Tales of Ancient Greece (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1872 edition. Excerpt: ...upon the wall, for never must'the people say that Hektor shrank from the battle-field. I must go forth to the fight, not as in the heedless days of youth, when men seek to win praise and glory, for my name is great already, and they call me the first among the warriors of Ilion. But well I know that we fight in vain; for the doom is fixed that the sacred Ilion shall fall, and Priam and his people shall be slain. But more than all I grieve for thee, and for the sorrows that shall come upon thee when thou art carried away captive to some far-off land. There, at the bidding of some Argive woman, thou shalt toil and spin and weave; and all who see thee weeping shall say, "Look at the wife of Hektor, who was the bravest of all the warriors of Ilion," and thy tears will be more bitter when thou hearest them speak my name, for the dark earth will lie heavy above me in the land of Troy, and I shall be far away from thee in the dark kingdom of Hades.' So he turned to the babe who lay like a fair star in the arms of the nurse, and he stretched forth his arms to take him; but the child gazed fearfully at the long spear and the brazen helmet and the horsehair plume which waved proudly above it, and he shrank back with a cry, and nestled in the folds of bis nurse's robe. Then Hektor laughed, and took the helmet from his head, and placed it on the ground, and the child feared no more to go to his father. Gently he took him in his arms, and he prayed aloud to Zeus and the undying gods that they would bless his child and make him glorious among his people, that so, in time to come, men might say, 'This man is stronger and braver than Hektor.' So he gave the child to Andromache, who received him smiling through her tears. The brave heart of Hektor was moved with...