Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-04-04
C0ronir(e
ST. CLAIRsvILLE, OHIO:
ra. s,ory Of IIomsr,. GOA.


The story OF the Iliad is very simple.
1t begins with quarrelof Agamemnon
and Achilles about u captive girl, in the
ninth year of the war. Achilles in
anger withdraws from the Grecian camp.
A series Of battles follov0 in which the
Greeks, deprived of their swift footed
champion, suffer defeat and Slaughter
In the meantime the secondary heroes
press forward and become the leading
figures in the martial picture. In sepa-
rate chaunts the valiant deeds of Dio-
medcs, Ajax, Menelaus, Agamemnon, are
cominemorated. But the rrojans, led on
by the crested Hector, drive the Greeks
down to the very ramparts of the ships.
One by one the heroes are wounded and
disabled, and the prospect of disastrous
overthrow stares the army in the face
Agamemnoil, at length, convinced OF his
fnlal error, and anxious to recall the
angry hero, sends an embassy with the
offer of ample reparation. The proposal
lie haughtily rejected. The war again
proceeds, with varying fortune. The
Greeks are driven within their walls,
and the Trojans, led OH by Hector,
threaten to fire the ships. The battle
waivers; Hector is wounded and the Tro-
jams are driven back. Achilles Mt length
consents that Patrocius, his, brOthcr-in-
arms, shall put on his armor and 90 forth
20 battle. The appearance OF this cham
pion, clad in the complete steel of the
son of Thctis, ut first strikes terror into
the hosts of Troy, and gives heart to
the Argivos. But he Is slain and spoiled
of his arms by Hector, and fierce com
bats for the possession of the dead body
follow. The Greeks prevail, and bear
the slain hero back to the camp. Acliil-
les, overwhelmed with sorrow, abandons
himself to unrestraincd lamcntation.-
This calls his mother rhetis up from the
sea. She finds him PROSTATE with grief,
vet eager to exact bloody vengeance
from Hector nnd the Troans; but Hector
has the armor. She goes to the smitly
Of Hepaistos, who readily forges new
shield OF divine workmanship, u breast
plate brighter than the blaze Of fire, q
etrong wrought helmet with golden
crest and metal groave5. Achilles re-
ceives the arms, becomes reconciled with
Agamemnon, who sends his precious
gifts, and restores the captive Briscls.-
After lamenting over the dead Patrocius,
he mounts the car and rushes to the field,
careless of life and longing for vengeance.
And now the war comes to its terrible
turning point. The Trojan and Grecan
champions are arrGyed in deadly strife
md the divine dGities share, according to
their several likings III the battle. AS
the action approacneS a close, tilc ueScrlp'
tion rises in grandeur. AT length both
armies are withdrawn from the field, and
Achilles and Hector alone remain. A
single combat follows, aud Hector falls
Achilles insults the body of his foe,
lashcs him to his car, and drGgs him
down to his tent, in the sight OF Priam
and the Trojans, who gazed hcartstricken
from the walls upon the dreadful specta-
Gle. The Greeks returning to the camp,
games are performed in honor of Patro-
cius, and twelve Trojan youths are
slaughtered to appcasc his shade. Thus
twelve days are consumed. Priam re-
solves to visit the hostile camp, and to
impiore OF Achilles the body of his dead
son. An auspiclous omen inspires him
with hope. He departs, taking with
him costly gifts by which he thinks to
appease his vindictive enemy. He is
met by Hermes in the form OF n young
i1an, ,whoguides him to the tent Of Achil-
les. The Grecian hero, astonished al
his sudden appearance, gives him hos
pitable reception, and, overcome by pity
Cor hisunegualcd woes, consents to sur
render the body of Hector. 1t Is borne
back to the city; the inhabitants receiv,
II with loud lamentations; funeral rites
are performed, aud so the poem Closes
tFelton's Ancient and Modern Greece