旷日持久的特洛伊战争集结了当时全部的部落精英,其中,阿喀琉斯更是精英中的精英,英雄中的英雄,他的喜怒哀乐直接左右着战局的胜负。
First Nine Years 九年之战,毫无进展
After two years of preparation, the Greek fleet2) and army assembled in the port of Aulis in Boeotia3), and were ready to set sail. Here Agamemnon in hunting killed a stag4) which was sacred to Artemis5), and the goddess in return visited the army with pestilence6), and produced a calm7) which prevented the ships from leaving the port. Calchas8) thereupon announced that the wrath of Artemis could only be appeased9) by the sacrifice of a maiden on her altar10), and that none other but the daughter of the offender would be acceptable. Agamemnon, however reluctant, yielded11) his consent12), and sent his daughter Iphigenia13), who was to be married to Achilles, to Artemis. 
经过两年的筹备,希腊舰队和军队聚集在皮奥夏的奥利斯港湾,准备扬帆起航。在这里,阿伽门农打猎的时候杀死了一头雄鹿,而这头雄鹿恰巧是阿耳特弥斯的圣鹿。为了报复,女神在军队中散布了瘟疫,而且令海面风平浪静,使得船只无法离港。随军占卜师卡尔克斯于是宣称,能够平息阿耳特弥斯的愤怒的方法只有一个,就是把一个少女献给她为祭,而且这个少女必须是冒犯她的那个人的女儿才行。不管阿伽门农有多么不情愿,也只能应允,将自己原本已经许配给阿喀琉斯的女儿依菲琴尼亚献给女神。
On hearing this, Thetis, the mother of Achilles, went to Zeus's palace and asked him to make the Greeks repent14) of their injustice to Achilles by granting success to the Trojan army. Zeus agreed, and in the following battle, the Trojans were completely successful. The Greeks were driven from the field and took refuge15) in their ships. Thus the war fought on and off for nine years altogether without any decisive results.
听说了这件事后,阿喀琉斯的母亲西蒂斯来到宙斯的神殿,请求他将胜利赐予特洛伊军队,以此让希腊人为自己对阿喀琉斯的不公正对待后悔。宙斯同意了。在接下来的一场战役中,特洛伊人大获全胜。希腊军队被驱逐回战船躲避。就这样,战争时断时续地持续了九年,却没有任何决定性战果。
Achilles Refused to Fight 再次被辱,拒绝参战
For nine years the Grecian armies couldn't land on the main land of Troy, so they constantly harassed16) the neighboring states. In one small battle, Agamemnon had taken a maiden named Chryseis17) as his slave. Her father Chryses, a priest of Apollo, begged Agamemnon to return her to him. Agamemnon refused. Apollo thus sent pestilence among the Greeks.
九年间,希腊军队都无法登陆特洛伊主岛,只好不断骚扰特洛伊周围的城邦。在一次规模很小的交战中,阿伽门农俘获了一个名为克律塞伊斯的少女作他的奴隶。少女的父亲克律塞斯是阿波罗的祭司,他请求阿伽门农把女儿还给他,遭到了阿伽门农的拒绝。阿波罗于是在希腊军队中散布了一场瘟疫。
Calchas correctly determined the source of the trouble but would not speak unless Achilles vowed to protect him. Achilles did so and Calchas declared Chryseis must be returned to her father. Agamemnon agreed, but then he turned to hate Achilles and asked that Achilles' battle prize Briseis should be brought to replace Chryseis. Angry at the dishonor18), Achilles refused to fight again.
先知卡尔克斯正确决断出麻烦的根源,但是他不敢明言,除非阿喀琉斯发誓保护他。阿喀琉斯发誓保障他的安全后,他宣布说,必须将克律塞伊斯送回到她父亲身边。阿伽门农同意了,但是,他却转而憎恨起阿喀琉斯,要求带走阿喀琉斯的战利品布里赛伊斯,以替代克律塞伊斯。阿喀琉斯对这种羞辱非常恼怒,于是拒绝再次参战。
Achilles Reentered the Fight 挚友被杀,重返战场
The Greeks had to fight without Achilles, and they lost some of their best heroes. Though Achilles was not on the field, he was eager to fight at heart, so he called Patroclus, his dearest friend, to inquire about the results from Nestor19).
无奈之下,希腊人只好在没有阿喀琉斯的情况下作战,损失了几员大将。阿喀琉斯尽管没有亲临战场,但他还是心系战事,于是派他的挚友普特洛克勒斯前往内斯特处打探战果。
Arriving at Nestor's tent, Patroclus saw Machaon and many others wounded. When he was to leave, Nestor stayed him and said, "You may win Achilles back to our common cause; but if not, let him at least send his soldiers to the field. If you, Patroclus, could be in his armor, and perhaps the very sight of it may drive back the Trojans."
