第 25 节
作者:美丽心点      更新:2021-02-21 16:08      字数:9322
  Danaans; he shall be beaten inordinately ere he come back again to
  Olympus; or I will hurl him down into dark Tartarus far into the
  deepest pit under the earth; where the gates are iron and the floor
  bronze; as far beneath Hades as heaven is high above the earth; that
  you may learn how much the mightiest I am among you。 Try me and find
  out for yourselves。 Hangs me a golden chain from heaven; and lay
  hold of it all of you; gods and goddesses together… tug as you will;
  you will not drag Jove the supreme counsellor from heaven to earth;
  but were I to pull at it myself I should draw you up with earth and
  sea into the bargain; then would I bind the chain about some
  pinnacle of Olympus and leave you all dangling in the mid firmament。
  So far am I above all others either of gods or men。〃
  They were frightened and all of them of held their peace; for he had
  spoken masterfully; but at last Minerva answered; 〃Father; son of
  Saturn; king of kings; we all know that your might is not to be
  gainsaid; but we are also sorry for the Danaan warriors; who are
  perishing and coming to a bad end。 We will; however; since you so
  bid us; refrain from actual fighting; but we will make serviceable
  suggestions to the Argives that they may not all of them perish in
  your displeasure。〃
  Jove smiled at her and answered; 〃Take heart; my child;
  Trito…born; I am not really in earnest; and I wish to be kind to you。〃
  With this he yoked his fleet horses; with hoofs of bronze and
  manes of glittering gold。 He girded himself also with gold about the
  body; seized his gold whip and took his seat in his chariot。 Thereon
  he lashed his horses and they flew forward nothing loth midway twixt
  earth and starry heaven。 After a while he reached many…fountained Ida;
  mother of wild beasts; and Gargarus; where are his grove and
  fragrant altar。 There the father of gods and men stayed his horses;
  took them from the chariot; and hid them in a thick cloud; then he
  took his seat all glorious upon the topmost crests; looking down
  upon the city of Troy and the ships of the Achaeans。
  The Achaeans took their morning meal hastily at the ships; and
  afterwards put on their armour。 The Trojans on the other hand likewise
  armed themselves throughout the city; fewer in numbers but
  nevertheless eager perforce to do battle for their wives and children。
  All the gates were flung wide open; and horse and foot sallied forth
  with the tramp as of a great multitude。
  When they were got together in one place; shield clashed with
  shield; and spear with spear; in the conflict of mail…clad men。 Mighty
  was the din as the bossed shields pressed hard on one another…
  death… cry and shout of triumph of slain and slayers; and the earth
  ran red with blood。
  Now so long as the day waxed and it was still morning their
  weapons beat against one another; and the people fell; but when the
  sun had reached mid…heaven; the sire of all balanced his golden
  scales; and put two fates of death within them; one for the Trojans
  and the other for the Achaeans。 He took the balance by the middle; and
  when he lifted it up the day of the Achaeans sank; the death…fraught
  scale of the Achaeans settled down upon the ground; while that of
  the Trojans rose heavenwards。 Then he thundered aloud from Ida; and
  sent the glare of his lightning upon the Achaeans; when they saw this;
  pale fear fell upon them and they were sore afraid。
  Idomeneus dared not stay nor yet Agamemnon; nor did the two
  Ajaxes; servants of Mars; hold their ground。 Nestor knight of Gerene
  alone stood firm; bulwark of the Achaeans; not of his own will; but
  one of his horses was disabled。 Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen had
  hit it with an arrow just on the top of its head where the mane begins
  to grow away from the skull; a very deadly place。 The horse bounded in
  his anguish as the arrow pierced his brain; and his struggles threw
  others into confusion。 The old man instantly began cutting the
  traces with his sword; but Hector's fleet horses bore down upon him
  through the rout with their bold charioteer; even Hector himself;
  and the old man would have perished there and then had not Diomed been
  quick to mark; and with a loud cry called Ulysses to help him。
  〃Ulysses;〃 he cried; 〃noble son of Laertes where are you flying
  to; with your back turned like a coward? See that you are not struck
  with a spear between the shoulders。 Stay here and help me to defend
  Nestor from this man's furious onset。〃
  Ulysses would not give ear; but sped onward to the ships of the
  Achaeans; and the son of Tydeus flinging himself alone into the
