 Section 14 of the Iliad for Boys and Girls. This is a LibriVox recording, all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information on how to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Lizzie Driver. The Iliad for Boys and Girls by Alfred J. Church. The story of Old Phoenix. After a while Old Phoenix stood up and spoke. And as he spoke he shed many tears, for he was much afraid lest the ships of the Greeks should be burnt. Oh Achilles, he said, if you are indeed determined to go away, how can I stay here without you? Did not the old man Pellis your father make me your teacher, that I might show you both what you should say and what you should do, when he sent you from the land of Pithia to be with King Agamemnon? In those days, for all that you are now so strong and skillful in war, you were but a lad, knowing nothing of how warriors fight in battle, or of how they take counsel together. No, I cannot stay here without you. I would not leave you, no, not if the gods would make me young again, as when I came to the land of Pithia to be with Pellis your father. For at the first I lived in Pellis, and left it because the old man, my father, was angry with me. So angry was he that he cursed me, and prayed to Zeus and the other gods that no child of mine should ever sit upon his knees. And I too was very angry when I heard him say these words. Truly the thought came into my heart, that I would fall upon him and slay him with the sword. But the gods were merciful to me, and helped me to put away this wicked thought out of my heart. So I gave up my anger, for I could not bear that men should say of me, see there is the man who killed his own father. But I was determined to go away from my father's house, and from the land of Pellis altogether. Then came my friends and my kinsmen, and made many prayers to me, beseeching me that I would not depart, but I would not listen to them. Then they would have kept me by force. Nine days and nine nights they watched my father's house, eating the flesh of sheep and oxen and swine, and drinking wine without stint from my father's stalls. They took turns to watch, and they kept up two fires without ceasing, one in the cloister that was round the house, and one before the great door. But on the tenth night, when the watchmen were overcome with sleep and the fires were low, then I broke open the door of my chamber, for all that they had shut it fast with a knot that was hard to untie. And I leapt over the fence in the courtyard, and neither man nor maid saw me. So I escaped, and fled from Hellis, and came to Pythia to the old man Pellis, your father, and your father was very kind to me, and was as a father to me. He gave me riches, and he gave me a kingdom, which I might rule under him, and also he trusted you to me, O Achilles, when you were but a little child, that I might teach you and rear you, and this I did. And indeed you loved me much. With no one but me would you go into the hall, or sit at the feast. I would hold you on my knees, and carve the choicest bits for you from the dish, and put the wine cup to your lips. Many a time have you spoiled my clothes, buttering out the wine from your lips, when I'd put the cup to your lips. Yes, I suffered much, and toiled much for you, and you were as a child to me, for a child of my own I never had. And now I pray you, listen to me, put away the anger in your heart, even as I put the anger out of mine. It is not fit that a man should harden his heart in this way. Even the gods are turned from their purpose. And surely the gods are more honourable and more powerful than you. Yet men turn them by offering of incense, and by drink offerings, and by burnt offerings, and by prayers. And if a man sins against them, yet can he turn them from their anger. For indeed prayers are the daughters of Zeus. They are weak and slower foot, whereas sin is swift and strong, and goes before, running all over the earth, and doing harm to men. But, nevertheless, they come after and heal the harm that sin has done. If, therefore, a man will reverence these daughters of Zeus, and will do honour to them when they come near to him, and will listen to their voice, they will bless him and do good to him. But if a man hardens his heart against them, and will not listen to their voice, then they curse him and bring him ruin. Take heed, therefore, O Achilles, that thou do such honour to these daughters of Zeus as becomes a righteous man, for it will be well for you to do so. If indeed King Agamemnon had stood apart and given you no gifts, nor restored to you that which he took from you, then I would not have bidden you to cease from your anger. No, not to say the Greeks from their great trouble. But now he gives you many gifts, and promises you yet more, and has sent an embassy to you, the wisest and noblest that there are in the whole army, and also dear friends of yours. Refuse not, therefore, to listen to their words. Listen now to this tale which I will tell you, that you may see how foolish a thing it is for a man. However great he may be to shut his ears when prayers are made to him. Once upon a time there was a great strife between the Aetolians and the men who dwelt near to Mount Curim, and the cause of the strife was this. There was a great wild boar which laid waste to all the lands of Clydon where the Aetolians dwelt, and Meligar, who was the king of the land, sent for hunters from all Greece, as they came from far and wide, bringing their dogs with them, for the beast was so great and fierce that it was not an easy thing to kill, but there was need of many hunters. Now, among those that came was Atlanta, the fair maid of Arcadia, and when the beast was killed, then there was a great quarrel as to who should have the spoils, that is to say the head and the hide. For Meligar gave them to the fair Atlanta, and when the brethren of his mother took them from her, then he slew them, but when his mother, Althea by name, heard that her own brethren were dead, then she cursed him, ye, even her own son. So it came to pass that there was a war between the Aetolians and the men of Mount Curim, for Althea and her brethren were of that land. And also the curse began to work so that the quarrel became more fierce. Now, when in time past Meligar had fought among the Aetolians, there was none that could stand up against him, so great a warrior was he. But now, being very angry with his mother, he stood aside from the war, and would not help, sitting in his chamber apart. The men of Mount Curim therefore prevailed in the battle, and the Aetolians were driven into the city of Clydon, and there was a great din of war about the gates of the city, and great fear lest the enemy should break them down. Then first the elders of the city sent an embassy to him, priests of the gods, the holiest that were in the land, to pray that he would come forth from his chamber and defend them. Also they promised him a noble gift, a greatest state in the plain of Aetola, half plowland, and half vineyard, such as he might choose for himself. So the priests came, beseeching him, and offered him the gift, but he would not listen to them. And after them came his mother and sisters, and made their prayers to him, but them he refused even more fiercely. And the old man Ennis, his father, besought him, standing on the threshold of his chamber, and shaken the door. But he would not listen, nor would he hear the voices of his friends and comrades, although they were very dear to him. But at the last, when the enemy had now begun to climb up the towers, and to burn the first city of Clydon with fire, eye, and to batter on the doors of his palace, then his wife, the fair Cleopatra, arose and besought him with many prayers and tears. Think now, she said, what woes will come upon your people, if the enemy prevail against them, for the city will be burnt with fire, and the men will be slain, and the women will be carried into captivity. Then at last his spirit was stirred within him, and he arose, and put on his arms, and went down into the street, and drove the men of Mount Curin before him. So did he save the Etolians. But the gifts which they promised, these he never had. This, O Achilles, is the story of Malaga. Let not your thoughts be like his. It would be a foolish thing to put off saving off the ships, till they are already on fire. Come, therefore, take the gifts which King Agamemnon gives you. So shall all the Greeks honour you even as they honour a god. But, if you delay, then you may lose both honour and gifts, even though you save us from the Trojans. Achilles answered, Phoenix, my father, I have no need of this honour and these gifts. Rich as I have as much as I need. And Zeus gives me honour. And listen to this. Trouble me no more with prayers and tears, while you seek to help King Agamemnon. Take not his side. Lest I, who loves you now, come to hate you. It were better for you to vex him who has vexed me. Return now with me to the land of Pythia, and I will give you half of my kingdom. And stay this night in my tent. Tomorrow we will consult together, whether we will depart or no. Then Achilles nodded to Petrolicus, and made signs that he should make a bed ready for the old man, so that the other two, seeing this, should depart without delay. So Petrolicus made the bed ready, and when Ajax saw this, he said to Ulysses, Let us go, Ulysses, we shall do nothing today. Let us depart at once, and carry back this message to them who sent us. As for Achilles, he cherishes his anger, and cares not for his comrades or his people. What he desires, I know not. One man will take the price of blood from another, even though he is slain a brother or a son. He takes gold and puts away his anger, and the shedder of blood dwells in peace in his own land. But this man keeps his anger, and all for the sake of a girl, and lo, the king offers him seven girls, yea, seven for one, and he will not take them. Surely he seems to lack reason. Achilles answered, You speak well, great Ajax. Nevertheless the anger is yet hot in my heart, because Agamemnon put me to shame before all my people, as if I were but a common man. But go, and take my message, I will not arise to do battle with the Trojans till Hector, shall come to these tents, and shall seek to set fire to my ships. But when he shall do this, then I will arise, and verily I will stop him, however eager he may be for the battle. So Ajax and Ulysses departed, and gave the message of Achilles to King Agamemnon. End of the story of Old Phoenix. Section 15 of the Iliad for Boys and Girls This is a LibriVox recording, all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Lizzie Driver. The Iliad for Boys and Girls by Alfred J. Church. The adventures of Diomed and Ulysses. While the other chiefs of the Greeks were sleeping that night, King Agamemnon was awake, for he had great trouble in his heart and many fears. When he looked towards Troy, he saw the fires burning, and heard the sound of flutes and pipes, and the murmurs of many men. And he was astonished, for it seemed to him that the army of the Trojans was greater and stronger than it had ever been in times past. And when he looked towards the ships, he groaned and tore his hair, thinking what evils might come to his people. Then he thought to himself, I will go and look for Old Nesta. Maybe he and I will think of something which may help us. So he rose from his bed and put the sandals on his feet and wrapped his coat about him and put the skin of a lion round his shoulders and a spear in his hand. Now it so happened that Menelaus could not sleep that same night, for he knew that it was on his account that the Greeks had come to Troy. So he rose from his bed and wrapped the skin of a leopard about his