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during the first nine years of the war。 The Greeks did not know at that
time how to besiege a city； as we saw； by way of digging trenches and
building towers； and battering the walls with machines that threw heavy
stones。 The Trojans had lost courage； and dared not go into the open
plain； and they were waiting for the coming up of new armies of alliesthe
Amazons； who were girl warriors from far away； and an Eastern people
called the Khita； whose king was Memnon； the son of the Bright Dawn。
Now everyone knew that； in the temple of the Goddess Pallas Athene；
in Troy； was a sacred image； which fell from heaven； called the Palladium；
and this very ancient image was the Luck of Troy。 While it remained
safe in the temple people believed that Troy could never be taken； but as it
was in a guarded temple in the middle of the town； and was watched by
priestesses day and night； it seemed impossible that the Greeks should
ever enter the city secretly and steal the Luck away。
As Ulysses was the grandson of Autolycus； the Master Thief； he often
wished that the old man was with the Greeks； for if there was a thing to
steal Autolycus could steal it。 But by this time Autolycus was dead； and
so Ulysses could only puzzle over the way to steal the Luck of Troy； and
wonder how his grandfather would have set about it。 He prayed for help
secretly to Hermes； the God of Thieves； when he sacrificed goats to him；
and at last he had a plan。
There was a story that Anius； the King of the Isle of Delos； had three
daughters； named OEno； Spermo； and Elais； and that OEno could turn
water into wine； while Spermo could turn stones into bread； and Elais
could change mud into olive oil。 Those fairy gifts； people said； were
given to the maidens by the Wine God； Dionysus； and by the Goddess of
Corn； Demeter。 Now corn； and wine； and oil were sorely needed by the
Greeks； who were tired of paying much gold and bronze to the Phoenician
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merchants for their supplies。 Ulysses therefore went to Agamemnon one
day； and asked leave to take his ship and voyage to Delos； to bring； if he
could； the three maidens to the camp； if indeed they could do these
miracles。 As no fighting was going on； Agamemnon gave Ulysses leave
to depart； so he went on board his ship； with a crew of fifty men of Ithaca；
and away they sailed； promising to return in a month。
Two or three days after that； a dirty old beggar man began to be seen in
the Greek camp。 He had crawled in late one evening； dressed in a dirty
smock and a very dirty old cloak； full of holes； and stained with smoke。
Over everything he wore the skin of a stag； with half the hair worn off；
and he carried a staff； and a filthy tattered wallet； to put food in； which
swung from his neck by a cord。 He came crouching and smiling up to
the door of the hut of Diomede； and sat down just within the doorway；
where beggars still sit in the East。 Diomede saw him； and sent him a loaf
and two handfuls of flesh； which the beggar laid on his wallet； between his
feet； and he made his supper greedily； gnawing a bone like a dog。
After supper Diomede asked him who he was and whence he came；
and he told a long story about how he had been a Cretan pirate； and had
been taken prisoner by the Egyptians when he was robbing there； and how
he had worked for many years in their stone quarries； where the sun had
burned him brown； and had escaped by hiding among the great stones；
carried down the Nile in a raft； for building a temple on the seashore。
The raft arrived at night； and the beggar said that he stole out from it in the
dark and found a Phoenician ship in the harbour； and the Phoenicians took
him on board； meaning to sell him somewhere as a slave。 But a tempest
came on and wrecked the ship off the Isle of Tenedos； which is near Troy；
and the beggar alone escaped to the island on a plank of the ship。 From
Tenedos he had come to Troy in a fisher's boat； hoping to make himself
useful in the camp； and earn enough to keep body and soul together till he
could find a ship sailing to Crete。
He made his story rather amusing； describing the strange ways of the
Egyptians； how they worshipped cats and bulls； and did everything in just
the opposite of the Greek way of doing things。 So Diomede let him have a
rug and blankets to sleep on in the portico of the hut； and next day the old
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wretch went begging about the camp and talking with the soldiers。 Now
he was a most impudent and annoying old vagabond； and was always in
quarrels。 If there was a disagreeable story about the father or grandfather
of any of the princes； he knew it and told it； so that he got a blow from the
baton of Agamemnon； and Aias gave him a kick； and Idomeneus drubbed
him with the butt of his spear for a tale about his grandmother； and
everybody hated him and called him a nuisance。 He was for ever jeering
at Ulysses； who was far away； and telling tales about Autolycus； and at last
he stole a gold cup； a very large cup； with two handles； and a dove sitting
on each handle； from the hut of Nestor。 The old chief was fond of this
cup； which he had brought from home； and； when it was found in the
beggar's dirty wallet； everybody cried that he must be driven out of the
camp and well whipped。 So Nestor's son； young Thrasymedes； with
other young men； laughing and shouting； pushed and dragged the beggar
close up to the Scaean gate of Troy； where Thrasymedes called with a loud
voice； 〃O Trojans； we are sick of this shameless beggar。 First we shall
whip him well； and if he comes back we shall put out his eyes and cut off
his hands and feet； and give him to the dogs to eat。 He may go to you； if he
likes； if not； he must wander till he dies of hunger。〃
The young men of Troy heard this and laughed； and a crowd gathered
on the wall to see the beggar punished。 So Thrasymedes whipped him
with his bowstring till he was tired； and they did not leave off beating the
beggar till he ceased howling and fell； all bleeding； and lay still。 Then
Thrasymedes gave him a parting kick； and went away with his friends。
The beggar lay quiet for some time； then he began to stir； and sat up；
wiping the tears from his eyes； and shouting curses and bad words after
the Greeks； praying that they might be speared in the back； and eaten by
dogs。
At last he tried to stand up； but fell down again； and began to crawl on
hands and knees towards the Scaean gate。 There he sat down； within the
two side walls of the gate； where he cried and lamented。 Now Helen of
the fair hands came down from the gate tower； being sorry to see any man
treated so much worse than a beast； and she spoke to the beggar and asked
him why he had been used in this cruel way？
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At first he only moaned； and rubbed his sore sides； but at last he said
that he was an unhappy man； who had been shipwrecked； and was begging
his way home； and that the Greeks suspected him of being a spy sent out
by the Trojans。 But he had been in Lacedaemon； her own country； he
said； and could tell her about her father； if she were； as he supposed； the
beautiful Helen； and about her brothers； Castor and Polydeuces； and her
little daughter； Hermione。
〃But perhaps；〃 he said； 〃you are no mortal woman； but some goddess
who favours the Trojans； and if indeed you are a goddess then I liken you
to Aphrodite； for beauty； and stature； and shapeliness。〃 Then Helen wept；
for many a year had passed since she had heard any word of her father；
and daughter； and her brothers； who were dead； though she knew it not。
So she stretched out her white hand； and raised the beggar； who was
kneeling at her feet； and bade him follow her to her own house； within the
palace garden of King Priam。
Hel