《伊利亚特·第8卷》第2节
Now the flowing-haired Achaians took meat hastily among the huts and thereafter arrayed themselves. Likewise the Trojans on their side armed them throughout the town—a smaller host, yet for all that were they eager to fight in battle, of forceful need, for their children’s sake and their wives’. And the gates were opened wide and the host issued forth, footmen and horsemen; and mighty din arose. So when they were met together and come unto one spot, then clashed they targe and spear and fury of bronze-clad warrior; the bossed shields pressed each on each, and mighty din arose. Then were heard the voice of groaning and the voice of triumph together of the slayers and the slain, and the earth streamed with blood. Now while it yet was morn and the divine day waxed, so long from either side lighted the darts amain and the people fell. But when the sun bestrode mid-heaven, then did the Father balance his golden scales, and put therein two fates of death that layeth men at their length, one for horse-taming Trojans, one for mail-clad Achaians; and he took the scale-yard by the midst and lifted it, and the Achaians’ day of destiny sank down. So lay the Achaians’ fates on the bounteous earth, and the Trojans’ fates were lifted up towards wide heaven. And the god thundered aloud from Ida, and sent his blazing flash amid the host of the Achaians; and they saw and were astonished, and pale fear gat hold upon all. Then had Idomeneus no heart to stand, neither Agamemnon, neither stood the twain Aiantes, men of Ares’ company. Only Nestor of Gerenia stood his ground, he the Warden of the Achaians; neither he of purpose, but his horse was fordone, which noble Alexandros, beauteous-haired Helen’s lord, had smitten with an arrow upon the top of the crest where the foremost hairs of horses grow upon the skull; and there is the most deadly spot. So the horse leapt up in anguish and the arrow sank into his brain, and he brought confusion on the steeds as he writhed upon the dart. While the old man leapt forth and with his sword began to hew the traces, came Hector’s fleet horses through the tumult, bearing a bold charioteer, even Hecktor. And now had the old man lost his life, but that Diomedes of the loud war-cry was swift to mark. Terribly shouted he, summoning Odysseus: “Heaven-born son of Laertes, Odysseus of many wiles, whither fleest thou with thy back turned, like a coward in the throng? Beware lest as thou fleest one plant a spear between thy shoulders. Nay, stand thy ground, till we thrust back from the old man his furious foe.”
注释摘要
这一节描写了宙斯向众神发出严厉禁令之后，特洛伊城前重新开战的情形。阿开亚人匆匆在营帐间用过饭食，随即整装备战；特洛伊人也在城内武装起来。诗人特意指出特洛伊一方人数较少，但他们出于保卫子女与妻子的迫切需要，战意丝毫不减。城门大开，步兵与车兵一同涌出，震耳的喧嚣随之而起。两支军队迎面相撞，盾牌与长矛激烈交击，人声的惨呼与胜利的呼号混杂在一起，大地浸透了鲜血。 …