一来到内斯特的营帐,普特洛克勒斯就看到玛卡翁和其他人都受伤了。当他准备离开时,内斯特叫住了他说:“也许你能让阿喀琉斯重新回到我们共同的事业中来;如果不能,至少让他派他的士兵参战吧。普特洛克勒斯,如果你能穿上他的盔甲,也许能令特洛伊人望而生畏、退避三舍。”
Patroclus was strongly moved with this address, and hastened20) back to Achilles. He told Achilles the sad condition of affairs at the camp. Achilles, at the news, felt regretted but only agreed that Patroclus could lead their army to the field and lend him his armor. The Trojans, at the sight of the well-known armor, struck with terror, looked everywhere for refuge.
普特洛克勒斯被这番话深深地打动,急忙回到阿喀琉斯那里。他把自己在营帐里看到的一切都告诉了阿喀琉斯。阿喀琉斯听说后后悔莫及,但是他只是同意让普特洛克勒斯带部队重返战场,并把自己的盔甲借给他。特洛伊人一看到那赫赫有名的战甲,果然惊慌失措,四散逃开,到处寻找避难所。
But now came a change of fortune. Patroclus forgot what Achilles had advised him, and came too near to Hector, and was recognized. Hector, pressing forward, fought with skill and finally pierced Patroclus with his spear. Patroclus fell mortally wounded and died soon.
但是命运却迅速发生了转变。普特洛克勒斯忘记了阿喀琉斯的嘱咐,他离赫克托耳太近了,结果被认了出来。赫克托耳步步紧逼,巧妙出击,最终将长矛刺过了普特洛克勒斯的身体。普特洛克勒斯身受重伤倒下,不久后便死去了。
Achilles heard the fate of his friend with such distress that some feared that he would destroy himself. Thetis, hastened to him to inquire the cause. She asked Hephaestus to fabricate21) a splendid armor for Achilles.
阿喀琉斯听说了挚友的命运后悲痛不已,人们曾一度害怕他会毁掉自己。西蒂斯听说后急忙赶来一探究竟。她命赫菲斯托斯为阿喀琉斯重新制作了一套非凡的盔甲。
The first glow of pleasure that Achilles had felt since the death of Patroclus was at the sight of this splendid armor. Then Achilles went forth to battle inspired with a rage and thirst for vengeance22).
看到这个精妙绝伦的盔甲,阿喀琉斯露出了欣喜的神色,这是自普特洛克勒斯死后,他第一次展露笑颜。随后,愤怒和复仇之心促使阿喀琉斯返回了战场。
The bravest warriors fled before Achilles or fell by his spear. He even killed Hector, the first son of Priam.
无数最英勇的战士或在他面前四处逃窜,或倒在他的长矛之下。他甚至还杀死了特洛伊国王普里阿摩斯的长子赫克托耳。
Achilles' Death 致命一击,命丧圣殿
During the twelve-day truce23) for Hector's funeral, Achilles spotted Polyxena, the daughter of Priam, with her brother Troilus, who was watering his horse at a fountain. Despite the truce, Achilles killed Troilus. Knowing that Achilles was smitten24) with his daughter, Priam thought of a way to end the conflict. What if he allowed Achilles to marry Polyxena as the price for ending the war?
因为要给赫克托耳举办丧礼,所以双方休战12天。在此期间,阿喀琉斯遇到了普里阿摩斯的女儿波吕克塞娜,她正和她的哥哥特洛伊罗斯在一起,而特洛伊罗斯正在一处喷泉旁饮马。阿喀琉斯将停战协议抛在脑后,杀死了特洛伊罗斯。普里阿摩斯得知阿喀琉斯被自己的女儿深深吸引后,想到了一个停战的方法。如果他同意把自己的女儿嫁给阿喀琉斯,是否就能以此为交换来结束这场战争呢?
Polyxena embraced25) her father's plan. Seemingly, she loved the famous warrior who had killed her brothers. But Polyxena was a loyal sister. She learned that Achilles had a weak spot on his heel. She and Hecuba collaborated26) with her brother Paris. Together they concocted27) a plan. Polyxena would convince Achilles to make a sacrifice in the temple of Apollo, where their marriage would soon be celebrated. Paris, completely hidden from view, would be waiting in the wings with his bow and arrow.
波吕克塞娜欣然接受了父亲的计划。表面上,她深深爱着这位杀了她兄弟的名将。但波吕克塞娜对自己的哥哥十分忠诚。她获知了阿喀琉斯的弱点是他的脚后跟,于是和她的母亲赫卡柏和兄弟帕里斯一起策划了一场阴谋。波吕克塞娜将会说服阿喀琉斯前往他们即将举行婚礼的地方——阿波罗神殿进行祭祀,而帕里斯会躲在殿内,备好弓箭,等待阿喀琉斯的出现。
Agreeing to make a sacrifice, Achilles went to the temple of Apollo. Concerned for his safety, Odysseus and two others followed Achilles to the temple.
