the iliad(伊利亚特)-第84节

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gave　way　under　him　in　a　moment　and　he　sprang　up　with　a　bound；　as　a
fish　leaps　into　the　air　near　some　shore　that　is　all　bestrewn　with
sea…wrack；　when　Boreas　furs　the　top　of　the　waves；　and　then　falls
back　into　deep　water。　But　noble　Epeus　caught　hold　of　him　and　raised
him　up；　his　comrades　also　came　round　him　and　led　him　from　the　ring；
unsteady　in　his　gait；　his　head　hanging　on　one　side；　and　spitting　great
clots　of　gore。　They　set　him　down　in　a　swoon　and　then　went　to　fetch　the
double　cup。
　　The　son　of　Peleus　now　brought　out　the　prizes　for　the　third　contest
and　showed　them　to　the　Argives。　These　were　for　the　painful　art　of
wrestling。　For　the　winner　there　was　a　great　tripod　ready　for　setting
upon　the　fire；　and　the　Achaeans　valued　it　among　themselves　at　twelve
oxen。　For　the　loser　he　brought　out　a　woman　skilled　in　all　manner　of
arts；　and　they　valued　her　at　four　oxen。　He　rose　and　said　among　the
Argives；　〃Stand　forward；　you　who　will　essay　this　contest。〃
　　Forthwith　uprose　great　Ajax　the　son　of　Telamon；　and　crafty
Ulysses；　full　of　wiles　rose　also。　The　two　girded　themselves　and　went
into　the　middle　of　the　ring。　They　gripped　each　other　in　their　strong
hands　like　the　rafters　which　some　master…builder　frames　for　the　roof
of　a　high　house　to　keep　the　wind　out。　Their　backbones　cracked　as
they　tugged　at　one　another　with　their　mighty　arms…　and　sweat　rained
from　them　in　torrents。　Many　a　bloody　weal　sprang　up　on　their　sides　and
shoulders；　but　they　kept　on　striving　with　might　and　main　for　victory
and　to　win　the　tripod。　Ulysses　could　not　throw　Ajax；　nor　Ajax　him；
Ulysses　was　too　strong　for　him；　but　when　the　Achaeans　began　to　tire　of
watching　them；　Ajax　said　to　ulysses；　〃Ulysses；　noble　son　of　Laertes；
you　shall　either　lift　me；　or　I　you；　and　let　Jove　settle　it　between
us。〃
　　He　lifted　him　from　the　ground　as　he　spoke；　but　Ulysses　did　not
forget　his　cunning。　He　hit　Ajax　in　the　hollow　at　back　of　his　knee；
so　that　he　could　not　keep　his　feet；　but　fell　on　his　back　with
Ulysses　lying　upon　his　chest；　and　all　who　saw　it　marvelled。　Then
Ulysses　in　turn　lifted　Ajax　and　stirred　him　a　little　from　the　ground
but　could　not　lift　him　right　off　it；　his　knee　sank　under　him；　and
the　two　fell　side　by　side　on　the　ground　and　were　all　begrimed　with
dust。　They　now　sprang　towards　one　another　and　were　for　wrestling　yet　a
third　time；　but　Achilles　rose　and　stayed　them。　〃Put　not　each　other
further；〃　said　he；　〃to　such　cruel　suffering；　the　victory　is　with
both　alike；　take　each　of　you　an　equal　prize；　and　let　the　other
Achaeans　now　compete。〃
　　Thus　did　he　speak　and　they　did　even　as　he　had　said；　and　put　on　their
shirts　again　after　wiping　the　dust　from　off　their　bodies。
　　The　son　of　Peleus　then　offered　prizes　for　speed　in　running…　a
mixing…bowl　beautifully　wrought；　of　pure　silver。　It　would　hold　six
measures；　and　far　exceeded　all　others　in　the　whole　world　for　beauty；
it　was　the　work　of　cunning　artificers　in　Sidon；　and　had　been　brought
into　port　by　Phoenicians　from　beyond　the　sea；　who　had　made　a　present
