Mythology

["ever.\t The\t walls\t stood\t uninjured.\t They\t had\t never\t suffered\t a\t real\t attack.\t The fighting\thad\ttaken\tplace,\tfor\tthe\tmost\tpart,\tat\ta\tdistance\tfrom\tthem.\tThe\tGreeks must\t find\t a\t secret\t way\t of\t entering\t the\t city,\t or\t accept\t defeat.\t The\t result\t of\t this new\t determination\t and\t new\t vision\t was\t the\t stratagem\t of\t the\t wooden\t horse.\t It was,\tas\tanyone\twould\tguess,\tthe\tcreation\tof\tOdysseus\u2019\twily\tmind. He\t had\t a\t skillful\t worker\t in\t wood\t make\t a\t huge\t wooden\t horse\t which\t was hollow\tand\tso\tbig\tthat\tit\tcould\thold\ta\tnumber\tof\tmen.\tThen\the\tpersuaded\u2014and had\t a\t great\t difficulty\t in\t doing\t so\u2014certain\t of\t the\t chieftains\t to\t hide\t inside\t it, along\twith\thimself,\tof\tcourse.\tThey\twere\tall\tterror-stricken\texcept\tAchilles\u2019\tson Neoptolemus,\t and\t indeed\t what\t they\t faced\t was\t no\t slight\t danger.\t The\t idea\t was that\t all\t the\t other\t Greeks\t should\t strike\t camp,\t and\t apparently\t put\t out\t to\t sea,\t but they\twould\treally\thide\tbeyond\tthe\tnearest\tisland\twhere\tthey\tcould\tnot\tbe\tseen\tby the\t Trojans.\t Whatever\t happened\t they\t would\t be\t safe;\t they\t could\t sail\t home\t if anything\t went\t wrong.\t But\t in\t that\t case\t the\t men\t inside\t the\t wooden\t horse\t would surely\tdie. Odysseus,\t as\t can\t be\t readily\t believed,\t had\t not\t overlooked\t this\t fact.\t His\t plan was\t to\t leave\t a\t single\t Greek\t behind\t in\t the\t deserted\t camp,\t primed\t with\t a\t tale calculated\t to\t make\t the\t Trojans\t draw\t the\t horse\t into\t the\t city\u2014and\t without investigating\t it.\t Then,\t when\t night\t was\t darkest,\t the\t Greeks\t inside\t were\t to\t leave their\t wooden\t prison\t and\t open\t the\t city\t gates\t to\t the\t Army,\t which\t by\t that\t time would\thave\tsailed\tback,\tand\tbe\twaiting\tbefore\tthe\twall. A\t night\t came\t when\t the\t plan\t was\t carried\t out.\t Then\t the\t last\t day\t of\t Troy dawned.\t On\t the\t walls\t the\t Trojan\t watchers\t saw\t with\t astonishment\t two\t sights, each\t as\t startling\t as\t the\t other.\t In\t front\t of\t the\t Scaean\t gates\t stood\t an\t enormous figure\tof\ta\thorse,\tsuch\ta\tthing\tas\tno\tone\thad\tever\tseen,\tan\tapparition\tso\tstrange that\t it\t was\t vaguely\t terrifying,\t even\t though\t there\t was\t no\t sound\t or\t movement coming\t from\t it.\t No\t sound\t or\t movement\t anywhere,\t indeed.\t The\t noisy\t Greek camp\twas\thushed;\tnothing\twas\tstirring\tthere.\tAnd\tthe\tships\twere\tgone.\tOnly\tone conclusion\t seemed\t possible:\t The\t Greeks\t had\t given\t up.\t They\t had\t sailed\t for Greece;\tthey\thad\taccepted\tdefeat.\tAll\tTroy\texulted.\tHer\tlong\twarfare\twas\tover; her\tsufferings\tlay\tbehind\ther. The\t people\t flocked\t to\t the\t abandoned\t Greek\t camp\t to\t see\t the\t sights:\t here Achilles\t had\t sulked\t so\t long;\t there\t Agamemnon\u2019s\t tent\t had\t stood;\t this\t was\t the quarters\tof\tthe\ttrickster,\tOdysseus.\tWhat\trapture\tto\tsee\tthe\tplaces\tempty,\tnothing in\t them\t now\t to\t fear.\t At\t last\t they\t drifted\t back\t to\t where\t that\t monstrosity,\t the wooden\t horse,\t stood,\t and\t they\t gathered\t around\t it,\t puzzled\t what\t to\t do\t with\t it. Then\t the\t Greek\t who\t had\t been\t left\t behind\t in\t the\t camp\t discovered\t himself\t to","them.\tHis\tname\twas\tSinon,\tand\the\twas\ta\tmost\tplausible\tspeaker.\tHe\twas\tseized and\t dragged\t to\t Priam,\t weeping\t and\t protesting\t that\t he\t no\t longer\t wished\t to\t be\t a Greek.\tThe\tstory\the\ttold\twas\tone\tof\tOdysseus\u2019\tmasterpieces.\tPallas\tAthena\thad been\texceedingly\tangry,\tSinon\tsaid,\tat\tthe\ttheft\tof\tthe\tPalladium,\tand\tthe\tGreeks in\t terror\t had\t sent\t to\t the\t oracle\t to\t ask\t how\t they\t could\t appease\t her.\t The\t oracle answered:\t\u201cWith\tblood\tand\twith\ta\tmaiden\tslain\tyou\tcalmed\tthe\twinds\twhen\tfirst you\t came\t to\t Troy.\t With\t blood\t must\t your\t return\t be\t sought.\t With\t a\t Greek\t life make\texpiation.\u201d\tHe\thimself,\tSinon\ttold\tPriam,\twas\tthe\twretched\tvictim\tchosen to\tbe\tsacrificed.\tAll\twas\tready\tfor\tthe\tawful\trite,\twhich\twas\tto\tbe\tcarried\tout\tjust before\t the\t Greeks\u2019\t departure,\t but\t in\t the\t night\t he\t had\t managed\t to\t escape\t and hidden\tin\ta\tswamp\thad\twatched\tthe\tships\tsail\taway. It\twas\ta\tgood\ttale\tand\tthe\tTrojans\tnever\tquestioned\tit.\tThey\tpitied\tSinon\tand assured\thim\tthat\the\tshould\thenceforth\tlive\tas\tone\tof\tthemselves.\tSo\tit\tbefell\tthat by\t false\t cunning\t and\t pretended\t tears\t those\t were\t conquered\t whom\t great Diomedes\t had\t never\t overcome,\t nor\t savage\t Achilles,\t nor\t ten\t years\t of\t warfare, nor\ta\tthousand\tships.\tFor\tSinon\tdid\tnot\tforget\tthe\tsecond\tpart\tof\this\tstory.\tThe wooden\t horse\t had\t been\t made,\t he\t said,\t as\t a\t votive\t offering\t to\t Athena,\t and\t the reason\tfor\tits\timmense\tsize\twas\tto\tdiscourage\tthe\tTrojans\tfrom\ttaking\tit\tinto\tthe city.\t What\t the\t Greeks\t hoped\t for\t was\t that\t the\t Trojans\t would\t destroy\t it\t and\t so draw\tdown\tupon\tthem\tAthena\u2019s\tanger.\tPlaced\tin\tthe\tcity,\tit\twould\tturn\ther\tfavor to\tthem\tand\taway\tfrom\tthe\tGreeks.\tThe\tstory\twas\tclever\tenough\tto\thave\thad\tby itself,\tin\tall\tprobability,\tthe\tdesired\teffect;\tbut\tPoseidon,\tthe\tmost\tbitter\tof\tall\tthe gods\tagainst\tTroy,\tcontrived\tan\taddition\twhich\tmade\tthe\tissue\tcertain.\tThe\tpriest Laoco\u00f6n,\twhen\tthe\thorse\twas\tfirst\tdiscovered,\thad\tbeen\turgent\twith\tthe\tTrojans to\tdestroy\tit.\t\u201cI\tfear\tthe\tGreeks\teven\twhen\tthey\tbear\tgifts,\u201d\the\tsaid.\tCassandra, Priam\u2019s\t daughter,\t had\t echoed\t his\t warning,\t but\t no\t one\t ever\t listened\t to\t her\t and she\t had\t gone\t back\t to\t the\t palace\t before\t Sinon\t appeared.\t Laoco\u00f6n\t and\t his\t two sons\t heard\t his\t story\t with\t suspicion,\t the\t only\t doubters\t there.\t As\t Sinon\t finished, suddenly\t over\t the\t sea\t came\t two\t fearful\t serpents\t swimming\t to\t the\t land.\t Once there,\tthey\tglided\tstraight\tto\tLaoco\u00f6n.\tThey\twrapped\ttheir\thuge\tcoils\taround\thim and\t the\t two\t lads\t and\t they\t crushed\t the\t life\t out\t of\t them.\t Then\t they\t disappeared within\tAthena\u2019s\ttemple. There\tcould\tbe\tno\tfurther\thesitation.\tTo\tthe\thorrified\tspectators\tLaoco\u00f6n\thad been\t punished\t for\t opposing\t the\t entry\t of\t the\t horse\t which\t most\t certainly\t no\t one else\twould\tnow\tdo.\tAll\tthe\tpeople\tcried, \u201cBring\tthe\tcarven\timage\tin. Bear\tit\tto\tAthena,","Fit\tgift\tfor\tthe\tchild\tof\tZeus.\u201d Who\tof\tthe\tyoung\tbut\thurried\tforth? Who\tof\tthe\told\twould\tstay\tat\thome? With\tsong\tand\trejoicing\tthey\tbrought\tdeath\tin, Treachery\tand\tdestruction. They\tdragged\tthe\thorse\tthrough\tthe\tgate\tand\tup\tto\tthe\ttemple\tof\tAthena. Then,\trejoicing\tin\ttheir\tgood\tfortune,\tbelieving\tthe\twar\tended\tand\tAthena\u2019s favor\trestored\tto\tthem,\tthey\twent\tto\ttheir\thouses\tin\tpeace\tas\tthey\thad\tnot\tfor\tten years. In\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tnight\tthe\tdoor\tin\tthe\thorse\topened.\tOne\tby\tone\tthe chieftains\tlet\tthemselves\tdown.\tThey\tstole\tto\tthe\tgates\tand\tthrew\tthem\twide,\tand into\tthe\tsleeping\ttown\tmarched\tthe\tGreek\tArmy.\tWhat\tthey\thad\tfirst\tto\tdo\tcould be\tcarried\tout\tsilently.\tFires\twere\tstarted\tin\tbuildings\tthroughout\tthe\tcity.\tBy\tthe time\tthe\tTrojans\twere\tawake,\tbefore\tthey\trealized\twhat\thad\thappened,\twhile they\twere\tstruggling\tinto\ttheir\tarmor,\tTroy\twas\tburning.\tThey\trushed\tout\tto\tthe street\tone\tby\tone\tin\tconfusion.\tBands\tof\tsoldiers\twere\twaiting\tthere\tto\tstrike each\tman\tdown\tbefore\the\tcould\tjoin\thimself\tto\tothers.\tIt\twas\tnot\tfighting,\tit\twas butchery.\tVery\tmany\tdied\twithout\tever\ta\tchance\tof\tdealing\ta\tblow\tin\treturn.\tIn the\tmore\tdistant\tparts\tof\tthe\ttown\tthe\tTrojans\twere\table\tto\tgather\ttogether\there and\tthere\tand\tthen\tit\twas\tthe\tGreeks\twho\tsuffered.\tThey\twere\tborne\tdown\tby desperate\tmen\twho\twanted\tonly\tto\tkill\tbefore\tthey\twere\tkilled.\tThey\tknew\tthat the\tone\tsafety\tfor\tthe\tconquered\twas\tto\thope\tfor\tno\tsafety.\tThis\tspirit\toften turned\tthe\tvictors\tinto\tthe\tvanquished.\tThe\tquickest-witted\tTrojans\ttore\toff\ttheir own\tarmor\tand\tput\ton\tthat\tof\tthe\tdead\tGreeks,\tand\tmany\tand\tmany\ta\tGreek thinking\the\twas\tjoining\tfriends\tdiscovered\ttoo\tlate\tthat\tthey\twere\tenemies\tand paid\tfor\this\terror\twith\this\tlife.","On\ttop\tof\tthe\thouses\tthey\ttore\tup\tthe\troofs\tand\thurled\tthe\tbeams\tdown\tupon the\tGreeks.\tAn\tentire\ttower\tstanding\ton\tthe\troof\tof\tPriam\u2019s\tpalace\twas\tlifted from\tits\tfoundations\tand\ttoppled\tover.\tExulting\tthe\tdefenders\tsaw\tit\tfall\tand annihilate\ta\tgreat\tband\twho\twere\tforcing\tthe\tpalace\tdoors.\tBut\tthe\tsuccess brought\tonly\ta\tshort\trespite.\tOthers\trushed\tup\tcarrying\ta\thuge\tbeam.\tOver\tthe debris\tof\tthe\ttower\tand\tthe\tcrushed\tbodies\tthey\tbattered\tthe\tdoors\twith\tit.\tIt crashed\tthrough\tand\tthe\tGreeks\twere\tin\tthe\tpalace\tbefore\tthe\tTrojans\tcould leave\tthe\troof.\tIn\tthe\tinner\tcourtyard\taround\tthe\taltar\twere\tthe\twomen\tand children\tand\tone\tman,\tthe\told\tKing.\tAchilles\thad\tspared\tPriam,\tbut\tAchilles\u2019\tson struck\thim\tdown\tbefore\tthe\teyes\tof\this\twife\tand\tdaughters. By\tnow\tthe\tend\twas\tnear.\tThe\tcontest\tfrom\tthe\tfirst\thad\tbeen\tunequal.\tToo many\tTrojans\thad\tbeen\tslaughtered\tin\tthe\tfirst\tsurprise.\tThe\tGreeks\tcould\tnot\tbe beaten\tback\tanywhere.\tSlowly\tthe\tdefense\tceased.\tBefore\tmorning\tall\tthe leaders\twere\tdead,\texcept\tone.\tAphrodite\u2019s\tson\tAeneas\talone\tamong\tthe\tTrojan chiefs\tescaped.\tHe\tfought\tthe\tGreeks\tas\tlong\tas\the\tcould\tfind\ta\tliving\tTrojan\tto stand\twith\thim,\tbut\tas\tthe\tslaughter\tspread\tand\tdeath\tcame\tnear\the\tthought\tof\this home,\tthe\thelpless\tpeople\the\thad\tleft\tthere.\tHe\tcould\tdo\tnothing\tmore\tfor\tTroy, but\tperhaps\tsomething\tcould\tbe\tdone\tfor\tthem.\tHe\thurried\tto\tthem,\this\told father,\this\tlittle\tson,\this\twife,\tand\tas\the\twent\this\tmother\tAphrodite\tappeared\tto him,\turging\thim\ton\tand\tkeeping\thim\tsafe\tfrom\tthe\tflames\tand\tfrom\tthe\tGreeks. Even\twith\tthe\tgoddess\u2019s\thelp\the\tcould\tnot\tsave\this\twife.\tWhen\tthey\tleft\tthe house\tshe\tgot\tseparated\tfrom\thim\tand\twas\tkilled.\tBut\tthe\tother\ttwo\the\tbrought away,\tthrough\tthe\tenemy,\tpast\tthe\tcity\tgates,\tout\tinto\tthe\tcountry,\this\tfather\ton his\tshoulders,\this\tson\tclinging\tto\this\thand.\tNo\tone\tbut\ta\tdivinity\tcould\thave saved\tthem,\tand\tAphrodite\twas\tthe\tonly\tone\tof\tthe\tgods\tthat\tday\twho\thelped\ta","saved\tthem,\tand\tAphrodite\twas\tthe\tonly\tone\tof\tthe\tgods\tthat\tday\twho\thelped\ta Trojan. She\thelped\tHelen,\ttoo.\tShe\tgot\ther\tout\tof\tthe\tcity\tand\ttook\ther\tto\tMenelaus. He\treceived\ther\tgladly,\tand\tas\the\tsailed\tfor\tGreece\tshe\twas\twith\thim. When\tmorning\tcame\twhat\thad\tbeen\tthe\tproudest\tcity\tin\tAsia\twas\ta\tfiery ruin.\tAll\tthat\twas\tleft\tof\tTroy\twas\ta\tband\tof\thelpless\tcaptive\twomen,\twhose husbands\twere\tdead,\twhose\tchildren\thad\tbeen\ttaken\tfrom\tthem.\tThey\twere waiting\tfor\ttheir\tmasters\tto\tcarry\tthem\toverseas\tto\tslavery. Chief\tamong\tthe\tcaptives\twas\tthe\told\tQueen,\tHecuba,\tand\ther\tdaughter-in- law,\tHector\u2019s\twife\tAndromache.\tFor\tHecuba\tall\twas\tended.\tCrouched\ton\tthe ground,\tshe\tsaw\tthe\tGreek\tships\tgetting\tready\tand\tshe\twatched\tthe\tcity\tburn. Troy\tis\tno\tlonger,\tshe\ttold\therself,\tand\tI\u2014who\tam\tI?\tA\tslave\tmen\tdrive\tlike cattle.\tAn\told\tgray\twoman\tthat\thas\tno\thome. What\tsorrow\tis\tthere\tthat\tis\tnot\tmine? Country\tlost\tand\thusband\tand\tchildren. Glory\tof\tall\tmy\thouse\tbrought\tlow. And\tthe\twomen\taround\ther\tanswered:\u2014 We\tstand\tat\tthe\tsame\tpoint\tof\tpain. We\tare,\ttoo,\tslaves. Our\tchildren\tare\tcrying,\tcall\tto\tus\twith\ttears, \u201cMother,\tI\tam\tall\talone. To\tthe\tdark\tships\tnow\tthey\tdrive\tme, And\tI\tcannot\tsee\tyou,\tMother.\u201d One\twoman\tstill\thad\ther\tchild.\tAndromache\theld\tin\ther\tarms\ther\tson Astyanax,\tthe\tlittle\tboy\twho\thad\tonce\tshrunk\tback\tfrom\this\tfather\u2019s\thigh-crested helmet.\t\u201cHe\tis\tso\tyoung,\u201d\tshe\tthought.\t\u201cThey\twill\tlet\tme\ttake\thim\twith\tme.\u201d\tBut from\tthe\tGreek\tcamp\ta\therald\tcame\tto\ther\tand\tspoke\tfaltering\twords.\tHe\ttold\ther that\tshe\tmust\tnot\thate\thim\tfor\tthe\tnews\the\tbrought\tto\ther\tagainst\this\twill.\tHer son\u2026\tShe\tbroke\tin, Not\tthat\the\tdoes\tnot\tgo\twith\tme? He\tanswered,","The\tboy\tmust\tdie\u2014be\tthrown Down\tfrom\tthe\ttowering\twall\tof\tTroy. Now\u2014now\u2014let\tit\tbe\tdone.\tEndure Like\ta\tbrave\twoman.\tThink.\tYou\tare\talone. One\twoman\tand\ta\tslave\tand\tno\thelp\tanywhere. She\tknew\twhat\the\tsaid\twas\ttrue.\tThere\twas\tno\thelp.\tShe\tsaid\tgood-bye\tto\ther child. Weeping,\tmy\tlittle\tone?\tThere,\tthere. You\tcannot\tknow\twhat\twaits\tfor\tyou. How\twill\tit\tbe?\tFalling\tdown\u2014down\u2014all\tbroken\u2014 And\tnone\tto\tpity. Kiss\tme.\tNever\tagain.\tCome\tcloser,\tcloser. Your\tmother\twho\tbore\tyou\u2014put\tyour\tarms\taround\tmy\tneck. Now\tkiss\tme,\tlips\tto\tlips. The\tsoldiers\tcarried\thim\taway.\tJust\tbefore\tthey\tthrew\thim\tfrom\tthe\twall\tthey had\tkilled\ton\tAchilles\u2019\tgrave\ta\tyoung\tgirl,\tHecuba\u2019s\tdaughter\tPolyxena.\tWith the\tdeath\tof\tHector\u2019s\tson,\tTroy\u2019s\tlast\tsacrifice\twas\taccomplished.\tThe\twomen waiting\tfor\tthe\tships\twatched\tthe\tend. Troy\thas\tperished,\tthe\tgreat\tcity. Only\tthe\tred\tflame\tnow\tlives\tthere. The\tdust\tis\trising,\tspreading\tout\tlike\ta\tgreat\twing\tof\tsmoke,\tAnd\tall\tis\thidden. We\tnow\tare\tgone,\tone\there,\tone\tthere.\tAnd\tTroy\tis\tgone\tforever. Farewell,\tdear\tcity. Farewell,\tmy\tcountry,\twhere\tmy\tchildren\tlived. There\tbelow,\tthe\tGreek\tships\twait.","III The\t only\t authority\t for\t this\t story\t is\t the\t Odyssey,\t except\t for\t the\t account\t of Athena\u2019s\tagreement\twith\tPoseidon\tto\tdestroy\tthe\tGreek\tFleet,\twhich\tis\tnot\tin\tthe Odyssey\t and\t which\t I\t have\t taken\t from\t Euripides\u2019\t Trojan\t Women.\t Part\t of\t the interest\t of\t the\t Odyssey,\t as\t distinguished\t from\t the\t Iliad,\t lies\t in\t the\t details,\t such as\t are\t given\t in\t the\t story\t of\t Nausica\u00e4\t and\t the\t visit\t of\t Telemachus\t to\t Menelaus. They\t are\t used\t with\t admirable\t skill\t to\t enliven\t the\t story\t and\t make\t it\t seem\t real, never\tto\thold\tit\tup\tor\tdivert\tthe\treader\u2019s\tattention\tfrom\tthe\tmain\tissue. When\t the\t victorious\t Greek\t Fleet\t put\t out\t to\t sea\t after\t the\t fall\t of\t Troy,\t many\t a captain,\tall\tunknowing,\tfaced\ttroubles\tas\tblack\tas\tthose\the\thad\tbrought\tdown\ton the\tTrojans.