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！
therefore cannot get down into it； and would be of no use if they
did； moreover it is a narrow place and we should e to harm。
If； indeed； great Jove is minded to help the Trojans； and in his
anger will utterly destroy the Achaeans； I would myself gladly
see them perish now and here far from Argos； but if they should
rally and we are driven back from the ships pell…mell into the
trench there will be not so much as a man get back to the city to
tell the tale。 Now； therefore； let us all do as I say； let our
squires hold our horses by the trench； but let us follow Hector
in a body on foot； clad in full armour； and if the day of their
doom is at hand the Achaeans will not be able to withstand us。〃
Thus spoke Polydamas and his saying pleased Hector； who sprang in
full armour to the ground； and all the other Trojans； when they
saw him do so； also left their chariots。 Each man then gave his
horses over to his charioteer in charge to hold them ready for
him at the trench。 Then they formed themselves into panies；
made themselves ready； and in five bodies followed their leaders。
Those that went with Hector and Polydamas were the bravest and
most in number； and the most determined to break through the wall
and fight at the ships。 Cebriones was also joined with them as
third in mand； for Hector had left his chariot in charge of a
less valiant soldier。 The next pany was led by Paris；
Alcathous； and Agenor； the third by Helenus and Deiphobus； two
sons of Priam； and with them was the hero AsiusAsius； the son
of Hyrtacus； whose great black horses of the breed that es
from the river Selleis had brought him from Arisbe。 Aeneas； the
valiant son of Anchises； led the fourth； he and the two sons of
Antenor； Archelochus and Acamas； men well versed in all the arts
of war。 Sarpedon was captain over the allies； and took with him
Glaucus and Asteropaeus whom he deemed most valiant after
himselffor he was far the best man of them all。 These helped to
array one another in their ox…hide shields； and then charged
straight at the Danaans； for they felt sure that they would not
hold out longer and that they should themselves now fall upon the
ships。
The rest of the Trojans and their allies now followed the counsel
of Polydamas but Asius； son of Hyrtacus； would not leave his
horses and his esquire behind him； in his foolhardiness he took
them on with him towards the ships； nor did he fail to e by
his end in consequence。 Nevermore was he to return to wind…beaten
Ilius； exulting in his chariot and his horses； ere he could do
so； death of ill…omened name had overshadowed him and he had
fallen by the spear of Idomeneus the noble son of Deucalion。 He
had driven towards the left wing of the ships； by which way the
Achaeans used to return with their chariots and horses from the
plain。 Hither he drove and found the gates with their doors
opened wide； and the great bar downfor the gatemen kept them
open so as to let those of their rades enter who might be
flying towards the ships。 Hither of set purpose did he direct his
horses； and his men followed him with a loud cry； for they felt
sure that the Achaeans would not hold out longer； and that they
should now fall upon the ships。 Little did they know that at the
gates they should find two of the bravest chieftains； proud sons
of the fighting Lapithaethe one； Polypoetes； mighty son of
Pirithous； and the other Leonteus； peer of murderous Mars。 These
stood before the gates like two high oak trees upon the
mountains； that tower from their wide…spreading roots； and year
after year battle with wind and raineven so did these two men
await the onset of great Asius confidently and without flinching。
The Trojans led by him and by Iamenus； Orestes； Adamas the son of
Asius； Thoon and Oenomaus； raised a loud cry of battle and made
straight for the wall； holding their shields of dry ox…hide above
their heads； for a while the two defenders remained inside and
cheered the Achaeans on to stand firm in the defence of their
ships； when； however； they saw that the Trojans were attacking
the wall； while the Danaans were crying out for help and being
routed； they rushed outside and fought in front of the gates like
two wild boars upon the mountains that abide the attack of men
and dogs； and charging on either side break down the wood all
round them tearing it up by the roots； and one can hear the
clattering of their tusks； till some one hits them and makes an
end of themeven so did the gleaming bronze rattle about their
breasts； as the weapons fell upon them； for they fought with
great fury； trusting to their own prowess and to those who were
on the wall above them。 These threw great stones at their
assailants in defence of themselves their tents and their ships。
The stones fell thick as the flakes of snow which some fierce
blast drives from the dark clouds and showers down in sheets upon
the eartheven so fell the weapons from the hands alike of
Trojans and Achaeans。 Helmet and shield rang out as the great
stones rained upon them； and Asius； the son of Hyrtacus； in his
dismay cried aloud and smote his two thighs。 〃Father Jove；〃 he
cried； 〃of a truth you too are altogether given to lying。 I made
sure the Argive heroes could not withstand us； whereas like
slim…waisted wasps； or bees that have their nests in the rocks by
the waysidethey leave not the holes wherein they have built
undefended； but fight for their little ones against all who would
take themeven so these men； though they be but two； will not be
driven from the gates； but stand firm either to slay or be
slain。〃
He spoke； but moved not the mind of Jove； whose counsel it then
was to give glory to Hector。 Meanwhile the rest of the Trojans
were fighting about the other gates； I； however； am no god to be
able to tell about all these things； for the battle raged
everywhere about the stone wall as it were a fiery furnace。 The
Argives； disfited though they were； were forced to defend
their ships； and all the gods who were defending the Achaeans
were vexed in spirit； but the Lapithae kept on fighting with
might and main。
Thereon Polypoetes； mighty son of Pirithous； hit Damasus with a
spear upon his cheek…pierced helmet。 The helmet did not protect
him； for the point of the spear went through it； and broke the
bone； so that the brain inside was scattered about； and he died
fighting。 He then slew Pylon and Ormenus。 Leonteus； of the race
of Mars； killed Hippomachus the son of Antimachus by striking him
with his spear upon the girdle。 He then drew his sword and sprang
first upon Antiphates whom he killed in bat； and who fell face
upwards on the earth。 After him he killed Menon； Iamenus； and
Orestes； and laid them low one after the other。
While they were busy stripping the armour from these heroes； the
youths who were led on by Polydamas and Hector （and these were
the greater part and the most valiant of those that were trying
to break through the wall and fire the ships） were still standing
by the trench； uncertain what they should do； for they had seen a
sign from heaven when they had essayed to cross ita soaring
eagle that flew skirting the left wing of their host； with a
monst