The Sack Of Troy

: Myths And Legends Of All Nations.

For ten years King Agamemnon and the men of Greece laid siege to Troy.

But though sentence had gone forth against the city, yet the day of

its fall tarried, because certain of the gods loved it well and

defended it, as Apollo and Mars, the god of war, and Father Jupiter

himself. Wherefore Minerva put it into the heart of Epeius, Lord of

the Isles, that he should make a cunning device wherewith to take the

city. Now the
device was this: he made a great horse of wood, feigning

it to be a peace-offering to Minerva, that the Greeks might have a

safe return to their homes. In the belly of this there hid themselves

certain of the bravest of the chiefs, as Menelaues, and Ulysses, and

Thoas the AEtolian, and Machaon the great physician, and Pyrrhus, son

of Achilles (but Achilles himself was dead, slain by Paris, Apollo

helping, even as he was about to take the city), and others also, and

with them Epeius himself. But the rest of the people made as if they

had departed to their homes; only they went not further than Tenedos,

which was an island near to the coast.



Great joy was there in Troy when it was noised abroad that the men of

Greece had departed. The gates were opened, and the people went forth

to see the plain and the camp. And one said to another as they went,

"Here they set the battle in array, and there were the tents of the

fierce Achilles, and there lay the ships." And some stood and marveled

at the great peace-offering to Minerva, even the horse of wood. And

Thymoetes, who was one of the elders of the city, was the first who

advised that it should be brought within the walls and set in the

citadel. Now whether he gave this counsel out of a false heart or

because the gods would have it so, no man knows. But Capys, and others

with him, said that it should be drowned in water or burned with fire,

or that men should pierce it and see whether there were aught within.

And the people were divided, some crying one thing and some another.

Then came forward the priest Laocooen, and a great company with him,

crying, "What madness is this? Think ye that the men of Greece are

indeed departed or that there is any profit in their gifts? Surely

there are armed men in this mighty horse; or haply they have made it

that they may look down upon our walls. Touch it not, for as for these

men of Greece, I fear them, even though they bring gifts in their

hands."



And as he spake he cast his great spear at the horse, so that it

sounded again. But the gods would not that Troy should be saved.



Meanwhile there came certain shepherds dragging with them one whose

hands were bound behind his back. He had come forth to them, they

said, of his own accord when they were in the field. And first the

young men gathered about him mocking him, but when he cried aloud,

"What place is left for me, for the Greeks suffer me not to live and

the men of Troy cry for vengeance upon me?" they rather pitied him,

and bade him speak and say whence he came and what he had to tell.



Then the man spake, turning to King Priam: "I will speak the truth,

whatever befall me. My name is Sinon and I deny not that I am a Greek.

Haply thou hast heard the name of Palamedes, whom the Greeks slew, but

now, being dead, lament; and the cause was that because he counseled

peace, men falsely accused him of treason. Now, of this Palamedes I

was a poor kinsman and followed him to Troy. And when he was dead,

through the false witness of Ulysses, I lived in great grief and

trouble, nor could I hold my peace, but sware that if ever I came back

to Argos I would avenge me of him that had done this deed. Then did

Ulysses seek occasion against me, whispering evil things, nor rested

till at the last, Calchas the soothsayer helping him--but what profit

it that I should tell these things? For doubtless ye hold one Greek to

be even as another. Wherefore slay me and doubtless ye will do a

pleasure to Ulysses and the sons of Atreus."



Then they bade him tell on, and he said:



"Often would the Greeks have fled to their homes, being weary of the

war, but still the stormy sea hindered them. And when this horse that

ye see had been built, most of all did the dreadful thunder roll from

the one end of the heaven to the other. Then the Greeks sent one who

should inquire of Apollo; and Apollo answered them thus: 'Men of

Greece, even as ye appeased the winds with blood when ye came to Troy,

so must ye appease them with blood now that ye would go from thence.'

