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Then the Trojans all with one voice said that Ulysses was the best
man among the Greeks； and the most feared by them； both for his
courage and his skill in stratagems of war。 On this； the blood of
Aias flew into his face； and he stood silent and unmoving； and
could not speak a word； till his friends came round him and led him
away to his hut； and there he sat down and would not eat or drink；
and the night fell。
Long he sat； musing in his mind； and then rose and put on all his
armour； and seized a sword that Hector had given him one day when
they two fought in a gentle passage of arms； and took courteous
farewell of each other； and Aias had given Hector a broad sword…
belt； wrought with gold。 This sword； Hector's gift； Aias took； and
went towards the hut of Ulysses； meaning to carve him limb from
limb； for madness had come upon him in his great grief。 Rushing
through the night to slay Ulysses he fell upon the flock of sheep
that the Greeks kept for their meat。 And up and down among them he
went； smiting blindly till the dawn came； and； lo！ his senses
returned to him； and he saw that he had not smitten Ulysses； but
stood in a pool of blood among the sheep that he had slain。 He
could not endure the disgrace of his madness； and he fixed the
sword； Hector's gift； with its hilt firmly in the ground； and went
back a little way； and ran and fell upon the sword； which pierced
his heart； and so died the great Aias； choosing death before a
dishonoured life。
ULYSSES SAILS TO SEEK THE SON OF ACHILLES。THE VALOUR OF EURYPYLUS
When the Greeks found Aias lying dead； slain by his own hand； they
made great lament； and above all the brother of Aias； and his wife
Tecmessa bewailed him； and the shores of the sea rang with their
sorrow。 But of all no man was more grieved than Ulysses； and he
stood up and said： 〃Would that the sons of the Trojans had never
awarded to me the arms of Achilles； for far rather would I have
given them to Aias than that this loss should have befallen the
whole army of the Greeks。 Let no man blame me； or be angry with
me； for I have not sought for wealth； to enrich myself； but for
honour only； and to win a name that will be remembered among men in
times to come。〃 Then they made a great fire of wood； and burned
the body of Aias； lamenting him as they had sorrowed for Achilles。
Now it seemed that though the Greeks had won the Luck of Troy and
had defeated the Amazons and the army of Memnon； they were no
nearer taking Troy than ever。 They had slain Hector； indeed； and
many other Trojans； but they had lost the great Achilles； and Aias；
and Patroclus； and Antilochus； with the princes whom Penthesilea
and Memnon slew； and the bands of the dead chiefs were weary of
fighting； and eager to go home。 The chiefs met in council； and
Menelaus arose and said that his heart was wasted with sorrow for
the death of so many brave men who had sailed to Troy for his sake。
〃Would that death had come upon me before I gathered this host；〃 he
said； 〃but come； let the rest of us launch our swift ships； and
return each to our own country。〃
He spoke thus to try the Greeks； and see of what courage they were；
for his desire was still to burn Troy town and to slay Paris with
his own hand。 Then up rose Diomede； and swore that never would the
Greeks turn cowards。 No！ he bade them sharpen their swords； and
make ready for battle。 The prophet Calchas； too； arose and
reminded the Greeks how he had always foretold that they would take
Troy in the tenth year of the siege； and how the tenth year had
come； and victory was almost in their hands。 Next Ulysses stood up
and said that； though Achilles was dead； and there was no prince to
lead his men； yet a son had been born to Achilles； while he was in
the isle of Scyros； and that son he would bring to fill his
father's place。
〃Surely he will come； and for a token I will carry to him those
unhappy arms of the great Achilles。 Unworthy am I to wear them；
and they bring back to my mind our sorrow for Aias。 But his son
will wear them； in the front of the spearmen of Greece and in the
thickest ranks of Troy shall the helmet of Achilles shine； as it
was wont to do； for always he fought among the foremost。〃 Thus
Ulysses spoke； and he and Diomede； with fifty oarsmen； went on
board a swift ship； and sitting all in order on the benches they
smote the grey sea into foam； and Ulysses held the helm and steered
them towards the isle of Scyros。
Now the Trojans had rest from war for a while； and Priam； with a
heavy heart； bade men take his chief treasure； the great golden
vine； with leaves and clusters of gold； and carry it to the mother
of Eurypylus； the king of the people who dwell where the wide
marshlands of the river Cayster clang with the cries of the cranes
and herons and wild swans。 For the mother of Eurypylus had sworn
that never would she let her son go to the war unless Priam sent
her the vine of gold； a gift of the gods to an ancient King of
Troy。
With a heavy heart； then； Priam sent the golden vine； but Eurypylus
was glad when he saw it； and bade all his men arm； and harness the
horses to the chariots； and glad were the Trojans when the long
line of the new army wound along the road and into the town。 Then
Paris welcomed Eurypylus who was his nephew； son of his sister
Astyoche； a daughter of Priam； but the grandfather of Eurypylus was
the famous Heracles； the strongest man who ever lived on earth。 So
Paris brought Eurypylus to his house； where Helen sat working at
her embroideries with her four bower maidens； and Eurypylus
marvelled when he saw her； she was so beautiful。 But the Khita；
the people of Eurypylus； feasted in the open air among the Trojans；
by the light of great fires burning； and to the music of pipes and
flutes。 The Greeks saw the fires； and heard the merry music； and
they watched all night lest the Trojans should attack the ships
before the dawn。 But in the dawn Eurypylus rose from sleep and put
on his armour； and hung from his neck by the belt the great shield
on which were fashioned； in gold of many colours and in silver； the
Twelve Adventures of Heracles； his grandfather； strange deeds that
he did； fighting with monsters and giants and with the Hound of
Hades； who guards the dwellings of the dead。 Then Eurypylus led on
his whole army； and with the brothers of Hector he charged against
the Greeks； who were led by Agamemnon。
In that battle Eurypylus first smote Nireus； who was the most
beautiful of the Greeks now that Achilles had fallen。 There lay
Nireus； like an apple tree； all covered with blossoms red and
white； that the wind has overthrown in a rich man's orchard。 Then
Eurypylus would have stripped off his armour； but Machaon rushed
in； Machaon who had been wounded and taken to the tent of Nestor；
on the day of the Valour of Hector； when he brought fire against
the ships。 Machaon drove his spear through the left shoulder of
Eurypylus； but Eurypylus struck at his shoulder with his sword； and
the blood flowed； nevertheless； Machaon stooped； and grasped a
great stone； and sent it against the helmet of Eurypylus。 He was
shaken； but he did no