第 8 节
作者:美丽心点      更新:2021-02-21 16:08      字数:9322
  handsomest man that came up under Ilius of all the Danaans after the
  son of Peleus… but he was a man of no substance; and had but a small
  following。
  And those that held Nisyrus; Crapathus; and Casus; with Cos; the
  city of Eurypylus; and the Calydnian islands; these were commanded
  by Pheidippus and Antiphus; two sons of King Thessalus the son of
  Hercules。 And with them there came thirty ships。
  Those again who held Pelasgic Argos; Alos; Alope; and Trachis; and
  those of Phthia and Hellas the land of fair women; who were called
  Myrmidons; Hellenes; and Achaeans; these had fifty ships; over which
  Achilles was in command。 But they now took no part in the war;
  inasmuch as there was no one to marshal them; for Achilles stayed by
  his ships; furious about the loss of the girl Briseis; whom he had
  taken from Lyrnessus at his own great peril; when he had sacked
  Lyrnessus and Thebe; and had overthrown Mynes and Epistrophus; sons of
  king Evenor; son of Selepus。 For her sake Achilles was still grieving;
  but ere long he was again to join them。
  And those that held Phylace and the flowery meadows of Pyrasus;
  sanctuary of Ceres; Iton; the mother of sheep; Antrum upon the sea;
  and Pteleum that lies upon the grass lands。 Of these brave Protesilaus
  had been captain while he was yet alive; but he was now lying under
  the earth。 He had left a wife behind him in Phylace to tear her cheeks
  in sorrow; and his house was only half finished; for he was slain by a
  Dardanian warrior while leaping foremost of the Achaeans upon the soil
  of Troy。 Still; though his people mourned their chieftain; they were
  not without a leader; for Podarces; of the race of Mars; marshalled
  them; he was son of Iphiclus; rich in sheep; who was the son of
  Phylacus; and he was own brother to Protesilaus; only younger;
  Protesilaus being at once the elder and the more valiant。 So the
  people were not without a leader; though they mourned him whom they
  had lost。 With him there came forty ships。
  And those that held Pherae by the Boebean lake; with Boebe;
  Glaphyrae; and the populous city of Iolcus; these with their eleven
  ships were led by Eumelus; son of Admetus; whom Alcestis bore to
  him; loveliest of the daughters of Pelias。
  And those that held Methone and Thaumacia; with Meliboea and
  rugged Olizon; these were led by the skilful archer Philoctetes; and
  they had seven ships; each with fifty oarsmen all of them good
  archers; but Philoctetes was lying in great pain in the Island of
  Lemnos; where the sons of the Achaeans left him; for he had been
  bitten by a poisonous water snake。 There he lay sick and sorry; and
  full soon did the Argives come to miss him。 But his people; though
  they felt his loss were not leaderless; for Medon; the bastard son
  of Oileus by Rhene; set them in array。
  Those; again; of Tricca and the stony region of Ithome; and they
  that held Oechalia; the city of Oechalian Eurytus; these were
  commanded by the two sons of Aesculapius; skilled in the art of
  healing; Podalirius and Machaon。 And with them there came thirty
  ships。
  The men; moreover; of Ormenius; and by the fountain of Hypereia;
  with those that held Asterius; and the white crests of Titanus;
  these were led by Eurypylus; the son of Euaemon; and with them there
  came forty ships。
  Those that held Argissa and Gyrtone; Orthe; Elone; and the white
  city of Oloosson; of these brave Polypoetes was leader。 He was son
  of Pirithous; who was son of Jove himself; for Hippodameia bore him to
  Pirithous on the day when he took his revenge on the shaggy mountain
  savages and drove them from Mt。 Pelion to the Aithices。 But Polypoetes
  was not sole in command; for with him was Leonteus; of the race of
  Mars; who was son of Coronus; the son of Caeneus。 And with these there
  came forty ships。
  Guneus brought two and twenty ships from Cyphus; and he was followed
  by the Enienes and the valiant Peraebi; who dwelt about wintry Dodona;
  and held the lands round the lovely river Titaresius; which sends
  its waters into the Peneus。 They do not mingle with the silver
  eddies of the Peneus; but flow on the top of them like oil; for the
  Titaresius is a branch of dread Orcus and of the river Styx。
  Of the Magnetes; Prothous son of Tenthredon was commander。 They were
  they that dwelt about the river Peneus and Mt。 Pelion。 Prothous; fleet
  of foot; was their leader; and with him there came forty ships。
  Such were the chiefs and princes of the Danaans。 Who; then; O
  Muse; was the foremost; whether man or horse; among those that
  followed after the sons of Atreus?
