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！
brother； prayed the gods； and beat the earth with her hands；
calling upon Hades and on awful Proserpine； she went down upon
her knees and her bosom was wet with tears as she prayed that
they would kill her sonand Erinys that walks in darkness and
knows no ruth heard her from Erebus。
〃Then was heard the din of battle about the gates of Calydon； and
the dull thump of the battering against their walls。 Thereon the
elders of the Aetolians besought Meleager； they sent the chiefest
of their priests； and begged him to e out and help them；
promising him a great reward。 They bade him choose fifty
plough…gates； the most fertile in the plain of Calydon； the
one…half vineyard and the other open plough…land。 The old warrior
Oeneus implored him； standing at the threshold of his room and
beating the doors in supplication。 His sisters and his mother
herself besought him sore； but he the more refused them； those of
his rades who were nearest and dearest to him also prayed him；
but they could not move him till the foe was battering at the
very doors of his chamber； and the Curetes had scaled the walls
and were setting fire to the city。 Then at last his sorrowing
wife detailed the horrors that befall those whose city is taken；
she reminded him how the men are slain； and the city is given
over to the flames； while the women and children are carried into
captivity； when he heard all this； his heart was touched； and he
donned his armour to go forth。 Thus of his own inward motion he
saved the city of the Aetolians； but they now gave him nothing of
those rich rewards that they had offered earlier； and though he
saved the city he took nothing by it。 Be not then； my son； thus
minded； let not heaven lure you into any such course。 When the
ships are burning it will be a harder matter to save them。 Take
the gifts； and go； for the Achaeans will then honour you as a
god； whereas if you fight without taking them； you may beat the
battle back； but you will not be held in like honour。〃
And Achilles answered； 〃Phoenix； old friend and father； I have no
need of such honour。 I have honour from Jove himself； which will
abide with me at my ships while I have breath in my body； and my
limbs are strong。 I say furtherand lay my saying to your
heartvex me no more with this weeping and lamentation； all in
the cause of the son of Atreus。 Love him so well； and you may
lose the love I bear you。 You ought to help me rather in
troubling those that trouble me； be king as much as I am； and
share like honour with myself； the others shall take my answer；
stay here yourself and sleep fortably in your bed； at daybreak
we will consider whether to remain or go。〃
On this she nodded quietly to Patroclus as a sign that he was to
prepare a bed for Phoenix； and that the others should take their
leave。 Ajax son of Telamon then said； 〃Ulysses； noble son of
Laertes； let us be gone； for I see that our journey is vain。 We
must now take our answer； unwele though it be； to the Danaans
who are waiting to receive it。 Achilles is savage and
remorseless； he is cruel； and cares nothing for the love his
rades lavished upon him more than on all the others。 He is
implacableand yet if a man's brother or son has been slain he
will accept a fine by way of amends from him that killed him； and
the wrong…doer having paid in full remains in peace among his own
people； but as for you； Achilles； the gods have put a wicked
unforgiving spirit in your heart； and this； all about one single
girl； whereas we now offer you the seven best we have； and much
else into the bargain。 Be then of a more gracious mind； respect
the hospitality of your own roof。 We are with you as messengers
from the host of the Danaans； and would fain he held nearest and
dearest to yourself of all the Achaeans。〃
〃Ajax；〃 replied Achilles； 〃noble son of Telamon； you have spoken
much to my liking； but my blood boils when I think it all over；
and remember how the son of Atreus treated me with contumely as
though I were some vile tramp； and that too in the presence of
the Argives。 Go； then； and deliver your message； say that I will
have no concern with fighting till Hector； son of noble Priam；
reaches the tents of the Myrmidons in his murderous course； and
flings fire upon their ships。 For all his lust of battle； I take
it he will be held in check when he is at my own tent and ship。〃
On this they took every man his double cup； made their
drink…offerings； and went back to the ships； Ulysses leading the
way。 But Patroclus told his men and the maid…servants to make
ready a fortable bed for Phoenix； they therefore did so with
sheepskins； a rug； and a sheet of fine linen。 The old man then
laid himself down and waited till morning came。 But Achilles
slept in an inner room； and beside him the daughter of Phorbas
lovely Diomede； whom he had carried off from Lesbos。 Patroclus
lay on the other side of the room； and with him fair Iphis whom
Achilles had given him when he took Scyros the city of Enyeus。
When the envoys reached the tents of the son of Atreus； the
Achaeans rose； pledged them in cups of gold； and began to
question them。 King Agamemnon was the first to do so。 〃Tell me；
Ulysses；〃 said he； 〃will he save the ships from burning； or did
he refuse； and is he still furious？〃
Ulysses answered； 〃Most noble son of Atreus； king of men；
Agamemnon； Achilles will not be calmed； but is more fiercely
angry than ever； and spurns both you and your gifts。 He bids you
take counsel with the Achaeans to save the ships and host as you
best may； as for himself； he said that at daybreak he should draw
his ships into the water。 He said further that he should advise
every one to sail home likewise； for that you will not reach the
goal of Ilius。 'Jove；' he said； 'has laid his hand over the city
to protect it； and the people have taken heart。' This is what he
said； and the others who were with me can tell you the same
storyAjax and the two heralds； men； both of them； who may be
trusted。 The old man Phoenix stayed where he was to sleep； for so
Achilles would have it； that he might go home with him in the
morning if he so would； but he will not take him by force。〃
They all held their peace； sitting for a long time silent and
dejected； by reason of the sternness with which Achilles had
refused them； till presently Diomed said； 〃Most noble son of
Atreus； king of men； Agamemnon； you ought not to have sued the
son of Peleus nor offered him gifts。 He is proud enough as it is；
and you have encouraged him in his pride still further。 Let him
stay or go as he will。 He will fight later when he is in the
humour； and heaven puts it in his mind to do so。 Now； therefore；
let us all do as I say； we have eaten and drunk our fill； let us
then take our rest； for in rest there is both strength and stay。
But when fair rosy…fingered morn appears； forthwith bring out
your host and your horsemen in front of the ships； urging them
on； and yourself fighting among the foremost。〃
Thus he spoke； and the other chieftains approved his words。 They
then made their drink…offerings and went every man to his own
tent； where they laid down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep。
BOOK