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the iliad(伊利亚特)-第2部分

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so? Go home; then; with your ships and comrades to lord it over the
Myrmidons。 I care neither for you nor for your anger; and thus will
I do: since Phoebus Apollo is taking Chryseis from me; I shall send
her with my ship and my followers; but I shall come to your tent and
take your own prize Briseis; that you may learn how much stronger I am
than you are; and that another may fear to set himself up as equal
or comparable with me。〃
  The son of Peleus was furious; and his heart within his shaggy
breast was divided whether to draw his sword; push the others aside;
and kill the son of Atreus; or to restrain himself and check his
anger。 While he was thus in two minds; and was drawing his mighty
sword from its scabbard; Minerva came down from heaven (for Juno had
sent her in the love she bore to them both); and seized the son of
Peleus by his yellow hair; visible to him alone; for of the others
no man could see her。 Achilles turned in amaze; and by the fire that
flashed from her eyes at once knew that she was Minerva。 〃Why are
you here;〃 said he; 〃daughter of aegis…bearing Jove? To see the
pride of Agamemnon; son of Atreus? Let me tell you… and it shall
surely be… he shall pay for this insolence with his life。〃
  And Minerva said; 〃I come from heaven; if you will hear me; to bid
you stay your anger。 Juno has sent me; who cares for both of you
alike。 Cease; then; this brawling; and do not draw your sword; rail at
him if you will; and your railing will not be vain; for I tell you…
and it shall surely be… that you shall hereafter receive gifts three
times as splendid by reason of this present insult。 Hold; therefore;
and obey。〃
  〃Goddess;〃 answered Achilles; 〃however angry a man may be; he must
do as you two command him。 This will be best; for the gods ever hear
the prayers of him who has obeyed them。〃
  He stayed his hand on the silver hilt of his sword; and thrust it
back into the scabbard as Minerva bade him。 Then she went back to
Olympus among the other gods; and to the house of aegis…bearing Jove。
  But the son of Peleus again began railing at the son of Atreus;
for he was still in a rage。 〃Wine…bibber;〃 he cried; 〃with the face of
a dog and the heart of a hind; you never dare to go out with the
host in fight; nor yet with our chosen men in ambuscade。 You shun this
as you do death itself。 You had rather go round and rob his prizes
from any man who contradicts you。 You devour your people; for you
are king over a feeble folk; otherwise; son of Atreus; henceforward
you would insult no man。 Therefore I say; and swear it with a great
oath… nay; by this my sceptre which shalt sprout neither leaf nor
shoot; nor bud anew from the day on which it left its parent stem upon
the mountains… for the axe stripped it of leaf and bark; and now the
sons of the Achaeans bear it as judges and guardians of the decrees of
heaven… so surely and solemnly do I swear that hereafter they shall
look fondly for Achilles and shall not find him。 In the day of your
distress; when your men fall dying by the murderous hand of Hector;
you shall not know how to help them; and shall rend your heart with
rage for the hour when you offered insult to the bravest of the
Achaeans。〃
  With this the son of Peleus dashed his gold…bestudded sceptre on the
ground and took his seat; while the son of Atreus was beginning
fiercely from his place upon the other side。 Then uprose
smooth…tongued Nestor; the facile speaker of the Pylians; and the
words fell from his lips sweeter than honey。 Two generations of men
born and bred in Pylos had passed away under his rule; and he was
now reigning over the third。 With all sincerity and goodwill;
therefore; he addressed them thus:…
  〃Of a truth;〃 he said; 〃a great sorrow has befallen the Achaean
land。 Surely Priam with his sons would rejoice; and the Trojans be
glad at heart if they could hear this quarrel between you two; who are
so excellent in fight and counsel。 I am older than either of you;
therefore be guided by me。 Moreover I have been the familiar friend of
men even greater than you are; and they did not disregard my counsels。
Never again can I behold such men as Pirithous and Dryas shepherd of
his people; or as Caeneus; Exadius; godlike Polyphemus; and Theseus
son of Aegeus; peer of the immortals。 These were the mightiest men
ever born upon this earth: mightiest were they; and when they fought
the fiercest tribes of mountain savages they utterly overthrew them。 I
came from distant Pylos; and went about among them; for they would
have me come; and I fought as it was in me to do。 Not a man now living
