AGNES GOOK G T- BecvjouraU"!. Digitized by the Internet Arciiive in 2007 witii funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.arcliive.org/details/acliilleshectorilOOgale ACHILLES & HECTOR ILIAD STORIES Retold for Boys and Girls 'T^ H E f2ill-page illustrations for A CHILLES ^ AND HECTOR are by Helen Mait- LAND Armstrong ; the chapter headings and cover by Raymond Perry ; the Greek Jieadbands and decorative pieces by Edith Jordan Hall. HE.I.EN MAlTtAND >KRnSTRONOi '•''Achilles^ the tall, stern-brozved jnaid' ACHILLES HECTOR ILIAD STORIES Retold for Boys and Girls By AGNES COOK GALE Author of ''The Story of Ulysses" RAND McNALLY & CO. EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHERS Chicago New York London Copyright^ igoj, By Agnes Cook Gale All rights reserved Edition of 1926 PUBLIC LIBUARV 202696B ASTOR, LENOX AND Tii-DitN FoL'.NUAWONg Made in U. S. A E-26 The Preface THE PREFACE THE Iliad is a tragedy. It is without the buoyant spirit that speaks in every tale of the Odyssey and makes the latter such a perennial source of joy for readers of all ages. The religion of the Iliad is fatalism, destiny and the arbitrary will of the gods mock the best efforts of the hero, shatter his lance, and break his bowstring. It may be ques- tioned whether a story with such an atmosphere of gloom should be given to children. But on the other hand, the heroes of the Iliad are great men ; what they do they do with all their might ; they are will- ing to work for others without reward ; and they are withal so clean, brave, healthy, and honest, that almost any of them is worthy the admiration of a boy of ten. If he feels the pathos of the story, and at the same time learns the lesson that a hero is able and willing to do more and get less for it than other people, he will be influenced only for good by read- ing the brave old story. A. C. G. Chicago, September, igoj. 2 ^ d The Table of Contents THE TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE TJie Preface 7 A List of tJie Illustrations 11 CHAPTER I. The Discovery of Achilles 13 II. The Quarrel 20 III. Odysseus Among the Soldiers ... 29 IV. The Challenge of Paris 35 V. Seen From the Trojan Wall .... 40 VI. The Combat 44 VII. The Breaking of the Truce .... 47 VIII. The Meeting of Glaucus and Diome- des 49 IX. Hector and Andromache 52 X. The Sacrifice 58 XI. The Combat of Hector and Ajax . . 60 XII. Hector Victorious 66 XIII. A Visit to Achilles 69 XIV. The Horses of Rhesus 75 XV. Hector at the Gate ....... 83 XVI. Hector at the Ships 87 XVII. Patroclus 92 XVIII. The Struggle for the Body of Patro- clus 98 XIX. Achilles Over the Trench 100 10 The Table of Contents CHAPTER PAGE XX. XXI. The Shield . lOI^ Achilles to the Front . 107 XXII. Achilles Baffled ....... I I I XXIII. Achilles and the River .... • 115 XXIV. Hector Meets His Fate .... . 118 XXV. Andromache .....»,. • 125 XXVI. The Funeral of Patroclus . . . . 128 XXVII. Priam and Achilles ...... . 131 XXVIII. The Return of Priam • 134 XXIX. Achilles Meets His Destiny . . . 137 XXX. The End of the War . , , , . . 140 Descriptive Notes . 144 A Pronouncing Index . 166 A Reading List . 171 Suggestions to Teachers .... . ^73 ^m^ ^M^P A List of the Illustrations 11 /E/S/S/S/S/E/EJS/SJ A LIST OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE "Achilles, the tall, stern-browed maid " . . . Frontispiece Map of Greece 12 "'Ye gods!' he cried, 'what new troubles come upon us ! ' " 2^ "Paris appeared, advancing with long strides " .... j/ " The king inquired : ' Who is that other chief ?' " . . . 43 " Diomedes planted his spear in the earth " 5/ " Hector held his little son close " 57 "It came to Ajax. He stretched out his hand and took the pebble "....„ 6j "Achilles sat by the door of his tent, playing his sweet- toned silver harp " 7/ ' ' ' Why art thou here ? ' demanded Odysseus sternly " . 79 " Hector stooped and lifted this above his head "... 8s "Achilles prayed as he poured out the wine upon the ground" gj " ' Thou wilt die, my son,' said his mother ; ' do not go' " loj " There came a sudden darkness over Achilles' eyes " . . iij " Andromache sat at her loom " 126 " And last came Helen " 13s The Discovery of Achilles 13 ACHILLES HECTOR ILIAD STORIES THE DISCOVERT OF ACHILLES HEY had gathered in a covered marble porch of the palace, those six Greek maidens, daughters of King Lycomedes. Some reclined on the long bench by the wall ; two stood, their arms about each other, looking out toward the courtyard, but all were listening to the story told by the tallest of the group, whose yellow hair was bound above a 14 Achilles and Hector brow fair and stern enough for the god- dess Athene herself. ''The mother of this little lad," con- tinued the story-teller, *'was told that some day he would meet his death in war. But she said, ' Nay, that shall not be,' and so one night she carried her little son to the great dark river Styx, where the spirits of men who die are ferried over to the other world. And when they had come through the shadowy valley to where the river flows, what should she do but plunge him in, all but the heel by which she firmly held him ! And now, so long as he shall live, the boy cannot be wounded by any weapon. For every- one who has bathed in the Styx " ''Poseidon ! What a cold bath ! " inter- rupted one of the sisters, with a shiver. "If little Achilles survived that, he may well live through anything." " He was a hardy boy, not a w^eak girl," returned the story-teller, with some scorn, "but even we might let our mother plunge us into the Styx if that would keep an arrow or a spear from having the power to wound us." The Discovery of Achilles 15 ''Oh! never!" cried the sisters. *' We are not all so brave as thou," said a slender girl clad in fine purple. '' It is better for us to avoid cruel weapons by keeping indoors at our looms as maidens should, and b}^ not tr3dng to be like meu. Thou wouldst be an Amazon if thou couldst, dear sister." The story-teller smiled. ''But the heel?" queried a bright, brown-eyed maid. "Could he not be wounded there ? " "Yes, it is said his mother did forget to dip the heel. But a warrior is not wounded in the heel, unless he runs away — and Achilles," added the tall maiden, her voice deepening, and her eyes flashing, ' ' will never run from any mortal foe." "Where is Achilles now?" asked the brown-eyed one. But the story-teller did not answer. Her hand was at her ear, and she bent forward, listening. "Sh! Who comes?" she said ; "the hounds are baying." She arose and looked out into the court3^ard. "Oh! a trader!" they exclaimed in 16 Achilles and Hector chorus. There was a flutter of soft dra- peries as the sisters hastened through the pillared hallway to the courtyard. There indeed the trader, a bright-eyed, sunburned man, was unrolling rugs and scarfs from a chest which he had un- bound from his shoulders, and spreading them upon the marble steps, or wherever there was room to show their beauty. The sisters clustered around him and his wares. They touched the tempting bits of finery, tried glittering bracelets upon their arms, and threw long, bright veils over one another's heads, with chattering and girlish laughter — all but the stately sister with the yellow hair, who leaned against a pillar and looked on. Again and again the keen-eyed trader sought to draw her nearer, but she only shook her head and smiled. "Come, lady," he pleaded, "something very fine to see — a sword, the scabbard beautifully wrought of gold ! And lis- ten ! " He snatched a horn from the chest and blew a sudden and terrific blast. The sisters screamed, dropped all the pretty things, and fled indoors like The Discovery of Achilles 17 frightened deer. In a moment only one remained in the courtyard — the tall, stern-browed maid, who had drawn and flourished the sword, and now stood calmly feeling its edge. The crafty trader glanced about him. "Achilles," said he, coming nearer, 'T know thee. Thy mother thought ,the bath in Styx was not enough, but she must hide thee in this girl's dress, and so keep thee from the war. Come, thou art a child no longer, but a man ; and no man can escape his destiny. Thine is to go with me." ' ' But w^ho art thou ? " wondenngly asked Achilles, for he it was. "I think thou must be the cunning Od3^sseus, to have guessed m}^ mother's secret plan. I have heard stories of th}^ crafty wit. But tell me now, — where is the war?" " Hast thou not heard ? " said Od3^sseus, surprised. ''We redeem our pledge to help the husband of Helen. We are going with him to bring her back from Troy, whither she fled with Paris, tbe handsome Trojan prince — handsome but treacherous, for he stole the wife of his 18 Achilles and Hector host, from the house where he had been generousl}^ entertained." ''He broke faith!" cried Achilles. "Wh}^ have I not heard of it before?" He sighed. * ' I am in a famih^ of women, who like not to hear of wars. But I thank thee, Odysseus ; I will go with thee, and ask for men and arms from my father. For surel}^ he and my dear mother will not have their son among those left behind. What though I go to a sure death — so the oracle hath told my mother. What the gods will, pleaseth me. Better a short life and glorious, than a long, useless one. War cannot come too soon ! But I forget myself. Come in Avith me, and I will see that thou art comfortable for the night. Together they entered the massive doorway, Achilles bearing the sword, which had not left his hand. The daughters of the king could not believe the news. Their tall, fair sister, who had told them stories every da}^ was Achilles himself ! It seemed impos- sible. And the next da}^ when Achilles The Discovery of Achilles 19 and Odysseus said farewell and drove in a chariot through the gateway of the palace and away, the sisters gazed long after them in silent wonder. So Achilles went to help the other Greeks fight for the wife of Menelaus — Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, whom Greece had lost and Troy had won by a w^ong. 20 Achilles and Hector HE warriors who had sworn to stand by Menelaus, the husband of Helen, in his need, had time enough to repent their promise. Paris, the Tro- jan prince, refused to give her up, re- fused even to let the Greeks come into Tro3^ Month after month and year after year the Greek army la}^ encamped before the strong walls of the city, and 3^et there was no sign of 3delding. From time to time small bands of the Greeks went out into villages near by, and burned and plundered all they could. But this ended only in trouble, for the men of these small villages, and of other towns that feared the Greeks, fled into Troy, and so increased the Trojan army day by day. The Quarrel 21 In the tenth year of the siege a pesti- lence appeared among the Greeks, or, as they said, Apollo shot a poisoned arrow into the camp, and many soldiers died. When the disease had raged ten days the chiefs assembled to consult, called together by Achilles, who had grown to be a strong and skillful soldier. Standing in the midst of them and holding in his hand the scepter of his people, he began: ' ' Comrades, the pestilence destroys us, man and beast. Unless we find the rea- son of Apollo's anger, his deadly arrows will soon send us home. Let us consult the seer." ''Where is Calchas?" cried the chiefs. '' Let him tell us." Then arose Calchas, the wise man, who could see things past and present and to come. ''Achilles," said he, "thou art the strongest of the Greeks — wilt thou pro- tect me ? For what I say will not be pleasing to Agamemnon, king of men ; and it is dangerous to defy a king." "Speak, and have no fear," answered 22 Achilles and Hector Achilles; ''no man shall la}^ a violent hand on thee while I am here, not even Agamemnon." ''Then," continued Calchas, "the cause is this : Agamemnon hath offered insult to the sacred priest of Apollo." " It is false ! " said Agamemnon ; ' ' thou canst not prove it." Calchas went on : " Did he not take captive the daughter of the priest on one of his journe3^s after plunder ? And when the priest came offering rich ransom for the maid, did not the chief refuse to give her up ? And more, when the good priest pleaded for his daughter, whom he loved, Agamem- non sent him away with scornful words. It is true ; many of the Greeks know about it. So the god Apollo is angered to see the priest who keeps his temple treated with insult in our camp." Agamemnon sprang to his feet with flashing e3^es. "Prophet of evil!" he cried, "thou hast never a good word for me. How thou pratest now, forsooth, that Apollo is angry because I kept the maiden in my | The Quarrel 23 tent to wait upon me when her father wanted her ! Hath she not been kindl}^ treated ? Ask her. Thou wilt find her willing to stay. However, I will give her up to please the god, that he ma}^ free the people from pestilence. But, chieftains, I will not be the onl}^ one bereft of his lawful prize. Ye shall repay me in a way that pleases me, or I will go to one of 3^our tents — thine Ajax, or Od3^sseus, or thine, proud Achilles, and take awa}^ th}^ prize in pa3^ment for m}^ own." The brow of Achilles darkened. '' Ha ! thou greedy prince!" he said; ''what shameful talk is this? We follow thee to avenge wrongs, not of our own, but of th}^ brother, Menelaus, — and what thanks have we received? None — except, in- deed, this threat to take awa}^ the prize the Greeks decreed to me in dividing the boot}^ of a town. Thou hast other spoils of Avar. Th}^ share is alwa3^s largest — mine but small. And 3"et my hands do harder labor in the fight than thine. Thou art afraid to arm th3^self and join the other chiefs in an3^ dangerous raid. How man3^ nights have I gone to my 24 Achilles and Hector couch, weary unto death, and left thee to enjoy the plunder I had won ! Who of us willingly follows such a leader ? Not I, for one." "Desert then, if thou wilt," retorted Agamemnon. '' I ask thee not to stay for me ; there will be others left to do me honor. Thee I detest ! I care not for thy wrath. But remember, if I lose m}^ prize, thou surely shalt lose thine. Thou shalt learn that I am the king, and thou shalt fear my power ! " Achilles' hand leaped to his sword — but at that moment he felt a touch upon his hair, and a voice said, to him alone : ''Calm th}^ hot rage ; it will be better for thee." Achilles felt the godlike wisdom of the voice, and knew that it was Athene her- self. He drove his sword back to its scabbard, but he did not curb his tongue. "Wine-bibber! coward! people-de- vouring king!" he thundered; "by the scepter of my people, thou shalt repent this ! There will come a time Avhen thou and all the Greeks will long to see Achil- les back — when Hector, the man-queller. Ye Gods ! ' he cried, ' ivliat neiv troubles come upon us 26 Achilles and Hector shall bring death upon you. And thou, Agamemnon, shalt rage against thyself, to think thou hast scorned the bravest of the Greeks." Flinging his scepter to the ground, he took his seat. The assembly was in disorder. Men were taking sides, most for Achilles, but some against him, and loud discussions arose. Then aged Nestor lifted his hands before them. '*Ye gods!" he cried, amazed and sor- rowful, ''what new troubles come upon us! Yesterda}^ it was the pestilence, and to-day 3^e drive 3^ourselves to anger over a silly girl. Ye will be killing one another next. How this would please the Trojans ! But harken to an old man's counsel. Agamemnon, do not use thy kingly power to take away the maid from him. Thou, Achilles, strive not against the king. Though thou art braver, he hath wider swa3\ O, Agamemnon, calm thine anger against the mainstay of the army." But Agamemnon said : ''I know thou sa3^est well; but this man would be domineering over all of The Quarrel 27 US if he had his wa}^ True, he is brave enough — some god makes him so — but does that license him to impudence? In- deed, there is one — I, Agamemnon — wlio will not suffer it." "Indeed, there is one least, who will not do thy bidding," retorted Achilles. ' ' I shall obe}^ thee no longer. Take the maiden, if thou wilt ; I will not raise my hand to keep her. But let thee or any of thy men touch one thing else of mine, and m3^good spear will make it worse for thee." So with angr}^ words the assembly broke and scattered. The next day Agamemnon sent back the priest's daughter in safety and honor to her father, and the army sac- rificed bulls and rams to Apollo to drive away the pestilence. Achilles sat before his tent on the beach near his black-hulled ships. Two men slowd}^ approached and stood before him, silenth^ and with downcast looks. ''Heralds, I blame you not," said Achil- les. ''I blame onl}^ Agamemnon, who sends vou for the maid. Patroclus," he 28 Achilles and Hector said to his armor-bearer, *' lead her forth and let them take her. When Agamem- non needs me to keep ofif destruction from the army, you, heralds, be my wit- nesses of this injustice." They led away the maiden by the hand, and when they had gone, Achilles sat by his tent door and wept bitter tears, think- ing of his wrongs. Odysseus Among the Soldiers 29 in ODYS SEUS AMONGTHE SOLDIERS O long as Achilles sat by his ships and nursed his wrath, his follow- ers spent their time pla3dng quoits, shoot- ing arrows, and hurling javelins on the pleasant beach. The horses browsed on lotus leaves and parsley from the marshes ; the chariots stood protected in their tents, and the charioteers, waiting for an order from Achilles, sauntered about, and went not to the field. But the other chiefs were active. Each one was doubting whether the army would enter battle without Achilles in the foremost rank. And so it was with anxious hearts that they hurried to the secret council called at Nestor's ship in the early dawn. 30 Achilles and Hector A dream had come to Agamemnon, and he told it to them — that they must not dela}^ because of Achilles, but strike at once, and Troy would surely fall into their hands. But could they get the army into the field ? It was decided to call the soldiers together and tr}^ the eloquence of the chiefs. At once the loud-voiced heralds went through the camp, summoning the troops to the open beach beside the fleet. Eager to find out what was to take place, they swarmed forth from the tents like the busy waterfowl — swans, geese, and cranes, that gather on the banks of the river Ca3^ster, flock b}^ flock, chattering their various cries. Nine heralds strove and shouted here and there until at last they had seated the great crowd and hushed it into silence. Then Agamem- non arose, in his hand the scepter, sign of his kingly power. ''Friends, Grecian heroes all," he said, *' Zeus hath entangled me in a cruel net. Nine A^ears we have fought here on the plains of Tro}^, and 3^et the city stands. Our ships are rotting on the beach ; the Odysseus Among the Soldiers 31 ver}^ ropes drop in pieces. At home our wives and children sit and wait for us. Try as we ma}^ we cannot conquer Troy. Let us sail home." The words raised great excitement in the crowd. It wavered to and fro like the sea *tossed by opposing winds. At last it broke, and the soldiers ran wildly toward the fleet, cr3ang to one another to drag down the ships and launch them. They hauled away the props from be- neath the ships, and would soon have had them in the water ; but Odysseus heard in his heart a warning voice which he did not doubt was that of Pallas Athene, the wise goddess. He dropped his cloak to run the faster, and hurried to Agamem- non. ''The scepter ! " he cried. Agamemnon gave it willingl3^ Bearing this symbol, reverenced by all the Greeks, he went among the excited soldiers. Every man he met he stopped, addressing him as a friend, and sa3ang such words as these : ''Good friend, this haste befits thee not. It looks too much like fear. Sit down ; take time to think. The king hath 32 Achilles and Hector said it but to try thy courage. What ! Thou wilt not go home with Troy un- conquered! Wait. Consider what the king's will is, and obey it." And one by one the soldiers stopped, considered, and turned slowly back. But here and there he found a brawler, whom he was quick to smite with the scepter, saying sternly : ''Friend, take th}^ seat and hear thy betters talk. What right hast thou to shout? Thou canst not fight — at least thou dost not. Hold thy peace and obey the king." Such a person was Thersites, a rude fellow, squint-eyed and lame, who loved to make the soldiers laugh at his sharp speeches. ''What wilt thou, Agamemnon?" he called shrill3^ in spite of the words of Odysseus. "Hast thou not gold enough in thy chests, and captives in th}^ tent? Why dost thou insult Achilles ? We all know he is a braver man than thou. If he gave thee thy due, this wrong would be thy last!" Odysseus came toward him swiftly. Odysseus Among the Soldiers 33 ' ' Prate no more, thou wretch ! " he said. * * How darest thou rail at the king ? Let me hear thy taunting voice again and I will strip thee of thy tunic, and send thee scourged and howling from the camp." Down came the sharp-edged scepter on the shoulders of the culprit. With a cry of pain and fear, he hobbled to a seat and busied himself wiping the tears from his grimy face. Meantime the soldiers, won by Odys- seus, were turning back from the ships, sa3ang to one another as they came : * ''Odysseus is wonderful. He is not only brave in battle, but wise in a trying time, when other men are helpless." They listened earnestly while Nestor and Od3^sseus pleaded with them. Last of all, Agamemnon arose and said : ''Achilles and I have quarreled bit- terly, but if we meet again as friends, Tro}^ cannot stand against us long. So, men, prepare for battle. Let each man do his best, and we shall have such a strong fight as never was before. And the first man found skulking by the ships, far from the field, shall be the first to die ! " 34 Achilles and Hector The Greeks had found their fighting spirit again. With a mighty shout they rushed back to the tents to arm them- selves. The Challenge of Paris 35 O the long-haired Greeks arrayed themselves for battle, and swarmed out from ships and tents into the plain before Troy, along the banks of the river Scamander. The leaders, moving about among them, gathered their own follow- ers into companies, so that at length they stood b}^ clans or tribes, those near of kin together. The Trojans in the city saw and under- stood these movements. Before long their arm3^ too, had poured forth from the gates full-armed, and had formed for battle opposite the Greeks. Then the advance began across the plain. The Trojans came with shrill war-cries and the clang of spears beating 36 Achilles and Hector Upon shields. But the Greeks, ten times as many, swept griml}^ onward with no sound but the muffled thunder of chariot wheels and marching feet. When the cloud of dust which hung about the marching armies had cleared awa3^ Paris appeared, advancing with long strides before the other Trojans. A leopard's skin was thrown across his shoulders, his bow and quiver were at his back, and from his belt hung a curved sword. He came, brandishing two brazen-pointed javelins. ''Ho! Who is the bravest of the Greeks?" he shouted. "Whoever he is, I challenge him to mortal combat ! " Menelaus, in the front rank of the Greeks, beheld his enemy and rejoiced, for he thought his time had come for vengeance. He sprang, with the clash of armor, from his chariot. But when Paris saw the chief come toward him with gleaming eyes, his heart was troubled ; he turned and passed among the ranks. Hector, bravest of the Trojans, saw his retreat with shame. ' ' O luckless Paris ! " he groaned, ' ' born to bring disgrace upon ''Paris appeared^ advancing ivitn i07ig strides^ 38 Achilles and Hector US all ! See the Greeks laugh at thee. Why didst thou not await th}^ foe ? Then at least thou wouldst have learned from what a brave ruan thou didst steal a wife!" Paris, stung by the words, turned and replied : ''I am no coward. I will meet Mene- laus single-handed, and whoever shall prove the better man, let him take Helen and her wealth, and so depart." Hector w^as glad. He went before the advancing line of soldiers, and with his spear pressed back those in front, com- manding them to sit down upon the ground. Meanwhile, the Greeks had recognized him. '"Tis Hector ! " the}^ were saying, while some took aim against him with their bows, and others picked up stones to throw at him. But Agamemnon checked them : ' ' Hold back your arrows ! Hector of the glancing helm would speak to us." Hector stood between the two armies. '' Harken, ye Trojans, and 3^e well-armed Greeks," he said. ''Paris bids ye all lay down your arms while he meets Menelaus The Challenge of Paris 39 on this ground between the hosts. He who shall conquer, and so prove him- self the better warrior, shall take Helen to his home, and all the rest, Trojans and Greeks, shall make a solemn covenant of peace." Then said Menelaus : "Let us declare a truce ; and let King Priam come and seal the truce with sacri- fice." Two heralds went toward Troy to seek the king, and all the soldiers cheered, for now the}^ thought the end of the long struggle was near. Gladly they drew back a space, planted their spears upright in the earth, and putting off their heavy armor, laid it in heaps upon the ground near by. 40 Achilles and Hector V SEEN FROM THE TROJAN WALL HE aged men of Troy sat by the towers of the Scaean gate. Too old to go to war, they stayed at home and watched the fight, and talked together like locusts in the woods, that sit on the trees and utter delicate sounds. Among them walked the white-haired, white-bearded king. As these men sat and watched, they saw three women coming toward the wall. One, graceful as a nymph, was robed and veiled in white. ''Ah !" said an elder, *4t is Helen and her maids." And when she had passed, he exclaimed : ''How beautiful she is! No wonder our warriors will endure so much for her. But let her go away from us ; her beauty Seen from the Trojan Wall 41 brings only disaster." And the other elders nodded their white heads sadl3^ remembering the sons that each had lost upon the field. But King Priam called to the white- robed woman : ''Helen, my daughter, come here and sit by me, where thou canst see thine old friends among the Greeks. Do not think I blame thee for this trouble. It was the plan of the gods. But tell me now, who is that mighty Greek? Not the tallest, but the noblest figure on the field?" Helen answered in her sad, sweet voice : '*Oh, thou art kind to me as my own father ! Would I had died before I ever left my Grecian home, and brought all this woe upon thee and thine ! But it is too late for weeping now. "That chieftain whom thou seest," she continued, "is Agamemnon, called the 'King of Men.' Once, — alas! — he was brother-in-law to me." Seeing another, Priam asked: "And who is that, less tall than Agamemnon, but broader in the chest and shoulders? 42 Achilles and Hector He walks about unarmed, and is the friend of alL" ''That is Od3^sseus," answered Helen, ''the man of crafty wit, skilled in fore- seeing actions, and controlling men. He is the shrewdest speaker of them all. The Greeks admire his words more than his looks." Yet again the king inquired : " Who is that other chief, so tall and large of limb, — taller and broader-chested than the rest?" "Thou seest the might}^ Ajax," replied Helen ; "he who is called the bulwark of the Greeks, now that Achilles fights no more. And there, too, is young Diome- des, the horse-tamer, daring and fier}^- hearted. And many more I can point out to 3^ou," — but at this moment came the heralds, calling the king to sacrifice before the combat of Paris and Menelaus. "I shall soon return," said Priam, "for these old e3^es cannot bear to see my son in desperate fight with Menelaus. The gods alone know which of them will meet his death." The king inquired: ^IVho is tliat other chief?"' 44 Achilles and Hector YL THECOMBAT HE Greeks and the Trojans looked on from opposite sides of the field, while Priam killed two lambs, one black, the other white, and sprinkled them with wine. Then, with a prayer, he offered the white lamb to the sun, the black one to the earth. The Greeks sacrificed a lamb to Zeus, and so truce was solemnly declared between the armies. Paris and Menelaus chose two pebbles, upon which each placed a mark. Hector received them in a helmet, and looked over his shoulder while he shook it in his hands. A pebble flew out ; it was the one Paris had marked, so he was to cast the first spear. He quickly armed himself, while Hector and Odysseus were measur- ing off a space for the combat. The Combat 45 First he put on his legs the greaves with silver clasps. For his breast he chose his brother Lycaon s mail, which fitted him well. His silver-studded sword and stout, broad shield he hung from his shoulders, and upon his head he set the helmet, with its nodding horsehair crest. Now, holding a heavy spear in his right hand, he stood full-armed. Menelaus clad him- self in like array. When each had left his friends, and coming forward, walked between the Trojans and the Greeks, frowning upon his foe, silent wonder held the warriors on both sides. The two stood a moment, in the measured space, with lifted spears. Then Paris hurled his weapon straight upon the strong shield of his enemy. The spear rebounded ; its point was merely bent. Menelaus, with a pra3^er to Zeus, then flung his spear. It plunged through the shield and into the breastplate of Paris, who swerved to avoid a wound. Then Menelaus drew his sword, lifted it high, and brought it down on the helmet of Paris. The sword fell to the ground, broken in four pieces. 46 Achilles and Hector ''O Father Zeus!" cried Menelaus in despair, ''thou seest my vengeance fail," and rushing forward, he grasped the hel- met of Paris by the horsehair plume, and dragged him toward the Greeks. Now Paris thought his end had come, for the band of oxhide under his chin was chok- ing him. But, wonder of wonders ! a god must have come to his aid, for sud- denl}^ the throat-band broke and he was free. Menelaus turned with the empty helmet in his hand, whirled it over his head, and flung it among the Greeks, who caught it eagerh^ Then he turned back and leveled his spear, — but where was Paris ? Menelaus searched the crowd for him, but he was nowhere to be found. ''Ah I" groaned the Greek chief bitterly, "the gods have hidden him from me." The Trojans who went in search of him soon after, found him safe enough within the palace walls. And there were some who freel}^ said that he had run away. The Breaking of the Truce 47 VII THE BREAKING OF THE TRUCE HEN it was clear that Paris had escaped, Agamemnon solemnl}^ declared that the victor}^ belonged to Menelaus, and that Helen, too, belonged to him, according to the compact. And the Greek soldiers cheered, thinking that the just debt would be paid and the war be over. But there was one man among the Tro- jans to whom some god, or his own heart, whispered this evil thought: ''Aim a shaft at Menelaus, and thou wilt gain great praise from all the sons of Troy, and chiefly from Paris, who would fill thy hands with gifts if he could see Men- elaus slain." Uncovering his bow, made of a wild 48 Achilles and Hector goat's horns polished and tipped with gold, he pressed o.ne end against the ground and strung it. His comrades, meanwhile, held their shields so as to screen the action from the sharp eyes of the Greeks. Then he took a feathered arrow out of his quiver, laid it across his bowstring, and with a prayer to the archer god Apollo, he drew it back until the bowstring touched his chest and the arrowhead met the middle of the bow. There was a sharp twang and the arrow had leaped forth to find its prey. It struck Menelaus where his mail was heaviest, — at the belt. But even so, it tore through belt and corselet and thick tunic beneath, and wounded him. So the truce was broken, and both armies made read}^ to renew the fight, the Trojans because the}^ must defend themselves, the Greeks because the right was on their side and the}" must fight for it. There followed the most furious of battles ; that night found many Greeks and Trojans slain and lying side by side upon the bloody field. The Meeting of Glaucus and Diomedes 49 VIII THE MEETING OF GLAUCUS AND DIOMEDES Wt^ MONG the Greeks that day Diome- des was the bravest. All day long he carried terror into Trojan hearts by the flash of his swift sword. But Glau- cus, a Trojan, had no fear, and so he made his wa}^ to the front to fight with Diomedes. As his chariot drove near, the Greek glanced keenly at him and said : ''Who art thou that darest to measure strength with me? I will not fight the gods ; but if thou art mortal, draw near quickly, that I may send thee past the gates of death." ' ' Since thou dost ask, " Glaucus replied, "I am descended from the matchless chief Bellerophon. Thou knowest his 50 Achilles and Hector great deeds. My father, too, was a man of courage. He sent me forth to Troy with many counsels, ever to bear myself bravely, never bringing dishonor upon our house. It is m}^ pride to come from such a race of heroes." At this Diomedes planted his spear in the earth. ''Surely we will not fight," he said, "for thou shouldst be my guest. My grandfather once feasted Bellerophon for twenty days, and when the}^ parted they gave each other presents, such as host and guest exchange. I have at home the golden goblet from Bellerophon. So I will be th}^ friend, and be thou mine, and thou shalt truly be m}^ guest some day if we live to meet again. In the clash of battle, let us avoid each other's spear, for there are enough of other ene- mies for us to sla3^ Now let us exchange armor, so that men may see th^t we re- gard each other as old friends." Leaping down from their chariots, the Greek and the Trojan met and clasped each other's hands, while all around them the battle raged fiercel}^ as ever. '■'Diomedes planted his spear in the earth' 52 Achilles and Hector HE Trojans were hard-pressed- Hector had fought and shouted to his men all da}^ and they had rallied round him bravely, but at last Helenus, his brother, came to him and said : ''They are too many for us — we can go no farther. I will do m}^ best to hold the troops here, but do thou go home and tell our mother that she must offer sacri- fice for our relief." When Hector reached the city gates a crowd of Trojan wives and daughters met him, seeking news of sons, brothers, husbands, and friends. ''Pray for them all," he said, as he hurried by, "for woe is near to many of them." In the palace he met his gentle mother. Hector and Andromache 53 and gave her his message — that she must offer prayer and sacrifice in the temple of Athene, for the relief of the army in the field. ''But stay thou here and rest," she begged him, ''and let me bring thee wine, for thou art weary fighting." "Not wine, dear mother," answered Hector ; " it would take away m}^ strength. I will seek Paris now, and find out Avh}^ he is not in the held — would that the earth might open where he stands, and swallow him ! He is the curse of Troy. If I could see him sinking to the shades, my heart would lose its load of bitter woe." So Hector hastened to the beautiful house of Paris. There in an inner room, where Helen and her maids sat spinning, he found his brother tr3dng a new bow and polishing his helm and corselet. As the warlike figure of Hector darkened the doorwa3^ Helen looked from him to fair-haired Paris. ' ' My husband ! " she cried bitterly, * 'thy friends are perishing without the walls, and all for thee. Go, go at once, and fight beside them ! " / 54 Achilles and Hector ''Helen," answered Paris, "dost thou not see I am preparing to go ?" "Wait for him, Hector," she entreated. "Na}^ Helen," said Hector, "bid him make haste and overtake me. I am going home now for a glimpse of my wife and child, for I know not whether I shall return again. I will meet Paris at the Scaean gate." Hector went to his own home, but his wife was not there. The maids said, " When she heard that the Trojans