the -first frost of autumn, or as the swallows, when they gather themselves -together, making ready to fly across the sea to the lands of the sun. -And of these Charon would take some into his boat; but others he would -forbid, and drive from the shore. This when AEneas saw, he marvelled, -and said, "O Lady, what meaneth this concourse at the river? What seek -these souls? Why be some driven from the bank and some ferried across?" - -And the Sibyl made answer: "This river that thou seest is the Styx, by -which the gods in heaven swear, and fear to break their oath. Those -whom thou seest to be driven from the bank are such as have lacked -burial, but those who are ferried across have been buried duly; for -none pass this stream till their bodies have been laid in the grave, -otherwise they wander for a hundred years, and so at last may cross -over." - -Much did AEneas pity their ill fortune, and the more when he beheld -Orontes and his Lycians, whom the sea had swallowed up alive before his -eyes. Here likewise there met him his pilot Palinurus, to whom, when -he knew him, for indeed he scarce could see him in the darkness, he -said, "What god took thee from us and drowned thee in the sea? Surely, -in this one matter, Apollo hath deceived me, saying that thou shouldst -escape the sea and come to the land of Italy." - -Then answered Palinurus, "Not so, great AEneas. For indeed to the land -of Italy I came. Three nights the south wind carried me over the sea, -and on the fourth day I saw the land of Italy from the top of a wave. -And when I swam to the shore, and was now clinging to the rocks, my -garments being heavy with water, the savage people came upon me, and -took me for a prey, and slew me. And now the winds and waves bear me -about as they will. Wherefore I pray thee, by thy father, and Iuelus, -the hope of thy house, that thou deliver me from these woes. Go, -therefore, I beseech thee, to the haven of Velia, and cast earth upon -me for burial; or give me now thy hand, and take me with thee across -this river." - -Then said the priestess, "O Palinurus, what madness is this? Wilt thou -without due burial cross the river, and look upon the awful faces of -the Furies? Think not that the Fates can be changed by prayers. Yet -hear this, and be comforted. They that slew thee, being sore troubled -by many plagues, shall make due expiation to thee, and build a tomb, -and make offerings thereon year by year; and the place where they slew -thee shall be called after thy name." - -Then he took comfort and departed. But when they came near to the -river, the Boatman beheld them, and cried, "Stay thou, whoever thou -art, that comest armed to this river, and tell me what thou seekest. -This is the land of Shadows, of Sleep, and of Night. The living may not -be ferried in this boat. An evil day it was when I carried Hercules, -and Theseus, and Pirithoues, though they were children of the gods. For -Hercules chained the Watch-dog of hell, and dragged him trembling from -his master's seat. And Theseus and his friend sought to carry away the -Queen even from the chamber of her husband." - -Then the Sibyl made answer: "Be not troubled. We come not hither with -evil thoughts. Let the Watch-dog of hell make the pale ghosts afraid; -let your Queen abide in her husband's palace; we will not harm them. -AEneas of Troy cometh down to hell that he may speak with his father. -And if thou takest no account of such piety, yet thou wilt know this -token." - -And she showed him the bough of gold. And when he saw it he laid aside -his anger, rejoicing to behold, now after many years, the marvellous -gift. Then he brought near his boat to the bank, and drave out the -souls that were therein, and took on board AEneas and the priestess. -Much did it groan with the weight, and the water poured apace through -the seams thereof. Yet did they come safe across. - -Then they saw Cerberus, the Watch-dog, in his cave. And to him the -Sibyl gave a cake of honey and poppy-seed, causing sleep. And this he -swallowed, opening wide his three ravenous mouths, and straightway -stretched himself out asleep across the cave. - -After this they heard a great wailing of infants, even the voices of -such as are taken away before they have had lot or part in life. And -near to these were such as have died by false accusation; yet lack they -not justice, for Minos trieth their cause. And yet beyond, they that, -being guiltless, have laid hands upon themselves. Fain would they now -endure hardships, being yet alive, but may not, for the river keeps -them in with his unlovely stream as in a prison. Not far from these are -the Mourning Fields, where dwell the souls of those that have died of -love, as Procris, whom Cephalus slew in error, and Laodamia, who died -of grief for her husband. And among these was Dido, fresh from the -wound wherewith she slew herself. And when AEneas saw her darkly through -the shadows, even as one who sees, or thinketh that he sees, the new -moon lately risen, he wept, and said, "O Dido, it was truth, then, that -they told me, saying that thou hadst slain thyself with the sword. -Tell me, Was I the cause of thy death? Loath was I, O Queen--I swear it -by all that is most holy in heaven or hell--to leave thy land. But the -gods, at whose bidding I come hither this day, constrained me; nor did -I think that thou wouldst take such sorrow from my departure. But stay; -depart not; for never again may I speak to thee but this once only." - -So he spake, and would fain have appeased her wrath. But she cast her -eyes to the ground, and her heart was hard against him, even as a rock. -And she departed into a grove that was hard by, wherein was her first -husband, Sichaeus, who loved her even as he was loved. After this they -came to the land where the heroes dwell. And there they saw Tydeus, -who died before Thebes; and Adrastus, and also many men of Troy, as -the three sons of Antenor, and Idaeus who was the armor-bearer of King -Priam, and bare the arms and drave the chariot yet. All these gathered -about him, and would fain know wherefore he had come. But when the -hosts of Agamemnon saw his shining arms through the darkness, they -fled, as in old days they had fled to the ships; and some would have -cried aloud, but could not, so thin are the voices of the dead. - -Among these he saw Deiphobus, son of Priam. Cruelly mangled was he, for -his hands had been cut off, and his ears and his nostrils likewise. -Scarce did AEneas know him, and he himself in shame would have hidden -his wounds; but the son of Anchises spake to him, saying, "Who hath -dealt so foully with thee, great Deiphobus? Men told me that on the -last night of Troy thou didst fall dead on a heap of Greeks whom thou -hadst slain. Wherefore I built thee a tomb by the sea, and thrice -called aloud thy name. But thee I found not, that I might lay thee -therein." - -Then Deiphobus made answer: "Thou hast left nothing undone, but hast -paid me all due honor. But my ill fate and the accursed wickedness of -the Spartan woman have destroyed me. How we spent that last night in -idle rejoicings thou knowest. And she, while the women of Troy danced -before the gods, stood holding a torch on the citadel, as though she -were their leader, yet in truth she called therewith the Greeks from -Tenedos. But I lay overcome with weariness in my chamber. Then did -she, a noble wife, forsooth! take all the arms out of the house, and -my trusty sword also from under my head; and after brought thereunto -Menelaues, so hoping to do away her sin against him; and Ulysses also, -always ready with evil counsels. What need of more? May the gods do so -and more also to them. But tell me why hast thou come hither?" - -And it was now past noonday, and the two had spent in talk all the -allotted time. Therefore the Sibyl spake: "Night cometh, AEneas, and we -waste the day in tears. Lo! here are two roads. This on the right hand -leadeth to the palace of Pluto and to the Elysian plains; and that on -the left to Tartarus, the abode of the wicked." And Deiphobus answered: -"Be not wroth, great priestess; I depart to my own place. Do thou, my -friend, go on and prosper." - -But as AEneas looked round he saw a great building, and a three-fold -wall about it, and round the wall a river of fire. Great gates there -were, and a tower of brass, and the fury Tisiphone sat as warder. Also -he heard the sound of those that smote upon an anvil, and the clanking -of chains. And he stood, and said, "What mean these things that I see -and hear?" Then the Sibyl made answer: "The foot of the righteous may -not pass that threshold. But when the Queen of hell gave me this -office she herself led me through the place and told me all. There -sitteth Rhadamanthus the Cretan, and judgeth the dead. And them that -be condemned Tisiphone taketh, and the gate which thou seest openeth -to receive them. And within is a great pit, and the depth thereof is -as the height of heaven. Herein lie the Titans, the sons of Earth, -whom Jupiter smote with the thunder; and herein the sons of Aloeus, -who strove to thrust the gods from heaven; and Salmoneus, who would -have mocked the thunder of Jupiter, riding in his chariot through the -cities of Elis, and shaking a torch, and giving himself out to be a -god. But the lightning smote him in his pride. Also I saw Tityos, -spread over nine acres of ground, and the vulture feeding on his heart. -And over some hangs a great stone ready to fall; and some sit at the -banquet, but when they would eat, the Fury at their side forbids, and -rises and shakes her torch and thunders in their ears. These are they -who while they were yet alive hated their brothers, or struck father -or mother, or deceived one that trusted to them, or kept their riches -for themselves, nor cared for those of their own household (a great -multitude are they), or stirred up civil strife. And of these some roll -a great stone and cease not, and some are bound to wheels, and some sit -forever crying, 'Learn to do righteousness and to fear the gods.'" - -And when the priestess had finished these words they hastened on their -way. And, after a while, she said, "Lo! here is the palace which the -Cyclopes built for Pluto and the Queen of hell. Here must we offer the -gift of the bough of gold." And this being accomplished, they came to -the dwellings of the righteous. Here are green spaces, with woods