晓竹天下 个体空间

The Iliad: BOOK XII     第十二卷 （回目录）
SO THE son of Menoetius was attending to the hurt of Eurypylus within the tent, but the Argives and Trojans still fought desperately, nor were the trench and the high wall above it, to keep the Trojans in check longer. They had built it to protect their ships, and had dug the trench all round it that it might safeguard both the ships and the rich spoils which they had taken, but they had not offered hecatombs to the gods. It had been built without the consent of the immortals, and therefore it did not last. So long as Hector lived and Achilles nursed his anger, and so long as the city of Priam remained untaken, the great wall of the Achaeans stood firm; but when the bravest of the Trojans were no more, and many also of the Argives, though some were yet left alive when, moreover, the city was sacked in the tenth year, and the Argives had gone back with their ships to their own country- then Neptune and Apollo took counsel to destroy the wall, and they turned on to it the streams of all the rivers from Mount Ida into the sea, Rhesus, Heptaporus, Caresus, Rhodius, Grenicus, Aesopus, and goodly Scamander, with Simois, where many a shield and helm had fallen, and many a hero of the race of demigods had bitten the dust. Phoebus Apollo turned the mouths of all these rivers together and made them flow for nine days against the wall, while Jove rained the whole time that he might wash it sooner into the sea. Neptune himself, trident in hand, surveyed the work and threw into the sea all the foundations of beams and stones which the Achaeans had laid with so much toil; he made all level by the mighty stream of the Hellespont, and then when he had swept the wall away he spread a great beach of sand over the place where it had been. This done he turned the rivers back into their old courses.

就这样，营棚里，墨诺伊提俄斯骠勇的儿子照料着受伤的欧鲁普洛斯。与此同时，阿耳吉维人和特洛伊人正进行着一场大规模的混战。达奈人的壕沟已不能阻挡特洛伊战勇的进攻，沟上的那道护墙亦然——为了保卫海船，他们筑起这堵护墙，并在外沿挖出一条深沟，却不曾对神祗供献丰盛的祀祭，祈求他们保护墙内迅捷的海船和成堆的战礼。他们筑起这堵坚实的护墙，无视神的意志，所以，它的存在不可能久远经年。只要赫克托耳仍然活着，阿基硫斯怒气不消，只要王者普里阿摩斯的城堡不被攻陷，阿开亚人的高墙就能稳稳当当地站立。但是，当所有最勇敢的特洛伊人战死疆场，众多的阿耳吉维人长眠客乡，剩下一些人回返后，当普里阿摩斯的城堡在第十个年头里被阿耳吉维人捣毁，后者驾着海船回返他们热爱的故乡后，那时，波塞冬和阿波罗议定，引来滚滚的河水，冲袭扫荡，捣毁护墙。河水，所有从伊达山上泻流入海的长河，瑞索斯和赫普塔波罗斯，卡瑞索斯和罗底俄斯，格瑞尼科斯和埃塞波斯，还有神圣的斯卡曼得罗斯以及西摩埃斯，推涌着许多头盔和牛皮的战盾，连同一个半是神明的凡人的种族，跌跌撞撞地磕碰在河边的泥床上。福伊波斯·阿波罗把这些河流的出口汇聚到一块，驱赶着滔滔的洪水，一连九天，猛冲护墙，而宙斯则不停地降雨，加快着推墙入海的进程。裂地之神手握三叉长戟，亲自引水开路，将护墙的支撑，那些个材料和石块统统扔进水浪——阿开亚人曾付出艰苦的劳动，为把它们置放到位。他把一切冲刷干净，沿着赫勒斯庞特的水流，用厚厚的沙层铺平宽阔的海滩。护墙既已冲扫，他把河流引回原来的水道——以前，它们一直在那里奔腾，翻涌着晶亮的水波。

This was what Neptune and Apollo were to do in after time; but as yet battle and turmoil were still raging round the wall till its timbers rang under the blows that rained upon them. The Argives, cowed by the scourge of Jove, were hemmed in at their ships in fear of Hector the mighty minister of Rout, who as heretofore fought with the force and fury of a whirlwind. As a lion or wild boar turns fiercely on the dogs and men that attack him, while these form solid wall and shower their javelins as they face him- his courage is all undaunted, but his high spirit will be the death of him; many a time does he charge at his pursuers to scatter them, and they fall back as often as he does so- even so did Hector go about among the host exhorting his men, and cheering them on to cross the trench.

就这样，日后，波塞冬和阿波罗会把一切整治清楚，但眼下，修筑坚固的护墙外，战斗激烈，杀声震天，护墙受到击撞，发出巨大的声响。在宙斯的鞭打下，阿耳吉维人全线崩溃，涌向深旷的海船，挣扎着回逃，慑于赫克托耳的威势，这位强有力的战将，把对手赶得遑遑奔逃。如前一样，赫克托耳勇猛冲杀，像一飙旋风。如同一头置身险境的野猪或狮子，遭到一群狗和猎手的追打，发疯似地腾转挣扎，猎手拢成一个圈子，将它团团围住，勇敢地面对它的扑击，甩手扔出密集的枪矛；尽管如此，高傲的猎物毫不惧怕，亦不掉头逃跑——它死于自己的勇莽——而是一次次地扑击，试图冲出合围的人群，而无论它对哪个方向发起进攻，总能逼迫猎手回跑退却。就像这样，赫克托耳扑击在战场上，招聚着他的伙伴，催赶着他们，杀过壕沟。

But the horses dared not do so, and stood neighing upon its brink, for the width frightened them. They could neither jump it nor cross it, for it had overhanging banks all round upon either side, above which there were the sharp stakes that the sons of the Achaeans had planted so close and strong as a defence against all who would assail it; a horse, therefore, could not get into it and draw his chariot after him, but those who were on foot kept trying their very utmost. Then Polydamas went up to Hector and said, "Hector, and you other captains of the Trojans and allies, it is madness for us to try and drive our horses across the trench; it will be very hard to cross, for it is full of sharp stakes, and beyond these there is the wall. Our horses therefore cannot get down into it, and would be of no use if they did; moreover it is a narrow place and we should come to harm. If, indeed, great Jove is minded to help the Trojans, and in his anger will utterly destroy the Achaeans, I would myself gladly see them perish now and here far from Argos; but if they should rally and we are driven back from the ships pell-mell into the trench there will be not so much as a man get back to the city to tell the tale. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; let our squires hold our horses by the trench, but let us follow Hector in a body on foot, clad in full armour, and if the day of their doom is at hand the Achaeans will not be able to withstand us."

