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！
He turned to Antilochus and said； 〃Now； Antilochus； angry though I
have been； I can give way to you of my own free will； you have never
been headstrong nor ill…disposed hitherto； but this time your youth
has got the better of your judgement； be careful how you outwit your
betters in future； no one else could have brought me round so
easily； but your good father； your brother； and yourself have all of
you had infinite trouble on my behalf； I therefore yield to your
entreaty； and will give up the mare to you； mine though it indeed
be； the people will thus see that I am neither harsh nor vindictive。〃
With this he gave the mare over to Antilochus's comrade Noemon；
and then took the cauldron。 Meriones； who had come in fourth；
carried off the two talents of gold； and the fifth prize； the
two…handled urn； being unawarded； Achilles gave it to Nestor； going up
to him among the assembled Argives and saying； 〃Take this； my good old
friend； as an heirloom and memorial of the funeral of Patroclus… for
you shall see him no more among the Argives。 I give you this prize
though you cannot win one； you can now neither wrestle nor fight；
and cannot enter for the javelin…match nor foot…races； for the hand of
age has been laid heavily upon you。〃
So saying he gave the urn over to Nestor； who received it gladly and
answered； 〃My son； all that you have said is true； there is no
strength now in my legs and feet； nor can I hit out with my hands from
either shoulder。 Would that I were still young and strong as when
the Epeans were burying King Amarynceus in Buprasium； and his sons
offered prizes in his honour。 There was then none that could vie
with me neither of the Epeans nor the Pylians themselves nor the
Aetolians。 In boxing I overcame Clytomedes son of Enops； and in
wrestling； Ancaeus of Pleuron who had come forward against me。
Iphiclus was a good runner； but I beat him； and threw farther with
my spear than either Phyleus or Polydorus。 In chariot…racing alone did
the two sons of Actor surpass me by crowding their horses in front
of me； for they were angry at the way victory had gone； and at the
greater part of the prizes remaining in the place in which they had
been offered。 They were twins； and the one kept on holding the
reins； and holding the reins； while the other plied the whip。 Such was
I then； but now I must leave these matters to younger men； I must
bow before the weight of years； but in those days I was eminent
among heroes。 And now； sir； go on with the funeral contests in
honour of your comrade： gladly do I accept this urn； and my heart
rejoices that you do not forget me but are ever mindful of my goodwill
towards you； and of the respect due to me from the Achaeans。 For all
which may the grace of heaven be vouchsafed you in great abundance。〃
Thereon the son of Peleus； when he had listened to all the thanks of
Nestor； went about among the concourse of the Achaeans； and
presently offered prizes for skill in the painful art of boxing。 He
brought out a strong mule； and made it fast in the middle of the
crowd… a she…mule never yet broken； but six years old… when it is
hardest of all to break them： this was for the victor； and for the
vanquished he offered a double cup。 Then he stood up and said among
the Argives； 〃Son of Atreus； and all other Achaeans； I invite our
two champion boxers to lay about them lustily and compete for these
prizes。 He to whom Apollo vouchsafes the greater endurance； and whom
the Achaeans acknowledge as victor； shall take the mule back with
him to his own tent； while he that is vanquished shall have the double
cup。〃
As he spoke there stood up a champion both brave and great
stature； a skilful boxer； Epeus； son of Panopeus。 He laid his hand
on the mule and said； 〃Let the man who is to have the cup come hither；
for none but myself will take the mule。 I am the best boxer of all
here present； and none can beat me。 Is it not enough that I should
fall short of you in actual fighting？ Still； no man can be good at
everything。 I tell you plainly； and it shall come true； if any man
will box with me I will bruise his body and break his bones； therefore
let his friends stay here in a body and be at hand to take him away
when I have done with him。〃
They all held their peace； and no man rose save Euryalus son of
Mecisteus； who was son of Talaus。 Mecisteus went once to Thebes
after the fall of Oedipus； to attend his funeral； and he beat all
the people of Cadmus。 The son of Tydeus was Euryalus's second；
cheering him on and hoping heartily that he would win。 First he put
a waistband round him and then he gave him some well…cut thongs of
ox…hide； the two men being now girt went into the middle of the
ring； and immediately fell to； heavily indeed did they punish one
another and lay about them with their brawny fists。 One could hear the
horrid crashing of their jaws； and they sweated from every pore of
their skin。 Presently Epeus came on and gave Euryalus a blow on the
jaw as he was looking round； Euryalus could not keep his legs； they
gave way under him in a moment and he sprang up with a bound； as a
fish leaps into the air near some shore that is all bestrewn with
sea…wrack； when Boreas furs the top of the waves； and then falls
back into deep water。 But noble Epeus caught hold of him and raised
him up； his comrades also came round him and led him from the ring；
unsteady in his gait； his head hanging on one side； and spitting great
clots of gore。 They set him down in a swoon and then went to fetch the
double cup。
The son of Peleus now brought out the prizes for the third contest
and showed them to the Argives。 These were for the painful art of
wrestling。 For the winner there was a great tripod ready for setting
upon the fire； and the Achaeans valued it among themselves at twelve
oxen。 For the loser he brought out a woman skilled in all manner of
arts； and they valued her at four oxen。 He rose and said among the
Argives； 〃Stand forward； you who will essay this contest。〃
Forthwith uprose great Ajax the son of Telamon； and crafty
Ulysses； full of wiles rose also。 The two girded themselves and went
into the middle of the ring。 They gripped each other in their strong
hands like the rafters which some master…builder frames for the roof
of a high house to keep the wind out。 Their backbones cracked as
they tugged at one another with their mighty arms… and sweat rained
from them in torrents。 Many a bloody weal sprang up on their sides and
shoulders； but they kept on striving with might and main for victory
and to win the tripod。 Ulysses could not throw Ajax； nor Ajax him；
Ulysses was too strong for him； but when the Achaeans began to tire of
watching them； Ajax said to ulysses； 〃Ulysses； noble son of Laertes；
you shall either lift me； or I you； and let Jove settle it between
us。〃
He lifted him from the ground as he spoke； but Ulysses did not
forget his cunning。 He hit Ajax in the hollow at back of his knee；
so that he could not keep his feet； but fell on his back with
Ulysses lying upon his chest； and all who saw it marvelled。 Then
Ulysses in turn lifted Ajax and stirred him a little from the ground
but could not lift him righ