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！
by the cruel hands of the Achaeans； in the end fierce hounds will
tear me in pieces at my own gates after some one has beaten the
life out of my body with sword or spear…hounds that I myself
reared and fed at my own table to guard my gates； but who will
yet lap my blood and then lie all distraught at my doors。 When a
young man falls by the sword in battle； he may lie where he is
and there is nothing unseemly； let what will be seen； all is
honourable in death； but when an old man is slain there is
nothing in this world more pitiable than that dogs should defile
his grey hair and beard and all that men hide for shame。〃
The old man tore his grey hair as he spoke； but he moved not the
heart of Hector。 His mother hard by wept and moaned aloud as she
bared her bosom and pointed to the breast which had suckled him。
〃Hector；〃 she cried； weeping bitterly the while； 〃Hector； my son；
spurn not this breast； but have pity upon me too： if I have ever
given you fort from my own bosom； think on it now； dear son；
and e within the wall to protect us from this man； stand not
without to meet him。 Should the wretch kill you； neither I nor
your richly dowered wife shall ever weep； dear offshoot of
myself； over the bed on which you lie； for dogs will devour you
at the ships of the Achaeans。〃
Thus did the two with many tears implore their son； but they
moved not the heart of Hector； and he stood his ground awaiting
huge Achilles as he drew nearer towards him。 As serpent in its
den upon the mountains； full fed with deadly poisons； waits for
the approach of manhe is filled with fury and his eyes glare
terribly as he goes writhing round his deneven so Hector leaned
his shield against a tower that jutted out from the wall and
stood where he was； undaunted。
〃Alas；〃 said he to himself in the heaviness of his heart； 〃if I
go within the gates； Polydamas will be the first to heap reproach
upon me； for it was he that urged me to lead the Trojans back to
the city on that awful night when Achilles again came forth
against us。 I would not listen； but it would have been indeed
better if I had done so。 Now that my folly has destroyed the
host； I dare not look Trojan men and Trojan women in the face；
lest a worse man should say； 'Hector has ruined us by his
self…confidence。' Surely it would be better for me to return
after having fought Achilles and slain him； or to die gloriously
here before the city。 What； again； if I were to lay down my
shield and helmet； lean my spear against the wall and go straight
up to noble Achilles？ What if I were to promise to give up Helen；
who was the fountainhead of all this war； and all the treasure
that Alexandrus brought with him in his ships to Troy； aye； and
to let the Achaeans divide the half of everything that the city
contains among themselves？ I might make the Trojans； by the
mouths of their princes； take a solemn oath that they would hide
nothing； but would divide into two shares all that is within the
citybut why argue with myself in this way？ Were I to go up to
him he would show me no kind of mercy； he would kill me then and
there as easily as though I were a woman； when I had off my
armour。 There is no parleying with him from some rock or oak
tree as young men and maidens prattle with one another。 Better
fight him at once； and learn to which of us Jove will vouchsafe
victory。〃
Thus did he stand and ponder； but Achilles came up to him as it
were Mars himself； plumed lord of battle。 From his right shoulder
he brandished his terrible spear of Pelian ash； and the bronze
gleamed around him like flashing fire or the rays of the rising
sun。 Fear fell upon Hector as he beheld him； and he dared not
stay longer where he was but fled in dismay from before the
gates； while Achilles darted after him at his utmost speed。 As a
mountain falcon； swiftest of all birds； swoops down upon some
cowering dovethe dove flies before him but the falcon with a
shrill scream follows close after； resolved to have hereven so
did Achilles make straight for Hector with all his might； while
Hector fled under the Trojan wall as fast as his limbs could take
him。
On they flew along the waggon…road that ran hard by under the
wall； past the lookout station； and past the weather…beaten wild
fig…tree； till they came to two fair springs which feed the river
Scamander。 One of these two springs is warm； and steam rises from
it as smoke from a burning fire； but the other even in summer is
as cold as hail or snow； or the ice that forms on water。 Here；
hard by the springs； are the goodly washing…troughs of stone；
where in the time of peace before the ing of the Achaeans the
wives and fair daughters of the Trojans used to wash their
clothes。 Past these did they fly； the one in front and the other
giving chase behind him： good was the man that fled； but better
far was he that followed after； and swiftly indeed did they run；
for the prize was no mere beast for sacrifice or bullock's hide；
as it might be for a mon foot…race； but they ran for the life
of Hector。 As horses in a chariot race speed round the
turning…posts when they are running for some great prizea
tripod or womanat the games in honour of some dead hero； so did
these two run full speed three times round the city of Priam。 All
the gods watched them； and the sire of gods and men was the first
to speak。
〃Alas；〃 said he； 〃my eyes behold a man who is dear to me being
pursued round the walls of Troy； my heart is full of pity for
Hector； who has burned the thigh…bones of many a heifer in my
honour； one while on the crests of many…valleyed Ida； and again
on the citadel of Troy； and now I see noble Achilles in full
pursuit of him round the city of Priam。 What say you？ Consider
among yourselves and decide whether we shall now save him or let
him fall； valiant though he be； before Achilles； son of Peleus。〃
Then Minerva said； 〃Father； wielder of the lightning； lord of
cloud and storm； what mean you？ Would you pluck this mortal whose
doom has long been decreed out of the jaws of death？ Do as you
will； but we others shall not be of a mind with you。〃
And Jove answered； 〃My child； Trito…born； take heart。 I did not
speak in full earnest； and I will let you have your way。 Do
without let or hindrance as you are minded。〃
Thus did he urge Minerva who was already eager； and down she
darted from the topmost summits of Olympus。
Achilles was still in full pursuit of Hector； as a hound chasing
a fawn which he has started from its covert on the mountains； and
hunts through glade and thicket。 The fawn may try to elude him by
crouching under cover of a bush； but he will scent her out and
follow her up until he gets hereven so there was no escape for
Hector from the fleet son of Peleus。 Whenever he made a set to
get near the Dardanian gates and under the walls； that his people
might help him by showering down weapons from above； Achilles
would gain on him and head him back towards the plain； keeping
himself always on the city side。 As a man in a dream who fails to
lay hands upon another whom he is pursuingthe one cannot escape
nor the other overtakeeven so neither could Achilles e up
with Hector； nor Hector break away from Achilles； nevertheless he
might even yet have escaped death had not the time e when
Apollo； who thus far had sustained his strength and nerved his
running； was now no longer to stay by him。 Achilles made signs to
the Achaean host； and shook his head to show that no man was to
aim a dart at Hector； lest another might win the glory of having
hit him and he might himself e in second。 Then； at last； as
they were nearing the fountains for the fourth time； the father
of all balanced his golden scales and placed a doom in each of
them； one for Achilles and the other for Hector。 As he held the
scales by the middle； the doom of Hector fell down deep into the
house of Hadesand then Phoebus Apollo left him。 Thereon Minerva
went close up to the son of Peleus and said； 〃Noble Achilles；
favoured of heaven； we two shall surely take back to the ships a
triumph for the Achaeans by slaying Hector； for all his lust of
battle。 Do what Apollo may as he lies grovelling before his
father； aegis…bearin