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Priam and the princes were wondering at the great horse of tree。 Sinon
looked round upon them； while some were saying that he ought to be
tortured with fire to make him tell all the truth about the horse。 The
chiefs in the horse must have trembled for fear lest torture should wring
the truth out of Sinon； for then the Trojans would simply burn the machine
and them within it。
But Sinon said： 〃Miserable man that I am； whom the Greeks hate
and the Trojans are eager to slay！〃 When the Trojans heard that the
Greeks hated him； they were curious； and asked who he was； and how he
came to be there。 〃I will tell you all； oh King！〃 he answered Priam。 〃I
was a friend and squire of an unhappy chief； Palamedes； whom the wicked
Ulysses hated and slew secretly one day； when he found him alone； fishing
in the sea。 I was angry； and in my folly I did not hide my anger； and my
words came to the ears of Ulysses。 From that hour he sought occasion to
slay me。 Then Calchas〃 here he stopped； saying： 〃But why tell a long
tale？ If you hate all Greeks alike； then slay me； this is what Agamemnon
and Ulysses desire； Menelaus would thank you for my head。〃
The Trojans were now more curious than before。 They bade him go
on； and he said that the Greeks had consulted an Oracle； which advised
them to sacrifice one of their army to appease the anger of the Gods and
gain a fair wind homewards。 〃But who was to be sacrificed？ They
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asked Calchas； who for fifteen days refused to speak。 At last； being
bribed by Ulysses； he pointed to me； Sinon； and said that I must be the
victim。 I was bound and kept in prison； while they built their great horse
as a present for Pallas Athene the Goddess。 They made it so large that
you Trojans might never be able to drag it into your city； while； if you
destroyed it； the Goddess might turn her anger against you。 And now
they have gone home to bring back the image that fell from heaven； which
they had sent to Greece； and to restore it to the Temple of Pallas Athene；
when they have taken your town； for the Goddess is angry with them for
that theft of Ulysses。〃
The Trojans were foolish enough to believe the story of Sinon； and
they pitied him and unbound his hands。 Then they tied ropes to the
wooden horse； and laid rollers in front of it； like men launching a ship； and
they all took turns to drag the horse up to the Scaean gate。 Children and
women put their hands to the ropes and hauled； and with shouts and
dances； and hymns they toiled； till about nightfall the horse stood in the
courtyard of the inmost castle。
Then all the people of Troy began to dance； and drink； and sing。 Such
sentinels as were set at the gates got as drunk as all the rest； who danced
about the city till after midnight； and then they went to their homes and
slept heavily。
Meanwhile the Greek ships were returning from behind Tenedos as
fast as the oarsmen could row them。
One Trojan did not drink or sleep； this was Deiphobus； at whose house
Helen was now living。 He bade her come with them； for he knew that
she was able to speak in the very voice of all men and women whom she
had ever seen； and he armed a few of his friends and went with them to the
citadel。 Then he stood beside the horse； holding Helen's hand； and
whispered to her that she must call each of the chiefs in the voice of his
wife。 She was obliged to obey； and she called Menelaus in her own voice；
and Diomede in the voice of his wife； and Ulysses in the very voice of
Penelope。 Then Menelaus and Diomede were eager to answer； but
Ulysses grasped their hands and whispered the word 〃Echo！〃 Then they
remembered that this was a name of Helen； because she could speak in all
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voices； and they were silent； but Anticlus was still eager to answer； till
Ulysses held his strong hand over his mouth。 There was only silence；
and Deiphobus led Helen back to his house。 When they had gone away
Epeius opened the side of the horse； and all the chiefs let themselves down
softly to the ground。 Some rushed to the gate； to open it； and they killed
the sleeping sentinels and let in the Greeks。 Others sped with torches to
burn the houses of the Trojan princes； and terrible was the slaughter of
men； unarmed and half awake； and loud were the cries of the women。
But Ulysses had slipped away at the first； none knew where。
Neoptolemus ran to the palace of Priam； who was sitting at the altar in his
courtyard； praying vainly to the Gods； for Neoptolemus slew the old man
cruelly； and his white hair was dabbled in his blood。 All through the city
was fighting and slaying； but Menelaus went to the house of Deiphobus；
knowing that Helen was there。
In the doorway he found Deiphobus lying dead in all his armour； a
spear standing in his breast。 There were footprints marked in blood；
leading through the portico and into the hall。 There Menelaus went； and
found Ulysses leaning； wounded； against one of the central pillars of the
great chamber； the firelight shining on his armour。
〃Why hast thou slain Deiphobus and robbed me of my revenge？〃 said
Menelaus。 〃You swore to give me a gift；〃 said Ulysses； 〃and will you
keep your oath？〃 〃Ask what you will；〃 said Menelaus； 〃it is yours and
my oath cannot be broken。〃 〃I ask the life of Helen of the fair hands；〃
said Ulysses 〃this is my own life…price that I pay back to her； for she saved
my life when I took the Luck of Troy； and I swore that hers should be
saved。〃
Then Helen stole； glimmering in white robes； from a recess in the dark
hall； and fell at the feet of Menelaus； her golden hair lay in the dust of the
hearth； and her hands moved to touch his knees。 His drawn sword fell
from the hands of Menelaus； and pity and love came into his heart； and he
raised her from the dust and her wh