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！
Nine roods did he cover in his fall； and his hair was all soiled in
the dust； while his armour rang rattling round him。 But Minerva
laughed and vaunted over him saying； 〃Idiot； have you not learned
how far stronger I am than you； but you must still match yourself
against me？ Thus do your mother's curses now roost upon you； for she
is angry and would do you mischief because you have deserted the
Achaeans and are helping the Trojans。〃
She then turned her two piercing eyes elsewhere； whereon Jove's
daughter Venus took Mars by the hand and led him away groaning all the
time； for it was only with great difficulty that he had come to
himself again。 When Queen Juno saw her； she said to Minerva； 〃Look；
daughter of aegis…bearing Jove； unweariable； that vixen Venus is again
taking Mars through the crowd out of the battle； go after her at
once。〃
Thus she spoke。 Minerva sped after Venus with a will； and made at
her； striking her on the bosom with her strong hand so that she fell
fainting to the ground； and there they both lay stretched at full
length。 Then Minerva vaunted over her saying； 〃May all who help the
Trojans against the Argives prove just as redoubtable and stalwart
as Venus did when she came across me while she was helping Mars。 Had
this been so； we should long since have ended the war by sacking the
strong city of Ilius。〃
Juno smiled as she listened。 Meanwhile King Neptune turned to Apollo
saying； 〃Phoebus； why should we keep each other at arm's length？ it is
not well； now that the others have begun fighting； it will be
disgraceful to us if we return to Jove's bronze…floored mansion on
Olympus without having fought each other； therefore come on； you are
the younger of the two； and I ought not to attack you； for I am
older and have had more experience。 Idiot； you have no sense； and
forget how we two alone of all the gods fared hardly round about Ilius
when we came from Jove's house and worked for Laomedon a whole year at
a stated wage and he gave us his orders。 I built the Trojans the
wall about their city； so wide and fair that it might be
impregnable； while you； Phoebus； herded cattle for him in the dales of
many valleyed Ida。 When； however； the glad hours brought round the
time of payment； mighty Laomedon robbed us of all our hire and sent us
off with nothing but abuse。 He threatened to bind us hand and foot and
sell us over into some distant island。 He tried； moreover； to cut
off the ears of both of us； so we went away in a rage； furious about
the payment he had promised us； and yet withheld； in spite of all
this； you are now showing favour to his people； and will not join us
in compassing the utter ruin of the proud Trojans with their wives and
children。〃
And King Apollo answered； 〃Lord of the earthquake； you would have no
respect for me if I were to fight you about a pack of miserable
mortals； who come out like leaves in summer and eat the fruit of the
field； and presently fall lifeless to the ground。 Let us stay this
fighting at once and let them settle it among themselves。〃
He turned away as he spoke； for he would lay no hand on the
brother of his own father。 But his sister the huntress Diana；
patroness of wild beasts； was very angry with him and said； 〃So you
would fly； Far…Darter； and hand victory over to Neptune with a cheap
vaunt to boot。 Baby； why keep your bow thus idle？ Never let me again
hear you bragging in my father's house； as you have often done in
the presence of the immortals； that you would stand up and fight
with Neptune。〃
Apollo made her no answer； but Jove's august queen was angry and
upbraided her bitterly。 〃Bold vixen；〃 she cried； 〃how dare you cross
me thus？ For all your bow you will find it hard to hold your own
against me。 Jove made you as a lion among women； and lets you kill
them whenever you choose。 You will And it better to chase wild
beasts and deer upon the mountains than to fight those who are
stronger than you are。 If you would try war； do so； and find out by
pitting yourself against me； how far stronger I am than you are。〃
She caught both Diana's wrists with her left hand as she spoke；
and with her right she took the bow from her shoulders； and laughed as
she beat her with it about the ears while Diana wriggled and writhed
under her blows。 Her swift arrows were shed upon the ground； and she
fled weeping from under Juno's hand as a dove that flies before a
falcon to the cleft of some hollow rock； when it is her good fortune
to escape。 Even so did she fly weeping away； leaving her bow and
arrows behind her。
Then the slayer of Argus； guide and guardian； said to Leto； 〃Leto； I
shall not fight you； it is ill to come to blows with any of Jove's
wives。 Therefore boast as you will among the immortals that you
worsted me in fair fight。〃
Leto then gathered up Diana's bow and arrows that had fallen about
amid the whirling dust； and when she had got them she made all haste
after her daughter。 Diana had now reached Jove's bronze…floored
mansion on Olympus； and sat herself down with many tears on the
knees of her father； while her ambrosial raiment was quivering all
about her。 The son of Saturn drew her towards him； and laughing
pleasantly the while began to question her saying； 〃Which of the
heavenly beings； my dear child； has been treating you in this cruel
manner； as though you had been misconducting yourself in the face of
everybody？〃 and the fair…crowned goddess of the chase answered； 〃It
was your wife Juno； father； who has been beating me； it is always
her doing when there is any quarrelling among the immortals。〃
Thus did they converse； and meanwhile Phoebus Apollo entered the
strong city of Ilius； for he was uneasy lest the wall should not
hold out and the Danaans should take the city then and there； before
its hour had come； but the rest of the ever…living gods went back；
some angry and some triumphant to Olympus； where they took their seats
beside Jove lord of the storm cloud； while Achilles still kept on
dealing out death alike on the Trojans and on their As when the
smoke from some burning city ascends to heaven when the anger of the
gods has kindled it… there is then toil for all； and sorrow for not
a few… even so did Achilles bring toil and sorrow on the Trojans。
Old King Priam stood on a high tower of the wall looking down on
huge Achilles as the Trojans fled panic…stricken before him； and there
was none to help them。 Presently he came down from off the tower and
with many a groan went along the wall to give orders to the brave
warders of the gate。 〃Keep the gates；〃 said he； 〃wide open till the
people come flying into the city； for Achilles is hard by and is
driving them in rout before him。 I see we are in great peril。 As
soon as our people are inside and in safety； close the strong gates
for I fear lest that terrible man should come bounding inside along
with the others。〃
As he spoke they drew back the bolts and opened the gates； and
when these were opened there was a haven of refuge for the Trojans。
Apollo then came full speed out of the city to meet them and protect
them。 Right for the city and the high wall； parched with thirst and
grimy with dust； still