第 57 节
作者:美丽心点      更新:2021-02-21 16:08      字数:9322
  only by sheer fighting。
  The fight then became more scattered; and the chieftains killed
  one another when and how they could。 The valiant son of Menoetius
  first drove his spear into the thigh of Areilycus just as he was
  turning round; the point went clean through; and broke the bone so
  that he fell forward。 Meanwhile Menelaus struck Thoas in the chest;
  where it was exposed near the rim of his shield; and he fell dead。 The
  son of Phyleus saw Amphiclus about to attack him; and ere he could
  do so took aim at the upper part of his thigh; where the muscles are
  thicker than in any other part; the spear tore through all the
  sinews of the leg; and his eyes were closed in darkness。 Of the sons
  of Nestor one; Antilochus; speared Atymnius; driving the point of
  the spear through his throat; and down he fell。 Maris then sprang on
  Antilochus in hand…to…hand fight to avenge his brother; and bestrode
  the body spear in hand; but valiant Thrasymedes was too quick for him;
  and in a moment had struck him in the shoulder ere he could deal his
  blow; his aim was true; and the spear severed all the muscles at the
  root of his arm; and tore them right down to the bone; so he fell
  heavily to the ground and his eyes were closed in darkness。 Thus did
  these two noble comrades of Sarpedon go down to Erebus slain by the
  two sons of Nestor; they were the warrior sons of Amisodorus; who
  had reared the invincible Chimaera; to the bane of many。 Ajax son of
  Oileus sprang on Cleobulus and took him alive as he was entangled in
  the crush; but he killed him then and there by a sword…blow on the
  neck。 The sword reeked with his blood; while dark death and the strong
  hand of fate gripped him and closed his eyes。
  Peneleos and Lycon now met in close fight; for they had missed
  each other with their spears。 They had both thrown without effect;
  so now they drew their swords。 Lycon struck the plumed crest of
  Peneleos' helmet but his sword broke at the hilt; while Peneleos smote
  Lycon on the neck under the ear。 The blade sank so deep that the
  head was held on by nothing but the skin; and there was no more life
  left in him。 Meriones gave chase to Acamas on foot and caught him up
  just as he was about to mount his chariot; he drove a spear through
  his right shoulder so that he fell headlong from the car; and his eyes
  were closed in darkness。 Idomeneus speared Erymas in the mouth; the
  bronze point of the spear went clean through it beneath the brain;
  crashing in among the white bones and smashing them up。 His teeth were
  all of them knocked out and the blood came gushing in a stream from
  both his eyes; it also came gurgling up from his mouth and nostrils;
  and the darkness of death enfolded him round about。
  Thus did these chieftains of the Danaans each of them kill his
  man。 As ravening wolves seize on kids or lambs; fastening on them when
  they are alone on the hillsides and have strayed from the main flock
  through the carelessness of the shepherd… and when the wolves see this
  they pounce upon them at once because they cannot defend themselves…
  even so did the Danaans now fall on the Trojans; who fled with
  ill…omened cries in their panic and had no more fight left in them。
  Meanwhile great Ajax kept on trying to drive a spear into Hector;
  but Hector was so skilful that he held his broad shoulders well
  under cover of his ox…hide shield; ever on the look…out for the
  whizzing of the arrows and the heavy thud of the spears。 He well
  knew that the fortunes of the day had changed; but still stood his
  ground and tried to protect his comrades。
  As when a cloud goes up into heaven from Olympus; rising out of a
  clear sky when Jove is brewing a gale… even with such panic stricken
  rout did the Trojans now fly; and there was no order in their going。
  Hector's fleet horses bore him and his armour out of the fight; and he
  left the Trojan host penned in by the deep trench against their
  will。 Many a yoke of horses snapped the pole of their chariots in
  the trench and left their master's car behind them。 Patroclus gave
  chase; calling impetuously on the Danaans and full of fury against the
  Trojans; who; being now no longer in a body; filled all the ways
  with their cries of panic and rout; the air was darkened with the
  clouds of dust they raised; and the horses strained every nerve in
  their flight from the tents and ships towards the city。
  Patroclus kept on heading his horses wherever he saw most men flying
  in confusion; cheering on his men the while。 Chariots were being
  smashed in all directions; and many a man came tumbling down from
