第 59 节
作者:美丽心点      更新:2021-02-21 16:08      字数:9322
  Sarpedon; nor did Jove turn his keen eyes away for one moment from the
  fight; but kept looking at it all the time; for he was settling how
  best to kill Patroclus; and considering whether Hector should be
  allowed to end him now in the fight round the body of Sarpedon; and
  strip him of his armour; or whether he should let him give yet further
  trouble to the Trojans。 In the end; he deemed it best that the brave
  squire of Achilles son of Peleus should drive Hector and the Trojans
  back towards the city and take the lives of many。 First; therefore; he
  made Hector turn fainthearted; whereon he mounted his chariot and
  fled; bidding the other Trojans fly also; for he saw that the scales
  of Jove had turned against him。 Neither would the brave Lycians
  stand firm; they were dismayed when they saw their king lying struck
  to the heart amid a heap of corpses… for when the son of Saturn made
  the fight wax hot many had fallen above him。 The Achaeans; therefore
  stripped the gleaming armour from his shoulders and the brave son of
  Menoetius gave it to his men to take to the ships。 Then Jove lord of
  the storm…cloud said to Apollo; 〃Dear Phoebus; go; I pray you; and
  take Sarpedon out of range of the weapons; cleanse the black blood
  from off him; and then bear him a long way off where you may wash
  him in the river; anoint him with ambrosia; and clothe him in immortal
  raiment; this done; commit him to the arms of the two fleet
  messengers; Death; and Sleep; who will carry him straightway to the
  rich land of Lycia; where his brothers and kinsmen will inter him; and
  will raise both mound and pillar to his memory; in due honour to the
  dead。〃
  Thus he spoke。 Apollo obeyed his father's saying; and came down from
  the heights of Ida into the thick of the fight; forthwith he took
  Sarpedon out of range of the weapons; and then bore him a long way
  off; where he washed him in the river; anointed him with ambrosia
  and clothed him in immortal raiment; this done; he committed him to
  the arms of the two fleet messengers; Death; and Sleep; who
  presently set him down in the rich land of Lycia。
  Meanwhile Patroclus; with many a shout to his horses and to
  Automedon; pursued the Trojans and Lycians in the pride and
  foolishness of his heart。 Had he but obeyed the bidding of the son
  of Peleus; he would have; escaped death and have been scatheless;
  but the counsels of Jove pass man's understanding; he will put even
  a brave man to flight and snatch victory from his grasp; or again he
  will set him on to fight; as he now did when he put a high spirit into
  the heart of Patroclus。
  Who then first; and who last; was slain by you; O Patroclus; when
  the gods had now called you to meet your doom? First Adrestus;
  Autonous; Echeclus; Perimus the son of Megas; Epistor and
  Melanippus; after these he killed Elasus; Mulius; and Pylartes。
  These he slew; but the rest saved themselves by flight。
  The sons of the Achaeans would now have taken Troy by the hands of
  Patroclus; for his spear flew in all directions; had not Phoebus
  Apollo taken his stand upon the wall to defeat his purpose and to
  aid the Trojans。 Thrice did Patroclus charge at an angle of the high
  wall; and thrice did Apollo beat him back; striking his shield with
  his own immortal hands。 When Patroclus was coming on like a god for
  yet a fourth time; Apollo shouted to him with an awful voice and said;
  〃Draw back; noble Patroclus; it is not your lot to sack the city of
  the Trojan chieftains; nor yet will it be that of Achilles who is a
  far better man than you are。〃 On hearing this; Patroclus withdrew to
  some distance and avoided the anger of Apollo。
  Meanwhile Hector was waiting with his horses inside the Scaean
  gates; in doubt whether to drive out again and go on fighting; or to
  call the army inside the gates。 As he was thus doubting Phoebus Apollo
  drew near him in the likeness of a young and lusty warrior Asius;
  who was Hector's uncle; being own brother to Hecuba; and son of
  Dymas who lived in Phrygia by the waters of the river Sangarius; in
  his likeness Jove's son Apollo now spoke to Hector saying; 〃Hector;
  why have you left off fighting? It is ill done of you。 If I were as
  much better a man than you; as I am worse; you should soon rue your
  slackness。 Drive straight towards Patroclus; if so be that Apollo
  may grant you a triumph over him; and you may rull him。〃
  With this the god went back into the hurly…burly; and Hector bade
  Cebriones drive again into the fight。 Apollo passed in among them; and
  struck panic into the Argives; while he gave triumph to Hector and the
