晓竹天下 个体空间

The Iliad: BOOK XVIII     第十八卷 （回目录）
THUS then did they fight as it were a flaming fire. Meanwhile the fleet runner Antilochus, who had been sent as messenger, reached Achilles, and found him sitting by his tall ships and boding that which was indeed too surely true. "Alas," said he to himself in the heaviness of his heart, "why are the Achaeans again scouring the plain and flocking towards the ships? Heaven grant the gods be not now bringing that sorrow upon me of which my mother Thetis spoke, saying that while I was yet alive the bravest of the Myrmidons should fall before the Trojans, and see the light of the sun no longer. I fear the brave son of Menoetius has fallen through his own daring and yet I bade him return to the ships as soon as he had driven back those that were bringing fire against them, and not join battle with Hector."

就这样，双方奋力搏杀，像熊熊燃烧的烈火。与此同时，安提洛科斯快步跑到阿基琉斯的营地，作为信使，发现他正坐在头尾翘耸的海船前，冥思苦想着那些已经成为现实的事情。他焦躁烦恼，对自己那豪莽的心灵说道：“唉，这又是怎么回事？长发的阿开亚人再次被赶出平原，退回海船，惊恐万状，溃不成军？但愿神明不会把扰我心胸的愁事变成现实。母亲曾对我说过，说是在我还活着的时候，慕耳弥冬人中最勇敢的壮士将倒死在特洛伊人手下，别离明媚的阳光。我敢断言，现在，墨诺伊提俄斯骁勇的儿子已经死去，我那固执犟拗的朋友！然而，我曾明言嘱告，要他一旦扫灭凶狂的烈火，马上回返海船，不要同赫克托耳拼斗。”

As he was thus pondering, the son of Nestor came up to him and told his sad tale, weeping bitterly the while. "Alas," he cried, "son of noble Peleus, I bring you bad tidings, would indeed that they were untrue. Patroclus has fallen, and a fight is raging about his naked body- for Hector holds his armour."

正当他思考着此事，在他的心里和魂里的时候，高贵的奈斯托耳之子跑至他的近旁，滴着滚烫的眼泪，开口传出送来的噩耗：“哦，骠勇的裴琉斯的儿子，我不得不对你转告这条噩耗，一件但愿绝对不曾发生的事情——帕特罗克洛斯已战死疆场，他们正围绕着遗体战斗，已被剥得精光——头盔闪亮的赫克托耳已夺占他的甲衣！”

A dark cloud of grief fell upon Achilles as he listened. He filled both hands with dust from off the ground, and poured it over his head, disfiguring his comely face, and letting the refuse settle over his shirt so fair and new. He flung himself down all huge and hugely at full length, and tore his hair with his hands. The bondswomen whom Achilles and Patroclus had taken captive screamed aloud for grief, beating their breasts, and with their limbs failing them for sorrow. Antilochus bent over him the while, weeping and holding both his hands as he lay groaning for he feared that he might plunge a knife into his own throat. Then Achilles gave a loud cry and his mother heard him as she was sitting in the depths of the sea by the old man her father, whereon she screamed, and all the goddesses daughters of Nereus that dwelt at the bottom of the sea, came gathering round her. There were Glauce, Thalia and Cymodoce, Nesaia, Speo, thoe and dark-eyed Halie, Cymothoe, Actaea and Limnorea, Melite, Iaera, Amphithoe and Agave, Doto and Proto, Pherusa and Dynamene, Dexamene, Amphinome and Callianeira, Doris, Panope, and the famous sea-nymph Galatea, Nemertes, Apseudes and Callianassa. There were also Clymene, Ianeira and Ianassa, Maera, Oreithuia and Amatheia of the lovely locks, with other Nereids who dwell in the depths of the sea. The crystal cave was filled with their multitude and they all beat their breasts while Thetis led them in their lament. "Listen," she cried, "sisters, daughters of Nereus, that you may hear the burden of my sorrows. Alas, woe is me, woe in that I have borne the most glorious of offspring. I bore him fair and strong, hero among heroes, and he shot up as a sapling; I tended him as a plant in a goodly garden, and sent him with his ships to Ilius to fight the Trojans, but never shall I welcome him back to the house of Peleus. So long as he lives to look upon the light of the sun he is in heaviness, and though I go to him I cannot help him. Nevertheless I will go, that I may see my dear son and learn what sorrow has befallen him though he is still holding aloof from battle."

他言罢，一团悲愤的乌云罩住了阿基琉斯的心灵。他十指勾屈，抓起地上的污秽，洒抹在自己的头脸，脏浊了俊美的相貌，灰黑的尘末纷落在洁净的衫衣上。他横躺在地，借大的身躯，卧盖着一片泥尘，抓纹和污损着自己的头发。带着揪心的悲痛，他和帕特罗克洛斯俘获的女仆们，哭叫着冲出营棚，围绕在骁勇的阿基琉斯身边，全都扬起双手，击打自己的胸脯，腿脚酥软。安提洛科斯和他一齐悲悼，泪水倾注，握着他的双手，悲痛绞扰着高贵的心房，担心勇士会用铁的锋刃刎脖自尽。阿基琉斯发出一声可怕的叹吼，高贵的母亲听到了他的声音——其时正坐在深深的海底，年迈的父亲身边——报之以尖利的嘶叫。女神们涌聚到她的身边，所有生活在海底的女仙，奈柔斯的女儿，有格劳凯、库莫多凯和莎勒娅、奈赛娥、斯裴娥、索娥和牛眼睛的哈莉娅，有库库索娥、阿克泰娅和莉诺瑞娅。墨莉忒、伊埃拉、安菲索娥和阿伽维、多托、普罗托、杜娜墨奈和菲鲁莎。德克莎墨奈、安菲诺墨和卡莉娅内拉、多里丝、帕诺裴和光荣的伽拉苔娅、奈墨耳忒丝、阿普修得丝和卡莉娅娜莎，还有克鲁墨奈、亚内拉和亚娜莎。迈拉、俄蕾苏娅和长发秀美的阿玛塞娅，以及其他生活在海底的奈柔斯的女儿们。女儿们挤满了银光闪烁的洞府，全都击打着自己的胸脯；女仙中，塞提丝领头唱起了挽歌：“姐妹们，奈柔斯的女儿们，听我说，听我唱，了解我心中深切的悲痛。唉，我的苦痛和烦恼！了不起的生育，吃尽苦头的母亲！我生养了一个完美无缺、强健骠悍的儿子，英雄中的俊杰，像一棵树苗似地茁壮成长；我把他养大成人，好似一棵果树，为园林增彩添光。然而，我却把他送上弯翘的海船，前往伊利昂地面，和特洛伊人战斗！我再也见不到他的身影，见不到他回返自己的家居，裴琉斯的门户！只要他还活着，能见到白昼的日光，他就无法摆脱烦愁，即便我亲往探视，也帮不了他的忙。然而，我还是要去，看看我心爱的儿子，听听他的诉说，在这脱离战斗的时候，他经历着何种愁伤。”

She left the cave as she spoke, while the others followed weeping after, and the waves opened a path before them. When they reached the rich plain of Troy, they came up out of the sea in a long line on to the sands, at the place where the ships of the Myrmidons were drawn up in close order round the tents of Achilles. His mother went up to him as he lay groaning; she laid her hand upon his head and spoke piteously, saying, "My son, why are you thus weeping? What sorrow has now befallen you? Tell me; hide it not from me. Surely Jove has granted you the prayer you made him, when you lifted up your hands and besought him that the Achaeans might all of them be pent up at their ships, and rue it bitterly in that you were no longer with them."

