["When\t the\t young\t victims\t arrived\t in\t Crete\t they\t were\t paraded\t before\t the inhabitants\t on\t their\t way\t to\t the\t Labyrinth.\t Minos\u2019\t daughter\t Ariadne\t was\t among the\tspectators\tand\tshe\tfell\tin\tlove\twith\tTheseus\tat\tfirst\tsight\tas\the\tmarched\tpast her.\tShe\tsent\tfor\tDaedalus\tand\ttold\thim\the\tmust\tshow\ther\ta\tway\tto\tget\tout\tof\tthe Labyrinth,\t and\t she\t sent\t for\t Theseus\t and\t told\t him\t she\t would\t bring\t about\t his escape\tif\the\twould\tpromise\tto\ttake\ther\tback\tto\tAthens\tand\tmarry\ther.\tAs\tmay\tbe imagined,\t he\t made\t no\t difficulty\t about\t that,\t and\t she\t gave\t him\t the\t clue\t she\t had got\t from\t Daedalus,\t a\t ball\t of\t thread\t which\t he\t was\t to\t fasten\t at\t one\t end\t to\t the inside\t of\t the\t door\t and\t unwind\t as\t he\t went\t on.\t This\t he\t did\t and,\t certain\t that\t he could\t retrace\t his\t steps\t whenever\t he\t chose,\t he\t walked\t boldly\t into\t the\t maze looking\tfor\tthe\tMinotaur.\tHe\tcame\tupon\thim\tasleep\tand\tfell\tupon\thim,\tpinning him\tto\tthe\tground;\tand\twith\this\tfists\u2014he\thad\tno\tother\tweapon\u2014he\tbattered\tthe monster\tto\tdeath. As\tan\toak\ttree\tfalls\ton\tthe\thillside Crushing\tall\tthat\tlies\tbeneath, So\tTheseus.\tHe\tpresses\tout\tthe\tlife, The\tbrute\u2019s\tsavage\tlife,\tand\tnow\tit\tlies\tdead. Only\tthe\thead\tsways\tslowly,\tbut\tthe\thorns\tare\tuseless\tnow. When\tTheseus\tlifted\thimself\tup\tfrom\tthat\tterrific\tstruggle,\tthe\tball\tof\tthread lay\t where\t he\t had\t dropped\t it.\t With\t it\t in\t his\t hands,\t the\t way\t out\t was\t clear.\t The others\tfollowed\tand\ttaking\tAriadne\twith\tthem\tthey\tfled\tto\tthe\tship\tand\tover\tthe sea\ttoward\tAthens. On\tthe\tway\tthere\tthey\tput\tin\tat\tthe\tisland\tof\tNaxos\tand\twhat\thappened\tthen is\t differently\t reported.\t One\t story\t says\t that\t Theseus\t deserted\t Ariadne.\t She\t was asleep\t and\t he\t sailed\t away\t without\t her,\t but\t Dionysus\t found\t her\t and\t comforted her.\t The\t other\t story\t is\t much\t more\t favorable\t to\t Theseus.\t She\t was\t extremely seasick,\tand\the\tset\ther\tashore\tto\trecover\twhile\the\treturned\tto\tthe\tship\tto\tdo\tsome necessary\twork.\tA\tviolent\twind\tcarried\thim\tout\tto\tsea\tand\tkept\thim\tthere\ta\tlong time.\tOn\this\treturn\the\tfound\tthat\tAriadne\thad\tdied,\tand\the\twas\tdeeply\tafflicted. Both\tstories\tagree\tthat\twhen\tthey\tdrew\tnear\tto\tAthens\the\tforgot\tto\thoist\tthe white\tsail.\tEither\this\tjoy\tat\tthe\tsuccess\tof\this\tvoyage\tput\tevery\tother\tthought\tout of\this\thead,\tor\this\tgrief\tfor\tAriadne.\tThe\tblack\tsail\twas\tseen\tby\this\tfather,\tKing Aegeus,\t from\t the\t Acropolis,\t where\t for\t days\t he\t had\t watched\t the\t sea\t with straining\t eyes.\t It\t was\t to\t him\t the\t sign\t of\t his\t son\u2019s\t death\t and\t he\t threw\t himself down\tfrom\ta\trocky\theight\tinto\tthe\tsea,\tand\twas\tkilled.\tThe\tsea\tinto\twhich\the\tfell","was\tcalled\tthe\tAegean\tever\tafter. So\t Theseus\t became\t King\t of\t Athens,\t a\t most\t wise\t and\t disinterested\t king.\t He declared\t to\t the\t people\t that\t he\t did\t not\t wish\t to\t rule\t over\t them;\t he\t wanted\t a people\u2019s\tgovernment\twhere\tall\twould\tbe\tequal.\tHe\tresigned\this\troyal\tpower\tand organized\t a\t commonwealth,\t building\t a\t council\t hall\t where\t the\t citizens\t should gather\t and\t vote.\t The\t only\t office\t he\t kept\t for\t himself\t was\t that\t of\t Commander\t in Chief.\t Thus\t Athens\t became,\t of\t all\t earth\u2019s\t cities,\t the\t happiest\t and\t most prosperous,\t the\t only\t true\t home\t of\t liberty,\t the\t one\t place\t in\t the\t world\t where\t the people\t governed\t themselves.\t It\t was\t for\t this\t reason\t that\t in\t the\t great\t War\t of\t the Seven\t against\t Thebes\t (see\t Part\t Five,\t Chapter\t II),\t when\t the\t victorious\t Thebans refused\t burial\t to\t those\t of\t the\t enemy\t who\t had\t died,\t the\t vanquished\t turned\t to Theseus\tand\tAthens\tfor\thelp,\tbelieving\tthat\tfree\tmen\tunder\tsuch\ta\tleader\twould never\t consent\t to\t having\t the\t helpless\t dead\t wronged.\t They\t did\t not\t turn\t in\t vain. Theseus\t led\t his\t army\t against\t Thebes,\t conquered\t her,\t and\t forced\t her\t to\t allow them\tto\tbe\tburied.\tBut\twhen\the\twas\tvictor\the\tdid\tnot\treturn\tevil\tto\tthe\tThebans for\tthe\tevil\tthey\thad\tdone.\tHe\tshowed\thimself\tthe\tperfect\tknight.\tHe\trefused\tto let\this\tarmy\tenter\tand\tloot\tthe\tcity.\tHe\thad\tcome\tnot\tto\tharm\tThebes,\tbut\tto\tbury the\tArgive\tdead,\tand\tthe\tduty\tdone\the\tled\this\tsoldiers\tback\tto\tAthens. In\t many\t other\t stories\t he\t shows\t the\t same\t qualities.\t He\t received\t the\t aged Oedipus\t whom\t everyone\t else\t had\t cast\t out.\t He\t was\t with\t him\t when\t he\t died, sustaining\tand\tcomforting\thim.\tHe\tprotected\this\ttwo\thelpless\tdaughters\tand\tsent them\t safely\t home\t after\t their\t father\u2019s\t death.\t When\t Hercules\t (see\t Part\t Three, Chapter\t III)\t in\t his\t madness\t killed\t his\t wife\t and\t children\t and\t upon\t his\t return\t to sanity\t determined\t to\t kill\t himself,\t Theseus\t alone\t stood\t by\t him.\t Hercules\u2019\t other friends\t fled,\t fearing\t to\t be\t polluted\t by\t the\t presence\t of\t one\t who\t had\t done\t so horrible\ta\tdeed,\tbut\tTheseus\tgave\thim\this\thand,\troused\this\tcourage,\ttold\thim\tto die\twould\tbe\ta\tcoward\u2019s\tact,\tand\ttook\thim\tto\tAthens. All\tthe\tcares\tof\tstate,\thowever,\tand\tall\tthe\tdeeds\tof\tknight-errantry\tto\tdefend the\twronged\tand\thelpless,\tcould\tnot\trestrain\tTheseus\u2019\tlove\tof\tdanger\tfor\tthe\tsake of\t danger.\t He\t went\t to\t the\t country\t of\t the\t Amazons,\t the\t women\t warriors,\t some say\twith\tHercules,\tsome\tsay\talone,\tand\tbrought\taway\tone\tof\tthem,\twhose\tname is\tgiven\tsometimes\tas\tAntiope,\tsometimes\tas\tHippolyta.\tIt\tis\tcertain\tthat\tthe\tson she\t bore\t Theseus\t was\t named\t Hippolytus,\t and\t also\t that\t after\t his\t birth\t the Amazons\t came\t to\t rescue\t her\t and\t invaded\t Attica,\t the\t country\t around\t Athens, even\t making\t their\t way\t into\t the\t city.\t They\t were\t finally\t defeated\t and\t no\t other enemy\tentered\tAttica\tas\tlong\tas\tTheseus\tlived. But\the\thad\tmany\tother\tadventures.\tHe\twas\tone\tof\tthe\tmen\twho\tsailed\ton\tthe","Argo\tto\tfind\tthe\tGolden\tFleece.\tHe\ttook\tpart\tin\tthe\tgreat\tCalydonian\tHunt,\twhen the\t King\t of\t Calydon\t called\t upon\t the\t noblest\t in\t Greece\t to\t help\t him\t kill\t the terrible\tboar\twhich\twas\tlaying\twaste\this\tcountry.\tDuring\tthe\thunt\tTheseus\tsaved the\t life\t of\t his\t rash\t friend\t Piritho\u00fcs,\t as\t he\t did,\t indeed,\t a\t number\t of\t times. Piritho\u00fcs\twas\tquite\tas\tadventurous\tas\tTheseus,\tbut\tby\tno\tmeans\tas\tsuccessful,\tso that\t he\t was\t perpetually\t in\t trouble.\t Theseus\t was\t devoted\t to\t him\t and\t always helped\thim\tout.\tThe\tfriendship\tbetween\tthem\tcame\tabout\tthrough\tan\tespecially rash\t act\t on\t Piritho\u00fcs\u2019\t part.\t It\t occurred\t to\t him\t that\t he\t would\t like\t to\t see\t for himself\t if\t Theseus\t was\t as\t great\t a\t hero\t as\t he\t was\t said\t to\t be,\t and\t he\t forthwith went\tinto\tAttica\tand\tstole\tsome\tof\tTheseus\u2019\tcattle.\tWhen\the\theard\tthat\tTheseus was\tpursuing\thim,\tinstead\tof\thurrying\taway\the\tturned\taround\tand\twent\tto\tmeet him,\t with\t the\t intention,\t of\t course,\t of\t deciding\t then\t and\t there\t which\t was\t the better\t man.\t But\t as\t the\t two\t faced\t each\t other\t Piritho\u00fcs,\t impulsive\t as\t always, suddenly\t forgot\t everything\t in\t his\t admiration\t of\t the\t other.\t He\t held\t out\t his\t hand to\t him\t and\t cried,\t \u201cI\t will\t submit\t to\t any\t penalty\t you\t impose.\t You\t be\t the\t judge.\u201d Theseus,\tdelighted\tat\tthis\twarm-hearted\taction,\tanswered,\t\u201cAll\tI\twant\tis\tfor\tyou to\tbe\tmy\tfriend\tand\tbrother-in-arms.\u201d\tAnd\tthey\ttook\ta\tsolemn\toath\tof\tfriendship. When\t Piritho\u00fcs,\t who\t was\t King\t of\t the\t Lapithae,\t married,\t Theseus\t was,\t of course,\t one\t of\t the\t guests,\t and\t was\t exceedingly\t useful\t there.\t The\t marriage\t feast was\t perhaps\t the\t most\t unfortunate\t that\t ever\t took\t place.\t The\t Centaurs,\t creatures who\teach\thad\tthe\tbody\tof\ta\thorse\tand\tthe\tchest\tand\tface\tof\ta\tman,\twere\trelated to\tthe\tbride\tand\tcame\tto\tthe\twedding.\tThey\tproceeded\tto\tget\tdrunk\tand\tto\tseize the\t women.\t Theseus\t leaped\t to\t the\t defense\t of\t the\t bride\t and\t struck\t down\t the Centaur\t who\t was\t trying\t to\t carry\t her\t off.\t A\t terrible\t battle\t followed,\t but\t the Lapithae\t conquered\t and\t finally\t drove\t the\t whole\t race\t of\t Centaurs\t out\t of\t the country,\tTheseus\thelping\tthem\tto\tthe\tend. But\t in\t the\t last\t adventure\t the\t two\t undertook\t he\t could\t not\t save\t his\t friend. Quite\tcharacteristically,\tPiritho\u00fcs,\tafter\tthe\tbride\tof\tthe\tdisastrous\twedding\tfeast was\tdead,\tdecided\tthat\tfor\this\tsecond\twife\the\twould\ttry\tto\tget\tthe\tmost\tcarefully guarded\t lady\t in\t all\t the\t universe,\t none\t other\t than\t Persephone\t herself.\t Theseus agreed,\t of\t course,\t to\t help\t him,\t but,\t stimulated\t probably\t by\t the\t idea\t of\t this magnificently\tdangerous\tundertaking,\tdeclared\tthat\tfirst\the\twould\thimself\tcarry off\tHelen,\tthe\tfuture\theroine\tof\tTroy\t(see\tPart\tFour,\tChapters\tI\tand\tII),\tthen\ta child,\tand\twhen\tshe\twas\tgrown\tmarry\ther.\tThis,\tthough\tless\thazardous\tthan\tthe rape\t of\t Persephone,\t was\t perilous\t enough\t to\t satisfy\t the\t most\t ambitious.\t Helen\u2019s brothers\t were\t Castor\t and\t Pollux,\t more\t than\t a\t match\t for\t any\t mortal\t hero. Theseus\t succeeded\t in\t kidnaping\t the\t little\t girl,\t just\t how\t we\t are\t not\t told,\t but\t the","two\tbrothers\tmarched\tagainst\tthe\ttown\tshe\thad\tbeen\ttaken\tto,\tand\tgot\ther\tback. Luckily\t for\t him\t they\t did\t not\t find\t Theseus\t there.\t He\t was\t on\t his\t way\t to\t the underworld\twith\tPiritho\u00fcs. The\t details\t of\t their\t journey\t and\t arrival\t there\t are\t not\t known\t beyond\t the\t fact that\tthe\tLord\tof\tHades\twas\tperfectly\taware\tof\ttheir\tintention\tand\tamused\thimself by\t frustrating\t it\t in\t a\t novel\t way.\t He\t did\t not\t kill\t them,\t of\t course,\t as\t they\t were already\t in\t the\t realm\t of\t death,\t but\t he\t invited\t them\t as\t a\t friendly\t gesture\t to\t sit\t in his\tpresence.\tThey\tdid\tso\ton\tthe\tseat\the\tpointed\tthem\tto\u2014and\tthere\tthey\tstayed. They\tcould\tnot\tarise\tfrom\tit.\tIt\twas\tcalled\tthe\tChair\tof\tForgetfulness.\tWhoever sat\ton\tit\tforgot\teverything.\tHis\tmind\tbecame\ta\tblank\tand\the\tdid\tnot\tmove.\tThere Piritho\u00fcs\tsits\tforever,\tbut\tTheseus\twas\tfreed\tby\this\tcousin.\tWhen\tHercules\tcame to\tthe\tunderworld\the\tlifted\tTheseus\tfrom\tthe\tseat\tand\tbrought\thim\tback\tto\tearth. He\ttried\tto\tdo\tthe\tsame\tfor\tPiritho\u00fcs,\tbut\tcould\tnot.\tThe\tKing\tof\tthe\tDead\tknew that\tit\twas\the\twho\thad\tplanned\tto\tcarry\toff\tPersephone,\tand\the\theld\thim\tfast. In\t the\t later\t years\t of\t his\t life\t Theseus\t married\t Ariadne\u2019s\t sister\t Phaedra,\t and thereby\t drew\t down\t terrible\t misfortunes\t on\t her\t and\t on\t himself\t and\t on\t his\t son Hippolytus,\t the\t son\t the\t Amazon\t had\t borne\t him.\t He\t had\t sent\t Hippolytus\t away while\tstill\ta\tyoung\tchild\tto\tbe\tbrought\tup\tin\tthe\tsouthern\tcity\twhere\tTheseus\thad spent\t his\t own\t youth.\t The\t boy\t grew\t to\t splendid\t manhood,\t a\t great\t athlete\t and hunter,\t despising\t those\t who\t lived\t in\t luxurious\t ease\t and\t still\t more\t those\t who were\t soft\t enough\t and\t silly\t enough\t to\t fall\t in\t love.\t He\t scorned\t Aphrodite,\t he worshiped\t only\t Artemis,\t the\t huntress\t chaste\t and\t fair.\t So\t matters\t stood\t when Theseus\t came\t to\t his\t old\t home\t bringing\t Phaedra\t with\t him.\t A\t strong\t affection grew\t up\t at\t once\t between\t father\t and\t son.\t They\t delighted\t in\t each\t other\u2019s company.\tAs\tfor\tPhaedra,\ther\tstepson\tHippolytus\ttook\tno\tnotice\tof\ther;\the\tnever noticed\t women.\t But\t it\t was\t far\t otherwise\t with\t her.\t She\t fell\t in\t love\t with\t him, madly\tand\tmiserably,\toverwhelmed\twith\tshame\tat\tsuch\ta\tlove,\tbut\tutterly\tunable to\tconquer\tit.\tAphrodite\twas\tback\tof\tthis\twretched\tand\tominous\tstate\tof\taffairs. She\twas\tangry\tat\tHippolytus\tand\tdetermined\tto\tpunish\thim\tto\tthe\tutmost. Phaedra,\tin\ther\tanguish,\tdesperate,\tseeing\tno\thelp\tfor\ther\tanywhere,\tresolved to\tdie\tand\tlet\tno\tone\tknow\twhy.\tTheseus\tat\tthe\ttime\twas\taway\tfrom\thome,\tbut her\told\tnurse\u2014completely\tdevoted\tto\ther\tand\tunable\tto\tthink\tanything\tbad\tthat Phaedra\t wanted\u2014discovered\t all,\t her\t secret\t passion,\t her\t despair,\t and\t her determination\t to\t kill\t herself.\t With\t only\t one\t thought\t in\t her\t mind,\t to\t save\t her mistress,\tshe\twent\tstraight\tto\tHippolytus. \u201cShe\t is\t dying\t for\t love\t of\t you,\u201d\t she\t said.\t \u201cGive\t her\t life.\t Give\t her\t love\t for love.\u201d","Hippolytus\tdrew\taway\tfrom\ther\twith\tloathing.\tThe\tlove\tof\tany\twoman\twould have\t disgusted\t him,\t but\t this\t guilty\t love\t sickened\t and\t horrified\t him.\t He\t rushed out\t into\t the\t courtyard,\t she\t following\t him\t and\t beseeching\t him.\t Phaedra\t was sitting\t there,\t but\t he\t never\t saw\t her.\t He\t turned\t in\t furious\t indignation\t on\t the\t old woman. \u201cYou\t pitiable\t wretch,\u201d\t he\t said,\t \u201ctrying\t to\t make\t me\t betray\t my\t father.\t I\t feel polluted\tby\tmerely\thearing\tsuch\twords.\tOh,\twomen,\tvile\twomen\u2014every\tone\tof them\tvile.\tI\twill\tnever\tenter\tthis\thouse\tagain\texcept\twhen\tmy\tfather\tis\tin\tit.\u201d He\tflung\taway\tand\tthe\tnurse,\tturning,\tfaced\tPhaedra.\tShe\thad\trisen\tand\tthere was\ta\tlook\ton\ther\tface\twhich\tfrightened\tthe\told\twoman. \u201cI\u2019ll\thelp\tyou\tstill,\u201d\tshe\tstammered. \u201cHush,\u201d\t Phaedra\t said.\t \u201cI\t will\t settle\t my\t own\t affairs.\u201d\t With\t that\t she\t entered the\thouse\tand\tthe\tnurse\ttrembling\tcrept\tafter\ther. A\tfew\tminutes\tlater\tthe\tvoices\tof\tmen\twere\theard\tgreeting\tthe\tmaster\tof\tthe house\ton\this\treturn\tand\tTheseus\tentered\tthe\tcourtyard.\tWeeping\twomen\tmet\thim there.\tThey\ttold\thim\tthat\tPhaedra\twas\tdead.\tShe\thad\tkilled\therself.\tThey\thad\tjust found\ther,\tquite\tdead,\tbut\tin\ther\thand\ta\tletter\tto\ther\thusband. \u201cO\tdearest\tand\tbest,\u201d\tTheseus\tsaid.\t\u201cAre\tyour\tlast\tdesires\twritten\there?\tThis is\tyour\tseal\u2014yours\twho\twill\tnever\tmore\tsmile\tup\tat\tme.\u201d He\topened\tand\tread\tit\tand\tread\tit\tagain.\tThen\the\tturned\tto\tthe\tservants\tfilling the\tcourtyard. \u201cThis\t letter\t cries\t aloud,\u201d\t he\t said.\t \u201cThe\t words\t speak\u2014they\t have\t a\t tongue. Know\tall\tof\tyou\tthat\tmy\tson\tlaid\tviolent\thands\tupon\tmy\twife.\tO\tPoseidon,\tGod, hear\tme\twhile\tI\tcurse\thim,\tand\tfulfill\tmy\tcurse.