the iliad(伊利亚特)-第44章

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with　them　had　gone　to　the　games　and　were　to　run　for　a　tripod；　but　King
Augeas　took　them；　and　sent　back　their　driver　grieving　for　the　loss
of　his　horses。　Neleus　was　angered　by　what　he　had　both　said　and　done；
and　took　great　value　in　return；　but　he　divided　the　rest；　that　no　man
might　have　less　than　his　full　share。
　　〃Thus　did　we　order　all　things；　and　offer　sacrifices　to　the　gods
throughout　the　city；　but　three　days　afterwards　the　Epeans　came　in　a
body；　many　in　number；　they　and　their　chariots；　in　full　array；　and　with
them　the　two　Moliones　in　their　armour；　though　they　were　still　lads　and
unused　to　fighting。　Now　there　is　a　certain　town；　Thryoessa；　perched
upon　a　rock　on　the　river　Alpheus；　the　border　city　Pylus；　this　they
would　destroy；　and　pitched　their　camp　about　it；　but　when　they　had
crossed　their　whole　plain；　Minerva　darted　down　by　night　from　Olympus
and　bade　us　set　ourselves　in　array；　and　she　found　willing　soldiers
in　Pylos；　for　the　men　meant　fighting。　Neleus　would　not　let　me　arm；　and
hid　my　horses；　for　he　said　that　as　yet　I　could　know　nothing　about　war；
nevertheless　Minerva　so　ordered　the　fight　that；　all　on　foot　as　I
was；　I　fought　among　our　mounted　forces　and　vied　with　the　foremost　of
them。　There　is　a　river　Minyeius　that　falls　into　the　sea　near　Arene；
and　there　they　that　were　mounted　（and　I　with　them）　waited　till
morning；　when　the　companies　of　foot　soldiers　came　up　with　us　in　force。
Thence　in　full　panoply　and　equipment　we　came　towards　noon　to　the
sacred　waters　of　the　Alpheus；　and　there　we　offered　victims　to　almighty
Jove；　with　a　bull　to　Alpheus；　another　to　Neptune；　and　a　herd…heifer　to
Minerva。　After　this　we　took　supper　in　our　companies；　and　laid　us
down　to　rest　each　in　his　armour　by　the　river。
　　〃The　Epeans　were　beleaguering　the　city　and　were　determined　to　take
it；　but　ere　this　might　be　there　was　a　desperate　fight　in　store　for
them。　When　the　sun's　rays　began　to　fall　upon　the　earth　we　joined
battle；　praying　to　Jove　and　to　Minerva；　and　when　the　fight　had
begun；　I　was　the　first　to　kill　my　man　and　take　his　horses…　to　wit
the　warrior　Mulius。　He　was　son…in…law　to　Augeas；　having　married　his
eldest　daughter；　golden…haired　Agamede；　who　knew　the　virtues　of
every　herb　which　grows　upon　the　face　of　the　earth。　I　speared　him　as　he
was　coming　towards　me；　and　when　he　fell　headlong　in　the　dust；　I　sprang
upon　his　chariot　and　took　my　place　in　the　front　ranks。　The　Epeans　fled
in　all　directions　when　they　saw　the　captain　of　their　horsemen　（the
best　man　they　had）　laid　low；　and　I　swept　down　on　them　like　a
whirlwind；　taking　fifty　chariots…　and　in　each　of　them　two　men　bit
the　dust；　slain　by　my　spear。　I　should　have　even　killed　the　two
Moliones　sons　of　Actor；　unless　their　real　father；　Neptune　lord　of
the　earthquake；　had　hidden　them　in　a　thick　mist　and　borne　them　out
of　the　fight。　Thereon　Jove　vouchsafed　the　Pylians　a　great　victory；　for
we　chased　them　far　over　the　plain；　killing　the　men　and　bringing　in
their　armour；　till　we　had　brought　our　horses　to　Buprasium　rich　in
wheat　and　to　the　Olenian　rock；　with　the　hill　that　is　called　Alision；
at　which　point　Minerva　turned　the　people　back。　There　I　slew　the　last
man　and　left　him；　then　the　Achaeans　drove　their　horses　back　from
Buprasium　to　Pylos　and　gave　thanks　to　Jove　among　the　gods；　and　among
mortal　men　to　Nestor。
　　〃Such　was　I　among　my　peers；　as　surely　as　ever　was；　but　Achilles　is
for　keeping　all　his　valour　for　himself；　bitterly　will　he　rue　it
hereafter　when　the　host　is　being　cut　to　pieces。　My　good　friend；　did
not　Menoetius　charge　you　thus；　on　the　day　when　he　sent　you　from　Phthia
to　Agamemnon？　Ulysses　and　I　were　in　the　house；　inside；　and　heard　all
that　he　said　to　you；　for　we　came　to　the　fair　house　of　Peleus　while
beating　up　recruits　throughout　all　Achaea；　and　when　we　got　there　we
found　Menoetius　and　yourself；　and　Achilles　with　you。　The　old　knight
Peleus　was　in　the　outer　court；　roasting　the　fat　thigh…bones　of　a
heifer　to　Jove　the　lord　of　thunder；　and　he　held　a　gold　chalice　in
his　hand　from　which　he　poured　drink…offerings　of　wine　over　the　burning
