iliad10-第84部分

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is　vanquished　shall　have　the　double　cup。〃

As　he　spoke　there　stood　up　a　champion　both　brave　and　great
stature；　a　skilful　boxer；　Epeus；　son　of　Panopeus。　He　laid　his
hand　on　the　mule　and　said；　〃Let　the　man　who　is　to　have　the　cup
e　hither；　for　none　but　myself　will　take　the　mule。　I　am　the
best　boxer　of　all　here　present；　and　none　can　beat　me。　Is　it　not
enough　that　I　should　fall　short　of　you　in　actual　fighting？　Still；
no　man　can　be　good　at　everything。　I　tell　you　plainly；　and　it
shall　e　true；　if　any　man　will　box　with　me　I　will　bruise　his
body　and　break　his　bones；　therefore　let　his　friends　stay　here　in
a　body　and　be　at　hand　to　take　him　away　when　I　have　done　with
him。〃

They　all　held　their　peace；　and　no　man　rose　save　Euryalus　son　of
Mecisteus；　who　was　son　of　Talaus。　Mecisteus　went　once　to　Thebes
after　the　fall　of　Oedipus；　to　attend　his　funeral；　and　he　beat　all
the　people　of　Cadmus。　The　son　of　Tydeus　was　Euryalus's　second；
cheering　him　on　and　hoping　heartily　that　he　would　win。　First　he
put　a　waistband　round　him　and　then　he　gave　him　some　well…cut
thongs　of　ox…hide；　the　two　men　being　now　girt　went　into　the
middle　of　the　ring；　and　immediately　fell　to；　heavily　indeed　did
they　punish　one　another　and　lay　about　them　with　their　brawny
fists。　One　could　hear　the　horrid　crashing　of　their　jaws；　and　they
sweated　from　every　pore　of　their　skin。　Presently　Epeus　came　on
and　gave　Euryalus　a　blow　on　the　jaw　as　he　was　looking　round；
Euryalus　could　not　keep　his　legs；　they　gave　way　under　him　in　a
moment　and　he　sprang　up　with　a　bound；　as　a　fish　leaps　into　the
air　near　some　shore　that　is　all　bestrewn　with　sea…wrack；　when
Boreas　furs　the　top　of　the　waves；　and　then　falls　back　into　deep
water。　But　noble　Epeus　caught　hold　of　him　and　raised　him　up；　his
rades　also　came　round　him　and　led　him　from　the　ring；　unsteady
in　his　gait；　his　head　hanging　on　one　side；　and　spitting　great
clots　of　gore。　They　set　him　down　in　a　swoon　and　then　went　to
fetch　the　double　cup。

The　son　of　Peleus　now　brought　out　the　prizes　for　the　third
contest　and　showed　them　to　the　Argives。　These　were　for　the
painful　art　of　wrestling。　For　the　winner　there　was　a　great　tripod
ready　for　setting　upon　the　fire；　and　the　Achaeans　valued　it　among
themselves　at　twelve　oxen。　For　the　loser　he　brought　out　a　woman
skilled　in　all　manner　of　arts；　and　they　valued　her　at　four　oxen。
He　rose　and　said　among　the　Argives；　〃Stand　forward；　you　who　will
essay　this　contest。〃

Forthwith　uprose　great　Ajax　the　son　of　Telamon；　and　crafty
Ulysses；　full　of　wiles；　rose　also。　The　two　girded　themselves　and
went　into　the　middle　of　the　ring。　They　gripped　each　other　in
their　strong　hands　like　the　rafters　which　some　master…builder
frames　for　the　roof　of　a　high　house　to　keep　the　wind　out。　Their
backbones　cracked　as　they　tugged　at　one　another　with　their　mighty
armsand　sweat　rained　from　them　in　torrents。　Many　a　bloody　weal
sprang　up　on　their　sides　and　shoulders；　but　they　kept　on　striving
with　might　and　main　for　victory　and　to　win　the　tripod。　Ulysses
could　not　throw　Ajax；　nor　Ajax　him；　Ulysses　was　too　strong　for
him；　but　when　the　Achaeans　began　to　tire　of　watching　them；　Ajax
said　to　Ulysses；　〃Ulysses；　noble　son　of　Laertes；　you　shall　either
lift　me；　or　I　you；　and　let　Jove　settle　it　between　us。〃

