the iliad(伊利亚特)-第68部分

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　　All　round　the　outermost　rim　of　the　shield　he　set　the　mighty　stream
of　the　river　Oceanus。
　　Then　when　he　had　fashioned　the　shield　so　great　and　strong；　he　made　a
breastplate　also　that　shone　brighter　than　fire。　He　made　helmet；
close　fitting　to　the　brow；　and　richly　worked；　with　a　golden　plume
overhanging　it；　and　he　made　greaves　also　of　beaten　tin。
　　Lastly；　when　the　famed　lame　god　had　made　all　the　armour；　he　took
it　and　set　it　before　the　mother　of　Achilles；　whereon　she　darted　like　a
falcon　from　the　snowy　summits　of　Olympus　and　bore　away　the　gleaming
armour　from　the　house　of　Vulcan。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　XIX

　　NOW　when　Dawn　in　robe　of　saffron　was　hasting　from　the　streams　of
Oceanus；　to　bring　light　to　mortals　and　immortals；　Thetis　reached　the
ships　with　the　armour　that　the　god　had　given　her。　She　found　her　son
fallen　about　the　body　of　Patroclus　and　weeping　bitterly。　Many　also
of　his　followers　were　weeping　round　him；　but　when　the　goddess　came
among　them　she　clasped　his　hand　in　her　own；　saying；　〃My　son；　grieve　as
we　may　we　must　let　this　man　lie；　for　it　is　by　heaven's　will　that　he
has　fallen；　now；　therefore；　accept　from　Vulcan　this　rich　and　goodly
armour；　which　no　man　has　ever　yet　borne　upon　his　shoulders。〃
　　As　she　spoke　she　set　the　armour　before　Achilles；　and　it　rang　out
bravely　as　she　did　so。　The　Myrmidons　were　struck　with　awe；　and　none
dared　look　full　at　it；　for　they　were　afraid；　but　Achilles　was　roused
to　still　greater　fury；　and　his　eyes　gleamed　with　a　fierce　light；　for
he　was　glad　when　he　handled　the　splendid　present　which　the　god　had
made　him。　Then；　as　soon　as　he　had　satisfied　himself　with　looking　at
it；　he　said　to　his　mother；　〃Mother；　the　god　has　given　me　armour；
meet　handiwork　for　an　immortal　and　such　as　no　living　could　have
fashioned；　I　will　now　arm；　but　I　much　fear　that　flies　will　settle　upon
the　son　of　Menoetius　and　breed　worms　about　his　wounds；　so　that　his
body；　now　he　is　dead；　will　be　disfigured　and　the　flesh　will　rot。〃
　　Silver…footed　Thetis　answered；　〃My　son；　be　not　disquieted　about　this
matter。　I　will　find　means　to　protect　him　from　the　swarms　of　noisome
flies　that　prey　on　the　bodies　of　men　who　have　been　killed　in　battle。
He　may　lie　for　a　whole　year；　and　his　flesh　shall　still　be　as　sound
as　ever；　or　even　sounder。　Call；　therefore；　the　Achaean　heroes　in
assembly；　unsay　your　anger　against　Agamemnon；　arm　at　once；　and　fight
with　might　and　main。〃
　　As　she　spoke　she　put　strength　and　courage　into　his　heart；　and　she
then　dropped　ambrosia　and　red　nectar　into　the　wounds　of　Patroclus；
that　his　body　might　suffer　no　change。
　　Then　Achilles　went　out　upon　the　seashore；　and　with　a　loud　cry　called
on　the　Achaean　heroes。　On　this　even　those　who　as　yet　had　stayed　always
at　the　ships；　the　pilots　and　helmsmen；　and　even　the　stewards　who
were　about　the　ships　and　served　out　rations；　all　came　to　the　place
of　assembly　because　Achilles　had　shown　himself　after　having　held　aloof
so　long　from　fighting。　Two　sons　of　Mars；　Ulysses　and　the　son　of
