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！
Thus spoke Priam； and the heart of Achilles yearned as he
bethought him of his father。 He took the old man's hand and moved
him gently away。 The two wept bitterlyPriam； as he lay at
Achilles' feet； weeping for Hector； and Achilles now for his
father and now for Patroclus； till the house was filled with
their lamentation。 But when Achilles was now sated with grief and
had unburthened the bitterness of his sorrow； he left his seat
and raised the old man by the hand； in pity for his white hair
and beard； then he said； 〃Unhappy man； you have indeed been
greatly daring； how could you venture to e alone to the ships
of the Achaeans； and enter the presence of him who has slain so
many of your brave sons？ You must have iron courage： sit now upon
this seat； and for all our grief we will hide our sorrows in our
hearts； for weeping will not avail us。 The immortals know no
care； yet the lot they spin for man is full of sorrow； on the
floor of Jove's palace there stand two urns； the one filled with
evil gifts； and the other with good ones。 He for whom Jove the
lord of thunder mixes the gifts he sends； will meet now with good
and now with evil fortune； but he to whom Jove sends none but
evil gifts will be pointed at by the finger of scorn； the hand of
famine will pursue him to the ends of the world； and he will go
up and down the face of the earth； respected neither by gods nor
men。 Even so did it befall Peleus； the gods endowed him with all
good things from his birth upwards； for he reigned over the
Myrmidons excelling all men in prosperity and wealth； and mortal
though he was they gave him a goddess for his bride。 But even on
him too did heaven send misfortune； for there is no race of royal
children born to him in his house； save one son who is doomed to
die all untimely； nor may I take care of him now that he is
growing old； for I must stay here at Troy to be the bane of you
and your children。 And you too； O Priam； I have heard that you
were aforetime happy。 They say that in wealth and plenitude of
offspring you surpassed all that is in Lesbos； the realm of Makar
to the northward； Phrygia that is more inland； and those that
dwell upon the great Hellespont； but from the day when the
dwellers in heaven sent this evil upon you； war and slaughter
have been about your city continually。 Bear up against it； and
let there be some intervals in your sorrow。 Mourn as you may for
your brave son； you will take nothing by it。 You cannot raise him
from the dead； ere you do so yet another sorrow shall befall
you。〃
And Priam answered； 〃O king； bid me not be seated； while Hector
is still lying uncared for in your tents； but accept the great
ransom which I have brought you； and give him to me at once that
I may look upon him。 May you prosper with the ransom and reach
your own land in safety； seeing that you have suffered me to live
and to look upon the light of the sun。〃
Achilles looked at him sternly and said； 〃Vex me； sir； no longer；
I am of myself minded to give up the body of Hector。 My mother；
daughter of the old man of the sea； came to me from Jove to bid
me deliver it to you。 Moreover I know well； O Priam； and you
cannot hide it； that some god has brought you to the ships of the
Achaeans； for else； no man however strong and in his prime would
dare to e to our host； he could neither pass our guard unseen；
nor draw the bolt of my gates thus easily； therefore； provoke me
no further； lest I sin against the word of Jove； and suffer you
not； suppliant though you are； within my tents。〃
The old man feared him and obeyed。 Then the son of Peleus sprang
like a lion through the door of his house； not alone； but with
him went his two squires Automedon and Alcimus who were closer to
him than any others of his rades now that Patroclus was no
more。 These unyoked the horses and mules； and bade Priam's herald
and attendant be seated within the house。 They lifted the ransom
for Hector's body from the waggon； but they left two mantles and
a goodly shirt； that Achilles might wrap the body in them when he
gave it to be taken home。 Then he called to his servants and
ordered them to wash the body and anoint it； but he first took it
to a place where Priam should not see it； lest if he did so； he
should break out in the bitterness of his grief； and enrage
Achilles； who might then kill him and sin against the word of
Jove。 When the servants had washed the body and anointed it； and
had wrapped it in a fair shirt and mantle； Achilles himself
lifted it on to a bier； and he and his men then laid it on the
waggon。 He cried aloud as he did so and called on the name of his
dear rade； 〃Be not angry with me； Patroclus；〃 he said； 〃if you
hear even in the house of Hades that I have given Hector to his
father for a ransom。 It has been no unworthy one； and I will
share it equitably with you。〃
Achilles then went back into the tent and took his place on the
richly inlaid seat from which he had risen； by the wall that was
at right angles to the one against which Priam was sitting。
〃Sir；〃 he said； 〃your son is now laid upon his bier and is
ransomed according to desire； you shall look upon him when you
him away at daybreak； for the present let us prepare our supper。
Even lovely Niobe had to think about eating； though her twelve
childrensix daughters and six lusty sonshad been all slain in
her house。 Apollo killed the sons with arrows from his silver
bow； to punish Niobe； and Diana slew the daughters； because Niobe
had vaunted herself against Leto； she said Leto had borne two
children only； whereas she had herself borne manywhereon the
two killed the many。 Nine days did they lie weltering； and there
was none to bury them； for the son of Saturn turned the people
into stone； but on the tenth day the gods in heaven themselves
buried them； and Niobe then took food； being worn out with
weeping。 They say that somewhere among the rocks on the mountain
pastures of Sipylus； where the nymphs live that haunt the river
Achelous； there； they say； she lives in stone and still nurses
the sorrows sent upon her by the hand of heaven。 Therefore； noble
sir； let us two now take food； you can weep for your de