第 58 节
作者:美丽心点      更新:2021-02-21 16:08      字数:9322
  the chariot cracked and they got entangled in the reins through the
  fall of the horse that was yoked along with them; but Automedon knew
  what to do; without the loss of a moment he drew the keen blade that
  hung by his sturdy thigh and cut the third horse adrift; whereon the
  other two righted themselves; and pulling hard at the reins again went
  together into battle。
  Sarpedon now took a second aim at Patroclus; and again missed him;
  the point of the spear passed over his left shoulder without hitting
  him。 Patroclus then aimed in his turn; and the spear sped not from his
  hand in vain; for he hit Sarpedon just where the midriff surrounds the
  ever…beating heart。 He fell like some oak or silver poplar or tall
  pine to which woodmen have laid their axes upon the mountains to
  make timber for ship…building… even so did he lie stretched at full
  length in front of his chariot and horses; moaning and clutching at
  the blood…stained dust。 As when a lion springs with a bound upon a
  herd of cattle and fastens on a great black bull which dies
  bellowing in its clutches… even so did the leader of the Lycian
  warriors struggle in death as he fell by the hand of Patroclus。 He
  called on his trusty comrade and said; 〃Glaucus; my brother; hero
  among heroes; put forth all your strength; fight with might and
  main; now if ever quit yourself like a valiant soldier。 First go about
  among the Lycian captains and bid them fight for Sarpedon; then
  yourself also do battle to save my armour from being taken。 My name
  will haunt you henceforth and for ever if the Achaeans rob me of my
  armour now that I have fallen at their ships。 Do your very utmost
  and call all my people together。〃
  Death closed his eyes as he spoke。 Patroclus planted his heel on his
  breast and drew the spear from his body; whereon his senses came out
  along with it; and he drew out both spear…point and Sarpedon's soul at
  the same time。 Hard by the Myrmidons held his snorting steeds; who
  were wild with panic at finding themselves deserted by their lords。
  Glaucus was overcome with grief when he heard what Sarpedon said;
  for he could not help him。 He had to support his arm with his other
  hand; being in great pain through the wound which Teucer's arrow had
  given him when Teucer was defending the wall as he; Glaucus; was
  assailing it。 Therefore he prayed to far…darting Apollo saying;
  〃Hear me O king from your seat; may be in the rich land of Lycia; or
  may be in Troy; for in all places you can hear the prayer of one who
  is in distress; as I now am。 I have a grievous wound; my hand is
  aching with pain; there is no staunching the blood; and my whole arm
  drags by reason of my hurt; so that I cannot grasp my sword nor go
  among my foes and fight them; thou our prince; Jove's son Sarpedon; is
  slain。 Jove defended not his son; do you; therefore; O king; heal me
  of my wound; ease my pain and grant me strength both to cheer on the
  Lycians and to fight along with them round the body of him who has
  fallen。〃
  Thus did he pray; and Apollo heard his prayer。 He eased his pain;
  staunched the black blood from the wound; and gave him new strength。
  Glaucus perceived this; and was thankful that the mighty god had
  answered his prayer; forthwith; therefore; he went among the Lycian
  captains; and bade them come to fight about the body of Sarpedon。 From
  these he strode on among the Trojans to Polydamas son of Panthous
  and Agenor; he then went in search of Aeneas and Hector; and when he
  had found them he said; 〃Hector; you have utterly forgotten your
  allies; who languish here for your sake far from friends and home
  while you do nothing to support them。 Sarpedon leader of the Lycian
  warriors has fallen… he who was at once the right and might of
  Lycia; Mars has laid him low by the spear of Patroclus。 Stand by
  him; my friends; and suffer not the Myrmidons to strip him of his
  armour; nor to treat his body with contumely in revenge for all the
  Danaans whom we have speared at the ships。〃
  As he spoke the Trojans were plunged in extreme and ungovernable
  grief; for Sarpedon; alien though he was; had been one of the main
  stays of their city; both as having much people with him; and
  himself the foremost among them all。 Led by Hector; who was infuriated
  by the fall of Sarpedon; they made instantly for the Danaans with
  all their might; while the undaunted spirit of Patroclus son of
  Menoetius cheered on the Achaeans。 First he spoke to the two Ajaxes;
  men who needed no bidding。 〃Ajaxes;〃 said he; 〃may it now please you
  to show youselves the men you have always been; or even better…