言罢，她离开洞府，女仙们含泪相随；在她们周围，海浪掀分出一条水路。一经踏上富饶的特洛伊大地，她们一个跟着一个，在滩沿上鱼贯而行，依傍着已被拖上海岸的慕耳弥冬人的海船，密集地排列在捷足的阿基琉斯身边。正当他长嘘短叹之时，高贵的母亲出现在他的面前，发出一声尖叫，伸出双臂，抱住儿子的头脸，悲声哭泣，开口说道，用长了翅膀的话语：“我的儿，为何哭泣？是什么悲愁揪住了你的心房？说出来，不要藏匿。宙斯已兑现你所希求的一切，按你扬臂析告的那样，阿开亚人的儿子们已被如数赶回船尾——由于你不在场——已经受到惨重的击打。”

Achilles groaned and answered, "Mother, Olympian Jove has indeed vouchsafed me the fulfilment of my prayer, but what boots it to me, seeing that my dear comrade Patroclus has fallen- he whom I valued more than all others, and loved as dearly as my own life? I have lost him; aye, and Hector when he had killed him stripped the wondrous armour, so glorious to behold, which the gods gave to Peleus when they laid you in the couch of a mortal man. Would that you were still dwelling among the immortal sea-nymphs, and that Peleus had taken to himself some mortal bride. For now you shall have grief infinite by reason of the death of that son whom you can never welcome home- nay, I will not live nor go about among mankind unless Hector fall by my spear, and thus pay me for having slain Patroclus son of Menoetius." Thetis wept and answered, "Then, my son, is your end near at hand- for your own death awaits you full soon after that of Hector."

捷足的阿基琉斯长叹一声，答道：“不错，我的母亲，俄林波斯大神确已兑现我的祈愿，但现在，这一切于我又有什么欢乐可言？我亲爱的伴友已不在人间。帕特罗克洛斯死了，我爱他甚于对其他所有的伙伴，就像爱我自己的生命一样！我失去了他；赫克托耳杀了他，剥走那套硕大、绚丽的铠甲，闪光的珍品，让人眼花缭乱的战衣，神祗馈送裴琉斯的一份厚重的赠礼——那一天，他们把你推上和凡人婚配的睡床。但愿你当时仍和其她海中的仙女生活，而裴琉斯则婚娶了一位凡女。现在，你的内心必须承受杏无穷期的悲痛，为你儿子的死亡——你将再也不能和他重逢，相聚在自己的家居。我的心魂已催我放弃眼下的生活，中止和凡人为伍，除非我先杀了赫克托耳，用我的枪矛，以他的鲜血偿付杀剥墨诺伊提俄斯儿子帕特罗克洛斯的豪强！”其时，塞提丝泪如泉涌，说道：“既如此，我的儿，你的死期已近在眼前。赫克托耳去后，紧接着便是你自己的死亡！”

Then said Achilles in his great grief, "I would die here and now, in that I could not save my comrade. He has fallen far from home, and in his hour of need my hand was not there to help him. What is there for me? Return to my own land I shall not, and I have brought no saving neither to Patroclus nor to my other comrades of whom so many have been slain by mighty Hector; I stay here by my ships a bootless burden upon the earth, I, who in fight have no peer among the Achaeans, though in council there are better than I. Therefore, perish strife both from among gods and men, and anger, wherein even a righteous man will harden his heart- which rises up in the soul of a man like smoke, and the taste thereof is sweeter than drops of honey. Even so has Agamemnon angered me. And yet- so be it, for it is over; I will force my soul into subjection as I needs must; I will go; I will pursue Hector who has slain him whom I loved so dearly, and will then abide my doom when it may please Jove and the other gods to send it. Even Hercules, the best beloved of Jove- even he could not escape the hand of death, but fate and Juno's fierce anger laid him low, as I too shall lie when I am dead if a like doom awaits me. Till then I will win fame, and will bid Trojan and Dardanian women wring tears from their tender cheeks with both their hands in the grievousness of their great sorrow; thus shall they know that he who has held aloof so long will hold aloof no longer. Hold me not back, therefore, in the love you bear me, for you shall not move me."

带着满腔愤恼，捷足的阿基琉斯答道：“那就让我马上死去，既然在伴友被杀之时，我没有出力帮忙！如今，他已死在远离故土的异乡——他需要我的护卫，我的力量。现在，既然我已不打算回返亲爱的故乡，既然我已不是帕特罗克洛斯和其他伙伴们的救护之光——他们已成群结队地倒在强有力的赫克托耳手下——只是干坐在自己的船边，使沃野徒劳无益地承托着我的重压：我，战场上的骄子，身披铜甲的阿开亚人中无人可以及旁，虽然在议事会上，有人比我舌巧话长。但愿争斗从神和人的生活里消失，连同驱使哪怕是最明智的人撤野的暴怒，这苦味的胆汁，比垂滴的蜂蜜还要香甜，涌聚在人的胸间，犹如一团烟雾，迷惘着我们的心窍——就像民众的王者阿伽门农的作为，在我心里激起的愤怒一样。够了，过去的事就让它过去吧！尽管痛楚，我要逼迫自己，压下此番盛怒。现在，我要出战赫克托耳，这个凶手夺走了一条我所珍爱的生命。然后，我将接受自己的死亡，在宙斯和列位神祗愿意把它付诸实现的任何时光！就连力上赫拉克勒斯也不曾躲过死亡，虽然他是克罗诺斯之子、王者宙斯最心爱的凡人——命运和赫拉粗野的狂暴葬送了他。我也一样，如果同样的命运等待着我的领受，一旦死后，我将安闲地舒躺。但现在，我必须争得显耀的荣光，使某个特洛伊妇女或某个束腰紧深的达耳达尼亚女子抬举双手，擦抹鲜嫩的脸颊，一串串悲悼的泪珠——她们将由此得知，我已有多长时间没有拼斗搏杀！不要阻止我冲打，虽然你很爱我。你的劝说不会使我改变主意。”

Then silver-footed Thetis answered, "My son, what you have said is true. It is well to save your comrades from destruction, but your armour is in the hands of the Trojans; Hector bears it in triumph upon his own shoulders. Full well I know that his vaunt shall not be lasting, for his end is close at hand; go not, however, into the press of battle till you see me return hither; to-morrow at break of day I shall be here, and will bring you goodly armour from King Vulcan."

听罢这番，银脚女神塞提丝答道：“是的，我的儿，救护疲乏的伙伴，使他们避免突至的死亡，绝非懦夫弱汉的作为。但是，你那身璀璨的铠甲已落入特洛伊人手中，青铜铸就，闪着烁烁的光芒；头盔闪亮的赫克托耳，已把它套在肩上，炫耀他的荣光。不过，料他风光不久，穿着这身铠甲——他的末日已在向他逼压！再等等，在没有亲眼见我回返之前，不要急于投身战争的磨轧！我将带着王者赫法伊斯托斯铸打的铠甲，神制的精品，于明晨拂晓，太阳初升的时候，回到你的身旁。”

On this she left her brave son, and as she turned away she said to the sea-nymphs her sisters, "Dive into the bosom of the sea and go to the house of the old sea-god my father. Tell him everything; as for me, I will go to the cunning workman Vulcan on high Olympus, and ask him to provide my son with a suit of splendid armour."

言罢，塞提丝转身离开儿子，对着她的海神姐妹，开口说道：“‘你等即可回返水波浩森的大洋，回到水底的房屋，谒见海之长老，我们的父亲，把一切禀告于他。我要去高耸的俄林波斯，寻见著名的神匠赫法伊斯托斯，但愿他能给我儿一套绝好的铠甲，闪着四射的光芒！”

When she had so said, they dived forthwith beneath the waves, while silver-footed Thetis went her way that she might bring the armour for her son.