shoulders, and took a spear in his hand and went to look for his brother. And when he found him, for as has been said, he also had armed himself. He said, What seek you? See you the Trojans there. Let us send some spy to find what they are doing and how many there are of them. For I do not doubt that they are planning something against us. But is there anyone who will dare to do such a thing? For indeed it is a great danger. Agamemnon answered, It is true, my brother, that we are in great trouble and need great advice if we are to save the people. Surely Zeus has greatly changed his mind concerning us. There was a time when he favoured us, but now it is of his doing that Hector drives us before him in this fashion. Never did I see a man so manifestly strengthened by Zeus. And yet he is but a man, having neither a god for his father nor goddess for his mother. But go now, call the chiefs to council, and I will go to Nesta. So the chiefs were called and Nesta said, First, let us see whether the watch are sleeping or waking. So they went the round of the wall and found the watchman not sleeping but waking. As a dog that hears a sound of a wild beast in the wood. So they looked towards the plane thinking to hear the feet of the Trojans. Old Nesta was glad to see them and said, You do well, my children, lest we become prey to our enemies. After this they passed over the trench and sat down in an open place that was clear of dead bodies. For here it was that Hector turned back from slaying the Greeks when darkness came over the earth. And Nesta rose up and said, Is there now a man who will go among the Trojans and spy out what it is you have in mind to do? Such a one will win great honour to himself and the king will give him many gifts. Diomed stood up in his place and said, I will go. But it is well that I should have someone with me. For to have a companion gives a man courage and comfort. Also two wits are better than one. Many men were willing to go with Diomed. And Agamemnon, fearing for this, for he offered himself among others, said, Choose, O Diomed, the man whom you would most desire to have with you. Think not of any man's birth or rank. Choose only him who you would like best for a companion. Then Diomed said, If I may have my choice, Ulysses shall go with me. He is brave and he is prudent and Athena loves him. Ulysses answered, Do not praise me too much nor blame me too much. But let us go, for the night is far spent. So the two armed themselves. Diomed took a two-edged sword and a shield, and a helmet without a crest. For such is not easy to be seen. Ulysses took a bow with a quiver full of arrows and a sword, and for a helmet a cap of hide, with the white teeth of a bore round it. Then they both prayed to Athena that she would help them. That being done they set out and went through the night, like two lions, and they trod on dead bodies and arms and blood. Meanwhile Hector was thinking about the same thing. How that it would be well to find out what the Greeks were doing and what they were planning for the next day. So he called the chiefs of the Trojans and the allies to a council and said, go and spy among the Greeks and see whether they are keeping a good watch and find out if he can overhear them talking together what they mean to do tomorrow. Such a man shall have a great reward a chariot, that is to say, with two horses the best that there is in the whole camp of the Greeks. Then they stood up a certain Dolan. He was the son of a herald, the only son of his father but he had five sisters. He was an ill favoured man but a swift runner. Dolan said, I will go, O Hector, but I want a great reward even the horses of Achilles for these are the best in the whole camp of the Greeks. Do you lift up your scepter and swear that you will give me these and none other? It was a foolish thing. For who was Dolan that he should have the chariot and horses of the great Achilles? And Hector knew this in his heart. Nevertheless he lifted up his scepter and swore that he would give to Dolan these horses and none others. Then Dolan armed himself. He took his bow and a cap of wolfskin for his helmet and a sharp spear and went on his way. Nor did he try to go quickly for he did not think that anyone from the camp of the Greeks would be abroad. So Ulysses heard his steps and said to Diamed, here comes a man, maybe he is a spy, maybe he has come to spoil the dead bodies. Let him pass by that we may take him for we must not suffer him to go back to the city. So the two lay down among the dead bodies on the plane and Dolan passed by them not knowing that they were there and after he had gone fifty yards or so then they rose up and ran after him. He heard the noise of running and stood still thinking to himself Hector sent men after me perhaps he wishes me to go back and this indeed he would have gladly done for he was beginning to be afraid but when they were but a spear's throw from him he saw that they were Greeks and fled and the two ran after him as two dogs follow a fawn or a hare and though he was swift afoot he could not outrun them nor could they come up to him but they kept him from turning back to the city but when they were near the trench then Diomed called out to the man stop or I will slay you with my spear and he threw his spear not meaning to kill the man but to frighten him making it pass over his shoulder so that it stood in the ground before him when Dolan saw the spear he stood still and his teeth chattered with fear and the two came up behind him breathing hard for they had been running fast then said Dolan weeping as he spoke do not kill me my father will pay a great ransom for me if he hears that you are keeping me at your ships much gold and bronze and iron will he pay for me Ulysses answered be of good cheer tell us truly why you were coming through the darkness was it to spoil the dead or did Hector send you to spy out what was going on at the ships? or was it on some private business of your own? Dolan answered Hector persuaded me to go promising that he would give me the chariot and torsos of Achilles and I was to spy out what you had in your minds to do on the morrow and whether you were keeping watch Ulysses laughed when the man spoke of the chariot and torsos of Achilles truly he said it was a grand reward that you deserved the horses of Achilles are hard to manage except a man be the son of a god or a goddess but tell me where is Hector? and what watch does the Trojans keep? Dolan answered when I came away from the camp of the Trojans Hector was holding counts of the chiefs close to the tomb of Ulysses as for the watches there are none set except in that part of the camp where the Trojans are as for the allies they sleep without caring for watches thinking that the Trojans will do that for them then Ulysses asked again do the allies then sleep among the Trojans or apart? then Dolan told him about the camp who were in this place and who were in that but he went on if you would know where you may best make your way into the camp and not be seen go to the furthest part of the left there are newcomers men from Thrace with Ulysses their king never have I seen horses so big and so fine as his and they are whiter than snow and swifter than the wind but now send me to the ships or if you cannot do that having no one to take me bind me and leave me but Diamid said think not Dolan that we will suffer you to live though indeed you have told us that which we desired to know for then you would come again out our camp or maybe would fight with us in battle but if we kill you then you will trouble us no more so they killed him and stripped him of his arms these they hung on a tamarisk tree that there was in the place making a mark with reeds and branches that they might know the place when they came back then they went on to the camp of the Trojans and found the place of which Dolan had told them there the men of Thrace lay asleep each man with his arms at his side and in the midst of the company lay King Rhesus with his chariot at his side and the horses tethered to the rail of the chariot then Diamid began to slay the men as they slept he was like a lion in the middle of a fold full of sheep so fierce and strong was he and they so helpless twelve men he slew and as he slew them Ulysses dragged their bodies out of the way but there might be a clear road for the horses for horses are want to start aside when they see a dead body lying in the way and these may be so he thought to himself are not used to war twelve men did Diamid slew and King Rhesus the 13th as he lay and panted in his sleep for he had a bad dream at the very time Diamid slew him meanwhile Ulysses had unbound the horses from the chariot and driven them out of the camp with his bow he struck them for he had not thought to take the whip from the chariot and when he had got the horses clear then he whistled for assigned to Diamid that he should come without more delay for well he knew that to Diamid would not easily be satisfied with slaying and truly the man was lingering doubting whether he might not kill yet more but Athena whispered in his ear think of your return maybe some god will rouse the Trojans against you and indeed Apollo was rousing them the cousin of King Rhesus awoke and seen the place of the horses empty cried out calling the king so all the camp were roused but Diamid and Ulysses mounted the horses and rode to the camp at the Greeks right glad with their comrades to see them and to hear the tale of what they had done end of the adventures of Diamid and Ulysses section 16 of the Iliad for Boys and Girls this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Lizzie Driver the Iliad for Boys and Girls by Alfred J. Church the wounding of the chiefs as soon as it was light Agamemnon called the Greeks and Hector called the Trojans to battle nor were either unwilling to obey for a time the fighting was equal but at noon at the time when a man who is cutting down trees upon the hill grows weary of his work and longs for food then the Greeks began to prevail and the first man to break through the lines of the Trojans was King Agamemnon never before had the king done such mighty deeds for he drove the Trojans back to the very walls of the city Hector himself did not dare to stand up before him for Iris brought this message to him from Zeus so long as Agamemnon fights in the front do you hold back for this is the day on which it is his lot for himself but when he shall be wounded then do you go forward and you shall have strength to drive the Greeks before you till they come to the ships and the sun shall set so Hector held back and after a while the king was wounded there were two sons of Antonor in one chariot and they came against him first the king threw his spear at the younger of the two but missed his aim then the Trojans thrust Agamemnon with his spear drawing it against his breastplate with all his strength he drove it but the silver which was in the breastplate to turn the spear so that it bent as if it had been of lead then the king caught the spear in his hand and drove it through the neck of his adversary so that he fell dead from the chariot but when the elder brother saw this he also thrust at the king with his spear nor did he thrust in vain but he pierced his arm beneath the elbow but him also did the king slay wounding him first with his spear and afterwards cutting off his head with his sword for a time while the wound was warm the king still fought but when it grew cold and stiff then the pain was greater than he could bear and he said to his charioteer now carry me back to the ships for I cannot fight any more the next of the chiefs that was wounded was Diomed him Paris wounded with an arrow as he was stripping the arms from a trojan