第 15 节
作者:美丽心点      更新:2021-02-21 16:08      字数:9321
  phalanxes of the Trojans driven in rout by the son of Tydeus; and many
  though they were; they dared not abide his onslaught。
  Now when the son of Lycaon saw him scouring the plain and driving
  the Trojans pell…mell before him; he aimed an arrow and hit the
  front part of his cuirass near the shoulder: the arrow went right
  through the metal and pierced the flesh; so that the cuirass was
  covered with blood。 On this the son of Lycaon shouted in triumph;
  〃Knights Trojans; come on; the bravest of the Achaeans is wounded; and
  he will not hold out much longer if King Apollo was indeed with me
  when I sped from Lycia hither。〃
  Thus did he vaunt; but his arrow had not killed Diomed; who withdrew
  and made for the chariot and horses of Sthenelus; the son of Capaneus。
  〃Dear son of Capaneus;〃 said he; 〃come down from your chariot; and
  draw the arrow out of my shoulder。〃
  Sthenelus sprang from his chariot; and drew the arrow from the
  wound; whereon the blood came spouting out through the hole that had
  been made in his shirt。 Then Diomed prayed; saying; 〃Hear me; daughter
  of aegis…bearing Jove; unweariable; if ever you loved my father well
  and stood by him in the thick of a fight; do the like now by me; grant
  me to come within a spear's throw of that man and kill him。 He has
  been too quick for me and has wounded me; and now he is boasting
  that I shall not see the light of the sun much longer。〃
  Thus he prayed; and Pallas Minerva heard him; she made his limbs
  supple and quickened his hands and his feet。 Then she went up close to
  him and said; 〃Fear not; Diomed; to do battle with the Trojans; for
  I have set in your heart the spirit of your knightly father Tydeus。
  Moreover; I have withdrawn the veil from your eyes; that you know gods
  and men apart。 If; then; any other god comes here and offers you
  battle; do not fight him; but should Jove's daughter Venus come;
  strike her with your spear and wound her。〃
  When she had said this Minerva went away; and the son of Tydeus
  again took his place among the foremost fighters; three times more
  fierce even than he had been before。 He was like a lion that some
  mountain shepherd has wounded; but not killed; as he is springing over
  the wall of a sheep…yard to attack the sheep。 The shepherd has
  roused the brute to fury but cannot defend his flock; so he takes
  shelter under cover of the buildings; while the sheep;
  panic…stricken on being deserted; are smothered in heaps one on top of
  the other; and the angry lion leaps out over the sheep…yard wall。 Even
  thus did Diomed go furiously about among the Trojans。
  He killed Astynous; and shepherd of his people; the one with a
  thrust of his spear; which struck him above the nipple; the other with
  a sword… cut on the collar…bone; that severed his shoulder from his
  neck and back。 He let both of them lie; and went in pursuit of Abas
  and Polyidus; sons of the old reader of dreams Eurydamas: they never
  came back for him to read them any more dreams; for mighty Diomed made
  an end of them。 He then gave chase to Xanthus and Thoon; the two
  sons of Phaenops; both of them very dear to him; for he was now worn
  out with age; and begat no more sons to inherit his possessions。 But
  Diomed took both their lives and left their father sorrowing bitterly;
  for he nevermore saw them come home from battle alive; and his kinsmen
  divided his wealth among themselves。
  Then he came upon two sons of Priam; Echemmon and Chromius; as
  they were both in one chariot。 He sprang upon them as a lion fastens
  on the neck of some cow or heifer when the herd is feeding in a
  coppice。 For all their vain struggles he flung them both from their
  chariot and stripped the armour from their bodies。 Then he gave
  their horses to his comrades to take them back to the ships。
  When Aeneas saw him thus making havoc among the ranks; he went
  through the fight amid the rain of spears to see if he could find
  Pandarus。 When he had found the brave son of Lycaon he said;
  〃Pandarus; where is now your bow; your winged arrows; and your
  renown as an archer; in respect of which no man here can rival you nor
  is there any in Lycia that can beat you? Lift then your hands to
  Jove and send an arrow at this fellow who is going so masterfully
  about; and has done such deadly work among the Trojans。 He has
  killed many a brave man… unless indeed he is some god who is angry
  with the Trojans about their sacrifices; and and has set his hand
  against them in his displeasure。〃
  And the son of Lycaon answered; 〃Aeneas; I take him for none other
  than the son of Tydeus。 I know him by his shield; the visor of his
