fell from heaven； and was called the Luck of Troy。 To soothe
Pallas and prevent her from sending great storms against the ships；
the Trojans （so the man was to say） had built this wooden horse as
an offering to the Goddess。 The Trojans； believing this story；
would drag the horse into Troy； and； in the night； the princes
would come out； set fire to the city； and open the gates to the
army； which would return from Tenedos as soon as darkness came on。
The prophet was much pleased with the plan of Ulysses； and； as two
birds happened to fly away on the right hand； he declared that the
stratagem would certainly be lucky。 Neoptolemus； on the other
hand； voted for taking Troy； without any trick； by sheer hard
fighting。 Ulysses replied that if Achilles could not do that； it
could not be done at all； and that Epeius； a famous carpenter； had
better set about making the horse at once。
Next day half the army； with axes in their hands； were sent to cut
down trees on Mount Ida； and thousands of planks were cut from the
trees by Epeius and his workmen； and in three days he had finished
the horse。 Ulysses then asked the best of the Greeks to come
forward and go inside the machine； while one； whom the Greeks did
not know by sight； should volunteer to stay behind in the camp and
deceive the Trojans。 Then a young man called Sinon stood up and
said that he would risk himself and take the chance that the
Trojans might disbelieve him； and burn him alive。 Certainly； none
of the Greeks did anything more courageous； yet Sinon had not been
considered brave。
Had he fought in the front ranks； the Trojans would have known him；
but there were many brave fighters who would not have dared to do
what Sinon undertook。
Then old Nestor was the first that volunteered to go into the
horse； but Neoptolemus said that； brave as he was； he was too old；
and that he must depart with the army to Tenedos。 Neoptolemus
himself would go into the horse； for he would rather die than turn
his back on Troy。 So Neoptolemus armed himself and climbed into
the horse； as did Menelaus； Ulysses； Diomede； Thrasymedes （Nestor's
son）； Idomeneus； Philoctetes； Meriones； and all the best men except
Agamemnon； while Epeius himself entered last of all。 Agamemnon was
not allowed by the other Greeks to share their adventure； as he was
to command the army when they returned from Tenedos。 They
meanwhile launched their ships and sailed away。
But first Menelaus had led Ulysses apart； and told him that if they
took Troy （and now they must either take it or die at the hands of
the Trojans）； he would owe to Ulysses the glory。 When they came
back to Greece； he wished to give Ulysses one of his own cities；
that they might always be near each other。 Ulysses smiled and
shook his head； he could not leave Ithaca； his own rough island
kingdom。 〃But if we both live through the night that is coming；〃
he said； 〃I may ask you for one gift； and giving it will make you
none the poorer。〃 Then Menelaus swore by the splendour of Zeus
that Ulysses could ask him for no gift that he would not gladly
give； so they embraced； and both armed themselves and went up into
the horse。 With them were all the chiefs except Nestor； whom they
would not allow to come； and Agamemnon； who； as chief general； had
to command the army。 They swathed themselves and their arms in
soft silks； that they might not ring and clash； when the Trojans；
if they were so foolish； dragged the horse up into their town； and
there they sat in the dark waiting。 Meanwhile； the army burned
their huts and launched their ships； and with oars and sails made
their way to the back of the isle of Tenedos。
THE END OF TROY AND THE SAVING OF HELEN
From the walls the Trojans saw the black smoke go up thick into the
sky； and the whole fleet of the Greeks sailing out to sea。 Never
were men so glad； and they armed themselves for fear of an ambush；
and went cautiously； sending forth scouts in front of them； down to
the seashore。 Here they found the huts burned down and the camp
deserted； and some of the scouts also caught Sinon； who had hid
himself in a place where he was likely to be found。 They rushed on
him with fierce cries； and bound his hands with a rope； and kicked
and dragged him along to the place where Priam and the princes were
wondering at the great horse of tree。 Sinon looked round upon
them； while some were saying that he ought to be tortured with fire
to make him tell all the truth about the horse。 The chiefs in the
horse must have trembled for fear lest torture should wring the
truth out of Sinon； for then the Trojans would simply burn the
machine and them within it。
But Sinon said： 〃Miserable man that I am； whom the Greeks hate and
the Trojans are eager to slay！〃 When the Trojans heard that the
Greeks hated him； they were curious； and asked who he was； and how
he came to be there。 〃I will tell you all； oh King！〃 he answered
Priam。 〃I was a friend and squire of an unhappy chief； Palamedes；
whom the wicked Ulysses hated and slew secretly one day； when he
