the iliad(伊利亚特)-第73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！

with　his　sword　and　killed　him。　After　this　he　sprang　on　Laogonus　and
Dardanus；　sons　of　Bias；　and　threw　them　from　their　chariot；　the　one
with　a　blow　from　a　thrown　spear；　while　the　other　he　cut　down　in
hand…to…hand　fight。　There　was　also　Tros　the　son　of　Alastor…　he　came　up
to　Achilles　and　clasped　his　knees　in　the　hope　that　he　would　spare
him　and　not　kill　him　but　let　him　go；　because　they　were　both　of　the
same　age。　Fool；　he　might　have　known　that　he　should　not　prevail　with
him；　for　the　man　was　in　no　mood　for　pity　or　forbearance　but　was　in
grim　earnest。　Therefore　when　Tros　laid　hold　of　his　knees　and　sought
a　hearing　for　his　prayers；　Achilles　drove　his　sword　into　his　liver；
and　the　liver　came　rolling　out；　while　his　bosom　was　all　covered　with
the　black　blood　that　welled　from　the　wound。　Thus　did　death　close　his
eyes　as　he　lay　lifeless。
　　Achilles　then　went　up　to　Mulius　and　struck　him　on　the　ear　with　a
spear；　and　the　bronze　spear…head　came　right　out　at　the　other　ear。　He
also　struck　Echeclus　son　of　Agenor　on　the　head　with　his　sword；　which
became　warm　with　the　blood；　while　death　and　stern　fate　closed　the　eyes
of　Echeclus。　Next　in　order　the　bronze　point　of　his　spear　wounded
Deucalion　in　the　fore…arm　where　the　sinews　of　the　elbow　are　united；
whereon　he　waited　Achilles'　onset　with　his　arm　hanging　down　and
death　staring　him　in　the　face。　Achilles　cut　his　head　off　with　a　blow
from　his　sword　and　flung　it　helmet　and　all　away　from　him；　and　the
marrow　came　oozing　out　of　his　backbone　as　he　lay。　He　then　went　in
pursuit　of　Rhigmus；　noble　son　of　Peires；　who　had　come　from　fertile
Thrace；　and　struck　him　through　the　middle　with　a　spear　which　fixed
itself　in　his　belly；　so　that　he　fell　headlong　from　his　chariot。　He
also　speared　Areithous　squire　to　Rhigmus　in　the　back　as　he　was　turning
his　horses　in　flight；　and　thrust　him　from　his　chariot；　while　the
horses　were　struck　with　panic。
　　As　a　fire　raging　in　some　mountain　glen　after　long　drought…　and　the
dense　forest　is　in　a　blaze；　while　the　wind　carries　great　tongues　of
fire　in　every　direction…　even　so　furiously　did　Achilles　rage；　wielding
his　spear　as　though　he　were　a　god；　and　giving　chase　to　those　whom　he
would　slay；　till　the　dark　earth　ran　with　blood。　Or　as　one　who　yokes
broad…browed　oxen　that　they　may　tread　barley　in　a　threshing…floor…　and
it　is　soon　bruised　small　under　the　feet　of　the　lowing　cattle…　even
so　did　the　horses　of　Achilles　trample　on　the　shields　and　bodies　of　the
slain。　The　axle　underneath　and　the　railing　that　ran　round　the　car　were
bespattered　with　clots　of　blood　thrown　up　by　the　horses'　hoofs；　and
from　the　tyres　of　the　wheels；　but　the　son　of　Peleus　pressed　on　to
win　still　further　glory；　and　his　hands　were　bedrabbled　with　gore。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　XXI

　　NOW　when　they　came　to　the　ford　of　the　full…flowing　river　Xanthus；
begotten　of　immortal　Jove；　Achilles　cut　their　forces　in　two：　one
half　he　chased　over　the　plain　towards　the　city　by　the　same　way　that
the　Achaeans　had　taken　when　flying　panic…stricken　on　the　preceding　day