which he had slain for Paris hid himself behind the pillar which stood on the tomb of Illou and shot his arrows from thence on the ankle of his right foot did Paris hit him and when he saw that he had not shot the arrow in vain he cried aloud I had wounded you in the loin, bold Diomed then you would have troubled the men of Troy no more but Diomed answered if I could but meet you face to face you coward your bow and your arrows would not help you as for this graze on my foot I care no more for it than if a woman or a child had struck me come near and I will show you what are the wounds which I make with my spear then he beckoned to Ulysses that he should stand before him while he drew the arrow from his foot and Ulysses did so but when he had drawn out the arrow the pain was so great that he could not stand up for all the brave words that he had spoken and he bade his charioteer drive him back to the ships so Ulysses was left alone not one of the chiefs stood by him for now that King Agamemnon and Diomed had departed there was great fear upon all the Greeks and Ulysses said to himself now what shall I do it would be a shameful thing to fly from these Trojans though there are many of them and I am alone but it would be worse still if I were to be taken here and slain surely it is the doing of Zeus that this trouble has come upon the Greeks and who am I that I should fight against Zeus yet why do I talk in this way it is only the coward who draws back a brave man stands in his place whether he lives or dies but while he was thinking these things many Trojans came about him as dogs come about a wild boar in the wood and the boar stands at bay and gnashes his big white teeth so Ulysses stood thrusting here and there with his long spear five chiefs he slew but one of the five before he was slain wounded him in the side scraping the flesh from the ribs then Ulysses cried out for help three times he cried and the third time Menelaus heard him and called to Ajax oh Ajax I hear the voice of Ulysses and it sounds like the voice of one who is in great trouble come let us help him for it would be a great loss to the Greeks if he were to come to harm then he led the way to the place from which the voice seemed to come and Ajax followed him and when they came to Ulysses they found it was as Menelaus had said for the Trojans had beset Ulysses as the jackals beset a deer with long horns among the hills the beast cannot fly because the hunter has wounded it with an arrow from his bow and the wound has become stiff and he stands at bay then a lion comes and the jackals are scattered in a moment so the Trojans were scattered when Ajax came then Menelaus took Ulysses by the hand and led him out of the throng while Ajax drove the Trojans before him and now yet another chief was wounded for Paris from his hiding place behind the pillar on the tomb of Illus shot an arrow at Machian and wounded him on the right shoulder and one of the chiefs cried to old Nesta who was fighting close by quick Nesta take Machian in your chariot and drive him to the ships for the life of a physician is worth the lives of many men so Nesta took Machian in his chariot and touched his horses with the whip and they galloped to the ships now Hector was fighting on the other side of the plane and his charioteer said to him see how Ajax is driving our people before him let us go and stop him so they went lashing the horses that he might go faster and the chariot rolled over many bodies of men and the axle and the sides of it were red with blood then Zeus put the fear into the heart of the great Ajax himself he would not fly but he turned round throwing his great shield over his shoulder and moved towards the ships slowly step by step it was as when an ass breaks into a field and eats the standing corn and the children of the village beat him with sticks their arms are weak and the sticks are broken on the beast's back for he is slow in going nor do they drive him out till he has eaten his fill so the Trojans thrust at Ajax their lances and now he would turn and face them and now he would take a step backwards towards the ships now Achilles was standing on the stern of his ship looking at the battle and Petrolica stood by him and when old Nestor passed by taking Mackey onto the ships Achilles said to his friend soon I think will the Greeks come and pray me to help them for they are in great trouble but go now and see who was this whom Nestor has taken to the ships his shoulders I thought were the shoulders of Mackey but his face I could not see for the horses went by very fast then Petrolica's ran to do his errand meanwhile Nestor took Mackey onto his tent and there the girl that waited on the old man mixed for them a bowl of drink first she set a table and laid on it a bronze charger she put a flask of wine and a leek with which to flavour it and yellow honey and barley meal and she fetched from another part of the tent a great bowl with four handles on each side of the bowl there were a pair of handles and on each handle there was a dove wrought in bronze and the dove seemed to be pecking at each other a very big bowl it was and when it was full so heavy that a man could scarcely lift it from the table but Nestor though he was old could lift it easily then the girl poured the wine from the flask into the bowl and put honey into it and shredded cheese made from goat's milk and the leek to flavour it and when the mess was ready she baged them drink so they drank and talked together but while they talked Petrolica stood in the door of the tent and Nestor went to him with a hand and said come now and sit down with us and drink from the bowl but Petrolica's would not stay me not he said I came to see who it was whom you brought wounded out of the battle and now that I see it is Machion therefore I will go back without delay for you know what kind of man is Achilles how he quickly grows angry and is ready to blame then said Nestor what does Achilles care about the Greeks why does he ask who are wounded or Petrolica's do you remember the day when Ulysses and I came to the house of Pellis your father was there and we feasted in the hall and when the feast was finished then we told Pellis why we had come how we were gathering the chiefs of Greece to go and fight against Troy and you and Achilles were eager to go and old men gave you much advice old Pellis said to Achilles you must always be the very first in battle but to you your father said Achilles is of noble birth than you and he is stronger by far but you are older and your years give wisdom therefore it will be your part to give him good counsel when there is need why then do you not advise him to help us and if he is still resolved not to go forth to the battle let him send you forth and let him lend you his armour to wear then the Trojans will think that Achilles himself has come back to the battle and they will be afraid and we shall have a breathing space then Petrolica's turned and ran back to the tent of Achilles end of the wounding of the chiefs section 17 of the Iliad for Boys and Girls this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Lizzie Driver the Iliad for Boys and Girls by Alfred J. Church the battle at the wall now by this time the Trojans were close upon the trench but there they stood for the horses were afraid the trench being deep and having great stakes set in then Polydamas who was one of the wisest of the Trojans said to Hector this is but a mad thing O Hector to try to cross the trench in our chariots for it is wide and has many stakes set in it look to it this how will it be when we have crossed it if indeed it is the pleasure of Zeus that the Greek should perish utterly well but if as has come to pass before not once only the Greeks take heart and turn upon us and drive us back what shall we do nay let us leave our chariots here and if need be we can come back and find them waiting for us but we will go on foot against the wall so they jumped down from their chariots and went against the walls on foot in five companies they went the first was the largest and had the bravest of the Trojans Hector himself led and the next was commanded by Paris the third was led by Hellenus the prophet and with him was Diphobus who also was a son of King Priam and Asus one of the allies who was king of Orispy of the fourth in Asus was the leader and of the fifth Sarpodon of Lycia with Glaucus and others among the allies they stood closely to each other holding shield by shield and so they went against the Greeks and so they went against the Greeks and so they went against the Greeks all of them also left their chariots on this side of the trench all except King Asus only but he drove his chariot to a place where there was a road over the trench and on the other side a gate and this gate chanced to be open for the keepers had set it open so that any of the Greeks who were flying from the Trojans might find refuge inside it when the keepers who were too mighty men of valor saw Asus and his company coming they went forward and stood in front of the gate for they had not time to shut it there they stood just as too wild wars might stand at bay against a crowd of men and dogs and all the while the men who stood on the wall never ceased to throw down heavy stones from the Trojans the stones fell as fast as the flakes of snowfall on a winter's day and the helmets and shields of the Trojans rang out as the stones crashed upon them many fell to the ground and King Asus for all his fury could not make his way through the gate that's another of the gates where Hector was leading his company there was seen a very strange thing in the skies an eagle had caught a great snake and was carrying it in his claws to give it to his young ones for food but the snake fought fiercely for its life and wreathed itself about till it bit the bird upon the breast and when the eagle felt that it had been bitten it dropped the snake into the middle of the two armies and flew away with a loud cry then Polydamus, who was a wise man and knew the meaning of all such signs said to Hector oh Hector it will be well for us not to follow the Greeks to their ships for this strange thing which we have just seen in the sky is a sign to us the eagle signifies the Trojans and the snake signifies the Greeks now as the eagle caught the snake but could not hold it so have we prevailed over the Greeks but shall not be able to conquer them altogether and as the snake turned upon the bird and bit it so the Greeks turn upon us and do us great damage so that we shall be driven back from the ships and leave many of our comrades dead behind us but Hector was angry to hear such words and said this is bad advice that you give me surely the gods have changed your wisdom into foolishness would you have me forget the commandment of Zeus when he bade me to follow the Greeks even to their ships and to take heed to birds and do one thing or another because they fly this way or that little do I care whether they fly east or are seen on the right hand or on the left surely there is but one sign for a brave man that he be fighting for his fatherland take heed therefore to yourself truly if you hold back from the war or cause any other man to hold back I will smite you with my spear then he sprang forward and the Trojans followed him with a great shout and Zeus sent down from Miteida a great wind and the wind carried the dust of the plane straight into the faces of the Greeks troubling them not a little but when the Trojans sought to drag down the battlements which were on the wall and to pull up the stakes which had been set to strengthen it they could not for the building was strong and the Greeks stood firm in their place with shield joining to shield and fought for the wall