HERE BELOW IT IS TOLD OF THE COUNCIL WHICH WAS HELD BY THE SONS OF KING
PRIAM OF TROY
When the sons of king Priam had re-made Troy, which the Greeks had
destroyed, and Talamon and Agamemnon had taken the lady Hesione, the
sons of Priam called a meeting of their powerful allies and spoke so
among their friends: dear friends, the Greeks have done us a great
wrong. They have killed our folk, and destroyed our city, and our lady
they have taken away. And we have re-made our city and strengthened it.
Our alliance is a powerful one. Moreover, we have gathered together no
little treasure. Now let us send and tell them they must make amend for
the injuries done us, that they must give us back our lady. And this
Paris said.
Then the good Hector who surpassed in valour at that time all the
valorous men, spoke thus: my lords, war is not to my liking, nor do I
advise it, for the Greeks are more powerful than we are. They have
valour and wealth and science, and so we are not in a position to
combat them, for this great strength of theirs. And I say this not from
cowardice. For if it shall be that the war cannot be avoided, I will
uphold my part in it like anyone else. And I will support the weight of
the battle. And this is against those who would make the enterprise.
Now the war came about. Hector was in the battle together with the
Trojans, and was as valiant as a lion. And with his own hands he killed
more than two thousand of the Greeks.
Hector killed the Greeks and supported the Trojans and escaped death.
But in the end Hector was slain, and the Trojans abandoned every
defence. The bold spirits who had urged the war grew fainter in their
hardihood, and Troy was again conquered by the Greeks and subjugated by
them. [137]