[Illustration]

'"In thy father's house did I not rear thee to greatness--even thee,

most noble Achilles. With me and with none other wouldst thou go into

the feasthall, and, as a child, thou would'st stay at my knee and eat

the morsel I gave, and drink from the cup that I put to thy lips. I

reared thee, and I suffered and toiled much that thou mightst have

strength and skill and quickness. Be thou merciful in thy heart,

Achilles. Be not wrathful any more. Cast aside thine anger now and save

the host. Come now. The gifts Agamemnon would give thee are very great,

and no king nor prince could despise them. But if without gifts thou

would'st enter the battle, then above all heroes the host would honour

thee."'

'Achilles answered Phoinix gently and said, "The honour the host would

bestow upon me I have no need of, for I am honoured in the judgment of

Zeus, the greatest of the gods, and while breath remains with me that

honour cannot pass away. But do thou, Phoinix, stay with me, and many

things I shall bestow upon thee, even the half of my kingdom. Ah, but

urge me not to help Agamemnon, for if thou dost I shall look upon thee

as a friend to Agamemnon, and I shall hate thee, my foster-father, as I

hate him."'

Then to Odysseus, Achilles spoke and said, "Son of Laertes, wisest of

men, harken now to what I shall say to thee. Here I should have stayed

and won that imperishable renown that my goddess-mother told me of, even

at the cost of my young life if Agamemnon had not aroused the wrath that

now possesses me. Know that my soul is implacable towards him. How often

did I watch out sleepless nights, how often did I spend my days in

bloody battle for the sake of Agamemnon's and his brother's cause! Why

are we here if not because of lovely Helen? And yet one whom I cherished

as Menelaus cherished Helen has been taken from me by order of this

King! He would let her go her way now! But no, I do not desire to see

Briseis ever again, for everything that comes from Agamemnon's hand is

hateful to me. Hateful are all the gifts he would bestow upon me, and

him and his treasures I hold at a straw's worth. I have chosen.

To-morrow I shall have my Myrmidons draw my ships out to the sea, and I

shall depart from Troy for my own land."'

'Said Aias, "Have the gods, Achilles, put into your breast a spirit

implacable and proud above all men's spirits?"'

'"Yea, Aias," said Achilles. "My spirit cannot contain my wrath.

Agamemnon has treated me, not as a leader of armies who won many battles

for him, but as a vile sojourner in his camp. Go now and declare my will

to him. Never again shall I take thought of his war."'

'So he spoke, and each man took up a two-handled cup and poured out wine

as an offering to the gods. Then Odysseus and Aias in sadness left the

hut. But Phoinix remained, and for him Patroklos, the dear friend of

Achilles, spread a couch of fleeces and rugs.'

'Odysseus and Aias went along the shore of the sea and by the line of

the ships and they came to where Agamemnon was with the greatest of the

warriors of the host. Odysseus told them that by no means would

Achilles join in the battle, and they all were made silent with grief.

Then Diomedes, the great horseman, rose up and said, "Let Achilles stay

or go, fight or not fight, as it pleases him. But it is for us who have

made a vow to take Priam's city, to fight on. Let us take food and rest

now, and to-morrow let us go against Hector's host, and you, Agamemnon,

take the foremost place in the battle."'

'So Diomedes spoke and the warriors applauded what he said, and they all

poured out libations of wine to the gods, and thereafter they went to

their huts and slept. But for Agamemnon, the King, there was no sleep

that night. Before his eyes was the blaze of Hector's thousand

watch-fires and in his ears were the sound of pipes and flutes that made

war-music for the Trojan host encamped upon the plain.'

XIII

When dawn came the King arrayed himself for the battle, putting on his

great breast-plate and his helmet that had a high plume of horse-hair;

fastening about his legs greaves fitted with ankle-clasps of silver; and

hanging round his shoulders a great sword that shone with studs of

gold--a sword that had a silver scabbard fitted with golden chains. Over

his shoulders he cast a great lion's skin, and he took upon his arm a

shield that covered the whole of a man. Next he took in his hands two

strong spears of bronze, and so arrayed and so armed he was ready to

take the foremost place in the battle.'

'He cried aloud and bade the Greeks arm themselves, and straightway they

did so and poured from behind the wall that guarded their ships into the

Trojan plain. Then the chiefs mounted their chariots, and their

charioteers turned the horses towards the place of battle.'

'Now on the high ground before them the Trojans had gathered in their

battalions and the figure of great Hector was plain to Agamemnon and his

men. Like a star that now and then was hidden by a cloud, so he appeared

as he went through the battalions, all covered with shining bronze.

Spears and arrows fell upon both sides. Footmen kept slaying footmen and

horsemen kept slaying horsemen with the sword, and the dust of the plain

rose up, stirred by the thundering hooves of the horses. From dawn till

morning and from morning till noon the battle raged, but at mid-day the

Greeks broke through the Trojan lines. Then Agamemnon in his chariot

rushed through a gap in the line. Two men did he instantly slay, and

dashing onward he slew two warriors who were sons of King Priam. Like

fire falling upon a wood and burning up the underwood went King

Agamemnon through the Trojan ranks, and when he passed many

strong-necked horses rattled empty chariots, leaving on the earth the

slain warriors that had been in them. And through the press of men and

up to the high walls of Troy did Agamemnon go, slaying Trojan warriors

with his spear. Hector did not go nigh him, for the gods had warned

Hector not to lead any onslaught until Agamemnon had turned back from

battle.'

'But a Trojan warrior smote King Agamemnon on the mid-arm, below the

elbow, and the point of his spear went clean through. Still he went

through the ranks of the Trojans, slaying with spear and sword. And then

the blood dried upon his wound and a sharp pain came upon him and he

cried out, "O friends and captains! It is not possible for me to war for

ever against the Trojans, but do you fight on to keep the battle from

our ships." His charioteer turned his horses, and they, all covered with

foam and grimed with dust, dashed back across the plain bearing the

wounded King from that day's battle.'

'Then Hector sprang to the onslaught. Leaping into his chariot he led

the Trojans on. Nine captains of the Greeks he slew in the first onset.

Now their ranks would have been broken, and the Greeks would have fled

back to their ships if Odysseus had not been on that wing of the battle

with Diomedes, the great horseman. Odysseus cried out, "Come hither,

Diomedes, or verily Hector will sweep us across the plain and bring the

battle down to our ships."'

[Illustration]

'Then these two forced themselves through the press of battle and held

back the onset of Hector till the Greeks had their chance to rally.

Hector spied them and swept in his chariot towards them. Diomedes lifted

his great spear and flung it full at Hector. The bronze of the spear

struck the bronze of his helmet, and bronze by bronze was turned. The

blow told upon Hector. But he, springing from his chariot, stayed

amongst the press of warriors, resting himself on his hands and knees.

Darkness was before his eyes for a while, but he got breath again, and

leaping back into his chariot drove away from that dangerous place.'

'Then Diomedes himself received a bitterer wound, for Paris, sheltering

himself behind a pillar on the plain, let fly an arrow at him. It went

clean through his right foot. Odysseus put his shield before his friend

and comrade, and Diomedes was able to draw the arrow from his flesh. But

Diomedes was fain to get back into his chariot and to command his

charioteer to drive from the battle.'

'Now Odysseus was the only one of the captains who stayed on that side

of the battle, and the ranks of the Trojans came on and hemmed him

round. One warrior struck at the centre of his shield and through the

shield the strong Trojan spear passed and wounded the flesh of Odysseus.

