《伊利亚特·第3卷》第2节
And godlike Alexandros made answer to him again: “Hector, since in measure thou chidest me and not beyond measure—thy heart is ever keen, even as an axe that pierceth a beam at the hand of a man that shapeth a ship’s timber with skill, and thereby is the man’s blow strengthened; even such is thy heart undaunted in thy breast. Cast not in my teeth the lovely gifts of golden Aphrodite; not to be flung aside are the gods’ glorious gifts that of their own good will they give; for by his desire can no man win them. But now if thou wilt have me do battle and fight, make the other Trojans sit down and all the Achaians, and set ye me in the midst, and Menelaos dear to Ares, to fight for Helen and all her wealth. And whichsoever shall vanquish and gain the upper hand, let him take all the wealth aright, and the woman, and bear them home. And let the rest pledge friendship and sure oaths; so may ye dwell in deep-soiled Troy, and let them depart to Argos pasture-land of horses, and Achaia home of fair women.” So spake he, and Hector rejoiced greatly to hear his saying, and went into the midst and restrained the battalions of the Trojans, with his spear grasped by the middle; and they all sate them down. But the flowing-haired Achaians kept shooting at him, aiming with arrows and casting stones. But Agamemnon king of men cried aloud: “Refrain, ye Argives; shoot not, ye sons of the Achaians; for Hector of the glancing helm hath set himself to say somewhat.” So spake he, and they refrained from battle and made silence speedily. And Hector spake between the two hosts, “Hear of me, Trojans and well-greaved Achaians, the saying of Alexandros, for whose sake strife hath come about. He biddeth the other Trojans and all the Achaians to lay down their goodly armour on the bounteous earth, and himself in the midst and Menelaos dear to Ares to fight alone for Helen and all her wealth. And whichsoever shall vanquish and gain the upper hand, let him take all the wealth aright, and the woman, and bear them home; but let all of us pledge friendship and sure oaths.” So spake he, and they all kept silence and were still. Then in their midst spake Menelaos of the loud war-cry: “Hearken ye now to me, too; for into my heart most of all is grief entered; and I deem that the parting of Argives and Trojans hath come at last; seeing ye have endured many ills because of my quarrel and the first sin of Alexandros. And for whichsoever of us death and fate are prepared, let him lie dead: and be ye all parted with speed. Bring ye two lambs, one white ram and one black ewe, for earth and sun; and let us bring one for Zeus. And call hither great Priam, that he may pledge the oath himself, seeing he hath sons that are overweening and faithless, lest any by transgression do violence to the oath of Zeus; for young men’s hearts are ever lifted up. But wheresoever an old man entereth in, he looketh both before and after, whereby the best issue shall come for either side.”
注释摘要
帕里斯的这一番回答，首先接住了赫克托耳的斥责，但他接得很巧妙。他说：你责备我，是「有分寸的，没有过分」。这句话本身就是一种修辞上的退让与限定，等于承认兄长的话有一部分站得住，却也为自己的辩解留出了空间。紧接着他引入一个明喻，把赫克托耳那颗无畏的心比作技艺娴熟的造船匠人手里的斧子，斧刃穿过木料，匠人的力道因此得以增强。这个比喻在荷马的明喻里属于比较少见的「人…