about -them; and the light of their heaven is fuller and brighter than that -which men behold. Another sun they have and other stars. Some of them -contend together in wrestling and running; and some dance in measure, -singing the while a pleasant song; and Orpheus, clad in a long robe, -makes music, touching his harp, now with his fingers and now with an -ivory bow. Here did AEneas marvel to see the mighty men of old, such -as were Ilus, and Dardanus, builder of Troy. Their spears stood fixed -in the earth, and their horses fed about the plain; for they love -spear and chariot and horses, even as they loved them upon earth. And -others sat and feasted, sitting on the grass in a sweet-smelling grove -of bay, whence flows the river which men upon the earth call the Po. -Here were they who had died for their country, and holy priests, and -poets who had uttered nothing base, and such as had found out witty -inventions, or had done great good to men. All these had snow-white -garlands on their heads. Then spake the Sibyl to Musaeus, who stood -in the midst, surpassing them all in stature: "Tell me, happy souls, -where shall we find Anchises." And Musaeus answered, "We have no certain -dwelling-place: but climb this hill, and ye can see the whole plain -below, and doubtless him whom ye seek." - -Then they beheld Anchises where he sat in a green valley, regarding the -spirits of those who should be born in after-time of his race. And when -he beheld AEneas coming, he stretched out his hands and cried, "Comest -thou, my son? Hast thou won thy way hither to me? Even so I thought -that it would be, and lo! my hope hath not failed me." - -And AEneas made answer, "Yea, I have come a long way to see thee, even -as thy spirit bade me. And now let me embrace thee with my arms." - -But when he would have embraced him it was as if he clasped the air. - -Then AEneas looked and beheld a river, and a great company of souls -thereby, thick as the bees on a calm summer day in a garden of lilies. -And when he would know the meaning of the concourse, Anchises said, -"These are souls which have yet to live again in a mortal body, and -they are constrained to drink of the water of forgetfulness." And AEneas -said, "Nay, my father, can any desire to take again upon them the body -of death?" Then Anchises made reply: "Listen, my son, and I will tell -thee all. There is one soul in heaven and earth and the stars and the -shining orb of the moon and the great sun himself; from which soul also -cometh the life of man and of beast, and of the birds of the air, and -of the fishes of the sea. And this soul is of a divine nature, but the -mortal body maketh it slow and dull. Hence come fear and desire, and -grief and joy, so that, being as it were shut in a prison, the spirit -beholdeth not any more the light that is without. And when the mortal -life is ended, yet are not men quit of all the evils of the body, -seeing these must needs be put away in many marvellous ways. For some -are hung up to the winds, and with some their wickedness is washed out -by water, or burnt out with fire. But a ghostly pain we all endure. -Then we that are found worthy are sent unto Elysium and the plains of -the blest. And when, after many days, the soul is wholly pure, it is -called to the river of forgetfulness, that it may drink thereof, and so -return to the world that is above." - -Then he led AEneas and the Sibyl to a hill whence they could see the -whole company, and regard their faces as they came; and he said, "Come, -and I will show thee them that shall come after thee. That youth who -leans upon a pointless spear is Silvius, thy youngest child, whom -Lavinia shall bear to thee in thy old age. He shall reign in Alba, and -shall be the father of kings. And many other kings are there who shall -build cities great and famous. Lo! there is Romulus, whom Ilia shall -bear to Mars. He shall build Rome, whose empire shall reach to the -ends of the earth and its glory to the heaven. Seest thou him with the -olive crown about his head and the white beard? That is he who shall -first give laws to Rome. And next to him is Tullus, the warrior. And -there are the Tarquins; and Brutus, who shall set the people free, aye, -and shall slay his own sons when they would be false to their country. -See also the Decii; and Torquatus, with the cruel axe; and Camillus -winning back the standards of Rome. There standeth one who shall subdue -Corinth; and there another who shall avenge the blood of Troy upon the -race of Achilles. There, too, thou mayest see the Scipios, thunderbolts -of war, whom the land of Africa shall fear; and there Regulus, busy in -the furrows; and there the Fabii, chiefly him, greatest of the name, -who shall save thy country by wise delay. Such, my son, shall be thy -children's children. Others with softer touch shall carve the face of -man in marble or mould the bronze; some more skilfully shall plead, -or map the skies, or tell the rising of the stars. 'Tis thine, man of -Rome, to subdue the world. This is thy work, to set the rule of peace -over the vanquished, to spare the humble, and to subdue the proud." - -Then he spake again: "Regard him who is the first of all the company -of conquerors. He is Marcellus; he shall save the state in the day of -trouble, and put to flight Carthaginian and Gaul." - -Then said AEneas, for he chanced to see by his side a youth clad in -shining armor, and very fair to look upon, but sad, and with downcast -eyes, "Tell me, father, who is this? How noble is he! What a company is -about him! but there is a shadow of darkness round his head." - -And Anchises made answer, "O my son, seek not to know the greatest -sorrow that shall befall thy children after thee. This youth the Fates -shall only show for a brief space to man. Rome would seem too mighty -to the gods should he but live! What mourning shall there be for him! -What a funeral shalt thou see, O river of Tiber, as thou flowest by the -new-made tomb! No youth of the race of Troy shall promise so much as -he. Alas! for his righteousness, and truth, and valor unsurpassed! O -luckless boy, if thou canst haply break thy evil doom thou shalt be a -Marcellus. Give handfuls of lilies. I will scatter the bright flowers -and pay the idle honors to my grandson's shade." - -Thus did Anchises show his son things to be, and kindled his soul with -desire of glory. Also he showed him what wars he must wage, and how he -should endure, or, if it might be, avoid the evils to come. - -There are two gates of Sleep, of horn the one, by which true dreams go -forth; of ivory the other, by which the false. Then did Anchises send -forth his son and the Sibyl by the ivory gate. And AEneas returned to -the ships, and making sail came to the cape which was afterwards called -Caieta. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - -While they tarried at Cumae, Caieta, who was the nurse of AEneas, died -and was buried; and they called the cape after her name. And afterwards -they set sail, and passed by the island wherein dwelt Circe, who is the -daughter of the Sun. Pleasantly doth she sing, sitting at the loom, and -burneth torches of sweet-smelling cedar to give her light by night. And -round about her dwelling you may hear the growling of lions and wild -boars and bears and wolves, which are men whom the goddess with her -enchantments hath changed into the shapes of beasts. But Neptune would -not that the men of Troy, being fearers of the gods, should suffer such -things. Therefore did he send them favorable winds, so that they passed -quickly by that land. - -Now when it was dawn, the wind being now lulled, they came to a great -wood upon the shore, and in the midst of the wood the river Tiber, -yellow with much abundance of sand, flowing into the sea. And on the -shore and in the wood were many birds. Thither the men of Troy brought -their ships safe to land. - -Of this country Latinus was king, who was the son of Faunus, who was -the son of Picus, who was the son of Saturn. And King Latinus had not a -son, but a daughter only, Lavinia by name, who was now of an age to be -married. Many chiefs of Latium, and of all Italy, desired to have her -to wife; of whom the first was Turnus, a very comely youth, and of a -royal house. Now the Queen, the mother of the virgin, loved him, and -would fain have married her daughter to him, but the gods hindered the -marriage with ill omens and marvels. In the midst of the palace was a -great bay-tree, which the King who had builded the house had dedicated -to Phoebus. On this there lighted a great swarm of bees, and hung like -unto a cluster of grapes from a bough thereof. And the seers, beholding -the thing, cried, "There cometh a stranger who shall be husband to -Lavinia, and a strange people who shall bear rule in this place." Also -when Lavinia lighted the fire upon the altar, standing by her father, -a flame leapt therefrom upon her hair, and burned the ornament that -was upon her head and the crown of jewels and gold, and spread with -smoke and fire over the whole palace. Whereupon the prophets spake, -saying, "The virgin indeed shall be famous and great, but there cometh -a dreadful war upon her people." And King Latinus, fearing what these -things might mean, inquired of the oracle of Faunus, his father, which -is by the grove of Albunea. Now the custom is that the priest offereth -sacrifice in the grove and lieth down to sleep on the skins of the -sheep that he hath slain; and it cometh to pass that he seeth visions -in the night and heareth the voice of the gods. So King Latinus, being -himself a priest, made a great sacrifice, even of a hundred sheep, and -lay down to sleep upon the skins thereof. And when he was laid down, -straightway there came a voice from the grove, saying, "Seek not, my -son, to marry thy daughter to a chief of this land. There shall come a -son-in-law from beyond the sea, who shall exalt our name from the one -end of heaven to the other." Nor did the King hide these things, but -noised them abroad, and the fame thereof was great in these days when -AEneas and his company came to the land of Italy. - -Now it so chanced that AEneas and Iuelus his son, and others of the -princes, sat down to eat under a tree; and they had platters of dough -whereupon to eat their meat. And when they had ended, and were not -satisfied, they ate their platters also, not thinking what they