  thick of the fight took his stand before the horses of the son of
  Neleus。 〃Sir;〃 said he; 〃these young warriors are pressing you hard;
  your force is spent; and age is heavy upon you; your squire is naught;
  and your horses are slow to move。 Mount my chariot and see what the
  horses of Tros can do… how cleverly they can scud hither and thither
  over the plain either in flight or in pursuit。 I took them from the
  hero Aeneas。 Let our squires attend to your own steeds; but let us
  drive mine straight at the Trojans; that Hector may learn how
  furiously I too can wield my spear。〃
  Nestor knight of Gerene hearkened to his words。 Thereon the
  doughty squires; Sthenelus and kind…hearted Eurymedon; saw to Nestor's
  horses; while the two both mounted Diomed's chariot。 Nestor took the
  reins in his hands and lashed the horses on; they were soon close up
  with Hector; and the son of Tydeus aimed a spear at him as he was
  charging full speed towards them。 He missed him; but struck his
  charioteer and squire Eniopeus son of noble Thebaeus in the breast
  by the nipple while the reins were in his hands; so that he died there
  and then; and the horses swerved as he fell headlong from the chariot。
  Hector was greatly grieved at the loss of his charioteer; but let
  him lie for all his sorrow; while he went in quest of another
  driver; nor did his steeds have to go long without one; for he
  presently found brave Archeptolemus the son of Iphitus; and made him
  get up behind the horses; giving the reins into his hand。
  All had then been lost and no help for it; for they would have
  been penned up in Ilius like sheep; had not the sire of gods and men
  been quick to mark; and hurled a fiery flaming thunderbolt which
  fell just in front of Diomed's horses with a flare of burning
  brimstone。 The horses were frightened and tried to back beneath the
  car; while the reins dropped from Nestor's hands。 Then he was afraid
  and said to Diomed; 〃Son of Tydeus; turn your horses in flight; see
  you not that the hand of Jove is against you? To…day he vouchsafes
  victory to Hector; to…morrow; if it so please him; he will again grant
  it to ourselves; no man; however brave; may thwart the purpose of
  Jove; for he is far stronger than any。〃
  Diomed answered; 〃All that you have said is true; there is a grief
  however which pierces me to the very heart; for Hector will talk among
  the Trojans and say; 'The son of Tydeus fled before me to the
  ships。' This is the vaunt he will make; and may earth then swallow
  me。〃
  〃Son of Tydeus;〃 replied Nestor; 〃what mean you? Though Hector say
  that you are a coward the Trojans and Dardanians will not believe him;
  nor yet the wives of the mighty warriors whom you have laid low。〃
  So saying he turned the horses back through the thick of the battle;
  and with a cry that rent the air the Trojans and Hector rained their
  darts after them。 Hector shouted to him and said; 〃Son of Tydeus;
  the Danaans have done you honour hitherto as regards your place at
  table; the meals they give you; and the filling of your cup with wine。
  Henceforth they will despise you; for you are become no better than
  a woman。 Be off; girl and coward that you are; you shall not scale our
  walls through any Hinching upon my part; neither shall you carry off
  our wives in your ships; for I shall kill you with my own hand。〃
  The son of Tydeus was in two minds whether or no to turn his
  horses round again and fight him。 Thrice did he doubt; and thrice
  did Jove thunder from the heights of。 Ida in token to the Trojans that
  he would turn the battle in their favour。 Hector then shouted to
  them and said; 〃Trojans; Lycians; and Dardanians; lovers of close
  fighting; be men; my friends; and fight with might and with main; I
  see that Jove is minded to vouchsafe victory and great glory to
  myself; while he will deal destruction upon the Danaans。 Fools; for
  having thought of building this weak and worthless wall。 It shall
  not stay my fury; my horses will spring lightly over their trench; and
  when I am BOOK at their ships forget not to bring me fire that I may
  burn them; while I slaughter the Argives who will be all dazed and
  bewildered by the smoke。〃
  Then he cried to his horses; 〃Xanthus and Podargus; and you Aethon
  and goodly Lampus; pay me for your keep now and for all the
  honey…sweet corn with which Andromache daughter of great Eetion has
  fed you; and for she has mixed wine and water for you to drink
  whenever you would; before doing so even for me who am her own
  husband。 Haste in pursuit; that we may take the shield of Nestor;
  the fame of which ascends to heaven; for it is of solid gold; arm…rods
  and all;