the iliad(伊利亚特)-第1章
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THE ILIAD
by Homer
translated by Samuel Butler
BOOK I
Sing； O goddess； the anger of Achilles son of Peleus； that brought
countless ills upon the Achaeans。 Many a brave soul did it send
hurrying down to Hades； and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs
and vultures； for so were the counsels of Jove fulfilled from the
day on which the son of Atreus； king of men； and great Achilles； first
fell out with one another。
And which of the gods was it that set them on to quarrel？ It was the
son of Jove and Leto； for he was angry with the king and sent a
pestilence upon the host to plague the people； because the son of
Atreus had dishonoured Chryses his priest。 Now Chryses had come to the
ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter； and had brought with him a
great ransom： moreover he bore in his hand the sceptre of Apollo
wreathed with a suppliant's wreath and he besought the Achaeans； but
most of all the two sons of Atreus； who were their chiefs。
〃Sons of Atreus；〃 he cried； 〃and all other Achaeans； may the gods
who dwell in Olympus grant you to sack the city of Priam； and to reach
your homes in safety； but free my daughter； and accept a ransom for
her； in reverence to Apollo； son of Jove。〃
On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for
respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered； but not
so Agamemnon； who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly away。
〃Old man；〃 said he； 〃let me not find you tarrying about our ships； nor
yet coming hereafter。 Your sceptre of the god and your wreath shall
profit you nothing。 I will not free her。 She shall grow old in my
house at Argos far from her own home； busying herself with her loom
and visiting my couch； so go； and do not provoke me or it shall be the
worse for you。〃
The old man feared him and obeyed。 Not a word he spoke； but went
by the shore of the sounding sea and prayed apart to King Apollo
whom lovely Leto had borne。 〃Hear me；〃 he cried； 〃O god of the
silver bow； that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla and rulest Tenedos
with thy might； hear me oh thou of Sminthe。 If I have ever decked your
temple with garlands； or burned your thigh…bones in fat of bulls or
goats； grant my prayer； and let your arrows avenge these my tears upon
the Danaans。〃
Thus did he pray； and Apollo heard his prayer。 He came down
furious from the summits of Olympus； with his bow and his quiver
upon his shoulder； and the arrows rattled on his back with the rage
that trembled within him。 He sat himself down away from the ships with
a face as dark as night； and his silver bow rang death as he shot
his arrow in the midst of them。 First he smote their mules and their
hounds； but presently he aimed his shafts at the people themselves；
and all day long the pyres of the dead were burning。
For nine whole days he shot his arrows among the people； but upon
the tenth day Achilles called them in assembly… moved thereto by Juno；
who saw the Achaeans in their death…throes and had compassion upon
them。 Then； when they were got together； he rose and spoke among them。
〃Son of Atreus；〃 said he； 〃I deem that we should now turn roving
home if we would escape destruction； for we are being cut down by
war and pestilence at once。 Let us ask some priest or prophet； or some
reader of dreams （for dreams； too； are of Jove） who can tell us why
Phoebus Apollo is so angry； and say whether it is for some vow that we
have broken； or hecatomb that we have not offered； and whether he will
accept the savour of lambs and goats without blemish； so as to take
away the plague from us。〃
With these words he sat down； and Calchas son of Thestor； wisest
of augurs； who knew things past present and to come； rose to speak。 He
it was who had guided the Achaeans with their fleet to Ilius；
through the prophesyings with which Phoebus Apollo had inspired him。
With all sincerity and goodwill he addressed them thus：…
〃Achilles； loved of heaven； you bid me tell you about the anger of
King Apollo； I will therefore do so； but consider first and swear that
you will stand by me heartily in word and deed； for I know that I
shall offend one who rules the Argives with might； to whom all the
Achaeans are in subjection。 A plain man cannot stand against the anger
of a king； who if he swallow his displeasure now； will yet nurse
revenge till he has wreaked it。 Consider； therefore； whether or no you
will protect me。〃
And Achilles answered； 〃Fear not； but speak as it is borne in upon
you from heaven； for by Apollo； Calchas； to whom you pray； and whose
oracles you reveal to us； not a Danaan at our ships shall lay his hand
upon you； while I yet live to look upon the face of the earth… no； not
though you name Agamemnon himself； who is by far the foremost of the
Achaeans。〃
Thereon the seer spoke boldly。 〃The god；〃 he said； 〃is angry neither
about vow nor hecatomb； but for his priest's sake； whom Agamemnon
has dishonoured； in that he would not free his daughter nor take a
ransom for her； therefore has he sent these evils upon us； and will
yet send others。 He will not deliver the Danaans from this
pestilence till Agamemnon has restored the girl without fee or
ransom to her father； and has sent a holy hecatomb to Chryse。 Thus
we may perhaps appease him。〃
With these words he sat down； and Agamemnon rose in anger。 His heart
was black with rage； and his eyes flashed fire as he scowled on
Calchas and said； 〃Seer of evil； you never yet prophesied smooth
things concerning me； but have ever loved to foretell that which was
evil。 You have brought me neither comfort nor performance； and now you
come seeing among Danaans； and saying that Apollo has plagued us
because I would not take a ransom for this girl； the daughter of
Chryses。 I have set my heart on keeping her in my own house； for I
love her better even than my own wife Clytemnestra； whose peer she
is alike in form and feature； in understanding and accomplishments。
Still I will give her up if I must； for I would have the people
live； not die； but you must find me a prize instead； or I alone
among the Argives shall be without one。 This is not well； for you
behold； all of you； that my prize is to go elsewhither。〃
And Achilles answered； 〃Most noble son of Atreus； covetous beyond
all mankind； how shall the Achaeans find you another prize？ We have no
common store from which to take one。 Those we took from the cities
have been awarded； we cannot disallow the awards that have been made
already。 Give this girl； therefore； to the god； and if ever Jove
grants us to sack the city of Troy we will requite you three and
fourfold。〃
Then Agamemnon said； 〃Achilles； valiant though you be； you shall not
thus outwit me。 You shall not overreach and you shall not persuade me。
Are you to keep your own prize； while I sit tamely under my loss and
give up the girl at your bidding？ Let the Achaeans find me a prize
in fair exchange to my liking； or I will come and take your own； or
that of Ajax or of Ulysses； and he to whomsoever I may come shall
rue my coming。 But of this we will take thought hereafter； for the
present； let us draw a ship into the sea； and find a crew for her
expressly； let us put a hecatomb on board； and let us send Chryseis
also； further； let some chief man among us be in command； either Ajax；
or Idomeneus； or yourself； son of Peleus； mighty warrior that you are；
that we may offer sacrifice and appease the the anger of the god。〃
Achilles scowled at him and answered； 〃You are steeped in
insolence and lust of gain。 With what heart can any of the Achaeans do
your bidding； either on foray or in open fighting？ I came not
warring here for any ill the Trojans had done me。 I have no quarrel
with them。 They have not raided my cattle nor my horses； nor cut
down my harvests on the rich plains of Phthia； for between me and them
there is a great space； both mountain and sounding sea。 We have
followed you； Sir Insolence！ for your pleasure； not ours… to gain
satisfaction from the Trojans for your shameless self and for
Menelaus。 You forget this； and threaten to rob me of