\tAthena\tand\tPoseidon\thad\tbeen\tthe\tGreeks\u2019\tgreatest\tallies\tamong\tthe gods,\t but\t when\t Troy\t fell\t all\t that\t had\t changed.\t They\t became\t their\t bitterest enemies.\tThe\tGreeks\twent\tmad\twith\tvictory\tthe\tnight\tthey\tentered\tthe\tcity;\tthey forgot\t what\t was\t due\t to\t the\t gods;\t and\t on\t their\t voyage\t home\t they\t were\t terribly punished. Cassandra,\tone\tof\tPriam\u2019s\tdaughters,\twas\ta\tprophetess.\tApollo\thad\tloved\ther and\t given\t her\t the\t power\t to\t foretell\t the\t future.\t Later\t he\t turned\t against\t her","because\t she\t refused\t his\t love,\t and\t although\t he\t could\t not\t take\t back\t his\t gift\u2014 divine\t favors\t once\t bestowed\t might\t not\t be\t revoked\u2014he\t made\t it\t of\t no\t account: no\t one\t ever\t believed\t her.\t She\t told\t the\t Trojans\t each\t time\t what\t would\t happen; they\t would\t never\t listen\t to\t her.\t She\t declared\t that\t Greeks\t were\t hidden\t in\t the wooden\thorse;\tno\tone\tgave\ther\twords\ta\tthought.\tIt\twas\ther\tfate\talways\tto\tknow the\tdisaster\tthat\twas\tcoming\tand\tbe\tunable\tto\tavert\tit.\tWhen\tthe\tGreeks\tsacked the\t city\t she\t was\t in\t Athena\u2019s\t temple\t clinging\t to\t her\t image,\t under\t the\t goddess\u2019s protection.\t The\t Greeks\t found\t her\t there\t and\t they\t dared\t to\t lay\t violent\t hands\t on her.\tAjax\u2014not\tthe\tgreat\tAjax,\tof\tcourse,\twho\twas\tdead,\tbut\ta\tlesser\tchieftain\tof the\t same\t name\u2014tore\t her\t from\t the\t altar\t and\t dragged\t her\t out\t of\t the\t sanctuary. Not\t one\t Greek\t protested\t against\t the\t sacrilege.\t Athena\u2019s\t wrath\t was\t deep.\t She went\tto\tPoseidon\tand\tlaid\ther\twrongs\tbefore\thim.\t\u201cHelp\tme\tto\tvengeance,\u201d\tshe said.\t \u201cGive\t the\t Greeks\t a\t bitter\t homecoming.\t Stir\t up\t your\t waters\t with\t wild whirlwinds\twhen\tthey\tsail.\tLet\tdead\tmen\tchoke\tthe\tbays\tand\tline\tthe\tshores\tand reefs.\u201d Poseidon\t agreed.\t Troy\t was\t a\t heap\t of\t ashes\t by\t now.\t He\t could\t afford\t to\t lay aside\t his\t anger\t against\t the\t Trojans.\t In\t the\t fearful\t tempest\t which\t struck\t the Greeks\tafter\tthey\tleft\tfor\tGreece,\tAgamemnon\tcame\tnear\tto\tlosing\tall\this\tships; Menelaus\t was\t blown\t to\t Egypt;\t and\t the\t arch-sinner,\t sacrilegious\t Ajax,\t was drowned.\t At\t the\t height\t of\t the\t storm\t his\t boat\t was\t shattered\t and\t sank,\t but\t he succeeded\tin\tswimming\tto\tshore.\tHe\twould\thave\tbeen\tsaved\tif\tin\this\tmad\tfolly he\t had\t not\t cried\t out\t that\t he\t was\t one\t that\t the\t sea\t could\t not\t drown.\t Such arrogance\t always\t aroused\t the\t anger\t of\t the\t gods.\t Poseidon\t broke\t off\t the\t jagged bit\tof\trock\tto\twhich\the\twas\tclinging.\tAjax\tfell\tand\tthe\twaves\tswept\thim\taway\tto his\tdeath. Odysseus\tdid\tnot\tlose\this\tlife,\tbut\tif\the\tdid\tnot\tsuffer\tas\tmuch\tas\tsome\tof\tthe Greeks,\t he\t suffered\t longer\t than\t them\t all.\t He\t wandered\t for\t ten\t years\t before\t he saw\this\thome.\tWhen\the\treached\tit,\tthe\tlittle\tson\the\thad\tleft\tthere\twas\tgrown\tto manhood.\tTwenty\tyears\thad\tpassed\tsince\tOdysseus\tsailed\tfor\tTroy. On\t Ithaca,\t the\t island\t where\t his\t home\t was,\t things\t had\t gone\t from\t bad\t to worse.\t Everyone\t by\t now\t took\t it\t for\t granted\t that\t he\t was\t dead,\t except\t Penelope, his\twife,\tand\this\tson\tTelemachus.\tThey\talmost\tdespaired,\tbut\tnot\tquite.\tAll\tthe people\t assumed\t that\t Penelope\t was\t a\t widow\t and\t could\t and\t should\t marry\t again. From\t the\t islands\t round\t about\t and,\t of\t course,\t from\t Ithaca,\t men\t came\t swarming to\tOdysseus\u2019\thouse\tto\twoo\this\twife.\tShe\twould\thave\tnone\tof\tthem;\tthe\thope\tthat her\t husband\t would\t return\t was\t faint,\t but\t it\t never\t died.\t Moreover\t she\t detested every\t one\t of\t them\t and\t so\t did\t Telemachus,\t and\t with\t good\t reason.\t They\t were","rude,\t greedy,\t overbearing\t men,\t who\t spent\t their\t days\t sitting\t in\t the\t great\t hall\t of the\t house\t devouring\t Odysseus\u2019\t store\t of\t provisions,\t slaughtering\t his\t cattle,\t his sheep,\t his\t swine,\t drinking\t his\t wine,\t burning\t his\t wood,\t giving\t orders\t to\t his servants.\t They\t would\t never\t leave,\t they\t declared,\t until\t Penelope\t consented\t to marry\tone\tof\tthem.\tTelemachus\tthey\ttreated\twith\tamused\tcontempt\tas\tif\the\twere a\tmere\tboy\tand\tquite\tbeneath\ttheir\tnotice.\tIt\twas\tan\tintolerable\tstate\tof\tthings\tto both\t mother\t and\t son,\t and\t yet\t they\t were\t helpless,\t only\t two\t and\t one\t of\t them\t a woman\tagainst\ta\tgreat\tcompany. Penelope\thad\tat\tfirst\thoped\tto\ttire\tthem\tout.\tShe\ttold\tthem\tthat\tshe\tcould\tnot marry\t until\t she\t had\t woven\t a\t very\t fine\t and\t exquisitely\t wrought\t shroud\t for Odysseus\u2019\tfather,\tthe\taged\tLaertes,\tagainst\tthe\tday\tof\this\tdeath.\tThey\thad\tto\tgive in\tto\tso\tpious\ta\tpurpose,\tand\tthey\tagreed\tto\twait\tuntil\tthe\twork\twas\tfinished.\tBut it\t never\t was,\t inasmuch\t as\t Penelope\t unwove\t each\t night\t what\t she\t had\t woven during\t the\t day.\t But\t finally\t the\t trick\t failed.\t One\t of\t her\t handmaidens\t told\t the suitors\t and\t they\t discovered\t her\t in\t the\t very\t act.\t Of\t course\t after\t that\t they\t were more\t insistent\t and\t unmanageable\t than\t ever.\t So\t matters\t stood\t when\t the\t tenth year\tof\tOdysseus\u2019\twanderings\tneared\tits\tclose. Because\t of\t the\t wicked\t way\t they\t had\t treated\t Cassandra,\t Athena\t had\t been angry\tat\tall\tthe\tGreeks\tindiscriminately,\tbut\tbefore\tthat,\tduring\tthe\tTrojan\tWar, she\t had\t especially\t favored\t Odysseus.\t She\t delighted\t in\t his\t wily\t mind,\t his shrewdness\tand\this\tcunning;\tshe\twas\talways\tforward\tto\thelp\thim.\tAfter\tTroy\tfell she\t included\t him\t with\t the\t others\t in\t her\t wrathful\t displeasure\t and\t he,\t too,\t was caught\tby\tthe\tstorm\twhen\the\tset\tsail\tand\tdriven\tso\tcompletely\toff\this\tcourse\tthat he\t never\t found\t it\t again.\t Year\t after\t year\t he\t voyaged,\t hurried\t from\t one\t perilous adventure\tto\tanother. Ten\t years,\t however,\t is\t a\t long\t time\t for\t anger\t to\t last.\t The\t gods\t had\t by\t now grown\t sorry\t for\t Odysseus,\t with\t the\t single\t exception\t of\t Poseidon,\t and\t Athena was\tsorriest\tof\tall.\tHer\told\tfeeling\tfor\thim\thad\treturned;\tshe\twas\tdetermined\tto put\t an\t end\t to\t his\t sufferings\t and\t bring\t him\t home.\t With\t these\t thoughts\t in\t her mind,\t she\t was\t delighted\t to\t find\t one\t day\t that\t Poseidon\t was\t absent\t from\t the gathering\t in\t Olympus.\t He\t had\t gone\t to\t visit\t the\t Ethiopians,\t who\t lived\t on\t the farther\tbank\tof\tOcean,\tto\tthe\tsouth,\tand\tit\twas\tcertain\the\twould\tstay\tthere\tsome time,\tfeasting\tmerrily\twith\tthem.\tInstantly\tshe\tbrought\tthe\tsad\tcase\tof\tOdysseus before\tthe\tothers.\tHe\twas\tat\tthe\tmoment,\tshe\ttold\tthem,\ta\tvirtual\tprisoner\ton\tan island\truled\tover\tby\tthe\tnymph\tCalypso,\twho\tloved\thim\tand\tplanned\tnever\tto\tlet him\t go.\t In\t every\t other\t way\t except\t in\t giving\t him\t his\t freedom\t she\t overwhelmed him\twith\tkindness;\tall\tthat\tshe\thad\twas\tat\this\tdisposal.\tBut\tOdysseus\twas\tutterly","wretched.\t He\t longed\t for\t his\t home,\t his\t wife,\t his\t son.\t He\t spent\t his\t days\t on\t the seashore,\t searching\t the\t horizon\t for\t a\t sail\t that\t never\t came,\t sick\t with\t longing\t to see\teven\tthe\tsmoke\tcurling\tup\tfrom\this\thouse. The\t Olympians\t were\t moved\t by\t her\t words.\t They\t felt\t that\t Odysseus\t had deserved\t better\t at\t their\t hands\t and\t Zeus\t spoke\t for\t them\t all\t when\t he\t said\t they must\tput\ttheir\theads\ttogether\tand\tcontrive\ta\tway\tfor\thim\tto\treturn.\tIf\tthey\twere agreed\t Poseidon\t could\t not\t stand\t alone\t against\t them.\t For\t his\t part,\t Zeus\t said,\t he would\t send\t Hermes\t to\t Calypso\t to\t tell\t her\t that\t she\t must\t start\t Odysseus\t on\t his voyage\tback.\tAthena\twell-pleased\tleft\tOlympus\tand\tglided\tdown\tto\tIthaca.\tShe had\talready\tmade\ther\tplans. She\twas\texceedingly\tfond\tof\tTelemachus,\tnot\tonly\tbecause\the\twas\ther\tdear Odysseus\u2019\t son,\t but\t because\t he\t was\t a\t sober,\t discreet\t young\t man,\t steady\t and prudent\t and\t dependable.\t She\t thought\t it\t would\t do\t him\t good\t to\t take\t a\t journey while\tOdysseus\twas\tsailing\thome,\tinstead\tof\tperpetually\twatching\tin\tsilent\tfury the\toutrageous\tbehavior\tof\tthe\tsuitors.\tAlso\tit\twould\tadvance\thim\tin\tthe\topinion of\tmen\teverywhere\tif\tthe\tobject\tof\this\tjourney\twas\tto\tseek\tfor\tsome\tnews\tof\this father.\t They\t would\t think\t him,\t as\t indeed,\t he\t was,\t a\t pious\t youth\t with\t the\t most admirable\t filial\t sentiments.\t Accordingly,\t she\t disguised\t herself\t to\t look\t like\t a seafaring\t man\t and\t went\t to\t the\t house.\t Telemachus\t saw\t her\t waiting\t by\t the threshold\t and\t was\t vexed\t to\t the\t heart\t that\t a\t guest\t should\t not\t find\t instant welcome.\t He\t hastened\t to\t greet\t the\t stranger,\t take\t his\t spear,\t and\t seat\t him\t on\t a chair\t of\t honor.\t The\t attendants\t also\t hurried\t to\t show\t the\t hospitality\t of\t the\t great house,\t setting\t food\t and\t wine\t before\t him\t and\t stinting\t him\t in\t nothing.\t Then\t the two\t talked\t together.\t Athena\t began\t by\t asking\t gently\t was\t this\t some\t sort\t of drinking-bout\t she\t had\t happened\t upon?\t She\t did\t not\t wish\t to\t offend,\t but\t a\t well- mannered\t man\t might\t be\t excused\t for\t showing\t disgust\t at\t the\t way\t the\t people around\t them\t were\t acting.\t Then\t Telemachus\t told\t her\t all,\t the\t fear\t that\t Odysseus must\tsurely\tby\tnow\tbe\tdead;\thow\tevery\tman\tfrom\tfar\tand\tnear\thad\tcome\twooing his\t mother\t who\t could\t not\t reject\t their\t offers\t out-and-out,\t but\t would\t not\t accept any\t of\t them,\t and\t how\t the\t suitors\t were\t ruining\t them,\t eating\t up\t their\t substance and\t making\t havoc\t of\t the\t house.\t Athena\t showed\t great\t indignation.\t It\t was\t a shameful\ttale,\tshe\tsaid.\tIf\tonce\tOdysseus\tgot\thome\tthose\tevil\tmen\twould\thave\ta short\t shrift\t and\t a\t bitter\t end.\t Then\t she\t advised\t him\t strongly\t to\t try\t to\t find\t out something\t about\t his\t father\u2019s\t fate.\t The\t men\t most\t likely\t to\t be\t able\t to\t give\t the news,\t she\t said,\t were\t Nestor\t and\t Menelaus.\t With\t that\t she\t departed,\t leaving\t the young\t man\t full\t of\t ardor\t and\t decision,\t all\t his\t former\t uncertainty\t and\t hesitation gone.\tHe\tfelt\tthe\tchange\twith\tamazement\tand\tthe\tbelief\ttook\thold\tof\thim\tthat\this","visitor\thad\tbeen\tdivine. The\tnext\tday\the\tsummoned\tthe\tassembly\tand\ttold\tthem\twhat\the\tpurposed\tto do\tand\tasked\tthem\tfor\ta\twell-built\tship\tand\ttwenty\trowers\tto\tman\ther,\tbut\the\tgot no\t answer\t except\t jeers\t and\t taunts.\t Let\t him\t sit\t at\t home\t and\t get\t his\t news\t there, the\t suitors\t bade\t him.\t They\t would\t see\t to\t it\t that\t he\t went\t on\t no\t voyage.\t With mocking\t laughter\t they\t swaggered\t off\t to\t Odysseus\u2019\t palace.\t Telemachus\t in despair\twent\tfar\taway\talong\tthe\tseashore\tand\tas\the\twalked\the\tprayed\tto\tAthena. She\theard\thim\tand\tcame.\tShe\thad\tput\ton\tthe\tappearance\tof\tMentor,\twhom\tof\tall the\tIthacans\t Odysseus\t had\t most\t trusted,\t and\tshe\t spoke\t good\t words\t of\t comfort and\tcourage\tto\thim.\tShe\tpromised\thim\tthat\ta\tfast\tship\tshould\tbe\tmade\tready\tfor him,\tand\tthat\tshe\therself\twould\tsail\twith\thim.\tTelemachus\tof\tcourse\thad\tno\tidea except\t that\t it\t was\t Mentor\t himself\t speaking\t to\t him,\t but\t with\t this\t help\t he\t was ready\tto\tdefy\tthe\tsuitors\tand\the\thurried\thome\tto\tget\tall\tready\tfor\tthe\tvoyage.\tHe waited\tprudently\tuntil\tnight\tto\tleave.\tThen,\twhen\tall\tin\tthe\thouse\twere\tasleep,\the went\t down\t to\t the\t ship\t where\t Mentor\t (Athena)\t was\t waiting,\t embarked,\t and\t put out\tto\tsea\ttoward\tPylos,\told\tNestor\u2019s\thome. They\t found\t him\t and\t his\t sons\t on\t the\t shore\t offering\t a\t sacrifice\t to\t Poseidon. Nestor\t made\t them\t heartily\t welcome,\t but\t about\t the\t object\t of\t their\t coming\t he could\tgive\tthem\tlittle\thelp.\tHe\tknew\tnothing\tof\tOdysseus;\tthey\thad\tnot\tleft\tTroy together\t and\t no\t word\t of\t him\t had\t reached\t Nestor\t since.\t In\t his\t opinion\t the\t man most\t likely\t to\t have\t news\t would\t be\t Menelaus,\t who\t had\t voyaged\t all\t the\t way\t to Egypt\tbefore\tcoming\thome.\tIf\tTelemachus\twished\the\twould\tsend\thim\tto\tSparta in\t a\t chariot\t with\t one\t of\t his\t sons\t who\t knew\t the\t way,\t which\t would\t be\t much quicker\t than\t by\t sea.\t Telemachus\t accepted\t gratefully\t and\t leaving\t Mentor\t in charge\t of\t the\t ship\t he\t started\t the\t next\t day\t for\t Menelaus\u2019\t palace\t with\t Nestor\u2019s son. They\t drew\t rein\t in\t Sparta\t before\t the\t lordly\t dwelling,\t a\t house\t far\t more\t splendid than\t either\t young\t man\t had\t ever\t seen.\t A\t princely\t welcome\t awaited\t them.\t The house-maidens\t led\t them\t to\t the\t bath\t place\t where\t they\t bathed\t them\t in\t silver bathtubs\t and\t rubbed\t them\t with\t sweet-smelling\t oil.\t Then\t they\t wrapped\t them\t in warm\t purple\t mantles\t over\t fine\t tunics,\t and\t conducted\t them\t to\t the\t banquet\t hall. There\ta\tservant\thastened\tto\tthem\twith\twater\tin\ta\tgolden\tewer\twhich\tshe\tpoured over\t their\t fingers\t into\t a\t silver\t bowl.\t A\t shining\t table\t was\t set\t beside\t them\t and covered\twith\trich\tfood\tin\tprofusion,\tand\ta\tgolden\tgoblet\tfull\tof\twine\twas\tplaced for\teach.\tMenelaus\tgave\tthem\ta\tcourteous\tgreeting\tand\tbade\tthem\teat\ttheir\tfill.","The\t young\t men\t were\t happy,\t but\t a\t little\t abashed\t by\t all\t the\t magnificence. Telemachus\t whispered\t to\t his\t friend,\t very\t softly\t for\t fear\t someone\t might\t hear, \u201cZeus\u2019\t hall\t in\t Olympus\t must\t be\t like\t this.\t It\t takes\t my\t breath\t away.\u201d\t But\t a moment\t later\t he\t had\t forgotten\t his\t shyness,\t for\t Menelaus\t began\t to\t speak\t of Odysseus\u2014of\t his\t greatness\t and\t his\t long\t sorrows.\t As\t the\t young\t man\t listened tears\t gathered\t in\t his\t eyes\t and\t he\t held\t his\t cloak\t before\t his\t face\t to\t hide\t his agitation.\tBut\tMenelaus\thad\tremarked\tit\tand\the\tguessed\twho\the\tmust\tbe. Just\t then,\t however,\t came\t an\t interruption\t which\t distracted\t the\t thoughts\t of every\t man\t there.\t Helen\t the\t beautiful\t came\t down\t from\t her\t fragrant\t chamber attended\tby\ther\twomen,\tone\tcarrying\ther\tchair,\tanother\ta\tsoft\tcarpet\tfor\ther\tfeet, and\t a\t third\t her\t silver\t work-basket\t filled\t with\t violet\t wool.