could withstand them; but they heard my words; and were persuaded by
them。 So be it also with yourselves; for this is the more excellent
way。 Therefore; Agamemnon; though you be strong; take not this girl
away; for the sons of the Achaeans have already given her to Achilles;
and you; Achilles; strive not further with the king; for no man who by
the grace of Jove wields a sceptre has like honour with Agamemnon。 You
are strong; and have a goddess for your mother; but Agamemnon is
stronger than you; for he has more people under him。 Son of Atreus;
check your anger; I implore you; end this quarrel with Achilles; who
in the day of battle is a tower of strength to the Achaeans。〃
  And Agamemnon answered; 〃Sir; all that you have said is true; but
this fellow must needs become our lord and master: he must be lord
of all; king of all; and captain of all; and this shall hardly be。
Granted that the gods have made him a great warrior; have they also
given him the right to speak with railing?〃
  Achilles interrupted him。 〃I should be a mean coward;〃 he cried;
〃were I to give in to you in all things。 Order other people about; not
me; for I shall obey no longer。 Furthermore I say… and lay my saying
to your heart… I shall fight neither you nor any man about this
girl; for those that take were those also that gave。 But of all else
that is at my ship you shall carry away nothing by force。 Try; that
others may see; if you do; my spear shall be reddened with your
blood。〃
  When they had quarrelled thus angrily; they rose; and broke up the
assembly at the ships of the Achaeans。 The son of Peleus went back
to his tents and ships with the son of Menoetius and his company;
while Agamemnon drew a vessel into the water and chose a crew of
twenty oarsmen。 He escorted Chryseis on board and sent moreover a
hecatomb for the god。 And Ulysses went as captain。
  These; then; went on board and sailed their ways over the sea。 But
the son of Atreus bade the people purify themselves; so they
purified themselves and cast their filth into the sea。 Then they
offered hecatombs of bulls and goats without blemish on the sea…shore;
and the smoke with the savour of their sacrifice rose curling up
towards heaven。
  Thus did they busy themselves throughout the host。 But Agamemnon did
not forget the threat that he had made Achilles; and called his trusty
messengers and squires Talthybius and Eurybates。 〃Go;〃 said he; 〃to
the tent of Achilles; son of Peleus; take Briseis by the hand and
bring her hither; if he will not give her I shall come with others and
take her… which will press him harder。〃
  He charged them straightly further and dismissed them; whereon
they went their way sorrowfully by the seaside; till they came to
the tents and ships of the Myrmidons。 They found Achilles sitting by
his tent and his ships; and ill…pleased he was when he beheld them。
They stood fearfully and reverently before him; and never a word did
they speak; but he knew them and said; 〃Welcome; heralds; messengers
of gods and men; draw near; my quarrel is not with you but with
Agamemnon who has sent you for the girl Briseis。 Therefore; Patroclus;
bring her and give her to them; but let them be witnesses by the
blessed gods; by mortal men; and by the fierceness of Agamemnon's
anger; that if ever again there be need of me to save the people
from ruin; they shall seek and they shall not find。 Agamemnon is mad
with rage and knows not how to look before and after that the Achaeans
may fight by their ships in safety。〃
  Patroclus did as his dear comrade had bidden him。 He brought Briseis
from the tent and gave her over to the heralds; who took her with them
to the ships of the Achaeans… and the woman was loth to go。 Then
Achilles went all alone by the side of the hoar sea; weeping and
looking out upon the boundless waste of waters。 He raised his hands in
prayer to his immortal mother; 〃Mother;〃 he cried; 〃you bore me doomed
to live but for a little season; surely Jove; who thunders from
Olympus; might have made that little glorious。 It is not so。
Agamemnon; son of Atreus; has done me dishonour; and has robbed me
of my prize by force。〃
  As he spoke he wept aloud; and his mother heard him where she was
sitting in the depths of the sea hard by the old man her father。
Forthwith she rose as it were a grey mist out of the waves; sat down
before him as he stood weeping; caressed him with her hand; and
said; 〃My son; why are you weeping? What is it that grieves you?
Keep it not from me; but tell me; that we may know it together。〃
  Achilles drew a deep sigh and said; 〃You know it; why tell
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