Tydeus；　came　limping；　for　their　wounds　still　pained　them；　nevertheless
they　came；　and　took　their　seats　in　the　front　row　of　the　assembly。　Last
of　all　came　Agamemnon；　king　of　men；　he　too　wounded；　for　Coon　son　of
Antenor　had　struck　him　with　a　spear　in　battle。
　　When　the　Achaeans　were　got　together　Achilles　rose　and　said；　〃Son
of　Atreus；　surely　it　would　have　been　better　alike　for　both　you　and　me；
when　we　two　were　in　such　high　anger　about　Briseis；　surely　it　would
have　been　better；　had　Diana's　arrow　slain　her　at　the　ships　on　the
day　when　I　took　her　after　having　sacked　Lyrnessus。　For　so；　many　an
Achaean　the　less　would　have　bitten　dust　before　the　foe　in　the　days
of　my　anger。　It　has　been　well　for　Hector　and　the　Trojans；　but　the
Achaeans　will　long　indeed　remember　our　quarrel。　Now；　however；　let　it
be；　for　it　is　over。　If　we　have　been　angry；　necessity　has　schooled
our　anger。　I　put　it　from　me：　I　dare　not　nurse　it　for　ever；
therefore；　bid　the　Achaeans　arm　forthwith　that　I　may　go　out　against
the　Trojans；　and　learn　whether　they　will　be　in　a　mind　to　sleep　by
the　ships　or　no。　Glad；　I　ween；　will　he　be　to　rest　his　knees　who　may
fly　my　spear　when　I　wield　it。〃
　　Thus　did　he　speak；　and　the　Achaeans　rejoiced　in　that　he　had　put　away
his　anger。
　　Then　Agamemnon　spoke；　rising　in　his　place；　and　not　going　into　the
middle　of　the　assembly。　〃Danaan　heroes；〃　said　he；　〃servants　of　Mars；
it　is　well　to　listen　when　a　man　stands　up　to　speak；　and　it　is　not
seemly　to　interrupt　him；　or　it　will　go　hard　even　with　a　practised
speaker。　Who　can　either　hear　or　speak　in　an　uproar？　Even　the　finest

orator　will　be　disconcerted　by　it。　I　will　expound　to　the　son　of
Peleus；　and　do　you　other　Achaeans　heed　me　and　mark　me　well。　Often　have
the　Achaeans　spoken　to　me　of　this　matter　and　upbraided　me；　but　it
was　not　I　that　did　it：　Jove；　and　Fate；　and　Erinys　that　walks　in
darkness　struck　me　mad　when　we　were　assembled　on　the　day　that　I　took
from　Achilles　the　meed　that　had　been　awarded　to　him。　What　could　I
do？　All　things　are　in　the　hand　of　heaven；　and　Folly；　eldest　of
Jove's　daughters；　shuts　men's　eyes　to　their　destruction。　She　walks
delicately；　not　on　the　solid　earth；　but　hovers　over　the　heads　of　men
to　make　them　stumble　or　to　ensnare　them。
　　〃Time　was　when　she　fooled　Jove　himself；　who　they　say　is　greatest
whether　of　gods　or　men；　for　Juno；　woman　though　she　was；　beguiled　him
on　the　day　when　Alcmena　was　to　bring　forth　mighty　Hercules　in　the　fair
city　of　Thebes。　He　told　it　out　among　the　gods　saying；　'Hear　me　all
gods　and　goddesses；　that　I　may　speak　even　as　I　am　minded；　this　day
shall　an　Ilithuia；　helper　of　women　who　are　in　labour；　bring　a　man
child　into　the　world　who　shall　be　lord　over　all　that　dwell　about　him
who　are　of　my　blood　and　lineage。'　Then　said　Juno　all　crafty　and　full
of　guile；　'You　will　play　false；　and　will　not　hold　to　your　word。
Swear　me；　O　Olympian；　swear　me　a　great　oath；　that　he　who　shall　this
day　fall　between　the　feet　of　a　woman；　shall　be　lord　over　all　that
dwell　about　him　who　are　of　your　blood　and　lineage。'
　　〃Thus　she　spoke；　and　Jove　suspected　her　not；　but　swore　the　great
