《伊利亚特·第13卷》第16节
And even as he spake, a bird flew forth on the right hand, an eagle of lofty flight, and the host of the Achaians shouted thereat, encouraged by the omen, but renowned Hector answered: “Aias, thou blundering boaster, what sayest thou! Would that indeed I were for ever as surely the son of aegis-bearing Zeus, and that my mother were lady Hera, and that I were held in such honour as Apollo and Athene, as verily this day is to bring utter evil on all the Argives! And thou among them shalt be slain, if thou hast the heart to await my long spear, which shall rend thy lily skin, and thou shalt glut with thy fat and flesh the birds and dogs of the Trojans, falling among the ships of the Achaians.” So he spake and led the way, and they followed with wondrous din, and the whole host shouted behind. And the Argives on the other side answered with a shout, and forgot not their valiance, but abode the onslaught of the bravest of the Trojans. And the cry of the two hosts went up through the higher air, to the splendour of Zeus.
注释摘要
埃阿斯刚说完那一番威胁的话——他说赫克托耳终将在逃跑时祈求自己的马跑得比鹰还快——话音未落，一只飞鹰便从右侧掠过。右方在古希腊的预兆观念中是吉利的方向，鹰又是宙斯的鸟，这支阿开奥斯人的军队立刻把它读作对自己有利的神示，齐声欢呼起来。这个细节写得很利落：不是某位先知站出来解兆，而是全军同时做出的反应，士气就在这一瞬间被托了起来。 赫克托耳当然是听见了那阵欢呼…