He slew the warrior who had wounded him and he drew the spear from his

flesh, but he had to give ground. But loudly as any man ever cried,

Odysseus cried out to the other captains. And strong Aias heard him and

drew near, bearing his famous shield that was like a tower. The Trojan

warriors that were round him drew back at the coming of Aias and

Odysseus went from the press of battle, and mounting his chariot drove

away.'

'Where Aias fought the Trojans gave way, and on that side of the battle

they were being driven back towards the City. But suddenly upon Aias

there fell an unaccountable dread. He cast behind him his great shield,

and he stood in a maze, like a wild bull, turning this way and that, and

slowly retreating before those who pressed towards him. But now and

again his valour would come back and he would stand steadily and, with

his great shield, hold at bay the Trojans who were pressing towards the

ships. Arrows fell thick upon his shield, confusing his mind. And Aias

might have perished beneath the arrows if his comrades had not drawn him

to where they stood with shields sloping for a shelter, and so saved

him.'

'All this time Hector was fighting on the left wing of the battle

against the Greeks, who were led by Nestor and Idomeneus. And on this

side Paris let fly an arrow that brought trouble to the enemies of his

father's City. He struck Machaon who was the most skilled healer of

wounds in the whole of the host. And those who were around Machaon were

fearful that the Trojans would seize the stricken man and bear him away.

Then said Idomeneus, "Nestor, arise. Get Machaon into your chariot and

drive swiftly from the press of battle. A healer such as he is worth the

lives of many men. Save him alive so that we may still have him to draw

the arrows from our flesh and put medicaments into our wounds." Then did

Nestor lift the healer into his chariot, and the charioteer turned the

horses and they too drove from the press of battle and towards the

hollow ships.'

XIV

Achilles, standing by the stern of his great ship, saw the battle as it

went this way and that way, but his heart was not at all moved with pity

for the destruction wrought upon the Greeks. He saw the chariot of

Nestor go dashing by, dragged by sweating horses, and he knew that a

wounded man was in the chariot. When it had passed he spoke to his dear

friend Patroklos.

'"Go now, Patroklos," he said, "and ask of Nestor who it is that he has

borne away from the battle."'

'"I go, Achilles," Patroklos said, and even as he spoke he started to

run along the line of the ships and to the hut of Nestor.'

'He stood before the door, and when old Nestor beheld him he bade him

enter. "Achilles sent me to you, revered Nestor," said Patroklos, "to

ask who it was you bore out of the battle wounded. But I need not ask,

for I see that it is none other than Machaon, the best of our healers."'

'"Why should Achilles concern himself with those who are wounded in the

fight with Hector?" said old Nestor. "He does not care at all what evils

befall the Greeks. But thou, Patroklos, wilt be grieved to know that

Diomedes and Odysseus have been wounded, and that sore-wounded is

Machaon whom thou seest here. Ah, but Achilles will have cause to lament

when the host perishes beside our burning ships and when Hector

triumphs over all the Greeks."'

'Then the old man rose up and taking Patroklos by the hand led him

within the hut, and brought him to a bench beside which lay Machaon, the

wounded man.'

'"Patroklos," said Nestor, "speak thou to Achilles. Nay, but thy father

bade thee spake words of counsel to thy friend. Did he not say to thee

'turn Achilles from harsh courses by gentle words'? Remember now the

words of thy father, Patroklos, and if ever thou did'st speak to

Achilles with gentle wisdom speak to him now. Who knows but thy words

might stir up his spirit to take part in the battle we have to fight

with Hector?"'

'"Nay, nay, old man," said Patroklos, "I may not speak to Achilles to

ask for such a thing."'

'"Then," said Nestor, "do thou thyself enter the war and bring Achilles'

Myrmidons with thee. Then might we who are wearied with fighting take

breath. And beg of Achilles to give you his armour that you may wear it

in the battle. If thou would'st appear clad in Achilles' bronze the

Trojans would think that he had entered the war again and they would not

force the fight upon us."'

'What old Nestor said seemed good to Patroklos and he left the hut and

went back along the ships. And on his way he met Eurypylos, a sorely

wounded man, dragging himself from the battle, and Patroklos helped him

back to his hut and cheered him with discourse and laid healing herbs

upon his wounds.'

'And even as he left old Nestor's hut, Hector was before the wall the

Greeks had builded to guard their ships. On came the Trojans against

that wall, holding their shields of bulls' hides before them. From the

towers that were along the wall the Greeks flung great stones upon the

attackers.'

'Over the host an eagle flew, holding in its talons a blood-red serpent.

The serpent struggled with the eagle and the eagle with the serpent, and

both had sorely wounded each other. But as they flew over the host of

Greeks and Trojans the serpent struck at the eagle with his fangs, and

the eagle, wounded in the breast, dropped the serpent. Then were the

Trojans in dread, seeing the blood-red serpent across their path, for

they thought it was an omen from Zeus. They would have turned back from

the wall in fear for this omen had not Hector pressed them on. "One omen

is best, I know," he cried, "to fight a good fight for our country.

Forward then and bring the battle to those ships that came to our coast

against the will of the gods."'

'So Hector spoke. Then he lifted up a stone--such a stone as not two of

the best of men now living could as much as raise from the ground--and

he flung this stone full at the strongly-set gate. It broke the hinges

and the bars, and the great gate fell under the weight of the tremendous

stone. Then Hector leaped across it with two spears in his hands. No

warrior could withstand him now. And as the Trojans scaled the walls

and poured across the broken gate, the Greeks fled to their ships in

terror and dismay.'

[Illustration]

'Patroklos saw the gate go down and the Trojans pour towards the ships

in a mass that was like a great rock rolling down a cliff. Idomeneus and

Aias led the Greeks who fought to hold them back. Hector cast a spear at

Aias and struck him where the belt of his shield and the belt of his

sword crossed. Aias was not wounded by the stroke. Then Aias cast at

Hector a great stone that was used to prop a ship. He struck him on the

breast, just over the rim of his shield. Under the weight of that blow

great Hector spun round like a top. The spear fell from his hands and

the bronze of his shield and helmet rang as he fell on the ground.'

'Then the Greeks dashed up to where Hector lay, hoping to drag him

amongst them. But his comrades placed their shields around him and drove

back the warriors that were pressing round. They lifted Hector into his

chariot, and his charioteer drove him from the place of battle groaning

heavily from the hurt of that terrible blow.'

'Now the Greeks rallied and came on with a shout, driving the Trojans

back before them. The swift horses under Hector's chariot brought him

out on the plain. They who were with him lifted him out, and Hector lay

gasping for breath and with black blood gushing from him. And then as he

lay there stricken he heard the voice of a god--even of Apollo--saying,

"Hector, son of Priam, why dost thou lie fainting, apart from the host?

Dost thou not know that the battle is desperate? Take up thy spirit

again. Bid thy charioteer drive thee towards the ships of the Greeks."'

'Then Hector rose and went amongst the ranks of his men and roused up

their spirits and led them back to the wall. And when the Greeks saw

Hector in fighting trim again, going up and down the ranks of his men,

they were affrighted.'

'He mounted his chariot and he shouted to the others, and the Trojan

charioteers lashed their horses and they came on like a great wave. They

crossed the broken wall again and came near the ships. Then many of the

Greeks got into their ships and struck at those who came near with long

pikes.'

'And all around the ships companies of Greek warriors stood like rocks

that the sea breaks against in vain. Nestor cried out to the Greeks,

bidding them fight like heroes, or else lose in the burning ships all

hope of return to their native land. Aias, a long pike in his hand,

drove multitudes of Trojans back, while, in a loud voice, he put courage

into the Greeks. Hector fought his way forward crying to the Trojans to

bring fire to the ships that had come to their coast against the will of

the gods,'

'He came to the first of the ships and laid his hand upon its stern.

