tales of troy-第12章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


feebly　chattering　like　the　grasshoppers　on　a　summer　day。

Memnon　was　the　most　beautiful　of　men；　except　Paris　and　Achilles；
and　his　home　was　in　a　country　that　borders　on　the　land　of
sunrising。　　There　he　was　reared　by　the　lily　maidens　called
Hesperides；　till　he　came　to　his　full　strength；　and　commanded　the
whole　army　of　the　Aethiopes。　　For　their　arrival　Priam　wished　to
wait；　but　Polydamas　advised　that　the　Trojans　should　give　back　Helen
to　the　Greeks；　with　jewels　twice　as　valuable　as　those　which　she　had
brought　from　the　house　of　Menelaus。　　Then　Paris　was　very　angry；　and
said　that　Polydamas　was　a　coward；　for　it　was　little　to　Paris　that
Troy　should　be　taken　and　burned　in　a　month　if　for　a　month　he　could
keep　Helen　of　the　fair　hands。

At　length　Memnon　came；　leading　a　great　army　of　men　who　had　nothing
white　about　them　but　the　teeth；　so　fiercely　the　sun　burned　on　them
in　their　own　country。　　The　Trojans　had　all　the　more　hopes　of　Memnon
because；　on　his　long　journey　from　the　land　of　sunrising；　and　the
river　Oceanus　that　girdles　the　round　world；　he　had　been　obliged　to
cross　the　country　of　the　Solymi。　　Now　the　Solymi　were　the　fiercest
of　men　and　rose　up　against　Memnon；　but　he　and　his　army　fought　them
for　a　whole　day；　and　defeated　them；　and　drove　them　to　the　hills。
When　Memnon　came；　Priam　gave　him　a　great　cup　of　gold；　full　of　wine
to　the　brim；　and　Memnon　drank　the　wine　at　one　draught。　　But　he　did
not　make　great　boasts　of　what　he　could　do；　like　poor　Penthesilea；
〃for；〃　said　he；　〃whether　I　am　a　good　man　at　arms　will　be　known　in
battle；　where　the　strength　of　men　is　tried。　　So　now　let　us　turn　to
sleep；　for　to　wake　and　drink　wine　all　through　the　night　is　an　ill
beginning　of　war。〃

Then　Priam　praised　his　wisdom；　and　all　men　betook　them　to　bed；　but
the　bright　Dawn　rose　unwillingly　next　day；　to　throw　light　on　the
battle　where　her　son　was　to　risk　his　fife。　　Then　Memnon　led　out　the
dark　clouds　of　his　men　into　the　plain；　and　the　Greeks　foreboded
evil　when　they　saw　so　great　a　new　army　of　fresh　and　unwearied
warriors；　but　Achilles；　leading　them　in　his　shining　armour；　gave
them　courage。　　Memnon　fell　upon　the　left　wing　of　the　Greeks；　and　on
the　men　of　Nestor；　and　first　he　slew　Ereuthus；　and　then　attacked
Nestor's　young　son；　Antilochus；　who；　now　that　Patroclus　had　fallen；
was　the　dearest　friend　of　Achilles。　　On　him　Memnon　leaped；　like　a
lion　on　a　kid；　but　Antilochus　lifted　a　huge　stone　from　the　plain；　a
pillar　that　had　been　set　on　the　tomb　of　some　great　warrior　long
ago；　and　the　stone　smote　full　on　the　helmet　of　Memnon；　who　reeled
beneath　the　stroke。　　But　Memnon　seized　his　heavy　spear；　and　drove
it　through　shield　and　corselet　of　Antilochus；　even　into　his　heart；
and　he　fell　and　died　beneath　his　father's　eyes。　　Then　Nestor　in
great　sorrow　and　anger　strode　across　the　body　of　Antilochus　and
called　to　his　other　son；　Thrasymedes；　〃Come　and　drive　afar　this　man
that　has　slain　thy　brother；　for　if　fear　be　in　thy　heart　thou　art　no
son　of　mine；　nor　of　the　race　of　Periclymenus；　who　stood　up　in
battle　even　against　the　strong　man　Heracles！〃

But　Memnon　was　too　strong　for　Thrasymedes；　and　drove　him　off；　while
old　Nestor　himself　charged　sword　in　hand；　though　Memnon　bade　him
begone；　for　he　was　not　minded　to　strike　so　aged　a　man；　and　Nestor
drew　back；　for　he　was　weak　with　age。　　Then　Memnon　and　his　army
charged　the　Greeks；　slaying　and　stripping　the　dead。　　But　Nestor　had
mounted　his　chariot　and　driven　to　Achilles；　weeping；　and　imploring
him　to　come　swiftly　and　save　the　body　of　Antilochus；　and　he　sped　to
meet　Memnon；　who　lifted　a　great　stone；　the　landmark　of　a　field；　and
drove　it　against　the　shield　of　the　son　of　Peleus。　　But　Achilles　was
not　shaken　by　the　blow；　he　ran　forward；　and　wounded　Memnon　over　the
rim　of　his　shield。　　Yet　wounded　as　he　was　Memnon　fought　on　and
struck　his　spear　through　the　arm　of　Achilles；　for　the　Greeks　fought
with　no　sleeves　of　bronze　to　protect　their　arms。

