the odyssey(奥德赛)-第16章

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to　swim　for　it；　till　wind　and　current　brought　me　to　your　shores。
　　〃There　I　tried　to　land；　but　could　not；　for　it　was　a　bad　place　and
the　waves　dashed　me　against　the　rocks；　so　I　again　took　to　the　sea
and　swam　on　till　I　came　to　a　river　that　seemed　the　most　likely　landing
place；　for　there　were　no　rocks　and　it　was　sheltered　from　the　wind。
Here；　then；　I　got　out　of　the　water　and　gathered　my　senses　together
again。　Night　was　coming　on；　so　I　left　the　river；　and　went　into　a
thicket；　where　I　covered　myself　all　over　with　leaves；　and　presently
heaven　sent　me　off　into　a　very　deep　sleep。　Sick　and　sorry　as　I　was　I
slept　among　the　leaves　all　night；　and　through　the　next　day　till
afternoon；　when　I　woke　as　the　sun　was　westering；　and　saw　your
daughter's　maid　servants　playing　upon　the　beach；　and　your　daughter
among　them　looking　like　a　goddess。　I　besought　her　aid；　and　she
proved　to　be　of　an　excellent　disposition；　much　more　so　than　could　be
expected　from　so　young　a　person…　for　young　people　are　apt　to　be
thoughtless。　She　gave　me　plenty　of　bread　and　wine；　and　when　she　had
had　me　washed　in　the　river　she　also　gave　me　the　clothes　in　which　you
see　me。　Now；　therefore；　though　it　has　pained　me　to　do　so；　I　have
told　you　the　whole　truth。〃
　　Then　Alcinous　said；　〃Stranger；　it　was　very　wrong　of　my　daughter
not　to　bring　you　on　at　once　to　my　house　along　with　the　maids；　seeing
that　she　was　the　first　person　whose　aid　you　asked。〃
　　〃Pray　do　not　scold　her；〃　replied　Ulysses；　〃she　is　not　to　blame。
She　did　tell　me　to　follow　along　with　the　maids；　but　I　was　ashamed
and　afraid；　for　I　thought　you　might　perhaps　be　displeased　if　you　saw
me。　Every　human　being　is　sometimes　a　little　suspicious　and　irritable。〃
　　〃Stranger；〃　replied　Alcinous；　〃I　am　not　the　kind　of　man　to　get　angry
about　nothing；　it　is　always　better　to　be　reasonable；　but　by　Father
Jove；　Minerva；　and　Apollo；　now　that　I　see　what　kind　of　person　you　are；
and　how　much　you　think　as　I　do；　I　wish　you　would　stay　here；　marry　my
daughter；　and　become　my　son…in…law。　If　you　will　stay　I　will　give　you　a
house　and　an　estate；　but　no　one　（heaven　forbid）　shall　keep　you　here
against　your　own　wish；　and　that　you　may　be　sure　of　this　I　will
attend　to…morrow　to　the　matter　of　your　escort。　You　can　sleep　during
the　whole　voyage　if　you　like；　and　the　men　shall　sail　you　over　smooth
waters　either　to　your　own　home；　or　wherever　you　please；　even　though　it
be　a　long　way　further　off　than　Euboea；　which　those　of　my　people　who
saw　it　when　they　took　yellow…haired　Rhadamanthus　to　see　Tityus　the　son
of　Gaia；　tell　me　is　the　furthest　of　any　place…　and　yet　they　did　the
whole　voyage　in　a　single　day　without　distressing　themselves；　and
came　back　again　afterwards。　You　will　thus　see　how　much　my　ships
excel　all　others；　and　what　magnificent　oarsmen　my　sailors　are。〃
　　Then　was　Ulysses　glad　and　prayed　aloud　saying；　〃Father　Jove；　grant
that　Alcinous　may　do　all　as　he　has　said；　for　so　he　will　win　an
imperishable　name　among　mankind；　and　at　the　same　time　I　shall　return
to　my　country。〃
　　Thus　did　they　converse。　Then　Arete　told　her　maids　to　set　a　bed　in
the　room　that　was　in　the　gatehouse；　and　make　it　with　good　red　rugs；
and　to　spread　coverlets　on　the　top　of　them　with　woollen　cloaks　for
Ulysses　to　wear。　The　maids　thereon　went　out　with　torches　in　their
hands；　and　when　they　had　made　the　bed　they　came　up　to　Ulysses　and
said；　〃Rise；　sir　stranger；　and　come　with　us　for　your　bed　is　ready；〃
and　glad　indeed　was　he　to　go　to　his　rest。
　　So　Ulysses　slept　in　a　bed　placed　in　a　room　over　the　echoing　gateway；
but　Alcinous　lay　in　the　inner　part　of　the　house；　with　the　queen　his
wife　by　his　side。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　VIII。
　　NOW　when　the　child　of　morning；　rosy…fingered　Dawn；　appeared；