  Sarpedon is fallen… he who was first to overleap the wall of the
  Achaeans; let us take the body and outrage it; let us strip the armour
  from his shoulders; and kill his comrades if they try to rescue his
  body。〃
  He spoke to men who of themselves were full eager; both sides;
  therefore; the Trojans and Lycians on the one hand; and the
  Myrmidons and Achaeans on the other; strengthened their battalions;
  and fought desperately about the body of Sarpedon; shouting fiercely
  the while。 Mighty was the din of their armour as they came together;
  and Jove shed a thick darkness over the fight; to increase the of
  the battle over the body of his son。
  At first the Trojans made some headway against the Achaeans; for one
  of the best men among the Myrmidons was killed; Epeigeus; son of noble
  Agacles who had erewhile been king in the good city of Budeum; but
  presently; having killed a valiant kinsman of his own; he took
  refuge with Peleus and Thetis; who sent him to Ilius the land of noble
  steeds to fight the Trojans under Achilles。 Hector now struck him on
  the head with a stone just as he had caught hold of the body; and
  his brains inside his helmet were all battered in; so that he fell
  face foremost upon the body of Sarpedon; and there died。 Patroclus was
  enraged by the death of his comrade; and sped through the front
  ranks as swiftly as a hawk that swoops down on a flock of daws or
  starlings。 Even so swiftly; O noble knight Patroclus; did you make
  straight for the Lycians and Trojans to avenge your comrade。 Forthwith
  he struck Sthenelaus the son of Ithaemenes on the neck with a stone;
  and broke the tendons that join it to the head and spine。 On this
  Hector and the front rank of his men gave ground。 As far as a man
  can throw a javelin when competing for some prize; or even in
  battle… so far did the Trojans now retreat before the Achaeans。
  Glaucus; captain of the Lycians; was the first to rally them; by
  killing Bathycles son of Chalcon who lived in Hellas and was the
  richest man among the Myrmidons。 Glaucus turned round suddenly; just
  as Bathycles who was pursuing him was about to lay hold of him; and
  drove his spear right into the middle of his chest; whereon he fell
  heavily to the ground; and the fall of so good a man filled the
  Achaeans with dismay; while the Trojans were exultant; and came up
  in a body round the corpse。 Nevertheless the Achaeans; mindful of
  their prowess; bore straight down upon them。
  Meriones then killed a helmed warrior of the Trojans; Laogonus son
  of Onetor; who was priest of Jove of Mt。 Ida; and was honoured by
  the people as though he were a god。 Meriones struck him under the
  jaw and ear; so that life went out of him and the darkness of death
  laid hold upon him。 Aeneas then aimed a spear at Meriones; hoping to
  hit him under the shield as he was advancing; but Meriones saw it
  coming and stooped forward to avoid it; whereon the spear flew past
  him and the point stuck in the ground; while the butt…end went on
  quivering till Mars robbed it of its force。 The spear; therefore; sped
  from Aeneas's hand in vain and fell quivering to the ground。 Aeneas
  was angry and said; 〃Meriones; you are a good dancer; but if I had hit
  you my spear would soon have made an end of you。〃
  And Meriones answered; 〃Aeneas; for all your bravery; you will not
  be able to make an end of every one who comes against you。 You are
  only a mortal like myself; and if I were to hit you in the middle of
  your shield with my spear; however strong and self…confident you may
  be; I should soon vanquish you; and you would yield your life to Hades
  of the noble steeds。〃
  On this the son of Menoetius rebuked him and said; 〃Meriones; hero
  though you be; you should not speak thus; taunting speeches; my good
  friend; will not make the Trojans draw away from the dead body; some
  of them must go under ground first; blows for battle; and words for
  council; fight; therefore; and say nothing。〃
  He led the way as he spoke and the hero went forward with him。 As
  the sound of woodcutters in some forest glade upon the mountains…
  and the thud of their axes is heard afar… even such a din now rose
  from earth…clash of bronze armour and of good ox…hide shields; as
  men smote each other with their swords and spears pointed at both
  ends。 A man had need of good eyesight now to know Sarpedon; so covered
  was he from head to foot with spears and blood and dust。 Men swarmed
  about the body; as flies that buzz round the full milk…pails in spring
  when they are brimming with milk… even so did they gather round
  Sarpedon; nor did Jove turn his keen eyes away for one moment from the
  fight; but kept loo