iliad10-第68章

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！


calf；　even　so　did　yellow…haired　Menelaus　bestride　Patroclus。　He
held　his　round　shield　and　his　spear　in　front　of　him；　resolute　to
kill　any　who　should　dare　face　him。　But　the　son　of　Panthous　had
also　noted　the　body；　and　came　up　to　Menelaus　saying；　〃Menelaus；
son　of　Atreus；　draw　back；　leave　the　body；　and　let　the
bloodstained　spoils　be。　I　was　first　of　the　Trojans　and　their
brave　allies　to　drive　my　spear　into　Patroclus；　let　me；　therefore；
have　my　full　glory　among　the　Trojans；　or　I　will　take　aim　and　kill
you。〃

To　this　Menelaus　answered　in　great　anger　〃By　father　Jove；
boasting　is　an　ill　thing。　The　pard　is　not　more　bold；　nor　the　lion
nor　savage　wild…boar；　which　is　fiercest　and　most　dauntless　of　all
creatures；　than　are　the　proud　sons　of　Panthous。　Yet　Hyperenor　did
not　see　out　the　days　of　his　youth　when　he　made　light　of　me　and
withstood　me；　deeming　me　the　meanest　soldier　among　the　Danaans。
His　own　feet　never　bore　him　back　to　gladden　his　wife　and　parents。
Even　so　shall　I　make　an　end　of　you　too；　if　you　withstand　me；　get
you　back　into　the　crowd　and　do　not　face　me；　or　it　shall　be　worse
for　you。　Even　a　fool　may　be　wise　after　the　event。〃

Euphorbus　would　not　listen；　and　said；　〃Now　indeed；　Menelaus；
shall　you　pay　for　the　death　of　my　brother　over　whom　you　vaunted；
and　whose　wife　you　widowed　in　her　bridal　chamber；　while　you
brought　grief　unspeakable　on　his　parents。　I　shall　fort　these
poor　people　if　I　bring　your　head　and　armour　and　place　them　in　the
hands　of　Panthous　and　noble　Phrontis。　The　time　is　e　when　this
matter　shall　be　fought　out　and　settled；　for　me　or　against　me。〃

As　he　spoke　he　struck　Menelaus　full　on　the　shield；　but　the　spear
did　not　go　through；　for　the　shield　turned　its　point。　Menelaus
then　took　aim；　praying　to　father　Jove　as　he　did　so；　Euphorbus　was
drawing　back；　and　Menelaus　struck　him　about　the　roots　of　his
throat；　leaning　his　whole　weight　on　the　spear；　so　as　to　drive　it
home。　The　point　went　clean　through　his　neck；　and　his　armour　rang
rattling　round　him　as　he　fell　heavily　to　the　ground。　His　hair
which　was　like　that　of　the　Graces；　and　his　locks　so　deftly　bound
in　bands　of　silver　and　gold；　were　all　bedrabbled　with　blood。　As
one　who　has　grown　a　fine　young　olive　tree　in　a　clear　space　where
there　is　abundance　of　waterthe　plant　is　full　of　promise；　and
though　the　winds　beat　upon　it　from　every　quarter　it　puts　forth
its　white　blossoms　till　the　blasts　of　some　fierce　hurricane　sweep
down　upon　it　and　level　it　with　the　groundeven　so　did　Menelaus
strip　the　fair　youth　Euphorbus　of　his　armour　after　he　had　slain
him。　Or　as　some　fierce　lion　upon　the　mountains　in　the　pride　of
his　strength　fastens　on　the　finest　heifer　in　a　herd　as　it　is
feedingfirst　he　breaks　her　neck　with　his　strong　jaws；　and　then
gorges　on　her　blood　and　entrails；　dogs　and　shepherds　raise　a　hue
and　cry　against　him；　but　they　stand　aloof　and　will　not　e　close
to　him；　for　they　are　pale　with　feareven　so　no　one　had　the
courage　to　face　valiant　Menelaus。　The　son　of　Atreus　would　have
then　carried　off　the　armour　of　the　son　of　Panthous　with　ease；　had
not　Phoebus　Apollo　been　angry；　and　in　the　guise　of　Mentes　chief
of　the　Cicons　incited　Hector　to　attack　him。　〃Hector；〃　said　he；
〃you　are　now　going　after　the　horses　of　the　noble　son　of　Aeacus；
but　you　will　not　take　them；　they　cannot　be　kept　in　hand　and
driven　by　mortal　man；　save　only　by　Achilles；　who　is　son　to　an
immortal　mother。　Meanwhile　Menelaus　son　of　Atreus　has　bestridden
the　body　of　Patroclus　and　killed　the　noblest　of　the　Trojans；
Euphorbus　son　of　Panthous；　so　that　he　can　fight　no　more。〃

