第 20 节
作者:
美丽心点 更新:2021-02-21 16:08 字数:9322
even their great champion Achilles; son of a goddess though he be;
as we do this man: his rage is beyond all bounds; and there is none
can vie with him in prowess〃
Hector did as his brother bade him。 He sprang from his chariot;
and went about everywhere among the host; brandishing his spears;
urging the men on to fight; and raising the dread cry of battle。
Thereon they rallied and again faced the Achaeans; who gave ground and
ceased their murderous onset; for they deemed that some one of the
immortals had come down from starry heaven to help the Trojans; so
strangely had they rallied。 And Hector shouted to the Trojans;
〃Trojans and allies; be men; my friends; and fight with might and
main; while I go to Ilius and tell the old men of our council and
our wives to pray to the gods and vow hecatombs in their honour。〃
With this he went his way; and the black rim of hide that went round
his shield beat against his neck and his ancles。
Then Glaucus son of Hippolochus; and the son of Tydeus went into the
open space between the hosts to fight in single combat。 When they were
close up to one another Diomed of the loud war…cry was the first to
speak。 〃Who; my good sir;〃 said he; 〃who are you among men? I have
never seen you in battle until now; but you are daring beyond all
others if you abide my onset。 Woe to those fathers whose sons face
my might。 If; however; you are one of the immortals and have come down
from heaven; I will not fight you; for even valiant Lycurgus; son of
Dryas; did not live long when he took to fighting with the gods。 He it
was that drove the nursing women who were in charge of frenzied
Bacchus through the land of Nysa; and they flung their thyrsi on the
ground as murderous Lycurgus beat them with his oxgoad。 Bacchus
himself plunged terror…stricken into the sea; and Thetis took him to
her bosom to comfort him; for he was scared by the fury with which the
man reviled him。 Thereon the gods who live at ease were angry with
Lycurgus and the son of Saturn struck him blind; nor did he live
much longer after he had become hateful to the immortals。 Therefore
I will not fight with the blessed gods; but if you are of them that
eat the fruit of the ground; draw near and meet your doom。〃
And the son of Hippolochus answered; son of Tydeus; why ask me of my
lineage? Men come and go as leaves year by year upon the trees。
Those of autumn the wind sheds upon the ground; but when spring
returns the forest buds forth with fresh vines。 Even so is it with the
generations of mankind; the new spring up as the old are passing away。
If; then; you would learn my descent; it is one that is well known
to many。 There is a city in the heart of Argos; pasture land of
horses; called Ephyra; where Sisyphus lived; who was the craftiest
of all mankind。 He was the son of Aeolus; and had a son named Glaucus;
who was father to Bellerophon; whom heaven endowed with the most
surpassing comeliness and beauty。 But Proetus devised his ruin; and
being stronger than he; drove him from the land of the Argives; over
which Jove had made him ruler。 For Antea; wife of Proetus; lusted
after him; and would have had him lie with her in secret; but
Bellerophon was an honourable man and would not; so she told lies
about him to Proteus。 'Proetus;' said she; 'kill Bellerophon or die;
for he would have had converse with me against my will。' The king
was angered; but shrank from killing Bellerophon; so he sent him to
Lycia with lying letters of introduction; written on a folded
tablet; and containing much ill against the bearer。 He bade
Bellerophon show these letters to his father…in…law; to the end that
he might thus perish; Bellerophon therefore went to Lycia; and the
gods convoyed him safely。
〃When he reached the river Xanthus; which is in Lycia; the king
received him with all goodwill; feasted him nine days; and killed nine
heifers in his honour; but when rosy…fingered morning appeared upon
the tenth day; he questioned him and desired to see the letter from
his son…in…law Proetus。 When he had received the wicked letter he
first commanded Bellerophon to kill that savage monster; the Chimaera;
who was not a human being; but a goddess; for she had the head of a
lion and the tail of a serpent; while her body was that of a goat; and
she breathed forth flames of fire; but Bellerophon slew her; for he
was guided by signs from heaven。 He next fought the far…famed
Solymi; and this; he said; was the hardest of all his battles。
Thirdly; he killed the Amazons; women who were the peers of men; and