were losing ground, she took the babe and hurried toward the gate, like one dis- tracted." So he traced his wa}^ again across the cit}^ and there in the Scaean gate he met her with the babe. Hector looked at his little son, silently smiling. His wife pressed near him and took his hand. Her e3^es were filled with tears. " Hector, thou art too brave," she said ; ' ' thy daring will bring death to thee. And I shall have no hope when thou art gone — nothing but sorrow. Achilles has slain my father and seven brothers — all. And mv mother is dead. Oh, thou art Hector and Andromache 55 father and mother to me, and brother and dear husband, too. Pit}^ me ! Stay within the walls, or thou wilt make thy son an orphan and thy wife a widow." But Hector said : "Dear wife, I should be ashamed be- fore the men of Troy if I should shun the fight. I must strike and dare among the very foremost, though I know too well the day will come when Troy and all our people perish. But oh, my wife, not all the woes of all the men of Troy grieve me so much as the thought of thee, when some Greek shall capture thee, to pl}^ the loom for him and mourn for me. Oh, may the earth be heaped above m}^ head in death before I hear th}^ cries as thou art borne away ! " The little son gazed at his father with wide-open eyes. Hector stretched out his arms to take him, but the boy shrank back and cried, afraid of the glittering helmet and its tall horsehair plume. The father and mother laughed, even through their tears, and Hector took off his helmet and set it on the ground. ''Now, come," he said, and taking the 56 Achilles and Hector babe, he kissed him tenderly and tossed him up until the little one laughed with glee. Then, for the time was short. Hec- tor held his little son close, while he prayed to Zeus : ''Great Zeus, grant that this boy may live and grow, and some day nobly rule among the Trojans. May they say, ' This man is greater than his father was,' so that his mother may be glad at heart." He gave the boy into the mother's arms, and she received him, weeping as she smiled. Hector laid his hand upon her forehead tenderly. " Do not grieve for me, beloved wife," he said. "I shall not die before my time, and no man, coward or brave, can shun his destiny. Go home and keep the house for us. The cares of war belong to every man in Troy, and most of all to me." He stooped and took his helmet, then stood by the gate and watched her as she went toward home, turning often to look back at him, and weeping silently. ^''Hector held his little son close" 58 Achilles and Hector THE SACRIFICE HE queen's handmaids were going through the cit3^ summoning all the matrons to the palace. Meanwhile, the queen herself was in her treasure- chamber, where the air was sweet with perfumes. From among the richly em- broidered robes that Paris had brought home she chose one of many colors, the most beautiful. It glistened like a star. The Trojan matrons, with anxious faces, met at the palace, and hurried with the queen to the temple of Athene, bear- ing the beautiful robe. The great gates folded back before them, and the priest- ess took the shining robe and laid it across the knees of the marble statue of the goddess. The Sacrifice 59 *'0 great Athene!" she prayed, "sha^t- ter the lance of Diomedes, and let him fall in death before the Sc^an gate, and we will offer thee twelve yearling heif- ers. Pity us ! Oh, spare the wives and children of the Trojans ! Send aid to their fighting men ! " But long ago Paris had said that Aphro- dite was more beautiful than Athene. Was Athene so angry at the Trojans be- cause of this that she would not help them? It seemed so, for she gave no sign of answering the prayer. And still the battle went on outside the gates. r^:.<;^,^■,<•.;A•.•.^..:. The Horses of Rhesus 75 XIV THE HORSES OF RHESUS HE Greek chiefs had heard the message of Achilles in astonished silence. They had sat long in thought ; then Diomedes had said : *'I wish we had not asked his aid ; he is unbearabl}^ insolent. But let us leave him to himself ; he will come back when his mood changes." So the}^ had gone to their rest, and slept, — all but Agamemnon, who was harassed with a thousand cares. At midnight he arose, drew on tunic and sandals, threw a lion's skin over his shoulders, and took his spear in hand. Meantime, Menelaus awoke from an uneas3" dream, threw about him a spot- ted leopard's hide, put on his helmet. 76 Achilles and Hector took his spear, and went to wake his brother. The two chiefs met at dead of night by the prow of one of the ships. After a whispered word they parted, Menelaus to call together the leaders of the army. One by one the tall chiefs gathered through the shadowy camp, and strode together to a quiet place outside the wall. In the spot where Hector had turned back when night came on, they sat down and held their secret midnight council. Some dangerous enterprise was in the air. They talked in low tones, lest an enem}^ should be lurking near, but a little louder than the rest spoke the voice of Diomedes : "I will go; who goes with me?" Many voices urged, though they were still hushed, and mingled in a kindly strife. Again the clear voice rose above the others : *'Ye bid me choose; I choose Odys- seus." At this all arose and offered their armor, their spears, whatever each had, to help protect the daring two. Then The Horses of Rhesus 77 the council broke up, and Odysseus and Diomedes were left outside the walls. As they went forward cautiously, the night sounds stirred around them ; a heron flew by on the right, — they heard the rush of its wings, and thought it a good omen. Each made a prayer to wise Athene to direct their steps in safety. But some one was approaching in the darkness, over the heaps of slain. Now and then the}^ heard his spear strike scat- tered pieces of armor as he felt his way. Was he a robber of the dead, or was he a Trojan spy? Diomedes and Odysseus lay down among the bodies of the slain. When he had passed, they arose and hurried after him. He heard their steps and stopped ; but when they had come within a javelin's cast he turned and fled. They followed like blood-hounds until they had driven him nearly to the trench and cut him off from Trojan friends. They heard his hard breathing. *'Onthy life, halt !" said Diomedes, and cast his spear over the man's shoulder. It stuck upright in the ground in front of him, and he stopped. They seized him. 78 Achilles and Hector ''Take me alive and 3"e shall have ransom," he gasped. ' ' Wh}^ art thou here ? " demanded Od3^s- seus sternly. "Is it to rob the dead or to sp\^ upon us?" The man was shaking with fear. ' ' Hec- tor persuaded me," he stammered, with chattering teeth; ''he promised me the chariot and horses of Achilles if I found the fleet unguarded to-night." Od3^sseus smiled in the dark. ' ' Truh^ " he said, ''th}^ mind was set on high things. It is a brave man who aspires to drive the horses of Achilles. He had them as a gift from the gods themselves. But tell me the truth now; where didst thou leave Hector, and where are his arms and horses? Where are the sentinels, and the tents of the other chiefs? What do the}^ plan ? Will the}^ remain before our camp, or will the}^ think the}- have beaten us, and go back to Troy ? " Said the Trojan, still quaking with fear : " I will tell thee all ; Hector is at mid- night council with the other chiefs. The army has no sentries, but all are awake Il7iy art thou here:' demanded Odysseus sternly''' 80 Achilles and Hector beside the watch fires, except the men from small towns who came in to-day. They are asleep." He told where each one lay, with his horses, arms, and men. One, Rhesus, a wealthy prince, camped apart from the rest. His armor was of gold ; his steeds swift as the wind, and white as snow; his chariot shone with gold and silver trimmings. *'Now," added the Trojan, *' leave me here till ye come back and prove the truth of what I say." ''Thou shalt not escape so easily, "said Diomedes ; ''thou art a Trojan spy, and we will send thee where thou canst not harm us." Swiftly he smote the ill-fated man and took his life. They hung his armor on a tamarisk tree, and marked the spot with broken branches. Then they set out toward the Trojan camp, cautiously, like two fierce lions prowling through the darkness. All were sleeping in the camp of Rhesus. Suddenly there were sounds of a struggle, as one after another yielded his life under the sword of Diomedes. They thought themselves surrounded. The Horses of Rhesus 81 and could not tell where to strike the foe, for he seemed everywhere. He fell upon them like a lion on a helpless flock of sheep, and slew them where they lay. Meantime Od3^sseus yoked the white horses to the chariot and whistled to Diomedes, who came not a moment too soon. ' The camp was now aroused ; torches began to flash upon them. But Od3^sseus lashed the horses with his bow, Diomedes leaped upon the back of one, and they were off toward the Greek camp. At the tamarisk tree they stopped long enough to take down the armor of the Trojan sp}"; then hurried on. In the Greek camp at dawn Nestor and the others strained their ears for some sound of the return of Diomedes and Od3^sseus. A low rumbling, more and more surely the sound of wheels and hoof beats, brought the chiefs to the gate just as the bright chariot and the snow- white horses dashed in across the trench. The two daring men leaped down amidst their friends, who clamored for the news. The stor}^ of the midnight raid would put new spirit into the jaded army. 82 Achilles and Hector When the tale was told, Diomedes and Od3^sseus went down to the sea and washed the dust and sweat from their strong limbs, and then sat down to eat and drink. Gladh^ they poured from their cups a thank-offering to Athene, who had guided them safel}^ forth and home again. Hector at the Gate 83 HECTOR AT THE GATE N the morning the Greeks looked from the towers of their wall and trembled, for Hector had come very near. They gathered stones and threw them down upon the Trojans, but Hector only led his men the faster, until the}^ stood at the trench. There Hector was like a fierce-e3^ed lion at ba3% when the hunters surround him and fling their javelins at him ; but his noble heart knoAvs no fear, though his courage brings him to his death at last. "Forward!" shouted Hector, in the midst of the falling stones; ''across the trench !" But the horses neighed and reared upon the brink, for the broad trench bristling 84 Achilles and Hector with pointed stakes terrified them. Con- fusion and dismay spread through the ranks. Then Hector took counsel with his chiefs, and divided his men into five companies, each under a well-known leader. They left the chariots, and came on foot, with their tough shields uplifted against the shower of stones. Hector was first to leap the trench, with a shout to his men to follow. On they came, and at the w^alls they took levers and began to pry away the foundations of the tow- ers. Sarpedon, a brave Trojan, caught hold of the wall with his two hands, and tore off pieces of rock. But the gate still stood fast. Before the gate there la}^ a stone, so large that two strong men of to-da}^ could not have stirred it from the ground. With feet planted far apart, Hector stooped, lifted this above his head and hurled it against the gate. The blow tore off the hinges, and the heav}^ gate crashed in. Hector sprang into the camp. No man could have stood against him. His look was stern and terrible ; his eyes shot '•Hector stooped and lifted this above his head'' 86 Achilles and Hector fire as he turned and shouted to his fol- lowers. The}^ poured in, some through the gate, some over the ruined wall. The Greeks did not wait to meet them, but fled to their ships, amid the fearful uproar. Hector at the Ships 87 XVI HECTOR AT THE SHIPS HERE by the ships the Greeks, drawn up so close that shield pressed against shield and man on man, waited for Hector. The plumes of horse- hair in the crests of their brazen helmets nodded and touched each other. Spears quivered in eager hands, but not a word was spoken. It was their last stand. The Trojans came on, Hector in front, and dashed themselves against this solid wall of shields. It stood firm as a rock, while the Greek spears flew and many Trojans fell. Hector's men drew^ off and charged again, furiousl}^ but in vain. On the left, where there was no Hector, the Greeks advanced and drove the Trojans back. Far in the rear of the Greeks, a 88 Achilles and Hector band of Locrians were sending stones and arrows over their heads into the Trojan ranks, and a panic began there. The five bands of Trojans were becom- ing scattered among the ships, and were fighting against heavy odds. The Greeks took hope. ''Come on!" cried Ajax, in tlie front rank. ' ' We fear you not ! " ''Come within my spear's length," retorted Hector, ' ' and thou wilt not boast again!" He launched his spear at Ajax and struck him, but the two belts over- lapping on the breast of the Greek chief protected him. Hector turned away, vexed at his failure ; but as he turned, Ajax threw a heavy stone. It struck Hector in the side and he fell to the earth. The Greeks ran toward him with fierce 3^ells, eager to drag him off. But not one reached him, for the Trojans flew to his aid and held their shields before him. He was lifted in their arms and carried to the rear. With Hector off the field the Greeks took courage again. The Trojans fought their best, but the}^ were soon driven back Hector at the Ships 89 over wall and trench, to the plain beyond, where the chariots had been left. Hector, however, was not slain. Hardly had the Trojans retreated, with the Greeks in hot pursuit, when one Greek said to another : ' ' Ye gods ! What is here ! Hec- tor risen from the dead ! Some god hath rescued him. Thinkest thou not we can fight better from the ships?" The sight of Hector w^as enough to send them back. On came the Trojan host in their heavy, rumbling chariots, up to the very edge of the trench. With a rush, they plunged in and somehow, fiercely strug- gling, they were on the other side. The Greeks, terrified, declared that the war- god himself had made a path across the trench for the Trojans. Hector was des- perate. He fought with godlike strength ; his arm was tireless. His helmet gleamed now here, now there ; his lips were white ; his e3^es from beneath his frowning brows flashed fire. He was fighting against hope and right, and he knew it. But he was fighting for his home and his coun- tr}^ and for them he would lay down his life. 90 Achilles and Hector The Greeks feared to see him. One would have shot an arrow, but his bow- string broke before the arrow had flown. He shuddered and laid aside his bow, saying, '' The gods are against us." Hector's keen eye took notice. ''Trojans ! " he cried, '' I see the arrows of the Greeks made powerless by the hand of Zeus ! Forward ! and if we die, we shall die gloriousl3^ for Tro}^ and those we love !" He charged upon the Greeks like a hungry lion on the herds, and his men followed. The Greeks fell back behind the first row of galle3^s, while Ajax leaped from ship to ship, rallying his men and calling to them to stand. Down the beach, be3^ond the fighting, Agamemnon, Od3^sseus, Diomedes, and Nestor, wounded and discouraged, took counsel together. Agamemnon would have launched the ships that night and sailed for home, but Od3^sseus rebuked him. Then said Diomedes, *'We are wasting time. Let us join in the battle ; the3^ are in need of even wounded men." The four chiefs came too late. Hector Hector at the Ships 91 had laid his hand on the prow of a black- hulled ship, while Greeks and Trojans struggled round it. " Bring fire ! " he called like a trumpet. ' ' By the will of Zeus, the day is ours ! " The Trojans were wild with joy. Even Ajax could not stand the storm of their javelins, and drew under the hull, where he could thrust back with his long spear any wdio brought the firebrand. There he stood for hours, defending the ship almost alone ; he had not a moment's rest , his sides were heaving, yet he had not given w^a}^ when Hector with his sword dealt the long spear of Ajax such a blow that the point was shorn off and fell on the ground. Then Ajax gave up and retreated. At once Trojan torches were held to the ship, and it was soon in flames. 