Chapter 32 32

The battle was going on fiercely outside, the weapons clashed and clanged, but the old Nestor sat quietly in the barracks and entertained the injured doctor Mahaon with wine.As the cries of war drew nearer, Nestor handed over the guest to the maid Hecamede, and told her to prepare warm water for him to bathe in.Then he took his spear and shield and went out of the camp.Seeing an ominous change in the battle, he was hesitating whether to go into battle or consult with the Grand Commander Agamemnon.At this time, Agamemnon came from the warship by the sea with Odysseus and Diomedes.They came out to observe the situation of the battle, they were all injured, and they were not ready to go directly into the battle.The three of them approached Nestor seriously, and discussed the situation of the war with him.Finally, Agamemnon said: "My friends, I can't help it. The trenches we have spent a lot of time digging and the walls we have built cannot protect the warships. The enemy has entered our hinterland. Perhaps we will not take the initiative. Withdraw, Zeus will destroy us here, and disgrace the Greeks. Therefore, we should drag down the ships closest to the sea, and wait for the night. If the Trojans retreat back to the city, then we can take the other The boat was dragged into the water and sailed back overnight."

Odysseus was very displeased at this suggestion. He said: "Son of Atreus, you are not worthy to be the commander of the warriors, but the leader of the cowards. The battle is going on, and you want to drive the ships away. Come on, won't this lower morale? This will make the Greeks surrender on the battlefield." "No," replied Agamemnon, "I am not refusing to listen to other people's advice! If anyone has a better way, I'm willing to take my suggestion back. " "The best thing to do," cried Diomedes, "is for us to go back and fight.Even if we are wounded and unable to fight, we must act as true military leaders to inspire soldiers who fight.”

Poseidon was delighted to hear their speech.He came up to them in the form of an old soldier, took Agamemnon's hand and said: "Achilles stood idly by and let the Greeks suffer defeat without aid. It's shameful! But please rest assured that the gods don't hate you, and you will soon see the dust flying when the Trojans fled!" , He rushed to the battlefield, shouting loudly while running, as if a thousand troops were shouting, which made the Greek heroes full of courage and confidence. Hera also watched the battle on Mount Olympus.She saw that Zeus' brother Poseidon intervened in the war and turned the tide of the battle, and she was eager to try.But when she saw Zeus sitting on Mount Ada, she became angry again.She wanted to use a method to deceive him and divert his attention from the war.Suddenly, she came up with a good idea, and immediately went to the secret room specially built for her by his son Hephaestus.The door of the Chamber of Secrets is equipped with multiple latches that other gods cannot open.Hera closed the door, took a bath indoors, anointed her delicate body with divine ointment, combed her shiny blond hair, put on the exquisite and gorgeous brocade robe made for her by Athena, and put a golden hairpin on her chest. She wore a brooch, a girdle of glittering pearls about her waist, and droplets of precious stones in her ears, and finally she put on a very soft veil, and on her feet she wore a pair of beautiful slippers.In this way, she left the secret room radiantly, and came to the front of Aphrodite, the goddess of love.

"Don't hate me, dear daughter," she said softly, "because you protect the Trojans, and I protect the Greeks. Please don't refuse my request. Please put your Lend me the strange treasure of love, for I am going to the ends of the earth to see my adoptive parents, Oceanus and Thetis, who have always been at odds. I want to persuade them to understand each other, so Your belt is very useful to me." Aphrodite couldn't see through that it was a scam, and she agreed without any doubts. "Mother, you are the wife of the king of gods, it is wrong to refuse your request." She untied the magic belt from her waist as she spoke. "Take it!" she said, "you will succeed, and give it back to me then."

