formed high deeds of valor, and went near to sack the city. But the
Far-Darting Apollo and glorious Hector slew him, and gained immortal
glory. And now, I come as a suppliant, to clasp thy knees, and to pray
that thou wouldst give my short-lived son a shield, a helmet, a
breastplate, and goodly greaves."

Then the lame god, the famous artificer, replied, "Be of good cheer, O
silver-footed Queen, and be not troubled about these things! Would that I
could as surely save him from mournful death, as that I will supply him
with goodly armor, a wonder to behold!"

And he returned to his workshop, and bade his bellows--there were twenty
of them--blow the blasts on the fire and prepare the earthen moulds; and
as Vulcan willed, the work was done. He melted the tough bronze and tin,
the gold and silver, with the fire; and placed an anvil and took a strong
hammer in one hand, and tongs in the other, and with these he worked.

First, he made the shield, broad and strong, with many decorations. Around
it he placed a triple bright rim, and a silver strap depended from it. The
shield itself was formed with five zones, in each of which he fashioned
many curious works.

Therein he fashioned the Earth, the Sky, the Sea, the unwearied Sun, the
Moon at the full, and all the bright luminaries which crown the azure
firmament: the Pleiades, daughters of Atlas, the Hyades, the mighty Orion,
and, turning about to watch Orion, the Bear, which alone of all the stars
bathes not in the streams of Oceanus.

Also, on the shield, he sculptured two fair cities of articulate-speaking
men. In one of these were wedding-festivals; and, with a blaze of
torchlight, the brides were conducted from their chambers along the
streets; while the hymeneal song was loud, and the youths whirled round
and round in the giddy dance, to the music of flute and harp; while the
women stood at their doors, watching and admiring. In that city he also
fashioned an assembly of the people, in which a contention had arisen,
about the blood-fine or "were-geld" for a murdered man; the people, with
noisy shouts, cheered, on either side; but the heralds stilled the tumult,
holding their staves of office in their hands; and then the judges rose
up, to pronounce their verdict.

Around the other city lay two armies besieging it, with flashing arms. Two
plans were considered: either to destroy the town, or to divide the wealth
thereof with its citizens. But the beleaguered garrison h