iliad10-第46章

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flying　towards　the　ships。　Hither　of　set　purpose　did　he　direct　his
horses；　and　his　men　followed　him　with　a　loud　cry；　for　they　felt
sure　that　the　Achaeans　would　not　hold　out　longer；　and　that　they
should　now　fall　upon　the　ships。　Little　did　they　know　that　at　the
gates　they　should　find　two　of　the　bravest　chieftains；　proud　sons
of　the　fighting　Lapithaethe　one；　Polypoetes；　mighty　son　of
Pirithous；　and　the　other　Leonteus；　peer　of　murderous　Mars。　These
stood　before　the　gates　like　two　high　oak　trees　upon　the
mountains；　that　tower　from　their　wide…spreading　roots；　and　year
after　year　battle　with　wind　and　raineven　so　did　these　two　men
await　the　onset　of　great　Asius　confidently　and　without　flinching。
The　Trojans　led　by　him　and　by　Iamenus；　Orestes；　Adamas　the　son　of
Asius；　Thoon　and　Oenomaus；　raised　a　loud　cry　of　battle　and　made
straight　for　the　wall；　holding　their　shields　of　dry　ox…hide　above
their　heads；　for　a　while　the　two　defenders　remained　inside　and
cheered　the　Achaeans　on　to　stand　firm　in　the　defence　of　their
ships；　when；　however；　they　saw　that　the　Trojans　were　attacking
the　wall；　while　the　Danaans　were　crying　out　for　help　and　being
routed；　they　rushed　outside　and　fought　in　front　of　the　gates　like
two　wild　boars　upon　the　mountains　that　abide　the　attack　of　men
and　dogs；　and　charging　on　either　side　break　down　the　wood　all
round　them　tearing　it　up　by　the　roots；　and　one　can　hear　the
clattering　of　their　tusks；　till　some　one　hits　them　and　makes　an
end　of　themeven　so　did　the　gleaming　bronze　rattle　about　their
breasts；　as　the　weapons　fell　upon　them；　for　they　fought　with
great　fury；　trusting　to　their　own　prowess　and　to　those　who　were
on　the　wall　above　them。　These　threw　great　stones　at　their
assailants　in　defence　of　themselves　their　tents　and　their　ships。
The　stones　fell　thick　as　the　flakes　of　snow　which　some　fierce
blast　drives　from　the　dark　clouds　and　showers　down　in　sheets　upon
the　eartheven　so　fell　the　weapons　from　the　hands　alike　of
Trojans　and　Achaeans。　Helmet　and　shield　rang　out　as　the　great
stones　rained　upon　them；　and　Asius；　the　son　of　Hyrtacus；　in　his
dismay　cried　aloud　and　smote　his　two　thighs。　〃Father　Jove；〃　he
cried；　〃of　a　truth　you　too　are　altogether　given　to　lying。　I　made
sure　the　Argive　heroes　could　not　withstand　us；　whereas　like
slim…waisted　wasps；　or　bees　that　have　their　nests　in　the　rocks　by
the　waysidethey　leave　not　the　holes　wherein　they　have　built
undefended；　but　fight　for　their　little　ones　against　all　who　would
take　themeven　so　these　men；　though　they　be　but　two；　will　not　be
driven　from　the　gates；　but　stand　firm　either　to　slay　or　be
slain。〃

He　spoke；　but　moved　not　the　mind　of　Jove；　whose　counsel　it　then
was　to　give　glory　to　Hector。　Meanwhile　the　rest　of　the　Trojans
were　fighting　about　the　other　gates；　I；　however；　am　no　god　to　be
able　to　tell　about　all　these　things；　for　the　battle　raged
everywhere　about　the　stone　wall　as　it　were　a　fiery　furnace。　The
Argives；　disfited　though　they　were；　were　forced　to　defend
their　ships；　and　all　the　gods　who　were　defending　the　Achaeans
were　vexed　in　spirit；　but　the　Lapithae　kept　on　fighting　with
might　and　main。

Thereon　Polypoetes；　mighty　son　of　Pirithous；　hit　Damasus　with　a
spear　upon　his　cheek…pierced　helmet。　The　helmet　did　not　protect
him；　for　the　point　of　the　spear　went　through　it；　and　broke　the
bone；　so　that　the　brain　inside　was　scattered　about；　and　he　died
fighting。　He　then　slew　Pylon　and　Ormenus。　Leonteus；　of　the　race
of　Mars；　killed　Hippomachus　the　son　of　Antimachus　by　striking　him
with　his　spear　upon　the　girdle。　He　then　drew　his　sword　and　sprang
first　upon　Antiphates　whom　he　killed　in　bat；　and　who　fell　face
upwards　on　the　earth。　After　him　he　killed　Menon；　Iamenus；　and
Orestes；　and　laid　them　low　one　after　the　other。

