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！
Pergamus and called aloud to the Trojans； for he was displeased。
〃Trojans；〃 he cried； 〃rush on the foe； and do not let yourselves be
thus beaten by the Argives。 Their skins are not stone nor iron that
when hit them you do them no harm。 Moreover； Achilles； the son of
lovely Thetis； is not fighting； but is nursing his anger at the
ships。〃
Thus spoke the mighty god； crying to them from the city； while
Jove's redoubtable daughter； the Trito…born； went about among the host
of the Achaeans； and urged them forward whenever she beheld them
slackening。
Then fate fell upon Diores； son of Amarynceus； for he was struck
by a jagged stone near the ancle of his right leg。 He that hurled it
was Peirous； son of Imbrasus； captain of the Thracians； who had come
from Aenus； the bones and both the tendons were crushed by the
pitiless stone。 He fell to the ground on his back； and in his death
throes stretched out his hands towards his comrades。 But Peirous；
who had wounded him； sprang on him and thrust a spear into his
belly； so that his bowels came gushing out upon the ground； and
darkness veiled his eyes。 As he was leaving the body； Thoas of Aetolia
struck him in the chest near the nipple； and the point fixed itself in
his lungs。 Thoas came close up to him； pulled the spear out of his
chest； and then drawing his sword； smote him in the middle of the
belly so that he died； but he did not strip him of his armour； for his
Thracian comrades； men who wear their hair in a tuft at the top of
their heads； stood round the body and kept him off with their long
spears for all his great stature and valour； so he was driven back。
Thus the two corpses lay stretched on earth near to one another； the
one captain of the Thracians and the other of the Epeans； and many
another fell round them。
And now no man would have made light of the fighting if he could
have gone about among it scatheless and unwounded； with Minerva
leading him by the hand； and protecting him from the storm of spears
and arrows。 For many Trojans and Achaeans on that day lay stretched
side by side face downwards upon the earth。
BOOK V
Then Pallas Minerva put valour into the heart of Diomed； son of
Tydeus； that he might excel all the other Argives； and cover himself
with glory。 She made a stream of fire flare from his shield and helmet
like the star that shines most brilliantly in summer after its bath in
the waters of Oceanus… even such a fire did she kindle upon his head
and shoulders as she bade him speed into the thickest hurly…burly of
the fight。
Now there was a certain rich and honourable man among the Trojans；
priest of Vulcan； and his name was Dares。 He had two sons； Phegeus and
Idaeus； both of them skilled in all the arts of war。 These two came
forward from the main body of Trojans； and set upon Diomed； he being
on foot； while they fought from their chariot。 When they were close up
to one another； Phegeus took aim first； but his spear went over
Diomed's left shoulder without hitting him。 Diomed then threw； and his
spear sped not in vain； for it hit Phegeus on the breast near the
nipple； and he fell from his chariot。 Idaeus did not dare to
bestride his brother's body； but sprang from the chariot and took to
flight； or he would have shared his brother's fate； whereon Vulcan
saved him by wrapping him in a cloud of darkness； that his old
father might not be utterly overwhelmed with grief； but the son of
Tydeus drove off with the horses； and bade his followers take them
to the ships。 The Trojans were scared when they saw the two sons of
Dares； one of them in fright and the other lying dead by his
chariot。 Minerva； therefore； took Mars by the hand and said； 〃Mars；
Mars； bane of men； bloodstained stormer of cities； may we not now
leave the Trojans and Achaeans to fight it out； and see to which of
the two Jove will vouchsafe the victory？ Let us go away； and thus
avoid his anger。〃
So saying； she drew Mars out of the battle； and set him down upon
the steep banks of the Scamander。 Upon this the Danaans drove the
Trojans back； and each one of their chieftains killed his man。 First
King Agamemnon flung mighty Odius； captain of the Halizoni； from his
chariot。 The spear of Agamemnon caught him on the broad of his back；
just as he was turning in flight； it struck him between the
shoulders and went right through his chest； and his armour rang
rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground。
Then Idomeneus killed Phaesus； son of Borus the Meonian； who had
come from Varne。 Mighty Idomeneus speared him on the right shoulder as
he was mounting his chariot； and the darkness of death enshrouded
him as he fell heavily from the car。
The squires of Idomeneus spoiled him of his armour； while
Menelaus； son of Atreus； killed Scamandrius the son of Strophius； a
mighty huntsman and keen lover of the chase。 Diana herself had
taught him how to kill every kind of wild creature that is bred in
mountain forests； but neither she nor his famed skill in archery could
now save him； for the spear of Menelaus struck him in the back as he
was flying； it struck him between the shoulders and went right through
his chest； so that he fell headlong and his armour rang rattling round
him。
Meriones then killed Phereclus the son of Tecton； who was the son of
Hermon； a man whose hand was skilled in all manner of cunning
workmanship； for Pallas Minerva had dearly loved him。 He it was that
made the ships for Alexandrus； which were the beginning of all
mischief； and brought evil alike both on the Trojans and on Alexandrus
himself； for he heeded not the decrees of heaven。 Meriones overtook
him as he was flying； and struck him on the right buttock。 The point
of the spear went through the bone into the bladder； and death came
upon him as he cried aloud and fell forward on his knees。
Meges； moreover； slew Pedaeus； son of Antenor； who； though he was
a bastard； had been brought up by Theano as one of her own children；
for the love she bore her husband。 The son of Phyleus got close up
to him and drove a spear into the nape of his neck： it went under
his tongue all among his teeth； so he bit the cold bronze； and fell
dead in the dust。
And Eurypylus； son of Euaemon； killed Hypsenor； the son of noble
Dolopion； who had been made priest of the river Scamander； and was
honoured among the people as though he were a god。 Eurypylus gave
him chase as he was flying before him； smote him with his sword upon
the arm； and lopped his strong hand from off it。 The bloody hand
fell to the ground； and the shades of death； with fate that no man can
withstand； came over his eyes。
Thus furiously did the battle rage between them。 As for the son of
Tydeus； you could not say whether he was more among the Achaeans or
the Trojans。 He rushed across the plain like a winter torrent that has
burst its barrier in full flood； no dykes； no walls of fruitful
vineyards can embank it when it is swollen with rain from heaven；
but in a moment it comes tearing onward； and lays many a field waste
that many a strong man hand has reclaimed… even so were the dense
phalanxes of the Trojans driven in rout by the son of Tydeus；