the iliad(伊利亚特)-第76章

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was　of　gold；　still　looked　as　if　it　were　being　ploughed…　very　curious
to　behold。
　　He　wrought　also　a　field　of　harvest　corn；　and　the　reapers　were
reaping　with　sharp　sickles　in　their　hands。　Swathe　after　swathe　fell　to
the　ground　in　a　straight　line　behind　them；　and　the　binders　bound
them　in　bands　of　twisted　straw。　There　were　three　binders；　and　behind
them　there　were　boys　who　gathered　the　cut　corn　in　armfuls　and　kept
on　bringing　them　to　be　bound：　among　them　all　the　owner　of　the　land
stood　by　in　silence　and　was　glad。　The　servants　were　getting　a　meal
ready　under　an　oak；　for　they　had　sacrificed　a　great　ox；　and　were
busy　cutting　him　up；　while　the　women　were　making　a　porridge　of　much
white　barley　for　the　labourers'　dinner。
　　He　wrought　also　a　vineyard；　golden　and　fair　to　see；　and　the　vines
were　loaded　with　grapes。　The　bunches　overhead　were　black；　but　the
vines　were　trained　on　poles　of　silver。　He　ran　a　ditch　of　dark　metal
all　round　it；　and　fenced　it　with　a　fence　of　tin；　there　was　only　one
path　to　it；　and　by　this　the　vintagers　went　when　they　would　gather
the　vintage。　Youths　and　maidens　all　blithe　and　full　of　glee；　carried
the　luscious　fruit　in　plaited　baskets；　and　with　them　there　went　a
boy　who　made　sweet　music　with　his　lyre；　and　sang　the　Linus…song　with
his　clear　boyish　voice。
　　He　wrought　also　a　herd　of　homed　cattle。　He　made　the　cows　of　gold　and
tin；　and　they　lowed　as　they　came　full　speed　out　of　the　yards　to　go　and
feed　among　the　waving　reeds　that　grow　by　the　banks　of　the　river。　Along
with　the　cattle　there　went　four　shepherds；　all　of　them　in　gold；　and
their　nine　fleet　dogs　went　with　them。　Two　terrible　lions　had
fastened　on　a　bellowing　bull　that　was　with　the　foremost　cows；　and
bellow　as　he　might　they　haled　him；　while　the　dogs　and　men　gave
chase：　the　lions　tore　through　the　bull's　thick　hide　and　were　gorging
on　his　blood　and　bowels；　but　the　herdsmen　were　afraid　to　do
anything；　and　only　hounded　on　their　dogs；　the　dogs　dared　not　fasten　on
the　lions　but　stood　by　barking　and　keeping　out　of　harm's　way。
　　The　god　wrought　also　a　pasture　in　a　fair　mountain　dell；　and　large
flock　of　sheep；　with　a　homestead　and　huts；　and　sheltered　sheepfolds。
　　Furthermore　he　wrought　a　green；　like　that　which　Daedalus　once　made
in　Cnossus　for　lovely　Ariadne。　Hereon　there　danced　youths　and
maidens　whom　all　would　woo；　with　their　hands　on　one　another's
wrists。　The　maidens　wore　robes　of　light　linen；　and　the　youths　well
woven　shirts　that　were　slightly　oiled。　The　girls　were　crowned　with
garlands；　while　the　young　men　had　daggers　of　gold　that　hung　by
silver　baldrics；　sometimes　they　would　dance　deftly　in　a　ring　with
merry　twinkling　feet；　as　it　were　a　potter　sitting　at　his　work　and
making　trial　of　his　wheel　to　see　whether　it　will　run；　and　sometimes
they　would　go　all　in　line　with　one　another；　and　much　people　was
gathered　joyously　about　the　green。　There　was　a　bard　also　to　sing　to
them　and　play　his　lyre；　while　two　tumblers　went　about　performing　in
the　midst　of　them　when　the　man　struck　up　with　his　tune。
　　All　round　the　outermost　rim　of　the　shield　he　set　the　mighty　stream
of　the　river　Oceanus。
　　Then　when　he　had　fashioned　the　shield　so　great　and　strong；　he　made　a
breastplate　also　that　shone　brighter　than　fire。　He　made　helmet；
close　fitting　to　the　brow；　and　richly　worked；　with　a　golden　plume
overhanging　it；　and　he　made　greaves　also　of　beaten　tin。
　　Lastly；　when　the　famed　lame　god　had　made　all　the　armour；　he　took
it　and　set　it　before　the　mother　of　Achilles；　whereon　she　darted　like　a
falcon　from　the　snowy　summits　of　Olympus　and　bore　away　the　gleaming
armour　from　the　house　of　Vulcan。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　XIX

