The Trojan War by Bernard Evslin

The Trojan War by Bernard Evslin

Author:Bernard Evslin [Evslin, Bernard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
ISBN: 9781453264492
Publisher: Open Road
Published: 2012-10-03T22:39:00+00:00


POSEIDON DECIDES

THE GOD OF THE sea was vexed. Unlike the other gods he had held himself aloof from this war. He had preened himself on being so far above the affairs of petty mortals that he might not stoop to take a hand in their quarrels. This was a unique position in the Pantheon; all the other gods had lined up one way or the other. And, for a while, this sense of uniqueness served his pride. But now of late he had felt a difference. The combatants, Trojan and Greek, offered him fewer prayers, less sacrifices, adorned his statues more meagerly, built him fewer altars. They implored his intercession only in specific sea matters—voyages, piracies, and the like. But this had developed into a land war, so Poseidon was feeling neglected.

“All because of my impartiality,” he raged to himself. “An attribute I have always held truly divine. Instead of being thankful that I do not meddle in their battles, killing this one, saving that one, turning all their plans awry—instead of being thankful for my benign indifference, they have dared to neglect me. The Trojans, knowing that Athena is against them, sacrifice to her constantly. But yesterday Hector sent all the women of Troy in great droves, led by Hecuba, to the Palladium to pray to Athena to turn a less furious face upon them. Similarly, the Hellenes court Apollo, who favors the Trojans. Yes, they pray and sacrifice to him and to his cold sister, and to that blundering bully, Ares. They crawl to all the gods who favor Troy. The Trojans again fill the air with supplications to Hera, whom they know loathes them. It’s getting so a god has to punish a nation to get its respect. Well, I’m weary of being neglected. I shall take sides too. Those I favor shall thank me, those I mistreat shall implore me … Yes, I shall have my mead of mortal attention—without which, it is curious to say, we gods, even the most powerful of us, are apt to shrivel and waste.

“Now who shall it be—Trojan or Greek? Very difficult. No instantaneous bias suggests itself, only a mild dislike for each.”

The trouble here was that Poseidon for all his tempestuous bluster had a strong feminine side to his nature. He was incapable of loving or hating people in groups. Generalization irked him. He could form a powerful attachment to an individual—as he had to Theseus, for instance, said to have been his son—and keep an eye on him through all circumstance and crown his deeds with glory. Or, far more often, he could hold an implacable grudge against someone, and pursue him with storm, tidal wave, sea-monster, every type of marine catastrophe. But, as he thought about things, he found himself incapable of preferring either Greek or Trojan en masse.

“Let’s see,” he said. “Let me consider this carefully. Certainly I can find cause to favor one side or the other …

“Greek or Trojan, Trojan or Greek? Shall I have to draw straws? Seems a paltry device to decide such potent favor.



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