did. -Then said Iuelus, making sport, "What! do we eat even our tables?" -And AEneas was right glad to hear this thing, and embraced the boy, -and said, "Now know I that we are come to the land which the gods -have promised to me and to my people, that they would give us. For -my father, Anchises, spake to me, saying, 'My son, when thou shalt -come to a land that thou knowest not, and hunger shall constrain thee -to eat thy tables, then know that thou hast found thee a home.' Now, -therefore, seeing that these things have an accomplishment, let us -pour out libations to Jupiter, and make our prayers also to my father, -Anchises, and make merry. And in the morning we will search out the -country, and see who they be that dwell herein." - -Then he bound a garland of leaves about his head, and made his prayers -to Mother Earth, and to the gods of the land, of whom indeed he knew -not who they were, and to Father Jupiter, and to the other gods also. -And when he had ended his prayer, Jupiter thundered thrice from the -sky. Then was it noised abroad among the men of Troy that now indeed -were they come to the land where they should build them a city; and -they eat and drank and made merry. - -The next day those who should search out the country went forth. And -when it was told AEneas, saying that this river was the Tiber, and that -the people who dwelt in the land were the Latins, valiant men of war, -he chose out a hundred men who should go, with crowns of olive upon -their heads, to the city of the King, having also gifts in their hands, -and should pray that there might be peace between the men of Troy and -his people. And the men made haste to depart; and in the meanwhile -AEneas marked out for himself a camp, and bade that they should make a -rampart and a ditch. - -Now when they that were sent came nigh to the city, they saw the young -men in the plain that was before it, riding upon horses and driving -chariots. Others shot with the bow or cast javelins, and some contended -in running or boxing. And one rode on horseback and told the king, -saying that certain men in strange raiment were come. Then the King -commanded that they should be brought into the palace, and sat upon the -throne of his fathers, and gave audience to them. - -Now the palace stood on the hill that was in the midst of the -city, where King Picus had builded it, having woods about it very -sacred. Here did the kings first receive the sceptre, that they -should bear rule over the people. A senate-house also it was, and a -banqueting-house, where the princes sat feasting. Very great was it -and magnificent, having a hundred pillars; and in the halls were the -statues of ancient kings, carven in cedar, even Italus, and Sabinus the -vine-dresser, and Father Saturn, and Janus with the two faces. Also on -the wall hung trophies of war, chariots, and battle-axes, and helmets, -and the beaks of ships. And sitting on the throne was the image of King -Picus, clad in royal apparel, and bearing a shield on his left arm. But -the King himself his wife Circe had changed into a bird. - -And King Latinus spake, saying, "Tell me, men of Troy, for I know you -who you are, what seek ye? For what cause are ye come to the land of -Italy? Have ye gone astray in your journey? or have the storms driven -you out of the way, as ofttimes befalleth men that sail upon the -sea? Ye are welcome. And know that we be of the race of Saturn, who -do righteously, not by constraint, but of our own will. From hence -also, even from Corythus, which is a city of the Etrurians, went forth -Dardanus, and abode in the land of Troy." - -Then Ilioneues made answer, saying, "Great King, we have not gone -astray in our journey, nor have storms driven us out of our way. Of -set purpose are we come to this land. For we were driven away by -ill-fortune from our country, of which things we doubt not, O King, -that thou knowest the certainty. For who is there under the whole -heaven who knoweth not what a storm of destruction came forth from the -land of Greece and overthrew the great city of Troy, Europe and Asia -setting themselves in arms against each other? And now are we come to -ask for a parcel of land whereon we may dwell; and for air and water, -which indeed are common to all men. Nor shall we do dishonor to this -realm, nor be unthankful for these benefits. And be sure, O King, that -it will not repent thee that thou hast received us. For indeed many -nations and lands would fain have joined us to themselves. But the gods -laid a command upon us that we should come to this country of Italy. -For indeed, as thou sayest, Dardanus came forth from hence, and thither -his children, Apollo bidding them, would return. And now, behold, -AEneas sends thee these gifts of the things which remain to us of the -riches which we had aforetime. This sceptre King Priam held when he did -justice among his people; here is a crown also, and garments which the -women of Troy have worked with their hands." - -Then for awhile King Latinus kept silence, fixing his eyes upon -the ground. Deeply did he ponder in his heart upon the marriage of -his daughter, and upon the oracles of Faunus his father, whether -indeed this stranger that was now come to his land might haply be the -son-in-law of whom the prophets had spoken. At the last he spake, -saying, "May the gods prosper this matter between you and me. We grant, -men of Troy, that which ye ask. Also we regard these your gifts. Know -ye that while we reign in this land ye shall not want for riches, even -unto the measure of the riches of Troy. And for your King, AEneas, if he -desire, as ye say, to join himself with us, let him come and look upon -us, face to face. And also take ye back this message to your King. I -have a daughter, whom the gods suffer me not to marry to a husband of -this land. For they say that there shall come a stranger who shall be -my son-in-law, and that from his loins shall come forth those who shall -raise our name even unto the stars." - -Then the King commanded that they should bring forth horses from the -stalls. Now there stood in the stalls three hundred horses, very fleet -of foot. And of these they brought forth one hundred, one for each man -of Troy; and they were decked with trappings of purple, and champed on -bits of gold. And for AEneas himself he sent a chariot, and two horses -breathing fire from their nostrils, which were of the breed of the -horses of the Sun. So the men of Troy went back riding on horses, and -took to AEneas the gifts and the message of peace. - -Now Juno beheld how the men of Troy were come to the land of Italy, -and were now building them houses to dwell in; and great wrath came -into her heart, and she spake to herself, saying, "Of a truth this -accursed race hath vanquished me. For the flames of Troy burned them -not, neither hath the sea devoured them. And, lo! they are come to the -place where they would be, even to the river of Tiber. Yet could Mars -destroy the whole nation of the Lapithae, when he was wroth with them; -and Jupiter suffered Diana to prevail against the land of Calydon. Yet -had not the Lapithae or Calydon done so great wickedness as hath this -nation of Troy. And I, who am the wife of Jupiter, am vanquished by -AEneas! Yet have I means yet remaining to me, for if the gods of heaven -will not help me, then will I betake me to the powers of hell. From the -kingdom of Latium I may not keep him, and the gods decree that he shall -have Lavinia to wife. Yet may I hinder the matter. Surely at a great -price shall they buy this alliance; and thy dowry, O virgin, shall be -the blood of Italy and of Troy." - -Then Juno descended to the lower parts of the earth, and called to her -Alecto from the dwellings of her sisters the Furies--Alecto who loveth -war and anger and treachery, and all evil deeds. Even Pluto hateth -her, aye, and her sisters likewise, so dreadful is she to behold. And -Juno spake to her, saying, "Now would I have thee help me, Daughter of -Night, that I lose not my proper honor. I will not that AEneas should -have the daughter of Latinus to wife, or dwell in the land of Italy. -Seeing therefore that thou canst set brother against brother, and bring -enmity into houses and kingdoms, that they should fall, break this -peace that they have made, and bring to pass some occasion of war." - -Then straightway Alecto betook herself to the dwelling of King Latinus. -There found she Amata, the Queen, in great trouble and wrath, for she -loved not the men of Troy, and would have Turnus for her son-in-law. -And the Fury took a snake from her hair, and thrust it into the bosom -of the Queen. About her breast it glided unfelt, and breathed poisonous -breath into her heart. And now it became a collar of twisted gold -about her neck, and now a crown about her head, binding her hair. At -the first indeed, when the poison began to work, and her whole heart -was not as yet filled with the fever, she spake gently and after the -wont of a mother, weeping much the while over her daughter. "Art thou -then ready, my husband, to give thy daughter to this exile of Troy? -Hast thou no pity for thyself, or thy daughter, or me? Well know I that -with the first north wind he will fly and carry her away over the sea. -And what of thy word, and of the faith that thou hast pledged so many -times to Turnus thy kinsman? If thou must seek a son-in-law from the -land of the stranger, I hold that they all be strangers who obey not -thy rule, and that the gods mean not other than this. And Turnus, if -thou wilt inquire more deeply into his descent, is of the lineage of -Inachus, and cometh in the beginning from the land of Mycenae." - -But when she perceived that her husband heeded not these words, and -when also the poison of the serpent had now altogether prevailed -over her, she ran through the city like to one that is mad. Nay, she -feigned that the frenzy of Bacchus was upon her, and fled into the -woods, taking her daughter with her, to the end that she might hinder -the marriage. Many other women also, when they heard this thing, went -forth, leaving their homes. With bare necks and hair unbound they went, -crying aloud the while; and in their hands they held staves of pine, -and were clad in the skins of wild beasts. And in the midst of them -stood the Queen, holding a great pine torch in her hand, and singing -the marriage song of her daughter and