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after he had done the Trojans much evil。 Therefore I am suppliant at
your knees if haply you may be pleased to provide my son； whose end is
near at hand； with helmet and shield； with goodly greaves fitted
with ancle…clasps； and with a breastplate； for he lost his own when
his true comrade fell at the hands of the Trojans； and he now lies
stretched on earth in the bitterness of his soul。〃
And Vulcan answered； 〃Take heart； and be no more disquieted about
this matter； would that I could hide him from death's sight when his
hour is come； so surely as I can find him armour that shall amaze
the eyes of all who behold it。〃
When he had so said he left her and went to his bellows； turning
them towards the fire and bidding them do their office。 Twenty bellows
blew upon the melting…pots； and they blew blasts of every kind； some
fierce to help him when he had need of them； and others less strong as
Vulcan willed it in the course of his work。 He threw tough copper into
the fire； and tin； with silver and gold； he set his great anvil on its
block； and with one hand grasped his mighty hammer while he took the
tongs in the other。
First he shaped the shield so great and strong； adorning it all over
and binding it round with a gleaming circuit in three layers； and
the baldric was made of silver。 He made the shield in five
thicknesses； and with many a wonder did his cunning hand enrich it。
He wrought the earth； the heavens； and the sea； the moon also at her
full and the untiring sun； with all the signs that glorify the face of
heaven… the Pleiads； the Hyads； huge Orion； and the Bear； which men
also call the Wain and which turns round ever in one place； facing。
Orion； and alone never dips into the stream of Oceanus。
He wrought also two cities； fair to see and busy with the hum of
men。 In the one were weddings and wedding…feasts； and they were
going about the city with brides whom they were escorting by
torchlight from their chambers。 Loud rose the cry of Hymen； and the
youths danced to the music of flute and lyre； while the women stood
each at her house door to see them。
Meanwhile the people were gathered in assembly； for there was a
quarrel； and two men were wrangling about the blood…money for a man
who had been killed； the one saying before the people that he had paid
damages in full； and the other that he had not been paid。 Each was
trying to make his own case good； and the people took sides； each
man backing the side that he had taken； but the heralds kept them
back； and the elders sate on their seats of stone in a solemn
circle； holding the staves which the heralds had put into their hands。
Then they rose and each in his turn gave judgement； and there were two
talents laid down； to be given to him whose judgement should be deemed
the fairest。
About the other city there lay encamped two hosts in gleaming
armour； and they were divided whether to sack it； or to spare it and
accept the half of what it contained。 But the men of the city would
not yet consent； and armed themselves for a surprise； their wives
and little children kept guard upon the walls； and with them were
the men who were past fighting through age； but the others sallied
forth with Mars and Pallas Minerva at their head… both of them wrought
in gold and clad in golden raiment； great and fair with their armour
as befitting gods； while they that followed were smaller。 When they
reached the place where they would lay their ambush； it was on a
riverbed to which live stock of all kinds would come from far and near
to water； here； then； they lay concealed； clad in full armour。 Some
way off them there were two scouts who were on the look…out for the
coming of sheep or cattle； which presently came； followed by two
shepherds who were playing on their pipes； and had not so much as a
thought of danger。 When those who were in ambush saw this； they cut
off the flocks and herds and killed the shepherds。 Meanwhile the
besiegers； when they heard much noise among the cattle as they sat
in council； sprang to their horses； and made with all speed towards
them； when they reached them they set battle in array by the banks
of the river； and the hosts aimed their bronze…shod spears at one
another。 With them were Strife and Riot； and fell Fate who was
dragging three men after her； one with a fresh wound； and the other
unwounded； while the third was dead； and she was dragging him along by
his heel： and her robe was bedrabbled in men's blood。 They went in and
out with one another and fought as though they were living people
haling away one another's dead。
He wrought also a fair fallow field； large and thrice ploughed
already。 Many men were working at the plough within it； turning
their oxen to and fro； furrow after furrow。 Each time that they turned
on reaching the headland a man would come up to them and give them a
cup of wine； and they would go back to their furrows looking forward
to the time when they should again reach the headland。 The part that
they had ploughed was dark behind them； so that the field； though it
was of gold； still looked as if it were being ploughed… very curious
to behold。
He wrought also a field of harvest corn； and the reapers were
reaping with sharp sickles in their hands。 Swathe after swathe fell to
the ground in a straight line behind them； and the binders bound
them in bands of twisted straw。 There were three binders； and behind
them there were boys who gathered the cut corn in armfuls and kept
on bringing them to be bound： among them all the owner of the land
stood by in silence and was glad。 The servants were getting a meal
ready under an oak； for they had sacrificed a great ox； and were
busy cutting him up； while the women were making a porridge of much
white barley for the labourers' dinner。
He wrought also a vineyard； golden and fair to see； and the vines
were loaded with grapes。 The bunches overhead were black； but the
vines were trained on poles of silver。 He ran a ditch of dark metal
all round it； and fenced it with a fence of tin； there was only one
path to it； and by this the vintagers went when they would gather
the vintage。 Youths and maidens all blithe and full of glee； carried
the luscious fruit in plaited baskets； and with them there went a
boy who made sweet music with his lyre； and sang the Linus…song with
his clear boyish voice。
He wrought also a herd of homed cattle。 He made the cows of gold and
tin； and they lowed as they came full speed out of the yards to go and
feed among the waving reeds that grow by the banks of the river。 Along
with the cattle there went four shepherds； all of them in gold； and
their nine fleet dogs went with them。 Two terrible lions had
fastened on a bellowing bull that was with the foremost cows； and
bellow as he might they haled him； while the dogs and men gave
chase： the lions tore through the bull's thick hide and were gorging
on his blood and bowels； but the herdsmen were afraid to do
anything； and only hounded on their dogs； the dogs dared not fasten on
the lions but stood by barking and keeping out of harm's way。
The god wrought also a pasture in a fair mountain dell； and large
flock of sheep； wit