92 Achilles and Hector ATROCLUS stood by Achilles in the tent and shed hot tears. ^'Wh}^ dost thou weep, Patroclus," said Achilles, "like a little girl that runs by her mother's side, hindering her and snatching at her gown, and tearfully looking up at her, until the mother takes her up? Is it because the Greeks perish of their own foU}^?" ''O Achilles ! " sighed Patroclus, ''men are d3dng out there. Diomedes, Odys- seus, Agamemnon, all are wounded. O may I never feel such rage as thine ! Thou art not the son of beautiful Thetis. Surely thou wert born of the stern gray rocks, or the cruel sea, for thou hast no human heart in thee." ''I will not fight," returned Achilles, ' ' until the battle comes to my own ships. " '■Achilles prayed as he potired out the wine upon the ground 94 Achilles and Hector ''Let me go if thou wilt not," Patro- clus begged. *'And may I not wear tliine armor? Tlie sight of it will give the Greeks fresh courage." *'Thou ma3^st have m}^ harness and my men," said Achilles, — ''I hear Hector shouting now! — But go not be3^ond our wall. When thou hast driven them aAva}^ from the ships, come back." The cheering of the Trojans and the crackling of the flames came to their ears. Achilles smote his thigh. " Put on thy harness quickly," he said, "lest they burn the fleet." And he went to muster his followers Avhile Patroclus made ready. When Achilles had seen the band start for the field he went back to his tent, took a golden goblet from his treasure- chest, filled it with wine, and pra3^ed as he poured out the wine upon the ground: ' ' O Father Zeus ! give victory to my comrade, and bring him safely back to me." For Achilles loved Patroclus. Then he came out to watch from his tent door. Patroclus and his men rushed into Patroclus 95 battle as fiercely as a nestful of angry wasps after small bo3^s. At sight of the well-known armor of Achilles, the Tro- jans began to run from the burning ship. Patroclus quenched the fire, and, leav- ing the ship half-burnt, turned with the other Greeks to follow the enemy. Hector was the last Trojan to' leave the ship. He saw good fortune deserting him, 3^et he lingered in the midst of hiss- ing darts and clashing spears, to rescue his wounded comrades. At the trench he found an accident had happened. Some of the chariots had been crowded off in passing, and horses and men were floun- dering in the ditch. Many a chief had fallen beneath his own chariot wheels, while those who had crossed whirled on, in a cloud of dust, toward Troy. Patro- clus, eager to cut oft' Hector's retreat, crossed the trench and followed, with not a thought of the command of Achilles — that he should not go be3^ond the wall. Sarpedon, always foremost in hard tasks, was bent on stopping the pursuit. He turned and met Patroclus, but his spear flew over the shoulder of the Greek 96 Achilles and Hector without touching him. The spear of Patroclus, on the other hand, was only too well aimed. Sarpedon fell, mortally wounded. When the Trojans saw the death of their brave chief, they turned back and rallied round his body. So the retreat was stopped. ^ But Patroclus, striking right and left, urged on his horses until he reached the gates of Troy. When he found Hector, he leaped from his chariot, picked up a sharp stone, and threw it with all his might. It struck and killed the driver of Hector's chariot. "How well he dives" jeered Patroclus, as the Trojan fell from the chariot to the ground. The other Trojans turned their spears against Patroclus. A terrific blow between the shoulders made him reel. Another sent his helmet rolling beneath the horses' feet. His spear was shattered in his hand, and in another moment a Trojan javelin had stabbed him in the back. Disarmed and helpless, he turned at last to seek his friends, but it was too late. Hector felled him, and stood over him, one foot upon his chest. Patroclus 97 ''The gods hate thee!" said Hector. ''Achilles sent thee to slay me, but he brings thee no help now." "Boast while thou mayst," faltered Patroclus ; "it was the gods who laid me low, not thou. And as for thee, thy life will pay for mine. Achilles will slay thee." "Or I will slay Achilles," answered Hector ; but Patroclus did not hear, for he was dead. On the edge of the battle-field the driver and chariot of Achilles waited for Patroclus to return. They waited long in vain, and at last they turned slowly toward home. The noble horses hung their heads as if in grief for the brave knight whom they had carried to his death. 98 Achilles and Hector XVIII THE STRUGGLE FOR THE BODY OF PATROCLUS ECTOR had stripped Patroclus of Achilles' armor, and now ap- peared in it himself. The god of war seemed to have entered his heart. Like a swift flame he rushed from place to place, calling the chiefs by name and urging them on, so that the whole army lifted their spears and threw themselves against the Greeks. It was a terrible attack ; but Ajax and Menelaus, nearh" hopeless, struggled on for the body of Patroclus. The furious onslaught of the Trojans drove them some distance back ; then Ajax, strong as a wild boar, broke through the struggling masses, and stood over his dead friend like a lion over its whelps when hunters attack it in the forest. The Struggle for the Body of Patroclus 99 Again Hector led up his men, but the Greeks, now gathered around the body of Patroclus, made a hedge of shields, and held their spears before them pointed out. They struggled thus for hours, until their limbs reeked with sweat and dust, and faltered with weariness. The air grew close and dark. Ajax pra3"ed : ''Great Zeus! destro}^ us if thou w41t, but oh, destro}^ us in the light of da}^ ! " And when the sun looked forth again, their courage came back to them. The}^ lifted Patroclus on their shoulders and bore him slowly toward the camp, guarded all around b}^ a closed square of fighting men, and harassed , by the hoarsel}^ shouting Trojans. <^(r^696li 100 Achilles and Hector XIX ACHILLES OVER THE TRENCH GRILLES waited beside the ships with an anxious heart. He saw the Greeks come straggling back by twos and threes. "What news of Patroclus?" he asked each one who passed. ''He is at the front, with a few follow- ers ; many Trojans seek his life," said one. "He was scaling the Trojan wall when I was wounded and saw no more," said another. "Alas!" Achilles sighed. "Some evil has befallen him or he would have come back as I bade him." A runner approached and stood before Achilles silent ; the tears streamed down Achilles Over the Trench 101 his face. Achilles looked at him and dreaded to hear him speak. "I bring thee bitter tidings, chief. Patroclus has met his death, and they are fighting for his body. Hector wears thine armor." Then Achilles gave vent to his wild grief. He threw himself upon the ground and scattered dust over his head, moan- ing in his agony. The maidens whom he and Patroclus had taken captive came from the tents, and wailed and smote their breasts. The faithful messenger held Achilles by the hand and mourned with him. The mother of Achilles, Thetis, the sea- goddess, knew of his grief, for the gods know all things. To him she was not a goddess, but his mother who loved him ; so she came from her ocean cave to com- fort him. He laid his head upon her shoulder. ' * O my mother ! " he cried, ' ' I have lost Patroclus, and I loved him so ! I was not there to rescue him ! I sat here idle, just as I sit now, cumbering the earth, while they were killing him ! But I am going 102 Achilles and Hector to find Hector ; he shall pa}^ me with his life." He sprang to his feet. "Thou wilt die, m}^ son," said his mother; **do not go." "I shall die when the gods will, mother," said Achilles. "If thou lovest me, do not tr}^ to keep me back." "Wait at least until to-morrow," she pleaded, "and the fire-god himself shall forge thee a suit of armor." Achilles agreed, and so she left her son. The bearers of the bod}^ of Patroclus had almost reached the camp, and still they were fighting at ever}^ step. The clashing of the combat reached Achilles in his tent. He arose and went unarmed be3^ond the wall, and stood beside the trench. Then Greeks and Trojans heard a might}^ battle-cr3^ and as the}^ looked the}^ saw him standing there with arms upraised. The light of the setting sun shone full upon his face, and wreathed about his golden head a crown of fire. Three times he sent that terrible war-cry ringing across the plain, until it came back from the mountains. And when Thou ivilt die^ my son^' said his 7110 1 her ; '■do 7tot go'' " 104 Achilles and Hector they heard that answering shout, fear clutched the hearts of the Trojans. ' ' The gods are with him!" they cried. They turned and fled, and did not look behind until they reached the city walls. Into the Greek camp the little band of soldiers came, bearing the body of Patro- clus. Achilles walked beside them with tears upon his cheeks, and often laid his hand upon the breast of his dead friend. The Shield 105 HE next day Achilles found in his tent the glorious armor which his mother had promised him. There were greaves for the legs, a corselet for the body, a helmet, and a wonderful shield. On this shield were engraved many pic- tures ; first, the heavens and the stars ; then a cit}^ with marriage scenes and feasts ; a court of law, and men pleading their case before the judges, who sat in a circle, while heralds kept back the curious crowd ; a cit}^ besieged by armies as Troy was, with women and children watching from the walls ; a fallow field where men were plowing, while the master came bringing wine to refresh them ; a field deep in ripe wheat, with reapers far and near ; a vineyard also, its 106 Achilles and Hector rows of vines heavy with grape clusters, and the vintagers carrying the fruit in baskets. And there, too, Avere a herd of cattle being driven to pasture. Two lions had sprung out upon a bull and dragged him off, while men and hounds rushed to the rescue. There also were pictured a fair, broad pasture in a pleasant glade, full of wdiite sheep, and man}^ a sheepfold with its sheltering roof. And there was a mazy dance, like that which D^dalus once contrived for Ariadne. Youths and maidens danced in circles, or crossed in front of one another, while the crowd stood by, delighted. And last, around all flowed the ocean stream. When Achilles saw this wonderful armor, gleaming so that even Ajax feared to look at it, he felt his spirit rise within him. He gazed long at the marvelous designs, his eyes flashed, and he said : ''Surel}^ Heph^stus must have made it, for no mortal could ! " Achilles to the Front 107 XXI ACHILLES TO THE FRONT CHILLES went along the beach calling the chiefs with mighty shouts. As the}" gathered about him, he said, so that all might hear : ''Agamemnon, here and now m}^ anger ceases. Would it had ceased long ago ! Hasten and call the Greeks to war, that I ma}^ go forth once more against the men of Tro3\" Agamemnon answered: ''Chiefs, ye have cast the blame of this quarrel upon me. But let me sa}^ it was the gods who tilled m}^ mind with fur}^ against Achilles. How can a man resist the gods? When Hector was spreading ruin among the fleet, I remembered my fault and bitterly regretted it. Achilles," he continued, "I 108 Achilles and Hector will make amends with all the g^ ^^ promised thee." Achilles waved his hand and ^^^^ ' *'A11 that shall be as thou mayst c^^^ire. But now let us go to battle. And let ^^^^^T one of you, as he sees Achilles fig"^^*^^^^?^ in the foremost rank, take heart and ^^^'^' bat boldly with his man." But Od3^sseus objected: ''The ^^^^^^^ will be long and hard. Do not requi^ ^. ^^ arm}^ to fight now, without food or (^^i^"^^^'' for an empty man soon tires. Let ^^^^^"^ have plenty of meat and wine. .^^^' too, Agamemnon will have time to '^^i^'^^ thee his gifts. It is honorable for ^ ^^^"^^^ to make amends to one whom h'^^ ^^ wronged." But Achilles said impatiently: ^^^ brave men whom Hector has killr^ ^^^ mangled on the field — and 3^e prof*^^^ ^ banquet ! I would call the sons of Q^^^^^ to rush to war unfed, and after thi^ ^^^" grace has been wiped out then sprcc^^, ^ liberal feast. I for one will not tastr ^^'^ nor drink while my slain friend l^*^^ ^^^ my tent." "Achilles," replied Odysseus, "thr^^^ ^^'^ Achilles to the Front 109 mightier with the spear than I, but in prudence I am be3^ond thee. I have lived more years, and learned b}^ living. Take my advice, for it will profit thee. We who survive now should refresh ourselves with food and wine, that we may steadil}^ maintain the conflict." As he spoke, the men of Agamemnon came bringing to Achilles the gifts, the caldrons, the tripods, the twelve steeds, and, last of all, the maiden whom Aga- memnon had first taken awa3^ Achilles was forced to wait for the elder warriors, while his Myrmidons bore off the rich gifts and stored them in his ships. He would not join in the meal, but sat apart, thinking of Patroclus. At length the feast w^as over, and thick as snowflakes driven b}^ the north wind the armed troops came pouring from the galle3^s, their shields and helmets glan- cing in the sun. And mighty was the sound of their trampling feet. Amidst them stood Achilles, fully armed, greaves, corselet, helmet, sword, shield, and the heavy spear which his father had borne, made of an ash from Pelion's 110 Achilles and Hector highest peak, and far too heav}^ for any but Achilles to wield. The broad and massive shield sent back the sun's rays in a stream of light. The charioteer stood waiting with the beautiful horses, gifts of the gods. Achilles in his glitter- ing armor leaped into the chariot and called the horses b}^ their names. ''Come, Xanthus, Balius, ho! up, be swift ! Bring me to battle and safe home again !" The}^ tossed their long-maned, beau- tiful heads as if the}^ understood, and sprang forth with their master to the war. Achilles Baffled 111 XXII ACHILLES BAFFLED HEN first the Trojans saw Achilles on the field, the}^ were disma3^ed and terrified. But when the battle opened, they fought as if the gods were with them. The conflict raged so fiercel}^ that more than one warrior in his frenz}^ saw great Ares, the war-god, leading him on to victor3\ And when the bards sang of the strife in after 3^ears, they said that Ares, Apollo, Aphrodite and Artemis, Here, Athene, Poseidon, and others, too, were on the field, some aiding the Greeks and some the Trojans, while Zeus him- self looked on from Mount Oh^mpus. But as Achilles ranged the^ field, his one thought was of Hector. He could not rest until he had avenged Patroclus. ^^neas, a brave Trojan, sought to stop 112 Achilles and Hector him, standing in his way, with nodding helmet-plume and defiant mien. He held his shield before him, and shook his spear at Achilles. ' ' Why dost thou seek to fight with me, thou weakling?" taunted the Greek. " Thinkest thou the gods will aid thee?" ' ' Thinkest thou such words will frighten me ? " retorted ^neas. ' ' Try thy spear." And he hurled his own spear against the massive shield of Achilles, which it could not pierce. But the great spear of Achilles broke through the edge of Eneas' shield, and passed above the Trojan's head, for he bent low to avoid it. Achilles drew his sword and rushed with fury upon ^neas, uttering a shout. .4^neas raised a heavy stone to hurl, but at that instant there came a sudden dark- ness over Achilles' e^^es. When it had passed, his ashen spear lay before him, and ^neas had disappeared. ''How strange is this!" said Achilles with a sigh. ' ' Sureh^ ^neas is loved by the gods. Well, let him go ; he will not come back." He plunged again into the general fight, and suddenl}^ he was face H-MARMSTRONC- There catne a sudden darkness over Achilles* eyes' 114 Achilles and Hector to face with Hector, who came to meet him like a rushing flame. The heart of Achilles rejoiced. ''A}^ draw nearer, Hector," he cried, "that thou ma3"st the sooner die ! " ''I could insult thee, too, Achilles, but I will not," answered Hector. ' ' I may not equal thee in strength, but the battle is not alwa3^s to the strong. The gods give victor}^ where the}^ will." And he poised his spear and threw it. Then a marvel- ous thing befell. The spear went wide of its mark, and as the Greek rushed at Hector, darkness came between them. Thrice Achilles charged, and thrice he smote onh^ the darkness. Furious, he shouted : ''Hound, thou hast escaped me again ! Apollo rescues thee. But I shall meet thee yet and make an end of thee, if any god favors me as wxll." Choking with his anger, he fell upon the Trojans right and left, and slew as man}' as his arm could reach, — so terrible a thing was rage in this strong man. Achilles and the River 115 XXIII ACHILLES AND THE RIVEK HE Trojans fled from Achilles any- where, ever3nvhere, for the}^ were wild with terror. Some even plunged into the River Scamander, being less afraid to drown than to face him. But Achilles leaped into the river after them, and made such havoc with his sword that the}^ clung to his knees and cried for merc3^ " Lie there among the fishes !" he said, cruell}^ striking them down one after another, until the sweet water of the river was polluted, and could hardly flow past the heaps of slain. Then said the river to itself: ''How shall I tame this savage man, who has insulted m}^ pure waters ? ' ' And presently 116 Achilles and Hector it began to rise. Swift waves came tum- bling over and on ; they threw the dead out upon the shore, and lifted Achilles off his feet. He staggered and grasped an elm branch that leaned from the bank, but down came the whole tree, bringing clods of earth in its loosened roots. Achilles sprang upon the fallen tree, climbed to the shore, and fled across the plain. The water, with a mighty roar, followed close behind. Whenever he stopped to get a breath and wonder if the gods were all against him, a huge wave came up and drenched his shoulders. Wherever he fled, the earth seemed swept from beneath his feet. Seldom had Achilles known what it w^as to fear. But the powers of the earth are greater than one man's strength, and in his terror he prayed to Zeus to save him. ' ' Oh, an}^ death but this ! Let the pesti- lence or Hector sla}^ me, but do not drown me like a swineherd's bo}^ ! " It seemed Zeus heard the prayer of the humbled warrior, for though the water was still swirling angrily, Achilles swam Achilles and the River 117 in it with ease until he reached the mound by the Greek wall, whereon he climbed and waited for the swollen river to return to its old bed. 118 Achilles and Hector EANTIME, King Priam at the Tro- jan wall grieved to see his soldiers fleeing to the cit3\ He bade the watch- man open the gates. "But when all the troops are once within," he added, "shut the gates and see that the bolts are shot, for I dread lest the fierce Achilles rush into our streets." Breathless, begrimed with dust and faint with thirst, the arm}^ straggled home, glad to reach the shelter of the friendl}^ walls. The Greeks pursued up to the ramparts, but the gates were closed and locked. The only Trojan who still lingered out- side the w^alls, loath to seek shelter, was %^ Hector Meets His Fate 119 fearless Hector. He waited to see if chance might bring him face to face with Achilles. From the tower above him came the voice of the aged king : ''O Hector, m}^ beloved son, wait not for thy foe, lest he sla}^ thee. Come within the gate, and still be our main- sta3^ Have pit}^ on th}^ old father — I can- not see thee slain. Wilt thou let th}^ precious mother become 'the prey of the Greek dogs? Think of th}^ wife and child, whom they w^U drag awa}^ " Hector looked up once and saw the white-bearded king stretching out plead- ing arins to him. Then quickly, for the