Irische Texte : mit ersetzungen und Wterbuch

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112
The Destruction of Troy.
Europe and Asia were broken there. A cruel, mighty, wound-
ful battle was there begun. Plenteous were the streams of
blood over the skins of tender youths a-going into danger
according to their power. Many were the heroes lying hacked
and cut by the fighting of foes. Many were the shields cloven
from edge to edge. Many were the swords worn down to their
hilts by the mutual smiting. Many were the spears and javelins
broken all round the battlefield. Many were the byrnies with-
out . . . Full on that day were the slaughter-fields, glens, and
valleys and firths, of the streams 01 blood that were there
a-dropping out of bodies of valiant heroes. Of the deeds done
on this day — though none should be counted save those that
fell by the hand of Troilus (the youngest of Priam's children,
but the eldest of the men of the world from sunrise to sunset
as regards honour and prowess and valour) — though none but
those should bo counted, it were enough of tidings of valour
and of loss of his enemies. For though the Greeks should not
find a lessening (?) of that host save only those of their strong
leaders that fell that day at the hands of Troilus, it was
enough of evil; besides what he laid low of the rest of the
host, — more was that than could be reckoned.
1382. Thereafter, then, they went on fighting every day till
the end of the week. Agamemnon sent to ask a truce till
the end of two months. Then each buried his friend and his
comrade and his companion. Then the Greeks, with Agamem-
non, held funeral games, magnificently and honourably, for
Palamedes their king.
1387. Now while these truces were lasting, Agamemnon
sent envoys to invite Achilles into the battle. These were the
envoys, to wit, Ulysses and Nestor and Diomcde. That was
in no wise gotten from Achilles, because of what Hecuba had
promised him; for so great was his love for Polyxena that he
was not at all fain to fight against the Trojans. He was
mightily enraged with the envoys because they had come at
all to him; and he said to them that it was better to make
peace and goodwill and friendship between the two countries