the iliad(伊利亚特)-第12章

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cast　lots　from　a　helmet　of　bronze　to　see　which　should　take　aim
first。　Meanwhile　the　two　hosts　lifted　up　their　hands　and　prayed
saying；　〃Father　Jove；　that　rulest　from　Ida；　most　glorious　in　power；
grant　that　he　who　first　brought　about　this　war　between　us　may　die；　and
enter　the　house　of　Hades；　while　we　others　remain　at　peace　and　abide　by
our　oaths。〃
　　Great　Hector　now　turned　his　head　aside　while　he　shook　the　helmet；
and　the　lot　of　Paris　flew　out　first。　The　others　took　their　several
stations；　each　by　his　horses　and　the　place　where　his　arms　were
lying；　while　Alexandrus；　husband　of　lovely　Helen；　put　on　his　goodly
armour。　First　he　greaved　his　legs　with　greaves　of　good　make　and　fitted
with　ancle…clasps　of　silver；　after　this　he　donned　the　cuirass　of　his
brother　Lycaon；　and　fitted　it　to　his　own　body；　he　hung　his
silver…studded　sword　of　bronze　about　his　shoulders；　and　then　his
mighty　shield。　On　his　comely　head　he　set　his　helmet；　well…wrought；
with　a　crest　of　horse…hair　that　nodded　menacingly　above　it；　and　he
grasped　a　redoubtable　spear　that　suited　his　hands。　In　like　fashion
Menelaus　also　put　on　his　armour。
　　When　they　had　thus　armed；　each　amid　his　own　people；　they　strode
fierce　of　aspect　into　the　open　space；　and　both　Trojans　and　Achaeans
were　struck　with　awe　as　they　beheld　them。　They　stood　near　one
another　on　the　measured　ground；　brandishing　their　spears；　and　each
furious　against　the　other。　Alexandrus　aimed　first；　and　struck　the
round　shield　of　the　son　of　Atreus；　but　the　spear　did　not　pierce　it；
for　the　shield　turned　its　point。　Menelaus　next　took　aim；　praying　to
Father　Jove　as　he　did　so。　〃King　Jove；〃　he　said；　〃grant　me　revenge　on
Alexandrus　who　has　wronged　me；　subdue　him　under　my　hand　that　in　ages
yet　to　come　a　man　may　shrink　from　doing　ill　deeds　in　the　house　of
his　host。〃
　　He　poised　his　spear　as　he　spoke；　and　hurled　it　at　the　shield　of
Alexandrus。　Through　shield　and　cuirass　it　went；　and　tore　the　shirt
by　his　flank；　but　Alexandrus　swerved　aside；　and　thus　saved　his　life。
Then　the　son　of　Atreus　drew　his　sword；　and　drove　at　the　projecting
part　of　his　helmet；　but　the　sword　fell　shivered　in　three　or　four
pieces　from　his　hand；　and　he　cried；　looking　towards　Heaven；　〃Father
Jove；　of　all　gods　thou　art　the　most　despiteful；　I　made　sure　of　my
revenge；　but　the　sword　has　broken　in　my　hand；　my　spear　has　been　hurled
in　vain；　and　I　have　not　killed　him。〃
　　With　this　he　flew　at　Alexandrus；　caught　him　by　the　horsehair　plume
of　his　helmet；　and　began　dragging　him　towards　the　Achaeans。　The
strap　of　the　helmet　that　went　under　his　chin　was　choking　him；　and
Menelaus　would　have　dragged　him　off　to　his　own　great　glory　had　not
Jove's　daughter　Venus　been　quick　to　mark　and　to　break　the　strap　of
oxhide；　so　that　the　empty　helmet　came　away　in　his　hand。　This　he
flung　to　his　comrades　among　the　Achaeans；　and　was　again　springing　upon
Alexandrus　to　run　him　through　with　a　spear；　but　Venus　snatched　him
up　in　a　moment　（as　a　god　can　do）；　hid　him　under　a　cloud　of　darkness；
and　conveyed　him　to　his　own　bedchamber。
　　Then　she　went　to　call　Helen；　and　found　her　on　a　high　tower　with
the　Trojan　women　crowding　round　her。　She　took　the　form　of　an　old　woman
who　used　to　dress　wool　for　her　when　she　was　still　in　Lacedaemon；　and
of　whom　she　was　very　fond。　Thus　disguised　she　plucked　her　by
perfumed　robe　and　said；　〃Come　hither；　Alexandrus　says　you　are　to　go　to
the　house；　he　is　on　his　bed　in　his　own　room；　radiant　with　beauty　and
dressed　in　gorgeous　apparel。　No　one　would　think　he　had　just　come
from　fighting；　but　rather　that　he　was　going　to　a　dance；　or　had　done
dancing　and　was　sitting　down。〃
　　With　these　words　she　moved　the　heart　of　Helen　to　anger。　When　she
marked　the　beautiful　neck　of　the　goddess；　her　lovely　bosom；　and
sparkling　eyes；　she　marvelled　at　her　and　said；　〃Goddess；　why　do　you
thus　beguile　me？　Are　you　going　to　send　me　afield　still　further　to　some
man　whom　you　have　taken　up　in　Phrygia　or　fair　Meonia？　Menelaus　has
just　vanquished　Alexandrus；　and　is　to　take　my　hateful　self　back　with
him。　You　are　come　here　to　betray　me。　Go　sit　with　Alexandrus
