iliad10-第32章

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Atreus；　give　your　orders；　for　you　are　the　most　royal　among　us
all。　Prepare　a　feast　for　your　councillors；　it　is　right　and
reasonable　that　you　should　do　so；　there　is　abundance　of　wine　in
your　tents；　which　the　ships　of　the　Achaeans　bring　from　Thrace
daily。　You　have　everything　at　your　disposal　wherewith　to
entertain　guests；　and　you　have　many　subjects。　When　many　are　got
together；　you　can　be　guided　by　him　whose　counsel　is　wisestand
sorely　do　we　need　shrewd　and　prudent　counsel；　for　the　foe　has　lit
his　watchfires　hard　by　our　ships。　Who　can　be　other　than　dismayed？
This　night　will　either　be　the　ruin　of　our　host；　or　save　it。〃

Thus　did　he　speak；　and　they　did　even　as　he　had　said。　The
sentinels　went　out　in　their　armour　under　mand　of　Nestor's　son
Thrasymedes；　a　captain　of　the　host；　and　of　the　bold　warriors
Ascalaphus　and　Ialmenus：　there　were　also　Meriones；　Aphareus　and
Deipyrus；　and　the　son　of　Creion；　noble　Lyedes。　There　were
seven　captains　of　the　sentinels；　and　with　each　there　went　a
hundred　youths　armed　with　long　spears：　they　took　their　places
midway　between　the　trench　and　the　wall；　and　when　they　had　done　so
they　lit　their　fires　and　got　every　man　his　supper。

The　son　of　Atreus　then　bade　many　councillors　of　the　Achaeans　to
his　quarters　prepared　a　great　feast　in　their　honour。　They　laid
their　hands　on　the　good　things　that　were　before　them；　and　as　soon
as　they　had　enough　to　eat　and　drink；　old　Nestor；　whose　counsel
was　ever　truest；　was　the　first　to　lay　his　mind　before　them。　He；
therefore；　with　all　sincerity　and　goodwill　addressed　them　thus。

〃With　yourself；　most　noble　son　of　Atreus；　king　of　men；　Agamemnon；
will　I　both　begin　my　speech　and　end　it；　for　you　are　king　over
much　people。　Jove；　moreover；　has　vouchsafed　you　to　wield　the
sceptre　and　to　uphold　righteousness；　that　you　may　take　thought
for　your　people　under　you；　therefore　it　behooves　you　above　all
others　both　to　speak　and　to　give　ear；　and　to　out　the　counsel　of
another　who　shall　have　been　minded　to　speak　wisely。　All　turns　on
you　and　on　your　mands；　therefore　I　will　say　what　I　think　will
be　best。　No　man　will　be　of　a　truer　mind　than　that　which　has　been
mine　from　the　hour　when　you；　sir；　angered　Achilles　by　taking　the
girl　Briseis　from　his　tent　against　my　judgment。　I　urged　you　not
to　do　so；　but　you　yielded　to　your　own　pride；　and　dishonoured　a
hero　whom　heaven　itself　had　honouredfor　you　still　hold　the
prize　that　had　been　awarded　to　him。　Now；　however；　let　us　think
how　we　may　appease　him；　both　with　presents　and　fair　speeches　that
may　conciliate　him。〃

And　King　Agamemnon　answered；　〃Sir；　you　have　reproved　my　folly
justly。　I　was　wrong。　I　own　it。　One　whom　heaven　befriends　is　in
himself　a　host；　and　Jove　has　shown　that　he　befriends　this　man　by
destroying　much　people　of　the　Achaeans。　I　was　blinded　with
passion　and　yielded　to　my　worser　mind；　therefore　I　will　make
amends；　and　will　give　him　great　gifts　by　way　of　atonement。　I　will
tell　them　in　the　presence　of　you　all。　I　will　give　him　seven
tripods　that　have　never　yet　been　on　the　fire；　and　ten　talents　of
gold。　I　will　give　him　twenty　iron　cauldrons　and　twelve　strong
horses　that　have　won　races　and　carried　off　prizes。　Rich；　indeed；
both　in　land　and　gold　is　he　that　has　as　many　prizes　as　my　horses
have　won　me。　I　will　give　him　seven　excellent　workwomen；　Lesbians；
whom　I　chose　for　myself　when　he　took　Lesbosall　of　surpassing
beauty。　I　will　give　him　these；　and　with　them　her　whom　I　erewhile
took　from　him；　the　daughter　of　Briseus；　and　I　swear　a　great　oath
that　I　never　went　up　into　her　couch；　nor　have　been　with　her　after
the　manner　of　men　and　women。

