the iliad(伊利亚特)-第46章

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tents　and　their　ships。　The　stones　fell　thick　as　the　flakes　of　snow
which　some　fierce　blast　drives　from　the　dark　clouds　and　showers　down
in　sheets　upon　the　earth…　even　so　fell　the　weapons　from　the　hands
alike　of　Trojans　and　Achaeans。　Helmet　and　shield　rang　out　as　the　great
stones　rained　upon　them；　and　Asius　the　son　of　Hyrtacus　in　his　dismay
cried　aloud　and　smote　his　two　thighs。　〃Father　Jove；〃　he　cried；　〃of　a
truth　you　too　are　altogether　given　to　lying。　I　made　sure　the　Argive
heroes　could　not　withstand　us；　whereas　like　slim…waisted　wasps；　or
bees　that　have　their　nests　in　the　rocks　by　the　wayside…　they　leave　not
the　holes　wherein　they　have　built　undefended；　but　fight　for　their
little　ones　against　all　who　would　take　them…　even　so　these　men；　though
they　be　but　two；　will　not　be　driven　from　the　gates；　but　stand　firm
either　to　slay　or　be　slain。〃
　　He　spoke；　but　moved　not　the　mind　of　Jove；　whose　counsel　it　then
was　to　give　glory　to　Hector。　Meanwhile　the　rest　of　the　Trojans　were
fighting　about　the　other　gates；　I；　however；　am　no　god　to　be　able　to
tell　about　all　these　things；　for　the　battle　raged　everywhere　about　the
stone　wall　as　it　were　a　fiery　furnace。　The　Argives；　discomfited　though
they　were；　were　forced　to　defend　their　ships；　and　all　the　gods　who
were　defending　the　Achaeans　were　vexed　in　spirit；　but　the　Lapithae
kept　on　fighting　with　might　and　main。
　　Thereon　Polypoetes；　mighty　son　of　Pirithous；　hit　Damasus　with　a
spear　upon　his　cheek…pierced　helmet。　The　helmet　did　not　protect　him；
for　the　point　of　the　spear　went　through　it；　and　broke　the　bone；　so
that　the　brain　inside　was　scattered　about；　and　he　died　fighting。　He
then　slew　Pylon　and　Ormenus。　Leonteus；　of　the　race　of　Mars；　killed
Hippomachus　the　son　of　Antimachus　by　striking　him　with　his　spear
upon　the　girdle。　He　then　drew　his　sword　and　sprang　first　upon
Antiphates　whom　he　killed　in　combat；　and　who　fell　face　upwards　on
the　earth。　After　him　he　killed　Menon；　Iamenus；　and　Orestes；　and　laid
them　low　one　after　the　other。
　　While　they　were　busy　stripping　the　armour　from　these　heroes；　the
youths　who　were　led　on　by　Polydamas　and　Hector　（and　these　were　the
greater　part　and　the　most　valiant　of　those　that　were　trying　to　break
through　the　wall　and　fire　the　ships）　were　still　standing　by　the
trench；　uncertain　what　they　should　do；　for　they　had　seen　a　sign　from
heaven　when　they　had　essayed　to　cross　it…　a　soaring　eagle　that　flew
skirting　the　left　wing　of　their　host；　with　a　monstrous　blood…red　snake
in　its　talons　still　alive　and　struggling　to　escape。　The　snake　was
still　bent　on　revenge；　wriggling　and　twisting　itself　backwards　till　it
struck　the　bird　that　held　it；　on　the　neck　and　breast；　whereon　the　bird
being　in　pain；　let　it　fall；　dropping　it　into　the　middle　of　the　host；
and　then　flew　down　the　wind　with　a　sharp　cry。　The　Trojans　were
struck　with　terror　when　they　saw　the　snake；　portent　of　aegis…bearing
Jove；　writhing　in　the　midst　of　them；　and　Polydamas　went　up　to　Hector
and　said；　〃Hector；　at　our　councils　of　war　you　are　ever　given　to　rebuke
me；　even　when　I　speak　wisely；　as　though　it　were　not　well；　forsooth；
that　one　of　the　people　should　cross　your　will　either　in　the　field　or
at　the　council　board；　you　would　have　them　support　you　always：
nevertheless　I　will　say　what　I　think　will　be　best；　let　us　not　now　go
on　to　fight　the　Danaans　at　their　ships；　for　I　know　what　will　happen　if
this　soaring　eagle　which　skirted　the　left　wing　of　our　with　a　monstrous
blood…red　snake　in　its　talons　（the　snake　being　still　alive）　was　really
sent　as　an　omen　to　the　Trojans　on　their　essaying　to　cross　the
trench。　The　eagle　let　go　her　hold；　she　did　not　succeed　in　taking　it
home　to　her　little　ones；　and　so　will　it　be…　with　ourselves；　even
though　by　a　mighty　effort　we　break　through　the　gates　and　wall　of　the
Achaeans；　and　they　give　way　before　us；　still　we　shall　not　return　in
good　order　by　the　way　we　came；　but　shall　leave　many　a　man　behind　us
whom　the　Achaeans　will　do　to　death　in　defence　of　their　ships。　Thus
would　any　seer　who　was　expert　in　these　matters；　and　was　trusted　by　the
