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his son…in…law Proetus。 When he had received the wicked letter he
first commanded Bellerophon to kill that savage monster； the Chimaera；
who was not a human being； but a goddess； for she had the head of a
lion and the tail of a serpent； while her body was that of a goat； and
she breathed forth flames of fire； but Bellerophon slew her； for he
was guided by signs from heaven。 He next fought the far…famed
Solymi； and this； he said； was the hardest of all his battles。
Thirdly； he killed the Amazons； women who were the peers of men； and
as he was returning thence the king devised yet another plan for his
destruction； he picked the bravest warriors in all Lycia； and placed
them in ambuscade； but not a man ever came back； for Bellerophon
killed every one of them。 Then the king knew that he must be the
valiant offspring of a god； so he kept him in Lycia； gave him his
daughter in marriage； and made him of equal honour in the kingdom with
himself； and the Lycians gave him a piece of land； the best in all the
country； fair with vineyards and tilled fields； to have and to hold。
〃The king's daughter bore Bellerophon three children； Isander；
Hippolochus； and Laodameia。 Jove； the lord of counsel； lay with
Laodameia； and she bore him noble Sarpedon； but when Bellerophon
came to be hated by all the gods； he wandered all desolate and
dismayed upon the Alean plain； gnawing at his own heart； and
shunning the path of man。 Mars； insatiate of battle； killed his son
Isander while he was fighting the Solymi； his daughter was killed by
Diana of the golden reins； for she was angered with her； but
Hippolochus was father to myself； and when he sent me to Troy he urged
me again and again to fight ever among the foremost and outvie my
peers； so as not to shame the blood of my fathers who were the noblest
in Ephyra and in all Lycia。 This； then； is the descent I claim。〃
Thus did he speak； and the heart of Diomed was glad。 He planted
his spear in the ground； and spoke to him with friendly words。 〃Then；〃
he said； you are an old friend of my father's house。 Great Oeneus once
entertained Bellerophon for twenty days； and the two exchanged
presents。 Oeneus gave a belt rich with purple； and Bellerophon a
double cup； which I left at home when I set out for Troy。 I do not
remember Tydeus； for he was taken from us while I was yet a child；
when the army of the Achaeans was cut to pieces before Thebes。
Henceforth； however； I must be your host in middle Argos； and you mine
in Lycia； if I should ever go there； let us avoid one another's spears
even during a general engagement； there are many noble Trojans and
allies whom I can kill； if I overtake them and heaven delivers them
into my hand； so again with yourself； there are many Achaeans whose
lives you may take if you can； we two； then； will exchange armour；
that all present may know of the old ties that subsist between us。〃
With these words they sprang from their chariots； grasped one
another's hands； and plighted friendship。 But the son of Saturn made
Glaucus take leave of his wits； for he exchanged golden armour for
bronze； the worth of a hundred head of cattle for the worth of nine。
Now when Hector reached the Scaean gates and the oak tree； the wives
and daughters of the Trojans came running towards him to ask after
their sons； brothers； kinsmen； and husbands： he told them to set about
praying to the gods； and many were made sorrowful as they heard him。
Presently he reached the splendid palace of King Priam； adorned with
colonnades of hewn stone。 In it there were fifty bedchambers… all of
hewn stone… built near one another； where the sons of Priam slept；
each with his wedded wife。 Opposite these； on the other side the
courtyard； there were twelve upper rooms also of hewn stone for
Priam's daughters； built near one another； where his sons…in…law slept
with their wives。 When Hector got there； his fond mother came up to
him with Laodice the fairest of her daughters。 She took his hand
within her own and said； 〃My son； why have you left the battle to come
hither？ Are the Achaeans； woe betide them； pressing you hard about the
city that you have thought fit to come and uplift your hands to Jove
from the citadel？ Wait till I can bring you wine that you may make
offering to Jove and to the other immortals； and may then drink and be
refreshed。 Wine gives a man fresh strength when he is wearied； as
you now are with fighting on behalf of your kinsmen。〃
And Hector answered； 〃Honoured mother； bring no wine； lest you unman
me and I forget my strength。 I dare not make a drink…offering to
Jove with unwashed hands； one who is bespattered with blood and
filth may not pray to the son of Saturn。 Get the matrons together； and
go with offerings to the temple of Minerva driver of the spoil； there；
upon the knees of Minerva； lay the largest and fairest robe you have
in your house… the one you set most store by； promise； moreover； to
sacrifice twelve yearling heifers that have never yet felt the goad；
in the temple of the goddess if she will take pity on the town； with
the wives and little ones of the Trojans； and keep the son of Tydeus
from off the goodly city of Ilius； for he fights with fury； and
fills men's souls with panic。 Go； then； to the temple of Minerva；
while I seek Paris and exhort him； if he will hear my words。 Would
that the earth might open her jaws and swallow him； for Jove bred
him to be the bane of the Trojans； and of Priam and Priam's sons。
Could I but see him go down into the house of Hades； my heart would
forget its heaviness。〃
His mother went into the house and called her waiting…women who
gathered the matrons throughout the city。 She then went down into
her fragrant store…room； where her embroidered robes were kept； the
work of Sidonian women； whom Alexandrus had brought over from Sidon
when he sailed the seas upon that voyage during which he carried off
Helen。 Hecuba took out the largest robe； and the one that was most
beautifully enriched with embroidery； as an offering to Minerva： it
glittered like a star； and lay at the very bottom of the chest。 With
this she went on her way and many matrons with her。
When they reached the temple of Minerva； lovely Theano； daughter
of Cisseus and wife of Antenor； opened the doors； for the Trojans
had made her priestess of Minerva。 The women lifted up their hands
to the goddess with a loud cry； and Theano took the robe to lay it
upon the knees of Minerva； praying the while to the daughter of
great Jove。 〃Holy Minerva；〃 she cried； 〃protectress of our city；
mighty goddess； break the spear of Diomed and lay him low before the
Scaean gates。 Do this； and we will sacrifice twelve heifers that
have never yet known the goad； in your temple； if you will have pity
upon the town； with the wives and little ones If the Trojans。〃 Thus
she prayed； but Pallas Minerva granted not her prayer。
While they were thus praying to the daughter of great Jove； Hector
went to the fair house of Alexandrus； which he had built for him by
the foremost builders in the land。 They had built him his house；
storehouse； and courtyard near those of Priam and Hector on the
acropolis。 Here Hector entered； w