她言罢，姐妹们随即跳入追涌的海浪，而她自己，银脚女神塞提丝，则扶摇直上，前往俄林波斯，为儿子求取光灿灿的铠甲。

Thus, then, did her feet bear the goddess to Olympus, and meanwhile the Achaeans were flying with loud cries before murderous Hector till they reached the ships and the Hellespont, and they could not draw the body of Mars's servant Patroclus out of reach of the weapons that were showered upon him, for Hector son of Priam with his host and horsemen had again caught up to him like the flame of a fiery furnace; thrice did brave Hector seize him by the feet, striving with might and main to draw him away and calling loudly on the Trojans, and thrice did the two Ajaxes, clothed in valour as with a garment, beat him from off the body; but all undaunted he would now charge into the thick of the fight, and now again he would stand still and cry aloud, but he would give no ground. As upland shepherds that cannot chase some famished lion from a carcase, even so could not the two Ajaxes scare Hector son of Priam from the body of Patroclus.

就这样，快腿把她带往俄林波斯的峰峦，与此同时，面对杀人狂赫克托耳的进攻，阿开亚人发出可怕的惨叫，撒腿奔逃，退至海船一线，漫长的赫勒斯庞特沿岸。战地上，胫甲紧固的阿开亚人无法从漫天飞舞的枪械里拖＠帕特罗克洛斯的遗体，阿基琉斯的伴从；特洛伊兵勇和车马再次骚拥到帕特罗克洛斯身边，赫克托耳，普里阿摩斯之子，凶狂得像一团火焰。一连三次，光荣的赫克托耳从后面抓起他的双脚，试图把他拖走，高声呼喊着特洛伊人，一连三次，两位骠悍狂烈的埃阿斯将他打离尸躯。但赫克托耳坚信自己的勇力，继续冲扑，时而杀人人群，时而挺腿直立，大声疾呼，一步也不退让。正如野地里的牧人，不能吓跑一头毛色黄褐的狮子，使它丢下嘴边的肉食，两位埃阿斯，善战的勇士，赶不走赫克托耳，普里阿摩斯之子，从倒地的尸躯旁。

And now he would even have dragged it off and have won imperishable glory, had not Iris fleet as the wind, winged her way as messenger from Olympus to the son of Peleus and bidden him arm. She came secretly without the knowledge of Jove and of the other gods, for Juno sent her, and when she had got close to him she said, "Up, son of Peleus, mightiest of all mankind; rescue Patroclus about whom this fearful fight is now raging by the ships. Men are killing one another, the Danaans in defence of the dead body, while the Trojans are trying to hale it away, and take it to wind Ilius: Hector is the most furious of them all; he is for cutting the head from the body and fixing it on the stakes of the wall. Up, then, and bide here no longer; shrink from the thought that Patroclus may become meat for the dogs of Troy. Shame on you, should his body suffer any kind of outrage." And Achilles said, "Iris, which of the gods was it that sent you to me?"

其时，赫克托耳已可下手拖走尸体，争得永久的荣光，若非腿脚风快的伊里丝从俄林波斯山上冲扫而下，带来要裴琉斯之子武装出击的口信。赫拉悄悄地遣她下凡，宙斯和众神对此全然不知。她在阿基琉斯身边站定，启口说话，用长了翅膀的言语：“行动起来，裴琉斯之子，人世间最可怕的壮勇！保卫帕特罗克洛斯的遗体；为了他，海船的前面已打得人血飞扬！双方互相残杀，阿开亚人为保卫倒地的伙伴，而特洛伊人则冲闯着要把尸体拖人多风的城堡，尤以光荣的赫克托耳为甚，发疯似地拖枪，凶暴狂虐，意欲挥剑松软的脖子，割下他的脑袋，挑挂在墙头的尖桩上！快起来，不要躺倒在地！想想此般羞辱——不要让特洛伊的大狗嬉耍帕特罗克洛斯的遗躯！这是你的耻辱，倘若伙伴的尸体离此而去，带着遭受蹂躏的伤迹！听罢这番话，捷足的阿基琉斯问道：“永生的伊里丝，是哪位神祗差你前来，捎给我此番口信？”

Iris answered, "It was Juno the royal spouse of Jove, but the son of Saturn does not know of my coming, nor yet does any other of the immortals who dwell on the snowy summits of Olympus."

听他言罢，腿脚风快的伊里丝答道：“是赫拉，宙斯尊贵的妻后，遣我下凡，但高坐云端的克罗诺斯之子，以及其他家住白雪封盖的俄林波斯的众神，却不知此事。”

Then fleet Achilles answered her saying, "How can I go up into the battle? They have my armour. My mother forbade me to arm till I should see her come, for she promised to bring me goodly armour from Vulcan; I know no man whose arms I can put on, save only the shield of Ajax son of Telamon, and he surely must be fighting in the front rank and wielding his spear about the body of dead Patroclus."

听罢这番话，捷足的阿基琉斯说道：“特洛伊人夺走了我的铠甲，我将如何战斗？心爱的母亲对我说过，在没有亲眼见她回返之前，绝不要武装出阵——她答应带回一套闪光的铠甲，从赫法伊斯托斯的工房。我不知谁的甲械可以合我携用，除了忒拉蒙之子的那面硕大的战盾。但我确信，此刻，他自己正战斗在队伍的前头，挥使着枪矛，保卫帕特罗克洛斯的遗体。”

Iris said, 'We know that your armour has been taken, but go as you are; go to the deep trench and show yourelf before the Trojans, that they may fear you and cease fighting. Thus will the fainting sons of the Achaeans gain some brief breathing-time, which in battle may hardly be."

听罢这番话，腿脚风快的伊里丝说道：“是的，我们知道，你那套光荣的铠甲已被他们夺占，但是，你仍可前往壕沟，以无甲之身——目睹你的出现，特洛伊人会吓得神魂颠倒，停止进攻，使苦战中的阿开亚人的儿子们得获一次喘息的机会——他们已筋疲力尽。战斗中，喘息的时间总是那样短暂。”

Iris left him when she had so spoken. But Achilles dear to Jove arose, and Minerva flung her tasselled aegis round his strong shoulders; she crowned his head with a halo of golden cloud from which she kindled a glow of gleaming fire. As the smoke that goes up into heaven from some city that is being beleaguered on an island far out at sea- all day long do men sally from the city and fight their hardest, and at the going down of the sun the line of beacon-fires blazes forth, flaring high for those that dwell near them to behold, if so be that they may come with their ships and succour them- even so did the light flare from the head of Achilles, as he stood by the trench, going beyond the wall- but he aid not join the Achaeans for he heeded the charge which his mother laid upon him. There did he stand and shout aloud. Minerva also raised her voice from afar, and spread terror unspeakable among the Trojans. Ringing as the note of a trumpet that sounds alarm then the foe is at the gates of a city, even so brazen was the voice of the son of Aeacus, and when the Trojans heard its clarion tones they were dismayed; the horses turned back with their chariots for they boded mischief, and their drivers were awe-struck by the steady flame which the grey-eyed goddess had kindled above the head of the great son of Peleus. Thrice did Achilles raise his loud cry as he stood by the trench, and thrice were the Trojans and their brave allies thrown into confusion; whereon twelve of their noblest champions fell beneath the wheels of their chariots and perished by their own spears. The Achaeans to their great joy then drew Patroclus out of reach of the weapons, and laid him on a litter: his comrades stood mourning round him, and among them fleet Achilles who wept bitterly as he saw his true comrade lying dead upon his bier. He had sent him out with horses and chariots into battle, but his return he was not to welcome.

