the iliad(伊利亚特)-第67章

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the　body　of　a　stag　that　they　have　killed；　even　so　did　these　two　mighty
warriors；　Patroclus　son　of　Menoetius　and　brave　Hector；　hack　and　hew　at
one　another　over　the　corpse　of　Cebriones。　Hector　would　not　let　him
go　when　he　had　once　got　him　by　the　head；　while　Patroclus　kept　fast
hold　of　his　feet；　and　a　fierce　fight　raged　between　the　other　Danaans
and　Trojans。　As　the　east　and　south　wind　buffet　one　another　when　they
beat　upon　some　dense　forest　on　the　mountains…　there　is　beech　and　ash
and　spreading　cornel；　the　to　of　the　trees　roar　as　they　beat　on　one
another；　and　one　can　hear　the　boughs　cracking　and　breaking…　even　so
did　the　Trojans　and　Achaeans　spring　upon　one　another　and　lay　about
each　other；　and　neither　side　would　give　way。　Many　a　pointed　spear　fell
to　ground　and　many　a　winged　arrow　sped　from　its　bow…string　about　the
body　of　Cebriones；　many　a　great　stone；　moreover；　beat　on　many　a　shield
as　they　fought　around　his　body；　but　there　he　lay　in　the　whirling
clouds　of　dust；　all　huge　and　hugely；　heedless　of　his　driving　now。
　　So　long　as　the　sun　was　still　high　in　mid…heaven　the　weapons　of
either　side　were　alike　deadly；　and　the　people　fell；　but　when　he　went
down　towards　the　time　when　men　loose　their　oxen；　the　Achaeans　proved
to　be　beyond　all　forecast　stronger；　so　that　they　drew　Cebriones　out　of
range　of　the　darts　and　tumult　of　the　Trojans；　and　stripped　the
armour　from　his　shoulders。　Then　Patroclus　sprang　like　Mars　with　fierce
intent　and　a　terrific　shout　upon　the　Trojans；　and　thrice　did　he　kill
nine　men；　but　as　he　was　coming　on　like　a　god　for　a　time；　then；　O
Patroclus；　was　the　hour　of　your　end　approaching；　for　Phoebus　fought
you　in　fell　earnest。　Patroclus　did　not　see　him　as　he　moved　about　in
the　crush；　for　he　was　enshrouded　in　thick　darkness；　and　the　god　struck
him　from　behind　on　his　back　and　his　broad　shoulders　with　the　flat　of
his　hand；　so　that　his　eyes　turned　dizzy。　Phoebus　Apollo　beat　the
helmet　from　off　his　head；　and　it　rolled　rattling　off　under　the　horses'
feet；　where　its　horse…hair　plumes　were　all　begrimed　with　dust　and
blood。　Never　indeed　had　that　helmet　fared　so　before；　for　it　had　served
to　protect　the　head　and　comely　forehead　of　the　godlike　hero
Achilles。　Now；　however；　Zeus　delivered　it　over　to　be　worn　by　Hector。
Nevertheless　the　end　of　Hector　also　was　near。　The　bronze…shod　spear；
so　great　and　so　strong；　was　broken　in　the　hand　of　Patroclus；　while　his
shield　that　covered　him　from　head　to　foot　fell　to　the　ground　as　did
also　the　band　that　held　it；　and　Apollo　undid　the　fastenings　of　his
corslet。
　　On　this　his　mind　became　clouded；　his　limbs　failed　him；　and　he
stood　as　one　dazed；　whereon　Euphorbus　son　of　Panthous　a　Dardanian；　the
best　spearman　of　his　time；　as　also　the　finest　horseman　and　fleetest
runner；　came　behind　him　and　struck　him　in　the　back　with　a　spear；
midway　between　the　shoulders。　This　man　as　soon　as　ever　he　had　come
up　with　his　chariot　had　dismounted　twenty　men；　so　proficient　was　he　in
all　the　arts　of　war…　he　it　was；　O　knight　Patroclus；　that　first　drove　a
weapon　into　you；　but　he　did　not　quite　overpower　you。　Euphorbus　then
ran　back　into　the　crowd；　after　drawing　his　ashen　spear　out　of　the
wound；　he　would　not　stand　firm　and　wait　for　Patroclus；　unarmed
though　he　now　was；　to　attack　him；　but　Patroclus　unnerved；　alike　by　the
blow　the　god　had　given　him　and　by　the　spear…wound；　drew　back　under
cover　of　his　men　in　fear　for　his　life。　Hector　on　this；　seeing　him　to
be　wounded　and　giving　ground；　forced　his　way　through　the　ranks；　and
when　close　up　with　him　struck　him　in　the　lower　part　of　the　belly
with　a　spear；　driving　the　bronze　point　right　through　it；　so　that　he
fell　heavily　to　the　ground　to　the　great　of　the　Achaeans。　As　when　a
lion　has　fought　some　fierce　wild…boar　and　worsted　him…　the　two　fight
furiously　upon　the　mountains　over　some　little　fountain　at　which　they
would　both　drink；　and　the　lion　has　beaten　the　boar　till　he　can
hardly　breathe…　even　so　did　Hector　son　of　Priam　take　the　life　of　the
brave　son　of　Menoetius　who　had　killed　so　many；　striking　him　from　close
