the iliad(伊利亚特)-第96章

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knows　neither　right　nor　ruth？　He　is　like　some　savage　lion　that　in
the　pride　of　his　great　strength　and　daring　springs　upon　men's　flocks
and　gorges　on　them。　Even　so　has　Achilles　flung　aside　all　pity；　and　all
that　conscience　which　at　once　so　greatly　banes　yet　greatly　boons　him
that　will　heed　it。　man　may　lose　one　far　dearer　than　Achilles　has　lost…
a　son；　it　may　be；　or　a　brother　born　from　his　own　mother's　womb；　yet
when　he　has　mourned　him　and　wept　over　him　he　will　let　him　bide；　for　it
takes　much　sorrow　to　kill　a　man；　whereas　Achilles；　now　that　he　has
slain　noble　Hector；　drags　him　behind　his　chariot　round　the　tomb　of　his
comrade。　It　were　better　of　him；　and　for　him；　that　he　should　not　do　so；
for　brave　though　he　be　we　gods　may　take　it　ill　that　he　should　vent　his
fury　upon　dead　clay。〃
　　Juno　spoke　up　in　a　rage。　〃This　were　well；〃　she　cried；　〃O　lord　of　the
silver　bow；　if　you　would　give　like　honour　to　Hector　and　to　Achilles；
but　Hector　was　mortal　and　suckled　at　a　woman's　breast；　whereas
Achilles　is　the　offspring　of　a　goddess　whom　I　myself　reared　and
brought　up。　I　married　her　to　Peleus；　who　is　above　measure　dear　to
the　immortals；　you　gods　came　all　of　you　to　her　wedding；　you　feasted
along　with　them　yourself　and　brought　your　lyre…　false；　and　fond　of　low
company；　that　you　have　ever　been。〃
　　Then　said　Jove；　〃Juno；　be　not　so　bitter。　Their　honour　shall　not　be
equal；　but　of　all　that　dwell　in　Ilius；　Hector　was　dearest　to　the　gods；
as　also　to　myself；　for　his　offerings　never　failed　me。　Never　was　my
altar　stinted　of　its　dues；　nor　of　the　drink…offerings　and　savour　of
sacrifice　which　we　claim　of　right。　I　shall　therefore　permit　the　body
of　mighty　Hector　to　be　stolen；　and　yet　this　may　hardly　be　without
Achilles　coming　to　know　it；　for　his　mother　keeps　night　and　day
beside　him。　Let　some　one　of　you；　therefore；　send　Thetis　to　me；　and　I
will　impart　my　counsel　to　her；　namely　that　Achilles　is　to　accept　a
ransom　from　Priam；　and　give　up　the　body。〃
　　On　this　Iris　fleet　as　the　wind　went　forth　to　carry　his　message。　Down
she　plunged　into　the　dark　sea　midway　between　Samos　and　rocky　Imbrus；
the　waters　hissed　as　they　closed　over　her；　and　she　sank　into　the
bottom　as　the　lead　at　the　end　of　an　ox…horn；　that　is　sped　to　carry
death　to　fishes。　She　found　Thetis　sitting　in　a　great　cave　with　the
other　sea…goddesses　gathered　round　her；　there　she　sat　in　the　midst
of　them　weeping　for　her　noble　son　who　was　to　fall　far　from　his　own
land；　on　the　rich　plains　of　Troy。　Iris　went　up　to　her　and　said；
〃Rise　Thetis；　Jove；　whose　counsels　fail　not；　bids　you　come　to　him。〃
And　Thetis　answered；　〃Why　does　the　mighty　god　so　bid　me？　I　am　in　great
grief；　and　shrink　from　going　in　and　out　among　the　immortals。　Still；
I　will　go；　and　the　word　that　he　may　speak　shall　not　be　spoken　in
vain。〃
　　The　goddess　took　her　dark　veil；　than　which　there　can　be　no　robe　more
sombre；　and　went　forth　with　fleet　Iris　leading　the　way　before　her。　The
waves　of　the　sea　opened　them　a　path；　and　when　they　reached　the　shore
they　flew　up　into　the　heavens；　where　they　found　the　all…seeing　son
of　Saturn　with　the　blessed　gods　that　live　for　ever　assembled　near　him。
Minerva　gave　up　her　seat　to　her；　and　she　sat　down　by　the　side　of
father　Jove。　Juno　then　placed　a　fair　golden　cup　in　her　hand；　and　spoke
to　her　in　words　of　comfort；　whereon　Thetis　drank　and　gave　her　back　the
cup；　and　the　sire　of　gods　and　men　was　the　first　to　speak。
　　〃So；　goddess；〃　said　he；　〃for　all　your　sorrow；　and　the　grief　that　I
well　know　reigns　ever　in　your　heart；　you　have　come　hither　to
Olympus；　and　I　will　tell　you　why　I　have　sent　for　you。　This　nine　days
past　the　immortals　have　been　quarrelling　about　Achilles　waster　of
cities　and　the　body　of　Hector。　The　gods　would　have　Mercury　slayer　of
Argus　steal　the　body；　but　in　furtherance　of　our　peace　and　amity
henceforward；　I　will　concede　such　honour　to　your　son　as　I　will　now
tell　you。　Go；　then；　to　the　host　and　lay　these　commands　upon　him；　say
that　the　gods　are　angry　with　him；　and　that　I　am　myself　more　angry　than
them　all；　in　that　he　keeps　Hector　at　the　ships　and　will　not　give　him