sacrifice。　You　two　were　busy　cutting　up　the　heifer；　and　at　that　moment
we　stood　at　the　gates；　whereon　Achilles　sprang　to　his　feet；　led　us
by　the　hand　into　the　house；　placed　us　at　table；　and　set　before　us　such
hospitable　entertainment　as　guests　expect。　When　we　had　satisfied
ourselves　with　meat　and　drink；　I　said　my　say　and　urged　both　of　you
to　join　us。　You　were　ready　enough　to　do　so；　and　the　two　old　men
charged　you　much　and　straitly。　Old　Peleus　bade　his　son　Achilles
fight　ever　among　the　foremost　and　outvie　his　peers；　while　Menoetius
the　son　of　Actor　spoke　thus　to　you：　'My　son；'　said　he；　'Achilles　is　of
nobler　birth　than　you　are；　but　you　are　older　than　he；　though　he　is　far
the　better　man　of　the　two。　Counsel　him　wisely；　guide　him　in　the
right　way；　and　he　will　follow　you　to　his　own　profit。'　Thus　did　your
father　charge　you；　but　you　have　forgotten；　nevertheless；　even　now；　say
all　this　to　Achilles　if　he　will　listen　to　you。　Who　knows　but　with
heaven's　help　you　may　talk　him　over；　for　it　is　good　to　take　a　friend's
advice。　If；　however；　he　is　fearful　about　some　oracle；　or　if　his　mother
has　told　him　something　from　Jove；　then　let　him　send　you；　and　let　the
rest　of　the　Myrmidons　follow　with　you；　if　perchance　you　may　bring
light　and　saving　to　the　Danaans。　And　let　him　send　you　into　battle　clad
in　his　own　armour；　that　the　Trojans　may　mistake　you　for　him　and
leave　off　fighting；　the　sons　of　the　Achaeans　may　thus　have　time　to　get
their　breath；　for　they　are　hard　pressed　and　there　is　little
breathing　time　in　battle。　You；　who　are　fresh；　might　easily　drive　a
tired　enemy　back　to　his　walls　and　away　from　the　tents　and　ships。〃
　　With　these　words　he　moved　the　heart　of　Patroclus；　who　set　off
running　by　the　line　of　the　ships　to　Achilles；　descendant　of　Aeacus。
When　he　had　got　as　far　as　the　ships　of　Ulysses；　where　was　their
place　of　assembly　and　court　of　justice；　with　their　altars　dedicated　to
the　gods；　Eurypylus　son　of　Euaemon　met　him；　wounded　in　the　thigh
with　an　arrow；　and　limping　out　of　the　fight。　Sweat　rained　from　his
head　and　shoulders；　and　black　blood　welled　from　his　cruel　wound；　but
his　mind　did　not　wander。　The　son　of　Menoetius　when　he　saw　him　had
compassion　upon　him　and　spoke　piteously　saying；　〃O　unhappy　princes　and
counsellors　of　the　Danaans；　are　you　then　doomed　to　feed　the　hounds
of　Troy　with　your　fat；　far　from　your　friends　and　your　native　land？
say；　noble　Eurypylus；　will　the　Achaeans　be　able　to　hold　great　Hector
in　check；　or　will　they　fall　now　before　his　spear？〃
　　Wounded　Eurypylus　made　answer；　〃Noble　Patroclus；　there　is　no　hope
left　for　the　Achaeans　but　they　will　perish　at　their　ships。　All　they
that　were　princes　among　us　are　lying　struck　down　and　wounded　at　the
hands　of　the　Trojans；　who　are　waxing　stronger　and　stronger。　But　save
me　and　take　me　to　your　ship；　cut　out　the　arrow　from　my　thigh；　wash　the
black　blood　from　off　it　with　warm　water；　and　lay　upon　it　those
gracious　herbs　which；　so　they　say；　have　been　shown　you　by　Achilles；
who　was　himself　shown　them　by　Chiron；　most　righteous　of　all　the
centaurs。　For　of　the　physicians　Podalirius　and　Machaon；　I　hear　that
the　one　is　lying　wounded　in　his　tent　and　is　himself　in　need　of
healing；　while　the　other　is　fighting　the　Trojans　upon　the　plain。〃
　　〃Hero　Eurypylus；〃　replied　the　brave　son　of　Menoetius；　〃how　may　these
things　be？　What　can　I　do？　I　am　on　my　way　to　bear　a　message　to　noble
Achilles　from　Nestor　of　Gerene；　bulwark　of　the　Achaeans；　but　even　so　I
will　not　be　unmindful　your　distress。〃
　　With　this　he　clasped　him　round　the　middle　and　led　him　into　the　tent；
and　a　servant；　when　he　saw　him；　spread　bullock…skins　on　the　ground　for
him　to　lie　on。　He　laid　him　at　full　length　and　cut　out　the　sharp
arrow　from　his　thigh；　he　washed　the　black　blood　from　the　wound　with
warm　water；　he　then　crushed　a　bitter　herb；　rubbing　it　between　his
hands；　and　spread　it　upon　the　wound；　this　was　a　virtuous　herb　which
killed　all　pain；　so　the　wound　presently　dried　and　the　blood　left　off
flowing。


BOOK　XII

　　SO　THE　son　of　Menoetius　was　attending　to　the　hurt　of　Eurypylus
within　the　tent；　but　the　Argives　and　Trojans　still　fought　desperately；
nor　were　the　trench　and　the　h