《伊利亚特·第23卷》第15节
Thus spake he, and straightway arose fleet Aias Oileus’ son, and Odysseus of many wiles, and after them Nestor’s son Antilochos, for he was best of all the youth in the foot-race. Then they stood side by side, and Achilles showed to them the goal. Right eager was the running from the start, but Oileus’ son forthwith shot to the front, and close behind him came noble Odysseus, as close as is a weaving-rod to a fair-girdled woman’s breast when she pulleth it deftly with her hands, drawing the spool along the warp, and holdeth the rod nigh her breast— so close ran Odysseus behind Aias and trod in his footsteps or ever the dust had settled there, and on his head fell the breath of noble Odysseus as he ran ever lightly on, and all the Achaians applauded his struggle for the victory and called on him as he laboured hard. But when they were running the last part of the course, forthwith Odysseus prayed in his soul to bright-eyed Athene: “Hearken, goddess, come thou a good helper of my feet.” Thus prayed he, and Pallas Athene hearkened to him, and made his limbs feel light, both feet and hands. But when they, were now nigh darting on the prize, then Aias slipped as he ran, for Athene marred his race, where filth was strewn from the slaughter of loud-bellowing oxen that fleet Achilles slew in honour of Patroklos: and Aias’ mouth and nostrils were filled with that filth of oxen. So much-enduring noble Odysseus, as he came in first, took up the mixing-bowl, and famous Aias took the ox. And he stood holding in his hand the horn of the ox of the field, sputtering away the filth, and spake among the Argives: “Out on it, it was the goddess who marred my running, she who from of old like a mother standeth by Odysseus’ side and helpeth him.” So spake he, but they all laughed pleasantly to behold him. Then Antilochos smiling bore off the last prize, and spake his word among the Argives: “Friends, ye will all bear me witness when I say that even herein also the immortals favour elder men. For Aias is a little older than I, but Odysseus of an earlier generation and earlier race of men. A green old age is his, they say, and hard were it for any Achaian to rival him in speed, save only Achilles.” Thus spake he, and gave honour to the fleet son of Peleus. And Achilles answered him and said: “Antilochos, not unheeded shall thy praise be given; a half-talent of gold I will give thee over and above.” He said, and set it in his hands, and Antilochos received it gladly.
注释摘要
这段是帕特罗克洛斯葬礼竞技会中的赛跑项目。参赛者三人：奥伊琉斯之子、迅捷的埃阿斯（Aias，小埃阿斯，洛克里斯人的首领，阿开奥斯联军一方），足智多谋的奥德修斯（Odysseus，伊塔卡王，阿开奥斯联军一方），以及涅斯托尔之子安提洛科斯（Antilochos，皮洛斯人，阿开奥斯联军一方）。诗中特意指出安提洛科斯在所有青年中跑得最快。阿喀琉斯（Achilles…