the iliad(伊利亚特)-第98章

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took　the　wand　with　which　he　seals　men's　eyes　in　sleep；　or　wakes　them
just　as　he　pleases；　and　flew　holding　it　in　his　hand　till　he　came　to
Troy　and　to　the　Hellespont。　To　look　at；　he　was　like　a　young　man　of
noble　birth　in　the　hey…day　of　his　youth　and　beauty　with　the　down
just　coming　upon　his　face。
　　Now　when　Priam　and　Idaeus　had　driven　past　the　great　tomb　of　Ilius；
they　stayed　their　mules　and　horses　that　they　might　drink　in　the　river；
for　the　shades　of　night　were　falling；　when；　therefore；　Idaeus　saw
Mercury　standing　near　them　he　said　to　Priam；　〃Take　heed；　descendant　of
Dardanus；　here　is　matter　which　demands　consideration。　I　see　a　man
who　I　think　will　presently　fall　upon　us；　let　us　fly　with　our　horses；
or　at　least　embrace　his　knees　and　implore　him　to　take　compassion
upon　us？
　　When　he　heard　this　the　old　man's　heart　failed　him；　and　he　was　in
great　fear；　he　stayed　where　he　was　as　one　dazed；　and　the　hair　stood　on
end　over　his　whole　body；　but　the　bringer　of　good　luck　came　up　to　him
and　took　him　by　the　hand；　saying；　〃Whither；　father；　are　you　thus
driving　your　mules　and　horses　in　the　dead　of　night　when　other　men
are　asleep？　Are　you　not　afraid　of　the　fierce　Achaeans　who　are　hard
by　you；　so　cruel　and　relentless？　Should　some　one　of　them　see　you
bearing　so　much　treasure　through　the　darkness　of　the　flying　night；
what　would　not　your　state　then　be？　You　are　no　longer　young；　and　he　who
is　with　you　is　too　old　to　protect　you　from　those　who　would　attack　you。
For　myself；　I　will　do　you　no　harm；　and　I　will　defend　you　from　any
one　else；　for　you　remind　me　of　my　own　father。〃
　　And　Priam　answered；　〃It　is　indeed　as　you　say；　my　dear　son；
nevertheless　some　god　has　held　his　hand　over　me；　in　that　he　has　sent
such　a　wayfarer　as　yourself　to　meet　me　so　Opportunely；　you　are　so
comely　in　mien　and　figure；　and　your　judgement　is　so　excellent　that　you
must　come　of　blessed　parents。〃
　　Then　said　the　slayer　of　Argus；　guide　and　guardian；　〃Sir；　all　that
you　have　said　is　right；　but　tell　me　and　tell　me　true；　are　you　taking
this　rich　treasure　to　send　it　to　a　foreign　people　where　it　may　be
safe；　or　are　you　all　leaving　strong　Ilius　in　dismay　now　that　your
son　has　fallen　who　was　the　bravest　man　among　you　and　was　never　lacking
in　battle　with　the　Achaeans？〃
　　And　Priam　said；　〃Wo　are　you；　my　friend；　and　who　are　your　parents；
that　you　speak　so　truly　about　the　fate　of　my　unhappy　son？〃
　　The　slayer　of　Argus；　guide　and　guardian；　answered　him；　〃Sir；　you
would　prove　me；　that　you　question　me　about　noble　Hector。　Many　a　time
have　I　set　eyes　upon　him　in　battle　when　he　was　driving　the　Argives
to　their　ships　and　putting　them　to　the　sword。　We　stood　still　and
marvelled；　for　Achilles　in　his　anger　with　the　son　of　Atreus　suffered
us　not　to　fight。　I　am　his　squire；　and　came　with　him　in　the　same
ship。　I　am　a　Myrmidon；　and　my　father's　name　is　Polyctor：　he　is　a
rich　man　and　about　as　old　as　you　are；　he　has　six　sons　besides
myself；　and　I　am　the　seventh。　We　cast　lots；　and　it　fell　upon　me　to
sail　hither　with　Achilles。　I　am　now　come　from　the　ships　on　to　the
plain；　for　with　daybreak　the　Achaeans　will　set　battle　in　array　about
the　city。　They　chafe　at　doing　nothing；　and　are　so　eager　that　their
princes　cannot　hold　them　back。〃
　　Then　answered　Priam；　〃If　you　are　indeed　the　squire　of　Achilles　son
of　Peleus；　tell　me　now　the　Whole　truth。　Is　my　son　still　at　the
ships；　or　has　Achilles　hewn　him　limb　from　limb；　and　given　him　to　his
hounds？〃
　　〃Sir；〃　replied　the　slayer　of　Argus；　guide　and　guardian；　〃neither
hounds　nor　vultures　have　yet　devoured　him；　he　is　still　just　lying　at
the　tents　by　the　ship　of　Achilles；　and　though　it　is　now　twelve　days
that　he　has　lain　there；　his　flesh　is　not　wasted　nor　have　the　worms
eaten　him　although　they　feed　on　warriors。　At　daybreak　Achilles　drags
him　cruelly　round　the　sepulchre　of　his　dear　comrade；　but　it　does　him
no　hurt。　You　should　come　yourself　and　see　how　he　lies　fresh　as　dew；
with　the　blood　all　washed　away；　and　his　wounds　every　one　of　them
closed　though　many　pierced　him　with　their　spears。　Such　care　have　the
