Chapter 15 15

Finally, the heroes confer on what to do with their most valuable prize, Polydorus, the son of King Priam. After a brief discussion, they unanimously decided to send Odysseus and Diomedes as envoys to Troy, requesting that King Priam's son be exchanged for Helen, and Helen's husband Menelaus also went , as the third envoy.They brought the young Polydorus to the city.According to the communication etiquette between countries, envoys have always been respected, so the three of them entered the city without hindrance and were received by the Trojans. Priam and his sons lived on the high acropolis, and they had not heard from outside.At this time, the envoy had arrived at the inner square of Troy, surrounded by a circle of Trojans.Menelaus addresses the audience.He condemned Paris with severe words for violating the civil law and robbing him of his most sacred and precious property-his wife Helen.He spoke so passionately that the Trojans were deeply moved.With tears of sympathy, they thought his request was justified.

Seeing the audience encouraged, Odysseus also began to speak. "You should know, inhabitants of Troy, that the Greeks were not a bunch of rash savages. They were accustomed to seek honor in all their actions and to avoid disgrace. As you know, before we use force, we To deal with this dispute, a peace envoy was sent. After the peace talks failed, you attacked us first, and the war broke out. Now, you already know our strength. Your allies and territories are destroyed, and you also feel that after many years Difficulties faced after the siege of the city. But the hope of a peaceful settlement is still in your hands! You hand over the people you have stolen, and we will withdraw, embark, raise anchor, and leave with our fleet forever Your shores. We did not come today empty-handed. We brought your king a gift far more precious than that foreign woman who brought nothing but curses and abuse to the city. We have Send for your king his young son Polydorus. Now he stands before you bound, and he awaits the decision of you and your king. If you hand over Helen today, then we will release the child send him back to his father; if you refuse to hand over Helen, your city will be destroyed, and your king will have to witness a tragedy he would rather die than witness."

After Odysseus finished speaking, the audience fell silent.Then the wise old man Anenor spoke, and said, "Dear Greeks, you were my guests! We know all that you say, and we agree with it in our hearts. We live in a country where the king's orders are paramount. Our laws, the beliefs handed down from our ancestors, and the conscience of the people make it impossible for us to contradict his will. We only Only then can we express our opinion on the affairs of state. Even if we speak, the king can still do according to his will. In order to let you know what the most eminent people of the people think about your demands, we will hold a council of elders, and they will face to face You speak their minds."

So it was done.Antenor held a meeting of elders and asked them to attend.The meeting was presided over by him himself.Well-known figures in Troy city expressed their opinion that Paris' behavior was a cursed sin.Only the war-loving and malicious Antimachus defended the snatching of the Greek queen.Paris used many gifts to buy him off, let him work for him, and tried his best to prevent Helen from being handed over.Behind the heroes' backs, Antimachus made a frenzied proposal to kill three of the bravest and wisest Greek heroes as messengers.The Trojans did not heed his advice.He also persuaded everyone to imprison the Greek envoys and ask them to surrender Polydorus unconditionally, but this proposal was rejected by everyone.Because Antimachus continued to publicly insult the messenger, he was scolded and pushed out of the meeting by the Trojans.

Antimachus angrily came to the acropolis and reported the news of the arrival of the Greek envoy to the king.Immediately the king and his sons called a council, and they debated the matter for a long time.The old Pentos was also invited to the meeting. He was loyal and noble, and had won the king's confidence.He turned and looked at the king's bravest, most upright and most moral son, Hector, and sincerely asked him to obey the advice of the Troy elders and hand over Helen, the root cause of the war.He said aloud: "Paris has enjoyed his prey for many years! Now, disaster has come. Many cities allied with us have been captured. Their destruction has declared our own destiny. Besides, your youngest brother It is still in the hands of the Greeks. If Helen is not handed over, the consequences for Polydorus will be unimaginable!"

Hector blushes when he thinks of his brother Paris' evil deeds.But he did not advocate the surrender of Helen at the king's hall meeting. "She came to our palace for protection," he answered Pentos, "and we accepted her, and built her and Paris a splendid palace. They lived sweetly for several years. That At that time, everyone knew that the war was inevitable, but they remained silent and no one opposed it. Now what reason do we have to expel her?" "I have never been silent," replied Pentos, "my conscience is clear. I told you my father's prophecy and warned you; today I warn you again. Even if you do not listen to me Advice, I will still faithfully help you and defend the city of Troy and the king!" After speaking, he stood up and left the venue.Finally, according to Hector's suggestion, they made a decision not to hand over Helen, but to repay the property that was robbed together with her at that time.They are willing to choose one of the daughters of King Priam to betroth Menelaus instead of Helen, or the wise Cassandra, or the beautiful Polyxena.At the same time, Priam also promised to give him a generous dowry.The Greek envoys were then introduced to the king and his son.Hearing this quid pro quo, Menelaus was furious. "How amusing," said he, "if I were to choose a wife from among my enemies now, I would be sinking deeper and further away! Keep the daughters of your savages, and take the wives of my youth give me back!"

At this moment Aeneas, the king's son-in-law and Creusa's husband, stood up abruptly.He snapped rudely at Menelaus, who spoke sarcastically: "If the matter is for me and all who love Paris and respect the old king, you poor fellow can neither get his wife back. , nor the king's princess. The kingdom of Priam is not without people! Well, enough has been said! If you and your fleet do not withdraw immediately, then the Trojans will taste Strength! We still have many mighty allies and battle-tested heroes and warriors. Although many small neighboring nations have been defeated, bigger and stronger allies are coming!"

These words of Aeneas were warmly cheered and supported by the princes in the king's hall meeting.If the Greek envoys had not been covered by Hector, they would have suffered more insults.They left in a rage, and returned to the camp with Polydorus bound. King Priam only saw his beloved son from a distance.The Greeks were furious when they heard that their envoys had been insulted at Troy.They clamored for revenge.The special meeting before the army did not consult the opinions of the princes too much, and decided to let the innocent Polydorus pay for the crimes of his brother and father.The poor boy was immediately led to the city wall.King Priam, hearing the uproar outside the city, couldn't restrain his curiosity, and went up to the top of the city with his sons, and they saw the Greeks carry out the torture that Odysseus had threatened to use.Stones were thrown at the child's bald head and naked body from all directions, and he finally died cruelly and tragically under the blows of countless stones.The Greek princes promised to deliver the smashed body to poor King Priam, so that he could attend to his son's funeral.The king's servants, led by the Trojan hero Iteus, came out of the city. With tears in their eyes, they sadly loaded the body of the child into a hearse and took it back to his unfortunate father.