after a while Sarpidon the Lycian came to the front and Zeus put it in his heart to do so that he might win great glory for himself he came holding a shield before him and with a long spear in either hand just as a lion when he is mad with hunger goes against a stable in which oxen are kept or against a sheepfold and does not care that it is guarded by many men and dogs so did Sarpidon go against the wall and he spoke to Glorcus his kinsmen saying tell me Glorcus why is it that our people at home honour us with the chief places at feasts with fat portions of flesh and with wine of the best and they have set apart for us a great domain of orchard and a plowland by the banks of the Xanthus surely it is that we may fight in the front ranks and show to others how they should behave in the battle for so someone who may see us will say of the truth these are honourable men these princes of Lycea and not without good do they eat the fat and drink the sweet for they are always to be seen fighting in the front maybe if we could hope to live forever and escape from old age and death I would not either fight myself in the front or bid you to do so but now seeing that there are ten thousand chances of death about us let us see whether we may not win glory from another or happily another may win it from us when he had spoken he leapt forward and Glaucous went with him and all the host of the Lyceans followed close behind then the keeper of the gates he was a man of Athens was struck with great fear and looked about for help all along the wall he looked and he saw Ajax the greater and Ajax the less and too sir for the hurt which Hector had given him was now healed he would have shouted to them but the din of arms and the ringing of shields and helmets and the battering of the gates would have drowned his voice so he called to Herald and said run now and call Ajax hither both the greater and the less if it may be for the danger is very great and the chiefs of the Lyceans press us hard and if there is trouble there also then let Ajax the greater come at the least and too sir with him bring in his bow so the Herald ran with the message and when Ajax the greater heard it he said to the other Ajax stand here and keep off the enemy and I will go yonder and come again when I have done my work so Ajax and too sir his brother ran as quickly as they could to the gate and just as they got to it the Lyceans came against it with a great rush as if it had been a storm of wind and rain but still the Greeks stood firm and Ajax slew one of the Lycean chiefs and too sir wounded Glaucus on the shoulder quietly he jumped down from the wall for he did not wish that anyone should see that he was wounded but Sarpodon saw it and was sorry because he was his kinsman and also a great help in the battle nevertheless he pressed on as bravely as before first he slew one of the Greeks upon the wall and then he laid hold of one of the battlements with his two hands and pulled it down and a part of the wall with it thus there was made away by which men might enter the camp but Ajax and his brother stopped the Lyceans for a time aiming at Sarpodon both of them together too sir struck it in with his spear for the bow he could not use when the enemy was so near and smote the strap of his shield but did him no harm Ajax drew his spear through the shield and pushed him back so that he was forced to leap from the wall to the ground but his courage was not one-witter baited he cried out help me now you men of Lycea it is hard for me however great my strength to do this work alone pulling down the wall and making a way for you to the ships and all of his people when they heard his voice they were up in a great crowd but the Greeks on the other hand strengthened their line others coming to the place where they saw the need to be the greatest for indeed it was a matter of life and death for a long time they fought with equal strength the Lyceans could not break down the wall and make a way to the ships and the Greeks could not drive the Lyceans back but at last Zeus gave the glory to Hector once again he sprang to the front crying now follow me men of Troy and we will burn the ships in front of the gate they lay a great stone broad at the bottom and sharp at the top scarcely could two men the strongest that there are in these days lifted onto a wagon but Hector took it up as easily as a shepherd carries in one hand the fleece of a sheep now there were two folding doors in the middle of the gate by which a man might enter without opening the gate these doors were fastened by a bolt and a key then Hector lifted the great stone above his head holding it with both his hands and he put his feet apart that his aim might be the shoreer and stronger and through with all his might at the doors with a great crash did it come against them and the bolts could not hold against it and the hinges were broken and the doors flew back then Hector leapt into the open space holding his spear in either hand and his eyes flashed with fire and the Trojans followed him some entering by the gate and some climbing over the wall end of the battle at the wall section 18 of the Iliad for boys and girls this is the Librivox recording although Librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Librivox.org recording by Lizzie Driver the Iliad for boys and girls by Alfred J. Church the battle at the ships now Poseidon the god of the sea loved the Greeks and when he saw from a distant mountain where he sat how they fled before the Trojans he was greatly troubled and he said to himself now I will help these men it happened also that Jesus had turned his eyes from the battle thinking that none of the gods would do the thing which he had forbidden that is bring help to the Greeks so Poseidon left the mountain where he sat and came to his palace under the sea there he harnessed his horses to his chariot he passed over the waves while the great beasts of the sea whales and porpoises and the like gambled round him as they went because they knew that he was their king and when he came to the land of Troy he left his chariot in a cave and went on foot into the camp of the Greeks having made himself like to calcus the herald and he came to the place where Ajax the greater and the other Ajax were standing and said to them stir yourselves for it is for you who are stronger than other men to save the people I do not fear for the rest of the wall but only for the place where Hector is fighting go then and keep him back and may some god give you strength and courage and as he spoke he touched them with his staff and touched them with fresh courage and gave new strength to their hands and to their feet and when he had done this he passed out of their sight as quickly as a hawk flies when he drops from a cliff chasing a bird then the lesser Ajax perceived that he was not Calcus the herald but a god and he said to the other Ajax this is a god who sends us to the battle I knew him as you went away and truly I feel my heart in me eager for the fight and Ajax the greater answered so it is with me also I am all on fire for the battle I would go against this Hector even should I go alone meanwhile Poseidon went through the army stirring up the other chiefs in the same way but still the Trojans came on even fiercer than before then too Cislu a famous chief Imbras by name driving his spear point under the man's ear liked as some tall poplar by a riverside which a woodman cuts down with his axe of bronze so did Imbras fall then Hector cast his spear at too sir him he missed but he struck the comrade who was standing next to him and Hector as the man lay upon the ground seized his helmet and would have dragged him among his own people but Ajax the greater thrust with his spear and struck the boss of Hector's shield so strongly that he was driven backward and loosed his hull on the helmet and the Greeks carried the man to their ships next there was slain a chief from the land of Kyra who had come to Troy desiring to have Cassandra daughter of King Priam for his wife had been posted so that he would drive the Greeks to their ships and the king had promised him his daughter but now he was slain and the king of the Cretans when he saw him lie dead cried truly this was a great thing that you promised to King Priam so that he might give you his daughter should have come rather to us and Agamemnon would have given you the fairest of his daughters bringing her from Argus that she might be married to you if only you would take for us this city of Troy but come now with me to the ships that we may treat with you about this matter verily you will find that we Greeks are men of an open hand thus did the king speak mocking the dead King Asus heard these words and was full of anger and came at the Prince of Crete lifting his spear to throw it he was on foot and his chariot followed close after him but before he could cast the spear the Prince of Crete smote him full on the breast and he fell as an oak or a pine tree falls before the axes of the woodcutters on the hills and when the drive of the chariot saw his master fall he was struck with fear not knowing what to do then Antilochus who was the eldest son of Old Nesta struck him down with his spear and jumped on the chariot and took it in the horses for his own and the Prince of Crete took it in his own many other of the Trojans did the Greek sleigh and many they wounded even the mighty Hector himself was struck down for a time he cast his spear at the great Ajax but hurt him not for the point was turned by the armour so thick it was and strong and when he saw that he had cast the spear in vain then he turned and sought to go back to the ranks of his comrades but as he went Ajax took up from the ground a great stone one of many that lay there and served as props for the ships and cast it at Hector smiting him above the rim of his shield on the neck he fell as an oak falls when the lightning struck it and the Greeks when they saw him fall rushed with a great cry and would have caught hold of his body and dragged it away but this the Trojans did not suffer for many of the bravest of them stood before him covering him with their shields and when they had driven back the Greeks a space they lifted him from the ground and carried him to the river and poured water on him after a while he sat up and then his spirit left him again for it was a grievous blow which Ajax had dealt him but when the Greeks saw from the battle they took fresh courage and charged the Trojans and drove them back even beyond the walls and the trench and when the Trojans came to the place where they had left their chariots and horses they stood pale and trembling not knowing what to do but now Zeus turned his eye again to the land of Troy very angry was he when he saw what had happened how the Trojans fled from the Greeks and hecked to lay upon the plain like to one that has fallen in battle and his friends stood round him in great fear lest he'd been wounded to the death so he said to Hera is this your doing rebellious one tell me now the truth or it will be worse for you and Hera answered hey it is not my doing it is Poseidon who gives to the Greek strength and courage then said Zeus to Iris the messenger go now to Poseidon and tell him that it is my will that he is not to meddle with these things anymore let him go back to the sea for there he is master but the things that happen on the earth these belong to me and when you have given this message to Poseidon then go to Apollo and bid him go to Hector where he lies like a dead man on the plain and put new life and courage into him and send him back with new strength to the battle so Iris went on her errand first she came to Poseidon and gave him the message of Zeus he was