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to fight with sword and spear when there was a battle at sea。 Each ship
had but one mast； with a broad lugger sail； and for anchors they had only
heavy stones attached to cables。 They generally landed at night； and
slept on the shore of one of the many islands； when they could； for they
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greatly feared to sail out of sight of land。
The fleet consisted of more than a thousand ships； each with fifty
warriors； so the army was of more than fifty thousand men。 Agamemnon
had a hundred ships； Diomede had eighty； Nestor had ninety； the Cretans
with Idomeneus； had eighty； Menelaus had sixty； but Aias and Ulysses；
who lived in small islands； had only twelve ships apiece。 Yet Aias was so
brave and strong； and Ulysses so brave and wise； that they were ranked
among the greatest chiefs and advisers of Agamemnon； with Menelaus；
Diomede； Idomeneus； Nestor； Menestheus of Athens； and two or three
others。 These chiefs were called the Council； and gave advice to
Agamemnon； who was commander…in…chief。 He was a brave fighter； but
so anxious and fearful of losing the lives of his soldiers that Ulysses and
Diomede were often obliged to speak to him very severely。 Agamemnon
was also very insolent and greedy； though； when anybody stood up to him；
he was ready to apologise； for fear the injured chief should renounce his
service and take away his soldiers。
Nestor was much respected because he remained brave； though he was
too old to be very useful in battle。 He generally tried to make peace
when the princes quarrelled with Agamemnon。 He loved to tell long
stories about his great deeds when he was young； and he wished the chiefs
to fight in old…fashioned ways。
For instance； in his time the Greeks had fought in clan regiments； and
the princely men had never dismounted in battle； but had fought in
squadrons of chariots； but now the owners of chariots fought on foot； each
man for himself； while his squire kept the chariot near him to escape on if
he had to retreat。 Nestor wished to go back to the good old way of
chariot charges against the crowds of foot soldiers of the enemy。 In short；
he was a fine example of the old… fashioned soldier。
Aias； though so very tall； strong； and brave； was rather stupid。 He
seldom spoke； but he was always ready to fight； and the last to retreat。
Menelaus was weak of body； but as brave as the best； or more brave； for
he had a keen sense of honour； and would attempt what he had not the
strength to do。 Diomede and Ulysses were great friends； and always
fought side by side； when they could； and helped each other in the most
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dangerous adventures。
These were the chiefs who led the great Greek armada from the
harbour of Aulis。 A long time had passed； after the flight of Helen；
before the large fleet could be collected； and more time went by in the
attempt to cross the sea to Troy。 There were tempests that scattered the
ships； so they were driven back to Aulis to refit； and they fought； as they
went out again； with the peoples of unfriendly islands； and besieged their
towns。 What they wanted most of all was to have Achilles with them； for
he was the leader of fifty ships and 2；500 men； and he had magical armour
made； men said； for his father； by Hephaestus； the God of armour… making
and smithy work。
At last the fleet came to the Isle of Scyros； where they suspected that
Achilles was concealed。 King Lycomedes received the chiefs kindly； and
they saw all his beautiful daughters dancing and playing at ball； but
Achilles was still so young and slim and so beautiful that they did not
know him among the others。 There was a prophecy that they could not
take Troy without him； and yet they could not find him out。 Then
Ulysses had a plan。 He blackened his eyebrows and beard and put on the
dress of a Phoenician merchant。 The Phoenicians were a people who lived
near the Jews； and were of the same race； and spoke much the same
language； but； unlike the Jews； who； at that time were farmers in Palestine；
tilling the ground； and keeping flocks and herds； the Phoenicians were the
greatest of traders and sailors； and stealers of slaves。 They carried
cargoes of beautiful cloths； and embroideries； and jewels of gold； and
necklaces of amber； and sold these everywhere about the shores of Greece
and the islands。
Ulysses then dressed himself like a Phoenician pedlar； with his pack
on his back： he only took a stick in his hand； his long hair was turned up；
and hidden under a red sailor's cap； and in this figure he came； stooping
beneath his pack； into the courtyard of King Lycomedes。 The girls heard
that a pedlar had come； and out they all ran； Achilles with the rest to watch
the pedlar undo his pack。 Each chose what she liked best： one took a
wreath of gold； another a necklace of gold and amber； another earrings； a
fourth a set of brooches； another a dress of embroidered scarlet cloth；
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another a veil； another a pair of bracelets； but at the bottom of the pack lay
a great sword of bronze； the hilt studded with golden nails。 Achilles
seized the sword。 〃This is for me！〃 he said； and drew the sword from the
gilded sheath； and made it whistle round his head。
〃You are Achilles； Peleus' son！〃 said Ulysses； 〃and you are to be the
chief warrior of the Achaeans；〃 for the Greeks then called themselves
Achaeans。 Achilles was only too glad to hear these words； for he was
quite tired of living among maidens。 Ulysses led him into the hall where
the chiefs were sitting at their wine； and Achilles was blushing like any
girl。
〃Here is the Queen of the Amazons；〃 said Ulyssesfor the Amazons
were a race of warlike maidens〃or rather here is Achil