\u201d The\t silence\t that\t followed\t was\t broken\t by\t hurrying\t footsteps.\t Hippolytus entered. \u201cWhat\t happened?\u201d\t he\t cried.\t \u201cHow\t did\t she\t die?\t Father,\t tell\t me\t yourself.\t Do not\thide\tyour\tgrief\tfrom\tme.\u201d \u201cThere\t ought\t to\t be\t a\t true\t yardstick\t to\t measure\t affection\t by,\u201d\t said\t Theseus, \u201csome\tmeans\tto\tknow\twho\tis\tto\tbe\ttrusted\tand\twho\tis\tnot.\tYou\there,\tlook\tat\tmy son\u2014proved\tbase\tby\tthe\thand\tof\ther\twho\tis\tdead.\tHe\toffered\ther\tviolence.\tHer letter\toutweighs\tany\twords\the\tcould\tspeak.\tGo.\tYou\tare\tan\texile\tfrom\tthis\tland. Go\tto\tyour\truin\tand\tat\tonce.\u201d \u201cFather,\u201d\t Hippolytus\t answered,\t \u201cI\t have\t no\t skill\t in\t speaking\t and\t there\t is\t no witness\tto\tmy\tinnocence.\tThe\tonly\tone\tis\tdead.\tAll\tI\tcan\tdo\tis\tto\tswear\tby\tZeus above\tthat\tI\tnever\ttouched\tyour\twife,\tnever\tdesired\tto,\tnever\tgave\ther\ta\tthought. May\tI\tdie\tin\twretchedness\tif\tI\tam\tguilty.\u201d","\u201cDead\t she\t proves\t her\t truth,\u201d\t Theseus\t said.\t \u201cGo.\t You\t are\t banished\t from\t the land.\u201d Hippolytus\twent,\tbut\tnot\tinto\texile;\tdeath\twas\twaiting\tclose\tat\thand\tfor\thim, too.\tAs\the\tdrove\talong\tthe\tsea-road\taway\tfrom\tthe\thome\the\twas\tleaving\tforever, his\t father\u2019s\t curse\t was\t fulfilled.\t A\t monster\t came\t up\t from\t the\t water\t and\t his horses,\t terrified\t beyond\t even\t his\t firm\t control,\t ran\t away.\t The\t chariot\t was shattered\tand\the\twas\tmortally\thurt. Theseus\twas\tnot\tspared.\tArtemis\tappeared\tto\thim\tand\ttold\thim\tthe\ttruth. I\tdo\tnot\tcome\tto\tbring\tyou\thelp,\tbut\tonly\tpain, To\tshow\tyou\tthat\tyour\tson\twas\thonorable. Your\twife\twas\tguilty,\tmad\twith\tlove\tfor\thim, And\tyet\tshe\tfought\ther\tpassion\tand\tshe\tdied. But\twhat\tshe\twrote\twas\tfalse. As\tTheseus\tlistened,\toverwhelmed\tby\tthis\tsum\tof\tterrible\tevents,\tHippolytus still\tbreathing\twas\tcarried\tin. He\tgasped\tout,\t\u201cI\twas\tinnocent.\tArtemis,\tyou?\tMy\tgoddess,\tyour\thuntsman\tis dying.\u201d \u201cAnd\tno\tother\tcan\ttake\tyour\tplace,\tdearest\tof\tmen\tto\tme,\u201d\tshe\ttold\thim. Hippolytus\tturned\this\teyes\tfrom\ther\tradiance\tto\tTheseus\tbrokenhearted. \u201cFather,\tdear\tFather,\u201d\the\tsaid.\t\u201cIt\twas\tnot\tyour\tfault.\u201d \u201cIf\tonly\tI\tcould\tdie\tfor\tyou,\u201d\tTheseus\tcried. The\t calm\t sweet\t voice\t of\t the\t goddess\t broke\t in\t on\t their\t anguish.\t \u201cTake\t your son\t in\t your\t arms,\t Theseus,\u201d\t she\t said.\t \u201cIt\t was\t not\t you\t that\t killed\t him.\t It\t was Aphrodite.\tKnow\tthis,\tthat\the\twill\tnever\tbe\tforgotten.\tIn\tsong\tand\tstory\tmen\twill remember\thim.\u201d She\t vanished\t from\t sight,\t but\t Hippolytus,\t too,\t was\t gone.\t He\t had\t started\t on the\troad\tthat\tleads\tdown\tto\tthe\trealm\tof\tdeath. Theseus\u2019\t death,\t also,\t was\t wretched.\t He\t was\t at\t the\t court\t of\t a\t friend,\t King Lycomedes,\t where\t a\t few\t years\t later\t Achilles\t was\t to\t hide\t disguised\t as\t a\t girl. Some\tsay\tthat\tTheseus\thad\tgone\tthere\tbecause\tAthens\thad\tbanished\thim.\tAt\tall events,\tthe\tKing,\this\tfriend\tand\this\thost,\tkilled\thim,\twe\tare\tnot\ttold\twhy. Even\tif\tthe\tAthenians\tdid\tbanish\thim,\tvery\tsoon\tafter\this\tdeath\tthey\thonored him\t as\t no\t other\t mortal.\t They\t built\t a\t great\t tomb\t for\t him\t and\t decreed\t that\t it should\tbe\tforever\ta\tsanctuary\tfor\tslaves\tand\tfor\tall\tpoor\tand\thelpless\tpeople,\tin memory\tof\tone\twho\tthrough\this\tlife\thad\tbeen\tthe\tprotector\tof\tthe\tdefenseless.","III Ovid\t gives\t an\t account\t of\t Hercules\u2019\t life,\t but\t very\t briefly,\t quite\t unlike\t his\t usual extremely\tdetailed\tmethod.\tHe\tnever\tcares\tto\tdwell\ton\theroic\texploits;\the\tloves best\t a\t pathetic\t story.\t At\t first\t sight\t it\t seems\t odd\t that\t he\t passes\t over\t Hercules\u2019 slaying\tof\this\twife\tand\tchildren,\tbut\tthat\ttale\thad\tbeen\ttold\tby\ta\tmaster,\tthe\tfifth- century\t poet\t Euripides,\t and\t Ovid\u2019s\t reticence\t was\t probably\t due\t to\t his intelligence.\t He\t has\t very\t little\t to\t say\t about\t any\t of\t the\t myths\t the\t Greek tragedians\t write\t of.\t He\t passes\t over\t also\t one\t of\t the\t most\t famous\t tales\t about Hercules,\thow\the\tfreed\tAlcestis\tfrom\tdeath,\twhich\twas\tthe\tsubject\tof\tanother\tof Euripides\u2019\t plays.\t Sophocles,\t Euripides\u2019\t contemporary,\t describes\t how\t the\t hero died.\tHis\tadventure\twith\tthe\tsnakes\twhen\the\twas\ta\tbaby\tis\ttold\tby\tPindar\tin\tthe fifth\t century\t and\t by\t Theocritus\t in\t the\t third.\t In\t my\t account\t I\t have\t followed\t the stories\tgiven\tby\tthe\ttwo\ttragic\tpoets\tand\tby\tTheocritus,\trather\tthan\tPindar,\tone of\t the\t most\t difficult\t of\t poets\t to\t translate\t or\t even\t to\t paraphrase.\t For\t the\t rest\t I have\tfollowed\tApollodorus,\ta\tprose\twriter\tof\tthe\tfirst\tor\tsecond\tcentury\tA.D.\twho is\t the\t only\t writer\t except\t Ovid\t to\t tell\t Hercules\u2019\t life\t in\t full.\t I\t have\t preferred\t his treatment\tto\tOvid\u2019s\tbecause,\tin\tthis\tinstance\tonly,\tit\tis\tmore\tdetailed. The\tgreatest\thero\tof\tGreece\twas\tHercules.\tHe\twas\ta\tpersonage\tof\tquite\tanother order\t from\t the\t great\t hero\t of\t Athens,\t Theseus.\t He\t was\t what\t all\t Greece\t except Athens\t most\t admired.\t The\t Athenians\t were\t different\t from\t the\t other\t Greeks\t and","their\thero\ttherefore\twas\tdifferent.\tTheseus\twas,\tof\tcourse,\tbravest\tof\tthe\tbrave\tas all\theroes\tare,\tbut\tunlike\tother\theroes\the\twas\tas\tcompassionate\tas\the\twas\tbrave and\t a\t man\t of\t great\t intellect\t as\t well\t as\t great\t bodily\t strength.\t It\t was\t natural\t that the\tAthenians\tshould\thave\tsuch\ta\thero\tbecause\tthey\tvalued\tthought\tand\tideas\tas no\t other\t part\t of\t the\t country\t did.\t In\t Theseus\t their\t ideal\t was\t embodied.\t But Hercules\tembodied\twhat\tthe\trest\tof\tGreece\tmost\tvalued.\tHis\tqualities\twere\tthose the\tGreeks\tin\tgeneral\thonored\tand\tadmired.\tExcept\tfor\tunflinching\tcourage,\tthey were\tnot\tthose\tthat\tdistinguished\tTheseus. Hercules\t was\t the\t strongest\t man\t on\t earth\t and\t he\t had\t the\t supreme\t self- confidence\t magnificent\t physical\t strength\t gives.\t He\t considered\t himself\t on\t an equality\twith\tthe\tgods\u2014and\twith\tsome\treason.\tThey\tneeded\this\thelp\tto\tconquer the\tGiants.\tIn\tthe\tfinal\tvictory\tof\tthe\tOlympians\tover\tthe\tbrutish\tsons\tof\tEarth, Hercules\u2019\t arrows\t played\t an\t important\t part.\t He\t treated\t the\t gods\t accordingly. Once\twhen\tthe\tpriestess\tat\tDelphi\tgave\tno\tresponse\tto\tthe\tquestion\the\tasked,\the seized\t the\t tripod\t she\t sat\t on\t and\t declared\t that\t he\t would\t carry\t it\t off\t and\t have\t an oracle\t of\t his\t own.\t Apollo,\t of\t course,\t would\t not\t put\t up\t with\t this,\t but\t Hercules was\t perfectly\t willing\t to\t fight\t him\t and\t Zeus\t had\t to\t intervene.\t The\t quarrel\t was easily\t settled,\t however.\t Hercules\t was\t quite\t good-natured\t about\t it.\t He\t did\t not want\tto\tquarrel\twith\tApollo,\the\tonly\twanted\tan\tanswer\tfrom\this\toracle.\tIf\tApollo would\t give\t it\t the\t matter\t was\t settled\t as\t far\t as\t he\t was\t concerned.\t Apollo\t on\t his side,\tfacing\tthis\tundaunted\tperson,\tfelt\tan\tadmiration\tfor\this\tboldness\tand\tmade his\tpriestess\tdeliver\tthe\tresponse. Throughout\t his\t life\t Hercules\t had\t this\t perfect\t confidence\t that\t no\t matter\t who was\t against\t him\t he\t could\t never\t be\t defeated,\t and\t facts\t bore\t him\t out.\t Whenever he\tfought\twith\tanyone\tthe\tissue\twas\tcertain\tbeforehand.\tHe\tcould\tbe\tovercome only\tby\ta\tsupernatural\tforce.\tHera\tused\thers\tagainst\thim\twith\tterrible\teffect\tand in\t the\t end\t he\t was\t killed\t by\t magic,\t but\t nothing\t that\t lived\t in\t the\t air,\t sea,\t or\t on land\tever\tdefeated\thim. Intelligence\t did\t not\t figure\t largely\t in\t anything\t he\t did\t and\t was\t often conspicuously\tabsent.\tOnce\twhen\the\twas\ttoo\thot\the\tpointed\tan\tarrow\tat\tthe\tsun and\t threatened\t to\t shoot\t him.\t Another\t time\t when\t the\t boat\t he\t was\t in\t was\t tossed about\tby\tthe\twaves\the\ttold\tthe\twaters\tthat\the\twould\tpunish\tthem\tif\tthey\tdid\tnot grow\tcalm.\tHis\tintellect\twas\tnot\tstrong.\tHis\temotions\twere.\tThey\twere\tquickly aroused\tand\tapt\tto\tget\tout\tof\tcontrol,\tas\twhen\the\tdeserted\tthe\tArgo\tand\tforgot\tall about\this\tcomrades\tand\tthe\tQuest\tof\tthe\tGolden\tFleece\tin\this\tdespairing\tgrief\tat losing\this\tyoung\tarmor-bearer,\tHylas.\tThis\tpower\tof\tdeep\tfeeling\tin\ta\tman\tof\this tremendous\tstrength\twas\toddly\tendearing,\tbut\tit\tworked\timmense\tharm,\ttoo.\tHe","had\t sudden\t outbursts\t of\t furious\t anger\t which\t were\t always\t fatal\t to\t the\t often innocent\t objects.\t When\t the\t rage\t had\t passed\t and\t he\t had\t come\t to\t himself\t he would\tshow\ta\tmost\tdisarming\tpenitence\tand\tagree\thumbly\tto\tany\tpunishment\tit was\t proposed\t to\t inflict\t on\t him.\t Without\t his\t consent\t he\t could\t not\t have\t been punished\tby\tanyone\u2014yet\tnobody\tever\tendured\tso\tmany\tpunishments.\tHe\tspent a\t large\t part\t of\t his\t life\t expiating\t one\t unfortunate\t deed\t after\t another\t and\t never rebelling\tagainst\tthe\talmost\timpossible\tdemands\tmade\tupon\thim.\tSometimes\the punished\thimself\twhen\tothers\twere\tinclined\tto\texonerate\thim. It\t would\t have\t been\t ludicrous\t to\t put\t him\t in\t command\t of\t a\t kingdom\t as Theseus\twas\tput;\the\thad\tmore\tthan\tenough\tto\tdo\tto\tcommand\thimself.\tHe\tcould never\t have\t thought\t out\t any\t new\t or\t great\t idea\t as\t the\t Athenian\t hero\t was\t held\t to have\t done.\t His\t thinking\t was\t limited\t to\t devising\t a\t way\t to\t kill\t a\t monster\t which was\t threatening\t to\t kill\t him.\t Nevertheless\t he\t had\t true\t greatness.\t Not\t because\t he had\t complete\t courage\t based\t upon\t overwhelming\t strength,\t which\t is\t merely\t a matter\tof\tcourse,\tbut\tbecause,\tby\this\tsorrow\tfor\twrongdoing\tand\this\twillingness to\t do\t anything\t to\t expiate\t it,\t he\t showed\t greatness\t of\t soul.\t If\t only\t he\t had\t had some\t greatness\t of\t mind\t as\t well,\t at\t least\t enough\t to\t lead\t him\t along\t the\t ways\t of reason,\the\twould\thave\tbeen\tthe\tperfect\thero. He\t was\t born\t in\t Thebes\t and\t for\t a\t long\t time\t was\t held\t to\t be\t the\t son\t of Amphitryon,\t a\t distinguished\t general.\t In\t those\t earlier\t years\t he\t was\t called Alcides,\t or\t descendant\t of\t Alcaeus\t who\t was\t Amphitryon\u2019s\t father.\t But\t in\t reality he\t was\t the\t son\t of\t Zeus,\t who\t had\t visited\t Amphitryon\u2019s\t wife\t Alcmena\t in\t the shape\t of\t her\t husband\t when\t the\t general\t was\t away\t fighting.\t She\t bore\t two children,\t Hercules\t to\t Zeus\t and\t Iphicles\t to\t Amphitryon.\t The\t difference\t in\t the boys\u2019\tdescent\twas\tclearly\tshown\tin\tthe\tway\teach\tacted\tin\tface\tof\ta\tgreat\tdanger which\tcame\tto\tthem\tbefore\tthey\twere\ta\tyear\told.\tHera,\tas\talways,\twas\tfuriously jealous\tand\tshe\tdetermined\tto\tkill\tHercules. One\tevening\tAlcmena\tgave\tboth\tthe\tchildren\ttheir\tbaths\tand\ttheir\tfill\tof\tmilk and\t laid\t them\t in\t their\t crib,\t caressing\t them\t and\t saying,\t \u201cSleep,\t my\t little\t ones, soul\t of\t my\t soul.\t Happy\t be\t your\t slumber\t and\t happy\t your\t awakening.\u201d\t She rocked\t the\t cradle\t and\t in\t a\t moment\t the\t babies\t were\t asleep.\t But\t at\t darkest midnight\t when\t all\t was\t silent\t in\t the\t house\t two\t great\t snakes\t came\t crawling\t into the\t nursery.\t There\t was\t a\t light\t in\t the\t room\t and\t as\t the\t two\t reared\t up\t above\t the crib,\t with\t weaving\t heads\t and\t flickering\t tongues,\t the\t children\t woke.\t Iphicles screamed\tand\ttried\tto\tget\tout\tof\tbed,\tbut\tHercules\tsat\tup\tand\tgrasped\tthe\tdeadly creatures\tby\tthe\tthroat.\tThey\tturned\tand\ttwisted\tand\twound\ttheir\tcoils\taround\this body,\tbut\the\theld\tthem\tfast.\tThe\tmother\theard\tIphicles\u2019\tscreams\tand,\tcalling\tto","her\thusband,\trushed\tto\tthe\tnursery.\tThere\tsat\tHercules\tlaughing,\tin\teach\thand\ta long\t limp\t body.\t He\t gave\t them\t gleefully\t to\t Amphitryon.\t They\t were\t dead.\t All knew\tthen\tthat\tthe\tchild\twas\tdestined\tto\tgreat\tthings.\tTeiresias,\tthe\tblind\tprophet of\t Thebes,\t told\t Alcmena:\t \u201cI\t swear\t that\t many\t a\t Greek\t woman\t as\t she\t cards\t the wool\tat\teventide\tshall\tsing\tof\tthis\tyour\tson\tand\tyou\twho\tbore\thim.\tHe\tshall\tbe the\thero\tof\tall\tmankind.\u201d Great\t care\t was\t taken\t with\t his\t education,\t but\t teaching\t him\t what\t he\t did\t not wish\t to\t learn\t was\t a\t dangerous\t business.\t He\t seems\t not\t to\t have\t liked\t music, which\t was\t a\t most\t important\t part\t of\t a\t Greek\t boy\u2019s\t training,\t or\t else\t he\t disliked his\t music\t master.\t He\t flew\t into\t a\t rage\t with\t him\t and\t brained\t him\t with\t his\t lute. This\t was\t the\t first\t time\t he\t dealt\t a\t fatal\t blow\t without\t intending\t it.\t He\t did\t not mean\tto\tkill\tthe\tpoor\tmusician;\the\tjust\tstruck\tout\ton\tthe\timpulse\tof\tthe\tmoment without\tthinking,\thardly\taware\tof\this\tstrength.\tHe\twas\tsorry,\tvery\tsorry,\tbut\tthat did\tnot\tkeep\thim\tfrom\tdoing\tthe\tsame\tthing\tagain\tand\tagain.\tThe\tother\tsubjects he\t was\t taught,\t fencing,\t wrestling,\t and\t driving,\t he\t took\t to\t more\t kindly,\t and\t his teachers\tin\tthese\tbranches\tall\tsurvived.\tBy\tthe\ttime\the\twas\teighteen\the\twas\tfull- grown\tand\the\tkilled,\talone\tby\thimself,\ta\tgreat\tlion\twhich\tlived\tin\tthe\twoods\tof Cithaeron,\tthe\tThespian\tlion.\tEver\tafter\the\twore\tits\tskin\tas\ta\tcloak\twith\tthe\thead forming\ta\tkind\tof\thood\tover\this\town\thead. His\t next\t exploit\t was\t to\t fight\t and\t conquer\t the\t Minyans,\t who\t had\t been exacting\ta\tburdensome\ttribute\tfrom\tthe\tThebans.\tThe\tgrateful\tcitizens\tgave\thim as\ta\treward\tthe\thand\tof\tthe\tPrincess\tMegara.\tHe\twas\tdevoted\tto\ther\tand\tto\ttheir children\tand\tyet\tthis\tmarriage\tbrought\tupon\thim\tthe\tgreatest\tsorrow\tof\this\tlife\tas well\t as\t trials\t and\t dangers\t such\t as\t no\t one\t ever\t went\t through,\t before\t or\t after. When\tMegara\thad\tborne\thim\tthree\tsons\the\twent\tmad.\tHera\twho\tnever\tforgot\ta wrong\tsent\tthe\tmadness\tupon\thim.\tHe\tkilled\this\tchildren\tand\tMegara,\ttoo,\tas\tshe tried\t to\t protect\t the\t youngest.\t Then\t his\t sanity\t returned.\t He\t found\t himself\t in\t his bloodstained\thall,\tthe\tdead\tbodies\tof\this\tsons\tand\this\twife\tbeside\thim.\tHe\thad\tno idea\t what\t had\t happened,\t how\t they\t had\t been\t killed.\t Only\t a\t moment\t since,\t as\t it seemed\t to\t him,\t they\t had\t all\t been\t talking\t together.\t As\t he\t stood\t there\t in\t utter bewilderment\t the\t terrified\t people\t who\t were\t watching\t him\t from\t a\t distance\t saw that\tthe\tmad\tfit\twas\tover,\tand\tAmphitryon\tdared\tto\tapproach\thim.