tales of troy-第7章

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an　empty　chariot　did　the　horses　hurry　madly　through　the　field；　for
the　charioteers　were　lying　dead；　with　the　greedy　vultures　hovering
above　them；　flapping　their　wide　wings。　　Still　Agamemnon　followed
and　slew　the　hindmost　Trojans；　but　the　rest　fled　till　they　came　to
the　gates；　and　the　oak　tree　that　grew　outside　the　gates；　and　there
they　stopped。

But　Hector　held　his　hands　from　fighting；　for　in　the　meantime　he　was
making　his　men　face　the　enemy　and　form　up　in　line　and　take　breath；
and　was　encouraging　them；　for　they　had　retreated　from　the　wall　of
the　Greeks　across　the　whole　plain；　past　the　hill　that　was　the　tomb
of　Ilus；　a　king　of　old；　and　past　the　place　of　the　wild　fig…tree。
Much　ado　had　Hector　to　rally　the　Trojans；　but　he　knew　that　when　men
do　turn　again　they　are　hard　to　beat。　　So　it　proved；　for　when　the
Trojans　had　rallied　and　formed　in　line；　Agamemnon　slew　a　Thracian
chief　who　had　come　to　fight　for　Troy　before　King　Rhesus　came。　　But
the　eldest　brother　of　the　slain　man　smote　Agamemnon　through　the　arm
with　his　spear；　and；　though　Agamemnon　slew　him　in　turn；　his　wound
bled　much　and　he　was　in　great　pain；　so　he　leaped　into　his　chariot
and　was　driven　back　to　the　ships。

Then　Hector　gave　the　word　to　charge；　as　a　huntsman　cries　on　his
hounds　against　a　lion；　and　he　rushed　forward　at　the　head　of　the
Trojan　line；　slaying　as　he　went。　　Nine　chiefs　of　the　Greeks　he
slew；　and　fell　upon　the　spearmen　and　scattered　them；　as　the　spray
of　the　waves　is　scattered　by　the　wandering　wind。

Now　the　ranks　of　the　Greeks　were　broken；　and　they　would　have　been
driven　among　their　ships　and　killed　without　mercy；　had　not　Ulysses
and　Diomede　stood　firm　in　the　centre；　and　slain　four　Trojan
leaders。　　The　Greeks　began　to　come　back　and　face　their　enemies　in
line　of　battle　again；　though　Hector；　who　had　been　fighting　on　the
Trojan　right；　rushed　against　them。　　But　Diomede　took　good　aim　with
his　spear　at　the　helmet　of　Hector；　and　struck　it　fairly。　　The
spear…point　did　not　go　through　the　helmet；　but　Hector　was　stunned
and　fell；　and；　when　he　came　to　himself；　he　leaped　into　his　chariot；
and　his　squire　drove　him　against　the　Pylians　and　Cretans；　under
Nestor　and　Idomeneus；　who　were　on　the　left　wing　of　the　Greek　army。
Then　Diomede　fought　on　till　Paris；　who　stood　beside　the　pillar　on
the　hillock　that　was　the　tomb　of　old　King　Ilus；　sent　an　arrow　clean
through　his　foot。　　Ulysses　went　and　stood　in　front　of　Diomede；　who
sat　down；　and　Ulysses　drew　the　arrow　from　his　foot；　and　Diomede
stepped　into　his　chariot　and　was　driven　back　to　the　ships。

Ulysses　was　now　the　only　Greek　chief　that　still　fought　in　the
centre。　　The　Greeks　all　fled；　and　he　was　alone　in　the　crowd　of
Trojans；　who　rushed　on　him　as　hounds　and　hunters　press　round　a　wild
boar　that　stands　at　bay　in　a　wood。　　〃They　are　cowards　that　flee
from　the　fight；〃　said　Ulysses　to　himself；　〃but　I　will　stand　here；
one　man　against　a　multitude。〃　　He　covered　the　front　of　his　body
with　his　great　shield；　that　hung　by　a　belt　round　his　neck；　and　he
smote　four　Trojans　and　wounded　a　fifth。　　But　the　brother　of　the
wounded　man　drove　a　spear　through　the　shield　and　breastplate　of
Ulysses；　and　tore　clean　through　his　side。　　Then　Ulysses　turned　on
this　Trojan；　and　he　fled；　and　Ulysses　sent　a　spear　through　his
shoulder　and　out　at　his　breast；　and　he　died。　　Ulysses　dragged　from
his　own　side　the　spear　that　had　wounded　him；　and　called　thrice　with
a　great　voice　to　the　other　Greeks；　and　Menelaus　and　Aias　rushed　to
rescue　him；　for　many　Trojans　were　round　him；　like　jackals　round　a
wounded　stag　that　a　man　has　struck　with　an　arrow。　　But　Aias　ran　and
covered　the　wounded　Ulysses　with　his　huge　shield　till　he　could
climb　into　the　chariot　of　Menelaus；　who　drove　him　back　to　the
ships。

