第 3 节
作者:美丽心点      更新:2021-02-21 16:08      字数:9322
  Achilles drew a deep sigh and said; 〃You know it; why tell you
  what you know well already? We went to Thebe the strong city of
  Eetion; sacked it; and brought hither the spoil。 The sons of the
  Achaeans shared it duly among themselves; and chose lovely Chryseis as
  the meed of Agamemnon; but Chryses; priest of Apollo; came to the
  ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter; and brought with him a
  great ransom: moreover he bore in his hand the sceptre of Apollo;
  wreathed with a suppliant's wreath; and he besought the Achaeans;
  but most of all the two sons of Atreus who were their chiefs。
  〃On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for respecting
  the priest and taking the ransom that he offered; but not so
  Agamemnon; who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly away。 So
  he went back in anger; and Apollo; who loved him dearly; heard his
  prayer。 Then the god sent a deadly dart upon the Argives; and the
  people died thick on one another; for the arrows went everywhither
  among the wide host of the Achaeans。 At last a seer in the fulness
  of his knowledge declared to us the oracles of Apollo; and I was
  myself first to say that we should appease him。 Whereon the son of
  Atreus rose in anger; and threatened that which he has since done。 The
  Achaeans are now taking the girl in a ship to Chryse; and sending
  gifts of sacrifice to the god; but the heralds have just taken from my
  tent the daughter of Briseus; whom the Achaeans had awarded to myself。
  〃Help your brave son; therefore; if you are able。 Go to Olympus; and
  if you have ever done him service in word or deed; implore the aid
  of Jove。 Ofttimes in my father's house have I heard you glory in
  that you alone of the immortals saved the son of Saturn from ruin;
  when the others; with Juno; Neptune; and Pallas Minerva would have put
  him in bonds。 It was you; goddess; who delivered him by calling to
  Olympus the hundred…handed monster whom gods call Briareus; but men
  Aegaeon; for he is stronger even than his father; when therefore he
  took his seat all…glorious beside the son of Saturn; the other gods
  were afraid; and did not bind him。 Go; then; to him; remind him of all
  this; clasp his knees; and bid him give succour to the Trojans。 Let
  the Achaeans be hemmed in at the sterns of their ships; and perish
  on the sea…shore; that they may reap what joy they may of their
  king; and that Agamemnon may rue his blindness in offering insult to
  the foremost of the Achaeans。〃
  Thetis wept and answered; 〃My son; woe is me that I should have
  borne or suckled you。 Would indeed that you had lived your span free
  from all sorrow at your ships; for it is all too brief; alas; that you
  should be at once short of life and long of sorrow above your peers:
  woe; therefore; was the hour in which I bore you; nevertheless I
  will go to the snowy heights of Olympus; and tell this tale to Jove;
  if he will hear our prayer: meanwhile stay where you are with your
  ships; nurse your anger against the Achaeans; and hold aloof from
  fight。 For Jove went yesterday to Oceanus; to a feast among the
  Ethiopians; and the other gods went with him。 He will return to
  Olympus twelve days hence; I will then go to his mansion paved with
  bronze and will beseech him; nor do I doubt that I shall be able to
  persuade him。〃
  On this she left him; still furious at the loss of her that had been
  taken from him。 Meanwhile Ulysses reached Chryse with the hecatomb。
  When they had come inside the harbour they furled the sails and laid
  them in the ship's hold; they slackened the forestays; lowered the
  mast into its place; and rowed the ship to the place where they
  would have her lie; there they cast out their mooring…stones and
  made fast the hawsers。 They then got out upon the sea…shore and landed
  the hecatomb for Apollo; Chryseis also left the ship; and Ulysses
  led her to the altar to deliver her into the hands of her father。
  〃Chryses;〃 said he; 〃King Agamemnon has sent me to bring you back your
  child; and to offer sacrifice to Apollo on behalf of the Danaans; that
  we may propitiate the god; who has now brought sorrow upon the
  Argives。〃
  So saying he gave the girl over to her father; who received her
  gladly; and they ranged the holy hecatomb all orderly round the
  altar of the god。 They washed their hands and took up the
  barley…meal to sprinkle over the victims; while Chryses lifted up
  his hands and prayed aloud on their behalf。 〃Hear me;〃 he cried; 〃O
  god of the silver bow; that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla; and
  rulest Tenedos with thy might。 Even as thou didst hear me aforetime