言罢，快腿的伊里丝离他而去。宙斯钟爱的阿基琉斯挺身直立——雅典娜，女神中的姣杰，把穗带飘摇的埃吉斯甩上他那宽厚的肩膀，随后布起一朵金色的浮云，在他的头顶，从中燃出一片熊熊的火焰，光照四方。仿佛烟火腾升，冲指气空，远处海岛上的一座城堡，受到敌人的围攻，护城的人们在墙上奋勇抵抗，苦战终日，及至太阳西沉，点起一堆堆报警的柴火，呼呼地升腾，告急于邻近岛屿上的人们，企盼他们的营救，驾着海船赶来，打退进攻的敌人——就像这样，阿基琉斯头上烈焰熊熊，冲指明亮的气空。他从墙边大步扑进，站在壕沟边沿，牢记母亲的命嘱，不曾介入阿开亚人的营伍。他挺胸直立，放声长啸，帕拉丝、雅典娜亦在远处呼喊，把特洛伊人吓得五脏俱裂。阿基琉斯的呐喊清响激越，尖利嘹亮，如同围城之时，杀人成性的兵勇吹响的号角。听到埃阿科斯后代的铜嗓，特洛伊人无不心惊肉跳；长鬃飘洒的驭马，心知死难临头，掉转身后的战车，驭手们个个目瞪口呆，望着灰眼睛女神雅典娜点燃的烈火，窜耀在心胸豪壮的阿基琉斯头上，来势凶猛，暴虐无情。一连三次，卓越的阿基琉斯隔着壕沟啸吼，一连三次，特洛伊人和声名遐迩的盟友吓得活蹦乱跳。其间，他们中十二个最好的战勇即刻毙命，葬身于自己的战车和枪矛。与此同时，阿开亚人，冒着飞舞的枪械，高兴地抢回帕特罗克洛斯，放躺在尸架上，出手迅捷；亲密的伙伴们围站在他的身边，深情悲悼。捷足的阿基琉斯介入哀悼的人群，热泪滚滚，看着他所信赖的伴友尸躺架面，挺着被锋快的铜尖破毁的躯身——他把伴友送上战场，连同驭马和战车，但却不曾见他生还，把他迎进家门。

Then Juno sent the busy sun, loth though he was, into the waters of Oceanus; so he set, and the Achaeans had rest from the tug and turmoil of war. Now the Trojans when they had come out of the fight, unyoked their horses and gathered in assembly before preparing their supper. They kept their feet, nor would any dare to sit down, for fear had fallen upon them all because Achilles had shown himself after having held aloof so long from battle. Polydamas son of Panthous was first to speak, a man of judgement, who alone among them could look both before and after. He was comrade to Hector, and they had been born upon the same night; with all sincerity and goodwill, therefore, he addressed them thus:-

其时，牛眼睛天后赫拉把尚无倦意。不愿离息的太阳赶下俄开阿诺斯水流。太阳下沉后，卓越的阿开亚人停止激烈的拼杀，你死我活的搏斗。在他们对面，特洛伊人亦随即撤出激烈的战斗，将善跑的驭马宽出战车的轭架，集聚商议，把做食晚饭之事忘得精光。他们直立聚会，谁也不敢就地下坐，个个心慌意乱——要知道，在长期避离惨烈的搏杀后，阿基琼斯现又重返战斗。头脑冷静的普鲁达马斯首先发话，潘苏斯之子，全军中推他一人具有瞻前顾后的睿智。他是赫克托耳的战友，同一个晚上出生，比赫克托耳能言，而后者则远比他擅使枪矛。怀着对众人的善意，他开口说道：

"Look to it well, my friends; I would urge you to go back now to your city and not wait here by the ships till morning, for we are far from our walls. So long as this man was at enmity with Agamemnon the Achaeans were easier to deal with, and I would have gladly camped by the ships in the hope of taking them; but now I go in great fear of the fleet son of Peleus; he is so daring that he will never bide here on the plain whereon the Trojans and Achaeans fight with equal valour, but he will try to storm our city and carry off our women. Do then as I say, and let us retreat. For this is what will happen. The darkness of night will for a time stay the son of Peleus, but if he find us here in the morning when he sallies forth in full armour, we shall have knowledge of him in good earnest. Glad indeed will he be who can escape and get back to Ilius, and many a Trojan will become meat for dogs and vultures may I never live to hear it. If we do as I say, little though we may like it, we shall have strength in counsel during the night, and the great gates with the doors that close them will protect the city. At dawn we can arm and take our stand on the walls; he will then rue it if he sallies from the ships to fight us. He will go back when he has given his horses their fill of being driven all whithers under our walls, and will be in no mind to try and force his way into the city. Neither will he ever sack it, dogs shall devour him ere he do so."

“是慎重考虑的时候了，我的朋友们！我劝大家回兵城内，不要在平原上，在这海船边等盼神圣的黎明——我们已过远地撤离了城堡。只要此人盛怒不息，对了不起的阿伽门农，阿开亚人还是一支较为容易对付的军旅，而我亦乐意露营寝宿，睡躺在船边，企望着抓获弯翘的船舟。但现在，我却十分害怕裴琉斯捷足的儿子，此人的勇力如此狂暴，我想他绝不会只是满足于果留平原——特洛伊人和阿开亚人在此拼死相搏，均分战神的凶暴。不！他要荡平我们的城堡，抢走我们的女人！让我们撤兵回城；相信我，这一切将会发生。眼下，神赐的夜晚止住了裴琉斯之子、捷足的阿基琉斯的进攻，然而，明天呢？倘若等他披甲持枪，冲扑上来，逮着正在此间磨蹭的我们，各位就会知道他的厉害。那时候，有人准会庆幸自己命大，要是他能活着跑回神圣的伊利昂。成片的特洛伊尸躯将喂饱兀鹫和俄狗。但愿此类消息永远不要传至我的耳旁！倘若大家都能听从我的劝说——尽管我们不愿这么做——今晚，我们将养精蓄锐，在聚会的空场上；高大的城墙和门户，偌大的门面，平滑吻合的木板和紧插的门闩，将能保护城堡的安全。然后，明天一早，拂晓时分，我们将全副武装，进入墙头的战位。那时，倘若阿基琉斯试图从船边过来，拼杀在我们的墙下，他将面临厄运的击打。他会鞭策驭马，在墙下来回穿梭，把它们累得垂头丧气，最后无可奈何，返回搁岸的船旁。所以，尽管狂烈，他将无法冲破城门，攻占我们的城堡。用不了多久，奔跑的犬狗便会把他撕食吞咬！”

Hector looked fiercely at him and answered, "Polydamas, your words are not to my liking in that you bid us go back and be pent within the city. Have you not had enough of being cooped up behind walls? In the old-days the city of Priam was famous the whole world over for its wealth of gold and bronze, but our treasures are wasted out of our houses, and much goods have been sold away to Phrygia and fair Meonia, for the hand of Jove has been laid heavily upon us. Now, therefore, that the son of scheming Saturn has vouchsafed me to win glory here and to hem the Achaeans in at their ships, prate no more in this fool's wise among the people. You will have no man with you; it shall not be; do all of you as I now say;- take your suppers in your companies throughout the host, and keep your watches and be wakeful every man of you. If any Trojan is uneasy about his possessions, let him gather them and give them out among the people. Better let these, rather than the Achaeans, have them. At daybreak we will arm and fight about the ships; granted that Achilles has again come forward to defend them, let it be as he will, but it shall go hard with him. I shall not shun him, but will fight him, to fall or conquer. The god of war deals out like measure to all, and the slayer may yet be slain."