Meanwhile；　Hector　was　slaying　the　Greeks　on　the　left　of　their
battle；　and　Paris　struck　the　Greek　surgeon；　Machaon；　with　an　arrow；
and　Idomeneus　bade　Nestor　put　Machaon　in　his　chariot　and　drive　him
to　Nestor's　hut；　where　his　wound　might　be　tended。　　Meanwhile；
Hector　sped　to　the　centre　of　the　line；　where　Aias　was　slaying　the
Trojans；　but　Eurypylus；　a　Greek　chief；　was　wounded　by　an　arrow　from
the　bow　of　Paris；　and　his　friends　guarded　him　with　their　shields
and　spears。

Thus　the　best　of　the　Greeks　were　wounded　and　out　of　the　battle；
save　Aias；　and　the　spearmen　were　in　flight。　　Meanwhile　Achilles　was
standing　by　the　stern　of　his　ship　watching　the　defeat　of　the
Greeks；　but　when　he　saw　Machaon　being　carried　past；　sorely　wounded；
in　the　chariot　of　Nestor；　he　bade　his　friend　Patroclus；　whom　he
loved　better　than　all　the　rest；　to　go　and　ask　how　Machaon　did。　　He
was　sitting　drinking　wine　with　Nestor　when　Patroclus　came；　and
Nestor　told　Patroclus　how　many　of　the　chiefs　were　wounded；　and
though　Patroclus　was　in　a　hurry　Nestor　began　a　very　long　story
about　his　own　great　deeds　of　war；　done　when　he　was　a　young　man。　　At
last　he　bade　Patroclus　tell　Achilles　that；　if　he　would　not　fight
himself；　he　should　at　least　send　out　his　men　under　Patroclus；　who
should　wear　the　splendid　armour　of　Achilles。　　Then　the　Trojans
would　think　that　Achilles　himself　had　returned　to　the　battle；　and
they　would　be　afraid；　for　none　of　them　dared　to　meet　Achilles　hand
to　hand。

So　Patroclus　ran　off　to　Achilles；　but；　on　his　way；　he　met　the
wounded　Eurypylus；　and　he　took　him　to　his　hut　and　cut　the　arrow　out
of　his　thigh　with　a　knife；　and　washed　the　wound　with　warm　water；
and　rubbed　over　it　a　bitter　root　to　take　the　pain　away。　　Thus　he
waited　for　some　time　with　Eurypylus；　but　the　advice　of　Nestor　was
in　the　end　to　cause　the　death　of　Patroclus。　　The　battle　now　raged
more　fiercely；　while　Agamemnon　and　Diomede　and　Ulysses　could　only
limp　about　leaning　on　their　spears；　and　again　Agamemnon　wished　to
moor　the　ships　near　shore；　and　embark　in　the　night　and　run　away。
But　Ulysses　was　very　angry　with　him；　and　said：　　〃You　should　lead
some　other　inglorious　army；　not　us；　who　will　fight　on　till　every
soul　of　us　perish；　rather　than　flee　like　cowards！　　Be　silent；　lest
the　soldiers　hear　you　speaking　of　flight；　such　words　as　no　man
should　utter。　　I　wholly　scorn　your　counsel；　for　the　Greeks　will
lose　heart　if；　in　the　midst　of　battle；　you　bid　them　launch　the
ships。〃

Agamemnon　was　ashamed；　and；　by　Diomede's　advice；　the　wounded　kings
went　down　to　the　verge　of　the　war　to　encourage　the　others；　though
they　were　themselves　unable　to　fight。　　They　rallied　the　Greeks；　and
Aias　led　them　and　struck　Hector　full　in　the　breast　with　a　great
rock；　so　that　his　friends　carried　him　out　of　the　battle　to　the
river　side；　where　they　poured　water　over　him；　but　he　lay　fainting
on　the　ground；　the　black　blood　gushing　up　from　his　mouth。　　While
Hector　lay　there；　and　all　men　thought　that　he　would　die；　Aias　and
Idomeneus　were　driving　back　the　Trojans；　and　it　seemed　that；　even
without　Achilles　and　his　men；　the　Greeks　were　able　to　hold　their
own　against　the　Trojans。　　But　the　battle　was　never　lost　while
Hector　lived。　　People　in　those　days　believed　in　〃omens：〃　they
thought　that　the　appearance　of　birds　on　the　right　or　left　hand
meant　good　or　bad　luck。　　Once　during　the　battle　a　Trojan　showed
Hector　an　unlucky　bird；　and　wanted　him　to　retreat　into　the　town。
But　Hector　said；　〃One　omen　is　the　best：　　to　fight　for　our　own
country。〃　　While　Hector　lay　between　death　and　life　the　Greeks　were
winning；　for　the　Trojans　had　no　other　great　chief　to　lead　them。
But　Hector　awoke　from　his　faint；　and　leaped　to　his　feet　and　ran
here　and　there；　encouraging　the　men　of　Troy。　　Then　the　most　of　the
Greeks　fled　when　they　saw　him；　but　Aias　and　Idomeneus；　and　the　rest
of　the　bravest；　formed　in　a　square　between　the　Trojans　and　the
ships；　and　down　on　them　came　Hector　and　Aeneas　and　Paris；　throwing
their　spears；　and　slaying　on　every　hand。　　The　Greeks　turned　and
ran；　and　the　Trojans　would　have　stopped　to　strip　the　armour　from
the　slain　men；　but　Hector　cried：　　〃Haste　to　the　ships　and　leave　the
spoils　of　war。　　I　will　slay　any　man　who　lags　behind！〃

