the iliad(伊利亚特)-第70章

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about　the　body　and　fight　hand　to　hand。　Thus　did　huge　Ajax　bid　them；
and　the　earth　ran　red　with　blood　as　the　corpses　fell　thick　on　one
another　alike　on　the　side　of　the　Trojans　and　allies；　and　on　that　of
the　Danaans；　for　these　last；　too；　fought　no　bloodless　fight　though
many　fewer　of　them　perished；　through　the　care　they　took　to　defend
and　stand　by　one　another。
　　Thus　did　they　fight　as　it　were　a　flaming　fire；　it　seemed　as　though
it　had　gone　hard　even　with　the　sun　and　moon；　for　they　were　hidden　over
all　that　part　where　the　bravest　heroes　were　fighting　about　the　dead
son　of　Menoetius；　whereas　the　other　Danaans　and　Achaeans　fought　at
their　ease　in　full　daylight　with　brilliant　sunshine　all　round　them；
and　there　was　not　a　cloud　to　be　seen　neither　on　plain　nor　mountain。
These　last　moreover　would　rest　for　a　while　and　leave　off　fighting；　for
they　were　some　distance　apart　and　beyond　the　range　of　one　another's
weapons；　whereas　those　who　were　in　the　thick　of　the　fray　suffered　both
from　battle　and　darkness。　All　the　best　of　them　were　being　worn　out
by　the　great　weight　of　their　armour；　but　the　two　valiant　heroes；
Thrasymedes　and　Antilochus；　had　not　yet　heard　of　the　death　of
Patroclus；　and　believed　him　to　be　still　alive　and　leading　the　van
against　the　Trojans；　they　were　keeping　themselves　in　reserve　against
the　death　or　rout　of　their　own　comrades；　for　so　Nestor　had　ordered
when　he　sent　them　from　the　ships　into　battle。
　　Thus　through　the　livelong　day　did　they　wage　fierce　war；　and　the
sweat　of　their　toil　rained　ever　on　their　legs　under　them；　and　on　their
hands　and　eyes；　as　they　fought　over　the　squire　of　the　fleet　son　of
Peleus。　It　was　as　when　a　man　gives　a　great　ox…hide　all　drenched　in　fat
to　his　men；　and　bids　them　stretch　it；　whereon　they　stand　round　it　in　a
ring　and　tug　till　the　moisture　leaves　it；　and　the　fat　soaks　in　for　the
many　that　pull　at　it；　and　it　is　well　stretched…　even　so　did　the　two
sides　tug　the　dead　body　hither　and　thither　within　the　compass　of　but　a
little　space…　the　Trojans　steadfastly　set　on　drag　ing　it　into　Ilius；
while　the　Achaeans　were　no　less　so　on　taking　it　to　their　ships；　and
fierce　was　the　fight　between　them。　Not　Mars　himself　the　lord　of　hosts；
nor　yet　Minerva；　even　in　their　fullest　fury　could　make　light　of　such　a
battle。
　　Such　fearful　turmoil　of　men　and　horses　did　Jove　on　that　day　ordain
round　the　body　of　Patroclus。　Meanwhile　Achilles　did　not　know　that　he
had　fallen；　for　the　fight　was　under　the　wall　of　Troy　a　long　way　off
the　ships。　He　had　no　idea；　therefore；　that　Patroclus　was　dead；　and
deemed　that　he　would　return　alive　as　soon　as　he　had　gone　close　up　to
the　gates。　He　knew　that　he　was　not　to　sack　the　city　neither　with　nor
without　himself；　for　his　mother　had　often　told　him　this　when　he　had
sat　alone　with　her；　and　she　had　informed　him　of　the　counsels　of
great　Jove。　Now；　however；　she　had　not　told　him　how　great　a　disaster
had　befallen　him　in　the　death　of　the　one　who　was　far　dearest　to　him　of
all　his　comrades。
　　The　others　still　kept　on　charging　one　another　round　the　body　with
their　pointed　spears　and　killing　each　other。　Then　would　one　say；　〃My
friends；　we　can　never　again　show　our　faces　at　the　ships…　better；　and
greatly　better；　that　earth　should　open　and　swallow　us　here　in　this
place；　than　that　we　should　let　the　Trojans　have　the　triumph　of　bearing
off　Patroclus　to　their　city。〃
　　The　Trojans　also　on　their　part　spoke　to　one　another　saying；
〃Friends；　though　we　fall　to　a　man　beside　this　body；　let　none　shrink
from　fighting。〃　With　such　words　did　they　exhort　each　other。　They
fought　and　fought；　and　an　iron　clank　rose　through　the　void　air　to
the　brazen　vault　of　heaven。　The　horses　of　the　descendant　of　Aeacus
stood　out　of　the　fight　and　wept　when　they　heard　that　their　driver
had　been　laid　low　by　the　hand　of　murderous　Hector。　Automedon；
valiant　son　of　Diores；　lashed　them　again　and　again；　many　a　time　did　he
speak　kindly　to　them；　and　many　a　time　did　he　upbraid　them；　but　they
would　neither　go　back　to　the　ships　by　the　waters　of　the　broad
Hellespont；　nor　yet　into　battle　among　the　Achaeans；　they　stood　with