sight was hard to bear, he looked away. He was thinking as he waited : ' ' Well may the Trojans sa}^ 'Foolhard}^ Hector in his pride has thrown his peo- ple's lives away.' For I heeded not their advice to turn back before Achilles joined the fight. Better were it for me not to return until I have slain Achilles or been slain b}^ him, and given m}^ life for Tro}^" And so he still stood b}^ the Sc^an gate waiting for Achilles. He had not long to wait. 120 Achilles and Hector Like crested Ares came Hector's enemy. On his right shoulder quivered the great Pelion ash, his father's heavy spear. A light, as from the rising sun, streamed from his burnished armor. His helmet, with its nodding golden crest, and his bright shield, gifts of the gods, made him a beautiful and terrible sight. Hector, brave Hector, knew that he had met his match at last. He had never been known to quail in the face of dan- ger. Again and again he had led his comrades on to victory against ten times their number. And 3^et, as Achilles strode toward him in the gleaming armor, fear entered Hector's heart, and he trem- bled, turned, and ran awa3^ As a falcon darts after a timid dove, swift-footed Achilles sprang to the pur- suit. Past the wind-beaten fig tree by the gate, past the springs where the washing-tanks were set, along the public way by which the wall was skirted, they ran for noble Hector's life. Faster and faster, until it was like a dreadful dream — one always fleeing, the other always pursuing, and both in vain. The Greeks Hector Heets His Fate 121 came near and held their breath to watch. Achilles signed to them to keep their hands off, for the prize was his. From the Trojan walls the people looked down, pale and frozen with horror. And still the two sped on, once, twice, three times round the city. As they passed the springs the fourth time, a 3^oung man whom Hector as he ran took to be De- iphobus, his brother, cried out : ''Make a stand. Hector! I will help thee." A friend at last ! And Hector feared no more. He halted and stood a moment; then he said : '*! will fun no farther. Slay me or I slay thee. But let us make these terms : If I slay thee, thou shalt meet no dis- honor at my hands. I will keep thy armor, but I will send thy body back to thy Greek friends. Do thou be as just with me." But Achilles answered with a frown : "Accursed Hector, never talk to me of terms. Men and lions plight no faith, nor do wolves agree with lambs. One of us must fall, and it will not be I. Thou 122 Achilles and Hector shale repay to me the evil thou hast done my friends." He spoke, brandished his spear, and threw it. Hector stooped, and the spear passed over him and plunged into the earth. Then Hector poised and hurled his spear ; it struck the middle of Achil- les' shield and bounded to the side. ''Another spear, Deiphobus !" he cried, — but no Deiphobus was there. Achilles, however, had recovered his spear. How did he get it ? Now Hector knew he had been tricked. "Ah, me!" he thought, ''the gods have summoned me to die. Yet I fear not." And he sprang forward, drawing his sword. But Achilles grasped the spear which the pretended Deiphobus had picked up for him. His quick e3"e chose an un- guarded spot. He leaped toward Hector and bore him backward to the earth. " Patroclus is avenged!" he exulted savagely, one foot on Hector's breast. "Hector, thou hadst no fear of me when thou didst strip him of m}^ armor. Thou couldst kill him, but thou couldst Hector Meets His Fate 123 not kill me ! Fool ! Dogs and birds of prey shall tear thy flesh." Said Hector faintly: *'I pray thee by thy parents, by thy life, dishonor not my bod}^ Send it back to Troy to be burned on the funeral pile. M}^ father will give thee a king's ransom." But Achilles answered, frowning : ' ' Thou cur ! Entreat me not by my life nor by my parents. There will be none to bury thee, not though thy Trojan friends should bring me tenfold a king's ransom, — not though Priam should send thy weight in gold. I sa}" the dogs shall tear th}^ flesh." D3^ing, Hector said : ' ' I knew thy heart was hard as iron. Yet the anger of the gods will fall on thee when Paris and Apollo strike thee down." '* Die thou!" said Achilles, ''and I will meet my fate when the gods please." So Hector died. The Greeks, thronging about the dead hero, beheld his tall and stately form with wonder. 124 Achilles and Hector *'How much more tamely he endures our touch than when he set the fleet on fire!" they said, and no one came who did not add a wound. But the anger of Achilles was not yet content. He bound the hero's body to his chariot b}^ the heels, and so drove back to camp. Andromache 125 NDROMACHE had heard no tid- ings yet. No messenger had even come to say that Hector was still without the gates. She sat at her loom, having charged the maids to place a caldron on the fire, that Hector, when he came from the battlefield, might find the warm bath ready. Suddenl}^ she started, listened. What was that shriek? It came from toward the gates ; cr}^ followed cry, piercing and wild with grief. She dropped the shuttle and called her maids : ' ' Come with me, two of you. That was my mother s voice. Some deadly harm has come, — I know not, but I fear Hector has been too brave. Ah, he was des- perate!" '■Andromache sat at her loom " Andromache 127 She rushed from the beautiful house that Hector would never see again. Her maids went with her. She reached the tower, hurried through the throng, looked forth and saw her husband dragged away to the Greek camp. Swift darkness came before her eyes, and she fell fainting to the ground. Her maidens raised her ten- derl3^ but none could sa}^ a word to com- fort her. 128 Achilles and Hector XXVI THE FUNERAL OF PAFROCLUS WA^ GRILLES wished to show his love for his friend b}^ arranging a mag- nificent funeral. Upon a spot which he had chosen, his followers built the pile of wood, a hundred feet across, and laid the body of Patroclus on the summit. They killed and dressed oxen, and with the fat covered the top of the pile. Beside the bier and leaning toward it they placed jars of oil and hone}^ Steeds and hounds which had belonged to Patroclus, and even twelve Trojan dead, slain by Achil- les, were heaped upon the pile. Then Achilles cut off his long yellow hair, and turning his face toward his own country, said : * ' In vain m}^ father vowed that I should The Funeral of Patroclus 129 return and give m}^ hair an offering to thee, River Sperchius. I shall not return ; and since I shall not, let Patroclus bear these locks away with him." He placed the strands of hair in his dead friend's hand. And then he laid a burning torch at the foot of the pile. ''Rejoice, Patroclus," said he, "spirit of my friend. I have fulfilled my vow, and Hector's bod}^ shall not be honored with a funeral." He pra3^ed to the w^inds to blow upon the fire and quickly burn the pile to ashes. All that night the winds blew and tossed the flames, and all night Achilles stood b}^ and poured forth wine from time to time, calling the name of his beloved friend. When morning came, the fire was out and the pile was only a heap of ashes. Achilles gathered the ashes of Patroclus into a vase of gold, and heaped the earth into a mound where the pile had been. Then he called the Greek chiefs to- gether for the funeral games. There were chariot races, won by Diomedes ; a box- ing contest ; a wrestling match, declared 130 Achilles and Hector a draw, between Ajax and Odysseus; a running race won by Odysseus ; a con- test with spears, one with bows and arrows, and other matches. For each contest Achilles offered a rich prize in honor of his friend. Priam and Achilles 131 XXVII PRIAM AND ACHILLES T last the funeral rites were over. Achilles sat at table in his tent, finishing his meal. A slight sound made him turn his head ; an aged, gray-bearded man, whose entrance no one had marked, came toward him, sank upon the ground, and clasping Achilles by the kneeS, kissed the hands that had slain Hector. Achil- les gazed in astonishment. The old man, who was weeping, at length broke forth : ''O godlike Achilles! think of thy father — an old man like me. Perhaps even now he is hard-pressed in war with covetous neighbors, and has no one to shield his age. Yet his heart is glad when he thinks of thee alive and well, and every day he hopes that his dear son will come again. I was father of the 132 Achilles and Hector bravest sons in Troy. Where are they now? And Hector, whose arm was my defense — thou hast slain him. I bring uncounted ransom for his body. Oh, be merciful, Achilles ! See, I have done what no man else in all the earth could bear to do — I have laid my lips upon the hand that slew m}^ son." He ceased. Achilles thought sorrow- fully of his own father. He gently took the old king by the hand and sought to raise him. Both were weeping, in the memory of those they loved. At last Achilles sprang from his seat and lifted Priam by the hand, saying : ''Great have been thy sufferings, un- happy king. Men said thou didst excel all others in thy riches and thy sons. Yet do not grieve too much for them. Sorrow cannot bring back the dead to life. So seat th3^self and put aside thy grief." But Priam answered : "Bid me not be seated while Hector lies unburied in thy tents. Let me ransom him at once, and look on him again with my own eyes." Priam and Achilles 133 Achilles frowned. "Anger me not, old man. 'Twas in my mind to let thee ransom Hector." Priam was silent, and Achilles arose and left the tent. While he was without, Priam heard him murmuring : ' ' O my Patroclus ! do not be wroth with me for thus returning Hector to his father." Achilles soon came back. "Behold," he said, "thy son is ran- somed and lies upon thy chariot. I have received thy gifts into my tents. And now, noble king, let us sit down to our repast, for even Niobe did not refrain from food." The henchmen spread a meal of bread, meat, and Avine, and Priam ate for the first time since the sad death of Hector. 134 Achilles and Hector XXVIII THE RETURN OF PRIAM HAT night while the Greek camp slept, Priam, lying in the shadow of Achilles' tent, stealthily rose and whis- pered to his charioteer : * ' Should Agamemnon or the other Greeks find out that we are here, they would demand ransom from Troy before they let us go. Come, we will go while it is dark." They 3^oked the horses and warily drove among the tents of their sleeping foes, out through the gate, and were soon on the way to Troy with Hector's body. It was dawn when they reached the city gates. From the hilltop where the watchers were a voice rang out: ''O Trojan men and women ! ye who loved '■And last came Hele^i 136 Achilles and Hector Hector, hasten forth to see him coming home." All through the city the house doors opened, and the people thronged to meet the chariot and look upon the face of their beloved hero who was dead. When they had brought him and laid him in his own house, all his friends and comrades came to bid farewell to him. And last came Helen, the cause of the long war, the cause of Hector's sacrifice. She stood by his bier weeping, and mur- mured : ** Hector, I have never heard a word of anger or reproach from thee. When others turned against me, thou didst gentl}^ take m}^ part. My onl}^ friend ! Now thou art gone, I have no friend in Tro}^ The}^ hate me all." And she passed on, alone and sad. Achilles Meets His Destiny 137 XXIX ACHILLES MEETS HIS DESTINY RUCE was declared between the Greeks and Trojans for the burial of Hector. The funeral games had lasted several da3^s, and Achilles with his com- rades had looked on while the procession of 3^ouths and maidens marched from the gates of Troy to the funeral pyre upon the plain. Among the daughters of King Priam, Achilles had seen one whom he thought so beautiful that in spite of her Trojan birth he resolved to ask the king to give her to him in marriage. In the temple of Apollo the Trojans were gathered, while King Priam offered sacrifice. The animals had been killed, the aged king had prayed to the gods, and the people standing around the altar 138 Achilles and Hector had turned to go away, when there came a warlike figure among them. Unarmed save by his helmet and the short sword at his side, the stranger yet seemed more soldierly than any other man in the temple, so tall and strong he was, with his clean limbs and broad shoulders. He came straight to the king, who started and grew pale to see him there. "King Priam," said the newcomer, '' I gave thee back thy son, and now I come to ask thy daughter of thee in return. Wilt thou give me Polyxena in marriage? For I love her." The king's look changed from aston- ishment to bitter anger. *'Thou gavest me back m}^ son, — yea, dead and dishonored, so far as thou couldst dishonor him. Wouldst thou have m}^ daughter dead also ? For thou shalt not have her living!" The people could not believe their eyes. '' It is Achilles! Alone! Unarmed!" they told one another excitedly. How dared the slayer of Hector venture among them? It was an insult. But he stood Achilles Meets His Destiny 139 looking proudly at the king without a shadow of fear on his stern face. There was a sudden movement in the crowd ; the sharp twang of a bowstring, and an arrow sped straight for the defenseless figure. Achilles uttered a short cry and turned, but too late. The arrow pierced his heel, and as he stooped to take it out, he saw that it was poisoned. The people swayed to and fro in their excitement. Some would have fallen upon the wounded man and taken his life. Others were seeking for the sender of the arrow. But the king quickl}^ silenced them and called his servants, who took Achilles to the palace. 140 Achilles and Hector RIEF and dismay spread among the Greeks when they heard of the wounding of Achilles. '''Tis easy to say who shot the arrow," cried Diomedes. ''Paris must die for this." The chiefs agreed. The Trojan army was no longer large. If the Greeks gath- ered their whole strength they could beat down the gates. But Od3^sseus was more cautious. ''Listen!" said he, and they listened while he unfolded a plan which he told them the goddess Athene had given him. And they believed him, for they thought no mortal could have in- vented it. The plan was to build a wooden statue, in the shape of a horse, upon the plain The End of the War 141 near T^^y- ^^^ body should be hollow, and SG^ large that many soldiers could hide T^^^^^^^ ^^- ''We would better win bvcun^^^S than b}^ force," said Odysseus. -Q jS passed, and at length the wooden horse ^^^^^^ ^^ ^'^^ plain for the Trojans to se^ — ^ strange monument. But, stran^'^^ still, the Greeks seemed to be breaki^S camp and launching their ships. So the^ ^^^^ doing. Before sunset the Troiarf^' watching from their walls, saw the laf^ ^^^^ vanish around the isle of TenedPS- ^^g it true? They came out upon the nlain ^^^ ^^ Greeks were in sight. The woode^'^ horse stood tall and lonely where the ca^P ^^^^ been. Then the Trojans besan ^^ rejoice. ' 'A festival ! " they said ; i(^g ^ill take the Greek horse into Troy !" 'Bu rn it!" cried some. Q^st it from the high rock into the ^^^ " ^aid others. Still others said, '* Dedi- cate it ^^ Pallas Athene." g^^ while they talked the good priest LaocoP^ came among them, saying ear- nestly "Trojans, I w^arn you ! Do not take t^^ horse into the cit}^ It will ruin 142 Achilles and Hector US. Burn it or cast it into the sea, but never let it come within the gates ! " ''He is right," the people said; ''let it be burned where it stands." At these words a groan was heard. Those stand- ing near said it came from the horse itself. Others said they heard a clashing as of armed men moving together. A soldier hurled his spear and struck the statue a resounding blow, when suddenly two serpents appeared, — from where, no one could tell. Swiftly they coiled them- selves about the good priest and his two sons. The Trojans, helpless with terror, saw them crushed to death. With white faces, each turned to his neighbor, questioning what this could mean. Did it not seem that the gods wished them to take the statue into the city? With great labor the}^ dragged it within the walls and placed it before the temple of Athene, and in the night, when all the city slept, out came the hidden soldiers from the bod}^ of the horse. Going from place to place with lighted torches, they set fire to Troy. The flames lighted the sky and gave The End of the War 143 the signal to the fleet, l3ang off Tenedos. They turned back and the whole Greek army soon swarmed through the Trojan gates. The people were so terrified that they could not gather for defense, but fought each man b}^ himself, and were easily overcome. The Greeks went wher- ever they would. In the king's house Odysseus and Dio- medes sought Achilles, fearing that they were too late. The doors stood open, for the inmates of the house had fled. They wandered through room after room. At last the}^ came upon him, lying alone. But the}^ were indeed too late, for the poisoned arrow had done its work, and he was dead. So after ten 3^ears of bitter warfare the Greeks took Troy, as Hector had fore- seen. Those Trojans who survived the burning of the city were allotted as cap- tives among the various chiefs. Helen went home with Menelaus ; and Paris, who, with her, had caused the death of both Hector and Achilles— for he had shot the poisoned arrow — was himself killed in combat the night that Troy was taken. 