\t She\t recognized Telemachus\tinstantly\tfrom\this\tlikeness\tto\this\tfather\tand\tshe\tcalled\thim\tby\tname. Nestor\u2019s\tson\tanswered\tand\tsaid\tthat\tshe\twas\tright.\tHis\tfriend\twas\tOdysseus\u2019\tson and\the\thad\tcome\tto\tthem\tfor\thelp\tand\tadvice.\tThen\tTelemachus\tspoke\tand\ttold them\t of\t the\t wretchedness\t at\t home\t from\t which\t only\t his\t father\u2019s\t return\t could deliver\t them,\t and\t asked\t Menelaus\t if\t he\t could\t give\t him\t any\t news\t about\t him, whether\tgood\tor\tbad. \u201cIt\tis\ta\tlong\tstory,\u201d\tanswered\tMenelaus,\t\u201cbut\tI\tdid\tlearn\tsomething\tabout\thim and\tin\ta\tvery\tstrange\tway.\tIt\twas\tin\tEgypt.\tI\twas\tweather-bound\tfor\tmany\tdays on\t an\t island\t there\t called\t Pharos.\t Our\t provisions\t were\t giving\t out\t and\t I\t was\t in despair\twhen\ta\tsea-goddess\thad\tpity\ton\tme.\tShe\tlet\tme\tknow\tthat\ther\tfather,\tthe sea-god\t Proteus,\t could\t tell\t me\t how\t to\t leave\t the\t hateful\t island\t and\t get\t safely home\tif\tonly\tI\tcould\tmake\thim\tdo\tso.\tFor\tthat\tI\tmust\tmanage\tto\tcatch\thim\tand hold\t him\t until\t I\t learned\t from\t him\t what\t I\t wanted.\t The\t plan\t she\t made\t was\t an excellent\t one.\t Each\t day\t Proteus\t came\t up\t from\t the\t sea\t with\t a\t number\t of\t seals and\tlay\tdown\twith\tthem\ton\tthe\tsand,\talways\tin\tthe\tsame\tplace.\tThere\tI\tdug\tfour holes\t in\t which\t I\t and\t three\t of\t my\t men\t hid,\t each\t under\t a\t sealskin\t the\t goddess gave\tus.\tWhen\tthe\told\tgod\tlay\tdown\tnot\tfar\tfrom\tme\tit\twas\tno\ttask\tat\tall\tfor\tus to\t spring\t up\t out\t of\t our\t holes\t and\t seize\t him.\t But\t to\t hold\t him\u2014that\t was\t another matter.\tHe\thad\tthe\tpower\tof\tchanging\this\tshape\tat\twill,\tand\tthere\tin\tour\thands\the became\t a\t lion\t and\t a\t dragon\t and\t many\t other\t animals,\t and\t finally\t even\t a\t high- branched\ttree.\tBut\twe\theld\thim\tfirmly\tthroughout,\tand\tat\tlast\the\tgave\tin\tand\ttold me\tall\tI\twished\tto\tknow.\tOf\tyour\tfather\the\tsaid\tthat\the\twas\ton\tan\tisland,\tpining away\t from\t homesickness,\t kept\t there\t by\t a\t nymph,\t Calypso.\t Except\t for\t that,\t I know\t nothing\t of\t him\t since\t we\t left\t Troy,\t ten\t years\t ago.\u201d\t When\t he\t finished speaking,\tsilence\tfell\tupon\tthe\tcompany.\tThey\tall\tthought\tof\tTroy\tand\twhat\thad happened\tsince,\tand\tthey\twept\u2014Telemachus\tfor\this\tfather;\tNestor\u2019s\tson\tfor\this","brother,\t swift-footed\t Antilochus,\t dead\t before\t the\t walls\t of\t Troy;\t Menelaus\t for many\ta\tbrave\tcomrade\tfallen\ton\tthe\tTrojan\tplain,\tand\tHelen\u2014but\twho\tcould\tsay for\t whom\t Helen\u2019s\t tears\t fell?\t Was\t she\t thinking\t of\t Paris\t as\t she\t sat\t in\t her husband\u2019s\tsplendid\thall? That\tnight\tthe\tyoung\tmen\tspent\tin\tSparta.\tHelen\tordered\ther\thouse-maidens to\t arrange\t beds\t for\t them\t in\t the\t entry\t porch,\t soft\t and\t warm\t with\t thick\t purple blankets\t covered\t by\t smoothly\t woven\t rugs\t and\t on\t top\t of\t all\t woolen\t cloaks.\t A servant,\ttorch\tin\thand,\tshowed\tthem\tout\tand\tthey\tslept\tthere\tin\tcomfort\tuntil\tthe dawn\tappeared. Meantime\t Hermes\t had\t gone\t to\t carry\t Zeus\u2019s\t command\t to\t Calypso.\t He\t laced to\this\tfeet\tthe\tsandals\tof\timperishable\tgold\twhich\tbore\thim\tswift\tas\ta\tbreath\tof air\tover\tsea\tand\tearth.\tHe\ttook\this\twand\twith\twhich\the\tcould\tcharm\tmen\u2019s\teyes to\t slumber,\t and\t springing\t into\t the\t air\t he\t flew\t down\t to\t sea-level.\t Skimming\t the wave-crests\the\treached\tat\tlast\tthe\tlovely\tisland\twhich\thad\tbecome\tfor\tOdysseus a\thateful\tprison.\tHe\tfound\tthe\tdivine\tnymph\talone;\tOdysseus\tas\tusual\twas\ton\tthe sandy\tshore\tletting\this\tsalt\ttears\tflow\twhile\the\tgazed\tat\tthe\tempty\tsea.\tCalypso took\tZeus\u2019s\torders\tin\tvery\till\tpart.\tShe\thad\tsaved\tthe\tman\u2019s\tlife,\tshe\tsaid,\twhen his\t ship\t was\t wrecked\t near\t the\t island,\t and\t cared\t for\t him\t ever\t since.\t Of\t course everyone\t must\t give\t in\t to\t Zeus,\t but\t it\t was\t very\t unfair.\t And\t how\t was\t she\t to manage\tthe\tvoyage\tback?\tShe\thad\tno\tships\tand\tcrews\tat\tcommand.\tBut\tHermes felt\tthis\twas\tnot\this\taffair.\t\u201cJust\ttake\tcare\tnot\tto\tmake\tZeus\tangry,\u201d\the\tsaid\tand went\tgaily\toff. Calypso\t gloomily\t set\t about\t the\t necessary\t preparations.\t She\t told\t Odysseus, who\t was\t at\t first\t inclined\t to\t think\t it\t all\t a\t trick\t on\t her\t part\t to\t do\t something detestable\tto\thim\u2014drown\thim,\tvery\tlikely\u2014but\tshe\tfinally\tconvinced\thim.\tShe would\t help\t him\t build\t a\t splendidly\t strong\t raft,\t she\t promised\t him,\t and\t send\t him away\t on\t it\t equipped\t with\t everything\t necessary.\t Never\t did\t any\t man\t do\t work more\t joyfully\t than\t Odysseus\t made\t his\t raft.\t Twenty\t great\t trees\t furnished\t the wood,\t all\t very\t dry\t so\t that\t they\t would\t float\t high.\t On\t the\t raft\t Calypso\t put\t food and\t drink\t in\t abundance,\t even\t a\t sack\t of\t the\t dainties\t Odysseus\t specially\t liked. The\tfifth\tmorning\tafter\tHermes\u2019\tvisit\tfound\tOdysseus\tputting\tout\tto\tsea\tbefore\ta fair\twind\tover\tquiet\twaters. Seventeen\t days\t he\t journeyed\t without\t change\t of\t weather,\t always\t steering, never\t letting\t sleep\t close\t his\t eyes.\t On\t the\t eighteenth\t day\t a\t cloudy\t mountain\t top arose\tup\tacross\tthe\tsea.\tHe\tbelieved\tthat\the\twas\tsaved. At\t that\t very\t moment,\t however,\t Poseidon,\t on\t his\t way\t back\t from\t Ethiopia, caught\t sight\t of\t him.\t He\t knew\t at\t once\t what\t the\t gods\t had\t done.\t \u201cBut,\u201d\t he","muttered\tto\thimself,\t\u201cI\tthink\tI\tcan\tgive\thim\teven\tyet\ta\tlong\tjourney\tinto\tsorrow before\t he\t reaches\t land.\u201d\t With\t that\t he\t summoned\t all\t the\t violent\t winds\t and\t let them\tloose,\tblinding\tsea\tand\tland\twith\tstorm-clouds.\tThe\tEast\tWind\tfought\twith the\t South,\t and\t the\t ill-blowing\t West\t with\t the\t North,\t and\t the\t waves\t rose\t up mightily.\t Odysseus\t saw\t death\t before\t him.\t \u201cOh,\t happy\t the\t men\t who\t fell gloriously\t on\t the\t plain\t of\t Troy!\u201d\t he\t thought.\t \u201cFor\t me\t to\t die\t thus\t ignobly!\u201d\t It seemed\t indeed\t that\t he\t could\t not\t escape.\t The\t raft\t was\t tossed\t as\t a\t dried\t thistle goes\trolling\tover\ta\tfield\tin\tautumn\tdays. But\ta\tkindly\tgoddess\twas\tat\thand,\tIno\tof\tthe\tslim\tankles,\twho\thad\tonce\tbeen a\t Theban\t princess.\t She\t pitied\t him\t and\t rising\t lightly\t from\t the\t water\t like\t a\t sea- gull\tshe\ttold\thim\this\tone\tchance\twas\tto\tabandon\tthe\traft\tand\tswim\tto\tshore.\tShe gave\t him\t her\t veil,\t which\t would\t keep\t him\t from\t harm\t as\t long\t as\t he\t was\t in\t the sea.\tThen\tshe\tdisappeared\tbeneath\tthe\tbillows. Odysseus\t had\t no\t choice\t but\t to\t follow\t her\t advice.\t Poseidon\t sent\t a\t wave\t of waves\tto\thim,\ta\tterror\tof\tthe\tsea.\tIt\ttore\tthe\tlogs\tof\tthe\traft\tapart\tas\ta\tgreat\twind scatters\t a\t heap\t of\t dried\t chaff;\t it\t flung\t Odysseus\t into\t the\t wild\t waters.\t But,\t if\t he had\t only\t known\t it,\t bad\t as\t things\t seemed\t the\t worst\t was\t over.\t Poseidon\t felt satisfied\t and\t went\t off\t contentedly\t to\t plan\t some\t other\t storm\t somewhere,\t and Athena,\t left\t free\t to\t act,\t calmed\t the\t waves.\t Even\t so,\t Odysseus\t had\t to\t swim\t for two\tdays\tand\tnights\tbefore\the\treached\tland\tand\tcould\tfind\ta\tsafe\tlanding-place. He\tcame\tout\tof\tthe\tsurf\texhausted\tand\tstarving\tand\tnaked.\tIt\twas\tevening;\tnot\ta house,\tnot\ta\tliving\tcreature,\twas\tto\tbe\tseen.\tBut\tOdysseus\twas\tnot\tonly\ta\thero, he\twas\ta\tman\tof\tgreat\tresourcefulness.\tHe\tfound\ta\tplace\twhere\ta\tfew\ttrees\tgrew so\t thick\t and\t close\t to\t the\t ground,\t no\t moisture\t could\t penetrate\t them.\t Beneath were\theaps\tof\tdry\tleaves,\tenough\tto\tcover\tmany\tmen.\tHe\tscooped\tout\ta\thollow and\tlying\tdown\tpiled\tthe\tleaves\tover\thim\tlike\ta\tthick\tcoverlet.\tThen,\twarm\tand still\tat\tlast,\twith\tthe\tsweet\tland\todors\tblowing\tto\thim,\the\tslept\tin\tpeace. He\t had\t of\t course\t no\t idea\t where\t he\t was,\t but\t Athena\t had\t arranged\t matters well\t for\t him.\t The\t country\t belonged\t to\t the\t Phaeacians,\t a\t kind\t people\t and splendid\tsailors.\tTheir\tking,\tAlcino\u00fcs,\twas\ta\tgood,\tsensible\tman\twho\tknew\tthat his\twife\tAcrete\twas\ta\tgreat\tdeal\twiser\tthan\the\tand\talways\tlet\ther\tdecide\tanything important\tfor\thim.\tThey\thad\ta\tfair\tdaughter\tas\tyet\tunmarried. Nausica\u00e4,\tfor\tso\tthe\tgirl\twas\tcalled,\tnever\timagined\tthe\tnext\tmorning\tthat\tshe was\t to\t play\t the\t part\t of\t rescuer\t to\t a\t hero.\t When\t she\t woke\t up\t she\t thought\t only about\t doing\t the\t family\t washing.\t She\t was\t a\t princess,\t indeed,\t but\t in\t those\t days high-born\t ladies\t were\t expected\t to\t be\t useful,\t and\t the\t household\t linen\t was\t in Nausica\u00e4\u2019s\t charge.\t Washing\t clothes\t was\t then\t a\t very\t agreeable\t occupation.\t She","had\t the\t servants\t make\t ready\t an\t easy-running\t mule-cart\t and\t pack\t it\t with\t the soiled\tclothes.\tHer\tmother\tfilled\ta\tbox\tfor\ther\twith\tall\tsorts\tof\tgood\tthings\tto\teat and\tdrink;\tshe\tgave\ther,\ttoo,\ta\tgolden\tflask\tof\tlimpid\tolive\toil\tto\tuse\tif\tshe\tand her\t maids\t went\t bathing.\t Then\t they\t started,\t Nausica\u00e4\t driving.\t They\t were\t bound for\tthe\tvery\tplace\twhere\tOdysseus\thad\tlanded.\tA\tlovely\triver\tflowed\tinto\tthe\tsea there\t which\t had\t excellent\t washing\t pools\t with\t an\t abundance\t of\t clear\t bubbling water.\tWhat\tthe\tgirls\tdid\twas\tto\tlay\tthe\tclothes\tin\tthe\twater\tand\tdance\ton\tthem until\tall\tthe\tdirt\twas\tworked\tout.\tThe\tpools\twere\tcool\tand\tshadowy;\tit\twas\tvery pleasant\t work.\t Afterwards\t they\t stretched\t the\t linen\t smooth\t to\t dry\t on\t the\t shore where\tthe\tsea\thad\twashed\tit\tclean. Then\t they\t could\t take\t their\t ease.\t They\t bathed\t and\t anointed\t themselves\t with the\tsleek\toil,\tand\thad\ttheir\tlunch,\tand\tamused\tthemselves\twith\ta\tball\twhich\tthey threw\t to\t one\t another,\t dancing\t all\t the\t while.\t But\t at\t last\t the\t setting\t sun\t warned them\t the\t delightful\t day\t was\t over.\t They\t gathered\t up\t the\t linen,\t yoked\t in\t the mules,\t and\t were\t about\t to\t start\t home\t when\t they\t saw\t a\t wild-looking\t naked\t man suddenly\t step\t out\t of\t the\t bushes.\t Odysseus\t had\t been\t awakened\t by\t the\t girls\u2019 voices.\tIn\tterror\tthey\tran\taway,\tall\texcept\tNausica\u00e4.\tShe\tfaced\thim\tfearlessly\tand he\tspoke\tto\ther\tas\tpersuasively\tas\this\teloquent\ttongue\tcould.\t\u201cI\tam\ta\tsuppliant\tat your\t knees,\t O\t Queen,\u201d\t he\t said.\t \u201cBut\t whether\t you\t are\t mortal\t or\t divine\t I\t cannot tell.\tNever\tanywhere\thave\tI\tset\teyes\ton\tsuch\ta\tone.\tI\twonder\tas\tI\tlook\tat\tyou.\tBe gracious\tto\tyour\tsuppliant,\ta\tshipwrecked\tman,\tfriendless\tand\thelpless,\twithout\ta rag\tto\tcover\thim.\u201d Nausica\u00e4\t answered\t him\t kindly.\t She\t told\t him\t where\t he\t was\t and\t that\t the people\t of\t the\t country\t were\t kind\t to\t luckless\t wanderers.\t The\t King,\t her\t father, would\t receive\t him\t with\t all\t courteous\t hospitality.\t She\t summoned\t the\t frightened maids\t and\t bade\t them\t give\t the\t stranger\t the\t oil\t so\t that\t he\t could\t cleanse\t himself and\tfind\tfor\thim\ta\tmantle\tand\ta\ttunic.\tThey\twaited\twhile\the\tbathed\tand\tdressed, then\t all\t set\t forth\t for\t the\t city.\t Before\t they\t reached\t Nausica\u00e4\u2019s\t home,\t however, that\t discreet\t maiden\t directed\t Odysseus\t to\t fall\t back\t and\t let\t her\t and\t the\t girls\t go on\t alone.\t \u201cPeople\u2019s\t tongues\t are\t so\t ill-natured,\u201d\t she\t said.\t \u201cIf\t they\t saw\t a handsome\t man\t like\t you\t with\t me,\t they\t would\t be\t hinting\t at\t all\t sorts\t of\t things. And\t you\t can\t easily\t find\t my\t father\u2019s\t house,\t it\t is\t so\t much\t the\t most\t splendid. Enter\t boldly\t and\t go\t straight\t to\t my\t mother,\t who\t will\t be\t spinning\t at\t the\t hearth. What\tmy\tmother\tsays\tmy\tfather\twill\tdo.\u201d Odysseus\t agreed\t at\t once.\t He\t admired\t her\t good\t sense,\t and\t he\t followed\t her directions\texactly.\tEntering\tthe\thouse\the\tstrode\tthrough\tthe\thall\tto\tthe\thearth\tand sank\t down\t before\t the\t Queen,\t clasping\t her\t knees\t and\t praying\t for\t her\t help.\t The","King\t quickly\t raised\t him\t and\t bade\t him\t sit\t at\t table\t and\t take\t his\t fill\t of\t food\t and drink\t without\t fear.\t Whoever\t he\t was\t and\t wherever\t his\t home,\t he\t could\t rest assured\t that\t they\t would\t arrange\t to\t send\t him\t there\t in\t one\t of\t their\t ships.\t It\t was now\tthe\ttime\tfor\tsleep,\tbut\tin\tthe\tmorning\the\tcould\ttell\tthem\this\tname\tand\thow he\t had\t made\t his\t way\t to\t them.\t So\t they\t slept\t through\t the\t night,\t Odysseus blissfully,\ton\ta\tcouch\tsoft\tand\twarm\tas\the\thad\tnot\tknown\tsince\the\tleft\tCalypso\u2019s isle. The\tnext\tday\tin\tthe\tpresence\tof\tall\tthe\tPhaeacian\tchiefs\the\ttold\tthe\tstory\tof\this ten\tyears\u2019\twandering.\tHe\tbegan\twith\tthe\tdeparture\tfrom\tTroy\tand\tthe\tstorm\tthat struck\t the\t Fleet.\t He\t and\t his\t ships\t were\t driven\t across\t the\t sea\t for\t nine\t days.\t On the\t tenth\t they\t made\t the\t land\t of\t the\t Lotus-eaters\t and\t put\t in\t there.\t But\t weary though\tthey\twere\tand\tin\tneed\tof\trefreshment\tthey\twere\tforced\tto\tleave\tquickly. The\tinhabitants\tmet\tthem\twith\tkindness\tand\tgave\tthem\ttheir\tflower-food\tto\teat, but\tthose\twho\ttasted\tit,\tonly\ta\tfew\tfortunately,\tlost\ttheir\tlonging\tfor\thome.\tThey wanted\tonly\tto\tdwell\tin\tthe\tLotus\tLand,\tand\tlet\tthe\tmemory\tof\tall\tthat\thad\tbeen fade\tfrom\ttheir\tminds.\tOdysseus\thad\tto\tdrag\tthem\ton\tshipboard\tand\tchain\tthem there.\t They\t wept,\t so\t great\t was\t their\t desire\t to\t stay,\t tasting\t forever\t the\t honey- sweet\tflowers. Their\t next\t adventure\t was\t with\t the\t Cyclops\t Polyphemus,\t a\t full\t account\t of which\tis\tgiven\tin\tPart\tOne,\tChapter\tIV.\tThey\tlost\ta\tnumber\tof\ttheir\tcomrades\tat his\t hands,\t and\t what\t was\t even\t worse,\t made\t Poseidon,\t who\t was\t Polyphemus\u2019 father,\tso\tangry\tthat\the\tswore\tOdysseus\tshould\treach\this\town\tcountry\tagain\tonly after\tlong\tmisery\tand\twhen\the\thad\tlost\tall\this\tmen.\tFor\tthese\tten\tyears\this\tanger had\tfollowed\thim\tover\tthe\tsea. From\t the\t Cyclops\u2019\t island\t they\t came\t to\t the\t country\t of\t the\t Winds,\t ruled\t over by\tKing\tAeolus.\tZeus\thad\tmade\thim\tkeeper\tof\tthe\tWinds,\tto\tstill\tthem\tor\tarouse them\t at\t his\t will.\t Aeolus\t received\t them\t hospitably\t and\t when\t they\t left\t gave Odysseus\t as\t a\t parting\t gift\t a\t leather\t sack,\t into\t which\t he\t had\t put\t all\t the\t Storm Winds.