the iliad(伊利亚特)-第25节

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Danaans；　he　shall　be　beaten　inordinately　ere　he　come　back　again　to
Olympus；　or　I　will　hurl　him　down　into　dark　Tartarus　far　into　the
deepest　pit　under　the　earth；　where　the　gates　are　iron　and　the　floor
bronze；　as　far　beneath　Hades　as　heaven　is　high　above　the　earth；　that
you　may　learn　how　much　the　mightiest　I　am　among　you。　Try　me　and　find
out　for　yourselves。　Hangs　me　a　golden　chain　from　heaven；　and　lay
hold　of　it　all　of　you；　gods　and　goddesses　together…　tug　as　you　will；
you　will　not　drag　Jove　the　supreme　counsellor　from　heaven　to　earth；
but　were　I　to　pull　at　it　myself　I　should　draw　you　up　with　earth　and
sea　into　the　bargain；　then　would　I　bind　the　chain　about　some
pinnacle　of　Olympus　and　leave　you　all　dangling　in　the　mid　firmament。
So　far　am　I　above　all　others　either　of　gods　or　men。〃
　　They　were　frightened　and　all　of　them　of　held　their　peace；　for　he　had
spoken　masterfully；　but　at　last　Minerva　answered；　〃Father；　son　of
Saturn；　king　of　kings；　we　all　know　that　your　might　is　not　to　be
gainsaid；　but　we　are　also　sorry　for　the　Danaan　warriors；　who　are
perishing　and　coming　to　a　bad　end。　We　will；　however；　since　you　so
bid　us；　refrain　from　actual　fighting；　but　we　will　make　serviceable
suggestions　to　the　Argives　that　they　may　not　all　of　them　perish　in
your　displeasure。〃
　　Jove　smiled　at　her　and　answered；　〃Take　heart；　my　child；
Trito…born；　I　am　not　really　in　earnest；　and　I　wish　to　be　kind　to　you。〃
　　With　this　he　yoked　his　fleet　horses；　with　hoofs　of　bronze　and
manes　of　glittering　gold。　He　girded　himself　also　with　gold　about　the
body；　seized　his　gold　whip　and　took　his　seat　in　his　chariot。　Thereon
he　lashed　his　horses　and　they　flew　forward　nothing　loth　midway　twixt
earth　and　starry　heaven。　After　a　while　he　reached　many…fountained　Ida；
mother　of　wild　beasts；　and　Gargarus；　where　are　his　grove　and
fragrant　altar。　There　the　father　of　gods　and　men　stayed　his　horses；
took　them　from　the　chariot；　and　hid　them　in　a　thick　cloud；　then　he
took　his　seat　all　glorious　upon　the　topmost　crests；　looking　down
upon　the　city　of　Troy　and　the　ships　of　the　Achaeans。
　　The　Achaeans　took　their　morning　meal　hastily　at　the　ships；　and
afterwards　put　on　their　armour。　The　Trojans　on　the　other　hand　likewise
armed　themselves　throughout　the　city；　fewer　in　numbers　but
nevertheless　eager　perforce　to　do　battle　for　their　wives　and　children。
All　the　gates　were　flung　wide　open；　and　horse　and　foot　sallied　forth
with　the　tramp　as　of　a　great　multitude。
　　When　they　were　got　together　in　one　place；　shield　clashed　with
shield；　and　spear　with　spear；　in　the　conflict　of　mail…clad　men。　Mighty
was　the　din　as　the　bossed　shields　pressed　hard　on　one　another…
death…　cry　and　shout　of　triumph　of　slain　and　slayers；　and　the　earth
ran　red　with　blood。
　　Now　so　long　as　the　day　waxed　and　it　was　still　morning　their
weapons　beat　against　one　another；　and　the　people　fell；　but　when　the
sun　had　reached　mid…heaven；　the　sire　of　all　balanced　his　golden
scales；　and　put　two　fates　of　death　within　them；　one　for　the　Trojans
and　the　other　for　the　Achaeans。　He　took　the　balance　by　the　middle；　and
