第 46 节
作者:美丽心点      更新:2021-02-21 16:08      字数:9322
  upon the ground。 Thereon Meriones sprang upon him like a vulture; drew
  the spear from his shoulder; and fell back under cover of his men。
  Then Polites; own brother of Deiphobus passed his arms around his
  waist; and bore him away from the battle till he got to his horses
  that were standing in the rear of the fight with the chariot and their
  driver。 These took him towards the city groaning and in great pain;
  with the blood flowing from his arm。
  The others still fought on; and the battle…cry rose to heaven
  without ceasing。 Aeneas sprang on Aphareus son of Caletor; and
  struck him with a spear in his throat which was turned towards him;
  his head fell on one side; his helmet and shield came down along
  with him; and death; life's foe; was shed around him。 Antilochus spied
  his chance; flew forward towards Thoon; and wounded him as he was
  turning round。 He laid open the vein that runs all the way up the back
  to the neck; he cut this vein clean away throughout its whole
  course; and Thoon fell in the dust face upwards; stretching out his
  hands imploringly towards his comrades。 Antilochus sprang upon him and
  stripped the armour from his shoulders; glaring round him fearfully as
  he did so。 The Trojans came about him on every side and struck his
  broad and gleaming shield; but could not wound his body; for Neptune
  stood guard over the son of Nestor; though the darts fell thickly
  round him。 He was never clear of the foe; but was always in the
  thick of the fight; his spear was never idle; he poised and aimed it
  in every direction; so eager was he to hit some one from a distance or
  to fight him hand to hand。
  As he was thus aiming among the crowd; he was seen by Adamas son
  of Asius; who rushed towards him and struck him with a spear in the
  middle of his shield; but Neptune made its point without effect; for
  he grudged him the life of Antilochus。 One half; therefore; of the
  spear stuck fast like a charred stake in Antilochus's shield; while
  the other lay on the ground。 Adamas then sought shelter under cover of
  his men; but Meriones followed after and hit him with a spear midway
  between the private parts and the navel; where a wound is particualrly
  painful to wretched mortals。 There did Meriones transfix him; and he
  writhed convulsively about the spear as some bull whom mountain
  herdsmen have bound with ropes of withes and are taking away perforce。
  Even so did he move convulsively for a while; but not for very long;
  till Meriones came up and drew the spear out of his body; and his eyes
  were veiled in darkness。
  Helenus then struck Deipyrus with a great Thracian sword; hitting
  him on the temple in close combat and tearing the helmet from his
  head; the helmet fell to the ground; and one of those who were
  fighting on the Achaean side took charge of it as it rolled at his
  feet; but the eyes of Deipyrus were closed in the darkness of death。
  On this Menelaus was grieved; and made menacingly towards Helenus;
  brandishing his spear; but Helenus drew his bow; and the two
  attacked one another at one and the same moment; the one with his
  spear; and the other with his bow and arrow。 The son of Priam hit
  the breastplate of Menelaus's corslet; but the arrow glanced from
  off it。 As black beans or pulse come pattering down on to a
  threshing…floor from the broad winnowing…shovel; blown by shrill winds
  and shaken by the shovel… even so did the arrow glance off and
  recoil from the shield of Menelaus; who in his turn wounded the hand
  with which Helenus carried his bow; the spear went right through his
  hand and stuck in the bow itself; so that to his life he retreated
  under cover of his men; with his hand dragging by his side… for the
  spear weighed it down till Agenor drew it out and bound the hand
  carefully up in a woollen sling which his esquire had with him。
  Pisander then made straight at Menelaus… his evil destiny luring him
  on to his doom; for he was to fall in fight with you; O Menelaus。 When
  the two were hard by one another the spear of the son of Atreus turned
  aside and he missed his aim; Pisander then struck the shield of
  brave Menelaus but could not pierce it; for the shield stayed the
  spear and broke the shaft; nevertheless he was glad and made sure of
  victory; forthwith; however; the son of Atreus drew his sword and
  sprang upon him。 Pisander then seized the bronze battle…axe; with
  its long and polished handle of olive wood that hung by his side under
  his shield; and the two made at one another。 Pisander struck the
  peak of Menelaus's crested helmet just under the crest itself; and