Alcinous　and　Ulysses　both　rose；　and　Alcinous　led　the　way　to　the
Phaecian　place　of　assembly；　which　was　near　the　ships。　When　they　got
there　they　sat　down　side　by　side　on　a　seat　of　polished　stone；　while
Minerva　took　the　form　of　one　of　Alcinous'　servants；　and　went　round　the
town　in　order　to　help　Ulysses　to　get　home。　She　went　up　to　the
citizens；　man　by　man；　and　said；　〃Aldermen　and　town　councillors　of
the　Phaeacians；　come　to　the　assembly　all　of　you　and　listen　to　the
stranger　who　has　just　come　off　a　long　voyage　to　the　house　of　King
Alcinous；　he　looks　like　an　immortal　god。〃
　　With　these　words　she　made　them　all　want　to　come；　and　they　flocked　to
the　assembly　till　seats　and　standing　room　were　alike　crowded。　Every
one　was　struck　with　the　appearance　of　Ulysses；　for　Minerva　had
beautified　him　about　the　head　and　shoulders；　making　him　look　taller
and　stouter　than　he　really　was；　that　he　might　impress　the　Phaecians
favourably　as　being　a　very　remarkable　man；　and　might　come　off　well
in　the　many　trials　of　skill　to　which　they　would　challenge　him。　Then；
when　they　were　got　together；　Alcinous　spoke：
　　〃Hear　me；〃　said　he；　〃aldermen　and　town　councillors　of　the
Phaeacians；　that　I　may　speak　even　as　I　am　minded。　This　stranger；
whoever　he　may　be；　has　found　his　way　to　my　house　from　somewhere　or
other　either　East　or　West。　He　wants　an　escort　and　wishes　to　have　the
matter　settled。　Let　us　then　get　one　ready　for　him；　as　we　have　done　for
others　before　him；　indeed；　no　one　who　ever　yet　came　to　my　house　has
been　able　to　complain　of　me　for　not　speeding　on　his　way　soon　enough。
Let　us　draw　a　ship　into　the　sea…　one　that　has　never　yet　made　a　voyage…
and　man　her　with　two　and　fifty　of　our　smartest　young　sailors。　Then
when　you　have　made　fast　your　oars　each　by　his　own　seat；　leave　the　ship
and　come　to　my　house　to　prepare　a　feast。　I　will　find　you　in
everything。　I　am　giving　will　these　instructions　to　the　young　men　who
will　form　the　crew；　for　as　regards　you　aldermen　and　town
councillors；　you　will　join　me　in　entertaining　our　guest　in　the
cloisters。　I　can　take　no　excuses；　and　we　will　have　Demodocus　to　sing
to　us；　for　there　is　no　bard　like　him　whatever　he　may　choose　to　sing
about。〃
　　Alcinous　then　led　the　way；　and　the　others　followed　after；　while　a
servant　went　to　fetch　Demodocus。　The　fifty…two　picked　oarsmen　went
to　the　sea　shore　as　they　had　been　told；　and　when　they　got　there　they
drew　the　ship　into　the　water；　got　her　mast　and　sails　inside　her；　bound
the　oars　to　the　thole…pins　with　twisted　thongs　of　leather；　all　in
due　course；　and　spread　the　white　sails　aloft。　They　moored　the　vessel　a
little　way　out　from　land；　and　then　came　on　shore　and　went　to　the　house
of　King　Alcinous。　The　outhouses；　yards；　and　all　the　precincts　were
filled　with　crowds　of　men　in　great　multitudes　both　old　and　young；
and　Alcinous　killed　them　a　dozen　sheep；　eight　full　grown　pigs；　and　two
oxen。　These　they　skinned　and　dressed　so　as　to　provide　a　magnificent
banquet。
　　A　servant　presently　led　in　the　famous　bard　Demodocus；　whom　the
muse　had　dearly　loved；　but　to　whom　she　had　given　both　good　and　evil；
for　though　she　had　endowed　him　with　a　divine　gift　of　song；　she　had
robbed　him　of　his　eyesight。　Pontonous　set　a　seat　for　him　among　the
guests；　leaning　it　up　against　a　bearing…post。　He　hung　the　lyre　for　him
on　a　peg　over　his　head；　and　showed　him　where　he　was　to　feel　for　it
with　his　hands。　He　also　set　a　fair　table　with　a　basket　of　victuals
by　his　side；　and　a　cup　of　wine　from　which　he　might　drink　whenever　he
was　so　disposed。
　　The　company　then　laid　their　hands　upon　the　good　things　that　were
before　them；　but　as　soon　as　they　had　had　enough　to　eat　and　drink；
the　muse　inspired　Demodocus　to　sing　the　feats　of　heroes；　and　more
especially　a　matter　that　was　then　in　the　mouths　of　all　men；　to　wit；
