按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
horses got there； but these came up presently。 The son of Saturn
sent a portent of evil sound about their host； and the dew fell
red with blood； for he was about to send many a brave man
hurrying down to Hades。
The Trojans； on the other side upon the rising slope of the
plain； were gathered round great Hector； noble Polydamas； Aeneas
who was honoured by the Trojans like an immortal； and the three
sons of Antenor； Polybus； Agenor； and young Acamas beauteous as a
god。 Hector's round shield showed in the front rank； and as some
baneful star that shines for a moment through a rent in the
clouds and is again hidden beneath them； even so was Hector now
seen in the front ranks and now again in the hindermost； and his
bronze armour gleamed like the lightning of aegis…bearing Jove。
And now as a band of reapers mow swathes of wheat or barley upon
a rich man's land； and the sheaves fall thick before them； even
so did the Trojans and Achaeans fall upon one another； they were
in no mood for yielding but fought like wolves； and neither side
got the better of the other。 Discord was glad as she beheld them；
for she was the only god that went among them； the others were
not there； but stayed quietly each in his own home among the
dells and valleys of Olympus。 All of them blamed the son of
Saturn for wanting to give victory to the Trojans； but father
Jove heeded them not： he held aloof from all； and sat apart in
his all…glorious majesty； looking down upon the city of the
Trojans； the ships of the Achaeans； the gleam of bronze； and
alike upon the slayers and on the slain。
Now so long as the day waxed and it was still morning； their
darts rained thick on one another and the people perished； but as
the hour drew nigh when a woodman working in some mountain forest
will get his midday mealfor he has felled till his hands are
weary； he is tired out； and must now have foodthen the Danaans
with a cry that rang through all their ranks； broke the
battalions of the enemy。 Agamemnon led them on； and slew first
Bienor； a leader of his people； and afterwards his rade and
charioteer Oileus； who sprang from his chariot and was ing
full towards him； but Agamemnon struck him on the forehead with
his spear； his bronze visor was of no avail against the weapon；
which pierced both bronze and bone； so that his brains were
battered in and he was killed in full fight。
Agamemnon stripped their shirts from off them and left them with
their breasts all bare to lie where they had fallen。 He then went
on to kill Isus and Antiphus two sons of Priam； the one a
bastard； the other born in wedlock； they were in the same
chariotthe bastard driving； while noble Antiphus fought beside
him。 Achilles had once taken both of them prisoners in the glades
of Ida； and had bound them with fresh withes as they were
shepherding； but he had taken a ransom for them； now； however；
Agamemnon son of Atreus smote Isus in the chest above the nipple
with his spear； while he struck Antiphus hard by the ear and
threw him from his chariot。 Forthwith he stripped their goodly
armour from off them and recognized them； for he had already seen
them at ships when Achilles brought them in from Ida。 As a lion
fastens on the fawns of a hind and crushes them in his great
jaws； robbing them of their tender life while he on his way back
to his lairthe hind can do nothing for them even though she be
close by； for she is in an agony of fear； and flies through the
thick forest； sweating； and at her utmost speed before the mighty
monsterso； no man of the Trojans could help Isus and Antiphus；
for they were themselves flying panic before the Argives。
Then King Agamemnon took the two sons of Antimachus； Pisander and
brave Hippolochus。 It was Antimachus who had been foremost in
preventing Helen's being restored to Menelaus； for he was largely
bribed by Alexandrus； and now Agamemnon took his two sons； both
in the same chariot； trying to bring their horses to a standfor
they had lost hold of the reins and the horses were mad with
fear。 The son of Atreus sprang upon them like a lion； and the
pair besought him from their chariot。 〃Take us alive；〃 they
cried； 〃son of Atreus； and you shall receive a great ransom for
us。 Our father Antimachus has great store of gold； bronze； and
wrought iron； and from this he will satisfy you with a very large
ransom should he hear of our being alive at the ships of the
Achaeans。〃
With such piteous words and tears did they beseech the king； but
they heard no pitiful answer in return。 〃If；〃 said Agamemnon；
〃you are sons of Antimachus； who once at a council of Trojans
proposed that Menelaus and Ulysses； who had e to you as
envoys； should be killed and not suffered to return； you shall
now pay for the foul iniquity of your father。〃
As he spoke he felled Pisander from his chariot to the earth；
smiting him on the chest with his spear； so that he lay face
uppermost upon the ground。 Hippolochus fled； but him too did
Agamemnon smite； he cut off his hands and his headwhich he sent
rolling in among the crowd as though it were a ball。 There he let
them both lie； and wherever the ranks were thickest thither he
flew； while the other Achaeans followed。 Foot soldiers drove the
foot soldiers of the foe in rout before them； and slew them；
horsemen did the like by horsemen； and the thundering tramp of
the horses raised a cloud of dust from off the plain。 King
Agamemnon followed after； ever slaying them and cheering on the
Achaeans。 As when some mighty forest is all ablazethe eddying
gusts whirl fire in all directions till the thickets shrivel and
are consumed before the blast of the flameeven so fell the
heads of the flying Trojans before Agamemnon son of Atreus； and
many a noble pair of steeds drew an empty chariot along the
highways of war； for lack of drivers who were lying on the plain；
more useful now to vultures than to their wives。
Jove drew Hector away from the darts and dust； with the carnage
and din of battle； but the son of Atreus sped onwards； calling
out lustily to the Danaans。 They flew on by the tomb of old Ilus；
son of Dardanus； in the middle of the plain； and past the place
of the wild fig…tree making always for the citythe son of
Atreus still shouting； and with hands all bedrabbled in gore； but
when they had reached the Scaean gates and the oak tree； there
they halted and waited for the others to e up。 Meanwhile the
Trojans kept on flying over the middle of the plain like a herd
of cows maddened with fright when a lion has attacked them in the
dead of nighthe springs on one of them； seizes her neck in the
grip of his strong teeth and then laps up her blood and gorges
himself upon her entrailseven so did King Agamemnon son of
Atreus pursue the foe； ever slaughtering the hindmost as they
fled pell…mell before him。 Many a man was flung headlong from his
chariot by the hand of the son of Atreus； for he wielded his
spear with fury。
But when he was just about to reach the high wall and the city；
the father of gods and men came down from heaven and took his
seat； thunderbolt in hand； upon the crest of many…fountained Ida。
He then told Iris of the golden wings to carry a message for him。
〃Go；〃 said he； 〃fleet Iris； and speak thus to Hectorsay that so
long as he sees Agamemnon heading his men and making havoc of the
Trojan ranks； he is to keep aloof and bid the others bear the
brunt of the battle； but when Agamemnon is wounded either by
spear or arrow； and takes to his chariot； then will I vouchsafe
him strength to slay till he reach the ships and night falls at
the going down of the sun。〃
Iris hearkened and obeyed。 Down she went to strong Ilius from the
crests of Ida； and found Hector son of Priam standing by his
chariot and horses。 Then she said； 〃Hector son of Priam； peer of
gods in counsel； father Jove has sent me to bear you this
messageso long as you see Agamemnon heading his men and making
havoc of the Trojan ranks； you are to keep aloof and bid the
others bear the brunt of the battle； but when Agamemnon is
wounded either by spear or arrow； and takes to his chariot； then
will Jove vouchsafe you strength to slay till you reach the
ships； and till night fal