第 76 节
作者:美丽心点      更新:2021-02-21 16:08      字数:9322
  fighting at once and let them settle it among themselves。〃
  He turned away as he spoke; for he would lay no hand on the
  brother of his own father。 But his sister the huntress Diana;
  patroness of wild beasts; was very angry with him and said; 〃So you
  would fly; Far…Darter; and hand victory over to Neptune with a cheap
  vaunt to boot。 Baby; why keep your bow thus idle? Never let me again
  hear you bragging in my father's house; as you have often done in
  the presence of the immortals; that you would stand up and fight
  with Neptune。〃
  Apollo made her no answer; but Jove's august queen was angry and
  upbraided her bitterly。 〃Bold vixen;〃 she cried; 〃how dare you cross
  me thus? For all your bow you will find it hard to hold your own
  against me。 Jove made you as a lion among women; and lets you kill
  them whenever you choose。 You will And it better to chase wild
  beasts and deer upon the mountains than to fight those who are
  stronger than you are。 If you would try war; do so; and find out by
  pitting yourself against me; how far stronger I am than you are。〃
  She caught both Diana's wrists with her left hand as she spoke;
  and with her right she took the bow from her shoulders; and laughed as
  she beat her with it about the ears while Diana wriggled and writhed
  under her blows。 Her swift arrows were shed upon the ground; and she
  fled weeping from under Juno's hand as a dove that flies before a
  falcon to the cleft of some hollow rock; when it is her good fortune
  to escape。 Even so did she fly weeping away; leaving her bow and
  arrows behind her。
  Then the slayer of Argus; guide and guardian; said to Leto; 〃Leto; I
  shall not fight you; it is ill to come to blows with any of Jove's
  wives。 Therefore boast as you will among the immortals that you
  worsted me in fair fight。〃
  Leto then gathered up Diana's bow and arrows that had fallen about
  amid the whirling dust; and when she had got them she made all haste
  after her daughter。 Diana had now reached Jove's bronze…floored
  mansion on Olympus; and sat herself down with many tears on the
  knees of her father; while her ambrosial raiment was quivering all
  about her。 The son of Saturn drew her towards him; and laughing
  pleasantly the while began to question her saying; 〃Which of the
  heavenly beings; my dear child; has been treating you in this cruel
  manner; as though you had been misconducting yourself in the face of
  everybody?〃 and the fair…crowned goddess of the chase answered; 〃It
  was your wife Juno; father; who has been beating me; it is always
  her doing when there is any quarrelling among the immortals。〃
  Thus did they converse; and meanwhile Phoebus Apollo entered the
  strong city of Ilius; for he was uneasy lest the wall should not
  hold out and the Danaans should take the city then and there; before
  its hour had come; but the rest of the ever…living gods went back;
  some angry and some triumphant to Olympus; where they took their seats
  beside Jove lord of the storm cloud; while Achilles still kept on
  dealing out death alike on the Trojans and on their As when the
  smoke from some burning city ascends to heaven when the anger of the
  gods has kindled it… there is then toil for all; and sorrow for not
  a few… even so did Achilles bring toil and sorrow on the Trojans。
  Old King Priam stood on a high tower of the wall looking down on
  huge Achilles as the Trojans fled panic…stricken before him; and there
  was none to help them。 Presently he came down from off the tower and
  with many a groan went along the wall to give orders to the brave
  warders of the gate。 〃Keep the gates;〃 said he; 〃wide open till the
  people come flying into the city; for Achilles is hard by and is
  driving them in rout before him。 I see we are in great peril。 As
  soon as our people are inside and in safety; close the strong gates
  for I fear lest that terrible man should come bounding inside along
  with the others。〃
  As he spoke they drew back the bolts and opened the gates; and
  when these were opened there was a haven of refuge for the Trojans。
  Apollo then came full speed out of the city to meet them and protect
  them。 Right for the city and the high wall; parched with thirst and
  grimy with dust; still they fied on; with Achilles wielding his
  spear furiously behind them。 For he was as one possessed; and was
  thirsting after glory。
  Then had the sons of the Achaeans taken the lofty gates of Troy if
  Apollo had not spurred on Agenor; valiant and noble son to Antenor。 He
  put courage into his heart; and stood by his side to guard him;
  leaning against a beech tree and shrouded in thick darkness。 When
