The Story of Troy Part 8

"It cannot be," said she, "that you, brave chiefs, will leave to Priam the glory of victory, and to the Trojans possession of Helen, on whose account so many of your people have perished, far from their native land."

Ulysses knew the voice of the G.o.ddess, and promptly he complied with her request. He went among the s.h.i.+ps and talked to the leaders, reminding them that it was not Agamemnon's wish that they should give up the war, and entreating them to set an example of courage to their followers.

"Warriors like you, with strength and wisdom bless'd, By brave examples should confirm the rest."

POPE, _Iliad_, Book II.

He also spoke to the soldiers, reproving them for their hasty flight, and bidding them listen to the words of their leaders, who knew better than they when and how to act. His efforts were successful. As speedily as they had fled to their s.h.i.+ps the Greeks now rushed back, and again a.s.sembled to await the orders of their commander.

Back to the a.s.sembly roll the thronging train, Desert the s.h.i.+ps, and pour upon the plain.

POPE, _Iliad_, Book II.

But there was one evil-minded individual who tried to incite the others to rebellion. This was Ther-si'tes, a vulgar brawler, and the ugliest man in the whole Greek army.

Of the mult.i.tude Who came to Ilium, none so base as he,-- Squint-eyed, with one lame foot, and on his back A lump, and shoulders curving towards the chest; His head was sharp, and over it the hairs Were thinly scattered.

BRYANT, _Iliad_, Book II.

This ill-conditioned grumbler, as deformed in mind as in body, took much pleasure in abusing the bravest warriors of the army, particularly Achilles and Ulysses. But on the present occasion he raised his shrill voice in words of insult against Agamemnon. "Your tents," cried he to the king, "are full of money and prizes bestowed upon you by us. Do you want still more gold, which we by our valor must win for you from the enemy? If the Greeks were not women instead of men, they would return home in their s.h.i.+ps and leave you here to fight the Trojans. Little honor and few prizes would you then have!"

"O ye coward race!

Ye abject Greeklings, Greeks no longer, haste Homeward with all the fleet, and let us leave This man at Troy to win his trophies here."

BRYANT, _Iliad_, Book II.

Thus did Thersites revile Agamemnon, but his insolent speech brought speedy punishment upon him. Ulysses, who was close at hand, turned with angry looks upon the offender and rebuked him in stern language. Then with his scepter he smote Thersites on the back and shoulders, until he wept with pain and crouched down upon his seat in fear and trembling.

Trembling he sat, and shrunk in abject fears, From his vile visage wiped the scalding tears.

POPE, _Iliad_, Book II.

All the Greeks laughed heartily at the cowering wretch as he wiped his face, and they loudly applauded the act of the Ithacan chief. "Surely,"

said they, "Ulysses has performed many good deeds, but now he has done the best thing of all in punis.h.i.+ng this foul-mouthed reviler as he deserved."

Then Ulysses, taking in his hand the famous scepter of Agamemnon, made an eloquent speech to the army, Minerva, the azure-eyed, in the appearance of a herald, having commanded the people to be silent, that they might hear the words of the wisest of their leaders. It was upon this occasion that the Ithacan king told the story of the serpent devouring the birds at Aulis, as already related. Many of the Greeks had forgotten the marvelous occurrence, and the prediction of Calchas that in the tenth year of the siege Troy would be taken. Being now reminded of it, they were filled with fresh hope and courage, for the tenth year had come, and the end of the contest was not far off, which was to be for them a great victory, as the soothsayer had declared. "Therefore, brave Greeks," said Ulysses, after telling the story, "since the prophecy is so near its fulfillment, let us all remain here until we have captured the city of Priam."

He spake, and loud applause thereon ensued From all the Greeks, and fearfully the s.h.i.+ps Rang with the clamorous voices uttering The praises of Ulysses, and his words.

BRYANT, _Iliad_, Book II.

The venerable Nestor and King Agamemnon then addressed the troops, after which they all went to their tents and s.h.i.+ps to prepare for battle. They began by making the customary sacrifices to the G.o.ds, Agamemnon offered up a fat ox five years old. Homer fully describes how this was done.

First the king and his chiefs stood around the ox, holding pounded barley cakes in their upraised hands, and praying to Jupiter to grant them victory in the approaching battle. After the prayer the ox was killed, and the carca.s.s cut into pieces. Portions of the flesh were then burned on leafless billets, while other portions were roasted for the banquet which followed.

After the banquet the loud-voiced heralds summoned all the warriors and their followers to a.s.semble. Immediately they came from their s.h.i.+ps and tents, and then, on the advice of Nestor, there was a review of the whole army. The azure-eyed Minerva moved amongst them, bearing in her hand the aegis, or s.h.i.+eld of Jupiter, from which hung a hundred golden fringes, each "worth a hundred oxen in price." She went through the hosts of the Greeks encouraging them to fight bravely, and so they were now more eager for battle than to return to their native land.