144 Achilles and Hector DESCRIPTIVE NOTES GREECE is a country of many rich green valleys. Long ago — nearly three thousand years — these valleys were as green and smiling as they are to-day, and in most of them there were farms, herdsmen tending flocks and herds, plowmen in the fields, and on a hill near by, a fortress and a walled town full of busy people. There were car- penters, smiths, shoemakers, armorers, potters, to say nothing of physicians, soothsayers, heralds, and min- strels, who did not labor with their hands, but who nevertheless were very important men. The people who lived in such a town were nearly all related, for their families had been there for many generations. In fact, it was not easy to go out from one valley into another, because rugged mountains stood on every side and barred the way. These mountains were so steep and hard to climb that the people living in one town seldom saw their neighbors over the ridge, except in war-time. Then their king called all the men together, armed them, and led them out to fight their neighbors, who had stolen their cattle, or tried to burn their grain. (For map of Greece, see page 12.) Only a few hundred people lived in each valley, so the king was like the chief of a tribe, or the head of a big family. He could not raise a great army, and he was not rich or powerful enough to force his people to obey him. They obeyed for the same reason that they had chosen him for their king — because he was the strongest man in the tribe and Descriptive Notes 145 the best leader in time of war. They were proud of their king. They told over and over the stories of his strength and of his victories. Odysseus, King of Ithaca, had a great bow which no other man was strong enough to bend. But when the king tried, — lo ! it bent like wax in his strong hands. His arrows never missed their mark. Nestor, King of Pylos, went to fight the wild men of the hills, and came back a victor, laden with strange trophies. Hail, Nestor ! greatest and best of all the warrior kings of Pylos ! Many were the stories of his bravery. The men who knew all the hero stories and could tell them best were the minstrels. The people always called for them at all feasts and holiday meet- ings. Such meetings were usually held to celebrate a victory or to worship the gods. Several tribes liv- ing near together once united to worship Apollo, the sun-god. They built a temple, which they agreed to protect and to regard as a holy place. They agreed that there should never be any fighting or bloodshed in the temple or on the ground which belonged to it. Every year they held a great festival to celebrate this agreement. No matter how bitterly they might have fought all the rest of the year, during the festi- val days they laid down their weapons and were friends. It was then that the minstrels grew famous. After burnt offerings had been made to Apollo, and the long feasting was over, the joyous people shouted the name of their favorite minstrel. He stood before them with a branch of laurel in his hand, as a sign that Apollo was inspiring him to sing. The noisy crowd grew still, and listened while his voice rose in the story of some hero's brave deeds in the fight. When he had done, the people cheered again and again, and another minstrel took the laurel branch and began to tell a more stirring tale of some other braver chief. And so for hours at a time the people listened, always calling for more stories. There were very many, but the one they loved the 146 Achilles and Hector best was the story of Achilles and Hector, and the Trojan War. And the minstrel who sang it best was Homer. All his life he wandered from one country to another, telling his wonderful story at festivals and in kings' houses. The Greeks loved him dearly, and when he died an old man, seven cities claimed the honor of being his birthplace. After Homer died the story was still remembered and told among the Greeks, and when writing became more common, they wrote it down on parch- ment, which is sheepskin dried and smoothed. Since then it has been carefully kept and handed down for many generations. It has traveled, in many languages, through all the countries of the world. Page I J. It was so very long ago that Achilles and Hector lived that all the houses of their time have crumbled into ruins ; the dust of the earth cov- ered them for hundreds of years. The fields were green over the places where they had been, when one day, while a farmer was plowing, his plow sud- denly struck something hard. He tried to go on, but he could not. He turned his plow aside, brought his spade, and dug up a marble statue. He did not know what to do with it, but other people soon heard of it and bought the farm of him. When they dug into the ground they found the ruins of houses with the roofs mostly gone and the beautiful pillars broken. They could only guess what the various rooms were used for. But men have been studying this matter for a long time, and with the aid of the old stories we can tell a number of things about the life of the Greeks in their homes. It was not very safe to live in the time of Achilles and Hector. If people could not protect themselves, their neighbors were likely to come and rob them, drive off their cattle, and take the people themselves Descriptive Notes 147 for slaves. So the Greeks built high stone walls ail around their houses. From the street one could see nothing but the wall, with the heavy double gate in front. When a visitor was admitted within this gate, he found himself in a large square courtyard. By the gate were benches of stone and a kennel for the watchdog. All around the walls ran a roofed porch, w4th pillars. Under this roof stood the chari- ots, with their poles leaning against the wall. Near them the horses were stabled and fed. In the middle of the courtyard stood a great block of stone, chis- eled over with figures and designs. This was the altar of "Zeus of the Court," upon which sacrifices were sometimes made. At the entrance to the house itself there was a wide doorway in the shade of a pillared porch. The threshold of ash was long and raised like a step. On each side of the door was a little room ; on one side the bathroom, on the other a room for grinding the grain into flour for bread. Beyond was the large room used for dining room, kitchen, and general meeting place of the family. Still beyond were sleeping rooms, rooms where the women spun and wove, a room for storing the armor, and a treasure chamber. Here were kept under lock and key the precious things of gold and silver and brass, such as cups, mixing bowls for wine, kettles and vases, and jewels, as well as the fine robes and beautiful veils and draperies which the women wore. The large room had many things in it. To begin with, there was a square stone hearth in the middle, on which the fire was built for cooking and for light- ing the house at night. Four pillars around the hearth supported the roof, which was lifted to let the smoke out, and in the daytime to let the light in also. There were no windows, but during the day light came in at the wide front door, for the weather was sunny and the door usually stood open. In this room there was a stand for spears — for no man liked to 148 Achilles and Hector be far from a weapon in those times — a high seat like a throne for minstrels, called "the Seat of the Sing-er," and then there were other chairs, seats, foot- stools, lamps, and rugs of many kinds. The lamps were brass basins on high standards. Oil was burned in them. Pine torches were also used. At meal time little tables, one for each person, were brought in and set around the room. The meat was roasted over the fire on spits, — long, slender rods stuck through the meat, so that it could be turned on them. Both ends of the spits rested on blocks at the sides of the hearth. After the meat was done, servants carved it and passed it to the guests on platters. Bread in baskets was set on all the tables. Honey, cheese, olives, and milk were served, perhaps also beans and peas. Wine was served weakened with water in a bowl, and the cup was passed from guest to guest by the handsomest young men of the family. The cupbearer to the gods on Olympus was Hebe, goddess of beautiful youth. Page ij. Lycoinedes was King of Scyros, an island in the ^Egean Sea, northeast of Athens. (See map, page 12.) Athene was the goddess of wisdom. If men lis- tened for her voice, she taught them how to meet sudden dangers, and how to look ahead and plan against troubles. Odysseus, who was the wisest of the Greeks, was always aided by Athene. Some of the statues which the Greeks made of her are still stand- ing. They show a tall, powerful, sternly beautiful young woman, wearing a helmet and breastplate, and sometimes carrying a shield and spear. Athene was also goddess of the household arts, especially weav- ing. (See note on Arachne for page 73.) Little lad. The mother of the "little lad" was Thetis, a beautiful daughter of the "Old Man of the Sea." Thetis lived in the caves of the ocean. When she was married a prophecy was made that if her Descriptive Notes 149 son should go to the Trojan war he would be killed, but if he stayed at home he would live a long and peaceful life. Page i/j.. Purple. Robes of persons of high rank were sometimes dyed purple with a dye made from a shellfish. White was the favorite color, though red and blue were also worn. Looms. Every house had a loom. It was an up- right framework with several horizontal bars. The threads were fastened to one of the bars, and kept taut by little weights tied to them near the floor. The weaver walked to and fro as she ran the shuttle in and out through the woof. As fast as the web was woven it was wound around one of the bars. Every girl was taught to weave and spin, and when one became very skillful she was justly glad and proud. Helen of Troy wove beautiful robes, covered with pictures of the battles which the Greeks had fought for her sake. The spinner held a distaff wrapped with wool in her left hand. With her right she slowly drew the wool out into a thread. To the end of the thread she fastened the spindle. As she drew out the thread she gave it a twist, and the spindle kept turning from its own weight, twisting the thread very tight. Styx. Far down under the earth there was a shadow world, the home of all the men and women who had died. The river Styx flowed nine times around this shadowy country. There were other rivers, too, and there was an old ferryman named Charon, who took the spirits across in his shadow boat. Poseidon. Brother of Zeus, and the greatest of the water gods. He was called the earth-shaker. Temples to him were built on the coast, and those who went to sea begged him to save them from storm and shipwreck. His statues show him holding a three-pronged spear called the trident, the sign of his power. 150 Achilles and Hector Page 75. Trader. In times of peace the Greeks were a farming and artisan people and stayed at home. But the Phoenicians, who lived at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, where the land was too stony and sandy to farm, built ships and traveled everywhere. They bought and sold — by trading, for there was no money — all kinds of small things which they could carry. Wherever they went they were always gladly welcomed, for they brought news of what was going on in other places. Veil. When a Greek woman left the house she wore a long veil thrown over her head, sometimes fastened to her hair. Like the men, she wore sandals outdoors, but went barefooted within. Page I J. Host. Paris, having eaten at the table of Menelaus, was bound to treat him honorably. The law of host and guest was very strict. To break it, as Paris did, was a great offense. Pledge. When Helen was about to marry, she had so many suitors that she dared not choose one, for fear all the rest would fall upon him in rage and kill him. As a way out of the trouble, Odysseus pro- posed that all promise to protect the one whom she should choose, no matter who he might be, and to aid him if he should ever need their aid. This was the pledge of which Odysseus speaks. Paris. When Thetis and Peleus were married, all the gods and goddesses were present except the god- dess of Strife, who was not invited. She was vexed at being left out, so in spite she sent strife into the midst of the company, in the shape of a golden apple which she threw among the wedding guests. On the apple were the words, "To the Fairest." Three goddesses at once cried out, " It is for me." The question was, which one of the three was the fairest ? In order to decide, they went to the young shepherd Paris, who was following his flocks on the hills. Each tried to bribe him to decide in her favor. Athene offered great wisdom. Here glory in war, and Descriptive Notes 151 Aphrodite the most beautiful woman in the world for his wife. Paris chose the last. Now Helen was the most beautiful woman in the world, but she was the wife of Menelaus. Nevertheless, Paris must have her, for the goddess had promised. The only way to get her was to steal her, so Paris stole her. If we must blame somebody for the great wrong, whom shall we blame ? The Greeks said it was the plan of the gods. Page i8. The oracle. An oracle was a message from the gods in answer to a question asked. The keeper of the temple, called a priest, received the oracle, usually by listening to some noise, such as the wind murmuring in the trees. One of Apollo's temples was built over a cleft in a rock. Vapor was always coming out of the cleft, and the priestess breathed the vapor, went into a sort of trance, and then told what she thought the gods had said to her. Massive doorway. The doorway of a king's house was sometimes ornamented with carved lions or other figures in stone. Page 20. Walls of the city. Poseidon and Apollo were once commanded by Zeus to serve the King of Troy for a year. The king set them to building the walls of the city. Apollo played on his harp so mar- velously that the stones moved to their places with- out the aid of hands. (See map, page 12.) Villages near by. It is always hard to get food for a great army. A part of the Greek army had been sent into the country to cultivate the land and raise grain for food. But this weakened the army so that the Trojans could easily come out from the city and get food from the towns near by. Achilles went along the coast and destroyed these towns as far as he could. He took the food for his own men, and also for the purpose of keeping the Trojans from taking it into the city. Page 21. Apollo was the sun-god. His chariot was the sun, and as he drove through the sky he 152 Achilles and Hector shot his golden arrows of sunshine down upon the earth. So he was also the god of archery. When men fell sick they said Apollo's arrows had been poisoned. Apollo was also the god of prophecy, for the Greeks said, " His sun chariot is so high, he can see everything that is going to happen on the earth." Chiefs. The council was made up of the best leaders. The assembly was the whole army. The members of the council made up their minds what to do, and then told the assembly about it. Scepter. A scepter was a straight club made of a branch from a tree, with the twigs cut off and the knots covered with gold. It was carefully guarded, and handed down from one chief to the next for many years. Throwing down tne scepter was a common sign of anger. Seer. Calchas had been gifted by Apollo with the power to see into the future. The Greeks had brought him to Troy because he had this gift. The priest of Apollo, whose name was Chryses, lived in a town near by, and kept the temple there. Page 22. Ransom. The Greeks thought that human life could be paid for in gold or silver, or brazen treasures, or in cattle. If a chief gave a cap- tive his freedom, he demanded large payment for it. Unless a captive had friends rich enough to pay this ransom, he must be a slave all his life. Fortunately, there were not many slaves. Page 24. Szuord. The weapons of the Greeks were the sword, the spear or javelin, the bow and arrow, and the dagger. The sword was about two feet long and sharp on both edges. The warrior wore it at the left side. It was held by a leather belt which crossed the breast and back and hung from the right shoulder. Sword, scabbard, and belt were some- times decorated with designs in gold, silver, or brass. The spear was the length of a man, or longer. Its shaft was made of wood and its point of iron. Some Descriptive Notes 153 spears were pointed at both ends. A warrior often carried two spears. Bows varied in size ; they were usually about four feet long. The arrows were carried in a quiver, either at the left side in the place of a sword, or at the back, where they could be drawn out by the right hand. The bow was unstrung except when in use. It was hard to string, because it was made stiff, so that it would send the arrows swiftly. The dagger was worn in the belt. It was orna- mented like the sword with metal work. Page 26. Nestor was King of Pylos, a city in the southwestern part of Greece. He was about seventy years of age, and very wise in council. (See map, page 12.) Page 2J. Sacrificed . ... to Apollo. The Greeks said, "All men have need of the gods. They are stronger than we are, and they will help us if we ask them for help. They like the smell of our burnt offerings, so whenever we are in danger, or when we want the gods to help us, we will sacrifice to them." The sacrifice was performed somewhat as follows: First, there was an altar, a big block of stone on which the wood was laid for fire. The chiefs ranged the animals around the altar in a circle, then all the chiefs washed their hands and took handfuls of salted meal, while the king made a prayer, with lifted hands. (Hector once said that he would be afraid to pray to the gods with unwashed hands.) After the prayer, they scattered the meal on the altar, because the salt made a beautiful flame. The king then slaughtered the animals and prepared parts of the flesh for the sacrifice. He wrapped the meat in folds of fat, to make the fire burn brightly, and stuck through it long slender rods called spits. Then he put it on the altar, where it was held over the fire by the spits, whose ends rested on supports at each end of the altar. He poured wine over the 154 Achilles and Hector meat and prayed once more. Young men with five- pronged forks watched the meat, and kept turning it until it was burned to a cinder. When the sacri- fice was finished, the Greeks built another fire and roasted other pieces of the meat, which they ate as a sacred feast. The