9 A Plea to Achilles

CHAPTER 9 A Plea to Achilles The Trojans spent the night in good spirits. But the Achaeans were overcome by panic. They had lost too much ground in the day's battle. The Achaeans felt like their hearts were breaking. Their grief was overwhelming. Agamemnon gathered his men and tried to lift their spirits. It was not an easy task, especially because they all felt so low. "Men, I have been led astray," Agamemnon said. "Zeus promised me long ago that my army would not go home until we crushed

第九章对阿喀琉斯的恳求特洛伊人心情愉快地度过了一夜。 但是亚该亚人惊慌失措。 他们在一天的战斗中失去了太多的阵地。 亚该亚人的心都碎了。 他们悲痛欲绝。 阿伽门农召集他的士兵，试图让他们振作起来。 这不是一件容易的事，尤其是因为他们都情绪低落。 “伙计们，我被引入歧途了。”阿伽门农说。 宙斯很久以前就答应过我，我的军队不被打败就不会回家

Troy. I see now that it was all a trick. Now he commands that we return home in disgrace. He wants many of our men to lose their lives. Zeus is too powerful. We cannot fight against him. So listen to me—leave now! We will never take the broad streets of Troy." Agamemnon's men were silent for a long time. They did not know what to do. Everyone wondered if this was another trick. Finally, Diomedes spoke. "I will be the first to oppose you, King! Spare me your anger. You have called me a coward before. I do not care what you think. You have a throne and you have a crown. But you do not have courage. "And to my fellow soldiers—if your spirit drives you to go home, then sail away! You are not meant for battle. But the rest of us will continue. We will fight until we have ruined Troy. Even if there are only two men

特洛伊。现在我明白了，这全是一个骗局。 现在他命令我们带着耻辱回家。 他想让我们很多人失去生命。 宙斯太强大了。我们不能和他对抗。 所以听我说，马上离开！我们永远无法占领特洛伊宽阔的街道。” 阿伽门农的手下沉默了很长时间。 他们不知道该怎么办。 大家都在想这是不是又一个骗局。 最后，狄俄墨德斯开口了。“我将是第一个反对你的人，国王！”别对我发火。 你以前说过我是懦夫。 我不在乎你怎么想。 你有王位，你有王冠。 但你没有勇气。 “还有我的战友们——如果你们的精神驱使你们回家，那就航行吧！你不是用来打仗的。 但我们其他人会继续。 我们会一直战斗到毁灭特洛伊。 即使只有两个人

left. We will fight, and we will win! Never forget—we all sailed here with the gods on our side." Nestor stood up. "I am old and have much experience," he said. "I agree with Diomedes. King, put out a feast for your men tonight. Serve fine food and drink. This is what your men need right now. This is the night that will make or break our army. Either we will crumble tomorrow or we will pull through. Now is the time to unite and strengthen our troops. "And I will remind you of this: our downfall began when you fought with Achilles. You dishonored a man whom the gods favor. This is why we have trouble now. Let us bring Achilles back in friendship." "That is no lie, old man," Agamemnon quickly agreed. "We are in trouble because I fought with Achilles. We are at a loss without him. Achilles is the bravest and best

离开了。我们会战斗，我们会胜利！别忘了——我们都是在神的庇佑下航行到这里的。” 内斯特站了起来。“我年纪大了，经验丰富，”他说。 “我同意狄俄墨德斯的观点。国王，今晚为你的部下准备一场盛宴吧。 提供美味的食物和饮料。 这是你的人现在需要的。 今晚将决定我们军队的成败。 要么我们明天崩溃，要么我们将渡过难关。 现在是团结和加强我们军队的时候了。 “我要提醒你：我们的衰落始于你与阿喀琉斯的战斗。 你羞辱了神所喜爱的人。 这就是我们现在遇到麻烦的原因。 让我们以友谊把阿喀琉斯带回来。” “这不是谎言，老人。”阿伽门农很快同意了。 “我们遇到麻烦是因为我和阿喀琉斯作战。 没有他，我们不知所措。 阿喀琉斯是最勇敢、最优秀的

warrior. He could fight an entire army on his own. I will do anything to regain his friendship." Agamemnon listed all the riches he would give to Achilles. He even said he would return Achilles's slave. Odysseus and Ajax led a group of men to deliver the news to Achilles. They found the brave warrior at his camp near his ship. Achilles was surprised to see his old friends. He greeted them warmly and welcomed them to his camp. "Come, Odysseus! Come, Ajax! Enter my tent," Achilles said. "Patroclus, please help me welcome our friends. There should be a cup in everyone's hand. We all must dine, talk, and laugh together. For here are some of the men I love the most. I have missed them." Patroclus ordered a festive meal to be brought to them. Odysseus and Ajax gave Achilles an update about the war. It had been only a few days,