Many fought against him there. Swords and spears and armour fell on the

ground, some from the hands, some off the shoulders of warring men, and

the black earth was red with blood. But Hector was not driven away from

the ship. And he shouted "Bring fire that we may burn the ships that

have brought the enemy to our land. The woes we have suffered were

because of the cowardice of the elders of the City--they would not let

me bring my warriors here and bring battle down to the ships when first

they came to our beach. Do not let us return to the City until we have

burned the ships with fire."'

'But whoever brought fire near the ship was stricken by strong Aias who

stood there with a long pike in his hands. Now all this time Patroklos

sat in the hut of Eurypylos, the wounded man he had succoured, cheering

him with discourse and laying healing herbs on his wounds. But when he

saw fire being brought to the ships he rose up and said, "Eurypylos, no

longer may I stay here although great is your need of attendance. I must

get aid for our warriors." Straightway he ran from the hut and came to

where Achilles was.'

'"If thy heart, Achilles," he said, "is still hard against the Greeks,

and if thou wilt not come to their aid, let me go into the fight and let

me take with me thy company of Myrmidons. And O Achilles, grant me

another thing. Let me wear thine armour and thy helmet so that the

Trojans will believe for a while that Achilles has come back into the

battle. Then would they flee before me and our warriors would be given a

breathing-time."'

[Illustration]

'Said Achilles, "I have declared that I shall not cease from my wrath

until the Trojans come to my own ships. But thou, Patroklos, dear

friend, may'st go into the battle. All thou hast asked shall be freely

given to thee--my Myrmidons to lead and my armour to wear, and even my

chariot and my immortal horses. Drive the Trojans from the ships. But

when thou hast driven them from the ships, return to this hut. Do not go

near the City. Return, I bid thee, Patroklos, when the Trojans are no

longer around the ships, and leave it to others to battle on the

plain."'

'Then Patroklos put on the armour that Zeus had given to Achilles'

father, Peleus. Round his shoulders he cast the sword of bronze with its

studs of silver, and upon his head he put the helmet with its high

horse-hair crest--the terrible helmet of Achilles. Then Achilles bade

the charioteer yoke the horses to the chariot--the horses, Xanthos and

Balios, that were also gifts from the gods. And while all this was being

done Achilles went amongst the Myrmidons, making them ready for the

battle and bidding them remember all the threats they had uttered

against the Trojans in the time when they had been kept from the fight.'

'Then he went back to his hut and opening the chest that his mother,

Thetis, had given him he took from it a four-handled cup--a cup that no

one drank out of but Achilles himself. Then pouring wine into this cup

and holding it towards Heaven, Achilles prayed to Zeus, the greatest of

the gods:

"My comrade I send to the war, O far-seeing Zeus:

May'st strengthen his heart, O Zeus, that all triumph be his:

But when from the ships he hath driven the spear of our foes,

Out of the turmoil of battle may he to me return

Scathless, with arms and his comrades who fight hand to hand."

'So Achilles prayed, and the Myrmidons beside their ships shouted in

their eagerness to join in the battle.'

XV

Who was the first of the great Trojan Champions to go down before the

onset of Patroklos? The first was Sarpedon who had come with an army to

help Hector from a City beyond Troy. He saw the Myrmidons fight round

the ships and break the ranks of the Trojans and quench the fire on the

half-burnt ship. He saw that the warrior who had the appearance of

Achilles affrighted the Trojans so that they turned their horses' heads

towards the City. The Myrmidons swept on with Patroklos at their head.

Now when he saw him rushing down from the ships Sarpedon threw a dart at

Patroklos. The dart did not strike him. Then Patroklos flung a spear and

struck Sarpedon even at the heart. He fell dead from his chariot and

there began a battle for his body--the Trojans would have carried it

into the City, so that they might bury with all honour the man who had

helped them, and the Greeks would have carried it away, so that, having

his body and his armour, the slaying of Sarpedon might be more of a

triumph for them.'

[Illustration]

'So a battle for his body went on. Now Sarpedon's comrade, Glaukos,

sought out Hector, who was fighting in another part of the battle-field,

and he spoke to him reproachfully. "Hector," he said, "art thou utterly

forgetful of those who came from their own country to help thee to

protect thy father's City? Sarpedon has fallen, and Achilles' Myrmidons

would strip him of his armour and bring his body to the ships that their

triumph over him may be greater still. Disgraceful will it be to thee,

Hector, if they win that triumph."'

'Hector, when this was said to him, did not delay, but came straight to

the spot where Sarpedon had been slain. The Greek who had laid hands

upon the body he instantly slew. But as he fought on it suddenly seemed

to Hector that the gods had resolved to give victory to the Greeks, and

his spirit grew weary and hopeless within him. He turned his horses'

heads towards the City and galloped from the press of battle. Then the

Trojans who were fighting round it fled from the body of Sarpedon, and

the Greeks took it and stripped it of its armour and carried the body to

their ships.'

'It was then that Patroklos forgot the command of Achilles--the command

that he was not to bring the battle beyond the ships and that he was to

return when the Trojans were beaten towards their City. Patroklos forgot

all that, and he shouted to the immortal horses, Xanthos and Balios,

that drew his chariot, and, slaying warrior after warrior he swept

across the plain and came to the very gates of Troy.'

'Now Hector was within the gates and had not yet left his chariot. Then

there came and stood before him one who was thought to be the god

Apollo, but who then had the likeness of a mortal man. "Hector," said

he, "why hast thou ceased from the fight? Behold, Patroklos is without

the gate of thy father's City. Turn thy horses against him now and

strive to slay him, and may the gods give thee glory."'

'Then Hector bade his charioteer drive his horses through the gate and

into the press of battle. He drew near to Patroklos, and Patroklos,

leaping down from his chariot, seized a great stone and flung it at

Hector's charioteer. It struck him on the brow and hurled him from the

chariot.'

'Hector too leaped from the chariot and took his sword in hand. Their

men joined Patroklos and joined Hector and the battle began beside the

body of Hector's charioteer. Three times did Patroklos rush against the

ranks of the Trojans and nine warriors did he slay at each onset. But

the doom of Patroklos was nigh. A warrior smote him in the back and

struck the helmet from his head. With its high horse-hair crest it

rolled beneath the hooves of the horses. Who was it smote Prince

Patroklos then? Men said it was the god Apollo who would not have the

sacred City of Troy taken until the time the gods had willed it to

fall.'

'The spear fell from his hands, the great shield that Achilles had given

him dropped on the ground, and all in amaze Patroklos stood. He gave

ground and retreated towards his comrades. Then did Hector deal him the

stroke that slew. With his great spear he struck and drove it through

the body of Patroklos.'

'Then did Hector exult crying, "Patroklos, thou didst swear that thou

wouldst sack our sacred City and that thou wouldst take from our people

their day of freedom. Now thou hast fallen and our City need not dread

thee ever any more!"'

'Then said Patroklos, "Thou mayst boast now, Hector, although it was not

thy stroke that slew me. Apollo's stroke it was that sent me down. Boast

of my slaying as thou wilt, but hear my saying and keep it in thy heart:

Thy fate too is measured and thee Achilles will slay."'

But Hector did not heed what the dying Patroklos said. He took from his

body the armour of Achilles that had been a gift from the gods. The body

too he would have brought within the City that his triumph might be

greater, but now Aias came to where Patroklos had fallen and over the

body he placed his great shield. The fight went on and Hector,

withdrawing himself to the plain, put upon himself the armour he had

stripped off the body of Patroklos. The armour fitted every limb and

joint and as he put it on more courage and strength than ever yet he had

felt came into the soul of Hector.'