\tThere\twas\tno keeping\t the\t truth\t from\t Hercules.\t He\t had\t to\t know\t how\t this\t horror\t had\t come\t to pass\t and\t Amphitryon\t told\t him.\t Hercules\t heard\t him\t out;\t then\t he\t said,\t \u201cAnd\t I myself\tam\tthe\tmurderer\tof\tmy\tdearest.\u201d \u201cYes,\u201d\tAmphitryon\tanswered\ttrembling.\t\u201cBut\tyou\twere\tout\tof\tyour\tmind.\u201d Hercules\tpaid\tno\tattention\tto\tthe\timplied\texcuse.","\u201cShall\t I\t spare\t my\t own\t life\t then?\u201d\t he\t said.\t \u201cI\t will\t avenge\t upon\t myself\t these deaths.\u201d But\tbefore\the\tcould\trush\tout\tand\tkill\thimself,\teven\tas\the\tstarted\tto\tdo\tso,\this desperate\t purpose\t was\t changed\t and\t his\t life\t was\t spared.\t This\t miracle\u2014it\t was nothing\t less\u2014of\t recalling\t Hercules,\t from\t frenzied\t feeling\t and\t violent\t action\t to sober\t reason\t and\t sorrowful\t acceptance,\t was\t not\t wrought\t by\t a\t god\t descending from\t the\t sky.\t It\t was\t a\t miracle\t caused\t by\t human\t friendship.\t His\t friend\t Theseus stood\tbefore\thim\tand\tstretched\tout\this\thands\tto\tclasp\tthose\tbloodstained\thands. Thus\taccording\tto\tthe\tcommon\tGreek\tidea\the\twould\thimself\tbecome\tdefiled\tand have\ta\tpart\tin\tHercules\u2019\tguilt. \u201cDo\tnot\tstart\tback,\u201d\the\ttold\tHercules.\t\u201cDo\tnot\tkeep\tme\tfrom\tsharing\tall\twith you.\tEvil\tI\tshare\twith\tyou\tis\tnot\tevil\tto\tme.\tAnd\thear\tme.\tMen\tgreat\tof\tsoul\tcan bear\tthe\tblows\tof\theaven\tand\tnot\tflinch.\u201d Hercules\tsaid,\t\u201cDo\tyou\tknow\twhat\tI\thave\tdone?\u201d \u201cI\t know\t this,\u201d\t Theseus\t answered.\t \u201cYour\t sorrows\t reach\t from\t earth\t to heaven.\u201d \u201cSo\tI\twill\tdie,\u201d\tsaid\tHercules. \u201cNo\thero\tspoke\tthose\twords,\u201d\tTheseus\tsaid. \u201cWhat\t can\t I\t do\t but\t die?\u201d\t Hercules\t cried.\t \u201cLive?\t A\t branded\t man,\t for\t all\t to say,\t \u2018Look.\t There\t is\t he\t who\t killed\t his\t wife\t and\t sons!\u2019\t Everywhere\t my\t jailers, the\tsharp\tscorpions\tof\tthe\ttongue!\u201d \u201cEven\t so,\t suffer\t and\t be\t strong,\u201d\t Theseus\t answered.\t \u201cYou\t shall\t come\t to Athens\twith\tme,\tshare\tmy\thome\tand\tall\tthings\twith\tme.\tAnd\tyou\twill\tgive\tto\tme and\tto\tthe\tcity\ta\tgreat\treturn,\tthe\tglory\tof\thaving\thelped\tyou.\u201d A\tlong\tsilence\tfollowed.\tAt\tlast\tHercules\tspoke,\tslow,\theavy\twords.\t\u201cSo\tlet\tit be,\u201d\the\tsaid,\t\u201cI\twill\tbe\tstrong\tand\twait\tfor\tdeath.\u201d The\t two\t went\t to\t Athens,\t but\t Hercules\t did\t not\t stay\t there\t long.\t Theseus,\t the thinker,\trejected\tthe\tidea\tthat\ta\tman\tcould\tbe\tguilty\tof\tmurder\twhen\the\thad\tnot known\t what\t he\t was\t doing\t and\t that\t those\t who\t helped\t such\t a\t one\t could\t be reckoned\t defiled.\t The\t Athenians\t agreed\t and\t welcomed\t the\t poor\t hero.\t But\t he himself\tcould\tnot\tunderstand\tsuch\tideas.\tHe\tcould\tnot\tthink\tthe\tthing\tout\tat\tall; he\t could\t only\t feel.\t He\t had\t killed\t his\t family.\t Therefore\t he\t was\t defiled\t and\t a defiler\t of\t others.\t He\t deserved\t that\t all\t should\t turn\t from\t him\t with\t loathing.\t At Delphi\twhere\the\twent\tto\tconsult\tthe\toracle,\tthe\tpriestess\tlooked\tat\tthe\tmatter\tjust as\t he\t did.\t He\t needed\t to\t be\t purified,\t she\t told\t him,\t and\t only\t a\t terrible\t penance could\t do\t that.\t She\t bade\t him\t go\t to\t his\t cousin\t Eurystheus,\t King\t of\t Mycenae\t (of Tiryns\t in\t some\t stories)\t and\t submit\t to\t whatever\t he\t demanded\t of\t him.\t He\t went","willingly,\tready\tto\tdo\tanything\tthat\tcould\tmake\thim\tclean\tagain.\tIt\tis\tplain\tfrom the\trest\tof\tthe\tstory\tthat\tthe\tpriestess\tknew\twhat\tEurystheus\twas\tlike\tand\tthat\the would\tbeyond\tquestion\tpurge\tHercules\tthoroughly. Eurystheus\twas\tby\tno\tmeans\tstupid,\tbut\tof\ta\tvery\tingenious\tturn\tof\tmind,\tand when\t the\t strongest\t man\t on\t earth\t came\t to\t him\t humbly\t prepared\t to\t be\t his\t slave, he\t devised\t a\t series\t of\t penances\t which\t from\t the\t point\t of\t view\t of\t difficulty\t and danger\t could\t not\t have\t been\t improved\t upon.\t It\t must\t be\t said,\t however,\t that\t he was\thelped\tand\turged\ton\tby\tHera.\tTo\tthe\tend\tof\tHercules\u2019\tlife\tshe\tnever\tforgave him\t for\t being\t Zeus\u2019s\t son.\t The\t tasks\t Eurystheus\t gave\t him\t to\t do\t are\t called\t \u201cthe Labors\t of\t Hercules.\u201d\t There\t were\t twelve\t of\t them\t and\t each\t one\t was\t all\t but impossible. The\t first\t was\t to\t kill\t the\t lion\t of\t Nemea,\t a\t beast\t no\t weapons\t could\t wound. That\t difficulty\t Hercules\t solved\t by\t choking\t the\t life\t out\t of\t him.\t Then\t he\t heaved the\t huge\t carcass\t up\t on\t his\t back\t and\t carried\t it\t into\t Mycenae.\t After\t that, Eurystheus,\t a\t cautious\t man,\t would\t not\t let\t him\t inside\t the\t city.\t He\t gave\t him\t his orders\tfrom\tafar. The\t second\t labor\t was\t to\t go\t to\t Lerna\t and\t kill\t a\t creature\t with\t nine\t heads called\tthe\tHydra\twhich\tlived\tin\ta\tswamp\tthere.\tThis\twas\texceedingly\thard\tto\tdo, because\t one\t of\t the\t heads\t was\t immortal\t and\t the\t others\t almost\t as\t bad,\t inasmuch as\t when\t Hercules\t chopped\t off\t one,\t two\t grew\t up\t instead.\t However,\t he\t was helped\t by\t his\t nephew\t Iolaus\t who\t brought\t him\t a\t burning\t brand\t with\t which\t he seared\t the\t neck\t as\t he\t cut\t each\t head\t off\t so\t that\t it\t could\t not\t sprout\t again.\t When all\thad\tbeen\tchopped\toff\the\tdisposed\tof\tthe\tone\tthat\twas\timmortal\tby\tburying\tit securely\tunder\ta\tgreat\trock.","The\t third\t labor\t was\t to\t bring\t back\t alive\t a\t stag\t with\t horns\t of\t gold,\t sacred\t to Artemis,\t which\t lived\t in\t the\t forests\t of\t Cerynitia.\t He\t could\t have\t killed\t it\t easily, but\t to\t take\t it\t alive\t was\t another\t matter\t and\t he\t hunted\t it\t a\t whole\t year\t before\t he succeeded. The\t fourth\t labor\t was\t to\t capture\t a\t great\t boar\t which\t had\t its\t lair\t on\t Mount Erymanthus.\t He\t chased\t the\t beast\t from\t one\t place\t to\t another\t until\t it\t was exhausted;\tthen\the\tdrove\tit\tinto\tdeep\tsnow\tand\ttrapped\tit. The\t fifth\t labor\t was\t to\t clean\t the\t Augean\t stables\t in\t a\t single\t day.\t Augeas\t had thousands\t of\t cattle\t and\t their\t stalls\t had\t not\t been\t cleared\t out\t for\t years.\t Hercules diverted\t the\t courses\t of\t two\t rivers\t and\t made\t them\t flow\t through\t the\t stables\t in\t a great\tflood\tthat\twashed\tout\tthe\tfilth\tin\tno\ttime\tat\tall. The\t sixth\t labor\t was\t to\t drive\t away\t the\t Stymphalian\t birds,\t which\t were\t a plague\tto\tthe\tpeople\tof\tStymphalus\tbecause\tof\ttheir\tenormous\tnumbers.\tHe\twas helped\tby\tAthena\tto\tdrive\tthem\tout\tof\ttheir\tcoverts,\tand\tas\tthey\tflew\tup\the\tshot them. The\t seventh\t labor\t was\t to\t go\t to\t Crete\t and\t fetch\t from\t there\t the\t beautiful savage\tbull\tthat\tPoseidon\thad\tgiven\tMinos.\tHercules\tmastered\thim,\tput\thim\tin\ta boat,\tand\tbrought\thim\tto\tEurystheus.","The\t eighth\t labor\t was\t to\t get\t the\t man-eating\t mares\t of\t King\t Diomedes\t of Thrace.\tHercules\tslew\tDiomedes\tfirst\tand\tthen\tdrove\toff\tthe\tmares\tunopposed. The\t ninth\t labor\t was\t to\t bring\t back\t the\t girdle\t of\t Hippolyta,\t the\t Queen\t of\t the Amazons.\t When\t Hercules\t arrived\t she\t met\t him\t kindly\t and\t told\t him\t she\t would give\t him\t the\t girdle,\t but\t Hera\t stirred\t up\t trouble.\t She\t made\t the\t Amazons\t think that\tHercules\twas\tgoing\tto\tcarry\toff\ttheir\tqueen,\tand\tthey\tcharged\tdown\ton\this ship.\tHercules,\twithout\ta\tthought\tof\thow\tkind\tHippolyta\thad\tbeen,\twithout\tany thought\tat\tall,\tinstantly\tkilled\ther,\ttaking\tit\tfor\tgranted\tthat\tshe\twas\tresponsible for\tthe\tattack.\tHe\twas\table\tto\tfight\toff\tthe\tothers\tand\tget\taway\twith\tthe\tgirdle. The\t tenth\t labor\t was\t to\t bring\t back\t the\t cattle\t of\t Geryon,\t who\t was\t a\t monster with\tthree\tbodies\tliving\ton\tErythia,\ta\twestern\tisland.\tOn\this\tway\tthere\tHercules reached\tthe\tland\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tMediterranean\tand\the\tset\tup\tas\ta\tmemorial\tof his\t journey\t two\t great\t rocks,\t called\t the\t pillars\t of\t Hercules\t (now\t Gibraltar\t and Ceuta).\tThen\the\tgot\tthe\toxen\tand\ttook\tthem\tto\tMycenae. The\t eleventh\t labor\t was\t the\t most\t difficult\t of\t all\t so\t far.\t It\t was\t to\t bring\t back the\tGolden\tApples\tof\tthe\tHesperides,\tand\the\tdid\tnot\tknow\twhere\tthey\twere\tto\tbe found.\tAtlas,\twho\tbore\tthe\tvault\tof\theaven\tupon\this\tshoulders,\twas\tthe\tfather\tof the\tHesperides,\tso\tHercules\twent\tto\thim\tand\tasked\thim\tto\tget\tthe\tapples\tfor\thim. He\t offered\t to\t take\t upon\t himself\t the\t burden\t of\t the\t sky\t while\t Atlas\t was\t away. Atlas,\t seeing\t a\t chance\t of\t being\t relieved\t forever\t from\t his\t heavy\t task,\t gladly agreed.\tHe\tcame\tback\twith\tthe\tapples,\tbut\the\tdid\tnot\tgive\tthem\tto\tHercules.\tHe told\tHercules\the\tcould\tkeep\ton\tholding\tup\tthe\tsky,\tfor\tAtlas\thimself\twould\ttake the\tapples\tto\tEurystheus.\tOn\tthis\toccasion\tHercules\thad\tonly\this\twits\tto\ttrust\tto; he\thad\tto\tgive\tall\this\tstrength\tto\tsupporting\tthat\tmighty\tload.\tHe\twas\tsuccessful, but\t because\t of\t Atlas\u2019\t stupidity\t rather\t than\t his\t own\t cleverness.\t He\t agreed\t to Atlas\u2019\t plan,\t but\t asked\t him\t to\t take\t the\t sky\t back\t for\t just\t a\t moment\t so\t that Hercules\tcould\tput\ta\tpad\ton\this\tshoulders\tto\tease\tthe\tpressure.\tAtlas\tdid\tso,\tand Hercules\tpicked\tup\tthe\tapples\tand\twent\toff. The\ttwelfth\tlabor\twas\tthe\tworst\tof\tall.\tIt\ttook\thim\tdown\tto\tthe\tlower\tworld, and\t it\t was\t then\t that\t he\t freed\t Theseus\t from\t the\t Chair\t of\t Forgetfulness.\t His\t task","was\t to\t bring\t Cerberus,\t the\t three-headed\t dog,\t up\t from\t Hades.\t Pluto\t gave\t him permission\tprovided\tHercules\tused\tno\tweapons\tto\tovercome\thim.\tHe\tcould\tuse his\t hands\t only.\t Even\t so,\t he\t forced\t the\t terrible\t monster\t to\t submit\t to\t him.\t He lifted\t him\t and\t carried\t him\t all\t the\t way\t up\t to\t the\t earth\t and\t on\t to\t Mycenae. Eurystheus\tvery\tsensibly\tdid\tnot\twant\tto\tkeep\thim\tand\tmade\tHercules\tcarry\thim back.\tThis\twas\this\tlast\tlabor. When\t all\t were\t completed\t and\t full\t expiation\t made\t for\t the\t death\t of\t his\t wife and\tchildren,\the\twould\tseem\tto\thave\tearned\tease\tand\ttranquillity\tfor\tthe\trest\tof his\tlife.\tBut\tit\twas\tnot\tso.\tHe\twas\tnever\ttranquil\tand\tat\tease.\tAn\texploit\tquite\tas difficult\tas\tmost\tof\tthe\tlabors\twas\tthe\tconquest\tof\tAntaeus,\ta\tGiant\tand\ta\tmighty wrestler\t who\t forced\t strangers\t to\t wrestle\t with\t him\t on\t condition\t that\t if\t he\t was victor\t he\t should\t kill\t them.\t He\t was\t roofing\t a\t temple\t with\t the\t skulls\t of\t his victims.\tAs\tlong\tas\the\tcould\ttouch\tthe\tearth\the\twas\tinvincible.\tIf\tthrown\tto\tthe ground\the\tsprang\tup\twith\trenewed\tstrength\tfrom\tthe\tcontact.\tHercules\tlifted\thim up\tand\tholding\thim\tin\tthe\tair\tstrangled\thim. Story\t after\t story\t is\t told\t of\t his\t adventures.\t He\t fought\t the\t river-god\t Achelous because\tAchelous\twas\tin\tlove\twith\tthe\tgirl\tHercules\tnow\twanted\tto\tmarry.\tLike everyone\t else\t by\t this\t time,\t Achelous\t had\t no\t desire\t to\t fight\t him\t and\t he\t tried\t to reason\t with\t him.\t But\t that\t never\t worked\t with\t Hercules.\t It\t only\t made\t him\t more angry.\tHe\tsaid,\t\u201cMy\thand\tis\tbetter\tthan\tmy\ttongue.\tLet\tme\twin\tfighting\tand\tyou may\t win\t talking.\u201d\t Achelous\t took\t the\t form\t of\t a\t bull\t and\t attacked\t him\t fiercely, but\tHercules\twas\tused\tto\tsubduing\tbulls.\tHe\tconquered\thim\tand\tbroke\toff\tone\tof his\t horns.\t The\t cause\t of\t the\t contest,\t a\t young\t princess\t named\t Deianira,\t became his\twife. He\t traveled\t to\t many\t lands\t and\t did\t many\t other\t great\t deeds.\t At\t Troy\t he rescued\t a\t maiden\t who\t was\t in\t the\t same\t plight\t as\t Andromeda,\t waiting\t on\t the shore\tto\tbe\tdevoured\tby\ta\tsea\tmonster\twhich\tcould\tbe\tappeased\tin\tno\tother\tway. She\twas\tthe\tdaughter\tof\tKing\tLaomedon,\twho\thad\tcheated\tApollo\tand\tPoseidon of\ttheir\twages\tafter\tat\tZeus\u2019s\tcommand\tthey\thad\tbuilt\tfor\tthe\tKing\tthe\twalls\tof Troy.\tIn\treturn\tApollo\tsent\ta\tpestilence,\tand\tPoseidon\tthe\tsea\tserpent.\tHercules agreed\tto\trescue\tthe\tgirl\tif\ther\tfather\twould\tgive\thim\tthe\thorses\tZeus\thad\tgiven his\t grandfather.\t Laomedon\t promised,\t but\t when\t Hercules\t had\t slain\t the\t monster the\tKing\trefused\tto\tpay.\tHercules\tcaptured\tthe\tcity,\tkilled\tthe\tKing,\tand\tgave\tthe maiden\tto\this\tfriend,\tTelamon\tof\tSalamis,\twho\thad\thelped\thim. On\t his\t way\t to\t Atlas\t to\t ask\t him\t about\t the\t Golden\t Apples,\t Hercules\t came\t to the\tCaucasus,\twhere\the\tfreed\tPrometheus,\tslaying\tthe\teagle\tthat\tpreyed\ton\thim. Along\t with\t these\t glorious\t deeds\t there\t were\t others\t not\t glorious.\t He\t killed","with\ta\tcareless\tthrust\tof\this\tarm\ta\tlad\twho\twas\tserving\thim\tby\tpouring\twater\ton his\t hands\t before\t a\t feast.\t It\t was\t an\t accident\t and\t the\t boy\u2019s\t father\t forgave Hercules,\t but\t Hercules\t could\t not\t forgive\t himself\t and\t he\t went\t into\t exile\t for\t a time.\tFar\tworse\twas\this\tdeliberately\tslaying\ta\tgood\tfriend\tin\torder\tto\tavenge\tan insult\toffered\thim\tby\tthe\tyoung\tman\u2019s\tfather,\tKing\tEurytus.\tFor\tthis\tbase\taction Zeus\t himself\t punished\t him:\t he\t sent\t him\t to\t Lydia\t to\t be\t a\t slave\t to\t the\t Queen, Omphale,\t some\t say\t for\t a\t year,\t some\t for\t three\t years.\t She\t amused\t herself\t with him,\tmaking\thim\tat\ttimes\tdress\tup\tas\ta\twoman\tand\tdo\twoman\u2019s\twork,\tweave\tor spin.\t He\t submitted\t patiently,\t as\t always,\t but\t he\t felt\t himself\t degraded\t by\t this servitude\tand\twith\tcomplete\tunreason\tblamed\tEurytus\tfor\tit\tand\tswore\the\twould punish\thim\tto\tthe\tutmost\twhen\the\twas\tfreed. All\t the\t stories\t told\t about\t him\t are\t characteristic,\t but\t the\t one\t which\t gives\t the clearest\tpicture\tof\thim\tis\tthe\taccount\tof\ta\tvisit\the\tmade\twhen\the\twas\ton\this\tway to\tget\tthe\tman-eating\tmares\tof\tDiomedes,\tone\tof\tthe\ttwelve\tlabors.\tThe\thouse\the had\tplanned\tto\tspend\ta\tnight\tin,\tthat\tof\this\tfriend\tAdmetus,\ta\tking\tin\tThessaly, was\t a\t place\t of\t deep\t mourning\t when\t he\t came\t to\t it\t although\t he\t did\t not\t know. Admetus\thad\tjust\tlost\this\twife\tin\ta\tvery\tstrange\tway. The\t cause\t of\t her\t death\t went\t back\t into\t the\t past,\t to\t the\t time\t when\t Apollo\t in anger\t at\t Zeus\t for\t killing\t his\t son\t Aesculapius\t killed\t Zeus\u2019s\t workmen,\t the Cyclopes.\t He\t was\t punished\t by\t being\t forced\t to\t serve\t on\t earth\t as\t a\t slave\t for\t a year\t and\t Admetus\t was\t the\t master\t he\t chose\t or\t Zeus\t chose\t for\t him.