  Agenor saw Achilles he stood still and his heart was clouded with
  care。 〃Alas;〃 said he to himself in his dismay; 〃if I fly before
  mighty Achilles; and go where all the others are being driven in rout;
  he will none the less catch me and kill me for a coward。 How would
  it be were I to let Achilles drive the others before him; and then fly
  from the wall to the plain that is behind Ilius till I reach the spurs
  of Ida and can hide in the underwood that is thereon? I could then
  wash the sweat from off me in the river and in the evening return to
  Ilius。 But why commune with myself in this way? Like enough he would
  see me as I am hurrying from the city over the plain; and would
  speed after me till he had caught me… I should stand no chance against
  him; for he is mightiest of all mankind。 What; then; if I go out and
  meet him in front of the city? His flesh too; I take it; can be
  pierced by pointed bronze。 Life is the same in one and all; and men
  say that he is but mortal despite the triumph that Jove son of
  Saturn vouchsafes him。〃
  So saying he stood on his guard and awaited Achilles; for he was now
  fain to fight him。 As a leopardess that bounds from out a thick covert
  to attack a hunter… she knows no fear and is not dismayed by the
  baying of the hounds; even though the man be too quick for her and
  wound her either with thrust or spear; still; though the spear has
  pierced her she will not give in till she has either caught him in her
  grip or been killed outright… even so did noble Agenor son of
  Antenor refuse to fly till he had made trial of Achilles; and took aim
  at him with his spear; holding his round shield before him and
  crying with a loud voice。 〃Of a truth;〃 said he; 〃noble Achilles;
  you deem that you shall this day sack the city of the proud Trojans。
  Fool; there will be trouble enough yet before it; for there is many
  a brave man of us still inside who will stand in front of our dear
  parents with our wives and children; to defend Ilius。 Here
  therefore; huge and mighty warrior though you be; here shall you cue。
  As he spoke his strong hand hurled his javelin from him; and the
  spear struck Achilles on the leg beneath the knee; the greave of newly
  wrought tin rang loudly; but the spear recoiled from the body of him
  whom it had struck; and did not pierce it; for the gods gift stayed
  it。 Achilles in his turn attacked noble Agenor; but Apollo would not
  vouchsafe him glory; for he snatched Agenor away and hid him in a
  thick mist; sending him out of the battle unmolested Then he
  craftily drew the son of Peleus away from going after the host; for he
  put on the semblance of Agenor and stood in front of Achilles; who ran
  towards him to give him chase and pursued him over the corn lands of
  the plain; turning him towards the deep waters of the river Scamander。
  Apollo ran but a little way before him and beguiled Achilles by making
  him think all the time that he was on the point of overtaking him。
  Meanwhile the rabble of routed Trojans was thankful to crowd within
  the city till their numbers thronged it; no longer did they dare
  wait for one another outside the city walls; to learn who had
  escaped and who were fallen in fight; but all whose feet and knees
  could still carry them poured pell…mell into the town。
  BOOK XXII
  THUS the Trojans in the city; scared like fawns; wiped the sweat
  from off them and drank to quench their thirst; leaning against the
  goodly battlements; while the Achaeans with their shields laid upon
  their shoulders drew close up to the walls。 But stern fate bade Hector
  stay where he was before Ilius and the Scaean gates。 Then Phoebus
  Apollo spoke to the son of Peleus saying; 〃Why; son of Peleus; do you;
  who are but man; give chase to me who am immortal? Have you not yet
  found out that it is a god whom you pursue so furiously? You did not
  harass the Trojans whom you had routed; and now they are within
  their walls; while you have been decoyed hither away from them。 Me you
  cannot kill; for death can take no hold upon me。〃
  Achilles was greatly angered and said; 〃You have baulked me;
  Far…Darter; most malicious of all gods; and have drawn me away from
  the wall; where many another man would have bitten the dust ere he got
  within Ilius; you have robbed me of great glory and have saved the
  Trojans at no risk to yourself; for you have nothing to fear; but I
  would indeed have my revenge if it were in my power to do so。〃
  On this; with fell intent he made towards the city; and as the
  winning horse in a chariot race strains every nerve when he is
  flying over the plain; even so fast and furious