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！
to the counsels of Jove； nor to the promises he made meand he
bowed his head in confirmation； you bid me be ruled rather by the
flight of wild…fowl。 What care I whether they fly towards dawn or
dark； and whether they be on my right hand or on my left？ Let us
put our trust rather in the counsel of great Jove； king of
mortals and immortals。 There is one omen； and one onlythat a
man should fight for his country。 Why are you so fearful？ Though
we be all of us slain at the ships of the Argives you are not
likely to be killed yourself； for you are not steadfast nor
courageous。 If you will not fight； or would talk others over from
doing so； you shall fall forthwith before my spear。〃
With these words he led the way； and the others followed after
with a cry that rent the air。 Then Jove the lord of thunder sent
the blast of a mighty wind from the mountains of Ida； that bore
the dust down towards the ships； he thus lulled the Achaeans into
security； and gave victory to Hector and to the Trojans； who；
trusting to their own might and to the signs he had shown them；
essayed to break through the great wall of the Achaeans。 They
tore down the breastworks from the walls； and overthrew the
battlements； they upheaved the buttresses； which the Achaeans had
set in front of the wall in order to support it； when they had
pulled these down they made sure of breaking through the wall；
but the Danaans still showed no sign of giving ground； they still
fenced the battlements with their shields of ox…hide； and hurled
their missiles down upon the foe as soon as any came below the
wall。
The two Ajaxes went about everywhere on the walls cheering on the
Achaeans； giving fair words to some while they spoke sharply to
any one whom they saw to be remiss。 〃My friends；〃 they cried；
〃Argives one and allgood bad and indifferent； for there was
never fight yet； in which all were of equal prowessthere is now
work enough； as you very well know； for all of you。 See that you
none of you turn in flight towards the ships； daunted by the
shouting of the foe； but press forward and keep one another in
heart； if it may so be that Olympian Jove the lord of lightning
will vouchsafe us to repel our foes； and drive them back towards
the city。〃
Thus did the two go about shouting and cheering the Achaeans on。
As the flakes that fall thick upon a winter's day； when Jove is
minded to snow and to display these his arrows to mankindhe
lulls the wind to rest； and snows hour after hour till he has
buried the tops of the high mountains； the headlands that jut
into the sea； the grassy plains； and the tilled fields of men；
the snow lies deep upon the forelands； and havens of the grey
sea； but the waves as they e rolling in stay it that it can
e no further； though all else is wrapped as with a mantle； so
heavy are the heavens with snoweven thus thickly did the stones
fall on one side and on the other； some thrown at the Trojans；
and some by the Trojans at the Achaeans； and the whole wall was
in an uproar。
Still the Trojans and brave Hector would not yet have broken down
the gates and the great bar； had not Jove turned his son Sarpedon
against the Argives as a lion against a herd of horned cattle。
Before him he held his shield of hammered bronze； that the smith
had beaten so fair and round； and had lined with ox hides which
he had made fast with rivets of gold all round the shield； this
he held in front of him； and brandishing his two spears came on
like some lion of the wilderness； who has been long famished for
want of meat and will dare break even into a well…fenced
homestead to try and get at the sheep。 He may find the shepherds
keeping watch over their flocks with dogs and spears； but he is
in no mind to be driven from the fold till he has had a try for
it； he will either spring on a sheep and carry it off； or be hit
by a spear from some strong handeven so was Sarpedon fain to
attack the wall and break down its battlements。 Then he said to
Glaucus son of Hippolochus； 〃Glaucus； why in Lycia do we receive
especial honour as regards our place at table？ Why are the
choicest portions served us and our cups kept brimming； and why
do men look up to us as though we were gods？ Moreover we hold a
large estate by the banks of the river Xanthus； fair with orchard
lawns and wheat…growing land； it bees us； therefore； to take
our stand at the head of all the Lycians and bear the brunt of
the fight； that one may say to another； 'Our princes in Lycia eat
the fat of the land and drink best of wine； but they are fine
fellows； they fight well and are ever at the front in battle。' My
good friend； if； when we were once out of this fight； we could
escape old age and death thenceforward and forever； I should
neither press forward myself nor bid you do so； but death in ten
thousand shapes hangs ever over our heads； and no man can elude
him； therefore let us go forward and either win glory for
ourselves； or yield it to another。〃
Glaucus heeded his saying； and the pair forthwith led on the host
of Lycians。 Menestheus son of Peteos was dismayed when he saw
them； for it was against his part of the wall that they came
bringing destruction with them； he looked along the wall for some
chieftain to support his rades and saw the two Ajaxes； men
ever eager for the fray； and Teucer； who had just e from his
tent； standing near them； but he could not make his voice heard
by shouting to them； so great an uproar was there from crashing
shields and helmets and the battering of gates with a din which
reached the skies。 For all the gates had been closed； and the
Trojans were hammering at them to try and break their way through
them。 Menestheus； therefore； sent Thootes with a message to Ajax。
〃Run； good Thootes；〃 he said； 〃and call Ajax； or better still bid
both e； for it will be all over with us here directly； the
leaders of the Lycians are upon us； men who have ever fought
desperately heretofore。 But if they have too much on their hands
to let them e； at any rate let Ajax son of Telamon do so； and
let Teucer； the famous bowman； e with him。〃
The messenger did as he was told； and set off running along the
wall of the Achae