\t During\t his servitude\tApollo\tmade\tfriends\twith\tthe\thousehold,\tespecially\twith\tthe\thead\tof\tit and\t his\t wife\t Alcestis.\t When\t he\t had\t an\t opportunity\t to\t prove\t how\t strong\t his friendship\t was\t he\t took\t it.\t He\t learned\t that\t the\t three\t Fates\t had\t spun\t all\t of Admetus\u2019\t thread\t of\t life,\t and\t were\t on\t the\t point\t of\t cutting\t it.\t He\t obtained\t from them\t a\t respite.\t If\t someone\t would\t die\t in\t Admetus\u2019\t stead,\t he\t could\t live.\t This news\the\ttook\tto\tAdmetus,\twho\tat\tonce\tset\tabout\tfinding\ta\tsubstitute\tfor\thimself. He\twent\tfirst\tquite\tconfidently\tto\this\tfather\tand\tmother.\tThey\twere\told\tand\tthey were\tdevoted\tto\thim.\tCertainly\tone\tor\tthe\tother\twould\tconsent\tto\ttake\this\tplace in\tthe\tworld\tof\tthe\tdead.\tBut\tto\this\tastonishment\the\tfound\tthey\twould\tnot.\tThey told\thim,\t\u201cGod\u2019s\tdaylight\tis\tsweet\teven\tto\tthe\told.\tWe\tdo\tnot\task\tyou\tto\tdie\tfor us.\t We\t will\t not\t die\t for\t you.\u201d\t And\t they\t were\t completely\t unmoved\t by\t his\t angry contempt:\t\u201cYou,\tstanding\tpalsied\tat\tthe\tgate\tof\tdeath\tand\tyet\tafraid\tto\tdie!\u201d He\t would\t not\t give\t up,\t however.\t He\t went\t to\t his\t friends\t begging\t one\t after another\t of\t them\t to\t die\t and\t let\t him\t live.\t He\t evidently\t thought\t his\t life\t was\t so valuable\t that\t someone\t would\t surely\t save\t it\t even\t at\t the\t cost\t of\t the\t supreme sacrifice.\tBut\the\tmet\twith\tan\tinvariable\trefusal.\tAt\tlast\tin\tdespair\the\twent\tback","to\this\thouse\tand\tthere\the\tfound\ta\tsubstitute.\tHis\twife\tAlcestis\toffered\tto\tdie\tfor him.\tNo\tone\twho\thas\tread\tso\tfar\twill\tneed\tto\tbe\ttold\tthat\the\taccepted\tthe\toffer. He\tfelt\texceedingly\tsorry\tfor\ther\tand\tstill\tmore\tfor\thimself\tin\thaving\tto\tlose\tso good\t a\t wife,\t and\t he\t stood\t weeping\t beside\t her\t as\t she\t died.\t When\t she\t was\t gone he\t was\t overwhelmed\t with\t grief\t and\t decreed\t that\t she\t should\t have\t the\t most magnificent\tof\tfunerals. It\t was\t at\t this\t point\t that\t Hercules\t arrived,\t to\t rest\t and\t enjoy\t himself\t under\t a friend\u2019s\t roof\t on\t his\t journey\t north\t to\t Diomedes.\t The\t way\t Admetus\t treated\t him shows\t more\t plainly\t than\t any\t other\t story\t we\t have\t how\t high\t the\t standards\t of hospitality\twere,\thow\tmuch\twas\texpected\tfrom\ta\thost\tto\ta\tguest. As\tsoon\tas\tAdmetus\twas\ttold\tof\tHercules\u2019\tarrival,\the\tcame\tto\tmeet\thim\twith no\t appearance\t of\t mourning\t except\t in\t his\t dress.\t His\t manner\t was\t that\t of\t one gladly\t welcoming\t a\t friend.\t To\t Hercules\u2019\t question\t who\t was\t dead\t he\t answered quietly\t that\t a\t woman\t of\t his\t household,\t but\t no\t relative\t of\t his,\t was\t to\t be\t buried that\t day.\t Hercules\t instantly\t declared\t that\t he\t would\t not\t trouble\t him\t with\t his presence\tat\tsuch\ta\ttime,\tbut\tAdmetus\tsteadily\trefused\tto\tlet\thim\tgo\telsewhere.\t\u201cI will\t not\t have\t you\t sleep\t under\t another\u2019s\t roof,\u201d\t he\t told\t him.\t To\t his\t servants\t he said\t that\t the\t guest\t was\t to\t be\t taken\t to\t a\t distant\t room\t where\t he\t could\t hear\t no sounds\tof\tgrief,\tand\tgiven\tdinner\tand\tlodging\tthere.\tNo\tone\tmust\tlet\thim\tknow what\thad\thappened. Hercules\t dined\t alone,\t but\t he\t understood\t that\t Admetus\t must\t as\t a\t matter\t of form\t attend\t the\t funeral\t and\t the\t fact\t did\t not\t stand\t in\t the\t way\t of\t his\t enjoying himself.\tThe\tservants\tleft\tat\thome\tto\tattend\tto\thim\twere\tkept\tbusy\tsatisfying\this enormous\t appetite\t and,\t still\t more,\t refilling\t his\t wine-jug.\t Hercules\t became\t very happy\t and\t very\t drunk\t and\t very\t noisy.\t He\t roared\t out\t songs\t at\t the\t top\t of\t his voice,\t some\t of\t them\t highly\t objectionable\t songs,\t and\t behaved\t himself\t in\t a\t way that\t was\t nothing\t less\t than\t indecent\t at\t the\t time\t of\t a\t funeral.\t When\t the\t servants looked\t their\t disapproval\t he\t shouted\t at\t them\t not\t to\t be\t so\t solemn.\t Couldn\u2019t\t they give\thim\ta\tsmile\tnow\tand\tthen\tlike\tgood\tfellows?\tTheir\tgloomy\tfaces\ttook\taway his\tappetite.\t\u201cHave\ta\tdrink\twith\tme,\u201d\the\tcried,\t\u201cmany\tdrinks.\u201d One\t of\t them\t answered\t timidly\t that\t it\t was\t not\t a\t time\t for\t laughter\t and drinking. \u201cWhy\tnot?\u201d\tthundered\tHercules.\t\u201cBecause\ta\tstranger\twoman\tis\tdead?\u201d \u201cA\tstranger\u2014\u201d\tfaltered\tthe\tservant. \u201cWell,\t that\u2019s\t what\t Admetus\t told\t me,\u201d\t Hercules\t said\t angrily.\t \u201cI\t suppose\t you won\u2019t\tsay\the\tlied\tto\tme.\u201d \u201cOh,\tno,\u201d\tthe\tservant\tanswered.\t\u201cOnly\u2014he\u2019s\ttoo\thospitable.\tBut\tplease\thave","some\tmore\twine.\tOur\ttrouble\tis\tonly\tour\town.\u201d He\t turned\t to\t fill\t the\t winecup\t but\t Hercules\t seized\t him\u2014and\t no\t one\t ever disregarded\tthat\tgrasp. \u201cThere\u2019s\t something\t strange\t here,\u201d\t he\t said\t to\t the\t frightened\t man.\t \u201cWhat\t is wrong?\u201d \u201cYou\tsee\tfor\tyourself\twe\tare\tin\tmourning,\u201d\tthe\tother\tanswered. \u201cBut\t why,\t man,\t why?\u201d\t Hercules\t cried.\t \u201cHas\t my\t host\t made\t a\t fool\t of\t me? Who\tis\tdead?\u201d \u201cAlcestis,\u201d\tthe\tservant\twhispered.\t\u201cOur\tQueen.\u201d There\twas\ta\tlong\tsilence.\tThen\tHercules\tthrew\tdown\this\tcup. \u201cI\t might\t have\t known,\u201d\t he\t said.\t \u201cI\t saw\t he\t had\t been\t weeping.\t His\t eyes\t were red.\t But\t he\t swore\t it\t was\t a\t stranger.\t He\t made\t me\t come\t in.\t Oh,\t good\t friend\t and good\t host.\t And\t I\u2014got\t drunk,\t made\t merry,\t in\t this\t house\t of\t sorrow.\t Oh,\t he should\thave\ttold\tme.\u201d Then\the\tdid\tas\talways,\the\theaped\tblame\tupon\thimself.\tHe\thad\tbeen\ta\tfool,\ta drunken\tfool,\twhen\tthe\tman\the\tcared\tfor\twas\tcrushed\twith\tgrief.\tAs\talways,\ttoo, his\t thoughts\t turned\t quickly\t to\t find\t some\t way\t of\t atoning.\t What\t could\t he\t do\t to make\tamends?\tThere\twas\tnothing\the\tcould\tnot\tdo.\tHe\twas\tperfectly\tsure\tof\tthat, but\twhat\twas\tthere\twhich\twould\thelp\this\tfriend?\tThen\tlight\tdawned\ton\thim.\t\u201cOf course,\u201d\the\tsaid\tto\thimself.\t\u201cThat\tis\tthe\tway.\tI\tmust\tbring\tAlcestis\tback\tfrom\tthe dead.\tOf\tcourse.\tNothing\tcould\tbe\tclearer.\tI\u2019ll\tfind\tthat\told\tfellow,\tDeath.\tHe\tis sure\tto\tbe\tnear\ther\ttomb\tand\tI\u2019ll\twrestle\twith\thim.\tI\twill\tcrack\this\tbody\tbetween my\t arms\t until\t he\t gives\t her\t to\t me.\t If\t he\t is\t not\t by\t the\t grave\t I\t will\t go\t down\t to Hades\t after\t him.\t Oh,\t I\t will\t return\t good\t to\t my\t friend\t who\t has\t been\t so\t good\t to me.\u201d\tHe\thurried\tout\texceedingly\tpleased\twith\thimself\tand\tenjoying\tthe\tprospect of\twhat\tpromised\tto\tbe\ta\tvery\tgood\twrestling\tmatch. When\tAdmetus\treturned\tto\this\tempty\tand\tdesolate\thouse\tHercules\twas\tthere to\tgreet\thim,\tand\tby\this\tside\twas\ta\twoman.\t\u201cLook\tat\ther,\tAdmetus,\u201d\the\tsaid.\t\u201cIs she\tlike\tanyone\tyou\tknow?\u201d\tAnd\twhen\tAdmetus\tcried\tout,\t\u201cA\tghost!\tIs\tit\ta\ttrick \u2014some\t mockery\t of\t the\t gods?\u201d\t Hercules\t answered,\t \u201cIt\t is\t your\t wife.\t I\t fought Death\tfor\ther\tand\tI\tmade\thim\tgive\ther\tback.\u201d There\t is\t no\t other\t story\t about\t Hercules\t which\t shows\t so\t clearly\t his\t character as\tthe\tGreeks\tsaw\tit:\this\tsimplicity\tand\tblundering\tstupidity;\this\tinability\tnot\tto get\troaring\tdrunk\tin\ta\thouse\twhere\tsomeone\twas\tdead;\this\tquick\tpenitence\tand desire\t to\t make\t amends\t at\t no\t matter\t what\t cost;\t his\t perfect\t confidence\t that\t not even\tDeath\twas\this\tmatch.\tThat\tis\tthe\tportrait\tof\tHercules.\tTo\tbe\tsure,\tit\twould have\t been\t still\t more\t accurate\t if\t it\t had\t shown\t him\t in\t a\t fit\t of\t rage\t killing\t one\t of","the\t servants\t who\t were\t annoying\t him\t with\t their\t gloomy\t faces,\t but\t the\t poet Euripides\t from\t whom\t we\t get\t the\t story\t kept\t it\t clear\t of\t everything\t that\t did\t not bear\tdirectly\ton\tAlcestis\u2019\tdeath\tand\treturn\tto\tlife.\tAnother\tdeath\tor\ttwo,\thowever natural\twhen\tHercules\twas\tpresent,\twould\thave\tblurred\tthe\tpicture\the\twanted\tto paint. As\t Hercules\t had\t sworn\t to\t do\t while\t he\t was\t Omphale\u2019s\t slave,\t no\t sooner\t was he\t free\t than\t he\t started\t to\t punish\t King\t Eurytus\t because\t he\t himself\t had\t been punished\t by\t Zeus\t for\t killing\t Eurytus\u2019\t son.\t He\t collected\t an\t army,\t captured\t the King\u2019s\tcity,\tand\tput\thim\tto\tdeath.\tBut\tEurytus,\ttoo,\twas\tavenged,\tfor\tindirectly this\tvictory\twas\tthe\tcause\tof\tHercules\u2019\town\tdeath. Before\t he\t had\t quite\t completed\t the\t destruction\t of\t the\t city,\t he\t sent\t home\u2014 where\t Deianira,\t his\t devoted\t wife,\t was\t waiting\t for\t him\t to\t come\t back\t from Omphale\tin\tLydia\u2014a\tband\tof\tcaptive\tmaidens,\tone\tof\tthem\tespecially\tbeautiful, Iole,\t the\t King\u2019s\t daughter.\t The\t man\t who\t brought\t them\t to\t Deianira\t told\t her\t that Hercules\t was\t madly\t in\t love\t with\t this\t Princess.\t This\t news\t was\t not\t so\t hard\t for Deianira\t as\t might\t be\t expected,\t because\t she\t believed\t she\t had\t a\t powerful\t love- charm\t which\t she\t had\t kept\t for\t years\t against\t just\t such\t an\t evil,\t a\t woman\t in\t her own\thouse\tpreferred\tbefore\ther.\tDirectly\tafter\ther\tmarriage,\twhen\tHercules\twas taking\t her\t home,\t they\t had\t reached\t a\t river\t where\t the\t Centaur\t Nessus\t acted\t as ferryman,\tcarrying\ttravelers\tover\tthe\twater.\tHe\ttook\tDeianira\ton\this\tback\tand\tin midstream\t insulted\t her.\t She\t shrieked\t and\t Hercules\t shot\t the\t beast\t as\t he\t reached the\tother\tbank.\tBefore\the\tdied\the\ttold\tDeianira\tto\ttake\tsome\tof\this\tblood\tand\tuse it\tas\ta\tcharm\tfor\tHercules\tif\tever\the\tloved\tanother\twoman\tmore\tthan\ther.\tWhen she\t heard\t about\t Iole,\t it\t seemed\t to\t her\t the\t time\t had\t come,\t and\t she\t anointed\t a splendid\trobe\twith\tthe\tblood\tand\tsent\tit\tto\tHercules\tby\tthe\tmessenger. As\tthe\thero\tput\tit\ton,\tthe\teffect\twas\tthe\tsame\tas\tthat\tof\tthe\trobe\tMedea\thad sent\t her\t rival\t whom\t Jason\t was\t about\t to\t marry.\t A\t fearful\t pain\t seized\t him,\t as though\t he\t were\t in\t a\t burning\t fire.\t In\t his\t first\t agony\t he\t turned\t on\t Deianira\u2019s messenger,\twho\twas,\tof\tcourse,\tcompletely\tinnocent,\tseized\thim,\tand\thurled\thim down\tinto\tthe\tsea.\tHe\tcould\tstill\tslay\tothers,\tbut\tit\tseemed\tthat\the\thimself\tcould not\tdie.\tThe\tanguish\the\tfelt\thardly\tweakened\thim.\tWhat\thad\tinstantly\tkilled\tthe young\tPrincess\tof\tCorinth\tcould\tnot\tkill\tHercules.\tHe\twas\tin\ttorture,\tbut\the\tlived and\tthey\tbrought\thim\thome.\tLong\tbefore,\tDeianira\thad\theard\twhat\ther\tgift\thad done\t to\t him\t and\t had\t killed\t herself.\t In\t the\t end\t he\t did\t the\t same.\t Since\t death would\t not\t come\t to\t him,\t he\t would\t go\t to\t death.\t He\t ordered\t those\t around\t him\t to build\ta\tgreat\tpyre\ton\tMount\tOeta\tand\tcarry\thim\tto\tit.\tWhen\tat\tlast\the\treached\tit he\tknew\tthat\tnow\the\tcould\tdie\tand\the\twas\tglad.\t\u201cThis\tis\trest,\u201d\the\tsaid.\t\u201cThis\tis","the\t end.\u201d\t And\t as\t they\t lifted\t him\t to\t the\t pyre\t he\t lay\t down\t on\t it\t as\t one\t who\t at\t a banquet\ttable\tlies\tdown\tupon\this\tcouch. He\tasked\this\tyouthful\tfollower,\tPhiloctetes,\tto\thold\tthe\ttorch\tto\tset\tthe\twood on\tfire;\tand\the\tgave\thim\this\tbow\tand\tarrows,\twhich\twere\tto\tbe\tfar-famed\tin\tthe young\t man\u2019s\t hands,\t too,\t at\t Troy.\t Then\t the\t flames\t rushed\t up\t and\t Hercules\t was seen\tno\tmore\ton\tearth.\tHe\twas\ttaken\tto\theaven,\twhere\the\twas\treconciled\tto\tHera and\tmarried\ther\tdaughter\tHebe,\tand\twhere After\this\tmighty\tlabors\the\thas\trest. His\tchoicest\tprize\teternal\tpeace. Within\tthe\thomes\tof\tblessedness. But\t it\t is\t not\t easy\t to\t imagine\t him\t contentedly\t enjoying\t rest\t and\t peace,\t or allowing\tthe\tblessed\tgods\tto\tdo\tso,\teither.","IV Her\tstory\tis\ttold\tin\tfull\tonly\tby\tthe\tlate\twriters\tOvid\tand\tApollodorus,\tbut\tit\tis\tan old\ttale.\tOne\tof\tthe\tpoems\tascribed\tto\tHesiod,\tbut\tprobably\tof\ta\tsomewhat\tlater date,\t say,\t the\t early\t seventh\t century,\t describes\t the\t race\t and\t the\t golden\t apples, and\t the\t Iliad\t gives\t an\t account\t of\t the\t Calydonian\t boar\t hunt.\t I\t have\t followed\t in my\taccount\tApollodorus,\twho\tprobably\twrote\tin\tthe\tfirst\tor\tsecond\tcentury\tA.D. Ovid\u2019s\t tale\t is\t good\t only\t occasionally.\t He\t gives\t a\t charming\t picture\t of\t Atalanta among\t the\t hunters\t which\t I\t have\t put\t into\t my\t account,\t but\t often,\t as\t in\t the description\t of\t the\t boar,\t he\t is\t so\t exaggerated,\t he\t verges\t on\t the\t ridiculous. Apollodorus\tis\tnot\tpicturesque,\tbut\the\tis\tnever\tabsurd. Sometimes\tthere\tare\tsaid\tto\thave\tbeen\ttwo\theroines\tof\tthat\tname.\tCertainly\ttwo men,\tIasus\tand\tSchoenius,\tare\teach\tcalled\tthe\tfather\tof\tAtalanta,\tbut\tthen\tit\toften happens\t in\t old\t stories\t that\t different\t names\t are\t given\t to\t unimportant\t persons.\t If there\twere\ttwo\tAtalantas\tit\tis\tcertainly\tremarkable\tthat\tboth\twanted\tto\tsail\ton\tthe Argo,\tboth\ttook\tpart\tin\tthe\tCalydonian\tboar\thunt,\tboth\tmarried\ta\tman\twho\tbeat them\t in\t a\t foot\t race,\t and\t both\t were\t ultimately\t changed\t into\t lionesses.\t Since\t the story\tof\teach\tis\tpractically\tthe\tsame\tas\tthat\tof\tthe\tother\tit\tis\tsimpler\tto\ttake\tit\tfor granted\tthat\tthere\twas\tonly\tone.\tIndeed\tit\twould\tseem\tpassing\tthe\tbounds\tof\tthe probable\t even\t in\t mythological\t stories\t to\t suppose\t that\t there\t were\t two\t maidens living\tat\tthe\tsame\ttime\twho\tloved\tadventure\tas\tmuch\tas\tthe\tmost\tdauntless\thero,","and\t who\t could\t outshoot\t and\t outrun\t and\t outwrestle,\t too,\t the\t men\t of\t one\t of\t the two\tgreat\tages\tof\theroism. Atalanta\u2019s\tfather,\twhatever\this\tname\twas,\twhen\ta\tdaughter\tand\tnot\ta\tson\twas born\t to\t him,\t was,\t of\t course,\t bitterly\t disappointed.\t He\t decided\t that\t she\t was\t not worthy\tbringing\tup\tand\thad\tthe\ttiny\tcreature\tleft\ton\ta\twild\tmountainside\tto\tdie of\t cold\t and\t hunger.\t But,\t as\t so\t often\t happens\t in\t stories,\t animals\t proved\t kinder than\thumans.\tA\tshe-bear\ttook\tcharge\tof\ther,\tnursed\ther\tand\tkept\ther\twarm,\tand the\t baby\t grew\t up\t thus\t into\t an\t active,\t daring\t little\t girl.\t Kind\t hunters\t then\t found her\tand\ttook\ther\tto\tlive\twith\tthem.\tShe\tbecame\tin\tthe\tend\tmore\tthan\ttheir\tequal in\t all\t the\t arduous\t feats\t of\t a\t hunter\u2019s\t life.\t Once\t two\t Centaurs,\t swifter\t and stronger\t by\t far\t than\t any\t mortal,\t caught\t sight\t of\t her\t when\t she\t was\t alone\t and pursued\t her.\t She\t did\t not\t run\t from\t them;\t that\t would\t have\t been\t folly.