the iliad(伊利亚特)-第32部分

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could　get　no　rest。　As　when　fair　Juno's　lord　flashes　his　lightning　in
token　of　great　rain　or　hail　or　snow　when　the　snow…flakes　whiten　the
ground；　or　again　as　a　sign　that　he　will　open　the　wide　jaws　of　hungry
war；　even　so　did　Agamemnon　heave　many　a　heavy　sigh；　for　his　soul
trembled　within　him。　When　he　looked　upon　the　plain　of　Troy　he
marvelled　at　the　many　watchfires　burning　in　front　of　Ilius；　and　at　the
sound　of　pipes　and　flutes　and　of　the　hum　of　men；　but　when　presently　he
turned　towards　the　ships　and　hosts　of　the　Achaeans；　he　tore　his　hair
by　handfuls　before　Jove　on　high；　and　groaned　aloud　for　the　very
disquietness　of　his　soul。　In　the　end　he　deemed　it　best　to　go　at　once
to　Nestor　son　of　Neleus；　and　see　if　between　them　they　could　find　any
way　of　the　Achaeans　from　destruction。　He　therefore　rose；　put　on　his
shirt；　bound　his　sandals　about　his　comely　feet；　flung　the　skin　of　a
huge　tawny　lion　over　his　shoulders…　a　skin　that　reached　his　feet…
and　took　his　spear　in　his　hand。
　　Neither　could　Menelaus　sleep；　for　he；　too；　boded　ill　for　the　Argives
who　for　his　sake　had　sailed　from　far　over　the　seas　to　fight　the
Trojans。　He　covered　his　broad　back　with　the　skin　of　a　spotted　panther；
put　a　casque　of　bronze　upon　his　head；　and　took　his　spear　in　his　brawny
hand。　Then　he　went　to　rouse　his　brother；　who　was　by　far　the　most
powerful　of　the　Achaeans；　and　was　honoured　by　the　people　as　though
he　were　a　god。　He　found　him　by　the　stern　of　his　ship　already　putting
his　goodly　array　about　his　shoulders；　and　right　glad　was　he　that　his
brother　had　come。
　　Menelaus　spoke　first。　〃Why；〃　said　he；　〃my　dear　brother；　are　you　thus
arming？　Are　you　going　to　send　any　of　our　comrades　to　exploit　the
Trojans？　I　greatly　fear　that　no　one　will　do　you　this　service；　and
spy　upon　the　enemy　alone　in　the　dead　of　night。　It　will　be　a　deed　of
great　daring。〃
　　And　King　Agamemnon　answered；　〃Menelaus；　we　both　of　us　need　shrewd
counsel　to　save　the　Argives　and　our　ships；　for　Jove　has　changed　his
mind；　and　inclines　towards　Hector's　sacrifices　rather　than　ours。　I
never　saw　nor　heard　tell　of　any　man　as　having　wrought　such　ruin　in　one
day　as　Hector　has　now　wrought　against　the　sons　of　the　Achaeans…　and
that　too　of　his　own　unaided　self；　for　he　is　son　neither　to　god　nor
goddess。　The　Argives　will　rue　it　long　and　deeply。　Run；　therefore；　with
all　speed　by　the　line　of　the　ships；　and　call　Ajax　and　Idomeneus。
Meanwhile　I　will　go　to　Nestor；　and　bid　him　rise　and　go　about　among　the
companies　of　our　sentinels　to　give　them　their　instructions；　they
will　listen　to　him　sooner　than　to　any　man；　for　his　own　son；　and
Meriones　brother　in　arms　to　Idomeneus；　are　captains　over　them。　It
was　to　them　more　particularly　that　we　gave　this　charge。〃
　　Menelaus　replied；　〃How　do　I　take　your　meaning？　Am　I　to　stay　with
them　and　wait　your　coming；　or　shall　I　return　here　as　soon　as　I　have
given　your　orders？〃　〃Wait；〃　answered　King　Agamemnon；　〃for　there　are　so
many　paths　about　the　camp　that　we　might　miss　one　another。　Call　every
man　on　your　way；　and　bid　him　be　stirring；　name　him　by　his　lineage
