第 81 节
作者:
美丽心点 更新:2021-02-21 16:08 字数:9322
pyre; groaning the while he did so。 The dead hero had had
house…dogs; two of them did Achilles slay and threw upon the pyre;
he also put twelve brave sons of noble Trojans to the sword and laid
them with the rest; for he was full of bitterness and fury。 Then he
committed all to the resistless and devouring might of the fire; he
groaned aloud and callid on his dead comrade by name。 〃Fare well;〃
he cried; 〃Patroclus; even in the house of Hades; I am now doing all
that I have promised you。 Twelve brave sons of noble Trojans shall the
flames consume along with yourself; but dogs; not fire; shall devour
the flesh of Hector son of Priam。〃
Thus did he vaunt; but the dogs came not about the body of Hector;
for Jove's daughter Venus kept them off him night and day; and
anointed him with ambrosial oil of roses that his flesh might not be
torn when Achilles was dragging him about。 Phoebus Apollo moreover
sent a dark cloud from heaven to earth; which gave shade to the
whole place where Hector lay; that the heat of the sun might not parch
his body。
Now the pyre about dead Patroclus would not kindle。 Achilles
therefore bethought him of another matter; he went apart and prayed to
the two winds Boreas and Zephyrus vowing them goodly offerings。 He
made them many drink…offerings from the golden cup and besought them
to come and help him that the wood might make haste to kindle and
the dead bodies be consumed。 Fleet Iris heard him praying and
started off to fetch the winds。 They were holding high feast in the
house of boisterous Zephyrus when Iris came running up to the stone
threshold of the house and stood there; but as soon as they set eyes
on her they all came towards her and each of them called her to him;
but Iris would not sit down。 〃I cannot stay;〃 she said; 〃I must go
back to the streams of Oceanus and the land of the Ethiopians who
are offering hecatombs to the immortals; and I would have my share;
but Achilles prays that Boreas and shrill Zephyrus will come to him;
and he vows them goodly offerings; he would have you blow upon the
pyre of Patroclus for whom all the Achaeans are lamenting。〃
With this she left them; and the two winds rose with a cry that rent
the air and swept the clouds before them。 They blew on and on until
they came to the sea; and the waves rose high beneath them; but when
they reached Troy they fell upon the pyre till the mighty flames
roared under the blast that they blew。 All night long did they blow
hard and beat upon the fire; and all night long did Achilles grasp his
double cup; drawing wine from a mixing…bowl of gold; and calling
upon the spirit of dead Patroclus as he poured it upon the ground
until the earth was drenched。 As a father mourns when he is burning
the bones of his bridegroom son whose death has wrung the hearts of
his parents; even so did Achilles mourn while burning the body of
his comrade; pacing round the bier with piteous groaning and
lamentation。
At length as the Morning Star was beginning to herald the light
which saffron…mantled Dawn was soon to suffuse over the sea; the
flames fell and the fire began to die。 The winds then went home beyond
the Thracian sea; which roared and boiled as they swept over it。 The
son of Peleus now turned away from the pyre and lay down; overcome
with toil; till he fell into a sweet slumber。 Presently they who
were about the son of Atreus drew near in a body; and roused him
with the noise and tramp of their coming。 He sat upright and said;
〃Son of Atreus; and all other princes of the Achaeans; first pour
red wine everywhere upon the fire and quench it; let us then gather
the bones of Patroclus son of Menoetius; singling them out with
care; they are easily found; for they lie in the middle of the pyre;
while all else; both men and horses; has been thrown in a heap and
burned at the outer edge。 We will lay the bones in a golden urn; in
two layers of fat; against the time when I shall myself go down into
the house of Hades。 As for the barrow; labour not to raise a great one
now; but such as is reasonable。 Afterwards; let those Achaeans who may
be left at the ships when I am gone; build it both broad and high。〃
Thus he spoke and they obeyed the word of the son of Peleus。 First
they poured red wine upon the thick layer of ashes and quenched the
fire。 With many tears they singled out the whitened bones of their
loved comrade and laid them within a golden urn in two layers of
fat: they then covered the urn with a linen cloth and took it inside
the tent。 They marked off the circle where the barrow should be;
