the iliad(伊利亚特)-第9节
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Cytorus and the country round Sesamus； with the cities by the river
Parthenius； Cromna； Aegialus； and lofty Erithini。
Odius and Epistrophus were captains over the Halizoni from distant
Alybe； where there are mines of silver。
Chromis； and Ennomus the augur； led the Mysians； but his skill in
augury availed not to save him from destruction； for he fell by the
hand of the fleet descendant of Aeacus in the river； where he slew
others also of the Trojans。
Phorcys； again； and noble Ascanius led the Phrygians from the far
country of Ascania； and both were eager for the fray。
Mesthles and Antiphus commanded the Meonians； sons of Talaemenes；
born to him of the Gygaean lake。 These led the Meonians； who dwelt
under Mt。 Tmolus。
Nastes led the Carians； men of a strange speech。 These held
Miletus and the wooded mountain of Phthires； with the water of the
river Maeander and the lofty crests of Mt。 Mycale。 These were
commanded by Nastes and Amphimachus； the brave sons of Nomion。 He came
into the fight with gold about him； like a girl； fool that he was； his
gold was of no avail to save him； for he fell in the river by the hand
of the fleet descendant of Aeacus； and Achilles bore away his gold。
Sarpedon and Glaucus led the Lycians from their distant land； by the
eddying waters of the Xanthus。
BOOK III
When the companies were thus arrayed； each under its own captain；
the Trojans advanced as a flight of wild fowl or cranes that scream
overhead when rain and winter drive them over the flowing waters of
Oceanus to bring death and destruction on the Pygmies； and they
wrangle in the air as they fly； but the Achaeans marched silently；
in high heart； and minded to stand by one another。
As when the south wind spreads a curtain of mist upon the mountain
tops； bad for shepherds but better than night for thieves； and a man
can see no further than he can throw a stone； even so rose the dust
from under their feet as they made all speed over the plain。
When they were close up with one another； Alexandrus came forward as
champion on the Trojan side。 On his shoulders he bore the skin of a
panther； his bow； and his sword； and he brandished two spears shod
with bronze as a challenge to the bravest of the Achaeans to meet
him in single fight。 Menelaus saw him thus stride out before the
ranks； and was glad as a hungry lion that lights on the carcase of
some goat or horned stag； and devours it there and then； though dogs
and youths set upon him。 Even thus was Menelaus glad when his eyes
caught sight of Alexandrus； for he deemed that now he should be
revenged。 He sprang； therefore； from his chariot； clad in his suit
of armour。
Alexandrus quailed as he saw Menelaus come forward； and shrank in
fear of his life under cover of his men。 As one who starts back
affrighted； trembling and pale； when he comes suddenly upon a
serpent in some mountain glade； even so did Alexandrus plunge into the
throng of Trojan warriors； terror…stricken at the sight of the son
Atreus。
Then Hector upbraided him。 〃Paris；〃 said he； 〃evil…hearted Paris；
fair to see； but woman…mad； and false of tongue； would that you had
never been born； or that you had died unwed。 Better so； than live to
be disgraced and looked askance at。 Will not the Achaeans mock at us
and say that we have sent one to champion us who is fair to see but
who has neither wit nor courage？ Did you not； such as you are； get
your following together and sail beyond the seas？ Did you not from
your a far country carry off a lovely woman wedded among a people of
warriors… to bring sorrow upon your father； your city； and your
whole country； but joy to your enemies； and hang…dog shamefacedness to
yourself？ And now can you not dare face Menelaus and learn what manner
of man he is whose wife you have stolen？ Where indeed would be your
lyre and your love…tricks； your comely locks and your fair favour；
when you were lying in the dust before him？ The Trojans are a
weak…kneed people； or ere this you would have had a shirt of stones
for the wrongs you have done them。〃
And Alexandrus answered； 〃Hector； your rebuke is just。 You are
hard as the axe which a shipwright wields at his work； and cleaves the
timber to his liking。 As the axe in his hand； so keen is the edge of
your scorn。 Still； taunt me not with the gifts that golden Venus has
given me； they are precious； let not a man disdain them； for the
gods give them where they are minded； and none can have them for the
asking。 If you would have me do battle with Menelaus； bid the
