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after him； and would have had him lie with her in secret； but
Bellerophon was an honourable man and would not； so she told lies
about him to Proteus。 'Proetus；' said she； 'kill Bellerophon or
die； for he would have had converse with me against my will。' The
king was angered； but shrank from killing Bellerophon； so he sent
him to Lycia with lying letters of introduction； written on a
folded tablet； and containing much ill against the bearer。 He
bade Bellerophon show these letters to his father…in…law； to the
end that he might thus perish； Bellerophon therefore went to
Lycia； and the gods convoyed him safely。
〃When he reached the river Xanthus； which is in Lycia； the king
received him with all goodwill； feasted him nine days； and killed
nine heifers in his honour； but when rosy…fingered morning
appeared upon the tenth day； he questioned him and desired to see
the letter from his son…in…law Proetus。 When he had received the
wicked letter he first manded 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
bedchambersall of hewn stonebuilt 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 e hither？ Are the
Achaeans； woe betide them； pressing you hard about the city that
you have thought fit to e 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
housethe 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