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！
barrow should be； made a foundation for it about the pyre； and
forthwith heaped up the earth。 When they had thus raised a mound
they were going away； but Achilles stayed the people and made
them sit in assembly。 He brought prizes from the shipscauldrons；
tripods； horses and mules； noble oxen； women with fair girdles；
and swart iron。
The first prize he offered was for the chariot racesa woman
skilled in all useful arts； and a three…legged cauldron that had
ears for handles； and would hold twenty…two measures。 This was
for the man who came in first。 For the second there was a
six…year old mare； unbroken； and in foal to a he…ass； the third
was to have a goodly cauldron that had never yet been on the
fire； it was still bright as when it left the maker； and would
hold four measures。 The fourth prize was two talents of gold； and
the fifth a two…handled urn as yet unsoiled by smoke。 Then he
stood up and spoke among the Argives saying
〃Son of Atreus； and all other Achaeans； these are the prizes that
lie waiting the winners of the chariot races。 At any other time I
should carry off the first prize and take it to my own tent； you
know how far my steeds excel all othersfor they are immortal；
Neptune gave them to my father Peleus； who in his turn gave them
to myself； but I shall hold aloof； I and my steeds that have lost
their brave and kind driver； who many a time has washed them in
clear water and anointed their manes with oil。 See how they stand
weeping here； with their manes trailing on the ground in the
extremity of their sorrow。 But do you others set yourselves in
order throughout the host； whosoever has confidence in his horses
and in the strength of his chariot。〃
Thus spoke the son of Peleus and the drivers of chariots
bestirred themselves。 First among them all uprose Eumelus； king
of men； son of Admetus； a man excellent in horsemanship。 Next to
him rose mighty Diomed son of Tydeus； he yoked the Trojan horses
which he had taken from Aeneas； when Apollo bore him out of the
fight。 Next to him； yellow…haired Menelaus son of Atreus rose and
yoked his fleet horses； Agamemnon's mare Aethe； and his own horse
Podargus。 The mare had been given to Agamemnon by Echepolus son
of Anchises； that he might not have to follow him to Ilius； but
might stay at home and take his ease； for Jove had endowed him
with great wealth and he lived in spacious Sicyon。 This mare； all
eager for the race； did Menelaus put under the yoke。
Fourth in order Antilochus； son to noble Nestor son of Neleus；
made ready his horses。 These were bred in Pylos； and his father
came up to him to give him good advice of which； however； he
stood in but little need。 〃Antilochus；〃 said Nestor； 〃you are
young； but Jove and Neptune have loved you well； and have made
you an excellent horseman。 I need not therefore say much by way
of instruction。 You are skilful at wheeling your horses round the
post； but the horses themselves are very slow； and it is this
that will； I fear； mar your chances。 The other drivers know less
than you do； but their horses are fleeter； therefore； my dear
son； see if you cannot hit upon some artifice whereby you may
insure that the prize shall not slip through your fingers。 The
woodman does more by skill than by brute force； by skill the
pilot guides his storm…tossed barque over the sea； and so by
skill one driver can beat another。 If a man go wide in rounding
this way and that； whereas a man who knows what he is doing may
have worse horses； but he will keep them well in hand when he
sees the doubling…post； he knows the precise moment at which to
pull the rein； and keeps his eye well on the man in front of him。
I will give you this certain token which cannot escape your
notice。 There is a stump of a dead treeoak or pine as it may
besome six feet above the ground； and not yet rotted away by
rain； it stands at the fork of the road； it has two white stones
set one on each side； and there is a clear course all round it。
It may have been a monument to some one long since dead； or it
may have been used as a doubling…post in days gone by； now；
however； it has been fixed on by Achilles as the mark round which
the chariots shall turn； hug it as close as you can； but as you
stand in your chariot lean over a little to the left； urge on
your right…hand horse with voice and lash； and give him a loose
rein； but let the left…hand horse keep so close in； that the nave
of your wheel shall almost graze the post； but mind the stone； or
you will wound your horses and break your chariot in pieces；
which would be sport for others but confusion for yourself。
Therefore； my dear son； mind well what you are about； for if you
can be first to round the post there is no chance of any one
giving you the go…by later； not even though you had Adrestus's
horse Arion behind youa horse which is of divine raceor those
of Laomedon； which are the noblest in this country。〃
When Nestor had made an end of counselling his son he sat down in
his place； and fifth in order Meriones got ready his horses。
They then all mounted their chariots and cast lots。 Achilles
shook the helmet； and the lot of Antilochus son of Nestor fell
out first； next came that of King Eumelus； and after his； those
of Menelaus son of Atreus and of Meriones。 The last place fell to
the lot of Diomed son of Tydeus； who was the best man of them
all。 They took their places in line； Achilles showed them the
doubling…post round which they were to turn； some way off upon
the plain； here he stationed his father's follower Phoenix as
umpire； to note the running； and report truly。
At the same instant they all of them lashed their horses； struck
them with the reins； and shouted at them with all their might。
They flew full speed over the plain away from the ships； the dust
rose from under them as it were a cloud or whirlwind； and their
manes were all flying in the wind。 At one moment the chariots
seemed to touch the ground； and then again they bounded into the
air； the drivers stood erect； and their hearts beat fast and
furious in their lust of victory。 Each kept calling on his
horses； and the horses scoured the plain amid the clouds of d