〃All　these　things　will　I　give　him　now；　and　if　hereafter　the　gods
vouchsafe　me　to　sack　the　city　of　Priam；　let　him　e　when　we
Achaeans　are　dividing　the　spoil；　and　load　his　ship　with　gold　and
bronze　to　his　liking；　furthermore　let　him　take　twenty　Trojan
women；　the　loveliest　after　Helen　herself。　Then；　when　we　reach
Achaean　Argos；　wealthiest　of　all　lands；　he　shall　be　my　son…in…law
and　I　will　show　him　like　honour　with　my　own　dear　son　Orestes；　who
is　being　nurtured　in　all　abundance。　I　have　three　daughters；
Chrysothemis；　Laodice；　and　Iphianassa；　let　him　take　the　one　of
his　choice；　freely　and　without　gifts　of　wooing；　to　the　house　of
Peleus；　I　will　add　such　dower　to　boot　as　no　man　ever　yet　gave　his
daughter；　and　will　give　him　seven　well　established　cities；
Cardamyle；　Enope；　and　Hire；　where　there　is　grass；　holy　Pherae　and
the　rich　meadows　of　Anthea；　Aepea　also；　and　the　vine…clad　slopes
of　Pedasus；　all　near　the　sea；　and　on　the　borders　of　sandy　Pylos。
The　men　that　dwell　there　are　rich　in　cattle　and　sheep；　they　will
honour　him　with　gifts　as　though　he　were　a　god；　and　be　obedient　to
his　fortable　ordinances。　All　this　will　I　do　if　he　will　now
forgo　his　anger。　Let　him　then　yield；　it　is　only　Hades　who　is
utterly　ruthless　and　unyieldingand　hence　he　is　of　all　gods　the
one　most　hateful　to　mankind。　Moreover　I　am　older　and　more　royal
than　himself。　Therefore；　let　him　now　obey　me。〃

Then　Nestor　answered；　〃Most　noble　son　of　Atreus；　king　of　men；
Agamemnon。　The　gifts　you　offer　are　no　small　ones；　let　us　then
send　chosen　messengers；　who　may　go　to　the　tent　of　Achilles　son　of
Peleus　without　delay。　Let　those　go　whom　I　shall　name。　Let
Phoenix；　dear　to　Jove；　lead　the　way；　let　Ajax　and　Ulysses　follow；
and　let　the　heralds　Odius　and　Eurybates　go　with　them。　Now　bring
water　for　our　hands；　and　bid　all　keep　silence　while　we　pray　to
Jove　the　son　of　Saturn；　if　so　be　that　he　may　have　mercy　upon　us。〃

Thus　did　he　speak；　and　his　saying　pleased　them　well。
Men…servants　poured　water　over　the　hands　of　the　guests；　while
pages　filled　the　mixing…bowls　with　wine　and　water；　and　handed　it
round　after　giving　every　man　his　drink…offering；　then；　when　they
had　made　their　offerings；　and　had　drunk　each　as　much　as　he　was
minded；　the　envoys　set　out　from　the　tent　of　Agamemnon　son　of
Atreus；　and　Nestor；　looking　first　to　one　and　then　to　another；　but
most　especially　at　Ulysses；　was　instant　with　them　that　they
should　prevail　with　the　noble　son　of　Peleus。

They　went　their　way　by　the　shore　of　the　sounding　sea；　and　prayed
earnestly　to　earth…encircling　Neptune　that　the　high　spirit　of　the
son　of　Aeacus　might　incline　favourably　towards　them。　When　they
reached　the　ships　and　tents　of　the　Myrmidons；　they　found　Achilles
playing　on　a　lyre；　fair；　of　cunning　workmanship；　and　its
cross…bar　was　of　silver。　It　was　part　of　the　spoils　which　he　had
taken　when　he　sacked　the　city　of　Eetion；　and　he　was　now　diverting
himself　with　it　and　singing　the　feats　of　heroes。　He　was　alone
with　Patroclus；　who　sat　opposite　to　him　and　said　nothing；　waiting
till　he　should　cease　singing。　Ulysses　and　Ajax　now　came　in
Ulysses　leading　the　wayand　stood　before　him。　Achilles　sprang
from　his　seat　with　the　lyre　still　in　his　hand；　and　Patroclus；
when　he　saw　the　strangers；　rose　also。　Achilles　then　greeted　them
saying；　〃All　hail　and　weleyou　must　e　upon　some　great
matter；　you；　who　for　all　my　anger　are　still　dearest　to　me　of　the
Achaeans。〃

With　this　he　led　them　forward；　and　bade　them　sit　on　seats　covered
with　purple　rugs；　then　he　said　to　Patroclus　who　was　close　by　him；
〃Son　of　Menoetius；　set　a　larger　bowl　upon　the　table；　mix　less
water　with　the　wine；　and　give　every　man　his　cup；　for　these　are
very　dear　friends；　who　are　now　under　my　roof。〃

Patroclus　did　as　his　rade　bade　him；　he　set　the　chopping…block
in　front　of　the　fire；　and　on　it　he　laid　the　loin　of　a　sheep；　the
loin　also　of　a　goat；　and　the　chine　of　a　fat　hog。　Automedon　held
the　meat　while　Achilles　chopped　it；　he　then　sliced　the　pieces　and
put　them　on　spits　while　the　son　of　Menoetius　made　the　fire　burn
high。　When　the　flame　had　died　down；　he　spread　the　embers；　laid
the　spits　on　top　of　them；　lifting　them　up　and　setting　them　upon
the　spit…racks；　and　he　sprinkled　them　with　salt。　When　the　meat
was　roasted；　he　set　it　on　platters；　and　handed　bread　round　the
table　in　fair　baskets；　while　Achilles　dealt　them　their　portions。
Then　Achilles　took　his　seat　facing　Ulysses　against　the　opposite
wall；　and　bade　his　rade　Patroclus　offer　sacrifice　to　the　gods；
so　he　cast　the　offerings　into　the　fire；　and　they　laid　their　hands
upon　the　good　things　that　were　before　them。　As　soon　as　they　had
h