第 81 节
作者:美丽心点      更新:2021-02-21 16:08      字数:9322
  pyre; groaning the while he did so。 The dead hero had had
  house…dogs; two of them did Achilles slay and threw upon the pyre;
  he also put twelve brave sons of noble Trojans to the sword and laid
  them with the rest; for he was full of bitterness and fury。 Then he
  committed all to the resistless and devouring might of the fire; he
  groaned aloud and callid on his dead comrade by name。 〃Fare well;〃
  he cried; 〃Patroclus; even in the house of Hades; I am now doing all
  that I have promised you。 Twelve brave sons of noble Trojans shall the
  flames consume along with yourself; but dogs; not fire; shall devour
  the flesh of Hector son of Priam。〃
  Thus did he vaunt; but the dogs came not about the body of Hector;
  for Jove's daughter Venus kept them off him night and day; and
  anointed him with ambrosial oil of roses that his flesh might not be
  torn when Achilles was dragging him about。 Phoebus Apollo moreover
  sent a dark cloud from heaven to earth; which gave shade to the
  whole place where Hector lay; that the heat of the sun might not parch
  his body。
  Now the pyre about dead Patroclus would not kindle。 Achilles
  therefore bethought him of another matter; he went apart and prayed to
  the two winds Boreas and Zephyrus vowing them goodly offerings。 He
  made them many drink…offerings from the golden cup and besought them
  to come and help him that the wood might make haste to kindle and
  the dead bodies be consumed。 Fleet Iris heard him praying and
  started off to fetch the winds。 They were holding high feast in the
  house of boisterous Zephyrus when Iris came running up to the stone
  threshold of the house and stood there; but as soon as they set eyes
  on her they all came towards her and each of them called her to him;
  but Iris would not sit down。 〃I cannot stay;〃 she said; 〃I must go
  back to the streams of Oceanus and the land of the Ethiopians who
  are offering hecatombs to the immortals; and I would have my share;
  but Achilles prays that Boreas and shrill Zephyrus will come to him;
  and he vows them goodly offerings; he would have you blow upon the
  pyre of Patroclus for whom all the Achaeans are lamenting。〃
  With this she left them; and the two winds rose with a cry that rent
  the air and swept the clouds before them。 They blew on and on until
  they came to the sea; and the waves rose high beneath them; but when
  they reached Troy they fell upon the pyre till the mighty flames
  roared under the blast that they blew。 All night long did they blow
  hard and beat upon the fire; and all night long did Achilles grasp his
  double cup; drawing wine from a mixing…bowl of gold; and calling
  upon the spirit of dead Patroclus as he poured it upon the ground
  until the earth was drenched。 As a father mourns when he is burning
  the bones of his bridegroom son whose death has wrung the hearts of
  his parents; even so did Achilles mourn while burning the body of
  his comrade; pacing round the bier with piteous groaning and
  lamentation。
  At length as the Morning Star was beginning to herald the light
  which saffron…mantled Dawn was soon to suffuse over the sea; the
  flames fell and the fire began to die。 The winds then went home beyond
  the Thracian sea; which roared and boiled as they swept over it。 The
  son of Peleus now turned away from the pyre and lay down; overcome
  with toil; till he fell into a sweet slumber。 Presently they who
  were about the son of Atreus drew near in a body; and roused him
  with the noise and tramp of their coming。 He sat upright and said;
  〃Son of Atreus; and all other princes of the Achaeans; first pour
  red wine everywhere upon the fire and quench it; let us then gather
  the bones of Patroclus son of Menoetius; singling them out with
  care; they are easily found; for they lie in the middle of the pyre;
  while all else; both men and horses; has been thrown in a heap and
  burned at the outer edge。 We will lay the bones in a golden urn; in
  two layers of fat; against the time when I shall myself go down into
  the house of Hades。 As for the barrow; labour not to raise a great one
  now; but such as is reasonable。 Afterwards; let those Achaeans who may
  be left at the ships when I am gone; build it both broad and high。〃
  Thus he spoke and they obeyed the word of the son of Peleus。 First
  they poured red wine upon the thick layer of ashes and quenched the
  fire。 With many tears they singled out the whitened bones of their
  loved comrade and laid them within a golden urn in two layers of
  fat: they then covered the urn with a linen cloth and took it inside
  the tent。 They marked off the circle where the barrow should be;