[Illustration]

'And the immortal steeds that Patroklos had driven, having galloped from

the battle, stood apart and would not move for all that their

charioteer would do. They stood apart with their heads bowed, and tears

flowed from their eyes down on the ground. And Zeus, the greatest of the

gods, saw them and had pity upon them and spoke to himself saying, "Ah,

immortal steeds, why did I give ye to king Peleus, whose generations die

while ye remain young and undying? Was it that ye should know the

sorrows that befall mortal men? Pitiful, indeed, is the lot of all men

upon the earth. Even Hector now, who boasteth in the armour that the

gods once gave, will shortly go down to his death and the City he

defendeth will be burned with fire."'

'So saying he put courage into the hearts of the immortal steeds and

they went where the charioteer would have them go, and they came safely

out of the battle.'

'Now Hector, with the armour of Achilles upon him, gathered his

companies together and brought them up to the battle to win and carry

away the body of Patroklos. But each one who laid hands upon that body

was instantly slain by Aias. All day the battle went on, for the Greeks

would say to each other, "Comrades, let the earth yawn and swallow us

rather than let the Trojans carry off the body of Patroklos." And on

their side the Trojans would say, "Friends, rather let us all be slain

together beside this man than let one of us go backward now."'

'Now Nestor's son, Antilochos, who was fighting on the left of the

battlefield, heard of the slaying of Patroklos. His eyes filled with

tears and his voice was choked with grief and he dashed out of the

battle to bring the grievous tidings to the hut of Achilles. "Fallen is

Patroklos," he cried, "and Greeks and Trojans are fighting around his

body. And his body is naked now, for Hector has stripped the armor from

it."'

Then Achilles fainted away and his head lay in the ashes of his hut. He

woke again and moaned terribly. His goddess-mother heard the sound of

his grief as she sat within the depths of the Ocean. She came to him as

he was still moaning terribly. She took his hand and clasped it and

said, "My child, why weep'st thou?" Achilles ceased his moaning and

answered, "Patroklos, my dear friend, has been slain. Now I shall have

no joy in my life save the joy of slaying Hector who slew my friend."'

'Thetis, his goddess-mother, wept when she heard such speech from

Achilles. "Short-lived you will be, my son," she said, "for it is

appointed by the gods that after the death of Hector your death will

come."'

'"Straightway then let me die," said Achilles, "since I let my friend

die without giving him help. O that I had not let my wrath overcome my

spirit! Here I stayed, a useless burthen on the earth, while my comrades

and my own dear friend fought for their country--here I stayed, I who am

the best of all the Greeks. But now let me go into the battle and let

the Trojans know that Achilles has come back, although he tarried

long."'

"But thine armour, my son," said Thetis. "Thou hast no armour now to

protect thee in the battle. Go not into it until thou seest me again. In

the morning I shall return and I shall bring thee armour that

Hephaistos, the smith of the gods, shall make for thee."'

'So she spoke, and she turned from her son, and she went to Olympus

where the gods have their dwellings.'

'Now darkness had come down on those who battled round the body of

Patroklos, and in that darkness more Greeks than Trojans were slain. It

seemed to the Greeks that Zeus had resolved to give the victory to the

Trojans and not to them, and they were dismayed. But four Greek heroes

lifted up the body and put it upon their shoulders, and Aias and his

brother stood facing the Trojans, holding them back while the four tried

to bear the body away. The Trojans pressed on, striking with swords and

axes, but like a wooded ridge that stretches across a plain and holds

back a mighty flood, Aias and his brother held their ground.'

'Achilles still lay in his hut, moaning in his grief, and the servants

raised loud lamentations outside the hut. The day wore on and the battle

went on and Hector strove against Aias and his brother. Then the figure

of a goddess appeared before Achilles as he lay on the ground. "Rouse

thee, Achilles," she said, "or Hector will drag into Troy the body of

thy friend, Patroklos."'

'Said Achilles, "Goddess Iris, how may I go into the battle since the

Trojans hold the armour that should protect me?"'

[Illustration]

'Said Iris, the Messenger of the gods, "Go down to the wall as thou

art and show thyself to the men of Troy, and it may be that they will

shrink back on seeing thee and hearing thy voice, and so give those who

defend the body of Patroklos a breathing-spell."'

'So she said and departed. Then Achilles arose and went down to the wall

that had been built around the ships. He stood upon the wall and shouted

across the trench, and friends and foes saw him and heard his voice.

Around his head a flame of fire arose such as was never seen before

around the head of a mortal man. And seeing the flame of fire around his

head and hearing his terrible voice the Trojans were affrighted and

stood still. Then the Greeks took up the body of Patroklos and laid it

on a litter and bore it out of the battle.'

XVI

Now Thetis, the mother of Achilles, went to Olympus where the gods have

their dwellings and to the house of Hephaistos, the smith of the gods.

That house shone above all the houses on Olympus because Hephaistos

himself had made it of shining bronze. And inside the house there were

wonders--handmaidens that were not living but that were made out of gold

and made with such wondrous skill that they waited upon Hephaistos and

served and helped him as though they were living maids.'

'Hephaistos was lame and crooked of foot and went limping. He and Thetis

were friends from of old time, for, when his mother would have forsaken

him because of his crooked foot, Thetis and her sister reared him within

one of the Ocean's caves and it was while he was with them that he began

to work in metals. So the lame god was pleased to see Thetis in his

dwelling and he welcomed her and clasped her hand and asked of her what

she would have him do for her.'

'Then Thetis, weeping, told him of her son Achilles, how he had lost his

dear friend and how he was moved to go into the battle to fight with

Hector, and how he was without armour to protect his life, seeing that

the armour that the gods had once given his father was now in the hands

of his foe. And Thetis besought Hephaistos to make new armour for her

son that he might go into the battle.'

'She no sooner finished speaking than Hephaistos went to his work-bench

and set his bellows--twenty were there--working. And the twenty bellows

blew into the crucibles and made bright and hot fires. Then Hephaistos

threw into the fires bronze and tin and silver and gold. He set on the

anvil-stand a great anvil, and took in one hand his hammer and in the

other hand his tongs.'

[Illustration]

'For the armour of Achilles he made first a shield and then a corselet

that gleamed like fire. And he made a strong helmet to go on the head

and shining greaves to wear on the ankles. The shield was made with five

folds, one fold of metal upon the other, so that it was so strong and

thick that no spear or arrow could pierce it. And upon this shield he

hammered out images that were a wonder to men.'

'The first were images of the sun and the moon and of the stars that the

shepherds and the seamen watch--the Pleiades and Hyads and Orion and the

Bear that is also called Wain. And below he hammered out the images of

two cities: in one there were people going to feasts and playing music

and dancing and giving judgements in the market-place: the other was a

city besieged: there were warriors on the walls and there was an army

marching out of the gate to give battle to those that besieged them. And

below the images of the cities he made a picture of a ploughed field,

with ploughmen driving their yokes of oxen along the furrows, and with

men bringing them cups of wine. And he made a picture of another field

where men were reaping and boys were gathering the corn, where there was

a servant beneath an oak tree making ready a feast, and women making

ready barley for a supper for the men who were reaping, and a King

standing apart and watching all, holding a staff in his hands and

rejoicing at all he saw.'

'And another image he made of a vineyard, with clusters of grapes that

showed black, and with the vines hanging from silver poles. And he

showed maidens and youths in the vineyard, gathering the grapes into

baskets, and one amongst them, a boy, who played on the viol. Beside the

image of the vineyard he made images of cattle, with herdsmen, and with

nine dogs guarding them. But he showed two lions that had come up and

had seized the bull of the herd, and the dogs and men strove to drive

them away but were affrighted. And beside the image of the oxen he made

the image of a pasture land, with sheep in it, and sheepfolds and roofed

huts.'

