《伊利亚特·第24卷》第14节
Then again spake the fleet noble Achilles unto him, saying: “All this, O ancient Priam, shall be as thou biddest; for I will hold back the battle even so long a time as thou tellest me.” Thus speaking he clasped the old man’s right hand at the wrist, lest he should be anywise afraid at heart. So they in the forepart of the house laid them down, Priam and the herald, with wise thoughts at their hearts, but Achilles slept in a recess of the firm-wrought hut, and beside him lay fair-cheeked Briseis. Now all other gods and warriors lords of chariots slumbered all night, by soft sleep overcome. But not on the Helper Hermes did sleep take hold as he sought within his heart how he should guide forth king Priam from the ships unespied of the trusty sentinels. And he stood above his head and spake a word to him: “Old sire, no thought then hast thou of any evil, seeing thou yet sleepest among men that are thine enemies, for that Achilles spared thee. Truly now hast thou won back thy dear son, and at great price. But for thy life will thy sons thou hast left behind be offering threefold ransom, if but Agamemnon Atreus’ son be aware of thee, and aware be all the Achaians.” Thus spake he, and the old man feared, and roused the herald. And Hermes yoked the horses and mules for them, and himself drave them lightly through the camp, and none was aware of them. But when they came to the ford of the fair-flowing river, [even eddying Xanthos, begotten of immortal Zeus,] then Hermes departed up to high Olympus, and Morning of the saffron robe spread over all the earth. And they with wail and moan drave the horses to the city, and the mules drew the dead. Nor marked them any man or fair-girdled woman until Kassandra, peer of golden Aphrodite, having gone up upon Pergamos, was aware of her dear father as he stood in the car, and the herald that was crier to the town. Then beheld she him that lay upon the bier behind the mules, and thereat she wailed and cried aloud throughout all the town: “O men and women of Troy, come ye hither and look upon Hector, if ever while he was alive ye rejoiced when he came back from battle, since great joy was he to the city and all the folk.” Thus spake she, nor was man or woman left within the city, for upon all came unendurable grief. And near the gates they met Priam bringing home the dead. First bewailed him his dear wife and lady mother, as they cast them on the fair-wheeled wain and touched his head; and around them stood the throng and wept. So all day long unto the setting of the sun they had lamented Hector in tears without the gate, had not the old man spoken from the car among the folk: “Give me place for the mules to pass through; hereafter ye shall have your fill of wailing, when I have brought him unto his home.”
注释摘要
阿喀琉斯的答话与握手的动作构成这一节中一个极具分量的转折。他称普里阿摩斯为“年高的普里阿摩斯”，认同对方提出的丧期安排，并承诺在此期间约束阿开奥斯人的战事。紧接着，他握住老人的右腕——这是整部诗里反复出现的一种身体语言，表示担保、安抚，也意味着权力在握者向恳求者传递安全。握腕的动作后面紧跟着一句解释：“免得他在心里有任何畏惧”。至此，阿喀琉斯完成了从盛怒的…