The Adventures of Odysseus and The Tales of Troy eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 196 pages of information about The Adventures of Odysseus and The Tales of Troy.

The Adventures of Odysseus and The Tales of Troy eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 196 pages of information about The Adventures of Odysseus and The Tales of Troy.

’He prayed, and straightway a great eagle was seen with wide wings spread out above the City, and when they saw the eagle, the hearts of the people were glad for they knew that their King would come back safely and with the body of Prince Hector who had guarded Troy.’

’Now Priam and his henchman drove across the plain of Troy and came to the river that flowed across and there they let their mules drink.  They were greatly troubled, for dark night was coming down and they knew not the way to the hut of Achilles.  They were in fear too that some company of armed men would come upon them and slay them for the sake of the treasures they had in the wagon.’

’The henchman saw a young man coming towards them.  And when he reached them he spoke to them kindly and offered to guide them through the camp and to the hut of Achilles.  He mounted the wagon and took the reins in his hands and drove the mules.  He brought them to the hut of Achilles and helped Priam from the wagon and carried the gifts they had brought within the hut.  “Know, King Priam,” he said, “that I am not a mortal, but that I am one sent by Zeus to help and companion thee upon the way.  Go now within the hut and speak to Achilles and ask him, for his father’s sake, to restore to thee the body of Hector, thy son."’

’So he spoke and departed and King Priam went within the hut.  There great Achilles was sitting and King Priam went to him and knelt before him and clasped the hands of the man who had slain his son.  And Achilles wondered when he saw him there, for he did not know how one could have come to his hut and entered it without being seen.  He knew then that it was one of the gods who had guided this man.  Priam spoke to him and said, “Bethink thee, Achilles upon thine own father.  He is now of an age with me, and perhaps even now, in thy far-away country, there are those who make him suffer pain and misery.  But however great the pain and misery he may suffer he is happy compared to me, for he knows that thou, his son, art still alive.  But I no longer have him who was the best of my sons.  Now for thy father’s sake have I come to thee, Achilles, to ask for the body of Hector, my son.  I am more pitiable than thy father or than any man, for I have come through dangers to take in my hands the hands that slew my son."’

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’Achilles remembered his father and felt sorrow for the old man who knelt before him.  He took King Priam by the hand and raised him up and seated him on the bench beside him.  And he wept, remembering old Peleus, his father.’

’He called his handmaids and he bade them take the body of Hector and wash it and wrap it in two of the robes that Priam had brought.  When they had done all this he took up the body of Hector and laid it himself upon the wagon.’

’Then he came and said to King Priam, “Thy son is laid upon a bier, and at the break of day thou mayst bring him back to the City.  But now eat and rest here for this night."’

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Project Gutenberg
The Adventures of Odysseus and The Tales of Troy from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.