Turnus; and her eyes were red as -blood. - -Next after this the Fury, deeming that she had overthrown the counsels -of Latinus, sped to the city of Turnus the Rutulian. Now the name of -the city was called Ardea, and Danae builded it in old time; Ardea is -it called to this day, but its glory hath departed. Now Turnus was -asleep in his palace, and Alecto took upon her the shape of an old -woman, even of Chalybe, who was the priestess of Juno; and she spake, -saying, "Turnus, wilt thou suffer all thy toil to be in vain, and thy -kingdom to be given to another? King Latinus taketh from thee thy -betrothed wife, and chooseth a stranger that he should inherit his -kingdom. Juno commanded that I should tell thee this in thy sleep. -Rise, therefore, and arm thy people. Consume these strangers and their -ships with fire. And if King Latinus yet will not abide by his promise, -let him know for himself what Turnus can do in the day of battle." - -But Turnus laughed her to scorn. "That the ships of the stranger have -come to the Tiber, I know full well. But tell me not these tales. -Queen Juno forgetteth me not, therefore I am not afraid; but thou, -mother, art old, and wanderest from the truth, and troublest thyself -for nought, and art mocked with idle fear. Thy business it is to tend -the temples of the gods and their images, but as for war, leave that to -men, seeing that it is their care." - -Greatly wroth was Alecto to hear such words. And even while he spake -the young man shuddered and stared with his eyes, for the Fury hissed -before him with a thousand snakes. And when he would have spoken more, -she thrust him back, and caught two snakes from her hair, and lashed -him therewith, and cried aloud, "Old am I! and wander from the truth! -and am mocked with idle fears! Nay, but I come from the dwelling of the -Furies, and war and death are in my hand!" - -And she cast a torch at the youth, and fixed it smoking with baleful -light in his heart. Then, in great fear, he woke, and a cold sweat -burst forth upon him, and he cried aloud for his arms, and was -exceedingly mad for battle. Also he bade the youth arm themselves, -saying that he would thrust the men of Troy out of Italy, aye, and -fight, if need were, with the Latins also. And the people hearkened -unto him, so fair was he, and of noble birth, and great renown in war. - -Then Alecto hied her to the place where Iuelus was hunting the beasts of -the forest. Now there was a stag, very stately, with exceeding great -horns, which Tyrrheus and his children had brought up from a fawn. And -Silvia, a fair virgin who was his daughter, was wont to adorn it with -garlands, and to comb it, and to wash it with water. By day it would -wander in the woods, and at nightfall come back to the house. This -stag, then, the dogs of Iuelus having scented pursued, and indeed Alecto -brought it to pass that this mischief shall befall; and Iuelus also, -following hard upon his dogs, shot an arrow at it, nor missed (for -the Fury would have it so), but pierced it through. Then the wounded -beast flew back to the house which it knew, being covered with blood, -and filled it with a lamentable voice, as one that crieth for help. -And Silvia heard it, and cried to the country folk for aid, who came -forthwith, Alecto urging them (for the accursed thing lay hid in the -woods). And one had a charred firebrand and another a knotted stick, -each such weapon as came to his hand. And Tyrrheus, who chanced to be -splitting a tall oak with wedges, led the way, having a great axe in -his hand. - -Then did Alecto climb upon the roof, and, sounding with hellish voice -through a clarion, sent abroad the shepherds' signal. And all the -forest trembled at the sound, and Trivia's lake and Nar, with his white -sulphurous wave, and the fountains of Velia; and trembling mothers -pressed their children to their breasts. - -Then ran together all the country folk, and the youth of Troy hasted -also to the help of Iuelus. And now they fought not with clubs and -charred stakes, but with swords and spears in battle array. Then Almo -fell, the eldest of the sons of Tyrrheus, stricken in the throat, with -many others round him, and among them the old man Galaesus, even as he -offered himself to be a mediator between the two. Most righteous of men -was he, and richest likewise, for he had five flocks of sheep and five -herds of cattle, and tilled the earth with a hundred ploughs. - -But Alecto, when she had accomplished these things, hasted to Juno, and -spake, saying, "I have done thy bidding; and now, if thou wilt, I will -to the neighboring cities, spreading among them rumors of wars." But -Juno answered, "It is enough; there hath been the shedding of blood. It -were not well that the Father should see thee wandering in the upper -air, wherefore depart, and if aught remain to be done, I will see to -it." - -After this the shepherds hasted back to the city, and bare with them -the dead, even the youth Almo and the old man Galaesus, and cried for -vengeance to the gods and to the King. And fiercest of all was Turnus, -complaining that men of Troy were called to reign over them, and that -he himself was banished. And all the multitude was urgent with the King -that he should make war against the strangers; neither did any man -regard the commands of the gods. But the King stood firm, even as a -great rock in the sea is not moved though the waves roar about it and -the seaweed is dashed upon its sides. But when he saw that he could -not prevail against these evil counsels, he called the gods to witness, -crying, "The storm strikes upon me, and I may not stand against it. -O foolish Latins, ye shall pay for this madness with your blood, and -thou, Turnus, shalt suffer the worst punishment of all; and when thou -shalt turn to the gods they shall not hear thee. But as for me, my rest -is at hand; I lose but the honors of my funeral." - -It was a custom in Latium, which Alba kept in after time, and mighty -Rome yet keepeth to this day, that when she beginneth to make war, be -it on the men of Thrace or the men of the East, Arab, or Indian, or -Parthian, they open the great gates of the temple (double they are, and -made strong with bolts of brass and iron), on the threshold whereof -sitteth Janus, the guardian. For the Consul himself, with robe and -girdle, so soon as the fathers give their sentence for war, throweth -them wide, and the people follow the Consul, and the horns blow a great -blast together. Even so they bade King Latinus, after the custom of his -country, declare war against the the men of Troy, and open the gates -of slaughter; but he would not, flying and hiding himself in darkness. -Then did great Juno herself come down and burst asunder the iron-bound -gates of war. - -Then through the land of Italy men prepared themselves for battle, -making bright shield and spear, and sharpening the axe upon the -whetstone. And in five cities did they set up anvils to make arms -thereon, head-pieces, and shields of wicker, and breast-plates of -bronze, and greaves of silver. Nor did men regard any more the -reaping-hook nor the plough, making new for battle the swords of their -fathers. - -Now the greatest of the chiefs were these:-- - -First, Prince Mezentius, the Tuscan, who regarded not the gods; and -with him Lausus his son, than whom was none fairer in the host but -Turnus only. A thousand men followed him from Agylla. Worthy was he of -a better father. - -Next came, with horses that none might surpass, Aventinus, son of -Hercules; and on his shield was the emblem of his father, the Hydra -with its hundred snakes. Long swords had his men and Sabine spears; and -he himself had about his head and shoulders a great lion's skin, with -terrible mane and great white teeth. - -And from Tibur came two youths of Argos, twin brothers, Catillus and -Coras, swift and strong as two Centaurs from the hills. And Caeculus, -who builded Praeneste, was there, son of Vulcan, and a great company -of country folk with him, whereof many bare not shield nor spear, but -slings with bullets of lead, and javelins in either hand, and helmets -of wolf's skin upon their heads. - -After him marched Messapus, tamer of horses, Neptune's son, whom no -man might lay low with fire or sword; and the people followed, singing -a war-song of their king, like to a great flock of swans, which flies -with many cries across the Asian marsh. And next Clausus the Sabine, -from whom is sprung the great Claudian house; and Halesus, companion of -Agamemnon, and enemy of Troy from of old, with many nations behind him; -clubs had they, fastened with thongs of leather, and wicker shields on -their left arms, and their swords were shaped as reaping-hooks. After -these came OEbalus, son of Telon, with the men of Campania, wearing -helmets of cork, and having shields and swords of bronze; also Ufens, -of Neresae, with his robber bands; and Umbro, the Marsian priest, a -mighty wizard and charmer of serpents, who could also heal their bite; -but the wound of the Trojan spears he could not heal, nor did all his -charms and mighty herbs avail him. - -With them also came Virbius, son of Hippolytus, from Egeria. For men -say that Hippolytus, when the curse of his father had fallen upon him, -and he had perished by the madness of his horses, was made alive by the -skill of AEsculapius, and that Jupiter, being wroth that a mortal should -return from the dead, slew the healer, the son of Phoebus, with his -thunderbolt; but that Hippolytus Diana hid in the grove of Africa, that -he might spend the rest of his days obscure and without offence. And -therefore do they yet hinder horses from coming near to the temple of -Diana. Nevertheless the youth Virbius drave horses in his chariot. - -But chief among them all was Turnus, who moved in the midst, clad in -armor, and overtopping them all by his head. And he had a helmet with -three crests, and the Chimaera thereon for a sign; and on his shield -was Io, with her horns lifted to heaven, and Argus the herdsman, and -Inachus pouring a river from his urn. A great multitude of footmen -followed him, Rutulians and Sicanians, and they that dwelt about the -Tiber, and about Anxur, and about the green woods of Feronia. - -Last of all came Camilla the Volscian, with a great company on horses, -clad in armor of bronze. She loved neither distaff nor the basket of -Minerva, but rather to fight and