然而，他自己的快马却没有这份胆量。沟沿边，它们惊扬起前蹄，高声嘶叫，惶恐于壕沟的宽阔，既不能一跃而过，也不能轻松地举步穿越，因为整条沟壁的两边到处是锋快的垂悬，沟底坚指着一排排修长的尖桩，密密麻麻，由阿开亚人的儿子们手置，御阻强敌的冲扫。拖着轮盘坚固的战车，驭马实在很难穿越；但步战的兵勇却跃跃欲试，试图冲过壕沟。其时，普鲁达马斯站到勇猛的赫克托耳身边，说道：“赫克托耳，各位特洛伊首领，盟军伙伴们！此举愚盲，试图把捷蹄的快马赶过壕沟。沟中尖桩遍布，车马难能逾越，何况前面还有阿开亚人筑起的墙垣。沟墙之间地域狭窄，驭者无法下车战斗——我敢说，我们将被堵在那里挨揍。倘若高高在上的宙斯，炸响雷的天神，意欲彻底荡除他们，并有意帮助特洛伊人——我的天，但愿这个时刻快快到来，让阿开亚人惨死此地，销声匿迹，远离着阿耳戈斯！但是，倘若容他们掉转头来，把我们赶离海船，背靠宽深的壕沟，那时，我想，面对阿开亚人的攻势，我们中谁也不能脱险生还——连个报信的都没有。干起来吧，按我说的做；让我们就此行动。驭手们，勒紧你们的马缰，就在这壕沟前；而我们自己要全部就地下车，全副武装，跟着赫克托耳，人多势众，一拥而上。阿开亚人将无法抵挡我们的攻势，如果死亡的绳索已经掐住他们的喉咙！”

Thus spoke Polydamas and his saying pleased Hector, who sprang in full armour to the ground, and all the other Trojans, when they saw him do so, also left their chariots. Each man then gave his horses over to his charioteer in charge to hold them ready for him at the trench. Then they formed themselves into companies, made themselves ready, and in five bodies followed their leaders. Those that went with Hector and Polydamas were the bravest and most in number, and the most determined to break through the wall and fight at the ships. Cebriones was also joined with them as third in command, for Hector had left his chariot in charge of a less valiant soldier. The next company was led by Paris, Alcathous, and Agenor; the third by Helenus and Deiphobus, two sons of Priam, and with them was the hero Asius- Asius the son of Hyrtacus, whose great black horses of the breed that comes from the river Selleis had brought him from Arisbe. Aeneas the valiant son of Anchises led the fourth; he and the two sons of Antenor, Archelochus and Acamas, men well versed in all the arts of war. Sarpedon was captain over the allies, and took with him Glaucus and Asteropaeus whom he deemed most valiant after himself- for he was far the best man of them all. These helped to array one another in their ox-hide shields, and then charged straight at the Danaans, for they felt sure that they would not hold out longer and that they should themselves now fall upon the ships.

此番明智的劝议博得了赫克托耳的欢心，他跳下战车，双脚着地，全副武装。其他特洛伊人亦无意呆守战车，聚作一团；目睹卓越的赫克托耳的举动，他们全都跳到地上。接着，头领们命嘱各自的驭手，勒马沟沿，排成整齐的队列。战勇们分而聚之，站成紧凑的队形，一共五支队伍，听命于各自的统领。赫克托耳和智勇双全的普鲁达马斯领辖着一队兵勇，人数最多，也最勇敢善战，比谁都急切，企盼着捣毁护墙，杀向深旷的海船。开勃里俄奈斯和他们同往，作为排位第三的统领——赫克托耳已让另一位战勇，一个比开勃里俄奈斯逊色的驭手，驾驭他的马车。帕里斯统领着另一支队伍，辅之以阿尔卡苏斯和阿格诺耳，第三支队伍由赫勒诺斯和神一样的德伊福波斯制统，普里阿摩斯的两个儿子，辅之以阿西俄斯，排位第三的首领，阿西俄斯，呼耳塔科斯之子，闪亮的高头大马把他载到此地，从阿里斯贝，塞勒埃斯河畔。统领第四支队伍的是骠勇的埃内阿斯，安基塞斯之子，由安忒诺耳的两个儿子辅佐，精熟各种战式的阿开洛科斯和阿卡马斯。萨耳裴冬统率着声名遐迩的盟军，挑选了格劳科斯和嗜战的阿斯忒罗派俄斯辅佐；在他看来，二位勇冠全军——当然，在他之后，他，盟军中首屈一指的战勇。其时，他们挺着牛皮盾牌，连成密集的队形，对着达奈人直冲，急不可待，全然不想受阻的可能，而是一个劲地猛扑，朝着乌黑的海船。