It is at this part of his story--the review of the forces--that Homer gives the remarkable account known as the "Catalogue of the s.h.i.+ps." In it he tells the names of all the Greek kings and princes and chiefs, the Grecian states from which they came, and the number of s.h.i.+ps which each brought to the war. To do this was no easy task, and so the poet, before undertaking it, again seeks the aid of the Muses:

O Muses, G.o.ddesses who dwell on high, Tell me,--for all things ye behold and know, While we know nothing and may only hear The random tales of rumor,--tell me who Were chiefs and princes of the Greeks; for I Should fail to number and to name them all,-- Had I ten tongues, ten throats, a voice unapt To weary, uttered from a heart of bra.s.s,-- Unless the Muses aided me.

BRYANT, _Iliad_, Book II.

The allies and leaders of the Trojans are also named and described in the "Catalogue of the s.h.i.+ps," for they too were marshaling their forces within the city. From their walls they had observed the movements of the Greeks, and, moreover, Jupiter had sent down his swift-footed messenger, I'ris, to bid them get ready for battle. The G.o.ddess found Priam and Hector and others of the chiefs of Troy sitting in council, and she told them of the vast host of the Greeks that was just then marching towards the city.

"I have seen many battles, yet have ne'er Beheld such armies, and so vast as these,-- In number like the sands and summer leaves.

They march across the plain, prepared to give Battle beneath the city walls. To thee, O Hector, it belongs to heed my voice And counsel. Many are the allies within The walls of this great town of Priam, men Of diverse race and speech. Let every chief Of these array his countrymen for war, And give them orders for the coming fight."

BRYANT, _Iliad_, Book II.

Hector promptly obeyed the command of the G.o.ddess. Dismissing the council, he and the other chiefs at once placed themselves at the head of their troops and marched forth through the gates into the plain.

VII. THE COMBAT BETWEEN MENELAUS AND PARIS.

The two great armies, now in battle array on the plain before the city walls, began to advance towards each other. The Trojans moved along with great clatter, which Homer compares to the noise of flocks of cranes:

The Trojan host moved on With shouts and clang of arms, as when the cry Of cranes is in the air, that, flying south From winter and its mighty breadth of rain, Wing their way over ocean.

BRYANT, _Iliad_, Book III.

The Greeks, on the other hand, advanced in deep silence.

But silently the Greeks Went forward, breathing valor, mindful still To aid each other in the coming fray.

As when the south wind shrouds a mountain-top In vapors that awake the shepherd's fear,-- A surer covert for the thief than night,-- And round him one can only see as far As one can hurl a stone,--such was the cloud Of dust that from the warriors' trampling feet Rose round their rapid march and filled the air.

BRYANT, _Iliad_, Book III.

As soon as the armies approached each other, almost front to front, Paris rushed forward from the Trojan lines, and challenged the Greeks to send their bravest warrior to fight him in simple combat. In appearance he was beautiful as a G.o.d. Over his shoulders he wore a panther's skin.

His weapons were a bow, a sword, and two spears tipped with bra.s.s, which he brandished in his hands. The challenge was speedily answered by Menelaus, who bounded from his chariot the moment he beheld Paris, rejoicing that at last the time had come to have revenge on the man who had so greatly wronged him.

As a hungry lion who has made A prey of some large beast--a horned stag Or mountain goat--rejoices, and with speed Devours it, though swift hounds and st.u.r.dy youths Press on his flank, so Menelaus felt Great joy when Paris, of the G.o.dlike form, Appeared in sight, for now he thought to wreak His vengence on the guilty one, and straight Sprang from his car to earth with all his arms.

BRYANT, _Iliad_, Book III.

But when Paris saw who it was that had come forth to fight him, he was seized with a great fear, and he shrank back into the ranks of his companions.

As one who meets within a mountain glade A serpent, starts aside with sudden fright, And takes the backward way with trembling limbs.

BRYANT, _Iliad_, Book III.

Though Paris was really a brave man, his feeling of his own guilt and the sight of Menelaus, whom he had injured, made him a coward for the moment, and so he fled from before the face of the enraged king of Sparta. The n.o.ble Hector was deeply vexed at seeing his brother's flight, and in angry words upbraided him for his shameful conduct.

"Better would it have been," said he, "if you had never been born than thus to bring disgrace upon us all. Well may the Greeks laugh at finding that you, whom they supposed to be a hero, possess neither spirit nor courage. You have brought evil on your father, your city, and your people, by carrying away a beautiful woman from her husband, yet you now fear to meet that warrior in battle. The Trojans are but a weak-minded race, else they would have long since given you the death you deserve."

Paris admitted that his brother's rebuke was just, and he now declared that he was willing to meet Menelaus in single combat, Helen and her treasures to be the prize of the victor.