to outstrip the winds in running. And -a mighty runner was she, for she would run over the harvest-field nor -harm the corn, and when she sped across the waves of the sea she wetted -not her foot therein. All the youth marvelled to behold her, and the -women stood gazing upon her as she went. For a robe of royal purple -was about her shoulders, and a snood of gold about her hair; and she -carried a Syrian quiver and a pike of myrtle-wood, as the shepherds are -wont. - -So the chiefs were gathered together, and much people with them, -Mezentius, and Ufens, and Messapus being their leaders. They sent an -embassy likewise to Diomed (for Diomed had built him a city in Italy, -even Arpi), to tell him that AEneas and the men of Troy were setting up -a kingdom in these parts, and to bid him take counsel for himself. - -But AEneas was much troubled at these things, and cast about in his -mind where he should look for help. And while he meditated thereon he -slept. And lo! in his dreams the god of the river, even Father Tiber, -appeared to him. An old man was he, and clad in a blue linen robe, and -having a crown of reeds upon his head. And he spake, saying, "Thou art -welcome to this land, to which thou hast brought the gods of Troy. Be -not dismayed at wars and rumors of wars, nor cease from thy enterprise. -And this shall be a sign unto thee. Thou shalt find upon the shore a -white sow with thirty young, white also, about her teats. And it shall -come to pass that after thirty years Iuelus shall build him the White -City. And now I will tell thee how thou shalt have victory in this -war. Certain men of Arcadia, following their King, Evander, have built -a city in this land, and called its name Pallantium. These wage war -continually with the Latins. To them therefore thou must go, making thy -way up the stream of the river. Rise therefore, and offer sacrifice to -Juno, appeasing her wrath. And to me thou shalt perform thy vows when -thou shalt have prevailed. For know that I am Tiber the river, and that -of all the rivers on earth none is dearer to the gods." - -Then AEneas roused him from sleep, and made his supplications to the -Nymphs and the river god, that they would be favorable to him. And when -he looked, lo! upon the shore a white sow with thirty young, white -also, about her teats. Of these he made a sacrifice to Juno. And after -this he commanded that they should make ready two ships, and so went on -his way. And Tiber stayed his stream so that the men might not toil in -rowing. Quickly they sped, and many trees were above their heads, and -the image thereof in the water beneath. And at noonday they beheld a -city with walls, and a citadel, and a few houses round about. - -Now it chanced that Evander and his people were holding a sacrifice -that day to Hercules before the city. But when they saw through the -trees the ships approaching, they were astonished, and rose all from -the feast. But Pallas, who was the son of the King, commanded that they -should not interrupt the sacrifice, and snatching a spear, he cried -from the mound whereon the altar stood: "Strangers, why come ye? what -seek ye? Do ye bring peace or war?" - -Then AEneas cried from the stern of his ship, holding out the while an -olive branch: "We be men of Troy, enemies of the Latins, and we seek -King Evander. Say, therefore, to him that AEneas, prince of Troy, is -come, seeking alliance with him." - -Much did Pallas marvel to hear this name, and said, "Approach thou, -whoever thou art, and hold converse with my father;" and he caught him -by the hand. - -And when AEneas was set before King Evander he spake, saying, "I come to -thee, O King, not unwilling or fearful, though indeed thou art a Greek -and akin to the sons of Atreus. For between thee and me also there is -kindred. For Dardanus, builder of Troy, was the son of Electra, who -was the daughter of Atlas. And ye come from Mercurius, who was the -son of Cyllene, who was also the daughter of Atlas. Wherefore, I sent -not ambassadors to thee, but came myself, fearing nothing. Know thou -that the Daunian race, which warreth against thee, pursueth us also; -against whom if they prevail, without doubt they shall rule over Italy, -from the one sea even to the other. I would, therefore, that we make -alliance together." - -And as he spake, Evander ceased not to regard him, and, when he -had ended, spake, saying, "Welcome, great son of Troy. Gladly do I -recognize the voice and face of Anchises. For I remember how Priam came -of old time to the kingdom of his sister Hesione, who was the wife of -Telamon; and many princes were with him, but the mightiest of them was -Anchises. Much did I love the man, and took him with me to Pheneus. And -he gave me when he departed a quiver and arrows of Lycia, and a cloak -with threads of gold, and two bridles of gold, which my son Pallas hath -to this day. The alliance that thou seekest I grant. To-morrow shalt -thou depart, with such help as I can give. But now, since ye be come at -such good time, join us in our sacrifice and feast." - -So they feasted together on the flesh of oxen and drank wine, and -were merry. And when they had made an end of eating and drinking, -King Evander spake, saying, "This great feast, my friend, we hold not -without good reason, which thou shalt now hear from me. Seest thou this -great ruin of rocks? Here in old time was a cave, running very deep -into the cliff, wherein Cacus dwelt, a monster but half man, whose -father was Vulcan. The ground thereof reeked with blood, and at the -mouth were fixed the heads of dead men. Very great of stature was he, -and breathed out fire from his mouth. To this land came Hercules, -driving before him the oxen of Geryon, whom he had slain. And when -he had left these to feed in the valley by the river, Cacus, that he -might fill up the measure of his wickedness, stole four bulls and four -heifers, the very chiefest of the herd. And that he might conceal the -thing, he dragged them by the tails backwards, so that the tracks lead -not to the cave. But it chanced that the herd made a great bellowing -when Hercules would have driven them away in the morning. And one of -the heifers which Cacus had hidden in the cave bellowed also, making -answer. Then was Hercules very wroth, and caught up in his hand his -great knotted club, and climbed to the top of the hill. Then was Cacus -sore afraid, and fled to his cave swift as the wind, fear giving wings -to his feet. And when he was come thither, he shut himself therein, -letting fall a great stone which he had caused to hang over the mouth -thereof by cunning devices that he had learned from his father. And -when Hercules was come he sought to find entrance and could not; but -at the last he saw one of the rocks that it was very high and leaned -to the river. This he pushed from the other side, so that it fell with -a great crash into the water. Then did the whole cave of Cacus lie -open to view, horrible to behold, as though the earth were to open her -mouth and show the regions of the dead. And first Hercules shot at the -monster with arrows, and cast boughs and great stones at him; and Cacus -vomited forth from his mouth fire and smoke, filling the whole cave. -And Hercules endured not to be so baffled, but plunged into the cave, -even where the smoke was thickest, and caught him, twining his arms and -legs about him, and strangled him, that he died. Of which deed, O my -friends, we keep the remembrance year by year. Do ye, therefore, join -in our feast, putting first wreaths of poplar about your heads, for the -poplar is the tree of Hercules." - -So they feasted; and the priests, even the Salii, being in two -companies, young and old, sang the great deeds of Hercules: how, being -yet an infant, he strangled the snakes that Juno sent to slay him, and -overthrew mighty cities, and endured many grievous labors, slaying -the Centaurs and the lion of Nemea; and how he went down to hell, and -dragged the dog Cerberus therefrom, and many other things likewise. - -And at even they went back to the city, and as they went Evander told -AEneas many things concerning the country: how of old a savage race -dwelt therein, living even as the beasts, whom Saturn, flying from his -son Jupiter, first taught, giving them customs and laws; and how other -kings also had borne rule over them, and how he himself had come to the -land at the bidding of Apollo. Also he showed him the city which he had -founded, and the places thereof: very famous were they in aftertime, -when mighty Rome was builded, even on the selfsame ground. And when -they came to his palace he said, "Hercules entered this dwelling, -though indeed it be small and lowly. Think not, then, overmuch of -riches, and so make thyself worthy to ascend to heaven, as he also -ascended." - -Then he led him within the palace, and bade him rest on a couch, -whereon was spread the skin of an African bear. - -Very early the next morning the old man Evander rose up from his bed, -and donned his tunic, and bound his Tuscan sandals on his feet, and -girt his Tegean sword to his side, flinging a panther's hide over his -left shoulder. Pallas, his son, also went with him. And two hounds, -which lay by his chamber, followed him. For he would fain have speech -with AEneas, whom, indeed, he found astir, and Achates with him. Then -spake Evander: "Great chief of Troy, good will have we, but scanty -means; for our folk are few and our bounds narrow. But I will tell -thee of a great people and a wealthy, with whom thou mayest make -alliance. Nigh to this place is the famous city Agylla, which the men -of Lydia, settling in this land of Etruria, builded aforetime. Now of -this Agylla Mezentius was King, who surpassed all men in wickedness. -For he would join a living man to a dead corpse, and so leave him -to perish miserably. But after awhile the citizens rebelled, saying -that he should not reign over them, and slew his guards and burnt his -palace. But on him they laid not hands, for he fled to Prince Turnus. -Therefore there is war between Turnus and Agylla. Now in this war thou -shalt be leader; for as yet, when they would have gone forth to battle, -the soothsayers have hindered them, saying, 'Though your wrath against -Mezentius be just, yet must no man of Italy lead this people; but look -you for a stranger.' And they would fain have had me for their leader, -but I am old and