\t She\t stood still\t and\t fitted\t an\t arrow\t to\t her\t bow\t and\t shot.\t A\t second\t arrow\t followed.\t Both Centaurs\tfell,\tmortally\twounded. Then\t came\t the\t famous\t hunt\t of\t the\t Calydonian\t boar.\t This\t was\t a\t terrible creature\tsent\tto\travage\tthe\tcountry\tof\tCalydon\tby\tArtemis\tin\torder\tto\tpunish\tthe King,\t Oeneus,\t because\t he\t forgot\t her\t when\t he\t was\t sacrificing\t the\t first\t fruits\t to the\tgods\tat\tthe\tharvest-time.\tThe\tbrute\tdevastated\tthe\tland,\tdestroyed\tthe\tcattle, killed\t the\t men\t who\t tried\t to\t kill\t it.\t Finally\t Oeneus\t called\t for\t help\t upon\t the bravest\tmen\tof\tGreece,\tand\ta\tsplendid\tband\tof\tyoung\theroes\tassembled,\tmany\tof whom\tsailed\tlater\ton\tthe\tArgo.\tWith\tthem\tcame\tas\ta\tmatter\tof\tcourse\tAtalanta, \u201cThe\t pride\t of\t the\t woods\t of\t Arcady.\u201d\t We\t have\t a\t description\t of\t how\t she\t looked when\tshe\twalked\tin\ton\tthat\tmasculine\tgathering:\t\u201cA\tshining\tbuckle\tclasped\ther robe\t at\t the\t neck;\t her\t hair\t was\t simply\t dressed,\t caught\t up\t in\t a\t knot\t behind.\t An ivory\t quiver\t hung\t upon\t her\t left\t shoulder\t and\t in\t her\t hand\t was\t a\t bow.\t Thus\t was she\tattired.\tAs\tfor\ther\tface,\tit\tseemed\ttoo\tmaidenly\tto\tbe\tthat\tof\ta\tboy,\tand\ttoo boyish\tto\tbe\tthat\tof\ta\tmaiden.\u201d\tTo\tone\tman\tthere,\thowever,\tshe\tlooked\tlovelier and\t more\t desirable\t than\t any\t maiden\t he\t had\t ever\t seen.\t Oeneus\u2019\t son,\t Meleager, fell\tin\tlove\twith\ther\tat\tfirst\tsight.\tBut,\twe\tmay\tbe\tsure,\tAtalanta\ttreated\thim\tas\ta good\t comrade,\t not\t as\t a\t possible\t lover.\t She\t had\t no\t liking\t for\t men\t except\t as companions\tin\tthe\thunt\tand\tshe\twas\tdetermined\tnever\tto\tmarry. Some\t of\t the\t heroes\t resented\t her\t presence\t and\t felt\t it\t beneath\t them\t to\t go hunting\twith\ta\twoman,\tbut\tMeleager\tinsisted\tand\tthey\tfinally\tgave\tin\tto\thim.\tIt proved\twell\tfor\tthem\tthat\tthey\tdid,\tbecause\twhen\tthey\tsurrounded\tthe\tboar,\tthe brute\trushed\tupon\tthem\tso\tswiftly\tthat\tit\tkilled\ttwo\tmen\tbefore\tthe\tothers\tcould come\tto\ttheir\thelp,\tand,\twhat\twas\tequally\tominous,\ta\tthird\tman\tfell\tpierced\tby\ta misdirected\t javelin.\t In\t this\t confusion\t of\t dying\t men\t and\t wildly\t flying\t weapons","Atalanta\tkept\ther\thead\tand\twounded\tthe\tboar.\tHer\tarrow\twas\tthe\tfirst\tto\tstrike\tit. Meleager\t then\t rushed\t on\t the\t wounded\t creature\t and\t stabbed\t it\t to\t the\t heart. Technically\tspeaking\tit\twas\the\twho\tkilled\tit,\tbut\tthe\thonors\tof\tthe\thunt\twent\tto Atalanta\tand\tMeleager\tinsisted\tthat\tthey\tshould\tgive\ther\tthe\tskin. Strangely\t enough\t this\t was\t the\t cause\t of\t his\t own\t death.\t When\t he\t was\t just\t a week\t old\t the\t Fates\t had\t appeared\t to\t his\t mother,\t Althea,\t and\t thrown\t a\t log\t of wood\t into\t the\t fire\t burning\t in\t her\t chamber.\t Then\t spinning\t as\t they\t ever\t did, twirling\tthe\tdistaff\tand\ttwisting\tthe\tthread\tof\tdestiny,\tthey\tsang, To\tyou,\tO\tnew-born\tchild,\twe\tgrant\ta\tgift, To\tlive\tuntil\tthis\twood\tturns\tinto\tash. Althea\t snatched\t the\t brand\t from\t the\t fire,\t quenched\t the\t flame,\t and\t hid\t it\t in\t a chest.\t Her\t brothers\t were\t among\t those\t who\t went\t to\t hunt\t the\t boar.\t They\t felt themselves\tinsulted\tand\twere\tfuriously\tangry\tat\thaving\tthe\tprize\tgo\tto\ta\tgirl\u2014as, no\tdoubt,\twas\tthe\tcase\twith\tothers,\tbut\tthey\twere\tMeleager\u2019s\tuncles\tand\tdid\tnot need\tto\tstand\ton\tany\tceremony\twith\thim.\tThey\tdeclared\tthat\tAtalanta\tshould\tnot have\t the\t skin\t and\t told\t Meleager\t he\t had\t no\t more\t right\t to\t give\t it\t away\t than anyone\telse\thad.\tWhereupon\tMeleager\tkilled\tthem\tboth,\ttaking\tthem\tcompletely off\ttheir\tguard. This\tnews\twas\tbrought\tto\tAlthea.\tHer\tbeloved\tbrothers\thad\tbeen\tslain\tby\ther son\t because\t he\t had\t made\t a\t fool\t of\t himself\t over\t a\t shameless\t hussy\t who\t went hunting\t with\t men.\t A\t passion\t of\t rage\t took\t possession\t of\t her.\t She\t rushed\t to\t the chest\tfor\tthe\tbrand\tand\tthrew\tit\tinto\tthe\tfire.\tAs\tit\tblazed\tup,\tMeleager\tfell\tto\tthe ground\tdying,\tand\tby\tthe\ttime\tit\twas\tconsumed\this\tspirit\thad\tslipped\taway\tfrom his\t body.\t It\t is\t said\t that\t Althea,\t horror-stricken\t at\t what\t she\t had\t done,\t hanged herself.\tSo\tthe\tCalydonian\tboar\thunt\tended\tin\ttragedy. To\tAtalanta,\thowever,\tit\twas\tonly\tthe\tbeginning\tof\ther\tadventures.\tSome\tsay that\tshe\tsailed\twith\tthe\tArgonauts;\tothers\tthat\tJason\tpersuaded\ther\tnot\tto\tdo\tso. She\t is\t never\t mentioned\t in\t the\t story\t of\t their\t exploits\t and\t she\t was\t certainly\t not one\tto\thold\tback\twhen\tdeeds\tof\tdaring\twere\tto\tbe\tdone,\tso\tthat\tit\tseems\tprobable that\tshe\tdid\tnot\tgo.\tThe\tnext\ttime\twe\thear\tof\ther\tis\tafter\tthe\tArgonauts\treturned, when\tMedea\thad\tkilled\tJason\u2019s\tuncle\tPelias\tunder\tthe\tpretext\tof\trestoring\thim\tto youth.\t At\t the\t funeral\t games\t held\t in\t his\t honor\t Atalanta\t appeared\t among\t the contestants,\tand\tin\tthe\twrestling\tmatch\tconquered\tthe\tyoung\tman\twho\twas\tto\tbe the\tfather\tof\tAchilles,\tthe\tgreat\thero\tPeleus.","","PLATE\tVII Atalanta\tand\tthe\tgolden\tapples","It\t was\t after\t this\t achievement\t that\t she\t discovered\t who\t her\t parents\t were\t and went\t to\t live\t with\t them,\t her\t father\t apparently\t being\t reconciled\t to\t having\t a daughter\t who\t really\t seemed\t almost\t if\t not\t quite\t as\t good\t as\t a\t son.\t It\t seems\t odd that\ta\tnumber\tof\tmen\twanted\tto\tmarry\ther\tbecause\tshe\tcould\thunt\tand\tshoot\tand wrestle,\t but\t it\t was\t so;\t she\t had\t a\t great\t many\t suitors.\t As\t a\t way\t of\t disposing\t of them\teasily\tand\tagreeably\tshe\tdeclared\tthat\tshe\twould\tmarry\twhoever\tcould\tbeat her\t in\t a\t foot\t race,\t knowing\t well\t that\t there\t was\t no\t such\t man\t alive.\t She\t had\t a delightful\t time.\t Fleet-footed\t young\t men\t were\t always\t arriving\t to\t race\t with\t her and\tshe\talways\toutran\tthem. But\tat\tlast\tone\tcame\twho\tused\this\thead\tas\twell\tas\this\theels.\tHe\tknew\the\twas not\t as\t good\t as\t runner\t as\t she,\t but\t he\t had\t a\t plan.\t By\t the\t favor\t of\t Aphrodite, always\t on\t the\t lookout\t to\t subdue\t wild\t young\t maidens\t who\t despised\t love,\t this ingenious\t young\t man,\t whose\t name\t was\t either\t Melanion\t (Milanion)\t or Hippomenes,\tgot\tpossession\tof\tthree\twondrous\tapples,\tall\tof\tpure\tgold,\tbeautiful as\tthose\tthat\tgrew\tin\tthe\tgarden\tof\tthe\tHesperides.\tNo\tone\talive\tcould\tsee\tthem and\tnot\twant\tthem. On\t the\t race\t course\t as\t Atalanta\u2014poised\t for\t the\t starting\t signal,\t and\t a hundredfold\t more\t lovely\t disrobed\t than\t with\t her\t garments\t on\u2014looked\t fiercely around\t her,\t wonder\t at\t her\t beauty\t took\t hold\t of\t all\t who\t saw\t her,\t but\t most\t of\t all the\tman\twho\twas\twaiting\tto\trun\tagainst\ther.\tHe\tkept\this\thead,\thowever,\tand\theld fast\t to\t his\t golden\t apples.\t They\t started,\t she\t flying\t swift\t as\t an\t arrow,\t her\t hair tossed\tback\tover\ther\twhite\tshoulders,\ta\trosy\tflush\ttinging\ther\tfair\tbody.\tShe\twas out-stripping\t him\t when\t he\t rolled\t one\t of\t the\t apples\t directly\t in\t front\t of\t her.\t It needed\tbut\ta\tmoment\tfor\ther\tto\tstoop\tand\tpick\tthe\tlovely\tthing\tup,\tbut\tthat\tbrief pause\tbrought\thim\tabreast\tof\ther.\tA\tmoment\tmore\tand\the\tthrew\tthe\tsecond,\tthis time\t a\t little\t to\t the\t side.\t She\t had\t to\t swerve\t to\t reach\t it\t and\t he\t got\t ahead\t of\t her. Almost\tat\tonce,\thowever,\tshe\thad\tcaught\tup\twith\thim\tand\tthe\tgoal\twas\tnow\tvery near.\tBut\tthen\tthe\tthird\tgolden\tsphere\tflashed\tacross\ther\tpath\tand\trolled\tfar\tinto the\tgrass\tbeside\tthe\tcourse.\tShe\tsaw\tthe\tgleam\tthrough\tthe\tgreen,\tshe\tcould\tnot resist\t it.\t As\t she\t picked\t the\t apple\t up,\t her\t lover\t panting\t and\t almost\t winded touched\tthe\tgoal.\tShe\twas\this.\tHer\tfree\tdays\talone\tin\tthe\tforest\tand\ther\tathletic victories\twere\tover. The\t two\t are\t said\t to\t have\t been\t turned\t into\t lions\t because\t of\t some\t affront offered\teither\tto\tZeus\tor\tto\tAphrodite.\tBut\tbefore\tthat\tAtalanta\thad\tborne\ta\tson, Parthenopaeus,\twho\twas\tone\tof\tthe\tSeven\tagainst\tThebes.","PART IV","","","","I This\t story,\t of\t course,\t is\t taken\t almost\t entirely\t from\t Homer.\t The\t Iliad,\t however, begins\t after\t the\t Greeks\t have\t reached\t Troy,\t when\t Apollo\t sends\t the\t pestilence upon\t them.\t It\t does\t not\t mention\t the\t sacrifice\t of\t Iphigenia,\t and\t makes\t only\t a dubious\tallusion\tto\tthe\tJudgment\tof\tParis.\tI\thave\ttaken\tIphigenia\u2019s\tstory\tfrom\ta play\t by\t the\t fifth-century\t tragic\t poet\t Aeschylus,\t the\t Agamemnon,\t and\t the Judgment\t of\t Paris\t from\t the\t Trojan\t Woman,\t a\t play\t by\t his\t contemporary, Euripides,\t adding\t a\t few\t details,\t such\t as\t the\t tale\t of\t Oenone,\t from\t the\t prose- writer\tApollodorus,\twho\twrote\tprobably\tin\tthe\tfirst\tor\tsecond\tcentury\tA.D.\tHe\tis usually\t very\t uninteresting,\t but\t in\t treating\t the\t events\t leading\t up\t to\t the\t Iliad\t he was\tapparently\tinspired\tby\ttouching\tso\tgreat\ta\tsubject\tand\the\tis\tless\tdull\tthan\tin almost\tany\tother\tpart\tof\this\tbook. More\t than\t a\t thousand\t years\t before\t Christ,\t near\t the\t eastern\t end\t of\t the Mediterranean\twas\ta\tgreat\tcity\tvery\trich\tand\tpowerful,\tsecond\tto\tnone\ton\tearth. The\t name\t of\t it\t was\t Troy\t and\t even\t today\t no\t city\t is\t more\t famous.\t The\t cause\t of this\tlong-lasting\tfame\twas\ta\twar\ttold\tof\tin\tone\tof\tthe\tworld\u2019s\tgreatest\tpoems,\tthe Iliad,\t and\t the\t cause\t of\t the\t war\t went\t back\t to\t a\t dispute\t between\t three\t jealous goddesses.","PROLOGUE:\t THE\tJUDGMENT\tOF\tPARIS The\t evil\t goddess\t of\t Discord,\t Eris,\t was\t naturally\t not\t popular\t in\t Olympus,\t and when\t the\t gods\t gave\t a\t banquet\t they\t were\t apt\t to\t leave\t her\t out.\t Resenting\t this deeply,\t she\t determined\t to\t make\t trouble\u2014and\t she\t succeeded\t very\t well\t indeed. At\t an\t important\t marriage,\t that\t of\t King\t Peleus\t and\t the\t sea\t nymph\t Thetis,\t to which\t she\t alone\t of\t all\t the\t divinities\t was\t not\t invited,\t she\t threw\t into\t the banqueting\t hall\t a\t golden\t apple\t marked\t For\t the\t Fairest.\t Of\t course\t all\t the goddesses\t wanted\t it,\t but\t in\t the\t end\t the\t choice\t was\t narrowed\t down\t to\t three: Aphrodite,\t Hera,\t and\t Pallas\t Athena.\t They\t asked\t Zeus\t to\t judge\t between\t them, but\tvery\twisely\the\trefused\tto\thave\tanything\tto\tdo\twith\tthe\tmatter.\tHe\ttold\tthem to\t go\t to\t Mount\t Ida,\t near\t Troy,\t where\t the\t young\t prince\t Paris,\t also\t called Alexander,\twas\tkeeping\this\tfather\u2019s\tsheep.\tHe\twas\tan\texcellent\tjudge\tof\tbeauty, Zeus\ttold\tthem.\tParis,\tthough\ta\troyal\tprince,\twas\tdoing\tshepherd\u2019s\twork\tbecause his\tfather\tPriam,\tthe\tKing\tof\tTroy,\thad\tbeen\twarned\tthat\tthis\tprince\twould\tsome day\t be\t the\t ruin\t of\t his\t country,\t and\t so\t had\t sent\t him\t away.\t At\t the\t moment\t Paris was\tliving\twith\ta\tlovely\tnymph\tnamed\tOenone. His\t amazement\t can\t be\t imagined\t when\t there\t appeared\t before\t him\t the wondrous\t forms\t of\t the\t three\t great\t goddesses.\t He\t was\t not\t asked,\t however,\t to gaze\t at\t the\t radiant\t divinities\t and\t choose\t which\t of\t them\t seemed\t to\t him\t the fairest,\tbut\tonly\tto\tconsider\tthe\tbribes\teach\toffered\tand\tchoose\twhich\tseemed\tto him\tbest\tworth\ttaking.\tNevertheless,\tthe\tchoice\twas\tnot\teasy.\tWhat\tmen\tcare\tfor most\twas\tset\tbefore\thim.\tHera\tpromised\tto\tmake\thim\tLord\tof\tEurope\tand\tAsia; Athena,\t that\t he\t would\t lead\t the\t Trojans\t to\t victory\t against\t the\t Greeks\t and\t lay Greece\tin\truins;\tAphrodite,\tthat\tthe\tfairest\twoman\tin\tall\tthe\tworld\tshould\tbe\this. Paris,\ta\tweakling\tand\tsomething\tof\ta\tcoward,\ttoo,\tas\tlater\tevents\tshowed,\tchose the\tlast.\tHe\tgave\tAphrodite\tthe\tgolden\tapple. That\twas\tthe\tJudgment\tof\tParis,\tfamed\teverywhere\tas\tthe\treal\treason\twhy\tthe Trojan\tWar\twas\tfought.","THE\tTROJAN\tWAR The\t fairest\t woman\t in\t the\t world\t was\t Helen,\t the\t daughter\t of\t Zeus\t and\t Leda\t and the\t sister\t of\t Castor\t and\t Pollux.\t Such\t was\t the\t report\t of\t her\t beauty\t that\t not\t a young\tprince\tin\tGreece\tbut\twanted\tto\tmarry\ther.\tWhen\ther\tsuitors\tassembled\tin her\t home\t to\t make\t a\t formal\t proposal\t for\t her\t hand\t they\t were\t so\t many\t and\t from such\t powerful\t families\t that\t her\t reputed\t father,\t King\t Tyndareus,\t her\t mother\u2019s husband,\t was\t afraid\t to\t select\t one\t among\t them,\t fearing\t that\t the\t others\t would unite\t against\t him.\t He\t therefore\t exacted\t first\t a\t solemn\t oath\t from\t all\t that\t they would\t champion\t the\t cause\t of\t Helen\u2019s\t husband,\t whoever\t he\t might\t be,\t if\t any wrong\t was\t done\t to\t him\t through\t his\t marriage.\t It\t was,\t after\t all,\t to\t each\t man\u2019s advantage\t to\t take\t the\t oath,\t since\t each\t was\t hoping\t he\t would\t be\t the\t person chosen,\t so\t they\t all\t bound\t themselves\t to\t punish\t to\t the\t uttermost\t anyone\t who carried\t or\t tried\t to\t carry\t Helen\t away.\t Then\t Tyndareus\t chose\t Menelaus,\t the brother\tof\tAgamemnon,\tand\tmade\thim\tKing\tof\tSparta\tas\twell. So\t matters\t stood\t when\t Paris\t gave\t the\t golden\t apple\t to\t Aphrodite.\t The Goddess\t of\t Love\t and\t Beauty\t knew\t very\t well\t where\t the\t most\t beautiful\t woman on\t earth\t was\t to\t be\t found.\t She\t led\t the\t young\t shepherd,\t with\t never\t a\t thought\t of Oenone\tleft\tforlorn,\tstraight\tto\tSparta,\twhere\tMenelaus\tand\tHelen\treceived\thim graciously\tas\ttheir\tguest.\tThe\tties\tbetween\tguest\tand\thost\twere\tstrong.\tEach\twas bound\t to\t help\t and\t never\t harm\t the\t other.\t But\t Paris\t broke\t that\t sacred\t bond. Menelaus\t trusting\t completely\t to\t it\t left\t Paris\t in\t his\t home\t and\t went\t off\t to\t Crete. Then, Paris\twho\tcoming Entered\ta\tfriend\u2019s\tkind\tdwelling, Shamed\tthe\thand\tthere\tthat\tgave\thim\tfood, Stealing\taway\ta\twoman. Menelaus\tgot\tback\tto\tfind\tHelen\tgone,\tand\the\tcalled\tupon\tall\tGreece\tto\thelp him.\t The\t chieftains\t responded,\t as\t they\t were\t bound\t to\t do.\t They\t came\t eager\t for the\t great\t enterprise,\t to\t cross\t the\t sea\t and\t lay\t mighty\t Troy\t in\t ashes.\t Two, however,\tof\tthe\tfirst\trank,\twere\tmissing:\tOdysseus,\tKing\tof\tthe\tIsland\tof\tIthaca, and\t Achilles,\t the\t son\t of\t Peleus\t and\t the\t sea\t nymph\t Thetis.\t Odysseus,\t who\t was","one\tof\tthe\tshrewdest\tand\tmost\tsensible\tmen\tin\tGreece,\tdid\tnot\twant\tto\tleave\this house\t and\t family\t to\t embark\t on\t a\t romantic\t adventure\t overseas\t for\t the\t sake\t of\t a faithless\t woman.