very angry when he heard it and said am I not his equal in honour by what right does he bid me do this thing and cease from doing that we were three brothers sons of all time and to me was given the dominion of the sea and to Pluto the dwellings of the dead and to Zeus the reign over the heaven and the earth but Iris answered oh Poseidon is it well to speak thus of Zeus do you not know how the eldest born is ever the strongest and Poseidon answered these are words of wisdom oh Iris yet truly if Zeus is minded to save this city of Troy there will be enmity without ceasing between him and me then went Iris to Apollo and gave him the message of Zeus so Apollo hastened to Hector where he sat by the riverside for already his strength had begun to come back to him and Apollo said to him why is this oh Hector why do you sit and take no part in the battle Hector answered is this a god that speaks to me do you not see how Ajax struck me down with a great stone so that I could fight no more truly I thought that I had gone down to the place of the dead Apollo said take courage my friend I am Apollo of the golden sword and Zeus has sent me to stand by you and to help you come now call the Trojans together again and go before them and lead them to the ships and I will be with you and make the way easy for you then Hector stood up and his strength came back to him as it had been before and he called to the Trojans and went before them the Greeks wondered when they saw him for they thought that he had been wounded to the death now they were like men who hunt a stag or a wild goat and find a lion nevertheless they kept up their courage and stood close together with their faces towards the enemy but though the chiefs stood firm most of the Greeks turned their backs and fled and Hector still came on and Apollo went before him to fire round his shoulders holding the great shield of Zeus in his hand many of the Greeks were slain that day and now the Trojans came again to the trench and crossed it and neither the walls nor the gates stopped them and they came as far as the ships Hector being first of all and close behind Hector was the chief who carried a torch in his hand with which to set fire to a ship him Ajax smote on the breast with his sword and killed him and Hector when he saw it cast his spear at Ajax him he missed but he killed the comrade who was standing close by him then Ajax called to Tusa where is your bow and arrows shoot so Tusa shot with the first arrow he slew a Trojan but when he laid another arrow upon the string and aimed at it Hector the string broke and the arrow went far astray when Tusa saw this he cried out surely the gods are against us see how the string on my bow is broken and yet it was new this very day and Ajax said to him let your bow be if the gods will not have you use it take your spear and fight truly if the men of Troy prevail over us yet they shall not take our ships for nothing so Tusa threw away his bow and took up his spear and shield when Hector saw it he cried come on men of Troy for Zeus is with us and they whom Zeus favours are strong and they who he favours not are weak see now how he has broken the bow of Tusa the great archer come on therefore for the gods give us victory and even if a man die it is a noble thing to die fighting for his country his wife and children shall dwell in peace and he himself shall be famous forever thus did Hector urge on his people to the battle and Ajax on the other hand called to the Greeks and bade them quit themselves like men many cheese fell on either side but still the Trojans prevailed more and more and the Greeks fell back before them and now Hector laid hold on one of the ships well did he know it for it was the first that had touched the Trojan shore and he had slain the chief whose ship it was with his own hand as he was leaping to shore there the battle grew fiercer and fiercer none fought with arrows or javelins but close man to man with swords and battle axes and spears thrusting at each other and Hector cried bring me fire that may burn the ships of these robbers for Zeus has given us the victory today and the Trojans came on more fiercely than before so that Ajax himself was forced to give way so much did the Trojans press him for at first he stood on the stern deck the ships being drawn up with the stern to the land and the four part to the sea and then being driven from the deck in the middle of the ships of the Trojans but still he fought bravely thrusting at anyone who came near to set fire to the ship and he cried to the Greeks with a terrible voice saying now must you quit yourselves as men O Greeks have you any to help you if you are conquered now have you any wars behind which you may seek for shelter there is no city here with a wall and towers and battlements behind which you may hide yourselves in the plain of Troy and the seas close behind us and we are far from our own country all our hope therefore is in courage for there is no one to save you if you will not save yourselves so did Ajax speak to the Greeks and still as he spoke he thrust at the Trojans with his spear end of the battle at the ships section 19 of the Iliad for Boys and Girls this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Lizzie Driver the Iliad for Boys and Girls by Alfred J. Church the Deeds and Death of Petrolicus Petrolicus stood by Achilles weeping bitterly and Achilles said to him what is the matter Petrolicus that you weep you are like a girl child that runs along by her mother's side and holds her gown and cries till she takes her up in her arms have you heard bad news from Pithya yet your father still lives I know and so does the old man Pellis or are you weeping for the Greeks because they perish for their folly or maybe for the folly of their king then Petrolicus answered be not angry with me great Achilles the Greeks are in great trouble for all the bravest of their chiefs are wounded and yet you still keep your anger and will not help them they say that Pellis was your father and Thetis your mother yet I should say so hard are you that a rock was your father and your mother the sea if you will not go forth to the battle because you have had some warning from the gods then let me go and let your people the mermidons go with me and let me put on your armour the Trojans will think that you have come back to the battle and the Greeks will have a breathing space so Petrolicus spoke in treating Achilles but he did not know that it was for his own death that he asked and Achilles answered it is no warning that I heed and that keeps me from the battle such things trouble me not but these men were not ashamed to stand by when their king took away from me the prize which I had won with my own hands but let the past be past I said I would not fight again till the Trojans should bring the fire near to my own ships but now for I see that the people are in great need you may put on my armour I need my people to the fight and indeed it is time to give help for I see that the Trojans are gathered about the ships and that the Greeks have scarce standing ground between their enemies and the sea and I do not see anywhere either diamied with his spear, gnawking Agamemnon only I hear the voice of Hector as he calls his people to the battle go there for Petrolicus and keep the fire from the ships but when you have done this come back and to fight no more with the Trojans for it is my business to conquer them and you must not take my glory from me and mind this also when you feel the joy of battling your heart do not overbold go not near the wall of Troy lest one of the gods meet you and harm you for these gods love the Trojans and especially the great archer Apollo with his deadly bow so these two talk together in the tent but at the ships Ajax couldn't hold out no longer for the javelins came thick upon him and clattered on his helmet and his breastplate and his shoulder was weary with the weight of his great shield heavily and hard did he breathe and the great drops of sweat fell upon the ground then at the last Hector came near and struck it in with his sword him he did not hit but he cut off the head of his spear great fear came on Ajax and he gave way and the Trojans put torches to the ship's stern and a great flame rose up in the air when Achilles saw the flames he struck his thigh with his hand and said make haste patrolicus for I see the fire rising from the ships then patrolicus put on the armour breastplate and shield and helmet and bound the sword on his shoulder and took a great spear in his hand but to the great Pilean spear he did not take for that no man could wield but Achilles only then the charioteer yoked the horses to the chariot two of the horses Bayard and Piebold were immortal but the third was of a mortal breed and while he did this Achilles called the Mermadons to battle 50 ships he had brought to Troy and 50 men in each and when they were assembled he said forget not you Mermadons what you said when first I kept you back from the battle how angry you were and how you blamed me that I kept you back against your will now you have the thing that you desired so the Mermadons went forth to battle in close array helmet to helmet and shield to shield close together as are the stones which a builder builds into a wall patrolicus went before them in the chariot of Achilles with the charioteer by his side and as they went Achilles went to the chest which stood in his tent and opened it and took from it a great cup which Thetis's mother had given him no man drank out of that cup but Achilles only nor did he pour libations out of it to any of the gods but to Zeus only first he cleansed the cup with sulfur and then with water from the spring after this he filled it with wine and standing in the space before the tent he poured out from it to Zeus saying oh Zeus, this day I send my dear comrade to the battle be thou with him make him strong and bold and give him glory and bring him home safe to the ships and my people with him so he prayed and father Zeus heard his prayer party granted but party denied meanwhile patrolicus with the Mermadons had come to the place where the battle was so hot namely the ship to which Hector had put the torch and set it on fire and when the Trojans saw him in the armor he wore they thought that it had been Achilles who had put away his anger and come forth again to the battle nor was it long before they turned to flee so the battle rolled back again to the trench and many chariots of the Trojans were broken for when they crossed it for the second time they took their chariots with them but the horses of Achilles sprang across it in their stride so nimble were they and so strong and great was the fear of the Trojans even the great Hector fled the heart of patrolicus was set upon slaying him for he had forgotten the command which Achilles had laid upon him that when he had saved the ships from the fire he should not fight anymore but though he followed hard after them he could not overtake him so swift were the Trojan horses then he left following him and turned back and caused the chariot to be driven backwards and forwards so that he might slay the Trojans as they sought to fly to the city but there were some among the Trojans and their allies who would not flee among these was Arpadon the Lycian and he when he saw his people flying before patrolicus quite allowed to them stand now and be of good courage I myself will try this great warrior and see what he can do so he leapt down from his chariot and patrolicus also leapt down from his and the two rushed at each other fierce and swift as two eagles Sarpadon carried a spear in either hand and he threw both of them together with the one he wounded to the death one of the horses of Achilles