Hear me o Muse, guide me true that I tell without distraction this story.
Lend words to mine tongue, lend whit to my words, attention to my audience
that they may hear the glories and adventures of Agenor the great.
Much atrocity he endured at Troy, bravery was the field on which he walked,
pride was the armor he wore, mighty Apollo the god who stood by his side.
Countless Achaian foe did he destroy. His bronze point and razor edge
both dripped blood and of brain and did pierce flesh of many enemy.
Muse that watches my words, insure my speech honors heroic Agenor as justice calls for.
During the battle of Troy did Agenor confront Achilles.
Courageous heart, words of Apollo in his ears, opportunity,
glory if Agenor slay Achilles, mightiest of all mankind.
In combat heat did Agenor hurl his javelin at mighty Achilles
yet the gods gift vouchsafed Achilles health and he was unmoved at this.
Apollo did hold to his word to stand fast with Agenor and send
him unmarked from battle. Then did Apollo, in form of heroic
Agenor, divert mighty Achilles away from the field where so
many heroes now lay with their insides now coating their outsides.
This combination, mortal hero, immortal god, saved many Trojan lives
that day to do battle with Achaian soldiers another day.
It was thereafter that the Argives, by deceit, did enter the walls
which had stood immovable to their rage for ten years of seasons.
Ten wet and blooming springs did the walls of Troy stand fast.
Ten warm and peaceful summers did the walls of Troy stand fast.
Ten golden, chilly autumns did the walls of Troy stand fast.
Ten cold and grey winters did the walls of Troy stand fast.
One dawn a giant horse bask in the afterglow of Achaian retreat.
Achilles, mightiest of all mankind and his brethren retiring.
Hopes of peace falling upon Troy as a light rain upon a country field.
Tribute of Argives brought into Troy, the celebration began.
Thus was the span of a year held within the confines of a day.
Troy with wine ran wet and blooming with song as the sun rose overhead.
Troy with fire stood warm and peaceful in thoughts of happy future at dusk.
Troy by golden embers rested as chilly night hastened upon their revels.
Troy into cold and grey death fell as sleep brought the silent intruders
who opened gates for the returning Argives, hatred sharp as bronze.
Nobel Agenor was alerted to the Achaian the intrusion.
Agenor brandished armor and hefted sword in defense of his city.
Leading his platoon did Agenor march toward invading masses.
Following in rank, thirty-seven heroes, facing the battle without fear.
Blades and spears spoke to the flesh and the blood in the way intended by
blacksmiths who hammer at hot metal, labor with sweat upon their brow.
The Trojans held first and firm. Polybus did place the bronze point of his spear
within the chest of Medon who was taken by surprise in his joy at the pillage.
Polybus abandoned his spear to react and brought his sword to bear upon Iasus.
Iasus attempted to raise shield, but was too slow and his neck was partially severed
leaving his breath to escape his body without passing through his nose.
Even as Medon and Iasus crumpled to the ground their armor was stripped away.
Yet the tide was soon to turn as the Achaian trickle turned to flood.
The foe responded in number. Polybus, ahead of Agenor and his fellow soldiers,
fell first as the fiery waters of Achaian solders surrounded him.
Engulfed on each side, he took a spear in his left from Oileus
and a sword in the hand of Sphelus dug into his right side.
Between them his heart spilled its precious contents into the ever darkening soil.
Sphelus then struck out at Acamas, severing his sword hand at the wrist,
and soon after sending Acamas to join Polybus. Boucolos, Oileus and Sphelus
drove forward into the Trojans lead by nobel Agenor. Behind them massed more
of the Achaian invaders, threatening to overwhelm the Trojans
as quickly as a spider overwhelms the unsuspecting fly, with equally final results.
Agenor, thinking quickly and realizing the futility of their strategy
lead the platoon to Trojan to rout, another means of attack to be soon discovered.
Acamas lay a bloody wound upon Oileus, but in doing so left himself vulnerable.
Boucolos brought his sword to bear on Acamas, leading him to further distraction,
and the bronze point of Sphelus's spear pierced Acamas eye and intruded upon his brain.
Priam was disarmed by Chalcodon and had no refuge available in the short time
it took Chalcodon to split his arm, smash his helm and drive his blade into Priam's
defenseless back. As Agenor and his remaining soldiers of courage made way to
safer ground the mass of Achaian waters washed the armor from Polybus, Acamas
and Priam, leaving them naked warriors with no honor intact.