The rest of the Trojans and their allies now followed the counsel of Polydamas but Asius son of Hyrtacus would not leave his horses and his esquire behind him; in his foolhardiness he took them on with him towards the ships, nor did he fail to come by his end in consequence. Nevermore was he to return to wind-beaten Ilius, exulting in his chariot and his horses; ere he could do so, death of ill-omened name had overshadowed him and he had fallen by the spear of Idomeneus the noble son of Deucalion. He had driven towards the left wing of the ships, by which way the Achaeans used to return with their chariots and horses from the plain. Hither he drove and found the gates with their doors opened wide, and the great bar down- for the gatemen kept them open so as to let those of their comrades enter who might be flying towards the ships. Hither of set purpose did he direct his horses, and his men followed him with a loud cry, for they felt sure that the Achaeans would not hold out longer, and that they should now fall upon the ships. Little did they know that at the gates they should find two of the bravest chieftains, proud sons of the fighting Lapithae- the one, Polypoetes, mighty son of Pirithous, and the other Leonteus, peer of murderous Mars. These stood before the gates like two high oak trees upon the mountains, that tower from their wide-spreading roots, and year after year battle with wind and rain- even so did these two men await the onset of great Asius confidently and without flinching. The Trojans led by him and by Iamenus, Orestes, Adamas the son of Asius, Thoon and Oenomaus, raised a loud cry of battle and made straight for the wall, holding their shields of dry ox-hide above their heads; for a while the two defenders remained inside and cheered the Achaeans on to stand firm in the defence of their ships; when, however, they saw that the Trojans were attacking the wall, while the Danaans were crying out for help and being routed, they rushed outside and fought in front of the gates like two wild boars upon the mountains that abide the attack of men and dogs, and charging on either side break down the wood all round them tearing it up by the roots, and one can hear the clattering of their tusks, till some one hits them and makes an end of them- even so did the gleaming bronze rattle about their breasts, as the weapons fell upon them; for they fought with great fury, trusting to their own prowess and to those who were on the wall above them. These threw great stones at their assailants in defence of themselves their tents and their ships. The stones fell thick as the flakes of snow which some fierce blast drives from the dark clouds and showers down in sheets upon the earth- even so fell the weapons from the hands alike of Trojans and Achaeans. Helmet and shield rang out as the great stones rained upon them, and Asius the son of Hyrtacus in his dismay cried aloud and smote his two thighs. "Father Jove," he cried, "of a truth you too are altogether given to lying. I made sure the Argive heroes could not withstand us, whereas like slim-waisted wasps, or bees that have their nests in the rocks by the wayside- they leave not the holes wherein they have built undefended, but fight for their little ones against all who would take them- even so these men, though they be but two, will not be driven from the gates, but stand firm either to slay or be slain."

所有特洛伊人和声名遐迩的盟军伙伴们都愿执行智勇双全的普罗达马斯的计划，只有阿西俄斯，呼耳塔科斯之子，军队的首领，不愿留马沟沿，由一位驭手看管，而是扬鞭驱怂，扑向迅捷的海船——好一个笨蛋！他神气活现地赶着车马，注定跑不脱死之精灵的捕杀，再也甭想回到多风的伊利昂。在此之前，乌黑的命运即已围罩过他，通过伊多墨纽斯的枪矛，丢卡利昂高贵的儿子。他将车马赶往船队的左边，正是阿开亚人，随同他们的车马，从平原上退潮般地回撤的地方。朝着这个方向，阿西俄斯赶着他的马车，发现墙门没有关闭，粗长的门闩不曾插合——阿开亚人洞开大门，以便搭救撤离战场、逃回海船的伙伴。他驱马直奔该地，执拗愚顽，身后跟拥着大声喧喊的兵丁，以为阿开亚人已无力自卫，将被赶回鸟黑的海船。蠢货！他们在门前发现两员勇猛异常的战将，善使枪矛的拉丕赛人的儿子，一位是裴里苏斯之子，强健的波鲁波伊忒斯，另一位是勒昂丢斯，杀人狂阿瑞斯般的凡人。二位壮勇稳稳地站在高大的墙门前，像两棵挺拔的橡树，在山脊上高耸着它们的顶冠，日复一日地经受着风雨的淋栉，凭着粗大的根枝，紧紧抓住深处的泥层。就像这样，二位凭待自己的勇力和强健的臂膀，站候着高大的、正向他们迎面扑来的阿西俄斯，毫不退让。特洛伊人直冲而上，对着修筑坚固的护墙，”高举着生牛皮做就的战盾，裂开嗓门呼喊，围拥在首领阿西俄斯身边，围拥在亚墨诺斯、俄瑞斯忒斯和阿西俄斯之子阿达马斯，以及俄伊诺毛斯和索昂的身旁。其时，墙内的拉丕赛人正极力催促胫甲坚固的阿开亚人保卫海船，但是，当他们看到特洛伊人正冲向护墙，而达奈人则惊叫着溃跑时，二位冲将出去，拼杀在门前，像两头野猪，在山上站等一群步步进逼的对手，骚嚷的狗和猎人，横冲直撞，连根掀倒一棵棵大树，撕甩出一块块碎片，使劲磨咬着牙齿，发出吱吱嘎嘎的声响，直到被人投枪击中，夺走它们的生命——就像这样，挡护他们胸肩的捏亮的铜甲承受着枪械的重击，发出铿锵的震响。他们正进行着艰烈的拼搏，凭恃自己和墙上的伙伴们的力量。为了自卫，为了保卫营棚和迅捷的海船，墙上的勇士们从坚固的壁基上挖出大块的石头，投砸下去，击打在泥地上，像暴落的雪片——阵凛冽的寒风吹扫乌云，洒下纷扬的鹅毛大雪，铺盖着丰腴的土地。就像这样，石块从阿开亚人和特洛伊人手中飞出，雨点一般，砸打在头盔和突鼓的盾面上，发出沉重的声响——巨大的投石，大得像磨盘一般。其时，阿西俄斯，呼耳塔科斯之子，长叹一声，抡起巴掌，击打两边的腿股，发出痛苦的嘶喊：“父亲宙斯，现在，连你也成了十足的骗子！我从未想过，善战的阿开亚兵壮能够挡住我们的勇力和无坚不摧的双手。像腰肢细巧的黄蜂或筑巢山岩小路边的蜜蜂，决不会放弃自搭的空心蜂房，勇敢地面对采蜂人的进逼，为保卫自己的后代而拼战——他们，虽然只有两个人，却不愿离开墙门，除非杀了我们，或被我们宰杀！”

He spoke, but moved not the mind of Jove, whose counsel it then was to give glory to Hector. Meanwhile the rest of the Trojans were fighting about the other gates; I, however, am no god to be able to tell about all these things, for the battle raged everywhere about the stone wall as it were a fiery furnace. The Argives, discomfited though they were, were forced to defend their ships, and all the gods who were defending the Achaeans were vexed in spirit; but the Lapithae kept on fighting with might and main.

