the iliad(伊利亚特)-第43部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

he　yoked　his　fleet　brazen…footed　steeds　with　their　manes　of　gold　all
flying　in　the　wind；　he　clothed　himself　in　raiment　of　gold；　grasped　his
gold　whip；　and　took　his　stand　upon　his　chariot。　As　he　went　his　way
over　the　waves　the　sea…monsters　left　their　lairs；　for　they　knew
their　lord；　and　came　gambolling　round　him　from　every　quarter　of　the
deep；　while　the　sea　in　her　gladness　opened　a　path　before　his
chariot。　So　lightly　did　the　horses　fly　that　the　bronze　axle　of　the　car
was　not　even　wet　beneath　it；　and　thus　his　bounding　steeds　took　him
to　the　ships　of　the　Achaeans。
　　Now　there　is　a　certain　huge　cavern　in　the　depths　of　the　sea　midway
between　Tenedos　and　rocky　Imbrus；　here　Neptune　lord　of　the
earthquake　stayed　his　horses；　unyoked　them；　and　set　before　them
their　ambrosial　forage。　He　hobbled　their　feet　with　hobbles　of　gold
which　none　could　either　unloose　or　break；　so　that　they　might　stay
there　in　that　place　until　their　lord　should　return。　This　done　he
went　his　way　to　the　host　of　the　Achaeans。
　　Now　the　Trojans　followed　Hector　son　of　Priam　in　close　array　like　a
storm…cloud　or　flame　of　fire；　fighting　with　might　and　main　and　raising
the　cry　battle；　for　they　deemed　that　they　should　take　the　ships　of　the
Achaeans　and　kill　all　their　chiefest　heroes　then　and　there。
Meanwhile　earth…encircling　Neptune　lord　of　the　earthquake　cheered　on
the　Argives；　for　he　had　come　up　out　of　the　sea　and　had　assumed　the
form　and　voice　of　Calchas。
　　First　he　spoke　to　the　two　Ajaxes；　who　were　doing　their　best　already；
and　said；　〃Ajaxes；　you　two　can　be　the　saving　of　the　Achaeans　if　you
will　put　out　all　your　strength　and　not　let　yourselves　be　daunted。　I　am
not　afraid　that　the　Trojans；　who　have　got　over　the　wall　in　force；　will
be　victorious　in　any　other　part；　for　the　Achaeans　can　hold　all　of　them
in　check；　but　I　much　fear　that　some　evil　will　befall　us　here　where
furious　Hector；　who　boasts　himself　the　son　of　great　Jove　himself；　is
leading　them　on　like　a　pillar　of　flame。　May　some　god；　then；　put　it
into　your　hearts　to　make　a　firm　stand　here；　and　to　incite　others　to　do
the　like。　In　this　case　you　will　drive　him　from　the　ships　even　though
he　be　inspired　by　Jove　himself。〃
　　As　he　spoke　the　earth…encircling　lord　of　the　earthquake　struck
both　of　them　with　his　sceptre　and　filled　their　hearts　with　daring。
He　made　their　legs　light　and　active；　as　also　their　hands　and　their
feet。　Then；　as　the　soaring　falcon　poises　on　the　wing　high　above　some
sheer　rock；　and　presently　swoops　down　to　chase　some　bird　over　the
plain；　even　so　did　Neptune　lord　of　the　earthquake　wing　his　flight　into
the　air　and　leave　them。　Of　the　two；　swift　Ajax　son　of　Oileus　was　the
first　to　know　who　it　was　that　had　been　speaking　with　them；　and　said　to
Ajax　son　of　Telamon；　〃Ajax；　this　is　one　of　the　gods　that　dwell　on
Olympus；　who　in　the　likeness　of　the　prophet　is　bidding　us　fight　hard
by　our　ships。　It　was　not　Calchas　the　seer　and　diviner　of　omens；　I　knew
him　at　once　by　his　feet　and　knees　as　he　turned　away；　for　the　gods
