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！
behind it that he might drag it about。 Thrice did he drag it
round the tomb of the son of Menoetius； and then went back into
his tent； leaving the body on the ground full length and with its
face downwards。 But Apollo would not suffer it to be disfigured；
for he pitied the man； dead though he now was； therefore he
shielded him with his golden aegis continually； that he might
take no hurt while Achilles was dragging him。
Thus shamefully did Achilles in his fury dishonour Hector； but
the blessed gods looked down in pity from heaven； and urged
Mercury； slayer of Argus； to steal the body。 All were of this
mind save only Juno； Neptune； and Jove's grey…eyed daughter； who
persisted in the hate which they had ever borne towards Ilius
with Priam and his people； for they forgave not the wrong done
them by Alexandrus in disdaining the goddesses who came to him
when he was in his sheepyards； and preferring her who had offered
him a wanton to his ruin。
When； therefore； the morning of the twelfth day had now e；
Phoebus Apollo spoke among the immortals saying； 〃You gods ought
to be ashamed of yourselves； you are cruel and hard…hearted。 Did
not Hector burn you thigh…bones of heifers and of unblemished
goats？ And now dare you not rescue even his dead body； for his
wife to look upon； with his mother and child； his father Priam；
and his people； who would forthwith mit him to the flames； and
give him his due funeral rites？ So； then； you would all be on the
side of mad Achilles； who 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 losta 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 rade。 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
lyrefalse； and fond of low pany； 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 ing 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 e 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 fort； 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 e 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
mands 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 rades 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
e 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 mands 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