feeble. And my son Pallas also is akin to them, seeing -that he was born of a Sabine mother. But thou art in thy prime, and -altogether a stranger in race. Wherefore take this office upon thyself. -Pallas also shall go with thee, and learn from thee to bear himself as -a warrior. Also I will send with thee two hundred chosen horsemen, and -Pallas will give thee as many." - -And even before he had made an end of speaking, Venus gave them a sign, -even thunder in a clear sky; and there was heard a voice as of a Tuscan -trumpet, and when they looked to the heavens, lo! there was a flashing -of arms. - -And AEneas knew the sign and the interpretation thereof, even that he -should prosper in that to which he set his hand. Therefore he bade -Evander be of good cheer. Then again they did sacrifice, and afterwards -AEneas returned to his companions, of whom he chose some, and them the -bravest, who should go with him to Agylla, and the rest he bade return -to Iuelus, to the camp. - -But when he was now ready to depart, Evander took him by the hand, -saying, "O that Jupiter would give me back the years that are gone, -when I slew, under Praeneste, King Erulus, to whom at his birth his -mother, Feronia, gave three lives. Thrice must he needs be slain, and -thrice I slew him. Then had I not been parted from thee, my son, nor -had the wicked Mezentius slain so many of my people. And now, may the -gods hear my prayer: If it be their pleasure that Pallas should come -back, may I live to see it; but if not, may I die even now while I hold -thee in my arms, my son, my one and only joy." - -And his spirit left the old man, and they carried him into the palace. -Then the horsemen rode out from the gates, with Pallas in the midst, -adorned with mantle and blazoned arms, fair as the Morning Star, which -Venus loves beyond all others in the sky. The women stood watching them -from the walls, while they shouted aloud and galloped across the plain. -And after a while they came to a grove, near to which the Etruscans and -Tarchon, their leader, had pitched their camp. - -Now in the meantime Venus had bestirred herself for her son, for -while he slept in the palace of Evander she spake to her husband, -even Vulcan, saying, "While the Greeks were fighting against Troy, I -sought not thy help, for I would not that thou shouldst labor in vain; -but now that AEneas is come to Italy by the command of the gods, I ask -thee that thou shouldst make arms and armor for my son. This Aurora -asked for Memnon; this Thetis for Achilles, and thou grantedst it to -them. And now thou seest how the nations join themselves to destroy -him. Wherefore I pray thee to help me." And he hearkened to her voice. -Therefore when the morning was come, very early, even as a woman who -maketh her living by the distaff riseth and kindleth her fire, and -giveth tasks to her maidens, that she may provide for her husband and -her children, even so Vulcan rose betimes to his work. Now there is an -island, Lipare, nigh unto the shore of Sicily, and there the god had -set up his furnace and anvil, and the Cyclopes were at work, forging -thunderbolts for Jupiter, whereof one remained half wrought. Three -parts of hail had they used, and three of rain-cloud, and three of red -fire and the south wind; and now they were adding to it lightning, and -noise, and fear, and wrath, with avenging flames. And elsewhere they -wrought a chariot for Mars, and a shirt of mail for Minerva, even the -AEgis, with golden scales as of a serpent, and in the midst the Gorgon's -head, lopped at the nape, with rolling eyes. But the god cried, "Cease -ye your toils. Ye must make arms for a hero." Then they all bent them -to their toil. Then bronze, and gold, and iron flowed in streams; and -some plied the bellows, and others dipped the hissing mass in water, -and a third turned the ore in griping pincers. - -A helmet they made with nodding crest, that blazed like fire, and a -sword, and a cuirass of ruddy bronze, and greaves of gold molten many -times, and a spear, and a shield whereon was wrought a marvellous story -of things to come. For the god had set forth all the story of Rome. -There lay the she-wolf in the cave of Mars, suckling the twin babes -that feared her not--and she, bending back her neck, licked them with -her tongue; and there the men of Rome carried off the Sabine virgins -to be their wives; and hard by the battle raged, and there again -the kings made peace together, with offerings and sacrifice. Also -there were wrought the chariots that tore asunder Mettus of Alba for -his treachery, and Porsenna bidding the Romans take back their King, -besieging the city, but the men of Rome stood in arms against him. -Angry and threatening stood the King to see how Cocles broke down the -bridge, and Cloelia burst her bonds to swim across the river. There -Manlius stood to guard the Capitol, and a goose of silver flapped his -wings in arcades of gold, and showed the Gauls at hand. And they, under -cover of the darkness, were climbing through the thickets even to -the ridge of the hill. Their hair was wrought in gold, in gold their -raiment; and their cloaks were of divers colors crossed; milk-white -their necks and clasped with gold; two spears had each and an oblong -shield. Likewise he wrought the dwellings of the dead, of the just -and of the unjust. Here Catiline hung from the rock while the Furies -threatened him; there Cato gave the people laws. And all about was the -sea wrought in gold; but the waves were blue, and white the foam, and -therein sported dolphins of silver. But in the midst was wrought a -great battle of ships at the cape of Actium. On the one side Augustus -led the men of Italy to battle, standing very high on the stern of the -ship. From either temple of his head blazed forth a fire. And Agrippa -also led on his array with a naval crown about his head. And on the -other side stood Antony, having with him barbarous soldiers arrayed in -divers fashions, and leading to battle Egypt and Persia and the armies -of the East; and lo! behind him--a shameful sight--his Egyptian wife. -But in another part the battle raged, and all the sea was in a foam -with oars and triple beaks. It seemed as though islands were torn -from their places, or mountain clashed against mountain, so great was -the shock of the ships. And all about flew javelins with burning tow, -and the sea was red with blood. In the midst stood Cleopatra, with a -timbrel in her hand, and called her armies to the battle: behind her -you might see the snakes by whose bite she should die. And on one side -the dog Anubis, with other monstrous shapes of gods, and over against -them Neptune, and Venus, and Minerva. And in the midst Mars was seen -to rage, embossed in steel; and the Furies hovered above, and Discord -stalked with garment rent, while high above Apollo stretched his bow, -and Egyptian and Indian and Arab fled before him. And in a third place -great Caesar rode through Rome in triumph, and the city was full of joy, -and the matrons were gathered in the temples; and through the street -there passed a long array of nations that he had conquered, from the -east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south. Such -was the shield which Vulcan wrought. - -And Venus, when she saw her son that none was with him,--for he had -wandered apart from his companions,--brought the arms and laid them -down before him, saying, "See the arms that I promised I would give -thee. These my husband, the Fire-god, hath wrought for thee. With these -thou needst shun no enemy; no, not Turnus himself." Right glad was he -to see them, and fitted them upon him, and swung the shield upon his -shoulder, nor knew what mighty fates of his children he bare thereon. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - -After this AEneas made a covenant with the men of Etruria, of whom one -Tarchon was chief. And a great company of these went with him to the -war. - -But in the meanwhile Turnus had fought against the camp of the Trojans, -and had slain many of the people. And when they that remained were now -ready to despair, they looked up, and behold! AEneas was there, for he -stood upon the stern of his ship and lifted in his left hand a flashing -shield. Much did the men of Troy rejoice to see that sight, and shouted -amain. And Turnus and his companions marvelled, till they looked behind -them, and lo! the sea was covered with ships, and in the midst was -AEneas. And it was as if a flame poured forth from his helmet and his -shield, bright as is a comet when it shines in the night-time red as -blood, or as the Dog Star in the hot summer-tide with baleful light -bringing fevers to the race of men. - -Yet did not Turnus lose heart, but would occupy the shore, and hinder -from landing those that came. Wherefore he cried, "Now have ye that -which ye wished for. Lo! the enemy hides not himself behind a wall, but -meets us face to face. Remember wife and child and home and the great -deeds of your fathers. Let us meet them on the shore ere yet their -footing is firm." And he thought within himself who should watch the -walls, and who should meet the enemy when he would gain the shore. - -But in the meanwhile AEneas landed his men on gangways from the ships. -And some leapt on shore, having watched for the ebb of the waves, and -some ran along the oars. Tarchon also, the Etrurian, having spied a -place where the sea broke not in waves, commanded his men that they -should beach the ships. Which indeed they did without harm. Only the -ship of Tarchon himself was caught upon a ridge and the men thrown -therefrom. Yet these also, after a while, got safe to the shore. - -Then did AEneas do great deeds against the enemy. For first he slew -Theron, who surpassed all men in stature, smiting through his coat -of mail; and Cisseus and Gyas, who wielded clubs after the manner of -Hercules. Sons were they of Melampus, who had borne Hercules company -in all his labors. Then the sons of Phorcus came against him, seven in -number; and they cast at him seven spears, whereof some rebounded from -his shield and some grazed his body, but harmed him not. Then cried -AEneas to Achates, "Give me spears enough. Spears which have slain the -Greeks on the fields of Troy shall not be cast in vain against these -Latins." Then of the seven he slew Maeon and Alcanor, for the spear -pierced the breast-plate and heart of