'He made yet another picture--a dancing-place with youths and maidens

dancing, their hands upon each others' hands. Beautiful dresses and

wreaths of flowers the maidens had on, and the youths had daggers of

gold hanging from their silver belts. A great company stood around those

who were dancing, and amongst them there was a minstrel who played on

the lyre.'

'Then all around the rim of the shield Hephaistos, the lame god, set an

image of Ocean, whose stream goes round the world. Not long was he in

making the shield and the other wonderful pieces of armour. As soon as

the armour was ready Thetis put her hands upon it, and flying down from

Olympus like a hawk, brought it to the feet of Achilles, her son.'

'And Achilles, when he saw the splendid armour that Hephaistos the lame

god had made for him, rose up from where he lay and took the

wonderfully-wrought piece in his hands. And he began to put the armour

upon him, and none of the Myrmidons who were around could bear to look

upon it, because it shone with such brightness and because it had all

the marks of being the work of a god.'

XVII

Then Achilles put his shining armour upon him and it fitted him as

though it were wings; he put the wonderful shield before him and he took

in his hands the great spear that Cheiron the Centaur had given to

Peleus his father--that spear that no one else but Achilles could wield.

He bade his charioteer harness the immortal horses Xanthos and Balios.

Then as he mounted his chariot Achilles spoke to the horses. "Xanthos

and Balios," he said, "this time bring the hero that goes with you back

safely to the ships, and do not leave him dead on the plain as ye left

the hero Patroklos."'

'Then Xanthos the immortal steed spoke, answering for himself and his

comrade. "Achilles," he said, with his head bowed and his mane touching

the ground, "Achilles, for this time we will bring thee safely back from

the battle. But a day will come when we shall not bring thee back, when

thou too shalt lie with the dead before the walls of Troy."'

'Then was Achilles troubled and he said, "Xanthos, my steed, why dost

thou remind me by thy prophecies of what I know already--that my death

too is appointed, and that I am to perish here, far from my father and

my mother and my own land."'

'Then he drove his immortal horses into the battle. The Trojans were

affrighted when they saw Achilles himself in the fight, blazing in the

armour that Hephaistos had made for him. They went backward before his

onset. And Achilles shouted to the captains of the Greeks, "No longer

stand apart from the men of Troy, but go with me into the battle and let

each man throw his whole soul into the fight."'

'And on the Trojan side Hector cried to his captains and said, "Do not

let Achilles drive you before him. Even though his hands are as

irresistible as fire and his fierceness as terrible as flashing steel, I

shall go against him and face him with my spear."'

'But Achilles went on, and captain after captain of the Trojans went

down before him. Now amongst the warriors whom he caught sight of in the

fight was Polydoros, the brother of Hector and the youngest of all King

Priam's sons. Priam forbade him ever to go into the battle because he

loved him as he would love a little child. But Polydoros had gone in

this day, trusting to his fleetness of foot to escape with his life.

Achilles saw him and pursued him and slew him with the spear. Hector saw

the death of his brother. Then he could no longer endure to stand aside

to order the battle. He came straight up to where Achilles was

brandishing his great spear. And when Achilles saw Hector before him he

cried out, "Here is the man who most deeply wounded my soul, who slew my

dear friend Patroklos. Now shall we two fight each other and Patroklos

shall be avenged by me." And he shouted to Hector, "Now Hector, the day

of thy triumph and the day of thy life is at its end."'

'But Hector answered him without fear, "Not with words, Achilles, can

you affright me. Yet I know that thou art a man of might and a stronger

man than I. But the fight between us depends upon the will of the gods.

I shall do my best against thee, and my spear before this has been found

to have a dangerous edge."'

'He spoke and lifted up his spear and flung it at Achilles. Then the

breath of a god turned Hector's spear aside, for it was not appointed

that either he or Achilles should be then slain. Achilles darted at

Hector to slay him with his spear. But a god hid Hector from Achilles in

a thick mist.'

'Then in a rage Achilles drove his chariot into the ranks of the war and

many great captains he slew. He came to Skamandros, the river that flows

across the plain before the city of Troy. And so many men did he slay in

it that the river rose in anger against him for choking its waters with

the bodies of men.'

'Then on towards the City, he went like a fire raging through a glen

that had been parched with heat. Now on a tower of the walls of Troy,

Priam the old King stood, and he saw the Trojans coming in a rout

towards the City, and he saw Achilles in his armour blazing like a

star--like that star that is seen at harvest time and is called Orion's

Dog; the star that is the brightest of all stars, but yet is a sign of

evil. And the old man Priam sorrowed greatly as he stood upon the tower

and watched Achilles, because he knew in his heart whom this man would

slay--Hector, his son, the protector of his City.'

XVIII

So much of the story of Achilles did Telemachus, the son of Odysseus,

hear from the lips of King Menelaus as he sat with his comrade

Peisistratus in the King's feasting-hall. And more would Menelaus have

told them then if Helen, his wife, had not been seen to weep. 'Why

weepst thou, Helen?' said Menelaus. 'Ah, surely I know. It is because

the words that tell of the death of Hector are sorrowful to thee.'

And Helen, the lovely lady, said 'Never did Prince Hector speak a hard

or a harsh word to me in all the years I was in his father's house. And

if anyone upbraided me he would come and speak gentle words to me. Ah,

greatly did I lament for the death of noble Hector! After his wife and

his mother I wept the most for him. And when one speaks of his slaying I

cannot help but weep.'

Said Menelaus, 'Relieve your heart of its sorrow, Helen, by praising

Hector to this youth and by telling your memories of him.'

'To-morrow I shall do so,' said the lady Helen. She went with her maids

from the hall and the servants took Telemachus and Peisistratus to their

sleeping places.

The next day they sat in the banqueting hall; King Menelaus and

Telemachus and Peisistratus, and the lady Helen came amongst them. Her

handmaidens brought into the hall her silver work-basket that had wheels

beneath it with rims of gold, and her golden distaff that, with the

basket, had been presents from the wife of the King of Egypt. And Helen

sat in her chair and took the distaff in her hands and worked on the

violet-coloured wool that was in her basket. And as she worked she told

Telemachus of Troy and of its guardian, Hector.

Said Helen, 'The old men were at the gate of the City talking over many

things, and King Priam was amongst them. It was in the days when

Achilles first quarrelled with King Agamemnon. "Come hither, my

daughter," said King Priam to me, "and sit by me and tell me who the

warriors are who now come out upon the plain. You have seen them all

before, and I would have you tell me who such and such a one is. Who is

yon hero who seems so mighty? I have seen men who were more tall than he

by a head, but I have never seen a man who looked more royal."'

'I said to King Priam. "The hero whom you look upon is the leader of the

host of the Greeks. He is the renowned King Agamemnon."'

'"He looks indeed a King," said Priam. "Tell me now who the other

warrior is who is shorter by a head than King Agamemnon, but who is

broader of chest and shoulder."'

'"He is Odysseus," I said, "who was reared in rugged Ithaka, but who is

wise above all the Kings."'

'And an old man, Antenor, who was by us said, "That indeed is Odysseus.

I remember that he and Menelaus came on an embassy to the assembly of

the Trojans. When they both stood up, Menelaus seemed the greater man,

but when they sat down Odysseus seemed by far the most stately. When

they spoke in the assembly, Menelaus was ready and skilful of speech.