at　hand；　and　vaunting　over　him　the　while。　〃Patroclus；〃　said　he；　〃you
deemed　that　you　should　sack　our　city；　rob　our　Trojan　women　of　their
freedom；　and　carry　them　off　in　your　ships　to　your　own　country。　Fool；
Hector　and　his　fleet　horses　were　ever　straining　their　utmost　to　defend
them。　I　am　foremost　of　all　the　Trojan　warriors　to　stave　the　day　of
bondage　from　off　them；　as　for　you；　vultures　shall　devour　you　here。
Poor　wretch；　Achilles　with　all　his　bravery　availed　you　nothing；　and
yet　I　ween　when　you　left　him　he　charged　you　straitly　saying；　'Come　not
back　to　the　ships；　knight　Patroclus；　till　you　have　rent　the
bloodstained　shirt　of　murderous　Hector　about　his　body。　Thus　I　ween　did
he　charge　you；　and　your　fool's　heart　answered　him　'yea'　within　you。〃
　　Then；　as　the　life　ebbed　out　of　you；　you　answered；　O　knight
Patroclus：　〃Hector；　vaunt　as　you　will；　for　Jove　the　son　of　Saturn
and　Apollo　have　vouchsafed　you　victory；　it　is　they　who　have　vanquished
me　so　easily；　and　they　who　have　stripped　the　armour　from　my　shoulders；
had　twenty　such　men　as　you　attacked　me；　all　of　them　would　have
fallen　before　my　spear。　Fate　and　the　son　of　Leto　have　overpowered
me；　and　among　mortal　men　Euphorbus；　you　are　yourself　third　only　in　the
killing　of　me。　I　say　further；　and　lay　my　saying　to　your　heart；　you　too
shall　live　but　for　a　little　season；　death　and　the　day　of　your　doom　are
close　upon　you；　and　they　will　lay　you　low　by　the　hand　of　Achilles
son　of　Aeacus。〃
　　When　he　had　thus　spoken　his　eyes　were　closed　in　death；　his　soul　left
his　body　and　flitted　down　to　the　house　of　Hades；　mourning　its　sad　fate
and　bidding　farewell　to　the　youth　and　vigor　of　its　manhood。　Dead
though　he　was；　Hector　still　spoke　to　him　saying；　〃Patroclus；　why
should　you　thus　foretell　my　doom？　Who　knows　but　Achilles；　son　of
lovely　Thetis；　may　be　smitten　by　my　spear　and　die　before　me？〃
　　As　he　spoke　he　drew　the　bronze　spear　from　the　wound；　planting　his
foot　upon　the　body；　which　he　thrust　off　and　let　lie　on　its　back。　He
then　went　spear　in　hand　after　Automedon；　squire　of　the　fleet
descendant　of　Aeacus；　for　he　longed　to　lay　him　low；　but　the　immortal
steeds　which　the　gods　had　given　as　a　rich　gift　to　Peleus　bore　him
swiftly　from　the　field。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　XVII

　　BRAVE　Menelaus　son　of　Atreus　now　came　to　know　that　Patroclus　had
fallen；　and　made　his　way　through　the　front　ranks　clad　in　full　armour
to　bestride　him。　As　a　cow　stands　lowing　over　her　first　calf；　even　so
did　yellow…haired　Menelaus　bestride　Patroclus。　He　held　his　round
shield　and　his　spear　in　front　of　him；　resolute　to　kill　any　who
should　dare　face　him。　But　the　son　of　Panthous　had　also　noted　the　body；
and　came　up　to　Menelaus　saying；　〃Menelaus；　son　of　Atreus；　draw　back；
leave　the　body；　and　let　the　bloodstained　spoils　be。　I　was　first　of　the
Trojans　and　their　brave　allies　to　drive　my　spear　into　Patroclus；　let
me；　therefore；　have　my　full　glory　among　the　Trojans；　or　I　will　take
aim　and　kill　you。〃
　　To　this　Menelaus　answered　in　great　anger　〃By　father　Jove；　boasting
is　an　ill　thing。　The　pard　is　not　more　bold；　nor　the　lion　nor　savage
wild…boar；　which　is　fiercest　and　most　dauntless　of　all　creatures；　than
are　the　proud　sons　of　Panthous。　Yet　Hyperenor　did　not　see　out　the　days
of　his　youth　when　he　made　light　of　me　and　withstood　me；　deeming　me　the
meanest　soldier　among　the　Danaans。　His　own　feet　never　bore　him　back　to
gladden　his　wife　and　parents。　Even　so　shall　I　make　an　end　of　you
too；　if　you　withstand　me；　get　you　back　into　the　crowd　and　do　not
face　me；　or　it　shall　be　worse　for　you。　Even　a　fool　may　be　wise　after
the　event。〃
　　Euphorbus　would　not　listen；　and　said；　〃Now　indeed；　Menelaus；　shall
you　pay　for　the　death　of　my　brother　over　whom　you　vaunted；　and　whose
wife　you　widowed　in　her　bridal　chamber；　while　you　brought　grief
unspeakable　on　his　parents。　I　shall　comfort　these　poor　people　if　I
bring　your　head　and　armour　and　place　them　in　the　hands　of　Panthous　and
noble　Phrontis。　The　time　is　come　when　this　matter　shall　be　fought
out　and　settled；　for　me　or　against　me。〃
　　As　he　spoke　he　struck　Menelaus　full　on　the　shield；　but　the　spear　did
not　go　through；　for　the　shield　turned　its　point。　Menelaus