The Story of Troy

by Burn

tle that now followed, though it lasted only one day. But it was a fi

that

jan slain, and

by side upon th

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Trojan side were Hector and ?neas. Of the Greeks (also sometimes called A-cha?ians) none performed so many feats of valor as Diomede (or Diomed), also called Ty-di?des, from the name of his fathe

o Tydide

nd courage, tha

chaians gre

orious name.

caused a consta

umnal star that

hen new-bathed

caused to bea

as she sent t

k and tumult

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darus shouted to his comrades to advance, boasting that now the bravest of the Greeks was fatally wounded. But Diomede prayed to Minerva for aid, and his prayer was heard. Immediately the goddess appeared and stood beside him, and in an instant healed his wound. Then she encouraged him, saying: "Henceforth fight with

ne

can,

n a Trojan with every blow of his huge sword. ?neas, noticing his exploits, hastily sought

, for only a little ago I smote him in the shoulder, and I thought I had sent him to Pluto's kingdom. Of small use it seems is this bow o

n evi

w and quiver

ead the Troja

But if ev

tive country

acious mansion

ead if with the

bow in piece

es, a useless

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then?e-lus, the companion and charioteer of Diomede, saw them coming, and he advised his friend to retreat, and not risk his life in a contest with two such heroes as ?neas and Pandarus, one the son o

y both, do you, Sthenelus, seize the horses of ?neas and drive them into the ranks of the Greeks. Valuable prizes t

with great force. It struck the shield of Diomede and, piercing it through, fixed itself in his bre

ast, shall die." As he spoke he hurled his lance. Directed by Minerva, the weapon fle

s, his helmet kn

neath him, and

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poiled by the Greeks. This was one of the customs of war in those times. When a hero was slain in battle the enemy carried off his

eels, protects

ion stalks ar

trunk his ample

hero with his

ud! the Greeks

ance, but forb

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he rest, took up a great s

n the enormous we

ve in these de

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rd of the furious Diomede had not his mother, Venus, come quickly to his aid. With her shining robe the goddess shielded his body, and spreading her arms about him she bore him aw

he goddess also, as we have seen, commanded him to wound Venus should she come into the field. Diomede, therefore, when he had overtaken Venus, as she was bearing a

chor,

essed gods may

aten loaf, nor

ey are bloodless

ort

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m from the wrath of the furious Greeks. Meanwhile the swift-footed Iris hastened down from heaven to the aid of Venus, whom

ned to her

bright gold. She

, and, beside

ught the reins a

rsers, on, with

at the mansi

gh Ol

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in a brazen cell for fifteen months by the giants O?tus and Eph-i-al?tes, and he would perhaps have perished there but that Mercury set him free by stealing into the cell, and slipping the chains out of the rings t

e f

at, the man wh

mbat lives not

call him fathe

the dreadful

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hand of Venus, and at her touch th

ugh knowing that the hero was under divine protection. Thrice did he rush on

f the skies,

words rebuke

t, nor think

a god. The

as those who

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ed his wound and restored his health and strength. Then Apollo begged Mars to assist the Trojans in the battle, and particularly to drive from the field the impious son of Tydeus, who had dared to attack the immortal

iam, him who

! how long w

ple slaughtered

he battle-sto

's statel

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commander in chief, leaping from his chariot, and brandishing

rr

that ensued.

the Greeks: the

thought o

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many Trojan warriors. But Minerva had left the field, and Mars was fighting on the Trojan side. ?neas, too, had returned to the battle with renewed strength and courage, and

drive Mars from the battle. Jupiter consented, but he advised her to intrust that work to Minerva, who had often before "brought grievous troubles on the god of war." Jun

pokes in radia

old, of uncor

vens produce: a

gs of work div

ves of solid

d suspend the

nd, an archin

ncave form'd a

m, the extende

ns the immorta

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mois and the Scamander united their streams. There they alighted, and cast a dense mist around the chariot and the steeds to hide them from mortal view. Then they hastened to

ong, endued wit

pass'd the force

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form of the loud-voiced herald, the queen

was with you, fighting at the front, the Trojans dared not advance beyond their

warrior answered that it was by her command that he had refrained from attacking M

