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！
for their own driver。 If they miss the sound of your voice when they
expect it they may be frightened； and refuse to take us out of the
fight。 The son of Tydeus will then kill both of us and take the
horses。 Therefore drive them yourself and I will be ready for him with
my spear。〃
They then mounted the chariot and drove full…speed towards the son
of Tydeus。 Sthenelus； son of Capaneus； saw them coming and said to
Diomed； 〃Diomed； son of Tydeus； man after my own heart； I see two
heroes speeding towards you； both of them men of might the one a
skilful archer； Pandarus son of Lycaon； the other； Aeneas； whose
sire is Anchises； while his mother is Venus。 Mount the chariot and let
us retreat。 Do not； I pray you； press so furiously forward； or you may
get killed。〃
Diomed looked angrily at him and answered： 〃Talk not of flight；
for I shall not listen to you： I am of a race that knows neither
flight nor fear； and my limbs are as yet unwearied。 I am in no mind to
mount； but will go against them even as I am； Pallas Minerva bids me
be afraid of no man； and even though one of them escape； their
steeds shall not take both back again。 I say further； and lay my
saying to your heart… if Minerva sees fit to vouchsafe me the glory of
killing both； stay your horses here and make the reins fast to the rim
of the chariot； then be sure you spring Aeneas' horses and drive
them from the Trojan to the Achaean ranks。 They are of the stock
that great Jove gave to Tros in payment for his son Ganymede； and
are the finest that live and move under the sun。 King Anchises stole
the blood by putting his mares to them without Laomedon's knowledge；
and they bore him six foals。 Four are still in his stables； but he
gave the other two to Aeneas。 We shall win great glory if we can
take them。〃
Thus did they converse； but the other two had now driven close up to
them； and the son of Lycaon spoke first。 〃Great and mighty son；〃
said he； 〃of noble Tydeus； my arrow failed to lay you low； so I will
now try with my spear。〃
He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it from him。 It struck
the shield of the son of Tydeus； the bronze point pierced it and
passed on till it reached the breastplate。 Thereon the son of Lycaon
shouted out and said； 〃You are hit clean through the belly； you will
not stand out for long； and the glory of the fight is mine。〃
But Diomed all undismayed made answer； 〃You have missed； not hit；
and before you two see the end of this matter one or other of you
shall glut tough…shielded Mars with his blood。〃
With this he hurled his spear； and Minerva guided it on to
Pandarus's nose near the eye。 It went crashing in among his white
teeth； the bronze point cut through the root of his to tongue；
coming out under his chin； and his glistening armour rang rattling
round him as he fell heavily to the ground。 The horses started aside
for fear； and he was reft of life and strength。
Aeneas sprang from his chariot armed with shield and spear；
fearing lest the Achaeans should carry off the body。 He bestrode it as
a lion in the pride of strength； with shield and on spear before him
and a cry of battle on his lips resolute to kill the first that should
dare face him。 But the son of Tydeus caught up a mighty stone； so huge
and great that as men now are it would take two to lift it；
nevertheless he bore it aloft with ease unaided； and with this he
struck Aeneas on the groin where the hip turns in the joint that is
called the 〃cup…bone。〃 The stone crushed this joint； and broke both
the sinews； while its jagged edges tore away all the flesh。 The hero
fell on his knees； and propped himself with his hand resting on the
ground till the darkness of night fell upon his eyes。 And now
Aeneas； king of men； would have perished then and there； had not his
mother； Jove's daughter Venus； who had conceived him by Anchises
when he was herding cattle； been quick to mark； and thrown her two
white arms about the body of her dear son。 She protected him by
covering him with a fold of her own fair garment； lest some Danaan
should drive a spear into his breast and kill him。
Thus； then； did she bear her dear son out of the fight。 But the
son of Capaneus was not unmindful of the orders that Diomed had
given him。 He made his own horses fast； away from the hurly…burly；
by binding the reins to the rim of the chariot。 Then he sprang upon
Aeneas's horses and drove them from the Trojan to the Achaean ranks。
When he had so done he gave them over to his chosen comrade
Deipylus； whom he valued above all others as the one who was most
like…minded with himself； to take them on to the ships。 He then
remounted his own chariot； seized the reins； and drove with all
speed in search of the son of Tydeus。
Now the son of Tydeus was in pursuit of the Cyprian goddess； spear
in hand； for he knew her to be feeble and not one of those goddesses
that can lord it among men in battle like Minerva or Enyo the waster
of cities； and when at last after a long chase he caught her up； he
flew at her and thrust his spear into the flesh of her delicate
hand。 The point tore through the ambrosial robe which the Graces had
woven for her； and pierced the skin between her wrist and the palm
of her hand； so that the immortal blood； or ichor； that flows in the
veins of the blessed gods； came pouring from the wound； for the gods
do not eat bread nor drink wine； hence they have no blood such as
ours； and are immortal。 Venus screamed aloud； and let her son fall；
but Phoebus Apollo caught him in his arms； and hid him in a cloud of
darkness； lest some Danaan should drive a spear into his breast and
kill him； and Diomed shouted out as he left her； 〃Daughter of Jove；
leave war and battle alone； can you not be contented with beguiling
silly women？ If you meddle with fighting you will get what will make
you shudder at the very name of war。〃
The goddess went dazed and discomfited away； and Iris； fleet as
the wind； drew her from the throng； in pain and with her fair skin all
besmirched。 She found fierce Mars waiting on the left of the battle；
with his spear and his two fleet steeds resting on a cloud； whereon
she fell on her knees before her brother and implored him to let her
have his horses。 〃Dear brother；〃 she cried； 〃save me； and give me your
horses to take me to Olympus where the gods dwell。 I am badly
wounded by a mortal； the son of Tydeus； who would now fight even
with father Jove。〃
Thus she spoke； and Mars gave her his gold…bedizened steeds。 She
mounted the chariot sick and sorry at heart； while Iris sat beside her
and took the reins in her hand。 She lashed her horses on and they flew
forward nothing loth； till in a trice they were at high Olympus； where
the gods have their dwelling。 There she stayed them； unloosed them
from the chariot； and gave them their ambrosial forage； but Venus
flung herself on to the lap of her mother Dione； who threw her arms
about her and caressed her； saying； 〃Which of the heavenly beings
has been treating you in this way； as though you had been doing
something wrong in the face of day？〃
And laughter…loving Venus answered； 〃Proud Diomed； the son of
Tydeus； wounded me because I was beari