fearful of losing the lives of his soldiers that Ulysses and
Diomede were often obliged to speak to him very severely。
Agamemnon was also very insolent and greedy； though； when anybody
stood up to him； he was ready to apologise； for fear the injured
chief should renounce his service and take away his soldiers。
Nestor was much respected because he remained brave； though he was
too old to be very useful in battle。 He generally tried to make
peace when the princes quarrelled with Agamemnon。 He loved to tell
long stories about his great deeds when he was young； and he wished
the chiefs to fight in old…fashioned ways。
For instance； in his time the Greeks had fought in clan regiments；
and the princely men had never dismounted in battle； but had fought
in squadrons of chariots； but now the owners of chariots fought on
foot； each man for himself； while his squire kept the chariot near
him to escape on if he had to retreat。 Nestor wished to go back to
the good old way of chariot charges against the crowds of foot
soldiers of the enemy。 In short； he was a fine example of the old…
fashioned soldier。
Aias； though so very tall； strong； and brave； was rather stupid。
He seldom spoke； but he was always ready to fight； and the last to
retreat。 Menelaus was weak of body； but as brave as the best； or
more brave； for he had a keen sense of honour； and would attempt
what he had not the strength to do。 Diomede and Ulysses were great
friends； and always fought side by side； when they could； and
helped each other in the most dangerous adventures。
These were the chiefs who led the great Greek armada from the
harbour of Aulis。 A long time had passed； after the flight of
Helen； before the large fleet could be collected； and more time
went by in the attempt to cross the sea to Troy。 There were
tempests that scattered the ships； so they were driven back to
Aulis to refit； and they fought； as they went out again； with the
peoples of unfriendly islands； and besieged their towns。 What they
wanted most of all was to have Achilles with them； for he was the
leader of fifty ships and 2；500 men； and he had magical armour
made； men said； for his father； by Hephaestus； the God of armour…
making and smithy work。
At last the fleet came to the Isle of Scyros； where they suspected
that Achilles was concealed。 King Lycomedes received the chiefs
kindly； and they saw all his beautiful daughters dancing and
playing at ball； but Achilles was still so young and slim and so
beautiful that they did not know him among the others。 There was a
prophecy that they could not take Troy without him； and yet they
could not find him out。 Then Ulysses had a plan。 He blackened his
eyebrows and beard and put on the dress of a Phoenician merchant。
The Phoenicians were a people who lived near the Jews； and were of
the same race； and spoke much the same language； but； unlike the
Jews； who； at that time were farmers in Palestine； tilling the
ground； and keeping flocks and herds； the Phoenicians were the
greatest of traders and sailors； and stealers of slaves。 They
carried cargoes of beautiful cloths； and embroideries； and jewels
of gold； and necklaces of amber； and sold these everywhere about
the shores of Greece and the islands。
Ulysses then dressed himself like a Phoenician pedlar； with his
pack on his back： he only took a stick in his hand； his long hair
was turned up； and hidden under a red sailor's cap； and in this
figure he came； stooping beneath his pack； into the courtyard of
King Lycomedes。 The girls heard that a pedlar had come； and out
they all ran； Achilles with the rest to watch the pedlar undo his
pack。 Each chose what she liked best： one took a wreath of gold；
another a necklace of gold and amber； another earrings； a fourth a
set of brooches； another a dress of embroidered scarlet cloth；
another a veil； another a pair of bracelets； but at the bottom of
the pack lay a great sword of bronze； the hilt studded with golden
nails。 Achilles seized the sword。 〃This is for me！〃 he said； and
drew the sword from the gilded sheath； and made it whistle round
his head。
〃You are Achilles； Peleus' son！〃 said Ulysses； 〃and you are to be
the chief warrior of the Achaeans；〃 for the Greeks then called
themselves Achaeans。 Achilles was only too glad to hear these
words； for he was quite tired of living among maidens。 Ulysses led
him into the hall where the chiefs were sitting at their wine； and
Achilles was blushing like any girl。
〃Here is the Queen of the Amazons；〃 said Ulyssesfor the Amazons
were a race of warlike maidens〃or rather here is Achilles；
Peleus' son； with sword in hand。〃 Then they all took his hand； and
welcomed him； and he was clothed in man's dress； with the sword by
his side； and presently they sent him back with ten ships to his
home。 There his mother； Thetis； of the silver feet； the goddess of
the sea； wept over him； saying； 〃My child； thou hast the choice of
a long and happy and peaceful life here with me； or of a brief time
of war and undying renown。 Never shall I see thee again in Argos
