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at all。〃
Thetis wept and answered； 〃Vulcan； is there another goddess in
Olympus whom the son of Saturn has been pleased to try with so
much affliction as he has me？ Me alone of the marine goddesses
did he make subject to a mortal husband； Peleus son of Aeacus；
and sorely against my will did I submit to the embraces of one
who was but mortal； and who now stays at home worn out with age。
Neither is this all。 Heaven vouchsafed me a son； hero among
heroes； and he shot up as a sapling。 I tended him as a plant in a
goodly garden and sent him with his ships to Ilius to fight the
Trojans； but never shall I wele him back to the house of
Peleus。 So long as he lives to look upon the light of the sun； he
is in heaviness； and though I go to him I cannot help him； King
Agamemnon has made him give up the maiden whom the sons of the
Achaeans had awarded him； and he wastes with sorrow for her sake。
Then the Trojans hemmed the Achaeans in at their ships' sterns
and would not let them e forth； the elders； therefore； of the
Argives besought Achilles and offered him great treasure； whereon
he refused to bring deliverance to them himself； but put his own
armour on Patroclus and sent him into the fight with much people
after him。 All day long they fought by the Scaean gates and would
have taken the city there and then； had not Apollo vouchsafed
glory to Hector and slain the valiant son of Menoetius 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 rade 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 e； 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 heaventhe 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 e 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 ing 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 e 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 ploughedvery 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