tales of troy-第8章

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leaped　into　the　chariot　where　Automedon；　the　squire；　had　harnessed
Xanthus　and　Balius；　two　horses　that　were　the　children；　men　said；　of
the　West　Wind；　and　a　led　horse　was　harnessed　beside　them　in　the
side　traces。　　Meanwhile　the　two　thousand　men　of　Achilles；　who　were
called　Myrmidons；　had　met　in　armour；　five　companies　of　four　hundred
apiece；　under　five　chiefs　of　noble　names。　　Forth　they　came；　as
eager　as　a　pack　of　wolves　that　have　eaten　a　great　red　deer　and　run
to　slake　their　thirst　with　the　dark　water　of　a　well　in　the　hills。

So　all　in　close　array；　helmet　touching　helmet　and　shield　touching
shield；　like　a　moving　wall　of　shining　bronze；　the　men　of　Achilles
charged；　and　Patroclus；　in　the　chariot　led　the　way。　　Down　they　came
at　full　speed　on　the　flank　of　the　Trojans；　who　saw　the　leader；　and
knew　the　bright　armour　and　the　horses　of　the　terrible　Achilles；　and
thought　that　he　had　returned　to　the　war。　　Then　each　Trojan　looked
round　to　see　by　what　way　he　could　escape；　and　when　men　do　that　in
battle　they　soon　run　by　the　way　they　have　chosen。　　Patroclus　rushed
to　the　ship　of　Protesilaus；　and　slew　the　leader　of　the　Trojans
there；　and　drove　them　out；　and　quenched　the　fire；　while　they　of
Troy　drew　back　from　the　ships；　and　Aias　and　the　other　unwounded
Greek　princes　leaped　among　them；　smiting　with　sword　and　spear。
Well　did　Hector　know　that　the　break　in　the　battle　had　come　again；
but　even　so　he　stood；　and　did　what　he　might；　while　the　Trojans　were
driven　back　in　disorder　across　the　ditch；　where　the　poles　of　many
chariots　were　broken　and　the　horses　fled　loose　across　the　plain。

The　horses　of　Achilles　cleared　the　ditch；　and　Patroclus　drove　them
between　the　Trojans　and　the　wall　of　their　own　town；　slaying　many
men；　and；　chief　of　all；　Sarpedon；　king　of　the　Lycians；　and　round
the　body　of　Sarpedon　the　Trojans　rallied　under　Hector；　and　the
fight　swayed　this　way　and　that；　and　there　was　such　a　noise　of
spears　and　swords　smiting　shields　and　helmets　as　when　many
woodcutters　fell　trees　in　a　glen　of　the　hills。　　At　last　the　Trojans
gave　way；　and　the　Greeks　stripped　the　armour　from　the　body　of　brave
Sarpedon；　but　men　say　that　Sleep　and　Death；　like　two　winged　angels；
bore　his　body　away　to　his　own　country。　　Now　Patroclus　forgot　how
Achilles　had　told　him　not　to　pursue　the　Trojans　across　the　plain；
but　to　return　when　he　had　driven　them　from　the　ships。　　On　he　raced；
slaying　as　he　went；　even　till　he　reached　the　foot　of　the　wall　of
Troy。　　Thrice　he　tried　to　climb　it；　but　thrice　he　fell　back。

Hector　was　in　his　chariot　in　the　gateway；　and　he　bade　his　squire
lash　his　horses　into　the　war；　and　struck　at　no　other　man；　great　or
small；　but　drove　straight　against　Patroclus；　who　stood　and　threw　a
heavy　stone　at　Hector；　which　missed　him；　but　killed　his　charioteer。
Then　Patroclus　leaped　on　the　charioteer　to　strip　his　armour；　but
Hector　stood　over　the　body；　grasping　it　by　the　head；　while
Patroclus　dragged　at　the　feet；　and　spears　and　arrows　flew　in　clouds
around　the　fallen　man。　　At　last；　towards　sunset；　the　Greeks　drew
him　out　of　the　war；　and　Patroclus　thrice　charged　into　the　thick　of
the　Trojans。　　But　the　helmet　of　Achilles　was　loosened　in　the　fight；
and　fell　from　the　head　of　Patroclus；　and　he　was　wounded　from
behind；　and　Hector；　in　front；　drove　his　spear　clean　through　his
body。　　With　his　last　breath　Patroclus　prophesied：　　〃Death　stands
near　thee；　Hector；　at　the　hands　of　noble　Achilles。〃　　But　Automedon
was　driving　back　the　swift　horses；　carrying　to　Achilles　the　news
that　his　dearest　friend　was　slain。

