tales of troy(特罗伊的传说)-第24节
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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
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Tales of Troy
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 sword of Deiphobus had bitten through his
helmet。
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When dawn came Troy lay in ashes； and the women were being driven
with spear shafts to the ships； and the men were left unburied； a prey to
dogs and all manner of birds。 Thus the grey city fell； that had lorded it
for many centuries。 All the gold and silver and rich embroideries； and
ivory and amber； the horses and chariots； were divided among the army；
all but a treasure of silver and gold； hidden in a chest within a hollow of
the wall； and this treasure was found； not very many years ago； by men
digging deep on the hill where Troy once stood。 The women； too； were
given to the princes； and Neoptolemus took Andromache to his home in
Argos； to draw water from the well and to be the slave of a master； and
Agamemnon carried beautiful Cassandra； the daughter of Priam； to his
palace in Mycenae； where they were both slain in one night。 Only Helen
was led with honour to the ship of Menelaus。
The story of all that happened to Ulysses on his way home from Troy
is told in another book； 〃Tales of the Greek Seas。〃
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