I will be with you." So saying, and putting on her head the helmet of Pluto, which made any person who wore it invisible, she mount

asped the weapon and turned it aside from the chariot. Diomede now thrust forward his lance, Minerva directing

ows with

ar encounterin

llions shake the

rt, and trembli

heaven rebello

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a. But the king of heaven sternly reproved him, saying that he had brought his sufferings upon himself, for discord and wars we

ous situation Helenus, the prophet and soothsayer, advised his brother Hector to go quickly into the city, and request their mother, the queen, to call together the matrons of Troy, and with them to offer up sacrifices and prayers in the temple of Minerva, begging the help and protection of that goddess. The a

monis

rtune the go

aid, was near

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h himself with. But the hero would not taste the liquor. "Do not ask me to drink wine, de

ne, perniciou

mbs, and dulls

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nd so Queen Hecuba and the matrons of Troy went to the temple of Minerva, and prayed and offered sacrifices. But the god

rmor, while Helen sat near him with her maids, directing their various tasks. Angry at seeing his brother

. Arise, then, and act, lest our city soon be in flames." Paris answered mildly, saying that he de

; "for I know not," said he, "whether I shall ever return to them again." Arriving at the palac

y tower of T

ld her that th

d that the val

ow is hurrying t

cted, with her

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a-nax, meaning "city-king." The lines in which Homer describes the interview which here took place between the noble Hector and his loving wife, are among the most beautiful of the whole Iliad. Andromache was a daughter of E-??ti-on, king of Thebe, the town from which the maiden Chryse

valor yet will

pity on thy

ppy one, who

the Greeks wi

fe. A happier

e thee, to go

e no hope when

orrow. Father

other. Great

he sacked the

ans,-Thebe wi

or,

nd dear moth

d my youthful

within the

child an orph

ido

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words, but he could not think o

l t

dear wife; but

the men and l

e I to keep

cowardlike. No

greatly have I

ng the foremos

reat father's

my undoubtin

come in which

and the peo

riam rules, sha

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eved the loving husband so much as the thought that his wife mi

sorrows of th

Hecuba hers

am, nor the

ny and brave,-

tiless foe, sha

h as thine, when

weeping hence, a

f freedom

the

ve my head in

ies as thou a

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ting from

ng by

crest on his father's helmet. Both parents gently smiled, and Hector, taking off his helmet, and placing it on the ground, kisse

and all y

t this my son

rojans emin

le in Ilium.

reater than hi

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ting. Andromache received the infant from his father's arms, mingl

ch

ved with tender

ently with his

thus, belove

can send me

me; no man o

ave, can shu

e, and tend thy

istaff,-and co

ork. The cares

rn in Troy, a

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d, and Andromache departed for her home, "

uickly descended from the top of Olympus. Apollo, seeing her from the Trojan citadel, hastened to meet her, and he proposed that they should now bring the conflict to an end for the day. With this object, Minerva having consented, they both agreed to cause Hector to challenge one of the G

immediately advancing to the front of the ar

e his

the middle, an

rojans, and th

caused the wel

t dow

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Argives. Even the boldest of them hesitated at the thought of fighting such a warrior as Hector. At length Menelaus, rising from his seat, declared that he was ready to accept the challenge, and so he put on his

that my frame were unworn with years," he exclaimed, "then Hector should soon find a foe to meet

emnon, the two Ajaxes, Diomede, and Ulysses. Nestor then proposed that one should be chosen by lot. This was agreed to, and lots being cast, the honor fell to Ajax Telamon, the mightiest and most v

elin quiverin

bulwark of the

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spear, hurled it at his foe. Ajax received it on his shield, which was made of seven folds of oxhides and an ei

at his feet, and hurled it at Ajax. It struck the hero's shield and the brass resounded with the blow. Quickly the Argive warrior took up a much larger stone, and flung it at his antagonist with tremendous force. The stone crashed through Hector's shield, and, striking him on the knee, stretched him flat on the ground. But Apollo instantly rais

nd, dear sons,

ved by cloud-c

reat in war, a

me; be then the

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t to speak of truce. Hector replied, speaking words of praise and admiration fo

e night extends

oins it, be th

Ajax, to thy G

ations whom t

on this me

ft: that Greece

lory, made these

foe was in his

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or a belt of rich purple. Thus ended the terrible conflict which had raged throughout

both dep

recian host,

eople, who r

, unwounded,

t might and i

ightway to th

fe they scarce h

by the well-

s feats of arm

le Aga

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