that which was of the mortal strain but the other missed its aim flying over the left shoulder of patrolicus but the spear of patrolicus missed not its aim full on the heart of Sarpadon it fell and broke through his armour and bore him to the earth he fell as a pine or a poplar falls on the hills before woodsman's axe and as he fell he called to Glaucus his kinsman now show yourself a man o Glaucus suffer not the greeks to spoil me of my arms and when he had said so much he died now Glaucus was still troubled by the wound which too so the archer had given him but when he heard the voice of Sarpadon he prayed to Apollo saying give me now strength the time I saved the body of my kinsman from the hands of the greeks and Apollo heard him and made him whole of his wound then he called first to the Lycians saying fight for the body of your king and next to the Trojans that they should honour the man who had come from his own land to help them and lastly to Hector himself who had now returned to the battle little care you O Hector he said for your allies Lo, Sarpadon is dead slain by patrolicus will you suffer the mermidons to carry off his body and to dishonour it Hector was much troubled by these words and so were all the men of Troy for among the allies there were none braver than Sarpadon so they charged and drove back the greeks from the body and the greeks charged again in their turn no one would have known the great Sarpadon as he lay in the middle of the tumult so covered was he with dust and blood but at last the greeks drove back the Trojans from the body and stripped it of his arms but the body itself they harmed not for out of the bidding of Zeus Apollo came down and carried it out of the tumult and gave it to sleep and death that they should carry it to the land of Lycia then again patrolicus forgot the commands of Achilles for he thought in his heart now I shall take the city of Troy for when he had driven the Trojans up to the very gates he himself climbed on to an angle of the wall three times to decline upon it and three times did Apollo push him back laying his hand upon the boss of his shield and when patrolicus climbed for the fourth time then Apollo cried to him in a dreadful voice go back patrolicus it is not for you to take the great city of Troy no, nor even for Achilles who is a far better man than you then patrolicus went back for he feared the anger of the god but though he thought to know more of taking the city he waged no less against the Trojans then did Apollo put it into the heart of Hector to go against the man so Hector said to his charioteer we will see whether we cannot strife back this patrolicus for it must be he who did not for it must be he Achilles he is not though he wears his armour when patrolicus saw them coming he took a great stone from the ground and cast it at the pair the stone struck the charioteer full on the helmet and as the man fell head foremost from the chariot patrolicus laughed aloud and said see now how nimble is this man see how woolly dives he might get many oysters from the bottom of the sea diving from the deck of a ship even though it should be a stormy day who would have thought this should be such skilful divers in Troy three times did patrolicus charge into the ranks of the Trojans and each time he slew nine warriors but when he charged the fourth time then for the hour of his doom was come Apollo stood behind him and gave him a great blow on his neck so that he could not see out of his eyes and the helmet fell from his head so that the plumes were soiled with the dust never before had it touched the ground from the first day when Achilles wore it the spear also which he carried in his hand was broken and the shield fell from his arm and the breastplate on his body was loosened then as he stood without defence and was confused one of the Trojans wounded him in the back with his spear and when he tried to hide himself behind his comrades for the wound was not mortal Hector thrusted him with his spear and hit him above the hip and he fell to the ground and when the Greeks saw him fall they sent up a dreadful cry then Hector stood over him and said did you think patrolicus that you would take our city and slay us with the sword and carry away our wives and daughters in your ships this you will not do for lo, I have overcome you with my spear and the fowls of the air shall eat your flesh and the great Achilles cannot help you at all did he not say to you strip the fellow's shirt from his back and bring it back to me and you in your tholly thought that you would do it patrolicus answered you boast too much oh Hector it is not by your hand that I am overcome it has been Apollo who has brought me to my death had twenty such as you come against me truly I'd slain them all and mark you this death is very near to you for the great Achilles will slay you then said Hector why do you prophesy my death who has shown you the things to come maybe as I have slain you so shall I slay the great Achilles so Hector spoke but patrolicus was dead already then he drew the spear from the wound and went after the charioteer of Achilles hoping to slay him and take the chariot for spoil but the horses were so swift that he could not come up with them end of the deeds and death of patrolicus section 20 of the Iliad for boys and girls this is a Librivox recording or Librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit the link in the description and if you have any questions for more information or to volunteer please visit Librivox.org recording by Lizzie Driver the Iliad for boys and girls by Alfred J. Church the rousing of Achilles very fierce was the fight for the body of patrolicus and many warriors fell on both this side and on that and the first to be killed was the man who had wounded him in the back for when he came near to strip the dead man of his arms King Menelaus thrusted him with his spear and slew him he slew him but he could not strip of his arms because Hector came and stood over the body and Menelaus did not dare to stand up against him knowing that he was not a match for him in fighting then Hector spoiled the body of patrolicus of the arms which the great Achilles had given him to wear but when he laid hold of the body and began to drag it away to the ranks of the Trojans the great Ajax came forward and put his big shield before it as the lioness stands before its cubs and will not suffer the hunter to take them so did Ajax stand before the body of patrolicus and defend it from the Trojans and Hector drew back when he saw him then Glaucous the Lycian spoke to him with great anger are you not ashamed, O Hector that you dare not stand before Ajax how will you and the other Trojans save your city truly your allies will not fight anymore for you for though they help you much yet you help them little did not serpent and fool fighting for you and yet you left him to be a prey to the dogs and now had you only stood up to this Ajax and dragged away the body of patrolicus we might have made it an exchange giving him and his arms and receiving Sarpeton from the Greeks but this may not be because you are afraid of Ajax and flee before him when he comes to meet you Hector answered I am not afraid of Ajax nor of any man but this I know that Zeus gives victory now to one and now to the other this only do I fear and this only to go against the will of Zeus but wait here and see whether or no I am a coward now he had sent the armor of patrolicus to the city but when he heard Glaucus speak in this manner he ran after the men who were carrying it and overtook them and stripped off his own armor and put on the armor of Achilles and when Zeus saw him do this thing he was angry and said to himself these arms will cost Hector dear nevertheless when he came back to the battle all men were astonished for he seemed like to the great Achilles himself then the Trojans took heart again and charged all together and the battle grew fiercer and fiercer for the Greeks said to themselves it were better that the earth should open up her mouth and swallow us up alive than that we let the Trojans carry off your patrolicus and the Trojans said to themselves now if we must all be slain fighting for the body of this man be it so but we will not yield now while they fought the horses of Achilles to depart from the battle and the tears rushed down from their eyes but they loved patrolicus they knew that he was dead still they stood in the same place they should not enter into the battle neither would they turn back to the ships and the charioteer could not move them with the lash or with threats or with gentle words as a pillar stands by the grave of some dead man so they stood their heads drooped to the ground and the tears trickled down from their eyes and their long mains were trailed in the dust when Zeus saw them he pitted them in his heart and said it was not well that I gave you immortal as you are to a mortal man for of all things that live and move upon the earth surely man is the most miserable but Hector shall not have you it is enough for him yea it is too much that you should have the arms for Achilles then the horses moved from their place and debated the driver as before and Hector could not take them he greatly desired to do so all this time the battle raged yet more and more fiercely about the body of Petrolicus at last when the Greeks were growing weary and the Trojans pressed them more and more Ajax said to Menelaus for these two had born themselves more bravely in the battle than all others see now if you can find Antelokus Nestor's son and bid him run and carry the news to Achilles that Petrolicus is dead and that the Greeks and Trojans are fighting over his body so Menelaus went and found Antelokus on the left side of the battle and he said to him I have bad news for you you see that the Trojans prevail in the battle today and now Petrolicus lies dead run therefore to Achilles and tell him maybe he can yet save the body as for the arms Antelokus was greatly troubled to hear the news his eyes filled with tears and he could not speak for grief but he gave heed to the words of Menelaus and ran to tell Achilles what had happened and Menelaus went back to Ajax where he had left him standing close by the body of Petrolicus and he said to him I have found Antelokus and he is carrying the news to Achilles yet I doubt whether he will come to the battle however great his anger may be and his grief for he has no armour to cover him let us think therefore how we may best save the body of Petrolicus from the Trojans Ajax said do you and Marianus run forward and lift up the body and carry it away some Menelaus and Marianus ran forward and lifted up the body but when they would have carried it away then the Trojans ran fiercely at them so the battle raged neither could the Greeks save the body nor could the Trojans carry it away meanwhile Antelokus came to Achilles where he sat by the door of his tent with a great fear in his heart he sat for he saw that the Greeks fled and that the Trojans pursued after them then said Nestor's son I bring bad news Petrolicus is dead and Hector has his arms but the Greeks and Trojans are fighting for his body then Achilles threw himself upon the ground and took the dust in his hands and poured it on his head and tore his hair and all the women wailed aloud and Antelokus sat weeping but while he wept he held the hands of Achilles for he was afraid that in his anger he would do himself a mischief but his mother heard his cry where she sat in the depths of the sea and came to him and laid a hand upon his head and said why do you weep my son tell me hide not the matter from me Achilles answered all that you asked from Zeus and that you promised to do he has done but