Greeks sacrificed before all great undertak- ings, in order to get the gods to help them, and afterward, if they were successful, in order to give thanks. Black-Juilled sJiips. Agamemnon brought loo ships, Achilles 50, Menelaus 60, Nestor 90, Diomedes and two other chiefs 20 together, Ajax 12, Odysseus 12, and so forth. Altogether there were 44 chiefs and 1,226 vessels. They were drawn up in rows along the shore. The ships of Ajax were at one end, those of Achilles at the other, and those of Odysseus in the middle. They were propped up by a row of stones placed from prow to stern of each. Heralds were the messengers and the policemen of the army. They had to attend single combats, and they summoned the assembly by going through camp and calling each chief by name. At the assembly meetings they seated the crowd and kept order. Page 28. Annoj'-bearer. There were two kinds of shields, the large oval kind and the smaller round ones. The large shield w^as heavy, and when the warrior was not using it he either hung it at his back or gave it to his armor-bearer to carry for him. If he hung it at his back, it struck his neck and heels when he walked. For this reason the edge of the shield was turned out, so that it would not cut the flesh. The belt on which the shield was hung went over one shoulder and under the other. If the soldier carried a small, round shield he needed no armor-bearer. (See Bryant's "Description of the Forging of the Shield of Achilles," page 160.) Achilles wept. We must remember that people of that time did not try to control themselves as we Descriptive Notes 155 do, and that they did not think it unmanly to shed tears of anger. Page 2g. Quoits. Very much the same game that is played to-day. Chariots stood protected. Chariots when not in use were drawn into a shed or tent and covered with cloths. Sometimes the upper part was taken off the wheels and set on blocks of wood, and every part of the chariot was kept clean and burnished. Page JO. Cayster River. A rapid stream in Asia Minor, flowing into the ^gean Sea near Ephesus. The waterfowl gathered over the marsh at the mouth of the river. (See map, page 12.) Zetis was the greatest of the gods. When he nodded the mountains trembled. He held the thun- derbolts in his hand. When the lightning flashed and the thunder roared, people said, " It is a sign from Zeus." The ships were not very large. They had high, curved beaks at each end, and on each side of the prow an eye was painted. The ship of Odysseus had a scarlet prow. There was one sail, which could be used in a favorable wind. When there was no wind the ship was rowed along by the oarsmen, who sat on each side beneath the deck. The rudder consisted of a pair of large oars at the stern. Page j^. Scainander. A river near Troy, flowing out into the Hellespont. It was called Xanthus by the gods and Scamander by men. Troy was on a hill between two rivers, the Scamander and the Simois. (See map, page 12.) GatJiered their own followers. Each chief had his own followers, who had come with him from the country over which he was king. Many of the soldiers were blood relations of their chiefs. Some were slaves, captured in war. Note the different ways of Trojans and Greeks in advancing. Which way would be more terrifying to the enemy? 156 Achilles and Hector Page 40. The SccEan gate was one of the gates in the wall that surrounded Troy. It looked out toward the sea and the Grecian camp. Nymph. One of the beautiful young goddesses who lived in the mountains, the valleys, the rivers, lakes, and forests everywhere. They were servants of the great goddesses who lived on Mount Olympus. Some of the heroes were said to have been brought up by the Nymphs. Veiled. A lady of rank had two maids who went with her everywhere. (See note for page 15.) Page 44. Chose tivo pebbles. The pebbles were probably marked by scratching with the point of the dagger. Why did Hector look over his shoulder? Page 4^. The Greeks thought that some of the gods favored them in the war and some favored the Trojans. A god who wished the Greeks to win might have tried to put the Trojans in the wrong by urging one of them to break the truce. (See note for page 27.) Page 4g. Fight the gods. The Greeks often told a story of a certain king, Lycurgus, who tried to fight one of the gods, and lost his life in consequence. Gates of deatJi. When a hero died, his spirit went to a dark country far down under the earth. The gates of this country were guarded by a monstrous dog with three heads. He was a very good watchdog ; while one of his heads was sleeping, the other two were always awake. Bellerophon was sent on many dangerous jour- neys by a king who wished him out of the way. But he always conquered his enemies and came back safely. So at last the king saw that he was a hero, and treated him with honor. Page 56. Why is the prayer of Hector noble and beautiful ? Page 5p. Gave no sign. Such a sign might have been the birds flying past, or any natural thing. Funeral pyre. The Greeks always burned their dead. Funerals were held where there was a level Descriptive Notes 157 piece of ground large enough for the funeral pile and the games. These were running races, wrest- ling, throwing the discus, chariot racing, leaping, and so forth. Page 6i. Hellespont. A narrow strait between Asia and Europe, now called the Dardanelles. It got its name from Helle, a young girl who with her brother was fleeing from a cruel stepmother. They rode through the air on the back of the Golden Ram, and while they were crossing this strait poor Helle fell in and was drowned. The name Hellespont means Helle's sea. Page 62. Idomeneiis was king of Crete, a large island south of Greece. He brought ninety ships to the war. Page 64. Shield. (See note for page 105.) Page 6y. Protected by a ivall. During the truce the Greeks burned their dead and built a funeral mound for them. The Greek tents were on the beach near the ships. The wall was built around the tents, and joined the funeral mound. It had watch-towers and a gateway wide enough for chariots. After Achilles re- fused to fight, the attacks of the Trojans had become more bold and frequent, and the Greeks needed the wall for defense. The trench was outside the wall, and the row of pointed stakes was outside the trench. Page 6g. The tent of Achilles was pitched in the shape of a small house. It had several rooms. His siveet-toned silver harp. The first harp was made of a tortoise shell and horns. The horns were fastened in the shell at one end, and the strings of the harp ran from the shell to a bar across the upper end of the horns. The silver harp Achilles took from one of the towns near Troy which he had destroyed. PJioenix had been armor-bearer to the father of Achilles. Page 10. Before drinking, the Greeks always poured out a little wine as a sacrifice to the gods. Achilles did the cooking on this occasion as a 158 Achilles and Hector special honor to his guests. He placed a block beside the fire, and laid on it chines of a sheep, and of a goat, and of a fat hog. Automedon, his chariot driver, held the meat while Achilles carved it. Then Patroclus raked the fire into a level bed of coals, and threw salt upon it to make a bright, clear flame. Then he stuck the spits through the meat and put it over the fire to roast. When it was done and on the table, Patroclus offered bread in pretty baskets to all the guests. Achilles served the meat and took his seat against the wall. Patroclus put the first rich mor- sels in the fire, as a little sacrifice to the gods. Then they all put forth their hands and shared the feast. There were knives, spoons, and dishes, but no forks. What arguments does Odysseus use ? Tripods were three-legged kettles used for cooking meat. They were set over the fire. Also, they were used as basins for bathing. Page yj. Deft at weaving. Arachne was a beau- tiful girl who excelled in weaving. She boasted so much of her skill, which Athene had given her, that the goddess changed her into a spider, so that she had to spend all the rest of her days weaving a web. PJithia was a district of Thessaly in northern Greece. (See map, page 12.) Page /}. The t7C7iic was a linen garment, rather full, with short sleeves. It reached to the knees, but could be belted up higher than that. Page y/. A good omen. The flight of birds was always regarded as a sign from the gods. If the birds flew by on the right side, it was a good sign ; if on the left, a bad sign. Odysseus and Diomedes. Diomedes carried a two- edged sword and wore a helmet of bull's hide which fitted his head closely. Odysseus carried a bow and quiver full of arrows, and a sword. His helmet was also of leather. Inside, a web of soft woolen cloth lined it, to protect his temples. Some helmets were set thickly on the outside with boar's teeth. Descriptive Notes 159 Prayer. Diomedes offered a yearling heifer, broad between the horns and never broken to work. He said that if Athene would guide them safely, he would gild the horns of the heifer at the sacrifice. Odysseus offered nothing, but spoke as if to a friend, "Thou who art near me in all dangers, thou whose eye is on me wherever I go, Athene, befriend me once again." A javelin's cast. The distance a man could throw a javelin. Page j8. The horses of Achilles were named Xanthus and Balius. They were given by Poseidon to the father of Achilles at his wedding to Thetis. They were so fiery that none but Achilles and his charioteer Automedon could drive them. They were so intelligent that, the old story says, they could talk. On the highest peak of Moimt Pelion, in a cave, lived Cheiron, the centaur. He was a wonderful creature, half man and half horse, or perhaps he was a man on a horse, — a very good rider. He made the great ashen spear and gave it to the father of Achilles. Page 80. Took his life. It was not permitted to slay one who asked for mercy by clasping the knees or grasping the chin of the victor. So if the spy had done either of these things they could not have slain him. A tamarisk is a kind of evergreen tree. Page 84. Sarpedon was a cousin of Glaucus, and led the Lycian soldiers. Sarpedon was one of the best and bravest of all the heroes. Make a list of all the brave and difficult things Sarpedon did, as you read of them. Page 88. Tzvo belts. The sword belt and the shield belt. Page gy. It was the gods. Patroclus believed the gods had come down to earth and were fighting to kill him. 160 Achilles and Hector Page g8. The god of ivar was Ares, a furious, blustering fellow, very strong- b.ut not very brave. He was not so good a fighter as Athene, because she was wise and prudent. Fear and Terror were his sons, and Strife was his sister. Ares was once wounded in battle, and the story says that he roared like nine or ten thousand men, and when he fell he covered several acres. Wild boar. What are the animals mentioned in the story? Why are they chosen rather than other kinds ? What do they show about the country ? Page loi. Scattered dust over his head, etc. This way of showing grief was the ordinary way of those times. Page I02. Th.Q fire-god was Hephaestus, the skillful worker in metals. All the volcanoes were his forges. Page loS- The shield. The sun, moon, and stars were in the center. The other pictures were in bands around the center, each band larger than the one inside it. The Greeks thought that the earth was flat, and that the ocean flowed all around it. So the shield was a sort of picture of the earth as they thought it. A DESCRIPTION OF THE FORGING OF THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES From William Cullen Bryant's translation of the Iliad, lines bgi-jb2 of Book XVIII* "And first he forged the huge and massive shield, Divinely wrought in every part, — its edge Clasped with a triple border, white and bright. A silver belt hung from it, and its folds Were five ; a crowd of figures on its disk Were fashioned by the artist's passing skill. For here he placed the earth and heaven, and here The great deep and the never resting sun And the full moon, and here he set the stars That shine in the round heaven, — the Pleiades, The Hyades, Orion in all his strength, *Used by permission of and special arrangement with Houghton, Mifflin & Co., the authorized publishers of Bryant's Iliad. And the Bear near him, called by some the Wain, That, wheeling, keeps Orion still in sight, Yet bathes not in the waters of the sea. " There placed he two fair cities full of men. In one were marriages and feasts ; they led The brides wnth flaming torches from their bowers, Along the streets, with many a nuptial song. There the young dancers whirled, and flutes and lyres Gave forth their sounds, and women at the doors Stood and admired. Meanwhile a multitude Was in the forum where a strife went on, — Two men contending for a fine, the price Of one who had been slain. Before the crowd One claimed that he had paid the fine, and one Denied that aught had been received, and both Called for the sentence which should end the strife. The people clamored for both sides, for both Had eager friends ; the heralds held the crowd In check ; the elders, upon polished stones. Sat in a sacred circle. Each one took, In turn, a herald's sceptre in his hand, i And, rising, gave his sentence. In the midst Two talents lay in gold, to be the meed Of him whose juster judgment should prevail, "Around the other city sat two hosts In shining armor, bent to lay it waste. Unless the dwellers would divide their wealth, — All that their pleasant homes contained, — and yield The assailants half. As yet the citizens Had not complied, but secretly had planned An ambush. Their beloved wives meanwhile. And their young children, stood and watched the walls. With aged men among them, while the youths Marched on, with Mars and Pallas at their head, Both wrought in gold, with golden garments on. Stately and large in form, and over all Conspicuous in bright armor, as became The gods ; the rest were of an humbler size. And when they reached the spot where they should lie In ambush, by a river's side, a place For watering herds, they sat them down, all armed In shining brass. Apart from all the rest They placed two sentries, on the watch to spy The approach of sheep and horned kine. Soon came The herds in sight ; two shepherds walked with them. Who, all unwitting of the evil nigh. Solaced their task with music from their reeds. 11 , The warriors saw and rushed on them, and took And drove away large prey of beeves, and flocks Of fair white sheep, whose keepers the}' had slain. When the besiegers in their council heard The sound of tumult at the watering place, They sprang upon their nimble-footed steeds. And overtook the pillagers. Both bands Arrayed their ranks and fought beside the stream, And smote each other. There did Discord rage. And Tumult, and the great Destroyer, Fate. One wounded warrior she had seized alive, And one unwounded yet, and through the field Dragged by the foot another, dead. Her robe Was reddened o'er the shoulders with the blood From human veins. Like living men they ranged The battle-field, and dragged by turns the slain. " There too he sculptured a broad fallow field Of soft rich mould, thrice plowed, and over which Walked many a plowman, guiding to and fro His steers, and when on their return they reached The border of the field the master came To meet them, placing in the hands of each A goblet of rich wine. Then turned they back Along the furrows, diligent to reach Their distant end. All dark behind the plow The ridges lay, a marvel to the sight. Like real furrows, though engraved in gold. " There, too, the artist placed a field which lay Deep in ripe wheat. With sickles in their hands The laborers reaped it. Here the handfuls fell Upon the ground ; there binders tied them fast With bands, and made them sheaves. Three binders went Close to the reapers, and behind them boys. Bringing the gathered handfuls in their arms, Ministered to the binders. Staff in hand, The master stood among them by the side Of the ranged sheaves and silently rejoiced. Meanwhile the servants underneath an oak Prepared a feast apart ; they sacrificed A fatling ox and dressed it, while the maids Were kneading for the reapers the white meal. "A vineyard also on the shield he graved, Beautiful, all of gold, and heavily Laden with grapes. Black were the clusters all ; The vines were stayed on rows of silver stakes. He drew a blue trench round it, and a hedge Of tin. One only path there was by which The vintagers could go to gather grapes. Young maids and striplings of a tender age Bore the sweet fruit in baskets. Midst them all, A youth from his shrill harp drew pleasant sounds, And sang with soft voice to the murmuring strings. They danced around him, beating with quick feet The ground, and sang and shouted joyously. "And there the artist wrought a herd of beeves, High-horned, and sculptured all in gold and tin. They issued lowing from their stalls to seek Their pasture, by a murmuring stream that ran Rapidly through its reeds. Four herdsmen, graved In gold were with the beeves, and nine fleet dogs Followed. Two lions, seizing on a bull Among the foremost cattle, dragged him off Fearfully bellowing ; hounds and herdsmen rushed To rescue him. The lions tore their prey, And lapped the entrails and the crimson blood. Vainly the shepherds pressed around and urged Their dogs, that shrank from fastening with their teeth Upon the lions, but stood near and bayed. " There also did illustrious Vulcan grave A fair, broad pasture in a pleasant glade, Full of white sheep, and stalls, and cottages. And many a shepherd's fold with sheltering roof. "And there illustrious Vulcan also wrought A dance, — a maze like that which Daedalus, In the broad realm of Gnossus once contrived For fair-haired Ariadne. Blooming youths And lovely virgins, tripping to light airs, Held fast each other's wrists. The maidens wore Fine linen robes ; the youths had tunics on Lustrous as oil, and woven daintily. The maids wore wreaths of flowers ; the young men swords Of gold in silver belts. They bounded now In a swift circle, — as a potter whirls With both his hands a wheel to try its speed. Sitting before it, — then again they crossed Each other, darting to their former place. A multitude around that joyous dance Gathered, and were amused, while from the crowd Two tumblers raised their song, and flung themselves About among the band that trod the dance. ' ' Last on the border of that glorious shield He graved in all its strength the ocean-stream." 