blessed　gods　taken　of　your　brave　son；　for　he　was　dear　to　them　beyond
all　measure。〃
　　The　old　man　was　comforted　as　he　heard　him　and　said；　〃My　son；　see
what　a　good　thing　it　is　to　have　made　due　offerings　to　the　immortals；
for　as　sure　as　that　he　was　born　my　son　never　forgot　the　gods　that　hold
Olympus；　and　now　they　requite　it　to　him　even　in　death。　Accept
therefore　at　my　hands　this　goodly　chalice；　guard　me　and　with
heaven's　help　guide　me　till　I　come　to　the　tent　of　the　son　of　Peleus。〃
　　Then　answered　the　slayer　of　Argus；　guide　and　guardian；　〃Sir；　you　are
tempting　me　and　playing　upon　my　youth；　but　you　shall　not　move　me；
for　you　are　offering　me　presents　without　the　knowledge　of　Achilles
whom　I　fear　and　hold　it　great　guiltless　to　defraud；　lest　some　evil
presently　befall　me；　but　as　your　guide　I　would　go　with　you　even　to
Argos　itself；　and　would　guard　you　so　carefully　whether　by　sea　or　land；
that　no　one　should　attack　you　through　making　light　of　him　who　was　with
you。〃
　　The　bringer　of　good　luck　then　sprang　on　to　the　chariot；　and
seizing　the　whip　and　reins　he　breathed　fresh　spirit　into　the　mules　and
horses。　When　they　reached　the　trench　and　the　wall　that　was　before
the　ships；　those　who　were　on　guard　had　just　been　getting　their
suppers；　and　the　slayer　of　Argus　threw　them　all　into　a　deep　sleep。
Then　he　drew　back　the　bolts　to　open　the　gates；　and　took　Priam　inside
with　the　treasure　he　had　upon　his　waggon。　Ere　long　they　came　to　the
lofty　dwelling　of　the　son　of　Peleus　for　which　the　Myrmidons　had　cut
pine　and　which　they　had　built　for　their　king；　when　they　had　built　it
they　thatched　it　with　coarse　tussock…grass　which　they　had　mown　out
on　the　plain；　and　all　round　it　they　made　a　large　courtyard；　which
was　fenced　with　stakes　set　close　together。　The　gate　was　barred　with
a　single　bolt　of　pine　which　it　took　three　men　to　force　into　its　place；
and　three　to　draw　back　so　as　to　open　the　gate；　but　Achilles　could　draw
it　by　himself。　Mercury　opened　the　gate　for　the　old　man；　and　brought　in
the　treasure　that　he　was　taking　with　him　for　the　son　of　Peleus。　Then
he　sprang　from　the　chariot　on　to　the　ground　and　said；　〃Sir；　it　is　I；
immortal　Mercury；　that　am　come　with　you；　for　my　father　sent　me　to
escort　you。　I　will　now　leave　you；　and　will　not　enter　into　the　presence
of　Achilles；　for　it　might　anger　him　that　a　god　should　befriend
mortal　men　thus　openly。　Go　you　within；　and　embrace　the　knees　of　the
son　of　Peleus：　beseech　him　by　his　father；　his　lovely　mother；　and　his
son；　thus　you　may　move　him。〃
　　With　these　words　Mercury　went　back　to　high　Olympus。　Priam　sprang
from　his　chariot　to　the　ground；　leaving　Idaeus　where　he　was；　in　charge
of　the　mules　and　horses。　The　old　man　went　straight　into　the　house
where　Achilles；　loved　of　the　gods；　was　sitting。　There　he　found　him
with　his　men　seated　at　a　distance　from　him：　only　two；　the　hero
Automedon；　and　Alcimus　of　the　race　of　Mars；　were　busy　in　attendance
about　his　person；　for　he　had　but　just　done　eating　and　drinking；　and
the　table　was　still　there。　King　Priam　entered　without　their　seeing
him；　and　going　right　up　to　Achilles　he　clasped　his　knees　and　kissed
the　dread　murderous　hands　that　had　slain　so　many　of　his　sons。
　　As　when　some　cruel　spite　has　befallen　a　man　that　he　should　have
killed　some　one　in　his　own　country；　and　must　fly　to　a　great　man's
protection　in　a　land　of　strangers；　and　all　marvel　who　see　him；　even　so
did　Achilles　marvel　as　he　beheld　Priam。　The　others　looked　one　to
another　and　marvelled　also；　but　Priam　besought　Achilles　saying；　〃Think
of　your　father；　O　Achilles　like　unto　the　gods；　who　is　such　even　as　I
am；　on　the　sad　threshold　of　old　age。　It　may　be　that　those　who　dwell
near　him　harass　him；　and　there　is　none　to　keep　war　and　ruin　from
him。　Yet　when　he　hears　of　you　being　still　alive；　he　is　glad；　and　his
days　are　full　of　hope　that　he　shall　see　his　dear　son　come　home　to
him　from　Troy；　but　I；　wretched　man　that　I　am；　had　the　bravest　in　all
Troy　for　my　sons；　and　there　is　not　one　of　them　left。　I　had　fifty
sons　when　the　Achaeans　came　here；　nineteen　of　them　were　from　a
single　womb；　and　the　others　were　borne　to　me　by　the　women　of　my
household。　The　greater　part　of　them　has　fierce　Mars