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！
the heaviness of his heart； 〃why are the Achaeans again scouring
the plain and flocking towards the ships？ Heaven grant the gods
be not now bringing that sorrow upon me of which my mother Thetis
spoke； saying that while I was yet alive the bravest of the
Myrmidons should fall before the Trojans； and see the light of
the sun no longer。 I fear the brave son of Menoetius has fallen
through his own daring and yet I bade him return to the ships as
soon as he had driven back those that were bringing fire against
them； and not join battle with Hector。〃
As he was thus pondering； the son of Nestor came up to him and
told his sad tale； weeping bitterly the while。 〃Alas；〃 he cried；
〃son of noble Peleus； I bring you bad tidings； would indeed that
they were untrue。 Patroclus has fallen； and a fight is raging
about his naked bodyfor Hector holds his armour。〃
A dark cloud of grief fell upon Achilles as he listened。 He
filled both hands with dust from off the ground； and poured it
over his head； disfiguring his ely face； and letting the
refuse settle over his shirt so fair and new。 He flung himself
down all huge and hugely at full length； and tore his hair with
his hands。 The bondswomen whom Achilles and Patroclus had taken
captive screamed aloud for grief； beating their breasts； and with
their limbs failing them for sorrow。 Antilochus bent over him the
while； weeping and holding both his hands as he lay groaning for
he feared that he might plunge a knife into his own throat。 Then
Achilles gave a loud cry and his mother heard him as she was
sitting in the depths of the sea by the old man her father；
whereon she screamed； and all the goddesses daughters of Nereus
that dwelt at the bottom of the sea； came gathering round her。
There were Glauce； Thalia and Cymodoce； Nesaia； Speo； Thoe and
dark…eyed Halie； Cymothoe； Actaea and Limnorea； Melite； Iaera；
Amphithoe and Agave； Doto and Proto； Pherusa and Dynamene；
Dexamene； Amphinome and Callianeira； Doris； Panope； and the
famous sea…nymph Galatea； Nemertes； Apseudes and Callianassa。
There were also Clymene； Ianeira and Ianassa； Maera； Oreithuia
and Amatheia of the lovely locks； with other Nereids who dwell in
the depths of the sea。 The crystal cave was filled with their
multitude and they all beat their breasts while Thetis led them
in their lament。
〃Listen；〃 she cried； 〃sisters； daughters of Nereus； that you may
hear the burden of my sorrows。 Alas； woe is me； woe in that I
have borne the most glorious of offspring。 I bore him fair and
strong； hero among heroes； and he shot up as a sapling； I tended
him as a plant in a goodly garden； and sent him with his ships to
Ilius to fight the Trojans； but never shall I wele him back to
the house of Peleus。 So long as he lives to look upon the light
of the sun he is in heaviness； and though I go to him I cannot
help him。 Nevertheless I will go； that I may see my dear son and
learn what sorrow has befallen him though he is still holding
aloof from battle。〃
She left the cave as she spoke； while the others followed weeping
after； and the waves opened a path before them。 When they reached
the rich plain of Troy； they came up out of the sea in a long
line on to the sands； at the place where the ships of the
Myrmidons were drawn up in close order round the tents of
Achilles。 His mother went up to him as he lay groaning； she laid
her hand upon his head and spoke piteously； saying； 〃My son； why
are you thus weeping？ What sorrow has now befallen you？ Tell me；
hide it not from me。 Surely Jove has granted you the prayer you
made him； when you lifted up your hands and besought him that the
Achaeans might all of them be pent up at their ships； and rue it
bitterly in that you were no longer with them。〃
Achilles groaned and answered； 〃Mother； Olympian Jove has indeed
vouchsafed me the fulfilment of my prayer； but what boots it to
me； seeing that my dear rade Patroclus has fallenhe whom I
valued more than all others； and loved as dearly as my own life？
I have lost him； aye； and Hector when he had killed him stripped
the wondrous armour； so glorious to behold； which the gods gave
to Peleus when they laid you in the couch of a mortal man。 Would
that you were still dwelling among the immortal sea…nymphs； and
that Peleus had taken to himself some mortal bride。 For now you
shall have grief infinite by reason of the death of that son whom
you can never wele homenay； I will not live nor go about
among mankind unless Hector fall by my spear； and thus pay me for
having slain Patroclus son of Menoetius。〃
Thetis wept and answered； 〃Then； my son； is your end near at
handfor your own death awaits you full soon after that of
Hector。〃
Then said Achilles in his great grief； 〃I would die here and now；
in that I could not save my rade。 He has fallen far from home；
and in his hour of need my hand was not there to help him。 What
is there for me？ Return to my own land I shall not； and I have
brought no saving neither to Patroclus nor to my other rades
of whom so many have been slain by mighty Hector； I stay here by
my ships a bootless burden upon the earth； I； who in fight have
no peer among the Achaeans； though in council there are better
than I。 Therefore； perish strife both from among gods and men；
and anger； wherein even a righteous man will harden his
heartwhich rises up in the soul of a man like smoke； and the
taste thereof is sweeter than drops of honey。 Even so has
Agamemnon angered me。 And yetso be it； for it is over； I will
force my soul into subjection as I needs must； I will go； I will
pursue Hector who has slain him whom I loved so dearly； and will
then abide my doom when it may please Jove and the other gods to
send it。 Even Hercules； the best beloved of Joveeven he could
not escape the hand of death； but fate and Juno's fierce anger
laid him low； as I too shall lie when I am dead if a like doom
awaits me。 Till then I will win fame； and will bid Trojan and
Dardanian women wring tears from their tender cheeks with both
their hands in the grievousness of their great sorrow； thus shall
they know that he who has held aloof so long will hold aloof no
longer。 Hold me not back； therefore； in the love you bear me； for
you shall not move me。〃
Then silver…footed Thetis answered； 〃My son； what you have said
is true。 It is well to save your rades from destruction； but
your armour is in the hands of the Trojans； Hector bears it in
triumph upon his own shoulders。 Full well I know that his vaunt
shall not be lasting； for his end is close at hand； go not；
however； into the press of battle till you see me return hither；
to…morrow at break of day I shall be here； and will bring you
goodly armour from King Vulcan。〃
On this she left her brave son； and as she turned away she said
to the sea…nymphs her sisters； 〃Dive into the bosom of the sea
and go to the house of the old sea…god my father。 Tell him
everything； as for me； I will go to the cunning workman Vulcan on
high Olympus； and ask him to provide my son with a suit of
splendid armour。〃
When she had so said； they dived forthwith beneath the waves；
while silver…footed Thetis went her way that she might bring the
armour f