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！
husband's honoured mother； my own heart beats as though it would
come into my mouth and my limbs refuse to carry me； some great
misfortune for Priam's children must be at hand。 May I never live to
hear it； but I greatly fear that Achilles has cut off the retreat of
brave Hector and has chased him on to the plain where he was
singlehanded； I fear he may have put an end to the reckless daring
which possessed my husband； who would never remain with the body of
his men； but would dash on far in front； foremost of them all in
valour。〃
Her heart beat fast； and as she spoke she flew from the house like a
maniac； with her waiting…women following after。 When she reached the
battlements and the crowd of people； she stood looking out upon the
wall； and saw Hector being borne away in front of the city… the horses
dragging him without heed or care over the ground towards the ships of
the Achaeans。 Her eyes were then shrouded as with the darkness of
night and she fell fainting backwards。 She tore the tiring from her
head and flung it from her； the frontlet and net with its plaited
band； and the veil which golden Venus had given her on the day when
Hector took her with him from the house of Eetion； after having
given countless gifts of wooing for her sake。 Her husband's sisters
and the wives of his brothers crowded round her and supported her； for
she was fain to die in her distraction； when she again presently
breathed and came to herself； she sobbed and made lament among the
Trojans saying； 'Woe is me； O Hector； woe； indeed； that to share a
common lot we were born； you at Troy in the house of Priam； and I at
Thebes under the wooded mountain of Placus in the house of Eetion
who brought me up when I was a child… ill…starred sire of an
ill…starred daughter… would that he had never begotten me。 You are now
going into the house of Hades under the secret places of the earth；
and you leave me a sorrowing widow in your house。 The child； of whom
you and I are the unhappy parents； is as yet a mere infant。 Now that
you are gone； O Hector； you can do nothing for him nor he for you。
Even though he escape the horrors of this woful war with the Achaeans；
yet shall his life henceforth be one of labour and sorrow； for
others will seize his lands。 The day that robs a child of his
parents severs him from his own kind； his head is bowed； his cheeks
are wet with tears； and he will go about destitute among the friends
of his father； plucking one by the cloak and another by the shirt。
Some one or other of these may so far pity him as to hold the cup
for a moment towards him and let him moisten his lips； but he must not
drink enough to wet the roof of his mouth； then one whose parents
are alive will drive him from the table with blows and angry words。
'Out with you；' he will say； 'you have no father here；' and the
child will go crying back to his widowed mother… he； Astyanax； who
erewhile would sit upon his father's knees； and have none but the
daintiest and choicest morsels set before him。 When he had played till
he was tired and went to sleep； he would lie in a bed； in the arms
of his nurse； on a soft couch； knowing neither want nor care；
whereas now that he has lost his father his lot will be full of
hardship… he； whom the Trojans name Astyanax； because you； O Hector；
were the only defence of their gates and battlements。 The wriggling
writhing worms will now eat you at the ships； far from your parents；
when the dogs have glutted themselves upon you。 You will lie naked；
although in your house you have fine and goodly raiment made by
hands of women。 This will I now burn； it is of no use to you； for
you can never again wear it； and thus you will have respect shown
you by the Trojans both men and women。〃
In such wise did she cry aloud amid her tears； and the women
joined in her lament。
BOOK XXIII
THUS did they make their moan throughout the city； while the
Achaeans when they reached the Hellespont went back every man to his
own ship。 But Achilles would not let the Myrmidons go； and spoke to
his brave comrades saying； 〃Myrmidons； famed horsemen and my own
trusted friends； not yet； forsooth； let us unyoke； but with horse
and chariot draw near to the body and mourn Patroclus； in due honour
to the dead。 When we have had full comfort of lamentation we will
unyoke our horses and take supper all of us here。〃
On this they all joined in a cry of wailing and Achilles led them in
their lament。 Thrice did they drive their chariots all sorrowing round
the body； and Thetis stirred within them a still deeper yearning。
The sands of the seashore and the men's armour were wet with their
weeping； so great a minister of fear was he whom they had lost。
Chief in all their mourning was the son of Peleus： he laid his
bloodstained hand on the breast of his friend。 〃Fare well；〃 he
cried； 〃Patroclus； even in the house of Hades。 I will now do all
that I erewhile promised you； I will drag Hector hither and let dogs
devour him raw； twelve noble sons of Trojans will I also slay before
your pyre to avenge you。〃
As he spoke he treated the body of noble Hector with contumely；
laying it at full length in the dust beside the bier of Patroclus。 The
others then put off every man his armour； took the horses from their
chariots； and seated themselves in great multitude by the ship of
the fleet descendant of Aeacus； who thereon feasted them with an
abundant funeral banquet。 Many a goodly ox； with many a sheep and
bleating goat did they butcher and cut up； many a tusked boar
moreover； fat and well…fed； did they singe and set to roast in the
flames of Vulcan； and rivulets of blood flowed all round the place
where the body was lying。
Then the princes of the Achaeans took the son of Peleus to
Agamemnon； but hardly could they persuade him to come with them； so
wroth was he for the death of his comrade。 As soon as they reached
Agamemnon's tent they told the serving…men to set a large tripod
over the fire in case they might persuade the son of Peleus 'to wash
the clotted gore from this body； but he denied them sternly； and swore
it with a solemn oath； saying； 〃Nay； by King Jove； first and mightiest
of all gods； it is not meet that water should touch my body； till I
have laid Patroclus on the flames； have built him a barrow； and shaved
my head… for so long as I live no such second sorrow shall ever draw
nigh me。 Now； therefore； let us do all that this sad festival demands；
but at break of day； King Agamemnon； bid your men bring wood； and
provide all else that the dead may duly take into the realm of
darkness； the fire shall thus burn him out of our sight the sooner；
and the people shall turn again to their own labours。〃
Thus did he speak； and they did even as he had said。 They made haste
to prepare the meal； they ate； and every man had his full share so
that all were satisfied。 As soon as they had had had enough to eat and
drink； the others went to their rest each in his own tent； but the son
of Peleus lay grieving among his Myrmidons by the shore of the
sounding sea； in an open place where the waves came surging in one
after another。 Here a very deep slumber took