Center for Hellenic Studies - Proclus' Summary of the Little Iliad lyrics

Proclus' Summary of the Little Iliad, attributed to Lesches of Lesbos [The Little Iliad, in four scrolls, follows the Aithiopis.] [1] There is the judgment for the armor, and Odysseus wins by the machinations of Athena, but Aias [Ajax] goes mad and defiles the herds of the Achaeans and k**s himself. After this Odysseus goes on an ambush and captures Helenos, [5] and as a result of Helenos' prophecy about the city's conquest Diomedes fetches Philoctetes from Lemnos. Philoctetes is healed by Makhaon; he fights in single combat with Alexandros and k**s him. The corpse is mutilated by Menelaos, [10] but the Trojans carry it off and hold funeral rites. After this Deiphobos marries Helen. Odysseus fetches Neoptolemos from Skyros; he gives him his father's armor, and the spirit of Achilles appears to Neoptolemos. [15] Eurypylos the son of Telephos comes to the aid of the Trojans as an ally, and while he is having his aristeia Neoptolemos k**s him. Troy is under siege. Epeios constructs the wooden horse, under direction of Athena. Odysseus, disfiguring himself, goes into Ilion as a spy. [20] He is recognized by Helen; jointly, they plan the capture of the city. Odysseus k**s several Trojans and returns to the ships. After this Odysseus and Diomedes carry the Palladion out of Ilion. The aristoi of the Achaeans climb into the wooden horse; [25] the rest burn their tents and sail away to Tenedos. The Trojans conclude that they have been released from the siege. Pulling down part of the wall, they accept the wooden horse into the city, and they feast as if they had conquered the Achaeans.