\t It\t was\t so\t tightly\t fastened\t that\t not\t the\t very\t least\t puff\t of\t any\t Wind\t that spells\t danger\t for\t a\t ship\t could\t leak\t out.\t In\t this\t excellent\t situation\t for\t sailors Odysseus\u2019\t crew\t managed\t to\t bring\t them\t all\t near\t to\t death.\t They\t thought\t the carefully\t stored\t bag\t was\t probably\t full\t of\t gold;\t at\t any\t rate,\t they\t wanted\t to\t see what\t was\t in\t it.\t They\t opened\t it,\t with\t the\t result,\t of\t course,\t that\t all\t the\t Winds rushed\tout\tat\tonce\tand\tswept\tthem\taway\tin\ta\tterrific\ttempest.\tFinally,\tafter\tdays of\tdanger,\tthey\tsaw\tland,\tbut\tthey\thad\tbetter\thave\tstayed\ton\tthe\tstormy\tsea\tfor\tit","was\tthe\tcountry\tof\tthe\tLaestrygons,\ta\tpeople\tof\tgigantic\tsize\tand\tcannibals,\ttoo. These\thorrible\tfolk\tdestroyed\tall\tOdysseus\u2019\tships\texcept\tthe\tone\the\thimself\twas in\u2014which\thad\tnot\tyet\tentered\tthe\tharbor\twhen\tthe\tattack\twas\tmade. This\twas\tby\tfar\tthe\tworst\tdisaster\tyet,\tand\tit\twas\twith\tdespairing\thearts\tthat they\tput\tin\tat\tthe\tnext\tisland\tthey\treached.\tNever\twould\tthey\thave\tlanded\tif\tthey had\tknown\twhat\tlay\tbefore\tthem.\tThey\thad\tcome\tto\tAeaea,\tthe\trealm\tof\tCirce,\ta most\t beautiful\t and\t most\t dangerous\t witch.\t Every\t man\t who\t approached\t her\t she turned\t into\t a\t beast.\t Only\t his\t reason\t remained\t as\t before:\t he\t knew\t what\t had happened\t to\t him.\t She\t enticed\t into\t her\t house\t the\t party\t Odysseus\t dispatched\t to spy\t out\t the\t land,\t and\t there\t she\t changed\t them\t into\t swine.\t She\t penned\t them\t in\t a sty\tand\tgave\tthem\tacorns\tto\teat.\tThey\tate\tthem;\tthey\twere\tswine.\tYet\tinside\tthey were\tmen,\taware\tof\ttheir\tvile\tstate,\tbut\tcompletely\tin\ther\tpower. Luckily\t for\t Odysseus,\t one\t of\t the\t party\t had\t been\t too\t cautious\t to\t enter\t the house.\tHe\twatched\twhat\thappened\tand\tfled\tin\thorror\tback\tto\tthe\tship.\tThe\tnews drove\tany\tthought\tof\tcaution\tout\tof\tOdysseus.\tHe\tstarted\toff,\tall\talone\u2014not\tone of\tthe\tcrew\twould\tgo\twith\thim\u2014to\ttry\tto\tdo\tsomething,\tbring\tsome\thelp\tto\this men.\t On\t his\t way\t Hermes\t met\t him.\t He\t seemed\t a\t young\t man,\t of\t that\t age\t when youth\tlooks\tits\tloveliest.\tHe\ttold\tOdysseus\the\tknew\ta\therb\twhich\tcould\tsave\thim from\tCirce\u2019s\tdeadly\tart.\tWith\tit\the\tcould\ttaste\tanything\tshe\tgave\thim\tand\tsuffer no\t harm.\t When\t he\t had\t drunk\t the\t cup\t she\t offered\t him,\t Hermes\t said,\t he\t must threaten\t to\t run\t her\t through\t with\t his\t sword\t unless\t she\t freed\t his\t followers. Odysseus\t took\t the\t herb\t and\t went\t thankfully\t on\t his\t way.\t All\t turned\t out\t even better\tthan\tHermes\thad\tpredicted.\tWhen\tCirce\thad\tused\ton\tOdysseus\tthe\tmagic which\thad\talways\thitherto\tbeen\tsuccessful\tand\tto\ther\tamazement\tsaw\thim\tstand unchanged\t before\t her,\t she\t so\t marveled\t at\t the\t man\t who\t could\t resist\t her enchantment\tthat\tshe\tloved\thim.\tShe\twas\tready\tto\tdo\twhatever\the\tasked\tand\tshe turned\t his\t companions\t at\t once\t back\t into\t men\t again.\t She\t treated\t them\t all\t with such\t kindness,\t feasting\t them\t sumptuously\t in\t her\t house,\t that\t for\t a\t whole\t year they\tstayed\thappily\twith\ther.","","PLATE\tVIII The\tjourney\tof\tOdysseus","When\tat\tlast\tthey\tfelt\tthat\tthe\ttime\thad\tcome\tto\tdepart\tshe\tused\ther\tmagical knowledge\t for\t them.\t She\t found\t out\t what\t they\t must\t do\t next\t in\t order\t to\t reach home\tsafely.\tIt\twas\ta\tfearful\tundertaking\tshe\tput\tbefore\tthem.\tThey\tmust\tcross the\t river\t Ocean\t and\t beach\t the\t ship\t on\t Persephone\u2019s\t shore\t where\t there\t was\t an entrance\t to\t the\t dark\t realm\t of\t Hades.\t Odysseus\t then\t must\t go\t down\t and\t find\t the spirit\tof\tthe\tprophet\tTeiresias\twho\thad\tbeen\tthe\tholy\tman\tof\tThebes.\tHe\twould tell\tOdysseus\thow\tto\tget\tback\thome.\tThere\twas\tonly\tone\tway\tto\tinduce\this\tghost to\tcome\tto\thim,\tby\tkilling\tsheep\tand\tfilling\ta\tpit\twith\ttheir\tblood.\tAll\tghosts\thad an\tirresistible\tcraving\tto\tdrink\tblood.\tEvery\tone\tof\tthem\twould\tcome\trushing\tto the\t pit,\t but\t Odysseus\t must\t draw\t his\t sword\t and\t keep\t them\t away\t until\t Teiresias spoke\tto\thim. This\twas\tbad\tnews,\tindeed,\tand\tall\twere\tweeping\twhen\tthey\tleft\tCirce\u2019s\tisle and\t turned\t their\t prow\t toward\t Erebus\t where\t Hades\t rules\t with\t awesome Persephone.\tIt\twas\tterrible\tindeed\twhen\tthe\ttrench\twas\tdug\tand\tfilled\twith\tblood and\tthe\tspirits\tof\tthe\tdead\tflocked\tto\tit.\tBut\tOdysseus\tkept\this\tcourage.\tHe\theld them\t off\t with\t his\t sharp\t weapon\t until\t he\t saw\t the\t ghost\t of\t Teiresias.\t He\t let\t him approach\t and\t drink\t of\t the\t black\t blood,\t then\t put\t his\t question\t to\t him.\t The\t seer was\t ready\t with\t his\t answer.\t The\t chief\t danger\t that\t threatened\t them,\t he\t said,\t was that\t they\t might\t do\t some\t injury\t to\t the\t oxen\t of\t the\t Sun\t when\t they\t reached\t the island\t where\t they\t lived.\t The\t doom\t of\t all\t who\t harmed\t them\t was\t certain.\t They were\tthe\tmost\tbeautiful\toxen\tin\tthe\tworld\tand\tvery\tmuch\tprized\tby\tthe\tSun.\tBut in\t any\t event\t Odysseus\t himself\t would\t reach\t home\t and\t although\t he\t would\t find trouble\twaiting\tfor\thim,\tin\tthe\tend\the\twould\tprevail. After\tthe\tprophet\tceased\tspeaking,\ta\tlong\tprocession\tof\tthe\tdead\tcame\tup\tto drink\tthe\tblood\tand\tspeak\tto\tOdysseus\tand\tpass\ton,\tgreat\theroes\tand\tfair\twomen of\t old;\t warriors,\t too,\t who\t had\t fallen\t at\t Troy.\t Achilles\t came\t and\t Ajax,\t still wrathful\tbecause\tof\tthe\tarmor\tof\tAchilles\twhich\tthe\tGreek\tcaptains\thad\tgiven\tto Odysseus\t and\t not\t to\t him.\t Many\t others\t came,\t all\t eager\t to\t speak\t to\t him.\t Too many,\t in\t the\t end.\t Terror\t at\t the\t thronging\t members\t took\t hold\t of\t Odysseus.\t He hastened\tback\tto\tthe\tship\tand\tbade\this\tcrew\tset\tsail. From\tCirce\the\thad\tlearned\tthat\tthey\tmust\tpass\tthe\tisland\tof\tthe\tSirens.\tThese were\t marvelous\t singers\t whose\t voices\t would\t make\t a\t man\t forget\t all\t else,\t and\t at last\t their\t song\t would\t steal\t his\t life\t away.\t Moldering\t skeletons\t of\t those\t they\t had lured\t to\t their\t death\t lay\t banked\t high\t up\t around\t them\t where\t they\t sat\t singing\t on the\tshore.\tOdysseus\ttold\this\tmen\tabout\tthem\tand\tthat\tthe\tonly\tway\tto\tpass\tthem safely\t was\t for\t each\t man\t to\t stop\t his\t ears\t with\t wax.\t He\t himself,\t however,\t was determined\t to\t hear\t them,\t and\t he\t proposed\t that\t the\t crew\t should\t tie\t him\t to\t the","mast\t so\t strongly\t that\t he\t could\t not\t get\t away\t however\t much\t he\t tried.\t This\t they did\t and\t drew\t near\t the\t island,\t all\t except\t Odysseus\t deaf\t to\t the\t enchanting\t song. He\theard\tit\tand\tthe\twords\twere\teven\tmore\tenticing\tthan\tthe\tmelody,\tat\tleast\tto\ta Greek.\t They\t would\t give\t knowledge\t to\t each\t man\t who\t came\t to\t them,\t they\t said, ripe\twisdom\tand\ta\tquickening\tof\tthe\tspirit.\t\u201cWe\tknow\tall\tthings\twhich\tshall\tbe hereafter\tupon\tthe\tearth.\u201d\tSo\trang\ttheir\tsong\tin\tlovely\tcadences,\tand\tOdysseus\u2019 heart\tached\twith\tlonging. But\t the\t ropes\t held\t him\t and\t that\t danger\t was\t safely\t passed.\t A\t sea\t peril\t next awaited\t them\u2014the\t passage\t between\t Scylla\t and\t Charybdis.\t The\t Argonauts\t had got\t through\t it;\t Aeneas,\t who\t just\t about\t that\t time\t had\t sailed\t for\t Italy,\t had\t been able\tto\tavoid\tit\tbecause\tof\ta\tprophet\u2019s\twarning;\tof\tcourse\tOdysseus\twith\tAthena looking\tafter\thim\tsucceeded\tin\tpassing\tit.\tBut\tit\twas\ta\tfrightful\tordeal\tand\tsix\tof the\t crew\t lost\t their\t lives\t there.\t However,\t they\t would\t not\t in\t any\t case\t have\t lived much\t longer,\t for\t at\t their\t next\t stopping\t place,\t the\t Island\t of\t the\t Sun,\t the\t men acted\t with\t incredible\t folly.\t They\t were\t hungry\t and\t they\t killed\t the\t sacred\t oxen. Odysseus\twas\taway.\t He\thad\t gone\tinto\t the\tisland\t alone\t by\thimself\t to\tpray.\t He was\tin\tdespair\twhen\the\treturned,\tbut\tthe\tbeasts\thad\tbeen\troasted\tand\teaten\tand nothing\tcould\tbe\tdone.\tThe\tvengeance\tof\tthe\tSun\twas\tswift.\tAs\tsoon\tas\tthe\tmen left\t the\t island\t a\t thunderbolt\t shattered\t the\t ship.\t All\t were\t drowned\t except Odysseus.\t He\t clung\t to\t the\t keel\t and\t was\t able\t to\t ride\t out\t the\t storm.\t Then\t he drifted\t for\t days,\t until\t finally\t he\t was\t cast\t ashore\t on\t Calypso\u2019s\t island,\t where\t he had\t to\t stay\t for\t many\t years.\t At\t last\t he\t started\t home,\t but\t a\t tempest\t shipwrecked him\t and\t only\t after\t many\t and\t great\t dangers\t had\t he\t succeeded\t in\t reaching\t the Phaeacian\tland,\ta\thelpless,\tdestitute\tman. The\t long\t story\t was\t ended,\t but\t the\t audience\t sat\t silent,\t entranced\t by\t the\t tale.\t At last\t the\t King\t spoke.\t His\t troubles\t were\t over,\t he\t assured\t Odysseus.\t They\t would send\t him\t home\t that\t very\t day\t and\t every\t man\t present\t would\t give\t him\t a\t parting gift\t to\t enrich\t him.\t All\t agreed.\t The\t ship\t was\t made\t ready,\t the\t presents\t were stowed\t within,\t and\t Odysseus\t embarked\t after\t taking\t a\t grateful\t leave\t of\t his\t kind hosts.\tHe\tstretched\thimself\ton\tthe\tdeck\tand\ta\tsweet\tsleep\tclosed\this\teyes.\tWhen he\t woke\t he\t was\t on\t dry\t land,\t lying\t on\t a\t beach.\t The\t sailors\t had\t set\t him\t ashore just\t as\t he\t was,\t ranged\t his\t belongings\t beside\t him,\t and\t departed.\t He\t started\t up and\t stood\t staring\t around\t him.\t He\t did\t not\t recognize\t his\t own\t country.\t A\t young man\tapproached\thim,\tseemingly\ta\tshepherd\tlad,\tbut\tfine\tand\twell-mannered\tlike the\tsons\tof\tkings\twhen\tthey\ttend\tsheep.\tSo\the\tseemed\tto\tOdysseus,\tbut\treally\tit","was\t Athena\t in\t his\t semblance.\t She\t answered\t his\t eager\t question\t and\t told\t him\t he was\t in\t Ithaca.\t Even\t in\t his\t joy\t at\t the\t news\t Odysseus\t kept\t his\t caution.\t He\t spun her\ta\tlong\ttale\tabout\twho\the\twas\tand\twhy\the\thad\tcome,\twith\tnot\ta\tword\tof\ttruth in\tit,\tat\tthe\tend\tof\twhich\tthe\tgoddess\tsmiled\tand\tpatted\thim.\tThen\tshe\tappeared in\t her\t own\t form,\t divinely\t tall\t and\t beautiful.\t \u201cYou\t crooked,\t shifty\t rogue!\u201d\t she laughed.\t \u201cAnyone\t who\t would\t keep\t pace\t with\t your\t craftiness\t must\t be\t a\t canny dealer.\u201d\t Odysseus\t greeted\t her\t with\t rapture,\t but\t she\t bade\t him\t remember\t how much\tthere\twas\tto\tdo\tand\tthe\ttwo\tsettled\tdown\tto\twork\tout\ta\tplan.\tAthena\ttold him\t how\t things\t were\t in\t his\t house\t and\t promised\t she\t would\t help\t him\t clear\t it\t of the\t suitors.\t For\t the\t present\t she\t would\t change\t him\t into\t an\t old\t beggar\t so\t that\t he could\t go\t everywhere\t unrecognized.\t That\t night\t he\t must\t spend\t with\t his swineherd,\t Eumaeus,\t a\t man\t faithful\t and\t trustworthy\t beyond\t praise.\t When\t they had\t hidden\t the\t treasures\t in\t a\t nearby\t cave\t they\t separated,\t she\t to\t summon Telemachus\t home,\t he,\t whom\t her\t art\t had\t turned\t into\t a\t shambling\t ragged\t old man,\tto\tseek\tthe\tswineherd.\tEumaeus\twelcomed\tthe\tpoor\tstranger,\tfed\thim\twell, and\tlodged\thim\tfor\tthe\tnight,\tgiving\thim\this\town\tthick\tmantle\tto\tcover\thim. Meanwhile,\t at\t Pallas\t Athena\u2019s\t prompting,\t Telemachus\t took\t leave\t of\t Helen and\tMenelaus,\tand\tas\tsoon\tas\the\treached\this\tship\tembarked,\teager\tto\tget\thome with\tall\tspeed.\tHe\tplanned\u2014and\tagain\tAthena\thad\tput\tthe\tthought\tin\this\tmind\u2014 not\t to\t go\t directly\t to\t the\t house\t on\t landing,\t but\t first\t to\t the\t swineherd\t to\t learn\t if anything\t had\t happened\t in\t his\t absence.\t Odysseus\t was\t helping\t prepare\t breakfast when\t the\t young\t man\t appeared\t at\t the\t door.\t Eumaeus\t greeted\t him\t with\t tears\t of joy\t and\t begged\t him\t to\t sit\t and\t eat.\t Before\t he\t would\t do\t so,\t however,\t he dispatched\t the\t swineherd\t to\t inform\t Penelope\t of\t his\t return.\t Then\t father\t and\t son were\talone\ttogether.\tAt\tthat\tmoment\tOdysseus\tperceived\tAthena\tjust\tbeyond\tthe door\t beckoning\t to\t him.\t He\t went\t out\t to\t her\t and\t in\t a\t flash\t she\t turned\t him\t back into\t his\t own\t form\t and\t bade\t him\t tell\t Telemachus\t who\t he\t was.\t That\t young\t man had\t noticed\t nothing\t until\t instead\t of\t the\t old\t beggar\t a\t majestic-looking\t person returned\t to\t him.\t He\t started\t up\t amazed,\t believing\t he\t saw\t a\t god.\t \u201cI\t am\t your father,\u201d\tOdysseus\tsaid,\tand\tthe\ttwo\tembraced\teach\tother\tand\twept.\tBut\tthe\ttime was\tshort\tand\tthere\twas\tmuch\tto\tplan.\tAn\tanxious\ttalk\tfollowed.\tOdysseus\twas determined\tto\tdrive\tthe\tsuitors\taway\tby\tforce,\tbut\thow\tcould\ttwo\tmen\ttake\ton\ta whole\tcompany?\tAt\tlast\tit\twas\tdecided\tthat\tthe\tnext\tmorning\tthey\tshould\tgo\tto the\t house,\t Odysseus\t disguised,\t of\t course,\t and\t that\t Telemachus\t should\t hide\t all the\tweapons\tof\twar,\tleaving\tonly\tenough\tfor\tthe\ttwo\tof\tthem\twhere\tthey\tcould easily\tget\tat\tthem.\tAthena\twas\tquick\tto\taid.\tWhen\tEumaeus\tcame\tback\the\tfound the\told\tbeggar\the\thad\tleft.","Next\t day\t Telemachus\t went\t on\t alone,\t leaving\t the\t other\t two\t to\t follow.\t They reached\t the\t town,\t they\t came\t to\t the\t palace,\t and\t at\t last\t after\t twenty\t years Odysseus\tentered\this\tdear\tdwelling.\tAs\the\tdid\tso\tan\told\tdog\tlying\tthere\tlifted\this head\t and\t pricked\t his\t ears.\t It\t was\t Argos,\t whom\t Odysseus\t had\t bred\t before\t he went\tto\tTroy.\tYet\tthe\tmoment\this\tmaster\tappeared\the\tknew\thim\tand\twagged\this tail,\t but\t he\t had\t no\t strength\t to\t drag\t himself\t even\t a\t little\t toward\t him.\t Odysseus knew\t him,\t too,\t and\t brushed\t away\t a\t tear.\t He\t dared\t not\t go\t to\t him\t for\t fear\t of arousing\tsuspicion\tin\tthe\tswineherd,\tand\tas\the\tturned\taway\tthat\tmoment\tthe\told dog\tdied. Within\t the\t hall\t the\t suitors,\t idly\t loafing\t after\t their\t meal,\t were\t in\t a\t mood\t to make\tfun\tof\tthe\tmiserable\told\tbeggar\twho\tentered,\tand\tOdysseus\tlistened\tto\tall their\t mocking\t words\t with\t submissive\t patience.\t At\t last\t one\t of\t them,\t an\t evil- tempered\t man,\t became\t irritated\t and\t gave\t him\t a\t blow.\t He\t dared\t to\t strike\t a stranger\t who\t was\t asking\t for\t hospitality.\t Penelope\t heard\t of\t the\t outrage\t and declared\t that\t she\t would\t herself\t speak\t with\t the\t ill-treated\t man,\t but\t she\t decided first\tto\tpay\ta\tvisit\tto\tthe\tbanqueting\thall.