the iliad(伊利亚特)-第59章

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about　his　shoulders。　He　bore　aloft　the　terrible　aegis　with　its
shaggy　fringe；　which　Vulcan　the　smith　had　given　Jove　to　strike
terror　into　the　hearts　of　men。　With　this　in　his　hand　he　led　on　the
Trojans。
　　The　Argives　held　together　and　stood　their　ground。　The　cry　of
battle　rose　high　from　either　side；　and　the　arrows　flew　from　the
bowstrings。　Many　a　spear　sped　from　strong　hands　and　fastened　in　the
bodies　of　many　a　valiant　warrior；　while　others　fell　to　earth　midway；
before　they　could　taste　of　man's　fair　flesh　and　glut　themselves　with
blood。　So　long　as　Phoebus　Apollo　held　his　aegis　quietly　and　without
shaking　it；　the　weapons　on　either　side　took　effect　and　the　people
fell；　but　when　he　shook　it　straight　in　the　face　of　the　Danaans　and
raised　his　mighty　battle…cry　their　hearts　fainted　within　them　and　they
forgot　their　former　prowess。　As　when　two　wild　beasts　spring　in　the
dead　of　night　on　a　herd　of　cattle　or　a　large　flock　of　sheep　when　the
herdsman　is　not　there…　even　so　were　the　Danaans　struck　helpless；　for
Apollo　filled　them　with　panic　and　gave　victory　to　Hector　and　the
Trojans。
　　The　fight　then　became　more　scattered　and　they　killed　one　another
where　they　best　could。　Hector　killed　Stichius　and　Arcesilaus；　the　one；
leader　of　the　Boeotians；　and　the　other；　friend　and　comrade　of
Menestheus。　Aeneas　killed　Medon　and　Iasus。　The　first　was　bastard　son
to　Oileus；　and　brother　to　Ajax；　but　he　lived　in　Phylace　away　from
his　own　country；　for　he　had　killed　a　man；　a　kinsman　of　his
stepmother　Eriopis　whom　Oileus　had　married。　Iasus　had　become　a
leader　of　the　Athenians；　and　was　son　of　Sphelus　the　son　of　Boucolos。
Polydamas　killed　Mecisteus；　and　Polites　Echius；　in　the　front　of　the
battle；　while　Agenor　slew　Clonius。　Paris　struck　Deiochus　from　behind
in　the　lower　part　of　the　shoulder；　as　he　was　flying　among　the
foremost；　and　the　point　of　the　spear　went　clean　through　him。
　　While　they　were　spoiling　these　heroes　of　their　armour；　the
Achaeans　were　flying　pellmell　to　the　trench　and　the　set　stakes；　and
were　forced　back　within　their　wall。　Hector　then　cried　out　to　the
Trojans；　〃Forward　to　the　ships；　and　let　the　spoils　be。　If　I　see　any
man　keeping　back　on　the　other　side　the　wall　away　from　the　ships　I　will
have　him　killed：　his　kinsmen　and　kinswomen　shall　not　give　him　his　dues
of　fire；　but　dogs　shall　tear　him　in　pieces　in　front　of　our　city。〃
　　As　he　spoke　he　laid　his　whip　about　his　horses'　shoulders　and
called　to　the　Trojans　throughout　their　ranks；　the　Trojans　shouted　with
a　cry　that　rent　the　air；　and　kept　their　horses　neck　and　neck　with
his　own。　Phoebus　Apollo　went　before；　and　kicked　down　the　banks　of
the　deep　trench　into　its　middle　so　as　to　make　a　great　broad　bridge；　as
broad　as　the　throw　of　a　spear　when　a　man　is　trying　his　strength。　The
Trojan　battalions　poured　over　the　bridge；　and　Apollo　with　his
redoubtable　aegis　led　the　way。　He　kicked　down　the　wall　of　the　Achaeans
as　easily　as　a　child　who　playing　on　the　sea…shore　has　built　a　house　of
sand　and　then　kicks　it　down　again　and　destroys　it…　even　so　did　you；
O　Apollo；　shed　toil　and　trouble　upon　the　Argives；　filling　them　with
panic　and　confusion。
　　Thus　then　were　the　Achaeans　hemmed　in　at　their　ships；　calling　out　to
one　another　and　raising　their　hands　with　loud　cries　every　man　to
heaven。　Nestor　of　Gerene；　tower　of　strength　to　the　Achaeans；　lifted　up
his　hands　to　the　starry　firmament　of　heaven；　and　prayed　more　fervently
than　any　of　them。　〃Father　Jove；〃　said　he；　〃if　ever　any　one　in
wheat…growing　Argos　burned　you　fat　thigh…bones　of　sheep　or　heifer
and　prayed　that　he　might　return　safely　home；　whereon　you　bowed　your
head　to　him　in　assent；　bear　it　in　mind　now；　and　suffer　not　the　Trojans
to　triumph　thus　over　the　Achaeans。〃
　　All　counselling　Jove　thundered　loudly　in　answer　to　die　prayer　of　the
aged　son　of　Neleus。　When　the　heard　Jove　thunder　they　flung
themselves　yet　more　fiercely　on　the　Achaeans。　As　a　wave　breaking
over　the　bulwarks　of　a　ship　when　the　sea　runs　high　before　a　gale…
for　it　is　the　force　of　the　wind　that　makes　the　waves　so　great…　even　so