　　NOW　when　Dawn　in　robe　of　saffron　was　hasting　from　the　streams　of
Oceanus；　to　bring　light　to　mortals　and　immortals；　Thetis　reached　the
ships　with　the　armour　that　the　god　had　given　her。　She　found　her　son
fallen　about　the　body　of　Patroclus　and　weeping　bitterly。　Many　also
of　his　followers　were　weeping　round　him；　but　when　the　goddess　came
among　them　she　clasped　his　hand　in　her　own；　saying；　〃My　son；　grieve　as
we　may　we　must　let　this　man　lie；　for　it　is　by　heaven's　will　that　he
has　fallen；　now；　therefore；　accept　from　Vulcan　this　rich　and　goodly
armour；　which　no　man　has　ever　yet　borne　upon　his　shoulders。〃
　　As　she　spoke　she　set　the　armour　before　Achilles；　and　it　rang　out
bravely　as　she　did　so。　The　Myrmidons　were　struck　with　awe；　and　none
dared　look　full　at　it；　for　they　were　afraid；　but　Achilles　was　roused
to　still　greater　fury；　and　his　eyes　gleamed　with　a　fierce　light；　for
he　was　glad　when　he　handled　the　splendid　present　which　the　god　had
made　him。　Then；　as　soon　as　he　had　satisfied　himself　with　looking　at
it；　he　said　to　his　mother；　〃Mother；　the　god　has　given　me　armour；
meet　handiwork　for　an　immortal　and　such　as　no　living　could　have
fashioned；　I　will　now　arm；　but　I　much　fear　that　flies　will　settle　upon
the　son　of　Menoetius　and　breed　worms　about　his　wounds；　so　that　his
body；　now　he　is　dead；　will　be　disfigured　and　the　flesh　will　rot。〃
　　Silver…footed　Thetis　answered；　〃My　son；　be　not　disquieted　about　this
matter。　I　will　find　means　to　protect　him　from　the　swarms　of　noisome
flies　that　prey　on　the　bodies　of　men　who　have　been　killed　in　battle。
He　may　lie　for　a　whole　year；　and　his　flesh　shall　still　be　as　sound
as　ever；　or　even　sounder。　Call；　therefore；　the　Achaean　heroes　in
assembly；　unsay　your　anger　against　Agamemnon；　arm　at　once；　and　fight
with　might　and　main。〃
　　As　she　spoke　she　put　strength　and　courage　into　his　heart；　and　she
then　dropped　ambrosia　and　red　nectar　into　the　wounds　of　Patroclus；
that　his　body　might　suffer　no　change。
　　Then　Achilles　went　out　upon　the　seashore；　and　with　a　loud　cry　called
on　the　Achaean　heroes。　On　this　even　those　who　as　yet　had　stayed　always
at　the　ships；　the　pilots　and　helmsmen；　and　even　the　stewards　who
were　about　the　ships　and　served　out　rations；　all　came　to　the　place
of　assembly　because　Achilles　had　shown　himself　after　having　held　aloof
so　long　from　fighting。　Two　sons　of　Mars；　Ulysses　and　the　son　of
Tydeus；　came　limping；　for　their　wounds　still　pained　them；　nevertheless
they　came；　and　took　their　seats　in　the　front　row　of　the　assembly。　Last
of　all　came　Agamemnon；　king　of　men；　he　too　wounded；　for　Coon　son　of
Antenor　had　struck　him　with　a　spear　in　battle。
　　When　the　Achaeans　were　got　together　Achilles　rose　and　said；　〃Son
of　Atreus；　surely　it　would　have　been　better　alike　for　both　you　and　me；
when　we　two　were　in　such　high　anger　about　Briseis；　surely　it　would
have　been　better；　had　Diana's　arrow　slain　her　at　the　ships　on　the
day　when　I　took　her　after　having　sacked　Lyrnessus。　For　so；　many　an
Achaean　the　less　would　have　bitten　dust　before　the　foe　in　the　days
of　my　anger。　It　has　been　well　for　Hector　and　the　Trojans；　but　the
Achaeans　will　long　indeed　remember　our　quarrel。　Now；　however；　let　it
be；　for　it　is　over。　If　we　have　been　angry；　necessity　has　schooled
our　anger。　I　put　it　from　me：　I　dare　not　nurse　it　for　ever；
therefore；　bid　the　Achaeans　arm　forthwith　that　I　may　go　out　against
the　Trojans；　and　learn　whether　they　will　be　in　a　mind　to　sleep　by
the　ships　or　no。　Glad；　I　ween；　will　he　be　to　rest　his　knees　who　may
fly　my　spear　when　I　wield　it。〃
　　Thus　did　he　speak；　and　the　Achaeans　rejoiced　in　that　he　had　put　away
his　anger。
　　Then　Agamemnon　spoke；　rising　in　his　place；　and　not　going　into　the
middle　of　the　assembly。　〃Danaan　heroes；〃　said　he；　〃servants　of　Mars；
it　is　well　to　listen　when　a　man　stands　up　to　speak；　and　it　is　not
seemly　to　interrupt　him；　or　it　will　go　hard　even　with　a　practised
speaker。　Who　can　either　hear　or　speak　in　an　uproar？　Even　the　finest

orator　will　be　disconcerted　by　it。　I　will　expound　to　the　son　of
Peleus；　and　do　you　other　Achaeans　heed　me　and　mark　me　well。　Often　have
the　Achaeans　spoken　to　me　of　this　matter　and　upbraided　me；　but　it
was　not　I　that　did　it：　Jove；　and　Fate；　and　Erinys　that　walks　in
darkness　struck　me　mad　when　we　were　assembled　on　the　day　that　I　took
from　Achilles　the　meed　that　had　been　awarded　to　him。　What　could　I
do？　All　things　are　in　the　hand　of　heaven；　and　Folly；　eldest　of
Jove's　daughters；　shuts　men's　eyes　to　their　destruction。　She　walks
delicately；　not　on　the　solid　earth；　but　hovers　over　the　heads　of　men