He　lifted　him　from　the　ground　as　he　spoke；　but　Ulysses　did　not
forget　his　cunning。　He　hit　Ajax　in　the　hollow　at　back　of　his
knee；　so　that　he　could　not　keep　his　feet；　but　fell　on　his　back
with　Ulysses　lying　upon　his　chest；　and　all　who　saw　it　marvelled。
Then　Ulysses　in　turn　lifted　Ajax　and　stirred　him　a　little　from
the　ground　but　could　not　lift　him　right　off　it；　his　knee　sank
under　him；　and　the　two　fell　side　by　side　on　the　ground　and　were
all　begrimed　with　dust。　They　now　sprang　towards　one　another　and
were　for　wrestling　yet　a　third　time；　but　Achilles　rose　and　stayed
them。　〃Put　not　each　other　further；〃　said　he；　〃to　such　cruel
suffering；　the　victory　is　with　both　alike；　take　each　of　you　an
equal　prize；　and　let　the　other　Achaeans　now　pete。〃

Thus　did　he　speak　and　they　did　even　as　he　had　said；　and　put　on
their　shirts　again　after　wiping　the　dust　from　off　their　bodies。

The　son　of　Peleus　then　offered　prizes　for　speed　in　runninga
mixing…bowl　beautifully　wrought；　of　pure　silver。　It　would　hold
six　measures；　and　far　exceeded　all　others　in　the　whole　world　for
beauty；　it　was　the　work　of　cunning　artificers　in　Sidon；　and　had
been　brought　into　port　by　Phoenicians　from　beyond　the　sea；　who
had　made　a　present　of　it　to　Thoas。　Eueneus　son　of　Jason　had　given
it　to　Patroclus　in　ransom　of　Priam's　son　Lycaon；　and　Achilles　now
offered　it　as　a　prize　in　honour　of　his　rade　to　him　who　should
be　the　swiftest　runner。　For　the　second　prize　he　offered　a　large
ox；　well　fattened；　while　for　the　last　there　was　to　be　half　a
talent　of　gold。　He　then　rose　and　said　among　the　Argives；　〃Stand
forward；　you　who　will　essay　this　contest。〃

Forthwith　uprose　fleet　Ajax　son　of　Oileus；　with　cunning　Ulysses；
and　Nestor's　son　Antilochus；　the　fastest　runner　among　all　the
youth　of　his　time。　They　stood　side　by　side　and　Achilles　showed
them　the　goal。　The　course　was　set　out　for　them　from　the
starting…post；　and　the　son　of　Oileus　took　the　lead　at　once；　with
Ulysses　as　close　behind　him　as　the　shuttle　is　to　a　woman's　bosom
when　she　throws　the　woof　across　the　warp　and　holds　it　close　up　to
her；　even　so　close　behind　him　was　Ulyssestreading　in　his
footprints　before　the　dust　could　settle　there；　and　Ajax　could
feel　his　breath　on　the　back　of　his　head　as　he　ran　swiftly　on。　The
Achaeans　all　shouted　applause　as　they　saw　him　straining　his
utmost；　and　cheered　him　as　he　shot　past　them；　but　when　they　were
now　nearing　the　end　of　the　course　Ulysses　prayed　inwardly　to
Minerva。　〃Hear　me；〃　he　cried；　〃and　help　my　feet；　O　goddess。〃　Thus
did　he　pray；　and　Pallas　Minerva　heard　his　prayer；　she　made　his
hands　and　his　feet　feel　light；　and　when　the　runners　were　at　the
point　of　pouncing　upon　the　prize；　Ajax；　through　Minerva's　spite
slipped　upon　some　offal　that　was　lying　there　from　the　cattle
which　Achilles　had　slaughtered　in　honour　of　Patroclus；　and　his
mouth　and　nostrils　were　all　filled　with　cow　dung。　Ulysses
therefore　carried　off　the　mixing…bowl；　for　he　got　before　Ajax　and
came　in　first。　But　Ajax　took　the　ox　and　stood　with　his　hand　on
one　of　its　horns；　spitting　the　dung　out　of　his　mouth。　Then　he
said　to　the　Argives；　〃Alas；　the　goddess　has　spoiled　my　running；
she　watches　over　Ulysses　and　stands　by　him　as　though　she　were　his
own　mother。〃　Thus　did　he　speak　and　they　all　of　them　laughed
heartily。