of　it　to　Thoas。　Eueneus　son　of　jason　had　given　it　to　Patroclus　in
ransom　of　Priam's　son　Lycaon；　and　Achilles　now　offered　it　as　a　prize
in　honour　of　his　comrade　to　him　who　should　be　the　swiftest　runner。　For
the　second　prize　he　offered　a　large　ox；　well　fattened；　while　for　the
last　there　was　to　be　half　a　talent　of　gold。　He　then　rose　and　said
among　the　Argives；　〃Stand　forward；　you　who　will　essay　this　contest。〃
　　Forthwith　uprose　fleet　Ajax　son　of　Oileus；　with　cunning　Ulysses；　and
Nestor's　son　Antilochus；　the　fastest　runner　among　all　the　youth　of　his
time。　They　stood　side　by　side　and　Achilles　showed　them　the　goal。　The
course　was　set　out　for　them　from　the　starting…post；　and　the　son　of
Oileus　took　the　lead　at　once；　with　Ulysses　as　close　behind　him　as
the　shuttle　is　to　a　woman's　bosom　when　she　throws　the　woof　across
the　warp　and　holds　it　close　up　to　her；　even　so　close　behind　him　was
Ulysses…　treading　in　his　footprints　before　the　dust　could　settle
there；　and　Ajax　could　feel　his　breath　on　the　back　of　his　head　as　he
ran　swiftly　on。　The　Achaeans　all　shouted　applause　as　they　saw　him
straining　his　utmost；　and　cheered　him　as　he　shot　past　them；　but　when
they　were　now　nearing　the　end　of　the　course　Ulysses　prayed　inwardly　to
Minerva。　〃Hear　me；〃　he　cried；　〃and　help　my　feet；　O　goddess。〃　Thus
did　he　pray；　and　Pallas　Minerva　heard　his　prayer；　she　made　his　hands
and　his　feet　feel　light；　and　when　the　runners　were　at　the　point　of
pouncing　upon　the　prize；　Ajax；　through　Minerva's　spite　slipped　upon
some　offal　that　was　lying　there　from　the　cattle　which　Achilles　had
slaughtered　in　honour　of　Patroclus；　and　his　mouth　and　nostrils　were
all　filled　with　cow　dung。　Ulysses　therefore　carried　off　the
mixing…bowl；　for　he　got　before　Ajax　and　came　in　first。　But　Ajax　took
the　ox　and　stood　with　his　hand　on　one　of　its　horns；　spitting　the
dung　out　of　his　mouth。　Then　he　said　to　the　Argives；　〃Alas；　the　goddess
has　spoiled　my　running；　she　watches　over　Ulysses　and　stands　by　him
as　though　she　were　his　own　mother。〃　Thus　did　he　speak　and　they　all
of　them　laughed　heartily。
　　Antilochus　carried　off　the　last　prize　and　smiled　as　he　said　to　the
bystanders；　〃You　all　see；　my　friends；　that　now　too　the　gods　have　shown
their　respect　for　seniority。　Ajax　is　somewhat　older　than　I　am；　and
as　for　Ulysses；　he　belongs　to　an　earlier　generation；　but　he　is　hale　in
spite　of　his　years；　and　no　man　of　the　Achaeans　can　run　against　him
save　only　Achilles。〃
　　He　said　this　to　pay　a　compliment　to　the　son　of　Peleus；　and
Achilles　answered；　〃Antilochus；　you　shall　not　have　praised　me　to　no
purpose；　I　shall　give　you　an　additional　half　talent　of　gold。〃　He
then　gave　the　half　talent　to　Antilochus；　who　received　it　gladly。
　　Then　the　son　of　Peleus　brought　out　the　spear；　helmet　and　shield　that
had　been　borne　by　Sarpedon；　and　were　taken　from　him　by　Patroclus。　He
stood　up　and　said　among　the　Argives；　〃We　bid　two　champions　put　on
their　armour；　take　their　keen　blades；　and　make　trial　of　one　another　in
the　presence　of　the　multitude；　whichever　of　them　can　first　wound　the
flesh　of　the　other；　cut　through　his　armour；　and　draw　blood；　to　him