After　Ulysses　was　wounded；　early　in　this　great　battle；　he　was　not
able　to　fight　for　several　days；　and；　as　the　story　is　about　Ulysses；
we　must　tell　quite　shortly　how　Achilles　returned　to　the　war　to　take
vengeance　for　Patroclus；　and　how　he　slew　Hector。　　When　Patroclus
fell；　Hector　seized　the　armour　which　the　Gods　had　given　to　Peleus；
and　Peleus　to　his　son　Achilles；　while　Achilles　had　lent　it　to
Patroclus　that　he　might　terrify　the　Trojans。　　Retiring　out　of　reach
of　spears；　Hector　took　off　his　own　armour　and　put　on　that　of
Achilles；　and　Greeks　and　Trojans　fought　for　the　dead　body　of
Patroclus。　　Then　Zeus；　the　chief　of　the　Gods；　looked　down　and　said
that　Hector　should　never　come　home　out　of　the　battle　to　his　wife；
Andromache。　　But　Hector　returned　into　the　fight　around　the　dead
Patroclus；　and　here　all　the　best　men　fought；　and　even　Automedon；
who　had　been　driving　the　chariot　of　Patroclus。　　Now　when　the
Trojans　seemed　to　have　the　better　of　the　fight；　the　Greeks　sent
Antilochus；　a　son　of　old　Nestor；　to　tell　Achilles　that　his　friend
was　slain；　and　Antilochus　ran；　and　Aias　and　his　brother　protected
the　Greeks　who　were　trying　to　carry　the　body　of　Patroclus　back　to
the　ships。

Swiftly　Antilochus　came　running　to　Achilles；　saying：　　〃Fallen　is
Patroclus；　and　they　are　fighting　round　his　naked　body；　for　Hector
has　his　armour。〃　　Then　Achilles　said　never　a　word；　but　fell　on　the
floor　of　his　hut；　and　threw　black　ashes　on　his　yellow　hair；　till
Antilochus　seized　his　hands；　fearing　that　he　would　cut　his　own
throat　with　his　dagger；　for　very　sorrow。　　His　mother；　Thetis；　arose
from　the　sea　to　comfort　him；　but　he　said　that　he　desired　to　die　if
he　could　not　slay　Hector；　who　had　slain　his　friend。　　Then　Thetis
told　him　that　he　could　not　fight　without　armour；　and　now　he　had
none；　but　she　would　go　to　the　God　of　armour…making　and　bring　from
him　such　a　shield　and　helmet　and　breastplate　as　had　never　been　seen
by　men。

Meanwhile　the　fight　raged　round　the　dead　body　of　Patroclus；　which
was　defiled　with　blood　and　dust；　near　the　ships；　and　was　being
dragged　this　way　and　that；　and　torn　and　wounded。　　Achilles　could
not　bear　this　sight；　yet　his　mother　had　warned　him　not　to　enter
without　armour　the　battle　where　stones　and　arrows　and　spears　were
flying　like　hail；　and　he　was　so　tall　and　broad　that　he　could　put　on
the　arms　of　no　other　man。　　So　he　went　down　to　the　ditch　as　he　was；
unarmed；　and　as　he　stood　high　above　it；　against　the　red　sunset；
fire　seemed　to　flow　from　his　golden　hair　like　the　beacon　blaze　that
soars　into　the　dark　sky　when　an　island　town　is　attacked　at　night；
and　men　light　beacons　that　their　neighbours　may　see　them　and　come
to　their　help　from　other　isles。　　There　Achilles　stood　in　a
splendour　of　fire；　and　he　shouted　aloud；　as　clear　as　a　clarion
rings　when　men　fall　on　to　attack　a　besieged　city　wall。　　Thrice
Achilles　shouted　mightily；　and　thrice　the　horses　of　the　Trojans
shuddered　for　fear　and　turned　back　from　the　onslaught；and　thrice
the　men　of　Troy　were　confounded　and　shaken　with　terror。　　Then　the
Greeks　drew　the　body　of　Patroclus　out　of　the　dust　and　the　arrows；
and　laid　him　on　a　bier；　and　Achilles　followed；　weeping；　for　he　had
sent　his　friend　with　chariot　and　horses　to　the　war；　but　home　again
he　welcomed　him　never　more。　　Then　the　sun　set　and　it　was　night。

Now　one　of　the　Trojans　wished　Hector　to　retire　within　the　walls　of
Troy；　for　certainly　Achilles　would　to…morrow　be　foremost　in　the
war。　　But　Hector　said；　〃Have　ye　not　had　your　fill　of　being　shut　up
behind　walls？　　Let　Achilles　fight；　I　will　meet　him　in　the　open
field。〃　　The　Trojans　cheered；　and　they　camped　in　the　plain；　while
in　the　hut　of　Achilles　women　washed　the　dead　body　of　Patroclus；　and
Achilles　swore　that　he　would　slay　Hector。