阿喀琉斯同意前往祭祀,来到了阿波罗神殿。为了保护他的安全,奥德修斯和其他两名随从跟着阿喀琉斯来到了神殿。
As Achilles knelt28) at the altar, Paris raised his bow. He sent a poison arrow toward Achilles and, with the help of Apollo, the arrow entered the only vulnerable part of Achilles' body: his heel. In the arms of Odysseus, Achilles died a painful death. Protecting the remains of his friend, Ajax prevented Paris from desecrating29) the body and returned the body to the Achaean30) camp.
当阿喀琉斯跪在圣坛上时,帕里斯举起了他的箭。他朝阿喀琉斯射出了一支毒箭,阿波罗帮助他将这支箭不偏不倚地射中了阿喀琉斯全身上下唯一一处脆弱的地方——脚后跟。最后,阿喀琉斯在奥德修斯的怀里痛苦地死去。为了保护朋友的尸体免受帕里斯糟蹋,埃阿斯将阿喀琉斯的尸体送回了希腊军队的营地。
1. wrath [rC:W] n. 愤怒,愤慨
2. fleet [fli:t] n. (常指在统一指挥下有固定活动地区的)舰队
3. Boeotia [bI5EuFIE] n. 皮奥夏[希腊中东部一地区](或译比奥夏)
4. stag [stA^] n. 成年牡鹿(尤指牧赤鹿)
5. Artemis [5B:tImIs] n.【希神】阿耳特弥斯(月神和狩猎女神)
6. pestilence [5pestIlEns] n.瘟疫
7. calm [kB:m] n. 平静;无风;【气】(蒲福风级)零级风(风速小于每小时1英里)
8. Calchas [5kAlkEs] n. 【希神】卡尔克斯(特洛伊战争中希腊军队中的阿波罗奉祀祭司和随军占卜师)
9. appease [E5pi:z] vt. 平息(怒气、纷争等)
10. altar [5C:ltE(r)] n. 祈祷和祭拜的场所
11. yield [ji:ld] vt. 给,给予
12. consent [kEn5sent] n. 同意;准许,赞同
13. Iphigenia [I7fIdVI5naIE] n. 【希神】依菲琴尼亚(迈锡尼王Agamemnon的女儿)
14. repent [rI5pent] vi. 后悔,懊悔。常和介词of连用。
15. take refuge: 避难;躲避;隐蔽。refuge [5refju:dV] n. 躲避;避难;庇护
16. harass [5hArEs] vt. 不断侵扰,骚扰,扰乱
17. Chryseis [kraI5si:Is] n. 【希神】克律塞伊斯(阿波罗的祭司之女)
18. dishonor [dIs5CnE(r)] n. 侮辱
19. Nestor [5nestC:(r), -tE(r)] n. 【希神】内斯特(特洛伊战争时期希腊的贤明长者)
20. hasten [5heIsEn] vi. 赶快,赶紧;急忙;急行
21. fabricate [5fAbrIkeIt] vt. 制造,制作
22. vengeance [5vendVEns] n. 报复;报仇,复仇
23. truce [tru:s] n. 休战,停战;休战协定
24. smite [smaIt] vt. [常用被动语态]深深影响,打动
25. embrace [Im5breIs] vt. (欣然)接受;(乐意)利用,采取
26. collaborate [kE5lAbEreIt] vi. 勾结
27. concoct [kEn5kCkt] vt. 策划
28. kneel [ni:l] vi. 跪着
29. desecrate [5desIkreIt] vt. 亵渎;把(神圣之物)供俗用
30. Achaean [E5ki:En] adj. 希腊的
词汇学习
1.Hector
Hector (赫克托耳)是一位特洛伊名将,他本身并不愿意参与战斗,但是亲临战场时也丝毫不怯懦。在明知作战无益的情况下,还是身先士卒,英勇杀敌。但是后来,这个词的意思逐渐演变成了“虚张声势的人;恃强凌弱的人”,用作动词时意为“威吓;欺凌”。例如: He hectored his little brother into giving him all his pocket money. 他威吓他的小弟弟,逼他把所有的零花钱都交了出来。
2.Nestor
Nestor (内斯特)是特洛伊战争时期希腊的贤明长者,现如今,这个词意为“(某一行业或领域中)贤明的老前辈;聪明的长者”。例如: Peter served as a Nestor in his team. 彼得是团队中的前辈。
文化链接
《伊利亚特》(Iliad)
《伊利亚特》是《荷马史诗》(Homer)的两部史诗之一,另一部是描写奥德修斯返程故事的《奥德赛》(Odyssey)。《伊利亚特》以“阿喀琉斯的愤怒”为主线,其他人物和事件都围绕这条主线展开,形成严谨的整体。
表面上看,阿喀琉斯为了一个女子不顾战局,所以有人认为他“暴躁,褊狭”,并将他的愤怒单纯地理解为一个小青年在实现理想的过程中受到不公正待遇后的“愤慨”。实际上,在史诗中,他的性格是多方面的:有勇有谋、敢爱敢恨,他的人物形象也有血有肉、非常饱满。