\t He\t pretended,\t therefore,\t that\t he\t had\t gone\t mad,\t and\t when\t a messenger\t from\t the\t Greek\t Army\t arrived,\t the\t King\t was\t plowing\t a\t field\t and sowing\t it\t with\t salt\t instead\t of\t seed.\t But\t the\t messenger\t was\t shrewd,\t too.\t He seized\tOdysseus\u2019\tlittle\tson\tand\tput\thim\tdirectly\tin\tthe\tway\tof\tthe\tplow.\tInstantly the\tfather\tturned\tthe\tplow\taside,\tthus\tproving\tthat\the\thad\tall\this\twits\tabout\thim. However\treluctant,\the\thad\tto\tjoin\tthe\tArmy. Achilles\twas\tkept\tback\tby\this\tmother.\tThe\tsea\tnymph\tknew\tthat\tif\the\twent\tto Troy\the\twas\tfated\tto\tdie\tthere.\tShe\tsent\thim\tto\tthe\tcourt\tof\tLycomedes,\tthe\tking who\thad\ttreacherously\tkilled\tTheseus,\tand\tmade\thim\twear\twomen\u2019s\tclothes\tand hide\tamong\tthe\tmaidens.\tOdysseus\twas\tdispatched\tby\tthe\tchieftains\tto\tfind\thim out.\t Disguised\t as\t a\t peddler\t he\t went\t to\t the\t court\t where\t the\t lad\t was\t said\t to\t be, with\t gay\t ornaments\t in\t his\t pack\t such\t as\t women\t love,\t and\t also\t some\t fine weapons.\t While\t the\t girls\t flocked\t around\t the\t trinkets,\t Achilles\t fingered\t the swords\t and\t daggers.\t Odysseus\t knew\t him\t then,\t and\t he\t had\t no\t trouble\t at\t all\t in making\thim\tdisregard\twhat\this\tmother\thad\tsaid\tand\tgo\tto\tthe\tGreek\tcamp\twith him. So\tthe\tgreat\tfleet\tmade\tready.\tA\tthousand\tships\tcarried\tthe\tGreek\thost.\tThey met\t at\t Aulis,\t a\t place\t of\t strong\t winds\t and\t dangerous\t tides,\t impossible\t to\t sail from\tas\tlong\tas\tthe\tnorth\twind\tblew.\tAnd\tit\tkept\ton\tblowing,\tday\tafter\tday. It\tbroke\tmen\u2019s\theart, Spared\tnot\tship\tnor\tcable. The\ttime\tdragged. Doubling\titself\tin\tpassing. The\t Army\t was\t desperate.\t At\t last\t the\t soothsayer,\t Calchas,\t declared\t that\t the gods\thad\tspoken\tto\thim:\tArtemis\twas\tangry.\tOne\tof\ther\tbeloved\twild\tcreatures, a\thare,\thad\tbeen\tslain\tby\tthe\tGreeks,\ttogether\twith\ther\tyoung,\tand\tthe\tonly\tway to\t calm\t the\t wind\t and\t ensure\t a\t safe\t voyage\t to\t Troy\t was\t to\t appease\t her\t by sacrificing\t to\t her\t a\t royal\t maiden,\t Iphigenia,\t the\t eldest\t daughter\t of\t the Commander\t in\t Chief,\t Agamemnon.\t This\t was\t terrible\t to\t all,\t but\t to\t her\t father hardly\tbearable. If\tI\tmust\tslay","The\tjoy\tof\tmy\thouse,\tmy\tdaughter. A\tfather\u2019s\thands Stained\twith\tdark\tstreams\tflowing From\tblood\tof\ta\tgirl Slaughtered\tbefore\tthe\taltar. Nevertheless\t he\t yielded.\t His\t reputation\t with\t the\t Army\t was\t at\t stake,\t and\t his ambition\tto\tconquer\tTroy\tand\texalt\tGreece. He\tdared\tthe\tdeed, Slaying\this\tchild\tto\thelp\ta\twar. He\tsent\thome\tfor\ther,\twriting\this\twife\tthat\the\thad\tarranged\ta\tgreat\tmarriage for\t her,\t to\t Achilles,\t who\t had\t already\t shown\t himself\t the\t best\t and\t greatest\t of\t all chieftains.\tBut\twhen\tshe\tcame\tto\ther\twedding\tshe\twas\tcarried\tto\tthe\taltar\tto\tbe killed. And\tall\ther\tprayers\u2014cries\tof\tFather,\tFather, Her\tmaiden\tlife, These\tthey\theld\tas\tnothing, The\tsavage\twarriors,\tbattle-mad. She\t died\t and\t the\t north\t wind\t ceased\t to\t blow\t and\t the\t Greek\t ships\t sailed\t out over\t a\t quiet\t sea,\t but\t the\t evil\t price\t they\t had\t paid\t was\t bound\t some\t day\t to\t bring evil\tdown\tupon\tthem. When\t they\t reached\t the\t mouth\t of\t the\t Simois,\t one\t of\t the\t rivers\t of\t Troy,\t the first\tman\tto\tleap\tashore\twas\tProtesilaus.\tIt\twas\ta\tbrave\tdeed,\tfor\tthe\toracle\thad said\t that\t he\t who\t landed\t first\t would\t be\t the\t first\t to\t die.\t Therefore\t when\t he\t had fallen\t by\t a\t Trojan\t spear\t the\t Greeks\t paid\t him\t honors\t as\t though\t he\t were\t divine and\t the\t gods,\t too,\t greatly\t distinguished\t him.\t They\t had\t Hermes\t bring\t him\t up from\tthe\tdead\tto\tsee\tonce\tagain\this\tdeeply\tmourning\twife,\tLaodamia.\tShe\twould not\tgive\thim\tup\ta\tsecond\ttime,\thowever.\tWhen\the\twent\tback\tto\tthe\tunderworld she\twent\twith\thim;\tshe\tkilled\therself. The\tthousand\tships\tcarried\ta\tgreat\thost\tof\tfighting\tmen\tand\tthe\tGreek\tArmy was\t very\t strong,\t but\t the\t Trojan\t City\t was\t strong,\t too.\t Priam,\t the\t King,\t and\t his Queen,\tHecuba,\thad\tmany\tbrave\tsons\tto\tlead\tthe\tattack\tand\tto\tdefend\tthe\twalls,","one\t above\t all,\t Hector,\t than\t whom\t no\t man\t anywhere\t was\t nobler\t or\t more\t brave, and\tonly\tone\ta\tgreater\twarrior,\tthe\tchampion\tof\tthe\tGreeks,\tAchilles.\tEach\tknew that\the\twould\tdie\tbefore\tTroy\twas\ttaken.\tAchilles\thad\tbeen\ttold\tby\this\tmother: \u201cVery\t brief\t is\t your\t lot.\t Would\t that\t you\t could\t be\t free\t now\t from\t tears\t and troubles,\tfor\tyou\tshall\tnot\tlong\tendure,\tmy\tchild,\tshort-lived\tbeyond\tall\tmen\tand to\tbe\tpitied.\u201d\tNo\tdivinity\thad\ttold\tHector,\tbut\the\twas\tequally\tsure.\t\u201cI\tknow\twell in\t my\t heart\t and\t in\t my\t soul,\u201d\t he\t said\t to\t his\t wife\t Andromache,\t \u201cthe\t day\t shall come\t when\t holy\t Troy\t will\t be\t laid\t low\t and\t Priam\t and\t Priam\u2019s\t people.\u201d\t Both heroes\tfought\tunder\tthe\tshadow\tof\tcertain\tdeath. For\t nine\t years\t victory\t wavered,\t now\t to\t this\t side,\t now\t to\t that.\t Neither\t was ever\t able\t to\t gain\t any\t decided\t advantage.\t Then\t a\t quarrel\t flared\t up\t between\t two Greeks,\t Achilles\t and\t Agamemnon,\t and\t for\t a\t time\t it\t turned\t the\t tide\t in\t favor\t of the\t Trojans.\t Again\t a\t woman\t was\t the\t reason,\t Chryseis,\t daughter\t of\t Apollo\u2019s priest,\t whom\t the\t Greeks\t had\t carried\t off\t and\t given\t to\t Agamemnon.\t Her\t father came\t to\t beg\t for\t her\t release,\t but\t Agamemnon\t would\t not\t let\t her\t go.\t Then\t the priest\tprayed\tto\tthe\tmighty\tgod\the\tserved\tand\tPhoebus\tApollo\theard\thim.\tFrom his\t sun-chariot\t he\t shot\t fiery\t arrows\t down\t upon\t the\t Greek\t Army,\t and\t men sickened\tand\tdied\tso\tthat\tthe\tfuneral\tpyres\twere\tburning\tcontinually. At\t last\t Achilles\t called\t an\t assembly\t of\t the\t chieftains.\t He\t told\t them\t that\t they could\tnot\thold\tout\tagainst\tboth\tthe\tpestilence\tand\tthe\tTrojans,\tand\tthat\tthey\tmust either\tfind\ta\tway\tto\tappease\tApollo\tor\telse\tsail\thome.\tThen\tthe\tprophet\tCalchas stood\t up\t and\t said\t he\t knew\t why\t the\t god\t was\t angry,\t but\t that\t he\t was\t afraid\t to speak\tunless\tAchilles\twould\tguarantee\this\tsafety.\t\u201cI\tdo\tso,\u201d\tAchilles\tanswered, \u201ceven\t if\t you\t accuse\t Agamemnon\t himself.\u201d\t Every\t man\t there\t understood\t what that\t meant;\t they\t knew\t how\t Apollo\u2019s\t priest\t had\t been\t treated.\t When\t Calchas declared\t that\t Chryseis\t must\t be\t given\t back\t to\t her\t father,\t he\t had\t all\t the\t chiefs behind\t him\t and\t Agamemnon,\t greatly\t angered,\t was\t obliged\t to\t agree.\t \u201cBut\t if\t I lose\t her\t who\t was\t my\t prize\t of\t honor,\u201d\t he\t told\t Achilles,\t \u201cI\t will\t have\t another\t in her\tstead.\u201d Therefore\t when\t Chryseis\t had\t been\t returned\t to\t her\t father,\t Agamemnon\t sent two\tof\this\tsquires\tto\tAchilles\u2019\ttent\tto\ttake\this\tprize\tof\thonor\taway\tfrom\thim,\tthe maiden\t Briseis.\t Most\t unwillingly\t they\t went\t and\t stood\t before\t the\t hero\t in\t heavy silence.\t But\t he\t knowing\t their\t errand\t told\t them\t it\t was\t not\t they\t who\t were wronging\t him.\t Let\t them\t take\t the\t girl\t without\t fear\t for\t themselves,\t but\t hear\t him first\twhile\the\tswore\tbefore\tgods\tand\tmen\tthat\tAgamemnon\twould\tpay\tdearly\tfor the\tdeed. That\t night\t Achilles\u2019\t mother,\t silver-footed\t Thetis\t the\t sea\t nymph,\t came\t to","him.\tShe\twas\tas\tangry\tas\the.\tShe\ttold\thim\tto\thave\tnothing\tmore\tto\tdo\twith\tthe Greeks,\t and\t with\t that\t she\t went\t up\t to\t heaven\t and\t asked\t Zeus\t to\t give\t success\t to the\t Trojans.\t Zeus\t was\t very\t reluctant.\t The\t war\t by\t now\t had\t reached\t Olympus\u2014 the\tgods\twere\tranged\tagainst\teach\tother.\tAphrodite,\tof\tcourse,\twas\ton\tthe\tside\tof Paris.\tEqually,\tof\tcourse,\tHera\tand\tAthena\twere\tagainst\thim.\tAres,\tGod\tof\tWar, always\ttook\tsides\twith\tAphrodite;\twhile\tPoseidon,\tLord\tof\tthe\tSea,\tfavored\tthe Greeks,\ta\tsea\tpeople,\t always\t great\t sailors.\tApollo\tcared\tfor\tHector\tand\tfor\this sake\t helped\t the\t Trojans,\t and\t Artemis,\t as\t his\t sister,\t did\t so,\t too.\t Zeus\t liked\t the Trojans\t best,\t on\t the\t whole,\t but\t he\t wanted\t to\t be\t neutral\t because\t Hera\t was\t so disagreeable\t whenever\t he\t opposed\t her\t openly.\t However,\t he\t could\t not\t resist Thetis.\tHe\thad\ta\thard\ttime\twith\tHera,\twho\tguessed,\tas\tshe\tusually\tdid,\twhat\the was\t about.\t He\t was\t driven\t finally\t into\t telling\t her\t that\t he\t would\t lay\t hands\t upon her\tif\tshe\tdid\tnot\tstop\ttalking.\tHera\tkept\tsilence\tthen,\tbut\ther\tthoughts\twere\tbusy as\tto\thow\tshe\tmight\thelp\tthe\tGreeks\tand\tcircumvent\tZeus. The\t plan\t Zeus\t made\t was\t simple.\t He\t knew\t that\t the\t Greeks\t without\t Achilles were\tinferior\tto\tthe\tTrojans,\tand\the\tsent\ta\tlying\tdream\tto\tAgamemnon\tpromising him\t victory\t if\t he\t attacked.\t While\t Achilles\t stayed\t in\t his\t tent\t a\t fierce\t battle followed,\tthe\thardest\tyet\tfought.\tUp\ton\tthe\twall\tof\tTroy\tthe\told\tKing\tPriam\tand the\t other\t old\t men,\t wise\t in\t the\t ways\t of\t war,\t sat\t watching\t the\t contest.\t To\t them came\tHelen,\tthe\tcause\tof\tall\tthat\tagony\tand\tdeath,\tyet\tas\tthey\tlooked\tat\ther,\tthey could\t not\t feel\t any\t blame.\t \u201cMen\t must\t fight\t for\t such\t as\t she,\u201d\t they\t said\t to\t each other.\t\u201cFor\ther\tface\twas\tlike\tto\tthat\tof\tan\timmortal\tspirit.\u201d\tShe\tstayed\tby\tthem, telling\tthem\tthe\tnames\tof\tthis\tand\tthat\tGreek\thero,\tuntil\tto\ttheir\tastonishment\tthe battle\t ceased.\t The\t armies\t drew\t back\t on\t either\t side\t and\t in\t the\t space\t between, Paris\t and\t Menelaus\t faced\t each\t other.\t It\t was\t evident\t that\t the\t sensible\t decision had\tbeen\treached\tto\tlet\tthe\ttwo\tmost\tconcerned\tfight\tit\tout\talone. Paris\t struck\t first,\t but\t Menelaus\t caught\t the\t swift\t spear\t on\t his\t shield,\t then hurled\t his\t own.\t It\t rent\t Paris\u2019\t tunic,\t but\t did\t not\t wound\t him.\t Menelaus\t drew\t his sword,\t his\t only\t weapon\t now,\t but\t as\t he\t did\t so\t it\t fell\t from\t his\t hand\t broken. Undaunted\t though\t unarmed\t he\t leaped\t upon\t Paris\t and\t seizing\t him\t by\t his helmet\u2019s\tcrest\tswung\thim\toff\this\tfeet.\tHe\twould\thave\tdragged\thim\tto\tthe\tGreeks victoriously\t if\t it\t had\t not\t been\t for\t Aphrodite.\t She\t tore\t away\t the\t strap\t that\t kept the\t helmet\t on\t so\t that\t it\t came\t away\t in\t Menelaus\u2019\t hand.\t Paris\t himself,\t who\t had not\t fought\t at\t all\t except\t to\t throw\t his\t spear,\t she\t caught\t up\t in\t a\t cloud\t and\t took back\tto\tTroy. Furiously\t Menelaus\t went\t through\t the\t Trojan\t ranks\t seeking\t Paris,\t and\t not\t a man\tthere\tbut\twould\thave\thelped\thim\tfor\tthey\tall\thated\tParis,\tbut\the\twas\tgone,","no\tone\tknew\thow\tor\twhere.\tSo\tAgamemnon\tspoke\tto\tboth\tarmies,\tdeclaring\tthat Menelaus\t was\t victor\t and\t bidding\t the\t Trojans\t give\t Helen\t back.\t This\t was\t just, and\t the\t Trojans\t would\t have\t agreed\t if\t Athena,\t at\t Hera\u2019s\t prompting,\t had\t not interfered.\t Hera\t was\t determined\t that\t the\t war\t should\t not\t end\t until\t Troy\t was ruined.\tAthena,\tsweeping\tdown\tto\tthe\tbattlefield,\tpersuaded\tthe\tfoolish\theart\tof Pandarus,\ta\tTrojan,\tto\tbreak\tthe\ttruce\tand\tshoot\tan\tarrow\tat\tMenelaus.\tHe\tdid\tso and\t wounded\t him,\t only\t slightly,\t but\t the\t Greeks\t in\t rage\t at\t the\t treachery\t turned upon\tthe\tTrojans\tand\tthe\tbattle\twas\ton\tagain.\tTerror\tand\tDestruction\tand\tStrife, whose\tfury\tnever\tslackens,\tall\tfriends\tof\tthe\tmurderous\tWar-god,\twere\tthere\tto urge\tmen\ton\tto\tslaughter\teach\tother.\tThen\tthe\tvoice\tof\tgroaning\twas\theard\tand the\t voice\t of\t triumph\t from\t slayer\t and\t from\t slain\t and\t the\t earth\t steamed\t with blood. On\tthe\tGreek\tside,\twith\tAchilles\tgone,\tthe\ttwo\tgreatest\tchampions\twere\tAjax and\t Diomedes.\t They\t fought\t gloriously\t that\t day\t and\t many\t a\t Trojan\t lay\t on\t his face\t in\t the\t dust\t before\t them.\t The\t best\t and\t bravest\t next\t to\t Hector,\t the\t Prince Aeneas,\t came\t near\t to\t death\t at\t Diomedes\u2019\t hands.\t He\t was\t of\t more\t than\t royal blood;\this\tmother\twas\tAphrodite\therself,\tand\twhen\tDiomedes\twounded\thim\tshe hastened\tdown\tto\tthe\tbattlefield\tto\tsave\thim.\tShe\tlifted\thim\tin\ther\tsoft\tarms,\tbut Diomedes,\t knowing\t she\t was\t a\t coward\t goddess,\t not\t one\t of\t those\t who\t like Athena\t are\t masters\t where\t warriors\t fight,\t leaped\t toward\t her\t and\t wounded\t her hand.\t Crying\t out\t she\t let\t Aeneas\t fall,\t and\t weeping\t for\t pain\t made\t her\t way\t to Olympus,\t where\t Zeus\t smiling\t to\t see\t the\t laughter-loving\t goddess\t in\t tears\t bade her\tstay\taway\tfrom\tbattle\tand\tremember\thers\twere\tthe\tworks\tof\tlove\tand\tnot\tof war.\t But\t although\t his\t mother\t failed\t him\t Aeneas\t was\t not\t killed.\t Apollo enveloped\thim\tin\ta\tcloud\tand\tcarried\thim\tto\tsacred\tPergamos,\tthe\tholy\tplace\tof Troy,\twhere\tArtemis\thealed\thim\tof\this\twound. But\t Diomedes\t raged\t on,\t working\t havoc\t in\t the\t Trojan\t ranks\t until\t he\t came face\tto\tface\twith\tHector.\tThere\tto\this\tdismay\the\tsaw\tAres,\ttoo.\tThe\tbloodstained murderous\tgod\tof\twar\twas\tfighting\tfor\tHector.\tAt\tthe\tsight\tDiomedes\tshuddered and\t cried\t to\t the\t Greeks\t to\t fall\t back,\t slowly,\t however,\t and\t with\t their\t faces toward\tthe\tTrojans.\tThen\tHera\twas\tangry.\tShe\turged\ther\thorses\tto\tOlympus\tand asked\tZeus\tif\tshe\tmight\tdrive\tthat\tbane\tof\tmen,\tAres,\tfrom\tthe\tbattlefield.\tZeus, who\t loved\t him\t no\t more\t than\t Hera\t did\t even\t though\t he\t was\t their\t son,\t willingly gave\t her\t leave.\t She\t hastened\t down\t to\t stand\t beside\t Diomedes\t and\t urge\t him\t to smite\t the\t terrible\t god\t and\t have\t no\t fear.\t At\t that,\t joy\t filled\t the\t hero\u2019s\t heart.\t He rushed\tat\tAres\tand\thurled\this\tspear\tat\thim.\tAthena\tdrove\tit\thome,\tand\tit\tentered Ares\u2019\tbody.\tThe\tWar-god\tbellowed\tas\tloud\tas\tten\tthousand\tcry\tin\tbattle,\tand\tat","the\tawful\tsound\ttrembling\tseized\tthe\twhole\thost,\tGreeks\tand\tTrojans\talike. Ares,\t really\t a\t bully\t at\t heart\t and\t unable\t to\t bear\t what\t he\t brought\t upon unnumbered\t multitudes\t of\t men,\t fled\t up\t to\t Zeus\t in\t Olympus\t and\t complained bitterly\t of\t Athena\u2019s\t violence.\t But\t Zeus\t looked\t at\t him\t sternly\t and\t told\t him\t he was\t as\t intolerable\t as\t his\t mother,\t and\t bade\t him\t cease\t his\t whining.\t With\t Ares gone,\t however,\t the\t Trojans\t were\t forced\t to\t fall\t back.