as he was returning thence the king devised yet another plan for his
destruction; he picked the bravest warriors in all Lycia; and placed
them in ambuscade; but not a man ever came back; for Bellerophon
killed every one of them。 Then the king knew that he must be the
valiant offspring of a god; so he kept him in Lycia; gave him his
daughter in marriage; and made him of equal honour in the kingdom with
himself; and the Lycians gave him a piece of land; the best in all the
country; fair with vineyards and tilled fields; to have and to hold。
〃The king's daughter bore Bellerophon three children; Isander;
Hippolochus; and Laodameia。 Jove; the lord of counsel; lay with
Laodameia; and she bore him noble Sarpedon; but when Bellerophon
came to be hated by all the gods; he wandered all desolate and
dismayed upon the Alean plain; gnawing at his own heart; and
shunning the path of man。 Mars; insatiate of battle; killed his son
Isander while he was fighting the Solymi; his daughter was killed by
Diana of the golden reins; for she was angered with her; but
Hippolochus was father to myself; and when he sent me to Troy he urged
me again and again to fight ever among the foremost and outvie my
peers; so as not to shame the blood of my fathers who were the noblest
in Ephyra and in all Lycia。 This; then; is the descent I claim。〃
Thus did he speak; and the heart of Diomed was glad。 He planted
his spear in the ground; and spoke to him with friendly words。 〃Then;〃
he said; you are an old friend of my father's house。 Great Oeneus once
entertained Bellerophon for twenty days; and the two exchanged
presents。 Oeneus gave a belt rich with purple; and Bellerophon a
double cup; which I left at home when I set out for Troy。 I do not
remember Tydeus; for he was taken from us while I was yet a child;
when the army of the Achaeans was cut to pieces before Thebes。
Henceforth; however; I must be your host in middle Argos; and you mine
in Lycia; if I should ever go there; let us avoid one another's spears
even during a general engagement; there are many noble Trojans and
allies whom I can kill; if I overtake them and heaven delivers them
into my hand; so again with yourself; there are many Achaeans whose
lives you may take if you can; we two; then; will exchange armour;
that all present may know of the old ties that subsist between us。〃
With these words they sprang from their chariots; grasped one
another's hands; and plighted friendship。 But the son of Saturn made
Glaucus take leave of his wits; for he exchanged golden armour for
bronze; the worth of a hundred head of cattle for the worth of nine。
Now when Hector reached the Scaean gates and the oak tree; the wives
and daughters of the Trojans came running towards him to ask after
their sons; brothers; kinsmen; and husbands: he told them to set about
praying to the gods; and many were made sorrowful as they heard him。
Presently he reached the splendid palace of King Priam; adorned with
colonnades of hewn stone。 In it there were fifty bedchambers… all of
hewn stone… built near one another; where the sons of Priam slept;
each with his wedded wife。 Opposite these; on the other side the
courtyard; there were twelve upper rooms also of hewn stone for
Priam's daughters; built near one another; where his sons…in…law slept
with their wives。 When Hector got there; his fond mother came up to
him with Laodice the fairest of her daughters。 She took his hand
within her own and said; 〃My son; why have you left the battle to come
hither? Are the Achaeans; woe betide them; pressing you hard about the
city that you have thought fit to come and uplift your hands to Jove
from the citadel? Wait till I can bring you wine that you may make
offering to Jove and to the other immortals; and may then drink and be
refreshed。 Wine gives a man fresh strength when he is wearied; as
you now are with fighting on behalf of your kinsmen。〃
And Hector answered; 〃Honoured mother; bring no wine; lest you unman
me and I forget my strength。 I dare not make a drink…offering to
Jove with unwashed hands; one who is bespattered with blood and
filth may not pray to the son of Saturn。 Get the matrons together; and
go with offerings to the temple of Minerva driver of the spoil; there;
upon the knees of Minerva; lay the largest and fairest robe you have
in your house… the one you set most store by; promise; moreover; to
sacrifice twelve yearling heifers that have never yet felt the goad;
in the temple of the goddess if she will take pity on the town; with
the wives and little ones of the Trojans; and keep the son of Tydeus
from off the goodly city of Ilius; for he fights with