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！
them； for it was against his part of the wall that they came
bringing destruction with them； he looked along the wall for some
chieftain to support his rades and saw the two Ajaxes； men
ever eager for the fray； and Teucer； who had just e from his
tent； standing near them； but he could not make his voice heard
by shouting to them； so great an uproar was there from crashing
shields and helmets and the battering of gates with a din which
reached the skies。 For all the gates had been closed； and the
Trojans were hammering at them to try and break their way through
them。 Menestheus； therefore； sent Thootes with a message to Ajax。
〃Run； good Thootes；〃 he said； 〃and call Ajax； or better still bid
both e； for it will be all over with us here directly； the
leaders of the Lycians are upon us； men who have ever fought
desperately heretofore。 But if they have too much on their hands
to let them e； at any rate let Ajax son of Telamon do so； and
let Teucer； the famous bowman； e with him。〃
The messenger did as he was told； and set off running along the
wall of the Achaeans。 When he reached the Ajaxes he said to them；
〃Sirs； princes of the Argives； the son of noble Peteos bids you
e to him for a while and help him。 You had better both e if
you can； or it will be all over with him directly； the leaders of
the Lycians are upon him； men who have ever fought desperately
heretofore； if you have too much on your hands to let both e；
at any rate let Ajax； son of Telamon； do so； and let Teucer； the
famous bowman； e with him。〃
Great Ajax son of Telamon heeded the message； and at once spoke
to the son of Oileus。 〃Ajax；〃 said he； 〃do you two； yourself and
brave Lyedes； stay here and keep the Danaans in heart to fight
their hardest。 I will go over yonder； and bear my part in the
fray； but I will e back here at once as soon as I have given
them the help they need。〃
With this； Ajax son of Telamon set off； and Teucer； his brother
by the same father； went also； with Pandion to carry Teucer's
bow。 They went along inside the wall； and when they came to the
tower where Menestheus was （and hard pressed indeed did they find
him） the brave captains and leaders of the Lycians were storming
the battlements as it were a thick dark cloud； fighting in close
quarters； and raising the battle…cry aloud。
First； Ajax son of Telamon killed brave Epicles； a rade of
Sarpedon； hitting him with a jagged stone that lay by the
battlements at the very top of the wall。 As men now are； even one
who is in the bloom of youth could hardly lift it with his two
hands； but Ajax raised it high aloft and flung it down； smashing
Epicles' four…crested helmet so that the bones of his head were
crushed to pieces； and he fell from the high wall as though he
were diving； with no more life left in him。 Then Teucer wounded
Glaucus the brave son of Hippolochus as he was ing on to
attack the wall。 He saw his shoulder bare and aimed an arrow at
it； which made Glaucus leave off fighting。 Thereon he sprang
covertly down for fear some of the Achaeans might see that he was
wounded and taunt him。 Sarpedon was stung with grief when he saw
Glaucus leave him； still he did not leave off fighting； but aimed
his spear at Alcmaon the son of Thestor and hit him。 He drew his
spear back again and Alcmaon came down headlong after it with his
bronzed armour rattling round him。 Then Sarpedon seized the
battlement in his strong hands； and tugged at it till it all gave
way together； and a breach was made through which many might
pass。
Ajax and Teucer then both of them attacked him。 Teucer hit him
with an arrow on the band that bore the shield which covered his
body； but Jove saved his son from destruction that he might not
fall by the ships' sterns。 Meanwhile Ajax sprang on him and
pierced his shield； but the spear did not go clean through；
though it hustled him back that he could e on no further。 He
therefore retired a little space from the battlement； yet without
losing all his ground； for he still thought to cover himself with
glory。 Then he turned round and shouted to the brave Lycians
saying； 〃Lycians； why do you thus fail me？ For all my prowess I
cannot break through the wall and open a way to the ships
single…handed。 e close on behind me； for the more there are of
us the better。〃
The Lycians； shamed by his rebuke； pressed closer round him who
was their counsellor and their king。 The Argives on their part
got their men in fighting order within the wall； and there was a
deadly struggle between them。 The Lycians could not break through
the wall and force their way to the ships； nor could the Danaans
drive the Lycians from the wall now that they had once reached
it。 As two men； measuring…rods in hand； quarrel about their
boundaries in a field that they own in mon； and stickle for
their rights though they be but in a mere strip； even so did the
battlements now serve as a bone of contention； and they beat one
another's round shields for their possession。 Many a man's body
was wounded with the pitiless bronze； as he turned round and
bared his back to the foe； and many were struck clean through
their shields； the wall and battlements were everywhere deluged
with the blood alike of Trojans and of Achaeans。 But even so the
Trojans could not rout the Achaeans； who still held on； and as
some honest hard…working woman weighs wool in her balance and
sees that the scales be true； for she would gain some pitiful
earnings for her little ones； even so was the fight balanced
evenly between them till the time came when Jove gave the greater
glory to Hector son of Priam； who was first to spring towards the
wall of the Achaeans。 When he had done so； he cried aloud to the
Trojans； 〃Up； Trojans； break the wall of the Argives； and fling
fire upon their ships。〃
Thus did he hound them on； and in one body they rushed straight
at the wall as he had bidden them； and scaled the battlements
with sharp spears in their hands。 Hector laid hold of a stone
that lay just outside the gates and was thick at one end but
pointed at the other； two of the best men in a town； as men now
are； could hardly raise it from the ground and put it on to a
waggon； but Hector lifted it quite easily by himself； for the son
of scheming Saturn made it light for him。 As a shepherd picks up
a ram's fleece with one hand and finds it no burden； so easily
did Hector lift the great stone and drive it right at the doors
that closed the gates so strong and so firmly set。 These doors
were double and high； and were kept closed by two cross…bars to
which there was but one key。 When he had got close up to them；
Hector strode towards them that his blow might gain in force and
struck them in the middle； leaning his whole weight against them。
He broke both hinges； and the stone fell inside by reason of its
great weight。 The portals re…echoed with the sound； the bars held
no longer； and the doors flew open； one one way； and the other
the other； through the force of the blow。 Then brave Hector
leaped inside with a face as dark as that of flying night。 The
gleaming bronze flashed fiercely about his body and he had two
spears in his hand。 None but a god could have wi