tales of troy(特罗伊的传说)-第2节
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of bull hunts； and a few of these pictures may still be seen。 At night
torches were lit； and placed in the hands of golden figures of boys； but all
the smoke of fire and torches escaped by a hole in the roof； and made the
ceiling black。 On the walls hung swords and spears and helmets and
shields； which needed to be often cleaned from the stains of the smoke。
The minstrel or poet sat beside the King and Queen； and； after supper he
struck his harp； and sang stories of old wars。 At night the King and Queen
slept in their own place； and the women in their own rooms； the princesses
had their chambers upstairs； and the young princes had each his room built
separate in the courtyard。
There were bath rooms with polished baths； where guests were taken
when they arrived dirty from a journey。 The guests lay at night on beds
in the portico； for the climate was warm。 There were plenty of servants；
who were usually slaves taken in war； but they were very kindly treated；
and were friendly with their masters。 No coined money was used； people
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paid for things in cattle； or in weighed pieces of gold。 Rich men had
plenty of gold cups； and gold…hilted swords； and bracelets； and brooches。
The kings were the leaders in war and judges in peace； and did sacrifices
to the Gods； killing cattle and swine and sheep； on which they afterwards
dined。
They dressed in a simple way； in a long smock of linen or silk； which
fell almost to the feet； but was tucked up into a belt round the waist； and
worn longer or shorter； as they happened to choose。 Where it needed
fastening at the throat； golden brooches were used； beautifully made； with
safety pins。 This garment was much like the plaid that the Highlanders
used to wear； with its belt and brooches。 Over it the Greeks wore great
cloaks of woollen cloth when the weather was cold； but these they did not
use in battle。 They fastened their breastplates； in war； over their smocks；
and had other armour covering the lower parts of the body； and leg armour
called 〃greaves〃； while the great shield which guarded the whole body
from throat to ankles was carried by a broad belt slung round the neck。
The sword was worn in another belt； crossing the shield belt。 They had
light shoes in peace； and higher and heavier boots in war； or for walking
across country。
The women wore the smock； with more brooches and jewels than the
men； and had head coverings； with veils； and mantles over all； and
necklaces of gold and amber； earrings； and bracelets of gold or of bronze。
The colours of their dresses were various； chiefly white and purple； and；
when in mourning； they wore very dark blue； not black。 All the armour；
and the sword blades and spearheads were made； not of steel or iron； but
of bronze； a mixture of copper and tin。 The shields were made of several
thicknesses of leather； with a plating of bronze above； tools； such as axes
and ploughshares； were either of iron or bronze； and so were the blades of
knives and daggers。
To us the houses and way of living would have seemed very splendid；
and also； in some ways； rather rough。 The palace floors； at least in the
house of Ulysses； were littered with bones and feet of the oxen slain for
food； but this happened when Ulysses had been long from home。 The
floor of the hall in the house of Ulysses was not boarded with planks； or
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paved with stone： it was made of clay； for he was a poor king of small
islands。 The cooking was coarse： a pig or sheep was killed； roasted and
eaten immediately。 We never hear of boiling meat； and though people
probably ate fish； we do not hear of their doing so； except when no meat
could be procured。 Still some people must have liked them； for in the
pictures that were painted or cut in precious stones in these times we see
the half…naked fisherman walking home； carrying large fish。
The people were wonderful workers of gold and bronze。 Hundreds
of their golden jewels have been found in their graves； but probably these
were made and buried two or three centuries before the time of Ulysses。
The dagger blades had pictures of fights with lions； and of flowers； inlaid
on them； in gold of various colours； and in silver； nothing so beautiful is
made now。 There are figures of men hunting bulls on some of the gold
cups； and these are wonderfully life…like。 The vases and pots of
earthenware were painted in charming patterns： in short； it was a
splendid world to live in。
The people believed in many Gods； male and female； under the chief
God； Zeus。 The Gods were thought to be taller than men； and immortal；
and to live in much the same way as men did； eating； drinking； and
sleeping in glorious palaces。 Though they were supposed to reward good
men； and to punish people who broke their oaths and were unkind to
strangers； there were many stories told in which the Gods were fickle；
cruel； selfish； and set very bad examples to men。 How far these stories
were believed is not sure； it is certain that 〃all men felt a need of the
Gods；〃 and thought that they were pleased by good actions and displeased
by evil。 Yet； when a man felt that his behaviour had been bad； he often
threw the blame on the Gods； and said that they had misled him； which
really meant no more than that 〃he could not help it。〃
There was a curious custom by which the princes bought wives from
the fathers of the princesses； giving cattle and gold； and bronze and iron；
but sometimes a prince got a wife as the reward for some very brave
action。 A man would not give his daughter to a wooer whom she did not
love； even if he offered the highest price； at least this must have been the
general rule； for husbands and wives were very fond of each other； and of
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their children； and husbands always allowed their wives to rule the house；
and give their advice on everything。 It was thought a very wicked thing
for a woman to like another man better than her husband； and there were
few such wives； but among them was the most beautiful woman who ever
lived。
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THE WOOING OF HELEN OF
THE FAIR HANDS
This was the way in which people lived when Ulysses was young； and
wished to be married。 The worst thing in the way of life was that the
greatest and most beautiful princesses might be taken prisoners； and
carried off as slaves to the towns of the men who had killed their fathers
and husbands。 Now at that time one lady was far the fairest in the world：
namely； Helen； daughter of King Tyndarus。 Every young prince heard of
her and desired to marry her； so her father invited them all to his palace；
and entertained them； and found out what they would give。 Among the
rest Ulysses went； but his father had a little kingdom； a rough island； with
others near it； and Ulysses had not a good chance。 He was not tall；
though very strong and active； he was a short man with broad shoulders；
but his face was handsome； and； like all the princes； he wore long yellow
hair； clustering like a hyacinth flower。 His manner was rather hesitating；
and he seemed to speak very slowly at first； though afterwards his words
came freely。 He was good at everything a man can do； he could plough；
and build houses； and make ships； and he was the best archer in Greece；
except one； and could bend the great bow of a dead king； Eurytus； which
no other man could string。 But he had no horses； and had no great train
of followers； and； in short； neither Helen nor her father thought of
choosing Ulysses for her husband out of so many tall； handsome young
princes；