\tShe\twanted\tto\tsee\tTelemachus\tand\talso it\t seemed\t wise\t to\t her\t to\t show\t herself\t to\t the\t suitors.\t She\t was\t as\t prudent\t as\t her son.\tIf\tOdysseus\twas\tdead,\tit\twould\tcertainly\tbe\twell\tfor\ther\tto\tmarry\tthe\trichest of\t these\t men\t and\t the\t most\t liberal.\t She\t must\t not\t discourage\t them\t too\t much. Besides,\tshe\thad\tan\tidea\twhich\tseemed\tto\tpromise\tvery\twell.\tSo\tshe\twent\tdown from\ther\troom\tinto\tthe\thall,\tattended\tby\ttwo\tmaids\tand\tholding\ta\tveil\tbefore\ther face,\tlooking\tso\tlovely\ther\tcourtiers\ttrembled\tto\tsee\ther.\tOne\tand\tanother\tarose to\t compliment\t her,\t but\t the\t discreet\t lady\t answered\t she\t knew\t very\t well\t that\t she had\t lost\t all\t her\t looks\t by\t now,\t what\t with\t her\t grieving\t and\t her\t many\t cares.\t Her purpose\t in\t coming\t to\t speak\t to\t them\t was\t a\t serious\t one.\t No\t doubt\t her\t husband would\tnever\tcome\tback.\tWhy\tthen\tdid\tthey\tnot\tcourt\ther\tin\tthe\tproper\tway\tfor\ta lady\tof\tfamily\tand\tfortune\tby\tgiving\ther\tcostly\tgifts?\tThe\tsuggestion\twas\tacted upon\tat\tonce.\tAll\thad\ttheir\tpages\tbring\tand\tpresent\ther\twith\tmost\tlovely\tthings, robes\tand\tjewels\tand\tgolden\tchains.\tHer\tmaids\tcarried\tthem\tupstairs\tand\tdemure Penelope\tretired\twith\tgreat\tcontentment\tin\ther\theart. Then\tshe\tsent\tfor\tthe\tstranger\twho\thad\tbeen\till-used.\tShe\tspoke\tgraciously\tto him\t and\t Odysseus\t told\t her\t a\t tale\t of\t meeting\t her\t husband\t on\t his\t way\t to\t Troy which\tmade\ther\tweep\tuntil\the\tpitied\ther.\tStill\the\tdid\tnot\treveal\thimself,\tbut\tkept his\tface\thard\tas\tiron.\tBy\tand\tby\tPenelope\tremembered\ther\tduties\tas\thostess.\tShe summoned\tan\told\tnurse,\tEurycleia,\twho\thad\tcared\tfor\tOdysseus\tfrom\tbabyhood, and\tbade\ther\twash\tthe\tstranger\u2019s\tfeet.\tOdysseus\twas\tfrightened,\tfor\ton\tone\tfoot was\ta\tscar\tmade\tin\tboyhood\tdays\tby\ta\twild\tboar\the\thad\thunted,\tand\the\tthought","she\t would\t recognize\t it.\t She\t did,\t and\t she\t let\t the\t foot\t fall\t so\t that\t the\t tub\t was upset.\tOdysseus\tcaught\ther\thand\tand\tmuttered,\t\u201cDear\tnurse,\tyou\tknow.\tBut\tnot a\t word\t to\t another\t soul.\u201d\t She\t whispered\t her\t promise,\t and\t Odysseus\t took\t his leave.\tHe\tfound\ta\tbed\tin\tthe\tentrance\thall,\tbut\the\tcould\tnot\tsleep\tfor\twondering how\the\tcould\tovercome\tso\tmany\tshameless\tfellows.\tAt\tlast\the\treminded\thimself that\t his\t state\t in\t the\t Cyclops\u2019\t cave\t had\t been\t still\t worse\t and\t that\t with\t Athena\u2019s help\the\tcould\thope\there,\ttoo,\tto\tbe\tsuccessful,\tand\tthen\the\tslept. Morning\tbrought\tthe\tsuitors\tback,\tmore\tinsolent\teven\tthan\tbefore.\tCarelessly and\tat\tease\tthey\tsat\tdown\tto\tthe\trich\tfeast\tspread\tfor\tthem,\tnot\tknowing\tthat\tthe goddess\t and\t the\t much-enduring\t Odysseus\t were\t preparing\t a\t ghastly\t banquet\t for them. Penelope\tall\tunknowing\tforwarded\ttheir\tplan.\tDuring\tthe\tnight\tshe\thad\tmade one\t of\t her\t own.\t When\t morning\t came\t she\t went\t to\t her\t store-chamber\t where among\t many\t treasures\t was\t a\t great\t bow\t and\t a\t quiver\t full\t of\t arrows.\t They belonged\t to\t Odysseus\t and\t no\t hand\t but\t his\t had\t ever\t strung\t the\t bow\t or\t used\t it. Carrying\t them\t herself\t she\t descended\t to\t where\t the\t suitors\t were\t gathered.\t \u201cHear me,\tmy\tlords,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\t\u201cI\tset\tbefore\tyou\tthe\tbow\tof\tgodlike\tOdysseus.\tHe\twho strings\tthe\tbow\tand\tshoots\tan\tarrow\tstraight\tthrough\ttwelve\trings\tin\ta\tline,\tI\twill take\tas\tmy\thusband.\u201d\tTelemachus\tinstantly\tsaw\thow\tthis\tcould\tbe\tturned\tto\ttheir advantage\t and\t he\t was\t quick\t to\t play\t up\t to\t her.\t \u201cCome\t on,\t suitors\t all,\u201d\t he\t cried. \u201cNo\t holding\t back\t or\t excuses.\t But\t stay.\t I\t will\t try\t first\t and\t see\t if\t I\t am\t man enough\t to\t bear\t my\t father\u2019s\t arms.\u201d\t With\t this\t he\t set\t the\t rings\t in\t order,\t placing them\t exactly\t in\t line.\t Then\t he\t took\t the\t bow\t and\t did\t his\t utmost\t to\t string\t it. Perhaps\t he\t might\t in\t the\t end\t have\t succeeded\t if\t Odysseus\t had\t not\t signed\t to\t him to\tgive\tup.\tAfter\thim\tthe\tothers,\tone\tby\tone,\ttook\ttheir\tturn,\tbut\tthe\tbow\twas\ttoo stiff;\tthe\tstrongest\tcould\tnot\tbend\tit\teven\ta\tlittle. Certain\tthat\tno\tone\twould\tbe\tsuccessful\tOdysseus\tleft\tthe\tcontest\tand\tstepped out\t into\t the\t courtyard\t where\t the\t swineherd\t was\t talking\t to\t the\t keeper\t of\t the cattle,\ta\tfellow\tas\ttrustworthy\tas\thimself.\tHe\tneeded\ttheir\thelp\tand\the\ttold\tthem who\the\twas.\tAs\tproof\the\tshowed\tthem\tthe\tscar\ton\this\tfoot\twhich\tin\tother\tyears they\t had\t both\t seen\t many\t a\t time.\t They\t recognized\t it\t and\t burst\t out\t weeping\t for joy.\tBut\tOdysseus\thushed\tthem\tquickly.\t\u201cNone\tof\tthat\tnow,\u201d\the\tsaid.\t\u201cListen\tto what\tI\twant\tof\tyou.\tDo\tyou,\tEumaeus,\tfind\tsome\tway\tto\tput\tthe\tbow\tand\tarrows into\tmy\thands;\tthen\tsee\tthat\tthe\twomen\u2019s\tquarters\tare\tclosed\tso\tthat\tno\tone\tcan enter.\tAnd\tyou,\tO\therder\tof\tcattle,\tmust\tshut\tand\tbar\tthe\tgates\tof\tthe\tcourt\there.\u201d He\t turned\t back\t to\t the\t hall,\t the\t two\t following\t him.\t When\t they\t entered\t the\t last suitor\tto\tmake\tthe\ttrial\thad\tjust\tfailed.\tOdysseus\tsaid,\t\u201cPass\tme\tthe\tbow\tand\tlet","me\tsee\tif\tthe\tstrength\tI\tonce\thad\tis\tstill\tmine.\u201d\tAn\tangry\tclamor\tbroke\tout\tat\tthe words.\t A\t beggarly\t foreigner\t should\t never\t touch\t the\t bow,\t they\t cried.\t But Telemachus\tspoke\tsternly\tto\tthem.\tIt\twas\tfor\thim,\tnot\tthem,\tto\tsay\twho\tshould handle\tthe\tbow,\tand\the\tbade\tEumaeus\tgive\tit\tto\tOdysseus. All\twatched\tintently\tas\the\ttook\tit\tand\texamined\tit.\tThen,\twith\teffortless\tease, as\ta\tskilled\tmusician\tfits\ta\tbit\tof\tcatgut\tto\this\tlyre,\the\tbent\tthe\tbow\tand\tstrung\tit. He\t notched\t an\t arrow\t to\t the\t string\t and\t drew,\t and\t not\t moving\t from\t his\t seat\t he sent\tit\tstraight\tthrough\tthe\ttwelve\trings.\tThe\tnext\tinstant\twith\tone\tleap\the\twas\tat the\t door\t and\t Telemachus\t was\t beside\t him.\t \u201cAt\t last,\t at\t last,\u201d\t he\t cried\t in\t a\t great voice\tand\the\tshot\tan\tarrow.\tIt\tfound\tits\tmark;\tone\tof\tthe\tsuitors\tfell\tdying\tto\tthe floor.\t The\t others\t sprang\t up\t in\t horror.\t Their\t weapons\u2014where\t were\t they?\t None were\t to\t be\t seen.\t And\t Odysseus\t was\t shooting\t steadily.\t As\t each\t arrow\t whistled through\tthe\thall\ta\tman\tfell\tdead.\tTelemachus\ton\tguard\twith\this\tlong\tspear\tkept the\tcrowd\tback\tso\tthat\tthey\tcould\tnot\trush\tout\tthrough\tthe\tdoor\teither\tto\tescape or\t to\t attack\t Odysseus\t from\t the\t rear.\t They\t made\t an\t easy\t target,\t gathered\t there together,\t and\t as\t long\t as\t the\t supply\t of\t arrows\t held\t out\t they\t were\t slaughtered without\t a\t chance\t to\t defend\t themselves.\t Even\t with\t the\t arrows\t gone\t they\t fared little\t better,\t for\t Athena\t had\t now\t come\t to\t take\t a\t part\t in\t the\t great\t deeds\t being done\t and\t she\t made\t each\t attempt\t to\t reach\t Odysseus\t miscarry.\t But\t his\t flashing spear\t never\t missed\t its\t stroke\t and\t the\t dreadful\t sound\t of\t cracking\t skulls\t was heard\tand\tthe\tfloor\tflowed\twith\tblood. At\tlast\tonly\ttwo\tof\tthat\troistering,\timpudent\tband\twere\tleft,\tthe\tpriest\tof\tthe suitors\t and\t their\t bard.\t Both\t of\t them\t cried\t for\t mercy,\t but\t the\t priest,\t clasping Odysseus\u2019\tknees\tin\this\tagony\tof\tsupplication,\tmet\twith\tnone.\tThe\thero\u2019s\tsword ran\thim\tthrough\tand\the\tdied\tin\tthe\tmidst\tof\this\tprayer.\tThe\tbard\twas\tfortunate. Odysseus\t shrank\t from\t killing\t such\t a\t man,\t taught\t by\t the\t gods\t to\t sing\t divinely, and\the\tspared\thim\tfor\tfurther\tsong. The\t battle\u2014slaughter,\t rather\u2014was\t ended.\t The\t old\t nurse\t Eurycleia\t and\t her maids\t were\t summoned\t to\t cleanse\t the\t place\t and\t restore\t all\t to\t order.\t They surrounded\t Odysseus,\t weeping\t and\t laughing\t and\t welcoming\t him\t home\t until they\tstirred\twithin\this\town\theart\tthe\tdesire\tto\tweep.\tAt\tlast\tthey\tset\tto\twork,\tbut Eurycleia\t climbed\t the\t stairs\t to\t her\t mistress\u2019s\t chamber.\t She\t stood\t by\t her\t bed. \u201cAwake,\t my\t dear,\u201d\t she\t said,\t \u201cfor\t Odysseus\t has\t come\t home\t and\t all\t the\t suitors are\tdead.\u201d\t\u201cO\tcrazy\told\twoman,\u201d\tPenelope\tcomplained.\t\u201cAnd\tI\twas\tsleeping\tso sweetly.\t Off\t with\t you\t and\t be\t glad\t you\t are\t not\t smartly\t slapped\t as\t anyone\t else would\t have\t been\t who\t waked\t me.\u201d\t But\t Eurycleia\t persisted,\t \u201cIndeed,\t indeed Odysseus\t is\t here.\t He\t showed\t me\t the\t scar.\t It\t is\t his\t very\t self.\u201d\t Still\t Penelope","could\tnot\tbelieve\ther.\tShe\thurried\tdown\tto\tthe\thall\tto\tsee\twith\ther\town\teyes. A\tman\ttall\tand\tprincely-looking\twas\tsitting\tby\tthe\thearth\twhere\tthe\tfirelight fell\t full\t on\t him.\t She\t sat\t down\t opposite\t him\t and\t looked\t at\t him\t in\t silence.\t She was\tbewildered.\tAt\tone\tmoment\tshe\tseemed\tto\trecognize\thim,\tthe\tnext,\the\twas\ta stranger\t to\t her.\t Telemachus\t cried\t out\t at\t her:\t \u201cMother,\t Mother,\t oh,\t cruel!\t What other\t woman\t would\t hold\t herself\t aloof\t when\t her\t man\t came\t home\t after\t twenty years?\u201d\t\u201cMy\tson,\u201d\tshe\tanswered,\t\u201cI\thave\tno\tstrength\tto\tmove.\tIf\tthis\tis\tin\ttruth Odysseus,\t then\t we\t two\t have\t ways\t of\t knowing\t each\t other.\u201d\t At\t this\t Odysseus smiled\t and\t bade\t Telemachus\t leave\t her\t alone.\t \u201cWe\t will\t find\t each\t other\t but presently,\u201d\the\tsaid. Then\tthe\twell-ordered\thall\twas\tfilled\twith\trejoicing.\tThe\tminstrel\tdrew\tsweet sounds\tfrom\this\tlyre\tand\twaked\tin\tall\tthe\tlonging\tfor\tthe\tdance.\tGaily\tthey\ttrod a\t measure,\t men\t and\t fair-robed\t women,\t till\t the\t great\t house\t around\t them\t rang with\t their\t footfalls.\t For\t Odysseus\t at\t last\t after\t long\t wandering\t had\t come\t home and\tevery\theart\twas\tglad.","IV The\t Aeneid,\t the\t greatest\t of\t Latin\t poems,\t is\t the\t chief\t authority\t for\t this\t story.\t It was\twritten\twhen\tAugustus\thad\ttaken\tover\tthe\tbankrupt\tRoman\tworld\tafter\tthe chaos\t that\t followed\t Caesar\u2019s\t assassination.\t His\t strong\t hand\t ended\t the\t furious civil\t wars\t and\t brought\t about\t the\t Pax\t Augusta,\t which\t lasted\t for\t nearly\t half\t a century.\t Virgil\t and\t all\t his\t generation\t were\t fired\t with\t enthusiasm\t for\t the\t new order,\t and\t the\t Aeneid\t was\t written\t to\t exalt\t the\t Empire,\t to\t provide\t a\t great national\thero\tand\ta\tfounder\tfor\t\u201cthe\trace\tdestined\tto\thold\tthe\tworld\tbeneath\tits rule.\u201d\tVirgil\u2019s\tpatriotic\tpurpose\tis\tprobably\tresponsible\tfor\tthe\tchange\tfrom\tthe human\t Aeneas\t of\t the\t first\t books\t to\t the\t unhuman\t prodigy\t of\t the\t last.\t The\t poet was\tfinally\tcarried\taway\tinto\tthe\tpurely\tfantastic\tby\this\tdetermination\tto\tcreate a\thero\tfor\tRome\tthat\twould\tmake\tall\tother\theroes\tseem\tinsignificant.\tA\ttendency to\texaggeration\twas\ta\tRoman\ttrait.\tThe\tLatin\tnames\tof\tthe\tgods\tare,\tof\tcourse, used;\tand\tthe\tLatin\tforms\tin\tthe\tcase\tof\tany\tpersonage\twho\thas\ta\tLatin\tas\twell as\ta\tGreek\tname.\tUlysses,\tfor\tinstance,\tis\tLatin\tfor\tOdysseus.","PART\tONE:\t FROM\tTROY\tTO\tITALY Aeneas,\tthe\tson\tof\tVenus,\twas\tamong\tthe\tmost\tfamous\tof\tthe\theroes\twho\tfought the\t Trojan\t War.\t On\t the\t Trojan\t side\t he\t was\t second\t only\t to\t Hector.\t When\t the Greeks\tcaptured\tTroy,\the\twas\table\twith\this\tmother\u2019s\thelp\tto\tescape\tfrom\tthe\tcity with\this\tfather\tand\this\tlittle\tson,\tand\tto\tsail\taway\tto\ta\tnew\thome. After\t long\t wanderings\t and\t many\t trials\t on\t land\t and\t sea\t he\t reached\t Italy, where\t he\t defeated\t those\t who\t opposed\t his\t entering\t the\t country,\t married\t the daughter\t of\t a\t powerful\t king,\t and\t founded\t a\t city.\t He\t was\t always\t held\t to\t be\t the real\t founder\t of\t Rome\t because\t Romulus\t and\t Remus,\t the\t actual\t founders,\t were born\tin\tthe\tcity\this\tson\tbuilt,\tin\tAlba\tLonga. When\the\tset\tsail\tfrom\tTroy\tmany\tTrojans\thad\tjoined\thim.\tAll\twere\teager\tto find\t somewhere\t to\t settle,\t but\t no\t one\t had\t any\t clear\t idea\t where\t that\t should\t be. Several\t times\t they\t started\t to\t build\t a\t city,\t but\t they\t were\t always\t driven\t away\t by misfortunes\t or\t bad\t omens.\t At\t last\t Aeneas\t was\t told\t in\t a\t dream\t that\t the\t place destined\tfor\tthem\twas\ta\tcountry\tfar\taway\tto\tthe\twest,\tItaly\u2014in\tthose\tdays\tcalled Hesperia,\t the\t Western\t Country.\t They\t were\t then\t on\t the\t island\t of\t Crete,\t and although\t the\t promised\t land\t was\t distant\t by\t a\t long\t voyage\t over\t unknown\t seas they\t were\t thankful\t for\t the\t assurance\t that\t they\t would\t some\t day\t have\t their\t own home\tand\tthey\tstarted\tat\tonce\ton\tthe\tjourney.\tBefore\tthey\treached\ttheir\tdesired haven,\t however,\t a\t long\t time\t passed,\t and\t much\t happened\t which\t if\t they\t had known\tbeforehand\tmight\thave\tchecked\ttheir\teagerness. Although\t the\t Argonauts\t had\t sailed\t east\t from\t Greece\t and\t Aeneas\u2019\t company were\t westward\t bound\t from\t Crete,\t the\t Trojans\t came\t upon\t the\t Harpies\t just\t as Jason\t and\t his\t men\t had\t done.\t The\t Greek\t heroes\t had\t been\t bolder,\t however,\t or else\t better\t swordsmen.\t They\t were\t on\t the\t point\t of\t killing\t the\t horrid\t creatures when\t Iris\t intervened,\t but\t the\t Trojans\t were\t driven\t away\t by\t them,\t and\t forced\t to put\tout\tto\tsea\tto\tescape\tthem. At\t their\t next\t landing\t place\t they\t met\t to\t their\t amazement\t Hector\u2019s\t wife Andromache.\t When\t Troy\t fell\t she\t had\t been\t given\t to\t Neoptolemus,\t sometimes called\tPyrrhus,\tAchilles\u2019\tson,\tthe\tman\twho\thad\tkilled\told\tPriam\tat\tthe\taltar.\tHe soon\tabandoned\ther\tfor\tHermione,\tHelen\u2019s\tdaughter,\tbut\the\tdid\tnot\tlong\tsurvive this\t marriage\t and\t after\t his\t death\t Andromache\t married\t the\t Trojan\t prophet Helenus.\t They\t were\t now\t ruling\t the\t country\t and\t of\t course\t were\t rejoiced\t to","welcome\tAeneas\tand\this\tmen.\tThey\tentertained\tthem\twith\tthe\tutmost\thospitality and\tbefore\tthey\tbade\tthem\tfarewell\tHelenus\tgave\tthem\tuseful\tadvice\tabout\ttheir journey.\tThey\tmust\tnot\tland\ton\tthe\tnearest\tcoast\tof\tItaly,\tthe\teast\tcoast,\the\ttold them,\tbecause\tit\twas\tfull\tof\tGreeks.\tTheir\tdestined\thome\twas\ton\tthe\twest\tcoast, somewhat\tto\tthe\tnorth,\tbut\tthey\tmust\tby\tno\tmeans\ttake\tthe\tshortest\tway\tand\tgo up\tbetween\tSicily\tand\tItaly.