iliad10-第83部分

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Ajax　son　of　Oileus　was　for　making　him　an　angry　answer；　and　there
would　have　been　yet　further　brawling　between　them；　had　not
Achilles　risen　in　his　place　and　said；　〃Cease　your　railing；　Ajax
and　Idomeneus；　is　it　not　you　would　be　scandalised　if　you　saw　any
one　else　do　the　like：　sit　down　and　keep　your　eyes　on　the　horses；
they　are　speeding　towards　the　winning…post　and　will　be　here
directly。　You　will　then　both　of　you　know　whose　horses　are　first；
and　whose　e　after。〃

As　he　was　speaking；　the　son　of　Tydeus　came　driving　in；　plying　his
whip　lustily　from　his　shoulder；　and　his　horses　stepping　high　as
they　flew　over　the　course。　The　sand　and　grit　rained　thick　on　the
driver；　and　the　chariot　inlaid　with　gold　and　tin　ran　close　behind
his　fleet　horses。　There　was　little　trace　of　wheel…marks　in　the
fine　dust；　and　the　horses　came　flying　in　at　their　utmost　speed。
Diomed　stayed　them　in　the　middle　of　the　crowd；　and　the　sweat　from
their　manes　and　chests　fell　in　streams　on　to　the　ground。
Forthwith　he　sprang　from　his　goodly　chariot；　and　leaned　his　whip
against　his　horses'　yoke；　brave　Sthenelus　now　lost　no　time；　but
at　once　brought　on　the　prize；　and　gave　the　woman　and　the
ear…handled　cauldron　to　his　rades　to　take　away。　Then　he
unyoked　the　horses。

Next　after　him　came　in　Antilochus　of　the　race　of　Neleus；　who　had
passed　Menelaus　by　a　trick　and　not　by　the　fleetness　of　his
horses；　but　even　so　Menelaus　came　in　as　close　behind　him　as　the
wheel　is　to　the　horse　that　draws　both　the　chariot　and　its　master。
The　end　hairs　of　a　horse's　tail　touch　the　tyre　of　the　wheel；　and
there　is　never　much　space　between　wheel　and　horse　when　the
chariot　is　going；　Menelaus　was　no　further　than　this　behind
Antilochus；　though　at　first　he　had　been　a　full　disc's　throw
behind　him。　He　had　soon　caught　him　up　again；　for　Agamemnon's　mare
Aethe　kept　pulling　stronger　and　stronger；　so　that　if　the　course
had　been　longer　he　would　have　passed　him；　and　there　would　not
even　have　been　a　dead　heat。　Idomeneus's　brave　squire　Meriones　was
about　a　spear's　cast　behind　Menelaus。　His　horses　were　slowest　of
all；　and　he　was　the　worst　driver。　Last　of　them　all　came　the　son
of　Admetus；　dragging　his　chariot　and　driving　his　horses　on　in
front。　When　Achilles　saw　him　he　was　sorry；　and　stood　up　among　the
Argives　saying；　〃The　best　man　is　ing　in　last。　Let　us　give　him
a　prize　for　it　is　reasonable。　He　shall　have　the　second；　but　the
first　must　go　to　the　son　of　Tydeus。〃

Thus　did　he　speak　and　the　others　all　of　them　applauded　his
saying；　and　were　for　doing　as　he　had　said；　but　Nestor's　son
Antilochus　stood　up　and　claimed　his　rights　from　the　son　of
Peleus。　〃Achilles；〃　said　he；　〃I　shall　take　it　much　amiss　if　you
do　this　thing；　you　would　rob　me　of　my　prize；　because　you　think
Eumelus's　chariot　and　horses　were　thrown　out；　and　himself　too；
good　man　that　he　is。　He　should　have　prayed　duly　to　the　immortals；
he　would　not　have　e　in　last　if　he　had　done　so。　If　you　are
sorry　for　him　and　so　choose；　you　have　much　gold　in　your　tents；
with　bronze；　sheep；　cattle　and　horses。　Take　something　from　this
store　if　you　would　have　the　Achaeans　speak　well　of　you；　and　give
him　a　better　prize　even　than　that　which　you　have　now　offered；　but
I　will　not　give　up　the　mare；　and　he　that　will　fight　me　for　her；
let　him　e　on。〃

