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 the shield so great and strong that shone afar with a
splendour as of the moon。 As the light seen by sailors from out
at sea； when men have lit a fire in their homestead high up among
the mountains； but the sailors are carried out to sea by wind and
storm far from the haven where they would beeven so did the
gleam of Achilles' wondrous shield strike up into the heavens。 He
lifted the redoubtable helmet； and set it upon his head； from
whence it shone like a star； and the golden plumes which Vulcan
had set thick about the ridge of the helmet； waved all around it。
Then Achilles made trial of himself in his armour to see whether
it fitted him； so that his limbs could play freely under it； and
it seemed to buoy him up as though it had been wings。
He also drew his father's spear out of the spear…stand； a spear
so great and heavy and strong that none of the Achaeans save only
Achilles had strength to wield it； this was the spear of Pelian
ash from the topmost ridges of Mt。 Pelion； which Chiron had once
given to Peleus； fraught with the death of heroes。 Automedon and
Alcimus busied themselves with the harnessing of his horses； they
made the bands fast about them； and put the bit in their mouths；
drawing the reins back towards the chariot。 Automedon； whip in
hand； sprang up behind the horses； and after him Achilles mounted
in full armour； resplendent as the sun…god Hyperion。 Then with a
loud voice he chided with his father's horses saying； 〃Xanthus
and Balius； famed offspring of Podargethis time when we have
done fighting be sure and bring your driver safely back to the
host of the Achaeans； and do not leave him dead on the plain as
you did Patroclus。〃
Then fleet Xanthus answered under the yokefor white…armed Juno
had endowed him with human speechand he bowed his head till his
mane touched the ground as it hung down from under the yoke…band。
〃Dread Achilles；〃 said he； 〃we will indeed save you now； but the
day of your death is near； and the blame will not be ours； for it
will be heaven and stern fate that will destroy you。 Neither was
it through any sloth or slackness on our part that the Trojans
stripped Patroclus of his armour； it was the mighty god whom
lovely Leto bore that slew him as he fought among the foremost；
and vouchsafed a triumph to Hector。 We two can fly as swiftly as
Zephyrus who they say is fleetest of all winds； nevertheless it
is your doom to fall by the hand of a man and of a god。〃
When he had thus said the Erinyes stayed his speech； and Achilles
answered him in great sadness； saying； 〃Why； O Xanthus； do you
thus foretell my death？ You need not do so； for I well know that
I am to fall here； far from my dear father and mother； none the
more； however； shall I stay my hand till I have given the Trojans
their fill of fighting。〃
So saying； with a loud cry he drove his horses to the front。
BOOK XX
The gods hold a council and determine to watch the fight； from
the hill Callicolone； and the barrow of HerculesA fight
between Achilles and AEneas is interrupted by Neptune； who
saves AEneasAchilles kills many Trojans。
THUS； then； did the Achaeans arm by their ships round you； O son
of Peleus； who were hungering for battle； while the Trojans over
against them armed upon the rise of the plain。
Meanwhile Jove from the top of many…delled Olympus； bade Themis
gather the gods in council； whereon she went about and called
them to the house of Jove。 There was not a river absent except
Oceanus； nor a single one of the nymphs that haunt fair groves；
or springs of rivers and meadows of green grass。 When they
reached the house of cloud…pelling Jove； they took their seats
in the arcades of polished marble which Vulcan with his
consummate skill had made for father Jove。
In such wise； therefore； did they gather in the house of Jove。
Neptune also； lord of the earthquake； obeyed the call of the
goddess； and came up out of the sea to join them。 There； sitting
in the midst of them； he asked what Jove's purpose might be。
〃Why；〃 said he； 〃wielder of the lightning； have you called the
gods in council？ Are you considering some matter that concerns
the Trojans and Achaeansfor the blaze of battle is on the point
of being kindled between them？〃
And Jove answered； 〃You know my purpose； shaker of earth； and
wherefore I have called you hither。 I take thought for them even
in their destruction。 For my own part I shall stay here seated on
Mt。 Olympus and look on in peace； but do you others go about
among Trojans and Achaeans； and help either side as you may be
severally disposed。 If Achilles fights the Trojans without
hindrance they will make no stand against him； they have ever
trembled at the sight of him； and now that he is roused to such
fury about his rade； he will override fate itself and storm
their city。〃
Thus spoke Jove and gave the word for war； whereon the gods took
their several sides and went into battle。 Juno； Pallas Minerva；
earth…encircling Neptune； Mercury bringer of good luck and
excellent in all cunningall these joined the host that came
from the ships； with them also came Vulcan in all his glory；
limping； but yet with his thin legs plying lustily under him。
Mars of gleaming helmet joined the Trojans； and with him Apollo
of locks unshorn； and the archer goddess Diana； Leto； Xanthus；
and laughter…loving Venus。
So long as the gods held themselves aloof from mortal warriors
the Achaeans were triumphant； for Achilles who had long refused
to fight was now with them。 There was not a Trojan but his limbs
failed him for fear as he beheld the fleet son of Peleus all
glorious in his armour； and looking like Mars himself。 When；
however； the Olympians came to take their part among men；
forthwith uprose strong Strife； rouser of hosts； and Minerva
raised her loud voice； now standing by the deep trench that ran
outside the wall； and now shouting with all her might upon the
shore of the sounding sea。 Mars also bellowed out upon the other
side； dark as some black thunder…cloud； and called on the Trojans
at the top of his voice； now from the acropolis； and now speeding
up the side of the river Simois till he came to the hill
Callicolone。
Thus did the gods spur on both hosts to fight； and rouse fierce
contention also among themselves。 The sire of gods and men
thundered from heaven above； while from beneath Neptune shook the
vast earth； and bade the high hills tremble。 The spurs and crests
of many…fountained Ida quaked； as also the city of the Trojans
and the ships of the Achaeans。 Hades； king of the realms below；
was struck with fear； he sprang panic…stricken from his throne
and cried aloud in terror lest Neptune； lord of the earthquake；
should crack the ground over his head； and lay bare his mouldy
mansions to the sight of mortals and immortalsmansions so
ghastly grim that even the gods shudder to think of them。 Such
was the uproar as the gods came together in battle。 Apollo with
his arrows took his stand to face King Neptune； while Minerva
took hers against the god of war； the archer…goddess Diana with
her golden arrows； sister of far…darting Apollo； stood to face
Juno； Mercury the lusty bringer of good l