\tIn\tthose\twaters\twas\tthat\tmost\tperilous\tstrait\tguarded by\t Scylla\t and\t Charybdis,\t which\t the\t Argonauts\t had\t succeeded\t in\t passing\t only because\tThetis\thelped\tthem\tand\twhere\tUlysses\thad\tlost\tsix\tof\this\tmen.\tIt\tis\tnot clear\thow\tthe\tArgonauts\ton\ttheir\tway\tfrom\tAsia\tto\tGreece\tgot\tto\tthe\twest\tcoast of\tItaly,\tnor\tfor\tthat\tmatter\thow\tUlysses\tdid,\teither,\tbut\tat\tany\trate\tthere\twas\tno doubt\tin\tHelenus\u2019\tmind\texactly\twhere\tthe\tstrait\twas\tand\the\tgave\tAeneas\tcareful directions\t how\t to\t avoid\t those\t pests\t to\t mariners\u2014by\t making\t a\t long\t circuit southward\t around\t Sicily,\t and\t reaching\t Italy\t far\t to\t the\t north\t of\t the\t whirlpool\t of implacable\t Charybdis\t and\t the\t black\t cavern\t into\t which\t Scylla\t sucked\t whole ships. When\t the\t Trojans\t had\t taken\t leave\t of\t their\t kind\t hosts\t and\t had\t successfully rounded\t the\t eastern\t tip\t of\t Italy,\t they\t kept\t on\t sailing\t southwestward\t around Sicily\t with\t all\t confidence\t in\t their\t prophetic\t guide.\t Apparently,\t however,\t for\t all his\t mysterious\t powers\t Helenus\t was\t not\t aware\t that\t Sicily,\t at\t least\t the\t southern part,\twas\tnow\toccupied\tby\tthe\tCyclopes,\tfor\the\tdid\tnot\twarn\tthe\tTrojans\tagainst landing\tthere.\tThey\treached\tthe\tisland\tafter\tsunset\tand\tmade\tcamp\ton\tthe\tshore with\tno\thesitation\tat\tall.\tProbably\tthey\twould\tall\thave\tbeen\tcaptured\tand\teaten\tif very\tearly\tthe\tnext\tmorning,\tbefore\tany\tof\tthe\tmonsters\twere\tastir,\ta\tpoor\twretch of\t a\t man\t had\t not\t come\t running\t to\t where\t Aeneas\t was\t lying.\t He\t threw\t himself upon\t his\t knees,\t but\t indeed\t his\t obvious\t misery\t was\t enough\t of\t an\t appeal,\t his pallor\tlike\tthat\tof\tone\thalf\tdead\tfrom\tstarvation,\this\tclothes\theld\ttogether\tonly\tby thorns,\this\tface\tsqualid\tin\tthe\textreme\twith\ta\tthick\tgrowth\tof\thair.\tHe\twas\tone\tof Ulysses\u2019\t sailors,\t he\t told\t them,\t who\t had\t been\t left\t behind\t unintentionally\t in Polyphemus\u2019\t cave\t and\t had\t ever\t since\t lived\t in\t the\t woods\t on\t whatever\t he\t could find\tthere,\tterrified\tperpetually\tlest\tone\tof\tthe\tCyclopes\tshould\tcome\tupon\thim. There\twere\ta\thundred\tof\tthem,\the\tsaid,\tall\tas\tbig\tand\tas\tfrightful\tas\tPolyphemus. \u201cFly,\u201d\the\turged\tthem.\t\u201cUp\tand\taway\twith\tall\tspeed.\tBreak\tthe\tropes\tthat\thold\tthe boats\t to\t the\t shore.\u201d\t They\t did\t as\t he\t said,\t cutting\t the\t cables,\t making\t breathless haste,\tall\tas\tsilently\tas\tpossible.\tBut\tthey\thad\tonly\tlaunched\tthe\tships\twhen\tthe blind\t giant\t was\t seen\t slowly\t making\t his\t way\t down\t to\t the\t shore\t to\t wash\t the cavity\t where\t his\t eye\t had\t been,\t which\t still\t flowed\t with\t blood.\t He\t heard\t the splashing\t of\t the\t oars\t and\t he\t rushed\t toward\t the\t sound\t out\t into\t the\t sea.\t The","Trojans,\t however,\t had\t got\t enough\t of\t a\t start.\t Before\t he\t could\t reach\t them\t the water\thad\tdeepened\ttoo\tmuch\teven\tfor\this\ttowering\theight. They\t escaped\t that\t peril,\t but\t only\t to\t meet\t another\t as\t great.\t While\t rounding Sicily\t they\t were\t struck\t by\t a\t storm\t such\t as\t there\t never\t was\t before\t or\t since:\t the waves\twere\tso\thigh\tthat\ttheir\tcrests\tlicked\tthe\tstars,\tand\tthe\tgulfs\tbetween\tthem so\tdeep\tthat\tthe\tfloor\tof\tthe\tocean\twas\tdisclosed.\tIt\twas\tclearly\tsomething\tmore than\ta\tmere\tmortal\tstorm\tand\tin\tpoint\tof\tfact\tJuno\twas\tback\tof\tit. She\t hated\t all\t Trojans,\t of\t course;\t she\t never\t forgot\t the\t judgment\t of\t Paris\t and she\t had\t been\t Troy\u2019s\t bitterest\t enemy\t during\t the\t war,\t but\t she\t felt\t an\t especial hatred\t for\t Aeneas.\t She\t knew\t that\t Rome,\t which\t was\t to\t be\t founded\t by\t men\t of Trojan\t blood,\t although\t generations\t after\t Aeneas,\t was\t destined\t by\t the\t Fates\t to conquer\t Carthage\t some\t day,\t and\t Carthage\t was\t her\t pet\t city,\t beloved\t by\t her beyond\tall\tother\tplaces\ton\tearth.\tIt\tis\tnot\tknown\twhether\tshe\treally\tthought\tshe could\tgo\tagainst\tthe\tdecrees\tof\tthe\tFates,\twhich\tJupiter\thimself\tcould\tnot\tdo,\tbut certainly\tshe\tdid\ther\tbest\tto\tdrown\tAeneas.\tShe\twent\tto\tAeolus,\tthe\tKing\tof\tthe Winds,\t who\t had\t tried\t to\t help\t Ulysses,\t and\t asked\t him\t to\t sink\t the\t Trojan\t ships, promising\thim\tin\treturn\ther\tloveliest\tnymph\tfor\this\twife.\tThe\tstupendous\tstorm was\tthe\tresult.\tIt\twould\tundoubtedly\thave\tdone\tall\tthat\tJuno\twished\tif\tit\thad\tnot been\t for\t Neptune.\t As\t Juno\u2019s\t brother\t he\t was\t quite\t aware\t of\t her\t way\t of\t doing things\t and\t it\t did\t not\t suit\t him\t to\t have\t her\t interfere\t with\t his\t sea.\t He\t was\t as cautious,\thowever,\tin\tdealing\twith\ther\tas\tJupiter\talways\twas.\tHe\tsaid\tnot\ta\tword to\ther,\tbut\tcontented\thimself\twith\tsending\ta\tstern\treprimand\tto\tAeolus.\tThen\the calmed\t the\t sea,\t and\t made\t it\t possible\t for\t the\t Trojans\t to\t get\t to\t land.\t The\t north coast\tof\tAfrica\twas\twhere\tthey\tfinally\tbeached\ttheir\tships.\tThey\thad\tbeen\tblown all\tthe\tway\tdown\tthere\tfrom\tSicily.\tAs\tit\thappened,\tthe\tplace\tthey\tcame\tashore was\t quite\t near\t to\t Carthage\t and\t Juno\t began\t at\t once\t to\t consider\t how\t she\t could turn\tthis\tarrival\tto\ttheir\tdisadvantage\tand\tthe\tadvantage\tof\tthe\tCarthaginians. Carthage\t had\t been\t founded\t by\t a\t woman,\t Dido,\t who\t was\t still\t its\t ruler\t and under\twhom\tit\twas\tgrowing\tinto\ta\tgreat\tand\tsplendid\tcity.\tShe\twas\tbeautiful\tand a\twidow;\tAeneas\thad\tlost\this\twife\ton\tthe\tnight\the\tleft\tTroy.\tJuno\u2019s\tplan\twas\tto have\t the\t two\t fall\t in\t love\t with\t each\t other\t and\t so\t divert\t Aeneas\t from\t Italy\t and induce\t him\t to\t settle\t down\t with\t Dido.\t It\t would\t have\t been\t a\t good\t plan\t if\t it\t had not\tbeen\tfor\tVenus.\tShe\tsuspected\twhat\twas\tin\tJuno\u2019s\tmind,\tand\twas\tdetermined to\tblock\tit.\tShe\thad\ther\town\tplan.\tShe\twas\tquite\twilling\tto\thave\tDido\tfall\tin\tlove with\tAeneas,\tso\tthat\tno\tharm\tcould\tcome\tto\thim\tin\tCarthage;\tbut\tshe\tintended\tto see\tto\tit\tthat\this\tfeeling\tfor\tDido\tshould\tbe\tno\tmore\tthan\tan\tentire\twillingness\tto take\t anything\t she\t wanted\t to\t give;\t by\t no\t means\t such\t as\t to\t interfere\t in\t the\t least","with\t his\t sailing\t away\t to\t Italy\t whenever\t that\t seemed\t best.\t At\t this\t juncture\t she went\t up\t to\t Olympus\t to\t talk\t to\t Jupiter.\t She\t reproached\t him\t and\t her\t lovely\t eyes filled\t with\t tears.\t Her\t dear\t son\t Aeneas\t was\t all\t but\t ruined,\t she\t said.\t And\t he,\t the King\tof\tGods\tand\tMen,\thad\tsworn\tto\ther\tthat\tAeneas\tshould\tbe\tthe\tancestor\tof\ta race\t who\t would\t some\t day\t rule\t the\t world.\t Jupiter\t laughed\t and\t kissed\t away\t her tears.\tHe\ttold\ther\tthat\twhat\the\thad\tpromised\twould\tsurely\tcome\tto\tpass.\tAeneas\u2019 descendants\t would\t be\t the\t Romans,\t to\t whom\t the\t Fates\t had\t decreed\t a\t boundless and\tendless\tempire. Venus\t took\t her\t leave\t greatly\t comforted,\t but\t to\t make\t matters\t still\t more\t sure she\tturned\tfor\thelp\tto\ther\tson\tCupid.\tDido,\tshe\tthought,\tcould\tbe\ttrusted\tto\tmake unaided\tthe\tnecessary\timpression\tupon\tAeneas,\tbut\tshe\twas\tnot\tat\tall\tcertain\tthat Aeneas\tby\thimself\tcould\tget\tDido\tto\tfall\tin\tlove\twith\thim.\tShe\twas\tknown\tto\tbe not\t susceptible.\t All\t the\t kings\t of\t the\t country\t round\t about\t had\t tried\t to\t persuade her\t to\t marry\t them\t with\t no\t success.\t So\t Venus\t summoned\t Cupid,\t who\t promised that\t he\t would\t set\t Dido\u2019s\t heart\t on\t fire\t with\t love\t as\t soon\t as\t she\t laid\t eyes\t on Aeneas.\tIt\twas\ta\tsimple\tmatter\tfor\tVenus\tto\tbring\tabout\ta\tmeeting\tbetween\tthe two. The\t morning\t after\t they\t landed,\t Aeneas\t with\t his\t friend,\t the\t faithful\t Achates, left\this\twretched\tshipwrecked\tfollowers\tto\ttry\tto\tfind\tout\twhat\tpart\tof\tthe\tworld they\twere\tin.\tHe\tspoke\tcheering\twords\tto\tthem\tbefore\the\tstarted. Comrades,\tyou\tand\tI\thave\thad\tlong\tacquaintance\twith\tsorrow. Evils\tstill\tworse\twe\thave\tknown.\tThese\talso\twill\tend.\tCall\tback\tcourage. Send\taway\tgloomy\tfear.\tPerhaps\tsome\tday\tto\tremember This\ttrouble,\ttoo,\twill\tbring\tpleasure.\u2026 As\t the\t two\t heroes\t explored\t the\t strange\t country,\t Venus\t disguised\t as\t a\t huntress appeared\t to\t them.\t She\t told\t them\t where\t they\t were\t and\t advised\t them\t to\t go straight\t to\t Carthage\t whose\t Queen\t would\t surely\t help\t them.\t Greatly\t reassured they\t took\t the\t path\t Venus\t pointed\t out,\t protected,\t although\t they\t did\t not\t know\t it, by\t a\t thick\t mist\t she\t wrapped\t around\t them.\t So\t they\t reached\t the\t city\t without interference\t and\t walked\t unnoticed\t through\t the\t busy\t streets.\t Before\t a\t great temple\t they\t paused\t wondering\t how\t they\t could\t get\t to\t the\t Queen,\t and\t there\t new hope\tcame\tto\tthem.\tAs\tthey\tgazed\tat\tthe\tsplendid\tbuilding\tthey\tsaw\tmarvelously carved\t upon\t the\t walls\t the\t battles\t around\t Troy\t in\t which\t they\t themselves\t had taken\t part.\t They\t saw\t the\t likenesses\t of\t their\t foes\t and\t their\t friends:\t the\t sons\t of Atreus,\t old\t Priam\t stretching\t out\t his\t hand\t to\t Achilles,\t the\t dead\t Hector.\t \u201cI\t take","courage,\u201d\t Aeneas\t said.\t \u201cHere,\t too,\t there\t are\t tears\t for\t things,\t and\t hearts\t are touched\tby\tthe\tfate\tof\tall\tthat\tis\tmortal.\u201d At\tthat\tmoment\tDido,\tlovely\tas\tDiana\therself,\tapproached\twith\ta\tgreat\ttrain of\t attendants.\t Forthwith\t the\t mist\t around\t Aeneas\t dissolved\t and\t he\t stood\t forth beautiful\tas\tApollo.\tWhen\the\ttold\ther\twho\the\twas\tthe\tQueen\treceived\thim\twith the\t utmost\t graciousness\t and\t welcomed\t him\t and\t his\t company\t to\t her\t city.\t She knew\thow\tthese\tdesolate\thomeless\tmen\tfelt,\tfor\tshe\therself\thad\tcome\tto\tAfrica with\t a\t few\t friends\t fleeing\t from\t her\t brother\t who\t wanted\t to\t murder\t her.\t \u201cNot ignorant\tof\tsuffering,\tI\thave\tlearned\thow\tto\thelp\tthe\tunfortunate,\u201d\tshe\tsaid. She\tgave\ta\tsplendid\tbanquet\tfor\tthe\tstrangers\tthat\tnight\tat\twhich\tAeneas\ttold their\t story,\t the\t fall\t of\t Troy\t first\t and\t then\t their\t long\t journeying.\t He\t spoke admirably\t and\t eloquently,\t and\t perhaps\t Dido\t would\t have\t succumbed\t to\t such heroism\t and\t such\t beautiful\t language\t even\t if\t there\t had\t been\t no\t god\t in\t the\t case, but\tas\tit\twas,\tCupid\twas\tthere\tand\tshe\thad\tno\tchoice. For\ta\ttime\tshe\twas\thappy.\tAeneas\tseemed\tdevoted\tto\ther,\tand\tshe\tfor\ther\tpart lavished\t everything\t she\t had\t on\t him.\t She\t gave\t him\t to\t understand\t that\t her\t city was\t his\t as\t well\t as\t she\t herself.\t He,\t a\t poor\t shipwrecked\t man,\t had\t equal\t honor with\ther.\tShe\tmade\tthe\tCarthaginians\ttreat\thim\tas\tif\the,\ttoo,\twere\ttheir\truler.\tHis companions\t as\t well\t were\t distinguished\t by\t her\t favor.\t She\t could\t not\t do\t enough for\tthem.\tIn\tall\tthis\tshe\twanted\tonly\tto\tgive;\tshe\tasked\tnothing\tfor\therself\texcept Aeneas\u2019\t love.\t On\t his\t side\t he\t received\t what\t her\t generosity\t bestowed\t with\t great contentment.\tHe\tlived\tat\this\tease\twith\ta\tbeautiful\twoman\tand\ta\tpowerful\tQueen to\t love\t him\t and\t provide\t everything\t for\t him\t and\t arrange\t hunting\t parties\t for\t his amusement\tand\tnot\tonly\tpermit\thim,\tbut\tbeg\thim,\tto\ttell\tover\tand\tover\tagain\tthe tale\tof\this\tadventures. It\tis\tsmall\twonder\tthat\tthe\tidea\tof\tsetting\tsail\tfor\tan\tunknown\tland\tgrew\tless and\tless\tattractive\tto\thim.\tJuno\twas\tvery\twell\tsatisfied\twith\tthe\tway\tthings\twere going,\t but\t even\t so\t Venus\t was\t quite\t undisturbed.\t She\t understood\t Jupiter\t better than\this\twife\tdid.\tShe\twas\tsure\tthat\the\twould\tmake\tAeneas\tin\tthe\tend\tgo\tto\tItaly and\t that\t this\t little\t interlude\t with\t Dido\t would\t not\t be\t in\t the\t least\t to\t her\t son\u2019s discredit.\t She\t was\t quite\t right.\t Jupiter\t was\t very\t effective\t when\t he\t once\t roused himself.\tHe\tdispatched\tMercury\tto\tCarthage\twith\ta\tstinging\tmessage\tfor\tAeneas. The\t god\t found\t the\t hero\t walking\t about\t dressed\t to\t admiration,\t with\t a\t superb sword\tat\this\tside\tstudded\twith\tjasper\tand\tover\this\tshoulders\ta\tbeautiful\tcloak\tof purple\tinwrought\twith\tthread\tof\tgold,\tboth\tDido\u2019s\tpresents,\tof\tcourse,\tthe\tlatter, indeed,\tthe\twork\tof\ther\town\thands.\tSuddenly\tthis\telegant\tgentleman\twas\tstartled out\t of\t his\t state\t of\t indolent\t contentment.\t Stern\t words\t sounded\t in\t his\t ear.\t \u201cHow","long\tare\tyou\tgoing\tto\twaste\ttime\there\tin\tidle\tluxury?\u201d\ta\tsevere\tvoice\tasked.\tHe turned\t and\t Mercury,\t visibly\t the\t god,\t stood\t before\t him.\t \u201cThe\t ruler\t of\t heaven himself\thas\tsent\tme\tto\tyou,\u201d\the\tsaid.\t\u201cHe\tbids\tyou\tdepart\tand\tseek\tthe\tkingdom which\tis\tyour\tdestiny.\u201d\tWith\tthat\the\tvanished\tas\ta\twreath\tof\tmist\tdissolves\tinto the\t air,\t leaving\t Aeneas\t awed\t and\t excited,\t indeed,\t and\t determined\t to\t obey,\t but chiefly\twretchedly\tconscious\thow\tvery\tdifficult\tit\twas\tgoing\tto\tbe\twith\tDido. He\tcalled\this\tmen\ttogether\tand\tordered\tthem\tto\tfit\tout\ta\tfleet\tand\tprepare\tfor immediate\t departure,\t but\t to\t do\t all\t secretly.\t Nevertheless\t Dido\t learned\t and\t she sent\tfor\thim.\tShe\twas\tvery\tgentle\twith\thim\tat\tfirst.\tShe\tcould\tnot\tbelieve\tthat\the really\t meant\t to\t leave\t her.\t \u201cIs\t it\t from\t me\t you\t would\t fly?\u201d\t she\t asked.\t \u201cLet\t these tears\tplead\tfor\tme,\tthis\thand\tI\tgave\tto\tyou.\tIf\tI\thave\tin\tany\tway\tdeserved\twell\tof you,\tif\tanything\tof\tmine\twas\tever\tsweet\tto\tyou\u2014\u201d He\tanswered\tthat\the\twas\tnot\tthe\tman\tto\tdeny\tthat\tshe\thad\tdone\twell\tby\thim and\t that\t he\t would\t never\t forget\t her.\t But\t she\t on\t her\t side\t must\t remember\t that\t he had\t not\t married\t her\t and\t was\t free\t to\t leave\t her\t whenever\t he\t chose.\t Jupiter\t had ordered\t him\t to\t go\t and\t he\t must\t obey.\t \u201cCease\t these\t complaints,\u201d\t he\t begged\t her, \u201cwhich\tonly\ttrouble\tus\tboth.\u201d Then\t she\t told\t him\t what\t she\t thought.\t How\t he\t had\t come\t to\t her\t cast\t away, starving,\tin\tneed\tof\teverything,\tand\thow\tshe\thad\tgiven\therself\tand\ther\tkingdom to\t him.\t But\t before\t his\t complete\t impassivity\t her\t passion\t was\t helpless.\t In\t the midst\t of\t her\t burning\t words\t her\t voice\t broke.\t She\t fled\t from\t him\t and\t hid\t herself where\tno\tone\tcould\tsee\ther. The\t Trojans\t sailed\t that\t same\t night,\t very\t wisely.