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——你再次催我们回撤，要我们缩挤在城区；在高墙的樊笼里，你难道还没有蹲够吗？从前，人们到处议论纷纷，议说普里阿摩斯的城，说这是个富藏黄金和青铜的去处。但现在，由于宙斯的愤怒，房居里丰盈的财富已被掏扫一空；大量的库藏已被变卖，运往弗鲁吉亚和美丽的迈俄尼亚。今天，工于心计的克罗诺斯的儿子给了我争获荣誉的机会，就在敌人的船边，把阿开亚人赶下大海——此时此刻，你，你这个笨蛋，不要再说撤兵的蠢话，当着此间的众人！特洛伊人中谁也不会听从你的议说——我将不允许有人这么做。行动起来，按我说的办，谁也不要倔拗。现在，大家各归本队，吃用晚餐，沿着宽阔的营区；不要忘了布置岗哨，人人都要保持警觉。要是有谁实在放心不下自己的财富，那就让他尽数收聚，交给众人，让大家一起享用。与其让阿开亚人糜耗，倒不如让自己人消受。明天一早，拂晓时分，我们要全副武装，在深旷的船边唤醒凶暴的战神！如果挺身船边的真是卓越的阿基琉斯，那就让他等着遭殃——一倘若他想试试自己的身手。我不会在他面前逃跑，不会跑离悲烈的战斗；我将顽强拼战，看看到底谁能赢得巨大的光荣，是他，还是我！战神是公正的：用死亡回敬以死相逼之人！”

Thus spoke Hector; and the Trojans, fools that they were, shouted in applause, for Pallas Minerva had robbed them of their understanding. They gave ear to Hector with his evil counsel, but the wise words of Polydamas no man would heed. They took their supper throughout the host, and meanwhile through the whole night the Achaeans mourned Patroclus, and the son of Peleus led them in their lament. He laid his murderous hands upon the breast of his comrade, groaning again and again as a bearded lion when a man who was chasing deer has robbed him of his young in some dense forest; when the lion comes back he is furious, and searches dingle and dell to track the hunter if he can find him, for he is mad with rage- even so with many a sigh did Achilles speak among the Myrmidons saying, "Alas! vain were the words with which I cheered the hero Menoetius in his own house; I said that I would bring his brave son back again to Opoeis after he had sacked Ilius and taken his share of the spoils- but Jove does not give all men their heart's desire. The same soil shall be reddened here at Troy by the blood of us both, for I too shall never be welcomed home by the old knight Peleus, nor by my mother Thetis, but even in this place shall the earth cover me. Nevertheless, O Patroclus, now that I am left behind you, I will not bury you, till I have brought hither the head and armour of mighty Hector who has slain you. Twelve noble sons of Trojans will I behead before your bier to avenge you; till I have done so you shall lie as you are by the ships, and fair women of Troy and Dardanus, whom we have taken with spear and strength of arm when we sacked men's goodly cities, shall weep over you both night and day."

赫克托耳言罢，特洛伊人报之以赞同的吼声——好一群傻瓜，帕拉丝·雅典娜已夺走他们的智筹。赫克托耳的计划凶险横生，他们竟盲目喝彩，而普鲁达马斯的主意尽管明智，却没有一个人赞同。议毕，全军吃用晚饭，沿着宽阔的营区。其时，在帕特罗克洛斯身边，阿开亚人哀声悲悼，通宵达旦。裴琉斯之子领头唱诵曲调凄楚的挽歌，把杀人的双手紧贴着挚友的胸脯，发出一声声痛苦的悲号。像一头虬须满面的狮子，被一位打鹿的猎手偷走它的幼仔，从密密的树林里，甫及回来，方知为时已晚，恼恨不已，急起追踪，沿着猎人的足迹，跑过一道道山谷，企望找到他的去处，凶蛮狂烈。就像这样，阿基琉斯哀声长叹，对慕耳弥冬人哭诉道：“唉，荒唐啊，我说的那番空话——那天，在裴琉斯家里，为了宽慰英雄墨诺伊提俄斯的心房！我答应他，攻陷伊利昂后，我会把他的儿男带回俄普斯，载誉而归，带着他的份子，他的战礼。但是，宙斯绝不会从头至尾兑现凡人的心愿。瞧瞧我俩的下场：你我将用鲜血染红同一块土地，在这特洛伊平野！我已不能生还家园；裴琉斯，我的父亲，年迈的车战者，将再也不能把我收迎进家门，还有塞提丝，我的母亲——异乡的泥土将把我收藏！然而，帕特罗克洛斯，由于我将步你的后尘，离开人间，我现在不打算把你埋葬，直到带回那套铠甲和赫克托耳的脑袋——是他杀了你，我的心胸豪壮的伴友。在火焚遗体的柴堆前，我将砍掉十二个特洛伊人风华正茂的儿子，消泄我对他们杀你的愤恨！在此之前，你就躺在这里，在我的弯翘的海船前；特洛伊妇女和束腰紧深的达耳达尼亚女子将泪流满面，哀悼在你的身边，无论白天和黑夜——她们是你我夺来的俘获，靠我们的勇力和粗长的枪矛，攻克一座座凡人富有的城堡。”

Then Achilles told his men to set a large tripod upon the fire that they might wash the clotted gore from off Patroclus. Thereon they set a tripod full of bath water on to a clear fire: they threw sticks on to it to make it blaze, and the water became hot as the flame played about the belly of the tripod. When the water in the cauldron was boiling they washed the body, anointed it with oil, and closed its wounds with ointment that had been kept nine years. Then they laid it on a bier and covered it with a linen cloth from head to foot, and over this they laid a fair white robe. Thus all night long did the Myrmidons gather round Achilles to mourn Patroclus. Then Jove said to Juno his sister-wife, "So, Queen Juno, you have gained your end, and have roused fleet Achilles. One would think that the Achaeans were of your own flesh and blood."

言罢，卓越的阿基琉斯命令属下，在火堆上架起一口大锅，以便尽快洗去帕特罗克洛斯身上斑结的血污。他们把大锅架上炽烈的柴火，注满洗澡的清水，添上木块，燃起通红的火苗。柴火舔着锅底，增升着水温，直至热腾腾的浴水沸滚在闪亮的铜锅。他们动手洗净遗体，抹上舒滑的橄榄油，填平一道道伤口，用成年的[注]油膏，把他放躺在床上，盖上一层薄薄的亚麻布，从头到脚，用一件白色的披篷罩掩全身。整整一夜，围绕着捷足的阿基琉斯，慕耳弥冬人哀声吟叹，悲悼帕特罗克洛斯的故亡。其时，宙斯对赫拉发话，他的妻子和姐妹：“这么看来，赫拉，我的牛眼睛王后，你还是实践了你的意图你已催使捷足的阿基琉斯站挺起身子。他们都该是你的孩子吧，这些个长发的阿开亚人？”

And Juno answered, "Dread son of Saturn, why should you say this thing? May not a man though he be only mortal and knows less than we do, do what he can for another person? And shall not I- foremost of all goddesses both by descent and as wife to you who reign in heaven- devise evil for the Trojans if I am angry with them?"

听罢这番话，牛眼睛夫人赫拉答道：“克罗诺斯之子，可怕的王者，你说了些什么？即便是个凡人，也会尽己所能，帮助朋友，尽管凡骨肉脯，没有我等的睿智。我，自诩为女神中最高贵的姣杰，体现在两个方面，出生次序和同你的关系——我被尊为你的伴侣，而你是众神之主——难道就不能因为出于恨心，谋导特洛伊人的败亡？”

Thus did they converse. Meanwhile Thetis came to the house of Vulcan, imperishable, star-bespangled, fairest of the abodes in heaven, a house of bronze wrought by the lame god's own hands. She found him busy with his bellows, sweating and hard at work, for he was making twenty tripods that were to stand by the wall of his house, and he set wheels of gold under them all that they might go of their own selves to the assemblies of the gods, and come back again- marvels indeed to see. They were finished all but the ears of cunning workmanship which yet remained to be fixed to them: these he was now fixing, and he was hammering at the rivets. While he was thus at work silver-footed Thetis came to the house. Charis, of graceful head-dress, wife to the far-famed lame god, came towards her as soon as she saw her, and took her hand in her own, saying, "Why have you come to our house, Thetis, honoured and ever welcome- for you do not visit us often? Come inside and let me set refreshment before you."