Odysseus when he spoke held his staff stiffly in his hands and fixed his

eyes on the ground. We thought by the look of him then that he was a man

of no understanding. But when he began to speak we saw that no one could

match Odysseus--his words came like snow-flakes in winter and his voice

was very resonant."'

'And Priam said, "Who is that huge warrior? I think he is taller and

broader than any of the rest."'

'"He is great Aias," I said, "who is as a bulwark for the Greeks. And

beside him stands Idomeneus, who has come from the Island of Crete.

Around him stand the Cretan captains." So I spoke, but my heart was

searching for a sight of my own two brothers. I did not see them in any

of the companies. Had they come with the host, I wondered, and were they

ashamed to be seen with the warriors on account of my wrong-doing? I

wondered as I looked for them. Ah, I did not know that even then my two

dear brothers were dead, and that the earth of their own dear land held

them.'

'Hector came to the gate and the wives and daughters of the Trojans came

running to him, asking for news of their husbands or sons or brothers,

whether they were killed or whether they were coming back from the

battle. He spoke to them all and went to his own house. But Andromache,

his wife, was not there, and the housedame told him that she had gone to

the great tower by the wall of the City to watch the battle and that the

nurse had gone with her, bringing their infant child.

'So Hector went down the street and came to the gate where we were, and

Andromache his wife came to meet him. With her was the nurse who carried

the little child that the folk of the city named Astyanax, calling him,

'King of the City' because his father was their city's protector. Hector

stretched out his arms to the little boy whom the nurse carried. But the

child shrank away from him, because he was frightened of the great

helmet on his father's head with its horse-hair crest. Then Hector

laughed and Andromache laughed with him, and Hector took off his great

helmet and laid it on the ground. Then he took up his little son and

dandled him in his arms, and prayed, "O Zeus, greatest of the gods,

grant that this son of mine may become valiant, and that, like me, he

may be protector of the City and thereafter a great King, so that men

may say of him as he returns from battle, 'Far greater is he than was

Hector his father.'" Saying this he left the child back in his nurse's

arms. And to Andromache, his wife, who that day was very fearful, he

said "Dear one, do not be over sorrowful. You urge me not to go every

day into the battle, but some days to stay behind the walls. But my own

spirit forbids me to stay away from battle, for always I have taught

myself to be valiant and to fight in the forefront."'

[Illustration]

'So he said and he put on his helmet again and went to order his men.

And his wife went towards the house, looking back at him often and

letting her tears fall down. Thou knowst from Menelaus' story what

triumphs Hector had thereafter--how he drove the Greeks back to their

ships and affrighted them with his thousand watch-fires upon the plain;

how he drove back the host that Agamemnon led when Diomedes and Odysseus

and Machaon the healer were wounded; how he broke through the wall that

the Greeks had builded and brought fire to their ships, and how he slew

Patroklos in the armour of Achilles.'

XIX

King Priam on his tower saw Achilles come raging across the plain and he

cried out to Hector, "Hector, beloved son, do not await this man's onset

but come within the City's walls. Come within that thou mayst live and

be a protection to the men and women of Troy. And come within that thou

mayst save thy father who must perish if thou art slain."'

'But Hector would not come within the walls of the City. He stood

holding his shield against a jutting tower in the wall. And all around

him were the Trojans, who came pouring in through the gate without

waiting to speak to each other to ask who were yet living and who were

slain. And as he stood there he was saying in his heart, "The fault is

mine that the Trojans have been defeated upon the plain. I kept them

from entering the City last night against the counsel of a wise man, for

in my pride I thought it would be easy to drive Achilles and the Greeks

back again and defeat them utterly and destroy their hopes of return.

Now are the Trojans defeated and dishonoured and many have lost their

lives through my pride. Now the women of Troy will say, 'Hector, by

trusting to his own might, has brought destruction upon the whole host

and our husbands and sons and brothers have perished because of him.'

Rather than hear them say this I shall face Achilles and slay him and

save the City, or, if it must be, perish by his spear."'

'When Achilles came near him Hector spoke to him and said "My heart bids

me stand against thee although thou art a mightier man than I. But

before we go into battle let us take pledges, one from the other, with

the gods to witness, that, if I should slay thee, I shall strip thee of

thine armour but I shall not carry thy body into the City but shall give

it to thine own friends to treat with all honour, and that, if thou

should slay me, thou shalt give my body to my friends."'

'But Achilles said, "Between me and thee there can be no pledges. Fight,

and fight with all thy soldiership, for now I shall strive to make thee

pay for all the sorrow thou hast brought to me because of the slaying of

Patroklos, my friend."'

'He spoke and raised his spear and flung it. But with his quickness

Hector avoided Achilles' spear. And he raised his own, saying, "Thou

hast missed me, and not yet is the hour of my doom. Now it is thy turn

to stand before my spear."'

'He flung it, but the wonderful shield of Achilles turned Hector's spear

and it fell on the ground. Then was Hector downcast, for he had no other

spear. He drew his sword and sprang at Achilles. But the helmet and

shield of Achilles let none of Hector's great strokes touch his body.

And Achilles got back into his hands his own great spear, and he stood

guarding himself with his shield and watching Hector for a spot to

strike him on. Now in the armour that Hector wore--the armour that he

had stripped off Patroklos--there was a point at the neck where there

was an opening. As Hector came on Achilles drove at his neck with his

spear and struck him and Hector fell in the dust.'

'Then Achilles stripped from him the armour that Patroklos had worn. The

other captains of the Greeks came up and looked at Hector where he lay

and all marvelled at his size and strength and goodliness. And Achilles

dragged the body at his chariot and drove away towards the ships.'

[Illustration]

'Hector's mother, standing on the tower on the wall, saw all that was

done and she broke into a great cry. And all the women of Troy took up

the cry and wailed for Prince Hector who had guarded them and theirs

from the foe. Andromache, his wife, did not know the terrible thing

that had happened. She was in an inner chamber of Hector's house,

weaving a great web of cloth and broidering it with flowers, and she had

ordered her handmaidens to heat water for the bath, so that Hector might

refresh himself when he came in from the fight. But now she heard the

wail of the women of Troy. Fear came upon her, for she knew that such

wailing was for the best of their warriors.'

'She ran from her chamber and out into the street and came to the

battlements where the people stood watching. She saw the chariot of

Achilles dashing off towards the ships and she knew that it dragged the

dead body of Hector. Then darkness came before her eyes and she fainted

away. Her husband's sisters and his brothers' wives thronged round her

and lifted her up. And at last her life came back to her and she wailed

for Hector, "O my husband," she cried, "for misery were we two born! Now

thou hast been slain by Achilles and I am left husbandless! And ah, woe

for our young child! Hard-hearted strangers shall oppress him when he

lives amongst people that care not for him or his. And he will come

weeping to me, his widowed mother, who will live forever sorrowful

thinking upon where thou liest, Hector, by the ships of those who slew

thee."'

'So Andromache spoke and all the women of Troy joined in her grief and

wept for great Hector who had protected their city.'

XX

Now that Hector was dead, King Priam, his father, had only one thought

in his mind, and that was to get his body from Achilles and bring it

into the City so that it might be treated with the honour befitting the

man who had been the guardian of Troy. And while he sat in his grief,

thinking of his noble son lying so far from those who would have wept

over him, behold! there appeared before him Iris, the messenger of Zeus,

the greatest of the Gods. Iris said to him, "King, thou mayst ransom

from Achilles the body of Hector, thy noble son. Go thou thyself to the

hut of Achilles and bring with thee great gifts to offer him. Take with

thee a wagon that thou mayst bring back in it the body, and let only one

old henchman go with thee to drive the mules."'

