the iliad(伊利亚特)-第64章

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only　by　sheer　fighting。
　　The　fight　then　became　more　scattered；　and　the　chieftains　killed
one　another　when　and　how　they　could。　The　valiant　son　of　Menoetius
first　drove　his　spear　into　the　thigh　of　Areilycus　just　as　he　was
turning　round；　the　point　went　clean　through；　and　broke　the　bone　so
that　he　fell　forward。　Meanwhile　Menelaus　struck　Thoas　in　the　chest；
where　it　was　exposed　near　the　rim　of　his　shield；　and　he　fell　dead。　The
son　of　Phyleus　saw　Amphiclus　about　to　attack　him；　and　ere　he　could
do　so　took　aim　at　the　upper　part　of　his　thigh；　where　the　muscles　are
thicker　than　in　any　other　part；　the　spear　tore　through　all　the
sinews　of　the　leg；　and　his　eyes　were　closed　in　darkness。　Of　the　sons
of　Nestor　one；　Antilochus；　speared　Atymnius；　driving　the　point　of
the　spear　through　his　throat；　and　down　he　fell。　Maris　then　sprang　on
Antilochus　in　hand…to…hand　fight　to　avenge　his　brother；　and　bestrode
the　body　spear　in　hand；　but　valiant　Thrasymedes　was　too　quick　for　him；
and　in　a　moment　had　struck　him　in　the　shoulder　ere　he　could　deal　his
blow；　his　aim　was　true；　and　the　spear　severed　all　the　muscles　at　the
root　of　his　arm；　and　tore　them　right　down　to　the　bone；　so　he　fell
heavily　to　the　ground　and　his　eyes　were　closed　in　darkness。　Thus　did
these　two　noble　comrades　of　Sarpedon　go　down　to　Erebus　slain　by　the
two　sons　of　Nestor；　they　were　the　warrior　sons　of　Amisodorus；　who
had　reared　the　invincible　Chimaera；　to　the　bane　of　many。　Ajax　son　of
Oileus　sprang　on　Cleobulus　and　took　him　alive　as　he　was　entangled　in
the　crush；　but　he　killed　him　then　and　there　by　a　sword…blow　on　the
neck。　The　sword　reeked　with　his　blood；　while　dark　death　and　the　strong
hand　of　fate　gripped　him　and　closed　his　eyes。
　　Peneleos　and　Lycon　now　met　in　close　fight；　for　they　had　missed
each　other　with　their　spears。　They　had　both　thrown　without　effect；
so　now　they　drew　their　swords。　Lycon　struck　the　plumed　crest　of
Peneleos'　helmet　but　his　sword　broke　at　the　hilt；　while　Peneleos　smote
Lycon　on　the　neck　under　the　ear。　The　blade　sank　so　deep　that　the
head　was　held　on　by　nothing　but　the　skin；　and　there　was　no　more　life
left　in　him。　Meriones　gave　chase　to　Acamas　on　foot　and　caught　him　up
just　as　he　was　about　to　mount　his　chariot；　he　drove　a　spear　through
his　right　shoulder　so　that　he　fell　headlong　from　the　car；　and　his　eyes
were　closed　in　darkness。　Idomeneus　speared　Erymas　in　the　mouth；　the
bronze　point　of　the　spear　went　clean　through　it　beneath　the　brain；
crashing　in　among　the　white　bones　and　smashing　them　up。　His　teeth　were
all　of　them　knocked　out　and　the　blood　came　gushing　in　a　stream　from
both　his　eyes；　it　also　came　gurgling　up　from　his　mouth　and　nostrils；
and　the　darkness　of　death　enfolded　him　round　about。
　　Thus　did　these　chieftains　of　the　Danaans　each　of　them　kill　his
man。　As　ravening　wolves　seize　on　kids　or　lambs；　fastening　on　them　when
they　are　alone　on　the　hillsides　and　have　strayed　from　the　main　flock
through　the　carelessness　of　the　shepherd…　and　when　the　wolves　see　this
they　pounce　upon　them　at　once　because　they　cannot　defend　themselves…
even　so　did　the　Danaans　now　fall　on　the　Trojans；　who　fled　with
ill…omened　cries　in　their　panic　and　had　no　more　fight　left　in　them。
　　Meanwhile　great　Ajax　kept　on　trying　to　drive　a　spear　into　Hector；
but　Hector　was　so　skilful　that　he　held　his　broad　shoulders　well
under　cover　of　his　ox…hide　shield；　ever　on　the　look…out　for　the
whizzing　of　the　arrows　and　the　heavy　thud　of　the　spears。　He　well
knew　that　the　fortunes　of　the　day　had　changed；　but　still　stood　his
ground　and　tried　to　protect　his　comrades。
　　As　when　a　cloud　goes　up　into　heaven　from　Olympus；　rising　out　of　a
clear　sky　when　Jove　is　brewing　a　gale…　even　with　such　panic　stricken
rout　did　the　Trojans　now　fly；　and　there　was　no　order　in　their　going。
Hector's　fleet　horses　bore　him　and　his　armour　out　of　the　fight；　and　he
left　the　Trojan　host　penned　in　by　the　deep　trench　against　their
will。　Many　a　yoke　of　horses　snapped　the　pole　of　their　chariots　in
the　trench　and　left　their　master's　car　behind　them。　Patroclus　gave