Maeon, and when Alcanor would -have held him up, passed through his arm and yet kept on its way. And -many others fell on this side and on that, for they fought with equal -fortune. On the very threshold of Italy they fought, and neither would -the Italians give place nor yet the men of Troy, for foot was planted -close to foot, and man stood fast by man. - -In another part of the battle Pallas fought with his Arcadians. And -when he saw that they fled, not being wont to fight on foot (for by -reason of the ground they had sent away their horses), he cried, "Now, -by the name of your King Evander, and by my hope that I may win praise -like unto his, I beseech you that ye trust not to your feet. Ye must -make your way through the enemy with your swords. Where the crowd is -the thickest follow me. Nor have ye now gods against you. These are but -mortal men that ye see." And he rushed into the midst of the enemy. -First he smote Lagus with his spear, even as he was lifting a great -stone from the earth. In the back he smote him, and, having smitten -him, strove to draw forth the spear; and while he strove, Hisbo would -have slain him; but Pallas was aware of his coming, and pierced him -in the breast with his sword. Next he slew the twin brothers, Larides -and Thymber. Very like they were, and it pleased father and mother -that they knew not the one from the other; but Pallas made a cruel -difference between them, for from Thymber he struck off the head, and -from Larides the right hand. And after these he slew Rhoetus, as he -fled past him in his chariot. And now, even as a shepherd sets fire -to a wood, and the flames are borne along by the wind, so Pallas, and -his Arcadians following, raged through the battle. And when Halaesus, -the companion of Agamemnon, would have stayed them, Pallas, first -praying to Father Tiber, smote him through the breast with a spear, -that he died. Then came to the help of the Latins, Lausus, the son of -King Mezentius, and slew Abas of Populonia, and others also. Then the -battle was equal for a space, for Pallas supported it on the one side -and Lausus on the other. Fair were they both to behold and of equal -age, and for both it was ordained that they should not return to their -native country. Yet they met not in battle, seeing that the doom of -each was that he should fall by a greater hand. - -And now the nymph Juturna, who was sister to Turnus, bade her brother -haste to the help of Lausus. And when he was come, he cried to the -Latins, "Give place: I only will deal with Pallas. I only would that -his father were here to see." Much did Pallas marvel to behold him -and to see the men give place. But, being no whit afraid, he went -forth into the space between the hosts, and the blood of the Arcadians -ran cold when they saw him go. Then Turnus leapt from his chariot, -for he would meet him on foot. And first Pallas prayed, saying, "O -Hercules! if thou wast indeed my father's guest, help me to-day!" And -Hercules heard him where he sat in heaven, and wept because he could -avail nothing. Then said Father Jupiter, "My son, the days of men are -numbered; yet may they live forever by noble deeds. This at least can -valor do. Did not many sons of the gods fall at Troy? yea, and my -own Sarpedon. And for Turnus, too, the day of doom is at hand." And -he turned his eyes from the battle. Then Pallas cast his spear with -all his might. Through the shield of Turnus it passed, and through -the corselet, yea, and grazed the top of his shoulder. Then Turnus -balanced his spear awhile, and said, "This, methinks, shall better -make its way," and he cast it. Through the shield, through the stout -bull's hide, and through the folds of bronze it passed, and through -the corselet, and pierced the breast of Pallas from front to back. And -Pallas tore from the wound the reeking steel, and the blood gushed out, -and the life therewith. Then Turnus stood above the corpse, and said, -"Men of Arcadia, tell these my words to Evander: 'Pallas I send him -back, even as he deserved that I should send him. I grudge him not due -honors of burial. Yet of a truth the friendship of AEneas hath cost him -dear.'" Then he put his foot upon the body and dragged therefrom the -belt. Great and heavy it was, and Clonius had wrought thereon in gold -the deed of the fifty daughters of Danaues, how they slew their husbands -in one night. But even then the time was very near when Turnus would -wish that he had left that spoil untouched. And afterwards, with much -groaning and weeping, the companions of Pallas laid him upon a shield -and bare him back. - -And now tidings came to AEneas that it fared ill with his men, and that -Pallas was slain. Across the field he sped, and all his heart was full -of wrath against Turnus and pity for the old man Evander; and first -he took alive eight youths, whom he should slay upon the tomb. Then -he cast his spear at Lagus; but Lagus avoided it by craft, and rushed -forward, and caught him by the knees, beseeching him by the spirit of -his father and the hopes of Iuelus that he would spare him, and take a -ransom for his life. But AEneas made answer, "Talk not of sparing nor -of ransom; for to all courtesy of war there is an end now that Turnus -hath slain Pallas." And he caught the man's helmet with his left hand, -and, bending back his neck, thrust in the sword up to the hilt. And -many other valiant chiefs he slew, as Haemonides, priest of Phoebus and -Diana, and Tarquitus, son of Faunus, and dark Camers, son of Volscens. -And now there met him two brethren on one chariot, Lucagus and Liger. -And Liger, who indeed drave the horses, cried aloud, "These are not the -horses of Diomed, nor this the chariot of Achilles, from which thou -mayest escape. Lo! the end of thy battles and thy life is come." But -AEneas spake not, but cast his spear, and even as Lucagus made himself -ready for battle, it sped through his shield and pierced his thigh. -Then he fell dying on the plain. And AEneas cried, mocking him, "Thy -horses are not slow to flee, nor frightened by a shadow. Of thine own -will thou leavest thy chariot." And he caught the horses by the head. -Then Liger stretched out his hands to him in supplication, saying, -"I beseech thee, by thy parents, have pity upon me." But AEneas made -answer, "Nay, but thou speakest not thus before. Die! and desert not -thy brother." And he thrust the sword into his breast. Thus did AEneas -deal death through the host, even as he had been the giant Typhoeus with -the hundred hands. And when Iuelus and the men of Troy beheld him they -brake forth from the camp. - -And now Juno bethought her how she might save Turnus, whom she loved. -So she caused that there should pass before his eyes an image as of -AEneas, which seemed to defy him to battle. And when Turnus would have -fought, lo! the false AEneas fled, and Turnus followed him. Now there -chanced to be lying moored to a great rock a certain ship, on which -King Asinius had come from Clusium. Into this the false AEneas fled, -and Turnus followed hard upon him, but found not the man. And when he -looked, Juno had burst the moorings of the ship, and the sea was about -him on every side. Then he cried, "What have I done, great Jupiter, -that I should suffer such shame? What think the Latins of my flight? -Drown me, ye winds and waves, or drive me where no man may see me -more." Thrice he would have cast himself into the sea; thrice would he -have slain himself with the sword; but Juno forbade, and brought him -safe to the city of Daunus, his father. - -In the meanwhile King Mezentius joined the battle. Nor could the men -of Troy, nor yet the Tuscans, stay him. Many valiant men he slew, as -Mimas, whom his mother Theano bare the same night that Hecuba bare -Paris to King Priam; and Actor, a Greek, who had left his promised -wife, and carried her purple favor in his helmet; and tall Orodes. -Orodes, indeed, was flying, but the King deigned not to slay him in -his flight, but met him face to face and smote him. Also when Orodes -cried, "Whoever thou art, thou goest not long unpunished: a like doom -awaits thee; and in this land shalt thou find thy grave," Mezentius -laughed, and made answer, "Die thou, but let the King of gods and men -see to me." - -But after awhile AEneas spied Mezentius as he fought, and made haste to -meet him. Nor did the King give place, but cried, "Now may this right -hand and the spear which I wield be my gods, and help me." And he cast -his spear. It smote the shield of AEneas, but pierced it not. Yet did it -not fly in vain, for glancing off it smote Antores in the side--Antores -who once had been comrade to Hercules, and afterwards followed Evander. -Now he fell, and in his death remembered the city which he loved, even -Argos. Then in his turn AEneas cast his spear. Through the bull's-hide -shield it passed, wounding the King in the groin, but not to death. And -AEneas was right glad to see the blood flow forth, and drew his sword -and pressed on; and Mezentius, much cumbered with the spear and the -wound, gave place. But when Lausus, his son, saw this, he groaned aloud -and leapt forward, and took the blow upon his sword; and his companions -followed him with a shout, and cast their spears at AEneas, staying him -till Mezentius had gotten himself safe away. And AEneas stood awhile -under the shower of spears, even as a traveller stands hiding himself -from a storm. Then he cried to Lausus, "What seekest thou, madman? Why -venturest thou that which thy strength may not endure?" But Lausus -heeded him not at all, but still pressed on. Then the heart of AEneas -was filled with wrath, and the day was come for Lausus that he should -die. For the King smote him with his sword: through shield it passed -and tunic woven with gold, and was hidden to the hilt in his body. -And AEneas pitied him as he lay dead, bethinking him how he, too, would -fain have died for his father, and spake, saying, "What shall AEneas -give thee, unhappy boy, for this thy nobleness? Keep thy arms, in which -thou hadst such delight, and let thy father care as he will for thy -body; and take this comfort in thy death, that thou fallest by the hand -of the great AEneas." Then he lifted him from the earth, and bade his -companions carry him away. - -In the meantime his father tended his wounds, leaning on the trunk of a -tree by the Tiber bank. His helmet hung from a