tales of troy(特罗伊的传说)-第8节
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alarm all our army；〃 said Menelaus； 〃the arrow has done me little harm；〃
and so it proved； for the surgeon easily drew the arrow out of the wound。
Then Agamemnon hastened here and there； bidding the Greeks arm
and attack the Trojans； who would certainly be defeated； for they had
broken the oaths of peace。 But with his usual insolence he chose to
accuse Ulysses and Diomede of cowardice； though Diomede was as brave
as any man； and Ulysses had just prevented the whole army from
launching their ships and going home。 Ulysses answered him with spirit；
but Diomede said nothing at the moment； later he spoke his mind。 He
leaped from his chariot； and all the chiefs leaped down and advanced in
line； the chariots following them； while the spearmen and bowmen
followed the chariots。 The Trojan army advanced； all shouting in their
different languages； but the Greeks came on silently。 Then the two front
lines clashed； shield against shield； and the noise was like the roaring of
many flooded torrents among the hills。 When a man fell he who had
slain him tried to strip off his armour； and his friends fought over his body
to save the dead from this dishonour。
Ulysses fought above a wounded friend； and drove his spear through
head and helmet of a Trojan prince； and everywhere men were falling
beneath spears and arrows and heavy stones which the warriors threw。
Here Menelaus speared the man who built the ships with which Paris had
sailed to Greece； and the dust rose like a cloud； and a mist went up from
the fighting men； while Diomede stormed across the plain like a river in
flood； leaving dead bodies behind him as the river leaves boughs of trees
and grass to mark its course。 Pandarus wounded Diomede with an arrow；
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but Diomede slew him； and the Trojans were being driven in flight； when
Sarpedon and Hector turned and hurled themselves on the Greeks； and
even Diomede shuddered when Hector came on； and charged at Ulysses；
who was slaying Trojans as he went； and the battle swayed this way and
that； and the arrows fell like rain。
But Hector was sent into the city to bid the women pray to the goddess
Athene for help； and he went to the house of Paris； whom Helen was
imploring to go and fight like a man； saying： 〃Would that the winds had
wafted me away； and the tides drowned me； shameless that I am； before
these things came to pass！〃
Then Hector went to see his dear wife； Andromache； whose father had
been slain by Achilles early in the siege； and he found her and her nurse
carrying her little boy； Hector's son； and like a star upon her bosom lay his
beautiful and shining golden head。 Now； while Helen urged Paris to go
into the fight； Andromache prayed Hector to stay with her in the town； and
fight no more lest he should be slain and leave her a widow； and the boy
an orphan； with none to protect him。 The army she said； should come
back within the walls； where they had so long been safe； not fight in the
open plain。 But Hector answered that he would never shrink from battle；
〃yet I know this in my heart； the day shall come for holy Troy to be laid
low； and Priam and the people of Priam。 But this and my own death do
not trouble me so much as the thought of you； when you shall be carried as
a slave to Greece； to spin at another woman's bidding； and bear water from
a Grecian well。 May the heaped up earth of my tomb cover me ere I hear
thy cries and the tale of thy captivity。〃
Then Hector stretched out his hands to his little boy； but the child was
afraid when he saw the great glittering helmet of his father and the
nodding horsehair crest。 So Hector laid his helmet on the ground and
dandled the child in his arms； and tried to comfort his wife； and said good…
bye for the last time； for he never came back to Troy alive。 He went on
his way back to the battle； and Paris went with him； in glorious armour；
and soon they were slaying the princes of the Greeks。
The battle raged till nightfall； and in the night the Greeks and Trojans
burned their dead； and the Greeks made a trench and wall round their
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camp； which they needed for safety now that the Trojans came from their
town and fought in the open plain。
Next day the Trojans were so successful that they did not retreat
behind their walls at night； but lit great fires on the plain： a thousand
fires； with fifty men taking supper round each of them； and drinking their
wine to the music of flutes。 But the Greeks were much discouraged； and
Agamemnon called the whole army together； and proposed that they
should launch their ships in the night and sail away home。 Then
Diomede stood up； and said： 〃You called me a coward lately。 You are
the coward！ Sail away if you are afraid to remain here； but all the rest of
us will fight till we take Troy town。〃
Then all shouted in praise of Diomede； and Nestor advised them to
send five hundred young men； under his own son； Thrasymedes； to watch
the Trojans； and guard the new wall and the ditch； in case the Trojans
attacked them in the darkness。 Next Nestor counselled Agamemnon to
send Ulysses and Aias to Achilles； and promise to give back Briseis； and
rich presents of gold； and beg pardon for his insolence。 If Achilles would
be friends again with Agamemnon； and fight as he used to fight； the
Trojans would soon be driven back into the town。
Agamemnon was very ready to beg pardon； for he feared that the
whole army would be defeated； and cut off from their ships； and killed or
kept as slaves。 So Ulysses and Aias and the old tutor of Achilles；
Phoenix； went to Achilles and argued with him； praying him to accept the
rich presents； and help the Greeks。 But Achilles answered that he did not
believe a word that Agamemnon said； Agamemnon had always hated him；
and always would hate him。 No； he would not cease to be angry； he
would sail away next day with all his men； and he advised the rest to come
with him。 〃Why be so fierce？〃 said tall Aias； who seldom spoke。 〃Why
make so much trouble about one girl？ We offer you seven girls； and
plenty of other gifts。〃
Then Achilles said that he would not sail away next day； but he would
not fight till the Trojans tried to burn his own ships； and there he thought
that Hector would find work enough to do。 This was the most that
Achilles would promise； and all the Greeks were silent when Ulysses
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delivered his message。 But Diomede arose and said that； with or without
Achilles； fight they must； and all men； heavy at heart； went to sleep in
their huts or in the open air at their doors。
Agamemnon was much too anxious to sleep。 He saw the glow of the
thousand fires of the Trojans in the dark； and heard their merry flutes； and
he groaned and pulled out his long hair by handfuls。 When he was tired of
crying and groaning and tearing his hair； he thought that he would go for
advice to old Nestor。 He threw a lion skin； the coverlet of his bed； over
his shoulder； took his spear； went out and met Menelausfor he； too； could
not sleepand Menelaus proposed to send a spy among the Trojans； if any
man were brave enough to go； for the Trojan camp was all alight with fires；
and the adventure was dangerous。 Therefore the two wakened Nestor
and the other chiefs； who came just as they were； wrapped in the fur
coverlets of their beds； without any armour。 First they visited the five
hundred young men set to watch the wall； and then they crossed the ditch
and sat down outside and cons
