the iliad(伊利亚特)-第21节

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　wives　and　little　ones　of　the　Trojans；　and　keep　the　son　of　Tydeus
from　off　the　goodly　city　of　Ilius；　for　he　fights　with　fury；　and
fills　men's　souls　with　panic。　Go；　then；　to　the　temple　of　Minerva；
while　I　seek　Paris　and　exhort　him；　if　he　will　hear　my　words。　Would
that　the　earth　might　open　her　jaws　and　swallow　him；　for　Jove　bred
him　to　be　the　bane　of　the　Trojans；　and　of　Priam　and　Priam's　sons。
Could　I　but　see　him　go　down　into　the　house　of　Hades；　my　heart　would
forget　its　heaviness。〃
　　His　mother　went　into　the　house　and　called　her　waiting…women　who
gathered　the　matrons　throughout　the　city。　She　then　went　down　into
her　fragrant　store…room；　where　her　embroidered　robes　were　kept；　the
work　of　Sidonian　women；　whom　Alexandrus　had　brought　over　from　Sidon
when　he　sailed　the　seas　upon　that　voyage　during　which　he　carried　off
Helen。　Hecuba　took　out　the　largest　robe；　and　the　one　that　was　most
beautifully　enriched　with　embroidery；　as　an　offering　to　Minerva：　it
glittered　like　a　star；　and　lay　at　the　very　bottom　of　the　chest。　With
this　she　went　on　her　way　and　many　matrons　with　her。
　　When　they　reached　the　temple　of　Minerva；　lovely　Theano；　daughter
of　Cisseus　and　wife　of　Antenor；　opened　the　doors；　for　the　Trojans
had　made　her　priestess　of　Minerva。　The　women　lifted　up　their　hands
to　the　goddess　with　a　loud　cry；　and　Theano　took　the　robe　to　lay　it
upon　the　knees　of　Minerva；　praying　the　while　to　the　daughter　of
great　Jove。　〃Holy　Minerva；〃　she　cried；　〃protectress　of　our　city；
mighty　goddess；　break　the　spear　of　Diomed　and　lay　him　low　before　the
Scaean　gates。　Do　this；　and　we　will　sacrifice　twelve　heifers　that
have　never　yet　known　the　goad；　in　your　temple；　if　you　will　have　pity
upon　the　town；　with　the　wives　and　little　ones　If　the　Trojans。〃　Thus
she　prayed；　but　Pallas　Minerva　granted　not　her　prayer。
　　While　they　were　thus　praying　to　the　daughter　of　great　Jove；　Hector
went　to　the　fair　house　of　Alexandrus；　which　he　had　built　for　him　by
the　foremost　builders　in　the　land。　They　had　built　him　his　house；
storehouse；　and　courtyard　near　those　of　Priam　and　Hector　on　the
acropolis。　Here　Hector　entered；　with　a　spear　eleven　cubits　long　in　his
hand；　the　bronze　point　gleamed　in　front　of　him；　and　was　fastened　to
the　shaft　of　the　spear　by　a　ring　of　gold。　He　found　Alexandrus　within
the　house；　busied　about　his　armour；　his　shield　and　cuirass；　and
handling　his　curved　bow；　there；　too；　sat　Argive　Helen　with　her
women；　setting　them　their　several　tasks；　and　as　Hector　saw　him　he
rebuked　him　with　words　of　scorn。　〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃you　do　ill　to
nurse　this　rancour；　the　people　perish　fighting　round　this　our　town；
you　would　yourself　chide　one　whom　you　saw　shirking　his　part　in　the
combat。　Up　then；　or　ere　long　the　city　will　be　in　a　blaze。〃
　　And　Alexandrus　answered；　〃Hector；　your　rebuke　is　just；　listen
therefore；　and　believe　me　when　I　tell　you　that　I　am　not　here　so　much
through　rancour　or　ill…will　towards　the　Trojans；　as　from　a　desire　to
indulge　my　grief。　My　wife　was　even　now　gently　urging　me　to　battle；　and
