and the people went forth to
see the plain and the camp. And one said to another as they went, "Here
they set the battle in array, and there were the tents of the fierce
Achilles, and there lay the ships." And some stood and marveled at the
great peace-offering to Minerva, even the horse of wood. And
Thymoetes, who was one of the elders of the city, was the first who
advised that it should be brought within the walls and set in the
citadel. Now whether he gave this counsel out of a false heart or
because the gods would have it so, no man knows. But Capys, and others
with him, said that it should be drowned in water or burned with fire,
or that men should pierce it and see whether there were aught within.
And the people were divided, some crying one thing and some another.
Then came forward the priest Laocoon, and a great company with him,
crying, "What madness is this? Think ye that the men of Greece are
indeed departed or that there is any profit in their gifts? Surely there
are armed men in this mighty horse; or haply they have made it that they
may look down upon our walls. Touch it not, for as for these men of
Greece, I fear them, even though they bring gifts in their hands."

And as he spake he cast his great spear at the horse, so that it sounded
again. But the gods would not that Troy should be saved.

Meanwhile there came certain shepherds dragging with them one whose
hands were bound behind his back. He had come forth to them, they said,
of his own accord when they were in the field. And first the young men
gathered about him mocking him, but when he cried aloud, "What place is
left for me, for the Greeks suffer me not to live and the men of Troy
cry for vengeance upon me?" they rather pitied him, and bade him speak
and say whence he came and what he had to tell.

Then the man spake, turning to King Priam: "I will speak the truth,
whatever befall me. My name is Sinon and I deny not that I am a Greek.
Haply thou hast heard the name of Palamedes, whom the Greeks slew, but
now, being dead, lament; and the cause was that because he counseled
peace, men falsely accused him of treason. Now, of this Palamedes I was
a poor kinsman and followed him to Troy. And when he was dead, through
the false witness of Ulysses, I lived in great grief and trouble, nor
could I hold my peace, but sware that if ever I came back to Argos I
would avenge me of him that had done this deed. Then did Ulysses seek
occasion against me, whisp