when war arose； so great and mighty and marvellous as had never
been known in the world。 Far across the sea that lies on the east
of Greece； there dwelt the rich King Priam。 His town was called
Troy； or Ilios； and it stood on a hill near the seashore； where are
the straits of Hellespont； between Europe and Asia； it was a great
city surrounded by strong walls； and its ruins are still standing。
The kings could make merchants who passed through the straits pay
toll to them； and they had allies in Thrace； a part of Europe
opposite Troy； and Priam was chief of all princes on his side of
the sea； as Agamemnon was chief king in Greece。 Priam had many
beautiful things； he had a vine made of gold； with golden leaves
and clusters； and he had the swiftest horses； and many strong and
brave sons； the strongest and bravest was named Hector； and the
youngest and most beautiful was named Paris。
There was a prophecy that Priam's wife would give birth to a
burning torch； so； when Paris was born； Priam sent a servant to
carry the baby into a wild wood on Mount Ida； and leave him to die
or be eaten by wolves and wild cats。 The servant left the child；
but a shepherd found him； and brought him up as his own son。 The
boy became as beautiful； for a boy； as Helen was for a girl； and
was the best runner； and hunter； and archer among the country
people。 He was loved by the beautiful OEnone； a nymphthat is； a
kind of fairywho dwelt in a cave among the woods of Ida。 The
Greeks and Trojans believed in these days that such fair nymphs
haunted all beautiful woodland places； and the mountains； and
wells； and had crystal palaces； like mermaids； beneath the waves of
the sea。 These fairies were not mischievous； but gentle and kind。
Sometimes they married mortal men； and OEnone was the bride of
Paris； and hoped to keep him for her own all the days of his life。
It was believed that she had the magical power of healing wounded
men； however sorely they were hurt。 Paris and OEnone lived most
happily together in the forest； but one day； when the servants of
Priam had driven off a beautiful bull that was in the herd of
Paris； he left the hills to seek it； and came into the town of
Troy。 His mother； Hecuba； saw him； and looking at him closely；
perceived that he wore a ring which she had tied round her baby's
neck when he was taken away from her soon after his birth。 Then
Hecuba； beholding him so beautiful； and knowing him to be her son；
wept for joy； and they all forgot the prophecy that he would be a
burning torch of fire； and Priam gave him a house like those of his
brothers； the Trojan princes。
The fame of beautiful Helen reached Troy； and Paris quite forgot
unhappy OEnone； and must needs go to see Helen for himself。
Perhaps he meant to try to win her for his wife； before her
marriage。 But sailing was little understood in these times； and
the water was wide； and men were often driven for years out of
their course； to Egypt； and Africa； and far away into the unknown
seas； where fairies lived in enchanted islands； and cannibals dwelt
in caves of the hills。
Paris came much too late to have a chance of marrying Helen；
however； he was determined to see her； and he made his way to her
palace beneath the mountain Taygetus； beside the clear swift river
Eurotas。 The servants came out of the hall when they heard the
sound of wheels and horses' feet； and some of them took the horses
to the stables； and tilted the chariots against the gateway； while
others led Paris into the hall； which shone like the sun with gold
and silver。 Then Paris and his companions were led to the baths；
where they were bathed； and clad in new clothes； mantles of white；
and robes of purple； and next they were brought before King
Menelaus； and he welcomed them kindly； and meat was set before
them； and wine in cups of gold。 While they were talking； Helen
came forth from her fragrant chamber； like a Goddess； her maidens
following her； and carrying for her an ivory distaff with violet…
coloured wool； which she span as she sat； and heard Paris tell how
far he had travelled to see her who was so famous for her beauty
even in countries far away。
Then Paris knew that he had never seen； and never could see； a lady
so lovely and gracious as Helen as she sat and span； while the red
drops fell and vanished from the ruby called the Star； and Helen
knew that among all the princes in the world there was none so
beautiful as Paris。 Now some say that Paris； by art magic； put on
the appearance of Menelaus； and asked Helen to come sailing with
him； and that she； thinking he was her husband； followed him； and
he carried her across the wide waters of Troy； away from her lord
and her one beautiful little daughter； the child Hermione。 And
others say that the Gods carried Helen herself off to Egypt； and
that they made in her likeness a beautiful ghost； out of flowers
and sunset clouds； whom Paris bore to Troy； and this they did to
cause war between Greeks and Trojans。 Another story is that Helen
and her bower maiden and her jewels were seized by force； when
