tales of troy(特罗伊的传说)-第7章
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invested Troy。 Perhaps they had not men enough； at all events the place
remained open； and cattle could always be driven in to feed the warriors
and the women and children。
Moreover； the Greeks for long never seem to have tried to break down
one of the gates； nor to scale the walls； which were very high； with ladders。
On the other hand； the Trojans and allies never ventured to drive the
Greeks into the sea； they commonly remained within the walls or
skirmished just beneath them。 The older men insisted on this way of
fighting； in spite of Hector； who always wished to attack and storm the
camp of the Greeks。 Neither side had machines for throwing heavy
stones； such as the Romans used later； and the most that the Greeks did
was to follow Achilles and capture small neighbouring cities； and take the
women for slaves； and drive the cattle。 They got provisions and wine
from the Phoenicians； who came in ships； and made much profit out of the
war。
It was not till the tenth year that the war began in real earnest； and
scarcely any of the chief leaders had fallen。 Fever came upon the Greeks；
and all day the camp was black with smoke； and all night shone with fire
from the great piles of burning wood； on which the Greeks burned their
dead； whose bones they then buried under hillocks of earth。 Many of
these hillocks are still standing on the plain of Troy。 When the plague
had raged for ten days； Achilles called an assembly of the whole army； to
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try to find out why the Gods were angry。 They thought that the beautiful
God Apollo （who took the Trojan side） was shooting invisible arrows at
them from his silver bow； though fevers in armies are usually caused by
dirt and drinking bad water。 The great heat of the sun； too； may have
helped to cause the disease； but we must tell the story as the Greeks told it
themselves。 So Achilles spoke in the assembly； and proposed to ask
some prophet why Apollo was angry。 The chief prophet was Calchas。 He
rose and said that he would declare the truth if Achilles would promise to
protect him from the anger of any prince whom the truth might offend。
Achilles knew well whom Calchas meant。 Ten days before； a priest
of Apollo had come to the camp and offered ransom for his daughter
Chryseis； a beautiful girl； whom Achilles had taken prisoner； with many
others； when he captured a small town。 Chryseis had been given as a
slave to Agamemnon； who always got the best of the plunder because he
was chief king； whether he had taken part in the fighting or not。 As a rule
he did not。 To Achilles had been given another girl； Briseis； of whom he
was very fond。 Now when Achilles had promised to protect Calchas； the
prophet spoke out； and boldly said； what all men knew already； that Apollo
caused the plague because Agamemnon would not return Chryseis； and
had insulted her father； the priest of the God。
On hearing this； Agamemnon was very angry。 He said that he would
send Chryseis home； but that he would take Briseis away from Achilles。
Then Achilles was drawing his great sword from the sheath to kill
Agamemnon； but even in his anger he knew that this was wrong； so he
merely called Agamemnon a greedy coward； 〃with face of dog and heart
of deer；〃 and he swore that he and his men would fight no more against the
Trojans。 Old Nestor tried to make peace； and swords were not drawn；
but Briseis was taken away from Achilles； and Ulysses put Chryseis on
board of his ship and sailed away with her to her father's town； and gave
her up to her father。 Then her father prayed to Apollo that the plague might
cease； and it did ceasewhen the Greeks had cleansed their camp； and
purified themselves and cast their filth into the sea。
We know how fierce and brave Achilles was； and we may wonder that
he did not challenge Agamemnon to fight a duel。 But the Greeks never
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fought duels； and Agamemnon was believed to be chief king by right
divine。 Achilles went alone to the sea shore when his dear Briseis was
led away； and he wept； and called to his mother； the silver…footed lady of
the waters。 Then she arose from the grey sea； like a mist； and sat down
beside her son； and stroked his hair with her hand； and he told her all his
sorrows。 So she said that she would go up to the dwelling of the Gods；
and pray Zeus； the chief of them all； to make the Trojans win a great battle；
so that Agamemnon should feel his need of Achilles； and make amends for
his insolence； and do him honour。
Thetis kept her promise； and Zeus gave his word that the Trojans
should defeat the Greeks。 That night Zeus sent a deceitful dream to
Agamemnon。 The dream took the shape of old Nestor； and said that Zeus
would give him victory that day。 While he was still asleep； Agamemnon
was fun of hope that he would instantly take Troy； but； when he woke； he
seems not to have been nearly so confident； for in place of putting on his
armour； and bidding the Greeks arm themselves； he merely dressed in his
robe and mantle； took his sceptre； and went and told the chiefs about his
dream。 They did not feel much encouraged； so he said that he would try
the temper of the army。 He would call them together； and propose to
return to Greece； but； if the soldiers took him at his word； the other chiefs
were to stop them。 This was a foolish plan； for the soldiers were
wearying for beautiful Greece； and their homes； and wives and children。
Therefore； when Agamemnon did as he had said； the whole army rose； like
the sea under the west wind； and； with a shout； they rushed to the ships；
while the dust blew in clouds from under their feet。 Then they began to
launch their ships； and it seems that the princes were carried away in the
rush； and were as eager as the rest to go home。
But Ulysses only stood in sorrow and anger beside his ship； and never
put hand to it； for he felt how disgraceful it was to run away。 At last he
threw down his mantle； which his herald Eurybates of Ithaca； a round…
shouldered； brown； curly…haired man； picked up； and he ran to find
Agamemnon； and took his sceptre； a gold…studded staff； like a marshal's
baton； and he gently told the chiefs whom he met that they were doing a
shameful thing； but he drove the common soldiers back to the place of
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meeting with the sceptre。 They all returned； puzzled and chattering； but
one lame； bandy… legged； bald； round…shouldered； impudent fellow； named
Thersites； jumped up and made an insolent speech； insulting the princes；
and advising the army to run away。 Then Ulysses took him and beat him
till the blood came； and he sat down； wiping away his tears； and looking
so foolish that the