when　he　lifted　it　up　the　day　of　the　Achaeans　sank；　the　death…fraught
scale　of　the　Achaeans　settled　down　upon　the　ground；　while　that　of
the　Trojans　rose　heavenwards。　Then　he　thundered　aloud　from　Ida；　and
sent　the　glare　of　his　lightning　upon　the　Achaeans；　when　they　saw　this；
pale　fear　fell　upon　them　and　they　were　sore　afraid。
　　Idomeneus　dared　not　stay　nor　yet　Agamemnon；　nor　did　the　two
Ajaxes；　servants　of　Mars；　hold　their　ground。　Nestor　knight　of　Gerene
alone　stood　firm；　bulwark　of　the　Achaeans；　not　of　his　own　will；　but
one　of　his　horses　was　disabled。　Alexandrus　husband　of　lovely　Helen　had
hit　it　with　an　arrow　just　on　the　top　of　its　head　where　the　mane　begins
to　grow　away　from　the　skull；　a　very　deadly　place。　The　horse　bounded　in
his　anguish　as　the　arrow　pierced　his　brain；　and　his　struggles　threw
others　into　confusion。　The　old　man　instantly　began　cutting　the
traces　with　his　sword；　but　Hector's　fleet　horses　bore　down　upon　him
through　the　rout　with　their　bold　charioteer；　even　Hector　himself；
and　the　old　man　would　have　perished　there　and　then　had　not　Diomed　been
quick　to　mark；　and　with　a　loud　cry　called　Ulysses　to　help　him。
　　〃Ulysses；〃　he　cried；　〃noble　son　of　Laertes　where　are　you　flying
to；　with　your　back　turned　like　a　coward？　See　that　you　are　not　struck
with　a　spear　between　the　shoulders。　Stay　here　and　help　me　to　defend
Nestor　from　this　man's　furious　onset。〃
　　Ulysses　would　not　give　ear；　but　sped　onward　to　the　ships　of　the
Achaeans；　and　the　son　of　Tydeus　flinging　himself　alone　into　the
thick　of　the　fight　took　his　stand　before　the　horses　of　the　son　of
Neleus。　〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃these　young　warriors　are　pressing　you　hard；
your　force　is　spent；　and　age　is　heavy　upon　you；　your　squire　is　naught；
and　your　horses　are　slow　to　move。　Mount　my　chariot　and　see　what　the
horses　of　Tros　can　do…　how　cleverly　they　can　scud　hither　and　thither
over　the　plain　either　in　flight　or　in　pursuit。　I　took　them　from　the
hero　Aeneas。　Let　our　squires　attend　to　your　own　steeds；　but　let　us
drive　mine　straight　at　the　Trojans；　that　Hector　may　learn　how
furiously　I　too　can　wield　my　spear。〃
　　Nestor　knight　of　Gerene　hearkened　to　his　words。　Thereon　the
doughty　squires；　Sthenelus　and　kind…hearted　Eurymedon；　saw　to　Nestor's
horses；　while　the　two　both　mounted　Diomed's　chariot。　Nestor　took　the
reins　in　his　hands　and　lashed　the　horses　on；　they　were　soon　close　up
with　Hector；　and　the　son　of　Tydeus　aimed　a　spear　at　him　as　he　was
charging　full　speed　towards　them。　He　missed　him；　but　struck　his
charioteer　and　squire　Eniopeus　son　of　noble　Thebaeus　in　the　breast
by　the　nipple　while　the　reins　were　in　his　hands；　so　that　he　died　there
and　then；　and　the　horses　swerved　as　he　fell　headlong　from　the　chariot。
Hector　was　greatly　grieved　at　the　loss　of　his　charioteer；　but　let
him　lie　for　all　his　sorrow；　while　he　went　in　quest　of　another
driver；　nor　did　his　steeds　have　to　go　long　without　one；　for　he
presently　found　brave　Archeptolemus　the　son　of　Iphitus；　and　made　him
get　up　behind　the　horses；　giving　the　reins　into　his　hand。