Menelaus was out hunting。 It is only certain that Paris and Helen
did cross the seas together； and that Menelaus and little Hermione
were left alone in the melancholy palace beside the Eurotas。
Penelope； we know for certain； made no excuses for her beautiful
cousin； but hated her as the cause of her own sorrows and of the
deaths of thousands of men in war； for all the Greek princes were
bound by their oath to fight for Menelaus against any one who
injured him and stole his wife away。 But Helen was very unhappy in
Troy； and blamed herself as bitterly as all the other women blamed
her； and most of all OEnone； who had been the love of Paris。 The
men were much more kind to Helen； and were determined to fight to
the death rather than lose the sight of her beauty among them。
The news of the dishonour done to Menelaus and to all the princes
of Greece ran through the country like fire through a forest。 East
and west and south and north went the news： to kings in their
castles on the hills； and beside the rivers and on cliffs above the
sea。 The cry came to ancient Nestor of the white beard at Pylos；
Nestor who had reigned over two generations of men； who had fought
against the wild folk of the hills； and remembered the strong
Heracles； and Eurytus of the black bow that sang before the day of
battle。
The cry came to black…bearded Agamemnon； in his strong town called
〃golden Mycenae；〃 because it was so rich； it came to the people in
Thisbe； where the wild doves haunt； and it came to rocky Pytho；
where is the sacred temple of Apollo and the maid who prophesies。
It came to Aias； the tallest and strongest of men； in his little
isle of Salamis； and to Diomede of the loud war…cry； the bravest of
warriors； who held Argos and Tiryns of the black walls of huge；
stones； that are still standing。 The summons came to the western
islands and to Ulysses in Ithaca； and even far south to the great
island of Crete of the hundred cities； where Idomeneus ruled in
Cnossos； Idomeneus； whose ruined palace may still be seen with the
throne of the king； and pictures painted on the walls； and the
King's own draught…board of gold and silver； and hundreds of
tablets of clay； on which are written the lists of royal treasures。
Far north went the news to Pelasgian Argos； and Hellas； where the
people of Peleus dwelt； the Myrmidons； but Peleus was too old to
fight； and his boy； Achilles； dwelt far away； in the island of
Scyros； dressed as a girl； among the daughters of King Lycomedes。
To many another town and to a hundred islands went the bitter news
of approaching war； for all princes knew that their honour and
their oaths compelled them to gather their spearmen； and bowmen；
and slingers from the fields and the fishing； and to make ready
their ships； and meet King Agamemnon in the harbour of Aulis； and
cross the wide sea to besiege Troy town。
Now the story is told that Ulysses was very unwilling to leave his
island and his wife Penelope； and little Telemachus； while Penelope
had no wish that he should pass into danger； and into the sight of
Helen of the fair hands。 So it is said that when two of the
princes came to summon Ulysses； he pretended to be mad； and went
ploughing the sea sand with oxen； and sowing the sand with salt。
Then the prince Palamedes took the baby Telemachus from the arms of
his nurse； Eurycleia； and laid him in the line of the furrow； where
the ploughshare would strike him and kill him。 But Ulysses turned
the plough aside； and they cried that he was not mad； but sane； and
he must keep his oath； and join the fleet at Aulis； a long voyage
for him to sail； round the stormy southern Cape of Maleia。
Whether this tale be true or not； Ulysses did go； leading twelve
black ships； with high beaks painted red at prow and stern。 The
ships had oars； and the warriors manned the oars； to row when there
was no wind。 There was a small raised deck at each end of the
ships； on these decks men stood to fight with sword and spear when
there was a battle at sea。 Each ship had but one mast； with a
broad lugger sail； and for anchors they had only heavy stones
attached to cables。 They generally landed at night； and slept on
the shore of one of the many islands； when they could； for they
greatly feared to sail out of sight of land。
The fleet consisted of more than a thousand ships； each with fifty
warriors； so the army was of more than fifty thousand men。
Agamemnon had a hundred ships； Diomede had eighty； Nestor had
ninety； the Cretans with Idomeneus； had eighty； Menelaus had sixty；
but Aias and Ulysses； who lived in small islands； had only twelve
ships apiece。 Yet Aias was so brave and strong； and Ulysses so
brave and wise； that they were ranked among the greatest chiefs and
advisers of Agamemnon； with Menelaus； Diomede； Idomeneus； Nestor；
Menestheus of Athens； and two or three others。 These chiefs were
called the Council； and gave advice to Agamemnon； who was
commander…in…chief。 He was a brave fighter； but so anxious and
fearful of losing the lives of his soldiers that Ulysses and
Diomede were often obliged to speak to him ver