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！
Neleus。 〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃these young warriors are pressing you
hard； your force is spent； and age is heavy upon you； your squire
is naught； and your horses are slow to move。 Mount my chariot and
see what the horses of Tros can dohow cleverly they can scud
hither and thither over the plain either in flight or in pursuit。
I took them from the hero Aeneas。 Let our squires attend to your
own steeds； but let us drive mine straight at the Trojans； that
Hector may learn how furiously I too can wield my spear。〃
Nestor knight of Gerene hearkened to his words。 Thereon the
doughty squires； Sthenelus and kind…hearted Eurymedon； saw to
Nestor's horses； while the two both mounted Diomed's chariot。
Nestor took the reins in his hands and lashed the horses on； they
were soon close up with Hector； and the son of Tydeus aimed a
spear at him as he was charging full speed towards them。 He
missed him； but struck his charioteer and squire Eniopeus son of
noble Thebaeus in the breast by the nipple while the reins were
in his hands； so that he died there and then； and the horses
swerved as he fell headlong from the chariot。 Hector was greatly
grieved at the loss of his charioteer； but let him lie for all
his sorrow； while he went in quest of another driver； nor did his
steeds have to go long without one； for he presently found brave
Archeptolemus the son of Iphitus； and made him get up behind the
horses； giving the reins into his hand。
All had then been lost and no help for it； for they would have
been penned up in Ilius like sheep； had not the sire of gods and
men been quick to mark； and hurled a fiery flaming thunderbolt
which fell just in front of Diomed's horses with a flare of
burning brimstone。 The horses were frightened and tried to back
beneath the car； while the reins dropped from Nestor's hands。
Then he was afraid and said to Diomed； 〃Son of Tydeus； turn your
horses in flight； see you not that the hand of Jove is against
you？ To…day he vouchsafes victory to Hector； to…morrow； if it so
please him； he will again grant it to ourselves； no man； however
brave； may thwart the purpose of Jove； for he is far stronger
than any。〃
Diomed answered； 〃All that you have said is true； there is a
grief however which pierces me to the very heart； for Hector will
talk among the Trojans and say； 'The son of Tydeus fled before me
to the ships。' This is the vaunt he will make； and may earth then
swallow me。〃
〃Son of Tydeus；〃 replied Nestor； 〃what mean you？ Though Hector
say that you are a coward the Trojans and Dardanians will not
believe him； nor yet the wives of the mighty warriors whom you
have laid low。〃
So saying he turned the horses back through the thick of the
battle； and with a cry that rent the air the Trojans and Hector
rained their darts after them。 Hector shouted to him and said；
〃Son of Tydeus； the Danaans have done you honour hitherto as
regards your place at table； the meals they give you； and the
filling of your cup with wine。 Henceforth they will despise you；
for you are bee no better than a woman。 Be off； girl and
coward that you are； you shall not scale our walls through any
flinching upon my part； neither shall you carry off our wives in
your ships； for I shall kill you with my own hand。〃
The son of Tydeus was in two minds whether or no to turn his
horses round again and fight him。 Thrice did he doubt； and thrice
did Jove thunder from the heights of Ida in token to the Trojans
that he would turn the battle in their favour。 Hector then
shouted to them and said； 〃Trojans； Lycians； and Dardanians；
lovers of close fighting； be men； my friends； and fight with
might and with main； I see that Jove is minded to vouchsafe
victory and great glory to myself； while he will deal destruction
upon the Danaans。 Fools； for having thought of building this weak
and worthless wall。 It shall not stay my fury； my horses will
spring lightly over their trench； and when I am at their ships
forget not to bring me fire that I may burn them； while I
slaughter the Argives who will be all dazed and bewildered by the
smoke。〃
Then he cried to his horses； 〃Xanthus and Podargus； and you
Aethon and goodly Lampus； pay me for your keep now and for all
the honey…sweet corn with which Andromache daughter of great
Eetion has fed you； and for she has mixed wine and water for you
to drink whenever you would； before doing so even for me who am
her own husband。 Haste in pursuit； that we may take the shield of
Nestor； the fame of which ascends to heaven； for it is of solid
gold； arm…rods and all； and that we may strip from the shoulders
of Diomed。 the cuirass which Vulcan made him。 Could we take these
two things； the Achaeans would set sail in their ships this
self…same night。〃
Thus did he vaunt； but Queen Juno made high Olympus quake as she
shook with rage upon her throne。 Then said she to the mighty god
of Neptune； 〃What now； wide ruling lord of the earthquake？ Can
you find no passion in your heart for the dying Danaans； who
bring you many a wele offering to Helice and to Aegae？ Wish
them well then。 If all of us who are with the Danaans were to
drive the Trojans back and keep Jove from helping them； he would
have to sit there sulking alone on Ida。〃
King Neptune was greatly troubled and answered； 〃Juno； rash of
tongue； what are you talking about？ We other gods must not set
ourselves against Jove； for he is far stronger than we are。〃
Thus did they converse； but the whole space enclosed by the
ditch； from the ships even to the wall； was filled with horses
and warriors； who were pent up there by Hector son of Priam； now
that the hand of Jove was with him。 He would even have set fire
to the ships and burned them； had not Queen Juno put it into the
mind of Agamemnon； to bestir himself and to encourage the
Achaeans。 To this end he went round the ships and tents carrying
a great purple cloak； and took his stand by the huge black hull
of Ulysses' ship； which was middlemost of all； it was from this
place that his voice would carry farthest； on the one hand
towards the tents of Ajax son of Telamon； and on the other
towards those of Achillesfor these two heroes； well assured of