就这样，他俩你来我往，一番争说；与此同时，银脚的塞提丝来到了赫法伊斯托斯的房居，由瘸腿的神匠自己建造，取料青铜，固垂永久，亮似明星，闪耀在众神之中。她找见神匠，正风风火火地穿梭在风箱边，忙于制作二十个鼎锅，用于排放在屋墙边，筑造坚固的房居里。他在每个架锅下安了黄金的滑轮，所以它们会自动滚人神祗聚会的厅堂，然后再滑回他的府居：一批让人看了赞叹不已的精品。一切都已制铸完毕，只缺纹工精致的把手。其时，他正忙着安制和铆接手柄。正当他专心摆弄手头的活计，以他的工艺和匠心，银脚女神塞提丝已走近他的身边。头巾闪亮的克里丝徐步前行，眼见造访的塞提丝，克里丝，美貌的女神，声名遐迩的强臂神工的婚配。她迎上前去，拉住塞提丝的手，叫着她的名字，说道：“裙衫飘逸的塞提丝，是哪阵和风把你吹进我们的房居？我们尊敬和爱慕的朋友，稀客，以前为何不常来赏光串门？请进来吧，容我聊尽地主的情谊。”

The goddess led the way as she spoke, and bade Thetis sit on a richly decorated seat inlaid with silver; there was a footstool also under her feet. Then she called Vulcan and said, "Vulcan, come here, Thetis wants you"; and the far-famed lame god answered, "Then it is indeed an august and honoured goddess who has come here; she it was that took care of me when I was suffering from the heavy fall which I had through my cruel mother's anger- for she would have got rid of me because I was lame. It would have gone hardly with me had not Eurynome, daughter of the ever-encircling waters of Oceanus, and Thetis, taken me to their bosom. Nine years did I stay with them, and many beautiful works in bronze, brooches, spiral armlets, cups, and chains, did I make for them in their cave, with the roaring waters of Oceanus foaming as they rushed ever past it; and no one knew, neither of gods nor men, save only Thetis and Eurynome who took care of me. If, then, Thetis has come to my house I must make her due requital for having saved me; entertain her, therefore, with all hospitality, while I put by my bellows and all my tools."

言罢，克里丝，风姿绰约的女神，引步前行，让塞提丝坐息一张做工精致的靠椅，造型美观，银钉嵌饰，前面放着一只脚凳。她开口招呼赫法伊斯托斯，喊道：“赫法伊斯托斯，来呀，看看是谁来了——塞提丝有事相求。”耳闻她的呼喊，著名的强臂神工答道：“呵，是尊敬的塞提丝，好一位贵客！她曾救过我——那一次，我可吃够了苦头，从高天上摔落，感谢我那厚脸皮的母亲，嫌我是个拐子想要把我藏匿。要不是欧鲁诺墨和塞提丝将我怀抱，我的心灵将会承受何样的煎熬——欧鲁诺墨，环世长河俄开阿诺斯的女儿。作为工匠，我在她们那里生活了九年，制铸了许多精美的用品；有典雅的胸针、项链、弯卷的别针和带螺纹的手镯，在空旷的洞穴里，四周是俄开阿诺斯奔腾不息的水流，泡沫翻涌，发出沉闷的吼声。除了欧鲁诺墨和塞提丝——因为她俩救了我——此事神人不知，谁也不曾悉晓。现在，塞提丝来访我们的家居，我必将全力以赴，竭己所能，报效发辫秀美的女神，她的救命之恩。赶快张罗，盛情招待，我这就去收拾，收拾我的风箱和所有的械具。”

On this the mighty monster hobbled off from his anvil, his thin legs plying lustily under him. He set the bellows away from the fire, and gathered his tools into a silver chest. Then he took a sponge and washed his face and hands, his shaggy chest and brawny neck; he donned his shirt, grasped his strong staff, and limped towards the door. There were golden handmaids also who worked for him, and were like real young women, with sense and reason, voice also and strength, and all the learning of the immortals; these busied themselves as the king bade them, while he drew near to Thetis, seated her upon a goodly seat, and took her hand in his own, saying, "Why have you come to our house, Thetis honoured and ever welcome- for you do not visit us often? Say what you want, and I will do it for you at once if I can, and if it can be done at all."

言罢，他在砧台前直起腰来，瘸拐着行走，灵巧地挪动干瘪的双腿。他移开风箱，使之脱离炉火，收起所有操用的工具，放入一只坚实的银箱。然后，他用吸水的海绵擦净额头、双手。粗大的脖子和多毛的胸脯，套上衫衣，抓起一根粗重的拐杖，一瘸一拐地前行。侍从们赶上前去，扶持着主人，全用黄金铸成，形同少女，栩栩如生。她们有会思考的心智，通说话语，行动自如，从不死的神祗那里，已学得做事的技能。她们动作敏捷，扶持着主人，后者瘸腿走近端坐的塞提丝，在那张闪亮的靠椅上，握住她的手，叫着她的名字，说道：“裙衫飘逸的塞提丝，是哪阵和风把你吹进我们的房居？我们尊敬和爱慕的朋友，稀客，以前为何不常来赏光串门？告诉我你的心事，我将竭诚为你效劳，只要可能，只要此事可以做到。”

Thetis wept and answered, "Vulcan, is there another goddess in Olympus whom the son of Saturn has been pleased to try with so much affliction as he has me? Me alone of the marine goddesses did he make subject to a mortal husband, Peleus son of Aeacus, and sorely against my will did I submit to the embraces of one who was but mortal, and who now stays at home worn out with age. Neither is this all. Heaven vouchsafed me a son, hero among heroes, and he shot up as a sapling. I tended him as a plant in a goodly garden and sent him with his ships to Ilius to fight the Trojans, but never shall I welcome him back to the house of Peleus. So long as he lives to look upon the light of the sun, he is in heaviness, and though I go to him I cannot help him; King Agamemnon has made him give up the maiden whom the sons of the Achaeans had awarded him, and he wastes with sorrow for her sake. Then the Trojans hemmed the Achaeans in at their ships' sterns and would not let them come forth; the elders, therefore, of the Argives besought Achilles and offered him great treasure, whereon he refused to bring deliverance to them himself, but put his own armour on Patroclus and sent him into the fight with much people after him. All day long they fought by the Scaean gates and would have taken the city there and then, had not Apollo vouchsafed glory to Hector and slain the valiant son of Menoetius after he had done the Trojans much evil. Therefore I am suppliant at your knees if haply you may be pleased to provide my son, whose end is near at hand, with helmet and shield, with goodly greaves fitted with ancle-clasps, and with a breastplate, for he lost his own when his true comrade fell at the hands of the Trojans, and he now lies stretched on earth in the bitterness of his soul."

听罢这番话，塞提丝泪流满面，答道：“唉，赫法伊斯托斯，俄林波斯的女神中有谁忍受过这许多深切的悲愁？克罗诺斯之子宙斯让我承受这场悲痛，似乎这是我的专有。海神姐妹中，他惟独让我嫁给凡人，嫁给裴琉斯，埃阿科斯之子，使我违心背意，忍受凡婚。现在，岁月已把他带入可悲的暮年，睡躺在自家的厅堂里。这还不够——他还让我孕怀和抚养了一个儿子，英雄中的俊杰，像一棵树苗似地茁壮成长；我把他养大成人，好似一棵果树，为园林增彩添光。然而，我却把他送上弯翘的海船，前往伊利昂地面，和特洛伊人战斗！我再也见不到他的身影，见不到他回返自己的家居，裴琉斯的门户。只要他还活着，能见到白昼的日光，他就无法摆脱烦愁，即便我亲往探视，也帮不了他的忙。强有力的阿伽门农从他手里夺走那位姑娘，阿开亚人的儿子们分给他的战获。为了她，我儿心绪焦恼，悲愁交加。其后，特洛伊人把阿开亚人逼回船尾，不让他们杀出困境。阿耳吉维人的首领们恳求我儿，列出许多光灿灿的礼物，以为偿补。当时我儿拒绝出战，为他们挡开灾亡，但还是让出自己的铠甲，披上帕特罗克洛斯的肩膀，把他送上战场，带着大队的兵勇。他们在斯卡亚门边奋战终日，当天即可攻下城堡，倘若福伊波斯·阿波罗不在前排里杀了墨诺伊提俄斯骁勇的儿郎——他已把特洛伊人捣得稀里哗拉——使赫克托耳争得荣光。所以，我来到此地，跪在你的膝前，请求你的帮助，给我那短命的儿子铸制一面盾牌、一顶盔盖。一副带踝绊的、漂亮的胫甲，以及一件护胸的甲衣。他自己的征甲已丢失战场，他所信赖的伴友已被特洛伊人剥杀。现在，我儿躺在地上，心绪悲伤。”

And Vulcan answered, "Take heart, and be no more disquieted about this matter; would that I could hide him from death's sight when his hour is come, so surely as I can find him armour that shall amaze the eyes of all who behold it."