\t One\t word\t from\t the\t Queen and\t their\t departure\t would\t have\t been\t forever\t impossible.\t On\t shipboard\t looking back\t at\t the\t walls\t of\t Carthage\t Aeneas\t saw\t them\t illumined\t by\t a\t great\t fire.\t He watched\tthe\tflames\tleap\tup\tand\tslowly\tdie\tdown\tand\the\twondered\twhat\twas\tthe cause.\tAll\tunknowing\the\twas\tlooking\tat\tthe\tglow\tof\tDido\u2019s\tfuneral\tpyre.\tWhen she\tsaw\tthat\the\twas\tgone\tshe\tkilled\therself.","PART\tTWO:\t THE\tDESCENT\tINTO\tTHE\tLOWER\tWORLD The\tjourney\tfrom\tCarthage\tto\tthe\twest\tcoast\tof\tItaly\twas\teasy\tas\tcompared\twith what\t had\t gone\t before.\t A\t great\t loss,\t however,\t was\t the\t death\t of\t the\t trusty\t pilot Palinurus\twho\twas\tdrowned\tas\tthey\tneared\tthe\tend\tof\ttheir\tperils\tby\tsea. Aeneas\t had\t been\t told\t by\t the\t prophet\t Helenus\t as\t soon\t as\t he\t reached\t the Italian\t land\t to\t seek\t the\t cave\t of\t the\t Sibyl\t of\t Cumae,\t a\t woman\t of\t deep\t wisdom, who\tcould\tforetell\tthe\tfuture\tand\twould\tadvise\thim\twhat\tto\tdo.\tHe\tfound\ther\tand she\ttold\thim\tshe\twould\tguide\thim\tto\tthe\tunderworld\twhere\the\twould\tlearn\tall\the needed\t to\t know\t from\t his\t father\t Anchises,\t who\t had\t died\t just\t before\t the\t great storm.\tShe\twarned\thim,\thowever,\tthat\tit\twas\tno\tlight\tundertaking:\u2014 Trojan,\tAnchises\u2019\tson,\tthe\tdescent\tof\tAvernus\tis\teasy. All\tnight\tlong,\tall\tday,\tthe\tdoors\tof\tdark\tHades\tstand\topen. But\tto\tretrace\tthe\tpath,\tto\tcome\tup\tto\tthe\tsweet\tair\tof\theaven, That\tis\tlabor\tindeed. Nevertheless,\tif\the\twas\tdetermined\tshe\twould\tgo\twith\thim.\tFirst\the\tmust\tfind in\tthe\tforest\ta\tgolden\tbough\tgrowing\ton\ta\ttree,\twhich\the\tmust\tbreak\toff\tand\ttake with\thim.\tOnly\twith\tthis\tin\this\thand\twould\the\tbe\tadmitted\tto\tHades.\tHe\tstarted at\t once\t to\t look\t for\t it,\t accompanied\t by\t the\t ever-faithful\t Achates.\t They\t went almost\t hopelessly\t into\t the\t great\t wilderness\t of\t trees\t where\t it\t seemed\t impossible to\t find\t anything.\t But\t suddenly\t they\t caught\t sight\t of\t two\t doves,\t the\t birds\t of Venus.\t The\t men\t followed\t as\t they\t flew\t slowly\t on\t until\t they\t were\t close\t to\t Lake Avernus,\t a\t dark\t foul-smelling\t sheet\t of\t water\t where\t the\t Sibyl\t had\t told\t Aeneas was\tthe\tcavern\tfrom\twhich\tthe\troad\tled\tdown\tto\tthe\tunderworld.\tHere\tthe\tdoves soared\tup\tto\ta\ttree\tthrough\twhose\tfoliage\tcame\ta\tbright\tyellow\tgleam.\tIt\twas\tthe golden\t bough.\t Aeneas\t plucked\t it\t joyfully\t and\t took\t it\t to\t the\t Sibyl.\t Then, together,\tprophetess\tand\thero\tstarted\ton\ttheir\tjourney. Other\t heroes\t had\t taken\t it\t before\t Aeneas\t and\t not\t found\t it\t especially terrifying.\t The\t crowding\t ghosts\t had,\t to\t be\t sure,\t finally\t frightened\t Ulysses,\t but Theseus,\t Hercules,\t Orpheus,\t and\t Pollux,\t had\t apparently\t encountered\t no\t great difficulty\t on\t the\t way.\t Indeed,\t the\t timid\t Psyche\t had\t gone\t there\t all\t alone\t to\t get the\t beauty\t charm\t for\t Venus\t from\t Proserpine\t and\t had\t seen\t nothing\t worse\t than","the\t three-headed\t dog\t Cerberus,\t who\t had\t been\t easily\t mollified\t by\t a\t bit\t of\t cake. But\t the\t Roman\t hero\t found\t horrors\t piled\t upon\t horrors.\t The\t way\t the\t Sibyl thought\t it\t necessary\t to\t start\t was\t calculated\t to\t frighten\t any\t but\t the\t boldest.\t At dead\t of\t night\t in\t front\t of\t the\t dark\t cavern\t on\t the\t bank\t of\t the\t somber\t lake\t she slaughtered\t four\t coal-black\t bullocks\t to\t Hecate,\t the\t dread\t Goddess\t of\t Night.\t As she\t placed\t the\t sacrificial\t parts\t upon\t a\t blazing\t altar,\t the\t earth\t rumbled\t and quaked\tbeneath\ttheir\tfeet\tand\tfrom\tafar\tdogs\thowled\tthrough\tthe\tdarkness.\tWith a\tcry\tto\tAeneas,\t\u201cNow\twill\tyou\tneed\tall\tyour\tcourage,\u201d\tshe\trushed\tinto\tthe\tcave, and\tundaunted\the\tfollowed\ther.\tThey\tfound\tthemselves\tsoon\ton\ta\troad\twrapped in\t shadows\t which\t yet\t permitted\t them\t to\t see\t frightful\t forms\t on\t either\t side,\t pale Disease\t and\t avenging\t Care,\t and\t Hunger\t that\t persuades\t to\t crime,\t and\t so\t on,\t a great\t company\t of\t terrors.\t Death-dealing\t War\t was\t there\t and\t mad\t Discord\t with snaky,\t bloodstained\t hair,\t and\t many\t another\t curse\t to\t mortals.\t They\t passed unmolested\t through\t them\t and\t finally\t reached\t a\t place\t where\t an\t old\t man\t was rowing\t a\t boat\t over\t a\t stretch\t of\t water.\t There\t they\t saw\t a\t pitiful\t sight,\t spirits\t on the\t shore\t innumerable\t as\t the\t leaves\t which\t fall\t in\t the\t forest\t at\t the\t first\t cold\t of winter,\t all\t stretching\t out\t their\t hands\t and\t praying\t the\t ferryman\t to\t carry\t them across\tto\tthe\tfarther\tbank.\tBut\tthe\tgloomy\told\tman\tmade\this\town\tchoice\tamong them;\tsome\the\tadmitted\tto\this\tskiff,\tothers\the\tpushed\taway.\tAs\tAeneas\tstared\tin wonder\t the\t Sibyl\t told\t him\t they\t had\t reached\t the\t junction\t of\t two\t great\t rivers\t of the\t underworld,\t the\t Cocytus,\t named\t of\t lamentation\t loud,\t and\t the\t Acheron.\t The ferryman\t was\t Charon\t and\t those\t he\t would\t not\t admit\t to\t his\t boat\t were\t the unfortunates\t who\t had\t not\t been\t duly\t buried.\t They\t were\t doomed\t to\t wander aimlessly\tfor\ta\thundred\tyears,\twith\tnever\ta\tplace\tto\trest\tin.","","PLATE\tIX Aeneas\tand\tthe\tSibyl\tenter\tCharon\u2019s\tboat","Charon\twas\tinclined\tto\trefuse\tAeneas\tand\this\tguide\twhen\tthey\tcame\tdown\tto the\t boat.\t He\t bade\t them\t halt\t and\t told\t them\t he\t did\t not\t ferry\t the\t living,\t only\t the dead.\t At\t sight\t of\t the\t golden\t bough,\t however,\t he\t yielded\t and\t took\t them\t across. The\t dog\t Cerberus\t was\t there\t on\t the\t other\t bank\t to\t dispute\t the\t way,\t but\t they followed\tPsyche\u2019s\texample.\tThe\tSibyl,\ttoo,\thad\tsome\tcake\tfor\thim\tand\the\tgave them\tno\ttrouble.\tAs\tthey\twent\ton\tthey\tcame\tto\tthe\tsolemn\tplace\tin\twhich\tMinos, Europa\u2019s\tson,\tthe\tinflexible\tjudge\tof\tthe\tdead,\twas\tpassing\tthe\tfinal\tsentence\ton the\t souls\t before\t him.\t They\t hastened\t away\t from\t that\t inexorable\t presence\t and found\t themselves\t in\t the\t Fields\t of\t Mourning,\t where\t the\t unhappy\t lovers\t dwelt who\t had\t been\t driven\t by\t their\t misery\t to\t kill\t themselves.\t In\t that\t sorrowful\t but lovely\tspot,\tshaded\twith\tgroves\tof\tmyrtle,\tAeneas\tcaught\tsight\tof\tDido.\tHe\twept as\the\tgreeted\ther.\t\u201cWas\tI\tthe\tcause\tof\tyour\tdeath?\u201d\the\tasked\ther.\t\u201cI\tswear\tI\tleft you\t against\t my\t will.\u201d\t She\t neither\t looked\t at\t him\t nor\t answered\t him.\t A\t piece\t of marble\t could\t not\t have\t seemed\t less\t moved.\t He\t himself,\t however,\t was\t a\t good deal\t shaken,\t and\t he\t continued\t to\t shed\t tears\t for\t some\t time\t after\t he\t lost\t sight\t of her. At\tlast\tthey\treached\ta\tspot\twhere\tthe\troad\tdivided.\tFrom\tthe\tleft\tbranch\tcame horrid\t sounds,\t groans\t and\t savage\t blows\t and\t the\t clanking\t of\t chains.\t Aeneas halted\tin\tterror.\tThe\tSibyl,\thowever,\tbade\thim\thave\tno\tfear,\tbut\tfasten\tboldly\tthe golden\t bough\t on\t the\t wall\t that\t faced\t the\t crossroads.\t The\t regions\t to\t the\t left,\t she said,\t were\t ruled\t over\t by\t stern\t Rhadamanthus,\t also\t a\t son\t of\t Europa,\t who punished\t the\t wicked\t for\t their\t misdeeds.\t But\t the\t road\t to\t the\t right\t led\t to\t the Elysian\t Fields\t where\t Aeneas\t would\t find\t his\t father.\t There\t when\t they\t arrived everything\t was\t delightful,\t soft\t green\t meadows,\t lovely\t groves,\t a\t delicious\t life- giving\tair,\tsunlight\tthat\tglowed\tsoftly\tpurple,\tan\tabode\tof\tpeace\tand\tblessedness. Here\tdwelt\tthe\tgreat\tand\tgood\tdead,\theroes,\tpoets,\tpriests,\tand\tall\twho\thad\tmade men\t remember\t them\t by\t helping\t others.\t Among\t them\t Aeneas\t soon\t came\t upon Anchises,\t who\t greeted\t him\t with\t incredulous\t joy.\t Father\t and\t son\t alike\t shed happy\t tears\t at\t this\t strange\t meeting\t between\t the\t dead\t and\t the\t living\t whose\t love had\tbeen\tstrong\tenough\tto\tbring\thim\tdown\tto\tthe\tworld\tof\tdeath. They\t had\t much,\t of\t course,\t to\t say\t to\t each\t other.\t Anchises\t led\t Aeneas\t to Lethe,\tthe\triver\tof\tforgetfulness,\tof\twhich\tthe\tsouls\ton\ttheir\tway\tto\tlive\tagain\tin the\t world\t above\t must\t all\t drink.\t \u201cA\t draught\t of\t long\t oblivion,\u201d\t Anchises\t said. And\t he\t showed\t his\t son\t those\t who\t were\t to\t be\t their\t descendants,\t his\t own\t and Aeneas\u2019,\tnow\twaiting\tby\tthe\triver\tfor\ttheir\ttime\tto\tdrink\tand\tlose\tthe\tmemory\tof what\t in\t former\t lives\t they\t had\t done\t and\t suffered.\t A\t magnificent\t company\t they were\u2014the\t future\t Romans,\t the\t masters\t of\t the\t world.\t One\t by\t one\t Anchises","pointed\t them\t out,\t and\t told\t of\t the\t deeds\t they\t would\t do\t which\t men\t would\t never through\tall\ttime\tforget.\tFinally,\the\tgave\this\tson\tinstructions\thow\the\twould\tbest establish\t his\t home\t in\t Italy\t and\t how\t he\t could\t avoid\t or\t endure\t all\t the\t hardships that\tlay\tbefore\thim. Then\t they\t took\t leave\t of\t each\t other,\t but\t calmly,\t knowing\t that\t they\t were parting\t only\t for\t a\t time.\t Aeneas\t and\t the\t Sibyl\t made\t their\t way\t back\t to\t the\t earth and\t Aeneas\t returned\t to\t his\t ships.\t Next\t day\t the\t Trojans\t sailed\t up\t the\t coast\t of Italy\tlooking\tfor\ttheir\tpromised\thome.","PART\tTHREE:\t THE\tWAR\tIN\tITALY Terrible\ttrials\tawaited\tthe\tlittle\tband\tof\tadventurers.\tJuno\twas\tagain\tthe\tcause\tof the\t trouble.\t She\t made\t the\t most\t powerful\t peoples\t of\t the\t country,\t the\t Latins\t and the\tRutulians,\tfiercely\topposed\tto\tthe\tTrojans\tsettling\tthere.\tIf\tit\thad\tnot\tbeen\tfor her,\tmatters\twould\thave\tgone\twell.\tThe\taged\tLatinus,\ta\tgreat-grandson\tof\tSaturn and\t King\t of\t the\t City\t of\t Latium,\t had\t been\t warned\t by\t the\t spirit\t of\t his\t father, Faunus,\t not\t to\t marry\t his\t daughter\t Lavinia,\t his\t only\t child,\t to\t any\t man\t of\t the country,\t but\t to\t a\t stranger\t who\t was\t soon\t to\t arrive.\t From\t that\t union\t would\t be born\ta\trace\tdestined\tto\thold\tthe\tentire\tworld\tunder\ttheir\tsway.\tTherefore,\twhen an\t embassy\t arrived\t from\t Aeneas\t asking\t for\t a\t narrow\t resting\t place\t upon\t the coast\tand\tthe\tcommon\tliberty\tof\tair\tand\twater,\tLatinus\treceived\tthem\twith\tgreat good\t will.\t He\t felt\t convinced\t that\t Aeneas\t was\t the\t son-in-law\t Faunus\t had predicted,\t and\t he\t said\t as\t much\t to\t the\t envoys.\t They\t would\t never\t lack\t a\t friend while\t he\t lived,\t he\t told\t them.\t To\t Aeneas\t he\t sent\t this\t message,\t that\t he\t had\t a daughter\t forbidden\t by\t heaven\t to\t wed\t with\t any\t except\t a\t foreigner,\t and\t that\t he believed\tthe\tTrojan\tchief\twas\tthis\tman\tof\tdestiny. But\t here\t Juno\t stepped\t in.\t She\t summoned\t Alecto,\t one\t of\t the\t Furies,\t from Hades\tand\tbade\ther\tloose\tbitter\twar\tover\tthe\tland.\tShe\tobeyed\tgladly.\tFirst\tshe inflamed\t the\t heart\t of\t Queen\t Amata,\t wife\t of\t Latinus,\t to\t oppose\t violently\t a marriage\t between\t her\t daughter\t and\t Aeneas.\t Then\t she\t flew\t to\t the\t King\t of\t the Rutulians,\t Turnus,\t who\t up\t to\t now\t had\t been\t the\t most\t favored\t among\t the\t many suitors\tfor\tLavinia\u2019s\thand.\tHer\tvisit\tto\tarouse\thim\tagainst\tthe\tTrojans\twas\thardly necessary.\t The\t idea\t of\t anyone\t except\t himself\t marrying\t Lavinia\t was\t enough\t to drive\t Turnus\t to\t frenzy.\t As\t soon\t as\t he\t heard\t of\t the\t Trojan\t embassy\t to\t the\t King he\t started\t with\t his\t army\t to\t march\t to\t Latium\t and\t prevent\t by\t force\t any\t treaty between\tthe\tLatins\tand\tthe\tstrangers. Alecto\u2019s\tthird\teffort\twas\tcleverly\tdevised.\tThere\twas\ta\tpet\tstag\tbelonging\tto a\tLatin\tfarmer,\ta\tbeautiful\tcreature,\tso\ttame\tthat\tit\twould\trun\tfree\tby\tday,\tbut\tat nightfall\t always\t come\t to\t the\t well-known\t door.\t The\t farmer\u2019s\t daughter\t tended\t it with\t loving\t care;\t she\t would\t comb\t its\t coat\t and\t wreathe\t its\t horns\t with\t garlands. All\tthe\tfarmers\tfar\tand\tnear\tknew\tit\tand\tprotected\tit.\tAnyone,\teven\tof\ttheir\town number,\t who\t had\t harmed\t it\t would\t have\t been\t severely\t punished.\t But\t for\t a foreigner\t to\t dare\t such\t a\t deed\t was\t to\t enrage\t the\t whole\t countryside.\t And\t that\t is","what\t Aeneas\u2019s\t young\t son\t did\t under\t the\t guiding\t hand\t of\t Alecto.\t Ascanius\t was out\t hunting\t and\t he\t and\t his\t hounds\t were\t directed\t by\t the\t Fury\t to\t where\t the\t stag was\tlying\tin\tthe\tforest.\tHe\tshot\tat\tit\tand\twounded\tit\tmortally,\tbut\tit\tsucceeded\tin reaching\tits\thome\tand\tits\tmistress\tbefore\tit\tdied.\tAlecto\ttook\tcare\tthat\tthe\tnews should\tspread\tquickly,\tand\tfighting\tstarted\tat\tonce,\tthe\tfurious\tfarmers\tbent\tupon killing\tAscanius\tand\tthe\tTrojans\tdefending\thim. This\t news\t reached\t Latium\t just\t after\t Turnus\t had\t arrived.\t The\t fact\t that\t his people\t were\t already\t in\t arms\t and\t the\t still\t more\t ominous\t fact\t that\t the\t Rutulian Army\t had\t encamped\t before\t his\t gates\t were\t too\t much\t for\t King\t Latinus.\t His furious\t Queen,\t too,\t undoubtedly\t played\t a\t part\t in\t his\t final\t decision.\t He\t shut himself\t up\t in\t his\t palace\t and\t let\t matters\t go\t as\t they\t would.\t If\t Lavinia\t was\t to\t be won\tAeneas\tcould\tnot\tcount\ton\tany\thelp\tfrom\this\tfuture\tfather-in-law. There\twas\ta\tcustom\tin\tthe\tcity\tthat\twhen\twar\twas\tdetermined\tupon,\tthe\ttwo folding-gates\t of\t the\t temple\t of\t the\t god\t Janus,\t always\t kept\t closed\t in\t time\t of peace,\t should\t be\t unbarred\t by\t the\t King\t while\t trumpets\t blared\t and\t warriors shouted.\tBut\tLatinus,\tlocked\tin\this\tpalace,\twas\tnot\tavailable\tfor\tthe\tsacred\trite. As\tthe\tcitizens\thesitated\tas\tto\twhat\tto\tdo,\tJuno\therself\tswept\tdown\tfrom\theaven, smote\t with\t her\t own\t hand\t the\t bars\t and\t flung\t wide\t the\t doors.\t Joy\t filled\t the\t city, joy\t in\t the\t battle-array,\t the\t shining\t armor\t and\t spirited\t chargers\t and\t proud standards,\tjoy\tat\tfacing\ta\twar\tto\tthe\tdeath. A\tformidable\tarmy,\tLatins\tand\tRutulians\ttogether,\twere\tnow\topposed\tto\tthe little\t band\t of\t Trojans.\t Their\t leader,\t Turnus,\t was\t a\t brave\t and\t skilled\t warrior; another\t able\t ally\t was\t Mezentius,\t an\t excellent\t soldier,\t but\t so\t cruel\t that\t his subjects,\t the\t great\t Etruscan\t people,\t had\t rebelled\t against\t him\t and\t he\t had\t fled\t to Turnus.