s, true to her favorite,
furthered the interests of the Trojans with all her power, and persuaded
the warlike Mars to do likewise. Zeus and Apollo strove to be impartial,
but they were yet to aid now one side, now another, according to the
fortunes of the heroes whom they loved.

Over the sea came the great embassy of ships, sped hither safely by the
god Neptune; and the heroes made their camp on the plain before Troy.
First of all Ulysses and King Menelaus himself went into the city and
demanded that Fair Helen should be given back to her rightful husband.
This the Trojans refused, and so began the siege of Troy.

THE QUARREL BETWEEN AGAMEMNON AND ACHILLES

By Alfred J. Church

The Greeks sacked the city of Chryse, where was a temple of Apollo, and a
priest that served the temple. And when they divided the spoil, they gave
to King Agamemnon with other gifts, the priest's daughter, Chryseis.
Thereupon there came to the camp Chryses, the priest, wishing to ransom
his daughter. Much gold he brought with him, and on his staff of gold he
carried the holy garland, that men might reverence him the more. He went
to all the chiefs, and to the sons of Atreus first of all, saying,--
"Loose, I pray you, my dear daughter, and take the ransom for her; so may
the gods that dwell in Olympus grant you to take the city of Troy, and to
have safe return to your homes."

Then all the others spake him fair, and would have done what he wished.
Only Agamemnon would not have it so.

"Get thee out, graybeard!" he cried in great wrath. "Let me not find thee
lingering now by the ships, neither coming hither again, or it shall be
the worse for thee, for all thy priesthood. And as for thy daughter, I
shall carry her away to Argos, when I shall have taken this city of Troy."

Then the old man went out hastily in great fear and trouble. And he walked
in his sorrow by the shore of the sounding sea, and prayed to his god
Apollo.

"Hear me, god of the silver bow! If I have built thee a temple, and
offered thee fat of many bullocks and rams, hear me, and avenge my tears
on the Greeks with thine arrows!"

And Apollo heard him. Wroth was he that men had so dishonored his priest,
and he came down from the top of Olympus, where he dwelt. Dreadful was the
rattle of his arrows as he went, and his coming was as the night when it
cometh over the sky. Then he shot the arrows of death, first on the dogs
and the mules, and then on the men; and soo