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to this day。 Calchas said that yesterday he had seen a hawk pursuing a
dove； which hid herself in a hole in a rocky cliff。 For a long while the
hawk tried to find the hole； and follow the dove into it； but he could not
reach her。 So he flew away for a short distance and hid himself； then the
dove fluttered out into the sunlight； and the hawk swooped on her and
killed her。
The Greeks； said Calchas； ought to learn a lesson from the hawk； and
take Troy by cunning； as by force they could do nothing。 Then Ulysses
stood up and described a trick which it is not easy to understand。 The
Greeks； he said； ought to make an enormous hollow horse of wood； and
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place the bravest men in the horse。 Then all the rest of the Greeks should
embark in their ships and sail to the Isle of Tenedos； and lie hidden behind
the island。 The Trojans would then come out of the city； like the dove out
of her hole in the rock； and would wander about the Greek camp； and
wonder why the great horse of tree had been made； and why it had been
left behind。 Lest they should set fire to the horse； when they would soon
have found out the warriors hidden in it； a cunning Greek； whom the
Trojans did not know by sight； should be left in the camp or near it。 He
would tell the Trojans that the Greeks had given up all hope and gone
home； and he was to say that they feared the Goddess Pallas was angry
with them； because they had stolen her image that fell from heaven； and
was called the Luck of Troy。 To soothe Pallas and prevent her from
sending great storms against the ships； the Trojans （so the man was to say）
had built this wooden horse as an offering to the Goddess。 The Trojans；
believing this story； would drag the horse into Troy； and； in the night； the
princes would come out； set fire to the city； and open the gates to the army；
which would return from Tenedos as soon as darkness came on。
The prophet was much pleased with the plan of Ulysses； and； as two
birds happened to fly away on the right hand； he declared that the
stratagem would certainly be lucky。 Neoptolemus； on the other hand；
voted for taking Troy； without any trick； by sheer hard fighting。 Ulysses
replied that if Achilles could not do that； it could not be done at all； and
that Epeius； a famous carpenter； had better set about making the horse at
once。
Next day half the army； with axes in their hands； were sent to cut down
trees on Mount Ida； and thousands of planks were cut from the trees by
Epeius and his workmen； and in three days he had finished the horse。
Ulysses then asked the best of the Greeks to come forward and go inside
the machine； while one； whom the Greeks did not know by sight； should
volunteer to stay behind in the camp and deceive the Trojans。 Then a
young man called Sinon stood up and said that he would risk himself and
take the chance that the Trojans might disbelieve him； and burn him alive。
Certainly； none of the Greeks did anything more courageous； yet Sinon
had not been considered brave。
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Had he fought in the front ranks； the Trojans would have known him；
but there were many brave fighters who would not have dared to do what
Sinon undertook。
Then old Nestor was the first that volunteered to go into the horse； but
Neoptolemus said that； brave as he was； he was too old； and that he must
depart with the army to Tenedos。 Neoptolemus himself would go into the
horse； for he would rather die than turn his back on Troy。 So
Neoptolemus armed himself and climbed into the horse； as did Menelaus；
Ulysses； Diomede； Thrasymedes （Nestor's son）； Idomeneus； Philoctetes；
Meriones； and all the best men except Agamemnon； while Epeius himself
entered last of all。 Agamemnon was not allowed by the other Greeks to
share their adventure； as he was to command the army when they returned
from Tenedos。 They meanwhile launched their ships and sailed away。
But first Menelaus had led Ulysses apart； and told him that if they took
Troy （and now they must either take it or die at the hands of the Trojans）；
he would owe to Ulysses the glory。 When they came back to Greece； he
wished to give Ulysses one of his own cities； that they might always be
near each other。 Ulysses smiled and shook his head； he could not leave
Ithaca； his own rough island kingdom。 〃But if we both live through the
night that is coming；〃 he said； 〃I may ask you for one gift； and giving it
will make you none the poorer。〃 Then Menelaus swore by the splendour
of Zeus that Ulysses could ask him for no gift that he would not gladly
give； so they embraced； and both armed themselves and went up into the
horse。 With them were all the chiefs except Nestor； whom they would
not allow to come； and Agamemnon； who； as chief general； had to
command the army。 They swathed themselves and their arms in soft silks；
that they might not ring and clash； when the Trojans； if they were so
foolish； dragged the horse up into their town； and there they sat in the dark
waiting。 Meanwhile； the army burned their huts and launched their ships；
and with oars and sails made their way to the back of the isle of Tenedos。
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THE END OF TROY AND THE
SAVING OF HELEN
From the walls the Trojans saw the black smoke go up thick into the
sky； and the whole fleet of the Greeks sailing out to sea。 Never were men
so glad； and they armed themselves for fear of an ambush； and went
cautiously； sending forth scouts in front of them； down to the seashore。
Here they found the huts burned down and the camp deserted； and some of
the scouts also caught Sinon； who had hid himself in a place where he was
likely to be found。 They rushed on him with fierce cries； and bound his
hands with a rope； and kicked and dragged him along to the place where
Priam and the princes were wondering at the great horse of tree。 Sinon
looked round upon them； while some were sayin