  his own car to fall beneath the wheels of that of Patroclus; whose
  immortal steeds; given by the gods to Peleus; sprang over the trench
  at a bound as they sped onward。 He was intent on trying to get near
  Hector; for he had set his heart on spearing him; but Hector's
  horses were now hurrying him away。 As the whole dark earth bows before
  some tempest on an autumn day when Jove rains his hardest to punish
  men for giving crooked judgement in their courts; and arriving justice
  therefrom without heed to the decrees of heaven… all the rivers run
  full and the torrents tear many a new channel as they roar headlong
  from the mountains to the dark sea; and it fares ill with the works of
  men… even such was the stress and strain of the Trojan horses in their
  flight。
  Patroclus now cut off the battalions that were nearest to him and
  drove them back to the ships。 They were doing their best to reach
  the city; but he would not Yet them; and bore down on them between the
  river and the ships and wall。 Many a fallen comrade did he then
  avenge。 First he hit Pronous with a spear on the chest where it was
  exposed near the rim of his shield; and he fell heavily to the ground。
  Next he sprang on Thestor son of Enops; who was sitting all huddled up
  in his chariot; for he had lost his head and the reins had been torn
  out of his hands。 Patroclus went up to him and drove a spear into
  his right jaw; he thus hooked him by the teeth and the spear pulled
  him over the rim of his car; as one who sits at the end of some
  jutting rock and draws a strong fish out of the sea with a hook and
  a line… even so with his spear did he pull Thestor all gaping from his
  chariot; he then threw him down on his face and he died while falling。
  On this; as Erylaus was on to attack him; he struck him full on the
  head with a stone; and his brains were all battered inside his helmet;
  whereon he fell headlong to the ground and the pangs of death took
  hold upon him。 Then he laid low; one after the other; Erymas;
  Amphoterus; Epaltes; Tlepolemus; Echius son of Damastor; Pyris;
  lpheus; Euippus and Polymelus son of Argeas。
  Now when Sarpedon saw his comrades; men who wore ungirdled tunics;
  being overcome by Patroclus son of Menoetius; he rebuked the Lycians
  saying。 〃Shame on you; where are you flying to? Show your mettle; I
  will myself meet this man in fight and learn who it is that is so
  masterful; he has done us much hurt; and has stretched many a brave
  man upon the ground。〃
  He sprang from his chariot as he spoke; and Patroclus; when he saw
  this; leaped on to the ground also。 The two then rushed at one another
  with loud cries like eagle…beaked crook…taloned vultures that scream
  and tear at one another in some high mountain fastness。
  The son of scheming Saturn looked down upon them in pity and said to
  Juno who was his wife and sister; 〃Alas; that it should be the lot
  of Sarpedon whom I love so dearly to perish by the hand of
  Patroclus。 I am in two minds whether to catch him up out of the
  fight and set him down safe and sound in the fertile land of Lycia; or
  to let him now fall by the hand of the son of Menoetius。〃
  And Juno answered; 〃Most dread son of Saturn; what is this that
  you are saying? Would you snatch a mortal man; whose doom has long
  been fated; out of the jaws of death? Do as you will; but we shall not
  all of us be of your mind。 I say further; and lay my saying to your
  heart; that if you send Sarpedon safely to his own home; some other of
  the gods will be also wanting to escort his son out of battle; for
  there are many sons of gods fighting round the city of Troy; and you
  will make every one jealous。 If; however; you are fond of him and pity
  him; let him indeed fall by the hand of Patroclus; but as soon as
  the life is gone out of him; send Death and sweet Sleep to bear him
  off the field and take him to the broad lands of Lycia; where his
  brothers and his kinsmen will bury him with mound and pillar; in due
  honour to the dead。〃
  The sire of gods and men assented; but he shed a rain of blood
  upon the earth in honour of his son whom Patroclus was about to kill
  on the rich plain of Troy far from his home。
  When they were now come close to one another Patroclus struck
  Thrasydemus; the brave squire of Sarpedon; in the lower part of the
  belly; and killed him。 Sarpedon then aimed a spear at Patroclus and
  missed him; but he struck the horse Pedasus in the right shoulder; and
  it screamed aloud as it lay; groaning in the dust until the life
  went out of it。 The other two horses began to plunge; the pole of
  the chariot cracked and they got entangled in the reins through the
  fall of the horse that w