战士。他一个人就能打败一整支军队。 我愿意做任何事来恢复他的友谊。” 阿伽门农列出了他要给阿喀琉斯的所有财富。 他甚至说他会归还阿喀琉斯的奴隶。 奥德修斯和阿贾克斯带领一群人把消息告诉阿喀琉斯。 他们在他船附近的营地找到了这位勇敢的战士。 阿喀琉斯看到他的老朋友很惊讶。 他热情地迎接他们，欢迎他们到他的营地。 “来,奥德修斯!来,Ajax !进入我的帐篷，”阿喀琉斯说。 “普特洛克勒斯，请帮我欢迎我们的朋友。 每个人手里都应该有一个杯子。 我们必须一起吃饭、聊天、欢笑。 这里有一些我最爱的男人。 我想念他们。”普特洛克勒斯下令给他们送来一顿节日大餐。 奥德修斯和阿贾克斯向阿喀琉斯汇报了战争的最新情况。 才过了几天，

but so much had happened. "Now Hector waits for dawn to arrive so he can attack," Odysseus said. "It will be our fate to die in Troy, far from home." He looked out over the sea into the distance. "But King Agamemnon has sent us with a message of peace," Ajax added. "He sends his apologies and admits that he was wrong. Agamemnon made a promise to give gifts to you. He will even give back your slave, which he admits he stole. We need you, Achilles. We cannot win this war without you." "I hate that man more than I hate the gates of the underworld," Achilles said. His face was red with anger. "He has embarrassed me in front of the entire Achaean army. He has not led us well through these years of battle. I have risked my life for him many times. Yet he does not truly respect me or any of his men. The king lies as easily as he breathes. I do not trust him.

但是发生了很多事情。奥德修斯说：“现在赫克托耳等待黎明到来，这样他就可以进攻了。” “我们注定要死在特洛伊，远离家乡。” 他眺望着远处的大海。 “但是阿伽门农国王给我们带来了和平的信息，”阿贾克斯补充道。 他表示道歉，并承认自己错了。 阿伽门农答应给你礼物。 他甚至会归还你的奴隶，他承认是他偷的。 我们需要你，阿基里斯。没有你们，我们无法赢得这场战争。” 阿基里斯说：“我恨那个人胜过恨地狱之门。” 他的脸气得通红。 “他让我在整个亚该亚军队面前丢脸。 他没有很好地领导我们度过这些年的战斗。 我曾多次为他冒生命危险。 但他并不真正尊重我和他的手下。 国王撒谎就像呼吸一样容易。 我不信任他。

"We have come here because Helen left her husband for Paris. Does King Agamemnon not understand that other men also love their wives and families? "Why should I fight for him? He has no sense of reality! It does not matter if you are a coward or if you are brave. The result of joining Agamemnon's battle will be the same: death." Odysseus tried to speak, but Achilles did not let him, saying, "This is my advice to all Achaean soldiers and generals—sail home now! You will never see the destruction of Troy." Odysseus and Ajax both tried to persuade Achilles to come back and fight with them. But Achilles would not change his mind. "Unless the Trojans get too close to my ship —and threaten my possessions or my journey home—I will not fight again." Odysseus and Ajax left Achilles's camp without him.

“我们来这儿是因为海伦离开她丈夫去巴黎了。 难道阿伽门农国王不明白其他男人也爱他们的妻子和家人吗？ “我为什么要为他而战？” 他没有现实感！无论你是懦夫还是勇者，都不重要。 加入阿伽门农之战的结果是一样的：死亡。” 奥德修斯想说话，但阿喀琉斯不让他说：“这是我对所有亚该亚士兵和将军的建议——现在就回家吧！”你永远不会看到特洛伊的毁灭。” 奥德修斯和阿贾克斯都试图说服阿喀琉斯回来和他们一起战斗。 但阿喀琉斯不肯改变主意。 “除非特洛伊人太靠近我的船，威胁到我的财产或我回家的旅程，否则我不会再战斗了。” 奥德修斯和阿贾克斯离开了阿喀琉斯的营地。