  Of the horses; those of the son of Pheres were by far the finest。
  They were driven by Eumelus; and were as fleet as birds。 They were
  of the same age and colour; and perfectly matched in height。 Apollo;
  of the silver bow; had bred them in Perea… both of them mares; and
  terrible as Mars in battle。 Of the men; Ajax; son of Telamon; was much
  the foremost so long as Achilles' anger lasted; for Achilles
  excelled him greatly and he had also better horses; but Achilles was
  now holding aloof at his ships by reason of his quarrel with
  Agamemnon; and his people passed their time upon the sea shore;
  throwing discs or aiming with spears at a mark; and in archery。
  Their horses stood each by his own chariot; champing lotus and wild
  celery。 The chariots were housed under cover; but their owners; for
  lack of leadership; wandered hither and thither about the host and
  went not forth to fight。
  Thus marched the host like a consuming fire; and the earth groaned
  beneath them when the lord of thunder is angry and lashes the land
  about Typhoeus among the Arimi; where they say Typhoeus lies。 Even
  so did the earth groan beneath them as they sped over the plain。
  And now Iris; fleet as the wind; was sent by Jove to tell the bad
  news among the Trojans。 They were gathered in assembly; old and young;
  at Priam's gates; and Iris came close up to Priam; speaking with the
  voice of Priam's son Polites; who; being fleet of foot; was
  stationed as watchman for the Trojans on the tomb of old Aesyetes;
  to look out for any sally of the Achaeans。 In his likeness Iris spoke;
  saying; 〃Old man; you talk idly; as in time of peace; while war is
  at hand。 I have been in many a battle; but never yet saw such a host
  as is now advancing。 They are crossing the plain to attack the city as
  thick as leaves or as the sands of the sea。 Hector; I charge you above
  all others; do as I say。 There are many allies dispersed about the
  city of Priam from distant places and speaking divers tongues。
  Therefore; let each chief give orders to his own people; setting
  them severally in array and leading them forth to battle。〃
  Thus she spoke; but Hector knew that it was the goddess; and at once
  broke up the assembly。 The men flew to arms; all the gates were
  opened; and the people thronged through them; horse and foot; with the
  tramp as of a great multitude。
  Now there is a high mound before the city; rising by itself upon the
  plain。 Men call it Batieia; but the gods know that it is the tomb of
  lithe Myrine。 Here the Trojans and their allies divided their forces。
  Priam's son; great Hector of the gleaming helmet; commanded the
  Trojans; and with him were arrayed by far the greater number and
  most valiant of those who were longing for the fray。
  The Dardanians were led by brave Aeneas; whom Venus bore to
  Anchises; when she; goddess though she was; had lain with him upon the
  mountain slopes of Ida。 He was not alone; for with him were the two
  sons of Antenor; Archilochus and Acamas; both skilled in all the
  arts of war。
  They that dwelt in Telea under the lowest spurs of Mt。 Ida; men of
  substance; who drink the limpid waters of the Aesepus; and are of
  Trojan blood… these were led by Pandarus son of Lycaon; whom Apollo
  had taught to use the bow。
  They that held Adresteia and the land of Apaesus; with Pityeia;
  and the high mountain of Tereia… these were led by Adrestus and
  Amphius; whose breastplate was of linen。 These were the sons of Merops
  of Percote; who excelled in all kinds of divination。 He told them
  not to take part in the war; but they gave him no heed; for fate lured
  them to destruction。
  They that dwelt about Percote and Practius; with Sestos; Abydos; and
  Arisbe… these were led by Asius; son of Hyrtacus; a brave commander…
  Asius; the son of Hyrtacus; whom his powerful dark bay steeds; of
  the breed that comes from the river Selleis; had brought from Arisbe。
  Hippothous led the tribes of Pelasgian spearsmen; who dwelt in
  fertile Larissa… Hippothous; and Pylaeus of the race of Mars; two sons
  of the Pelasgian Lethus; son of Teutamus。
  Acamas and the warrior Peirous commanded the Thracians and those
  that came from beyond the mighty stream of the Hellespont。
  Euphemus; son of Troezenus; the son of Ceos; was captain of the
  Ciconian spearsmen。
  Pyraechmes led the Paeonian archers from distant Amydon; by the
  broad waters of the river Axius; the fairest that flow upon the earth。
  The Paphlagonians were commanded by stout…hearted Pylaemanes from
  Enetae; where the mules run wild in herds。 These were they that held
  Cytorus and the country round Sesamus; with the cities by the river
  Parthenius; Cromna; Aegialus; and lof