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reign in heavendevise evil for the Trojans if I am angry with
them？〃
Thus did they converse。 Meanwhile Thetis came to the house of
Vulcan； imperishable； star…bespangled； fairest of the abodes in
heaven； a house of bronze wrought by the lame god's own hands。
She found him busy with his bellows； sweating and hard at work；
for he was making twenty tripods that were to stand by the wall
of his house； and he set wheels of gold under them all that they
might go of their own selves to the assemblies of the gods； and
e back againmarvels indeed to see。 They were finished all
but the ears of cunning workmanship which yet remained to be
fixed to them： these he was now fixing； and he was hammering at
the rivets。 While he was thus at work silver…footed Thetis came
to the house。 Charis； of graceful head…dress； wife to the
far…famed lame god； came towards her as soon as she saw her； and
took her hand in her own； saying； 〃Why have you e to our
house； Thetis； honoured and ever welefor you do not visit us
often？ e inside and let me set refreshment before you。〃
The goddess led the way as she spoke； and bade Thetis sit on a
richly decorated seat inlaid with silver； there was a footstool
also under her feet。 Then she called Vulcan and said； 〃Vulcan；
e here； Thetis wants you〃； and the far…famed lame god
answered； 〃Then it is indeed an august and honoured goddess who
has e here； she it was that took care of me when I was
suffering from the heavy fall which I had through my cruel
mother's angerfor she would have got rid of me because I was
lame。 It would have gone hardly with me had not Eurynome；
daughter of the ever…encircling waters of Oceanus； and Thetis；
taken me to their bosom。 Nine years did I stay with them； and
many beautiful works in bronze； brooches； spiral armlets； cups；
and chains； did I make for them in their cave； with the roaring
waters of Oceanus foaming as they rushed ever past it； and no one
knew； neither of gods nor men； save only Thetis and Eurynome who
took care of me。 If； then； Thetis has e to my house I must
make her due requital for having saved me； entertain her；
therefore； with all hospitality； while I put by my bellows and
all my tools。〃
On this the mighty monster hobbled off from his anvil； his thin
legs plying lustily under him。 He set the bellows away from the
fire； and gathered his tools into a silver chest。 Then he took a
sponge and washed his face and hands； his shaggy chest and brawny
neck； he donned his shirt； grasped his strong staff； and limped
towards the door。 There were golden handmaids also who worked for
him； and were like real young women； with sense and reason； voice
also and strength； and all the learning of the immortals； these
busied themselves as the king bade them； while he drew near to
Thetis； seated her upon a goodly seat； and took her hand in his
own； saying； 〃Why have you e to our house； Thetis honoured and
ever welefor you do not visit us often？ Say what you want；
and I will do it for you at once if I can； and if it can be done
at all。〃
Thetis wept and answered； 〃Vulcan； is there another goddess in
Olympus whom the son of Saturn has been pleased to try with so
much affliction as he has me？ Me alone of the marine goddesses
did he make subject to a mortal husband； Peleus son of Aeacus；
and sorely against my will did I submit to the embraces of one
who was but mortal； and who now stays at home worn out with age。
Neither is this all。 Heaven vouchsafed me a son； hero among
heroes； and he shot up as a sapling。 I tended him as a plant in a
goodly garden and sent him with his ships to Ilius to fight the
Trojans； but never shall I wele him back to the house of
Peleus。 So long as he lives to look upon the light of the sun； he
is in heaviness； and though I go to him I cannot help him； King
Agamemnon has made him give up the maiden whom the sons of the
Achaeans had awarded him； and he wastes with sorrow for her sake。
Then the Trojans hemmed the Achaeans in at their ships' sterns
and would not let them e forth； the elders； therefore； of the
Argives besought Achilles and offered him great treasure； whereon
he refused to bring deliverance to them himself； but put his own
armour on Patroclus and sent him into the fight with much people
after him。 All day long they fought by the Scaean gates and would
have taken the city there and then； had not Apollo vouchsafed
glory to Hector and slain the valiant son of Menoetius after he
had done the Trojans much evil。 Therefore I am suppliant at your
knees if haply you may be pleased to provide my son； whose end is
near at hand； with helmet and shield； with goodly greaves fitted
with ancle…clasps； and with a breastplate； for he lost his own
when his true rade fell at the hands of the Trojans； and he
now lies stretched on earth in the bitterness of his soul。〃
And Vulcan answered； 〃Take heart； and be no more disquieted about
this matter； would that I could hide him from death's sight when
his hour is e； so surely as I can find him armour that shall
amaze the eyes of all who behold it。〃
When he had so said he left her and went to his bellows； turning
them towards the fire and bidding them do their office。 Twenty
bellows blew upon the melting…pots； and they blew blasts of every
kind； some fierce to help him when he had need of them； and
others less strong as Vulcan willed it in the course of his work。
He threw tough copper into the fire； and tin； with silver and
gold； he set his great anvil on its block； and with one hand
grasped his mighty hammer while he took the tongs in the other。
First he shaped the shield so great and strong； adorning it all
over and binding it round with a gleaming circuit in three
layers； and the baldric was made of silver。 He made the shield in
five thicknesses； and with many a wonder did his cunning hand
enrich it。
He wrought the earth； the heavens； and the sea； the moon also at
her full and the untiring sun； with all the signs that glorify
the face of heaventhe Pleiads； the Hyads； huge Orion； and the
Bear； which men also call the Wain and which turns round ever in
one place； facing。 Orion； and alone never dips into the stream of
Oceanus。
He wrought also two cities； fair to see and busy with the hum of
men。 In the one were weddings and wedding…feasts； and they were
going about the city with brides whom they were escorting by
torchlight from their chambers。 Loud rose the cry of Hymen； and
the youths danced to the music of flute and lyre； while the women
stood each at her house door to see them。
Meanwhile the people were gathered in assembly； for there was a
quarrel； and two men were wrangling about the blood…money for a
man who had been killed； the one saying before the people that he
had paid damages in full； and the other that he had not been
paid。 Each was trying to make his own case good； and the people
took sides； each man backing the side that he had taken； but the
heralds kept them back； and the elders sate on their seats of
stone in a solemn circle； holding the staves which the heralds
had put into their hands。 Then they rose and each in his turn
gave judgement； and there were two talents laid down； to be given
to him whose judgement should be deemed the fairest。
About the other city there lay encamped two hosts in gleaming
armour； and they were divided whether to sack it； or to spare it
and accept the half of what it contained。 But the men of the city
would not yet consent； and armed themselves for a surprise； their
wives and little children kept guard upon the walls； and with
them were the men who were past fighting through age； but the
others sallied forth with Mars and Pallas Minerva at their head
both of them wrought in gold and clad in golden raiment； great
and fair with their armour as befitting gods； while they that
followed were smaller。 When they reached the place where they
would lay their ambush； it was on a riverbed to which live stock
of all kinds would e from far and near to water； here； then；
they lay concealed； clad in full armour。 Some way off them there
were two scouts who were on the look…out for the ing of sheep
or cattle； which presently came； followed by two shepherds who
were p