  made a foundation for it about the pyre; and forthwith heaped up the
  earth。 When they had thus raised a mound they were going away; but
  Achilles stayed the people and made them sit in assembly。 He brought
  prizes from the ships…cauldrons; tripods; horses and mules; noble
  oxen; women with fair girdles; and swart iron。
  The first prize he offered was for the chariot races… a woman
  skilled in all useful arts; and a three…legged cauldron that had
  ears for handles; and would hold twenty…two measures。 This was for the
  man who came in first。 For the second there was a six…year old mare;
  unbroken; and in foal to a he…ass; the third was to have a goodly
  cauldron that had never yet been on the fire; it was still bright as
  when it left the maker; and would hold four measures。 The fourth prize
  was two talents of gold; and the fifth a two…handled urn as yet
  unsoiled by smoke。 Then he stood up and spoke among the Argives
  saying…
  〃Son of Atreus; and all other Achaeans; these are the prizes that
  lie waiting the winners of the chariot races。 At any other time I
  should carry off the first prize and take it to my own tent; you
  know how far my steeds excel all others… for they are immortal;
  Neptune gave them to my father Peleus; who in his turn gave them to
  myself; but I shall hold aloof; I and my steeds that have lost their
  brave and kind driver; who many a time has washed them in clear
  water and anointed their manes with oil。 See how they stand weeping
  here; with their manes trailing on the ground in the extremity of
  their sorrow。 But do you others set yourselves in order throughout the
  host; whosoever has confidence in his horses and in the strength of
  his chariot。〃
  Thus spoke the son of Peleus and the drivers of chariots bestirred
  themselves。 First among them all uprose Eumelus; king of men; son of
  Admetus; a man excellent in horsemanship。 Next to him rose mighty
  Diomed son of Tydeus; he yoked the Trojan horses which he had taken
  from Aeneas; when Apollo bore him out of the fight。 Next to him;
  yellow…haired Menelaus son of Atreus rose and yoked his fleet
  horses; Agamemnon's mare Aethe; and his own horse Podargus。 The mare
  had been given to Agamemnon by echepolus son of Anchises; that he
  might not have to follow him to Ilius; but might stay at home and take
  his ease; for Jove had endowed him with great wealth and he lived in
  spacious Sicyon。 This mare; all eager for the race; did Menelaus put
  under the yoke。
  Fourth in order Antilochus; son to noble Nestor son of Neleus;
  made ready his horses。 These were bred in Pylos; and his father came
  up to him to give him good advice of which; however; he stood in but
  little need。 〃Antilochus;〃 said Nestor; 〃you are young; but Jove and
  Neptune have loved you well; and have made you an excellent
  horseman。 I need not therefore say much by way of instruction。 You are
  skilful at wheeling your horses round the post; but the horses
  themselves are very slow; and it is this that will; I fear; mar your
  chances。 The other drivers know less than you do; but their horses are
  fleeter; therefore; my dear son; see if you cannot hit upon some
  artifice whereby you may insure that the prize shall not slip
  through your fingers。 The woodman does more by skill than by brute
  force; by skill the pilot guides his storm…tossed barque over the sea;
  and so by skill one driver can beat another。 If a man go wide in
  rounding this way and that; whereas a man who knows what he is doing
  may have worse horses; but he will keep them well in hand when he sees
  the doubling…post; he knows the precise moment at which to pull the
  rein; and keeps his eye well on the man in front of him。 I will give
  you this certain token which cannot escape your notice。 There is a
  stump of a dead tree…oak or pine as it may be… some six feet above the
  ground; and not yet rotted away by rain; it stands at the fork of
  the road; it has two white stones set one on each side; and there is a
  clear course all round it。 It may have been a monument to some one
  long since dead; or it may have been used as a doubling…post in days
  gone by; now; however; it has been fixed on by Achilles as the mark
  round which the chariots shall turn; hug it as close as you can; but
  as you stand in your chariot lean over a little to the left; urge on
  your right…hand horse with voice and lash; and give him a loose
  rein; but let the left…hand horse keep so close in; that the nave of
  your wheel shall almost graze the post; but mind the stone; or you
  will wound your horses and break your chariot in pieces; which would
  be sport for others but confusion for yourself。 Therefore; my dear
  son; mind