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！
and Jove shed a thick darkness over the fight； to increase the of
the battle over the body of his son。
At first the Trojans made some headway against the Achaeans； for one
of the best men among the Myrmidons was killed； Epeigeus； son of noble
Agacles who had erewhile been king in the good city of Budeum； but
presently； having killed a valiant kinsman of his own； he took
refuge with Peleus and Thetis； who sent him to Ilius the land of noble
steeds to fight the Trojans under Achilles。 Hector now struck him on
the head with a stone just as he had caught hold of the body； and
his brains inside his helmet were all battered in； so that he fell
face foremost upon the body of Sarpedon； and there died。 Patroclus was
enraged by the death of his comrade； and sped through the front
ranks as swiftly as a hawk that swoops down on a flock of daws or
starlings。 Even so swiftly； O noble knight Patroclus； did you make
straight for the Lycians and Trojans to avenge your comrade。 Forthwith
he struck Sthenelaus the son of Ithaemenes on the neck with a stone；
and broke the tendons that join it to the head and spine。 On this
Hector and the front rank of his men gave ground。 As far as a man
can throw a javelin when competing for some prize； or even in
battle… so far did the Trojans now retreat before the Achaeans。
Glaucus； captain of the Lycians； was the first to rally them； by
killing Bathycles son of Chalcon who lived in Hellas and was the
richest man among the Myrmidons。 Glaucus turned round suddenly； just
as Bathycles who was pursuing him was about to lay hold of him； and
drove his spear right into the middle of his chest； whereon he fell
heavily to the ground； and the fall of so good a man filled the
Achaeans with dismay； while the Trojans were exultant； and came up
in a body round the corpse。 Nevertheless the Achaeans； mindful of
their prowess； bore straight down upon them。
Meriones then killed a helmed warrior of the Trojans； Laogonus son
of Onetor； who was priest of Jove of Mt。 Ida； and was honoured by
the people as though he were a god。 Meriones struck him under the
jaw and ear； so that life went out of him and the darkness of death
laid hold upon him。 Aeneas then aimed a spear at Meriones； hoping to
hit him under the shield as he was advancing； but Meriones saw it
coming and stooped forward to avoid it； whereon the spear flew past
him and the point stuck in the ground； while the butt…end went on
quivering till Mars robbed it of its force。 The spear； therefore； sped
from Aeneas's hand in vain and fell quivering to the ground。 Aeneas
was angry and said； 〃Meriones； you are a good dancer； but if I had hit
you my spear would soon have made an end of you。〃
And Meriones answered； 〃Aeneas； for all your bravery； you will not
be able to make an end of every one who comes against you。 You are
only a mortal like myself； and if I were to hit you in the middle of
your shield with my spear； however strong and self…confident you may
be； I should soon vanquish you； and you would yield your life to Hades
of the noble steeds。〃
On this the son of Menoetius rebuked him and said； 〃Meriones； hero
though you be； you should not speak thus； taunting speeches； my good
friend； will not make the Trojans draw away from the dead body； some
of them must go under ground first； blows for battle； and words for
council； fight； therefore； and say nothing。〃
He led the way as he spoke and the hero went forward with him。 As
the sound of woodcutters in some forest glade upon the mountains…
and the thud of their axes is heard afar… even such a din now rose
from earth…clash of bronze armour and of good ox…hide shields； as
men smote each other with their swords and spears pointed at both
ends。 A man had need of good eyesight now to know Sarpedon； so covered
was he from head to foot with spears and blood and dust。 Men swarmed
about the body； as flies that buzz round the full milk…pails in spring
when they are brimming with milk… even so did they gather round
Sarpedon； nor did Jove turn his keen eyes away for one moment from the
fight； but kept looking at it all the time； for he was settling how
best to kill Patroclus； and considering whether Hector should be
allowed to end him now in the fight round the body of Sarpedon； and
strip him of his armour； or whether he should let him give yet further
trouble to the Trojans。 In the end； he deemed it best that the brave
squire of Achilles son of Peleus should drive Hector and the Trojans
back towards the city and take the lives of many。 First； therefore； he
made Hector turn fainthearted； whereon he mounted his chariot and
fled； bidding the other Trojans fly also； for he saw that the scales
of Jove had turned against him。 Neither would the brave Lycians
stand firm； they were dismayed when they saw their king lying struck
to the heart amid a heap of corpses… for when the son of Saturn made
the fight wax hot many had fallen above him。 The Achaeans； therefore
stripped the gleaming armour from his shoulders and the brave son of
Menoetius gave it to his men to take to the ships。 Then Jove lord of
the storm…cloud said to Apollo； 〃Dear Phoebus； go； I pray you； and
take Sarpedon out of range of the weapons； cleanse the black blood
from off him； and then bear him a long way off where you may wash
him in the river； anoint him with ambrosia； and clothe him in immortal
raiment； this done； commit him to the arms of the two fleet
messengers； Death； and Sleep； who will carry him straightway to the
rich land of Lycia； where his brothers and kinsmen will inter him； and
will raise both mound and pillar to his memory； in due honour to the
dead。〃
Thus he spoke。 Apollo obeyed his father's saying； and came down from
the heights of Ida into the thick of the fight； forthwith he took
Sarpedon out of range of the weapons； and then bore him a long way
off； where he washed him in the river； anointed him with ambrosia
and clothed him in immortal raiment； this done； he committed him to
the arms of the two fleet messengers； Death； and Sleep； who
presently set him down in the rich land of Lycia。
Meanwhile Patroclus； with many a shout to his horses and to
Automedon； pursued the Trojans and Lycians in the pride and
foolishness of his heart。 Had he but obeyed the bidding of the son
of Peleus； he would have； escaped death and have been scatheless；
but the counsels of Jove pass man's understanding； he will put even
a brave man to flight and snatch victory from his grasp； or again he
will set him on to fight； as he now did when he put a high spirit into
the heart of Patroclus。
Who then first； and who last； was slain by you； O Patroclus； when
the gods had now called you to meet your doom？ First Adrestus；
Autonous； Echeclus； Perimus the son of Megas； Epistor and
Melanippus； after these he killed Elasus； Mulius； and Pylartes。
These he slew； but the rest saved themselves by flight。
The sons of the Achaeans would now have taken Troy by the hands of
Patroclus； for his spear flew in all directions； had not Phoebus
Apollo taken his stand upon the wall to defeat his purpose and to
aid the Trojans。 Thrice did Patroclus charge at an angle of the high
wall； and thrice di