their　chariot　stock　still；　as　a　pillar　set　over　the　tomb　of　some
dead　man　or　woman；　and　bowed　their　heads　to　the　ground。　Hot　tears　fell
from　their　eyes　as　they　mourned　the　loss　of　their　charioteer；　and
their　noble　manes　drooped　all　wet　from　under　the　yokestraps　on
either　side　the　yoke。
　　The　son　of　Saturn　saw　them　and　took　pity　upon　their　sorrow。　He
wagged　his　head；　and　muttered　to　himself；　saying；　〃Poor　things；　why
did　we　give　you　to　King　Peleus　who　is　a　mortal；　while　you　are
yourselves　ageless　and　immortal？　Was　it　that　you　might　share　the
sorrows　that　befall　mankind？　for　of　all　creatures　that　live　and　move
upon　the　earth　there　is　none　so　pitiable　as　he　is…　still；　Hector　son
of　Priam　shall　drive　neither　you　nor　your　chariot。　I　will　not　have　it。
It　is　enough　that　he　should　have　the　armour　over　which　he　vaunts　so
vainly。　Furthermore　I　will　give　you　strength　of　heart　and　limb　to　bear
Automedon　safely　to　the　ships　from　battle；　for　I　shall　let　the　Trojans
triumph　still　further；　and　go　on　killing　till　they　reach　the　ships；
whereon　night　shall　fall　and　darkness　overshadow　the　land。〃
　　As　he　spoke　he　breathed　heart　and　strength　into　the　horses　so　that
they　shook　the　dust　from　out　of　their　manes；　and　bore　their　chariot
swiftly　into　the　fight　that　raged　between　Trojans　and　Achaeans。　Behind
them　fought　Automedon　full　of　sorrow　for　his　comrade；　as　a　vulture
amid　a　flock　of　geese。　In　and　out；　and　here　and　there；　full　speed　he
dashed　amid　the　throng　of　the　Trojans；　but　for　all　the　fury　of　his
pursuit　he　killed　no　man；　for　he　could　not　wield　his　spear　and　keep
his　horses　in　hand　when　alone　in　the　chariot；　at　last；　however；　a
comrade；　Alcimedon；　son　of　Laerces　son　of　Haemon　caught　sight　of　him
and　came　up　behind　his　chariot。　〃Automedon；〃　said　he；　〃what　god　has
put　this　folly　into　your　heart　and　robbed　you　of　your　right　mind；　that
you　fight　the　Trojans　in　the　front　rank　single…handed？　He　who　was　your
comrade　is　slain；　and　Hector　plumes　himself　on　being　armed　in　the
armour　of　the　descendant　of　Aeacus。〃
　　Automedon　son　of　Diores　answered；　〃Alcimedon；　there　is　no　one　else
who　can　control　and　guide　the　immortal　steeds　so　well　as　you　can；　save
only　Patroclus…　while　he　was　alive…　peer　of　gods　in　counsel。　Take　then
the　whip　and　reins；　while　I　go　down　from　the　car　and　fight。
　　Alcimedon　sprang　on　to　the　chariot；　and　caught　up　the　whip　and
reins；　while　Automedon　leaped　from　off　the　car。　When　Hector　saw　him　he
said　to　Aeneas　who　was　near　him；　〃Aeneas；　counsellor　of　the
mail…clad　Trojans；　I　see　the　steeds　of　the　fleet　son　of　Aeacus　come
into　battle　with　weak　hands　to　drive　them。　I　am　sure；　if　you　think
well；　that　we　might　take　them；　they　will　not　dare　face　us　if　we　both
attack　them。〃
　　The　valiant　son　of　Anchises　was　of　the　same　mind；　and　the　pair
went　right　on；　with　their　shoulders　covered　under　shields　of　tough　dry
ox…hide；　overlaid　with　much　bronze。　Chromius　and　Aretus　went　also　with
them；　and　their　hearts　beat　high　with　hope　that　they　might　kill　the
men　and　capture　the　horses…　fools　that　they　were；　for　they　were　not　to
return　scatheless　from　their　meeting　with　Automedon；　who　prayed　to
father　Jove　and　was　forthwith　filled　with　courage　and　strength
abounding。　He　turned　to　his　trusty　comrade　Alcimedon　and　said；
〃Alcimedon；　keep　your　horses　so　close　up　that　I　may　feel　their
breath　upon　my　back；　I　doubt　that　we　shall　not　stay　Hector　son　of
Priam　till　he　has　killed　us　and　mounted　behind　the　horses；　he　will
then　either　spread　panic　among　the　ranks　of　the　Achaeans；　or　himself
be　killed　among　the　foremost。〃
　　On　this　he　cried　out　to　the　two　Ajaxes　and　Menelaus；　〃Ajaxes
captains　of　the　Argives；　and　Menelaus；　give　the　dead　body　over　to　them
that　are　best　able　to　defend　it；　and　come　to　the　rescue　of　us
living；　for　Hector　and　Aeneas　who　are　the　two　best　men　among　the
Trojans；　are　pressing　us　hard　in　the　full　tide　of　war。　Nevertheless
the　issue　lies　on　the　lap　of　heaven；　I　will　therefore　hurl　my　spear
and　leave　the　rest　to　Jove。〃
　　He　poised　and　hurled　as　he　spoke；　whereon　the　spear　struck　the　round
shield　of　Aretus；　and　went　right　through　it　for　the　shield　sta