Then　Achilles　drew　his　great　sword；　and　flew　on　Memnon；　and　with
sword…strokes　they　lashed　at　each　other　on　shield　and　helmet；　and
the　long　horsehair　crests　of　the　helmets　were　shorn　off；　and　flew
down　the　wind；　and　their　shields　rang　terribly　beneath　the　sword
strokes。　　They　thrust　at　each　others'　throats　between　shield　and
visor　of　the　helmet；　they　smote　at　knee；　and　thrust　at　breast；　and
the　armour　rang　about　their　bodies；　and　the　dust　from　beneath　their
feet　rose　up　in　a　cloud　around　them；　like　mist　round　the　falls　of　a
great　river　in　flood。　　So　they　fought；　neither　of　them　yielding　a
step；　till　Achilles　made　so　rapid　a　thrust　that　Memnon　could　not
parry　it；　and　the　bronze　sword　passed　clean　through　his　body
beneath　the　breast…bone；　and　he　fell；　and　his　armour　clashed　as　he
fell。

Then　Achilles；　wounded　as　he　was　and　weak　from　loss　of　blood；　did
not　stay　to　strip　the　golden　armour　of　Memnon；　but　shouted　his
warcry；　and　pressed　on；　for　he　hoped　to　enter　the　gate　of　Troy　with
the　fleeing　Trojans；　and　all　the　Greeks　followed　after　him。　　So
they　pursued；　slaying　as　they　went；　and　the　Scaean　gate　was　choked
with　the　crowd　of　men；　pursuing　and　pursued。　　In　that　hour　would
the　Greeks　have　entered　Troy；　and　burned　the　city；　and　taken　the
women　captive；　but　Paris　stood　on　the　tower　above　the　gate；　and　in
his　mind　was　anger　for　the　death　of　his　brother　Hector。　　He　tried
the　string　of　his　bow；　and　found　it　frayed；　for　all　day　he　had
showered　his　arrows　on　the　Greeks；　so　he　chose　a　new　bowstring；　and
fitted　it；　and　strung　the　bow；　and　chose　an　arrow　from　his　quiver；
and　aimed　at　the　ankle　of　Achilles；　where　it　was　bare　beneath　the
greave；　or　leg…guard　of　metal；　that　the　God　had　fashioned　for　him。
Through　the　ankle　flew　the　arrow；　and　Achilles　wheeled　round；　weak
as　he　was；　and　stumbled；　and　fell；　and　the　armour　that　the　God　had
wrought　was　defiled　with　dust　and　blood。

Then　Achilles　rose　again；　and　cried：　　〃What　coward　has　smitten　me
with　a　secret　arrow　from　afar？　　Let　him　stand　forth　and　meet　me
with　sword　and　spear！〃　　So　speaking　he　seized　the　shaft　with　his
strong　hands　and　tore　it　out　of　the　wound；　and　much　blood　gushed；
and　darkness　came　over　his　eyes。　　Yet　he　staggered　forward；
striking　blindly；　and　smote　Orythaon；　a　dear　friend　of　Hector；
through　the　helmet；　and　others　he　smote；　but　now　his　force　failed
him；　and　he　leaned　on　his　spear；　and　cried　his　warcry；　and　said；
〃Cowards　of　Troy；　ye　shall　not　all　escape　my　spear；　dying　as　I　am。〃
But　as　he　spoke　he　fell；　and　all　his　armour　rang　around　him；　yet
the　Trojans　stood　apart　and　watched；　and　as　hunters　watch　a　dying
lion　not　daring　to　go　nigh　him；　so　the　Trojans　stood　in　fear　till
Achilles　drew　his　latest　breath。　　Then　from　the　wall　the　Trojan
women　raised　a　great　cry　of　joy　over　him　who　had　slain　the　noble
Hector：　　and　thus　was　fulfilled　the　prophecy　of　Hector；　that
Achilles　should　fall　in　the　Scaean　gateway；　by　the　hand　of　Paris。