\t At\t this\t crisis\t a\t brother\t of Hector\u2019s,\t wise\t in\t discerning\t the\t will\t of\t the\t gods,\t urged\t Hector\t to\t go\t with\t all speed\t to\t the\t city\t and\t tell\t the\t Queen,\t his\t mother,\t to\t offer\t to\t Athena\t the\t most beautiful\trobe\tshe\towned\tand\tpray\ther\tto\thave\tmercy.\tHector\tfelt\tthe\twisdom\tof the\tadvice\tand\tsped\tthrough\tthe\tgates\tto\tthe\tpalace,\twhere\this\tmother\tdid\tall\tas he\tsaid.\tShe\ttook\ta\trobe\tso\tprecious\tthat\tit\tshone\tlike\ta\tstar,\tand\tlaying\tit\ton\tthe goddess\u2019s\tknees\tshe\tbesought\ther:\t\u201cLady\tAthena,\tspare\tthe\tcity\tand\tthe\twives\tof the\tTrojans\tand\tthe\tlittle\tchildren.\u201d\tBut\tPallas\tAthena\tdenied\tthe\tprayer. As\tHector\twent\tback\tto\tthe\tbattle\the\tturned\taside\tto\tsee\tonce\tmore,\tperhaps for\tthe\tlast\ttime,\tthe\twife\the\ttenderly\tloved,\tAndromache,\tand\this\tson\tAstyanax. He\tmet\ther\ton\tthe\twall\twhere\tshe\thad\tgone\tin\tterror\tto\twatch\tthe\tfighting\twhen she\theard\tthe\tTrojans\twere\tin\tretreat.\tWith\ther\twas\ta\thandmaid\tcarrying\tthe\tlittle boy.\t Hector\t smiled\t and\t looked\t at\t them\t silently,\t but\t Andromache\t took\t his\t hand in\thers\tand\twept.\t\u201cMy\tdear\tlord,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\t\u201cyou\twho\tare\tfather\tand\tmother\tand brother\tunto\tme\tas\twell\tas\thusband,\tstay\there\twith\tus.\tDo\tnot\tmake\tme\ta\twidow and\tyour\tchild\tan\torphan.\u201d\tHe\trefused\ther\tgently.\tHe\tcould\tnot\tbe\ta\tcoward,\the said.\t It\t was\t for\t him\t to\t fight\t always\t in\t the\t forefront\t of\t the\t battle.\t Yet\t she\t could know\t that\t he\t never\t forgot\t what\t her\t anguish\t would\t be\t when\t he\t died.\t That\t was the\tthought\tthat\ttroubled\thim\tabove\tall\telse,\tmore\tthan\this\tmany\tother\tcares.\tHe turned\t to\t leave\t her,\t but\t first\t he\t held\t out\t his\t arms\t to\t his\t son.\t Terrified\t the\t little boy\t shrank\t back,\t afraid\t of\t the\t helmet\t and\t its\t fierce\t nodding\t crest.\t Hector laughed\tand\ttook\tthe\tshining\thelmet\tfrom\this\thead.\tThen\tholding\tthe\tchild\tin\this arms\t he\t caressed\t him\t and\t prayed,\t \u201cO\t Zeus,\t in\t after\t years\t may\t men\t say\t of\t this my\tson\twhen\the\treturns\tfrom\tbattle,\t\u2018Far\tgreater\tis\the\tthan\this\tfather\twas.\u2019\u201d So\t he\t laid\t the\t boy\t in\t his\t wife\u2019s\t arms\t and\t she\t took\t him,\t smiling,\t yet\t with tears.\tAnd\tHector\tpitied\ther\tand\ttouched\ther\ttenderly\twith\this\thand\tand\tspoke\tto her:\t\u201cDear\tone,\tbe\tnot\tso\tsorrowful.\tThat\twhich\tis\tfated\tmust\tcome\tto\tpass,\tbut against\tmy\tfate\tno\tman\tcan\tkill\tme.\u201d\tThen\ttaking\tup\this\thelmet\the\tleft\ther\tand she\twent\tto\ther\thouse,\toften\tlooking\tback\tat\thim\tand\tweeping\tbitterly. Once\tagain\ton\tthe\tbattlefield\the\twas\teager\tfor\tthe\tfight,\tand\tbetter\tfortune\tfor a\t time\t lay\t before\t him.\t Zeus\t had\t by\t now\t remembered\t his\t promise\t to\t Thetis\t to avenge\tAchilles\u2019\twrong.\tHe\tordered\tall\tthe\tother\timmortals\tto\tstay\tin\tOlympus;","he\t himself\t went\t down\t to\t earth\t to\t help\t the\t Trojans.\t Then\t it\t went\t hard\t with\t the Greeks.\t Their\t great\t champion\t was\t far\t away.\t Achilles\t sat\t alone\t in\t his\t tent, brooding\t over\t his\t wrongs.\t The\t great\t Trojan\t champion\t had\t never\t before\t shown himself\t so\t brilliant\t and\t so\t brave.\t Hector\t seemed\t irresistible.\t Tamer\t of\t horses, the\tTrojans\talways\tcalled\thim,\tand\the\tdrove\this\tcar\tthrough\tthe\tGreek\tranks\tas\tif the\t same\t spirit\t animated\t steeds\t and\t driver.\t His\t glancing\t helm\t was\t everywhere and\tone\tgallant\twarrior\tafter\tanother\tfell\tbeneath\this\tterrible\tbronze\tspear.\tWhen evening\tended\tthe\tbattle,\tthe\tTrojans\thad\tdriven\tthe\tGreeks\tback\talmost\tto\ttheir ships. There\t was\t rejoicing\t in\t Troy\t that\t night,\t but\t grief\t and\t despair\t in\t the\t Greek camp.\t Agamemnon\t himself\t was\t all\t for\t giving\t up\t and\t sailing\t back\t to\t Greece. Nestor,\t however,\t who\t was\t the\t oldest\t among\t the\t chieftains\t and\t therefore\t the wisest,\t wiser\t even\t than\t the\t shrewd\t Odysseus,\t spoke\t out\t boldly\t and\t told Agamemnon\t that\t if\t he\t had\t not\t angered\t Achilles\t they\t would\t not\t have\t been defeated.\t\u201cTry\tto\tfind\tsome\tway\tof\tappeasing\thim,\u201d\t he\tsaid,\t\u201cinstead\tof\tgoing home\t disgraced.\u201d\t All\t applauded\t the\t advice\t and\t Agamemnon\t confessed\t that\t he had\t acted\t like\t a\t fool.\t He\t would\t send\t Briseis\t back,\t he\t promised\t them,\t and\t with her\t many\t other\t splendid\t gifts,\t and\t he\t begged\t Odysseus\t to\t take\t his\t offer\t to Achilles. Odysseus\t and\t the\t two\t chieftains\t chosen\t to\t accompany\t him\t found\t the\t hero with\t his\t friend\t Patroclus,\t who\t of\t all\t men\t on\t earth\t was\t dearest\t to\t him.\t Achilles welcomed\tthem\tcourteously\tand\tset\tfood\tand\tdrink\tbefore\tthem,\tbut\twhen\tthey told\thim\twhy\tthey\thad\tcome\tand\tall\tthe\trich\tgifts\tthat\twould\tbe\this\tif\the\twould yield,\t and\t begged\t him\t to\t have\t pity\t on\t his\t hard-pressed\t countrymen,\t they received\t an\t absolute\t refusal.\t Not\t all\t the\t treasures\t of\t Egypt\t could\t buy\t him,\t he told\tthem.\tHe\twas\tsailing\thome\tand\tthey\twould\tbe\twise\tto\tdo\tthe\tsame.","But\t all\t rejected\t that\t counsel\t when\t Odysseus\t brought\t back\t the\t answer.\t The next\tday\tthey\twent\tinto\tbattle\twith\tthe\tdesperate\tcourage\tof\tbrave\tmen\tcornered. Again\tthey\twere\tdriven\tback,\tuntil\tthey\tstood\tfighting\ton\tthe\tbeach\twhere\ttheir ships\t were\t drawn\t up.\t But\t help\t was\t at\t hand.\t Hera\t had\t laid\t her\t plans.\t She\t saw Zeus\t sitting\t on\t Mount\t Ida\t watching\t the\t Trojans\t conquer,\t and\t she\t thought\t how she\tdetested\thim.\tBut\tshe\tknew\twell\tthat\tshe\tcould\tget\tthe\tbetter\tof\thim\tonly\tin one\t way.\t She\t must\t go\t to\t him\t looking\t so\t lovely\t that\t he\t could\t not\t resist\t her. When\t he\t took\t her\t in\t his\t arms\t she\t would\t pour\t sweet\t sleep\t upon\t him\t and\t he would\t forget\t the\t Trojans.\t So\t she\t did.\t She\t went\t to\t her\t chamber\t and\t used\t every art\tshe\tknew\tto\tmake\therself\tbeautiful\tbeyond\tcompare.\tLast\tof\tall\tshe\tborrowed Aphrodite\u2019s\t girdle\t wherein\t were\t all\t her\t enchantments,\t and\t with\t this\t added charm\tshe\tappeared\tbefore\tZeus.\tAs\the\tsaw\ther,\tlove\tovercame\this\theart\tso\tthat he\tthought\tno\tmore\tof\this\tpromise\tto\tThetis. At\t once\t the\t battle\t turned\t in\t favor\t of\t the\t Greeks.\t Ajax\t hurled\t Hector\t to\t the","ground,\t although\t before\t he\t could\t wound\t him\t Aeneas\t lifted\t him\t and\t bore\t him away.\tWith\tHector\tgone,\tthe\tGreeks\twere\table\tto\tdrive\tthe\tTrojans\tfar\tback\tfrom the\t ships\t and\t Troy\t might\t have\t been\t sacked\t that\t very\t day\t if\t Zeus\t had\t not awakened.\tHe\tleaped\tup\tand\tsaw\tthe\tTrojans\tin\tflight\tand\tHector\tlying\tgasping on\t the\t plain.\t All\t was\t clear\t to\t him\t and\t he\t turned\t fiercely\t to\t Hera.\t This\t was\t her doing,\t he\t said,\t her\t crafty,\t crooked\t ways.\t He\t was\t half-minded\t to\t give\t her\t then and\t there\t a\t beating.\t When\t it\t came\t to\t that\t kind\t of\t fighting\t Hera\t knew\t she\t was helpless.\tShe\tpromptly\tdenied\tthat\tshe\thad\thad\tanything\tto\tdo\twith\tthe\tTrojans\u2019 defeat.\t It\t was\t all\t Poseidon,\t she\t said,\t and\t indeed\t the\t Sea-god\t had\t been\t helping the\t Greeks\t contrary\t to\t Zeus\u2019s\t orders,\t but\t only\t because\t she\t had\t begged\t him. However,\t Zeus\t was\t glad\t enough\t of\t an\t excuse\t not\t to\t lay\t hands\t on\t her.\t He\t sent her\t back\t to\t Olympus\t and\t summoned\t Iris,\t the\t rainbow\t messenger,\t to\t carry\t his command\t to\t Poseidon\t to\t withdraw\t from\t the\t field.\t Sullenly\t the\t Sea-god\t obeyed and\tonce\tmore\tthe\ttide\tof\tbattle\tturned\tagainst\tthe\tGreeks. Apollo\t had\t revived\t the\t fainting\t Hector\t and\t breathed\t into\t him\t surpassing power.\t Before\t the\t two,\t the\t god\t and\t the\t hero,\t the\t Greeks\t were\t like\t a\t flock\t of frightened\t sheep\t driven\t by\t mountain\t lions.\t They\t fled\t in\t confusion\t to\t the\t ships, and\tthe\twall\tthey\thad\tbuilt\tto\tdefend\tthem\twent\tdown\tlike\ta\tsand\twall\tchildren heap\tup\ton\tthe\tshore\tand\tthen\tscatter\tin\ttheir\tplay.\tThe\tTrojans\twere\talmost\tnear enough\t to\t set\t the\t ships\t on\t fire.\t The\t Greeks,\t hopeless,\t thought\t only\t of\t dying bravely.","Patroclus,\t Achilles\u2019\t beloved\t friend,\t saw\t the\t rout\t with\t horror.\t Not\t even\t for Achilles\u2019\t sake\t could\t he\t stay\t longer\t away\t from\t the\t battle.\t \u201cYou\t can\t keep\t your wrath\twhile\tyour\tcountrymen\tgo\tdown\tin\truin,\u201d\the\tcried\tto\tAchilles.\t\u201cI\tcannot. Give\t me\t your\t armor.\t If\t they\t think\t I\t am\t you,\t the\t Trojans\t may\t pause\t and\t the worn-out\t Greeks\t have\t a\t breathing\t space.\t You\t and\t I\t are\t fresh.\t We\t might\t yet drive\tback\tthe\tenemy.\tBut\tif\tyou\twill\tsit\tnursing\tyour\tanger,\tat\tleast\tlet\tme\thave the\tarmor.\u201d\tAs\the\tspoke\tone\tof\tthe\tGreek\tships\tburst\tinto\tflame.\t\u201cThat\tway\tthey can\t cut\t off\t the\t Army\u2019s\t retreat,\u201d\t Achilles\t said.\t \u201cGo.\t Take\t my\t armor,\t my\t men,","too,\t and\t defend\t the\t ships.\t I\t cannot\t go.\t I\t am\t a\t man\t dishonored.\t For\t my\t own ships,\t if\t the\t battle\t comes\t near\t them,\t I\t will\t fight.\t I\t will\t not\t fight\t for\t men\t who have\tdisgraced\tme.\u201d So\tPatroclus\tput\ton\tthe\tsplendid\tarmor\tall\tthe\tTrojans\tknew\tand\tfeared,\tand led\t the\t Myrmidons,\t Achilles\u2019\t men,\t to\t the\t battle.\t At\t the\t first\t onset\t of\t this\t new band\t of\t warriors\t the\t Trojans\t wavered;\t they\t thought\t Achilles\t led\t them\t on.\t And indeed\tfor\ta\ttime\tPatroclus\tfought\tas\tgloriously\tas\tthat\tgreat\thero\thimself\tcould have\t done.\t But\t at\t last\t he\t met\t Hector\t face\t to\t face\t and\t his\t doom\t was\t sealed\t as surely\t as\t a\t boar\t is\t doomed\t when\t he\t faces\t a\t lion.\t Hector\u2019s\t spear\t gave\t him\t a mortal\twound\tand\this\tsoul\tfled\tfrom\this\tbody\tdown\tto\tthe\thouse\tof\tHades.\tThen Hector\t stripped\t his\t armor\t from\t him\t and\t casting\t his\t own\t aside,\t put\t it\t on.\t It seemed\t as\t though\t he\t had\t taken\t on,\t too,\t Achilles\u2019\t strength,\t and\t no\t man\t of\t the Greeks\tcould\tstand\tbefore\thim. Evening\t came\t that\t put\t an\t end\t to\t battle.\t Achilles\t sat\t by\t his\t tent\t waiting\t for Patroclus\t to\t return.\t But\t instead\t he\t saw\t old\t Nestor\u2019s\t son\t running\t toward\t him, fleet-footed\tAntilochus.\tHe\twas\tweeping\thot\ttears\tas\the\tran.\t\u201cBitter\ttidings,\u201d\the cried\t out.\t \u201cPatroclus\t is\t fallen\t and\t Hector\t has\t his\t armor.\u201d\t Grief\t took\t hold\t of Achilles,\t so\t black\t that\t those\t around\t him\t feared\t for\t his\t life.\t Down\t in\t the\t sea caves\this\tmother\tknew\this\tsorrow\tand\tcame\tup\tto\ttry\tto\tcomfort\thim.\t\u201cI\twill\tno longer\tlive\tamong\tmen,\u201d\the\ttold\ther,\t\u201cif\tI\tdo\tnot\tmake\tHector\tpay\twith\this\tdeath for\t Patroclus\t dead.\u201d\t Then\t Thetis\t weeping\t bade\t him\t remember\t that\t he\t himself was\tfated\tto\tdie\tstraightway\tafter\tHector.\t\u201cSo\tmay\tI\tdo,\u201d\tAchilles\tanswered,\t\u201cI who\tdid\tnot\thelp\tmy\tcomrade\tin\this\tsore\tneed.\tI\twill\tkill\tthe\tdestroyer\tof\thim\tI loved;\tthen\tI\twill\taccept\tdeath\twhen\tit\tcomes.\u201d Thetis\tdid\tnot\tattempt\tto\thold\thim\tback.\t\u201cOnly\twait\tuntil\tmorning,\u201d\tshe\tsaid, \u201cand\t you\t will\t not\t go\t unarmed\t to\t battle.\t I\t will\t bring\t you\t arms\t fashioned\t by\t the divine\tarmorer,\tthe\tgod\tHephaestus\thimself.\u201d Marvelous\tarms\tthey\twere\twhen\tThetis\tbrought\tthem,\tworthy\tof\ttheir\tmaker, such\tas\tno\tman\ton\tearth\thad\tever\tborne.\tThe\tMyrmidons\tgazed\tat\tthem\twith\tawe and\ta\tflame\tof\tfierce\tjoy\tblazed\tin\tAchilles\u2019\teyes\tas\the\tput\tthem\ton.\tThen\tat\tlast he\tleft\tthe\ttent\tin\twhich\the\thad\tsat\tso\tlong,\tand\twent\tdown\tto\twhere\tthe\tGreeks were\t gathered,\t a\t wretched\t company,\t Diomedes\t grievously\t wounded,\t Odysseus, Agamemnon,\tand\tmany\tanother.\tHe\tfelt\tshame\tbefore\tthem\tand\the\ttold\tthem\the saw\t his\t own\t exceeding\t folly\t in\t allowing\t the\t loss\t of\t a\t mere\t girl\t to\t make\t him forget\t everything\t else.\t But\t that\t was\t over;\t he\t was\t ready\t to\t lead\t them\t as\t before. Let\t them\t prepare\t at\t once\t for\t the\t battle.\t The\t chieftains\t applauded\t joyfully,\t but Odysseus\t spoke\t for\t all\t when\t he\t said\t they\t must\t first\t take\t their\t fill\t of\t food\t and","wine,\t for\t fasting\t men\t made\t poor\t fighters.\t \u201cOur\t comrades\t lie\t dead\t on\t the\t field and\t you\t call\t to\t food,\u201d\t Achilles\t answered\t scornfully.\t \u201cDown\t my\t throat\t shall\t go neither\tbite\tnor\tsup\tuntil\tmy\tdear\tcomrade\tis\tavenged.\u201d\tAnd\tto\thimself\the\tsaid, \u201cO\tdearest\tof\tfriends,\tfor\twant\tof\tyou\tI\tcannot\teat,\tI\tcannot\tdrink.\u201d When\tthe\tothers\thad\tsatisfied\ttheir\thunger\the\tled\tthe\tattack.\tThis\twas\tthe\tlast fight\t between\t the\t two\t great\t champions,\t as\t all\t the\t immortals\t knew.\t They\t also knew\thow\tit\twould\tturn\tout.\tFather\tZeus\thung\this\tgolden\tbalances\tand\tset\tin\tone the\t lot\t of\t Hector\u2019s\t death\t and\t in\t the\t other\t that\t of\t Achilles.\t Hector\u2019s\t lot\t sank down.\tIt\twas\tappointed\tthat\the\tshould\tdie. Nevertheless,\tthe\tvictory\twas\tlong\tin\tdoubt.\tThe\tTrojans\tunder\tHector\tfought as\tbrave\tmen\tfight\tbefore\tthe\twalls\tof\ttheir\thome.\tEven\tthe\tgreat\triver\tof\tTroy, which\tthe\tgods\tcall\tXanthus\tand\tmen\tScamander,\ttook\tpart\tand\tstrove\tto\tdrown Achilles\t as\t he\t crossed\t its\t waters.\t In\t vain,\t for\t nothing\t could\t check\t him\t as\t he rushed\t on\t slaughtering\t all\t in\t his\t path\t and\t seeking\t everywhere\t for\t Hector.\t The gods\t by\t now\t were\t fighting,\t too,\t as\t hotly\t as\t the\t men,\t and\t Zeus\t sitting\t apart\t in Olympus\t laughed\t pleasantly\t to\t himself\t when\t he\t saw\t god\t matched\t against\t god: Athena\t felling\t Ares\t to\t the\t ground;\t Hera\t seizing\t the\t bow\t of\t Artemis\t from\t her shoulders\t and\t boxing\t her\t ears\t with\t it\t this\t way\t and\t that;\t Poseidon\t provoking Apollo\t with\t taunting\t words\t to\t strike\t him\t first.\t The\t Sun-god\t refused\t the challenge.\tHe\tknew\tit\twas\tof\tno\tuse\tnow\tto\tfight\tfor\tHector. By\t this\t time\t the\t gates,\t the\t great\t Scaean\t gates\t of\t Troy,\t had\t been\t flung\t wide, for\tthe\tTrojans\tat\tlast\twere\tin\tfull\tflight\tand\twere\tcrowding\tinto\tthe\ttown.\tOnly Hector\t stood\t immovable\t before\t the\t wall.\t From\t the\t gates\t old\t Priam,\t his\t father, and\this\tmother\tHecuba\tcried\tto\thim\tto\tcome\twithin\tand\tsave\thimself,\tbut\the\tdid not\theed.\tHe\twas\tthinking,\t\u201cI\tled\tthe\tTrojans.\tTheir\tdefeat\tis\tmy\tfault.\tThen\tam\tI to\t spare\t myself?