Then did men tremble to think on whom the doom should fall, and

Ulysses, with much clamor, drew forth Calchas the soothsayer into the

midst, and bade him say who it was that the gods would have as a

sacrifice. Then did many forbode evil for me. Ten days did the

soothsayer keep silence, saying that he would not give any man to

death. But then, for in truth the two had planned the matter

beforehand, he spake, appointing me to die. And to this thing they all

agreed, each being glad to turn to another that which he feared for

himself. But when the day was come and all things were ready, the

salted meal for the sacrifice and the garlands, lo! I burst my bonds

and fled and hid myself in the sedges of a pool, waiting till they

should have set sail, if haply that might be. But never shall I see

country or father or children again. For doubtless on these will they

take vengeance for my flight. Only do thou, O King, have pity on me,

who have suffered many things, not having harmed any man."



And King Priam had pity on him, and bade them loose his bonds, saying,

"Whoever thou art, forget now thy country. Henceforth thou art one of

us. But tell me true: why made they this huge horse? Who contrived it?

What seek they by it--to please the gods or to further their siege?"



Then said Sinon, and as he spake he stretched his hands to the sky, "I

call you to witness, ye everlasting fires of heaven, that with good

right I now break my oath of fealty and reveal the secrets of my

countrymen. Listen then, O King. All our hope has ever been in the

help of Minerva. But from the day when Diomed and Ulysses dared,

having bloody hands, to snatch her image from her holy place in Troy,

her face was turned from us. Well do I remember how the eyes of the

image, well-nigh before they had set it in the camp, blazed with

wrath, and how the salt sweat stood upon its limbs, aye, and how it

thrice leapt from the ground, shaking shield and spear. Then Calchas

told us that we must cross the seas again and seek at home fresh omens

for our war. And this, indeed, they are doing even now, and will

return anon. Also the soothsayer said, 'Meanwhile ye must make the

likeness of a horse, to be a peace-offering to Minerva. And take heed

that ye make it huge of bulk, so that the men of Troy may not receive

it into their gates, nor bring it within their walls and get safety

for themselves thereby. For if,' he said, 'the men of Troy harm this

image at all, they shall surely perish; but if they bring it into

their city, then shall Asia lay siege hereafter to the city of Pelops,

and our children shall suffer the doom which we would fain have

brought on Troy.'"



These words wrought much on the men of Troy, and as they pondered on

them, lo! the gods sent another marvel to deceive them. For while

Laocooen, the priest of Neptune, was slaying a bull at the altar of his

god, there came two serpents across the sea from Tenedos, whose heads

and necks, whereon were thick manes of hair, were high above the

waves, and many scaly coils trailed behind in the waters. And when

they reached the land they still sped forward. Their eyes were red as

blood and blazed with fire and their forked tongues hissed loud for

rage. Then all the men of Troy grew pale with fear and fled away, but

these turned not aside this way or that, seeking Laocooen where he

stood. And first they wrapped themselves about his little sons, one

serpent about each, and began to devour them. And when the father

would have given help to his children, having a sword in his hand,

they seized upon himself and bound him fast with their folds. Twice

they compassed him about his body, and twice about his neck, lifting

their heads far above him. And all the while he strove to tear them

away with his hands, his priest's garlands dripping with blood. Nor

did he cease to cry horribly aloud, even as a bull bellows when after

an ill stroke of the axe it flees from the altar. But when their work

was done, the two glided to the citadel of Minerva and hid themselves

beneath the feet and the shield of the goddess. And men said one to

another, "Lo! the priest Laocooen has been judged according to his

deeds; for he cast his spear against this holy thing, and now the gods

have slain him." Then all cried out together that the horse of wood

must be drawn to the citadel. Whereupon they opened the Scaean Gate and

pulled down the wall that was thereby, and put rollers under the feet

of the horse and joined ropes thereto. So in much joy they drew it

into the city, youths and maidens singing about it the while and

laying their hands to the ropes with great gladness. And yet there

wanted no signs and tokens of evil to come. Four times it halted on

the threshold of the gate, and men might have heard a clashing of arms

within. Cassandra also opened her mouth, prophesying evil; but no man

heeded her, for that was ever the doom upon her, not to be believed,

though speaking truth. So the men of Troy drew the horse into the

city. And that night they kept a feast to all the gods with great joy

not knowing that the last day of the great city had come.



But when night was now fully come and the men of Troy lay asleep, lo!

from the ship of King Agamemnon there rose up a flame for a signal to

the Greeks; and these straightway manned their ships and made across

the sea from Tenedos, there being a great calm and the moon also

giving them light. Sinon likewise opened a secret door that was in the

great horse and the chiefs issued forth therefrom and opened the gates

of the city, slaying those that kept watch.