and　by　his　father's　name；　give　each　all　titular　observance；　and
stand　not　too　much　upon　your　own　dignity；　we　must　take　our　full
share　of　toil；　for　at　our　birth　Jove　laid　this　heavy　burden　upon　us。〃
　　With　these　instructions　he　sent　his　brother　on　his　way；　and　went
on　to　Nestor　shepherd　of　his　people。　He　found　him　sleeping　in　his　tent
hard　by　his　own　ship；　his　goodly　armour　lay　beside　him…　his　shield；
his　two　spears　and　his　helmet；　beside　him　also　lay　the　gleaming　girdle
with　which　the　old　man　girded　himself　when　he　armed　to　lead　his　people
into　battle…　for　his　age　stayed　him　not。　He　raised　himself　on　his
elbow　and　looked　up　at　Agamemnon。　〃Who　is　it；〃　said　he；　〃that　goes
thus　about　the　host　and　the　ships　alone　and　in　the　dead　of　night；　when
men　are　sleeping？　Are　you　looking　for　one　of　your　mules　or　for　some
comrade？　Do　not　stand　there　and　say　nothing；　but　speak。　What　is　your
business？〃
　　And　Agamemnon　answered；　〃Nestor；　son　of　Neleus；　honour　to　the
Achaean　name；　it　is　I；　Agamemnon　son　of　Atreus；　on　whom　Jove　has
laid　labour　and　sorrow　so　long　as　there　is　breath　in　my　body　and　my
limbs　carry　me。　I　am　thus　abroad　because　sleep　sits　not　upon　my
eyelids；　but　my　heart　is　big　with　war　and　with　the　jeopardy　of　the
Achaeans。　I　am　in　great　fear　for　the　Danaans。　I　am　at　sea；　and　without
sure　counsel；　my　heart　beats　as　though　it　would　leap　out　of　my　body；
and　my　limbs　fail　me。　If　then　you　can　do　anything…　for　you　too
cannot　sleep…　let　us　go　the　round　of　the　watch；　and　see　whether　they
are　drowsy　with　toil　and　sleeping　to　the　neglect　of　their　duty。　The
enemy　is　encamped　hard　and　we　know　not　but　he　may　attack　us　by　night。〃
　　Nestor　replied；　〃Most　noble　son　of　Atreus；　king　of　men；　Agamemnon；
Jove　will　not　do　all　for　Hector　that　Hector　thinks　he　will；　he　will
have　troubles　yet　in　plenty　if　Achilles　will　lay　aside　his　anger。　I
will　go　with　you；　and　we　will　rouse　others；　either　the　son　of
Tydeus；　or　Ulysses；　or　fleet　Ajax　and　the　valiant　son　of　Phyleus。　Some
one　had　also　better　go　and　call　Ajax　and　King　Idomeneus；　for　their
ships　are　not　near　at　hand　but　the　farthest　of　all。　I　cannot　however
refrain　from　blaming　Menelaus；　much　as　I　love　him　and　respect　him…　and
I　will　say　so　plainly；　even　at　the　risk　of　offending　you…　for　sleeping
and　leaving　all　this　trouble　to　yourself。　He　ought　to　be　going　about
imploring　aid　from　all　the　princes　of　the　Achaeans；　for　we　are　in
extreme　danger。〃
　　And　Agamemnon　answered；　〃Sir；　you　may　sometimes　blame　him　justly；
for　he　is　often　remiss　and　unwilling　to　exert　himself…　not　indeed　from
sloth；　nor　yet　heedlessness；　but　because　he　looks　to　me　and　expects　me
to　take　the　lead。　On　this　occasion；　however；　he　was　awake　before　I
was；　and　came　to　me　of　his　own　accord。　I　have　already　sent　him　to　call
the　very　men　whom　you　have　named。　And　now　let　us　be　going。　We　shall
find　them　with　the　watch　outside　the　gates；　for　it　was　there　I　said
that　we　would　meet　them。〃
　　〃In　that　case；〃　answered　Nestor；　〃the　Argives　will　not　blame　him　nor
disobey　his　orders　when　he　urges　them　to　fight　or　gives　them
instructions。〃