what is the good the man whom I loved above all others is dead and Hector has my arms for Petrolicus was wearing them as for me I do not wish to live except to avenge myself upon him then said Thetis my son do not speak so do you not know that when Hector dies the hour is near when you also must die then Achilles cried in great anger I would that I could die this hour for I sent my friend to his death and I whom am better in battle than all the Greeks could not help him cursed to be the anger that sets men to strive with one another as it made me strive with King Agamemnon and as for my fate what matters it let it come when it may so that I may first have vengeance on Hector seek not therefore my mother to keep me back from the battle Thetis answered be it so my son only you cannot go without arms and these Hector has but tomorrow I will go to Hephaestus that he may make new arms for you but while they talked the Trojans pressed the Greeks still more and more so that Ajax himself could no longer stand against them then truly they would have taken the body of Petrolicus had not Zeus sent Iris to Achilles with this message rouse yourself son of Pellis or surely Petrolicus will be a prey to the dogs of Troy but Achilles said how shall I go for I have no arms nor do I know any whose arms I could wear I might shift with the shield of great Ajax but this he is carrying as is his custom in the front of the battle then said Iris go only to the trench and show yourself for the Trojans will be swift and draw back and the Greeks will have a breathing space so Achilles ran to the trench and Athena put a great shield about his shoulders and set as it were a circle of gold about his head so that it shone like to a flame of fire to the trench he went but he obeyed the word of his mother and did not mix in the battle only he shouted aloud and his voice was as the voice of a trumpet it was a terrible sound to hear and the hearts of the men of Troy were filled with fear the very horses were frightened and started aside so that the chariots clashed together three times did Achilles shout across the trench and three times did the Trojans fall back twelve chiefs perished their tower some were wounded by their spears and some were shortened down by their own horses for the whole army was overcome with fear from the front ranks to the hindermost then the Greeks took up the body of Petrolicus from the place where it lay and put it on the briar and carried it to the tent of Achilles and Achilles himself walked by its side weeping this had been a sad day and to bring it sooner to an end Hera commanded the son to set before his time so did the Greeks rest from their labours on the other side of the field the Trojans held an assembly and one of the elders stood up and said let us not wait here for the morning it was well for us to fight at the ship so long as Achilles was angry with King Agamemnon but now this has ceased to be tomorrow will he come back to the battle the fears are on all accounts of his great grief Petrolicus being slain surely it will be an evil day for us if we wait for his coming let us go back to the city for its walls are high and its gates are strong and the man who seeks to pass them will perish but Hector said this is bad council shall we shut ourselves up in the city are not our goods wasted have we enough wear with to feed the people nay we will watch tonight and tomorrow we will fight and if Achilles come to the battle I will meet him for the gods give victory now to one man and now to another and the people clapped their hands for they were foolish and knew not what the mire would bring forth end of the rousing of Achilles section 21 of the Iliad for Boys and Girls this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Lizzie Driver the Iliad for Boys and Girls by Alfred J. Church the making of the arms meanwhile there was a great mourning for Petrolicus in the camp of the Greeks and Achilles stood up in the midst of the people and said truly the gods do not fulfil the thoughts of men did I not say to the father of Petrolicus that I would return with him bringing back our portion of the spoils of Troy and now he is dead nor shall I return to the house of Pella's my father for I too must die in this land but I care not if only I may have vengeance upon Hector truly I will not bury Petrolicus till I can bring the head and the arms of Hector with which to honour him so they washed the body of Petrolicus and put ointments into the wounds and laid it on a bed and covered with the linen cloth from the head to the feet putting over the linen cloth a white robe and all night the mermadons made lamentations for him Thetis went to the house of Hephaestus who was the god of all who worked in gold and silver and iron she found him busy at his work but he was making cauldrons for the palace of the gods they had golden wheels underneath them with which they could run off themselves into the chambers of the palace and come back of themselves as might be wanted the lady Grace who was wife to Hephaestus saw Thetis and caught her by the hand and said oh goddess whom we love and honour what business brings you here gladly we will serve you and she led her into the house and set her on a chair that was adorned with silver studs and put a stool under her feet then she called to her husband saying Thetis is here and want something from you come quickly he answered truly there can be no guest more welcome than Thetis when my mother cast me out from her house because I was lame then Thetis and her sister received me in their house under the sea nine years I dwelt with them yes and hammered many a trinket for them in a hollow cave that was close by truly I would give the price of my life to serve Thetis then he put away his tools and washed himself and took a staff in his hands and came into the house and sat down upon a chair and said tell me all that is in your mind for I will do all that you desire if only it can be done then Thetis told him of how her son Achilles had been put to shame by King Agamemnon and of his anger and of all that came to pass afterwards and of how patrolicas had been slain in battle and how the arms were lost and having told this story she said make for my son Achilles I pray you a shield and a helmet and grease for his legs and a breastplate that will I do answered Thetis I will make for him such arms as men will wonder at when they see them would that I could keep from him as easily the doom of death so he went to his forge and turned the bellows to the fire and bade them work but they did not need a hand to work them and he put copper and tin and gold and silver into the fire to make them soft and set the anvil and took the hammer in one hand and the tongs in another first he made a shield great and strong with a silver belt by which a man might hold it on it he made an image of the earth and to the sky and to the sea with the sun and the moon and all the stars also he made images of two cities in one city there was peace and in another city there was war in the city of peace they led a bride to the house of a husband with music and dancing and the women stood in the door to see the show and in another part of the same city the judges sat to judge the case of a man who had been slain one man said that he had paid the price of blood for if one man slays another he must pay a price for him and the other man said the price was not paid round about the city of war there was an army of besiegers and on the walls stood men defending it also the men of this same city had set an ambush by a river at a place where the cattle came down to drink and when the cattle came down the men that lay an ambush rose up quickly and took them and slew the herdsmen and the army of the besiegers heard the cry and rode on horses and came quickly to the river and fought with the men who had taken the cattle also he made the image of one field in which men were plowing and of another in which reapers reaped the corn and behind the reapers came boys who gathered the corn in their arms and bound it in sheaves at the top of the field stood the master glad at heart because the harvest was good also he made a vineyard and through the vineyard there was a path and along the path went young men and maids bearing baskets of grapes and in the midst a boy holding a harp of gold who sang a pleasant song also he made a herd of oxen going from the stools to the pasture and close by two lions had laid hold of a great bull and were devouring it and the dogs stood far off and barked a sheepfold also he made and a dance of men and maids the men wore daggers of gold hanging from silver belts and the maids had gold crowns round their heads and round about the shield he made ocean like to a great river also he made a breastplate and a great helmet with a ridge of gold in which the plume should be set and grieves of tin for the legs when he had finished all his work he gave the shield and the other things to Thetis and she flew swift as a hawk to where her son abode by the ships she found him lying on the ground holding in his arms the body of patrolicus whooping aloud while his men lamented the goddess stood in the mitts and caught her son by the hand and said come now let us leave the dead man it was the will of the gods that he should die but you must think of other things come now and take this gift from Hephaestus armor beautifully exceeding such as man has never yet worn and as she spoke she cast the armor down at the feet of Achilles it rattled loud as it fell and shone so brightly that the eyes of the mermidons were dazzled by it but Achilles took up the arms from the ground glad at heart to see them and said mother these indeed are such arms as can be made in heaven only gladly will I put them on for the battle yet one thing troubles me I fear less decay should come on the body of patrolicus before I can do it such honor as I desire but Thetis answered let not this trouble you I will keep the body from decay but do you make peace with the king and prepare yourself for the battle and she put precious things such as unknown only in heaven into the nostrils of the dead man to keep him from decay end of the making of the arms section 22 of the Iliad for Boys and Girls this is the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Lizzie Driver the Iliad for Boys and Girls by Alfred J. Church the quarrel ended Achilles went along by the ships shouting with a loud voice to the Greeks that they should come to the battle and they all came there was not a man left even those who had been used to stay behind the men who looked after the ships they who had the care of the food they all followed when Achilles came back to the war and the chiefs came to the assembly some of them as Diomed and Eulises and King Agamemnon himself leaning on their spears because their wounds were fresh Achilles stood up and spoke it was a foolish thing King Agamemnon that we quarrelled about a girl many a Greek who is now dead had still been alive but for this and the Trojans would not have profited by our loss but let bygones be bygones here I make an end of my anger make haste then and call the Greeks to battle and we will see whether the Trojans will fight by the ships or by their own walls then King Agamemnon answered from the place where he sat listen ye Greeks you have blamed me for this quarrel yet it was not I but the fury who turns the thoughts of men to madness that brought it about nevertheless it is for me to make amends and this I will do giving thee all the gifts which Eulises promised in my name stay here till my people bring them from the ships Achilles said give the gifts soaking if you are pleased so to do or keep them for yourself there is one thing only I care for to get