On　this；　all　the　Trojans　drove　their　chariots　down　into　the　ditch
that　guarded　the　ships　of　the　Greeks；　as　when　a　great　wave　sweeps
at　sea　over　the　side　of　a　vessel；　and　the　Greeks　were　on　the　ship
decks；　thrusting　with　very　long　spears；　used　in　sea　fights；　and　the
Trojans　were　boarding　the　ships；　and　striking　with　swords　and　axes。
Hector　had　a　lighted　torch　and　tried　to　set　fire　to　the　ship　of
Aias；　but　Aias　kept　him　back　with　the　long　spear；　and　slew　a
Trojan；　whose　lighted　torch　fell　from　his　hand。　　And　Aias　kept
shouting：　　〃Come　on；　and　drive　away　Hector；　it　is　not　to　a　dance
that　he　is　calling　his　men；　but　to　battle。〃

The　dead　fell　in　heaps；　and　the　living　ran　over　them　to　mount　the
heaps　of　slain　and　climb　the　ships。　　Hector　rushed　forward　like　a
sea　wave　against　a　great　steep　rock；　but　like　the　rock　stood　the
Greeks；　still　the　Trojans　charged　past　the　beaks　of　the　foremost
ships；　while　Aias；　thrusting　with　a　spear　more　than　twenty　feet
long；　leaped　from　deck　to　deck　like　a　man　that　drives　four　horses
abreast；　and　leaps　from　the　back　of　one　to　the　back　of　another。
Hector　seized　with　his　hand　the　stern　of　the　ship　of　Protesilaus；
the　prince　whom　Paris　shot　when　he　leaped　ashore　on　the　day　when
the　Greeks　first　landed；　and　Hector　kept　calling：　　〃Bring　fire！〃
and　even　Aias；　in　this　strange　sea　fight　on　land；　left　the　decks
and　went　below；　thrusting　with　his　spear　through　the　portholes。
Twelve　men　lay　dead　who　had　brought　fire　against　the　ship　which
Aias　guarded。



THE　SLAYING　AND　AVENGING　OF　PATROCLUS



At　this　moment；　when　torches　were　blazing　round　the　ships；　and　all
seemed　lost；　Patroclus　came　out　of　the　hut　of　Eurypylus；　whose
wound　he　had　been　tending；　and　he　saw　that　the　Greeks　were　in　great
danger；　and　ran　weeping　to　Achilles。　　〃Why　do　you　weep；〃　said
Achilles；　〃like　a　little　girl　that　runs　by　her　mother's　side；　and
plucks　at　her　gown　and　looks　at　her　with　tears　in　her　eyes；　till
her　mother　takes　her　up　in　her　arms？　　Is　there　bad　news　from　home
that　your　father　is　dead；　or　mine；　or　are　you　sorry　that　the　Greeks
are　getting　what　they　deserve　for　their　folly？〃　　Then　Patroclus
told　Achilles　how　Ulysses　and　many　other　princes　were　wounded　and
could　not　fight；　and　begged　to　be　allowed　to　put　on　Achilles'
armour　and　lead　his　men；　who　were　all　fresh　and　unwearied；　into　the
battle；　for　a　charge　of　two　thousand　fresh　warriors　might　turn　the
fortune　of　the　day。

Then　Achilles　was　sorry　that　he　had　sworn　not　to　fight　himself　till
Hector　brought　fire　to　his　own　ships。　　He　would　lend　Patroclus　his
armour；　and　his　horses；　and　his　men；　but　Patroclus　must　only　drive
the　Trojans　from　the　ships；　and　not　pursue　them。　　At　this　moment
Aias　was　weary；　so　many　spears　smote　his　armour；　and　he　could
hardly　hold　up　his　great　shield；　and　Hector　cut　off　his　spear…head
with　the　sword；　the　bronze　head　fell　ringing　on　the　ground；　and
Aias　brandished　only　the　pointless　shaft。　　So　he　shrank　back　and
fire　blazed　all　over　his　ship；　and　Achilles　saw　it；　and　smote　his
thigh；　and　bade　Patroclus　make　haste。　　Patroclus　armed　himself　in
the　shining　armour　of　Achilles；　which　all　Trojans　feared；　and
leaped　into　the　chariot　where　Automedon；　the　squire；　had　harnessed
Xanthus　and　Balius；　two　horses　that　were　the　children；　men　said；　of
the　Wes