branch, and his arms lay -upon the ground, while his followers stood around. And ever he asked -tidings of Lausus, and sent those who should bid him return. But when -they brought back his body on a shield, his father knew it from afar, -and threw dust upon his white hair, and fell upon the body, crying, -"Had I such desire to live, my son, that I suffered thee to meet in my -stead the sword of the enemy? Am I saved by these wounds? Do I live by -thy death? And indeed, my son, I did dishonor to thee by my misdeeds. -Would that I had given my guilty life for thine! But indeed I die; -nevertheless not yet, for I have first somewhat that I must do." - -Then he raised himself on his thigh, and commanded that they should -bring his horse. His pride it was and comfort, and had borne him -conqueror from many fights. Very sad was the beast, and he spake to it, -saying, "O Rhoebus, thou and I have lived long enough, if indeed aught -on earth be long. To-day thou shalt bring back the head and the arms of -AEneas, and so avenge my Lausus; or thou shalt die with me. For a Trojan -master thou wilt not, I know, endure." - -Then he mounted the horse, and took spears in both his hands, and so -hasted to meet AEneas. Thrice he called him by name, and AEneas rejoiced -to hear his voice, and cried, "Now may Jupiter and Apollo grant that -this be true. Begin the fight." And Mezentius made answer: "Seek not -to make afraid. Thou canst do me no harm now that thou hast slain my -son. I am come to die, but take thou first this gift; and he cast his -spear, and then another, and yet another, as he rode in a great circle -about the enemy. But they brake not the boss of gold. And AEneas stood -firm, bearing the forest of spears in his shield. But at last issuing -forth in anger from behind his shield, he cast his spear and smote the -war-horse Rhoebus between his temples. Then the horse reared himself -and lashed the air with his feet, and fell with his rider beneath him. -And the men of Troy and the Latins sent up a great shout. Then AEneas -hasted and drew his sword, and stood above him, crying, "Where is the -fierce Mezentius now?" And the King said, when he breathed again, "Why -threatenest thou me with death? Slay me; thou wrongest me not. I made -no covenant with thee for life, nor did my Lausus when he died for me. -Yet grant me this one thing. Thou knowest how my people hateth me. Keep -my body, I pray thee, from them, that they do it no wrong. And let -my son be buried with me in my grave." And he gave his throat to the -sword, and feared not. - -So the battle had an end. And the next day, early in the morning, AEneas -paid his vows. For he took an oak-tree, and lopped the branches round -about, and set it on a mound. And thereon he hung, for a trophy to -Mars, the arms of King Mezentius, the crest dripping with blood, and -the headless spears, and the corselet pierced in twelve places. Also -he fastened on the left hand the shield, and hung about the neck the -ivory-hilted sword. And next, the chiefs being gathered about him, he -spake, saying, "We have wrought a great deed. Here ye see all that -remaineth of Mezentius. Now, therefore, let us make ready to carry the -war against the city of Latinus. This therefore will we do with the -first light to-morrow. And now let us bury the dead, doing such honor -to them as we may, for indeed they have purchased a country for us -with their own blood. But first will I send back Pallas to the city of -Evander." - -Then he went to the tent where the dead body was laid, and old Acoetes -kept watch thereby--Acoeetes, who had been armor-bearer to Evander, and -now had followed his son, but with evil fortune; and the women of Troy, -with their hair unbound, mourned about him. But when they saw AEneas -they beat their breasts, and sent up a great cry even to heaven. And -when the King saw the pillowed head, and the great wound in the breast, -he wept, and said, "Ah! why did Fortune grudge me this, that thou -shouldst see my kingdom, and go back in triumph to thy father's home? -This is not what I promised to Evander when he gave thee to my charge, -and warned me that the men of Italy were valiant and fierce. And now -haply, old man, thou makest offerings and prayers for him who oweth -not service any more to the gods of heaven. Yet, at least, thou wilt -see that he beareth an honorable wound. But what a son thou losest, O -Italy! and what a friend, thou, Iuelus!" - -Then he choose a thousand men who should go with the dead and share the -father's grief. After this they made a bier of arbutus boughs and oak, -and put also over it a canopy of branches, and laid the dead thereon, -like unto a flower of violet or hyacinth which a girl hath plucked, -which still hath beauty and color, but the earth nourisheth it no more. -And AEneas took two robes of purple, which Dido had woven with thread of -gold, and with one he wrapped the body and with the other the head. And -behind were carried the arms which Pallas had won in fight; and they -led the old man Acoetes, smiting on his breast and tearing his cheeks, -and throwing himself upon the ground; and the war-horse AEthon walked -beside, with the great tears rolling down his cheeks. And also they -bare behind him his helmet and shield, for all else Turnus had taken: -and then followed the whole company, the men of Troy, the Arcadians, -and the Tuscans, with arms reversed. And AEneas said, "The same cares -and sorrows of war call me elsewhere. Farewell, my Pallas, for ever!" -And he departed to the camp. - -And now there came ambassadors from the city, having olive branches -about their heads, praying for a truce, that they might bury their -dead. Then AEneas made answer, "Ye ask peace for the dead; fain would I -give it to the living. I had not come to this land but for the bidding -of the Fates. And if your King changeth from me and my friendship to -Turnus, I am blameless. Yet methinks Turnus should rather have taken -this danger upon himself. And even now, if he be willing to fight with -me, man to man, so be it. But now bury ye your dead." - -Then they made a truce for twelve days. And the men of Troy and the -Latins labored together, hewing wood upon the hills, pine and cedar and -mountain ash. And the men of Troy built great piles upon the shore, and -burned the dead bodies of their companions thereon, and their arms with -them. And the Latins did likewise. Also they that had been chosen to do -this thing carried the body of Pallas to his city. And King Evander and -the Arcadians made a great mourning for him. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - -After these things there was again battle between the Trojans and the -Latins; and many were slain on either side, but at the last the men of -Troy prevailed. Then Prince Turnus, seeing that the Latins had fled -in the battle, and that men looked to him that he should perform that -which he had promised, even to meet AEneas face to face, 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, "Not for me, my father, shall these cowards of Troy go -back from that which they have covenanted. 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 has 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 Iuelus. 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 for ever, -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 Latium's 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 the 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 Camers, 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 for ever." - -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 -Coryneues 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, catching -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 breast-plate, and smote off his head. - -But in the meanwhile Mnestheus and Achates and Iuelus led AEneas to the -camp, leaning on his spear. Very wrath 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 Iapis, "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 Iuelus 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 to 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 there was 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 fulfil 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 her self 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 furthest 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, while 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 defence 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 -marvelled 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 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 awhile 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. - - - - -Transcriber's Notes: - - -Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant -preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed. - -Simple typographical errors were corrected; occasional unbalanced -quotation marks retained. - -Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained. Missing hyphens -assumed to be implied when there was space for them. - -Illustrations have been moved closer to the relevant text. - -Text uses both "Lybia" and "Libya"; both retained here. - -Page 30: "when he first took" was printed as "when the first took". - -Page 50: "Golden Helmet" was printed as "Golden Hemlet". - -Page 100: "let these things be my care." ended with a gap where the -punctuation belonged. Period added by Transcriber, but a semi-colon -might be more appropriate. - -Page 117: "Mestor" is correct: he was a Trojan; Nestor was a Greek. - -Page 123: Closing quote mark added at end of "would slay us altogether." - -Page 128: "let me put thy armor on me" was printed as "or me". - -Page 339: Missing closing quote mark in paragraph that begins, "Then he -mounted the horse". It probably belongs at the end of "take thou first -this gift;", but has not been added. - -Page 348: "healed; and lo!" was printed as "healed; and low!". - - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Stories of the Old world, by Alfred John Church - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF THE OLD WORLD *** - -***** This file should be named 43982.txt or 43982.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/9/8/43982/ - -Produced by sp1nd, Charlie Howard, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -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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