听罢这番话，臂膀强健的著名神匠答道：“鼓起勇气，不要为这些事情担心。但愿在厄运把他抓走之时，我能设法使他躲过死亡，避免痛苦，就像我会给他一套上好的铠甲一样毋庸置疑——此甲精美，谁要是见了，管叫他咋舌惊讶。”

When he had so said he left her and went to his bellows, turning them towards the fire and bidding them do their office. Twenty bellows blew upon the melting-pots, and they blew blasts of every kind, some fierce to help him when he had need of them, and others less strong as Vulcan willed it in the course of his work. He threw tough copper into the fire, and tin, with silver and gold; he set his great anvil on its block, and with one hand grasped his mighty hammer while he took the tongs in the other.

言罢，赫法伊斯托斯离她而去，朝着风箱前行。他把风箱对着炉火，发出干活的指令。二十只风箱对着坩埚吹呼，喷出温高不等的热风，效力于忙忙碌碌的神匠，有的亢猛炽烈，顺应强力操作的需要，有的轻缓舒徐，迎合神匠的愿望。工作做得井井有条。他把金属丢进火里，坚韧的青铜，还有锡块、贵重的黄金和白银。接着，他把硕大的砧块搬上平台，一手抓起沉重的鎯锤，一手拿稳了钳夹。

First he shaped the shield so great and strong, adorning it all over and binding it round with a gleaming circuit in three layers; and the baldric was made of silver. He made the shield in five thicknesses, and with many a wonder did his cunning hand enrich it. He wrought the earth, the heavens, and the sea; the moon also at her full and the untiring sun, with all the signs that glorify the face of heaven- the Pleiads, the Hyads, huge Orion, and the Bear, which men also call the Wain and which turns round ever in one place, facing. Orion, and alone never dips into the stream of Oceanus.

神匠先铸战盾，厚重、硕大，精工饰制，绕着盾边隆起一道三层的因围，闪出熠熠的光亮，映衬着纯银的背带。盾身五层，宽面上铸着一组组奇美的浮景，倾注了他的技艺和匠心。他铸出大地、天空、海洋、不知疲倦的太阳和盈满溜圆的月亮，以及众多的星宿，像增色天穹的花环，普雷阿得斯、华得斯和强有力的俄里昂，还有大熊座，人们亦称之为“车座”，总在一个地方旋转，注视着俄里昂；众星中，惟有大熊座从不下沉沐浴，在俄开阿诺斯的水流。

He wrought also two cities, fair to see and busy with the hum of men. In the one were weddings and wedding-feasts, and they were going about the city with brides whom they were escorting by torchlight from their chambers. Loud rose the cry of Hymen, and the youths danced to the music of flute and lyre, while the women stood each at her house door to see them. Meanwhile the people were gathered in assembly, for there was a quarrel, and two men were wrangling about the blood-money for a man who had been killed, the one saying before the people that he had paid damages in full, and the other that he had not been paid. Each was trying to make his own case good, and the people took sides, each man backing the side that he had taken; but the heralds kept them back, and the elders sate on their seats of stone in a solemn circle, holding the staves which the heralds had put into their hands. Then they rose and each in his turn gave judgement, and there were two talents laid down, to be given to him whose judgement should be deemed the fairest.

他还铸下，在盾面上，两座凡人的城市，精美绝伦。一座表现婚娶和欢庆的场面，人们正把新娘引出闺房，沿着城街行走，打着耀眼的火把，踩着高歌新婚的旋律。小伙们急步摇转，跳起欢快的舞蹈，阿洛斯和坚琴的声响此起彼落；女人们站在自家门前，投出惊赞的眼光。市场上人群拥聚，观望两位男子的争吵，为了一个被杀的亲人，一笔偿命的血酬。一方当众声称血酬已付，半点不少，另一方则坚持根本不曾收受；[注]两人于是求助于审事的仲裁，听凭他的判夺。人们意见分歧，有的为这方说话，有的为那方辩解；使者们挡开人群，让地方的长老聚首商议，坐在溜光的石凳上，围成一个神圣的圆圈手握嗓音清亮的使者们交给的节杖。两人急步上前，依次陈述事情的原由，身前放着两个塔兰同的黄金，准备赏付给审断最公正的判者。

About the other city there lay encamped two hosts in gleaming armour, and they were divided whether to sack it, or to spare it and accept the half of what it contained. But the men of the city would not yet consent, and armed themselves for a surprise; their wives and little children kept guard upon the walls, and with them were the men who were past fighting through age; but the others sallied forth with Mars and Pallas Minerva at their head- both of them wrought in gold and clad in golden raiment, great and fair with their armour as befitting gods, while they that followed were smaller. When they reached the place where they would lay their ambush, it was on a riverbed to which live stock of all kinds would come from far and near to water; here, then, they lay concealed, clad in full armour. Some way off them there were two scouts who were on the look-out for the coming of sheep or cattle, which presently came, followed by two shepherds who were playing on their pipes, and had not so much as a thought of danger. When those who were in ambush saw this, they cut off the flocks and herds and killed the shepherds. Meanwhile the besiegers, when they heard much noise among the cattle as they sat in council, sprang to their horses, and made with all speed towards them; when they reached them they set battle in array by the banks of the river, and the hosts aimed their bronze-shod spears at one another. With them were Strife and Riot, and fell Fate who was dragging three men after her, one with a fresh wound, and the other unwounded, while the third was dead, and she was dragging him along by his heel: and her robe was bedrabbled in men's blood. They went in and out with one another and fought as though they were living people haling away one another's dead.

然而，在另一座城堡的周围，聚集着两队攻城的兵勇，甲械的闪光连成一片。不同的计划把他们分作两边，是攻伐抢劫，还是留下这座美丽、库藏丰盈的堡城，满足于二分之一的贡偿。[注] 城内的民众并没有屈服，他们武装起来，准备伏击。他们的爱妻和年幼的孩子站守在城墙上，连同上了年纪的老人，而青壮们则鱼贯出城，由阿瑞斯和雅典娜率领。两位神祗由黄金浇铸，身着金甲，神威赫赫，全副武装，显得俊美、高大，以瞩目的形象，突显在矮小的凡人中。他们来到理想的伏击地点，河边的滩泽，牲畜群至饮水的地方，屈腿蹲坐，身披闪光的铜甲。两位哨探，离着众人，藏身自己的位置，伏兵的眼睛，聚神探望，等待着羊群和步履瞒珊的肥牛。过了一会儿，它们果然来了，后边跟着两个牧人，兴高采烈，吹着苏里克斯，根本不曾想到眼前的诡诈。伏兵们见状，冲扑上前，迅猛砍杀，宰了成群的畜牛和毛色；白亮、净美的肥羊，杀了跟行的牧人。围城的壮勇，其时正聚坐高议，听到牛群里传来的喧嚣，从蹄腿轻捷的马后登车，急往救援，当即来到出事的地点。两军对阵，交手开战，在河的岸沿，互相击打，投出铜头的枪矛。争斗和混战介入拼搏的人群，还有致命的死亡，她时而抓住一个刚刚受伤的活人，时而逮着一个不曾受伤的精壮，时而又拎起一具尸体，抓住死者的腿脚，在粗野的残杀中——衣服的肩背上浸染着凡人的血浆，猩红一片。神明冲撞扑杀，像凡人一样战斗，互抢着别个撂倒的尸体，倒地死去的人们。

He wrought also a fair fallow field, large and thrice ploughed already. Many men were working at the plough within it, turning their oxen to and fro, furrow after furrow. Each time that they turned on reaching the headland a man would come up to them and give them a cup of wine, and they would go back to their furrows looking forward to the time when they should again reach the headland. The part that they had ploughed was dark behind them, so that the field, though it was of gold, still looked as if it were being ploughed- very curious to behold.