are　soon　recognised。　Moreover　I　feel　the　lust　of　battle　burn　more
fiercely　within　me；　while　my　hands　and　my　feet　under　me　are　more　eager
for　the　fray。〃
　　And　Ajax　son　of　Telamon　answered；　〃I　too　feel　my　hands　grasp　my
spear　more　firmly；　my　strength　is　greater；　and　my　feet　more　nimble；
I　long；　moreover；　to　meet　furious　Hector　son　of　Priam；　even　in
single　combat。〃
　　Thus　did　they　converse；　exulting　in　the　hunger　after　battle　with
which　the　god　had　filled　them。　Meanwhile　the　earth…encircler　roused
the　Achaeans；　who　were　resting　in　the　rear　by　the　ships　overcome　at
once　by　hard　fighting　and　by　grief　at　seeing　that　the　Trojans　had
got　over　the　wall　in　force。　Tears　began　falling　from　their　eyes　as
they　beheld　them；　for　they　made　sure　that　they　should　not　escape
destruction；　but　the　lord　of　the　earthquake　passed　lightly　about　among
them　and　urged　their　battalions　to　the　front。
　　First　he　went　up　to　Teucer　and　Leitus；　the　hero　Peneleos；　and
Thoas　and　Deipyrus；　Meriones　also　and　Antilochus；　valiant　warriors；
all　did　he　exhort。　〃Shame　on　you　young　Argives；〃　he　cried；　〃it　was
on　your　prowess　I　relied　for　the　saving　of　our　ships；　if　you　fight　not
with　might　and　main；　this　very　day　will　see　us　overcome　by　the
Trojans。　Of　a　truth　my　eyes　behold　a　great　and　terrible　portent
which　I　had　never　thought　to　see…　the　Trojans　at　our　ships…　they；
who　were　heretofore　like　panic…stricken　hinds；　the　prey　of　jackals　and
wolves　in　a　forest；　with　no　strength　but　in　flight　for　they　cannot
defend　themselves。　Hitherto　the　Trojans　dared　not　for　one　moment
face　the　attack　of　the　Achaeans；　but　now　they　have　sallied　far　from
their　city　and　are　fighting　at　our　very　ships　through　the　cowardice　of
our　leader　and　the　disaffection　of　the　people　themselves；　who　in　their
discontent　care　not　to　fight　in　defence　of　the　ships　but　are　being
slaughtered　near　them。　True；　King　Agamemnon　son　of　Atreus　is　the　cause
of　our　disaster　by　having　insulted　the　son　of　Peleus；　still　this　is　no
reason　why　we　should　leave　off　fighting。　Let　us　be　quick　to　heal；
for　the　hearts　of　the　brave　heal　quickly。　You　do　ill　to　be　thus
remiss；　you；　who　are　the　finest　soldiers　in　our　whole　army。　I　blame　no
man　for　keeping　out　of　battle　if　he　is　a　weakling；　but　I　am
indignant　with　such　men　as　you　are。　My　good　friends；　matters　will　soon
become　even　worse　through　this　slackness；　think；　each　one　of　you；　of
his　own　honour　and　credit；　for　the　hazard　of　the　fight　is　extreme。
Great　Hector　is　now　fighting　at　our　ships；　he　has　broken　through　the
gates　and　the　strong　bolt　that　held　them。〃
　　Thus　did　the　earth…encircler　address　the　Achaeans　and　urge　them
on。　Thereon　round　the　two　Ajaxes　there　gathered　strong　bands　of　men；
of　whom　not　even　Mars　nor　Minerva；　marshaller　of　hosts　could　make
light　if　they　went　among　them；　for　they　were　the　picked　men　of　all
those　who　were　now　awaiting　the　onset　of　Hector　and　the　Trojans。
They　made　a　living　fence；　spear　to　spear；　shield　to　shield；　buckler　to
buckler；　helmet　to　helmet；　and　man　to　man。　The　horse…hair　crests　on
their　gleaming　helmets　touched　one　another　as　they　nodded　forward；
