tales of troy(特罗伊的传说)-第9节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
hundred young men set to watch the wall； and then they crossed the ditch
and sat down outside and considered what might be done。 〃Will nobody
go as a spy among the Trojans？〃 said Nestor； he meant would none of the
young men go。 Diomede said that he would take the risk if any other
man would share it with him； and； if he might choose a companion； he
would take Ulysses。
〃Come； then； let us be going；〃 said Ulysses； 〃for the night is late； and
the dawn is near。〃 As these two chiefs had no armour on； they borrowed
shields and leather caps from the young men of the guard； for leather
would not shine as bronze helmets shine in the firelight。 The cap lent to
Ulysses was strengthened outside with rows of boars' tusks。 Many of
these tusks； shaped for this purpose； have been found； with swords and
armour； in a tomb in Mycenae； the town of Agamemnon。 This cap which
was lent to Ulysses had once been stolen by his grandfather； Autolycus；
who was a Master Thief； and he gave it as a present to a friend； and so；
through several hands； it had come to young Meriones of Crete； one of the
five hundred guards； who now lent it to Ulysses。 So the two princes set
forth in the dark； so dark it was that though they heard a heron cry； they
could not see it as it flew away。
While Ulysses and Diomede stole through the night silently； like two
29
… Page 30…
Tales of Troy
wolves among the bodies of dead men； the Trojan leaders met and
considered what they ought to do。 They did not know whether the
Greeks had set sentinels and outposts； as usual； to give warning if the
enemy were approaching； or whether they were too weary to keep a good
watch； or whether perhaps they were getting ready their ships to sail
homewards in the dawn。 So Hector offered a reward to any man who
would creep through the night and spy on the Greeks； he said he would
give the spy the two best horses in the Greek camp。
Now among the Trojans there was a young man named Dolon； the son
of a rich father； and he was the only boy in a family of five sisters。 He was
ugly； but a very swift runner； and he cared for horses more than for
anything else in the world。 Dolon arose and said； 〃If you will swear to
give me the horses and chariot of Achilles； son of Peleus； I will steal to the
hut of Agamemnon and listen and find out whether the Greeks mean to
fight or flee。〃 Hector swore to give these horses； which were the best in
the world； to Dolon； so he took his bow and threw a grey wolf's hide over
his shoulders； and ran towards the ships of the Greeks。
Now Ulysses saw Dolon as he came； and said to Diomede； 〃Let us
suffer him to pass us； and then do you keep driving him with your spear
towards the ships； and away from Troy。〃 So Ulysses and Diomede lay
down among the dead men who had fallen in the battle； and Dolon ran on
past them towards the Greeks。 Then they rose and chased him as two
greyhounds course a hare； and； when Dolon was near the sentinels；
Diomede cried 〃Stand； or I will slay you with my spear！〃 and he threw his
spear just over Dolon's shoulder。 So Dolon stood still； green with fear；
and with his teeth chattering。 When the two came up； he cried； and said
that his father was a rich man； who would pay much gold； and bronze； and
iron for his ransom。
Ulysses said； 〃Take heart； and put death out of your mind； and tell us
what you are doing here。〃 Dolon said that Hector had promised him the
horses of Achilles if he would go and spy on the Greeks。 〃You set your
hopes high；〃 said Ulysses； 〃for the horses of Achilles are not earthly steeds；
but divine； a gift of the Gods； and Achilles alone can drive them。 But；
tell me； do the Trojans keep good watch； and where is Hector with his
30
… Page 31…
Tales of Troy
horses？〃 for Ulysses thought that it would be a great adventure to drive
away the horses of Hector。
〃Hector is with the chiefs； holding council at the tomb of Ilus；〃 said
Dolon； 〃but no regular guard is set。 The people of Troy； indeed； are
round their watch fires； for they have to think of the safety of their wives
and children； but the allies from far lands keep no watch； for their wives
and children are safe at home。〃 Then he told where all the different
peoples who fought for Priam had their stations； but； said he； 〃if you want
to steal horses； the best are those of Rhesus； King of the Thracians； who
has only joined us to…night。 He and his men are asleep at the furthest end
of the line； and his horses are the best and greatest that ever I saw： tall；
white as snow； and swift as the wind； and his chariot is adorned with gold
and silver； and golden is his armour。 Now take me prisoner to the ships；
or bind me and leave me here while you go and try whether I have told
you truth or lies。〃
〃No；〃 said Diomede； 〃if I spare your life you may come spying again；〃
and he drew his sword and smote off the head of Dolon。 They hid his cap
and bow and spear where they could find them easily； and marked the spot；
and went through the night to the dark camp of King Rhesus； who had no
watch…fire and no guards。 Then Diomede silently stabbed each sleeping
man to the heart； and Ulysses seized the dead by the feet and threw them
aside lest they should frighten the horses； which had never been in battle；
and would shy if they were led over the bodies of dead men。 Last of all
Diomede killed King Rhesus； and Ulysses led forth his horses； beating
them with his bow； for he had forgotten to take the whip from the chariot。
Then Ulysses and Diomede leaped on the backs of the horses； as they had
not time to bring away the chariot； and they galloped to the ships； stopping
to pick up the spear； and bow； and cap of Dolon。 They rode to the
princes； who welcomed them； and all laughed for glee when they saw the
white horses and heard that King Rhesus was dead； for they guessed that
all his army would now go home to Thrace。 This they must have done；
for we never hear of them in the battles that followed； so Ulysses and
Diomede deprived the Trojans of thousands of men。 The other princes
went to bed in good spirits； but Ulysses and Diomede took a swim in the
31
… Page 32…
Tales of Troy
sea； and then went into hot baths； and so to breakfast； for rosy…fingered
Dawn was coming up the sky。
32
… Page 33…
Tales of Troy
BATTLE AT THE SHIPS
With dawn Agamemnon awoke； and fear had gone out of his heart。
He put on his armour； and arrayed the chiefs on foot in front of their
chariots； and behind them came the spearmen； with the bowmen and
slingers on the wings of the army。 Then a great black cloud spread over
the sky； and red was the rain that fell from it。 The Trojans gathered on a
height in the plain； and Hector； shining in armour； went here and there； in
front and rear； like a star that now gleams forth and now is hidden in a
cloud。
The armies rushed on each other and hewed each other down； as
reapers cut their way through a field of tall corn。 Neither side gave
ground； though the helmets of the bravest Trojans might be seen deep in
the ranks of the Greeks； and the swords of the bravest Greeks rose and fell
in the ranks of the Trojans； and all the while the arrows showered like rain。
But at noon…day； when the weary woodman rests from cutting trees； and
takes his dinner in the quiet hills； the Greeks of the first line made a charge；
Agamemnon running in front of them； and he speared two Trojans； and
took their breastplates； which he laid in his