  helmet; and by his horses。 It is possible that he may be a god; but if
  he is the man I say he is; he is not making all this havoc without
  heaven's help; but has some god by his side who is shrouded in a cloud
  of darkness; and who turned my arrow aside when it had hit him。 I have
  taken aim at him already and hit him on the right shoulder; my arrow
  went through the breastpiece of his cuirass; and I made sure I
  should send him hurrying to the world below; but it seems that I
  have not killed him。 There must be a god who is angry with me。
  Moreover I have neither horse nor chariot。 In my father's stables
  there are eleven excellent chariots; fresh from the builder; quite
  new; with cloths spread over them; and by each of them there stand a
  pair of horses; champing barley and rye; my old father Lycaon urged me
  again and again when I was at home and on the point of starting; to
  take chariots and horses with me that I might lead the Trojans in
  battle; but I would not listen to him; it would have been much
  better if I had done so; but I was thinking about the horses; which
  had been used to eat their fill; and I was afraid that in such a great
  gathering of men they might be ill…fed; so I left them at home and
  came on foot to Ilius armed only with my bow and arrows。 These it
  seems; are of no use; for I have already hit two chieftains; the
  sons of Atreus and of Tydeus; and though I drew blood surely enough; I
  have only made them still more furious。 I did ill to take my bow
  down from its peg on the day I led my band of Trojans to Ilius in
  Hector's service; and if ever I get home again to set eyes on my
  native place; my wife; and the greatness of my house; may some one cut
  my head off then and there if I do not break the bow and set it on a
  hot fire… such pranks as it plays me。〃
  Aeneas answered; 〃Say no more。 Things will not mend till we two go
  against this man with chariot and horses and bring him to a trial of
  arms。 Mount my chariot; and note how cleverly the horses of Tros can
  speed hither and thither over the plain in pursuit or flight。 If
  Jove again vouchsafes glory to the son of Tydeus they will carry us
  safely back to the city。 Take hold; then; of the whip and reins
  while I stand upon the car to fight; or else do you wait this man's
  onset while I look after the horses。〃
  〃Aeneas。〃 replied the son of Lycaon; 〃take the reins and drive; if
  we have to fly before the son of Tydeus the horses will go better
  for their own driver。 If they miss the sound of your voice when they
  expect it they may be frightened; and refuse to take us out of the
  fight。 The son of Tydeus will then kill both of us and take the
  horses。 Therefore drive them yourself and I will be ready for him with
  my spear。〃
  They then mounted the chariot and drove full…speed towards the son
  of Tydeus。 Sthenelus; son of Capaneus; saw them coming and said to
  Diomed; 〃Diomed; son of Tydeus; man after my own heart; I see two
  heroes speeding towards you; both of them men of might the one a
  skilful archer; Pandarus son of Lycaon; the other; Aeneas; whose
  sire is Anchises; while his mother is Venus。 Mount the chariot and let
  us retreat。 Do not; I pray you; press so furiously forward; or you may
  get killed。〃
  Diomed looked angrily at him and answered: 〃Talk not of flight;
  for I shall not listen to you: I am of a race that knows neither
  flight nor fear; and my limbs are as yet unwearied。 I am in no mind to
  mount; but will go against them even as I am; Pallas Minerva bids me
  be afraid of no man; and even though one of them escape; their
  steeds shall not take both back again。 I say further; and lay my
  saying to your heart… if Minerva sees fit to vouchsafe me the glory of
  killing both; stay your horses here and make the reins fast to the rim
  of the chariot; then be sure you spring Aeneas' horses and drive
  them from the Trojan to the Achaean ranks。 They are of the stock
  that great Jove gave to Tros in payment for his son Ganymede; and
  are the finest that live and move under the sun。 King Anchises stole
  the blood by putting his mares to them without Laomedon's knowledge;
  and they bore him six foals。 Four are still in his stables; but he
  gave the other two to Aeneas。 We shall win great glory if we can
  take them。〃
  Thus did they converse; but the other two had now driven close up to
  them; and the son of Lycaon spoke first。 〃Great and mighty son;〃
  said he; 〃of noble Tydeus; my arrow failed to lay you low; so I will
  now try with my spear。〃
  He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it from him。 It struck
  the shield of the son of Tydeus; the bronze point pierced it and
  passed