tales of troy-第1章
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Tales of Troy
by Andrew Lang
TALES OF TROY： ULYSSES THE SACKER OF CITIES
Contents：
The Boyhood and Parents of Ulysses
How People Lived in the Time of Ulysses
The Wooing of Helen of the Fair Hands
The Stealing of Helen
Trojan Victories
Battle at the Ships
The Slaying and Avenging of Patroclus
The Cruelty of Achilles； and the Ransoming of Hector
How Ulysses Stole the Luck of Troy
The Battles with the Amazons and Memnonthe Death of Achilles
Ulysses Sails to seek the Son of Achilles。The Valour of Eurypylus
The Slaying of Paris
How Ulysses Invented the Device of the Horse of Tree
The End of Troy and the Saving of Helen
THE BOYHOOD AND PARENTS OF ULYSSES
Long ago； in a little island called Ithaca； on the west coast of
Greece； there lived a king named Laertes。 His kingdom was small
and mountainous。 People used to say that Ithaca 〃lay like a shield
upon the sea；〃 which sounds as if it were a flat country。 But in
those times shields were very large； and rose at the middle into
two peaks with a hollow between them； so that Ithaca； seen far off
in the sea； with her two chief mountain peaks； and a cloven valley
between them； looked exactly like a shield。 The country was so
rough that men kept no horses； for； at that time； people drove；
standing up in little light chariots with two horses； they never
rode； and there was no cavalry in battle： men fought from
chariots。 When Ulysses； the son of Laertes； King of Ithaca grew
up； he never fought from a chariot； for he had none； but always on
foot。
If there were no horses in Ithaca； there was plenty of cattle。 The
father of Ulysses had flocks of sheep； and herds of swine； and wild
goats； deer； and hares lived in the hills and in the plains。 The
sea was full of fish of many sorts； which men caught with nets； and
with rod and line and hook。
Thus Ithaca was a good island to live in。 The summer was long； and
there was hardly any winter； only a few cold weeks； and then the
swallows came back； and the plains were like a garden； all covered
with wild flowersviolets； lilies； narcissus； and roses。 With the
blue sky and the blue sea； the island was beautiful。 White temples
stood on the shores； and the Nymphs； a sort of fairies； had their
little shrines built of stone； with wild rose…bushes hanging over
them。
Other islands lay within sight； crowned with mountains； stretching
away； one behind the other； into the sunset。 Ulysses in the course
of his life saw many rich countries； and great cities of men； but；
wherever he was； his heart was always in the little isle of Ithaca；
where he had learned how to row； and how to sail a boat； and how to
shoot with bow and arrow； and to hunt boars and stags； and manage
his hounds。
The mother of Ulysses was called Anticleia： she was the daughter
of King Autolycus； who lived near Parnassus； a mountain on the
mainland。 This King Autolycus was the most cunning of men。 He was
a Master Thief； and could steal a man's pillow from under his head；
but he does not seem to have been thought worse of for this。 The
Greeks had a God of Thieves； named Hermes； whom Autolycus
worshipped； and people thought more good of his cunning tricks than
harm of his dishonesty。 Perhaps these tricks of his were only
practised for amusement； however that may be； Ulysses became as
artful as his grandfather； he was both the bravest and the most
cunning of men； but Ulysses never stole things； except once； as we
shall hear； from the enemy in time of war。 He showed his cunning
in stratagems of war； and in many strange escapes from giants and
man…eaters。
Soon after Ulysses was born； his grandfather came to see his mother
and father in Ithaca。 He was sitting at supper when the nurse of
Ulysses； whose name was Eurycleia； brought in the baby； and set him
on the knees of Autolycus； saying； 〃Find a name for your grandson；
for he is a child of many prayers。〃
〃I am very angry with many men and women in the world；〃 said
Autolycus； 〃so let the child's name be A MAN OF WRATH；〃 which； in
Greek； was Odysseus。 So the child was called Odysseus by his own
people； but the name was changed into Ulysses； and we shall call
him Ulysses。
We do not know much about Ulysses when he was a little boy； except
that he used to run about the garden with his father； asking
questions； and begging that he might have fruit trees 〃for his very
own。〃 He was a great pet； for his parents had no other son； so his
father gave him thirteen pear trees； and forty fig trees； and
promised him fifty rows of vines； all covered with grapes； which he
could eat when he liked； without asking leave of the gardener。 So
he was not tempted to steal fruit； like his grandfather。
When Autolycus gave Ulysses his name； he said that he must come to
stay with him； when he was a big boy； and he would get splendid
presents。 Ulysses was told about this； so； when he was a tall lad；
he crossed the sea and drove in his chariot to the old man's house
on Mount Parnassus。 Everybody welcomed him； and next day his
uncles and cousins and he went out to hunt a fierce wild boar；
early in the morning。 Probably Ulysses took his own dog； named
Argos； the best of hounds； of which we shall hear again； long
afterwards； for the dog lived to be very old。 Soon the hounds came
on the scent of a wild boar； and after them the men went； with
spears in their hands； and Ulysses ran foremost； for he was already
the swiftest runner in Greece。
He came on a great boar lying in a tangled thicket of boughs and
bracken； a dark place where the sun never shone； nor could the rain
pierce through。 Then the noise of the men's shouts and the barking
of the dogs awakened the boar； and up he sprang； bristling all over
his back； and with fire shining from his eyes。 In rushed Ulysses
first of all； with his spear raised to strike； but the boar was too
quick for him； and ran in； and drove his sharp tusk sideways；
ripping up the thigh of Ulysses。 But the boar's tusk missed the
bone； and Ulysses sent his sharp spear into the beast's right
shoulder； and the spear went clean through； and the boar fell dead；
with a loud cry。 The uncles of Ulysses bound up his wound
carefully； and sang a magical song over it； as the French soldiers
wanted to do to Joan of Arc when the arrow pierced her shoulder at
the siege of Orleans。 Then the blood ceased to flow； and soon
Ulysses was quite healed of his wound。 They thought that he would
be a good warrior； and gave him splendid presents； and when he went
home again he told all that had happened to his father and mother；
and his nurse； Eurycleia。 But there was always a long white mark
or scar above his left knee； and about that scar we shall hear
again； many years afterwards。
HOW PEOPLE LIVED IN THE TIME OF ULYSSES
When Ulysses was a young man he wished to marry a princess of his
own rank。 Now there were at that time many kings in Greece； and
you must be told how they lived。 Each king had his own little
kingdom； with his chief town； walled with huge walls of enormous
stone。 Many of these walls are still standing； though the grass
has grown over the ruins of most of them； and in later years； men
believed that those walls must have been built by giants； the
stones are so enormous。 Each king had nobles under him； rich men；
and all had their palaces； each with its courtyard； and its long
hall； where the fire burned in the midst； and the King and Queen
sat beside it on high thrones； between the four chief carved
pillars that held up the roof。 The thrones were made of cedar wood
and ivory； inlaid with gold； and there were many other chairs and
small tables for guests； and the walls and doors were covered with
bronze plates； and gold and silver； and sheets of blue glass。
Sometimes they were painted with pictures of bull hunts； and a few
of these pictures may still be seen。 At night torches were lit；
and placed in the hands of golden figures of boys； but all the
smoke of fire and torches escaped by a hole in the roof； and made
the ceiling black。 On the walls hung swords and spears and helmets
and shields； which needed to be often cleaned from the stains of
the