然而，此番诉告并没有打动宙斯的心灵，后者已属意让赫克托耳享得荣誉。其时，在各扇门前，来自不同地域的部队在绞杀拼搏；然而，我却不能像神明那样，叙说这里的一切。沿着长长的石墙，暴烈的战争之火在熊熊燃烧，阿开亚人身处劣境，为了保卫海船，只有继续战斗。所有助战达奈人的神祗，此时都心情沮丧。尽管如此，两位拉丕赛勇士仍在不停地战斗，进行殊死的拼搏。

Thereon Polypoetes, mighty son of Pirithous, hit Damasus with a spear upon his cheek-pierced helmet. The helmet did not protect him, for the point of the spear went through it, and broke the bone, so that the brain inside was scattered about, and he died fighting. He then slew Pylon and Ormenus. Leonteus, of the race of Mars, killed Hippomachus the son of Antimachus by striking him with his spear upon the girdle. He then drew his sword and sprang first upon Antiphates whom he killed in combat, and who fell face upwards on the earth. After him he killed Menon, Iamenus, and Orestes, and laid them low one after the other.

战场上，裴里苏斯之子、强健的波鲁波伊忒斯投枪击中达马索斯，破开两边缀着铜片的帽盔，铜盔抵挡不住，青铜的枪尖长驱直入，砸烂头骨，溅捣出喷飞的脑浆——就这样，波鲁波伊忒斯放倒了怒气冲冲的敌人。接着，他又扑上前去，杀了普隆和俄耳墨诺斯。其时，勒昂丢斯，阿瑞斯的后裔，击倒了安提马科斯之子希波马科斯，投枪捅进他的腰带。然后，他从鞘壳内拔出利剑，冲过拥攘的人群，先就近一剑，击中安提法忒斯，把他仰面打翻，随后又一气杀了墨农、俄瑞斯忒斯和亚墨诺斯，一个接着一个，全都挺尸在丰腴的土地上。

While they were busy stripping the armour from these heroes, the youths who were led on by Polydamas and Hector (and these were the greater part and the most valiant of those that were trying to break through the wall and fire the ships) were still standing by the trench, uncertain what they should do; for they had seen a sign from heaven when they had essayed to cross it- a soaring eagle that flew skirting the left wing of their host, with a monstrous blood-red snake in its talons still alive and struggling to escape. The snake was still bent on revenge, wriggling and twisting itself backwards till it struck the bird that held it, on the neck and breast; whereon the bird being in pain, let it fall, dropping it into the middle of the host, and then flew down the wind with a sharp cry. The Trojans were struck with terror when they saw the snake, portent of aegis-bearing Jove, writhing in the midst of them, and Polydamas went up to Hector and said, "Hector, at our councils of war you are ever given to rebuke me, even when I speak wisely, as though it were not well, forsooth, that one of the people should cross your will either in the field or at the council board; you would have them support you always: nevertheless I will say what I think will be best; let us not now go on to fight the Danaans at their ships, for I know what will happen if this soaring eagle which skirted the left wing of our with a monstrous blood-red snake in its talons (the snake being still alive) was really sent as an omen to the Trojans on their essaying to cross the trench. The eagle let go her hold; she did not succeed in taking it home to her little ones, and so will it be- with ourselves; even though by a mighty effort we break through the gates and wall of the Achaeans, and they give way before us, still we shall not return in good order by the way we came, but shall leave many a man behind us whom the Achaeans will do to death in defence of their ships. Thus would any seer who was expert in these matters, and was trusted by the people, read the portent."

拉丕赛人动手抢剥死者璀璨的铠甲，而普鲁达马斯和赫克托耳手下的兵壮，人数最多，也最勇敢善战，比谁都急切，企盼着捣毁护墙，放火烧船，此时仍然站在沟沿，犹豫不决。原来，正当他们急于过沟之际，一个由飞鸟送来的兆示出现在他们眼前——一只苍鹰，搏击长空，一掠而过，翱翔在他们的左前方，爪下掐着一条巨蛇，浑身血红，仍然活着，还在挣扎，不愿放弃搏斗，弯翘起身子，伸出利齿，对着逮住它的鹰鸟，一口咬在颈边的前胸，后者忍痛松爪，丢下大蛇，落在地上的人群，然后一声尖叫，乘着疾风，飞旋而下。特洛伊人吓得混身发抖，望着盘曲的大蛇，躺在他们中间——带埃吉斯的宙斯送来的兆物。其时，普鲁达马斯，站在赫克托耳身边，说道：“赫克托耳，集会上，你总爱驳斥我的意见，尽管我说得头头是道。一个普通之人决然不可和你对唱反调——无论是在议事中，还是在战场上——我们永远只能为你的事业增彩添光。现在，我要再次说出我以为最合用的建议：让我们停止进攻，不要在达奈人的船边苦战。我以为，继续战斗的结果将和预兆显示的一样，假如那个由鹰鸟送来的兆示——当我们准备过沟之际，出现在我们眼前——真是个含义明确的警告：苍鹰搏击长空，一掠而过，翱翔在我们的左前方，爪下掐着一条巨蛇，浑身血红，仍然活着——但它突然丢下大蛇，不及把它逮回家去，实现用蛇肉饲喂儿女的愿望。同样，我们，即使凭靠强大的军力，冲破阿开亚人的大门和护墙，逼退眼前的敌人，我们仍将循着原路，从船边败返，乱作一团；我们将丢下成堆的特洛伊伙伴，任由阿开亚人杀宰，用青铜的兵器，为了保卫他们的海船！这，便是一位通神者的卜释，他心知兆示的真意，受到全军的信赖。”

Hector looked fiercely at him and said, "Polydamas, I like not of your reading. You can find a better saying than this if you will. If, however, you have spoken in good earnest, then indeed has heaven robbed you of your reason. You would have me pay no heed to the counsels of Jove, nor to the promises he made me- and he bowed his head in confirmation; you bid me be ruled rather by the flight of wild-fowl. What care I whether they fly towards dawn or dark, and whether they be on my right hand or on my left? Let us put our trust rather in the counsel of great Jove, king of mortals and immortals. There is one omen, and one only- that a man should fight for his country. Why are you so fearful? Though we be all of us slain at the ships of the Argives you are not likely to be killed yourself, for you are not steadfast nor courageous. If you will. not fight, or would talk others over from doing so, you shall fall forthwith before my spear."