if thy choice is for war。〃 But Achilles chose to die young； and to
be famous as long as the world stands。 So his father gave him
fifty ships； with Patroclus； who was older than he； to be his
friend； and with an old man； Phoenix； to advise him； and his mother
gave him the glorious armour that the God had made for his father；
and the heavy ashen spear that none but he could wield； and he
sailed to join the host of the Achaeans； who all praised and
thanked Ulysses that had found for them such a prince。 For
Achilles was the fiercest fighter of them all； and the swiftest…
footed man； and the most courteous prince； and the gentlest with
women and children； but he was proud and high of heart； and when he
was angered his anger was terrible。
The Trojans would have had no chance against the Greeks if only the
men of the city of Troy had fought to keep Helen of the fair hands。
But they had allies； who spoke different languages； and came to
fight for them both from Europe and from Asia。 On the Trojan as
well as on the Greek side were people called Pelasgians； who seem
to have lived on both shores of the sea。 There were Thracians；
too； who dwelt much further north than Achilles； in Europe and
beside the strait of Hellespont； where the narrow sea runs like a
river。 There were warriors of Lycia； led by Sarpedon and Glaucus；
there were Carians； who spoke in a strange tongue； there were
Mysians and men from Alybe； which was called 〃the birthplace of
silver；〃 and many other peoples sent their armies； so that the war
was between Eastern Europe； on one side； and Western Asia Minor on
the other。 The people of Egypt took no part in the war： the
Greeks and Islesmen used to come down in their ships and attack the
Egyptians as the Danes used to invade England。 You may see the
warriors from the islands； with their horned helmets； in old
Egyptian pictures。
The commander…in…chief； as we say now； of the Trojans was Hector；
the son of Priam。 He was thought a match for any one of the
Greeks； and was brave and good。 His brothers also were leaders；
but Paris preferred to fight from a distance with bow and arrows。
He and Pandarus； who dwelt on the slopes of Mount Ida； were the
best archers in the Trojan army。 The princes usually fought with
heavy spears； which they threw at each other； and with swords；
leaving archery to the common soldiers who had no armour of bronze。
But Teucer； Meriones； and Ulysses were the best archers of the
Achaeans。 People called Dardanians were led by Aeneas； who was
said to be the son of the most beautiful of the goddesses。 These；
with Sarpedon and Glaucus； were the most famous of the men who
fought for Troy。
Troy was a strong town on a hill。 Mount Ida lay behind it； and in
front was a plain sloping to the sea shore。 Through this plain ran
two beautiful clear rivers； and there were scattered here and there
what you would have taken for steep knolls； but they were really
mounds piled up over the ashes of warriors who had died long ago。
On these mounds sentinels used to stand and look across the water
to give warning if the Greek fleet drew near； for the Trojans had
heard that it was on its way。 At last the fleet came in view； and
the sea was black with ships； the oarsmen pulling with all their
might for the honour of being the first to land。 The race was won
by the ship of the prince Protesilaus； who was first of all to leap
on shore； but as he leaped he was struck to the heart by an arrow
from the bow of Paris。 This must have seemed a good omen to the
Trojans； and to the Greeks evil； but we do not hear that the
landing was resisted in great force； any more than that of Norman
William was； when he invaded England。
The Greeks drew up all their ships on shore； and the men camped in
huts built in front of the ships。 There was thus a long row of
huts with the ships behind them； and in these huts the Greeks lived
all through the ten years that the siege of Troy lasted。 In these
days they do not seem to have understood how to conduct a siege。
You would have expected the Greeks to build towers and dig trenches
all round Troy； and from the towers watch the roads； so that
provisions might not be brought in from the country。 This is
called 〃investing〃 a town； but the Greeks never invested Troy。
Perhaps they had not men enough； at all events the place remained
open； and cattle could always be driven in to feed the warriors and
the women and children。
Moreover； the Greeks for long never seem to have tried to break
down one of the gates； nor to scale the walls； which were very
high； with ladders。 On the other hand； the Trojans and allies
never ventured to drive the Greeks into the sea； they commonly
remained within the walls or skirmished just beneath them。 The
older men insisted on this way of fighting； in spite of Hector； who
always wished to attack and storm the camp of the Greeks。 Neither
side had machines for throwing heavy stones； such as the Romans
used later； and the most that the Greeks did was to follow Achilles
and capture small neighbouring cities； and take the women for
slaves； and dri