'Then Priam, when he heard this, arose and went into his treasure

chamber and took out of his chests twelve beautiful robes; twelve

bright-coloured cloaks; twelve soft coverlets and ten talents of gold;

he took, too, four cauldrons and two tripods and a wonderful goblet that

the men of Thrace had given him when they had come on an embassy to his

city. Then he called upon his sons and he bade them make ready the wagon

and load it with the treasures he had brought out of his

treasure-chamber.'

'When the wagon was loaded and the mules were yoked under it, and when

Priam and his henchman had mounted the seats, Hekabe, the queen, Priam's

wife and the mother of Hector, came with wine and with a golden cup that

they might pour out an offering to the gods before they went on their

journey; that they might know whether the gods indeed favoured it, or

whether Priam himself was not going into danger. King Priam took the cup

from his wife and he poured out wine from it, and looking towards heaven

he prayed, "O Father Zeus, grant that I may find welcome under Achilles'

roof, and send, if thou wilt, a bird of omen, so that seeing it with

mine own eyes I may go on my way trusting that no harm will befall me."'

'He prayed, and straightway a great eagle was seen with wide wings

spread out above the City, and when they saw the eagle, the hearts of

the people were glad for they knew that their King would come back

safely and with the body of Prince Hector who had guarded Troy.'

'Now Priam and his henchman drove across the plain of Troy and came to

the river that flowed across and there they let their mules drink. They

were greatly troubled, for dark night was coming down and they knew not

the way to the hut of Achilles. They were in fear too that some company

of armed men would come upon them and slay them for the sake of the

treasures they had in the wagon.'

'The henchman saw a young man coming towards them. And when he reached

them he spoke to them kindly and offered to guide them through the camp

and to the hut of Achilles. He mounted the wagon and took the reins in

his hands and drove the mules. He brought them to the hut of Achilles

and helped Priam from the wagon and carried the gifts they had brought

within the hut. "Know, King Priam," he said, "that I am not a mortal,

but that I am one sent by Zeus to help and companion thee upon the way.

Go now within the hut and speak to Achilles and ask him, for his

father's sake, to restore to thee the body of Hector, thy son."'

'So he spoke and departed and King Priam went within the hut. There

great Achilles was sitting and King Priam went to him and knelt before

him and clasped the hands of the man who had slain his son. And Achilles

wondered when he saw him there, for he did not know how one could have

come to his hut and entered it without being seen. He knew then that it

was one of the gods who had guided this man. Priam spoke to him and

said, "Bethink thee, Achilles upon thine own father. He is now of an age

with me, and perhaps even now, in thy far-away country, there are those

who make him suffer pain and misery. But however great the pain and

misery he may suffer he is happy compared to me, for he knows that thou,

his son, art still alive. But I no longer have him who was the best of

my sons. Now for thy father's sake have I come to thee, Achilles, to ask

for the body of Hector, my son. I am more pitiable than thy father or

than any man, for I have come through dangers to take in my hands the

hands that slew my son."'

[Illustration]

'Achilles remembered his father and felt sorrow for the old man who

knelt before him. He took King Priam by the hand and raised him up and

seated him on the bench beside him. And he wept, remembering old Peleus,

his father.'

'He called his handmaids and he bade them take the body of Hector and

wash it and wrap it in two of the robes that Priam had brought. When

they had done all this he took up the body of Hector and laid it himself

upon the wagon.'

'Then he came and said to King Priam, "Thy son is laid upon a bier, and

at the break of day thou mayst bring him back to the City. But now eat

and rest here for this night."'

'King Priam ate, and he looked at Achilles and he saw how great and how

goodly he was. And Achilles looked at Priam and he saw how noble and how

kingly he looked. And this was the first time that Achilles and Priam

the King of Troy really saw each other.'

'When they gazed on each other King Priam said, "When thou goest to lie

down, lord Achilles, permit me to lie down also. Not once have my

eyelids closed in sleep since my son Hector lost his life. And now I

have tasted bread and meat and wine for the first time since, and I

could sleep."'

'Achilles ordered that a bed be made in the portico for King Priam and

his henchman, but before they went Achilles said: "Tell me, King, and

tell me truly, for how many days dost thou desire to make a funeral for

Hector? For so many days space I will keep back the battle from the City

so that thou mayst make the funeral in peace." "For nine days we would

watch beside Hector's body and lament for him; on the tenth day we would

have the funeral; on the eleventh day we would make the barrow over him,

and on the twelfth day we would fight," King Priam said. "Even for

twelve days I will hold the battle back from the City," said Achilles.'

'Then Priam and his henchman went to rest. But in the middle of the

night the young man who had guided him to the hut of Achilles--the god

Hermes he was--appeared before his bed and bade him arise and go to the

wagon and yoke the mules and drive back to the City with the body of

Hector. Priam aroused his henchman and they went out and yoked the mules

and mounted the wagon, and with Hermes to guide them they drove back to

the City.'

'And Achilles on his bed thought of his own fate--how he too would die

in battle, and how for him there would be no father to make lament. But

he would be laid where he had asked his friends to lay him--beside

Patroklos--and over them both the Greeks would raise a barrow that would

be wondered at in after times.'

[Illustration]

'So Achilles thought. And afterwards the arrow fired by Paris struck him

as he fought before the gate of the City, and he was slain even on the

place where he slew Hector. But the Greeks carried off his body and his

armour and brought them back to the ships. And Achilles was lamented

over, though not by old Peleus, his father. From the depths of the sea

came Thetis, his goddess-mother, and with her came the Maidens of the

Sea. They covered the body of Achilles with wonderful raiment and over

it they lamented for seventeen days and seventeen nights. On the

eighteenth day he was laid in the grave beside Patroklos, his dear

friend, and over them both the Greeks raised a barrow that was wondered

at in the after-times.'

XXI

Now Hector's sister was the first to see her father coming in the dawn

across the plain of Troy with the wagon upon which his body was laid.

She came down to the City and she cried through the streets, "O men and

women of Troy, ye who often went to the gates to meet Hector coming back

with victory, come now to the gates to receive Hector dead."'

'Then every man and woman in the City took themselves outside the gate.

And they brought in the wagon upon which Hector was laid, and all day

from the early dawn to the going down of the sun they wailed for him who

had been the guardian of their city.'

'His father took the body to the house where Hector had lived and he

laid it upon his bed. Then Hector's wife, Andromache, went to the bed

and cried over the body. "Husband," she cried, "thou art gone from life,

and thou hast left me a widow in thy house. Our child is yet little,

and he shall not grow to manhood in the halls that were thine, for long

before that the City will be taken and destroyed. Ah, how can it stand,

when thou, who wert its best guardian, hast perished? The folk lament

thee, Hector; but for me and for thy little son, doomed to grow up

amongst strangers and men unfriendly to him, the pain for thy death will

ever abide."'

'And Hekabe, Hector's mother, went to the bed and cried "Of all my

children thou, Hector, wert the dearest. Thou wert slain because it was

not thy way to play the coward; ever wert thou championing the men and

women of Troy without thought of taking shelter or flight. And for that

thou wert slain, my son."'

'And I, Helen, went to the bed too, to lament for noble Hector. "Of all

the friends I had in Troy, thou wert the dearest, Hector," I cried.

"Never did I hear one harsh word from thee to me who brought wars and

troubles to thy City. In every way thou wert as a brother to me.

Therefore I bewail thee with pain at my heart, for in all Troy there is

no one now who is friendly to me."'

'Then did the King and the folk of the City prepare for Hector's

funeral. On the tenth day, weeping most bitter tears they bore brave

Hector away. And they made a grave for him, and over the grave they put

close-set stones, and over it all they raised a great barrow. On the

eleventh day they feasted at King Priam's house, and on the twelfth day

the battle began anew.'