In the end did the heavy walls of Troy fall to the invaders.
The heroes of Troy were slain, the same fate suffered by their children.
The women of Troy distributed as prizes for the victors.
Of Troy's defenders a handful did escape the slaughter of the Argives
and journey into the country, spread by their quest of destiny
as seeds are spread by the wind and rivers.
It is the heroic Agenor who's footsteps we will walk in.
Agenor, whom strode the earth mortal man, yet as a giant
under the watch of Apollo and the guidance of divine destiny.
Three days after nobel Agenor and his troop crossed the Simois River,
set upon the city of Abydos, did Apollo look down upon them.
The sun god queried the master of thunderbolts. "Father, son of Cronus,
our high and mighty king of thunder and lightening, you stood watch as
destiny took it's place and the walls of glorious Troy fell.
You stood watch as Hektor, beloved by his city and feared on the square of battle,
fell to the bronze of Achilles. Hektor, who as a lion did watch over his
lioness and cubs did watch over Andromache and Astyanax, did burn in a funeral
pyre before the walls of Troy even fell. Yet had not Hektor been all a hero should be?
Did not beloved Hektor stand by his city, by his soldiers, by his family, in war and peace?
Did not feared Hektor lead men to rage on the field of war and leave in his wake the
smashed skulls of numberless foe? Did Hektor not uphold all form of honor?
And here we see Agenor, no less honorable, no less brave, no less loved.
Agenor who has lost so much when Troy was lost, yet never relents hope.
Shall we see as well the bones of Agenor in the ashes of a funeral?
I implore you, forsake destiny and fate for one so brave and fierce."
Did the master of thunder respond to Apollo's pleading
"Fear not, for Agenor will find his glory and his destiny as they be both in one.
His trials will be won, at great cost, but advantage is his before the close
and his journeys upon land and over sea will become as the stuff legends are made of.
Battles of bronze, spirit and mind will nobel Agenor encounter.
While I will not take action to hinder your nobel mortal, there are others who will.
Mortals, whom Agenor can vanquish and immortals, which he can only hope to
scratch or outsmart. I know what request you seek me to grant you.
You ask to watch over nobel Agenor and to secure his favor in the eye of fate.
So do I grant you that desire. The wheels are in motion and your meddling in
the affairs of this mortal can not alter their movement, but it will be of comfort to all."
Consent acquired from the highest of Gods did Apollo set forth.
Sight of this affair in the making did set Hera and Athena
each whispering and plotting into the ear of the other.
Alliances were still set from the great war, as well oppositions.
Hera set to draw Zeus from his guard, her mind more of war than love.
Athena puzzled on the guard of Agenor and puzzles by which to drop that guard.
Three days after nobel Agenor and his troops crossed the Simois River,
set upon the city of Abydos, did the rain fall down upon them.
Storming clouds, torrential rain did force the platoon to seek shelter.
Discovery lead them to an over grown acropolis.
Seeking refuge from the raging winds Agenor did lead into the dark dwellings.
Covering their persons with wall and roof did comfort them
as the unborn child is comforted by warmth and darkness in the womb.
Outside the safe darkness a world of sounds and flashes and inexplicables
raged and waited with patience for the child to be born unto it.
In tbis new found womb did Agenor's platoon seek rest, and soon all
slept sound save two heros watching over their comrads of arms.
Powerful Dmetor, who without bronze once slay five Trojans.
Ingenious Castor, known for stratigy and planning when time became scarce.
Burried deep in the acropolis, burried deep in the storm,
did thirty-one Trojan warriors dream of glory, honor and vengance.
Agenor was awakened by Dmetor.
"Stir nobel Agenor, the wrath outside has calmed, but the watch has been
compromised. Only I stand guard of our spirits and honors while Castor
journies to investigate the unknown and unseen which lurks near by."
"Castor has abondoned his post? I've not known him to abondond
honor so easily. Where to and what for has he strayed his duty,
snapping the stings binding him to fellow warrior?"
"Agenor, judge not Castor the deserter, not in such vein has he strayed.
Listen to my story, for strange intentions do dwell in these walls with us.
All images and writing copyright On The Fly Photography / Skippy, except where noted. These images may not be used for public display, altered or displayed on another web site without my permission. These essays, poetry & other forms of written word may be printed & distributed on paper so long as my e-mail address & web page address are on the paper.
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