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had built this wooden horse as an offering to the Goddess。 The Trojans；
believing this story； would drag the horse into Troy； and； in the night； the
princes would come out； set fire to the city； and open the gates to the army；
which would return from Tenedos as soon as darkness came on。
The prophet was much pleased with the plan of Ulysses； and； as two
birds happened to fly away on the right hand； he declared that the
stratagem would certainly be lucky。 Neoptolemus； on the other hand；
voted for taking Troy； without any trick； by sheer hard fighting。 Ulysses
replied that if Achilles could not do that； it could not be done at all； and
that Epeius； a famous carpenter； had better set about making the horse at
once。
Next day half the army； with axes in their hands； were sent to cut down
trees on Mount Ida； and thousands of planks were cut from the trees by
Epeius and his workmen； and in three days he had finished the horse。
Ulysses then asked the best of the Greeks to come forward and go inside
the machine； while one； whom the Greeks did not know by sight； should
volunteer to stay behind in the camp and deceive the Trojans。 Then a
young man called Sinon stood up and said that he would risk himself and
take the chance that the Trojans might disbelieve him； and burn him alive。
Certainly； none of the Greeks did anything more courageous； yet Sinon
had not been considered brave。
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Had he fought in the front ranks； the Trojans would have known him；
but there were many brave fighters who would not have dared to do what
Sinon undertook。
Then old Nestor was the first that volunteered to go into the horse； but
Neoptolemus said that； brave as he was； he was too old； and that he must
depart with the army to Tenedos。 Neoptolemus himself would go into the
horse； for he would rather die than turn his back on Troy。 So
Neoptolemus armed himself and climbed into the horse； as did Menelaus；
Ulysses； Diomede； Thrasymedes （Nestor's son）； Idomeneus； Philoctetes；
Meriones； and all the best men except Agamemnon； while Epeius himself
entered last of all。 Agamemnon was not allowed by the other Greeks to
share their adventure； as he was to command the army when they returned
from Tenedos。 They meanwhile launched their ships and sailed away。
But first Menelaus had led Ulysses apart； and told him that if they took
Troy （and now they must either take it or die at the hands of the Trojans）；
he would owe to Ulysses the glory。 When they came back to Greece； he
wished to give Ulysses one of his own cities； that they might always be
near each other。 Ulysses smiled and shook his head； he could not leave
Ithaca； his own rough island kingdom。 〃But if we both live through the
night that is coming；〃 he said； 〃I may ask you for one gift； and giving it
will make you none the poorer。〃 Then Menelaus swore by the splendour
of Zeus that Ulysses could ask him for no gift that he would not gladly
give； so they embraced； and both armed themselves and went up into the
horse。 With them were all the chiefs except Nestor； whom they would
not allow to come； and Agamemnon； who； as chief general； had to
command the army。 They swathed themselves and their arms in soft silks；
that they might not ring and clash； when the Trojans； if they were so
foolish； dragged the horse up into their town； and there they sat in the dark
waiting。 Meanwhile； the army burned their huts and launched their ships；
and with oars and sails made their way to the back of the isle of Tenedos。
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THE END OF TROY AND THE
SAVING OF HELEN
From the walls the Trojans saw the black smoke go up thick into the
sky； and the whole fleet of the Greeks sailing out to sea。 Never were men
so glad； and they armed themselves for fear of an ambush； and went
cautiously； sending forth scouts in front of them； down to the seashore。
Here they found the huts burned down and the camp deserted； and some of
the scouts also caught Sinon； who had hid himself in a place where he was
likely to be found。 They rushed on him with fierce cries； and bound his
hands with a rope； and kicked and dragged him along to the place where
Priam and the princes were wondering at the great horse of tree。 Sinon
looked round upon them； while some were saying that he ought to be
tortured with fire to make him tell all the truth about the horse。 The
chiefs in the horse must have trembled for fear lest torture should wring
the truth out of Sinon； for then the Trojans would simply burn the machine
and them within it。
But Sinon said： 〃Miserable man that I am； whom the Greeks hate
and the Trojans are eager to slay！〃 When the Trojans heard that the
Greeks hated him； they were curious； and asked who he was； and how he
came to be there。 〃I will tell you all； oh King！〃 he answered Priam。 〃I
was a friend and squire of an unhappy chief； Palamedes； whom the wicked
Ulysses hated and slew secretly one day； when he found him alone； fishing
in the sea。 I was angry； and in my folly I did not hide my anger； and my
words came to the ears of Ulysses。 From that hour he sought occasion to
slay me。 Then Calchas〃 here he stopped； saying： 〃But why tell a long
tale？ If you hate all Greeks alike； then slay me； this is what Agamemnon
and Ulysses desire； Menelaus would thank you for my head。〃
The Trojans were now more curious than before。 They bade him go
on； and he said that the Greeks had consulted an Oracle； which advised
them to sacrifice one of their army to appease the anger of the Gods and
gain a fair wind homewards。 〃But who was to be sacrificed？ They
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asked Calchas； who for fifteen days refused to speak。 At last； being
bribed by Ulysses； he pointed to me； Sinon； and said that I must be the
victim。 I was bound and kept in prison； while they built their great horse
as a present for Pallas Athene the Goddess。 They made it so large that
you Trojans might never be able to drag it into your city； while； if you
destroyed it； the Goddess might turn her anger against you。 And now
they have gone home to bring back the image that fell from heaven； which
they had sent to Greece； and to restore it to the Temple of Pallas Athene；
when they have taken your town； for the Goddess is angry with them for
that theft of Ulysses。〃
The Trojans were foolish enough to believe the story of Sinon； and
they pitied him and unbound his hands。 Then they tied ropes to the
wooden horse； and laid rollers in front of it； like men launching a ship； and
they all took turns to drag the horse up to the Scaean gate。 Children and
women put their hands to the ropes and hauled； and with shouts and
dances； and hymns they toiled； till about nightfall the horse stood in the
courtyard of the inmost castle。
Then all the people of Troy began to dance； and drink； and sing。 Such
sentinels as were set at the gates got as drunk as all the rest； who danced
about the city till after midnight； and then they went to their homes and
slept heavily。
Meanwhile the Greek ships were returning from behind Tenedos as
fast as the oarsmen could row them。
One Trojan did not drink or sleep； this was Deiphobus； at whose house
Helen was now living。 He bade her come with them； for he knew that
she was able to speak in the very voice of all men and women whom she
had ever seen； and he armed a few of his friends and went with them to the
citadel。 Then he stood beside the horse； holding Helen's hand； and
whispered to her that she must call each of the chiefs in the voice of his
wife。 She was obliged to obey； and she called Menelaus in her own voice；
and Diomede in the voice o