While　they　were　busy　stripping　the　armour　from　these　heroes；　the
youths　who　were　led　on　by　Polydamas　and　Hector　（and　these　were
the　greater　part　and　the　most　valiant　of　those　that　were　trying
to　break　through　the　wall　and　fire　the　ships）　were　still　standing
by　the　trench；　uncertain　what　they　should　do；　for　they　had　seen　a
sign　from　heaven　when　they　had　essayed　to　cross　ita　soaring
eagle　that　flew　skirting　the　left　wing　of　their　host；　with　a
monstrous　blood…red　snake　in　its　talons　still　alive　and
struggling　to　escape。　The　snake　was　still　bent　on　revenge；
wriggling　and　twisting　itself　backwards　till　it　struck　the　bird
that　held　it；　on　the　neck　and　breast；　whereon　the　bird　being　in
pain；　let　it　fall；　dropping　it　into　the　middle　of　the　host；　and
then　flew　down　the　wind　with　a　sharp　cry。　The　Trojans　were　struck
with　terror　when　they　saw　the　snake；　portent　of　aegis…bearing
Jove；　writhing　in　the　midst　of　them；　and　Polydamas　went　up　to
Hector　and　said；　〃Hector；　at　our　councils　of　war　you　are　ever
given　to　rebuke　me；　even　when　I　speak　wisely；　as　though　it　were
not　well；　forsooth；　that　one　of　the　people　should　cross　your　will
either　in　the　field　or　at　the　council　board；　you　would　have　them
support　you　always：　nevertheless　I　will　say　what　I　think　will　be
best；　let　us　not　now　go　on　to　fight　the　Danaans　at　their　ships；
for　I　know　what　will　happen　if　this　soaring　eagle　which　skirted
the　left　wing　of　our　host　with　a　monstrous　blood…red　snake　in　its
talons　（the　snake　being　still　alive）　was　really　sent　as　an　omen
to　the　Trojans　on　their　essaying　to　cross　the　trench。　The　eagle
let　go　her　hold；　she　did　not　succeed　in　taking　it　home　to　her
little　ones；　and　so　will　it　bewith　ourselves；　even　though　by　a
mighty　effort　we　break　through　the　gates　and　wall　of　the
Achaeans；　and　they　give　way　before　us；　still　we　shall　not　return
in　good　order　by　the　way　we　came；　but　shall　leave　many　a　man
behind　us　whom　the　Achaeans　will　do　to　death　in　defence　of　their
ships。　Thus　would　any　seer　who　was　expert　in　these　matters；　and
was　trusted　by　the　people；　read　the　portent。〃

Hector　looked　fiercely　at　him　and　said；　〃Polydamas；　I　like　not　of
your　reading。　You　can　find　a　better　saying　than　this　if　you　will。
If；　however；　you　have　spoken　in　good　earnest；　then　indeed　has
heaven　robbed　you　of　your　reason。　You　would　have　me　pay　no　heed
to　the　counsels　of　Jove；　nor　to　the　promises　he　made　meand　he
bowed　his　head　in　confirmation；　you　bid　me　be　ruled　rather　by　the
flight　of　wild…fowl。　What　care　I　whether　they　fly　towards　dawn　or
dark；　and　whether　they　be　on　my　right　hand　or　on　my　left？　Let　us
put　our　trust　rather　in　the　counsel　of　great　Jove；　king　of
mortals　and　immortals。　There　is　one　omen；　and　one　onlythat　a
man　should　fight　for　his　country。　Why　are　you　so　fearful？　Though
we　be　all　of　us　slain　at　the　ships　of　the　Argives　you　are　not
likely　to　be　killed　yourself；　for　you　are　not　steadfast　nor
courageous。　If　you　will　not　fight；　or　would　talk　others　over　from
doing　so；　you　shall　fall　forthwith　before　my　spear。〃

With　these　words　he　led　the　way；　and　the　others　followed　after
with　a　cry　that　rent　the　air。　Then　Jove　the　lord　of　thunder　sent
the　blast　of　a　mighty　wind　from　the　mountains　of　Ida；　that　bore
the　dust　down　towards　the　ships；　he　thus　lulled　the　Achaeans　into
security；　and　gave　victory　to　Hector　and　to　the　Trojans；　who；
trusting　to　their　own　might　and　to　the　signs　he　had　shown　them；
essayed　to　break　through　the　great　wall　of　the　Achaeans。　They
tore　down　the　breastworks　from　the　walls；　and　overthrew　the
battlements；　they　upheaved　the　buttresses；　which　the　Achaeans　had
set　in　front　of　the　wall　in　order　to　support　it；　when　they　had
pulled　these　down　they　made　sure　of　breaking　through　the　wall；
but　the　Danaans　still　showed　no　sign　of　giving　ground；　they　still
fenced　the　battlements　with　their　shields　of　ox…hide；　and　hurled
their　missiles　down　upon　the　foe　as　soon　as　any　came　below　the
wall。

The　two　Ajaxes　went　about　everywhere　on　the　walls　cheering　on　the
Achaeans；　giving　fair　words　to　some　while　they　spoke　sharply　to
any　one　whom　they　saw　to　be　remiss。　〃My　friends；〃　they　cried；
〃Argives　one　and　allgood　bad　and　indifferent；　for　there　was
never　fight　yet；　in　which　all　were　of　equal　prowessthere　is　now
work　enough；　as　you　very　well　know；　for　all　of　you。　See　that　you
none　of　you　turn　in　flight　towards　the　ships；　daunted　by　the
shouting　of　the　foe；　but　press　forward　and　keep　one　another　in
heart；