In　the　dawn　came　Thetis；　bearing　to　Achilles　the　new　splendid
armour　that　the　God　had　made　for　him。　　Then　Achilles　put　on　that
armour；　and　roused　his　men；　but　Ulysses；　who　knew　all　the　rules　of
honour；　would　not　let　him　fight　till　peace　had　been　made；　with　a
sacrifice　and　other　ceremonies；　between　him　and　Agamemnon；　and　till
Agamemnon　had　given　him　all　the　presents　which　Achilles　had　before
refused。　　Achilles　did　not　want　them；　he　wanted　only　to　fight；　but
Ulysses　made　him　obey；　and　do　what　was　usual。　　Then　the　gifts　were
brought；　and　Agamemnon　stood　up；　and　said　that　he　was　sorry　for　his
insolence；　and　the　men　took　breakfast；　but　Achilles　would　neither
eat　nor　drink。　　He　mounted　his　chariot；　but　the　horse　Xanthus　bowed
his　head　till　his　long　mane　touched　the　ground；　and；　being　a　fairy
horse；　the　child　of　the　West　Wind；　he　spoke　（or　so　men　said）；　and
these　were　his　words：　　〃We　shall　bear　thee　swiftly　and　speedily；
but　thou　shalt　be　slain　in　fight；　and　thy　dying　day　is　near　at
hand。〃　　〃Well　I　know　it；〃　said　Achilles；　〃but　I　will　not　cease　from
fighting　till　I　have　given　the　Trojans　their　fill　of　war。〃

So　all　that　day　he　chased　and　slew　the　Trojans。　　He　drove　them　into
the　river；　and；　though　the　river　came　down　in　a　red　flood；　he
crossed；　and　slew　them　on　the　plain。　　The　plain　caught　fire；　the
bushes　and　long　dry　grass　blazed　round　him；　but　he　fought　his　way
through　the　fire；　and　drove　the　Trojans　to　their　walls。　　The　gates
were　thrown　open；　and　the　Trojans　rushed　through　like　frightened
fawns；　and　then　they　climbed　to　the　battlements；　and　looked　down　in
safety；　while　the　whole　Greek　army　advanced　in　line　under　their
shields。

But　Hector　stood　still；　alone；　in　front　of　the　gate；　and　old　Priam；
who　saw　Achilles　rushing　on；　shining　like　a　star　in　his　new　armour；
called　with　tears　to　Hector；　〃Come　within　the　gate！　　This　man　has
slain　many　of　my　sons；　and　if　he　slays　thee　whom　have　I　to　help　me
in　my　old　age？〃　　His　mother　also　called　to　Hector；　but　he　stood
firm；　waiting　for　Achilles。　　Now　the　story　says　that　he　was　afraid；
and　ran　thrice　in　full　armour　round　Troy；　with　Achilles　in　pursuit。
But　this　cannot　be　true；　for　no　mortal　men　could　run　thrice；　in
heavy　armour；　with　great　shields　that　clanked　against　their　ankles；
round　the　town　of　Troy：　　moreover　Hector　was　the　bravest　of　men；
and　all　the　Trojan　women　were　looking　down　at　him　from　the　walls。

We　cannot　believe　that　he　ran　away；　and　the　story　goes　on　to　tell
that　he　asked　Achilles　to　make　an　agreement　with　him。　　The
conqueror　in　the　fight　should　give　back　the　body　of　the　fallen　to
be　buried　by　his　friends；　but　should　keep　his　armour。　　But　Achilles
said　that　he　could　make　no　agreement　with　Hector；　and　threw　his
spear；　which　flew　over　Hector's　shoulder。　　Then　Hector　threw　his
spear；　but　it　could　not　pierce　the　shield　which　the　God　had　made
for　Achilles。　　Hector　had　no　other　spear；　and　Achilles　had　one；　so
Hector　cried；　〃Let　me　not　die　without　honour！〃　and　drew　his　sword；
and　rushed　at　Achilles；　who　sprang　to　meet　him；　but　before　Hector
could　come　within　a　sword…stroke　Achilles　had　sent　his　spear　clean
through　the　neck　of　Hector。　　He　fell　in　the　dust　and　Achilles　said；
〃Dogs　and　birds　shall　tear　your　flesh　unburied。〃　　With　his　dying
breath　Hector　prayed　him　to　take　gold　from　Priam；　and　give　back　his
body　to　be　burned　in　Troy。　　But　Achilles　said；　〃Hound！　would　that　I
could　bring　myself　to　carve　and　eat　thy　raw　flesh；　but　dogs　shall
devour　it；　even　if　thy　father　offered　me　thy　weight　in　gold。〃　　With
his　last　words　Hector　prophesied　and　said；　〃Remember　me　in　the　day
when　Paris　shall　slay　thee　in　the　Scaean　gate。〃　　Then　his　brave
soul　went　to　the　land　of　the　Dead；　which　the　Greeks　called　Hades。
To　that　land　Ulysses　sailed　while　he　was　still　a　living　man；　as　the
story　tells　later。

Then　Achilles　did　a　dreadful　deed；　he　slit　the　feet　of　dead　Hector
from　heel　to　ankle；　and　thrust　thongs　through；　and　bound　him　by　the
thongs　to　hi