  Trojans。 Hector let the other Danaans alone and killed no man; but
  drove straight at Patroclus。 Patroclus then sprang from his chariot to
  the ground; with a spear in his left hand; and in his right a jagged
  stone as large as his hand could hold。 He stood still and threw it;
  nor did it go far without hitting some one; the cast was not in
  vain; for the stone struck Cebriones; Hector's charioteer; a bastard
  son of Priam; as he held the reins in his hands。 The stone hit him
  on the forehead and drove his brows into his head for the bone was
  smashed; and his eyes fell to the ground at his feet。 He dropped
  dead from his chariot as though he were diving; and there was no
  more life left in him。 Over him did you then vaunt; O knight
  Patroclus; saying; 〃Bless my heart; how active he is; and how well
  he dives。 If we had been at sea this fellow would have dived from
  the ship's side and brought up as many oysters as the whole crew could
  stomach; even in rough water; for he has dived beautifully off his
  chariot on to the ground。 It seems; then; that there are divers also
  among the Trojans。〃
  As he spoke he flung himself on Cebriones with the spring; as it
  were; of a lion that while attacking a stockyard is himself struck
  in the chest; and his courage is his own bane… even so furiously; O
  Patroclus; did you then spring upon Cebriones。 Hector sprang also from
  his chariot to the ground。 The pair then fought over the body of
  Cebriones。 As two lions fight fiercely on some high mountain over
  the body of a stag that they have killed; even so did these two mighty
  warriors; Patroclus son of Menoetius and brave Hector; hack and hew at
  one another over the corpse of Cebriones。 Hector would not let him
  go when he had once got him by the head; while Patroclus kept fast
  hold of his feet; and a fierce fight raged between the other Danaans
  and Trojans。 As the east and south wind buffet one another when they
  beat upon some dense forest on the mountains… there is beech and ash
  and spreading cornel; the to of the trees roar as they beat on one
  another; and one can hear the boughs cracking and breaking… even so
  did the Trojans and Achaeans spring upon one another and lay about
  each other; and neither side would give way。 Many a pointed spear fell
  to ground and many a winged arrow sped from its bow…string about the
  body of Cebriones; many a great stone; moreover; beat on many a shield
  as they fought around his body; but there he lay in the whirling
  clouds of dust; all huge and hugely; heedless of his driving now。
  So long as the sun was still high in mid…heaven the weapons of
  either side were alike deadly; and the people fell; but when he went
  down towards the time when men loose their oxen; the Achaeans proved
  to be beyond all forecast stronger; so that they drew Cebriones out of
  range of the darts and tumult of the Trojans; and stripped the
  armour from his shoulders。 Then Patroclus sprang like Mars with fierce
  intent and a terrific shout upon the Trojans; and thrice did he kill
  nine men; but as he was coming on like a god for a time; then; O
  Patroclus; was the hour of your end approaching; for Phoebus fought
  you in fell earnest。 Patroclus did not see him as he moved about in
  the crush; for he was enshrouded in thick darkness; and the god struck
  him from behind on his back and his broad shoulders with the flat of
  his hand; so that his eyes turned dizzy。 Phoebus Apollo beat the
  helmet from off his head; and it rolled rattling off under the horses'
  feet; where its horse…hair plumes were all begrimed with dust and
  blood。 Never indeed had that helmet fared so before; for it had served
  to protect the head and comely forehead of the godlike hero
  Achilles。 Now; however; Zeus delivered it over to be worn by Hector。
  Nevertheless the end of Hector also was near。 The bronze…shod spear;
  so great and so strong; was broken in the hand of Patroclus; while his
  shield that covered him from head to foot fell to the ground as did
  also the band that held it; and Apollo undid the fastenings of his
  corslet。
  On this his mind became clouded; his limbs failed him; and he
  stood as one dazed; whereon Euphorbus son of Panthous a Dardanian; the
  best spearman of his time; as also the finest horseman and fleetest
  runner; came behind him and struck him in the back with a spear;
  midway between the shoulders。 This man as soon as ever he had come
  up with his chariot had dismounted twenty men; so proficient was he in
  all the arts of war… he it was; O knight Patroclus; that first drove a
  weapon into you; but he did not quite overpower you。 Euphorbus then
  ran back into the crowd; after drawing his ashen s