An Iliad by Alessandro Baricco

Author:Alessandro Baricco [Baricco, Alessandro]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-48618-9
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 2006-08-23T04:00:00+00:00

Sarpedon • Telamonian Ajax • Hector

Sarpedon

There was that trench all around the wall that the Achaeans had built to protect their ships. Hector shouted to us to cross it, but the horses didn’t want to get near it. They planted their hooves and whinnied in fear. The sides were steep and the Achaeans had planted sharp stakes along the edges. To think of crossing there with our chariots was madness. Polydamas said that to Hector, told him that to go down into it was too risky, and if the Achaeans should counterattack? We would be right in the middle of the trench, trapped. It would be a slaughter. The only thing was to get out of the chariots, leave them on the far side of the trench, and attack on foot. Hector said he was right. He got out of his chariot and ordered everyone to do likewise. We lined up in five groups. Hector commanded the first, Paris the second, Helenus the third, Aeneas the fourth. The fifth was mine. We were ready to attack, but the truth was that something held us back. Still we hesitated, there on the edge of the trench.

And just at that moment an eagle appeared in the sky, flying high above us, and in its claws it was clutching an enormous snake, bloody but still alive. And at some point the snake turned and bit the eagle’s chest, just at the neck; and she, transfixed by the pain, let go of her prey, almost threw it down among us, and flew away, with sharp, screeching cries. We watched that spotted snake fall, and then we saw it on the ground among us, and we all shuddered. Polydamas hurried to Hector and said, “Did you see the eagle? Just as we were about to go down into the trench she flew over us, and did you see, she had to drop her prey, she couldn’t bring it to her nest, to her young. Do you know what a seer would say, Hector? That we, too, think we’ve caught our prey, but it will escape us. Maybe we’ll reach the ships, but we won’t capture them, and at that point, once we’ve crossed the trench, a retreat would become a massacre.”

Hector looked at him furiously. “Polydamas, you’re joking, or maybe you’re mad. I believe in the voice of Zeus, not the flight of birds. And that voice has promised me victory. Birds … the only omen I believe in is the will to fight for your homeland. You are afraid, Polydamas. But don’t worry: even if we all die beside that wall, you risk nothing, because you won’t get there, coward that you are.” And then he went forward toward the trench, leading us all.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.