so　closely　seffied　were　they；　the　spears　they　brandished　in　their
strong　hands　were　interlaced；　and　their　hearts　were　set　on　battle。
　　The　Trojans　advanced　in　a　dense　body；　with　Hector　at　their　head
pressing　right　on　as　a　rock　that　comes　thundering　down　the　side　of
some　mountain　from　whose　brow　the　winter　torrents　have　torn　it；　the
foundations　of　the　dull　thing　have　been　loosened　by　floods　of　rain；
and　as　it　bounds　headlong　on　its　way　it　sets　the　whole　forest　in　an
uproar；　it　swerves　neither　to　right　nor　left　till　it　reaches　level
ground；　but　then　for　all　its　fury　it　can　go　no　further…　even　so　easily
did　Hector　for　a　while　seem　as　though　he　would　career　through　the
tents　and　ships　of　the　Achaeans　till　he　had　reached　the　sea　in　his
murderous　course；　but　the　closely　serried　battalions　stayed　him　when
he　reached　them；　for　the　sons　of　the　Achaeans　thrust　at　him　with
swords　and　spears　pointed　at　both　ends；　and　drove　him　from　them　so
that　he　staggered　and　gave　ground；　thereon　he　shouted　to　the
Trojans；　〃Trojans；　Lycians；　and　Dardanians；　fighters　in　close
combat；　stand　firm：　the　Achaeans　have　set　themselves　as　a　wall　against
me；　but　they　will　not　check　me　for　long；　they　will　give　ground
before　me　if　the　mightiest　of　the　gods；　the　thundering　spouse　of　Juno；
has　indeed　inspired　my　onset。〃
　　With　these　words　he　put　heart　and　soul　into　them　all。　Deiphobus
son　of　Priam　went　about　among　them　intent　on　deeds　of　daring　with
his　round　shield　before　him；　under　cover　of　which　he　strode　quickly
forward。　Meriones　took　aim　at　him　with　a　spear；　nor　did　he　fail　to　hit
the　broad　orb　of　ox…hide；　but　he　was　far　from　piercing　it　for　the
spear　broke　in　two　pieces　long　ere　he　could　do　so；　moreover
Deiphobus　had　seen　it　coming　and　had　held　his　shield　well　away　from
him。　Meriones　drew　back　under　cover　of　his　comrades；　angry　alike　at
having　failed　to　vanquish　Deiphobus；　and　having　broken　his　spear。　He
turned　therefore　towards　the　ships　and　tents　to　fetch　a　spear　which　he
had　left　behind　in　his　tent。
　　The　others　continued　fighting；　and　the　cry　of　battle　rose　up　into
the　heavens。　Teucer　son　of　Telamon　was　the　first　to　kill　his　man；　to
wit；　the　warrior　Imbrius　son　of　Mentor　rich　in　horses。　Until　the
Achaeans　came　he　had　lived　in　Pedaeum；　and　had　married　Medesicaste　a
bastard　daughter　of　Priam；　but　on　the　arrival　of　the　Danaan　fleet　he
had　gone　back　to　Ilius；　and　was　a　great　man　among　the　Trojans；
dwelling　near　Priam　himself；　who　gave　him　like　honour　with　his　own
sons。　The　son　of　Telamon　now　struck　him　under　the　ear　with　a　spear
which　he　then　drew　back　again；　and　Imbrius　fell　headlong　as　an
ash…tree　when　it　is　felled　on　the　crest　of　some　high　mountain
beacon；　and　its　delicate　green　foliage　comes　toppling　down　to　the
ground。　Thus　did　he　fall　with　his　bronze…dight　armour　ringing
harshly　round　him；　and　Teucer　sprang　forward　with　intent　to　strip
him　of　his　armour；　but　as　he　was　doing　so；　Hector　took　aim　at　him　with
a　spear。　Teucer　saw　the　spear　coming　and　swerved　aside；　whereon　it　hit
Amphimachus；　son　of　Cteatus　son　of　Actor；　in　the　chest　as　he　was
coming　into　battle；　and　his　armour　rang　rat