the iliad(伊利亚特)-第61章

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him；　and　though　he　was　but　one　against　many；　vouchsafed　him　victory
and　glory；　for　he　was　doomed　to　an　early　death；　and　already　Pallas
Minerva　was　hurrying　on　the　hour　of　his　destruction　at　the　hands　of
the　son　of　Peleus。　Now；　however；　he　kept　trying　to　break　the　ranks
of　the　enemy　wherever　he　could　see　them　thickest；　and　in　the　goodliest
armour；　but　do　what　he　might　he　could　not　break　through　them；　for　they
stood　as　a　tower　foursquare；　or　as　some　high　cliff　rising　from　the
grey　sea　that　braves　the　anger　of　the　gale；　and　of　the　waves　that
thunder　up　against　it。　He　fell　upon　them　like　flames　of　fire　from
every　quarter。　As　when　a　wave；　raised　mountain　high　by　wind　and　storm；
breaks　over　a　ship　and　covers　it　deep　in　foam；　the　fierce　winds　roar
against　the　mast；　the　hearts　of　the　sailors　fail　them　for　fear；　and
they　are　saved　but　by　a　very　little　from　destruction…　even　so　were　the
hearts　of　the　Achaeans　fainting　within　them。　Or　as　a　savage　lion
attacking　a　herd　of　cows　while　they　are　feeding　by　thousands　in　the
low…lying　meadows　by　some　wide…watered　shore…　the　herdsman　is　at　his
wit's　end　how　to　protect　his　herd　and　keeps　going　about　now　in　the　van
and　now　in　the　rear　of　his　cattle；　while　the　lion　springs　into　the
thick　of　them　and　fastens　on　a　cow　so　that　they　all　tremble　for
fear…　even　so　were　the　Achaeans　utterly　panic…stricken　by　Hector　and
father　Jove。　Nevertheless　Hector　only　killed　Periphetes　of　Mycenae；　he
was　son　of　Copreus　who　was　wont　to　take　the　orders　of　King
Eurystheus　to　mighty　Hercules；　but　the　son　was　a　far　better　man　than
the　father　in　every　way；　he　was　fleet　of　foot；　a　valiant　warrior；
and　in　understanding　ranked　among　the　foremost　men　of　Mycenae。　He　it
was　who　then　afforded　Hector　a　triumph；　for　as　he　was　turning　back
he　stumbled　against　the　rim　of　his　shield　which　reached　his　feet；
and　served　to　keep　the　javelins　off　him。　He　tripped　against　this　and
fell　face　upward；　his　helmet　ringing　loudly　about　his　head　as　he　did
so。　Hector　saw　him　fall　and　ran　up　to　him；　he　then　thrust　a　spear　into
his　chest；　and　killed　him　close　to　his　own　comrades。　These；　for　all
their　sorrow；　could　not　help　him　for　they　were　themselves　terribly
afraid　of　Hector。
　　They　had　now　reached　the　ships　and　the　prows　of　those　that　had
been　drawn　up　first　were　on　every　side　of　them；　but　the　Trojans　came
pouring　after　them。　The　Argives　were　driven　back　from　the　first　row　of
ships；　but　they　made　a　stand　by　their　tents　without　being　broken　up
and　scattered；　shame　and　fear　restrained　them。　They　kept　shouting
incessantly　to　one　another；　and　Nestor　of　Gerene；　tower　of　strength　to
the　Achaeans；　was　loudest　in　imploring　every　man　by　his　parents；　and
beseeching　him　to　stand　firm。
　　〃Be　men；　my　friends；〃　he　cried；　〃and　respect　one　another's　good
opinion。　Think；　all　of　you；　on　your　children；　your　wives；　your
property；　and　your　parents　whether　these　be　alive　or　dead。　On　their
behalf　though　they　are　not　here；　I　implore　you　to　stand　firm；　and
not　to　turn　in　flight。〃
　　With　these　words　he　put　heart　and　soul　into　them　all。　Minerva　lifted
the　thick　veil　of　darkness　from　their　eyes；　and　much　light　fell　upon
them；　alike　on　the　side　of　the　ships　and　on　that　where　the　fight　was
raging。　They　could　see　Hector　and　all　his　men；　both　those　in　the
rear　who　were　taking　no　part　in　the　battle；　and　those　who　were
fighting　by　the　ships。
　　Ajax　could　not　bring　himself　to　retreat　along　with　the　rest；　but
strode　from　deck　to　deck　with　a　great　sea…pike　in　his　hands　twelve
cubits　long　and　jointed　with　rings。　As　a　man　skilled　in　feats　of
horsemanship　couples　four　horses　together　and　comes　tearing　full　speed
along　the　public　way　from　the　country　into　some　large　town…　many
both　men　and　women　marvel　as　they　see　him　for　he　keeps　all　the　time
changing　his　horse；　springing　from　one　to　another　without　ever　missing
his　feet　while　the　horses　are　at　a　gallop…　even　so　did　Ajax　go
striding　from　one　ship's　deck　to　another；　and　his　voice　went　up　into
the　heavens。　He　kept　on　shouting　his　orders　to　the　Danaans　and
exhorting　them　to　defend　their　ships　and　tents；　neither　did　Hector