with　Hector　in　full　triumph；　this　way　did　they　fly　pell…mell；　and　Juno
sent　down　a　thick　mist　in　front　of　them　to　stay　them。　The　other　half
were　hemmed　in　by　the　deep　silver…eddying　stream；　and　fell　into　it
with　a　great　uproar。　The　waters　resounded；　and　the　banks　rang　again；
as　they　swam　hither　and　thither　with　loud　cries　amid　the　whirling
eddies。　As　locusts　flying　to　a　river　before　the　blast　of　a　grass　fire…
the　flame　comes　on　and　on　till　at　last　it　overtakes　them　and　they
huddle　into　the　water…　even　so　was　the　eddying　stream　of　Xanthus
filled　with　the　uproar　of　men　and　horses；　all　struggling　in
confusion　before　Achilles。
　　Forthwith　the　hero　left　his　spear　upon　the　bank；　leaning　it
against　a　tamarisk　bush；　and　plunged　into　the　river　like　a　god；
armed　with　his　sword　only。　Fell　was　his　purpose　as　he　hewed　the
Trojans　down　on　every　side。　Their　dying　groans　rose　hideous　as　the
sword　smote　them；　and　the　river　ran　red　with　blood。　As　when　fish　fly
scared　before　a　huge　dolphin；　and　fill　every　nook　and　corner　of　some
fair　haven…　for　he　is　sure　to　eat　all　he　can　catch…　even　so　did　the
Trojans　cower　under　the　banks　of　the　mighty　river；　and　when
Achilles'　arms　grew　weary　with　killing　them；　he　drew　twelve　youths
alive　out　of　the　water；　to　sacrifice　in　revenge　for　Patroclus　son　of
Menoetius。　He　drew　them　out　like　dazed　fawns；　bound　their　hands　behind
them　with　the　girdles　of　their　own　shirts；　and　gave　them　over　to　his
men　to　take　back　to　the　ships。　Then　he　sprang　into　the　river；
thirsting　for　still　further　blood。
　　There　he　found　Lycaon；　son　of　Priam　seed　of　Dardanus；　as　he　was
escaping　out　of　the　water；　he　it　was　whom　he　had　once　taken　prisoner
when　he　was　in　his　father's　vineyard；　having　set　upon　him　by　night；　as
he　was　cutting　young　shoots　from　a　wild　fig…tree　to　make　the　wicker
sides　of　a　chariot。　Achilles　then　caught　him　to　his　sorrow　unawares；
and　sent　him　by　sea　to　Lemnos；　where　the　son　of　Jason　bought　him。
But　a　guest…friend；　Eetion　of　Imbros；　freed　him　with　a　great　sum；
and　sent　him　to　Arisbe；　whence　he　had　escaped　and　returned　to　his
father's　house。　He　had　spent　eleven　days　happily　with　his　friends
after　he　had　come　from　Lemnos；　but　on　the　twelfth　heaven　again
delivered　him　into　the　hands　of　Achilles；　who　was　to　send　him　to　the
house　of　Hades　sorely　against　his　will。　He　was　unarmed　when　Achilles
caught　sight　of　him；　and　had　neither　helmet　nor　shield；　nor　yet　had　he
any　spear；　for　he　had　thrown　all　his　armour　from　him　on　to　the　bank；
and　was　sweating　with　his　struggles　to　get　out　of　the　river；　so　that
his　strength　was　now　failing　him。
　　Then　Achilles　said　to　himself　in　his　surprise；　〃What　marvel　do　I　see
here？　If　this　man　can　come　back　alive　after　having　been　sold　over　into
Lemnos；　I　shall　have　the　Trojans　also　whom　I　have　slain　rising　from
the　world　below。　Could　not　even　the　waters　of　the　grey　sea　imprison
him；　as　they　do　many　another　whether　he　will　or　no？　This　time　let
him　taste　my　spear；　that　I　may　know　for　certain　whether　mother　earth
who　can　keep　even　a　strong　man　down；　will　be　able　to　hold　him；　or