up。　He　may　thus　fear　me　and　let　the　body　go。　At　the　same　time　I　will
send　Iris　to　great　Priam　to　bid　him　go　to　the　ships　of　the　Achaeans；
and　ransom　his　son；　taking　with　him　such　gifts　for　Achilles　as　may
give　him　satisfaction。
　　Silver…footed　Thetis　did　as　the　god　had　told　her；　and　forthwith　down
she　darted　from　the　topmost　summits　of　Olympus。　She　went　to　her
son's　tents　where　she　found　him　grieving　bitterly；　while　his　trusty
comrades　round　him　were　busy　preparing　their　morning　meal；　for　which
they　had　killed　a　great　woolly　sheep。　His　mother　sat　down　beside　him
and　caressed　him　with　her　hand　saying；　〃My　son；　how　long　will　you　keep
on　thus　grieving　and　making　moan？　You　are　gnawing　at　your　own　heart；
and　think　neither　of　food　nor　of　woman's　embraces；　and　yet　these　too
were　well；　for　you　have　no　long　time　to　live；　and　death　with　the
strong　hand　of　fate　are　already　close　beside　you。　Now；　therefore；　heed
what　I　say；　for　I　come　as　a　messenger　from　Jove；　he　says　that　the　gods
are　angry　with　you；　and　himself　more　angry　than　them　all；　in　that
you　keep　Hector　at　the　ships　and　will　not　give　him　up。　Therefore　let
him　go；　and　accept　a　ransom　for　his　body。〃
　　And　Achilles　answered；　〃So　be　it。　If　Olympian　Jove　of　his　own　motion
thus　commands　me；　let　him　that　brings　the　ransom　bear　the　body　away。〃
　　Thus　did　mother　and　son　talk　together　at　the　ships　in　long　discourse
with　one　another。　Meanwhile　the　son　of　Saturn　sent　Iris　to　the
strong　city　of　Ilius。　〃Go；〃　said　he；　〃fleet　Iris；　from　the　mansions　of
Olympus；　and　tell　King　Priam　in　Ilius；　that　he　is　to　go　to　the　ships
of　the　Achaeans　and　free　the　body　of　his　dear　son。　He　is　to　take
such　gifts　with　him　as　shall　give　satisfaction　to　Achilles；　and　he
is　to　go　alone；　with　no　other　Trojan；　save　only　some　honoured
servant　who　may　drive　his　mules　and　waggon；　and　bring　back　the　body　of
him　whom　noble　Achilles　has　slain。　Let　him　have　no　thought　nor　fear　of
death　in　his　heart；　for　we　will　send　the　slayer　of　Argus　to　escort
him；　and　bring　him　within　the　tent　of　Achilles。　Achilles　will　not　kill
him　nor　let　another　do　so；　for　he　will　take　heed　to　his　ways　and　sin
not；　and　he　will　entreat　a　suppliant　with　all　honourable　courtesy。〃
　　On　this　Iris；　fleet　as　the　wind；　sped　forth　to　deliver　her
message。　She　went　to　Priam's　house；　and　found　weeping　and
lamentation　therein。　His　sons　were　seated　round　their　father　in　the
outer　courtyard；　and　their　raiment　was　wet　with　tears：　the　old　man　sat
in　the　midst　of　them　with　his　mantle　wrapped　close　about　his　body；　and
his　head　and　neck　all　covered　with　the　filth　which　he　had　clutched
as　he　lay　grovelling　in　the　mire。　His　daughters　and　his　sons'　wives
went　wailing　about　the　house；　as　they　thought　of　the　many　and　brave
men　who　lay　dead；　slain　by　the　Argives。　The　messenger　of　Jove　stood　by
Priam　and　spoke　softly　to　him；　but　fear　fell　upon　him　as　she　did　so。
〃Take　heart；〃　she　said；　〃Priam　offspring　of　Dardanus；　take　heart　and
fear　not。　I　bring　no　evil　tidings；　but　am　minded　well　towards　you。　I
come　as　a　messenger　from　Jove；　who　though　he　be　not　near；　takes
thought　for　you　and　pities　you。　The　lord　of　Olympus　bids　you　go　and
ransom　noble　Hector；　and　take　with　you　such　gifts　as　shall　give
satisfaction　to　Achilles。　You　are　to　go　alone；　with　no　Trojan；　save
only　some　honoured　servant　who　may　drive　your　mules　and　waggon；　and
bring　back　to　the　city　the　body　of　him　whom　noble　Achilles　has
slain。　You　are　to　have　no　thought；　nor　fear　of　death；　for　Jove　will
send　the　slayer　of　Argus　to　escort　you。　When　he　has　brought　you　within
Achilles'　tent；　Achilles　will　not　kill　you　nor　let　another　do　so；
for　he　will　take　heed　to　his　ways　and　sin　not；　and　he　will　entreat　a
suppliant　with　all　honourable　courtesy。〃
　　Iris　went　her　way　when　she　had　thus　spoken；　and　Priam　told　his
sons　to　get　a　mule…waggon　ready；　and　to　make　the　body　of　the　waggon
fast　upon　the　top　of　its　bed。　Then　he　went　down　into　his　fragrant
store…room；　high…vaulted；　and　made　of　cedar…wood；　where　his　many
treasures　were　kept；　and　he　called　Hecuba　his　wife。　〃Wife；〃　said　he；
〃a　messenger　has　come　to　me　from　Olympus；　and　has　told　me　to　go　to　the
ships