Achilles　smiled　as　he　heard　this；　and　was　pleased　with
Antilochus；　who　was　one　of　his　dearest　rades。　So　he　said

〃Antilochus；　if　you　would　have　me　find　Eumelus　another　prize；　I
will　give　him　the　bronze　breastplate　with　a　rim　of　tin　running
all　round　it　which　I　took　from　Asteropaeus。　It　will　be　worth　much
money　to　him。〃

He　bade　his　rade　Automedon　bring　the　breastplate　from　his
tent；　and　he　did　so。　Achilles　then　gave　it　over　to　Eumelus；　who
received　it　gladly。

But　Menelaus　got　up　in　a　rage；　furiously　angry　with　Antilochus。
An　attendant　placed　his　staff　in　his　hands　and　bade　the　Argives
keep　silence：　the　hero　then　addressed　them。　〃Antilochus；〃　said
he；　〃what　is　this　from　you　who　have　been　so　far　blameless？　You
have　made　me　cut　a　poor　figure　and　baulked　my　horses　by　flinging
your　own　in　front　of　them；　though　yours　are　much　worse　than　mine
are；　therefore；　O　princes　and　counsellors　of　the　Argives；　judge
between　us　and　show　no　favour；　lest　one　of　the　Achaeans　say；
'Menelaus　has　got　the　mare　through　lying　and　corruption；　his
horses　were　far　inferior　to　Antilochus's；　but　he　has　greater
weight　and　influence。'　Nay；　I　will　determine　the　matter　myself；
and　no　man　will　blame　me；　for　I　shall　do　what　is　just。　e　here；
Antilochus；　and　stand；　as　our　custom　is；　whip　in　hand　before　your
chariot　and　horses；　lay　your　hand　on　your　steeds；　and　swear　by
earth…encircling　Neptune　that　you　did　not　purposely　and
guilefully　get　in　the　way　of　my　horses。〃

And　Antilochus　answered；　〃Forgive　me；　I　am　much　younger；　King
Menelaus；　than　you　are；　you　stand　higher　than　I　do　and　are　the
better　man　of　the　two；　you　know　how　easily　young　men　are　betrayed
into　indiscretion；　their　tempers　are　more　hasty　and　they　have
less　judgement；　make　due　allowances　therefore；　and　bear　with　me；
I　will　of　my　own　accord　give　up　the　mare　that　I　have　won；　and　if
you　claim　any　further　chattel　from　my　own　possessions；　I　would
rather　yield　it　to　you；　at　once；　than　fall　from　your　good　graces
henceforth；　and　do　wrong　in　the　sight　of　heaven。〃

The　son　of　Nestor　then　took　the　mare　and　gave　her　over　to
Menelaus；　whose　anger　was　thus　appeased；　as　when　dew　falls　upon　a
field　of　ripening　corn；　and　the　lands　are　bristling　with　the
harvesteven　so；　O　Menelaus；　was　your　heart　made　glad　within
you。　He　turned　to　Antilochus　and　said；　〃Now；　Antilochus；　angry
though　I　have　been；　I　can　give　way　to　you　of　my　own　free　will；
you　have　never　been　headstrong　nor　ill…disposed　hitherto；　but
this　time　your　youth　has　got　the　better　of　your　judgement；　be
careful　how　you　outwit　your　betters　in　future；　no　one　else　could
have　brought　me　round　so　easily；　but　your　good　father；　your
brother；　and　yourself　have　all　of　you　had　infinite　trouble　on　my
behalf；　I　therefore　yield　to　your　entreaty；　and　will　give　up　the
mare　to　you；　mine　though　it　indeed　be；　the　people　will　thus　see
that　I　am　neither　harsh　nor　vindictive。〃