Meanwhile there came a vision to AEneas, who now, Hector being dead,

was the chief hope and stay of the men of Troy. It was Hector's self

that he seemed to see, but not such as he had seen him coming back

rejoicing with the arms of Achilles or setting fire to the ships, but

even as he lay after that Achilles dragged him at his chariot wheels,

covered with dust, and blood, his feet swollen and pierced through

with thongs. To him said AEneas, not knowing what he said, "Why hast

thou tarried so long? Much have we suffered waiting for thee! And what

grief hath marked thy face, and whence these wounds?"



But to this the spirit answered nothing, but said, groaning the while,

"Fly, son of Venus, fly and save thee from these flames. The enemy is

in the walls and Troy hath utterly perished. If any hand could have

saved our city, this hand had done so. Thou art now the hope of Troy.

Take then her gods and flee with them for company, seeking the city

that thou shalt one day build across the sea."



And now the alarm of battle came nearer and nearer, and AEneas, waking

from sleep, climbed upon the roof and looked on the city. As a

shepherd stands and sees a fierce flame sweeping before the south wind

over the corn-fields or a flood rushing down from the mountains, so he

stood. And as he looked, the great palace of Deiphobus sank down in

the fire and the house of Ucalegon that was hard by, blazed forth,

till the sea by Sigeuem shone with the light. Then, scarce knowing what

he sought, he girded on his armor, thinking perchance that he might

yet win some place of vantage or at the least might avenge himself on

the enemy or find honor in his death. But as he passed from out of his

house there met him Panthus, the priest of Apollo that was on the

citadel, who cried to him, "O AEneas, the glory is departed from Troy

and the Greeks have the mastery in the city; for armed men are coming

forth from the great horse of wood and thousands also swarm in at the

gates, which Sinon hath treacherously opened." And as he spake others

came up under the light of the moon, as Hypanis and Dymas and young

Coroebus, who had but newly come to Troy, seeking Cassandra to be

his wife. To whom AEneas spake: "If ye are minded, my brethren, to

follow me to the death, come on. For how things fare this night ye

see. The gods who were the stay of this city have departed from it;

nor is aught remaining to which we may bring succor. Yet can we die as

brave men in battle. And haply he that counts his life to be lost may

yet save it." Then, even as ravening wolves hasten through the mist

seeking for prey, so they went through the city, doing dreadful deeds.

And for a while the men of Greece fled before them.



First of all there met them Androgeos with a great company following

him, who, thinking them to be friends, said, "Haste, comrades; why are

ye so late? We are spoiling this city of Troy and ye are but newly

come from the ships." But forthwith, for they answered him not as he

had looked for, he knew that he had fallen among enemies. Then even as

one who treads upon a snake unawares among thorns and flies from it

when it rises angrily against him with swelling neck, so Androgeos

would have fled. But the men of Troy rushed on and, seeing that they

knew all the place and that great fear was upon the Greeks, slew many

men. Then said Coroebus, "We have good luck in this matter, my

friends. Come now, let us change our shields and put upon us the armor

of these Greeks. For whether we deal with our enemy by craft or by

force, who will ask?" Then he took to himself the helmet and shield of

Androgeos and also girded the sword upon him. In like manner did the

others, and thus, going disguised among the Greeks, slew many, so that

some again fled to the ships and some were fain to climb into the

horse of wood. But lo! men came dragging by the hair from the temple

of Minerva the virgin Cassandra, whom when Coroebus beheld, and how

she lifted up her eyes to heaven (but as for her hands, they were

bound with iron), he endured not the sight, but threw himself upon

those that dragged her, the others following him. Then did a grievous

mischance befall them, for the men of Troy that stood upon the roof of

the temple cast spears against them, judging them to be enemies. The

Greeks also, being wroth that the virgin should be taken from them,

fought the more fiercely, and many who had before been put to flight

in the city came against them and prevailed, being indeed many against

few. Then first of all fell Coroebus, being slain by Peneleus the

Boeotian, and Rhipeus also, the most righteous of all the sons of

Troy. But the gods dealt not with him after his righteousness. Hypanis

also was slain and Dymas, and Panthus escaped not for all that more

than other men he feared the gods and was also the priest of Apollo.