remain　within　the　main　body　of　the　Trojan　warriors；　but　as　a　dun　eagle
swoops　down　upon　a　flock　of　wild…fowl　feeding　near　a　river…geese；　it
may　be；　or　cranes；　or　long…necked　swans…　even　so　did　Hector　make
straight　for　a　dark…prowed　ship；　rushing　right　towards　it；　for　Jove
with　his　mighty　hand　impelled　him　forward；　and　roused　his　people　to
follow　him。
　　And　now　the　battle　again　raged　furiously　at　the　ships。　You　would
have　thought　the　men　were　coming　on　fresh　and　unwearied；　so　fiercely
did　they　fight；　and　this　was　the　mind　in　which　they　were…　the　Achaeans
did　not　believe　they　should　escape　destruction　but　thought
themselves　doomed；　while　there　was　not　a　Trojan　but　his　heart　beat
high　with　the　hope　of　firing　the　ships　and　putting　the　Achaean
heroes　to　the　sword。
　　Thus　were　the　two　sides　minded。　Then　Hector　seized　the　stern　of
the　good　ship　that　had　brought　Protesilaus　to　Troy；　but　never　bore　him
back　to　his　native　land。　Round　this　ship　there　raged　a　close
hand…to…hand　fight　between　Danaans　and　Trojans。　They　did　not　fight
at　a　distance　with　bows　and　javelins；　but　with　one　mind　hacked　at
one　another　in　close　combat　with　their　mighty　swords　and　spears
pointed　at　both　ends；　they　fought　moreover　with　keen　battle…axes　and
with　hatchets。　Many　a　good　stout　blade　hilted　and　scabbarded　with
iron；　fell　from　hand　or　shoulder　as　they　fought；　and　the　earth　ran　red
with　blood。　Hector；　when　he　had　seized　the　ship；　would　not　loose　his
hold　but　held　on　to　its　curved　stern　and　shouted　to　the　Trojans；
〃Bring　fire；　and　raise　the　battle…cry　all　of　you　with　a　single
voice。　Now　has　Jove　vouchsafed　us　a　day　that　will　pay　us　for　all　the
rest；　this　day　we　shall　take　the　ships　which　came　hither　against
heaven's　will；　and　which　have　caused　us　such　infinite　suffering
through　the　cowardice　of　our　councillors；　who　when　I　would　have　done
battle　at　the　ships　held　me　back　and　forbade　the　host　to　follow　me；　if
Jove　did　then　indeed　warp　our　judgements；　himself　now　commands　me
and　cheers　me　on。〃
　　As　he　spoke　thus　the　Trojans　sprang　yet　more　fiercely　on　the
Achaeans；　and　Ajax　no　longer　held　his　ground；　for　he　was　overcome　by
the　darts　that　were　flung　at　him；　and　made　sure　that　he　was　doomed。
Therefore　he　left　the　raised　deck　at　the　stern；　and　stepped　back　on　to
the　seven…foot　bench　of　the　oarsmen。　Here　he　stood　on　the　look…out；
and　with　his　spear　held　back　Trojan　whom　he　saw　bringing　fire　to　the
ships。　All　the　time　he　kept　on　shouting　at　the　top　of　his　voice　and
exhorting　the　Danaans。　〃My　friends；〃　he　cried；　〃Danaan　heroes；
servants　of　Mars；　be　men　my　friends；　and　fight　with　might　and　with
main。　Can　we　hope　to　find　helpers　hereafter；　or　a　wall　to　shield　us
more　surely　than　the　one　we　have？　There　is　no　strong　city　within
reach；　whence　we　may　draw　fresh　forces　to　turn　the　scales　in　our
favour。　We　are　on　the　plain　of　the　armed　Trojans　with　the　sea　behind
us；　and　far　from　our　own　country。　Our　salvation；　therefore；　is　in
the　might　of　our　hands　and　in　hard　fighting。〃
　　As　he　spoke　he　wielded　his　spear　with　still　greater　fury；　and　when
any　Trojan　made　towards　the　ships　with　fire　at　Hector's　bidding；　he
would　be　on　the　look…out　for　him；　and　drive　at　him　with　his　long
spear。　Twelve　men　did　he　thus　kill　in　hand…to…hand　fight　before　the
ships。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　XVI

　　THUS　did　they　fight　about　the　ship　of　Protesilaus。　Then　Patroclus
drew　near　to　Achilles　with　tears　welling　from　his　eyes；　as　from　some
spring　whose　crystal　stream　falls　over　the　ledges　of　a　high　precipice。
When　Achilles　saw　him　thus　weeping　he　was　sorry　for　him　and　said；
〃Why；　Patroclus；　do　you　stand　there　weeping　like　some　silly　child　that
comes　running　to　her　mother；　and　begs　to　be　taken　up　and　carried…
she　catches　hold　of　her　mother's　dress　to　stay　her　though　she　is　in
a　hurry；　and　looks　tearfully　up　until　her　mother　carries　her…　even
such　tears；　Patroclus；　are　you　now　shedding。　Have　you　anything　to
say　to　the　Myrmidons　or　to　myself？　or　have　you　had　news　from　Phthia
which　you　alone　know？　They　tell　me　Menoetius　son　of　Actor　is　still
alive；　as　also　Peleus　son　of　Aeacus；　among