I　hold　it　better　that　I　should　go；　for　victory　is　ever　fickle。　Wait；
then；　while　I　put　on　my　armour；　or　go　first　and　I　will　follow。　I　shall
be　sure　to　overtake　you。〃
　　Hector　made　no　answer；　but　Helen　tried　to　soothe　him。　〃Brother；〃
said　she；　〃to　my　abhorred　and　sinful　self；　would　that　a　whirlwind
had　caught　me　up　on　the　day　my　mother　brought　me　forth；　and　had
borne　me　to　some　mountain　or　to　the　waves　of　the　roaring　sea　that
should　have　swept　me　away　ere　this　mischief　had　come　about。　But；　since
the　gods　have　devised　these　evils；　would；　at　any　rate；　that　I　had　been
wife　to　a　better　man…　to　one　who　could　smart　under　dishonour　and　men's
evil　speeches。　This　fellow　was　never　yet　to　be　depended　upon；　nor
never　will　be；　and　he　will　surely　reap　what　he　has　sown。　Still；
brother；　come　in　and　rest　upon　this　seat；　for　it　is　you　who　bear　the
brunt　of　that　toil　that　has　been　caused　by　my　hateful　self　and　by
the　sin　of　Alexandrus…　both　of　whom　Jove　has　doomed　to　be　a　theme　of
song　among　those　that　shall　be　born　hereafter。〃
　　And　Hector　answered；　〃Bid　me　not　be　seated；　Helen；　for　all　the
goodwill　you　bear　me。　I　cannot　stay。　I　am　in　haste　to　help　the
Trojans；　who　miss　me　greatly　when　I　am　not　among　them；　but　urge　your
husband；　and　of　his　own　self　also　let　him　make　haste　to　overtake　me
before　I　am　out　of　the　city。　I　must　go　home　to　see　my　household；　my
wife　and　my　little　son；　for　I　know　not　whether　I　shall　ever　again
return　to　them；　or　whether　the　gods　will　cause　me　to　fill　by　the　hands
of　the　Achaeans。〃
　　Then　Hector　left　her；　and　forthwith　was　at　his　own　house。　He　did　not
find　Andromache；　for　she　was　on　the　wall　with　her　child　and　one　of　her
maids；　weeping　bitterly。　Seeing；　then；　that　she　was　not　within；　he
stood　on　the　threshold　of　the　women's　rooms　and　said；　〃Women；　tell　me；
and　tell　me　true；　where　did　Andromache　go　when　she　left　the　house？　Was
it　to　my　sisters；　or　to　my　brothers'　wives？　or　is　she　at　the　temple　of
Minerva　where　the　other　women　are　propitiating　the　awful　goddess？〃
　　His　good　housekeeper　answered；　〃Hector；　since　you　bid　me　tell　you
truly；　she　did　not　go　to　your　sisters　nor　to　your　brothers'　wives；　nor
yet　to　the　temple　of　Minerva；　where　the　other　women　are　propitiating
the　awful　goddess；　but　she　is　on　the　high　wall　of　Ilius；　for　she　had
heard　the　Trojans　were　being　hard　pressed；　and　that　the　Achaeans
were　in　great　force：　she　went　to　the　wall　in　frenzied　haste；　and　the
nurse　went　with　her　carrying　the　child。〃
　　Hector　hurried　from　the　house　when　she　had　done　speaking；　and　went
down　the　streets　by　the　same　way　that　he　had　come。　When　he　had　gone
through　the　city　and　had　reached　the　Scaean　gates　through　which　he
would　go　out　on　to　the　plain；　his　wife　came　running　towards　him；
Andromache；　daughter　of　great　Eetion　who　ruled　in　Thebe　under　the
wooded　slopes　of　Mt。　Placus；　and　was　king　of　the　Cilicians。　His
daughter　had　married　Hector；　and　now　came　to　meet　him　with　a　nurse　who
carried　his　little　child　in　her　bosom…　a　mere　babe。　Hector's　darling
son；　and　lovely　as　a　star。　Hector　had　named　him　Scamandrius；　but　the
