I
Having driven Ares from the field, Hera and Athene returned to Olympus,
leaving the battle to be decided by human strength and valour. Soon
the numbers and prowess of the Greeks began to prevail, and the Trojans
were gradually forced back towards their walls. At this critical
moment Hector, who hitherto had played but a secondary part in the
battle, was suddenly inspired with almost superhuman courage and
energy, and by his example the Trojans were saved from a general rout.
Having allayed the panic, he left the other leaders to make head
against the enemy, and went himself into the city, with the purpose of
ordering a general sacrifice and supplication, to avert the anger of
Athene.
Both armies were growing weary of the long struggle, and during
Hector's absence the work of slaughter ceased for a time by mutual
consent. Diomede alone kept the field, and stalked about in the space
between the two armies, eyeing the ranks of the Trojans, and seeking
for a foeman worthy of his steel. Glaucus, the Lycian captain, marked
his defiant attitude, and strode forward undaunted to the encounter.
When they were met in the middle of the plain, Diomede accosted him
with haughty mien, and said: "Who art thou, bold sir, that hast dared
to match thyself with me? Unhappy are the parents whose sons affront
my might.[1] If thou be a god, I will not meddle with thee, for I fear
to lift my hand again to fight with the sons of heaven. But if thou
art of the race of men, that live by bread, come on, and I will give
thee to thy doom. But first tell me thy name and thy race."
[1] "And with their darkness durst _affront_ his light."--Milton,
_P.L._ i.
"Valiant son of Tydeus," answered Glaucus, "why askest thou my race?
As the leaves which clothe the woods in spring, to be scattered by
autumn winds, such are the generations of men: one riseth up, and
another is passing away. Nevertheless, if thou desirest to know my
race, know that I am sprung from the line of Sisyphus, through my
grandsire Bellerophon, who came as an exile to Lycia, banished from his
native Corinth by a woman's spite. For, while he was dwelling as a
guest in the house of Prœtus, King of Corinth, the Queen Anteia
poisoned her husband's ears against him, because he had refused to be
her partner in crime, and Prœtus believed her lying tale, and sought
opportunity to destroy Bellerophon. So he sent him on an embassy to
the King of Lycia, the father of Anteia, and gave him a sealed packet
to take with him. Bellerophon set sail, and after a fair voyage he
landed in Lycia, and went up to the palace of the King. Then for nine
days the King made good cheer, and invited the highest in the land to
meet his noble guest; and on the tenth day he asked concerning the
business which had brought him to Lycia. Bellerophon gave him the
packet, and he opened it privately, and found within it a folded
tablet, whereon were written these words: _Bellerophon is a traitor,
and hath sought to bring dishonour on our house: he must die_.
"When he had read the message from his son-in-law the King was wroth,
and devised means to compass Bellerophon's death. First, he bade him
slay the Chimæra, a dreadful monster, with the head of a lion, the body
of a goat, and a long coiling tail like a vast serpent. The gods
helped Bellerophon to slay this monster, and the King then sent him to
fight against the Solymi, a fierce and warlike tribe. But neither they
nor the Amazons, with whom also the King bade him fight, could work any
mischief on that valiant champion. Yet a fourth time the King tried to
take his life, and sent an ambush of picked men to slay him by
treachery on his way back to Lycia; and Bellerophon killed them all.
"Being now assured that his guest was the favourite of heaven, the King
retained him in his house as an honoured guest, and gave him his
daughter to wife; and he received a fair appanage of cornland and
vineyard, and three children were born to him, one of whom,
Hippolochus, is my father. Thus have I told thee my lineage and my
race."
Diomede had listened with deep attention to the Lycian chieftain's
story, and when he had heard him to the end he came forward with
outstretched hands and cordial words of greeting: "Thou art a friend,"
he said, "of my father's house, for Œneus, my grandsire, long ago
welcomed Bellerophon as his guest, and entertained him for many days.
I have still among my treasures a golden cup which Bellerophon gave to
his host as a parting gift. Therefore let us remember the ancient tie
which connects our families, and avoid each other's spears when we meet
in the press of battle. And let us now change armour, that all these
may know that we are friends, both we and our fathers."
So for a while that knightly pair stood with hand clasped in hand, and
gazed into each other's faces with eyes of kindness, joined for a few
brief moments by an ancient tie of amity, but soon to be parted by
national feud. Then Glaucus took off his golden armour, and gave it to
Diomede, without grudging, though he received in exchange armour of
brass.