did　the　Trojans　spring　over　the　wall　with　a　shout；　and　drive　their
chariots　onwards。　The　two　sides　fought　with　their　double…pointed
spears　in　hand…to…hand　encounter…the　Trojans　from　their　chariots；
and　the　Achaeans　climbing　up　into　their　ships　and　wielding　the　long
pikes　that　were　lying　on　the　decks　ready　for　use　in　a　sea…fight；
jointed　and　shod　with　bronze。
　　Now　Patroclus；　so　long　as　the　Achaeans　and　Trojans　were　fighting
about　the　wall；　but　were　not　yet　within　it　and　at　the　ships；
remained　sitting　in　the　tent　of　good　Eurypylus；　entertaining　him
with　his　conversation　and　spreading　herbs　over　his　wound　to　ease　his
pain。　When；　however；　he　saw　the　Trojans　swarming　through　the　breach　in
the　wall；　while　the　Achaeans　were　clamouring　and　struck　with　panic；　he
cried　aloud；　and　smote　his　two　thighs　with　the　flat　of　his　hands。
〃Eurypylus；〃　said　he　in　his　dismay；　〃I　know　you　want　me　badly；　but　I
cannot　stay　with　you　any　longer；　for　there　is　hard　fighting　going
on；　a　servant　shall　take　care　of　you　now；　for　I　must　make　all　speed　to
Achilles；　and　induce　him　to　fight　if　I　can；　who　knows　but　with
heaven's　help　I　may　persuade　him。　A　man　does　well　to　listen　to　the
advice　of　a　friend。〃
　　When　he　had　thus　spoken　he　went　his　way。　The　Achaeans　stood　firm　and
resisted　the　attack　of　the　Trojans；　yet　though　these　were　fewer　in
number；　they　could　not　drive　them　back　from　the　ships；　neither　could
the　Trojans　break　the　Achaean　ranks　and　make　their　way　in　among　the
tents　and　ships。　As　a　carpenter's　line　gives　a　true　edge　to　a　piece　of
ship's　timber；　in　the　hand　of　some　skilled　workman　whom　Minerva　has
instructed　in　all　kinds　of　useful　arts…　even　so　level　was　the　issue　of
the　fight　between　the　two　sides；　as　they　fought　some　round　one　and
some　round　another。
　　Hector　made　straight　for　Ajax；　and　the　two　fought　fiercely　about　the
same　ship。　Hector　could　not　force　Ajax　back　and　fire　the　ship；　nor　yet
could　Ajax　drive　Hector　from　the　spot　to　which　heaven　had　brought　him。
　　Then　Ajax　struck　Caletor　son　of　Clytius　in　the　chest　with　a　spear　as
he　was　bringing　fire　towards　the　ship。　He　fell　heavily　to　the　ground
and　the　torch　dropped　from　his　hand。　When　Hector　saw　his　cousin　fallen
in　front　of　the　ship　he　shouted　to　the　Trojans　and　Lycians　saying；
〃Trojans；　Lycians；　and　Dardanians　good　in　close　fight；　bate　not　a　jot；
but　rescue　the　son　of　Clytius　lest　the　Achaeans　strip　him　of　his
armour　now　that　he　has　fallen。〃
　　He　then　aimed　a　spear　at　Ajax；　and　missed　him；　but　he　hit
Lycophron　a　follower　of　Ajax；　who　came　from　Cythera；　but　was　living
with　Ajax　inasmuch　as　he　had　killed　a　man　among　the　Cythereans。
Hector's　spear　struck　him　on　the　head　below　the　ear；　and　he　fell
headlong　from　the　ship's　prow　on　to　the　ground　with　no　life　left　in
him。　Ajax　shook　with　rage　and　said　to　his　brother；　〃Teucer；　my　good
fellow；　our　trusty　comrade　the　son　of　Mastor　has　fallen；　he　came　to
live　with　us　from　Cythera　and　whom　we　honoured　as　much　as　our　own
parents。　Hector　has　just　killed　him；　fetch　your　deadly　arrows　at
once　and　the　bow　which　Phoebus　Apollo　gave　you。〃
　　Teucer　heard　him　and　hastened　towards　him　with　his　bow　and　quiver　in
his　hands。　Forthwith　he　showered　his　arrows　on　the　Trojans；　and　hit
Cleitus　the　son　of　Pisenor；　comrade　of　Polydamas　the　noble　son　of
Panthous；　with　the　reins　in　his　hands　as　he　was　attending　to　his
horses；　he　was　in　the　middle　of　the　very　thickest　part　of　the　fight；
doing　good　service　to　Hector　and　the　Trojans；　but　evil　had　now　come
upon　him；　and　not　one　of　those　who　were　fain　to　do　so　could　avert
it；　for　the　arrow　struck　him　on　the　back　of　the　neck。　He　fell　from　his
chariot　and　his　horses　shook　the　empty　car　as　they　swerved　aside。　King
Polydamas　saw　what　had　happened；　and　was　the　first　to　come　up　to　the
horses；　he　gave　them　in　charge　to　Astynous　son　of　Protiaon；　and
ordered　him　to　look　on；　and　to　keep　the　horses　near　at　hand。　He　then
went　back　and　took　his　place　in　the　front　ranks。
　　Teucer　then　aimed　another　arrow　at　Hector；　and　there　would　have　been
no　more　fighting　at　the　ships　if　he　had　hit　him　and　killed　him　then
and　there：　Jove；　however；　who　kept　watch　over　Hector；　had　his　eyes
on　Teucer；