  Menelaus hit Pisander as he was coming towards him; on the forehead;
  just at the rise of his nose; the bones cracked and his two
  gore…bedrabbled eyes fell by his feet in the dust。 He fell backwards
  to the ground; and Menelaus set his heel upon him; stripped him of his
  armour; and vaunted over him saying; 〃Even thus shall you Trojans
  leave the ships of the Achaeans; proud and insatiate of battle
  though you be: nor shall you lack any of the disgrace and shame
  which you have heaped upon myself。 Cowardly she…wolves that you are;
  you feared not the anger of dread Jove; avenger of violated
  hospitality; who will one day destroy your city; you stole my wedded
  wife and wickedly carried off much treasure when you were her guest;
  and now you would fling fire upon our ships; and kill our heroes。 A
  day will come when; rage as you may; you shall be stayed。 O father
  Jove; you; who they say art above all both gods and men in wisdom; and
  from whom all things that befall us do proceed; how can you thus
  favour the Trojans… men so proud and overweening; that they are
  never tired of fighting? All things pall after a while… sleep; love;
  sweet song; and stately dance… still these are things of which a man
  would surely have his fill rather than of battle; whereas it is of
  battle that the Trojans are insatiate。〃
  So saying Menelaus stripped the blood…stained armour from the body
  of Pisander; and handed it over to his men; then he again ranged
  himself among those who were in the front of the fight。
  Harpalion son of King Pylaemenes then sprang upon him; he had come
  to fight at Troy along with his father; but he did not go home
  again。 He struck the middle of Menelaus's shield with his spear but
  could not pierce it; and to save his life drew back under cover of his
  men; looking round him on every side lest he should be wounded。 But
  Meriones aimed a bronze…tipped arrow at him as he was leaving the
  field; and hit him on the right buttock; the arrow pierced the bone
  through and through; and penetrated the bladder; so he sat down
  where he was and breathed his last in the arms of his comrades;
  stretched like a worm upon the ground and watering the earth with
  the blood that flowed from his wound。 The brave Paphlagonians tended
  him with all due care; they raised him into his chariot; and bore
  him sadly off to the city of Troy; his father went also with him
  weeping bitterly; but there was no ransom that could bring his dead
  son to life again。
  Paris was deeply grieved by the death of Harpalion; who was his host
  when he went among the Paphlagonians; he aimed an arrow; therefore; in
  order to avenge him。 Now there was a certain man named Euchenor; son
  of Polyidus the prophet; a brave man and wealthy; whose home was in
  Corinth。 This Euchenor had set sail for Troy well knowing that it
  would be the death of him; for his good old father Polyidus had
  often told him that he must either stay at home and die of a
  terrible disease; or go with the Achaeans and perish at the hands of
  the Trojans; he chose; therefore; to avoid incurring the heavy fine
  the Achaeans would have laid upon him; and at the same time to
  escape the pain and suffering of disease。 Paris now smote him on the
  jaw under his ear; whereon the life went out of him and he was
  enshrouded in the darkness of death。
  Thus then did they fight as it were a flaming fire。 But Hector had
  not yet heard; and did not know that the Argives were making havoc
  of his men on the left wing of the battle; where the Achaeans ere long
  would have triumphed over them; so vigorously did Neptune cheer them
  on and help them。 He therefore held on at the point where he had first
  forced his way through the gates and the wall; after breaking
  through the serried ranks of Danaan warriors。 It was here that the
  ships of Ajax and Protesilaus were drawn up by the sea…shore; here the
  wall was at its lowest; and the fight both of man and horse raged most
  fiercely。 The Boeotians and the Ionians with their long tunics; the
  Locrians; the men of Phthia; and the famous force of the Epeans
  could hardly stay Hector as he rushed on towards the ships; nor
  could they drive him from them; for he was as a wall of fire。 The
  chosen men of the Athenians were in the van; led by Menestheus son
  of Peteos; with whom were also Pheidas; Stichius; and stalwart Bias:
  Meges son of Phyleus; Amphion; and Dracius commanded the Epeans; while
  Medon and staunch Podarces led the men of Phthia。 Of these; Medon
  was bastard son to Oileus and brother of Ajax; but he lived in Phylace
  away from his own country; for he had killed the brother of his
  stepmother Eriopis; the wife of Oileus; the other; Pod