tales of troy-第22章

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answer；　till　Ulysses　held　his　strong　hand　over　his　mouth。　　There
was　only　silence；　and　Deiphobus　led　Helen　back　to　his　house。　　When
they　had　gone　away　Epeius　opened　the　side　of　the　horse；　and　all　the
chiefs　let　themselves　down　softly　to　the　ground。　　Some　rushed　to
the　gate；　to　open　it；　and　they　killed　the　sleeping　sentinels　and
let　in　the　Greeks。　　Others　sped　with　torches　to　burn　the　houses　of
the　Trojan　princes；　and　terrible　was　the　slaughter　of　men；　unarmed
and　half　awake；　and　loud　were　the　cries　of　the　women。　　But　Ulysses
had　slipped　away　at　the　first；　none　knew　where。　　Neoptolemus　ran　to
the　palace　of　Priam；　who　was　sitting　at　the　altar　in　his　courtyard；
praying　vainly　to　the　Gods；　for　Neoptolemus　slew　the　old　man
cruelly；　and　his　white　hair　was　dabbled　in　his　blood。　　All　through
the　city　was　fighting　and　slaying；　but　Menelaus　went　to　the　house
of　Deiphobus；　knowing　that　Helen　was　there。

In　the　doorway　he　found　Deiphobus　lying　dead　in　all　his　armour；　a
spear　standing　in　his　breast。　　There　were　footprints　marked　in
blood；　leading　through　the　portico　and　into　the　hall。　　There
Menelaus　went；　and　found　Ulysses　leaning；　wounded；　against　one　of
the　central　pillars　of　the　great　chamber；　the　firelight　shining　on
his　armour。

〃Why　hast　thou　slain　Deiphobus　and　robbed　me　of　my　revenge？〃　said
Menelaus。　　〃You　swore　to　give　me　a　gift；〃　said　Ulysses；　〃and　will
you　keep　your　oath？〃　　〃Ask　what　you　will；〃　said　Menelaus；　〃it　is
yours　and　my　oath　cannot　be　broken。〃　　〃I　ask　the　life　of　Helen　of
the　fair　hands；〃　said　Ulysses　〃this　is　my　own　life…price　that　I　pay
back　to　her；　for　she　saved　my　life　when　I　took　the　Luck　of　Troy；
and　I　swore　that　hers　should　be　saved。〃

Then　Helen　stole；　glimmering　in　white　robes；　from　a　recess　in　the
dark　hall；　and　fell　at　the　feet　of　Menelaus；　her　golden　hair　lay　in
the　dust　of　the　hearth；　and　her　hands　moved　to　touch　his　knees。
His　drawn　sword　fell　from　the　hands　of　Menelaus；　and　pity　and　love
came　into　his　heart；　and　he　raised　her　from　the　dust　and　her　white
arms　were　round　his　neck；　and　they　both　wept。　　That　night　Menelaus
fought　no　more；　but　they　tended　the　wound　of　Ulysses；　for　the　sword
of　Deiphobus　had　bitten　through　his　helmet。

When　dawn　came　Troy　lay　in　ashes；　and　the　women　were　being　driven
with　spear　shafts　to　the　ships；　and　the　men　were　left　unburied；　a
prey　to　dogs　and　all　manner　of　birds。　　Thus　the　grey　city　fell；
that　had　lorded　it　for　many　centuries。　　All　the　gold　and　silver　and
rich　embroideries；　and　ivory　and　amber；　the　horses　and　chariots；
were　divided　among　the　army；　all　but　a　treasure　of　silver　and　gold；
hidden　in　a　chest　within　a　hollow　of　the　wall；　and　this　treasure
was　found；　not　very　many　years　ago；　by　men　digging　deep　on　the　hill
where　Troy　once　stood。　　The　women；　too；　were　given　to　the　princes；
and　Neoptolemus　took　Andromache　to　his　home　in　Argos；　to　draw　water
from　the　well　and　to　be　the　slave　of　a　master；　and　Agamemnon
carried　beautiful　Cassandra；　the　daughter　of　Priam；　to　his　palace
in　Mycenae；　where　they　were　both　slain　in　one　night。　　Only　Helen
was　led　with　honour　to　the　ship　of　Menelaus。

The　story　of　all　that　happened　to　Ulysses　on　his　way　home　from　Troy
is　told　in　another　book；　〃Tales　of　the　Greek　Seas。〃





End