tales of troy(特罗伊的传说)-第21节
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and soon they will burn our ships； and for us there will be no return。〃
Then all the men on the ship of Ulysses armed themselves； and
Neoptolemus； in the splendid armour of his father； was the first to leap
ashore。 The Greeks could not come from the wall to welcome him； for
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they were fighting hard and hand…to…hand with Eurypylus and his men。
But they glanced back over their shoulders and it seemed to them that they
saw Achilles himself； spear and sword in hand； rushing to help them。
They raised a great battle…cry； and； when Neoptolemus reached the
battlements； he and Ulysses； and Diomede leaped down to the plain； the
Greeks following them； and they all charged at once on the men of
Eurypylus； with levelled spears； and drove them from the wall。
Then the Trojans trembled； for they knew the shields of Diomede and
Ulysses； and they thought that the tall chief in the armour of Achilles was
Achilles himself； come back from the land of the dead to take vengeance
for Antilochus。 The Trojans fled； and gathered round Eurypylus； as in a
thunderstorm little children； afraid of the lightning and the noise； run and
cluster round their father； and hide their faces on his knees。
But Neoptolemus was spearing the Trojans； as a man who carries at
night a beacon of fire in his boat on the sea spears the fishes that flock
around； drawn by the blaze of the flame。 Cruelly he avenged his father's
death on many a Trojan； and the men whom Achilles had led followed
Achilles' son； slaying to right and left； and smiting the Trojans； as they ran；
between the shoulders with the spear。 Thus they fought and followed
while daylight lasted； but when night fell； they led Neoptolemus to his
father's hut； where the women washed him in the bath； and then he was
taken to feast with Agamemnon and Menelaus and the princes。 They all
welcomed him； and gave him glorious gifts； swords with silver hilts； and
cups of gold and silver； and they were glad； for they had driven the
Trojans from their wall； and hoped that to…morrow they would slay
Eurypylus； and take Troy town。
But their hope was not to be fulfilled； for though next day Eurypylus
met Neoptolemus in the battle； and was slain by him； when the Greeks
chased the Trojans into their city so great a storm of lightning and thunder
and rain fell upon them that they retreated again to their camp。 They
believed that Zeus； the chief of the Gods； was angry with them； and the
days went by； and Troy still stood unconquered。
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THE SLAYING OF PARIS
When the Greeks were disheartened； as they often were； they
consulted Calchas the prophet。 He usually found that they must do
something； or send for somebody； and in doing so they diverted their
minds from their many misfortunes。 Now； as the Trojans were fighting
more bravely than before； under Deiphobus； a brother of Hector； the
Greeks went to Calchas for advice； and he told them that they must send
Ulysses and Diomede to bring Philoctetes the bowman from the isle of
Lemnos。 This was an unhappy deserted island； in which the married
women； some years before； had murdered all their husbands； out of
jealousy； in a single night。 The Greeks had landed in Lemnos； on their
way to Troy； and there Philoctetes had shot an arrow at a great water
dragon which lived in a well within a cave in the lonely hills。 But when
he entered the cave the dragon bit him； and； though he killed it at last； its
poisonous teeth wounded his foot。 The wound never healed； but dripped
with venom； and Philoctetes； in terrible pain； kept all the camp awake at
night by his cries。
The Greeks were sorry for him； but he was not a pleasant companion；
shrieking as he did； and exuding poison wherever he came。 So they left
him on the lonely island； and did not know whether he was alive or dead。
Calchas ought to have told the Greeks not to desert Philoctetes at the time；
if he was so important that Troy； as the prophet now said； could not be
taken without him。 But now； as he must give some advice； Calchas said
that Philoctetes must be brought back； so Ulysses and Diomede went to
bring him。 They sailed to Lemnos； a melancholy place they found it；
with no smoke rising from the ruinous houses along the shore。 As they
were landing they learned that Philoctetes was not dead； for his dismal old
cries of pain； ototototoi； ai； ai； pheu； pheu； ototototoi； came echoing from
a cave on the beach。 To this cave the princes went； and found a terrible…
looking man； with long； dirty； dry hair and beard； he was worn to a
skeleton； with hollow eyes； and lay moaning in a mass of the feathers of
sea birds。 His great bow and his arrows lay ready to his hand： with
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these he used to shoot the sea birds； which were all that he had to eat； and
their feathers littered all the floor of his cave； and they were none the
better for the poison that dripped from his wounded foot。
When this horrible creature saw Ulysses and Diomede coming near； he
seized his bow and fitted a poisonous arrow to the string； for he hated the
Greeks； because they had left him in the desert isle。 But the princes held
up their hands in sign of peace； and cried out that they had come to do him
kindness； so he laid down his bow； and they came in and sat on the rocks；
and promised that his wound should be healed； for the Greeks were very
much ashamed of having deserted him。 It was difficult to resist Ulysses
when he wished to persuade any one； and at last Philoctetes consented to
sail with them to Troy。 The oarsmen carried him down to the ship on a
litter； and there his dreadful wound was washed with warm water； and oil
was poured into it； and it was bound up with soft linen； so that his pain
grew less fierce； and they gave him a good supper and wine enough；
which he had not tasted for many years。
Next morning they sailed； and had a fair west wind； so that they soon
landed among the Greeks and carried Philoctetes on shore。 Here
Podaleirius； the brother of Machaon； being a physician； did all that could
be done to heal the wound； and the pain left Philoctetes。 He was taken to
the hut of Agamemnon； who welcomed him； and said that the Greeks
repented of their cruelty。 They gave him seven female slaves to take care
of him； and twenty swift horses； and twelve great vessels of bronze； and
told him that he was always to live with the greatest chiefs and feed at
their table。 So he was bathed； and his hair was cut and combed and
anointed with oil； and soon he was eager and ready to fight； and to use his
great bow and poisoned arrows on the Trojans。 The use of poisoned
arrow…tips was thought unfair； but Philoctetes had no scruples。
Now in the next battle Paris was shooting down the Greeks with his
arrows； when Philoctetes saw him； and cried： 〃Dog； you are proud of
your archery and of the arrow that slew the great Achilles。 But； behold； I
am a better bowman than you； by far； and the bow in my hands was borne
by the strong man Heracles！〃 So he cried and drew the bowstring to his
breast and the poisoned arrowhead to the bow； and the bowstring rang； and
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the arrow flew； and did but graze the hand of Paris。 Then the bitter pain
of the poison came upon him； and the Trojans carried him into their city；
where the physici