the　quarrel　between　Ulysses　and　Achilles；　and　the　fierce　words　that
they　heaped　on　one　another　as　they　gat　together　at　a　banquet。　But
Agamemnon　was　glad　when　he　heard　his　chieftains　quarrelling　with　one
another；　for　Apollo　had　foretold　him　this　at　Pytho　when　he　crossed　the
stone　floor　to　consult　the　oracle。　Here　was　the　beginning　of　the
evil　that　by　the　will　of　Jove　fell　both　Danaans　and　Trojans。
　　Thus　sang　the　bard；　but　Ulysses　drew　his　purple　mantle　over　his　head
and　covered　his　face；　for　he　was　ashamed　to　let　the　Phaeacians　see
that　he　was　weeping。　When　the　bard　left　off　singing　he　wiped　the　tears
from　his　eyes；　uncovered　his　face；　and；　taking　his　cup；　made　a
drink…offering　to　the　gods；　but　when　the　Phaeacians　pressed
Demodocus　to　sing　further；　for　they　delighted　in　his　lays；　then
Ulysses　again　drew　his　mantle　over　his　head　and　wept　bitterly。　No
one　noticed　his　distress　except　Alcinous；　who　was　sitting　near　him；
and　heard　the　heavy　sighs　that　he　was　heaving。　So　he　at　once　said；
〃Aldermen　and　town　councillors　of　the　Phaeacians；　we　have　had　enough
now；　both　of　the　feast；　and　of　the　minstrelsy　that　is　its　due
accompaniment；　let　us　proceed　therefore　to　the　athletic　sports；　so
that　our　guest　on　his　return　home　may　be　able　to　tell　his　friends
how　much　we　surpass　all　other　nations　as　boxers；　wrestlers；　jumpers；
and　runners。〃
　　With　these　words　he　led　the　way；　and　the　others　followed　after。　A
servant　hung　Demodocus's　lyre　on　its　peg　for　him；　led　him　out　of　the
cloister；　and　set　him　on　the　same　way　as　that　along　which　all　the
chief　men　of　the　Phaeacians　were　going　to　see　the　sports；　a　crowd　of
several　thousands　of　people　followed　them；　and　there　were　many
excellent　competitors　for　all　the　prizes。　Acroneos；　Ocyalus；　Elatreus；
Nauteus；　Prymneus；　Anchialus；　Eretmeus；　Ponteus；　Proreus；　Thoon；
Anabesineus；　and　Amphialus　son　of　Polyneus　son　of　Tecton。　There　was
also　Euryalus　son　of　Naubolus；　who　was　like　Mars　himself；　and　was
the　best　looking　man　among　the　Phaecians　except　Laodamas。　Three　sons
of　Alcinous；　Laodamas；　Halios；　and　Clytoneus；　competed　also。
　　The　foot　races　came　first。　The　course　was　set　out　for　them　from
the　starting　post；　and　they　raised　a　dust　upon　the　plain　as　they　all
flew　forward　at　the　same　moment。　Clytoneus　came　in　first　by　a　long
way；　he　left　every　one　else　behind　him　by　the　length　of　the　furrow
that　a　couple　of　mules　can　plough　in　a　fallow　field。　They　then
turned　to　the　painful　art　of　wrestling；　and　here　Euryalus　proved　to　be
the　best　man。　Amphialus　excelled　all　the　others　in　jumping；　while　at
throwing　the　disc　there　was　no　one　who　could　approach　Elatreus。
Alcinous's　son　Laodamas　was　the　best　boxer；　and　he　it　was　who
presently　said；　when　they　had　all　been　diverted　with　the　games；　〃Let
us　ask　the　stranger　whether　he　excels　in　any　of　these　sports；　he　seems
very　powerfully　built；　his　thighs；　claves；　hands；　and　neck　are　of
prodigious　strength；　nor　is　he　at　all　old；　but　he　has　suffered　much
lately；　and　there　is　nothing　like　the　sea　for　making　havoc　with　a　man；
no　matter　how　strong　he　is。〃
　　〃You　are　quite　right；　Laodamas；〃　replied　Euryalus；　〃go　up　to　your
guest　and　speak　to　him　about　it　yourself。〃
　　When　Laodamas　heard　this　he　made　his　way　into　the　middle　of　the
crowd　and　said　to　Ulysses；　〃I　hope；　Sir；　that　you　will　enter
yourself　for　some　one　or　other　of　our　competitions　if　you　are
skilled　in　any　of　them…　and　you　must　have　gone　in　for　many　a　one
before　now。　There　is　nothing　that　does　any　one　so　much　credit　all
his　life　long　as　the　showing　himself　a　proper　man　with　his　hands　and
feet。　Have　a　try　therefore　at　something；　and　banish　all　sorrow　from
your　mind。　Your　return　home　will　not　be　long　delayed；　for　the　ship
is　already　drawn　into　the　water；　and　the　crew　is　found。〃