oath；　to　his　much　ruing　thereafter。　For　Juno　darted　down　from　the　high
summit　of　Olympus；　and　went　in　haste　to　Achaean　Argos　where　she　knew
that　the　noble　wife　of　Sthenelus　son　of　Perseus　then　was。　She　being
with　child　and　in　her　seventh　month；　Juno　brought　the　child　to　birth
though　there　was　a　month　still　wanting；　but　she　stayed　the　offspring
of　Alcmena；　and　kept　back　the　Ilithuiae。　Then　she　went　to　tell　Jove
the　son　of　Saturn；　and　said；　'Father　Jove；　lord　of　the　lightning…　I
have　a　word　for　your　ear。　There　is　a　fine　child　born　this　day；
Eurystheus；　son　to　Sthenelus　the　son　of　Perseus；　he　is　of　your
lineage；　it　is　well；　therefore；　that　he　should　reign　over　the
Argives。'
　　〃On　this　Jove　was　stung　to　the　very　quick；　and　in　his　rage　he　caught
Folly　by　the　hair；　and　swore　a　great　oath　that　never　should　she
again　invade　starry　heaven　and　Olympus；　for　she　was　the　bane　of　all。
Then　he　whirled　her　round　with　a　twist　of　his　hand；　and　flung　her　down
from　heaven　so　that　she　fell　on　to　the　fields　of　mortal　men；　and　he
was　ever　angry　with　her　when　he　saw　his　son　groaning　under　the　cruel
labours　that　Eurystheus　laid　upon　him。　Even　so　did　I　grieve　when
mighty　Hector　was　killing　the　Argives　at　their　ships；　and　all　the　time
I　kept　thinking　of　Folly　who　had　so　baned　me。　I　was　blind；　and　Jove
robbed　me　of　my　reason；　I　will　now　make　atonement；　and　will　add　much
treasure　by　way　of　amends。　Go；　therefore；　into　battle；　you　and　your
people　with　you。　I　will　give　you　all　that　Ulysses　offered　you
yesterday　in　your　tents：　or　if　it　so　please　you；　wait；　though　you
would　fain　fight　at　once；　and　my　squires　shall　bring　the　gifts　from　my
ship；　that　you　may　see　whether　what　I　give　you　is　enough。〃
　　And　Achilles　answered；　〃Son　of　Atreus；　king　of　men　Agamemnon；　you
can　give　such　gifts　as　you　think　proper；　or　you　can　withhold　them：
it　is　in　your　own　hands。　Let　us　now　set　battle　in　array；　it　is　not
well　to　tarry　talking　about　trifles；　for　there　is　a　deed　which　is　as
yet　to　do。　Achilles　shall　again　be　seen　fighting　among　the　foremost；
and　laying　low　the　ranks　of　the　Trojans：　bear　this　in　mind　each　one　of
you　when　he　is　fighting。〃
　　Then　Ulysses　said；　〃Achilles；　godlike　and　brave；　send　not　the
Achaeans　thus　against　Ilius　to　fight　the　Trojans　fasting；　for　the
battle　will　be　no　brief　one；　when　it　is　once　begun；　and　heaven　has
filled　both　sides　with　fury；　bid　them　first　take　food　both　bread　and
wine　by　the　ships；　for　in　this　there　is　strength　and　stay。　No　man
can　do　battle　the　livelong　day　to　the　going　down　of　the　sun　if　he　is
without　food；　however　much　he　may　want　to　fight　his　strength　will　fail
him　before　he　knows　it；　hunger　and　thirst　will　find　him　out；　and　his
limbs　will　grow　weary　under　him。　But　a　man　can　fight　all　day　if　he
is　full　fed　with　meat　and　wine；　his　heart　beats　high；　and　his　strength
will　stay　till　he　has　routed　all　his　foes；　therefore；　send　the
people　away　and　bid　them　prepare　their　meal；　King　Agamemnon　will　bring
out　the　gifts　in　presence　of　the　assembly；　that　all　may　see　them　and
you　may　be　satisfied。　Moreover　let　him　swear　an　oath　before　the
Argives　that　he　has　never　gone　up　in