people；　read　the　portent。〃
　　Hector　looked　fiercely　at　him　and　said；　〃Polydamas；　I　like　not　of
your　reading。　You　can　find　a　better　saying　than　this　if　you　will。
If；　however；　you　have　spoken　in　good　earnest；　then　indeed　has　heaven
robbed　you　of　your　reason。　You　would　have　me　pay　no　heed　to　the
counsels　of　Jove；　nor　to　the　promises　he　made　me…　and　he　bowed　his
head　in　confirmation；　you　bid　me　be　ruled　rather　by　the　flight　of
wild…fowl。　What　care　I　whether　they　fly　towards　dawn　or　dark；　and
whether　they　be　on　my　right　hand　or　on　my　left？　Let　us　put　our　trust
rather　in　the　counsel　of　great　Jove；　king　of　mortals　and　immortals。
There　is　one　omen；　and　one　only…　that　a　man　should　fight　for　his
country。　Why　are　you　so　fearful？　Though　we　be　all　of　us　slain　at　the
ships　of　the　Argives　you　are　not　likely　to　be　killed　yourself；　for　you
are　not　steadfast　nor　courageous。　If　you　will。　not　fight；　or　would
talk　others　over　from　doing　so；　you　shall　fall　forthwith　before　my
spear。〃
　　With　these　words　he　led　the　way；　and　the　others　followed　after
with　a　cry　that　rent　the　air。　Then　Jove　the　lord　of　thunder　sent　the
blast　of　a　mighty　wind　from　the　mountains　of　Ida；　that　bore　the　dust
down　towards　the　ships；　he　thus　lulled　the　Achaeans　into　security；　and
gave　victory　to　Hector　and　to　the　Trojans；　who；　trusting　to　their
own　might　and　to　the　signs　he　had　shown　them；　essayed　to　break　through
the　great　wall　of　the　Achaeans。　They　tore　down　the　breastworks　from
the　walls；　and　overthrew　the　battlements；　they　upheaved　the
buttresses；　which　the　Achaeans　had　set　in　front　of　the　wall　in　order
to　support　it；　when　they　had　pulled　these　down　they　made　sure　of
breaking　through　the　wall；　but　the　Danaans　still　showed　no　sign　of
giving　ground；　they　still　fenced　the　battlements　with　their　shields　of
ox…hide；　and　hurled　their　missiles　down　upon　the　foe　as　soon　as　any
came　below　the　wall。
　　The　two　Ajaxes　went　about　everywhere　on　the　walls　cheering　on　the
Achaeans；　giving　fair　words　to　some　while　they　spoke　sharply　to　any
one　whom　they　saw　to　be　remiss。　〃My　friends；〃　they　cried；　〃Argives　one
and　all…　good　bad　and　indifferent；　for　there　was　never　fight　yet；　in
which　all　were　of　equal　prowess…　there　is　now　work　enough；　as　you　very
well　know；　for　all　of　you。　See　that　you　none　of　you　turn　in　flight
towards　the　ships；　daunted　by　the　shouting　of　the　foe；　but　press
forward　and　keep　one　another　in　heart；　if　it　may　so　be　that　Olympian
Jove　the　lord　of　lightning　will　vouchsafe　us　to　repel　our　foes；　and
drive　them　back　towards　the　city。〃
　　Thus　did　the　two　go　about　shouting　and　cheering　the　Achaeans　on。
As　the　flakes　that　fall　thick　upon　a　winter's　day；　when　Jove　is　minded
to　snow　and　to　display　these　his　arrows　to　mankind…　he　lulls　the
wind　to　rest；　and　snows　hour　after　hour　till　he　has　buried　the　tops　of
the　high　mountains；　the　headlands　that　jut　into　the　sea；　the　grassy
plains；　and　the　tilled　fields　of　men；　the　snow　lies　deep　upon　the
forelands；　and　havens　of　the　grey　sea；　but　the　waves　as　they　come
rolling　in　stay　it　that　it　can　come　no　further；　though　all　else　is
wrapped　as　with　a　mantle　so　heavy　are　the　heavens　with　snow…　even　thus
thickly　did　the　stones　fall　on　one　side　and　on　the　other；　some
thrown　at　the　Trojans；　and　some　by　the　Trojans　at　the　Achaeans；　and
the　whole　wall　was　in　an　uproar。
　　Still　the　Trojans　and　brave　Hector　would　not　yet　have　broken　down
the　gates　and　the　great　bar；　had　not　Jove　turned　his　son　Sarpedon
against　the　Argives　as　a　lion　against　a　herd　of　horned　cattle。
Before　him　he　held　his　shield　of　hammered　bronze；　that　the　smith　had
beaten　so　fair　and　round；　and　had　lined　with　ox　hides　which　he　had
made　fast　with　rivets　of　gold　all　round　the　shield；　this　he　held　in
front　of　him；　and　brandishing　his　two　spears　came　on　like　some　lion　of
the　wilderness；　who　has　been　long　famished　for　want　of　meat　and　will
dare　break　even　into　a　well…fenced　homestead　to　try　and　get　at　the
sheep。　He　may　find　the　shepherds　keeping　watch　over　their　flocks
with　dogs　and　spears；　but　he　is　in　no　mind　to　be　driven　from　the
fold　till　he　has　had　a　try　for　it；　he　will　either　spring　on　a　sheep
and　carry　it　off；　o