people　called　him　Astyanax；　for　his　father　stood　alone　as　chief
guardian　of　Ilius。　Hector　smiled　as　he　looked　upon　the　boy；　but　he　did
not　speak；　and　Andromache　stood　by　him　weeping　and　taking　his　hand
in　her　own。　〃Dear　husband；〃　said　she；　〃your　valour　will　bring　you　to
destruction；　think　on　your　infant　son；　and　on　my　hapless　self　who
ere　long　shall　be　your　widow…　for　the　Achaeans　will　set　upon　you　in
a　body　and　kill　you。　It　would　be　better　for　me；　should　I　lose　you；
to　lie　dead　and　buried；　for　I　shall　have　nothing　left　to　comfort　me
when　you　are　gone；　save　only　sorrow。　I　have　neither　father　nor
mother　now。　Achilles　slew　my　father　when　he　sacked　Thebe　the　goodly
city　of　the　Cilicians。　He　slew　him；　but　did　not　for　very　shame　despoil
him；　when　he　had　burned　him　in　his　wondrous　armour；　he　raised　a　barrow
over　his　ashes　and　the　mountain　nymphs；　daughters　of　aegis…bearing
Jove；　planted　a　grove　of　elms　about　his　tomb。　I　had　seven　brothers
in　my　father's　house；　but　on　the　same　day　they　all　went　within　the
house　of　Hades。　Achilles　killed　them　as　they　were　with　their　sheep　and
cattle。　My　mother…　her　who　had　been　queen　of　all　the　land　under　Mt。
Placus…　he　brought　hither　with　the　spoil；　and　freed　her　for　a　great
sum；　but　the　archer…　queen　Diana　took　her　in　the　house　of　your　father。
Nay…　Hector…　you　who　to　me　are　father；　mother；　brother；　and　dear
husband…　have　mercy　upon　me；　stay　here　upon　this　wall；　make　not　your
child　fatherless；　and　your　wife　a　widow；　as　for　the　host；　place　them
near　the　fig…tree；　where　the　city　can　be　best　scaled；　and　the　wall
is　weakest。　Thrice　have　the　bravest　of　them　come　thither　and
assailed　it；　under　the　two　Ajaxes；　Idomeneus；　the　sons　of　Atreus；
and　the　brave　son　of　Tydeus；　either　of　their　own　bidding；　or　because
some　soothsayer　had　told　them。〃
　　And　Hector　answered；　〃Wife；　I　too　have　thought　upon　all　this；　but
with　what　face　should　I　look　upon　the　Trojans；　men　or　women；　if　I
shirked　battle　like　a　coward？　I　cannot　do　so：　I　know　nothing　save　to
fight　bravely　in　the　forefront　of　the　Trojan　host　and　win　renown　alike
for　my　father　and　myself。　Well　do　I　know　that　the　day　will　surely　come
when　mighty　Ilius　shall　be　destroyed　with　Priam　and　Priam's　people；
but　I　grieve　for　none　of　these…　not　even　for　Hecuba；　nor　King　Priam；
nor　for　my　brothers　many　and　brave　who　may　fall　in　the　dust　before
their　foes…　for　none　of　these　do　I　grieve　as　for　yourself　when　the　day
shall　come　on　which　some　one　of　the　Achaeans　shall　rob　you　for　ever　of
your　freedom；　and　bear　you　weeping　away。　It　may　be　that　you　will
have　to　ply　the　loom　in　Argos　at　the　bidding　of　a　mistress；　or　to
fetch　water　from　the　springs　Messeis　or　Hypereia；　treated　brutally
by　some　cruel　task…master；　then　will　one　say　who　sees　you　weeping；
'She　was　wife　to　Hector；　the　bravest　warrior　among　the　Trojans
during　the　war　before　Ilius。'　On　this　your　tears　will　break　forth　anew
for　him　who　would　have　put　away　the　day　of　captivity　from　you。　May　I
lie　dead　under　the　barrow　that　is　heaped　over　my　body　ere　I　hear
your　cry　as　they　carry　you　into　bondage。〃
　　He　stretched　his　arms　towards　his　child；　but　the　boy　cri