Then　the　best　of　the　Trojans　rushed　forth　from　the　gate　to　seize
the　body　of　Achilles；　and　his　glorious　armour；　but　the　Greeks　were
as　eager　to　carry　the　body　to　the　ships　that　it　might　have　due
burial。　　Round　the　dead　Achilles　men　fought　long　and　sore；　and　both
sides　were　mixed；　Greeks　and　Trojans；　so　that　men　dared　not　shoot
arrows　from　the　walls　of　Troy　lest　they　should　kill　their　own
friends。　　Paris；　and　Aeneas；　and　Glaucus；　who　had　been　the　friend
of　Sarpedon；　led　the　Trojans；　and　Aias　and　Ulysses　led　the　Greeks；
for　we　are　not　told　that　Agamemnon　was　fighting　in　this　great
battle　of　the　war。　　Now　as　angry　wild　bees　flock　round　a　man　who　is
taking　their　honeycombs；　so　the　Trojans　gathered　round　Aias；
striving　to　stab　him；　but　he　set　his　great　shield　in　front；　and
smote　and　slew　all　that　came　within　reach　of　his　spear。　　Ulysses；
too；　struck　down　many；　and　though　a　spear　was　thrown　and　pierced
his　leg　near　the　knee　he　stood　firm；　protecting　the　body　of
Achilles。　　At　last　Ulysses　caught　the　body　of　Achilles　by　the
hands；　and　heaved　it　upon　his　back；　and　so　limped　towards　the
ships；　but　Aias　and　the　men　of　Aias　followed；　turning　round　if　ever
the　Trojans　ventured　to　come　near；　and　charging　into　the　midst　of
them。　　Thus　very　slowly　they　bore　the　dead　Achilles　across　the
plain；　through　the　bodies　of　the　fallen　and　the　blood；　till　they
met　Nestor　in　his　chariot　and　placed　Achilles　therein；　and　swiftly
Nestor　drove　to　the　ships。

There　the　women；　weeping；　washed　Achilles'　comely　body；　and　laid
him　on　a　bier　with　a　great　white　mantle　over　him；　and　all　the　women
lamented　and　sang　dirges；　and　the　first　was　Briseis；　who　loved
Achilles　better　than　her　own　country；　and　her　father；　and　her
brothers　whom　he　had　slain　in　war。　　The　Greek　princes；　too；　stood
round　the　body；　weeping　and　cutting　off　their　long　locks　of　yellow
hair；　a　token　of　grief　and　an　offering　to　the　dead。

Men　say　that　forth　from　the　sea　came　Thetis　of　the　silver　feet；　the
mother　of　Achilles；　with　her　ladies；　the　deathless　maidens　of　the
waters。　　They　rose　up　from　their　glassy　chambers　below　the　sea；
moving　on；　many　and　beautiful；　like　the　waves　on　a　summer　day；　and
their　sweet　song　echoed　along　the　shores；　and　fear　came　upon　the
Greeks。　　Then　they　would　have　fled；　but　Nestor　cried：　　〃Hold；　flee
not；　young　lords　of　the　Achaeans！　　Lo；　she　that　comes　from　the　sea
is　his　mother；　with　the　deathless　maidens　of　the　waters；　to　look　on
the　face　of　her　dead　son。〃　　Then　the　sea　nymphs　stood　around　the
dead　Achilles　and　clothed　him　in　the　garments　of　the　Gods；　fragrant
raiment；　and　all　the　Nine　Muses；　one　to　the　other　replying　with
sweet　voices；　began　their　lament。

Next　the　Greeks　made　a　great　pile　of　dry　wood；　and　laid　Achilles　on
it；　and　set　fire　to　it；　till　the　flames　had　consumed　his　body
except　the　white　ashes。　　These　they　placed　in　a　great　golden　cup
and　mingled　with　them　the　ashes　of　Patroclus；　and　above　all　they
built　a　tomb　like　a　hill；　high　on　a　headland　above　the　sea；　that
men　for　all　time　may　see　it　as　they　go　sailing　by；　and　may　remember
Achilles。　　Next　they　held　in　his　honour　foot　races　and　chariot
races；　and　other　games；　and　Thetis　gave　splendid　prizes。　　Last　of
all；　when　the　games　were　ended；　Thetis　placed　before　the　chiefs　the
glorious　armour　that　the　God　had　made　for　her　son　on　the　night
after　the　slaying　of　Patroclus　by　Hector。　　〃Let　these　arms　be　the
prize　of　the　best　of　the　Greeks；〃　she　said；　〃and　of　him　that　saved
the　body　of　Achilles　out　of　the　hands　of　the　Trojans。〃

Then　stood　up　on　one　side　Aias　and　on　the　other　Ulysses；　for　these
two　had　rescued　the　body；　and　neither　thought　himself　a　worse
warrior　than　the　other。　　Both　were　the　bravest　of　the　brave；　and　if
Aias　was　the　taller　and　stronger；　and　upheld　the　fight　at　the　ships
on　the　day　of　the　valour　of　Hector；　Ulysses　had　alone　withstood　the
Trojans；　and　refused　to　retreat　even　when　wounded；　and　his　courage
and　cunning　had　won　for　the　Greeks　the　Luck　of　Troy。　　Therefore　old
Nestor　arose　and　said：　　〃This　is　a　luckless　day；　when　the　best　of
the　Greeks　are　rivals　for　such　a　prize。　　He　who　is　not　the　winner
will　be　heavy　at　heart；　and　will　not　stand　firm　by　us　in　battle；　as
of　old；　and　hence　will　come　great　loss　to　the　Greeks。　　Who　can　be　a
just　judge　in　this　question；　for　some　men　will　love　Aias　better；
and　some　will　prefer　Ulysses；　and　thus　will