made a foundation for it about the pyre; and forthwith heaped up the
earth。 When they had thus raised a mound they were going away; but
Achilles stayed the people and made them sit in assembly。 He brought
prizes from the ships…cauldrons; tripods; horses and mules; noble
oxen; women with fair girdles; and swart iron。
The first prize he offered was for the chariot races… a woman
skilled in all useful arts; and a three…legged cauldron that had
ears for handles; and would hold twenty…two measures。 This was for the
man who came in first。 For the second there was a six…year old mare;
unbroken; and in foal to a he…ass; the third was to have a goodly
cauldron that had never yet been on the fire; it was still bright as
when it left the maker; and would hold four measures。 The fourth prize
was two talents of gold; and the fifth a two…handled urn as yet
unsoiled by smoke。 Then he stood up and spoke among the Argives
saying…
〃Son of Atreus; and all other Achaeans; these are the prizes that
lie waiting the winners of the chariot races。 At any other time I
should carry off the first prize and take it to my own tent; you
know how far my steeds excel all others… for they are immortal;
Neptune gave them to my father Peleus; who in his turn gave them to
myself; but I shall hold aloof; I and my steeds that have lost their
brave and kind driver; who many a time has washed them in clear
water and anointed their manes with oil。 See how they stand weeping
here; with their manes trailing on the ground in the extremity of
their sorrow。 But do you others set yourselves in order throughout the
host; whosoever has confidence in his horses and in the strength of
his chariot。〃
Thus spoke the son of Peleus and the drivers of chariots bestirred
themselves。 First among them all uprose Eumelus; king of men; son of
Admetus; a man excellent in horsemanship。 Next to him rose mighty
Diomed son of Tydeus; he yoked the Trojan horses which he had taken
from Aeneas; when Apollo bore him out of the fight。 Next to him;
yellow…haired Menelaus son of Atreus rose and yoked his fleet
horses; Agamemnon's mare Aethe; and his own horse Podargus。 The mare
had been given to Agamemnon by echepolus son of Anchises; that he
might not have to follow him to Ilius; but might stay at home and take
his ease; for Jove had endowed him with great wealth and he lived in
spacious Sicyon。 This mare; all eager for the race; did Menelaus put
under the yoke。
Fourth in order Antilochus; son to noble Nestor son of Neleus;
made ready his horses。 These were bred in Pylos; and his father came
up to him to give him good advice of which; however; he stood in but
little need。 〃Antilochus;〃 said Nestor; 〃you are young; but Jove and
Neptune have loved you well; and have made you an excellent
horseman。 I need not therefore say much by way of instruction。 You are
skilful at wheeling your horses round the post; but the horses
themselves are very slow; and it is this that will; I fear; mar your
chances。 The other drivers know less than you do; but their horses are
fleeter; therefore; my dear son; see if you cannot hit upon some
artifice whereby you may insure that the prize shall not slip
through your fingers。 The woodman does more by skill than by brute
force; by skill the pilot guides his storm…tossed barque over the sea;
and so by skill one driver can beat another。 If a man go wide in
rounding this way and that; whereas a man who knows what he is doing
may have worse horses; but he will keep them well in hand when he sees
the doubling…post; he knows the precise moment at which to pull the
rein; and keeps his eye well on the man in front of him。 I will give
you this certain token which cannot escape your notice。 There is a
stump of a dead tree…oak or pine as it may be… some six feet above the
ground; and not yet rotted away by rain; it stands at the fork of
the road; it has two white stones set one on each side; and there is a
clear course all round it。 It may have been a monument to some one
long since dead; or it may have been used as a doubling…post in days
gone by; now; however; it has been fixed on by Achilles as the mark
round which the chariots shall turn; hug it as close as you can; but
as you stand in your chariot lean over a little to the left; urge on
your right…hand horse with voice and lash; and give him a loose
rein; but let the left…hand horse keep so close in; that the nave of
your wheel shall almost graze the post; but mind the stone; or you
will wound your horses and break your chariot in pieces; which would
be sport for others but confusion for yourself。 Therefore; my dear
son; mind