XXII

For many days Telemachus and his comrade Peisistratus stayed in the

house of King Menelaus. On the evening before he departed Menelaus spoke

to him of the famous deeds of his father, Odysseus. 'Now Achilles was

dead,' said Menelaus, 'and his glorious armour was offered as a prize

for the warrior whom the Greeks thought the most of. Two men strove for

the prize--Odysseus and his friend Aias. To Odysseus the armour of

Achilles was given, but he was in no way glad of the prize, for his

getting it had wounded the proud spirit of great Aias.'

'It was fitting that Odysseus should have been given Achilles' armour,

for no warrior in the host had done better than he. But Odysseus was to

do still greater things for us. He knew that only one man could wield a

bow better than Paris,--Paris who had shot with an arrow Achilles, and

who after that had slain many of our chiefs. That man was Philoctetes.

He had come with Agamemnon's host to Troy. But Philoctetes had been

bitten by a water-snake, and the wound given him was so terrible that

none of our warriors could bear to be near him. He was left on the

Island of Lemnos and the host lost memory of him. But Odysseus

remembered, and he took ship to Lemnos and brought Philoctetes back.

With his great bow and with the arrows of Hercules that were his,

Philoctetes shot at Paris upon the wall of Troy and slew him with an

arrow.'

'And then Odysseus devised the means by which we took Priam's city at

last. He made us build a great Wooden Horse. We built it and left it

upon the plain of Troy and the Trojans wondered at it greatly. And

Odysseus had counselled us to bring our ships down to the water and to

burn our stores and make it seem in every way that we were going to

depart from Troy in weariness. This we did, and the Trojans saw the

great host sail away from before their City. But they did not know that

a company of the best of our warriors was within the hollow of the

Wooden Horse, nor did they know that we had left a spy behind to make a

signal for our return.'

'The Trojans wondered why the great Wooden Horse had been left behind.

And there were some who considered that it had been left there as an

offering to the goddess, Pallas Athene, and they thought it should be

brought within the city. Others were wiser and would have left the

Wooden Horse alone. But those who considered that it should be brought

within prevailed; and, as the Horse was too great to bring through the

gate, they flung down part of the wall that they might bring it through.

The Wooden Horse was brought within the walls and left upon the streets

of the city and the darkness of the night fell.'

[Illustration]

'Now Helen, my wife, came down to where the Wooden Horse was, and she,

suspecting there were armed men within, walked around it three times,

calling to every captain of the Greeks who might be within in his own

wife's voice. And when the sound of a voice that had not been heard for

so many years came to him each of the captains started up to answer. But

Odysseus put his hands across the mouth of each and so prevented them

from being discovered.'

'We had left a spy hidden between the beach and the city. Now when the

Wooden Horse had been brought within the walls and night had fallen, the

spy lighted a great fire that was signal to the ships that had sailed

away. They returned with the host before the day broke. Then we who were

within the Wooden Horse broke through the boards and came out on the

City with our spears and swords in our hands. The guards beside the

gates we slew and we made a citadel of the Wooden Horse and fought

around it. The warriors from the ships crossed the wall where it was

broken down, and we swept through the streets and came to the citadel of

the King. Thus we took Priam's City and all its treasures, and thus I

won back my own wife, the lovely Helen.'

'But after we had taken and sacked King Priam's City, great troubles

came upon us. Some of us sailed away, and some of us remained on the

shore at the bidding of King Agamemnon, to make sacrifice to the gods.

We separated, and the doom of death came to many of us. Nestor I saw at

Lesbos, but none other of our friends have I ever since seen. Agamemnon,

my own brother, came to his own land. But ah, it would have been happier

for him if he had died on the plain of Troy, and if we had left a great

barrow heaped above him! For he was slain in his own house and by one

who had married the wife he had left behind. When the Ancient One of the

Sea told me of my brother's doom I sat down upon the sand and wept, and

I was minded to live no more nor to see the light of the sun.'

'And of thy father, Telemachus, I have told thee what I myself know and

what was told me of him by the Ancient One of the Sea--how he stays on

an Island where the nymph Calypso holds him against his will: but where

that Island lies I do not know. Odysseus is there, and he cannot win

back to his own country, seeing that he has no ship and no companions to

help him to make his way across the sea. But Odysseus was ever master of

devices. And also he is favoured greatly by the goddess, Pallas Athene.

For these reasons, Telemachus, be hopeful that your father will yet

reach his own home and country.'

XXIII

Now the goddess, Pallas Athene, had thought for Telemachus, and she came

to him where he lay in the vestibule of Menelaus' house. His comrade,

Peisistratus was asleep, but Telemachus was wakeful, thinking upon his

father.

Athene stood before his bed and said to him, 'Telemachus, no longer

shouldst thou wander abroad, for the time has come when thou shouldst

return. Come. Rouse Menelaus, and let him send thee upon thy way.'

Then Telemachus woke Peisistratus out of his sleep and told him that it

was best that they should be going on their journey. But Peisistratus

said, 'Tarry until it is dawn, Telemachus, when Menelaus will come to us

and send us on our way.'

Then when it was light King Menelaus came to them. When he heard that

they would depart he told the lady Helen to bid the maids prepare a meal

for them. He himself, with Helen his wife, and Megapenthes, his son,

went down into his treasure-chamber and brought forth for gifts to

Telemachus a two-handled cup and a great mixing bowl of silver. And

Helen took out of a chest a beautiful robe that she herself had made and

embroidered. They came to Telemachus where he stood by the chariot with

Peisistratus ready to depart. Then Menelaus gave him the beautiful

two-handled cup that had been a gift to himself from the king of the

Sidonians. Megapenthes brought up the great bowl of silver and put it in

the chariot, and beautiful Helen came to him holding the embroidered

robe.

'I too have a gift, dear child, for thee,' she said. 'Bring this robe

home and leave it in thy mother's keeping. I want thee to have it to

give to thy bride when thou bringest her into thy father's halls.'

[Illustration]

Then were the horses yoked to the chariot and Telemachus and

Peisistratus bade farewell to Menelaus and Helen who had treated them so

kindly. As they were ready to go Menelaus poured out of a golden cup

wine as an offering to the gods. And as Menelaus poured it out,

Telemachus prayed that he might find Odysseus, his father, in his home.

Now as he prayed a bird flew from the right hand and over the horses'

heads. It was an eagle, and it bore in its claws a goose that belonged

to the farmyard. Telemachus asked Menelaus was this not a sign from

Zeus, the greatest of the Gods.

Then said Helen, 'Hear me now, for I will prophesy from this sign to

you. Even as yonder eagle has flown down from the mountain and killed a

goose of the farmyard, so will Odysseus come from far to his home and

kill the wooers who are there.'

'May Zeus grant that it be so,' said Telemachus. He spoke and lashed the

horses, and they sped across the plain.

When they came near the city of Pylos, Telemachus spoke to his comrade,

Peisistratus, and said:

'Do not take me past my ship, son of Nestor. Thy good father expects me

to return to his house, but I fear that if I should, he, out of

friendliness, would be anxious to make me stay many days. But I know

that I should now return to Ithaka.'

The son of Nestor turned the horses towards the sea and they drove the

chariot to where Telemachus' ship was anchored. Then Telemachus gathered

his followers, and he bade them take on board the presents that Menelaus

and Helen had given him.

They did this, and they raised the mast and the sails and the rowers

took their seats on the benches. A breeze came and the sails took it and

Telemachus and his companions sailed towards home. And all unknown to

the youth, his father, Odysseus, was even then nearing his home.