伊利亚特(英文版)

    《伊利亚特》相传为荷马所作，与《奥德赛》并称为古希腊两大史诗。描写的是希腊部族联军攻打东方部落特洛伊人都城伊利亚特的10年战争，尤其是特洛伊战争最后一年发生的故事。生动地展现了惊心动魄的战争场面，热情讴歌氏族英雄的英勇机智、不怕牺牲、献身集体的英雄主义精神，同时也表现了个人意识的滋长和战争的残暴，并且广泛地反映了当时氏族社会政治、经济、文化、风俗等各方面的状况。 n《伊利亚特》是英雄史诗，刻画了众多性格鲜明的氏族英雄形象，其中最突出的是希腊英雄阿基里斯和特洛伊英雄赫克托耳。希腊英雄阿基里斯因女俘为主帅阿伽

荷马：（约前9--前8世纪），古希腊诗人，专事行吟的盲歌手。生于小亚细亚。相传他把发生在大约公元前20世纪的特罗伊战争的传说，初步编订、成型。就是著名的史诗《伊利亚特》和《奥德赛》。

在西方文学史上，希腊史诗《伊利亚特》和《奥德赛》是现存最早的精品。一般认为，这两部史诗的作者是西方文艺史上第一位有作品传世的天才、饮誉全球的希腊诗人荷马。荷马史诗的历史背景是旷时十年、规模宏伟、给交战双方造成重大创伤的特洛伊战争。《伊利亚特》就是描述了这场轰轰烈烈的战争中最悲壮的一页。

Introduction by G.S.Kirk
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Note on references, spellings, and pronunciation
THE ILIAD
ⅠQuarrel, oath, and promise
ⅡAssembly and muster of armies
……

THE Trojan squadrons flanked by officers
drew up and sortied, in a din of arms
and shouting voices - wave on wave, like cranes
in damorous lines beforethe face of heaven,
beating away from winter’s gloom and storms,
over the streams of Ocean, hoarsely calling,
to bring a slaughter on the Pygmy warriors -
cranes at dawn descending, beaked in cruel attack.
The Achaeans for their part came on in silence,
raging under their breath, shoulder to shoulder sworn.
Imagine mist the south wind mils on hills,
a blowing bane for shepherds, but for thieves
better than nightfall - mist where a man can see
a stone’s throw and no more: so dense the dust
that clouded up from these advancing hosts
as they devoured the plain.
And near and nearer
the front ranks came, till one from the Trojan front
detached himself to be the first in battle -
Alexandrus, vivid and beautiful,
wearing a cowl of leopard skin, a bow
hung on his back, a longsword at his hip,
with two spears capped in pointed bronze. He shook them
and called out to the best men of the Argives
to meet him in the mêlée face to face.
Menelaus, watching that figure come
with long strides in the clear before the others,
knew him and thrilled with joy. A hungry lion
that falls on heavy game - an antlered deer
or a wild goat - will rend and feast upon it
even though hunters and their hounds assail him.
So Menelaus thrilled when he beheld
Alexandrus before his eyes; he thought
I’ll cut him to bits, adulterous dog! -and vaulted
down from his car at once with all his gear.
But when Alexandrus caught sight of him
emerging from the ranks, his heart misgave,
and he recoiled on his companions, not
to incur the deadly clash.
A man who stumbles

As Hector spoke he came out through the gateway
running, with Alexandrus beside him,
both resolved on battle.
Like a wind,
a sailing-wind heaven may grant to oar ……