chase；　calling　impetuously　on　the　Danaans　and　full　of　fury　against　the
Trojans；　who；　being　now　no　longer　in　a　body；　filled　all　the　ways
with　their　cries　of　panic　and　rout；　the　air　was　darkened　with　the
clouds　of　dust　they　raised；　and　the　horses　strained　every　nerve　in
their　flight　from　the　tents　and　ships　towards　the　city。
　　Patroclus　kept　on　heading　his　horses　wherever　he　saw　most　men　flying
in　confusion；　cheering　on　his　men　the　while。　Chariots　were　being
smashed　in　all　directions；　and　many　a　man　came　tumbling　down　from
his　own　car　to　fall　beneath　the　wheels　of　that　of　Patroclus；　whose
immortal　steeds；　given　by　the　gods　to　Peleus；　sprang　over　the　trench
at　a　bound　as　they　sped　onward。　He　was　intent　on　trying　to　get　near
Hector；　for　he　had　set　his　heart　on　spearing　him；　but　Hector's
horses　were　now　hurrying　him　away。　As　the　whole　dark　earth　bows　before
some　tempest　on　an　autumn　day　when　Jove　rains　his　hardest　to　punish
men　for　giving　crooked　judgement　in　their　courts；　and　arriving　justice
therefrom　without　heed　to　the　decrees　of　heaven…　all　the　rivers　run
full　and　the　torrents　tear　many　a　new　channel　as　they　roar　headlong
from　the　mountains　to　the　dark　sea；　and　it　fares　ill　with　the　works　of
men…　even　such　was　the　stress　and　strain　of　the　Trojan　horses　in　their
flight。
　　Patroclus　now　cut　off　the　battalions　that　were　nearest　to　him　and
drove　them　back　to　the　ships。　They　were　doing　their　best　to　reach
the　city；　but　he　would　not　Yet　them；　and　bore　down　on　them　between　the
river　and　the　ships　and　wall。　Many　a　fallen　comrade　did　he　then
avenge。　First　he　hit　Pronous　with　a　spear　on　the　chest　where　it　was
exposed　near　the　rim　of　his　shield；　and　he　fell　heavily　to　the　ground。
Next　he　sprang　on　Thestor　son　of　Enops；　who　was　sitting　all　huddled　up
in　his　chariot；　for　he　had　lost　his　head　and　the　reins　had　been　torn
out　of　his　hands。　Patroclus　went　up　to　him　and　drove　a　spear　into
his　right　jaw；　he　thus　hooked　him　by　the　teeth　and　the　spear　pulled
him　over　the　rim　of　his　car；　as　one　who　sits　at　the　end　of　some
jutting　rock　and　draws　a　strong　fish　out　of　the　sea　with　a　hook　and
a　line…　even　so　with　his　spear　did　he　pull　Thestor　all　gaping　from　his
chariot；　he　then　threw　him　down　on　his　face　and　he　died　while　falling。
On　this；　as　Erylaus　was　on　to　attack　him；　he　struck　him　full　on　the
head　with　a　stone；　and　his　brains　were　all　battered　inside　his　helmet；
whereon　he　fell　headlong　to　the　ground　and　the　pangs　of　death　took
hold　upon　him。　Then　he　laid　low；　one　after　the　other；　Erymas；
Amphoterus；　Epaltes；　Tlepolemus；　Echius　son　of　Damastor；　Pyris；
lpheus；　Euippus　and　Polymelus　son　of　Argeas。
　　Now　when　Sarpedon　saw　his　comrades；　men　who　wore　ungirdled　tunics；
being　overcome　by　Patroclus　son　of　Menoetius；　he　rebuked　the　Lycians
saying。　〃Shame　on　you；　where　are　you　flying　to？　Show　your　mettle；　I
will　myself　meet　this　man　in　fight　and　learn　who　it　is　that　is　so
masterful；　he　has　done　us　much　hurt；　and　has　stretched　many　a　brave
man　upon　the　ground。〃
　　He　sprang　from　his　chariot　as　he　spoke；　and　Patroclus；　when　he　saw
this；　leaped　on　to　the　ground　also。　The　two　then　rushed　at　one　another
with　loud　cries　like　eagle…beaked　crook…taloned　vultures　that　scream
and　tear　at　one　another　in　some　high　mountain　fastness。
　　The　son　of　scheming　Saturn　looked　down　upon　them　in　pity　and　said　to
Juno　who　was　his　wife　and　sister；　〃Alas；　that　it　should　be　the　lot
of　Sarpedon　whom　I　love　so　dearly　to　perish　by　the　hand　of
Patroclus。　I　am　in　two　minds　whether　to　catch　him　up　out　of　the
fight　and　set　him　down　safe　and　sound　in　the　fertile　land　of　Lycia；　or
to　let　him　now　fall　by　the　hand　of　the　son　of　Menoetius。〃
　　And　Juno　answered；　〃Most　dread　son　of　Saturn；　what　is　this　that
you　are　saying？　Would　you　snatch　a　mortal　man；　whose　doom　has　long
been　fated；　out　of　the　jaws　of　death？　Do　as　you　will；　but　we　shall　not
all　of　us　be　of　your　mind。　I　say　further；　and　lay　my　saying　to　your
heart；　that　if　you　send　Sarpedon　safely　to　his　own　home；　some　other　of
the　gods　will　be　also　wanting　to　escort　his　son　out　of　battle；　for
there　are　many　sons　of　gods　fighting　round　the　city　of　Troy；　and　you
will　make　every　one　jealou