will　I　give　this　goodly　Thracian　sword　inlaid　with　silver；　which　I
took　from　Asteropaeus；　but　the　armour　let　both　hold　in　partnership；
and　I　will　give　each　of　them　a　hearty　meal　in　my　own　tent。〃
　　Forthwith　uprose　great　Ajax　the　son　of　Telamon；　as　also　mighty
Diomed　son　of　Tydeus。　When　they　had　put　on　their　armour　each　on　his
own　side　of　the　ring；　they　both　went　into　the　middle　eager　to
engage；　and　with　fire　flashing　from　their　eyes。　The　Achaeans　marvelled
as　they　beheld　them；　and　when　the　two　were　now　close　up　with　one
another；　thrice　did　they　spring　forward　and　thrice　try　to　strike
each　other　in　close　combat。　Ajax　pierced　Diomed's　round　shield；　but
did　not　draw　blood；　for　the　cuirass　beneath　the　shield　protected
him；　thereon　the　son　of　Tydeus　from　over　his　huge　shield　kept　aiming
continually　at　Ajax's　neck　with　the　point　of　his　spear；　and　the
Achaeans　alarmed　for　his　safety　bade　them　leave　off　fighting　and
divide　the　prize　between　them。　Achilles　then　gave　the　great　sword　to
the　son　of　Tydeus；　with　its　scabbard；　and　the　leathern　belt　with　which
to　hang　it。
　　Achilles　next　offered　the　massive　iron　quoit　which　mighty　Eetion　had
erewhile　been　used　to　hurl；　until　Achilles　had　slain　him　and　carried
it　off　in　his　ships　along　with　other　spoils。　He　stood　up　and　said
among　the　Argives；　〃Stand　forward；　you　who　would　essay　this　contest。
He　who　wins　it　will　have　a　store　of　iron　that　will　last　him　five　years
as　they　go　rolling　round；　and　if　his　fair　fields　lie　far　from　a　town
his　shepherd　or　ploughman　will　not　have　to　make　a　journey　to　buy　iron；
for　he　will　have　a　stock　of　it　on　his　own　premises。〃
　　Then　uprose　the　two　mighty　men　Polypoetes　and　Leonteus；　with　Ajax
son　of　Telamon　and　noble　Epeus。　They　stood　up　one　after　the　other
and　Epeus　took　the　quoit；　whirled　it；　and　flung　it　from　him；　which　set
all　the　Achaeans　laughing。　After　him　threw　Leonteus　of　the　race　of
Mars。　Ajax　son　of　Telamon　threw　third；　and　sent　the　quoit　beyond　any
mark　that　had　been　made　yet；　but　when　mighty　Polypoetes　took　the　quoit
he　hurled　it　as　though　it　had　been　a　stockman's　stick　which　he　sends
flying　about　among　his　cattle　when　he　is　driving　them；　so　far　did
his　throw　out…distance　those　of　the　others。　All　who　saw　it　roared
applause；　and　his　comrades　carried　the　prize　for　him　and　set　it　on
board　his　ship。
　　Achilles　next　offered　a　prize　of　iron　for　archery…　ten
double…edged　axes　and　ten　with　single　eddies：　he　set　up　a　ship's　mast；
some　way　off　upon　the　sands；　and　with　a　fine　string　tied　a　pigeon　to
it　by　the　foot；　this　was　what　they　were　to　aim　at。　〃Whoever；〃　he　said；
〃can　hit　the　pigeon　shall　have　all　the　axes　and　take　them　away　with
him；　he　who　hits　the　string　without　hitting　the　bird　will　have　taken　a
worse　aim　and　shall　have　the　single…edged　axes。〃
　　Then　uprose　King　Teucer；　and　Meriones　the　stalwart　squire　of
Idomeneus　rose　also；　They　cast　lots　in　a　bronze　helmet　and　the　lot
of　Teucer　fell　first。　He　let　fly　with　his　arrow　forthwith；　but　he
did　not　promise　hecatombs　of　firstling　lambs　to　King　Apollo；　and
missed　his　bird；　for　Apollo　foiled　his　aim；　but　he　hit　the　str