The　god　then　went　back　into　the　toil　and　turmoil；　but　the　soul　of
Hector　was　darkened　with　a　cloud　of　grief；　he　looked　along　the
ranks　and　saw　Euphorbus　lying　on　the　ground　with　the　blood　still
flowing　from　his　wound；　and　Menelaus　stripping　him　of　his　armour。
On　this　he　made　his　way　to　the　front　like　a　flame　of　fire；　clad
in　his　gleaming　armour；　and　crying　with　a　loud　voice。　When　the
son　of　Atreus　heard　him；　he　said　to　himself　in　his　dismay；　〃Alas！
what　shall　I　do？　I　may　not　let　the　Trojans　take　the　armour　of
Patroclus　who　has　fallen　fighting　on　my　behalf；　lest　some　Danaan
who　sees　me　should　cry　shame　upon　me。　Still　if　for　my　honour's
sake　I　fight　Hector　and　the　Trojans　single…handed；　they　will
prove　too　many　for　me；　for　Hector　is　bringing　them　up　in　force。
Why；　however；　should　I　thus　hesitate？　When　a　man　fights　in
despite　of　heaven　with　one　whom　a　god　befriends；　he　will　soon　rue
it。　Let　no　Danaan　think　ill　of　me　if　I　give　place　to　Hector；　for
the　hand　of　heaven　is　with　him。　Yet；　if　I　could　find　Ajax；　the
two　of　us　would　fight　Hector　and　heaven　too；　if　we　might　only
save　the　body　of　Patroclus　for　Achilles　son　of　Peleus。　This；　of
many　evils　would　be　the　least。〃

While　he　was　thus　in　two　minds；　the　Trojans　came　up　to　him　with
Hector　at　their　head；　he　therefore　drew　back　and　left　the　body；
turning　about　like　some　bearded　lion　who　is　being　chased　by　dogs
and　men　from　a　stockyard　with　spears　and　hue　and　cry；　whereon　he
is　daunted　and　slinks　sulkily　offeven　so　did　Menelaus　son　of
Atreus　turn　and　leave　the　body　of　Patroclus。　When　among　the　body
of　his　men；　he　looked　around　for　mighty　Ajax　son　of　Telamon；　and
presently　saw　him　on　the　extreme　left　of　the　fight；　cheering　on
his　men　and　exhorting　them　to　keep　on　fighting；　for　Phoebus
Apollo　had　spread　a　great　panic　among　them。　He　ran　up　to　him　and
said；　〃Ajax；　my　good　friend；　e　with　me　at　once　to　dead
Patroclus；　if　so　be　that　we　may　take　the　body　to　Achillesas　for
his　armour；　Hector　already　has　it。〃

These　words　stirred　the　heart　of　Ajax；　and　he　made　his　way　among
the　front　ranks；　Menelaus　going　with　him。　Hector　had　stripped
Patroclus　of　his　armour；　and　was　dragging　him　away　to　cut　off　his
head　and　take　the　body　to　fling　before　the　dogs　of　Troy。　But　Ajax
came　up　with　his　shield　like　wall　before　him；　on　which　Hector
withdrew　under　shelter　of　his　men；　and　sprang　on　to　his　chariot；
giving　the　armour　over　to　the　Trojans　to　take　to　the　city；　as　a
great　trophy　for　himself；　Ajax；　therefore；　covered　the　body　of
Patroclus　with　his　broad　shield　and　bestrode　him；　as　a　lion
stands　over　his　whelps　if　hunters　have　e　upon　him　in　a　forest
when　he　is　with　his　little　onesin　the　pride　and　fierceness　of
his　strength　he　draws　his　knit　brows　down　till　they　cover　his
eyeseven　so　did　Ajax　bestride　the　body　of　Patroclus；　and　by　his
side　stood　Menelaus　son　of　Atreus；　nursing　great　sorrow　in　his
heart。

Then　Glaucus　son　of　Hippolochus　looked　fiercely　at　Hector　and
rebuked　him　sternly。　〃Hector；〃　said　he；　〃you　make　a　brave　show；
but　in　fight　you　are　sadly　wanting。　A　runaway　like　yourself　has
no　claim　to　so　great　a　reputation。　Think　how　you　may　now　save
your　town　and　citadel　by　the　hands　of　your　own　people　born　in
Ilius；　for　you　will　get　no　Lycians　to　fight　for　you；　seeing　what
thanks　they　have　had　for　their　incessant　hardships。　Are　you
likely；　sir；　to　do　anything　to　help　a　man　of　less　note；　after
leaving　Sarpedon；　who　was　at　once　your　guest　and　rade　in　arms；
to　be　the　spoil　and　prey　of　the　Danaans？　So　long　as　he　lived　he
did　good　service　both　to　your　city　and　yourself；　yet　you　had　no
stomach　to　save　his　body　from　the　dogs。　If　the　Lycians　will
listen　to　me；　they　will　go　home　and　leave　Troy　to　its　fate。　If
the　Trojans　had　any　of　that　daring　fearless　spirit　which　lays
hold　of　men　who　are　fighting　for　their　country　and　harassing
those　who　would　attack　it；　we　should　soon　bear　off　Patroclus　into
Ilius。　Could　we　get　this　dead　man　away　and　bring　him　into　the
city　of　Priam；　the　Argives　would　readily　give　up　the　armour　of
Sarpedon；　and　we　should　get　his　body　to　boot。　For　he　whose　squire
has　been　now　killed　is　the　foremost　man　at　the　ships　of　the
Achaeanshe　and　his　close…fighting　followers。　Nevertheless　you
dared　not　make　a　stand　against　Ajax；　nor　face　him；　eye　to　eye；
with　battle　all　round　you；　for　he　is　a　braver　man　than　you　are。〃

Hector　scowled　at　him　and　answered；　〃Glaucus；　you　should　know
better。　I　have　held　you　so　far　as　a　man　of　more　understanding
than　any　in　all　Lycia；　but　now　I　despise　you　for　saying　that　I　am
afraid　of　Ajax。　I　fear　neither　battle　nor　the　din　of　chariots；
but　Jove's　will　is　stronger　than　ours；　Jove　at　one