登陆注册
15446000000065

第65章 BOOK XI(3)

So toiled they in the fight: the wind's breath rolled Huge dust-clouds up; the illimitable air Was one thick haze, as with a sudden mist:

Earth disappeared, faces were blotted out;

Yet still they fought on; each man, whomso he met, Ruthlessly slew him, though his very friend It might be -- in that turmoil none could tell Who met him, friend or foe: blind wilderment Enmeshed the hosts. And now had all been blent Confusedly, had perished miserably, All falling by their fellows' murderous swords, Had not Cronion from Olympus helped Their sore strait, and he swept aside the dust Of conflict, and he calmed those deadly winds.

Yet still the hosts fought on; but lighter far Their battle-travail was, who now discerned Whom in the fray to smite, and whom to spare.

The Danaans now forced back the Trojan host, The Trojans now the Danaan ranks, as swayed The dread fight to and fro. From either side Darts leapt and fell like snowflakes. Far away Shepherds from Ida trembling watched the strife, And to the Heaven-abiders lifted hands Of supplication, praying that all their foes Might perish, and that from the woeful war Troy might win breathing-space, and see at last The day of freedom: the Gods hearkened not.

Far other issues Fate devised, nor recked Of Zeus the Almighty, nor of none beside Of the Immortals. Her unpitying soul Cares naught what doom she spinneth with her thread Inevitable, be it for men new-born Or cities: all things wax and wane through her.

So by her hest the battle-travail swelled 'Twixt Trojan chariot-lords and Greeks that closed In grapple of fight -- they dealt each other death Ruthlessly: no man quailed, but stout of heart Fought on; for courage thrusts men into war.

But now when many had perished in the dust, Then did the Argive might prevail at last By stern decree of Pallas; for she came Into the heart of battle, hot to help The Greeks to lay waste Priam's glorious town.

Then Aphrodite, who lamented sore For Paris slain, snatched suddenly away Renowned Aeneas from the deadly strife, And poured thick mist about him. Fate forbade That hero any longer to contend With Argive foes without the high-built wall.

Yea, and his mother sorely feared the wrath Of Pallas passing-wise, whose heart was keen To help the Danaans now -- yea, feared lest she Might slay him even beyond his doom, who spared Not Ares' self, a mightier far than he.

No more the Trojans now abode the edge Of fight, but all disheartened backward drew.

For like fierce ravening beasts the Argive men Leapt on them, mad with murderous rage of war.

Choked with their slain the river-channels were, Heaped was the field; in red dust thousands fell, Horses and men; and chariots overturned Were strewn there: blood was streaming all around Like rain, for deadly Doom raged through the fray.

Men stabbed with swords, and men impaled on spears Lay all confusedly, like scattered beams, When on the strand of the low-thundering sea Men from great girders of a tall ship's hull Strike out the bolts and clamps, and scatter wide Long planks and timbers, till the whole broad beach Is paved with beams o'erplashed by darkling surge;

So lay in dust and blood those slaughtered men, Rapture and pain of fight forgotten now.

A remnant from the pitiless strife escaped Entered their stronghold, scarce eluding doom.

Children and wives from their limbs blood-besprent Received their arms bedabbled with foul gore;

And baths for all were heated. Leeches ran Through all the town in hot haste to the homes Of wounded men to minister to their hurts.

Here wives and daughters moaned round men come back From war, there cried on many who came not Here, men stung to the soul by bitter pangs Groaned upon beds of pain; there, toil-spent men Turned them to supper. Whinnied the swift steeds And neighed o'er mangers heaped. By tent and ship Far off the Greeks did even as they of Troy.

When o'er the streams of Ocean Dawn drove up Her splendour-flashing steeds, and earth's tribes waked, Then the strong Argives' battle-eager sons Marched against Priam's city lofty-towered, Save some that mid the tents by wounded men Tarried, lest haply raiders on the ships Might fall, to help the Trojans, while these fought The foe from towers, while rose the flame of war.

Before the Scaean gate fought Capaneus' son And godlike Diomedes. High above Deiphobus battle-staunch and strong Polites With many comrades, stoutly held them back With arrows and huge stones. Clanged evermore The smitten helms and shields that fenced strong men From bitter doom and unrelenting fate, Before the Gate Idaean Achilles' son Set in array the fight: around him toiled His host of battle-cunning Myrmidons.

Helenus and Agenor gallant-souled, Down-hailing darts, against them held the wall, Aye cheering on their men. No spurring these Needed to fight hard for their country's walls.

Odysseus and Eurypylus made assault Unresting on the gates that fated the plain And looked to the swift ships. From wall and tower With huge stones brave Aeneas made defence.

In battle-stress by Simons Teucer toiled.

Each endured hardness at his several post.

Then round war-wise Odysseus men renowned, By that great captain's battle cunning ruled, Locked shields together, raised them o'er their heads Ranged side by side, that many were made one.