Trojans and Achaeans take their seats； while he and I fight in their
midst for Helen and all her wealth。 Let him who shall be victorious
and prove to be the better man take the woman and all she has； to bear
them to his home； but let the rest swear to a solemn covenant of peace
whereby you Trojans shall stay here in Troy； while the others go
home to Argos and the land of the Achaeans。〃
When Hector heard this he was glad； and went about among the
Trojan ranks holding his spear by the middle to keep them back； and
they all sat down at his bidding： but the Achaeans still aimed at
him with stones and arrows； till Agamemnon shouted to them saying；
〃Hold； Argives； shoot not； sons of the Achaeans； Hector desires to
speak。〃
They ceased taking aim and were still； whereon Hector spoke。 〃Hear
from my mouth；〃 said he； 〃Trojans and Achaeans； the saying of
Alexandrus； through whom this quarrel has come about。 He bids the
Trojans and Achaeans lay their armour upon the ground； while he and
Menelaus fight in the midst of you for Helen and all her wealth。 Let
him who shall be victorious and prove to be the better man take the
woman and all she has； to bear them to his own home； but let the
rest swear to a solemn covenant of peace。〃
Thus he spoke； and they all held their peace； till Menelaus of the
loud battle…cry addressed them。 〃And now；〃 he said； 〃hear me too；
for it is I who am the most aggrieved。 I deem that the parting of
Achaeans and Trojans is at hand； as well it may be； seeing how much
have suffered for my quarrel with Alexandrus and the wrong he did
me。 Let him who shall die； die； and let the others fight no more。
Bring； then； two lambs； a white ram and a black ewe； for Earth and
Sun； and we will bring a third for Jove。 Moreover； you shall bid Priam
come； that he may swear to the covenant himself； for his sons are
high…handed and ill to trust； and the oaths of Jove must not be
transgressed or taken in vain。 Young men's minds are light as air； but
when an old man comes he looks before and after； deeming that which
shall be fairest upon both sides。〃
The Trojans and Achaeans were glad when they heard this； for they
thought that they should now have rest。 They backed their chariots
toward the ranks； got out of them； and put off their armour； laying it
down upon the ground； and the hosts were near to one another with a
little space between them。 Hector sent two messengers to the city to
bring the lambs and to bid Priam come； while Agamemnon told Talthybius
to fetch the other lamb from the ships； and he did as Agamemnon had
said。
Meanwhile Iris went to Helen in the form of her sister…in…law；
wife of the son of Antenor； for Helicaon； son of Antenor； had
married Laodice； the fairest of Priam's daughters。 She found her in
her own room； working at a great web of purple linen； on which she was
embroidering the battles between Trojans and Achaeans； that Mars had
made them fight for her sake。 Iris then came close up to her and said；
〃Come hither； child； and see the strange doings of the Trojans and
Achaeans till now they have been warring upon the plain； mad with lust
of battle； but now they have left off fighting； and are leaning upon
their shields； sitting still with their spears planted beside them。
Alexandrus and Menelaus are going to fight about yourself； and you are
to the the wife of him who is the victor。〃
Thus spoke the goddess； and Helen's heart yearned after her former
husband； her city； and her parents。 She threw a white mantle over
her head； and hurried from her room； weeping as she went； not alone；
but attended by two of her handmaids； Aethrae； daughter of Pittheus；
and Clymene。 And straightway they were at the Scaean gates。
The two sages； Ucalegon and Antenor； elders of the people； were
seated by the Scaean gates； with Priam； Panthous； Thymoetes； Lampus；
Clytius； and Hiketaon of the race of Mars。 These were too old to
fight； but they were fluent orators； and sat on the tower like cicales
that chirrup delicately from the boughs of some high tree in a wood。
When they saw Helen coming towards the tower； they said softly to
one another； 〃Small wonder that Trojans and Achaeans should endure
so much and so long； for the sake of a woman so marvellously and
divinely lovely。 Still； fair though she be； let them take her and
go； or she will breed sorrow for us and for our children after us。〃
But Priam bade her draw nigh。 〃My child；〃 said he； 〃take your seat
in front of me that you may see your former husband； your kinsmen
and your friends。 I lay no blame upon you； it is the gods； not you who
are to blame。 It is they that have brought about th
