第 18 节
作者:美丽心点      更新:2021-02-21 16:08      字数:9320
  son of aegis…bearing Jove; for you are little like those who were of
  old his children。 Far other was Hercules; my own brave and
  lion…hearted father; who came here for the horses of Laomedon; and
  though he had six ships only; and few men to follow him; sacked the
  city of Ilius and made a wilderness of her highways。 You are a coward;
  and your people are falling from you。 For all your strength; and all
  your coming from Lycia; you will be no help to the Trojans but will
  pass the gates of Hades vanquished by my hand。〃
  And Sarpedon; captain of the Lycians; answered; 〃Tlepolemus; your
  father overthrew Ilius by reason of Laomedon's folly in refusing
  payment to one who had served him well。 He would not give your
  father the horses which he had come so far to fetch。 As for
  yourself; you shall meet death by my spear。 You shall yield glory to
  myself; and your soul to Hades of the noble steeds。〃
  Thus spoke Sarpedon; and Tlepolemus upraised his spear。 They threw
  at the same moment; and Sarpedon struck his foe in the middle of his
  throat; the spear went right through; and the darkness of death fell
  upon his eyes。 Tlepolemus's spear struck Sarpedon on the left thigh
  with such force that it tore through the flesh and grazed the bone;
  but his father as yet warded off destruction from him。
  His comrades bore Sarpedon out of the fight; in great pain by the
  weight of the spear that was dragging from his wound。 They were in
  such haste and stress as they bore him that no one thought of
  drawing the spear from his thigh so as to let him walk uprightly。
  Meanwhile the Achaeans carried off the body of Tlepolemus; whereon
  Ulysses was moved to pity; and panted for the fray as he beheld
  them。 He doubted whether to pursue the son of Jove; or to make
  slaughter of the Lycian rank and file; it was not decreed; however;
  that he should slay the son of Jove; Minerva; therefore; turned him
  against the main body of the Lycians。 He killed Coeranus; Alastor;
  Chromius; Alcandrus; Halius; Noemon; and Prytanis; and would have
  slain yet more; had not great Hector marked him; and sped to the front
  of the fight clad in his suit of mail; filling the Danaans with
  terror。 Sarpedon was glad when he saw him coming; and besought him;
  saying; 〃Son of Priam; let me not he here to fall into the hands of
  the Danaans。 Help me; and since I may not return home to gladden the
  hearts of my wife and of my infant son; let me die within the walls of
  your city。〃
  Hector made him no answer; but rushed onward to fall at once upon
  the Achaeans and。 kill many among them。 His comrades then bore
  Sarpedon away and laid him beneath Jove's spreading oak tree。 Pelagon;
  his friend and comrade drew the spear out of his thigh; but Sarpedon
  fainted and a mist came over his eyes。 Presently he came to himself
  again; for the breath of the north wind as it played upon him gave him
  new life; and brought him out of the deep swoon into which he had
  fallen。
  Meanwhile the Argives were neither driven towards their ships by
  Mars and Hector; nor yet did they attack them; when they knew that
  Mars was with the Trojans they retreated; but kept their faces still
  turned towards the foe。 Who; then; was first and who last to be
  slain by Mars and Hector? They were valiant Teuthras; and Orestes
  the renowned charioteer; Trechus the Aetolian warrior; Oenomaus;
  Helenus the son of Oenops; and Oresbius of the gleaming girdle; who
  was possessed of great wealth; and dwelt by the Cephisian lake with
  the other Boeotians who lived near him; owners of a fertile country。
  Now when the goddess Juno saw the Argives thus falling; she said
  to Minerva; 〃Alas; daughter of aegis…bearing Jove; unweariable; the
  promise we made Menelaus that he should not return till he had
  sacked the city of Ilius will be of none effect if we let Mars rage
  thus furiously。 Let us go into the fray at once。〃
  Minerva did not gainsay her。 Thereon the august goddess; daughter of
  great Saturn; began to harness her gold…bedizened steeds。 Hebe with
  all speed fitted on the eight…spoked wheels of bronze that were on
  either side of the iron axle…tree。 The felloes of the wheels were of
  gold; imperishable; and over these there was a tire of bronze;
  wondrous to behold。 The naves of the wheels were silver; turning round
  the axle upon either side。 The car itself was made with plaited
  bands of gold and silver; and it had a double top…rail running all
  round it。 From the body of the car there went a pole of silver; on
  to the end of which she bound the golden yoke; with the bands of
  gold that were to go under the necks of the horses Then Juno put her
