The Iliad of Homer. Homer

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ Yet him the dart

       Quell'd not. Retreating, at his coursers' heads

       He stood, and to the son of Capaneus

       His charioteer and faithful friend he said.130

      Arise, sweet son of Capaneus, dismount,

       And from my shoulder draw this bitter shaft.

      He spake; at once the son of Capaneus

       Descending, by its barb the bitter shaft

       Drew forth; blood spouted through his twisted mail135

       Incontinent, and thus the Hero pray'd.

      Unconquer'd daughter of Jove Ægis-arm'd!

       If ever me, propitious, or my sire

       Thou hast in furious fight help'd heretofore,

       Now aid me also. Bring within the reach140

       Of my swift spear, Oh grant me to strike through

       The warrior who hath check'd my course, and boasts

       The sun's bright beams for ever quench'd to me![8]

      He prayed, and Pallas heard; she braced his limbs,

       She wing'd him with alacrity divine,145

       And, standing at his side, him thus bespake.

      Now Diomede, be bold! Fight now with Troy.

       To thee, thy father's spirit I impart

       Fearless; shield-shaking Tydeus felt the same.

       I also from thine eye the darkness purge150

       112 Which dimm'd thy sight[9] before, that thou may'st know Both Gods and men; should, therefore, other God Approach to try thee, fight not with the powers Immortal; but if foam-born Venus come, Her spare not. Wound her with thy glittering spear.155

      So spake the blue-eyed Deity, and went,

       Then with the champions in the van again

       Tydides mingled; hot before, he fights

       With threefold fury now, nor less enraged

       Than some gaunt lion whom o'erleaping light160

       The fold, a shepherd hath but gall'd, not kill'd,

       Him irritating more; thenceforth the swain

       Lurks unresisting; flies the abandon'd flock;

       Heaps slain on heaps he leaves, and with a bound

       Surmounting all impediment, escapes;165

       Such seem'd the valiant Diomede incensed

       To fury, mingling with the host of Troy.

      Astynoüs and Hypenor first he slew;

       One with his brazen lance above the pap

       He pierced, and one with his huge falchion smote170

       Fast by the key-bone,[10] from the neck and spine His parted shoulder driving at a blow.

      Them leaving, Polyides next he sought

       And Abas, sons of a dream-dealing seer,

       Eurydamas; their hoary father's dreams175

       Or not interpreted, or kept concealed,

       Them saved not, for by Diomede they died.

       Xanthus and Thöon he encounter'd next,

       Both sons of Phænops, sons of his old age,

       Who other heir had none of all his wealth,180

       113 Nor hoped another, worn with many years.

       Tydides slew them both; nor aught remain'd

       To the old man but sorrow for his sons

       For ever lost, and strangers were his heirs.

       Two sons of Priam in one chariot borne185

       Echemon next, and Chromius felt his hand

       Resistless. As a lion on the herd

       Leaping, while they the shrubs and bushes browse,

       Breaks short the neck of heifer or of steer,

       So them, though clinging fast and loth to fall,190

       Tydides hurl'd together to the ground,

       Then stripp'd their splendid armor, and the steeds

       Consigned and chariot to his soldiers' care.

      Æneas him discern'd scattering the ranks,

       And through the battle and the clash of spears195

       Went seeking godlike Pandarus; ere long

       Finding Lycaon's martial son renown'd,

       He stood before him, and him thus address'd.

      Thy bow, thy feather'd shafts, and glorious name

       Where are they, Pandarus? whom none of Troy200

       Could equal, whom of Lycia, none excel.

       Come. Lift thine hands to Jove, and at yon Chief

       Dispatch an arrow, who afflicts the host

       Of Ilium thus, conquering where'er he flies,

       And who hath slaughter'd numerous brave in arms,205

       But him some Deity I rather deem

       Avenging on us his neglected rites,

       And who can stand before an angry God?

      Him answer'd then Lycaon's son renown'd.

       Brave leader of the Trojans brazen-mail'd,210

       Æneas! By his buckler which I know,

       And by his helmet's height, considering, too

       His steeds, I deem him Diomede the bold;

       Yet such pronounce him not, who seems a God.

       But if bold Diomede indeed he be215

       Of whom I speak, not without aid from heaven

       His fury thus prevails, but at his side

       Some God, in clouds enveloped, turns away

       114 From him the arrow to a devious course.

       СКАЧАТЬ