\tA\tthird\tally\twas\ta\twoman,\tthe\tmaiden\tCamilla,\twho\thad\tbeen\treared\tby her\tfather\tin\ta\tremote\twilderness,\tand\tas\ta\tbaby,\twith\ta\tsling\tor\ta\tbow\tin\ther\ttiny hand,\thad\tlearned\tto\tbring\tdown\tthe\tswift-flying\tcrane\tor\tthe\twild\tswan,\therself hardly\t less\t swift\t of\t foot\t than\t they\t of\t wing.\t She\t was\t mistress\t of\t all\t the\t ways\t of warfare,\t unexcelled\t with\t the\t javelin\t and\t the\t two-edged\t ax\t as\t well\t as\t with\t the bow.\t Marriage\t she\t disdained.\t She\t loved\t the\t chase\t and\t the\t battle\t and\t her freedom.\tA\tband\tof\twarriors\tfollowed\ther,\tamong\tthem\ta\tnumber\tof\tmaidens. In\t this\t perilous\t situation\t for\t the\t Trojans,\t Father\t Tiber,\t the\t god\t of\t the\t great river\t they\t were\t encamped\t near,\t visited\t Aeneas\t in\t a\t dream.\t He\t bade\t him\t go swiftly\tupstream\tto\twhere\tEvander\tdwelt,\ta\tKing\tof\ta\tpoor\tlittle\ttown\twhich\twas destined\t to\t become\t in\t future\t ages\t the\t proudest\t of\t earth\u2019s\t cities,\t whence\t the towers\t of\t Rome\t should\t soar\t up\t to\t the\t skies.\t Here,\t the\t river-god\t promised, Aeneas\twould\tget\tthe\thelp\the\tneeded.\tAt\tdawn\the\tstarted\twith\ta\tchosen\tfew\tand","for\t the\t first\t time\t a\t boat\t filled\t with\t armed\t men\t floated\t on\t the\t Tiber.\t When\t they reached\t Evander\u2019s\t home\t a\t warm\t welcome\t was\t given\t them\t by\t the\t King\t and\t his young\tson,\tPallas.\tAs\tthey\tled\ttheir\tguests\tto\tthe\trude\tbuilding\twhich\tserved\tas palace\tthey\tpointed\tout\tthe\tsights:\tthe\tgreat\tTarpeian\trock;\tnear\tit\ta\thill\tsacred\tto Jove,\t now\t rough\t with\t brambles,\t where\t some\t day\t the\t golden,\t glittering\t Capitol would\t rise;\t a\t meadow\t filled\t with\t lowing\t cattle,\t which\t would\t be\t the\t gathering place\tof\tthe\tworld,\tthe\tRoman\tForum.\t\u201cOnce\tfauns\tand\tnymphs\tlived\there,\u201d\tthe King\t said,\t \u201cand\t a\t savage\t race\t of\t men.\t But\t Saturn\t came\t to\t the\t country,\t a homeless\texile\tfleeing\tfrom\this\tson\tJupiter.\tEverything\tthen\twas\tchanged.\tMen forsook\t their\t rude\t and\t lawless\t ways.\t He\t ruled\t with\t such\t justice\t and\t in\t such peace\t that\t ever\t since\t his\t reign\t has\t been\t called\t \u2018the\t Golden\t Age.\u2019\t But\t in\t later times\t other\t customs\t prevailed;\t peace\t and\t justice\t fled\t before\t the\t greed\t for\t gold and\tthe\tfrenzy\tfor\twar.\tTyrants\truled\tthe\tland\tuntil\tfate\tbrought\tme\there,\tan\texile from\tGreece,\tfrom\tmy\tdear\thome\tin\tArcady.\u201d As\t the\t old\tman\t ended\t his\t story\t they\t reached\tthe\t simple\t hut\twhere\t he\t lived and\tthere\tAeneas\tspent\tthe\tnight\ton\ta\tcouch\tof\tleaves\twith\ta\tbear\u2019s\tskin\tto\tcover him.\tNext\tmorning,\tawakened\tby\tthe\tdawn\tand\tthe\tcall\tof\tbirds,\tthey\tall\tarose. The\t King\t went\t forth\t with\t two\t great\t dogs\t following\t him,\t his\t sole\t retinue\t and bodyguard.\t After\t they\t had\t broken\t their\t fast\t he\t gave\t Aeneas\t the\t advice\t he\t had come\t to\t seek.\t Arcady\u2014he\t had\t called\t his\t new\t country\t after\t his\t old\u2014was\t a feeble\t state,\t he\t said,\t and\t could\t do\t little\t to\t help\t the\t Trojans.\t But\t on\t the\t farther bank\t of\t the\t river\t lived\t the\t rich\t and\t powerful\t Etruscans,\t whose\t fugitive\t king, Mezentius,\twas\t helping\tTurnus.\t This\tfact\t alone\twould\t make\tthe\tnation\t choose Aeneas\u2019\tside\tin\tthe\twar,\tso\tintense\twas\tthe\thatred\tfelt\tfor\ttheir\tformer\truler.\tHe had\tshown\thimself\ta\tmonster\tof\tcruelty;\the\tdelighted\tin\tinflicting\tsuffering.\tHe had\tdevised\ta\tway\tof\tkilling\tpeople\tmore\thorrible\tthan\tany\tother\tknown\tto\tman: he\t would\t link\t dead\t and\t living\t together,\t coupling\t hand\t with\t hand\t and\t face\t with face,\t and\t leave\t the\t slow\t poison\t of\t that\t sickening\t embrace\t to\t bring\t about\t a lingering\tdeath. All\t Etruria\t had\t finally\t risen\t against\t him,\t but\t he\t had\t succeeded\t in\t escaping. They\twere\tdetermined,\thowever,\tto\tget\thim\tback\tand\tpunish\thim\tas\the\tdeserved. Aeneas\t would\t find\t them\t willing\t and\t powerful\t allies.\t For\t himself,\t the\t old\t king said,\the\twould\tsend\tPallas\twho\twas\this\tonly\tson,\tto\tenter\tthe\tservice\tof\tthe\tWar- god\tunder\tthe\tTrojan\thero\u2019s\tguidance,\tand\twith\thim\ta\tband\tof\tyouths,\tthe\tflower of\t the\t Arcadian\t chivalry.\t Also\t he\t gave\t each\t of\t his\t guests\t a\t gallant\t steed,\t to enable\tthem\tto\treach\tquickly\tthe\tEtruscan\tArmy\tand\tenlist\ttheir\thelp. Meantime\t the\t Trojan\t camp,\t fortified\t only\t by\t earthworks\t and\t deprived\t of\t its","leader\t and\t its\t best\t warriors,\t was\t hard-pressed.\t Turnus\t attacked\t it\t in\t force. Throughout\t the\t first\t day\t the\t Trojans\t defended\t themselves\t successfully, following\t the\t strict\t orders\t which\t Aeneas\t at\t his\t departure\t had\t given\t them\t on\t no account\t to\t undertake\t an\t offensive.\t But\t they\t were\t greatly\t outnumbered;\t the prospect\t was\t dark\t unless\t they\t could\t get\t word\t to\t Aeneas\t what\t was\t happening. The\t question\t was\t whether\t this\t was\t possible,\t with\t the\t Rutulians\t completely surrounding\t the\t fort.\t However,\t there\t were\t two\t men\t in\t that\t little\t band\t who scorned\tto\tweigh\tthe\tchances\tof\tsuccess\tor\tfailure,\tto\twhom\tthe\textreme\tperil\tof the\tattempt\twas\ta\treason\tfor\tmaking\tit.\tThese\ttwo\tresolved\tto\ttry\tto\tpass\tthrough the\tenemy\tunder\tthe\tcover\tof\tthe\tnight\tand\treach\tAeneas. Nisus\t and\t Euryalus\t were\t their\t names,\t the\t first\t a\t valiant\t and\t experienced soldier,\t the\t other\t only\t a\t stripling,\t but\t equally\t brave\t and\t full\t of\t generous\t ardor for\t heroic\t deeds.\t It\t was\t their\t habit\t to\t fight\t side\t by\t side.\t Wherever\t one\t was, whether\ton\tguard\tor\tin\tthe\tfield,\tthere\tthe\tother\twould\talways\tbe\tfound.\tThe\tidea of\t the\t great\t enterprise\t came\t first\t to\t Nisus\t as\t he\t looked\t over\t the\t ramparts\t at\t the enemy\tand\t observed\thow\t few\t and\tdim\t the\t lights\twere\t and\t how\tdeep\t a\t silence reigned\tas\tof\tmen\tfast\tasleep.\tHe\ttold\this\tplan\tto\this\tfriend,\tbut\twith\tno\tthought of\this\tgoing,\ttoo.\tWhen\tthe\tlad\tcried\tout\tthat\the\twould\tnever\tbe\tleft\tbehind,\tthat he\t scorned\t life\t in\t comparison\t with\t death\t in\t so\t glorious\t an\t attempt,\t Nisus\t felt only\t grief\t and\t dismay.\t \u201cLet\t me\t go\t alone,\u201d\t he\t begged.\t \u201cIf\t by\t chance\t something goes\t amiss\u2014and\t in\t such\t a\t venture\t as\t this\t there\t are\t a\t thousand\t chances\u2014you will\tbe\there\tto\transom\tme\tor\tto\tgive\tme\tthe\trites\tof\tburial.\tRemember,\ttoo,\tthat you\tare\tyoung;\tlife\tis\tall\tbefore\tyou.\u201d\t\u201cIdle\twords,\u201d\tEuryalus\tanswered.\t\u201cLet\tus start\t and\t with\t no\t delay.\u201d\t Nisus\t saw\t the\t impossibility\t of\t persuading\t him\t and sorrowfully\tyielded. They\t found\t the\t Trojan\t leaders\t holding\t a\t council,\t and\t they\t put\t their\t plan before\t them.\t It\t was\t instantly\t accepted\t and\t the\t princes\t with\t choked\t voices\t and falling\t tears\t thanked\t them\t and\t promised\t them\t rich\t rewards.\t \u201cI\t want\t only\t one,\u201d said\tEuryalus.\t\u201cMy\tmother\tis\there\tin\tthe\tcamp.\tShe\twould\tnot\tstay\tbehind\twith the\tother\twomen.\tShe\twould\tfollow\tme.\tI\tam\tall\tshe\thas.\tIf\tI\tdie\u2014\u201d\t\u201cShe\twill\tbe my\t mother,\u201d\t Ascanius\t broke\t in.\t \u201cShe\t shall\t have\t the\t place\t of\t the\t mother\t I\t lost that\tlast\tnight\tin\tTroy.\tI\tswear\tit\tto\tyou.\tAnd\ttake\tthis\twith\tyou,\tmy\town\tsword. It\twill\tnot\tfail\tyou.\u201d Then\t the\t two\t started,\t through\t the\t trench\t and\t on\t to\t the\t enemy\u2019s\t camp.\t All around\tlay\tsleeping\tmen.\tNisus\twhispered,\t\u201cI\tam\tgoing\tto\tclear\ta\tpath\tfor\tus.\tDo you\t keep\t watch.\u201d\t With\t that\t he\t killed\t man\t after\t man,\t so\t skillfully\t that\t not\t one uttered\ta\tsound\tas\the\tdied.\tNot\ta\tgroan\tgave\tthe\talarm.\tEuryalus\tsoon\tjoined\tin","the\tbloody\twork.\tWhen\tthey\treached\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tcamp\tthey\thad\tcleared\tas\tit were\ta\tgreat\thighway\tthrough\tit,\twhere\tonly\tdead\tmen\twere\tlying.\tBut\tthey\thad been\t wrong\t to\t delay.\t Daylight\t was\t dawning;\t a\t troop\t of\t horses\t coming\t from Latium\t caught\t sight\t of\t the\t shining\t helmet\t of\t Euryalus\t and\t challenged\t him. When\t he\t pushed\t on\t through\t the\t trees\t without\t answering\t they\t knew\t he\t was\t an enemy\t and\t they\t surrounded\t the\t wood.\t In\t their\t haste\t the\t two\t friends\t got separated\t and\t Euryalus\t took\t the\t wrong\t path.\t Nisus\t wild\t with\t anxiety\t turned back\tto\tfind\thim.\tUnseen\thimself\the\tsaw\thim\tin\tthe\thands\tof\tthe\ttroopers.\tHow could\t he\t rescue\t him?\t He\t was\t all\t alone.\t It\t was\t hopeless\t and\t yet\t he\t knew\t it\t was better\t to\t make\t the\t attempt\t and\t die\t than\t leave\t him.\t He\t fought\t them,\t one\t man against\ta\twhole\tcompany,\tand\this\tflying\tspear\tstruck\tdown\twarrior\tafter\twarrior. The\t leader,\t not\t knowing\t from\t what\t quarter\t this\t deadly\t attack\t was\t coming, turned\tupon\tEuryalus\tshouting,\t\u201cYou\tshall\tpay\tfor\tthis!\u201d\tBefore\this\tlifted\tsword could\tstrike\thim,\tNisus\trushed\tforward.\t\u201cKill\tme,\tme,\u201d\the\tcried.\t\u201cThe\tdeed\tis\tall mine.\tHe\tonly\tfollowed\tme.\u201d\tBut\twith\tthe\twords\tstill\ton\this\tlips,\tthe\tsword\twas thrust\t into\t the\t lad\u2019s\t breast.\t As\t he\t fell\t dying,\t Nisus\t cut\t down\t the\t man\t who\t had killed\thim;\tthen\tpierced\twith\tmany\tdarts\the,\ttoo,\tfell\tdead\tbeside\this\tfriend. The\t rest\t of\t the\t Trojans\u2019\t adventures\t were\t all\t on\t the\t battlefield.\t Aeneas\t came back\t with\t a\t large\t army\t of\t Etruscans\t in\t time\t to\t save\t the\t camp,\t and\t furious\t war raged.\t From\t then\t on,\t the\t story\t turns\t into\t little\t more\t than\t an\t account\t of\t men slaughtering\t each\t other.\t Battle\t follows\t battle,\t but\t they\t are\t all\t alike.\t Countless heroes\t are\t always\t slain,\t rivers\t of\t blood\t drench\t the\t earth,\t the\t brazen\t throats\t of trumpets\tblare,\tarrows\tplenteous\tas\thail\tfly\tfrom\tsharp-springing\tbows,\thoofs\tof fiery\t steeds\t spurting\t gory\t dew\t trample\t on\t the\t dead.\t Long\t before\t the\t end,\t the horrors\t have\t ceased\t to\t horrify.\t All\t the\t Trojans\u2019\t enemies\t are\t killed,\t of\t course. Camilla\tfalls\tafter\tgiving\ta\tvery\tgood\taccount\tof\therself;\tthe\twicked\tMezentius meets\tthe\tfate\the\tso\trichly\tdeserves,\tbut\tonly\tafter\this\tbrave\tyoung\tson\tis\tkilled defending\thim.\tMany\tgood\tallies\tdie,\ttoo,\tEvander\u2019s\tson\tPallas\tamong\tthem. Finally\tTurnus\tand\tAeneas\tmeet\tin\tsingle\tcombat.\tBy\tthis\ttime\tAeneas,\twho in\t the\t earlier\t part\t of\t the\t story\t seemed\t as\t human\t as\t Hector\t or\t Achilles,\t has changed\t into\t something\t strange\t and\t portentous;\t he\t is\t not\t a\t human\t being.\t Once he\t carried\t tenderly\t his\t old\t father\t out\t of\t burning\t Troy\t and\t encouraged\t his\t little son\tto\trun\tbeside\thim;\twhen\the\tcame\tto\tCarthage\the\tfelt\twhat\tit\tmeant\tto\tmeet with\t compassion,\t to\t reach\t a\t place\t where\t \u201cThere\t are\t tears\t for\t things\u201d;\t he\t was very\thuman,\ttoo,\twhen\the\tstrutted\tabout\tDido\u2019s\tpalace\tin\this\tfine\tclothes.\tBut\ton the\tLatin\tbattlefields\the\tis\tnot\ta\tman,\tbut\ta\tfearful\tprodigy.\tHe\tis\t\u201cvast\tas\tMount Athos,\tvast\tas\tFather\tApennine\thimself\twhen\the\tshakes\this\tmighty\toaks\tand\tlifts","his\tsnow-topped\tpeace\tto\tthe\tsky\u201d;\tlike\t\u201cAegaeon\twho\thad\ta\thundred\tarms\tand\ta hundred\t hands\t and\t flashed\t fire\t through\t fifty\t mouths,\t thundering\t on\t fifty\t strong shields\t and\t drawing\t fifty\t sharp\t swords\u2014even\t so\t Aeneas\t slakes\t his\t victorious fury\tthe\twhole\tfield\tover.\u201d\tWhen\the\tfaces\tTurnus\tin\tthe\tlast\tcombat\tthere\tis\tno interest\t in\t the\t outcome.\t It\t is\t as\t futile\t for\t Turnus\t to\t fight\t Aeneas\t as\t to\t fight\t the lightning\tor\tan\tearthquake. Virgil\u2019s\tpoem\tends\twith\tTurnus\u2019\tdeath.\tAeneas,\twe\tare\tgiven\tto\tunderstand, married\t Lavinia\t and\t founded\t the\t Roman\t race\u2014who,\t Virgil\t said,\t \u201cleft\t to\t other nations\t such\t things\t as\t art\t and\t science,\t and\t ever\t remembered\t that\t they\t were destined\t to\t bring\t under\t their\t empire\t the\t peoples\t of\t earth,\t to\t impose\t the\t rule\t of submissive\tnonresistance,\tto\tspare\tthe\thumbled\tand\tto\tcrush\tthe\tproud.\u201d","PART V","","","I The\tchief\timportance\tof\tthe\tstory\tof\tAtreus\tand\this\tdescendants\tis\tthat\tthe\tfifth- century\t tragic\t poet\t Aeschylus\t took\t it\t for\t the\t subject\t of\t his\t great\t drama,\t the Oresteia,\t which\t is\t made\t up\t of\t three\t plays,\t the\t Agamemnon,\t the\t Libation Bearers,\tthe\tEumenides.\tIt\thas\tno\trival\tin\tGreek\ttragedy\texcept\tthe\tfour\tplays\tof Sophocles\tabout\tOedipus\tand\this\tchildren.\tPindar\tin\tthe\tearly\tfifth\tcentury\ttells the\tcurrent\ttale\tabout\tthe\tfeast\tTantalus\tmade\tthe\tgods\tand\tprotests\tthat\tit\tis\tnot true.\t The\t punishment\t of\t Tantalus\t is\t described\t often,\t first\t in\t the\t Odyssey,\t from which\t I\t have\t taken\t it.\t Amphion\u2019s\t story,\t and\t Niobe\u2019s,\t I\t have\t taken\t from\t Ovid, who\t alone\t tells\t them\t in\t full.\t For\t Pelops\u2019\t winning\t the\t chariot\t race\t I\t have preferred\t Apollodorus,\t of\t the\t first\t or\t second\t century\t A.D.,\t who\t gives\t the\t fullest account\tthat\thas\tcome\tdown\tto\tus.\tThe\tstory\tof\tAtreus\u2019\tand\tThyestes\u2019\tcrimes\tand all\tthat\tfollowed\tthem\tis\ttaken\tfrom\tAeschylus\u2019\tOresteia. The\t House\t of\t Atreus\t is\t one\t of\t the\t most\t famous\t families\t in\t mythology. Agamemnon,\t who\t led\t the\t Greeks\t against\t Troy,\t belonged\t to\t it.\t All\t of\t his immediate\t family,\t his\t wife\t Clytemnestra,\t his\t children,\t Iphigenia,\t Orestes,\t and Electra,\twere\tas\twell\tknown\tas\the\twas.\tHis\tbrother\tMenelaus\twas\tthe\thusband\tof Helen,\tfor\twhose\tsake\tthe\tTrojan\tWar\twas\tfought. It\t was\t an\t ill-fated\t house.\t The\t cause\t of\t all\t the\t misfortunes\t was\t held\t to\t be\t an","ancestor,\t a\t King\t of\t Lydia\t named\t Tantalus,\t who\t brought\t upon\t himself\t a\t most terrible\tpunishment\tby\ta\tmost\twicked\tdeed.\tThat\twas\tnot\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tmatter. The\t evil\t he\t started\t went\t on\t after\t his\t death.\t His\t descendants\t also\t did\t wickedly and\twere\tpunished.\tA\tcurse\tseemed\tto\thang\tover\tthe\tfamily,\tmaking\tmen\tsin\tin spite\tof\tthemselves\tand\tbringing\tsuffering\tand\tdeath\tdown\tupon\tthe\tinnocent\tas well\tas\tthe\tguilty."]