Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-03-13
The story of the Had.
From Feltar's Lecture on Greece.l

The story of the Iliad is very simple. 1t
begins with the~luarrel of Agamemnon
and Achilles about a captive girl, in the
ninth year OF the war. Achilles, in anger,
withdraws from the Grecian camp. A Sc
ries of battles follow, in which the Greeks,
deprived of their swift-footed companion,
suffer defeat and slaughter. In the mean
time, the secondary heroes press forward,
and become the leading figures in the mar
tial picture. In separate chants the valiant
deeds of Diomedes, Ajax, Menelaus. Aga
memnon, are coThmemorated. But the
Trojans, 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. Agamemnon, at length, convict
ed of his fatal error, and anxious to recall
the angry hero, sends an embassy with Of
fer of ample reparation.
The proposal is haughtily rejected. The
war again proceeds, with varying fortune.
The Greeks are driven within their walls,
and the Trojans, led by Hector. threaten to
fire the ships. The battle waverS; Hector
is wounded, and the Trojans are driven
back. Achilles consents that Patroclus, his
brother, shall put on his armor and go
forth to battle. The appearance of this
champion, clad in the complete steel of the
son of Thetis, at first strikes terror to the
hosts of Troy, and gives heart to the
.Argives. But he is slain and spoiled of his
arms by Hector, aud fierce combats for the
possession of that dead body follow. The
Greeks prevail, and bear the slain hero
with sorrow, abandOns himself to unre-
strained lamentation. This calls his
mother, Thetis, up from the sea. She finds
him prostrate with grief, yeteager to exact
a bloody vengeance from Hector and the
Troians; but Hector has the armor.-
She goes to the smithy OF Hephaistos,
who readily forges a new shield of di-
vine workmanship, a breast-plate brighter
than the blaze of a fire, a strong-wrought
helmet with a golden crest and metal
greaVes. Achilles receives the arms, be-
comes .reconciled with Agamemnon, who
sends him precious gifts and restores the
captive Briseis. After lamenting over the
dead PatrOclus, he mounts the car and
rushes to the field, careless of life, and long
ing only for vengeance. And now the war
comes TO its terrible turning point. The
Trojan and the Grecian champions are ar
rayed in deadly strife, and the divided del.
ties share, according to their several likings,
in the battle. As the action approaches
close, the description rises in gran
deur. At length both armies are with
drawn from the field, and Achilles and
Hector alone remain. A single combat fol-
lows, and Hector falls. Achilles insults the
body of his foe, lashes him to his car, and
drags hlm down to his tent, in the sight of
Piram and the Trojans, who gaze heart
stricken from the walls upon the dreadful
spectacle.
The Greeks returning to the camp, fu-
neral games are performed in honor of
PatroclCs. and twelve Trojan youths are
slaughtered to appease his shade.
Thus twelve days are consumed. Priam
resolves TO visit the hostile camp, and to
implore. of Achilles the restoration of his
dead An anSnipi0nS nmnn incniros
him with hope. He departs, taking with him
costly gifts. by which he thinks TO appease
his vindictiYe enemy. He is met by
Hermes, in the form of a young man, who
guides him to the tent of Achilles. The
Grecian hero. astonished at his sudden ap-|
pearance, gives him hospitahle reception.
and, overcome by pity for his unequalled
woes, consented to surrender the body OF
Hector. 1t is borne back to the city; the
inhabitants receiveit with loud laiaenta-
ton; funeral rites are performed and SO
the poem closes.