按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and always would hate him。 No； he would not cease to be angry； he
would sail away next day with all his men； and he advised the rest to come
with him。 〃Why be so fierce？〃 said tall Aias； who seldom spoke。 〃Why
make so much trouble about one girl？ We offer you seven girls； and
plenty of other gifts。〃
Then Achilles said that he would not sail away next day； but he would
not fight till the Trojans tried to burn his own ships； and there he thought
that Hector would find work enough to do。 This was the most that
Achilles would promise； and all the Greeks were silent when Ulysses
28
… Page 29…
Tales of Troy
delivered his message。 But Diomede arose and said that； with or without
Achilles； fight they must； and all men； heavy at heart； went to sleep in
their huts or in the open air at their doors。
Agamemnon was much too anxious to sleep。 He saw the glow of the
thousand fires of the Trojans in the dark； and heard their merry flutes； and
he groaned and pulled out his long hair by handfuls。 When he was tired of
crying and groaning and tearing his hair； he thought that he would go for
advice to old Nestor。 He threw a lion skin； the coverlet of his bed； over
his shoulder； took his spear； went out and met Menelausfor he； too； could
not sleepand Menelaus proposed to send a spy among the Trojans； if any
man were brave enough to go； for the Trojan camp was all alight with fires；
and the adventure was dangerous。 Therefore the two wakened Nestor
and the other chiefs； who came just as they were； wrapped in the fur
coverlets of their beds； without any armour。 First they visited the five
hundred young men set to watch the wall； and then they crossed the ditch
and sat down outside and considered what might be done。 〃Will nobody
go as a spy among the Trojans？〃 said Nestor； he meant would none of the
young men go。 Diomede said that he would take the risk if any other
man would share it with him； and； if he might choose a companion； he
would take Ulysses。
〃Come； then； let us be going；〃 said Ulysses； 〃for the night is late； and
the dawn is near。〃 As these two chiefs had no armour on； they borrowed
shields and leather caps from the young men of the guard； for leather
would not shine as bronze helmets shine in the firelight。 The cap lent to
Ulysses was strengthened outside with rows of boars' tusks。 Many of
these tusks； shaped for this purpose； have been found； with swords and
armour； in a tomb in Mycenae； the town of Agamemnon。 This cap which
was lent to Ulysses had once been stolen by his grandfather； Autolycus；
who was a Master Thief； and he gave it as a present to a friend； and so；
through several hands； it had come to young Meriones of Crete； one of the
five hundred guards； who now lent it to Ulysses。 So the two princes set
forth in the dark； so dark it was that though they heard a heron cry； they
could not see it as it flew away。
While Ulysses and Diomede stole through the night silently； like two
29
… Page 30…
Tales of Troy
wolves among the bodies of dead men； the Trojan leaders met and
considered what they ought to do。 They did not know whether the
Greeks had set sentinels and outposts； as usual； to give warning if the
enemy were approaching； or whether they were too weary to keep a good
watch； or whether perhaps they were getting ready their ships to sail
homewards in the dawn。 So Hector offered a reward to any man who
would creep through the night and spy on the Greeks； he said he would
give the spy the two best horses in the Greek camp。
Now among the Trojans there was a young man named Dolon； the son
of a rich father； and he was the only boy in a family of five sisters。 He was
ugly； but a very swift runner； and he cared for horses more than for
anything else in the world。 Dolon arose and said； 〃If you will swear to
give me the horses and chariot of Achilles； son of Peleus； I will steal to the
hut of Agamemnon and listen and find out whether the Greeks mean to
fight or flee。〃 Hector swore to give these horses； which were the best in
the world； to Dolon； so he took his bow and threw a grey wolf's hide over
his shoulders； and ran towards the ships of the Greeks。
Now Ulysses saw Dolon as he came； and said to Diomede； 〃Let us
suffer him to pass us； and then do you keep driving him with your spear
towards the ships； and away from Troy。〃 So Ulysses and Diomede lay
down among the dead men who had fallen in the battle； and Dolon ran on
past them towards the Greeks。 Then they rose and chased him as two
greyhounds course a hare； and； when Dolon was near the sentinels；
Diomede cried 〃Stand； or I will slay you with my spear！〃 and he threw his
spear just over Dolon's shoulder。 So Dolon stood still； green with fear；
and with his teeth chattering。 When the two came up； he cried； and said
that his father was a rich man； who would pay much gold； and bronze； and
iron for his ransom。
Ulysses said； 〃Take heart； and put death out of your mind； and tell us
what you are doing here。〃 Dolon said that Hector had promised him the
horses of Achilles if he would go and spy on the Greeks。 〃You set your
hopes high；〃 said Ulysses； 〃for the horses of Achilles are not earthly steeds；
but divine； a gift of the Gods； and Achilles alone can drive them。 But；
tell me； do the Trojans keep good watch； and where is Hector with his
30
… Page 31…
Tales of Troy
horses？〃 for Ulysses thought that it would be a great adventure to drive
away the horses of Hector。
〃Hector is with the chiefs； holding council at the tomb of Ilus；〃 said
Dolon； 〃but no regular guard is set。 The people of Troy； indeed； are
round their watch fires； for they have to think of the safety of their wives
and children； but the allies from far lands keep no watch； for the