　　All　had　then　been　lost　and　no　help　for　it；　for　they　would　have
been　penned　up　in　Ilius　like　sheep；　had　not　the　sire　of　gods　and　men
been　quick　to　mark；　and　hurled　a　fiery　flaming　thunderbolt　which
fell　just　in　front　of　Diomed's　horses　with　a　flare　of　burning
brimstone。　The　horses　were　frightened　and　tried　to　back　beneath　the
car；　while　the　reins　dropped　from　Nestor's　hands。　Then　he　was　afraid
and　said　to　Diomed；　〃Son　of　Tydeus；　turn　your　horses　in　flight；　see
you　not　that　the　hand　of　Jove　is　against　you？　To…day　he　vouchsafes
victory　to　Hector；　to…morrow；　if　it　so　please　him；　he　will　again　grant
it　to　ourselves；　no　man；　however　brave；　may　thwart　the　purpose　of
Jove；　for　he　is　far　stronger　than　any。〃
　　Diomed　answered；　〃All　that　you　have　said　is　true；　there　is　a　grief
however　which　pierces　me　to　the　very　heart；　for　Hector　will　talk　among
the　Trojans　and　say；　'The　son　of　Tydeus　fled　before　me　to　the
ships。'　This　is　the　vaunt　he　will　make；　and　may　earth　then　swallow
me。〃
　　〃Son　of　Tydeus；〃　replied　Nestor；　〃what　mean　you？　Though　Hector　say
that　you　are　a　coward　the　Trojans　and　Dardanians　will　not　believe　him；
nor　yet　the　wives　of　the　mighty　warriors　whom　you　have　laid　low。〃
　　So　saying　he　turned　the　horses　back　through　the　thick　of　the　battle；
and　with　a　cry　that　rent　the　air　the　Trojans　and　Hector　rained　their
darts　after　them。　Hector　shouted　to　him　and　said；　〃Son　of　Tydeus；
the　Danaans　have　done　you　honour　hitherto　as　regards　your　place　at
table；　the　meals　they　give　you；　and　the　filling　of　your　cup　with　wine。
Henceforth　they　will　despise　you；　for　you　are　become　no　better　than
a　woman。　Be　off；　girl　and　coward　that　you　are；　you　shall　not　scale　our
walls　through　any　Hinching　upon　my　part；　neither　shall　you　carry　off
our　wives　in　your　ships；　for　I　shall　kill　you　with　my　own　hand。〃
　　The　son　of　Tydeus　was　in　two　minds　whether　or　no　to　turn　his
horses　round　again　and　fight　him。　Thrice　did　he　doubt；　and　thrice
did　Jove　thunder　from　the　heights　of。　Ida　in　token　to　the　Trojans　that
he　would　turn　the　battle　in　their　favour。　Hector　then　shouted　to
them　and　said；　〃Trojans；　Lycians；　and　Dardanians；　lovers　of　close
fighting；　be　men；　my　friends；　and　fight　with　might　and　with　main；　I
see　that　Jove　is　minded　to　vouchsafe　victory　and　great　glory　to
myself；　while　he　will　deal　destruction　upon　the　Danaans。　Fools；　for
having　thought　of　building　this　weak　and　worthless　wall。　It　shall
not　stay　my　fury；　my　horses　will　spring　lightly　over　their　trench；　and
when　I　am　BOOK　at　their　ships　forget　not　to　bring　me　fire　that　I　may
burn　them；　while　I　slaughter　the　Argives　who　will　be　all　dazed　and
bewildered　by　the　smoke。〃
　　Then　he　cried　to　his　horses；　〃Xanthus　and　Podargus；　and　you　Aethon
and　goodly　Lampus；　pay　me　for　your　keep　now　and　for　all　the
honey…sweet　corn　with　which　Andromache　daughter　of　great　Eetion　has
fed　you；　and　for　she　has　mixed　wine　and　water　for　you　to　drink
whenever　you　would；　before　doing　so　even　for　me　who　am　her　own
husband。　Haste　in　pursuit；　that　we　may　take　the　shield　of　Nestor；
the　fame　of　which　ascends　to　heaven；　for　it　is　of　solid　gold；　arm…rods
and　all；