Then was AEneas severed from the rest, having with him two only,

Iphitus and Pelias, Iphitus being an old man and Pelias sorely wounded

by Ulysses. And these, hearing a great shouting, hastened to the

palace of King Priam, where the battle was fiercer than in any place

beside. For some of the Greeks were seeking to climb the walls, laying

ladders thereto, whereon they stood, holding forth their shields with

their left hands and with their right grasping the roofs. And the men

of Troy, on the other hand, being in the last extremity, tore down the

battlements and the gilded beams wherewith the men of old had adorned

the palace. Then AEneas, knowing of a secret door whereby the unhappy

Andromache in past days had been wont to enter, bringing her son

Astyanax to his grandfather, climbed on to the roof and joined himself

to those that fought therefrom. Now upon this roof there was a tower,

whence all Troy could be seen and the camp of the Greeks and the

ships. This the men of Troy loosened from its foundations with bars of

iron, and thrust it over, so that it fell upon the enemy, slaying many

of them. But not the less did others press forward, casting the while

stones and javelins and all that came to their hands.



Meanwhile others sought to break down the gates of the palace,

Pyrrhus, son of Achilles, being foremost among them, clad in shining

armor of bronze. Like to a serpent was he, which sleeps indeed during

the winter, but in the spring comes forth into the light, full-fed on

evil herbs, and, having cast his skin and renewed his youth, lifts his

head into the light of the sun and hisses with forked tongue. And with

Pyrrhus were tall Periphas, and Automedon, who had been armor-bearer

to his father Achilles, and following them the youth of Scyros, which

was the kingdom of his grandfather Lycomedes. With a great battle-axe

he hewed through the doors, breaking down also the door-posts, though

they were plated with bronze, making, as it were, a great window,

through which a man might see the palace within, the hall of King

Priam and of the kings who had reigned aforetime in Troy. But when

they that were within perceived it, there arose a great cry of women

wailing aloud and clinging to the doors and kissing them. But ever

Pyrrhus pressed on, fierce and strong as ever was his father Achilles,

nor could aught stand against him, either the doors or they that

guarded them. Then, as a river bursts its banks and overflows the

plain, so did the sons of Greece rush into the palace.



But old Priam, when he saw the enemy in his hall, girded on him his

armor, which now by reason of old age he had long laid aside, and took

a spear in his hand and would have gone against the adversary, only

Queen Hecuba called to him from where she sat. For she and her

daughters had fled to the great altar of the household gods and sat

crowded about it like unto doves that are driven by a storm. Now the

altar stood in an open court that was in the midst of the palace, with

a great bay-tree above it. So when she saw Priam, how he had girded

himself with armor as a youth, she cried to him and said, "What hath

bewitched thee, that thou girdest thyself with armor? It is not the

sword that shall help us this day; no, not though my own Hector were

here, but rather the gods and their altars. Come hither to us, for

here thou wilt be safe, or at the least wilt die with us."



So she made the old man sit down in the midst. But lo! there came

flying through the palace, Polites, his son, wounded to death by the

spear of Pyrrhus, and Pyrrhus close behind him. And he, even as he

came into the sight of his father and his mother, fell dead upon the

ground. But when King Priam saw it he contained not himself, but cried

aloud, "Now may the gods, if there be any justice in heaven,

recompense thee for this wickedness, seeing that thou hast not spared

to slay the son before his father's eyes. Great Achilles, whom thou

falsely callest thy sire, did not thus to Priam, though he was an

enemy, but reverenced right and truth and gave the body of Hector for

burial and sent me back to my city."



And as he spake the old man cast a spear, but aimless and without

force, which pierced not even the boss of the shield. Then said the

son of Achilles, "Go thou and tell my father of his unworthy son and

all these evils deeds. And that thou mayest tell him die!" And as he

spake he caught in his left hand the old man's white hair and dragged

him, slipping the while in the blood of his own son, to the altar, and

then, lifting his sword high for a blow, drove it to the hilt in the

old man's side. So King Priam, who had ruled mightily over many

peoples and countries in the land of Asia, was slain that night,

having first seen Troy burning about him and his citadel laid even

with the ground. So was his carcass cast out upon the earth, headless

and without a name.



More

;