With　this　he　gave　the　mare　over　to　Antilochus's　rade　Noemon；
and　then　took　the　cauldron。　Meriones；　who　had　e　in　fourth；
carried　off　the　two　talents　of　gold；　and　the　fifth　prize；　the
two…handled　urn；　being　unawarded；　Achilles　gave　it　to　Nestor；
going　up　to　him　among　the　assembled　Argives　and　saying；　〃Take
this；　my　good　old　friend；　as　an　heirloom　and　memorial　of　the
funeral　of　Patroclusfor　you　shall　see　him　no　more　among　the
Argives。　I　give　you　this　prize　though　you　cannot　win　one；　you　can
now　neither　wrestle　nor　fight；　and　cannot　enter　for　the
javelin…match　nor　foot…races；　for　the　hand　of　age　has　been　laid
heavily　upon　you。〃

So　saying　he　gave　the　urn　over　to　Nestor；　who　received　it　gladly
and　answered；　〃My　son；　all　that　you　have　said　is　true；　there　is
no　strength　now　in　my　legs　and　feet；　nor　can　I　hit　out　with　my
hands　from　either　shoulder。　Would　that　I　were　still　young　and
strong　as　when　the　Epeans　were　burying　King　Amarynceus　in
Buprasium；　and　his　sons　offered　prizes　in　his　honour。　There　was
then　none　that　could　vie　with　me　neither　of　the　Epeans　nor　the
Pylians　themselves　nor　the　Aetolians。　In　boxing　I　overcame
Clytomedes　son　of　Enops；　and　in　wrestling；　Ancaeus　of　Pleuron　who
had　e　forward　against　me。　Iphiclus　was　a　good　runner；　but　I
beat　him；　and　threw　farther　with　my　spear　than　either　Phyleus　or
Polydorus。　In　chariot…racing　alone　did　the　two　sons　of　Actor
surpass　me　by　crowding　their　horses　in　front　of　me；　for　they　were
angry　at　the　way　victory　had　gone；　and　at　the　greater　part　of　the
prizes　remaining　in　the　place　in　which　they　had　been　offered。
They　were　twins；　and　the　one　kept　on　holding　the　reins；　and
holding　the　reins；　while　the　other　plied　the　whip。　Such　was　I
then；　but　now　I　must　leave　these　matters　to　younger　men；　I　must
bow　before　the　weight　of　years；　but　in　those　days　I　was　eminent
among　heroes。　And　now；　sir；　go　on　with　the　funeral　contests　in
honour　of　your　rade：　gladly　do　I　accept　this　urn；　and　my　heart
rejoices　that　you　do　not　forget　me　but　are　ever　mindful　of　my
goodwill　towards　you；　and　of　the　respect　due　to　me　from　the
Achaeans。　For　all　which　may　the　grace　of　heaven　be　vouchsafed　you
in　great　abundance。〃

Thereon　the　son　of　Peleus；　when　he　had　listened　to　all　the　thanks
of　Nestor；　went　about　among　the　concourse　of　the　Achaeans；　and
presently　offered　prizes　for　skill　in　the　painful　art　of　boxing。
He　brought　out　a　strong　mule；　and　made　it　fast　in　the　middle　of
the　crowda　she…mule　never　yet　broken；　but　six　years　oldwhen
it　is　hardest　of　all　to　break　them：　this　was　for　the　victor；　and
for　the　vanquished　he　offered　a　double　cup。　Then　he　stood　up　and
said　among　the　Argives；　〃Son　of　Atreus；　and　all　other　Achaeans；　I
invite　our　two　champion　boxers　to　lay　about　them　lustily　and
pete　for　these　prizes。　He　to　whom　Apollo　vouchsafes　the
greater　endurance；　and　whom　the　Achaeans　acknowledge　as　victor；
shall　take　the　mule　back　with　him　to　his　own　tent；　while　he　that
is　vanquished　shall　have　the　double　cup。〃

As　he　spoke　there　stood　up　a　champion　both　brave　and　great
stature；　a　s