  when I prayed; and didst press hardly upon the Achaeans; so hear me
  yet again; and stay this fearful pestilence from the Danaans。〃
  Thus did he pray; and Apollo heard his prayer。 When they had done
  praying and sprinkling the barley…meal; they drew back the heads of
  the victims and killed and flayed them。 They cut out the
  thigh…bones; wrapped them round in two layers of fat; set some
  pieces of raw meat on the top of them; and then Chryses laid them on
  the wood fire and poured wine over them; while the young men stood
  near him with five…pronged spits in their hands。 When the
  thigh…bones were burned and they had tasted the inward meats; they cut
  the rest up small; put the pieces upon the spits; roasted them till
  they were done; and drew them off: then; when they had finished
  their work and the feast was ready; they ate it; and every man had his
  full share; so that all were satisfied。 As soon as they had had enough
  to eat and drink; pages filled the mixing…bowl with wine and water and
  handed it round; after giving every man his drink…offering。
  Thus all day long the young men worshipped the god with song;
  hymning him and chaunting the joyous paean; and the god took
  pleasure in their voices; but when the sun went down; and it came on
  dark; they laid themselves down to sleep by the stern cables of the
  ship; and when the child of morning; rosy…fingered Dawn; appeared they
  again set sail for the host of the Achaeans。 Apollo sent them a fair
  wind; so they raised their mast and hoisted their white sails aloft。
  As the sail bellied with the wind the ship flew through the deep
  blue water; and the foam hissed against her bows as she sped onward。
  When they reached the wide…stretching host of the Achaeans; they
  drew the vessel ashore; high and dry upon the sands; set her strong
  props beneath her; and went their ways to their own tents and ships。
  But Achilles abode at his ships and nursed his anger。 He went not to
  the honourable assembly; and sallied not forth to fight; but gnawed at
  his own heart; pining for battle and the war…cry。
  Now after twelve days the immortal gods came back in a body to
  Olympus; and Jove led the way。 Thetis was not unmindful of the
  charge her son had laid upon her; so she rose from under the sea and
  went through great heaven with early morning to Olympus; where she
  found the mighty son of Saturn sitting all alone upon its topmost
  ridges。 She sat herself down before him; and with her left hand seized
  his knees; while with her right she caught him under the chin; and
  besought him; saying…
  〃Father Jove; if I ever did you service in word or deed among the
  immortals; hear my prayer; and do honour to my son; whose life is to
  be cut short so early。 King Agamemnon has dishonoured him by taking
  his prize and keeping her。 Honour him then yourself; Olympian lord
  of counsel; and grant victory to the Trojans; till the Achaeans give
  my son his due and load him with riches in requital。〃
  Jove sat for a while silent; and without a word; but Thetis still
  kept firm hold of his knees; and besought him a second time。
  〃Incline your head;〃 said she; 〃and promise me surely; or else deny
  me… for you have nothing to fear… that I may learn how greatly you
  disdain me。〃
  At this Jove was much troubled and answered; 〃I shall have trouble
  if you set me quarrelling with Juno; for she will provoke me with
  her taunting speeches; even now she is always railing at me before the
  other gods and accusing me of giving aid to the Trojans。 Go back
  now; lest she should find out。 I will consider the matter; and will
  bring it about as wish。 See; I incline my head that you believe me。
  This is the most solemn that I can give to any god。 I never recall
  my word; or deceive; or fail to do what I say; when I have nodded my
  head。〃
  As he spoke the son of Saturn bowed his dark brows; and the
  ambrosial locks swayed on his immortal head; till vast Olympus reeled。
  When the pair had thus laid their plans; they parted… Jove to his
  house; while the goddess quitted the splendour of Olympus; and plunged
  into the depths of the sea。 The gods rose from their seats; before the
  coming of their sire。 Not one of them dared to remain sitting; but all
  stood up as he came among them。 There; then; he took his seat。 But
  Juno; when she saw him; knew that he and the old merman's daughter;
  silver…footed Thetis; had been hatching mischief; so she at once began
  to upbraid him。 〃Trickster;〃 she cried; 〃which of the gods have you
  been taking into your counsels now? You are always settling matters in
  secret behind my back; and have never yet told me; if you could help
  it; one word of your intentio