他还铸上一片深熟的原野，广袤、肥沃的农地，受过三遍犁耕的良田；众多的犁手遍地劳作，驭使着成对的牲畜，来回耕忙。当他们犁至地头，准备掉返之际，有人会跑上前去，端上一杯香甜的酒浆。他们掉过牲畜，重人垄沟，盼望着犁过深广的沃土，再临地头。犁尖撇下一垄垄幽黑的泥土，看来真像是翻耕过的农地，虽然取料黄金——赫法伊斯托斯的手艺就有这般卓绝。

He wrought also a field of harvest corn, and the reapers were reaping with sharp sickles in their hands. Swathe after swathe fell to the ground in a straight line behind them, and the binders bound them in bands of twisted straw. There were three binders, and behind them there were boys who gathered the cut corn in armfuls and kept on bringing them to be bound: among them all the owner of the land stood by in silence and was glad. The servants were getting a meal ready under an oak, for they had sacrificed a great ox, and were busy cutting him up, while the women were making a porridge of much white barley for the labourers' dinner.

他还铸出一片国王的属地；景面上，农人们正忙于收获，挥舞锋快的镰刀，割下庄稼，有的和收割者成行，一堆接着一堆，另一些则由捆秆者用草绳扎绑，一共三位，站在秆堆前，后面跟着
一帮孩子，收捡割下的穗秆，满满地抱在胸前，交给捆绑的农人，忙得不亦乐乎。国王亦置身现场，手握权杖，静观不语，站在割倒的秆堆前，心情舒畅。谷地的一边，在一棵树下，使者们已将盛宴排开——他们杀倒一头硕大的肥牛，此刻正忙着切剥。与此同时，妇女们撒出一把把雪白的大麦，作为收割者的午餐。

He wrought also a vineyard, golden and fair to see, and the vines were loaded with grapes. The bunches overhead were black, but the vines were trained on poles of silver. He ran a ditch of dark metal all round it, and fenced it with a fence of tin; there was only one path to it, and by this the vintagers went when they would gather the vintage. Youths and maidens all blithe and full of glee, carried the luscious fruit in plaited baskets; and with them there went a boy who made sweet music with his lyre, and sang the Linus-song with his clear boyish voice.

他还铸出一大片果实累累的葡萄园，景象生动，以黄金作果，呈现出深熟的紫蓝，蔓爬的枝藤依附在银质的杆架上。他还抹出一道渠沟，在果园四周，用暗蓝色的珐琅，并在外围套上一层白锡，以为栅栏。只有一条贯通的小径，每当撷取的时节，人们由此跑人果园，收摘葡萄。姑娘和小伙们，带着年轻人的纯真，用柳条编织的篮子，装走混熟、甜美的葡萄；在他们中间，一个年轻人拨响声音清脆的竖琴，奏出迷人的曲调，亮开富有表现力的歌喉，演唱念悼夏日的挽歌，[注]优美动听；众人随声附和，高歌欢叫，迈出轻快的舞步，踏出齐整的节奏。

He wrought also a herd of homed cattle. He made the cows of gold and tin, and they lowed as they came full speed out of the yards to go and feed among the waving reeds that grow by the banks of the river. Along with the cattle there went four shepherds, all of them in gold, and their nine fleet dogs went with them. Two terrible lions had fastened on a bellowing bull that was with the foremost cows, and bellow as he might they haled him, while the dogs and men gave chase: the lions tore through the bull's thick hide and were gorging on his blood and bowels, but the herdsmen were afraid to do anything, and only hounded on their dogs; the dogs dared not fasten on the lions but stood by barking and keeping out of harm's way.

神匠还铸出一群长角的壮牛，用黄金和白锡，啤吼着冲出满地泥粪的农院，直奔草场，在一条水流哗哗的河边，芦草飘摇的滩沿。牧牛人金首金身，随同牛群行走，一共四位，身后跟着九条快腿的牧狗。突然，两头凶狠的狮子闯入牛群的前头，咬住一头悲吼的公牛，把它拖走，踏踩着哞哞的叫声；狗和年轻的牧人疾步追救。然而，两头兽狮裂开壮牛的皮层，大口吞咽内脏和黑红的热血；牧人驱怂狗群上前搏斗，后者不敢和狮子对咬，回避不前，站在对手近旁，悻悻吠叫，躲闪观望。”

The god wrought also a pasture in a fair mountain dell, and large flock of sheep, with a homestead and huts, and sheltered sheepfolds.

著名的强臂神工还铸出一片宽阔的草场，卧躺在水草肥美的谷地，牧养着洁白闪亮的羊群，伴随着牧羊人的房院，带顶的棚屋和栅围。

Furthermore he wrought a green, like that which Daedalus once made in Cnossus for lovely Ariadne. Hereon there danced youths and maidens whom all would woo, with their hands on one another's wrists. The maidens wore robes of light linen, and the youths well woven shirts that were slightly oiled. The girls were crowned with garlands, while the young men had daggers of gold that hung by silver baldrics; sometimes they would dance deftly in a ring with merry twinkling feet, as it were a potter sitting at his work and making trial of his wheel to see whether it will run, and sometimes they would go all in line with one another, and much people was gathered joyously about the green. There was a bard also to sing to them and play his lyre, while two tumblers went about performing in the midst of them when the man struck up with his tune.

著名的强臂神工还精心铸出，在后面上，一个舞场，就像在广袤的克诺索斯，代达洛斯为发辫秀美的阿里娅德奈建造的舞场那样。场地上，年轻的小伙和美貌的姑娘们——她们的聘礼是昂贵的壮牛——牵着手腕，抬腿欢跳。姑娘们身穿亚麻布的长裙，小伙们穿着精工织纺的短套，涂闪着橄榄油的光泽。姑娘们头戴漂亮的花环，小伙们佩挂黄金的匕首，垂悬在银带的尾端。他们时而摆开轻盈的腿步，灵巧地转起圈子——像一位弯腰劳作的陶工，试转起陶轮，触之以前伸的手掌，估探它的运作——时而又跳排出行次，奔跑着互相穿插。大群的民众拥站在舞队周围，凝目观望，笑逐颜开。舞队里活跃着两位耍杂的高手，翻转腾跃，合导着歌的节奏。

All round the outermost rim of the shield he set the mighty stream of the river Oceanus.

他还铸出俄开阿诺斯河磅礴的水流，奔腾在坚不可摧的战盾的边沿。

Then when he had fashioned the shield so great and strong, he made a breastplate also that shone brighter than fire. He made helmet, close fitting to the brow, and richly worked, with a golden plume overhanging it; and he made greaves also of beaten tin.

铸罢这面巨大、厚重的战盾，神匠打出一副胸甲，烁烁的闪光比火焰还要明亮。接着，他又打出一顶盔盖，体积硕大，恰好扣紧阿基琉斯的脑穴，工艺精湛，造型美观。他给头盔铸上一峰黄金的脊冠，然后用柔韧的白锡打出一副胫甲。

Lastly, when the famed lame god had made all the armour, he took it and set it before the mother of Achilles; whereon she darted like a falcon from the snowy summits of Olympus and bore away the gleaming armour from the house of Vulcan.

完工后，著名的强臂神工抱起甲械，放在阿基琉斯母亲的腿脚前。像一只鹰鹞，塞提丝冲下白雪皑皑的俄林波斯，带着赫法伊斯托斯赠送的厚礼，光彩夺目的甲械。