Thou hadst said it was a great hall's solid roof, Which no tempestuous wind-blast misty wet Can pierce, nor rain from heaven in torrents poured.

So fenced about with shields firm stood the ranks Of Argives, one in heart for fight, and one In that array close-welded. From above The Trojans hailed great stones; as from a rock Rolled these to earth. Full many a spear and dart And galling javelin in the pierced shields stood;

同类推荐
  • 蜩笑偶言

    蜩笑偶言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 显扬圣教论

    显扬圣教论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 在园杂志

    在园杂志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 藏一话腴

    藏一话腴

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • WIVES AND DAUGHTERS

    WIVES AND DAUGHTERS

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 我在夏天遇见你

    我在夏天遇见你

    夏末的主旋律是不是永远的悲伤?是它的姻缘巧合错使一行人相遇,也是它的无情捉弄造就了分离。夏语初一向是厌极了夏天,可是那年夏末,她却遇见毕生最爱的宫慕寒。恰逢那年,花开花落,或喜或悲,花一样的匆匆年华,有的人邂逅美好,有的人却过早凋零。或许,这才是生活最初始的样子吧,可又有谁后悔,爱上了谁?
  • 活着不是为了吃饭

    活着不是为了吃饭

    懵懂的少年利用假期勤工俭学时,三叔告诉他:“永远不要想着去做一个工人,你打一年工是一个工人,打十年工还是一个工人,唯一变化的是你成为了一个老工人。”在高强度的工作中,这句话在少年的心中回响。少年明白了很多道理。在未来的路上,无数的失败与痛苦,使他一次次的成熟,最终找准了自己的位置,一步一个脚印走向了成功。
  • 边伯贤:离婚三步骤

    边伯贤:离婚三步骤

    三年之长,足以让两个人相互依赖,相互信任;但只因身份不同,所担的责任不同,一个明星和一个平民,怎么说都会有有差异。白穆宁是一位离婚登记者,可没想到,有一天自己会给自己办离婚登记,避免太过于笑话,她和边伯贤之间的隔阂到底什么时候能消失过程必定艰辛,但结局总会是好的,尽请期待本书直至完结
  • 通天罪

    通天罪

    天道昌,人道亡。诸如这漫天的神佛,也都为吃人的妖魔。若天道有罪,终生修仙以征天。奈何天道苍苍,修仙一途,万里尸骨。父亲,一方人杰,征天未归。母亲,一代天骄,追随父亲至今杳无音讯。爱人,一掌将自己推下万丈深渊,如今也早已经成为了一方霸主!试问,天有多高?道有多长?若今生不死,必登天问罪!
  • 花城锦绣

    花城锦绣

    一国一城一公主,身负百年不遇的玄力,而她的记忆深处到底隐藏着什么?一花一木一痴情,神医的称号下,又到底是他什么样的回忆?种种浮沉,权利的纷争,这位公主到底有何选择,是任凭记忆的干枯,还是嗜血的回归?爱恨情仇,花城锦绣
  • 赤狐说

    赤狐说

    沉默寡言、冷漠、叛逆,被打满负面标语的白日初,曾经却是一个乐观,爱笑的普通少女,白稚的脸庞曾挂不住忧愁,一道天雷却打乱了她全部的希望,似乎解锁了新能力?究竟是为什么如此呢?找寻她的少年赤凌笙竟然是狐妖?!可又是为何找寻她?穿破真相、谎言的日初是否能放弃那宽大粗糙的手掌,轻握那稚嫩的大手“即使我不在你身边,仍会有人代替我好好爱你”......
  • 总裁的极品恋人

    总裁的极品恋人

    张小蛮是天华娱乐的小演员,她要嫁人了,据说对方是个华夏顶级大家族内的钻石王老五,人帅也钱多,这是一个先婚后爱文。
  • 不死便是永生

    不死便是永生

    身负主角光辉的浩歌果断悲剧的穿越了,来到一个僵尸满地跑,怪兽多入狗的悲剧世界.....(>﹏<)不过身为主角的他是否能够存活下来?拥有召唤体质的浩歌究竟能召唤出什么?什么?巨龙?怪兽?都弱爆了!
  • 灵力少女

    灵力少女

    一个普通的女孩瑶棂经过一夜之间的奇形怪事成为了一位灵力少女,第二天就有一位来自英国的男孩转校来到了她们的学校,并且和瑶棂一个班,偶然一次,他们因为捕捉灵兽而相互了解了对方,此后.................
  • 白色眷恋

    白色眷恋

    因为不满皇马6比2的比分,中国青年律师沈星怒砸啤酒瓶,结果电光火石间,他穿越成了佛罗伦蒂诺的儿子,且看来自09年的小伙子如何玩转03年的欧洲足坛