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！
strongly built quarters of the son of Tydeus； they tied the
horses with thongs of leather to the manger； where the steeds of
Diomed stood eating their sweet corn； but Ulysses hung the
blood…stained spoils of Dolon at the stern of his ship； that they
might prepare a sacred offering to Minerva。 As for themselves；
they went into the sea and washed the sweat from their bodies；
and from their necks and thighs。 When the sea…water had taken all
the sweat from off them； and had refreshed them； they went into
the baths and washed themselves。 After they had so done and had
anointed themselves with oil； they sat down to table； and drawing
from a full mixing…bowl； made a drink…offering of wine to
Minerva。
BOOK XI
In the forenoon the fight is equal； but Agamemnon turns the
fortune of the day towards the Achaeans until he gets
wounded and leaves the fieldHector then drives everything
before him till he is wounded by DiomedParis wounds
DiomedUlysses； Nestor； and Idomeneus perform prodigies
of valourMachaon is woundedNestor drives him off in
his chariotAchilles sees the pair driving towards the camp
and sends Patroclus to ask who it is that is woundedThis
is the beginning of evil for PatroclusNestor makes a long
speech。
AND now as Dawn rose from her couch beside Tithonus； harbinger of
light alike to mortals and immortals； Jove sent fierce Discord
with the ensign of war in her hands to the ships of the Achaeans。
She took her stand by the huge black hull of Ulysses' ship which
was middlemost of all； so that her voice might carry farthest on
either side； on the one hand towards the tents of Ajax son of
Telamon； and on the other towards those of Achillesfor these
two heroes； well…assured of their own strength； had valorously
drawn up their ships at the two ends of the line。 There she took
her stand； and raised a cry both loud and shrill that filled the
Achaeans with courage； giving them heart to fight resolutely and
with all their might； so that they had rather stay there and do
battle than go home in their ships。
The son of Atreus shouted aloud and bade the Argives gird
themselves for battle while he put on his armour。 First he girded
his goodly greaves about his legs； making them fast with ankle…
clasps of silver； and about his chest he set the breastplate
which Cinyras had once given him as a guest…gift。 It had been
noised abroad as far as Cyprus that the Achaeans were about to
sail for Troy； and therefore he gave it to the king。 It had ten
courses of dark cyanus； twelve of gold； and ten of tin。 There
were serpents of cyanus that reared themselves up towards the
neck； three upon either side； like the rainbows which the son of
Saturn has set in heaven as a sign to mortal men。 About his
shoulders he threw his sword； studded with bosses of gold； and
the scabbard was of silver with a chain of gold wherewith to hang
it。 He took moreover the richly…dight shield that covered his
body when he was in battlefair to see； with ten circles of
bronze running all round it。 On the body of the shield there were
twenty bosses of white tin； with another of dark cyanus in the
middle： this last was made to show a Gorgon's head； fierce and
grim； with Rout and Panic on either side。 The band for the arm to
go through was of silver； on which there was a writhing snake of
cyanus with three heads that sprang from a single neck； and went
in and out among one another。 On his head Agamemnon set a helmet；
with a peak before and behind； and four plumes of horse…hair that
nodded menacingly above it； then he grasped two redoubtable
bronze…shod spears； and the gleam of his armour shot from him as
a flame into the firmament； while Juno and Minerva thundered in
honour of the king of rich Mycene。
Every man now left his horses in charge of his charioteer to hold
them in readiness by the trench； while he went into battle on
foot clad in full armour； and a mighty uproar rose on high into
the dawning。 The chiefs were armed and at the trench before the
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 Ac