Story of Aeneas | Page 4

famous "judgment of Pa'ris," which came about in this way--.
A king of Athens named Pe'leus married a beautiful sea-nymph named
The'tis. All the gods and goddesses were present at the wedding feast
except E'ris, the goddess of discord. She was not invited, and being
angry on that account, she resolved to cause dissension among the
guests. With this object she threw into the midst of the assembly a
golden apple bearing the inscription, "For the most beautiful."
Immediately a dispute arose as to which of the goddesses was entitled
to the prize, but at last all gave up their claim except Juno, Venus, and
Minerva, and they agreed to leave the settlement of the question to
Paris, son of Pri'am, King of Troy, a young prince who was noted for
the wisdom of his judgments upon several occasions.
The three goddesses soon afterwards appeared before Paris, and each
endeavored by the offer of tempting bribes, to induce him to decide in
her favor. Juno promised him great power and wealth.
She to Paris made Proffer of royal power, ample rule Unquestion'd.
TENNYSON.
Minerva offered military glory, and Venus promised that she would
give him the most beautiful woman in the world for his wife. After
hearing their claims and promises, Paris gave the apple to Venus. This
award or judgment brought upon him and his family, and all the
Trojans, the hatred of the two other goddesses, particularly of Juno,
who, being the queen of heaven, had expected that the preference, as a
matter of course would be given to her.
But besides the judgment of Paris, there was another cause of Juno's
anger against Troy. She had heard of a decree of the Fates that a race
descended from the Trojans was one day to destroy Carthage, a city in
which she was worshipped with much honor, and which she regarded

with great affection. She therefore hated Aeneas, through whom, as the
ancestor of the founders of Rome, the destruction of her beloved city
was to be brought about.
On account of this hatred of the Trojans, Juno persuaded her royal
husband, Jupiter, to consent to the downfall of Troy, and so the valor of
all its heroic defenders, of whom Aeneas was one, could not save it
from its fate, decreed by the king of the gods. Many famous warriors
fell during the long siege. Hec'tor, son of Priam, the greatest of the
Trojan champions, was slain by A-chil'les, the most valiant of the
Greeks, and Achilles was himself slain by Paris. After losing their
bravest leader the Greeks despaired of being able to take the city by
force, and so they resorted to stratagem. By the advice of Minerva they
erected a huge horse of wood on the plain in front of the walls, and
within its body they placed a chosen band of their boldest warriors.
Then pretending that they had given up the struggle, they withdrew to
their ships, and set sail, as if with the purpose of returning to Greece.
But they went no further than Ten'e-dos, an island opposite Troy, a few
miles from the coast.
"There was their fleet concealed. We thought for Greece Their sails
were hoisted, and our fears release. The Trojans, cooped within their
walls so long, Unbar their gates and issue in a throng Like swarming
bees, and with delight survey The camp deserted, where the Grecians
lay: The quarters of the several chiefs they showed: Here Phoe'nix, here
Achilles, made abode; Here joined the battles; there the navy rode. Part
on the pile their wandering eyes employ-- The pile by Pallas raised to
ruin Troy." DRYDEN, AEneid, BOOK II.
The Trojans when they saw the big horse, could not think what it meant,
or what should be done with it. Various opinions were given. Some
thought it was a peace offering, and one chief proposed that it should
be dragged within the walls and placed in the citadel. Others advised
that it should be cast into the sea, or set on fire, or at least that they
ought to burst it open to find whether anything were concealed within.
While they were thus discussing the matter, some urging one course,
some another, the priest La-oc'o-on rushed out from the city followed
by a great crowd and he exclaimed in a loud voice: "Unhappy
fellow-countrymen, what madness is this? Are you so foolish as to
suppose that the enemy are gone, or that any offering of theirs can be

free from deception? Either Greeks are hidden in this horse, or it is an
engine designed for some evil to our city. Put no faith in it, Trojans.
Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks even when they tender gifts." Thus
speaking, Laocoon hurled his spear into the horse's side.