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！
up； and speared Apisaon son of Hippasus shepherd of his people in
the liver under the midriff； so that he died； he had e from
fertile Paeonia and was the best man of them all after
Asteropaeus。 Asteropaeus flew forward to avenge him and attack
the Danaans； but this might no longer be； inasmuch as those about
Patroclus were well covered by their shields； and held their
spears in front of them； for Ajax had given them strict orders
that no man was either to give ground； or to stand out before the
others； but all were to hold well together about the body and
fight hand to hand。 Thus did huge Ajax bid them； and the earth
ran red with blood as the corpses fell thick on one another alike
on the side of the Trojans and allies； and on that of the
Danaans； for these last； too； fought no bloodless fight though
many fewer of them perished； through the care they took to defend
and stand by one another。
Thus did they fight as it were a flaming fire； it seemed as
though it had gone hard even with the sun and moon； for they were
hidden over all that part where the bravest heroes were fighting
about the dead son of Menoetius； whereas the other Danaans and
Achaeans fought at their ease in full daylight with brilliant
sunshine all round them； and there was not a cloud to be seen
neither on plain nor mountain。 These last moreover would rest for
a while and leave off fighting； for they were some distance apart
and beyond the range of one another's weapons； whereas those who
were in the thick of the fray suffered both from battle and
darkness。 All the best of them were being worn out by the great
weight of their armour； but the two valiant heroes； Thrasymedes
and Antilochus； had not yet heard of the death of Patroclus； and
believed him to be still alive and leading the van against the
Trojans； they were keeping themselves in reserve against the
death or rout of their own rades； for so Nestor had ordered
when he sent them from the ships into battle。
Thus through the livelong day did they wage fierce war； and the
sweat of their toil rained ever on their legs under them； and on
their hands and eyes； as they fought over the squire of the fleet
son of Peleus。 It was as when a man gives a great ox…hide all
drenched in fat to his men； and bids them stretch it； whereon
they stand round it in a ring and tug till the moisture leaves
it； and the fat soaks in for the many that pull at it； and it is
well stretchedeven so did the two sides tug the dead body
hither and thither within the pass of but a little spacethe
Trojans steadfastly set on dragging it into Ilius； while the
Achaeans were no less so on taking it to their ships； and fierce
was the fight between them。 Not Mars himself the lord of hosts；
nor yet Minerva； even in their fullest fury could make light of
such a battle。
Such fearful turmoil of men and horses did Jove on that day
ordain round the body of Patroclus。 Meanwhile Achilles did not
know that he had fallen； for the fight was under the wall of Troy
a long way off the ships。 He had no idea； therefore； that
Patroclus was dead； and deemed that he would return alive as soon
as he had gone close up to the gates。 He knew that he was not to
sack the city neither with nor without himself； for his mother
had often told him this when he had sat alone with her； and she
had informed him of the counsels of great Jove。 Now； however； she
had not told him how great a disaster had befallen him in the
death of the one who was far dearest to him of all his rades。
The others still kept on charging one another round the body with
their pointed spears and killing each other。 Then would one say；
〃My friends； we can never again show our faces at the ships
better； and greatly better； that earth should open and swallow us
here in this place； than that we should let the Trojans have the
triumph of bearing off Patroclus to their city。〃
The Trojans also on their part spoke to one another saying；
〃Friends； though we fall to a man beside this body； let none
shrink from fighting。〃 With such words did they exhort each
other。 They fought and fought； and an iron clank rose through the
void air to the brazen vault of heaven。 The horses of the
descendant of Aeacus stood out of the fight and wept when they
heard that their driver had been laid low by the hand of
murderous Hector。 Automedon； valiant son of Diores； lashed them
again and again； many a time did he speak kindly to them； and
many a time did he upbraid them； but they would neither go back
to the ships by the waters of the broad Hellespont； nor yet into
battle among the Achaeans； they stood with their chariot stock
still； as a pillar set over the tomb of some dead man or woman；
and bowed their heads to the ground。 Hot tears fell from their
eyes as they mourned the loss of their charioteer； and their
noble manes drooped all wet from under the yokestraps on either
side the yoke。
The son of Saturn saw them and took pity upon their sorrow。 He
wagged his head； and muttered to himself； saying； 〃Poor things；
why did we give you to King Peleus who is a mortal； while you are
yourselves ageless and immortal？ Was it that you might share the
sorrows that befall mankind？ for of all creatures that live and
move upon the earth there is none so pitiable as he isstill；
Hector son of Priam shall drive neither you nor your chariot。 I
will not have it。 It is enough that he should have the armour
over which he vaunts so vainly。 Furthermore I will give you
strength of heart and limb to bear Automedon safely to the ships
from battle； for I shall let the Trojans triumph still further；
and go on killing till they reach the ships； whereon night shall
fall and darkness overshadow the land。〃
As he spoke he breathed heart and strength into the horses so
that they shook the dust from out of their manes； and bore their
chariot swiftly into the fight that raged between Trojans and
Achaeans。 Behind them fought Automedon full of sorrow for his
rade； as a vulture amid a flock of geese。 In and out； and here
and there； full speed he dashed amid the throng of the Trojans；
but for all the fury of his pursuit he killed no man； for he
could not wield his spear and keep his horses in hand when alone
in the chariot； at last； however； a rade； Alcimedon； son of
Laerces son of Haemon caught sight of him and came up behind his
chariot。 〃Automedon；〃 said he； 〃what god has put this folly into
your heart and robbed you of your right mind； that you fight the
Trojans in the front rank single…handed？ He who was your rade
is slain； and Hector plumes himself on being armed in the armour
of the descendant of Aeacus。〃
Automedon son of Diores answered； 〃Alcimedon； there is no one
else who can control and guide the immortal steeds so well as you
can； save only Patrocluswhile he was alivepeer of gods in
counsel。 Take then the whip and reins； while I go down from the
car and fight。〃
Alcimedon sprang on to the chariot； and caught up the whip and
reins； while Automedon leaped from off the car。 When Hector saw
him he said to Aeneas who was near him； 〃Aeneas； counsellor of
the mail…clad Trojans； I see the steeds of the fleet son of
Aeacus e into battle with