听罢这番话，头盔闪亮的赫克托耳恶狠狠地盯着他，嚷道：“普鲁达马斯，你的话使我厌烦；你头脑聪明，应该提出比此番唠叨更好的议言。但是，如果这的确是你的想法，那么，一定是神明，是的，一定是他们，弄坏了你的脑袋。你要我忘记雷电之神宙斯的嘱告，他曾亲自对我点头允愿。然而你，你却要我相信飞鸟，相信它们，振摇着长长的翅膀。告诉你，我不在乎这一切，压根儿不理会这一套——不管它们是飞向右面，迎着黎明和日出，还是飞向左面i对着昏暗和黑夜。不！我们要坚信大神宙斯的告示，统治所有神明和凡人的王权。我们只相信一种鸟迹，那就是保卫我们的家园！你，你为何如此惧怕战争和残杀？即使我们都死在你的周围，躺在阿耳吉维人的船边，你也不会顶冒死的危险：你没有持续战斗的勇气，没有战士的胆量！但是，倘若你在惨烈的搏杀中畏缩不前，或唆使他人逃避战斗，用你的话语，那么，顷刻之间，你就将暴死在我的枪下，送掉你的性命！”

With these words he led the way, and the others followed after with a cry that rent the air. Then Jove the lord of thunder sent the blast of a mighty wind from the mountains of Ida, that bore the dust down towards the ships; he thus lulled the Achaeans into security, and gave victory to Hector and to the Trojans, who, trusting to their own might and to the signs he had shown them, essayed to break through the great wall of the Achaeans. They tore down the breastworks from the walls, and overthrew the battlements; they upheaved the buttresses, which the Achaeans had set in front of the wall in order to support it; when they had pulled these down they made sure of breaking through the wall, but the Danaans still showed no sign of giving ground; they still fenced the battlements with their shields of ox-hide, and hurled their missiles down upon the foe as soon as any came below the wall.

言罢，他率先出击，属下们随后跟进，喊出粗野的吼叫。在他们上空，喜好炸雷的宙斯从伊达山上送来一阵疾起的狂风，卷起团团泥沙，扑向海船，以此迷惑阿开亚人的心智，把光荣送给特洛伊人和赫克托耳。受兆示的激励，还有他们的勇力，特洛伊人勇猛冲击，试图捣毁阿开亚人宽厚的墙垣。他们打破护墙的外沿设施，捣烂雉堞，用杠杆松动墙边的突桩——阿开亚人把它们打入地里，作为护墙的外层防御。他们捣毁这些设施，期望进而拱倒阿开亚人的墙垣。但是，达奈人此时无意退却，而是用牛皮挡住雉堞，居高临下，用石块猛砸跑至墙边的群敌。

The two Ajaxes went about everywhere on the walls cheering on the Achaeans, giving fair words to some while they spoke sharply to any one whom they saw to be remiss. "My friends," they cried, "Argives one and all- good bad and indifferent, for there was never fight yet, in which all were of equal prowess- there is now work enough, as you very well know, for all of you. See that you none of you turn in flight towards the ships, daunted by the shouting of the foe, but press forward and keep one another in heart, if it may so be that Olympian Jove the lord of lightning will vouchsafe us to repel our foes, and drive them back towards the city."

两位埃阿斯，来回巡行在墙内的各个地段，敦促兵勇们向前，催发阿开亚人的勇力，时而对某人赞褒几句，时而又对另一个人责斥一番——只要看到有人在战斗中退却不前：“朋友们，你们中，有的是阿耳吉维人的俊杰，有的来自社会的中层，还有的是一般的平头百姓。是的，在战斗中，我们的作用不同；但眼下，我们却面临共同的拼斗这一点，你们自己可以看得很清楚。现在，谁也不许掉头转向海船，听凭敌人狂吼乱叫，而要勇往直前，互相催鼓呐喊。但愿俄林波斯山上的宙斯，闪电之神，会给我们力量，让我们打退敌人的进攻，直逼特洛伊城垣！”

Thus did the two go about shouting and cheering the Achaeans on. As the flakes that fall thick upon a winter's day, when Jove is minded to snow and to display these his arrows to mankind- he lulls the wind to rest, and snows hour after hour till he has buried the tops of the high mountains, the headlands that jut into the sea, the grassy plains, and the tilled fields of men; the snow lies deep upon the forelands, and havens of the grey sea, but the waves as they come rolling in stay it that it can come no further, though all else is wrapped as with a mantle so heavy are the heavens with snow- even thus thickly did the stones fall on one side and on the other, some thrown at the Trojans, and some by the Trojans at the Achaeans; and the whole wall was in an uproar.

他俩的喊叫鼓起了特洛伊人拼搏的勇气。像冬日里的一场大雪，下得纷纷扬扬，密密匝匝——其时，统治世界的宙斯卷来飞落的雪花，对凡人显耀攻战的声势。他罢息风力，一个劲地猛下雪片，覆盖了山岳中迭起的峰峦和突兀的岩壁，覆盖了多草的低地和农人精耕的良田，飘落在灰蓝的海波里，遍洒在港湾和滩沿上，只有汹涌的长浪可以冲破它的封围，其余的一切全被蒙罩在白帐下，顶着宙斯卷来的大雪的压挤。就像这样，双方扔出的石块既多且密，有的飞向特洛伊人，还有的出自特洛伊人之手，扔向阿开亚人，整道护墙发出震耳欲聋的巨响。