  steeds under the yoke; eager for battle and the war…cry。
  Meanwhile Minerva flung her richly embroidered vesture; made with
  her own hands; on to her father's threshold; and donned the shirt of
  Jove; arming herself for battle。 She threw her tasselled aegis
  about。 her shoulders; wreathed round with Rout as with a fringe; and
  on it were Strife; and Strength; and Panic whose blood runs cold;
  moreover there was the head of the dread monster Gorgon;; grim and
  awful to behold; portent of aegis…bearing Jove。 On her head she set
  her helmet of gold; with four plumes; and coming to a peak both in
  front and behind… decked with the emblems of a hundred cities; then
  she stepped into her flaming chariot and grasped the spear; so stout
  and sturdy and strong; with which she quells the ranks of heroes who
  have displeased her。 Juno lashed the horses on; and the gates of
  heaven bellowed as they flew open of their own accord …gates over
  which the flours preside; in whose hands are Heaven and Olympus;
  either to open the dense cloud that hides them; or to close it。
  Through these the goddesses drove their obedient steeds; and found the
  son of Saturn sitting all alone on the topmost ridges of Olympus。
  There Juno stayed her horses; and spoke to Jove the son of Saturn;
  lord of all。 〃Father Jove;〃 said she; 〃are you not angry with Mars for
  these high doings? how great and goodly a host of the Achaeans he
  has destroyed to my great grief; and without either right or reason;
  while the Cyprian and Apollo are enjoying it all at their ease and
  setting this unrighteous madman on to do further mischief。 I hope;
  Father Jove; that you will not be angry if I hit Mars hard; and
  chase him out of the battle。〃
  And Jove answered; 〃Set Minerva on to him; for she punishes him more
  often than any one else does。〃
  Juno did as he had said。 She lashed her horses; and they flew
  forward nothing loth midway betwixt earth and sky。 As far as a man can
  see when he looks out upon the sea from some high beacon; so far can
  the loud…neighing horses of the gods spring at a single bound。 When
  they reached Troy and the place where its two flowing streams Simois
  and Scamander meet; there Juno stayed them and took them from the
  chariot。 She hid them in a thick cloud; and Simois made ambrosia
  spring up for them to eat; the two goddesses then went on; flying like
  turtledoves in their eagerness to help the Argives。 When they came
  to the part where the bravest and most in number were gathered about
  mighty Diomed; fighting like lions or wild boars of great strength and
  endurance; there Juno stood still and raised a shout like that of
  brazen…voiced Stentor; whose cry was as loud as that of fifty men
  together。 〃Argives;〃 she cried; 〃shame on cowardly creatures; brave in
  semblance only; as long as Achilles was fighting; fi his spear was
  so deadly that the Trojans dared not show themselves outside the
  Dardanian gates; but now they sally far from the city and fight even
  at your ships。〃
  With these words she put heart and soul into them all; while Minerva
  sprang to the side of the son of Tydeus; whom she found near his
  chariot and horses; cooling the wound that Pandarus had given him。 For
  the sweat caused by the hand that bore the weight of his shield
  irritated the hurt: his arm was weary with pain; and he was lifting up
  the strap to wipe away the blood。 The goddess laid her hand on the
  yoke of his horses and said; 〃The son of Tydeus is not such another as
  his father。 Tydeus was a little man; but he could fight; and rushed
  madly into the fray even when I told him not to do so。 When he went
  all unattended as envoy to the city of Thebes among the Cadmeans; I
  bade him feast in their houses and be at peace; but with that high
  spirit which was ever present with him; he challenged the youth of the
  Cadmeans; and at once beat them in all that he attempted; so
  mightily did I help him。 I stand by you too to protect you; and I
  bid you be instant in fighting the Trojans; but either you are tired
  out; or you are afraid and out of heart; and in that case I say that
  you are no true son of Tydeus the son of Oeneus。〃
  Diomed answered; 〃I know you; goddess; daughter of aegis…bearing
  Jove; and will hide nothing from you。 I am not afraid nor out of
  heart; nor is there any slackness in me。 I am only following your
  own instructions; you told me not to fight any of the blessed gods;
  but if Jove's daughter Venus came into battle I was to wound her
  with my spear。 Therefore I am retreating; and bidding the other
  Argives gather in this place; for I know that Mars is now lording it
  in the field。〃