For ten years King Agamemnon and the men of Greece laid siege to Troy.
But though sentence had gone forth against the city, yet the day of its
fall tarried, because certain of the gods loved it well and defended it,
as Apollo and Mars, the god of war, and Father Jupiter himself.
Wherefore Minerva put it into the heart of Epeius, Lord of the Isles,
that he should make a cunning device wherewith to take the city. Now the
device was this: he made a great horse of wood, feigning it to be a
peace-offering to Minerva, that the Greeks 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 marveled 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 Laocoon, 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 counseled
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
forbode 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 Diomede 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
Laocoon, 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 Laocoon 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 him about his body, and
twice about 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 Laocoon 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 no 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,
though 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
corn-fields 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,
which 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
evils 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, drove 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 carcass cast out upon the earth, headless and without a name.