Irische Texte : mit ersetzungen und Wterbuch

130 The Destruction of Troy.
the pinnacles of the archways and flung them against the Greeks,
so that in that wise they laid low many thousands of the
hosts. Moreover the people of the city arose, terribly and
fearfully, furiously and hastily. Now they had no way of flight,
for the Greeks had filled the streets and causeways and cross-
roads of the city. So there was one cry throughout Troy.
Alike were the soldiers crying and the champions howling and
the clowns bellowing and the women wailing and the children
screaming. Howbeit, as regards Priam's citadel, the valiant
heroes of the Trojans began to defend it and to protect it.
Because there lay the best of the gold and silver, the jewels
and treasures of the Trojans. Howbeit, Pyrrhus son of Achilles
began cutting and hewing the door- valve so that he himself
with his shield passed through the middle of it. Then he put
to flight 1
the Trojans who were fortifying their gateway.
Reasonable was this, for Pyrrhus son of Achilles, of whom
there is commemoration here, was, after the valiant folk that
had fallen at 2 this Destruction, chief of valour of the men of
the world.
1884. After the door(?) had been broken by Pyrrhus,
and after the defenders who were biding in the gateway had
been put to flight, 3 he entered the royal house and slew
Priam's son before his face. Priam made a cast of a spear
at him, in such wise that it went past him, because he
(Priam) was then a feeble old man. Pyrrhus hurled a cast
at Priam, so that it went into him, and he dragged him for-
ward into the room and cut off his head at Minerva's altar.
On one road, however, fared Hecuba and Polyxena. Then Aeneas
ran to meet Polyxena. Howbeit Hecuba gave him full posses-
sion of the girl in return for protecting her. Aeneas then hid
her under the safeguard of his father Anchises. Howbeit An-
dromache, Hector's wife, and Cassandra, Priam's daughter, went
and laid themselves down on Minerva's altar.
Lit. he gave pursuit on.
Lit. on.
8 Lit. after hunting the defenders.