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the iliad(伊利亚特)-第13部分

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selves you spur your men on to fight with might and main。 Would; by
father Jove; Minerva; and Apollo that all were so minded as you are;
for the city of Priam would then soon fall beneath our hands; and we
should sack it。〃
  With this he left them and went onward to Nestor; the facile speaker
of the Pylians; who was marshalling his men and urging them on; in
company with Pelagon; Alastor; Chromius; Haemon; and Bias shepherd
of his people。 He placed his knights with their chariots and horses in
the front rank; while the foot…soldiers; brave men and many; whom he
could trust; were in the rear。 The cowards he drove into the middle;
that they might fight whether they would or no。 He gave his orders
to the knights first; bidding them hold their horses well in hand;
so as to avoid confusion。 〃Let no man;〃 he said; 〃relying on his
strength or horsemanship; get before the others and engage singly with
the Trojans; nor yet let him lag behind or you will weaken your
attack; but let each when he meets an enemy's chariot throw his
spear from his own; this be much the best; this is how the men of
old took towns and strongholds; in this wise were they minded。〃
  Thus did the old man charge them; for he had been in many a fight;
and King Agamemnon was glad。 〃I wish;〃 he said to him; that your limbs
were as supple and your strength as sure as your judgment is; but age;
the common enemy of mankind; has laid his hand upon you; would that it
had fallen upon some other; and that you were still young。〃
  And Nestor; knight of Gerene; answered; 〃Son of Atreus; I too
would gladly be the man I was when I slew mighty Ereuthalion; but
the gods will not give us everything at one and the same time。 I was
then young; and now I am old; still I can go with my knights and
give them that counsel which old men have a right to give。 The
wielding of the spear I leave to those who are younger and stronger
than myself。〃
  Agamemnon went his way rejoicing; and presently found Menestheus;
son of Peteos; tarrying in his place; and with him were the
Athenians loud of tongue in battle。 Near him also tarried cunning
Ulysses; with his sturdy Cephallenians round him; they had not yet
heard the battle…cry; for the ranks of Trojans and Achaeans had only
just begun to move; so they were standing still; waiting for some
other columns of the Achaeans to attack the Trojans and begin the
fighting。 When he saw this Agamemnon rebuked them and said; 〃Son of
Peteos; and you other; steeped in cunning; heart of guile; why stand
you here cowering and waiting on others? You two should be of all
men foremost when there is hard fighting to be done; for you are
ever foremost to accept my invitation when we councillors of the
Achaeans are holding feast。 You are glad enough then to take your fill
of roast meats and to drink wine as long as you please; whereas now
you would not care though you saw ten columns of Achaeans engage the
enemy in front of you。〃
  Ulysses glared at him and answered; 〃Son of Atreus; what are you
talking about? How can you say that we are slack? When the Achaeans
are in full fight with the Trojans; you shall see; if you care to do
so; that the father of Telemachus will join battle with the foremost
of them。 You are talking idly。〃
  When Agamemnon saw that Ulysses was angry; he smiled pleasantly at
him and withdrew his words。 〃Ulysses;〃 said he; 〃noble son of Laertes;
excellent in all good counsel; I have neither fault to find nor orders
to give you; for I know your heart is right; and that you and I are of
a mind。 Enough; I will make you amends for what I have said; and if
any ill has now been spoken may the gods bring it to nothing。〃
  He then left them and went on to others。 Presently he saw the son of
Tydeus; noble Diomed; standing by his chariot and horses; with
Sthenelus the son of Capaneus beside him; whereon he began to
upbraid him。 〃Son of Tydeus;〃 he said; 〃why stand you cowering here
upon the brink of battle? Tydeus did not shrink thus; but was ever
ahead of his men when leading them on against the foe… so; at least;
say they that saw him in battle; for I never set eyes upon him myself。
They say that there was no man like him。 He came once to Mycenae;
not as an enemy but as a guest; in company with Polynices to recruit
his forces; for they were levying war against the strong city of
Thebes; and prayed our people for a body of picked men to help them。
The men of Mycenae were willing to let them have one; but Jove
dissuaded them by showing them unfavourable omens。 Tydeus;