Still the Trojans and brave Hector would not yet have broken down the gates and the great bar, had not Jove turned his son Sarpedon against the Argives as a lion against a herd of horned cattle. Before him he held his shield of hammered bronze, that the smith had beaten so fair and round, and had lined with ox hides which he had made fast with rivets of gold all round the shield; this he held in front of him, and brandishing his two spears came on like some lion of the wilderness, who has been long famished for want of meat and will dare break even into a well-fenced homestead to try and get at the sheep. He may find the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks with dogs and spears, but he is in no mind to be driven from the fold till he has had a try for it; he will either spring on a sheep and carry it off, or be hit by a spear from strong hand- even so was Sarpedon fain to attack the wall and break down its battlements. Then he said to Glaucus son of Hippolochus, "Glaucus, why in Lycia do we receive especial honour as regards our place at table? Why are the choicest portions served us and our cups kept brimming, and why do men look up to us as though we were gods? Moreover we hold a large estate by the banks of the river Xanthus, fair with orchard lawns and wheat-growing land; it becomes us, therefore, to take our stand at the head of all the Lycians and bear the brunt of the fight, that one may say to another, Our princes in Lycia eat the fat of the land and drink best of wine, but they are fine fellows; they fight well and are ever at the front in battle.' My good friend, if, when we were once out of this fight, we could escape old age and death thenceforward and for ever, I should neither press forward myself nor bid you do so, but death in ten thousand shapes hangs ever over our heads, and no man can elude him; therefore let us go forward and either win glory for ourselves, or yield it to another."

即便如此，特洛伊人和光荣的赫克托耳还是不能攻破墙门，冲垮粗长的门闩，若不是多谋善断的宙斯催励他的儿子萨耳裴冬冲向阿耳吉维人，像弯角牛群里的一头狮子。他迅速移过溜圆的战后，挡住前身，盾面青铜，煅砸精致，铜匠手工锤制的佳品，里面严严实实地垫着几层牛皮，用金钉齐齐地铆在盾沿上。挺着这面战盾，摇晃着两枝枪矛，他大步走上前去，像一头山地哺育的狮子，久不食肉，受高傲的狮心怂恿，试图闻人一个围合坚固的圈栏，撕食肥羊。尽管发现牧人就在那边，看守着他们的羊群，带着投枪和牧狗，它却根本不曾想过，在扑食之前，是否会被逐离羊圈——不是一跃而起，逮住一头肥羊，便是玩命首次扑杀，被投枪击中，出自一条灵捷的臂膀。同样，沸腾在心中的激情催使神一样的萨耳裴冬冲向护墙，捣毁雉堞。他张口喊叫，对着格劳科斯，希波洛科斯的儿郎：“格劳科斯，在鲁基亚，人们为何特另u敬重你我，让我们荣坐体面的席位，享用肥美的肉块，满杯的醇酒，而所有的人们都像仰注神明似地看着我俩？我们又何以能拥获大片的土地，在珊索斯河畔，肥沃的葡萄园和盛产麦于的良田？这一切表明，我们负有责任，眼下要站在鲁基亚人的前面，经受战火的炙烤。这样，某个身披重甲的鲁基亚战士便会如此说道：‘他们确实非同一般，这些个统治着鲁基亚，统治着我们的王者，没有白吃肥嫩的羊肉，白喝醇香的美酒——他们的确勇力过人，战斗在鲁基亚人的前列。’我的朋友啊，要是你我能从这场战斗中生还，得以长生不死，拒老抗衰，与天地同存，我就再也不会站在前排里战斗，也不会再要你冲向战场，人们争得荣誉的地方。但现在，死的精灵正挨站在我们身边，数千阴影，谁也逃身不得，躲不过它们的击打——所以，让我们冲上前去，要么为自己争得荣光，要么把它拱手让给敌人！”

Glaucus heeded his saying, and the pair forthwith led on the host of Lycians. Menestheus son of Peteos was dismayed when he saw them, for it was against his part of the wall that they came- bringing destruction with them; he looked along the wall for some chieftain to support his comrades and saw the two Ajaxes, men ever eager for the fray, and Teucer, who had just come from his tent, standing near them; but he could not make his voice heard by shouting to them, so great an uproar was there from crashing shields and helmets and the battering of gates with a din which reached the skies. For all the gates had been closed, and the Trojans were hammering at them to try and break their way through them. Menestheus, therefore, sent Thootes with a message to Ajax. "Run, good Thootes," said and call Ajax, or better still bid both come, for it will be all over with us here directly; the leaders of the Lycians are upon us, men who have ever fought desperately heretofore. But if the have too much on their hands to let them come, at any rate let Ajax son of Telamon do so, and let Teucer the famous bowman come with him."

听罢这番话，格劳科斯既不抗命，也不回避，而是和他一起，带着大群的鲁基亚兵丁，直扑墙堞。裴忒俄斯之子墨奈修斯见状，吓得浑身发抖，因为他们正冲着他的墙垒走来，杀气腾腾。他举目遍扫阿开亚人的护墙，希望能看到某个能来消灾避难的首领，拯救他的伙伴。他看到两位埃阿斯，嗜战不厌，站在墙上，而丢克罗斯其时亦走出掩体，和他们并肩奋战。但是，他却不能通过喊叫，引起他们的注意——战场上喧闹芜杂，击打之声响彻云天，投枪敲砸着盾牌、缀着马鬃的铜盔和紧闭的大门，近逼的特洛伊人正试图强行破网，杀人门面。他即刻派出一位信使，奔往埃阿斯战斗的地点：“快去，卓越的苏忒斯，把埃阿斯叫来，若能召得两位埃阿斯，那就再好不过——我们正面临一场灭顶之灾。鲁基亚人的首领们已逼得我们喘不过气来，像在以往的激战中一样致命凶残。但是，如果狂烈的战斗和拼杀也在那里展开，那么，你至少也得让大个子埃阿斯、忒拉蒙骁勇的儿子一人前来，带着弓手丢克罗斯，射技精良的军汉。”

The messenger did as he was told, and set off running along the wall of the Achaeans. When he reached the Ajaxes he said to them, "Sirs, princes of the Argives, the son of noble Peteos bids you come to him for a while and help him. You had better both come if you can, or it will be all over with him directly; the leaders of the Lycians are upon him, men who have ever fought desperately heretofore; if you have too much on your hands to let both come, at any rate let Ajax son of Telamon do so, and let Teucer the famous bowman come with him."