Antilochus　carried　off　the　last　prize　and　smiled　as　he　said　to
the　bystanders；　〃You　all　see；　my　friends；　that　now　too　the　gods
have　shown　their　respect　for　seniority。　Ajax　is　somewhat　older
than　I　am；　and　as　for　Ulysses；　he　belongs　to　an　earlier
generation；　but　he　is　hale　in　spite　of　his　years；　and　no　man　of
the　Achaeans　can　run　against　him　save　only　Achilles。〃

He　said　this　to　pay　a　pliment　to　the　son　of　Peleus；　and
Achilles　answered；　〃Antilochus；　you　shall　not　have　praised　me　to
no　purpose；　I　shall　give　you　an　additional　half　talent　of　gold。〃
He　then　gave　the　half　talent　to　Antilochus；　who　received　it
gladly。

Then　the　son　of　Peleus　brought　out　the　spear；　helmet　and　shield
that　had　been　borne　by　Sarpedon；　and　were　taken　from　him　by
Patroclus。　He　stood　up　and　said　among　the　Argives；　〃We　bid　two
champions　put　on　their　armour；　take　their　keen　blades；　and　make
trial　of　one　another　in　the　presence　of　the　multitude；　whichever
of　them　can　first　wound　the　flesh　of　the　other；　cut　through　his
armour；　and　draw　blood；　to　him　will　I　give　this　goodly　Thracian
sword　inlaid　with　silver；　which　I　took　from　Asteropaeus；　but　the
armour　let　both　hold　in　partnership；　and　I　will　give　each　of　them
a　hearty　meal　in　my　own　tent。〃

Forthwith　uprose　great　Ajax　the　son　of　Telamon；　as　also　mighty
Diomed　son　of　Tydeus。　When　they　had　put　on　their　armour　each　on
his　own　side　of　the　ring；　they　both　went　into　the　middle　eager　to
engage；　and　with　fire　flashing　from　their　eyes。　The　Achaeans
marvelled　as　they　beheld　them；　and　when　the　two　were　now　close　up
with　one　another；　thrice　did　they　spring　forward　and　thrice　try
to　strike　each　other　in　close　bat。　Ajax　pierced　Diomed's　round
shield；　but　did　not　draw　blood；　for　the　cuirass　beneath　the
shield　protected　him；　thereon　the　son　of　Tydeus　from　over　his
huge　shield　kept　aiming　continually　at　Ajax's　neck　with　the　point
of　his　spear；　and　the　Achaeans　alarmed　for　his　safety　bade　them
leave　off　fighting　and　divide　the　prize　between　them。　Achilles
then　gave　the　great　sword　to　the　son　of　Tydeus；　with　its
scabbard；　and　the　leathern　belt　with　which　to　hang　it。

Achilles　next　offered　the　massive　iron　quoit　which　mighty　Eetion
had　erewhile　been　used　to　hurl；　until　Achilles　had　slain　him　and
carried　it　off　in　his　ships　along　with　other　spoils。　He　stood　up
and　said　among　the　Argives；　〃Stand　forward；　you　who　would　essay
this　contest。　He　who　wins　it　will　have　a　store　of　iron　that　will
last　him　five　years　as　they　go　rolling　round；　and　if　his　fair
fields　lie　far　from　a　town　his　shepherd　or　ploughman　will　not
have　to　make　a　journey　to　buy　iron；　for　he　will　have　a　stock　of
it　on　his　own　premises。〃

Then　uprose　the