tales of troy(特罗伊的传说)-第11节
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and wanted him to retreat into the town。 But Hector said； 〃One omen is the
best： to fight for our own country。〃 While Hector lay between death
and life the Greeks were winning； for the Trojans had no other great chief
to lead them。 But Hector awoke from his faint； and leaped to his feet and
ran here and there； encouraging the men of Troy。 Then the most of the
Greeks fled when they saw him； but Aias and Idomeneus； and the rest of
the bravest； formed in a square between the Trojans and the ships； and
down on them came Hector and Aeneas and Paris； throwing their spears；
and slaying on every hand。 The Greeks turned and ran； and the Trojans
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would have stopped to strip the armour from the slain men； but Hector
cried： 〃Haste to the ships and leave the spoils of war。 I will slay any
man who lags behind！〃
On this； all the Trojans drove their chariots down into the ditch that
guarded the ships of the Greeks； as when a great wave sweeps at sea over
the side of a vessel； and the Greeks were on the ship decks； thrusting with
very long spears； used in sea fights； and the Trojans were boarding the
ships； and striking with swords and axes。 Hector had a lighted torch and
tried to set fire to the ship of Aias； but Aias kept him back with the long
spear； and slew a Trojan； whose lighted torch fell from his hand。 And
Aias kept shouting： 〃Come on； and drive away Hector； it is not to a
dance that he is calling his men； but to battle。〃
The dead fell in heaps； and the living ran over them to mount the heaps
of slain and climb the ships。 Hector rushed forward like a sea wave
against a great steep rock； but like the rock stood the Greeks； still the
Trojans charged past the beaks of the foremost ships； while Aias； thrusting
with a spear more than twenty feet long； leaped from deck to deck like a
man that drives four horses abreast； and leaps from the back of one to the
back of another。 Hector seized with his hand the stern of the ship of
Protesilaus； the prince whom Paris shot when he leaped ashore on the day
when the Greeks first landed； and Hector kept calling： 〃Bring fire！〃 and
even Aias； in this strange sea fight on land； left the decks and went below；
thrusting with his spear through the portholes。 Twelve men lay dead who
had brought fire against the ship which Aias guarded。
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THE SLAYING AND AVENGING
OF PATROCLUS
At this moment； when torches were blazing round the ships； and all
seemed lost； Patroclus came out of the hut of Eurypylus； whose wound he
had been tending； and he saw that the Greeks were in great danger； and ran
weeping to Achilles。 〃Why do you weep；〃 said Achilles； 〃like a little girl
that runs by her mother's side； and plucks at her gown and looks at her
with tears in her eyes； till her mother takes her up in her arms？ Is there
bad news from home that your father is dead； or mine； or are you sorry
that the Greeks are getting what they deserve for their folly？〃 Then
Patroclus told Achilles how Ulysses and many other princes were
wounded and could not fight； and begged to be allowed to put on Achilles'
armour and lead his men； who were all fresh and unwearied； into the battle；
for a charge of two thousand fresh warriors might turn the fortune of the
day。
Then Achilles was sorry that he had sworn not to fight himself till
Hector brought fire to his own ships。 He would lend Patroclus his
armour； and his horses； and his men； but Patroclus must only drive the
Trojans from the ships； and not pursue them。 At this moment Aias was
weary； so many spears smote his armour； and he could hardly hold up his
great shield； and Hector cut off his spear…head with the sword； the bronze
head fell ringing on the ground； and Aias brandished only the pointless
shaft。 So he shrank back and fire blazed all over his ship； and Achilles
saw it； and smote his thigh； and bade Patroclus make haste。 Patroclus
armed himself in the shining armour of Achilles； which all Trojans feared；
and leaped into the chariot where Automedon； the squire； had harnessed
Xanthus and Balius； two horses that were the children； men said； of the
West Wind； and a led horse was harnessed beside them in the side traces。
Meanwhile the two thousand men of Achilles； who were called
Myrmidons； had met in armour； five companies of four hundred apiece；
under five chiefs of noble names。 Forth they came； as eager as a pack of
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wolves that have eaten a great red deer and run to slake their thirst with
the dark water of a well in the hills。
So all in close array； helmet touching helmet and shield touching
shield； like a moving wall of shining bronze； the men of Achilles charged；
and Patroclus； in the chariot led the way。 Down they came at full speed
on the flank of the Trojans； who saw the leader； and knew the bright
armour and the horses of the terrible Achilles； and thought that he had
returned to the war。 Then each Trojan looked round to see by what way
he could escape； and when men do that in battle they soon run by the way
they have chosen。 Patroclus rushed to the ship of Protesilaus； and slew
the leader of the Trojans there； and drove them out； and quenched the fire；
while they of Troy drew back from the ships； and Aias and the other
unwounded Greek princes leaped among them； smiting with sword and
spear。 Well did Hector know that the break in the battle had come again；
but even so he stood； and did what he might； while the Trojans were
driven back in disorder across the ditch； where the poles of many chariots
were broken and the horses fled loose across the plain。
The horses of Achilles cleared the ditch； and Patroclus drove them
between the Trojans and the wall of their own town； slaying many men；
and； chief of all； Sarpedon； king of the Lycians； and round the body of
Sarpedon the Trojans rallied under Hector； and the fight swayed this way
and that； and there was such a noise of spears and swords smiting shields
and helmets as when many woodcutters fell trees in a glen of the hills。
At last the Trojans gave way； and the Greeks stripped the armour from the
body of brave Sarpedon； but men say that Sleep and Death； like two
winged angels； bore his body away to his own country。 Now Patroclus
forgot how Achilles had told him not to pursue the Trojans across the plain；
but to return when he had driven them from the ships。 On he raced；
slaying as he went； even till he reached the foot of the wall of Troy。
Thrice he tried to climb it； but thrice he fell back。
Hector was in his chariot in the gateway； and he bade his squire lash
his horses into the war； and struck at no other man； great or small； but
drove straight against Patroclus； who stood and threw a heavy stone at
Hector； which missed him； but killed his charioteer。 Then Patroclus leaped
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on the charioteer to strip his armour； but Hector stood over the body；
grasping it by the head； while Patroclus dragged at the feet； and spears and
arrows flew in clouds around the fallen man。 At last； towards sunset； the
Greeks drew him out of the war； and Patroclus thrice charged into the
thick of the Trojans。 But the helmet of Achilles was loosened in the fight；
and fell from the head of Patroclus； and he was wounded from behind； and
Hector； in front； drove his