　　With　this　he　put　on　his　shirt；　and　bound　his　sandals　about　his
comely　feet。　He　buckled　on　his　purple　coat；　of　two　thicknesses；　large；
and　of　a　rough　shaggy　texture；　grasped　his　redoubtable　bronze…shod
spear；　and　wended　his　way　along　the　line　of　the　Achaean　ships。　First
he　called　loudly　to　Ulysses　peer　of　gods　in　counsel　and　woke　him；
for　he　was　soon　roused　by　the　sound　of　the　battle…cry。　He　came　outside
his　tent　and　said；　〃Why　do　you　go　thus　alone　about　the　host；　and　along
the　line　of　the　ships　in　the　stillness　of　the　night？　What　is　it　that
you　find　so　urgent？〃　And　Nestor　knight　of　Gerene　answered；　〃Ulysses；
noble　son　of　Laertes；　take　it　not　amiss；　for　the　Achaeans　are　in　great
straits。　Come　with　me　and　let　us　wake　some　other；　who　may　advise
well　with　us　whether　we　shall　fight　or　fly。〃
　　On　this　Ulysses　went　at　once　into　his　tent；　put　his　shield　about　his
shoulders　and　came　out　with　them。　First　they　went　to　Diomed　son　of
Tydeus；　and　found　him　outside　his　tent　clad　in　his　armour　with　his
comrades　sleeping　round　him　and　using　their　shields　as　pillows；　as　for
their　spears；　they　stood　upright　on　the　spikes　of　their　butts　that
were　driven　into　the　ground；　and　the　burnished　bronze　flashed　afar
like　the　lightning　of　father　Jove。　The　hero　was　sleeping　upon　the　skin
of　an　ox；　with　a　piece　of　fine　carpet　under　his　head；　Nestor　went　up
to　him　and　stirred　him　with　his　heel　to　rouse　him；　upbraiding　him
and　urging　him　to　bestir　himself。　〃Wake　up；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃son　of
Tydeus。　How　can　you　sleep　on　in　this　way？　Can　you　not　see　that　the
Trojans　are　encamped　on　the　brow　of　the　plain　hard　by　our　ships；
with　but　a　little　space　between　us　and　them？〃
　　On　these　words　Diomed　leaped　up　instantly　and　said；　〃Old　man；　your
heart　is　of　iron；　you　rest　not　one　moment　from　your　labours。　Are　there
no　younger　men　among　the　Achaeans　who　could　go　about　to　rouse　the
princes？　There　is　no　tiring　you。〃
　　And　Nestor　knight　of　Gerene　made　answer；　〃My　son；　all　that　you
have　said　is　true。　I　have　good　sons；　and　also　much　people　who　might
call　the　chieftains；　but　the　Achaeans　are　in　the　gravest　danger；
life　and　death　are　balanced　as　it　were　on　the　edge　of　a　razor。　Go
then；　for　you　are　younger　than　I；　and　of　your　courtesy　rouse　Ajax
and　the　fleet　son　of　Phyleus。〃
　　Diomed　threw　the　skin　of　a　great　tawny　lion　about　his　shoulders…　a
skin　that　reached　his　feet…　and　grasped　his　spear。　When　he　had
roused　the　heroes；　he　brought　them　back　with　him；　they　then　went　the
round　of　those　who　were　on　guard；　and　found　the　captains　not
sleeping　at　their　posts　but　wakeful　and　sitting　with　their　arms
about　them。　As　sheep　dogs　that　watch　their　flocks　when　they　are
yarded；　and　hear　a　wild　beast　coming　through　the　mountain　forest
towards　them…　forthwith　there　is　a　hue　and　cry　of　dogs　and　men；　and
slumber　is　broken…　even　so　was　sleep　chased　from　the　eyes　of　the
Achaeans　as　they　kept　the　watches　of　the　wicked　night；　for　they　turned
constantly　towards　the　plain　whenever　they　heard　any　stir　among　the
Trojans。　The　old　man　was　glad　bade　them　be　of　good　cheer。　〃Watch　on；
my　children；〃　sa