信使得令，谨遵不违，随即快步跑去，沿着身披铜甲的阿开亚人的墙垣，来到两位埃阿斯身边站定，急切地说道：“两位埃阿斯，身披铜甲的阿耳吉维人的首领，裴忒俄斯心爱的儿子、宙斯钟爱的墨奈修斯求你前去他的防地，哪怕只有须臾时间，以平缓危急。倘若二位都去，那就再好不过——我们正面临一场灭顶之灾。鲁基亚人的首领们已逼得我们喘不过气来，像在以往的激战中一样致命凶残。但是，如果狂烈的战斗和拼杀也在这里展开，那么；至少也得让大个子埃阿斯、忒拉蒙骁勇的儿子一人前往。带着弓手丢克罗斯，射技精良的军汉。”

Great Ajax, son of Telamon, heeded the message, and at once spoke to the son of Oileus. "Ajax," said he, "do you two, yourself and brave Lycomedes, stay here and keep the Danaans in heart to fight their hardest. I will go over yonder, and bear my part in the fray, but I will come back here at once as soon as I have given them the help they need."

听罢这番话，忒拉蒙之子闻风而动，马上对另一位埃阿斯、俄伊纽斯之子喊道，用长了翅膀的话语：“埃阿斯，现在，你们二位，你自己和强健的鲁科墨得斯，在此坚守，督促达奈人勇敢战斗；我要赶往那边，迎战敌手，一俟打退他们的进攻，马上回还。”

With this, Ajax son of Telamon set off, and Teucer his brother by the same father went also, with Pandion to carry Teucer's bow. They went along inside the wall, and when they came to the tower where Menestheus was (and hard pressed indeed did they find him) the brave captains and leaders of the Lycians were storming the battlements as it were a thick dark cloud, fighting in close quarters, and raising the battle-cry aloud.

言罢，忒拉蒙之子埃阿斯大步离去，带着丢克罗斯，同父界母的兄弟，后面跟着潘迪昂，提着丢克罗斯的弯弓。他们沿着护墙的内侧行进，来到心胸豪壮的墨奈修斯守护的墙堡，发现兵勇们正受到强敌的逼迫，处境艰难；鲁基亚人强壮的王者和首领们正猛攻雉堞，像一股黑色的旋风。他们扑上前去，接战敌手，杀声四起。

First, Ajax son of Telamon killed brave Epicles, a comrade of Sarpedon, hitting him with a jagged stone that lay by the battlements at the very top of the wall. As men now are, even one who is in the bloom of youth could hardly lift it with his two hands, but Ajax raised it high aloft and flung it down, smashing Epicles' four-crested helmet so that the bones of his head were crushed to pieces, and he fell from the high wall as though he were diving, with no more life left in him. Then Teucer wounded Glaucus the brave son of Hippolochus as he was coming on to attack the wall. He saw his shoulder bare and aimed an arrow at it, which made Glaucus leave off fighting. Thereon he sprang covertly down for fear some of the Achaeans might see that he was wounded and taunt him. Sarpedon was stung with grief when he saw Glaucus leave him, still he did not leave off fighting, but aimed his spear at Alcmaon the son of Thestor and hit him. He drew his spear back again Alcmaon came down headlong after it with his bronzed armour rattling round him. Then Sarpedon seized the battlement in his strong hands, and tugged at it till it an gave way together, and a breach was made through which many might pass.

忒拉蒙之子埃阿斯先开杀戒，击倒萨耳裴冬的同伴，心胸豪壮的厄丕克勒斯，用一块粗莽的石头，取自堞墙的内沿，体积硕大，躺在石堆的顶部。当今之人，即使身强力壮，动用两手，也很难起举，但埃阿斯却把它高擎过头，砸捣在顶着四支冠角的盔盖上，把头颅和脑骨打得稀烂——厄丕克勒斯随之倒地，像一个跳水者，从高高的墙垒上扑倒下来，魂息飘离了他的躯骨。接着，丢克罗斯放箭射中格劳科斯，希波洛科斯强健的儿子，正在爬越高墙，发现膀子裸露，无心恋战，从墙上跳下，偷偷摸摸，惟恐阿开亚人看出他已身带箭伤，进而大肆吹擂。萨耳裴冬意识到格劳科斯已从墙上回撤，心中顿觉一阵楚痛；然而，他没有丢却嗜战的热情，出枪击打，刺中阿尔克马昂，塞斯托耳之子，继而又把枪矛拧拔出来，随着拉力，阿尔克马昂一头栽倒在泥地里，精制的铜甲在身上铿锵作响。然后，萨耳裴冬抓住雉堞，伸出强有力的大手，用力猛拉，扳去一大片墙沿，使护墙顶部失去摭掩，为众人的进攻打开了一个缺口。

Ajax and Teucer then both of them attacked him. Teucer hit him with an arrow on the band that bore the shield which covered his body, but Jove saved his son from destruction that he might not fall by the ships' sterns. Meanwhile Ajax sprang on him and pierced his shield, but the spear did not go clean through, though it hustled him back that he could come on no further. He therefore retired a little space from the battlement, yet without losing all his ground, for he still thought to cover himself with glory. Then he turned round and shouted to the brave Lycians saying, "Lycians, why do you thus fail me? For all my prowess I cannot break through the wall and open a way to the ships single-handed. Come close on behind me, for the more there are of us the better."