\t And\t yet\u2014what\t if\t I\t were\t to\t lay\t down\t shield\t and\t spear\t and\t go tell\tAchilles\tthat\twe\twill\tgive\tHelen\tback\tand\thalf\tof\tTroy\u2019s\ttreasures\twith\ther? Useless.\t He\t would\t but\t kill\t me\t unarmed\t as\t if\t I\t were\t a\t woman.\t Better\t to\t join battle\twith\thim\tnow\teven\tif\tI\tdie.\u201d On\tcame\tAchilles,\tglorious\tas\tthe\tsun\twhen\the\trises.\tBeside\thim\twas\tAthena, but\t Hector\t was\t alone.\t Apollo\t had\t left\t him\t to\t his\t fate.\t As\t the\t pair\t drew\t near\t he turned\t and\t fled.\t Three\t times\t around\t the\t wall\t of\t Troy\t pursued\t and\t pursuer\t ran with\tflying\tfeet.\tIt\twas\tAthena\twho\tmade\tHector\thalt.\tShe\tappeared\tbeside\thim in\t the\t shape\t of\t his\t brother,\t Deiphobus,\t and\t with\t this\t ally\t as\t he\t thought,\t Hector faced\tAchilles.\tHe\tcried\tout\tto\thim,\t\u201cIf\tI\tkill\tyou\tI\twill\tgive\tback\tyour\tbody\tto your\tfriends\tand\tdo\tyou\tdo\tthe\tsame\tto\tme.\u201d\tBut\tAchilles\tanswered,\t\u201cMadman. There\t are\t no\t covenants\t between\t sheep\t and\t wolves,\t nor\t between\t you\t and\t me.\u201d","So\t saying\t he\t hurled\t his\t spear.\t It\t missed\t its\t aim,\t but\t Athena\t brought\t it\t back. Then\t Hector\t struck\t with\t a\t true\t aim;\t the\t spear\t hit\t the\t center\t of\t Achilles\u2019\t shield. But\tto\twhat\tgood?\tThat\tarmor\twas\tmagical\tand\tcould\tnot\tbe\tpierced.\tHe\tturned quickly\t to\t Deiphobus\t to\t get\t his\t spear,\t but\t he\t was\t not\t there.\t Then\t Hector\t knew the\t truth.\t Athena\t had\t tricked\t him\t and\t there\t was\t no\t way\t of\t escape.\t \u201cThe\t gods have\t summoned\t me\t to\t death,\u201d\t he\t thought.\t \u201cAt\t least\t I\t will\t not\t die\t without\t a struggle,\tbut\tin\tsome\tgreat\tdeed\tof\tarms\twhich\tmen\tyet\tto\tbe\tborn\twill\ttell\teach other.\u201d\t He\t drew\t his\t sword,\t his\t only\t weapon\t now,\t and\t rushed\t upon\t his\t enemy. But\tAchilles\thad\ta\tspear,\tthe\tone\tAthena\thad\trecovered\tfor\thim.\tBefore\tHector could\t approach,\t he\t who\t knew\t well\t that\t armor\t taken\t by\t Hector\t from\t the\t dead Patroclus\taimed\tat\tan\topening\tin\tit\tnear\tthe\tthroat,\tand\tdrove\tthe\tspearpoint\tin. Hector\tfell,\tdying\tat\tlast.\tWith\this\tlast\tbreath\the\tprayed,\t\u201cGive\tback\tmy\tbody\tto my\t father\t and\t my\t mother.\u201d\t \u201cNo\t prayers\t from\t you\t to\t me,\t you\t dog,\u201d\t Achilles answered.\t\u201cI\twould\tthat\tI\tcould\tmake\tmyself\tdevour\traw\tyour\tflesh\tfor\tthe\tevil you\t have\t brought\t upon\t me.\u201d\t Then\t Hector\u2019s\t soul\t flew\t forth\t from\t his\t body\t and was\tgone\tto\tHades,\tbewailing\this\tfate,\tleaving\tvigor\tand\tyouth\tbehind. Achilles\t stripped\t the\t bloody\t armor\t from\t the\t corpse\t while\t the\t Greeks\t ran\t up to\t wonder\t how\t tall\t he\t was\t as\t he\t lay\t there\t and\t how\t noble\t to\t look\t upon.\t But Achilles\u2019\t mind\t was\t on\t other\t matters.\t He\t pierced\t the\t feet\t of\t the\t dead\t man\t and fastened\tthem\twith\tthongs\tto\tthe\tback\tof\this\tchariot,\tletting\tthe\thead\ttrail.\tThen he\t lashed\t his\t horses\t and\t round\t and\t round\t the\t walls\t of\t Troy\t he\t dragged\t all\t that was\tleft\tof\tglorious\tHector. At\tlast\twhen\this\tfierce\tsoul\twas\tsatisfied\twith\tvengeance\the\tstood\tbeside\tthe body\tof\tPatroclus\tand\tsaid,\t\u201cHear\tme\teven\tin\tthe\thouse\tof\tHades.\tI\thave\tdragged Hector\tbehind\tmy\tchariot\tand\tI\twill\tgive\thim\tto\tthe\tdogs\tto\tdevour\tbeside\tyour funeral\tpyre.\u201d Up\t in\t Olympus\t there\t was\t dissension.\t This\t abuse\t of\t the\t dead\t displeased\t all the\t immortals\t except\t Hera\t and\t Athena\t and\t Poseidon.\t Especially\t it\t displeased Zeus.\tHe\tsent\tIris\tto\tPriam,\tto\torder\thim\tto\tgo\twithout\tfear\tto\tAchilles\tto\tredeem Hector\u2019s\tbody,\tbearing\ta\trich\transom.\tShe\twas\tto\ttell\thim\tthat\tviolent\tas\tAchilles was,\the\twas\tnot\treally\tevil,\tbut\tone\twho\twould\ttreat\tproperly\ta\tsuppliant. Then\t the\t aged\t King\t heaped\t a\t car\t with\t splendid\t treasures,\t the\t best\t in\t Troy, and\t went\t over\t the\t plain\t to\t the\t Greek\t camp.\t Hermes\t met\t him,\t looking\t like\t a Greek\t youth\t and\t offering\t himself\t as\t a\t guide\t to\t Achilles\u2019\t tent.\t So\t accompanied the\t old\t man\t passed\t the\t guards\t and\t came\t into\t the\t presence\t of\t the\t man\t who\t had killed\tand\tmaltreated\this\tson.\tHe\tclasped\this\tknees\tand\tkissed\this\thands\tand\tas he\tdid\tso\tAchilles\tfelt\tawe\tand\tso\tdid\tall\tthe\tothers\tthere,\tlooking\tstrangely\tupon","one\tanother.\t\u201cRemember,\tAchilles,\u201d\tPriam\tsaid,\t\u201cyour\town\tfather,\tof\tlike\tyears with\t me\t and\t like\t me\t wretched\t for\t want\t of\t a\t son.\t Yet\t I\t am\t by\t far\t more\t to\t be pitied\twho\thave\tbraved\twhat\tno\tman\ton\tearth\tever\tdid\tbefore,\tto\tstretch\tout\tmy hand\tto\tthe\tslayer\tof\tmy\tson.\u201d Grief\t stirred\t within\t Achilles\u2019\t heart\t as\t he\t listened.\t Gently\t he\t raised\t the\t old man.\t\u201cSit\tby\tme\there,\u201d\the\tsaid,\t\u201cand\tlet\tour\tsorrow\tlie\tquiet\tin\tour\thearts.\tEvil\tis all\t men\u2019s\t lot,\t but\t yet\t we\t must\t keep\t courage.\u201d\t Then\t he\t bade\t his\t servants\t wash and\tanoint\tHector\u2019s\tbody\tand\tcover\tit\twith\ta\tsoft\trobe,\tso\tthat\tPriam\tshould\tnot see\t it,\t frightfully\t mangled\t as\t it\t was,\t and\t be\t unable\t to\t keep\t back\t his\t wrath.\t He feared\t for\t his\t own\t self-control\t if\t Priam\t vexed\t him.\t \u201cHow\t many\t days\t do\t you desire\tto\tmake\this\tfuneral?\u201d\the\tasked.\t\u201cFor\tso\tlong\tI\twill\tkeep\tthe\tGreeks\tback from\t battle.\u201d\t Then\t Priam\t brought\t Hector\t home,\t mourned\t in\t Troy\t as\t never another.\t Even\t Helen\t wept.\t \u201cThe\t other\t Trojans\t upbraid\t me,\u201d\t she\t said,\t \u201cbut always\t I\t had\t comfort\t from\t you\t through\t the\t gentleness\t of\t your\t spirit\t and\t your gentle\twords.\tYou\tonly\twere\tmy\tfriend.\u201d Nine\tdays\tthey\tlamented\thim;\tthen\tthey\tlaid\thim\ton\ta\tlofty\tpyre\tand\tset\tfire to\tit.\tWhen\tall\twas\tburned\tthey\tquenched\tthe\tflame\twith\twine\tand\tgathered\tthe bones\t into\t a\t golden\t urn,\t shrouding\t them\t in\t soft\t purple.\t They\t set\t the\t urn\t in\t a hollow\tgrave\tand\tpiled\tgreat\tstones\tover\tit. This\twas\tthe\tfuneral\tof\tHector,\ttamer\tof\thorses. And\twith\tit\tthe\tIliad\tends.","II The\t greater\t part\t of\t this\t story\t comes\t from\t Virgil.\t The\t capture\t of\t Troy\t is\t the subject\tof\tthe\tsecond\tbook\tof\tthe\tAeneid,\tand\tit\tis\tone\tof\tthe\tbest,\tif\tnot\tthe\tbest, story\tVirgil\tever\ttold\u2014concise,\tpointed,\tvivid.\tThe\tbeginning\tand\tthe\tend\tof\tmy account\t are\t not\t in\t Virgil.\t I\t have\t taken\t the\t story\t of\t Philoctetes\t and\t the\t death\t of Ajax\tfrom\ttwo\tplays\tof\tthe\tfifth-century\ttragic\tpoet\tSophocles.\tThe\tend,\tthe\ttale of\t what\t happened\t to\t the\t Trojan\t women\t when\t Troy\t fell,\t comes\t from\t a\t play\t by Sophocles\u2019\t fellow\t playwright,\t Euripides.\t It\t is\t a\t curious\t contrast\t to\t the\t martial spirit\t of\t the\t Aeneid.\t To\t Virgil\t as\t to\t all\t Roman\t poets,\t war\t was\t the\t noblest\t and most\t glorious\t of\t human\t activities.\t Four\t hundred\t years\t before\t Virgil\t a\t Greek poet\tlooked\tat\tit\tdifferently.\tWhat\twas\tthe\tend\tof\tthat\tfar-famed\twar?\tEuripides seems\tto\task.\tJust\tthis,\ta\truined\ttown,\ta\tdead\tbaby,\ta\tfew\twretched\twomen. With\t Hector\t dead,\t Achilles\t knew,\t as\t his\t mother\t had\t told\t him,\t that\t his\t own death\t was\t near.\t One\t more\t great\t feat\t of\t arms\t he\t did\t before\t his\t fighting\t ended forever.\tPrince\tMemnon\tof\tEthiopia,\tthe\tson\tof\tthe\tGoddess\tof\tthe\tDawn,\tcame to\t the\t assistance\t of\t Troy\t with\t a\t large\t army\t and\t for\t a\t time,\t even\t though\t Hector was\t gone,\t the\t Greeks\t were\t hard-pressed\t and\t lost\t many\t a\t gallant\t warrior, including\t swift-footed\t Antilochus,\t old\t Nestor\u2019s\t son.\t Finally,\t Achilles\t killed Memnon\tin\ta\tglorious\tcombat,\tthe\tGreek\thero\u2019s\tlast\tbattle.\tThen\the\thimself\tfell","beside\tthe\tScaean\tgates.\tHe\thad\tdriven\tthe\tTrojans\tbefore\thim\tup\tto\tthe\twall\tof Troy.\tThere\tParis\tshot\tan\tarrow\tat\thim\tand\tApollo\tguided\tit\tso\tthat\tit\tstruck\this foot\t in\t the\t one\t spot\t where\t he\t could\t be\t wounded,\t his\t heel.\t His\t mother\t Thetis when\t he\t was\t born\t had\t intended\t to\t make\t him\t invulnerable\t by\t dipping\t him\t into the\tRiver\tStyx,\tbut\tshe\twas\tcareless\tand\tdid\tnot\tsee\tto\tit\tthat\tthe\twater\tcovered the\tpart\tof\tthe\tfoot\tby\twhich\tshe\twas\tholding\thim.\tHe\tdied,\tand\tAjax\tcarried\this body\tout\tof\tthe\tbattle\twhile\tOdysseus\theld\tthe\tTrojans\tback.\tIt\tis\tsaid\tthat\tafter he\t had\t been\t burned\t on\t the\t funeral\t pyre\t his\t bones\t were\t placed\t in\t the\t same\t urn that\theld\tthose\tof\this\tfriend\tPatroclus. His\t arms,\t those\t marvelous\t arms\t Thetis\t had\t brought\t him\t from\t Hephaestus, caused\t the\t death\t of\t Ajax.\t It\t was\t decided\t in\t full\t assembly\t that\t the\t heroes\t who best\t deserved\t them\t were\t Ajax\t and\t Odysseus.\t A\t secret\t vote\t was\t then\t taken between\tthe\ttwo,\tand\tOdysseus\tgot\tthe\tarms.\tSuch\ta\tdecision\twas\ta\tvery\tserious matter\t in\t those\t days.\t It\t was\t not\t only\t that\t the\t man\t who\t won\t was\t honored;\t the man\t who\t was\t defeated\t was\t held\t to\t be\t dishonored.\t Ajax\t saw\t himself\t disgraced and\tin\ta\tfit\tof\tfurious\tanger\the\tdetermined\tto\tkill\tAgamemnon\tand\tMenelaus.\tHe believed\tand\twith\treason\tthat\tthey\thad\tturned\tthe\tvote\tagainst\thim.\tAt\tnightfall he\twent\tto\tfind\tthem\tand\the\thad\treached\ttheir\tquarters\twhen\tAthena\tstruck\thim with\t madness.\t He\t thought\t the\t flocks\t and\t herds\t of\t the\t Greeks\t were\t the\t Army, and\t rushed\t to\t kill\t them,\t believing\t that\t he\t was\t slaying\t now\t this\t chieftain,\t now that.\tFinally\the\tdragged\tto\this\ttent\ta\thuge\tram\twhich\tto\this\tdistracted\tmind\twas Odysseus,\tbound\thim\tto\tthe\ttent-pole\tand\tbeat\thim\tsavagely.\tThen\this\tfrenzy\tleft him.\t He\t regained\t his\t reason\t and\t saw\t that\t his\t disgrace\t in\t not\t winning\t the\t arms had\t been\t but\t a\t shadow\t as\t compared\t with\t the\t same\t his\t own\t deeds\t had\t drawn down\tupon\thim.\tHis\trage,\this\tfolly,\this\tmadness,\twould\tbe\tapparent\tto\teveryone. The\tslaughtered\tanimals\twere\tlying\tall\tover\tthe\tfield.\t\u201cThe\tpoor\tcattle,\u201d\the\tsaid to\thimself,\t\u201ckilled\tto\tno\tpurpose\tby\tmy\thand!\tAnd\tI\tstand\there\talone,\thateful\tto men\tand\tto\tgods.\tIn\tsuch\ta\tstate\tonly\ta\tcoward\tclings\tto\tlife.\tA\tman\tif\the\tcannot live\t nobly\t can\t die\t nobly.\u201d\t He\t drew\t his\t sword\t and\t killed\t himself.\t The\t Greeks would\tnot\tburn\this\tbody;\tthey\tburied\thim.\tThey\theld\tthat\ta\tsuicide\tshould\tnot\tbe honored\twith\ta\tfuneral\tpyre\tand\turn-burial. His\t death\t following\t so\t soon\t upon\t Achilles\u2019\t dismayed\t the\t Greeks.\t Victory seemed\t as\t far\t off\t as\t ever.\t Their\t prophet\t Calchas\t told\t them\t that\t he\t had\t no message\t from\t the\t gods\t for\t them,\t but\t that\t there\t was\t a\t man\t among\t the\t Trojans who\tknew\tthe\tfuture,\tthe\tprophet\tHelenus.\tIf\tthey\tcaptured\thim\tthey\tcould\tlearn from\t him\t what\t they\t should\t do.\t Odysseus\t succeeded\t in\t making\t him\t a\t prisoner, and\t he\t told\t the\t Greeks\t Troy\t would\t not\t fall\t until\t someone\t fought\t against\t the","Trojans\t with\t the\t bow\t and\t arrows\t of\t Hercules.\t These\t had\t been\t given\t when Hercules\t died\t to\t the\t Prince\t Philoctetes,\t the\t man\t who\t had\t fired\t his\t funeral\t pyre and\twho\tlater\thad\tjoined\tthe\tGreek\thost\twhen\tthey\tsailed\tto\tTroy.\tOn\tthe\tvoyage the\tGreeks\tstopped\tat\tan\tisland\tto\toffer\ta\tsacrifice\tand\tPhiloctetes\twas\tbitten\tby a\t serpent,\t a\t most\t frightful\t wound.\t It\t would\t not\t heal;\t it\t was\t impossible\t to\t carry him\t to\t Troy\t as\t he\t was;\t the\t Army\t could\t not\t wait.\t They\t left\t him\t finally\t at Lemnos,\tthen\tan\tuninhabited\tisland\talthough\tonce\tthe\theroes\tof\tthe\tQuest\tof\tthe Golden\tFleece\thad\tfound\tplenty\tof\twomen\tthere. It\twas\tcruel\tto\tdesert\tthe\thelpless\tsufferer,\tbut\tthey\twere\tdesperate\tto\tget\ton to\t Troy,\t and\t with\t his\t bow\t and\t arrows\t he\t would\t at\t least\t never\t lack\t for\t food. When\t Helenus\t spoke,\t however,\t the\t Greeks\t knew\t well\t that\t it\t would\t be\t hard\t to persuade\thim\twhom\tthey\thad\tso\twronged,\tto\tgive\this\tprecious\tweapons\tto\tthem. So\t they\t sent\t Odysseus,\t the\t master\t of\t crafty\t cunning,\t to\t get\t them\t by\t trickery. Some\t say\t that\t Diomedes\t went\t with\t him\t and\t others\t Neoptolemus,\t also\t called Pyrrhus,\t the\t young\t son\t of\t Achilles.\t They\t succeeded\t in\t stealing\t the\t bow\t and arrows,\t but\t when\t it\t came\t to\t leaving\t the\t poor\t wretch\t alone\t there\t deprived\t of them,\tthey\tcould\tnot\tdo\tit.\tIn\tthe\tend\tthey\tpersuaded\thim\tto\tgo\twith\tthem.\tBack at\t Troy\t the\t wise\t physician\t of\t the\t Greeks\t healed\t him,\t and\t when\t at\t last\t he\t went joyfully\t once\t again\t into\t battle\t the\t first\t man\t he\t wounded\t with\t his\t arrows\t was Paris.\t As\t he\t fell\t Paris\t begged\t to\t be\t carried\t to\t Oenone,\t the\t nymph\t he\t had\t lived with\t on\t Mount\t Ida\t before\t the\t three\t goddesses\t came\t to\t him.\t She\t had\t told\t him that\t she\t knew\t a\t magic\t drug\t to\t cure\t any\t ailment.\t They\t took\t him\t to\t her\t and\t he asked\t her\t for\t his\t life,\t but\t she\t refused.\t His\t desertion\t of\t her,\t his\t long forgetfulness,\t could\t not\t be\t forgiven\t in\t a\t moment\t because\t of\t his\t need.\t She watched\thim\tdie;\tthen\tshe\twent\taway\tand\tkilled\therself. Troy\t did\t not\t fall\t because\t Paris\t was\t dead.\t He\t was,\t indeed,\t no\t great\t loss.\t At last\t the\t Greeks\t learned\t that\t there\t was\t a\t most\t sacred\t image\t of\t Pallas\t Athena\t in the\t city,\t called\t the\t Palladium,\t and\t that\t as\t long\t as\t the\t Trojans\t had\t it\t Troy\t could not\t be\t taken.\t Accordingly,\t the\t two\t greatest\t of\t the\t chieftains\t left\t alive\t by\t then, Odysseus\t and\t Diomedes,\t determined\t to\t try\t to\t steal\t it.\t Diomedes\t was\t the\t one who\tbore\tthe\timage\toff.\tIn\ta\tdark\tnight\the\tclimbed\tthe\twall\twith\tOdysseus\u2019\thelp, found\tthe\tPalladium,\tand\ttook\tit\tto\tthe\tcamp.\tWith\tthis\tgreat\tencouragement\tthe Greeks\t determined\t to\t wait\t no\t longer,\t but\t devise\t some\t way\t to\t put\t an\t end\t to\t the endless\twar. They\t saw\t clearly\t by\t now\t that\t unless\t they\t could\t get\t their\t Army\t into\t the\t city and\t take\t the\t Trojans\t by\t surprise,\t they\t would\t never\t conquer.\t Almost\t ten\t years had\tpassed\tsince\tthey\thad\tfirst\tlaid\tsiege\tto\tthe\ttown,\tand\tit\tseemed\tas\tstrong\tas"]
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