The Book of the Epic: The World's Great Epics Told in StoryGuerber, H. A. (Hélène Adeline)
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The Book of the Epic: The World's Great Epics Told in Story
Guerber, H. A. (Hélène Adeline)
Epic poetry -- Adaptations
_Book XIV._ In the midst of the gloom caused by a new irruption of the
Trojans in the Greek camp, Nestor hastens to the spot where the
wounded Agamemnon, Ulysses, and Diomedes are watching the fight. But,
although Agamemnon renews his former suggestion that they depart,
Diomedes and Ulysses, scorning it, prepare to return to the fray, in
spite of their wounds. This renewal of Greek courage pleases Juno,
who, fearing Jupiter will again interfere in behalf of the Trojans,
proceeds by coquettish wiles and with the aid of the God of Sleep to
lull him into a state of forgetfulness. This feat accomplished, Juno
sends Sleep to urge the Greeks to make the most of this respite, and,
thus stimulated, they fight on, until Ajax hurls a rock which lays
Hector low. But, before he and his companions can secure this victim,
Hector is rescued by his men, who speedily convey him to the river,
where plentiful bathing soon restores his senses.
_Book XV._ Thus temporarily deprived of a leader, the Trojans fall
back to the place where they left their chariots. They are just
mounting in confusion, in order to flee, when Jupiter, rousing from
his nap, and realizing how he has been tricked, discharges his wrath
upon Juno's head. Hearing her attribute the blame to Neptune, Jupiter
wrathfully orders his brother back to his realm and despatches Apollo
to cure Hector. Then he reiterates that the Greeks shall be worsted
until Patroclus, wearing Achilles' armor, takes part in the fray. He
adds that, after slaying his son Sarpedon, this hero will succumb
beneath Hector's sword, and that, to avenge Patroclus' death, Achilles
will slay Hector and thus insure the fall of Troy.
Once more the Trojans drive back the Greeks, who would have given up
in despair had not Jupiter encouraged them by a clap of thunder.
Hearing the Trojans again burst into camp, Patroclus rushes out of
Achilles' tent and sees Teucer winging one deadly arrow after another
among the foe. But, in spite of his skill, and although Ajax fights
like a lion at bay, Hector and the Trojans press fiercely forward,
torch in hand, to fire the Greek ships.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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