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！
well as I can？ There seems to be another pair in front now； and
another driver； those that led off at the start must have been
disabled out on the plain。 I saw them at first making their way
round the doubling…post； but now； though I search the plain of Troy； I
cannot find them。 Perhaps the reins fell from the driver's hand so
that he lost command of his horses at the doubling…post； and could not
turn it。 I suppose he must have been thrown out there； and broken
his chariot； while his mares have left the course and gone off
wildly in a panic。 Come up and see for yourselves； I cannot make out
for certain； but the driver seems an Aetolian by descent； ruler over
the Argives； brave Diomed the son of Tydeus。〃
Ajax the son of Oileus took him up rudely and said； 〃Idomeneus；
why should you be in such a hurry to tell us all about it； when the
mares are still so far out upon the plain？ You are none of the
youngest； nor your eyes none of the sharpest； but you are always
laying down the law。 You have no right to do so； for there are
better men here than you are。 Eumelus's horses are in front now； as
they always have been； and he is on the chariot holding the reins。〃
The captain of the Cretans was angry； and answered； 〃Ajax you are an
excellent railer； but you have no judgement； and are wanting in much
else as well； for you have a vile temper。 I will wager you a tripod or
cauldron； and Agamemnon son of Atreus shall decide whose horses are
first。 You will then know to your cost。〃
Ajax son of Oileus was for making him an angry answer； and there
would have been yet further brawling between them； had not Achilles
risen in his place and said； 〃Cease your railing Ajax and Idomeneus；
it is not you would be scandalised if you saw any one else do the
like： sit down and keep your eyes on the horses； they are speeding
towards the winning…post and will be bere directly。 You will then both
of you know whose horses are first； and whose come after。〃
As he was speaking； the son of Tydeus came driving in； plying his
whip lustily from his shoulder； and his horses stepping high as they
flew over the course。 The sand and grit rained thick on the driver；
and the chariot inlaid with gold and tin ran close behind his fleet
horses。 There was little trace of wheel…marks in the fine dust； and
the horses came flying in at their utmost speed。 Diomed stayed them in
the middle of the crowd； and the sweat from their manes and chests
fell in streams on to the ground。 Forthwith he sprang from his
goodly chariot； and leaned his whip against his horses' yoke； brave
Sthenelus now lost no time； but at once brought on the prize； and gave
the woman and the ear…handled cauldron to his comrades to take away。
Then he unyoked the horses。
Next after him came in Antilochus of the race of Neleus； who had
passed Menelaus by a trick and not by the fleetness of his horses； but
even so Menelaus came in as close behind him as the wheel is to the
horse that draws both the chariot and its master。 The end hairs of a
horse's tail touch the tyre of the wheel； and there is never much
space between wheel and horse when the chariot is going； Menelaus
was no further than this behind Antilochus； though at first he had
been a full disc's throw behind him。 He had soon caught him up
again； for Agamemnon's mare Aethe kept pulling stronger and
stronger； so that if the course had been longer he would have passed
him； and there would not even have been a dead heat。 Idomeneus's brave
squire Meriones was about a spear's cast behind Menelaus。 His horses
were slowest of all； and he was the worst driver。 Last of them all
came the son of Admetus； dragging his chariot and driving his horses
on in front。 When Achilles saw him he was sorry； and stood up among
the Argives saying； 〃The best man is coming in last。 Let us give him a
prize for it is reasonable。 He shall have the second； but the first
must go to the son of Tydeus。〃
Thus did he speak and the others all of them applauded his saying；
and were for doing as he had said； but Nestor's son Antilochus stood
up and claimed his rights from the son of Peleus。 〃Achilles；〃 said he；
〃I shall take it much amiss if you do this thing； you would rob me
of my prize； because you think Eumelus's chariot and horses were
thrown out； and himself too； good man that he is。 He should have
prayed duly to the immortals； he would not have come in fast if he had
done so。 If you are sorry for him and so choose； you have much gold in
your tents； with bronze； sheep； cattle and horses。 Take something from
this store if you would have the Achaeans speak well of you； and
give him a better prize even than that which you have now offered； but
I will not give up the mare； and he that will fight me for her； let
him come on。〃
Achilles smiled as he heard this； and was pleased with Antilochus；
who was one of his dearest comrades。 So he said…
〃Antilochus； if you would have me find Eumelus another prize； I will
give him the bronze breastplate with a rim of tin running all round it
which I took from Asteropaeus。 It will be worth much money to him。〃
He bade his comrade Automedon bring the breastplate from his tent；
and he did so。 Achilles then gave it over to Eumelus； who received
it gladly。
But Menelaus got up in a rage； furiously angry with Antilochus。 An
attendant placed his staff in his hands and bade the Argives keep
silence： the hero then addressed them。 〃Antilochus；〃 said he； 〃what is
this from you who have been so far blameless？ You have made me cut a
poor figure and baulked my horses by flinging your own in front of
them； though yours are much worse than mine are； therefore； O
princes and counsellors of the Argives； judge between us and show no
favour； lest one of the Achaeans say； 'Menelaus has got the mare
through lying and corruption； his horses were far inferior to
Antilochus's； but he has greater weight and influence。' Nay； I will
determine the matter myself； and no man will blame me； for I shall
do what is just。 Come here； Antilochus； and stand； as our custom is；
whip in hand before your chariot and horses； lay your hand on your
steeds； and swear by earth…encircling Neptune that you did not
purposely and guilefully get in the way of my horses。〃
And Antilochus answered； 〃Forgive me； I am much younger； King
Menelaus； than you are； you stand higher than I do and are the
better man of the two； you know how easily young men are betrayed into
indiscretion； their tempers are more hasty and they have less
judgement； make due allowances therefore； and bear with me； I will
of my own accord give up the mare that I have won； and if you claim
any further chattel from my own possessions； I would rather yield it
to you； at once； than fall from your good graces henceforth； and do
wrong in the sight of heaven。〃
The son of Nestor then took the mare and gave her over to
Menelaus； whose anger was thus appeased； as when dew falls upon a
field of ripening corn； and the lands are bristling with the
harvest… even so； O Menelaus； was your heart made glad within you。
He turned to Antilochus and said； 〃Now； Antilochus； angry though I
have been； I can give way to you of my own free will；