one. And Chalcas, our soothsayer, told
us then the meaning of the sign. 'Nine years,' said he--for nine birds
did the snake slay--'shall ye fight in Troyland, but in the tenth year
the city shall fall before you.' So then, let us abide here, until we
have taken the great city!"

When Odysseus had ceased to speak, the Greeks shouted aloud, until the
ships echoed the praises of the goodly Odysseus.

Then said Agamemnon:

"Go now, all of you, and eat, that ye may be ready for battle. Let
each man sharpen well his spear and see to his shield, and see to it
that the horses are well fed and the chariots prepared. And whomsoever
I see minded to stay far away from the fight, beside the ships here by
the sea, for him shall there be no hope hereafter, but he shall be
food for dogs and for birds of prey."

And when Agamemnon had spoken, the shouts of the Greeks were as the
thunder of mighty breakers on a reef when the winds blow high.

Quickly then they scattered, and kindled fires, and made their evening
meal, and offered sacrifices to the gods, praying for escape from
death in the coming battle.

To Zeus did Agamemnon offer his sacrifice and to the mighty god he
prayed:

"Great Zeus, god of the storm-cloud, let not the sun set nor the
darkness fall until I have laid low the palaces of Troy and burned
down its walls with fire."

So he prayed, but as yet Zeus heeded not his prayer. Then did the
Greeks gather themselves together to battle, and among them went the
bright-eyed Athene, urging on each one, and rousing in each man's
heart the joy of strength and of battle.

As the red and golden blaze of a fire that devours a mighty forest is
seen from afar, so was seen from afar the dazzling gleam of their
bronze armor as they marched.

Like wild geese and cranes and swans that in long-drawn strings fly
tirelessly onward, so poured they forth, while the earth echoed
terribly under the tread of men and horses.

As flies that swarm in the spring when the herdsmen's milk-pails are
full, so did the Greeks throng to battle, unnumbered as the leaves and
the flowers upon which they trod in the flowery plain by the banks of
the river Scamander.

III

THE FIGHT BETWEEN PARIS AND MENELAUS

To meet the great Greek host came the men of Troy. With loud shouting
and clamor they came, noisy as the flocks of cranes that fly to
far-off seas before the coming of winter and sudden rain.

But in silence marched the Greeks, sho