其时，埃阿斯和丢克罗斯同时对他瞄准，丢克罗斯发箭射中闪亮的皮带，勒在胸肩上，系连着摭护全身的盾牌，但宙斯为他挡开死的精灵，不愿让自己的儿子死在海船的后尾边。埃阿斯冲上前去，击捅盾牌，虽然枪尖不曾穿透层面，却把他顶得腿步趄趔，挟着狂莽，从雉谍后回退几步，但没有完全放弃战斗，心中仍然渴望争得荣誉。他移转身子，亮开嗓门，对神一样的鲁基亚人喊道：“为何松减你们狂烈的战斗激情，我的鲁基亚兵朋？虽说我很强健，但由我一人破墙，打出一条直抵海船的通道，仍属难事一件。跟我一起干吧，人多事不难！”

The Lycians, shamed by his rebuke, pressed closer round him who was their counsellor their king. The Argives on their part got their men in fighting order within the wall, and there was a deadly struggle between them. The Lycians could not break through the wall and force their way to the ships, nor could the Danaans drive the Lycians from the wall now that they had once reached it. As two men, measuring-rods in hand, quarrel about their boundaries in a field that they own in common, and stickle for their rights though they be but in a mere strip, even so did the battlements now serve as a bone of contention, and they beat one another's round shields for their possession. Many a man's body was wounded with the pitiless bronze, as he turned round and bared his back to the foe, and many were struck clean through their shields; the wall and battlements were everywhere deluged with the blood alike of Trojans and of Achaeans. But even so the Trojans could not rout the Achaeans, who still held on; and as some honest hard-working woman weighs wool in her balance and sees that the scales be true, for she would gain some pitiful earnings for her little ones, even so was the fight balanced evenly between them till the time came when Jove gave the greater glory to Hector son of Priam, who was first to spring towards the wall of the Achaeans. As he did so, he cried aloud to the Trojans, "Up, Trojans, break the wall of the Argives, and fling fire upon their ships."

萨耳裴冬言罢，兵勇们畏于首领的呵斥，更加抖擞精神，围聚在统领和王者的身边。护墙内，阿耳吉维人针锋相对，整饬队伍，加强防御，一场激烈的搏斗在两军之间展开。壮实的鲁基亚人不能捅开达奈人的护墙，打出一条直抵海船的通道，而达奈枪手也无力挡开已经逼至墙根的鲁基亚兵汉，像两个手持量杆的农人，站在公地上，大吵大闹，为决定界石的位置，在一条狭窄的田域，为争得一块等量的份地翻脸，其时，雉培隔开两军，而横越墙头，双方互相杀砍，击打着溜圆的、摭护前胸的牛皮盾面，击打着稳条飘舞的护身的皮张。许多人被无情的青铜破毁皮肉，有的因为掉转身子，亮出脊背，更多的则因盾牌遭受枪击，被彻底捅穿。战地上到处碧紫猩红，雉堞上、壁垒上，遍洒着特洛伊人和阿开亚兵壮的鲜血。尽管如此，特洛伊人仍然不能打垮对手，使他们逃还；阿开亚人死死顶住，像一位细心的妇人，拿起校秤，提着秤杆，就着压码计量羊毛，求得两边的均衡，用辛勤的劳动换回些须收入，供养孩子的生活。就像这样，双方兵来将挡，打得胜负难分，直到宙斯决定把更大的光荣赐送赫克托耳——普里阿摩斯之子是捣人阿开亚护墙的第一人。他提高嗓门，用尖亮的声音对特洛伊人喊道：“鼓起劲来，调驯烈马的特洛伊人，冲破阿开亚人的护墙，把暴虐的烈火扔上他们的海船！”

Thus did he hound them on, and in one body they rushed straight at the wall as he had bidden them, and scaled the battlements with sharp spears in their hands. Hector laid hold of a stone that lay just outside the gates and was thick at one end but pointed at the other; two of the best men in a town, as men now are, could hardly raise it from the ground and put it on to a waggon, but Hector lifted it quite easily by himself, for the son of scheming Saturn made it light for him. As a shepherd picks up a ram's fleece with one hand and finds it no burden, so easily did Hector lift the great stone and drive it right at the doors that closed the gates so strong and so firmly set. These doors were double and high, and were kept closed by two cross-bars to which there was but one key. When he had got close up to them, Hector strode towards them that his blow might gain in force and struck them in the middle, leaning his whole weight against them. He broke both hinges, and the stone fell inside by reason of its great weight. The portals re-echoed with the sound, the bars held no longer, and the doors flew open, one one way, and the other the other, through the force of the blow. Then brave Hector leaped inside with a face as dark as that of flying night. The gleaming bronze flashed fiercely about his body and he had tow spears in his hand. None but a god could have withstood him as he flung himself into the gateway, and his eyes glared like fire. Then he turned round towards the Trojans and called on them to scale the wall, and they did as he bade them- some of them at once climbing over the wall, while others passed through the gates. The Danaans then fled panic-stricken towards their ships, and all was uproar and confusion.

赫克托耳大声催励兵勇们前进，而后者也听从他的呼号，以密集的队形扑向护墙，紧握锋快的枪矛，朝着墙垒涌去。与此同时，赫克托耳从墙门前抓起一块石头，举着他移步向前，巨石底部粗钝硕大，但顶部却伸出犀利的棱角。当今之人，本地最健的壮士，即使走出两个，也不能轻而易举地把它从地面抬到车上，但赫克托耳却反凭一己之力，搬起并摇晃着石块——工于心计的克罗诺斯的儿子为他减轻了顽石的重量。像一个牧羊人，轻松地拿起一头阉羊的卷毛，一手拎着，丝毫不觉得有什么分量。赫克托耳搬起石头，向前走去，直对着墙门，后者紧堵着墙框，连合得结结实实——门面高大，双层，里面安着两条横闩，互相交迭，由一根闩杆固系插连。他来到门前，叉开双腿，站稳脚跟，压上全身的力气，增强冲力，扔出巨石，砸在门的中间，打烂了两边的铰链；石块重重地捣开门面，大门叹出长长的哀号，门闩力不能支，板条吃不住石块的重击，裂成纷飞的碎片。光荣的赫克托耳猛冲进去，提着两枝枪矛，脸面乌黑，像突至的夜晚，穿着护身的铜甲，闪射出可怕的光寒。其时，除了神明，谁也甭想和他阵战，阻止他的进攻——他正破门而入，双目喷闪着火焰。他转动身子，催督战斗中的特洛伊人爬过护墙，后者服从了他的号令。他们动作迅捷，有的涌过护墙，还有的冲扫过坚实的大门；达奈人惊慌失措，奔命在深旷的海船间；喧嚣之声拔地而起，经久不息。