to the battle without delay then said to the wise Eulises Achilles do not make the Greeks fight before they have eaten for the battle will be long because the gods have put courage into the hearts of the Trojans a man who has not eaten cannot fight from morning to sunset for his limbs grow weary and he thinks about food and drink let us bid the people therefore disperse and make ready a meal and let King Agamemnon first send the gifts to your tent and then let you make a feast as is right when friends who have quarrelled make peace again King Agamemnon answered you speak well Eulises do you fetch the gifts and my people should make ready a feast Achilles said how can I think of feasting when Petrolicus lies dead let there be no delay and let the Greeks up well when they have driven the Trojans into the city as for me neither food nor drink shall pass my lips but Eulises answered you are by far stronger than I am oh son of Pellis but I am older and have seen many things ask not the Greeks to fast because of the dead for men die every day and every day would be a day of fasting rather let us bury our dead out of our sight and mourn for them for a day and then harden our hearts to forget and let them who are left strengthen themselves with meat and drink that they may fight the better then Eulises went to the ships of King Agamemnon and fetched thence the gifts and the cauldrons and to the horses and the gold and the women slaves and she for all the girl Briseis and he took them to the tent of Achilles and when Briseis saw Petrolicus lying dead upon the couch she beat her breast into face and wailed aloud for he had been gentle and good and the other women wept with her thinking each of her own troubles when the king and the chiefs would have had Achilles feast with them he refused I will not eat or drink he said till I have had vengeance often oh Petrolicus have you made ready the meal when we were going to battle and now you lie dead I had not grieved so much if my old father or my only son had died often have I said to myself I indeed shall die in this place but Petrolicus will go back and show my son all that was mine goods and servants and palace and as he wept the old men wept with him thinking each of those whom he had left at home then the Greeks took their meal the chiefs with King Agamemnon and the others each with his own company but Achilles sat fasting then Zeus said to Athena do you not care for your dear Achilles see how the other Greeks eat and drink but he sits fasting so Athena flew down from heaven and poured heavenly food into the breast of Achilles that his strength might not fail for hunger but he did not know what she did only he felt the new strength in him then he armed himself with the arms which Theters brought to him from Hephaestus and took from its case the great Pilean spear which no man but he could wield after this he climbed into his chariot and he said to his horses take care now Byard and Piebold that you do not leave your master today as you left Petrolicus yesterday dead on the field then Hera gave a voice to the horse Byard and he said it was not our fault of Achilles that Petrolicus died it was Apollo who slew him but Hector had the glory you too someday shall be slain by a god and a man Achilles answered I know my doom but I cannot say that I may have vengeance on the Trojans end of the quarrel ended section 23 of the Iliad for Boys and Girls this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information ought to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Lizzie Driver the Iliad for Boys and Girls by Alfred J. Church the battle at the river when the two armies were set in order against each other Apollo said to Ineos Ineos where are now your boasting that you would stand up against Achilles and fight with him Ineos answered that indeed I said a long time ago in days at our past once I stood up against him it was when he took the town of Livranessus but he overcame me and I fled before him and but for my nimble feet I had been slain that day surely a god is with him and makes his spear to fly so strongly and so straight but Apollo answered but if he is the son of a goddess so or so are you and indeed your mother is greater than his for she is the child of Zeus and Thetis is but a daughter of the sea drive straight at him with your spear and do not fear his fierce words and looks so Ineos came forth out of the press to meet Achilles and Achilles said to him what mean you Ineos do you think to slay me have the Trojans promised that they will have you for their king or that they will give you a choice portion of land ploughland and orchard if only you can prevail over me you will not find it an easy thing have you forgotten the day when you fled to perform it to Leonesus Ineos said son of Pellis you will not frighten me with words for I also am the son of a goddess come let us try who is the better of us two so he cast his spear and it struck full on the shield of Achilles and made so dreadful a sound that the hero himself was frightened but the shield that a god had made was not to be broken by the spear of a mortal man it pierced indeed the first fold and the second which were of bronze but it was stopped by the third which was of gold and there were two more folds and these of tin now Achilles threw his spear easily it pierced the shield of the Trojan and though it did not wound him it came so near that he was deadly frightened yet he did not fly for when Achilles drew his sword and rushed at him he took up a great stone from the ground to throw at him nevertheless he would have been most certainly slain but for the help of the gods for it was decreed that he and his children after him should reign in the time to come over the men of Troy therefore Poseidon himself though for the most part he had no love for the Trojans caught him up and carried him out of the battle but first he took Achilles' spear out of the shield and laid it at the hero's feet much did he marvel to see it here is a great wonder, he cried that I see with my eyes my spear that I threw I see lying at my feet but the man at whom I threw it I see not truly the Seneus is dear to the gods then he rushed into the battle slaying as he went Hector would have met him but Apollo said fight not with Achilles for he is stronger than you and will slay you so Hector stood aside yet when he saw the youngest of his brothers slaying before his eyes he could bear it no longer and rushed to meet Achilles Wright glad was Achilles to see him saying to himself time has come, this is the man who killed Petroloclus and to Hector he said come and taste of death but Hector answered you will not frighten me with words son of Pellis for though one man be stronger than another yet it is Zeus who gives the victory then he cast his spear but Athena turned it aside with a breath and when Achilles leapt upon him with a shout then Apollo snatched him away three times did he leap at him and three times he struck only the mist the fourth time he cried with a terrible voice dog, these four times you have escaped from death but I shall meet you again when Apollo is not at hand to help you and now as the Trojans fled before Achilles they came to the river Santhus and they leapt into it till it was full of horses and men Achilles left his spear upon the bank and rushed into the water having only his sword and the Trojans were like to fishes in the sea when they fly from a dolphin and rocks and shallows they hid themselves but the great beast devours them apiece there was but one man of them all who dared to stand up against him when Achilles saw him he said and who are you that dare to stand up against me and the man said I am the son of Axis the river god and I come from the land of Pionia and as he spoke he cast two spears one with each hand he could use both hands alike the one struck on the shield and pierced two folds but was stayed in the third as the spear of an airs had been with the other he grazed the right hand of Achilles so that the blood gushed forth then Achilles cast his spear but missed his aim and the spear stood fast in the river bank then the other laid hold of it and tried to drag it forth three times he tried but could not move it the fourth time he tried to break it but as he tried Achilles slew him yet he had this glory that he alone wounded the great Achilles but Achilles had to fight not only with the mortal men but with the god of the river also for when the god of the river saw that Achilles was slaying many both of the Trojans and of the allies he took upon himself the form of a man and said to Achilles without doubt Achilles you are the greatest warrior among all the sons of men for not only are you stronger than all others but the gods themselves help you and protect you it may be that they have given you to destroy all the sons of Troy nevertheless I require of you that you depart from me and do that which you have to do upon the plane for my streams are choked with the multitude of those whom you have slain and I cannot pass to the sea Achilles answered I would not do anything that displeases you nevertheless I will make no end of slaying the Trojans till they have made their way into the city or till I have come face to face with Hector and either slay him or be slain as the gods may please then Achilles turned again to the Trojans and slew still more of them then the river rose up against Achilles with all his might and beat upon his shield so that he could not stand upon his feet he caught hold therefore of a lime tree that grew upon the bank but the tree broke away from its place with all its roots and delay across the river and stopped it from flowing for it had many branches then Achilles was afraid and climbed out of the water and ran across the plane but the river still followed him for it wished to hinder him from destroying the men of Troy for the Trojans were dear to the river because they honoured him with sacrifices and though he was very swift afoot yet it overtook him for indeed the gods are mightier than men and when he tried to stand up against it it rushed upon him with a great wave upon his shoulders and bowed his knees under him then Achilles lifted up his hands to heaven and cried will no one of the gods have pity upon me and help me surely it would be better that Hector should slay me for he is the bravest of men this were better than I should perish miserably as a boy whom a storm sweeps away when he is herding his cattle on the plane but the river raged yet more and more and he called to another river his brother for there were two that flowed across the plains of Troy saying brother let us to stay at the fury of this man or he will surely destroy the city of Priam which is dear to us fill your stream to the highest and bring against him a great wave with trunks of trees and bodies of men whom he is slain so he will sweep him away and his people will have no need to heap up a mound of earth over his bones or he will cover him with sand but when Hera saw this she cried to the fire god her son come near and help us and bring much fire with you and burn the trees upon the bank of the river yea and the river itself so the fire god lit a great fire first it burnt all the dead bodies on the plain next it burnt all the trees that were on the banks of the river the limes and the willows and the tamarisks also it burnt the water plants that were in the river the very fishes and eels it scorched so that they twisted hither and thither in their pain then the river god cried to the fire god cease now from burning me Achilles may do what he will with the Trojans what do I care for mortal men so the fire god ceased from burning him and the river troubled Achilles no more end of the battle at the river