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girl。
〃Here is the Queen of the Amazons；〃 said Ulyssesfor the Amazons
were a race of warlike maidens〃or rather here is Achilles； Peleus' son；
with sword in hand。〃 Then they all took his hand； and welcomed him；
and he was clothed in man's dress； with the sword by his side； and
presently they sent him back with ten ships to his home。 There his
mother； Thetis； of the silver feet； the goddess of the sea； wept over him；
saying； 〃My child； thou hast the choice of a long and happy and peaceful
life here with me； or of a brief time of war and undying renown。 Never
shall I see thee again in Argos if thy choice is for war。〃 But Achilles
chose to die young； and to be famous as long as the world stands。 So his
father gave him fifty ships； with Patroclus； who was older than he； to be
his friend； and with an old man； Phoenix； to advise him； and his mother
gave him the glorious armour that the God had made for his father； and the
heavy ashen spear that none but he could wield； and he sailed to join the
host of the Achaeans； who all praised and thanked Ulysses that had found
for them such a prince。 For Achilles was the fiercest fighter of them all；
and the swiftest… footed man； and the most courteous prince； and the
gentlest with women and children； but he was proud and high of heart； and
when he was angered his anger was terrible。
The Trojans would have had no chance against the Greeks if only the
men of the city of Troy had fought to keep Helen of the fair hands。 But
they had allies； who spoke different languages； and came to fight for them
both from Europe and from Asia。 On the Trojan as well as on the Greek
side were people called Pelasgians； who seem to have lived on both shores
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of the sea。 There were Thracians； too； who dwelt much further north
than Achilles； in Europe and beside the strait of Hellespont； where the
narrow sea runs like a river。 There were warriors of Lycia； led by
Sarpedon and Glaucus； there were Carians； who spoke in a strange tongue；
there were Mysians and men from Alybe； which was called 〃the birthplace
of silver；〃 and many other peoples sent their armies； so that the war was
between Eastern Europe； on one side； and Western Asia Minor on the
other。 The people of Egypt took no part in the war： the Greeks and
Islesmen used to come down in their ships and attack the Egyptians as the
Danes used to invade England。 You may see the warriors from the
islands； with their horned helmets； in old Egyptian pictures。
The commander…in…chief； as we say now； of the Trojans was Hector；
the son of Priam。 He was thought a match for any one of the Greeks； and
was brave and good。 His brothers also were leaders； but Paris preferred
to fight from a distance with bow and arrows。 He and Pandarus； who dwelt
on the slopes of Mount Ida； were the best archers in the Trojan army。
The princes usually fought with heavy spears； which they threw at each
other； and with swords； leaving archery to the common soldiers who had
no armour of bronze。 But Teucer； Meriones； and Ulysses were the best
archers of the Achaeans。 People called Dardanians were led by Aeneas；
who was said to be the son of the most beautiful of the goddesses。 These；
with Sarpedon and Glaucus； were the most famous of the men who fought
for Troy。
Troy was a strong town on a hill。 Mount Ida lay behind it； and in
front was a plain sloping to the sea shore。 Through this plain ran two
beautiful clear rivers； and there were scattered here and there what you
would have taken for steep knolls； but they were really mounds piled up
over the ashes of warriors who had died long ago。 On these mounds
sentinels used to stand and look across the water to give warning if the
Greek fleet drew near； for the Trojans had heard that it was on its way。
At last the fleet came in view； and the sea was black with ships； the
oarsmen pulling with all their might for the honour of being the first to
land。 The race was won by the ship of the prince Protesilaus； who was
first of all to leap on shore； but as he leaped he was struck to the heart by
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an arrow from the bow of Paris。 This must have seemed a good omen to
the Trojans； and to the Greeks evil； but we do not hear that the landing was
resisted in great force； any more than that of Norman William was； when
he invaded England。
The Greeks drew up all their ships on shore； and the men camped in
huts built in front of the ships。 There was thus a long row of huts with
the ships behind them； and in these huts the Greeks lived all through the
ten years that the siege of Troy lasted。 In these days they do not seem to
have understood how to conduct a siege。 You would have expected the
Greeks to build towers and dig trenches all round Troy； and from the
towers watch the roads； so that provisions might not be brought in from
the country。 This is called 〃investing〃 a town； but the Greeks never
invested Troy。 Perhaps they had not men enough； at all events the place
remained open； and cattle could always be driven in to feed the warriors
and the women and children。
Moreover； the Greeks for long never seem to have tried to break down
one of the gates； nor to scale the walls； which were very high； with ladders。
On the other hand； the Trojans and allies never ventured to drive the
Greeks into the sea； they commonly remained within the walls or
skirmished just beneath them。 The older men insisted on this way of
fighting； in spite of Hector； who always wished to attack and storm the
camp of the Greeks。 Neither side had machines for throwing heavy
stones； such as the Romans used later； and the most that the Greeks did
was to follow Achilles and capture small neighbouring cities； and take the
women for slaves； and drive the cattle。 They got provisions and wine