found him alone； fishing in the sea。 I was angry； and in my folly
I did not hide my anger； and my words came to the ears of Ulysses。
From that hour he sought occasion to slay me。 Then Calchas〃 here
he stopped； saying： 〃But why tell a long tale？ If you hate all
Greeks alike； then slay me； this is what Agamemnon and Ulysses
desire； Menelaus would thank you for my head。〃
The Trojans were now more curious than before。 They bade him go
on； and he said that the Greeks had consulted an Oracle； which
advised them to sacrifice one of their army to appease the anger of
the Gods and gain a fair wind homewards。 〃But who was to be
sacrificed？ They asked Calchas； who for fifteen days refused to
speak。 At last； being bribed by Ulysses； he pointed to me； Sinon；
and said that I must be the victim。 I was bound and kept in
prison； while they built their great horse as a present for Pallas
Athene the Goddess。 They made it so large that you Trojans might
never be able to drag it into your city； while； if you destroyed
it； the Goddess might turn her anger against you。 And now they
have gone home to bring back the image that fell from heaven； which
they had sent to Greece； and to restore it to the Temple of Pallas
Athene； when they have taken your town； for the Goddess is angry
with them for that theft of Ulysses。〃
The Trojans were foolish enough to believe the story of Sinon； and
they pitied him and unbound his hands。 Then they tied ropes to the
wooden horse； and laid rollers in front of it； like men launching a
ship； and they all took turns to drag the horse up to the Scaean
gate。 Children and women put their hands to the ropes and hauled；
and with shouts and dances； and hymns they toiled； till about
nightfall the horse stood in the courtyard of the inmost castle。
Then all the people of Troy began to dance； and drink； and sing。
Such sentinels as were set at the gates got as drunk as all the
rest； who danced about the city till after midnight； and then they
went to their homes and slept heavily。
Meanwhile the Greek ships were returning from behind Tenedos as
fast as the oarsmen could row them。
One Trojan did not drink or sleep； this was Deiphobus； at whose
house Helen was now living。 He bade her come with them； for he
knew that she was able to speak in the very voice of all men and
women whom she had ever seen； and he armed a few of his friends and
went with them to the citadel。 Then he stood beside the horse；
holding Helen's hand； and whispered to her that she must call each
of the chiefs in the voice of his wife。 She was obliged to obey；
and she called Menelaus in her own voice； and Diomede in the voice
of his wife； and Ulysses in the very voice of Penelope。 Then
Menelaus and Diomede were eager to answer； but Ulysses grasped
their hands and whispered the word 〃Echo！〃 Then they remembered
that this was a name of Helen； because she could speak in all
voices； and they were silent； but Anticlus was still eager to
answer； till Ulysses held his strong hand over his mouth。 There
was only silence； and Deiphobus led Helen back to his house。 When
they had gone away Epeius opened the side of the horse； and all the
chiefs let themselves down softly to the ground。 Some rushed to
the gate； to open it； and they killed the sleeping sentinels and
let in the Greeks。 Others sped with torches to burn the houses of
the Trojan princes； and terrible was the slaughter of men； unarmed
and half awake； and loud were the cries of the women。 But Ulysses
had slipped away at the first； none knew where。 Neoptolemus ran to
the palace of Priam； who was sitting at the altar in his courtyard；
praying vainly to the Gods； for Neoptolemus slew the old man
cruelly； and his white hair was dabbled in his blood。 All through
the city was fighting and slaying； but Menelaus went to the house
of Deiphobus； knowing that Helen was there。
In the doorway he found Deiphobus lying dead in all his armour； a
spear standing in his breast。 There were footprints marked in
blood； leading through the portico and into the hall。 There
Menelaus went； and found Ulysses leaning； wounded； against one of
the central pillars of the great chamber； the firelight shining on
his armour。
〃Why hast thou slain Deiphobus and robbed me of my revenge？〃 said
Menelaus。 〃You swore to give me a gift；〃 said Ulysses； 〃and will
you keep your oath？〃 〃Ask what you will；〃 said Menelaus； 〃it is
yours and my oath cannot be broken。〃 〃I ask the life of Helen of
the fair hands；〃 said Ulysses 〃this is my own life…price that I pay
back to her； for she saved my life when I took the Luck of Troy；
and I swore that hers should be saved。〃
Then Helen stole； glimmering in white robes； from a recess in the
dark hall； and fell at the feet of Menelaus； her golden hair lay in
the dust of the hearth； and her hands moved to touch his knees。
His drawn sword fell from the hands of Menelaus； and pity and love
came into his heart； and he raised her from the dust and her white
arms were round his neck； and they both wept。 That night Menelaus
fought no more； but they tended the wound of Ulysses； for the s