whether　thence　too　he　will　return。〃
　　Thus　did　he　pause　and　ponder。　But　Lycaon　came　up　to　him　dazed　and
trying　hard　to　embrace　his　knees；　for　he　would　fain　live；　not　die。
Achilles　thrust　at　him　with　his　spear；　meaning　to　kill　him；　but　Lycaon
ran　crouching　up　to　him　and　caught　his　knees；　whereby　the　spear　passed
over　his　back；　and　stuck　in　the　ground；　hungering　though　it　was　for
blood。　With　one　hand　he　caught　Achilles'　knees　as　he　besought　him；　and
with　the　other　he　clutched　the　spear　and　would　not　let　it　go。　Then
he　said；　〃Achilles；　have　mercy　upon　me　and　spare　me；　for　I　am　your
suppliant。　It　was　in　your　tents　that　I　first　broke　bread　on　the　day
when　you　took　me　prisoner　in　the　vineyard；　after　which　you　sold　away
to　Lemnos　far　from　my　father　and　my　friends；　and　I　brought　you　the
price　of　a　hundred　oxen。　I　have　paid　three　times　as　much　to　gain　my
freedom；　it　is　but　twelve　days　that　I　have　come　to　Ilius　after　much
suffering；　and　now　cruel　fate　has　again　thrown　me　into　your　hands。
Surely　father　Jove　must　hate　me；　that　he　has　given　me　over　to　you　a
second　time。　Short　of　life　indeed　did　my　mother　Laothoe　bear　me；
daughter　of　aged　Altes…　of　Altes　who　reigns　over　the　warlike　Lelegae
and　holds　steep　Pedasus　on　the　river　Satnioeis。　Priam　married　his
daughter　along　with　many　other　women　and　two　sons　were　born　of　her；
both　of　whom　you　will　have　slain。　Your　spear　slew　noble　Polydorus　as
he　was　fighting　in　the　front　ranks；　and　now　evil　will　here　befall
me；　for　I　fear　that　I　shall　not　escape　you　since　heaven　has　delivered
me　over　to　you。　Furthermore　I　say；　and　lay　my　saying　to　your　heart；
spare　me；　for　I　am　not　of　the　same　womb　as　Hector　who　slew　your
brave　and　noble　comrade。〃
　　With　such　words　did　the　princely　son　of　Priam　beseech　Achilles；
but　Achilles　answered　him　sternly。　〃Idiot；〃　said　he；　〃talk　not　to　me
of　ransom。　Until　Patroclus　fell　I　preferred　to　give　the　Trojans
quarter；　and　sold　beyond　the　sea　many　of　those　whom　I　had　taken　alive；
but　now　not　a　man　shall　live　of　those　whom　heaven　delivers　into　my
hands　before　the　city　of　Ilius…　and　of　all　Trojans　it　shall　fare
hardest　with　the　sons　of　Priam。　Therefore；　my　friend；　you　too　shall
die。　Why　should　you　whine　in　this　way？　Patroclus　fell；　and　he　was　a
better　man　than　you　are。　I　too…　see　you　not　how　I　am　great　and　goodly？
I　am　son　to　a　noble　father；　and　have　a　goddess　for　my　mother；　but
the　hands　of　doom　and　death　overshadow　me　all　as　surely。　The　day
will　come；　either　at　dawn　or　dark；　or　at　the　noontide；　when　one
shall　take　my　life　also　in　battle；　either　with　his　spear；　or　with　an
arrow　sped　from　his　bow。〃
　　Thus　did　he　speak；　and　Lycaon's　heart　sank　within　him。　He　loosed　his
hold　of　the　spear；　and　held　out　both　hands　before　him；　but　Achilles
drew　his　keen　blade；　and　struck　him　by　the　collar…bone　on　his　neck；　he
plunged　his　two…edged　sword　into　him　to　the　very　hilt；　whereon　he
lay　at　full　length　on　the　ground；　with　the　dark　blood　welling　from　him
till　the　earth　was　soaked。　Then　Achilles　caught　him　by　the　foot　and
flung　him　into　the　river　to　go　down　stream；　vaunting　over　him　the
while；　and　saying；　〃Lie　there　am