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！
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 did Apollo beat him back； striking his shield with
his own immortal hands。 When Patroclus was coming on like a god for
yet a fourth time； Apollo shouted to him with an awful voice and said；
〃Draw back； noble Patroclus； it is not your lot to sack the city of
the Trojan chieftains； nor yet will it be that of Achilles who is a
far better man than you are。〃 On hearing this； Patroclus withdrew to
some distance and avoided the anger of Apollo。
Meanwhile Hector was waiting with his horses inside the Scaean
gates； in doubt whether to drive out again and go on fighting； or to
call the army inside the gates。 As he was thus doubting Phoebus Apollo
drew near him in the likeness of a young and lusty warrior Asius；
who was Hector's uncle； being own brother to Hecuba； and son of
Dymas who lived in Phrygia by the waters of the river Sangarius； in
his likeness Jove's son Apollo now spoke to Hector saying； 〃Hector；
why have you left off fighting？ It is ill done of you。 If I were as
much better a man than you； as I am worse； you should soon rue your
slackness。 Drive straight towards Patroclus； if so be that Apollo
may grant you a triumph over him； and you may rull him。〃
With this the god went back into the hurly…burly； and Hector bade
Cebriones drive again into the fight。 Apollo passed in among them； and
struck panic into the Argives； while he gave triumph to Hector and the
Trojans。 Hector let the other Danaans alone and killed no man； but
drove straight at Patroclus。 Patroclus then sprang from his chariot to
the ground； with a spear in his left hand； and in his right a jagged
stone as large as his hand could hold。 He stood still and threw it；
nor did it go far without hitting some one； the cast was not in
vain； for the stone struck Cebriones； Hector's charioteer； a bastard
son of Priam； as he held the reins in his hands。 The stone hit him
on the forehead and drove his brows into his head for the bone was
smashed； and his eyes fell to the ground at his feet。 He dropped
dead from his chariot as though he were diving； and there was no
more life left in him。 Over him did you then vaunt； O knight
Patroclus； saying； 〃Bless my heart； how active he is； and how well
he dives。 If we had been at sea this fellow would have dived from
the ship's side and brought up as many oysters as the whole crew could
stomach； even in rough water； for he has dived beautifully off his
chariot on to the ground。 It seems； then； that there are divers also
among the Trojans。〃
As he spoke he flung himself on Cebriones with the spring； as it
were； of a lion that while attacking a stockyard is himself struck
in the chest； and his courage is his own bane… even so furiously； O
Patroclus； did you then spring upon Cebriones。 Hector sprang also from
his chariot to the ground。 The pair then fought over the body of
Cebriones。 As two lions fight fiercely on some high mountain over
the body of a stag that they have killed； even so did these two mighty
warriors； Patroclus son of Menoetius and brave Hector； hack and hew at
one another over the corpse of Cebriones。 Hector would not let him
go when he had once got him by the head； while Patroclus kept fast
hold of his feet； and a fierce fight raged between the other Danaans
and Trojans。 As the east and south wind buffet one another when they
beat upon some dense forest on the mountains… there is beech and ash
and spreading cornel； the to of the trees roar as they beat on one
another； and one can hear the boughs cracking and breaking… even so
did the Trojans and Achaeans spring upon one another and lay about
each other； and neither side would give way。 Many a pointed spear fell
to ground and many a winged arrow sped from its bow…string about the
body of Cebriones； many a great stone； moreover； beat on many a shield
as they fought around his body； but there he lay in the whirling
clouds of dust； all huge and hugely； heedless of his driving now。
So long as the sun was still high in mid…heaven the weapons of
either side were alike deadly； and the people fell； but when he went
down towards the time when men loose their oxen； the Achaeans proved
to be beyond all forecast stronger； so that they drew Cebriones out of
range of the darts and tumult of the Trojans； and stripped the
armour from his shoulders。 Then Patroclus sprang like Mars with fierce
intent and a terrific shout upon the Trojans； and thrice did he kill
nine men； but as he was coming on like a god for a time； then； O
Patroclus； was the hour of your end approaching； for Phoebus fought
you in fell earnest。 Patroclus did not see him as he moved about in
the crush； for he was enshrouded in thick darkness； and the god struck
him from behind on his back and his broad shoulders with the flat of
his hand； so that his eyes turned dizzy。 Phoebus Apollo beat the
helmet from off his head； and it rolled rattling off under the horses'
feet； where its horse…hair plumes were all begrimed with dust and
blood。 Never indeed had that helmet fared so before； for it had served
to protect the head and comely forehead of the godlike hero
Achilles。 Now； however； Zeus delivered it over to be worn by Hector。
Nevertheless the end of Hector also was near。 The bronze…shod spear；
so great and so strong； was broken in the hand of Patroclus； while his
shield that covered him from head to foot fell to the ground as did
also the band that held it； and Apollo undid the fastenings of his
corslet。
On this his mind became clouded； his limbs failed him； and he
stood as one dazed； whereon Euphorbus son of Panthous a Dardanian； the
best spearman of his time； as also the finest horseman and fleetest
runner； came behind him and struck him in the back with a spear；
midway between the shoulders。 This man as soon as ever he had come
up with his chariot had dismounted twenty men； so proficient was he in
all the arts of war… he it was； O knight Patroclus； that first drove a
weapon into you； but he did not quite overpower you。 Euphorbus then
ran back into the crowd； after drawing his ashen spear out of the
wound； he would not stand firm and wait for Patroclus； unarmed
though he now was； to attack him； but Patroclus unnerved； alike by the
blow the god had given him and by the spear…wound； drew back under
cover of his men in fear for his life。 Hector on this； seeing him to
be wounded and giving ground； forced his way through the ranks； and
when close up with him struck him in the lower part of the belly
with a spear； driving the bronze point right through it； so that he
fell heavily to the ground to the great of the Achaeans。 As when a
lion has fought some fierce wild…boar and worsted him… the two fight
furiously upon the mountains over some little fountain at which they
would both drink； and the lion has beaten the boar till he can
hardly breathe… even so did Hector son of Priam take the life of the
brave son of Menoetius who had killed so many； striking him from close
at hand； and vaunting over him the while。 〃Patroclus；〃 said he； 〃you
deemed that you should sack our city； ro