The Queen of God came to the remote Thracian Island with the treasure, and she went straight into the residence of Slav, the God of Sleep, and asked him to send Zeus, the father of all gods, to sleep that night.The god of sleep was startled when he heard this, because he still remembered the last time he obeyed Hera's order and lured Zeus to sleep.At that time, the great hero Hercules returned from his expedition to Troy, but his enemy Hera wanted to send him to the island of Kos.When Zeus awoke from his dream and realized that he had been deceived, he summoned all the gods to his palace.If Slav hadn't hurriedly hid in the arms of Night God, he would have been doomed.Fortunately, Night God helped a lot, because Night God has binding force on both gods and mortals.Sleeping God still had lingering fears at the thought of this, but Hera comforted him. "Where did you go, do you think that Zeus loved the Trojans as much as he loved his son Hercules? You should be smart and do as I say. If you will listen to me, I will take the three Graces The youngest and fairest shall marry you." Sleep made her swear by the river Styx to her promise before agreeing to do her will.

Hera came to the top of Mount Ada beautifully and coquettishly.When Zeus saw her, his heart was filled with sweet and passionate love, and he immediately forgot about the Trojan war. "How did you come here," Zeus asked his wife, "where did you keep your horses and golden chariot?" Hera smiled and replied slyly, "My dear, I want to persuade me to the ends of the earth." The foster parents Oceanus and Thetis, let them reconcile. "Are you always at odds with me?" Zeus replied, "This matter can be done in the future, you should stay here and let us observe the war between the two nations together!"

Hera was disappointed to hear this, for she saw that not even her beauty and Aphrodite's girdle could divert his attention from the battle.However, she suppressed her anger, put her arms around her husband tenderly, stroked his cheek, and said, "My dear, I am willing to do as you will." Hera said, giving the sleeper who was hidden behind Zeus God Slav winked.Slav nodded knowingly, bent down, and quietly pressed Zeus' eyelids.Zeus couldn't stop the drowsiness that hit him, he lowered his head, buried it in his wife's arms, and fell into a deep sleep.Seeing that the time was ripe, Hera hurriedly sent the messenger of Sleeping God to Poseidon and told him: "Now is the time, hurry up and strengthen the Greeks, because I have tricked Zeus into sleep, and he is lying on the bed. Sleeping on the top of Mount Ada."

Poseidon, transformed into a Greek hero, hastened to the front, shouting to the Daneans ("Sergeants, are we willing to surrender victory to Hector? Are we willing to let him destroy our battles?" Ship? I know, he took advantage of Achilles' angry strike. But it would be a great shame if we were conquered without Achilles! Take heart, you all, and let me lead, Let's all go forward together. Let's see if Hector can stop us!" The Greeks were excited when they heard his words, and they were willing to heed the call of the warrior, and even the wounded princes cheered up Get up and join the battle again. Soldiers gathered their courage and marched under the leadership of Poseidon. He opened the way for everyone and was invincible, and no one dared to compete with him.

But Hector was not afraid.He led the Trojans still marching forward bravely.The two sides fought fiercely again.Hector first threw his spear at Ajax the Great.But the shield of Ajax the Great and the broad sword belt that spanned his breast protected his body from injury.Unarmed, Hector reluctantly retreats into his ranks.Ajax threw a boulder behind him.Hector didn't watch out, was shot in the back and fell to the ground.Shields and helmets flew in all directions, and the armor on his body tinkled.The Greeks cheered in unison, and threw spears like raindrops, trying to snatch Hector away from the fallen Hector.The heroes of Troy rushed to the rescue.Aeneas, Polydamas, the noble Agenor, Sarpedon the Lycian, and his companion Glaucus surrounded him, put their shields around him, and lifted him from the ground. Lift him up, put him on the chariot, and return him safely to Troy.

The Greeks, seeing Hector flee, pursued their foe the more valiantly.Ajax became more valiant, and threw his spears in all directions, killing many Trojans.But a few heroes fell among the Greeks, much to the mourning of their companions. Little Ajax showed his skills in avenging the dead. He rushed into the Trojan ranks and slashed like a leaf in the wind.The Trojans were confused and terrified, and they retreated from the trenches and fled over the gates.