yourself；　henceforth　be　goddess　no　longer；　never　let　your　feet　carry
you　back　to　Olympus；　worry　about　him　and　look　after　him　till　he　make
you　his　wife；　or；　for　the　matter　of　that；　his　slave…　but　me？　I　shall
not　go；　I　can　garnish　his　bed　no　longer；　I　should　be　a　by…word　among
all　the　women　of　Troy。　Besides；　I　have　trouble　on　my　mind。〃
　　Venus　was　very　angry；　and　said；　〃Bold　hussy；　do　not　provoke　me；　if
you　do；　I　shall　leave　you　to　your　fate　and　hate　you　as　much　as　I
have　loved　you。　I　will　stir　up　fierce　hatred　between　Trojans　and
Achaeans；　and　you　shall　come　to　a　bad　end。〃
　　At　this　Helen　was　frightened。　She　wrapped　her　mantle　about　her　and
went　in　silence；　following　the　goddess　and　unnoticed　by　the　Trojan
women。
　　When　they　came　to　the　house　of　Alexandrus　the　maid…servants　set
about　their　work；　but　Helen　went　into　her　own　room；　and　the
laughter…loving　goddess　took　a　seat　and　set　it　for　her　facing
Alexandrus。　On　this　Helen；　daughter　of　aegis…bearing　Jove；　sat　down；
and　with　eyes　askance　began　to　upbraid　her　husband。
　　〃So　you　are　come　from　the　fight；〃　said　she；　〃would　that　you　had
fallen　rather　by　the　hand　of　that　brave　man　who　was　my　husband。　You
used　to　brag　that　you　were　a　better　man　with　hands　and　spear　than
Menelaus。　go；　but　I　then；　an　challenge　him　again…　but　I　should
advise　you　not　to　do　so；　for　if　you　are　foolish　enough　to　meet　him
in　single　combat；　you　will　soon　all　by　his　spear。〃
　　And　Paris　answered；　〃Wife；　do　not　vex　me　with　your　reproaches。
This　time；　with　the　help　of　Minerva；　Menelaus　has　vanquished　me；
another　time　I　may　myself　be　victor；　for　I　too　have　gods　that　will
stand　by　me。　Come；　let　us　lie　down　together　and　make　friends。　Never
yet　was　I　so　passionately　enamoured　of　you　as　at　this　moment…　not　even
when　I　first　carried　you　off　from　Lacedaemon　and　sailed　away　with　you…
not　even　when　I　had　converse　with　you　upon　the　couch　of　love　in　the
island　of　Cranae　was　I　so　enthralled　by　desire　of　you　as　now。〃　On　this
he　led　her　towards　the　bed；　and　his　wife　went　with　him。
　　Thus　they　laid　themselves　on　the　bed　together；　but　the　son　of　Atreus
strode　among　the　throng；　looking　everywhere　for　Alexandrus；　and　no
man；　neither　of　the　Trojans　nor　of　the　allies；　could　find　him。　If　they
had　seen　him　they　were　in　no　mind　to　hide　him；　for　they　all　of　them
hated　him　as　they　did　death　itself。　Then　Agamemnon；　king　of　men；
spoke；　saying；　〃Hear　me；　Trojans；　Dardanians；　and　allies。　The
victory　has　been　with　Menelaus；　therefore　give　back　Helen　with　all　her
wealth；　and　pay　such　fine　as　shall　be　agreed　upon；　in　testimony
among　them　that　shall　be　born　hereafter。〃
　　Thus　spoke　the　son　of　Atreus；　and　the　Achaeans　shouted　in　applause。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　IV

　　Now　the　gods　were　sitting　with　Jove　in　council　upon　the　golden　floor
while　Hebe　went　round　pouring　out　nectar　for　them　to　drink；　and　as
they　pledged　one　another　in　their　cups　of　gold　they　looked　down　upon
the　town　of　Troy。　The　son　of　Saturn　then　began　to　tease　Juno；
talking　at　her　so　as　to　provoke　her。　〃Menelaus；〃　said　he；　〃has　two
good　friends　among　the　goddesses；　Juno　of　Argos；　and　Minerva　of
Alalcomene；　but　they　only　sit　still　and　look　on；　while　Venus　keeps
ever　by　Alexandrus'　side　to　defend　him　in　any　danger；　indeed　she　has
just　rescued　him　when　he　made　sure　that　it　was　all　over　with　him…
for　the　victory　really　did　lie　with　Menelaus。　We　must　consider　what　we
shall　do　about　all　this；　shall　we　set　them　fighting　anew　or　make　peace
between　them？　If　you　will　agree　to　this　last　Menelaus　can　take　back
Helen　and　the　city　of　Priam　may　remain　still　inhabited。〃
　　Minerva　and　Juno　muttered　their　discontent　as　they　sat　side　by
side　hatching　mischief　for　the　Trojans。　Minerva　scowled　at　her　father；
for　she　was　in　a　furious　passion　with　him；　and　said　nothing；　but
Juno　could　not　contain　herself。　〃Dread　son　of　Saturn；〃　said　she；
〃what；　pray；　is　the　meaning　of　all　this？　Is　my　trouble；　then；　to　go
for　nothing；　and　the　sweat　that　I　have　sweated；　to　say　nothing　of　my
horses；　while　getting　the　people　together　against　Priam　and　his
children？　Do　as　you　will；　but　we　other　gods　shall　not　all　of　us
approve