therefore; and Polynices went their way。 When they had got as far
the deep…meadowed and rush…grown banks of the Aesopus; the Achaeans
sent Tydeus as their envoy; and he found the Cadmeans gathered in
great numbers to a banquet in the house of Eteocles。 Stranger though
he was; he knew no fear on finding himself single…handed among so
many; but challenged them to contests of all kinds; and in each one of
them was at once victorious; so mightily did Minerva help him。 The
Cadmeans were incensed at his success; and set a force of fifty youths
with two captains… the godlike hero Maeon; son of Haemon; and
Polyphontes; son of Autophonus… at their head; to lie in wait for
him on his return journey; but Tydeus slew every man of them; save
only Maeon; whom he let go in obedience to heaven's omens。 Such was
Tydeus of Aetolia。 His son can talk more glibly; but he cannot fight
as his father did。〃
  Diomed made no answer; for he was shamed by the rebuke of Agamemnon;
but the son of Capaneus took up his words and said; 〃Son of Atreus;
tell no lies; for you can speak truth if you will。 We boast
ourselves as even better men than our fathers; we took seven…gated
Thebes; though the wall was stronger and our men were fewer in number;
for we trusted in the omens of the gods and in the help of Jove;
whereas they perished through their own sheer folly; hold not; then;
our fathers in like honour with us。〃
  Diomed looked sternly at him and said; 〃Hold your peace; my
friend; as I bid you。 It is not amiss that Agamemnon should urge the
Achaeans forward; for the glory will be his if we take the city; and
his the shame if we are vanquished。 Therefore let us acquit
ourselves with valour。〃
  As he spoke he sprang from his chariot; and his armour rang so
fiercely about his body that even a brave man might well have been
scared to hear it。
  As when some mighty wave that thunders on the beach when the west
wind has lashed it into fury… it has reared its head afar and now
comes crashing down on the shore; it bows its arching crest high
over the jagged rocks and spews its salt foam in all directions…
even so did the serried phalanxes of the Danaans march steadfastly
to battle。 The chiefs gave orders each to his own people; but the
men said never a word; no man would think it; for huge as the host
was; it seemed as though there was not a tongue among them; so
silent were they in their obedience; and as they marched the armour
about their bodies glistened in the sun。 But the clamour of the Trojan
ranks was as that of many thousand ewes that stand waiting to be
milked in the yards of some rich flockmaster; and bleat incessantly in
answer to the bleating of their lambs; for they had not one speech nor
language; but their tongues were diverse; and they came from many
different places。 These were inspired of Mars; but the others by
Minerva… and with them came Panic; Rout; and Strife whose fury never
tires; sister and friend of murderous Mars; who; from being at first
but low in stature; grows till she uprears her head to heaven;
though her feet are still on earth。 She it was that went about among
them and flung down discord to the waxing of sorrow with even hand
between them。
  When they were got together in one place shield clashed with
shield and spear with spear in the rage of battle。 The bossed
shields beat one upon another; and there was a tramp as of a great
multitude… death…cry and shout of triumph of slain and slayers; and
the earth ran red with blood。 As torrents swollen with rain course
madly down their deep channels till the angry floods meet in some
gorge; and the shepherd the hillside hears their roaring from afar…
even such was the toil and uproar of the hosts as they joined in
battle。
  First Antilochus slew an armed warrior of the Trojans; Echepolus;
son of Thalysius; fighting in the foremost ranks。 He struck at the
projecting part of his helmet and drove the spear into his brow; the
point of bronze pierced the bone; and darkness veiled his eyes;
headlong as a tower he fell amid the press of the fight; and as he
dropped King Elephenor; son of Chalcodon and captain of the proud
Abantes began dragging him out of reach of the darts that were falling
around him; in haste to strip him of his armour。 But his purpose was
not for long; Agenor saw him haling the body away; and smote him in
the side with his bronze…shod spear… for as he stooped his side was
left unprotected by his shield… and thus he perished。 Then the fight
between Trojans and Achaeans grew furious over his body; and they flew
upon each other like wolves; man and man crushing one upon the other。
  Forthwith Ajax; son of Telamon; s
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