tales of troy(特罗伊的传说)-第21章
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better than her own country； and her father； and her brothers whom he had
slain in war。 The Greek princes； too； stood round the body； weeping and
cutting off their long locks of yellow hair； a token of grief and an offering
to the dead。
Men say that forth from the sea came Thetis of the silver feet； the
mother of Achilles； with her ladies； the deathless maidens of the waters。
They rose up from their glassy chambers below the sea； moving on； many
and beautiful； like the waves on a summer day； and their sweet song
echoed along the shores； and fear came upon the Greeks。 Then they
would have fled； but Nestor cried： 〃Hold； flee not； young lords of the
Achaeans！ Lo； she that comes from the sea is his mother； with the
deathless maidens of the waters； to look on the face of her dead son。〃
Then the sea nymphs stood around the dead Achilles and clothed him in
the garments of the Gods； fragrant raiment； and all the Nine Muses； one to
the other replying with sweet voices； began their lament。
Next the Greeks made a great pile of dry wood； and laid Achilles on it；
and set fire to it； till the flames had consumed his body except the white
ashes。 These they placed in a great golden cup and mingled with them
the ashes of Patroclus； and above all they built a tomb like a hill； high on a
headland above the sea； that men for all time may see it as they go sailing
by； and may remember Achilles。 Next they held in his honour foot races
and chariot races； and other games； and Thetis gave splendid prizes。 Last
of all； when the games were ended； Thetis placed before the chiefs the
glorious armour that the God had made for her son on the night after the
slaying of Patroclus by Hector。 〃Let these arms be the prize of the best
of the Greeks；〃 she said； 〃and of him that saved the body of Achilles out of
the hands of the Trojans。〃
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Then stood up on one side Aias and on the other Ulysses； for these two
had rescued the body； and neither thought himself a worse warrior than the
other。 Both were the bravest of the brave； and if Aias was the taller and
stronger； and upheld the fight at the ships on the day of the valour of
Hector； Ulysses had alone withstood the Trojans； and refused to retreat
even when wounded； and his courage and cunning had won for the Greeks
the Luck of Troy。 Therefore old Nestor arose and said： 〃This is a
luckless day； when the best of the Greeks are rivals for such a prize。 He
who is not the winner will be heavy at heart； and will not stand firm by us
in battle； as of old； and hence will come great loss to the Greeks。 Who
can be a just judge in this question； for some men will love Aias better；
and some will prefer Ulysses； and thus will arise disputes among ourselves。
Lo！ have we not here among us many Trojan prisoners； waiting till their
friends pay their ransom in cattle and gold and bronze and iron？ These
hate all the Greeks alike； and will favour neither Aias nor Ulysses。 Let
THEM be the judges； and decide who is the best of the Greeks； and the
man who has done most harm to the Trojans。〃
Agamemnon said that Nestor had spoken wisely。 The Trojans were
then made to sit as judges in the midst of the Assembly； and Aias and
Ulysses spoke； and told the stories of their own great deeds； of which we
have heard already； but Aias spoke roughly and discourteously； calling
Ulysses a coward and a weakling。 〃Perhaps the Trojans know；〃 said
Ulysses quietly； 〃whether they think that I deserve what Aias has said
about me； that I am a coward； and perhaps Aias may remember that he did
not find me so weak when we wrestled for a prize at the funeral of
Patroclus。〃
Then the Trojans all with one voice said that Ulysses was the best man
among the Greeks； and the most feared by them； both for his courage and
his skill in stratagems of war。 On this； the blood of Aias flew into his
face； and he stood silent and unmoving； and could not speak a word； till
his friends came round him and led him away to his hut； and there he sat
down and would not eat or drink； and the night fell。
Long he sat； musing in his mind； and then rose and put on all his
armour； and seized a sword that Hector had given him one day when they
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two fought in a gentle passage of arms； and took courteous farewell of
each other； and Aias had given Hector a broad sword… belt； wrought with
gold。 This sword； Hector's gift； Aias took； and went towards the hut of
Ulysses； meaning to carve him limb from limb； for madness had come
upon him in his great grief。 Rushing through the night to slay Ulysses he
fell upon the flock of sheep that the Greeks kept for their meat。 And up
and down among them he went； smiting blindly till the dawn came； and； lo！
his senses returned to him； and he saw that he had not smitten Ulysses； but
stood in a pool of blood among the sheep that he had slain。 He could not
endure the disgrace of his madness； and he fixed the sword； Hector's gift；
with its hilt firmly in the ground； and went back a little way； and ran and
fell upon the sword； which pierced his heart； and so died the great Aias；
choosing death before a dishonoured life。
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ULYSSES SAILS TO SEEK THE
SON OF ACHILLES。THE
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VALOUR OF EURYPYLUS
When the Greeks found Aias lying dead； slain by his own hand； they
made great lament； and above all the brother of Aias； and his wife
Tecmessa bewailed him； and the shores of the sea rang with their sorrow。
But of all no man was more grieved than Ulysses； and he stood up and
said： 〃Would that the sons of the Trojans had never awarded to me the
arms of Achilles； for far rather would I have given them to Aias than that
this loss should have befallen the whole army of the Greeks。 Let no man
blame me； or be angry with me； for I have not sought for wealth； to enrich
myself； but for honour only； and to win a name that will be remembered
among men in times to come。〃 Then they made a great fire of wood； and
burned the body of Aias； lamenting him as they had sorrowed for Achilles。
Now it seemed that though the Greeks had won the Luck of Troy and
had defeated the Amazons and the army of Memnon； they were no nearer
taking Troy than ever。 They had slain Hector； indeed； and many other
Trojans； but they had lost the great Achilles； and Aias； and Patroclus； and
Antilochus； with the princes whom Penthesilea and Memnon slew； and the
bands of the dead chiefs were weary of fighting； and eager to go home。
The chiefs met in council； and Menelaus arose and said that his heart was
wasted with sorrow for the death of so many brave men who had sailed to
Troy for his sake。 〃Would that death had come upon me befor