164 Achilles and Hector Page io6. Dcedalus was a wonderful artist and inventor. He lived a while with Minos, King- of Crete, and invented a pretty dance for Ariadne, the young- daughter of the king. He invented also the Labyrinth, a building with so many winding passages that if a man entered it he could never get out unless he knew the secret of the plan. Once Daedalus wanted to get away from Crete, but the king would not give him a boat. So he took wax and feathers and made two pairs of wings for himself and his son Icarus. They flew away, but Icarus flew too high, and the sun's heat melted the wax in his wings. He fell into the sea and was drowned. Page JO(p. Myrmidons. People from the southern part of Thessaly. The name is like the Greek name for ants. From this the story was told that Zeus wanted men to settle in the country, so he changed the ants to men, and called them Myrmidons. (See map, page 12.) Page III. Ap]i7'odite was the goddess of beauty, who gave Helen to Paris. Artemis was the sister of Apollo, and the goddess of hunting and of the moon. Olympus is a rocky, snow-covered mountain in Thessaly near the coast. It was the home of the gods on earth. Its top is nearly always hidden in the clouds. Its lower part has many ravines and glens, and steep cliffs and dense forests. (See map, page 12.) ^neas was one of the Trojan leaders about whom a long story has been told. It is called the JEneid, and tells what became of him after he escaped from the burning of Troy. Page iij. Reached the mound. The mound was the funeral mound which the Greeks had built for their dead. Page 121. How was Hector tricked? If you had asked the Greeks, they would have said that Athene came down from Olympus and pretended to be De- iphobus, so as to aid Achilles. Descriptive Notes 165 Page I2J. The anger of the gods zvill fall. The Greeks thought that at the moment of dying, people could see the future, and tell what was to happen. Page i2g. River Sperchiiis^ now called the Hellada, was a swiftly flowing river in Thessaly. (See map, page 12.) Page ijj. Niobe had seven sons and seven daugh- ters. She was so proud of her large family that she taunted Latona, the mother of Artemis and Apollo, because she had only those two. Latona asked her children to avenge the slight. They sent swift arrows of death, and struck all Niobe's children, one after the other. Poor Niobe wept and wept, until at last she turned into a stone. Page 14.J. After the funeral of Achilles, his com- rades mingled his ashes with those of his friend Pa- troclus, and buried both on the cliff of Sigeum, the northwest point of the Troad, where they are said still to be lying. (See map, page 12.) 166 Achilles and Hector A PRONOUNCING AND DEFINING INDEX Achilles (a kil' lez). The famous son of Peleus, king of Phthiotis in Thessaly, and Thetis, the sea- nymph, is the hero of the Iliad. ^neas (e ne' rts). A Trojan hero, the son of Anchises and Aphrodite. Againeimton (ag a mem' non). The brother of Men- elaus, who, by selfishness, brought the wrath of the gods upon the Greeks. Ajax (a' jaks). Second only to Achilles in bravery among the Greeks. A GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION The following key explains the symbols which are used to itidicate the pro7iu7iciatio7i of the vowels i7i this vocabulary. It is based upon the latest edition of Webster's International Dictionary. a . as in fate 6 . a . as in preface 6 a • as in add 6 . a . as in air u a . as in far u . a . as in g^rass u . » . as in all W e . as in eve V e . as in ^-veut' ii 6 . as in end y e . as in h6r y . 1 . as in ice oo . 1 . asini-de'a do . i as in pin ou . o . as in row oi . as in 6-bey' as in not as in lord as in iise as in u-nite' as in up as in ri|de as in full as in urn as in fly as in pit'y as in moon as in good as in out as in oil n=ng as iii ink th. . . as in this cli . . as in chair zh = z as in azure H has a sound similar to a strongly aspi- rated h. N represents the nasal sound of the pre- ceding vowel ; as in ensemble (en'sSn' Silent letters are italicized. Certain vowels, as a and e, when obscured, are also italicized. A Pronouncing Index 167 Amazons (am' a zons). A mythical race of warlike women, Andromache (an drom' a ke). The daughter of Eetion, king of Thebes, and the wife of Hector. Antenor (ante' nor). A Trojan prince related to Priam, and the father of many famous warriors. Aphrodite (af ro di' te). The Greek goddess of love. Latin, Venus. Apollo (a pol' 16). The god of archery and of light. Ares (a'rez). The Greek name for the god of war, son of Zeus and Hera. Latin, Mars. Ariadne (ar i ad' ne). The daughter of Minos. She helped Theseus to kill the Minotaur. Artemis (ar' te mis). The daughter of Zeus and Leto, and goddess of the chase. Latin, Diana. Athene (a the' ne). The goddess of wisdom. B Balius (ba' II us). One of Achilles' horses. BelleropJio}i (bel ler' 6 fon). Rider of Pegasus, the winged horse, slayer of the monster Chimaera, and conqueror of the Amazons. Calchas (kal' kas). A celebrated soothsayer; the high priest and prophet of the Greeks during the Trojan war. Cayster (ka is' ter). A celebrated river of Lydia and Ionia. D Dcedalus (ded' a lus). The first craftsman among the Greeks. Deiphobus (de if o bus). A son of Priam, slain by Menelaus. 168 Achilles and Hector Diomedes (di o me' dez). One of the bravest of the Grecian chiefs, ranking- next to Achilles and Ajax. G Glauciis (gla' kus). With Sarpedon, a leader of Priam's Lycian allies. H Hector (hek' ter). The eldest son of Priam, and the most valiant of all the Trojan chiefs ; slain by Achilles. Helen (hel'en). The wife of Menelaus, whom Paris carried away to Troy. This was the cause of the Trojan war. Helemis (hel' e nus). A son of Priam, famous as a soothsayer. Hellespont (hel' les pont). The narrow strait be- tween Europe and Asia Minor, now called the Dardanelles. Hepheestus (he fes' tus). The god of fire and metal work. Latin, Vulcan. Hera (he' ra). The queen of heaven and wife of Zeus. Latin, Juno. I Idonieneus (T dom'e nus). A grandson of King Minos of Crete. He joined the Greeks in the Trojan war, and was one of their bravest warriors. L Laocoon (la ok' o on). A Trojan priest of Apollo, killed by the serpents of Poseidon. Locrians (lo' kri ans). Inhabitants of the district of Locris in Greece. Lycaon (li ka'on). Brother to Paris. Ly come ties (lye 6 me' de§). King of Scyros, to whom Achilles was secretly entrusted by Thetis. I A Pronouncing Index 169 M Menelaus (men e la' iis). A younger brother of Ag- amemnon, and husband of Helen. Myrmidons (mer' ml dons). Warriors from Thessaly who fought under their prince, Achilles. N Nestor (nes' tor). An aged warrior and valued coun- selor among the Greeks. Niobe (m'obe). Was punished for maternal pride by the death of all her children. O Odysseus (o dis' us). King of Ithaca, "crafty in counsel," and a great Grecian warrior. Paris (par' is). The second son of Priam. He stole Helen from Menelaus. Patrochis (pa tro' klus). The bosom friend of Achilles. Pelion (pe' li on). A range of mountains in Thessaly famous for timber. PJicenix (fe' niks). The tutor of Achilles, whom he accompanied to Troy. Phthia (thr a). A district of Thessaly. Polyxena (po liks' e na). A daughter of Priam, whom Achilles loved. Poseidon (po si' don). The god of the sea and the flowing waters. Latin, Neptune. Priam (pri' am). The last king of Troy. Rhesus (re' sus). A Thracian ally of the Trojans, whose horses were stolen by Odysseus and Dio- medes. 170 Achilles and Hector s Sarpedo7i (sar pe' don). A Lycian ally of Priam, slain by Patroclus. Scaniander (ska man' der). A river near Tro)^ SccEan (ske' an). The gate on the left of the city, facing the Grecian camp. Sperchius (sper ki' us). The river god and the river Sperchius in Thessaly. Styx (stiks). The principal river of Hades. T Tencdos (ten' e dos). An island off the coast of Troy. Thcrsites (ther si' tez). A deformed man and an impudent talker among the Greeks. Thetis (the' tis). A sea-goddess, wife of Peleus, and mother of Achilles. Trojan (tro' j^'n). An inhabitant of Troy. Troy (troi). The name of the city besieged by the Greeks. X XantJiiis (zan' thus). One of the horses of Achilles. Also the name of the river god of the Scaman- der River. Z Zeus (zus). " Father of gods and king of men." Latin, Jupiter. A Reading List 171 :.v:^t:^!i^ A READING LIST GENERAL BOOKS Anthon, C. Classical Dictionary. Neiv York : Harper Brothers^ i8g8. Bulfinch's Mythology. Philadelphia : McKay. BuNBURY, Sir E. H. History of Ancient Geography (Vol. I., Chap. 2, "Homeric Geography"). Lon- don : JoJin Murray^ i88j. Church, A. J. Story of the Iliad. London : Mac- millaji & Co., Limited, i8jj. Encyclopedia Britannica. "Troad," "Helen," etc. New York : Charles Scribner's Sons. Engelman and Anderson. Pictorial Atlas to Homer. London : H. Grevel & Co., i8()2. Falke, J. Von. Greece and Rome, Their Life and Art (First Part). Nezv York: Henry Holt & Co., 1886. Fyffe, C. a. History of Greece (History Primers), Chap. I. Nezv York: American Book Company, 1877. Gayley, C. M. Classic Myths in English Literature. Boston : Ohm & Co., i8g^. Gladstone, W. E. Studies on Homer. London : Macmillan & Co., Limited, i86g. Grote, G. History of Greece (Part L, Chap. 21). New York : Harper Brothers. Jebb, R. C. Introduction to Homer (Chaps, i and 2). Boston : Ginn & Co., 1887. Mahaffy, J. P. Old Greek Education. New York : Harper BrotJiers, 1882. 172 Achilles and Hector Mahaffy, J. P. Old Greek Life (a few references to Homeric customs). New York: American Book Company^ 1^79- Murray, A. S. Handbook of Greek Archaeology. New York : CJiarles Scribner's Sons, i8g2. Pratt, Mara L. Myths of Old Greece. (3 Vols.) Boston : Educational Publishing Company. Schreiber, T. Atlas of Classical Antiquities. ^Edited by Prof. Anderson.) London : Macmillan & Co., Limited, i8g^. ScHUCHHARDT, C. Schliemaun's Excavations. Lon- do7i : Macmillan & Co., Limited, i8gi. Tarbell, F. B. History of Greek Art (Illustrated). New York : The Macmillan Company. Timayenis, T. T. Greece in the Times of Homer. (All.) New York: D. Applet on & Co., i88j. Timayenis, T. T. A History of Greece from the Earliest Times. (Early chapters.) New York : D. Appleton & Co., 1883-88. POEMS Keats, John. Sonnet on Chapman's Homer. Lang, Andrew. Sonnet on Helen of Troy. Tennyson, Alfred, Lord. "Achilles Over the Trench." TRANSLATIONS OF HOMER'S ILIAD Bryant, William Cullen. Boston : Houghton, Mifflin & Co. Chapman, George. New York : Charles Scribner's Sons. CowpER, William. New York : The Macmillan Com- pany. Derby, Lord. London : William Blackwood & Sons. Lang, Andrew ; Leaf, Walter, and Myers, William. (Prose.) Nezv York: The Macmillan Company. Pope, Alexander. Neiv York: The Macmillan Company. Suggestions to Teachers 173 SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS LITTLE is definitely known about Greek life of the time of Homer. The chief sources of what w^e do know of social and religious customs, and ways of dressing, fighting, thinking, and feeling, are of course the Iliad and the Odyssey. By much collecting of details, the children may be given a general view of Homeric life, as a background for the vivid hero-figures of the Iliad ; but the teacher must remember that this background is at best only approximately true. The important thing, however, is to put the children in harmony with the beauty- loving spirit of the Greeks, in whose minds beauty and goodness went naturally together. It was always a source of wonder to the Athenians that Socrates was a great and good man, and at the same time very ugly. Helen of Troy was not only a Greek wife stolen away by a Trojan, but she was also the perfectly beautiful woman, and as such she was rightfully a Greek possession, to be fought for until regained. As to her moral beauty, she is repre- sented as the victim of the plans of the gods, and her constant regret dignifies her into one of the saddest and most romantic figures in all literature. There are plenty of ways of interesting the chil- dren in the lives of the Greeks. Every teacher knows various devices for familiarizing her pupils w4th the customs of a foreign people. Some are suggested here which have been tried with good 174 Achilles and Hector results. Doubtless any teacher of an inventive turn of mind can find others quite as effective and as easy to correlate with the other work. It is not to be supposed that any one class will attempt to follow out all the sug-gestions. The teacher will choose those of greatest interest to herself and the class. Gather all the pictures of Greek cups, vases, dishes, tripods, chariots, temples, warriors, and athletes that you can find, and put them up in the schoolroom where the children will see them constantly while they are reading the story. From the "Grammar of Greek Ornament" mentioned in the Reference List, take some of the simplest patterns, or, if you cannot get the book, take the little ornaments used as tail- pieces in this book, and give the pupils work in designing patterns for tiling and mosaic, borders, vases, etc. Let them copy the pictured cups and vases, using their own designs as ornaments and borders. Most of the easily available pictures repre- sent objects of a time later than Homer, but select the oldest you can find. Even if your archaeology is not exact, with fourth or fifth grade pupils that fact will not prevent you from producing good artistic feeling. Furnish the children with modeling clay and plaster, and show them how to model reliefs of the vases and other things which they have drawn, and how to make plaster casts of their clay work. Let them model also a plan of an Homeric house as it is described in the Notes. Another good subject for clay work is the plain of Troy, with the city on the hill, and the Greek ships, camp, and wall along the shore. Give the class a picture of the Parthenon, or the temple at Paestum, Italy, which is a purely Doric building. Tell them the chief parts, as columns, pediment, architrave, abacus, etc. (see Webster's Un- abridged or the Century Dictionary), and let them both draw and model the front in relief. Show them Suggestions to Teachers 175 how the columns swell slightly in the middle, and are larger at the base than at the top. The reasons for these changes from the perfect cylinder are easily shown if you draw, as tall as you can make them on the blackboard, cylinders and Greek columns side by side, capped by pediments, and ask the children which are more beautiful. Draw on the board a fairly large map of Greece and the Troad, and trace the journeyings of the Greek ships as they gathered at Aulis from all parts of the coast of Greece and sailed thence to Troy; emphasize the mountainous character of Greece ; teach the children the ancient locations of Thessaly, Phthia, Mycenae, Pylos, the rivers Cayster, Scaman- der, Simois, and Sperchius, Mount Olympus, Mount Pelion, Mount Ida, Scyros, Crete, Cape Sigeum, the Hellespont, and Troy. A Greek costume is easily made of white cheese- cloth— for a man, a chiton or sleeveless tunic in one piece, clasped with a brooch on the left shoulder, and having a hole cut to put the right arm through. This should be belted. The cloak or himation is a large square or oblong piece, draped over the left shoulder and under the right arm. If armor is desired, it may be cut roughly out of stiff brown paper, after the illustrations. A woman's costume consists of a long tunic reaching to the ground, and a short overgarment, the peplus, like an oblong shawl folded once and caught on the shoulders with large brooches. The first garment may be belted either high or low. With these simple dresses let the chil- dren dramatize short scenes from the story, such as Hector's farewell to Andromache and the infant son, or the visit of Odysseus and Ajax to Achilles and Agamemnon, or the visit of Priam to Achilles. The whole story has been very successfully dramatized by the sixth grade children of one of the Chicago schools. Lead the pupils to study the ceremonies of casting lots, of sacrifice, and of burial, and tell as well as write 176 Achilles and Hector what the chiefs did on the occasions of such cere- monies. The shield of Achilles, with its concentric bands of pictures, should be studied for the various occupations which it depicts. Use the excerpt from Bryant's translation of the Iliad for this. Study the government of the Greek camp ; bring out the point that no one chief, except perhaps Agamemnon, had very many followers, yet notice the discipline which was maintained, as shown in the story of Thersites. Have the children write parts of the story in their own words, especially the conversations. They should be forming very clear notions of the character of each chief, especially Achilles, Hector, Odysseus, Ajax, Nestor, Agamemnon, Menelaus, and Diomed, with some idea also of Sarpedon, Idomeneus, Phoenix, and the rest. Encourage them to choose favorites, and tell why. Let them give reasons by citing episodes in the story. Have them study each chapter as a separate story, and point out the most interesting point (crisis) in each. Do not, however, spend too much time in attempt- ing to make literary studies of the characters, but rather concentrate attention on the story itself. Let the swift action and the strong and lofty epic tone take hold of the children as it will. They are sure to learn the story eagerly. It is a great part of their literary heritage, and they will be glad of the knowl- edge of it all the rest of their lives. 1} Si, J!l|i;i